“{Jesus} withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ’Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.” Luke 22:41-43
Dear Friends,
This coming Sunday we celebrate Easter, proclaiming with joy, “Christ is risen; He is risen indeed!” Christ’s once-for-all act of self-giving love continues to transform human life. Each Easter invites us into deeper faithfulness and a renewed relationship with our Creator and Savior. At the heart of this celebration is the freedom Christ offers to us all.
Scripture often uses the image of the “cup” to convey deep spiritual meaning. In Psalm 23, the cup symbolizes God’s blessing and abundance: “My cup overflows.” Here, the overflowing cup reflects the richness of God’s provision for those who trust in Him.
At other times, the cup represents judgment. The prophet Jeremiah speaks of “the cup of the wine of wrath,” illustrating the serious consequences of sin and rebellion and affirming the reality of divine justice (Jeremiah 25:15).
In the New Testament, the cup takes on its fullest meaning through Jesus Christ. At the Last Supper, Jesus offered the cup as a sign of the new covenant, poured out for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:27–28). Later, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed that this cup might pass from Him—yet He chose obedience to the will of God, accepting the suffering that would lead to our salvation.
Today, we encounter the cup in Holy Communion. As the Apostle Paul reminds us, the cup we bless is a participation in the blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16). When we gather at the Lord’s Table, we both remember Christ’s sacrifice and celebrate our unity with Him and with one another.
Through Jesus, the cup of judgment is removed, and the cup of blessing is extended to all. His obedience and sacrifice open the way to a life grounded in hope, purpose, and joy.
Throughout the Easter season, we will reflect more deeply on the cup of freedom made available to us through faith in Jesus Christ. I look forward to celebrating the risen Lord with you this Sunday and praying that God’s blessings continue to guide and sustain you, now and always.
With gratitude,
Pastor Kathy Nealand
Easter Season Sermon Series: The Cup of Freedom
We begin a new series called “The Cup of Freedom.” Psalm 116 says “The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “ save me!” It goes on to say “I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.” We proclaim that Christ’s cup of salvation through the resurrection is the cup of our freedom from distress, sorrow, and death… whatever those things are for you. In the next eight weeks we will take our cup of freedom and call on the name of God!
When death seems to have had the last word and rising up feels locked down, we call on the power of love and life. We take up Jesus’ cup of freedom, we call on the name of the One Who Is Truly Sovereign, and we claim the freedom to move forward, to sing, to follow, to rise again, to love, heal, and be opened. In the end, we are filled with the freedom of the Spirit of God.
Join us online or in person for this new and inspirational series from the Worship Design Studio.
- Freedom to Follow Sunday, April 12, 2026
- Freedom to Rise Again Sunday, April 19, 2026
- Freedom to Heal Sunday, April 26, 2026
- Freedom to Love – Sunday, May 3, 2026
- Freedom to Sing Sunday, May 10, 2026
- Freedom to Open = SS Play, May 17, 2026
- Freedom to Be Filled Sunday, May 24, 2026
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.” Psalm 145:18-19 (NRSVUE)
“Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:2-4)
And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you. Exodus 3:14
A Christmas version of 1 Corinthians 13
“But the angel said to her, “ Do not be afraid , Mary; you have found favor with God.” Luke 1:30.
“Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness. I have taken you by the hand and kept you, a light to the nations, “ (Isaiah 42:5-6 NRSVYE)
“What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and each will receive wages according to their own labor. For we are God’s coworkers, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 NRSVUE
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)
“So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them—in that case you may even be found fighting against God!’” (Acts 5:38-39a)
"We also celebrate in seasons of suffering because we know that when we suffer, we develop endurance, 4 which shapes our characters. When our characters are refined, we learn what it means to hope and anticipate God’s goodness. 5 And hope will never fail to satisfy our deepest need because the Holy Spirit that was given to us has flooded our hearts with God’s love.” Romans 5:3-5(The Voice)
