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Youth Ministries at St. Edmund's Episcopal Church
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Matthew 21:1-11
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,
saying to them,
"Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me.
If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
"Say to Daughter Zion,
'See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'"
The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.
They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.
A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
"Hosanna to the Son of David!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"
The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
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It was only about a three mile walk for Jesus to travel from Bethany where he had been staying with Lazarus and his sisters. After three years of daily hiking Jesus was in pretty good shape. This walk should have be relatively simple, however Jesus had some idea that this Passover might be difficult. Earlier, Jesus told his disciples for the third time that when they go to Jerusalem, everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. Jesus may not have known exactly what was going to happen but probably knew that tensions were increasing and things probably were going to get ugly. I would imagine his journey would have been walked with shaking legs.
When he gets to the Mount of Olives which overlooks Jerusalem, it's almost as if Jesus can't go on any further. Because it offers a panoramic view of the city, this spot is often where Jewish people go to lament the destruction of the temple. It is also a place where Jewish people believe the messiah will appear and raise people from the dead making it the most popular burial site in all of Jerusalem. Jesus decides to send two of his disciples to go on ahead and look for a colt and bring it back for him. They do so, they place their cloaks on the donkey and Jesus climbs on top. They continue on and Matthew says, "A
very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
'Hosanna to the Son of David!'
'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'
'Hosanna in the highest heaven!'"
Luke adds this line, "Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, 'Teacher, rebuke your disciples!' 'I tell you,' he replied, 'if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.'"
The crowds are making so much noise that by the time Jesus arrives in Jerusalem everyone is talking about him. A low profile is no longer an option and now the people who love Jesus and the people who want him dead all know who he is.
In the midst of the chaos and the intense fear he had to have felt, Jesus calmly continues his turbulent journey, showing us that courage is looking beyond fear, beyond the immediate. Wherever you find yourself headed today, this week, this year try to shut out the temptations to follow make decisions that you know maybe aren't the best but feel the safest or are the easiest. Instead keep walking with your eyes on God, feeling his support with each step and listening for the praise of Christ that is rising up from the road.
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~ New Email Address ~
We are working to update and streamline the email addresses for everyone in the office. Please note that as of April 1:
~ Youth Group ~
We have been finding that the first Sunday of the month isn't
the best
day for Youth Group and therefore
we are going to try the
2nd Sunday of the month.
Please mark your calendars for Sunday, April 8th.
If anyone would like to host, please contact me, otherwise we will meet at the church.
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Upcoming Events ~
Sunday, March 25
Palm Sunday
Team 4 Acolyting
Children's Liturgy
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms
Teaching: Darcy, Jaden, Antonio & Heather
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Spring Break Activities
Don't be bored this spring, join us for fun!
Monday, March 26
Natural History Museum
Critter Club
10-10:45
Critter Club is a family friendly program that introduces 3- to 5-year-olds and a participating adult to the Museum's live animals.
Junior Scientists
10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Junior Scientist is specially designed for 6- to 9-year-olds and their families. Packed with activities, demonstrations, and an up-close look at some cool (and sometimes creepy crawly) highlights from our collection, each month is a crash course in one of the many fields of science explored at the Museum.
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Tuesday, March 27
California Science Center
King Tut Exhibit and Imax
$35 for adults, $25 for kids 12 and under.
This event could sell out so those of us planning have already purchased
tickets to see the exhibit at 1:45 pm and Imax at 3 pm
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Wednesday, March 28
Kidspace Museum for Caterpillar Adoption Days
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Thursday, March 29
Passover Seder
Parish Hall | 6 pm
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Friday, March 30
Ice Skating
3:30 pm | Pasadena Skate Center
Please note the time change
$15 per person
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Sunday, April 1
Easter Sunday
Please join us for a massive Easter Egg hunt, dove release
and pinatas
on the Close
following the 10 am service.
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Sunday, April 8
Team 2 Acolyting
Children's Liturgy
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms
Teaching: Vicki, Antonio & Heather
Youth Group
5 - 7 pm | Youth Room
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Sunday, April 15
Team 3 Acolyting
Children's Liturgy
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms
Teaching: Antonio & Heather
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Sunday, April 22
Team 4 Acolyting
Children's Liturgy
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms
Teaching: Rebecca, Antonio & Heather
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Sunday, April 29
Celebration of Father George
Team 5 Acolyting
Children's Liturgy
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms
Please feel free to contact
Heather
if you have questions.
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Translation available
here
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