March 2018 A Publication of Lord of Life Lutheran Church 2018 Issue 3 9225 SW 137 Avenue, Miami, Fl. 33186 305.387.4529 Inside From the Pastor... 2 A Walk Through Holy Week.. 3 Easter Lilies...3 News from ELCA......3 Lessons for March....4 Treasurer Report 5 Calendar...7 Love to Share....8
Word of Life March 2018 Page 2 by Pastor Coy! From the Pastor Lent isn't about giving up small indulgences or small vices, just so that we can greedily wallow in them post-easter. Lent is a moment in time when Christians are given the profound luxury of looking at ourselves and seeing what we lack. In other words, Lent is less about giving up than taking on. Lent is our annual opportunity to TAKE ON that which will enable us to draw closer to the presence and power of God. Lent isn't a time to give up so much as it's our opportunity to add on, opening ourselves more fully to that unpredictable Spirit which blows where it chooses and that we don't know where it comes from or where it goes. Instead of giving up for Lent, why don't we take on? Take on what, you ask? 1) How about take on family prayer time? When is the last time you as a family conducted family devotions? What if you were to take on the spiritual practice of family devotions a couple times a week, or even every day, for the season of Lent? 2) Or here's another take on. If tithing is seen as giving up 10% of your income, what if you were to take on 10% of the needs of some family or the needs of some ministry of this church for Lent? 3) Or here's another take on. Instead of watching those soaps or reading those novels, what if during Lent you were to take on the reading of a devotional book a week? 4) Or here's another take on. What if you were to take on the spiritual discipline of daily meditation? Meditation reactivates the immune system and restores the mind. I like to step inside a church to rest and think and pray, the quiet calm and holy place can drive all cares away. 5) Or here's another idea for a take on. What if you were to take on the discipline of only saying nice things about people? The expression "don't speak ill of the dead" doesn't begin to address the issue of ill-speaking. Do you think dead people are harmed by our speaking ill of them? It's living people who are truly harmed by illspeaking. What if Christians were to take on the spiritual practice of only saying kind, nice things about people? What if Christians were to rebuke with gentleness and kindness the slice and dice spirit of others who can't seem to say a positive thing about anyone? 6) Or here's another idea for a take on. What if we were to take on someone's grief? Every week some member of this church suffers a death in the family. Are we being present to each other's grief and sorrow? Do you know how debilitating grief can be? Lent isn't a season of barren, joyless, self-deprivation. Lent should be the annual opening up of our soul's windows, allowing new possibilities and greater responsibilities to find their places in our lives. In Christ, Pastor Coy
Word of Life March 2018 Page 3 Fla., on Ash Wednesday. My heart, like yours, is filled with anguish; my spirit, like yours, laments. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be consoled because they are no more, and so do we. PALM SUNDAY - MARCH 25TH 10:00AM Procession with Palms MAUNDY THURSDAY MARCH 29TH 7:30PM Worship with Communion GOOD FRIDAY MARCH 30TH 7:30PM Worship SUNDAY, APRIL 1ST - EASTER 10:00AM Easter Worship Easter Brunch after the service EASTER LILIES will be available to purchase in memory or honor of family, friends or in honor of the Risen Christ. The cost of a lily is $7.00. We pray for the inconsolable loved ones and for the shooter and his family, for those terrorized by what took place and those who are unmoved. We acknowledge our own failings and ask God to guide us in finding new ways to turn the tide together on both the availability of assault weapons and the lack of mental health care. But we know that those things alone won't solve this epidemic. All of us, including the church, must take a close look at ourselves. How are we cultivating a culture of violence, hatred, anger and fear, and how can we participate in building a counter-culture where people can experience God's intended peace and life abundant for all? Lent is a time for lamentation, dwelling with our sorrow, and facing the painful reality of death. We take each step certain that God weeps with us, walks with us in our deepest sufferings, and in the end makes the ultimate sacrifice for us through death on a cross. This is our strength