The Messenger. History s Holiest Week. Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church. This is the message God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

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1 Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church The Messenger This is the message God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1Jn 1:5 March 2018 Volume 12, Issue 3 History s Holiest Week Holy Week is the most sacred time of the Church Year. Every other holiday on our church calendar is important because of what happened these eight days. In fact, all of human history is centered and derives its meaning from these eight days. Those who don t know Christ are constantly asking for the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything. Without these eight days, they don t have an answer that makes any sense they don t even know the question! Not only don t they have any meaning, they are without any hope. I ve noticed that sense of aimlessness and hopelessness in many books and movies. Netflix just came out with a series called Everything Sucks! Shows like The Expanse and Game of Thrones, and the books they re based on, aren t really pessimistic but rather nihilistic. Nihilism is the rejection of all religions and morality and the belief that life is meaningless. It was very popular among Russians around More and more people in our society are embracing this viewpoint. If we get rid of religion and morality morality and religion go hand in hand because without religion you only have some fluctuating social contract for acceptable behavior then nothing can be right or wrong and you can do whatever you want. What happens more often, however, is each person decides for him or herself what s right and wrong and might even insist that others obey. This was the very temptation that trapped our first parents. They ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in order to gain wisdom (Gn 3:6). Moreover, the Scriptures speak of the horrific outlook during the time of the Judges: In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes (Jdg 17:6; 21:25). And with that hopelessness and outright hostility toward any moral authority, the people take ma ers into their own hands. Just like in the time of Judges, violence is often the solution. When did taking of another s life become acceptable to us? Cain murdered his brother Abel because of his envy, but it wasn t until Cain s 2 nd greatgrandson Lamech we see any boasting of murder (it s also the first poetry in the Bible): Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: If I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. If Cain s revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech s is seventy-sevenfold. (Gn 4:23, 24) What I find ironic about this poem is Lamech s name. Lamech has been understood to mean to be made low; to be humiliated. It may be related to lament, which means weeping, wailing. I find this ironic because Lamech is a empting to boast of his murder, but it only reveals how low he who is named made low has become. The result is only great weeping and wailing. (I wonder if Lamech s 77 revenges somehow relates to Jesus forgive your brother 77 times in Mt 18:22 it s a textual variation.) What happened on February 14, 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida was a great tragedy. Whatever else might be said about Continued on pg. 2

2 it, for some reason this guy thought that violence was an acceptable solution to his problem. And why shouldn t it be? After all, isn t violence socially acceptable in other ways? Unwanted pregnancy? Have an abortion! Incurable illness? Get euthanized! Based on available state-level data, approximately 893,000 abortions were performed in the United States in In May of the same year, Gallup took a poll which showed 69% of the U.S. population supported euthanasia. Death isn t the answer; life is the answer! At first, it may seem like violence is God s answer to sin. What did He say to Adam about eating from that tree? For in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die (Gn 2:17). Also, how about Romans 6, where St. Paul writes, For the wages of sin is death (v23a). We might even look at Good Friday and point at the horror of the crucifixion and say, What s so good about that!? It s a bloody, awful mess. Such agony! Such pain! Such violence. By itself, Good Friday is anything but good. God answers the violence of our sin with violence of His own. Some opponents of Christianity have pointed at the barbaric act of the crucifixion and said: If a god would do that to its own son, I don t want anything to do with it. And if that s all there ever was to it, who can blame them? But that wasn t all there ever was to it. That s where Easter Sunday comes in. And, boy, does it come in! The body of Jesus, which days earlier hung ba ered and bruised on the cross, which had a spear pierce its side, which had been laid lovingly in the tomb by His dear friends Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, and which the faithful women went very early in the morning to offer their tender ministrations the body of Jesus was raised by God the Father from the dead! And, as St. Paul writes, And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied (1Co 15:17, 19). If then we are to be pitied more than anyone else. But Jesus was raised from the dead. The apostles Saints Peter, James, John, and all the rest saw Him, touched Him, ate with Him, and even went fishing with Him (Jn 20-21). And not only they. Apostle Paul, traveling on the road to Damascus, saw him (Ac 9). Also, St. Paul tells us that the resurrected Jesus appeared to more than 500 of the brothers at one time (1Co 15:6)! Thus, we know that God s answer to our sin isn t violence and death. No, it s the exact opposite! It s life, life abundant, life everlasting, life eternal. It s life eternal because it s Jesus own life. Just think about it: if eternity has neither beginning nor end, then what we re promised isn t simply that we will live to never die again; rather, because God alone is eternal (without beginning or end), what Jesus has promised and given to us already is His very life. We have His life. That s why Jesus can say, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who live and believes in Me shall never die (Jn 11:25-26). Good Friday is most certainly good because of what happened on Easter morning. And so, we don t end with for the wages of sin is death, but with the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (6:23b, the remainder of the verse). That s what Holy Week is about. It s about Life and light overcoming death and darkness. It s about us being rescued and given salvation and salvation is being free from even the threat of any harm. And Life and light is what we get to share with the world. Jesus lives! The victory s won! Jesus and the Gospel is the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything. Jesus declares and has guaranteed us with His own resurrection that there s not nothing for us, awaiting us. Therefore, Jesus gives us a hope that will not disappoint or fail. Just as He has risen from the dead, so shall we too rise to the newness of life (Rm 6:4). Thanks be to God for that holiest of all weeks in human history! In Jesus name, Pastor Mackey Page 2 Continued on Pg. 3

