This week at school one of our students asked me, “Why did people want to hurt Jesus?” That’s a really good question. The answer comes down to this: We want to be gods and if Jesus gets in the way of that, well, He’s got to go! That’s pretty much how it was when the crowds were ready to stone Him! There’s no getting around it. Jesus declares, “I AM,” telling us He is the One True God. Our little gods inside of us don’t want that. The people are ready to kill Jesus right there but He hides Himself until it is His time. He won’t die by stoning. He’ll die on Good Friday when the cross becomes the great “Olly Olly oxen free!” That is, it is the place where our sins that we hide are exposed for all to see: not on us but on Jesus! He takes them, dies for them, and sets us free. This Sunday begins what is called “Passiontide,” that is, from here on out we’re headed to Holy Week and Good Friday, and of course, our Lord’s triumphant resurrection from the dead. The Good News of Judica, this Fifth Sunday in Lent, is that the True God saves us from the false gods we make or want to be. He saves us by giving His life for us and showing us the power of the true God to save us from sin and death!

EASTER LILY ORDERS DUE
Easter Lily orders are due Wednesday, March 24. Order forms are in the Narthex.

COLLECTIONS FOR THOSE IN NEED

Beginning in April, we’ll start regular monthly collections of items or money for those in need:

First Sunday – 1st Way Life Center helping expecting mothers and mothers of newborns.

Second Sunday – FISH Food Pantry

Third Sunday – LWML Mites

LENTEN MIDWEEK WORSHIP
Make sure during Lent to take some extra time during the week for God’s Word and gifts. Join us Wednesdays at 7:00 PM for a Divine Service that is different from Sunday’s. We’ll be hearing how each of the Commandments plays a part in our Lord’s suffering and death. This week it’s the Ninth and Tenth Commandments: You shall not covet. Come grow in the faith and be refreshed by Jesus.

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER WORSHIP
Services for Holy Week and Easter:

Palm Sunday, March 28 – 7:45 and 10:30 AM. (Procession with palms)

Monday – Wednesday, March 29 – 31, 7:00 PM

Maundy Thursday, April 1 – 7:00 PM (with the Stripping of the Altar)

Good Friday, April 2 – Noon (Words from the cross) and 7:00 PM (Chief Service with Tenebrae included)

Holy Saturday, April 3 – 6:00 PM (Easter Vigil)

Easter Sunday, April 4 – 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM (note the additional service; there will not be Bible Study or Learning the Faith)

Bible Studies:
Lent is a good time to recommit to growing in God’s Word. Join us for one of our weekly Bible Studies. You don’t have to read out loud and you don’t have to know all the answers. We learn together as we read God’s Word together.

Sundays:

Bible Study – 9:00-9:30 AM in the Narthex. Reading the prophet Isaiah.

Learning the Faith (all ages) – 9:45-10:30am in the Gym.

Tuesdays – Bible Study at 10:30am in the Narthex. Gospel According to St. Matthew.

STREAMING LINKS
Our Sunday service is available to watch live and recorded here:

We stream live on our FACEBOOK PAGE HERE.
Our videos are also live and recorded on YOUTUBE HERE.
The simplest way to watch online (not live) is probably through our church’s website HERE.
 

Who do you listen to? What do you listen to? What is the truth? What is a lie? Jesus confronts that head on in our Gospel this week. He does so to call out our self-worship and to rescue us from our false gods. He turns our attention to Him, being the One who is the Truth, the True God, and the Savior from our sins. See you in the Divine Service!

In Christ,
Pastor Buetow

Rock, Paper, Scissors!
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Jesus Christ is the Light of the World

School Fun!