A Grow in Grace presentation by Aaron Wakeman

Commitment is an interesting concept. Although it means thorough dedication, we often speak of different levels of commitment. For example, you might be less committed to

your exercise plan than to watching your favorite team on TV. When we think of commitment, we should first think of God. His commitment is not dependent or half-hearted. Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 on how our commitment comes from God's commitment. God's people at St. Andrew have committed to making our church a place of peace for more people, and part of that is a significant cost. Today is your opportunity to submit your pledge, your financial commitment to A Place of Peace.

Normally, it's not such a compliment to be called a sheep. Sheep aren't fierce, dominant, or self-sufficient. Sheep need help, protection, and guidance. But now you know why Jesus calls us sheep! More than that, the shepherd is the one who helps, feeds, protects, and guides the sheep. But now you know why Jesus calls himself our Good Shepherd! Welcome to the sheep pen where we gather under the beautiful care and watchful eye of our Good Shepherd, Jesus.

The five-year-old squirrels away buttons, bows, shells and rocks in a box under his bed. It's his treasure. What's your treasure? We all treasure something, even if we can no longer fit it into a box under the bed. One of the most famous things Jesus said was, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." We're glad you're with us today. May Jesus open our eyes to our real treasure.

Do you remember intertwining the fingers of your hands and saying, "Here's the church. Here's the steeple. Open the doors, and see all the people!" It's a neat little reminder that in the Bible, the church is never a building, but it's always people—people Jesus lived and died for and brought to trust and love him. But maybe it's a little misleading, too, because where are all the people? Sure, they're in church, but they're also "out there" where God has called us to live, work, and play. This weekend, remember and celebrate that Jesus is alive. The tomb is empty. And he's with his people in church and out. He's with you. He's with us, St. Andrew, as we pursue his vision for our church.

What would you say has been a crucial time in your life? Was it a time when you made a decision about a career, a move, or marriage? Was it a time when someone else made a decision to reduce staff, offer you a job, or cause an accident? Those were crucial times.

But think bigger. What would you say has been the most crucial hour in the history of the world? That distinction belongs to what took place 2,000 years ago. Jesus of Nazareth paid his last visit to Jerusalem and there determined the destiny of mankind. Never in all of history were the stakes so high or the results so far-reaching. This Holy Week, we'll examine the biblical record of Jesus in his most crucial hours. May the Holy Spirit bless you with a greater understanding and a deeper appreciation of who you are and what you have because of Jesus' crucial hours.

A Maundy Thursday devotion by Pastor Randy Hunter

We will be suspending our Matthew series until the end of May to accommodate Holy Week and our A Place of Peace series. So, this weekend it's . . . Matthew. Ha, but not where we were; we will skip ahead to chapter 21 where shouts of "save us now!" were heard on Palm Sunday. The question we need to ask is this: from what are we asking for salvation?

A Lenten devotion by Vicar Ronny Nguyen.