While it is a very special day for followers of Jesus, Easter Sunday presents some unique challenges in regards to worship. There are many accompanying activities and traditions which, while there is nothing wrong with them, can pose distractions for worshippers. If we're not careful, even the most devout believer can find themselves dulled by the familiarity of the story. In addition, there are always those who make their annual (or semi-annual) appearance at church, for whom the worship is a mere formality. Will you focus some of your prayer time on praying for the worship service on Sunday?  We want nothing to hinder our Risen Lord from receiving the honor due Him and nothing to prevent every individual from coming face to face with Him in His all of His glory and personally acknowledging His Lordship.

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."   -- Philippians 2:9-11  (NIV)
 
"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."   -- Romans 10:9  (NIV)
 
 
Pray that . . .

• Each of us will come determined to focus all of our mind's attention and our heart's affection singularly on the Lord Jesus without distractions.
• We will worship with the awe and wonder appropriate to the event.
• Each of those coming out of mere formality will have a "surprise" personal encounter with the risen Lord.

WEEKLY PRAYER UPDATE –  April 1, 2026

Missions:
Senator Barnes & family –  East Asia Anti-Human Trafficking Initiative for World Ventures
Stephen & Sabrina Marshall –  church planting in France
Capstone Church, Helena, Montana – Caleb Groteluschen, pastor; Ben Quigg, worship leader
Juan Pablo and Sol Herrera –  Hispanic ministry in Ponder

Church:
Special Easter outreach planned by Hispanic class
Youth Disciple Now, April 10-12
Sign-ups for Marriage Retreat
Staff search for worship leader
This week’s worship service, Bible studies, and BodyBuilder groups

Personal Needs:
Spiritual awakening in our community, in our nation
Salvation -- Those on your "Who's Your One?" list
Grief:  Hank Quigg and family – death of his stepfather
Shelly Pope –  will begin phase one of an immunotherapy trial treatment for stage 4 liver cancer
Terry England (longtime Ponder resident; wife is Pat, daughter is Paige Wells, former teacher and coach in Ponder ISD) –  will soon have open heart surgery; getting scheduled now
Kerr Broadstreet  (Kim's brother) – cancerous tumor in shoulder has begun to grow again
Todd Turner (fiance of Jesse Woolery's cousin) – recovering in Kansas hospital from surgery to deal with an infected heart valve, which was causing congestive heart failure
Tristen Garza (grandson of longtime PISD administrator, Kent Josselet) – experiencing  difficulties with lower extremities, with walking; undergoing testing and physical therapy
Gary Carrington –  in hospice care for his cancer in multiple organs; condition is worsening
Martha Wyatt – at home now, recovering from cracked vertebrae in neck from fall
Tommy Bean –  needing renewed strength following a recent mini-stroke
Halle Deaton (25 yr old former member from Krum)   – recovering well from surgery related to breast cancer
Hank and Susan Quigg – pray for their recovery from house fire and their rebuild over the next few months
Those in assisted living/nursing homes:  Barbara Nofziger, Carolyn Gillespie, Mary Alice Benton

Our government leaders
First responders