Poets Corner – Looking at The Cross

I saw one hanging on a tree
In agony and blood
Who fixed His loving eyes on me
As near His cross I stood
And never till my dying breath
Will I forget that look
It seemed to charge me with His death
Though not a word He spoke

My conscience felt and owned the guilt
And plunged me in despair
I saw my sins His blood had spilt
And helped to nail Him there
But with a second look He said
“I freely all forgive
this blood is for your ransom paid
I died that you might live”

Forever etched upon my mind
Is the look of Him who died
The Lamb I crucified
And now my life will sing the praise
Of pure atoning grace
That looked on me and gladly took my place

Thus while His death my sin displays
For all the world to view
Such is the mystery of grace
It seals my pardon too
With pleasing grief and mournful joy
My spirit now is filled
That I should such a life destroy
Yet live by Him I killed.

- John Newton

Good Friday & Easter Sunrise Services

This Easter season, we’re excited to announce a couple special services that we have scheduled. Whether you attend Oikos or not, we’d love to have you join us for these events. Oikos is located at 206 Prospect St. in downtown Bellingham and here is the map for Zuanich Point Park. Be sure to dress warm!

Easter Weekend @ Oikos

If you’re in the Bellingham/greater Whatcom County area, I want to let you know that you’re invited to join us this weekend as we reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Here’s what we have going on:

• Good Friday service – at Oikos, beginning at 7:00 pm
• Sunrise Easter service – meeting at Zuanich Point Park, beginning at 6:15 am
• Easter service – at Oikos, beginning at 10:00 am

Moses and Good Friday

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

- John 3:14-15 (ESV)

Holy Week 2011 @ Oikos

We would love to have you join us this weekend as we gather together to celebrate the greatest of all weekends. All events will be at Oikos (310 Gladstone St) except for the sunrise service. He is risen indeed!

• Good Friday Services – 6:00 & 7:30 pm
• Holy Saturday Prayer Vigil – 11:30 pm – 12:05 am
• Easter Sunrise Service (@ Zuanich Park) – 5:45-6:15 am

Good Friday Service @ Oikos

Any and all are welcome to join us tonight at 7 pm as we observe Good Friday together.

Poets’ Corner – In Evil Long I Took Delight

Appropriate hymn for today (Good Friday) by John Newton:

In evil long I took delight,
Unawed by shame or fear,
Till a new object struck my sight,
And stopp’d my wild career:

I saw One hanging on a Tree
In agonies and blood,
Who fix’d His languid eyes on me.
As near His Cross I stood.

Sure never till my latest breath,
Can I forget that look:
It seem’d to charge me with His death,
Though not a word He spoke:

My conscience felt and own’d the guilt,
And plunged me in despair:
I saw my sins His Blood had spilt,
And help’d to nail Him there.

Alas! I knew not what I did!
But now my tears are vain:
Where shall my trembling soul be hid?
For I the Lord have slain!

–A second look He gave, which said,
“I freely all forgive;
This blood is for thy ransom paid;
I die that thou may’st live.”

Thus, while His death my sin displays
In all its blackest hue,
Such is the mystery of grace,
It seals my pardon too.

With pleasing grief, and mournful joy,
My spirit now is fill’d,
That I should such a life destroy,
Yet live by Him I kill’d!

Holy Week Begins!

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday which marks the beginning of what is called Holy or Passion Week. Our hope is that you take advantage of the different events we have going on in order to slow down and take in the week leading up to Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection. Why not read through one of the gospel accounts of this week with your family or a group of friends, matching each significant day in the narrative with that day of this week? We also have these events for you to invite others to come and hear the good news of Jesus Christ…this is one of the great times of year to do so.

Here’s the week’s schedule:

• Wednesday – movie night: The Passion of the Christ | Oikos | 7:00 pm
• Thursday – Maundy Thursday service | Oikos | 7:00 pm
• Friday – Good Friday service | Oikos | 7:00 pm (see the pattern here?)
• Sunday – Sunrise service | Zuanich Point Park | 6:30 am

Poets’ Corner – Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed

Great hymn for Good Friday, written by Isaac Watts and published in 1707.

Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For sinners such as I?
[originally, For such a worm as I?]

Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thine—
And bathed in its own blood—
While the firm mark of wrath divine,
His Soul in anguish stood.

Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker died,
For man the creature’s sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give my self away
’Tis all that I can do.

Good Friday Service @ Oikos

If you’re in the area, we’d love to have you join us for our Good Friday service tonight at 7:00.

(Link to map)