Church Family,

What a wonderful Holy Week at St. James we had last week. Zac Madden did a wonderful job preaching our Good Friday service. We had a great turnout for our kids Easter egg hunt, and Easter Sunday was a great day of celebrating the Risen Lord. We had a great turnout for Easter— we filled every seat in our first service, and both services were well attended. It was a great day in the house of the Lord.

The Easter sermon titled "Christ Is Risen: The Power of the Resurrection" emphasized the significance of Jesus Christ's resurrection as a transformative event in history that impacts believers' lives. The resurrection is not merely a historical event but a powerful affirmation of Jesus' identity, victory over sin and death, and the promise of new life for us as believers. We highlighted key themes from Matthew 28:1-8, where Mary Magdalene and the other Mary encountered the empty tomb and received the angel's message of resurrection, which turned their fear into joy and compelled them to share the good news.

I encouraged the congregation to reflect on their own lives, asking what aspects still appeared lifeless and how the resurrection could bring hope and purpose. Ultimately, the message called for active participation in sharing the gospel, underscoring that the resurrection empowers us to overcome challenges and live boldly in faith, motivated by God's love and grace. I concluded the sermon with an invitation to embrace the transformative power of the resurrection, reminding everyone that they can experience new life through faith in Christ.

The story of Jesus is a story worhty of telling in our lives. Keep telling the story of Jesus! I look forward to seeing each of you tonight at midweek.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor Brandon