A Letter from the Pastor

Transcription

1 WORDS of GRACE Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church 1809 S. Main St. Fairgrove, MI church office: (989) church website: Rev. Joshua T. Haller cell phone: (248) APRIL 2018 THE EMPTY TOMB OF JESUS A Letter from the Pastor God loved us by dying for us. He allowed himself to be arrested and crucified, to be nailed to a tree, to suffocate and die. The one who breathed life into Adam in the beginning gave up his final breath on the cross. The Light of the World became cold and dark. He was lifeless. God died. And then, he was buried. His body was taken down from the cross, and Joseph of Arimathea wrapped him in a linen shroud and placed him in a new tomb. The stone was rolled over the entrance of that tomb to put the final nail in the coffin. Just as all of us will one day die and be buried, so also the Almighty One, he who is above all things, died and was buried. He was locked away in a cave, never to come out again. As Paul Gerhardt s hymn tells us: You lay the One into the grave Who built the earth s foundation. God loved us by being buried with us. He subjected himself to not only death, but also burial. You bury something, because it no longer serves a purpose. Like throwing garbage into a dumpster, a body must be dealt with to avoid the stench of death. Jesus was soon to rot and stink. God s body no longer served a purpose, and so he was buried. But, Jesus burial was different. It was only temporary. God was dead but not for long. Jesus was bruised but not broken. The very large stone was rolled back. The linens were folded neatly. The stench of death was replaced with the lilies of the garden. He who once was dead was alive again! And now, because Jesus burial was so different, so will ours be. Having been crucified with Christ in the waters of Holy Baptism, we have been joined to him in his death and resurrection. As St. Paul writes, We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his (Romans 6:4-5).

2 Someday, our graves will also be sealed, just as the stone was rolled over Jesus tomb. Our bodies will decay and stink. We ll be lifeless and dark. And yet, it won t last for very long. Our rest in the ground will be temporary. We ll be bruised but not broken. We will rise, because Jesus lives. What happened to our Lord on Easter Sunday will also happen to us. We, the perishable, will put on the imperishable, and we, the mortal, will put on immortality. We will rise to never die again, just as it is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? (1 Corinthians 15:54b-55) If Christ still lay within the tomb Then death would be the end. And we should face our final doom With neither guide nor friend. But now the Savior is raised up, So when a Christian dies We mourn, yet look to God in hope- In Christ the saints arise! If Christ Had Not Been Raised from Death LSB 486, stanza 2 Death is dead. The devil has lost. Sin is forgiven. All that would put us in our graves forever has been defeated by our Lord Jesus. He has put all such things under his feet and will stand on top of them forever. They cannot harm us. Death cannot keep us. The devil cannot imprison us. We are free. The tomb of Jesus is empty, which means that one day your tomb will be empty, as well. Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! In Christ, Pastor Haller ISRAEL TRIP PRESENTATION TALK RADIO FOR THE EASTER SEASON Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show and podcast hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken and produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL. This week s topics include: The Easter Hymn He s Risen! He s Risen!, The Resurrection According to John s Gospel, Jesus on the Road to Emmaus, The Resurrection in Isaiah and more. You can listen live or at your convenience at and on the Lutheran Public Radio mobile app. Pastor Haller will share some pictures and stories from his recent trip to Israel on Sunday, May 6, 2018, during Adult Bible Class. Please, come and join us in hearing of our Lord s life upon this earth in the holy land.

3 THE RITE OF FIRST COMMUNION donations THUMB AREA CRISIS CENTER donations can be placed in box under fellowship hall window APRIL dish soap LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF donations can be placed in box by the coat rack BABY CARE KITS Lightweight cotton t-shirts Long or short-sleeved gowns or sleepers (without feet) Jackets, sweaters, sweatshirts Bath-size bars of gentle soap Bath-size towels Bath-size bars of soap Sturdy combs HIGENE KITS CLOTHING GIVEAWAY Clothing for this year s Giveaway can be collected here at the church. Any questions, please speak with Tracey Reinbold: (989) KNOWN APRIL BIRTHDAYS Katie Spencer Paul Hodgkinson Heather Rushford Lily Southgate Sierra Swoffer Larry Spencer Amelia Reinbold Laura Hargash Alberta Reinbold Paula Holubowicz KNOWN APRIL ANNIVERSARIES Fred & Diane Hillaker Kipp & Joyce Dickson Wayne & Lynn Dinsmore Aaron & Heather Reinbold Ed & Lil McAlpine Earl & Bev Voss SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2018 during the Divine Service Take eat; this is my body. Take, drink; this is my blood. CHURCH FLOOR FUND A new fund has been created in hopes of replacing the carpet in the church sanctuary. PRIVATE CONFESSION Private Confession and Absolution is available by appointment. You can call Pastor Haller at the church office or on his cell phone: (248) April Divine Services (services with Holy Communion) Sunday, April 1, 2018 The Resurrection of Our Lord Mark 16:1-8 Sunday, April 8, 2018 The Second Sunday of Easter Quasimodo Geniti Divine Service Setting 1 John 20:19-31 Sunday, April 15, 2018 The Third Sunday of Easter Misericordias Domini John 10:11-16 Sunday, April 22, 2018 The Fourth Sunday of Easter Jubilate John 16:16-22 Sunday, April 29, 2018 The Fifth Sunday of Easter Cantate John 16:23-30