3 Ten Generations of Gospel [Note: This is just for fun and shouldn t be taken completely seriously. In fact, no serious Biblical scholar would agree with this. But, then again, most of them are pre y pious and stuffy.] Genealogies can be pre y boring. In the Bible, we often skip right over them. But they don t have to be. Besides Genesis 5 actually being the first 10 generations of every human being on earth today, it might also have another meaning. Here s a li le parlor trick based on Genesis 5 s genealogy. It may not be at all etymologically correct, but it s still pre y cool. What we do is take all the names and translate (guess?) their meaning and create a sentence from it. Here we go: Adam (v3) this one s pre y easy: adam in Hebrew means man ; it s the very word used in Genesis 5:2. Seth (v4) this doesn t have a direct translation; however, since Seth was appointed as a replacement for Abel, we ll use the word appointed (I told you that this wasn t completely linguistically accurate, okay?). Enosh (v6) pre y easy, because enosh means mortal (kind of an unfortunate name); I guess people started dying from old age by this point in our history. Kenan (v9) and what do people do when someone dies? They sorrow. That s that kenan means. I think it kind of sounds like keening, which is a tradition form of vocal lament for the dead. Mahalalel (v12) though a mouthful, mahalalel means the blessed God in Hebrew. I like to think that God s promise in Genesis 3:15, which would ve been passed on from generation to generation, brought comfort to those who mourned and so they rejoiced, just liked Job 1:21, The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away; blessed be the name of the Lord. Jared (v16) this word means shall come down, or so I ve been told. Don t hold me to that, though. Enoch (v18) Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him (v24). Not only is Enoch one of the most mysterious figures in the Bible, his name is too! What we do know is that Enoch was a prophet and a teacher. So, we ll go with one of those two. Really, either one works. Methuselah (v21) his name is a prophecy of his father s (Enoch also prophesied the end of the world, which is cited by Jude 14-16). In this case, methusaleh means his death shall bring, indicating that when he died, something great and terrible would happen, which is probably why he s the longest lived person in the Bible at 969 years. Well, it did. The year Methusaleh dies is the very year of the flood. Lamech (v26) this name means to be brought low and might be related to lament, even though lament is from the Latin but I remember something about all the languages ge ing confused in Genesis 11 and don t necessarily buy into all the language tree stuff. Noah (v29) again, we don t have a direct translation, but noah sounds something like the Hebrew for rest or relief. This one shall bring us relief, it says. I also like salvation or comfort. Okay, we ve sort of translated each name. It s time to put them all together into a couple of sentences. I bet we ll hear the Gospel: Man (Adam) is appointed (Seth) mortal (Enosh) sorrow (Kenan). The blessed God (Mahalalel) shall come down (Jared) and prophesy (Enoch) that His death shall bring (Methusaleh) to those who lament (Lamech) relief (Noah). Here it is without the names: Man is appointed mortal sorrow. The blessed God shall come down and prophesy that His death shall bring to those who lament relief. Ten Generations of the Gospel to be sure (literally, this genealogy is in the Gospel according to St. Luke, chapter 3). Thanks be to God! Holy Week Schedule Palm Sunday 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. Divine Service Maundy Thursday 7:00 p.m. Divine Service Good Friday 7:00 p.m. Divine Service Easter Vigil 7:00 p.m. Divine Service Easter Day 6:30 a.m. Divine Service 7:30 a.m. Easter Breakfast 9:30 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt 10:30 a.m. Divine Service

