Easter Weekend

The warm sunshine this week has made winter a distant memory. It is really wonderful! I want to thank you for joining us over the past weekend at the Good Friday Service and the Easter Service. This was something new for TIF and I was thrilled to see so many different people from different places on the planet. We really did have people from 6 of the 7 continents (Antarctica being the only exception). Since we have talked about God’s Kingdom in recent weeks, I could not help but think that all the nationalities represented from the past weekend is a glimpse of what God’s Kingdom will look like. It was really wonderful to experience! Let’s continue to build community with one another.

This coming Sunday at 16:00, Beth James will be sharing with us some things that God has impressed upon her lately. I hope you can attend and experience God’s blessing through the words she speaks to us. I really like how we can learn from one another through the different experiences we have had. As I often say, this is the wonderful thing about TIF with so many different people coming together. Have a wonderful and blessed week and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Join us this Easter on Good Friday & Resurrection Sunday!

I hope that you will join us this week for our Good Friday Service at 18:00 in Salem Church, and Resurrection Service on Easter Sunday at 16:00 in Salem Church. Both services will begin promptly at the listed times as we will take time to visit with one another afterwards. I would encourage you to invite family and friends as we sing together and explore the significance of what scripture has to say about both the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The children will be doing some activities as well that help them learn about these things. During the Friday service, we will be taking the Lord’s Supper – some traditions also refer to this as the Holy Eucharist or Communion. This is a fitting way for us to reflect on the significance of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. I’m looking forward to being with you all this weekend as we celebrate the central point to faith in Jesus Christ. For those of you who are traveling home this weekend, we pray for blessings and safety, and we will see you when you return.

Sunday, April 17th

This coming Sunday, Luciano will be offering some thoughts and discussion on Romans 12:1-2. Last week we talked about the importance of reflecting God’s Kingdom attributes on earth. In order to reflect "God’s Kingdom" in our life as individuals and as a Church, we have to leave behind our old ways of thinking/doing and move forwards ... renewing our minds (Rom. 12:1-2). I’m looking forward to how we can learn and grow together this coming Sunday.

Just a reminder – TIF will have a Good Friday worship service on April 22nd at 18:00. During this time we will sing songs, reflect on the meaning of the cross and Jesus, and share the Lord’s Supper together. Then, on Easter Sunday, April 24th, we will gather at 16:00 to celebrate the most significant event in history – the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. During this time we will worship through song and reflect on the meaning of the resurrection. I hope you will plan on joining us and invite friends and family to come as well.

This coming Sunday, April 10th

This week we will be examining the nature of the Kingdom of God. Jesus frequently taught about the Kingdom of God and the purpose that gives each one of us in this world and the life to come. I want to take some time to unfold the historical significance of God’s Kingdom, examine and embrace its paradoxical nature, and work towards an understanding of the Kingdom of God. As we do this, we will be reflecting on an important phrase in the Lord’s Prayer that says - thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:10). By understanding God’s Kingdom in light of how Jesus taught us to pray for God’s will, we will better see God’s purpose and subsequently our purpose on this earth. I hope to see each of you on Sunday as we learn and grow together.

I also want to let you know that we are planning a Good Friday worship service on April 22nd at 18:30. During this time we will sing songs, reflect on the meaning of the cross and Jesus, and share the Lord’s Supper together. Then, on Easter Sunday, April 24th, we will gather at 16:00 to celebrate the most significant event in history – the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. During this time we will worship through song and reflect on the meaning of the resurrection. More details will be provided in the days to come, but I hope you will plan on joining us and invite friends and family to come as well.