I spoke at a high school baccalaureate service in the 1990s. I brought a camo fanny pack used for deer hunting as an object lesson. I discussed the meaning of the pack’s contents, including a whistle, compass, knife, bandage, and lighter.

My best friend and fellow pastor, Glenn Ethridge, developed the idea into a creative series of Graduate Sunday sermons. He dressed up as different characters each May and shared Godly wisdom with the congregation’s seniors.

I decided to reborrow the idea at Northside Church. I have spoken to our high school seniors on the first Sunday of May wearing various guises:

• 2018    Camos and boots with my original hunting pack
• 2019    Two Atlanta Braves jerseys featuring a pro’s name and my own
• 2020    Suit and tie delivering a David Letterman Top 10 List
• 2021    1970s, 100% polyester, bright orange, leisure suit
• 2022    State Farm’s Mayhem with black suit, tie-bar, bruises, and bandages
• 2023    Top Gun’s Maverick flight suit
• 2024    Indiana Jones with leather jacket, fedora, and whip

This year Senior Sunday coincides with Star Wars Day: May the 4^th be with you! The sermon is titled Soul Wars: May the Faith Be with You. Check out the Northside Church’s social media platforms for videos starring yrs trly as Obi Wan Bill Burch.

I hope you’ll join us onsite or online this Sunday, May 4 at the 9:00 Contemporary Service as we honor our seniors. Visit the church’s website for the live stream at www.northsideumc.org. The sermon will be archived for future viewing, too.

I gave up Facebook as a spiritual discipline during Lent. Most of us have a love/hate relationship with social media. It displays and promotes the best and worst of people.

I joined Facebook to connect with parishioners, colleagues, and friends. I quickly discovered its addictive nature, unconsciously checking posts in idle moments.

Therefore, I gave up Facebook during Lent. The seven-week hiatus broke my habit of constantly glancing at a phone. It enabled me to be more mindful of the world, enjoying my surroundings rather than staring at screens.

I returned to social media after Easter, but I only check Facebook twice a day. I also turned off the notifications. This strikes a healthy balance between connecting with others and wasting time on inane posts. Perhaps others feel the need to set appropriate boundaries, too.  

To misquote Jesus, Facebook was made for people, not people for Facebook. Social media makes a wonderful servant but a terrible master.

Join us this Easter Sunday as we celebrate the good news of the Resurrection! Northside Church is offering five opportunities for worship:

• 8:30                 Traditional Worship               Sanctuary
• 9:00                 Contemporary Worship          Faith & Arts Center
• 9:45                 Traditional Worship               Sanctuary
• 10:30               Contemporary Worship          Faith & Arts Center
• 11:15               Traditional Worship               Sanctuary

The 8:30, 9:00, and 11:15 services will be live-streamed on the church’s website at http://www.northsideumc.org. Easter animals will be present before and after the services.

I look forward to worshipping together as we hear the ancient words that are forever new, Christ is risen! Christ is risen, indeed!

The church rehearses the final days of Jesus’ life during Holy Week. We begin the journey Palm/Passion Sunday on April 13. The dual title recognizes the twin realities of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and Christ’s agonizing death at Golgotha.

Christians experience the extremes of the human condition during this holiest of weeks:

• Palm Sunday               Passion Sunday
• A parade                     A death march
• Palms                          Nails
• Cries of Hosanna!       Cries of Crucify him!
• Laughter                     Tears
• Celebration                 Grief
• Life                             Death 

Many believers skip from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, from palms to lilies, from celebration to celebration, skipping the days that separate the two Sundays. They fail to witness the unimaginable height, width, and depth of divine love.

Christians are called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus during Holy Week. We walk the Via Dolorosa—The Way of Suffering—that leads to Golgotha.

Let us go to the foot of the cross . . . and beyond.

We perform morning rituals on autopilot, starting the day in a half-comatose way. Feet hit the floor and the routine begins: ablutions, caffeine, breakfast, and clothes in personalized order. We hopefully reach full-consciousness before leaving the house.

I added two spiritual habits to my morning schedule over the past year. I first recite the Lord’s Prayer rather than a traditional blessing before breakfast. I linger on various words, phrases, and concepts, reflecting on their meaning.

Then I list five personal blessings in my mental Gratitude Journal. I count my many blessings, name them one by one, and see what God has done.

The two spiritual disciplines help me claim and proclaim, This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! (Psalm 118:24)

Habits are value neutral—they can be good or bad. Spiritual practices harness routine’s power. Regular repetition becomes habitual practice.

Each day dawns with fresh promise. Well begun is half done. What morning rituals help you start the day with the Lord?