4 Announcements Mites LWML Mite Box Sunday is March 4. This is the last month of the LWML fiscal year. We would like to be able to send a huge donation. Be sure to gather all that loose change and drop it in the big offering box on the back table in the Sanctuary. Family Meals Prior to Lenten Vespers, family meals will be served in the Fellowship Hall on March 7, 14 and 21. Please plan to a end these dinners and help support our Boards. Dinner is served from 5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Free will offerings will be collected. Watch the weekly s for the menu. TLC Bible Study Our Monday morning TLC Bible Study will resume in March on the 5 and 19 at 9:30 a.m. in the library. Food Pantry Pantry needs are: Paper products, bath soap, dish soap, jelly, pork and beans, canned veggies, boxed potatoes, pancake mix & syrup, tuna & tuna helper, pasta and sauce. Items may be placed in baskets by the office, bell tower and pantry doors. Items may be placed in baskets by the office, bell tower and pantry doors. Grace Crafters Grace Crafters meet the 2 nd and 4 th Monday of each month, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. This winter we are meeting in the church library. We will meet March 12 and 26, questions, contact Cathy Branscome at (765) or mrsbee2004@aol.com. Chat n Chew After a short break, Chat n Chew is back. Weather permi ing, plan to join us at King Buffe on March 19 at 11:30a.m. Please RSVP to Diana James or the church . Free for Lunch Bunch Free for Lunch Bunch will be on March 29 at 12:30 p.m. Please RSVP by Sunday, March25 to Diana James (765) Easter Festivities Easter Lilies are available for dedication to help beautify the Altar. Order envelopes are on the back table in the Sanctuary. The price is $10 per plant. Please have all orders in by March 25. The Childrenʹs Easter Egg Hunt will begin Easter morning at 9:30 a.m. Please be sure to bring your Easter basket or bag to collect the eggs. Easter Breakfast will be served by the Board of Elders, beginning at 7:30 a.m. The Elders would like donations of breakfast casseroles, coffee cakes and fruit dishes. If you would like to sign up to donate, contact Reta Heinkel (765) Community Assistance Day October is a ways off, but we would like to keep C A D on everyoneʹs radar. Our plan is to continue to give bags of groceries, coats, gloves, hats, scarves and blankets again this year. Please look for the collection boxes in the basement in the next month. The first organization meeting is Thursday, May 3 at 7 p.m. Any questions please contact John and Jane Harman (765) Neighborhood Clean-Up Saturday, May 12 we will host the Riverside/ Normal City Neighborhood Association for area wide clean-up. We will be picking up li er and tree limbs around the church and in the BSU area. The hours will be 8:00 11:00 a.m. Coffee and donuts will be provided starting at 7:45 a.m. and a light lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Any questions contact Jane Harman 765) We can use lots of help! Page 3 The Messenger

