It’s Quinquagesima this week. 50 days until Easter. Not only that, this Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. Lent is around the corner and we know this because Jesus is telling His disciples, “The Son of Man will be delivered to the Gentiles and suffer and rise again the third day.” The disciples don’t know what to make of that! But then there’s this blind guy who hears that Jesus is coming and no matter how much people tell him to be quiet, he calls out for Jesus. It’s easy to overthink our Lord, to question, to misunderstand, to ignore, to assume, and to presume. But this blind guy just knows one thing: He needs Jesus. It’s like the disciples had no idea what Jesus was talking about but this blind man knew he needed Jesus. This pre-Lent Gospel calls us to repentance for our excuses and our misunderstandings and our not listening to Jesus. It calls us to imitate the blind man and cry out for Jesus more than anything else. Only Jesus can save us. Only Jesus does save us. Lord, have mercy on us! He does: in water, Word, and body and blood. We are healed from our sins and restored to God, because of what Jesus undergoes in His suffering, death and resurrection.
BE IN GOD’S WORD
Sunday, 8:00 AM – The Book of Daniel. What does this prophet have to say for us today? How does Daniel point to Christ?
Learning the Faith – A look at the ways that Jesus demonstrates He is really the Christ and the Son of God.
Tuesdays at 10:30 AM – Reading the Book of Exodus. God saves His people and keeps His promises!
ASH WEDNESDAY
We have two services on Ash Wednesday:
11:00 AM – Ash Wednesday Chapel (with the school): a brief service of the Word with Holy Communion.
7:00 PM – Ash Wednesday Divine Service
Both services will include the imposition of ashes for those who desire to receive them.
LENTEN SUPPERS
Lenten Suppers begin THIS WEDNESDAY at 5:30 PM. Join us for a meal before worship. Suppers are hosted by different boards, committees, and members of the church and will continue each Wednesday through March 20.
LENTEN SPEAKER SERIES
Whether we like to accept it or not, transgender people exist and struggle with their gender identity. On Friday and Saturday, March 15 and 16 we’ll be hearing from Greg Eilers on the topic of transgender Christians. Greg is a retired Missouri Synod pastor who struggled with this very thing. He’ll give us a biblical and compassionate look at how to understand and love our neighbors who are transgender. Why have a speaker on this topic? Probably someone you know has someone among their family or friends who identifies as transgender. We often think something like “How can a man want to be a woman?” The issue is far more complicated than that. Gender dysphoria exists because of the Fall as so many other difficulties do. We’re taking this opportunity to be educated about the issues surrounding transgender but also to learn how to be loving and compassionate to everyone around us. Detailed information about the event and the speaker is available on the table in the narthex. You can also download the flyer at THIS LINK.
If you’re planning to attend, please register for a (free) ticket online HERE. (You can also call the Church Office to reserve a spot). This will help us with planning for food for the event.
TACOS AND TRIVIA
Our school’s “Tacos and Trivia” night is on Saturday, April 13, 6-9pm. Gather a team of your family and friends to purchase a table and be part of the party. Food will be provided (BYOB), there will be basket raffles of items from local businesses, and prizes for best decorated team tables. It’s going to be a fun night to benefit our school as we raise money for additional swings and playground equipment. Registration forms are available on the table in the narthex. Tables of up to 8 are $150 and Individual Registrations are $25 (and we’ll put you at a table with others).
LIVE STREAM INFORMATION
Reminder that we are only live-streaming on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month (and special services as announced).
You can watch live and find recorded services at the links below.
We stream live on our FACEBOOK PAGE HERE.
Our videos are also live and recorded on YOUTUBE HERE.
On Wednesday we will remember that we are dust and to dust we shall return, but in the hope of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is hard to imagine what Jesus’ disciple experienced, watching Him be arrested, tried, crucified and buried and then three days later to see Him alive. It took them awhile to piece together what it all meant. But we have the whole story and the entire picture. We know why Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. His death and resurrection are what saves us from sin and death. So we cry out to Him, week after week, as the blind man did: Lord, have mercy! He has and He always does! See you in the Divine Service!
