Dear Brothers and Sisters, This week prayer will be held at the Brown Barn.

Our scripture text for Resurrection Sunday is Matthew 26:69-75, which documents that dramatic scene, perhaps the lowest point of Peters life, when he denied the Lord 3 times; where the spirit was wiling but the flesh was weak, where the world, the flesh and the devil got the upper hand; where he is obsessed with his own reputation; where he becomes one of those in scripture whose sins are displayed before all. But then, he came to his senses. The rooster crowed once, and then twice, and then he wept bitterly. John Calvin sums up this scene well,

Peter’s fall… is a bright mirror of our weakness. In his repentance, also, a striking instance of the goodness and mercy of God is held out to us. [1]

This week as a church we will consider, in the light of the death and resurrection of Christ, the reality of our sinful frailties, the hope of pardon, the bitterness of our shame and the mercy of God to make good out of our failures. We will see how we so often do not hear the rooster crow a first time but then finally come to our senses. Not only will we be reminded of our weakness, but also of the kindness of God to embrace us in the midst of the incomplete reformation of our lives.

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Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke (Mt 26:69–Lk 22:62). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

Songs

Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
Christ the Lord is ris’n today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say: Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high. Alleluia!
Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth, reply: Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King. Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Dying once, He all doth save. Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done. Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won. Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise. Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise. Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led. Alleluia!
Foll’wing our exalted Head. Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise. Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies. Alleluia!

A Broken Spirit
A broken spirit and a contrite heart
You will not despise, You will not despise
You desire truth in the inward parts
A broken spirit and a contrite heart
Lord, my heart is prone to wander
Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, Lord take and seal it
Seal it for Your courts above

Before the Throne of God
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heav’n He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I Am
The King of glory and of grace
One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God
With Christ my Savior and my God

Beneath the Cross of Jesus
Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would make my stand
The shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land
A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way
From the burning of the noon-tide heat and the burden of the day

Upon that cross of Jesus mine eyes at times can see
The very dying form of One Who suffered there for me
And from my smitten heart, with tears, two wonders I confess:
The wonder of His glorious love, and my unworthiness

I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place
I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face
Content to let the world go by, to know no gain or loss
My sinful self, my only shame, my glory all the cross

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
O the deep, deep love of Jesus
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me
Underneath me, all around me
Is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward
To my glorious rest above

O the deep, deep love of Jesus
Spread His praise from shore to shore
How He loveth, ever loveth
Changeth never, never more
How He watches o’er His loved ones
Died to call them all His own
How for them He intercedeth
Watcheth o’er them from the throne

O the deep, deep love of Jesus
Love of every love the best
‘Tis an ocean vast of blessing
‘Tis a haven sweet of rest
O the deep, deep love of Jesus
‘Tis a heav’n of heav’ns to me
And it lifts me up to glory
For it lifts me up to Thee