5 Board of Parish Services Some of you have heard of the food pantry Some of you have noticed the baskets by the doorways that sometimes food magically appears in. Some of you notice the lists that appear in the bulletins and newsle ers. Some of you have no clue! Before I became involved I had no idea what that li le room across from the restrooms was! The Board of Parish Services is an outreach of our church that everyone can be involved in. We help people in our community through Christian Ministries and members of our own church through word of mouth. In the last year we have helped not only families through our food pantry, but we have helped our own through Thanksgiving Baskets and even others by sending care packages to prisoners that we have contact with. Dlynn Melo, Amy Miller, Henry Miller (our wonderful bodyguard), Randy Willmann (Henry s sub), Jessica Parks and myself want to thank all of you for your support. What we need seems to always appear when we need it. If you don t have time to get to the store we will always accept donations and your prayers. If you have any questions or would like to help with the Parish Services, just get with any of us and we will be glad to talk with you!! One last li le story I would like to leave you with. Last month on our food pantry day we had a mother and son show up at the door. Now for those of you who don t know, we only accept people with vouchers from Christian Ministries. These people did not have one and had no idea what was involved. Some people you can just tell are in need. After some explanations about what to do in the future we sent them off with enough food to tide them over for a few days. Tears flowed (not only from the recipients). Hugs were exchanged and all felt blessed. This is what our board is all about. Grace Congregation Thanks for all you do!! Ann Willmann Board of Parish Services Page 4

6 What About the Vicar? By Pastor Mackey The What About? pamphlets are one of the great resources of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Many of them were wri en by the synod s late president, Rev. Dr. A.L. Barry ( ), and range in topic from Creation and Evolution to The New Millennium (or the Last Things). In homage to Dr. Barry and his pamphlets, I ve put together a li le thing about The Vicar to answer many of your questions about this new thing we re doing at Grace. [If you weren t aware, the Voters Assembly in November 2017 decided to apply to the Indiana District for a vicar to train and to have him do campus ministry to Ball State. The application was submi ed February 14, 2018.] What About the Vicar? As part of their training to be pastors, the students of our seminaries receive supervised practical experience on a full-time basis in a parish or related se ing and by reflecting upon that experience with his supervising pastor and others. 1 Vicarage is typically during their third year, allowing them to look back at their vicarage as they complete the last few quarters of their seminary course work. The goal is to help the student to grow in Christ, to develop a itudes and skills essential to the Lutheran ministry in real-life situations, and to put that growth and development to immediate use in serving Christ s Church. What is a vicar to do? A vicar s main job is to learn. This learning, of course, is quite different from that acquired in the classroom. It s learning by the experience of doing. A vicar is gets some much needed seasoning, while also having direct supervision by the parish s pastor. In Grace s case, the vicar will learn both from his work in the congregation and in the Indiana District s campus ministry to Ball State University. As a result, Grace s vicar will be learning from not only the pastor, but also from the many members of the congregation and from the students of the campus ministry. What are the Biblical foundations for a vicar? The Christians who make up a Christian congregation are the body of Christ in that place. Christ has called them out of the darkness of sin and into His marvelous light (1Pt 2:9). As members of Christ s body, we build up one another and help protect one another from God s enemies and grow together in the grace and knowledge of God. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1Co 1:4-7, 9). In order to accomplish this, God instituted the holy ministry, that is, the pastoral office. This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful (1Co 4:1-2). The man who aspires to be Christ s servant and a steward of God s mysteries to be a pastor needs training. He needs to develop a particular character, specific skills, spiritual growth, a desire to serve others, and a steadfastness in the faith. He must also receive the right tools, including understanding of Scripture, understanding of the Church and her task, insight into human nature, and practice in communicating with people both inside and outside the Church. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been Page 5 Continued on Pg. 6

