Easter 2011

Wow!

What an amazing week.

Together, the ROCKHARBOR family gathered these last 5 days to declare Jesus and His freedom to anyone who would listen. Our journey through Easter Week was met by the power and presence of God in ways we’ll be talking about for some time:

Third Wednesday:

Our typically passionate gathering went to new levels as we anticipated and interceded for all things Easter. From the get-go, there was a sense that God had set apart this night for the sake of what would happen in the Amphitheatre on Sunday. Our worship was marked by relentless pursuit and adoration of Jesus. We danced, we clapped, we raised our hands…and we seemingly redefined what it means to make a joyful noise with a holy roar of epic proportion.

Our worship shifted as we began to cry out on behalf of those who would fill the Amphitheatre days later. With desperation, we asked Jesus to be Rescuer and Redeemer to hundreds of people that did not know Him.

Good Friday

Across 5 services, we considered the profound love and sacrifice that led Jesus to the cross. What can be seen as foolishness by the world around us, we saw the cross as the very power of God to save and make things new. Together, we were captured into gratitude and reverence through the truth that that process, Jesus’ making us beautiful, is beautiful.

The Stirring

Alongside more than 3,000 of our closest friends, we filled the Pacific Amphitheatre to be one Church. With reckless abandon, we enjoyed our God together as leaders from several local churches led us in worship. We interceded for our Easter gatherings, cities, and schools…asking that God would invade these areas in profound and significant ways.

Francis Chan brought us into the tension that the Church faces in anticipation of the empty tomb. Together, we are overjoyed to declare Jesus is risen while also feeling deeply burdened for those that don’t know Him. Thousands from churches across our county sought to humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from any wicked ways…so that our God would hear from heaven…and heal, save, and renew our cities.

Easter at the Pacific Amphitheatre

All of this culminated with great joy on Sunday morning with the news that Jesus is alive and freedom is here. Again and again, God’s Spirit pointed our hearts to Jesus:

Through dance, drama, and paint (!!), we learned that mundane, without joy, and hopeless is not what God has intended for us. He is the giver of freedom and life in ways that make us new and bring ultimate purpose and joy.

Through all-in worship, we sang of our God who is Savior, Rescuer, and King.

Through Francis’ teaching, we encountered the God who is worth everything and were stirred to repent and be baptized.

And through those who said yes to Jesus and being baptized, we became family together, singing, shouting, raising our hands in victory as hundreds of lives were made new.

Ultimately, through each baptism, each shout of victory, each prayer, each heart turning, each splash of color, each life set free, and each day that lead us to this one, God showed us…

Love has won the day.