Palm Sunday Potluck, Ham will be provided. Please bring a side dish, salad or dessert to serve 10.

During holy week, we will journey from the table of grace to the cross, drawing us into Jesus’ path of suffering, service, and stubborn love that will not let us go. On Maundy Thursday, we will share a simple dinner service in the fellowship hall, gathering around the table to remember Jesus’ last supper with his friends, his washing of feet, and his command to love one another as he has loved us. As we eat, pray, and listen to Scripture, we will encounter the story of love in new and different ways.

During holy week, we will journey from the table of grace to the cross, drawing us into Jesus’ path of suffering, service, and stubborn love that will not let us go. On Good Friday, we continue this journey, moving with Jesus through betrayal, injustice, and the weight of the world’s pain. In a quiet, contemplative tenebrae service, we will hear the passion story, encounter the cross of Christ, and carry home reminder of God's love as we wait in the stillness for the hope of Easter morning.

Easter Sunday invites us to rejoice at the end of the road we’ve been walking with Jesus and to begin a new one. From the shadows of the cross, we arrive at an empty tomb and a risen Christ who meets us on The Way with resurrection hope. In this celebratory service, surrounded by music, Scripture, and gathered community, we’ll proclaim that love is stronger than death, that nothing can separate us from the grace of God, and that Christ now walks beside us as we continue our journey into a future made new.

WHO: Children of All Ages
WHAT: Easter Fair
WHERE: Waddill Hall
WHEN: Sunday, April 5, 2026
WHY: Celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus
Remember- right after the service is the annual Easter Egg Hunt. Kids will meet Val Cox in front of the Nursery. If you don’t have an extra basket to bring with you, don’t worry – we have extras. There will be a variety of crafts and don’t forget- live chicks.
We are asking for donations of individually wrapped candies for the Easter Egg Hunt.
Celebrate the resurrection and love of our Lord Jesus
with joy this Easter!

With love and blessings,

One of my favorite hymns to sing after Easter is “Easter People, Raise Your Voices.” There’s something about that opening line that captures the whole spirit of this season. Easter isn’t just one day. Easter is a way of living. It’s an attitude. It’s a direction. We are Easter people, living in the light of resurrection every day.

Although the wintertime reminds us that the world can be cold and dark and dreary, the springtime that sets the backdrop for our resurrection story is teeming with life from every corner, awakening new life, new hope, and new light. As Easter people, we get to carry that message of new life into a world that still aches for hope. When the world feels heavy and hearts are hurting, we offer the promise of resurrection in the face of death and despair. Every act of compassion, every prayer whispered for peace, every bit of love shared in Christ’s name is all resurrection work.

April always brings that beautiful tension of the season: the snow might still fall, but the grass pushes through anyway. There may be sheets of ice followed by torrential rain, and yet the bulbs begin to flower as an act of quiet defiance. It’s a perfect picture of what God’s grace does in us. Even when the ground feels cold and hard, the Spirit stirs something alive beneath the surface. Before long, the thaw gives way to life again.

This Easter season, we’ll be exploring that very truth together in our new worship series, “Resurrection Stories.” Each week, we’ll share powerful stories of rising up from grief, fear, illness, addiction, and despair into courage, hope, and new life. Inspired by Jesus’ words in John 11: “I am the resurrection and the life…”, this series reminds us that resurrection isn’t only something that happened two thousand years ago but also something God is still doing every day.

Maybe you’ve felt “locked up” by something recently, whether it’s worry, loss, uncertainty, exhaustion, or something else. These next several weeks will invite us to name those things and discover, by grace, the keys to unlocking freedom, healing, and renewal. I hope you’ll show up, not just to hear these stories, but to be a living part of them. Because together, as Easter people, we help write the next chapter of resurrection in our community and the world.

As we move through this season, may we keep singing with the joy of people who know the tomb is empty. May we be quick to celebrate, slow to despair, and eager to share the hope we have in Christ. Because friends, the good news is still good news.

Rev. David Petty

Dear friends at St. Paul’s,

I will share the two most recent changes at Crossfire.  When the food stamps shut down, our growth at Crossfire grew, averaging 30 new families daily.  It became apparent that we must look for a solution to be able to keep up with the growing needs.  Our parking lot was always overfilled, with people riding around trying to find a place to park, even though our volunteers park off site, and take a shuttle.

We explored various options, such as opening a second grocery pantry in another part of town.  We tried to work something out with District 20 but discovered that they did not want to partner with us because we are faith based.  When that deal collapsed, we asked God to show us what to do. It was two days later that we saw the old Family Dollar Store, only a mile east on Austin Bluffs, had gone on the market for sale, way below the market value.  If we moved the clothing and thrift store items out of our current building, it would not only free up parking spots but would also enlarge our current space for groceries and our growing educational needs.  We purchased that building and after doing the needed permits, stocking and setting up, we are scheduled to open it up on March 21.  Our hours there will be Tuesday through Saturdays from 10:00 to 4:00.  We hope to keep the missional emphasis there in various ways.  The proceeds will help offset the $30,000 per month food purchases that we are currently making.  It has a prayer center.  We are trying to keep the prices affordable.  We hope to reach out with educational craft demonstrations.  Guests facing tragedy situations may apply for help for their clothing and household needs.  And it is very different that your average thrift store, come and see.

