Wrapping up a LONG, productive week and realizing how PUMPED I am for next weekend. With so many campuses unified in theme but varied in expression, I couldn’t help musing on the top ten reasons I’m looking forward to our Lake City Campus and its unique Good Friday to Easter extravaganza…

10. Top Pot Doughnuts
Members donating some of Seattle’s BEST donuts for our post Sunrise Service, pre-regular Service continental breakfast at 7:30am? That’s tasty enough to make my top ten provided there’s an apple fritter.

9. Via Crucis
Spurgeon Sermon excerpts and expertly prepared art displays make this bonus Good Friday feature something I’m even hungrier for than the donuts. 

8. Baptist-ry
The old converted baptist church Lake City meets in is the only Mars Hill campus with an old-school, built in baptistry, renovated and upgraded by some versatile volunteers (thanks guys!) and I can’t wait to dunk believers in Jesus’ name at our Easter services.

7. The Incredible Mulk
Our Music Maestro Steven Mulkey (who looks like John Crichton from Farscape, minus the leather pants) is putting together something truly innovative for Good Friday, it’s a joy to collaborate with this guy. He’s a musician, AND he’s organized – hmmm, maybe he really IS from outer space…

6. 2,000 years of Passion Art
The path Gethsemane to Golgotha has been captured in paint for over 2,000 years and our particular Friday festivities will feature some amazing images spanning the wealth of ages, from ancient to abstract, from Rembrandt to Raphael, from cathedrals to comic books.

5. Pastors in Wetsuits
After SNOW on April Fool’s Day, a member lovingly offered to loan some wetsuits to pastors for the baptisms we’ll be doing at 6:26am at Matthews Beach for our sunrise service. Even if we have to break through a layer of ice, nothing is going to stop the proclamation of the gospel.

4. Top Pot Doughnuts
Yes, I already mentioned the donuts, but I’m going to have two. Aren’t you? 

3. Sound & Vision
Andy Myers, a member of the now-classic Mars Hill band Team Strike Force, brings his Game Boy and new band to Lake City for a slice of Easter worship that will give a 21st century twist to some classic hymns. I’ve been listening to samples of their stuff all week.

2. My Wife
Can I deny the fact that my wife Kat’s voice will be gracing both Good Friday AND Easter services isn’t a major source of joy? Why would I? Fortunately, although I’m admittedly biased, her voice is aMAZing.

1. The Tomb is Empty
Everything else pales, from paintings to pastries, in light of the fact that Jesus Christ is risen. Amen. Wherever we worship next weekend, number one is true and worthy of our praise. Praying for that day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess…

- Pastor James Harleman