Weekly Update

GCN Family,

Do you have a junk drawer? You know what I’m talking about. It’s that location where you put that random bouncy ball, that stray playing card, and that key chain from you got from Ocean City 10 years ago. If you don’t know where an item belongs, then to the junk drawer it goes. If that’s you (and I’ll pretend you know what I’m talking about), then you know that it doesn’t take long for the junk drawer to get pretty full and pretty unorganized.

We’re nearing the end of the season of Lent. It’s the season that journeys through the wilderness, to the cross of Good Friday, and ultimately to the Empty Tomb of Resurrection Sunday! Among other things, Lent is a time when we’re called to reflect on this question: What things are cluttering my life? What distraction (even good ones) or busy-ness (even good things) are becoming a barrier from centering my whole life around Jesus Christ and His Way?

This Sunday is Palm Sunday. The day after Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, he entered the Temple and cleaned house. (Mark 11:15-18) The Temple Courts that day were so cluttered. There was a lot of religious activity going on, but there wasn’t much worship. There wasn’t much prayer. Jesus came in and started cleaning out the junk drawer. He said, “My House will be a house of prayer for all nations.” What in your life do you need to de-clutter? Often, I find that most of the clutter is in my mind. I’ve offered this practice to you before, but try this: Set the alarm on your phone to remind you to stop, be still, and then pray some portion of scripture. I often come back to Psalm 23. It serves as this way of decluttering my mind and heart and life from the things that entangle, and to again remember that “The Lord is my Shepherd. I lack nothing.” This is your invitation: ask God to declutter the junk today.

Ways to Connect or Serve…

1. Two opportunities that we have only recently learned about: (a) There is a family in our community who is periodically in need of rides for their teenage son, who happens to be special needs, to and from school. (b) There is a family – a single mother and a young child – who is in need of a temporary host family until they can move into their subsidized apartment. If you are interested in learning more, you can contact Pastor Brian.
2. Good Friday Service. 7pm. March 29. A time to pray, worship, and reflect on the wonder of a God who gave Himself for us.
3. Easter Sunday. March 31. Who can you invite to join you? We have fun activities for the kids all morning, beginning with a 9:30am Egg Hunt. Then, our worship service at 10:30. We’ll be baptizing 7 people! And then stick around after for some yummies in the foyer, a photo booth, and those live animals outside. Check out these links to share with people you know: Kids Egg Hunt. Easter Worship Service.
4. Pastor Lauren will be receiving her District Minister’s License on Sunday, April 7 at a 6pm Worship Service at our church’s District Assembly. This will be at the Hilton Baltimore BWI. Come and show love to the best youth pastor!

Much love,

Pastor Brian