Celebrate Resurrection Weekend With Mt.Sinai

Vector Easter banner with words He is risen, celebrate Resurrection Weekend, with a shining cross and crown of thorns on the background of sky at sunrise. From iStockphoto.com. Image by Paseven on July 29, 2019.

Are you looking for a church to celebrate Resurrection Weekend? If so, I invite you to worship with Mount Sinai Baptist Church (MSBC).

7 Last Words Services

Men’s Perspective

Located at 1615 3rd Street North West Washington, DC, Mt. Sinai has a variety we observe this holy holiday. On Good Friday, some of Sinai’s male ministers partner with other DC area Baptist churches for a 7 Last Words Service.

A Seven Last Words Service allows congregations to hear sermons focusing on the Messiah’s seven last sayings while he was dying on the cross.

The Messiah’s 7 Last Sayings according to the New King James Version, are

“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:24).
“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
“Woman, behold your son” (John 19:26)!
“Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34).
“I thirst” (John 19:28).
“It is finished” (John 19:30).
“Father into your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46).

The service begins at 7 p.m. and live streams on Zoom, YouTube, or the host church’s website. This service dynamically presents the final words of Jesus Christ from preachers with unique teaching styles.

Between each sermon, there is either a musical selection, liturgical dance, offertorial appeal, or prayer to keep the service engaging. This fellowship between various churches captures the unity within the Body of Christ Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.

Women’s Perspective

On Saturday, March 30, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Architects of Glory Women’s Ministry hosts a 7 Last Words Service at Mt.Sinai. The structure of this worship experience is similar to the men’s service. What makes the woman’s service unique is not every woman presenting a word is ordained clergy.

Hearing from speakers who are not licensed allows attendees to discover Jesus’s final words from a fresh perspective. This approach gives women who serve behind the scenes, an opportunity to step out of their comfort zone and share the message God gives them.

Celebrate Resurrection Weekend with Prayer

24-Hour Prayer Vigil

Along with the 7 Last Word services, Mt.Sinai celebrates Resurrection Weekend with a 24-hour prayer vigil. The vigil takes place from midnight March 30 to Midnight March 31.

Forty-two participants are assigned a thirty-minute timeslot praying from a scripture based on one of three themes: obedience, self-control, or waiting. Participants can pray from any location as long as they are in a quiet place where they can experience the presence of God without interruption.

I have chosen to pray from 7 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. from the theme of waiting on the Lord according to Isaiah 30:18.

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” (Isaiah 30:18, New International Version).

I like this verse because it reminds me of God’s gracious nature and that there is a blessing in waiting on him. While praying for thirty minutes is a challenge, I am excited to see and hear how God will show his compassion and justice to others through my intercession.

I encourage you to pray with and worship us for thirty minutes by finding a scripture based on one of the three themes. Praying for a half-hour may seem daunting but is worthwhile.

Here’s a way to pray for thirty minutes using a specific scripture.

Worship God for what the verse says about him (5 minutes).
Confess any sins or shortcomings (5 minutes).
Intercede for societal and global concerns and ask God to respond according to what the verse promises (5 minutes).
Intercede for personal concerns relating to the verse (5 minutes).
Pray about any other needs or desires (5 minutes).
Thank God for all He does and will do according to the passage (5 minutes).

Resurrection Sunday Services

Sunrise Service

After the twenty-four-hour vigil, Mt. Sinai continues to celebrate Resurrection Weekend with a Sunrise Service.

The service occurs at the church and begins at 7 a.m. to honor the women who arose early Sunday morning to find Jesus’ tomb empty (Luke 24:1-25).

10 A.M. Worship Service

MSBC concludes Resurrection Weekend festivities with a 10 a.m. worship service. This worship experience is a high time of praise as we rejoice about the salvation and hope of serving our living savior Jesus Christ.

Children celebrate Resurrection Weekend by explaining Jesus’ importance from their perspective and singing in the children’s choir.

The adult choir continues the celebration by singing one of my favorite songs “He Decided to Die.” I love this song because it reminds me Jesus chose to suffer the agony of crucifixion on the cross to save me. This is a personal display of love I am forever grateful for.

The service ends with a sermon from Pastor Tyrone Queen that usually helps listeners find hope through Jesus Christ’s resurrection. The sermon also challenges listeners to live lives reflecting their hope in Jesus so they can effectively witness the faith they proclaim.

Will you Join Us?

You can celebrate Resurrection weekend with Mt. Sinai in person by coming to 1615 3rd Street North West, Washington, DC 20001. You can also enjoy the 7 Last Words Service and the 10 a.m. worship service through our YouTube channel or on StreamSpot.

We hope to see you there!