Sunday morning we arrived back from our week-plus in Israel. It was an amazing tour and prayer journey. Wow! Thanks to all of you who prayed for us during our time in the Holy Land. We had many divine appointments and more than a couple divine encounters.

We experienced an amazing sense of the Lord's presence and peace at the Garden Tomb--the place where many believe Jesus was buried and rose again on the third day. I can't vouch for the authenticity of the location--but I know He is Risen! Then the heavens opened and the Spirit was poured out upon our group in Jaffa, where the Holy Spirit first fell upon Gentiles, as recorded in Acts 10. We met with Israeli soldiers on the northern border, about 250 yards from a Hizbollah headquarters. We met with leaders of an amazing ministry in Jericho called 'Seeds of Hope.' There are seven (7!) born-again believers in this ancient city that is now controlled by the Palestinian Authority. They run a kindergarten and community center to serve the local population and open doors for the gospel. We took the children of the kindergarten a gift from our own 'Welldiggers Weekday' school.

We were accompanied on the tour by Rabbi Cliff Librach of the United Jewish Center in Danbury, CT. Actually Rabbi Cliff helped to lead the tour. We had hoped that the good rabbi would be with us this coming Sunday to teach on the biblical Passover. But alas, his return flight and the drawn-out process of immigration control at JFK will prevent him from arriving on time to be at both services. So . . . the congregation will be forced to listen to me. (Hope you come anyway!)

I do plan to teach a bit about Passover and its significance to all the people of God, with some very contemporary applications for Americans in 2012. The Lord gave me a powerful middle-of-the-night download a month or so ago and I believe the timing is right to share this with all of you.

I also want to tell you about plans for Holy Week. We will observe Maundy Thursday on April 5th at 7:00 PM. This will be a special observance of the Last Supper with readings from the gospel texts and response in song. Childcare for 6 and under will be provided in the nursery.

Then on Resurrection Sunday, April 8th, we will hold to our normal schedule of services at 9:00 and 11:00. The children from Well Diggers, Go Fish, and The Rock will share in the service with song and some dramatic touches that should add a special touch to the festivities.

I am sorry that Rabbi Cliff will not be able to launch the week. But we have given him a rain check for another date to be named later.


Many blessings, Pastor Rick