09 Apr Easter Story: Harlan, Ind.

From Gary Gates (right), senior pastor of South Scipio UB church (Harlan, Ind.)

Several of our congregation participated in community Lenten luncheons, cooperating with area churches. Each church supplied one of the weekly meals, and their respective pastors provided a Lenten devotional.

Our Palm Sunday began with a 9:00 carry-in brunch. Special music and readings, a children’s sermon, a short meditation, and communion service followed during the worship hour.

A Good Friday service was hosted by the Harlan Christian Youth Center, an offshoot of our congregation.

Easter Celebration included a welcoming poem read by a young lady, two songs by a women’s ensemble, a solo, video song (“He’s Alive”), responsive reading, and a message. Many guests and irregular attenders joined our celebration of the Lord’s resurrection.

07 Apr Easter Story: Oak Harbor, Ohio

A large piece of artwork displayed during the Easter service at Shoreline Church.

From Steve Fish, senior pastor of Shoreline Church (Oak Harbor, Ohio)

We chose to do a contemporary observance of Lent this year. We started on Ash Wednesday by burning in a small bowl slips of paper with confessed sins written on them (it was quite a fire.)

We encouraged Shoreline families to add family mealtime devotions into their lives for Lent (instead of giving something up.)

We celebrated the Passion week with a Seder meal and Good Friday services.

For six weeks we added something into each worship service–special music, worship dance, drama, and chalk art. On Easter Sunday we brought all these pieces back together as a response to the message that God’s strong arm (Isaiah 53:1) has brought from death to life those who seek the hidden treasure of God’s kingdom (Matt 13:44-46).

We were up 30 from 2009 Easter attendance. We continue to seek ways to reach people along the 107 miles of Shoreline in Ottawa County, Ohio. Thankful to God for His goodness to us!

07 Apr Easter Story: Rockford, Ill.

Pastor Barry Skinner and boys

Kevin Bergdall, a layperson at Kilburn Avenue, at the Easter pancake breakfast.

From Barry Skinner, senior pastor of Kilburn Avenue UB (Rockford, Ill.)

On Sunday evening, April 4, about 12 of us held an Easter chapel service at the Rockford Rescue Mission. On Saturday, in preparation for the service, we had made 180 sack/dinners and Arby’s provided us with 180 roast beef sandwiches and condiments (which were picked up Sunday evening so they would be fresh).

The theme was the victory we have in Christ Jesus because of what He accomplished on the cross. Several people responded for prayer in their lives. One fellow in particular broke down in tears as I prayed for him; the Holy Spirit was indeed present when I prayed with him.

We also walked the community inviting folks to our pancake breakfast on Easter Sunday morning. Preparation for that was also done Saturday morning.

On Easter Sunday we celebrated the risen Christ and had special music from guests Charles and Linda Nealy (who also went to the Rescue Mission with us that night). We also had our communion service and six other people came who do not normally attend. Two young boys from the community came and bonded with my grandson who is their age, and they stayed for most of our service.

06 Apr Easter Story: Byron Center, Mich.

From J. Michael Caley (right), senior pastor of Banner of Christ Church (Byron Center, Mich.)

On Palm Sunday I gave a report on my recent trip to Israel, along with slides and stories. It ended with a pictorial walk of Christ during Holy Week. Over 100 people attended.

On Tuesday, we celebrated a full Passover Dinner with families participating by bringing some of the food. We had 90 in attendance as we celebrated Jesus’ declaration that he was the lamb of God come to sacrifice himself for our sin.

On Saturday, April 3, we held our third annual free egg hunt with over 4000 candy-filled eggs spread throughout our back lawn. Over 200 showed up to gather the eggs, pick up special prizes, and hear the message of Easter.

Many new families came the following day for Easter Sunday, with a strong attendance of 275 even though many families had left for the beginning of Spring Break vacations. Banner has seen an attendance average increase of over 23% for the past two years.

06 Apr Easter Story: Jackson, Mich.

From Scott Hardaway, senior pastor of Pathway Community Church (Jackson, Mich.)

Two weeks before Easter, I challenged everyone to pray for three unchurched people and invite them to our Easter service, and I asked those who were willing to do this to stand up. We had 45 adults stand (over half the adults in attendance that day).

Since that time, I’ve been sending out a daily email of encouragement to each of the people who stood, and praying for each of them daily, along with 10 unchurched people of my own.

On Easter Sunday, we kicked off a new series on different world religions titled, “So What Is The Difference?” We had 157 people in attendance–112 regular attenders, and 45 visitors (25 of them first-time visitors).

So 1 out of every 6 people in attendance had never been to our church before. Nearly all the first-time visitors are unconnected with any church. By comparison, we had 31 first-time visitors in all 12 months of 2009.

Our church is learning how to become evangelistic people. Praise God!

06 Apr Easter Story: Shippensburg, Pa.

From Rocky Spear (right), senior pastor of Mongul UB church (Shippensburg, Pa.)

Easter for Mongul Church began Saturday morning at 11:00 with an 1100 egg Eggstravaganza. Food and crafts were also available. Having promoted this on the radio, internet and flyers, we did not know what to expect.

We were excited and overwhelmed when over 250 kids and adults showed up, some as early as 10:00. Great contacts were made with our community.

Easter Sunday morning marked a new page in the history of Mongul, as we began a third worship experience. All three services were well attended with a total attendance of 251.

The highlight? At the end of each service, we gave the opportunity to pray the sinner’s prayer. The instructions were, if you prayed to receive Christ, write your name on the bulletin tear-off and place a “1” beside your name.

A little girl, attending with her parents and grandparents, walked by me at the end of the service, holding her grandfather’s hand, and she handed me a little piece of paper with her name written in her best handwriting and a “1” beside it. Her grandfather had tears in his eyes.

Sixty guests joined us for Easter worship, about half of them “first-timers.” God is working in the church and he’s helping us reach into the community. I am excited about the journey God is allowing Mongul Church to take.

06 Apr Easter Story: Stryker, Ohio

From Nick Woodall, senior pastor of Stryker UB church (Stryker, Ohio)

Stryker United Brethren held a Lenten luncheon every Wednesday. The menu included donated soup, sandwiches, cookies, and appropriate menu items. We divided the hour into two parts:

• 11:30 – 12:00: meal.
• 12:00 – 12:30: worship service.

Each week a different community pastor spoke for 10-12 minutes. We also had special music from different churches.

The Lenten luncheons were attended by a wide variety of people from the community, including a bus of clients from the Quadco sheltered workshop attended.