Eastside Church of God

10/01/2022

10/25/2021

"If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you." -- James 1:5

04/03/2021

Holy Week Reflection
Good Friday
April 2, 2021
Amanda Bradley BA '18
current Seminary student

Growing up, I never understood why they called the Friday before Easter, “Good Friday.” The more that I learned the story of the pain and death of Jesus Christ, it just didn’t make sense to me to call a Friday like that “good.”

I lived for years with this line of thinking. I loved celebrating Resurrection Sunday, but I could have done without Good Friday, I was so eager to get to the happy ending of Jesus coming back to life that I basically omitted the “sad” part from the narrative.

My thought process over this changed during my first year of full-time youth ministry. The church that I was working with had their annual Good Friday service and in listening to that sermon, I really came to terms with the true meaning of Good Friday. That meaning, being hope. I don’t mean any kind of hope, but the special hope that we have in Jesus.

There is a yearning for hope from the start of Jesus’ trial. The reader is desperate for hope as they read about Jesus being tortured, and practically begging for a glimmer of hope as they read about Jesus being placed in the tomb - dead. There is nothing easy about Friday. It is the pivot point of the history of the world (Walter Brueggemann, “Awaiting the Verdict: Good Friday” 8-10).

However, something that I love about Jesus is that he does not start anything that he won’t finish. When Jesus said, “It is finished,” a new life began; it was not over. This new life is one where Jesus reigns victorious over death and sin. That’s the hope that we look toward in the midst of the reality of Good Friday’s pain.

The pain of Good Friday is real and raw. Today, there is real and raw pain everywhere a person looks. With distancing, limiting social interaction, unnecessary deaths - it can be hard to see through the darkness and cling to the hope of Resurrection Sunday. However, we are able to wait in the darkness, because we know how the story ends. We know that the darkness will not ultimately overcome us, because we have the light of Christ (Herbert Anderson, “Waiting in the Darkness” 126). Good Friday is not painful for no reason; the purpose is the hope of the gift of Jesus Christ.

03/03/2021

ARISE – Women in Ministry is celebrating valiant women in the Church of God through the month of March. Join us during Women’s History Month to experience Valiant Women – in Ministry, a LIVE, virtual panel discussion, and Q&A hosted by Rev. Dr. Arnetta McNeese Bailey with moderator, Rev. Ann Brandon. Hear from diverse voices through the Church of God concerning the CALL, VOICE, and IMAGO DEI of women in the movement.

The panel includes Rev. Andrea Clegg, Rev. Suzanne Haley, Rev. Victoria Justiniano, Rev. Jennie Prior, and Jillian Quainoo.

Make sure you follow and like the page,
to be notified when we go LIVE!
https://www.facebook.com/arisechog

Mark your calendars!
Saturday, March 6
10 AM PST | 12 PM CST | 1 PM EST

Are you a woman in the Church of God under 30 seeking a connection with women in ministry? Visit our website to be connected with exciting opportunities! Fill out the form online and someone will be in contact with you. You do not have to be licensed or ordained to connect with this ministry.

12/04/2020

The Psalmist says in the 143rd Psalm, "Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul" (Psalm 143:8). There is much we need to learn in our lives, no matter how old we are, no matter how much experience under our belts. And the Lord God longs that we should learn the ways that give life.

Sadly, we won't be studying together after all for the Advent Season, as Shelby County has asked churches not to meet together for a time as cases of COVID-19 are on the rise. But we still will be keeping in touch via phone, small visits, and zoom. So please reach out here if you need us, and please keep watch for post of upcoming events whether live or via Zoom.

11/01/2020

Fascinating article on paying close attention to scripture. We all bear God's image, as God's children. This article reminds us that we mustn't skim when we read, but pay attention to detail. Indeed, words -- and women -- matter.

After a data-driven study of women’s conversations in Scripture, here’s what I found.

10/26/2020

Come join us!