Holy Week Is Upon Us

Dear Friends,

 

    If you were not able to join us for worship this past Sunday, you missed a truly moving , breathtaking, deeply dramatic presentation of  the Passion of our Lord.  We want to thank our music director, John Rea, who wrote and produced the play, including some beautiful new compositions (and some pretty good material from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). We certainly want to thank all of our choirs for their hard work and dedication.  Your support of this performance and your confidence in carrying out your varied tasks is  the glue that brings all of it together in such a profound way. Each year many people are blessed by this profound proclamation of the Gospel.  Thank you!

   

    This Thursday at 7:30 we begin our journey from despair to hope, from darkness to light, from death to life.  Here is our worship schedule for Holy Week:

 

Maundy Thursday – 7:30 PM   

Tonight we are reminded that our life of discipleship is a life of forgiveness and servanthood.  We are commanded by Jesus to love one another and we are united with Christ, with the saints, and with one another at the Lord’s Supper.  This brings us great strength in our own life of discipleship.

 

            Good Friday Service of Tenebrae (Darkness and Light) at 7:30 PM

In this deeply moving service that begins in light and ends in darkness, we gather around the word, prayer, and the cross,  the central sign of our salvation.

 

            Easter Vigil – Liturgy of Light, Word, Baptismal Remembrance, and Holy Communion at 5:00 PM

In this historic, deeply symbolic service, we are reminded of the great acts of God from Creation to Exodus to Resurrection.  God’s saving grace is proclaimed, then light fills the church as that grace fills us.  Come and experience profound readings, wonderful music, and a first glimpse of the resurrection.

 

            Easter Sunday – 8:15 and 11:00 AM:

We rejoice at the empty tomb. Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed! 

 

    Participating in the upcoming evening services can only heighten your sense of joy when we celebrate the resurrection.  Think about family members, friends, co-workers, neighbors etc who could join you for one of these special services. 

   

As we approach the cross and the empty tomb in worship, consider the following questions: 

   

    - Christ humbled himself out of love.  Where might we need to be humbled for the sake of our brothers and sisters in Christ?

     - What needs resurrecting in our lives? 

    - What makes it hard to turn this over to God and trust that God will bring us, too, through darkness to light, through death to new life?

 

    Holy God, remind us of your presence with us when we stumble, suffer, or are afraid in any way.  Give us strength, courage, and peace.  Help us to be an encouragement and a sign of life to others.  Amen

 

    See you in church!

 

    Peace,

 

    Pastor Mueller

standrewslutheran.com

pray-as-you-go.org