April 2026 Round Up

 

Catching up with some of the events 

and updates for April 2026.

Easter Sunday in Michigan with the

Meiers and Schumachers.

Easter Worship  at St Peter's - Hemlock, Michigan.

We arrived early and picked out "our" row.

John and I with the Michigan grands.

(but Lainey ain't having it.)

Easter Joy ! Jesus is Alive!

The Wilson family in Springfield.

Some of the fun included Easter egg dying,

a kid-made charcuterie board and 

lovely flowers from the neighbors.

We shared a  lovely Easter meal

 and all the Michigan troops were able to be there.

We cleaned out three art classrooms for Laura 

and reset them for the art sub coming in

 to finish the school year. I fell in love with these bunnies

 that were made by some of Laura's second grade students.

Other highlights this month:  

*Jonah had a piece of art selected for the Pyramid Art show.

*Hudson "signed" to attend first grade 

at St. Paul Lutheran in Ann Arbor, Michigan.'

*Sara celebrated her last birthday in the 30's.

*Visual Faith® Ministry was blessed to help put together a 

Sip and Paint and a Women's Connection event 

at Prince of Peace in Springfield, Virginia.

Worship into the Week- Life Together

 Worship into the Week 

Acts 2: 41-47

"That day about three thousand took him (Peter)

at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. Everyone around was in awe- 

all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met. They followed a daily discipline

 of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Everyday their number grew as God added those who were saved." The Message

Oh Lord, this is a vision for life together that I dream of and maybe it will be your will for the strife to end within your earthly Kingdom. Bring healing Lord, that we might work together to serve You for the sake of those who do not know you. Make your church here on earth more than we can imagine. Amen

Worship this week included a favorite hymn

 that I hadn't heard in a long time.   Including that here:

Shepherd Me, O God by Marty Haugen

A Watercolor April

 

April flowers have been spectacular this year. 

Everything has bloomed early and May came in April.

I decided to capture the beauty 

with the Waterlogue App on my phone.

 Pinks, lavenders and new growth reds and greens.

Lilacs for Easter.

The bright colors of Spring.

 We had a watercolor event at our church 

and had fun experimenting with something new.

A great reminder of simple joy.

"Lord, fill me with joy in your presence."

Psalm 16:11

Worship into the Week- Abundant Life

 

Lectionary Reading- Acts 2:14 a, 36-41

Peter Preaches to the Crowd

"Make no mistake about this."

Jerusalem needed to listen carefully. 

It wasn't a time to make assumptions.

Things were not as they seemed on this Pentecost day.

Peter's words struck at the hearts of the people.

Repent and be baptized!!!

This Jesus they had crucified 

was the Lord and Messiah.

Hearts were broke open by the Holy Spirit

 and many were baptized.

They added 3,000 to the church that day.

Lord, bring your Spirit to move

 the hearts that need you today! 

May we share His Word 

to this current crooked generation.

There is the abundant life waiting 

for those that seek you, Lord.

Amen.

Supplies:

Visual Church Year Printable

vcy-graphics-only-april-2026

Colored Pencils

Magazine Cutouts

Distress Ink

 

Worship into the Week- We are Witnesses

 

Worship into the Week- We are Witnesses

Acts 5:29-42

The Apostles Meet Opposition

It is a tough time for the Apostles before the Sanhedrin.

They stood their ground with a statement 

of obeying God over human authority.

Peter holds to the fact of the resurrection of Jesus.  

As witnesses of these events,

this becomes the basis of all their teachings.

The wise counsel of Gamaliel was to leave them alone.

Their cause will either fizzle out,

 or really take off if it is from God.

The high council had them flogged and told them

 to never speak again of Jesus.

The apostles rejoiced in their suffering in the name of Jesus.

They went right on teaching about Jesus

  in the Temple and from house to house.

The apostles declared to all that "Jesus is the Messiah." 

Nothing was going to stop them, 

they would not back down.

Supplies:

Visual Faith Printable

vcy-graphics-only-april-2026

Magazine Cutouts

Distress Ink

Colored Pencils

Vintage postage stamps

Acts 5:29-42 details the apostles' bold defense before the Sanhedrin, establisPeterhing the principle of obeying God over human authority. Peter affirms Jesus' resurrection and role as Savior, leading to Gamaliel’s wise counsel to let them be. Despite being flogged, the apostles rejoice in suffering for Jesus, continuing to teach daily. 

First Baptist Church | Thomson Georgia

Griffin is 12

 Griffin turned 12 this month.

We were able to be with him to celebrate.

The whole family was together 

in the midst of the upcoming move.

That was the best gift.

Everyone had fun watching the gift opening.

Some new shoes was a treat.

A fun day hanging out with a special friend.

Fun things with clay and the pottery wheel.

Another cake and celebration.

Way to go!!!

Time with the cousin gang is always a good thing.

Griffin - what fun to see you growing up!

May the Lord bless you, young man.

Pool of Siloam

 Most of our trips to Israel have included the Pool of Siloam.

The steps here have been where we sit.

This year was different as there

 is a huge excavation tent and active dig.

Our guide Yossi has told us that there would never be

 permission given to have the land to excavate. 

But things change in Israel.

The recent 2025-2026 excavations have now

 uncovered a massive 2,800 year old,

 40 foot dam from the First Temple period- (800 BC.)  

It reveals an advanced water management system 

during the reigns of Kings Joash or Amatya. 

This structure is older than the Herodian pool 

of the early excavation. 

They believe it is a massive reservoir 

that was built to manage 

the extreme climate changes in Israel.

This dig is located in Jerusalem's

City of David National Park.

The Second Temple site is where Jesus is believed

 to have healed a blind man.  

In 2004, the site was accidentally rediscovered

 while street crews were working on sewer and water lines.

The large stone-stepped pool was part

 of a ritual bath area for pilgrims. 

The earliest part dates back to King Hezekiah.

The pool was fed by the Gihon Spring through

 the 1,750 foot long Hezekiah Tunnel.

This was the main water source

 for the city during the Assyrian siege.

Lord willing, we head back in Jan. 2027

 to take our next group there 

and we will see what has been added to the discovery.