Palm Sunday: March 25 at 9 a.m.

Maundy Thursday: March 29 from 4:30 to 7 p.m.*
*A video dramatization of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper starts every 30 minutes, come at the time that best works for you. The last showing will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Good Friday: March 30 at 7 p.m.

Easter Sunrise Service: April 1 at 7 a.m.

Easter Breakfast: April 1 at 8 a.m.
Easter Sunday Worship: April 1 at 9 a.m.

 

During the season of Lent, we remember that God chose us by sending his son, Jesus. Jesus suffered, died, and rose again to save us. We remember the cross, the crown of thorns, and the nails and we pause and listen for the words God has spoken: I did this for you! I chose you!

 

Check back each week for reflection questions to guide your Lenten experience. All are invited to Tuesday morning Bible Study at 9 a.m. to respond to the reflection questions with Pastor Gary Liker and other members of the weekly study group. 

• Reflection Questions – Week 1 
• Reflection Questions – Week 2
• Reflection Questions – Week 3
• Reflection Questions – Week 4
• Reflection Questions – Week 5
• Reflection Questions – Week 6

 

 

 

Watch all Surprise the World videos here. 

“Did you know that the early Christian movement was rather scandalous? It broke many of the social mores of the day. Jews hung out with Gentiles. Women were involved in leadership!” Christianity is a surprising religion. It has changed the world in remarkable ways throughout history simply through Christians living out their faith. Rev. Cindy Gregorson, director of ministries for the Minnesota Annual Conference, introduces us to the Lenten study video series. Each week, a new video will guide us to explore a habit that can help us “surprise the world”. After you watch the video chat with a friend about someone from your past that had faith that you looked up to, and answer what was it about the way they lived that stood out to you.

 

“As God’s people, Christ followers, we have been created to bless…through words of affirmation, acts of kindness, and generosity,” Rev. Cynthia Williams, River Valley District superintendent. Over this Lenten season, we’re invited to cultivate this habit by blessing three people each week, at least one of whom is not a member of our church. Will you join our small group by accepting this challenge? Ponder what it might look like for you, if you developed this habit of blessing. What might it look like for our church if most people shared this habit?

 

The most memorable meal that Rev. Mark Miller, North Star District superintendent, ever ate was cream of chicken soup. That’s because two strangers at a state park invited Miller and his wife to enjoy the soup and have conversation with them while camping one weekend. “If every Christian habitually invited different strangers and friends alike to eat with them, then we might surprise a whole lot of folks and they might start to question, ‘Why did you invite us to eat?’” Miller said in the third video in a Lenten study series. “And then we would tell them our story: ‘See we know this guy who took bread and broke it and gave it…’” This week will you start asking God about who you can invite to eat with you? And then have lunch, dinner or even coffee over the table with someone new.

 

“I believe that listening is the most important and also the most difficult of all interpersonal skills,” Rev. Susan Nienaber, Big Waters District superintendent, said in the fourth video of the Surprise the World series. “Yet listening is an essential threshold we must cross in order to experience the power of the Holy Spirit in great transformation in our own lives, which in turn can transform congregations and communities.” Practice silence and listening this week. Perhaps it is five minutes with a cup of coffee as you begin your day. Maybe it is turning off the radio on your morning commute, or going for a walk with no headphones or background music. Offer a simple prayer as you begin your silence, simply asking God to speak to you today. Take some time to write whatever prompting arises in your quiet time.

 

This week’s focus is on learning, and we’re challenged to take up a habit committed to learning Jesus. “The call is for us to re-engage in a commitment to knowing the story of God in the person of Jesus Christ as depicted in the gospels, so that the story of Jesus begins to marinate in our souls,” said Rev. Fred Vanderwerf, Southern Prairie District superintendent. “For each time we submit ourselves to learning Jesus and the story of Jesus, we’re submitting ourselves to be converted yet again.” 

 

The challenge of the past six weeks is to form ongoing habits that will help us have a greater impact for God right where we live. The habits mean little if they are talked about and then forgotten. Grace’s Surprise the World small group hopes to continue to bless people weekly, eat with others, sense the Holy Spirit and continuously discover Jesus. Please pray that God would work through each of us and our church to reach new people by being an intriguing and joyous presence to others.