7 acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2Tm 3:14-17) During his year of vicarage, the student can realize the very practical nature of theology, put to the everyday test his current understandings and a itudes, grow in various skills by overcoming errors and repeating salutary experience, and personally experience the power and bless of God as the Spirit of God works through His Word and Sacraments. 2 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil (1Tm 3:1-3, 6-7). What are some things the vicar will do? The vicar will learn by doing. In the congregation, he will preach regularly, at least once a month. He will also assist in conducting worship with the reading of Scripture and with the prayers each Sunday. He will directly experience and observe every facet of pastoral ministry. Moreover, he will teach both a Bible study and a Confirmation class every week. He will also be involved in all the congregation s activities like Chat n Chew, Community Assistance Day, and Vacation Bible School. He will make occasional visits to our shut-ins and those hospitalized. In the campus ministry, the vicar will develop relationships with the university students, lead them in weekly devotions and Bible studies, plan and host monthly activities for the students, coordinate students for volunteer work, and spend time on campus to regularly meet with students. What are we to do for the vicar? Together, as pastor and congregation, we are to build the vicar up so that he may become the best pastor he can be. To that end, we can do the following: Pray for the vicar (and, if he has one, his family). Give thanks to God for the opportunity to train a future pastor as one through whom God gives the gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation. Provide housing and utilities, moving expenses, health insurance, and a monthly stipend. Help the vicar with the campus ministry to care for the students. Invite the vicar into our homes and get to know him by visiting with him. Tell him about Grace and its history, both good and not-so-good, so he can learn about us. Take him around Muncie and Ball State to familiarize him with the community. Socialize with the vicar outside of worship and church activities. Share our experiences with him so he can learn from them. Trust him with his responsibilities, and hold him accountable. Kindly offer him any advice or correction privately. Support him and help him make corrections himself. Teach him to confess his mistake promptly, be able to take criticism constructively, and learn from his mistakes. Forgive him and love him, just as Christ commands us. Encourage him with praise and commendation for those things he does well. 1CTSFW, Your Vicar and You: A Manual for the Supervision of Vicar, 1. 2 Your Vicar and You, 4-5. Page 6

8 Financial Update from the Board of Stewardship In the first month of 2018, our revenue exceeded expenses by $7800. This was a good result but not too different from other Januarys when a number of our members make one-time gifts to cover the full year. Viewing the table on this page, we can look back at a summary of our financial picture for the full year For the year, our expenses exceeded our income by $8100, which was $2300 more than budgeted. Some highlights from 2017: Offerings were $186,000 on a par with last year and slightly more than budgeted. Total income, however, came in $32,000 below budget because of reductions in rental income and in district reimbursement for campus ministry. However, campus expenses were also down ($13,300) as would be expected with the Deaconessʹ departure. Support provided to our district was maintained at $19,400. The good work of the trustees kept church maintenance and upkeep expenses on budget in spite of $8500 in unanticipated expense for heating and cooling system repairs. Our cash position at year end was $28,900, slightly below the cash level at the end of Campus ministry funds remained in good shape. The investment portfolio, as shown in the table, amounted to $434,775, up $13,600 for the year after the withdrawal of $22,600 to cover general operating expenses. Our church is blessed by members who support the Lordʹs work with their gifts and talents. Year-to-date QUARTERLY INCOME AND EXPENSES UPDATE Thru Dec 31, 2017 Actual Budget Total Inc 262, ,450 Total Exp 271, ,202-8,111-5,752 QUARTERLY CASH BALANCES ACTUAL ACTUAL Ending Balance: 12/31/ /31/2017 Checkbook 60,203 51,948 Luth Church Ext Fnd 8,740 8,773 Dedicated Funds (38,299) (31,799) Net cash available 30,644 28,922 Planned Giving Gifts 40,000 40,000 Mutual Funds 402, ,189 Portfolio Cash 18,783 22,586 Portfolio Tot Value 421, ,775 Campus Ded Funds (40,866) (38,548) Campus Cash Acct 40,866 38,548 Ded Funds Variance 0 0 Page 7

