Pastor's Weekly Message                                                       March 20, 2016

"Palm Sunday and Hope"
 
Palm Sunday brings us to the close of Lent, a season of self-denial and sacrifice, and ushers us into Passion Week (Holy Week) with all of its hope and expectations of liberation and salvation.  Palm Sunday on the Christian calendar coincides with the week leading to the Passover celebration on the Jewish calendar.  These days remind Christians of our connection with the Jewish faith and how both faith traditions look for God's in-breaking in human affairs by the Messiah.  Palm Sunday demonstrates how no amount of oppression can dash the hopes of a people who believe that their king will come.
 
A major theological theme of Palm Sunday is hope.  The entry of Jesus into the holy city of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday is the witness that God will not leave creation to continue in the status quo of power arrangements that rob persons of what the Divine intended, whether those power arrangements have Roman origin, Jewish origin or American political party origins. 
 
For African Americans, the impoverished, immigrants and others who have often suffered from the power arrangements of the status quo, Palm Sunday is a day of hope and celebration that speaks to divine possibilities for change.
 
Today let us lift our voices, as the people did thousands of years ago in celebration of Jesus, and say "Hosanna, Hosanna to God in the highest!"
 
Peace and Love,
Pastor Kip Banks, Sr.


East Washington Heights Baptist Church in the News

STOP THE VIOLENCE PRAYER MARCH

Thanks to all who participated in last week's "Prayer March to Stop the Violence." The march was a success and we will continue in the days ahead to push to take the Gospel of Christ outside of the four walls of our church.






EWHBC LENTEN & PALM SUNDAY CELEBRATION


 Click on the link below for an article in the East of the River paper about East Washington Heights' Lenten celebration and our upcoming community Palm Sunday celebration which will take place at 9:15am on Sunday on our church steps.



 

SUNDAY'S EVENTS

9:15 a.m. Community Palm Sunday Celebration on the Lawn
10:45 a.m. - Devotional Service
11:00 a.m.- Palm Sunday Worship
Blessing of Baby 
12:30 p.m.- Semi Annual Business Meeting
 
EVENTS THIS WEEK:

GOSPEL CHOIR REHEARSAL -
Tuesday, March 22 - 7:30 p.m.
BIBLE STUDY AND PRAYER MEETING - 
Wednesday, March 23 - 6:30 p.m.
CLOTHES CLOSET - Thursday, March 24 - 10:00 a.m.
MAUNDY THURSDAY - Thursday, March 24 - 7:00 p.m.
GOOD FRIDAY'S SEVEN LAST WORD SERVICE -
 Friday, March 25 - 12 noon
EASTER EGG HUNT - Saturday, March 26 - 3:00 p.m.

Holy Week services for this week:   On this Thursday, March 24th at 7:00 pm we will have a special Maundy Thursday Service as we host the Metropolitan Lenten Fellowship.  This will be a group of 12 churches from across the city. The Rev. Dr. Earl Trent of the Florida Avenue Baptist Church will be our preacher; on Friday, March 25th - 12 noon - we will participate in the Good Friday's Seven Last Word Service at the Ryland-Epworth United Methodist Church; On Saturday, March 25 we invite you to participate in our annual Easter Egg Hunt and on Sunday, March 27th - 7:00 am & 11:00 am - Resurrection Worship Service.

Acknowledgment - To Rev. Kip B. Banks, Sr. and my church family:  The family of Lessie S. Hart extends heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your prayers, telephone calls, cards, letters and other acts of kindness.  Your kind and thoughtful expressions of sympathy is deeply appreciated and gratefully acknowledged.  Deacon Mable J. Cheek.

Note of Sympathy - East Washington Heights Baptist Church extends heartfelt sympathy to Mrs. Shirley Gibson in the passing of her stepfather, and David and Elizabeth Clark in the passing of their brother-in-law, Mr. Joseph Matthews, Sr., of Columbia, South Carolina.
Prayer Conference Call Number - Please join us for our daily (M-F) prayer conference call. These 10-minute calls are a great way to start your day and include a daily scripture lesson.  Please join us at (1-641) 715-3272 access cod: 732413# at 7:00 a.m.


East Washington Heights Baptist Church | 202-582-4811 | www.ewhbc.org
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Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. | 601 50th St., NE | Washington | DC | 20019