[LCC Announce] Easter Weekend

[Jim Strowe]

**
*Subject:* Easter Weekend

 Dear Lakeshore Family—



Going into Holy Week, life usually gets pretty crazy for the entire church
staff.  The build up leading to Good Friday and Easter is big… and so is the
work required and the accompanying tension.  Every year, Holy Week is a
struggle and a challenge for a never–ending set of reasons, and this year
was no exception.

 But this year was an even bigger challenge because of the unique formats we
chose for both Good Friday (and adding a second service for the first time)
and Easter services.  Both services took on unique styles and the Easter
service in particular was a total departure from anything that we have ever
tried before.  So the work required was even harder… and the pressure was
on.  All weekend, many of us felt the accumulated stress of hard work,
inevitable challenges and the haunting question, “Will the services all pull
together well?”

No need to shed any tears over all this, except to say that God honored the
effort.  Our hope (and our sense of things) is that the services did make an
impact in your life and your relationship to Jesus (more on that at the
end).  Both days set new all-time attendance records and in total, nearly
1,800 people were at one of the four services.  Five people professed a
first-time faith in Christ (and as is often the case, others did as well but
didn’t acknowledge it to us).  Everything turned out well.  God is faithful!



Lots of prayer went into these services and God honored our “calculated
risk-taking” (also known as faith).  We’re never going to settle for the
safe, simplistic or standard activity when you (and our guests) deserve a
compelling service for the most compelling story in history… Jesus’
resurrection.  The creative teams deserve lots of credit for planning,
preparing, practicing and performing the services and I hope you’ll express
appreciation to them in the days ahead.

 But many of you did great work too.  I want to extend an extra special
thanks to those who prayed and invited people to services, regardless of
whether they came.  Your stories of inviting them and then having these new
friends here last weekend were great.  Thanks for caring!

 And speaking of the days ahead:

 1)     *This Thursday at 7pm* here at church, we begin a new series at
Common Ground midweek service, *“A Jet Tour Through Revelation”.*  We will
look at this most fascinating of books in the Bible.  Don’t miss it.  For
series and message details, check out the church website midweek service
link.

 2)     *This Saturday at 9am* here at church, we hold our *Synergy Prayer
event.*  Pray with others in this important time.  Childcare is available.



3)     *Community Groups start next week* and *“First Steps”* is a great one
for you if you would like to get a handle on the basics of Christianity.
This Sunday is the last day to sign up for any of the new groups beginning
next Wednesday, April 14.



4)     *Baptism Orientation class will be held next Sunday, April 18 at
12:30pm* after the 11am service.  Sign up this week at church.  If you are
ready and qualified, the baptism itself will be held on Thursday, April 29
at 7pm.



This Sunday, we’re going to build on the messages on Good Friday and Easter
as we get a grasp on this new identity concept and how it works.  Are you
ready to learn how to develop *“A New View Of You”? *



*Thanks for being part of a great weekend here at Lakeshore.  If you have a
great story to tell (or a story that you just need to share) about how God
worked in your life on Easter weekend, email us at info at lakeshorechurch.org.
*

 Why not invite some friends to Common Ground on Thursday or the Sunday
services?

 Warmly—

Vince

Vince DiPaola

Lakeshore Community Church

3651 Latta Road

Rochester, NY 14612

lakeshorechurch.org
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