Dear Member and Friend:

I hope you are excited about the coming of Easter as I am and are looking forward with great expectation to the joyous resurrection of our Lord.  Without the Easter victory of Christ, there would be no celebration, no joy, no hope for the future.  Christ’s triumph over sin and death makes our life a triumph too, because through baptism, Romans 6:1-11 we all participate in the death and resurrection of our Lord.

As your Pastor I invite you to participate in the Holy Week passion of Christ beginning with Palm Sunday on March 28.  We will   reenact the triumphant entry into Jerusalem with the waving of Palm branches and the singing of Hosanna blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  Palm Sunday is really the beginning of our Lord’s journey and sacrifice and demonstrates what God is willing to give to save the world.  We will read also from the passion narrative.  On Maundy Thursday, April 1st we will celebrate two special Holy Communion worship services.  The first will be at 3:00 p.m. followed by a cake reception sponsored by the Social Ministry committee.  Pastor Joel Pancost from Zion Lutheran Church will preach at the service.     During the evening worship at 7:00 p.m. our young members will    celebrate there first communion as we all experience a reenactment of the last supper that Jesus shared with his disciples.  Most of the dinnerware at the supper has been  made by our confirmation students under  the leadership of Cindy Tartaglia and Barbara Schmidt.  Good Friday promises to be an important highlight of Holy Week as there will be a solemn Tennebrae worship service with the opportunity to place our nail in Christ’s cross as an confession of our sins which continue to cause our Lord suffering.

I pray you will be here to witness our Lord’s suffering and death.  If you do, then Easter will hold for you a special joy that will make you want to shout, “The Lord is risen, The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia.”

May God bless you and fill you with His Spirit. 

Pastor Ed