Worship into the Week- Easter 2026

 

Easter Sunday Sunrise Service

Old Testament Reading

Exodus 14:10-15:1

The Egyptians Pursue Israel

and the Escape through the Red Sea.

This is a story of deliverance for the Jewish people

 and forms the foundational background

 for the Passover celebration.

It reminds us of God's preserving power and His

ability to restore and protect.

God's ultimate plan is revealed on Easter Sunday 

with the Resurrection of Jesus.

Easter Sunday 

Old Testament - Jeremiah 31:1-6

Hope for Restoration

"I will be the God of all the families of Israel, 

and they will be my people."

Rebuilding and tender care and forging a future.

The Lord says, " I have loved you, my people, 

with a an everlasting love. 

With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself."

How good it is when the Lord says:  

my people, my people.

The other first reading for Easter

 is Acts 10: 34-43.

The Gentiles Hear the Good News.

There is peace with God through Jesus Christ.

In Jesus there is the full story of redemption

 by His death on a cross.

 But, God raised him to life on the third day.

The apostles are witnesses and have seen the good things,

  and heard his teachings.

They saw him and ate and drank

 with him after he rose from the dead.

The apostles have been appointed to tell the story 

and let people know that Jesus 

is the one who  is over the living and the dead.

He is Lord over all.

He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!   Amen.

Supplies:

Visual Faith Printables

vcy-graphics-only-april-2026

Magazine Cutouts

Colored pencils

Distress Ink

Calendar Journaling- Lent 2026

 Lent- 2026

Calendar Journaling for this season with a resource from

Visual Faith® Ministry.

This year it is right in our Common Book.

 Right along with the rest of the practices 

was this calendar image.

I used the Lenten Word Project for reflection time 

for the 40 days of Lent.

That resource is right HERE:

lenten-words-project

This practice helps me to see the visual of how

 these words fit together for my Lenten walk.

A blessed part of Lent this year for me.

Calendar Journaling- March 2026

 

Calendar Journaling- March 2026

Working my way through Streams in the Desert

this year by L.B. Cowman.

Still fascinated with the Word Log for each month 

that may develop into a Grab 3 prayer practice 

for Visual Faith® Ministry.

Still thinking and praying for how we can be

 both creative and mindful in our prayer times.

This is all part of the journey.

Worship into the Week- Good Friday 2026

 

Good Friday- 

Isaiah 52:13-53:12

This passage is often read 

as part of the passion of Christ.

It is referred to as the "Fourth Servant Song"

or the Suffering Servant.

The servant of God brings atonement through suffering.

One person bears the sins of many and this substitute sacrifice 

brings about the payment for others which is accepted by God.

This suffering and death provides 

forgiveness and righteousness for others.

This servant suffers greatly and yet in this 

state of despair and humiliation, he saves.

He has not paid for his own sins, but the sins of others.

He is compared to a lamb led

 to slaughter with silent suffering.

But, there is ultimate victory 

when the sacrifice is accepted by God

 for the sake of others.

Complicated and yet simple,

 in that one man is received as perfect

 and able to pay for the sins of the whole world.

The greatest gift ever- for me.

Supplies:

Visual Faith Printable

vcy-graphics-only-april-2026

Magazine cutouts

Colored pencils

Worship into the Week- Maundy Thursday 2026

Worship into the Week

Psalm 116: 12-19

For Christians this Psalm is often said 

to represent Christ's Passion.

The "cup of slavation" refers to the Eucharist 

and the institution of the Lord's Supper which

 is connected to events for Thursday of Holy Week.

These are words that Jesus sang 

before his own journey in Holy Week.

The Psalm recounts where the writer 

was saved from death and distress. 

The question then becomes:

"What can I give back to God for all this salvation?"

The way forward includes a heart of gratitude, 

worship, keeping vows, taking up the "cup of slavation"

 and living as a faithful servant of God.

This life becomes a public witness in a community.

God sees the people here and brings comfort when 

one of the faithful dies.

"The LORD cares deeply." NLT

The writer offers a free offering of praise

 rather than a fulfilling a mandatory obligation.

A reminder to us that God desires our 

free and heart-felt praise 

and not the rote repetition of words and actions.

Supplies:

Visual Faith Printable

vcy-graphics-only-april-2026

Magazine Cutouts

Markers

Worship Bulletin

Garden of Gethsemane from our Jan. 2026 Tour

This sign has been "touched" so many times

 the writing is getting hard to read.

The Last Supper- 

A gift from a family friend in 1990.

A wonderful reminder for Maundy Thursday.

The Garden of Gethsemane-

a gift from a family friend in 1995.

 

Worship into the Week- Message of Encouragement

 Worship into the Week-

 The Lord's Obedient Servant   Isaiah 50:4-9a

Here we have a faithful servant of God who has 

endured challenging abuse- both physical and emotional

This is known as the third "Servant Song" and shows

the determination of this servant to remain steadfast

in his commission of  bringing comfort to the weary.

He allows God to bring the justice and he carries out his goal.

God brings him daily strength and wisdom 

and allows him to to blessed 

with an understanding of God's will for him.

He moves forward with confidence 

that "the Sovereign LORD is on my side!"

That changes how he steps into the future and he trusts

that God will be his deliverer and vindication.

We can certainly learn that even in the hardships we face,

 there are still many people to bring 

hope and encouragement to each day.

Supplies:

Visual Faith Printable

isaiah-50-4-children-s-bulletin-3-29-26

Crayons

Magazine Cutouts

Distress Ink

Markers

Worship into the Week- Spirit Within You

 

Worship into the Week-

Ezekiel 37:1-14

In this section of Scripture Ezekiel has a vision 

of a valley of dry bones that comes back to life

with the Spirit and God's Word.

We have the exiled, despondent and hopeless house 

of Israel who felt dead in their exile.

God comes back with a new story

 for these very dry bones.

God is able to resurrect what is "utterly dead".

God demonstrates His power and promises

 to restore His people back to their land, restore their nation, 

and put His Spirit within them.

Ezekiel must depend on God's power.

Then the bones rattle and come together with flesh.

There is a body but no breath.

Then Ezekiel speaks God orders and Breath-

 (Ruach - breath or wind)

as the Spirit enters and they come to life.

They stand as a large army.

This is the good reminder for us 

to listen to the word of the Lord!

It brings us to Life.

Supplies:

Visual Faith Printable

ezekiel-37-6-children-s-bulletin-3-22-26

Colored pencils

Distress Ink 

Magazine Cutouts

Vintage stamps