Author: joedcase

It’s Easter Season.

Where we typically celebrate Christmas in the weeks and days leading up to the birth of Christ, Easter is a little different.

Yes, we celebrate the resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday–Resurrection Sunday, but the celebration doesn’t end there. At Maplewood, we are celebrating the Easter season through Pentecost Sunday.

Leading up to Easter, we were focused on “spring cleaning”–evaluating our lives, shoring things up spiritually and preparing ourselves for a new move by God in our hearts. Now, as we celebrate Easter, we’re focusing on what it means to be a believer in the resurrected Christ.

If you are looking for purpose, meaning, hope and contentment, you are invited to join us this Sunday as we celebrate New Life in the Living Jesus.

Experts say that depression hits humanity hard in the depths of winter. The days are so short and gray.

If you are like many people, you miss the warmth of sunshine. In fact, the sun rays actually have a physical impact on our well-being. A co-worker of mine  has one of those special lights at her desk to help her cope with the lack of sunshine this time of year. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I’m frequently tempted to borrow that light just to get a little bit of vitamin D running through my body.

Life can be like the dead of winter sometimes. Circumstances can overwhelm us. We can get depressed. We long for the warmth of love, peace, contentment…and joy!

Over the next few months, we’re going to be focusing on what followers of Jesus can do to find lasting, sustainable joy, even in the dark of winter.

The apostle Paul has much to teach on this topic in his letter to the Philippians. I’d encourage you to join with me to read through this short letter (just 4 chapters) over the next few months.

And I’d also invite you to join me this Sunday at 10:30am as we embark on the quest to FINDING JOY.

-Pastor Joe