HILLTOP CHAPEL NEWSLETTER
April 2020
“IT IS FINISHED”
As is the yearly tradition throughout the “Christian” world, believers gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. All the crass commercialism (the Easter bunny, colored eggs and jelly beans) aside, this is a glorious time for those who truly understand the Easter message. There are, however, many well-intentioned people who have no idea what Easter truly means or how vital it is to their eternal survival.
It all starts, but does not end, with the cross of Calvary. When Adam and Eve sinned, a plan was already in place to deal with mankind’s desperate need for salvation from eternal separation from God. Without Calvary and Christ’s crucifixion there, we would have absolutely no hope for eternal life. Fellowship with God would be a hopeless dream and confessing our sins would be like talking to a “brick wall”. And so, the thought came to me that we ought to remember just three words: “It is finished!” Why are these words so important?
Jesus knew the terrible price He would have to pay to redeem us and yet, He went willingly to the Cross. The intensity of His commitment and desire to do the Father’s will inspires awe in the heart and mind of every true believer today. Any one of us would have wilted under the extreme pressure and anguish of that moment. No mere human can comprehend the awful nature of the demand that required His sacrifice.
It was not the torture He would endure nor even death that drove the Savior to His knees. It was the realization that, even for a short time, He would be totally separated from His Father. The loss of that sweet fellowship was almost too unbearable to imagine. Christ’s relationship with God the Father had never been broken in all of eternity past and never would be again. How sad the prospect must have been for Him.
That is why “it is finished” is so powerful. Jesus knew that, when the atonement was completed, He would once more be with His Father, as One. Not only was the “veil torn in two” (Matthew 27:51), death conquered (Hebrews 2:14-15), and access to God given (Ephesians 3:8-12), but Christ is, once more, “seated at the right hand of God the Father...”(Hebrews 10:12). No one sits down in the presence of God, except God. Jesus is back in His rightful position and we will, one day soon, reign with Him. (Romans 5:17; 8:17 & Revelation 1:6).
Jesus paid it all on Calvary. His enemies thought they had defeated Him and that they would, now that He was out of the way, be able to destroy or, at the very least, control His followers. Little did they know what had really transpired that day. A lowly carpenter from Nazareth had been substituted, by God, for every man, woman and child on Earth. His work on the cruel cross of Calvary was absolutely sufficient, in the sight of God, to cancel the debt of sin that each one of us owes. The price was paid, once for all. Then, God offered you the free gift of eternal life, based on Christ’s sacrifice. All you have to do is say: “Yes, Lord, I believe, ask you to forgive my sins, and accept You as my Savior.”
The Easter story is the most. Glorious when we realize that it can be “our story”. Everything needed for your eternal salvation has been provided. “It is finished!” Hallelujah!
“FOR ALL HAVE SINNED”
Romans 3:23
Her face still wore the marks of sin,
So long she’s been its slave.
She heard of Christ and turned to Him
Who all her sins forgave.
In arrogance I turned away
From her who’d been so vile.
So shamefully the enemy
My poor, proud heart beguiled.
Until I thought of her who came
As Jesus sat at meat
In Simon’s house and with her tears
There washed His blessed feet.
And While in scorn His host looked on,
She dried them with her hair.
Could this man know what sort she was—
This sinner kneeling there?
‘Twas then I heard the keen rebuke
And humbly bowed my head;
“Forgiven much, she loveth much”,
The Lord to Simon said.
I saw myself as vile as she
From whom I’d turned aside,
And prayed that He would take from me
The subtle sin of pride.
~Zuella Cooke
HILLTOP CORNER
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you as things here at Hilltop Chapel have been at a stand-still due to the Covid-19 Virus. Our Pastor and the Deacon Board are working hard to bring the Morning Worship to you via the internet. You can follow it on hilltopchapel.org and stay connected to other church members in that way. We hope to see you all very soon. We will keep you posted on when we can return to normal services and activities. The Deacon and Deaconesses are also staying in contact with you by phone during this time. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the church office at (559)336-2454. Also, please be in prayer for Lesley, as she has had ear surgery. Pray for a speedy recovery.
‘MAY IN MIRAMONTE’ - We are still making plans, it may have to be postponed, we will keep you updated on the progress.
**SEQUOIA COMMUNITY CENTER UPDATE** In accordance with the guidance from CDC and Public Health, we have come to the difficult decision to temporarily suspend programming at the Center. The situation with Covid-19 is changing rapidly. Since we are a community made up largely of the “at risk” population, we feel responsible to do our part to ensure the safety and well-being of the community. Therefore, we have cancelled classes and will postpone upcoming events. The Board of Directors and volunteers will continue our work behind the scenes to plan and prepare the ongoing development of the center to bring you classes, programs and events. We look forward to re-opening fully when the situation is clear. Until then, we wish you all a safe and healthy season.
-SCC Board of Directors
WE AT HILLTOP CHAPEL WISH YOU A
HAPPY EASTER!
UPCOMING EVENTS
As most of you know by now, we are all supposed to be doing “shelter in place” at this time. The Coronavirus has everybody in a sense of perplexity & fearful it could hit them. We at Hilltop Chapel are erring on the side of caution. With the majority of our congregation over age 60, and quite a few nearing numbers substantially north of that, we take the caution of staying out of large crowds quite seriously. Our Official Board will be doing a conference call on April 1st to assess our options and discuss our future schedule. We will keep everyone posted as to how we will proceed in the near and not too distant future.
Our intention is to continue to use the hilltopchapel.org website for the Sunday Morning Worship Service at 11:00AM. You can access it simply by going to the website and watching it there or clicking on the link to either FaceBook or YouTube. You may also call in, Sunday at 11:00AM, to our conference call line at: (425)436-6358 and punch in the access code—895748. When they answer just give them your name and you’ll be added to the call. We hope this will help keep us all together until we see each other in person again.
We will keep you up to date through our Dial-My-Calls announcement line and Prayer Chain Line for updates or prayer requests you may have. Don’t hesitate to call either the church office (559) 336-2454 or Pastor Rod’s cell: (559) 280-9278 if you need assistance. Our deacon and deaconesses are also available to meet your needs. Just call the church office and request them by name and we’ll have them get right back to you.
We’re doing everything we can to get up and running as soon as it is reasonably possible to do so, In the meantime, keep praying, studying God’s Word and communicating with each other, on the phone, internet or even “snail mail”.
It’s still 2 weeks until Easter, so keep praying that God will open a door for us to possibly gather together, at least, for Easter Sunrise Service, if nothing else. We’ll see what happens!
And remember: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
“My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
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