Hi Newport Church Family,
We pray that you are doing well and in good health and spirit.
Lifting of Restrictions from Purple to Red Tier
Last Sunday Orange County moved from purple tier COVID-19 restrictions to red tier status! As a result many businesses are now allowed to either resume or expand their activities.
Next month Disneyland will reopen, spectators will be allowed to attend sporting events, restaurants are open for indoor dining and of course churches can meet at 25% of their capacity.
This is good news for us all, and we would love to have you join us in person for our services leading up to Easter if you have not already been doing so. We have a full church program including kids church, and we’re doing everything we can to make your experience at church as safe as possible.
“Find your place at your own pace” is something that we have always said at Newport Church, and we encourage you to do so now as we continue to see progress in the ongoing resumption of church life across our state and nation.
The Journey of Easter
We are now only two weeks away from Easter!
As we focus on the events that took place on Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday we as the church proclaim the hope that is central to our faith.
Jesus came into a broken world to save us, and to restore our relationship with our Heavenly Father and each other, through His death and resurrection.
At such a time as this, when our world is so evidently broken in so many ways, the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection is needed as much as in any other time in history.
Jesus came to establish a Kingdom of love not hate, unity not division and hope not despair.
For those of us who have experienced God’s love and grace, we have a story to tell, and someone somewhere needs to hear our story in this season.
Easter is a time when people are more open to an invitation to come to church, and to hear our story, than at many other times.
I remember how I was invited by some friends to go to church with them on Easter Sunday, after they had shared their story of how Jesus had changed their lives. Their stories, along with that Resurrection Sunday service, set into a motion a sequence of questions and weeks of seeking that led me to the point where I had a life changing encounter with Jesus.
I will be forever grateful for their stories and for the invitation to that Easter Service. Who are we inviting to church this easter? There is no better time and it could change their life forever, just as it did mine!
We encourage you join us for all three of our services, as we follow the journey of Easter, and invite someone in your world to one of these services.
Palm Sunday
We begin the journey of Easter with our Palm Sunday service, when we will focus on the day that Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem, while the city of Jerusalem came out to proclaim Him as their Messiah.
Good Friday
On Good Friday evening we have a special one hour service, when we will worship, take communion together and reflect on all that Jesus did for us at Calvary.
Easter Sunday
On Easter Sunday we are changing our weekly Sunday morning service time to 10am, with an English speaking service at 10am, and a Spanish speaking service at 11.45am!
Let’s celebrate the resurrection of Jesus together, and all that it means to us personally and to a world that needs to know the power of the resurrection in ever greater ways.
The Generosity of Easter
The journey of Easter is one of the greatest examples of God’s generosity toward each one of us.
Paul wrote to the Roman church, “God did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all.” Romans 8:32
He went on to say:
The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture…
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. Romans 8:34-39 Message
As we consider what Jesus did, let’s follow God’s example and give our best so that others can know God’s love, peace and presence this Easter.
As we give our time, talent and treasure we can make a way for others just as Jesus did by giving His life for us.
Thank you for your generosity, we are making a difference together, and it would not be possible without you!
If you would like to give now, you can do so by clicking here.
Rejoice, Pray, Give Thanks…..
In closing let’s remember and take to heart the words of Paul in his letter to the Thessalonian church:
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thess 5:16-18 NKJV
See you Tomorrow at 11am
We very much look forward to seeing you tomorrow either in person or online at 11am.
Never forget that your presence makes all the difference!
We love and appreciate you all greatly!
With love and blessings,
Jonathan and Dianne Wilson
Senior Pastors