April 1, 2026
Beloved of God,
The eight days of Holy Week, which began the 29th of last month and will end the first Sunday of this new month, follow the most momentous events in history.
On what we call Palm/Passion Sunday, the God-Man Jesus enters Jerusalem to great fanfare before an exultant crowd but enters the city of His ancestor David to precipitate His own death. On what we call Good Friday, Jesus endures something unimaginably bad: the double whammy of crucifixion and God-forsakenness as He suffers and dies to open the way of salvation for all. On Easter He rises from the dead to live forever and to give eternal life, both in this world and in the next, to whomever trusts Him enough to follow Him as Savior and Lord.
A high percentage of us have believed the story of Holy Week for a long time. Yet, no matter how long we have believed it, we can always believe in it more – that is, celebrate it more and align our lives more with its reality. We can make Jesus, the risen God-Man, more central, crucial, cherished and shared throughout our days.
Holy Week provides a special opportunity for all of us to fulfill our repentance and develop our faith as never before. To facilitate such spiritual growth, Covenant offers the following once-a-year activities:
- At morning worship on Palm/Passion Sunday (March 29th), we contemplate Jesus’ charging into the mouth of the beast amidst the bright cheers of the crowds and His willingly submitting to suffering and self-sacrifice amidst the descent of the darkness of death and evil.
- At 4:00 p.m. that same day, we reflect on Jesus’ final messages from the cross as, in an event sponsored by the Port of Long Beach, the Up Close and Classical string quartet performs Haydn’s “The Seven Words of Christ”.
- At noon on Good Friday (April 3rd), we keep watch at the cross, and we take in that Jesus was God-forsaken for our sake that we might find true life.
- On Easter morning (April 5th), first at 8:00 a.m. in the Courtyard and then at 9:57 a.m. in the Sanctuary, with each worship service being distinct (with different music and sermons), we rejoice in Jesus’ triumph over sin and death. In between these two services, we have a lovely time of fellowship over a continental breakfast and with fun, educational activities for all ages.
Please avail of these chances to be uplifted and boosted in your faith – and to bring friends and family to share in the blessings!
Warmly in Christ,
Rob & Adele
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