for the journey. A prayer offered by Bishop Pedro Suárez, Florida-Bahamas Synod: Dear loving God, News from the ELCA ELCA presiding bishop responds to Florida high school shooting Feb. 16, 2018 A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled because they are no more (Matthew 2:18). As we live into these first days and weeks of Lent, we do so riveted by the news of another tragic mass shooting, this time at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, There are so many things we don't understand about our world. We might not know how the families and friends of the victims of today's shooting are feeling. But we do care. May they feel your presence in spirit through those that are accompanying them right now. Help us to be mindful of the pain around us and to do something about it. We pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. God's peace, The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton Presiding Bishop Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Word of Life March 2018 Page 4 LESSONS FOR MARCH MARCH 4 Third Sunday in Lent Lessons: Exodus 20:1-17 Psalm 19 The commandment of the LORD gives light to the eyes. (Ps. 19:8) 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 John 2:13-22 REMEMBER TO TURN YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD 1 hour on Saturday, March 10 th before retiring. Daylight Saving time begins. MARCH 11 Fourth Sunday in Lent Lessons: Numbers 21:4-9 Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 You deliver your people from their distress. (Ps. 107:19) Ephesians 2:1-10 John 3:14-21 MARCH 18 Fifth Sunday in Lent Lessons: Jeremiah 31:31-34 Psalm 51:1-12 Create in me a clean heart, O God. (Ps. 51:10) Hebrews 5:5-10 John 12:20-33 MARCH 25 Palm Sunday Processional Gospel: Mark 11:1-11 Lessons: Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm 31:9-16 Into your hands, O LORD, I commend my spirit. (Ps. 31:5) Philippians 2:5-11 Mark 14:1 15:47 Mark 15:1-39 [40-47] (Alternate) Maundy Thursday, March 29th: 7:30PM Lessons: Exodus 12:1-4 [5-10] 11-14 Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 I will lift the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. (Ps. 116:13) 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Worship with Institution of Holy Communion and Stripping of the Altar. Good Friday, March 30th: 7:30PM Worship
Word of Life March 2018 Page 5 Treasurer s Report Attached are summarized and condensed Income and Expense Statements reflecting the activities of the Church (English Service) over the last five months. The 4 th quarter of 2017 is shown as compared to the first two months of 2018, to demonstrate the reduction in payroll and related expenses since Pastor Boudon left at the end of December. Also broken out separately are the direct income and expenses of the Latino Mission where Lord of Life is acting as the Fiscal Agent. This includes the local weekly collections and Grant income from the ELCA, and its direct expenses.
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Word of Life March 2018 Page 8 LOVE TO SHARE February has passed by so fast this year and fun Valentine s Day events are now but a memory. The old-fashioned exchange of cards with classmates is still a popular way to celebrate this special day. Our pre-school and elementary students enjoyed sharing cards with candy treats that we provided for them. Of course, they and our high school boys always look forward to and have fun on their annual Valentine s Day outings. Dianne Smith was an active member of Love to Share s outreach mission to help foster children from the beginning, and through the years she worked to help make our kids smile. When she passed away recently, several people gifted LTS to honor her memory. We will be sharing these gifts with LaKesha Walters to help with Lance s care. We know that Dianne would be pleased. Now it s time to think about sharing the joy of Easter with our children. That means shopping around for Easter baskets and getting plastic eggs to fill with surprises. With just four more weeks until Easter, we will be moving from planning to acting mode. This is one of our favorite projects of the year. Evangelism, Zumba, and LTS all thank you for your support at Coffee Hour. We have had full tables on some Sundays and everyone sees happy to be there with each other. It certainly is a good way to stay together through our call process. Please continue to come and urge a friend to come along with you -The food is good too! Fran McClintock Lord of Life Lutheran church 9225 SW 137 Avenue Miami, Fl. 33186