Friends in Christ News Friends in Christ Lutheran Church 1338 Clay Street Morris IL 60450

Transcription

1 APRIL 2018 Friends in Christ News Friends in Christ Lutheran Church 1338 Clay Street Morris IL In This Issue: PASTOR S ARTICLE... 1, 2 CONFIRMATION. 3 BIRTHDAYS 3 ANNIVERSARIES. 3 FINANCIAL REPORT.. 3 LWML.. 4 FRIENDLY SENIORS.. 4 SENIOR SERVICE. 4 YOUTH NEWS.. 5 PRAYER CALENDAR. 6 CHURCH CALENDAR. 7 Come Worship with us! Saturday Evenings 5:30 p.m. Sunday Mornings 8:15 a.m. 10:45 a.m. (for Adults and Kids) 9:30 a.m. (Tuesday Bible Study The Great Reversal Everything is Falling Apart and There is No Hope But Then... 9:00 a.m.) In Satan s domain did the hosts shout and jeer For Jesus was slain, whom the evil ones fear. (He s Risen, He s Risen LSB # 480, v. 2) We enjoy watching the Great Reversal written into books and included in movies. We talk about the surprise ending. And, when it is really well done, we tell others, You absolutely have to see it. The Great Reversal usually has 2 sides: Those who think everything is lost are at their last gasp, and their hopes are gone, until something they do not see and do not expect suddenly happens. The villain seems to be winning struts around gloating, thoroughly enjoying the victory and rubbing it in, until hidden forces finally bring to completion the hidden truth; and for the villain everything suddenly falls apart and all they seem to have won slips right out of their hands. It is a great literary device. It can bring in millions for a movie. And it is based on real life. God uses the Great Reversal. Continued on page 2 But thanks be to God Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! -1 Corinthians 15:57 Save the Date! APRIL 1: Easter Sunrise Service 6:30 a.m. Easter Worship Service 8:15 a.m. APRIL 4: LWML Meeting 7:00 p.m. APRIL 7: Youth Event at Trinity, Roselle 7:00 p.m. (Leaving from church at 4:00 p.m.) APRIL 9: Senior Service 1:00 p.m. APRIL 10: Friendly Seniors 11:30 a.m. APRIL 17: Ushers Meeting 7:00 p.m. APRIL 26: Council Meeting 7:00 p.m.

2 The Great Reversal (con t) In the Old Testament: Pharaoh gloats and the Israelites shake in fear; and Pharaoh sends his army with chariots and spears and swords after the Israelites right through the channel opened up through the Red Sea until sunrise when the chariot wheels stick and the army turns around and races back down the eastern banks of the sea, just as God tells Moses to raise his staff and the waters come pouring back and the army races right into the water. And then in the book of Esther, the villain Haman plots to destroy God s people, and builds a scaffold tall enough for large crowds to watch Esther s cousin Mordecai being put to death. Through coincidence and Esther s courage, God intervenes and everything suddenly turns around. God s people are preserved and Haman has to climb the steps of his own scaffold, in front of everyone. But those are only foreshadows of the greatest Great Reversal. The forces plotting against Jesus seem to have their day. They get one of His disciples to betray Jesus. They arrest Him in the middle of the night. Before those who celebrated the Passover late into the night are up and around, they have already had a trial, brought Jesus before Pilate, gotten Jesus on His way out to Calvary. It is their time of victory. The troublesome prophet is gone, and just to make sure a guard is set outside the tomb. The disciples are distraught. All is lost, so they believe. There is nothing left to do but hide or be next. Only the women can go to the tomb without being arrested. And they are headed that way with spices to help to cover over the stench of rotting flesh and then to go away and weep. Everything, EVERYTHING is lost! until... The Greatest Great Reversal Ever: Nothing is as it seems. Unknown to the disciples, unseen by His enemies, the victory was won. Sin was atoned for. Death had swallowed up the very One who could tear it apart from inside. The Great High Priest Jesus willingly offering up His sinless and holy life; going with perfect faith to stand under the judgment on all sin and unbelief has shattered everything that can separate us from God and His promises from us. Suddenly everything changes. But short was their triumph; the Savior arose, And death, hell, and Satan He vanquished, His foes. (He s Risen, He s Risen LSB # 480, v. 3) Unknown and unexpectedly Jesus victory is about to burst upon: the women, the disciples, the soldiers, the chief priests, Pilate, a week later upon Thomas, and then year after year, age after age, generation after generation, all of humanity. But wait a moment! Suddenly? This Greatest Great Reversal was in the works from the beginning. It was the plan since the Garden of Eden. As the events of holy week were unfolding no one knew what God was planning. Jesus was carrying out the plan revealed in the first prophecy in the Bible (Genesis 3:15). The devil had no way of knowing that as he drove the enemies of Jesus to carry out the crucifixion; he was actually carrying out God s plan for our salvation. The Pharisees and Chief priests have a guard at the tomb; and unwittingly guard us against their own lie about the disciples steeling the body. The women on the way to the tomb prove that no one expected, no one knew, and it is all by grace and the work of God. And we celebrate because it is all by grace; and it is God and God alone who has done everything for our salvation and eternal life. Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Pastor Mark (1 Corinthians 2:2) 2

3 April BIRTHDAYS _ 2 nd Gary Gillette 4 th Kris Farber 5 th Ashley Van Heiden 6 th Harold Carlson Shaye Carter 7 th Harry Benner Scott Heren 13 th Willene Turner God bless you on your Confirmation! Jamie Ruedin & Wade Tondini March 25, th Adolph Wendling 19 th Marge Anderson Brenda Collins 21 st Michael Kahn 22 nd Alexx Mann 23 rd Deidre Carlson Judie Thompson Alexa Thorson 26 th Jacob Van Heiden April ANNIVERSARIES 7 th Don & Judy Johnson 56 years 9 th Richard & Earlene Enervold 57 years Duane & Mary Heren 63 years 10 th Bob & Kathy Wills 42 years 23 rd Michael & Laurie Applebee 30 years 24 th Harold & Norma Carlson 53 years 26 th Gary & Irene Gamauf 43 years 3