9 March 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 9:00 a.m. Constitution Commi ee Third Sunday in Lent 8 a.m. Divine Service 9:20 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Divine Service 12:00 p.m. Jr. Confirmation 5 9:30 a.m. TLC Bible Study 6:15 p.m. Hand Bells 7:15 p.m. Choir 6 7:00 p.m. Planning Council 7 4:30 5:45 p.m. LCMS U Bible Rm 308 Student Center 5:30 p.m. Family Meal 7:00 p.m. Vespers 7:45 p.m. Confessions Study 8 Pastor Mackey Vacation Secretary Vacation 9 March 8 12 March Fourth Sunday in Lent 8 a.m. Divine Service 9:20 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Divine Service 12:00 p.m. Jr. Confirmation 12 1:30 p.m. Grace Crafters 6:15 p.m. Hand Bells 7:15 p.m. Choir :30 5:45 p.m. LCMS U Bible Rm 308 Student Center 5:30 p.m. Family Meal 7:00 p.m. Vespers 7:45 p.m. Confessions Study 15 9:00 a.m. Constitution Commi ee Fifth Sunday in Lent 8 a.m. Divine Service 9:20 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Divine Service 12:00 p.m. Jr. Confirmation 19 9:30 a.m. TLC Bible Study 11:30 a.m. Chat n Chew 1:30 p.m. Grace Crafters 6:15 p.m. Hand Bells 7:15 p.m. Choir 20 9 a.m. Winkel St. John, Peru 21 4:30 5:45 p.m. LCMS U Bible Rm 308 Student Center 5:30 p.m. Family Meal 7:00 p.m. Vespers Palm Sunday 8 a.m. Divine Service 9:20 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Divine Service 12:00 p.m. Jr. Confirmation 26 1:30 p.m. Grace Crafters 6:15 p.m. Hand Bells 7:15 p.m. Choir 27 1:00 p.m. Parish Services 7:00 p.m. Boards of Elders, Stewardship, and Ed. 28 4:30 5:45 p.m. LCMS U Bible Rm 308 Student Center 7:00 p.m. Confessions Study 29 Maundy Thursday 12:30 p.m. Free for Lunch Bunch 7:00 p.m. Divine Service 30 Good Friday 7:00 p.m. Divine Service 31 Easter Vigil 7:00 p.m. Divine Service

10 WORSHIP ASSISTANTS FOR MARCH Acolytes Greeters 4 th 11 th 18 th 25 th 29 th 31 th Elise Boyd Jacob Ludwig Colton McCoy Tony Ruiz Palm Sunday Emilee Smith 7 p.m. Maundy Thursday Elise Boyd 7 p.m. Easter Vigil 4 th 11 th 18 th 25 th Holly Bryant Joe & Renee Hughes John & Judi Pape Renee Busha` & Emily Ruiz Assisting Elder 8:00 a.m. Dave Heinkel 10:30 a.m. John Harman & Marvin Addison Ushers 8:00 a.m. Drew Leach 10:30 a.m. Alan Hokenson & Ma Monroe Camera Operator Altar Guild 4 th 11 th 18 th 25 th Devon Hill Eric McCoy Glenn Branscome Shea Hill Linda Cook Cathy Branscome Reta Heinkel Mary Painter Birthdays Anniversarys 3/2 3/3 3/8 3/11 3/12 3/14 3/18 3/19 3/ 22 3/ 25 3/27 3/29 3/31 Macy Brammer Kyle Price Nic Price Dawn Smith Cathy Branscome Henry Miller Laura Shaeffer Carrie Hill Larry Koss Shawna Frazee Noah Barnet Jill Boyd Glenn Branscome Danica Foist Dan Barnet Alan Hokenson Tegan Hindy 3/7 3/30 Jim and Judy McCoy Forrest and Lois O Bryant

11 GRACE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 610 N Reserve St Muncie, IN Church Office: gracelutheran2@sbcglobal.net Website: By Grace through Faith March 4 Third Sunday in Lent The Son of the Father - Jn 2:13-22 Rev. James Elsner Children so often live up to their parents expectations. Jesus, the Son of the Father, had the zeal of the Lord! Are you being shaped and formed anew into a Son of God in Christ Jesus? March 11 Fourth Sunday in Lent When Snakebit, Do What? - Nu 21:4-9 Rev. William Mueller Numbers 21 records a rather unsavory episode from God s Old Testament people. They grumble and complain yet again! In order to refine their faith, and to point the way to the ultimate Savior, God sends fiery serpents among them. Their method of salvation is much the same as the method of our salvation. Look to the cross! Look to Christ! March 18 Fifth Sunday in Lent Jesus Foretold His Death - Mark 10:32-34 Rev. Dr. Walter Maier III Jesus foretold his death. He knew exactly what would happen to him in Jerusalem. This has great meaning for our life and brings us much comfort. March 25 Palm Sunday / Sunday of the Passion A Terrifying Task - John 12:20-43 Rev. Paul Shoemaker Have you ever been confronted with a task that was terrifying? Jesus was. On Palm Sunday He entered Jerusalem knowing His fate was death on a cross. Please join us on Worship Anew as we consider A Terrifying Task.