The second big change is our educational outreach.  We are currently offering these educational programs with several classes in each series—Super Saver Saturday Frugal Living Series, Putting your Best Foot Forward Series for Career Development, Cooking Series for Frugal and Nutritional Living, Financial Management Series, and Sewing Workshops.  We offer sampling with recipes on Wednesdays to show our guests ways to use the food resources available and we do a written outreach Thrifty Tips for Trying Times.  We will eventually be able to use the old thrift store area for our increased class size.
Blessings to you all and thank you again for your prayers and support.

Leslie Miller, Co-Founder
Crossfire Ministries

Each communion Sunday thereafter we will have a basket for those who feel called to give above and beyond their pledge. This "second-mile" giving will help fund the pastor's discretionary fund, which helps meet community needs as they arise, such as gas, lodging, clothing, etc. Feel free to bring your spare cash and change to help make a change in the lives of those in need.

“I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” — John 11: 25-26, NRSVUE 
 
The Easter Season is a time of celebrating all the ways in which resurrection is possible in our lives. We can be in need of rising out of the depth of imprisonment, addiction, poverty, illness, and oppression — not just physically and literally, but also spiritually. What keeps us locked up inside? What holds us back from the joy of life? What binds us, keeping us from the fullness of who God created us to be? Join us for powerful testimonies of courage, kindness, strength, and overcoming — Resurrection Stories — from those who have found “resurrection” in their lives. It might just inspire you to unlock your own rising up!

St. Paul’s members- we need your help. If you know of anyone in our St. Paul’s family who is homebound, in a nursing home, or unable to come to church for a while, please let me know their name and phone number. I will be happy to contact them and see if they would appreciate having communion brought to them. Lu Petersen, 597-2824.

As the holidays approach, it’s never been a better time to purchase grocery cards from the church. They can be used at all Safeway and Kings Soopers stores. In addition to using them for your own grocery shopping, they make great gifts and stocking stuffers. They are as simple to use as a credit or debit card. You can purchase grocery cards for $25, $50, or $100. The cards never expire and you can use them multiple times until the entire balance on the card has been sent. Best of all, the church makes 5% of the face value of each card sold.

A number of students attending the TESLA school across the street from the church have some needs that you can help supply. They need food cards, deodorant (boys and girls scents), hairbrushes, toothpaste/toothbrushes, hoodies/sweaters (all adult sizes), and boys’ and girls’ t-shirts and long sleeve t-shirts (all adult sizes).
They have also asked for help with a food drive. You can donate grocery cards or non-perishables. Any assistance you can provide will let the young people know that people care about them.

We will be collecting coats for Springs Rescue Mission. A box is located in the Narthex.

The Children’s Ministry has been called to collect pop tabs to donate to the Ronald McDonald House.
A jar will be placed in the Narthex on the information table.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact
Valerie Cox @ 660-2446 or Valerie.cox29@outlook.com

March 29th is Palm Sunday and we will be having our Annual Palm Sunday Potluck immediately after service. St. Paul’s is providing the Ham. As of now, no one has signed up to help with Hospitality for April. I will need help especially on the 5th (Easter) as we do extra goodies for Fellowship. The sign-up sheet is on the Volunteer Table.

On May 8th and 15th the Home School Music Program will be having their Spring Concerts. St. Pauls’ is providing goodies for intermission on both days. We need lots of cookies, brownies, lemon bars. Also, sugar-free and gluten free options. Items may be homemade or store bought and can be brought in between May 3-8. Please mark them “CONCERT” and bring them to the kitchen.

There will be a sign-up sheet on the Volunteer table starting in April for helpers. The concerts start at 6 pm, you would need to be there at 5:30.

Don Zimmerman 4/1
Rusty Lindell 4/2
Rachel Petty 4/2
Molly Carpenter 4/3
Daphne Sturgill 4/3
Kim Looney 4/3
Polly Cox 4/3
CLM Twinkle Gordon 4/4
Rachel Ford 4/5
Laurie Gabriel 4/8
Anne Sater 4/9
Pat Fleeman 4/11
Carol Lindell 4/11
Scarlett Brandt 4/13
Madge Burbach 4/14
Linda Patzke 4/15
Kailey Cox 4/20
Art Gibbens 4/21
Laurie Reese 4/21
Jeanne Marsh 4/26
Scott Mowery 4/26
Marje Erickson 4/27

Doug & Julie Coffee
April 18, 1981
45 Years

Rachel & Patrick Ford
April 19, 1997
29 Years

Alice & Don Shartran
April 22, 1989
37 Years

11:00a Adult Sunday School
5:00p Youth Group7:00p Vocal Fusion