HOLY SATURDAY
Matthew 27:57-66

Jesus died.  That is obscured in a lot of our churches, the fact that Jesus died, and it is not really faced.  Of course the angels tell us not to be afraid, but that’s easy for them to say, they are angels.  

We as humans we basically have two fears…  One is that if we don’t slow down we could all have heart attacks.  The… Continue reading

GOOD FRIDAY
John 1:1-17, 31b-35
Matthew 27:32-37

John 1:5 promises us that when our lives are experiencing times of darkness, the light that God has given to the world will never be extinguished.          –  Don Latimore… Continue reading

MAUNDY THURSDAY at FCC Orange
6:30 p.m. Soup Supper     7:00 p.m. Worship

John 1:1-17, 31b-35
John 13:3-5

John 1:18 reminds us that we need not be overwhelmed by the majesty of God.  God’s Son gives us a perfect example of love and grace.             –  Don Latimore… Continue reading

Holy Week Wednesday
John 13.1-17, 31-35

Tomorrow night is ““Maundy Thursday.”” It’’s a night of ‘‘lasts’’ –– last suppers, last teachings, last betrayals. Interestingly, in Matthew, Mark and Luke, the focus of the Last Supper is Jesus’’ instituting Holy Communion. In John’’s gospel, the most sacred event of the Last Supper is the foot washing. In fact, nothing at all is even mentioned about Jesus instituting Holy Communion. Instead, John records the… Continue reading

Holy Week Tuesday

The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, Grant that we may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To

Holy Week Monday
Matthew 21:1-11

This final Sunday of Lent was marked by a celebratory parade, which was also a protest march.  Only Jesus knew that the same event was also a funeral procession.  The Twelve should have known; on three occasions Jesus had told them of his approaching death in Jerusalem.  Their response after each prediction makes it evident, however, that they did not comprehend his words.
It is important for us… Continue reading

Matthew 21:1-11

As we come to Holy Week we put our landing gear down for final approach.  It all began on Ash Wednesday when we placed ash on our foreheads and wandered into the wilderness.  The journey has been long… 40 days and 40 nights.  But now we enter Jerusalem, the city of possibility and hope.  We begin with palm branches and loud hosannas!  We begin by recognizing the “passion” that… Continue reading

Matthew 21:1-11
The Triumphal Entry

Jesus could have asked anything of his Disciples, and what did he ask? Go find a donkey with her colt and bring them to me.  There is an endearing humility about this request from Jesus.  How many leaders today, much less King of Kings or Lord of Lords, would dare be seen in public riding a donkey?  After all, donkeys are sassy, stubborn and quite smelly.  Yet… Continue reading

Matthew 21:1-11

Jesus was not entering a foreign city, nor entering the city of ‘the Jews’.  He was a Jew.  He was entering the city which symbolized in his faith and his scriptures God’s promise to Israel.   Think of how painful this must have been.  And think of the collision that was about to take place…           — Stan Smith… Continue reading