On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” John 20:19
Think of the disciples’ joy when they saw Jesus had risen from the tomb! They had heard Mary’s report that Jesus was alive. Peter and John had even gone to the tomb themselves and seen that Jesus body was not there. Yet how could they hope that his promises had come true? How could he really have risen?
So when Jesus appeared to them and said, “Peace be with you!” imagine how joyful the disciples felt! What an amazing feeling of joy to see Jesus!
Meeting Jesus face to face, hearing his loving voice, is an experience that nothing else can match. As Jesus’ followers, our job is to help as many people as possible experience the same joy that we have experienced.
In an effort to share Jesus’ joy with as many people as possible, the Decatur-Trinity Praise Band will, beginning this Sunday, April 18, lead our opening worship. We will begin singing at 10:25 so please come into the sanctuary as soon as the music begins. The band will provide opening music twice each month, along with special music during offering time.
This represents something new in our worship and new things require some patience and openness. I hope that you will be supportive of this effort and recognize it as an attempt to help as many as possible hear Jesus say, “Peace be with you!”
Jerry