4 THANK YOU WELLSPRING LUTHERAN FOUNDATION Dear Friends: Thank you for supporting Wellspring Lutheran Services through your generous contribution of $ Donations, such as yours, are very important and enable us to provide the many programs we provide and help us meet many specific needs of the children, families and seniors we serve. Each day Wellspring impacts the lives of literally hundreds of people, young and old, who are in need of one, or more, of our many services. By making this donation, you help equip our staff with the tools they need to renew hope and restore troubled lives. Thank you again for helping Wellspring reach out to those in need. Your generosity takes on a very special meaning in their lives and to our staff who serve and support them. Sincerely, Jill M. Haiser Vice President of Mission Advancement Foundation Executive Director JOANNA JOHNSON Dear Grace Fairgrove, Thank you so much for your support and prayers. I am so excited to partner with you in this important ministry! 95% of the people in Taiwan are not Christians. Even at the Lutheran school at which I m serving, 85% of the students are not Christians. These people need to hear the love of Jesus. What an honor and priviledge that I get to be apart of telling them! Because of your support, I am able to tell them about Jesus. I am so grateful to you! Grace and Peace, Joanna Johnson SEMINARIAN ROGER MULLET Dear saints of Grace Fairgrove, Megan and I wanted to provide an update there are many exciting things coming up for both of us! First, I have been accepted to a new PhD (theological studies) program at the seminary and have also accepted a graduate assistant teaching position, which will allow me to teach first-year seminary courses while completing my own PhD coursework. This means we are staying in Fort Wayne for at least three more years! Quite a change from the original plan, but still very exciting! My graduation date for my Master of Divinity will be May 18. Megan will complete her Master of Social Work at the end of April and graduate May 4. Her internship with Park Center doing outpatient therapy should be finished in the first week of April. She is also nannying for a seminary friend two days per week. As time winds down on these things, it s becoming more and more busy by the day! We are very much looking forward to our summer break and what the next few years will bring us. As always, we cannot thank you enough for your prayers and gifts. One journey in Fort Wayne is giving way to another, and we couldn t have made it where we are without your support. Thank you so much. May God continue to bless your congregation and her families! In Christ, Roger and Megan

5 Serving our Lord in the Month of April Elders for April Harold Burnison & Daniel Reinbold Ladies Aid for April Joanne Reinbold & Diane Spencer Sunday, April 1, 2018 Greeters: Ed & Lil McAlpine Ushers: Larry Spencer, Brian Steinley, Daniel Bublitz, Daniel Reinbold Sunday, April 8, 2018 Greeters: Marge Montgomery Ushers: Harold Burnison, Vic Trisch, Jim Burnison, Daniel Reinbold Refreshments: Ruth Ann Kaijala, Nancy Keyes, Mary Masker, Lil McAlpine Sunday, April 15, 2018 Greeters: Sarah Pierce Ushers: Lee Voss, Jason Hall, David Weber, Daniel Reinbold Refreshments: Karen Mendyk, Marge Montgomery, Sarah Pierce, Susan Pfund Sunday, April 22, 2018 Greeters: Susan Pfund Ushers: Ed McAlpine, Earl Voss, Hunter Reid, Daniel Reinbold Refreshments: Sarah Reid, Heather Reinbold, Tracey Reinbold, Joanne Reinbold Sunday, April 29, 2018 Greeters: Tom & Sarah Reid Ushers: David Hills, Joseph Bublitz, Harold Burnison, Daniel Reinbold Refreshments: Leslie Reinbold, Diane Spencer, Irene Stange, Bev Voss **If you are unable to provide refreshments when scheduled, please switch with someone on the list. **If your name is not on the Greeter and/or Refreshment list and you would like to serve, please contact the church office. **the Secondary Elder assigned for that month will also serve as the fourth usher. **If you re not able to serve on a particular Sunday, please call another usher to replace you.