Easter Sunday Message from Rev. John Shaver

Dear SDUMC Family and Friends,

I hope this finds you and your friends and family well and know my prayers are with you, all for peace and good health! I do miss seeing all of you during the week and especially on Sunday (I am grateful for the many ways that we have been able to connect through technology in recent weeks).

I know that this Easter will be very different for all of us. However, I believe that this will be a special day whether you wear your "Easter Best" or "Best Pajamas" as you are "Safe At Home." On Easter morning, we will again be livestreaming at 9:30 a.m. on our Facebook Page San Dieguito United Methodist Church or on our website encinitaschurch.com (we will also be emailing the worship service later in the day and some children's Easter activities).

Our Easter Livestream 9:30 a.m. Worship (and recorded service) will have some extraordinary musical surprises (even coming from New York City), a message of Hope, and the Hallelujah Chorus (be ready to stand up at the end of worship)!

We will also have some Easter fun with a virtual egg hunt during the worship hour (as you watch, children (of all ages) can look for the eggs hidden around the worship area. If you email us the list of eggs you find, we'll send you a surprise in the next few days (just email us at info@encinitaschurch.com). Again, children of all ages are welcome to join in too!

I hope that you might share a Facebook invite with family and friends (start a Facebook Watch Party - maybe connect with them over Zoom or phone and sing the Easter hymns together). If you are having any trouble with technology, this would be a great time to give a friend, child, or grandchild a call and ask them to help you with connecting to worship (and then have them join you too)... As I share the great spiritual greeting, "Christ Is Risen!" open your windows and yell out the ancient message, "Christ Is Risen, Indeed!"

Grace, Peace, Easter Blessings and Prayers for You and for our World,

Rev. John

PS We are recording our Good Friday Tenebrae Service at 1 p.m. today and hope you will join us later in the day as you receive it by email.

PPS Following our 9:30 a.m. Easter service, we will have another Virtual Coffee Hour (see info below). Also, watch some online studies and ways to connect over Zoom in the next few weeks.