He is Risen...He is Risen indeed!

We woke up to a rainy, foggy, grey Easter morning...welcome to Londontown!! But it didn't seem to dampen the spirits of our friends at South West London Vineyard church. All of our PCCC family will enjoy the fact that we arrived about 20 minutes late for service :) As we approached the school in the cool, damp morning air - the worship service was in full swing and our hearts jumped as we recognized the song - Paul Baloche's - Hosanna, we both got a little teary as we made our way into the auditorium that was packed with people with hands lifted high and swinging back and forth - did I mention it was a Vineyard church?! It was awesome! Both of us - not just me but both of us were teary throughout as we sang familiar songs, and favourite hymns!

And to top it off it was baptism Sunday - they had 8 people enter into the waters of baptism! Each one came up and told their stories - all varied, and powerful, and beautiful! The church family cheered for each one and then one by one they were baptized. And as we do at home, when they came out of the water the place erupted with screams, whistles and cheers! It was a huge party.

Then they did something a little different - after each person came out of the water, they stepped to the side and anyone who knew them was invited to gather around them and pray over them and bless them as they take the next step on their journey with Christ. It was so simply and beautiful and honest and like family! I loved it...more tears! And then we worshiped some more, met a ton of new friends and finished up the service with coffee and tea! It was, as the Brits would say, BRILLIANT!!

As we worshiped together I found my heart longing for my Powers Creek family! I so wish we could have been home to celebrate with you! I know that God has been doing amazing things and I so wish we could have been there to see the worship centre filled with light, and white cloth draped everywhere, and candles lit, and fresh flowers and all the rocks that came in on Good Friday - GONE!!! Because the tomb is empty and that changes everything! Man! I miss our PCCC family! Please know that you have been in our thoughts and prayers today! We are praying that you would all know the presence, power, and peace of the risen Christ today! That you would know his immeasurable love and grace lavished on you! That you would know the delight of your heavenly Father who smiles on you today! May you live in light of the fact that the tomb is empty, the rock is gone, and you are free!!

Ok - enough of the pastoral thing - just know we love you and miss you and we want to wish you an amazing Easter! We have two more days in London and then...finally we are coming home! So, we will see you - literally see you on Wednesday! Woohoo for coming home! In the meantime remember - Lent is over! So, party like it is 1999 my friends! Eat chocolate! Drink wine! Have two helpings at dinner! Take a nap! Hug your kids! Laugh with friends! Drink in the beauty that surrounds you!!! Because Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ is coming again!!!

We love you all! We miss you much!! We will see you on Wednesday! And that my friends is the McKnight Report!!