Easter Weekend: The Before & After (celebrate with us...)

This weekend, we will be sharing some very good news. The best news, in fact. He is risen indeed! We are so privileged to know that regardless of any bad news that we've received in our lives and no matter what comes our way, we have this good news each and every day as our anchor. Thank you, Jesus!

On Friday, Scott Corkill will be sharing in our Before & After theme with a message titled "Red to White" from Isaiah 1:18. We will gather around the communion emblems and consider what the "after" of our lives is because of Christ.

On Saturday, we will rest, considering that quiet and grief-filled day of the first Easter weekend but with the full knowledge that the story doesn't end in death.

On Sunday, we celebrate. As Pope John Paul II said, "We are an Easter people and hallelujah is our song!"

If there is someone you'd like to invite, we want you to know that they will hear the message of the gospel on Friday and Sunday. Good Friday is a family service for all ages. Sunday will have regular Preschool Kids Church and the Jr and Sr Kids will join together for Kids Church after a time of worship at the beginning of the service.

We have an Easter page on our website with lots of FAQs answered if someone is new to our church. freedomkw.com/easter

Also, we will be livestreaming on Friday and Sunday. That might be a great way to invite someone who is hesitant about attending in person. Details for that are always on the homepage of our website.

I can't wait to see you this weekend and celebrate Jesus together!
Pastor Tracy

---

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, April 20 @ 10am

BEFORE & AFTER
War to Peace
Pastor Tracy

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

A Moment for Gratitude (thanks to all who helps us celebrate Easter!)

After a weekend like the one we just had, I get reflective. So many of you made a point to say something encouraging to me about our Good Friday or Easter Sunday services. My heart was so full from knowing that what was intentionally curated for the weekend made a connection to your lives in some way. Thank you, Jesus.

But more than that, I know what it took to make those moments special and believe me when I tell you that for weeks leading up to Easter, the body of Christ was in action, each member using their gifts for the common good.

Thank you to everyone who stayed late on a Sunday night in February to brainstorm ideas, features and songs.

Thank you to Matt who helped to craft each moment of the services from a musical and production perspective, learned songs, tracked down media and led so well on the weekend. #allthethings

Thank you to the worship team who prepared weeks in advance and set aside extra time to rehearse together - Adam, Juno, Matt, Shay, Talitha, Sara and Leanna. And thank you to the tech team of Walt, Brad, Malachi, Vaughn, Jide and Nate for spending time in rehearsals and making sure that the message of the weekend was easily seen and heard.

Thank you to Erin and Margaret who were able to take all of the ideas, interpret them and make them work - devotionals, scripture readings, kids features, communion, and "graves into gardens." So grateful for this staff.

Thank you to everyone who created and hosted our Spring Photo Booth, to bless both our community and our church family with memories from this weekend: Erin, Sandra, Pernilla, Nicole, Dave, Monica, Kari, Joke and Alicia.

Thank you to everyone who lent your voice, talent and heart to the services in so many other ways: Pastor Del, Jide, Chris & Ruthie (who also created the Good Friday service with me - grateful!).

We had excellent Hosts all weekend - both in person and OFF Campus, not to mention those who worked entirely behind the scenes counting the offering and taking care of the youngest members of our Freedom family on Sunday.

And to each and every one of you who invited someone to hear the message of gospel this weekend (whether they attended or not), who brought someone with you to a service or who prayed with us that Jesus would be known, I am deeply grateful to you and for you.

This, church, is the body of Christ. I am so glad to be a part of it and I'm glad to be serving this community alongside of each of you.

He is risen indeed!
Pastor Tracy

---

THIS SUNDAY

THE PASSION
The Ascension: 40 Days Later

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+YouTube Live)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Getting Ready for Easter (resources for the kids... and you!)

It doesn't matter what age you are, we all need to understand the Easter story. Some of us grew up hearing it but for some of us, it's a new story and maybe a bit of a mystery. We do our best to tell the story when we gather on Good Friday and Easter Sunday but it's worth hearing it again and again, making sure that everyone has a chance to understand how important the life, death and resurrection of Jesus is.

In today's devo I've linked some videos to help give you an overview of everything we are remembering and celebrating this weekend. They are great for kids and I encourage you to show them to the kids in your life and ask them if they have any questions.

But let's be honest, they're great for adults, too! These might act as a primer for our services or maybe there is someone in your life who is asking questions about what Easter means. Go ahead and share the links - they are all free on YouTube and easy to access.

Here again is the schedule for Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Freedom:

Good Friday, April 15 @ 10am
Family Communion Service (in person and livestream)

Saturday, April 16 @ 9:30-11:30am
Spring Photo Booth (We've invited our neighbours! You can come too!)

Easter Sunday, April 17 @ 10am
Family Service (in person and livestream) with Childcare for ages 0-3
Spring Photo Booth will also be available before and after the service.

We also encourage you to invite someone to join you in person or online. Let your friends, family and neighbours know about our services and invite them to sign up for the photo booth. You can get an invitation card from the church or point them to freedomkw.com/easter2022.

He is risen indeed!
Pastor Tracy

---

THIS SUNDAY

THE PASSION
The Sacrifice
GOOD FRIDAY

The Christ
EASTER SUNDAY

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+YouTube Live)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Easter Weekend and What's Next (He is risen indeed!)

Church - we have an amazing opportunity in the next few days. Similarly to Christmas, Easter is a time when people who don't typically attend church or think about spiritual things are open to coming to church and hearing about Jesus. My question, then, is simple: how can you use this opportunity to share with someone else the incredible life-change you've experienced?

It may be intimidating to think about but really, it can be as simple as a conversation with a neighbour, an invitation to watch our livestream, or a meal dropped off at a door. In all of this, we simply ask God to open our eyes, give us courage and lead us however He wants to.

Here's what's happening at Freedom now and next. Who could you invite to come along and hear about Him?

NOW...
Good Friday - April 2 @ 10:00 - In Person & Livestream
Easter Sunday - April 4 @ 10:00 - In Person & Livestream

NEXT...
Alpha Course - begins April 21 - Online (Invite someone to take it and join them!)

We are asking God to use us in this season for His Kingdom as we celebrate Jesus together.

He is risen indeed!
Pastor Tracy

---

This Friday & Sunday

EASTER… SO WHO IS JESUS?

GOOD FRIDAY
The Power of the Cross

EASTER SUNDAY
Conquering

Join us on Sunday at 10am for church online.
FOLLOW THE LIVESTREAM ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.
We also post the service to YOUTUBE on Sunday afternoon.

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.