My brothers and sisters in Christ,
Even for a little while, didn’t it feel good to crack the windows open? To remove some of that stale winter air with fresh spring/summer air. It sure felt like summer. I even moved outside to write some of this letter. I am very much a fair-weather Pastor. I am so ready. Are you?
I know for some, opening up the windows brings misery. It kicks off allergy season. My whole family suffers from all sorts of pollen in the air. I feel for you. It is one of those things I am not blessed with. My daughter was teasing me about all the things she received genetically from my side of the family. However, it was my wife who gave her that.
Well, it starts next weekend. All of a sudden, we are at Holy Week. Next week is what we call Palm/Passion weekend. It used to be a long time ago that most of the congregations across faith traditions celebrated Good Friday. Now, not so much. The ELCA National Church wants its members to hear two stories. One is the Christmas story, while the other is the Passion story. So, they decided to put Palm Sunday and Good Friday together, thus the name Palm/Passion weekend.
Then it ramps up to Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday. Between those two days is Good Friday and the Saturday Vigil. It looks like 4 separate services, but many Lutheran churches consider it as one. 4 parts-1 service. We will be doing the Living Last Supper during Maundy Thursday. Invitations are on the table in the Narthex. Bring a friend. It will definitely change their perspective on Maundy Thursday.
For those who were doing the Intentional Acts handout during Lent, if you want to turn them in, next weekend is the day. I need the name, group, and number of acts done. A Hy-Vee gift card will be given to the one who performed the most acts for each group. If you don’t want the card, you can perform one more act and give it to someone else. We always have someone coming into the church asking for a gift card.
The Spring Breakfast was a great success. They fed more than 125 people. I asked Missy what the purpose of this breakfast was, and she said fellowship. I think she is correct. The food was great, the price was even better, but it was the table fellowship that mattered the most. I know I enjoyed my conversation. Thank you to all the workers who made this event a success. We wouldn’t be able to do this without their help. A special thanks to the Millers, who were making the omelets.
The music video that was played last weekend was Worn by tenth Avenue North. If you didn’t catch the lyrics, you can always Google it. Not sure if you have ever had a song, book, poem, or a devotional ever hit close to home, but Worn does this for me. It feels like this some days. If you feel this way also, please get some help, or feel free to come in and talk. I won’t be able to fix it, but I promise I will listen.
The following are the characteristics of God that were discussed during Lent. I have double-checked them with all my sermons during the Lenten season.
1) Our God will chase us down, and his love and mercy will be with me “all the days of my life” (Sermon: fourth week of Lent).
2) God’s steadfast love and abundant mercy (Psalm 51- I hope you are reading this every day during Lent).
3) Showers us with grace – something we don’t deserve but receive. Grace is a gift (Sermon: third week of Lent).
4) Nothing can separate us from his love (Romans 8:38-39; Sermon: third Week of Lent).
5) He is always present (Sermon: second week of Lent).
6) Our helper (Psalm 121; Sermon: second week of Lent).
7) God guards, protects, preserve and keeps us safe. God is our shade ( Psalm 121; Sermon: second week of Lent).
8) Not only gracious, merciful, and abounding in steadfast love, but God is also slow to anger, and relents from punishing (Joel, 2:14b; Sermon: first weekend of Lent).
9) “Forgive us from our wickedness and remember our sins no longer” (Jeremiah 31:34; Sermon: first week of Lent).
10) God’s mercy will never come to an end, “they are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22b-23a; Sermon: first week of Lent)
11) A God who shows up; gives us hope (Psalm 130, Sermon 5).
Did I miss any?
Holy Week schedule:
March 29 – Palm/Passion weekend – normal weekend times.
April 2 – Maundy Thursday- 6:30 p.m.
April 3 – Good Friday – 6:30 p.m.
April 4 – Easter Vigil (Saturday) – 5:30 p.m.
April 5 – Easter – (Sunday) – 10:15 a.m.
For every Good Friday, there will be an Easter.
Pastor Tom
815-223-1144
Readings for the Palm/Passion Weekend, March 28 & 29.
Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm 31:9-16 Philippians 2:5-11 Matthew 26:14-27:66