April 2022

Christ is risen! Thousands in the world are still ill and dying of Covid 19.

Christ is risen! Putin’s army is killing thousands of innocents in Ukraine.

Christ is risen! Inflation is increasing and gasoline is skyrocketing in price.

Christ is risen! Our black and brown brothers and sisters are still discriminated against.

Christ is risen! We are slowly destroying our planet through climate change.

As Christians we live in a contradictory world. We live in the “already, but not yet” reign of God or kingdom of God. Jesus began God’s reign of peace, love and justice through his life, death and resurrection. So it is a sure thing. But not yet is the reign of God fully here, because evil and war still rage and because all of us are at the same time saints and sinners. We are saints because Jesus Christ has redeemed us. We are sinners because, in this earthly life we are always works in progress and not fully in line with God’s reign of peace, love and justice for all. Indeed, the kingdom of God will not be fully here until Christ comes again in glory.

What’s a Christian to do? Fully celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead and keep calm and carry on. Our Savior Jesus calls on us, his modern day disciples to carry on his work, guided by the Holy Spirit. In Matthew 28:19-20 the risen Jesus gives the great commission. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always to the end of the age.”

This year Holy Week begins with Palm/Passion Sunday on April 10th and concludes with the Resurrection of our Lord (Easter) on April 17th. During Holy Week we remember and celebrate the main things of our Christian faith. The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, “For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas[Peter], then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.”

Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!

Prepare ye the way of the Lord!

~ Pastor Dennis

Holy Week: April 10th –April 17th

The Great 3 Days:

Maundy Thursday(4/14), Good Friday(4/15) and Holy Saturday(4/16)

During Holy Week, and especially during the Great 3 Days, we come to the main things in our Christian faith: the death and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Maundy Thursday, April 14 (A Holy Communion Service)

Worship at 7 pm All are welcome

“Maundy” comes from the Latin Mandatum, which means command. Jesus gives his followers a new command: “Love one another”. Jesus eats his last supper with his disciples and demonstrates humble love by washing their feet.

Scripture readings: Exodus 12:1-14,

Psalm 116:1-2,12-19,

1Corinthians 11:23-26,

John 13:1-17, 31-35

Prayer: Holy God, source of all love, on the night of his betrayal, Jesus gave us a new commandment, to love one another as he loves us. Write this commandment in our hearts, and give us the will to serve others as he was the servant of all, your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Good Friday, April 15 No worship service, but you are encouraged to read these scriptures:

Isaiah 52:13-53:12,

Psalm 22,

Hebrews 10:16-25,

John 18:1-19:42

Prayer: Almighty God, look with loving mercy on your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, to be given over to the hands of sinners, and to suffer death on the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

Holy Saturday, April 16 No worship service, but you are encouraged to read these scriptures: Genesis 1:1-2:4a,

Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18; 8:6-18; 9:8-13,

Genesis 22:1-18

Exodus 14:1-31; 15:20-21,

Isaiah 55:1-11,

Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21, 9:4b-6

Ezekiel 36:24-28, Ezekiel 37:1-14,

Zephaniah 3:14-20,

Jonah 1:1-2:1

Isaiah 61:1-4,9-11,

Daniel 3:1-29,

Romans 6:3-11,

John 20:1-18

Prayer: O God, you are the creator of the world, the liberator of your people, and the wisdom of the earth. By the resurrection of your Son free us from our fears, restore us in your image, and ignite us with your light, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Easter Day, April 17

Worship at 10:00am.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Easter Breakfast will be served at around 9ish this year. There will be an egg hunt for kids at around 9:30.

Scripture readings: Acts 10:34-43,

Psalm 118:1-2,14-24,

1 Corinthians 15:19-26

Luke 24:1-12

Prayer: O God, you gave you only Son to suffer death on the cross for our redemption, and by his glorious resurrection you delivered us from the power of death. Make us die every day to sin, that we may live with him forever in the joy of the resurrection, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.