4 LWML: WEDNESDAY APRIL 4 at 7:00 p.m. Sue Hasslebring will be our presenter for April. She will talk about her work in Bible translation. She currently serves in Asia as a Sociolinguist. The Zone Rally this year will be April 14 th in the morning. The Ingathering will be contributions for our KYKS program. FRIENDLY SENIORS We invite you to join us at: TURTLE S TAP RESTAURANT TUESDAY, APRIL 10 at 11:30 a.m. (Please sign up on the provided sheet on the bulletin table.) SENIOR SERVICE Come Worship with us! and then join us for food and friendship afterwards! MONDAY, APRIL 9 at 1:00 p.m. 4

5 YOUTH NEWS! YOUTH NIGHT: (Jr. High & High Schoolers who have pre-registered only) Saturday, April 7 Trinity, Roselle We will be leaving Saturday promptly at 4:00 p.m. from the church. The Concert at begins at 7:00 and will end at 9 p.m. and it will be closer to 11:00 p.m. before we have returned to Morris. SUNDAY SCHOOL: In we will be studying the early church. This is a new study for our. Beginning April 8 th, the high school class will dive into a study about how to respond to events that are happening in our world today and what to do when it hurts us. This is a Bible Study published by CPH. High School Bible Study Begins April 8, 2018 Sundays - 9:30 a.m. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: The date for VBS has been set for the week of June 18th from 9-11:30 a.m. Our theme will be Splash Canyon which looks at Bible stories related to salvation and water. 5

6 Easter is a time to give thanks for the new life given through Christ's Resurrection! Happy Easter! Please pray daily for Pastor Willig, Deb Carter, Kris Farber and their families. Missionaries Everywhere, Iglesia San Pablo Church, Deaf Ministry, People of the Book Outreach, Salam Christian Fellowship and Christians being persecuted. Lord, help each of us to identify our gifts, recognize our strength, and curb our weaknesses. Isaiah 41:10 Lord, grant us hope even in the midst of our suffering and the suffering of others. Lamentations 3:25 Lord, my prayer is simple. Make my faith in you greater. Luke 17:5 Thank you for our families and friends Lord. Help us to treasure them as you treasure us. Luke 1:67-80 Please open our minds Lord so we can understand what you want from us. We are your servants. Lord, please teach me to develop habits that protect my spiritual health. Matt 6:13 Lord, You are our Good Shepherd. Help us as Your sheep to hear and know Your voice so we can follow You. John 10: 1-18 Lord, thank you for being our refuge and strength for we can't do it alone. Psalm 46:1 Lord, help us to be a bold witness for You in word and actions. John 1:8 the glorious splendor of your majesty and the wonderful works of Your mighty hands. Psalm 145:5 Lord, help us to put all our trust in You. Prov. 3:5-6 Lord, please help us to prepare our hearts before we come to worship You. God, renew my trust in You in the midst of success and times of failure. Psalm 84:12 Lord, Thank You for the unbreakable promise that You will be with us always, even to the end of the age. Matt 28:20 our Savior Jesus Christ who brings peace, good news, and salvation to all who believe. Isa. 52:7-10 Lord, fill us with the fruit of the Spirit-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Gal. 5:22-23 Lord, give me a heart to daily want to spend time with You. Lord, we thank You for all those who answer Your call to ministry. Guide their way as they serve You. 1 Samuel 3:10 Your peace that surpasses all understanding and guards our hearts and minds. Philippians 4:7 God, Thank You for Your unending love and mercy. 1 Chronicles 16:34 Lord, guide parents as they seek to raise mature productive adults. Matthew 5:16 Lord, we pray for those seeking employment. Please guide their path, give them perseverance, and guard their hearts. Philippians 4:7 Lord, just as You rode into Jerusalem to fulfill God's promise for our salvation, so come into our lives to keep us on the path to salvation. Your many promises revealed through Scripture that give us hope. Rom. 5:1-5 the abundant life and joy we experience in Jesus Christ. John 10:10 the marvelous joy that comes from walking in the light of Your presence. Psalm 89:15 giving rest to people who are weary and burdened. Matt 11:28 God, Thank You again for loving us so much that You gave Your only Son so that we may have eternal life. John 3:16

7 April 2018 Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat. 1 COMMUNION Easter Sunday 1:00 PM Euchre Club 7:00 PM Lutheran 4:00 PM Youth to 6:30 AM Sunrise Service Women s Missionary Trinity, 7:30 AM Easter Breakfast League Roselle 8:15 AM Morning Service 8 Second Sunday of Easter COMMUNION 1:00 PM Senior Service 7:00 PM Elders 9:00 AM Bible Study 11:00 AM Finance Meeting 11:30 AM Friendly Turtle s Tap 8:30 AM LWML Spring Cross, Yorkville 15 COMMUNION Third Sunday of Easter 9:00 AM Bible Study 7:00 PM Ushers Meeting 5:00 PM Youth Night 22 Fourth Sunday of Easter :00 AM Park Pointe 9:00 AM Bible Study 7:00 PM Church Council 29 Fifth Sunday of Easter 30 Dates in May and June: Sunday May 6, 9:00 AM Voters Assembly Thursday May 10 Ascension Day Sunday May 13 Mothers Day Monday Friday, June 18-22; 9 11:30 AM Vacation Bible School