Every person has a part...

March 27th, 2026

Every year, as Holy Week approaches, there are a few behind-the-scenes traditions that quietly take place around the church. Prayer guides get printed. Communion elements get ordered. Stations are set up, and my new favorite…retrieving (not rolling out ?) the barrels.

If you’ve never seen our storage area, imagine Narnia… except instead of magical wardrobes and talking animals, it’s files, trees, and a collection of very large decorative barrels. The barrels are beautiful when they’re set up. Getting them down, however, is where the adventure begins.

There is no easy way to get these things up into storage, and there is definitely no easy way to get them down. Gravity, as it turns out, is both a blessing and a curse.

In case you’re wondering, no workers’ comp claims were filed after this year’s operation. But there were plenty of hands involved. It was a true labor of love…part Tetris, part trust fall, part CrossFit. Several barrels survived. All volunteers survived. And in the end, our auditorium is now transformed beautifully for Holy Week.

And that’s the point, really. These barrels and all the decorations you’ll see aren’t just décor. They’re reminders. Every piece you notice (and many you won’t notice) was touched by someone who simply wanted to serve Jesus and bless our church family. That’s how the Kingdom works. God uses ordinary people, doing ordinary tasks, to prepare hearts for extraordinary moments.

Speaking of extraordinary moments, here’s what’s coming:

Maundy Thursday Service – 7 pm

Good Friday Self-Led Prayer – 7 am to 7 pm

Easter Sunday Services – 8, 9, 10, and 11 am

And before we get to all that, I hope you’ll join us this Sunday as we celebrate Palm Sunday and continue in Luke 2:41–52. We’ll see a twelve-year-old Jesus reminding us that the King has come to form us into His image, to shape us, grow us, and call us into His kingdom work. Which brings us right back to… barrels.

Some serve on the stage. Some serve behind the scenes. Some serve by setting up and tearing down, posting, pouring, reading, singing, and teaching. But each of us has a part in the work of the Kingdom.

I can’t wait to be with you this week, and especially this Sunday. Services are at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or on our New Life website at 9:15 am. Also, we would LOVE for you to follow us on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

Come early for some coffee and to meet a few friends,

Troy