April 2026

I’m doing a great deal of writing these days. I have this newsletter to finish, in addition to worship services for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Easter, and then Holy Humor. These are all important services with a great deal of time and planning that goes into each one. And then there is the message for each one as well.

Because I am an organized person, I have lined up my resources for each service and have already begun the work of preparation. The problem I encounter is that I must plan a service and write about the resurrection before we have completed our Lenten journey.

I often feel like I am rushing to the end of Lent this time of year. And a secret part of my heart is glad to leave Lent behind and get to the joy of the resurrection as soon as possible! And the world is right there with me! The stores are lined with Easter bunnies and specials on Ham and all the trimmings. Signs for Egg Hunts are all around the community as we are all getting ready to celebrate the most incredible miracle that ever took place.

And yet…And yet, we are not done with Lent. We have not finished our walk with Jesus to His death. The world may want to skip right to the good part, but we must not. These days of the bleakness of Lent are a time of purposeful reflection of what our Lord endured on our behalf. It is a time to reflect on our own sin and participation in His death.

This article will be available to you on Palm Sunday. A day of triumph in the midst of all the struggling we’ve studied about Jesus’ walk to the cross. But the work is not finished here. It actually is the beginning of the end. And while we are grateful the end is near, we are not there.

It is important that we maintain a spirit of repentance through these final days. We do look forward to the celebration, but we must remember the journey and the cost. Do not rush to the joy of Easter without completing Jesus’ Final Steps with Him to His death. Peace.