Yesterday, millions of people filled out brackets for the NCAA Tournament. Some carefully researched every matchup. Others just picked based on mascots, colors, or a gut feeling. At our house, my kids mostly picked based on where family lives…or which mascot they thought was the coolest. Which, honestly, might be just as effective.
But no matter how you approach it, we all know how this goes…within the first 24 hours, most of those brackets are already busted. I know mine already is.
That’s part of what makes March Madness so fun. You can make your best predictions—and then an underdog comes out of nowhere and flips everything upside down. It’s unpredictable. Anything can happen.
And that’s part of why we love it. Because deep down, we want to believe that things don’t have to stay the way they are…that something unexpected could break through.
That’s what Easter is all about.
The first Easter didn’t look like a comeback story. It looked like the end. The women who went to the tomb weren’t expecting a miracle—they were coming to mourn. But instead, hope broke through. What they thought was over…wasn’t. What looked final…wasn’t.
And that’s still the story of Easter. It’s why we make such a big deal out of it—not just as a tradition, but as an opportunity. An opportunity for someone to walk in carrying something heavy…and walk out with hope.
And here’s the part I want you to hear: You get to be part of that. Every smile in the parking lot. Every conversation over coffee. Every moment in gsKids where a child feels safe, seen and loved. That’s how hope breaks through.
And Easter is a great chance to experience that in a really tangible way.
And this year I’m excited to share that while adults are in worship, we will have a Kids Party happening during all five of our in-person Easter services. That means a lot of kids, a lot of energy, and a great opportunity to help create a fun, meaningful experience just for them. It’s honestly one of the most fun places to serve—because you get to be part of helping kids connect church with joy, welcome and care.
If you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to make a difference, I’m just not sure where to start”—this is a great place to try it out.
Easter is coming. And anything can happen. So why not be part of the moment when hope breaks through for someone else? There are lots of places to serve. If you’re interested in trying it out check out the link below. We’d love to help you find a place to jump in.
Good Shepherd, this Easter let’s be the kind of church that doesn’t just celebrate hope…but helps create space for hope to break through.
Peace,
Matt Fulmer
P.S. As we head into spring, it’s a great season to reset and refocus. If you’ve been feeling a little off track or just need a fresh start, I’d love for you to join us for worship this weekend. We’ll be talking about what it looks like to find direction again when life feels uncertain. I’d love to see you there.
Plan your Easter or catch up with last Sunday’s message below.
