This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
~Psalm 118:24
The church office is closed Monday April 1.
Pastor’s Thoughts:
Many of you know I have a cross collection which usually hangs on the wall in my office. I have crosses from the United States, from Europe, from the Middle East, from Asia, and from Africa. Some are wood; some are metal: some are stained glass; some are pottery or other material. The cross given to me on the day of my Affirmation of Baptism hangs there. I have some given to me by my mother, by friends, by parishioners, and some that I have purchased myself. Each one has a special story behind it, and each one is special to me.
The cross that Jesus died upon was not a beautiful thing, if one thinks about it. Crucifixion was one of the most horrible ways to die, as one hung in agony, waiting to suffocate. But Christ’s cross is made beautiful by God’s triumph over death and by the grace, salvation, and eternal life given to us because of his sacrifice.
The cross of Good Friday is ugly. It represents all of the sinful things about our world and about us: greed, selfishness, lack of faith, envy, deceit … the list goes on and on.
But the cross of Easter, while still reminiscent of the suffering our Lord endured for and because of us, is made beautiful by the grace and love of God. God transformed the world through the cross of Christ, and he transforms each of us by its power and promises.
This Holy Week and Easter, I encourage you to ponder all aspects of the cross: Pain and comfort … .despair and hope … sin and forgiveness … sorrow and joy … death and life. Only God could take something so terrifying as a cross and make of it something wonderful. Only God could take a people so broken by sin and make them whole.
Thanks be the God for this glorious gift!
In Christ,
Pastor Brenda
The Readings for Sunday March 31, 2024
Acts 10:34-43
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Mark 16:1-8
Meditation
David O’Brien
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for this glorious Easter Morning. Whether it is sunny or cloudy, the world shines bright once more with your Holy love. Your light can scatter all darkness. The world today needs your light as much as it ever has. Some might say that we face some pretty dark times, with wars raging in various parts of the world, claiming thousands of innocent victims, and political strife at home that seems to be tearing this country apart. We need you to guide us with your holy light so that we might be able to find our way and we trust that you will help us in these troubled times just as you have helped your children in the past.
Spring is such a perfect metaphor for your rising from the grave, with new life popping up all around us. Like the daffodils and tulips rising up from the ground, and the backyard animals coming out of their winter dens with new babies, life is all around us. And it is in your rising on Easter morning that you brought new life to all humanity. Eternal life, earned by You in your sacrifice on Good Friday, and given to us, your children, as a gift by your resurrection. We haven’t the words to thank you enough for this priceless gift. The best we can do is to try to spread the good news of this morning and your gift to all of our brothers and sisters here on Earth, caring for them and loving them as you have commanded. In this mission which you have given to us, may we take to hearts the words of the hymn, “They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love”, and show that love to the entire world.
As we celebrate your resurrection, help us to share our joy and love with each other and with the entire world by encouraging an end to wars and hunger and by engaging is peaceful dialog with our siblings, especially those with whom we disagree.
Starting April 2 – Join us Tuesday mornings at 10:30 a.m.
For coffee and conversation.
Just a time to get together and enjoy each other’s company.
10:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall
Coffee provided
Adult Class—Death and Dying:
For our next Adult Class topic, we will discuss death and dying. Our society teaches us not to avoid discussing this in-depth, but it is something that we should all confront and ponder in conjunction with our faith. Our faith gives us a powerful perspective through which to view and discuss the reality of death.
We will begin our discussions and learning with an introductory session on Wednesday, 3 April (6:00 p.m.) and Sunday, 7 April (8:15 a.m.). Both class options will use the same materials each week. The class is anticipated to run through 15/19 May.
We will discuss the concept of death (both from a physical perspective and a Christian perspective), the grieving process, how to plan our funerals (both at the church and the funeral home), and the importance of Advance Directives (Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare and Living Wills).
Operation Christmas Child 2024 Collection
Month of March
Please help us with this SO VERY worthwhile effort by donating bars of soap (Ivory is preferred) during the month of March.
Your donated items can be placed in the container marked Operation Christmas Child in the Grace Giving Room. Thank you to all for your continued support for this world-wide evangelistic ministry.
Grace Lutheran Operation Christmas Child Ministry
Thank you!!!!
A sincere thank you from the ladies of Ruth Circle to all who made purchases, all those who worked at the bake sale and the Grace church members who donated baked goods for the Election Day Bake Sale. These funds help us to support missions and finances to various causes at Grace and beyond.
Please join us – Sunday Fellowship Time
In Brenner Hall
March 31 – Easter Sunday – breakfast between services
Talent and Treats: Friday, 12 April at 7:00 p.m.
What is your hidden talent? Can you sing? Juggle? Tell jokes? Play the guitar? Here is your chance to show them off! On Friday, 12 April, we will gather for Talent and Treats, which is a fundraiser for the youth and their trip to the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans this summer. Admission is $10 and will include desserts and the show!
There will be a sign-up sheet in the back of the nave (big church) beginning on 3 March for those wishing to share their talents. We envision the “acts” being about 3-5 minutes in length. You can also speak to Pastor to sign up or to ask questions about the event.
A new group of three people along with their caregiver joined us for the March gathering for Grace Full Friends here at Grace. Those of us involved were pleased to see some new faces and added numbers. In conversation with the caregiver she mentioned the ministries of AA and the Personal Needs Ministry and the help they had provided to her. I share this with you that we might all be reminded at the other end of facility use and items collected to be shared, are people who are affected and bettered and know the source is Grace Lutheran or more correctly, the love of God. And further that these two ministries are two of the list of efforts undertaken here at Grace Lutheran, 4441 Monroe Street.
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
~Psalm 118:24
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