Traces of Grace

• Holy Thursday Service: Thursday 4/14, 7pm. This service will focus on Remembering & Gratitude as we celebrate Holy Communion together as Christ instituted at the Last Supper and hear again the Passion story.
• Good Friday Men's Breakfast: Friday 4/15, 6:55am. This will be a great time of fellowship and hearing the good news shared by Garry Cobb.
• Good Friday Service: Friday 4/15, 12-1:30pm. This year we will hear from a variety of people from our congregation as they reflect on one of the seven last words of Christ from the cross. A program for kids will also be held during this time.
• Easter Sunday worship: Sunday, 4/17, Traditional at 9am, Contemporary at 10:30am. Come and join us as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and how it makes it possible for us to live according to the Way of Jesus.

Our sermon series for Lent is titled, "This is the Way: Following Jesus' Rule of Life Today." Each week we're going to look at a pair of spiritual habits that we see in the life of Jesus and how we can put those habits into practice in the year 2022. 

• March 6 - A Rule of Life & The Big 3 - Matt. 11:28-30
• March 13 - Fasting & Reflection - Matt. 4:1-11
• March 20 - Simplicity & Slowing - Matt. 6:25-34
• March 27 - Silence & Solitude - Mark 6:30-46
• April 3 - Sabbath & Rest - Luke 4:14-30
• April 10 - Feasting & Celebration - John 2:1-12
• April 14 - Remembering & Gratitude - Luke 22:7-23
• April 15 - Suffering & Submission - Luke 23:26-46
• April 17 - “I Am the Way” - John 14:1-21

I invite you to not only come and listen to the sermons each week as part of our worship, but to put the habits into practice. As you do, talk about your experiences with some other people. I think your life will be enriched by practicing these spiritual habits in community, so here are a couple of ways you might engage these practices this Lent:

1. Practice this week’s habits.
2. Stack the new practices of the week on the previous habits.
3. Focus your practice on one of the habits through Lent.

Normally, when people think about dominos, they think about one domino knocking into the next which knocks into the next, etc., etc. But there's another domino effect, similar to the butterfly effect, that exists because a domino can knock over a second domino that is one-and-a-half times larger than the preceding domino. That means a 2-inch domino can knock over a 3-inch domino which can knock over a 4.5-inch domino, etc. At that rate of increase,

• Domino #23 is taller than the Eiffel Tower,
• #42 is taller than Mt. Everest,
• and #63 could reach to the moon!

The book of Colossians is full of spiritual truths that, when taken together cumulatively, are able to topple spiritual strongholds that loom large in the world. From Easter, through Ascension day, until Pentecost we are going to look at what it means for Jesus Christ to be at the core of who we are and all that we do.

While we are leaning into this sermon series, the Seedbed Daily Text* is going to be running a corresponding daily devotional email. In fact, we're going to be joining churches across the country and around the world who are preaching from Colossians around this same outline of 'The Domino Effect.' I encourage you to sign up to receive the Daily Text and read the devotions along with our sermon series. I also have a limited number (20) of printed devotional books available for $10, for those who prefer to hold a book in your hand each day.

Either by email or in print, I hope you'll join us on this journey through Colossians. I believe God has important things to say to us about the centrality of who Jesus is and how He changes our lives.

*Seedbed is a publishing group that was birthed out of Asbury Theological Seminary which has become the premier publisher of orthodox, Wesleyan books and Bible studies. I recommend their materials without reservation. If you're looking for a book to read or a Bible study to lead check out their offerings

Men’s Good Friday Breakfast is tomorrow! It will once again be held on April 15, 2022, at the Scottish Rite Ballroom in Collingswood, beginning promptly at 6:55am. This year Garry Cobb, former Eagles linebacker and media personality, will come and share a message of hope and grace as we celebrate the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Well it's almost here! The bus trip for "David" at the Sight and Sound Theatre, on May 10th, will leave the church at 8am. Please be prompt. Thanks so much!

The Semi Annual Chicken Barbecue takes place on May 14th from 11am to sell-out. Preorders are encouraged. Platter includes 1/4 chicken and 2 sides (choice of Mac n Cheese, Green Beans, Coleslaw, Potato Salad and Collard Greens. Payments can be made through Venmo(soulcafenj) or mail a check to the facility (please indicate how many platters and what sides). You can also donate a platter to the homeless. We have partnered with/2 local charities to deliver all donated platters to Camden and Gloucester City that weekend. Curbside pick-up AND limited outdoor seating available. We are located @ 300 Evesham, Magnolia (red brick building behind Royal Farms, just follow the smell of the BBQ! All proceeds go towards the ministries of Soul Cafe.

Seeds Of Hope in Camden are in desperate need of women's sneakers for their SHAN ministry. Sneakers do not have to be new but should be in good condition. Please see Sharyn Bailey with any questions. Thanks so much!

Soul Cafe is accepting donations of any size children’s clothing and small, medium and large women’s clothing for the free store at our Magnolia location. All clothing must be spring and summer. No winter clothing at this time. Please see Sharyn Bailey for donations.

Thank you!