Grace and peace be with you all, in Jesus Christ our Savior!

I'm back from all my travels and activities of the past week.  Had an enjoyable time with my Mom and being able to attend a family member's confirmation last weekend.  The weather was terrible, very windy, rainy and cold, but we didn't do a lot outside so that wasn't an issue.  Got back for Brad Schlesselman's father's funeral on Monday.  Tuesday and Wednesday Rose Marie and I attended the Minnesota District Pastor's Conference in Cedar Rapids.  Thursday, Tim had his final exam at Iowa State and I brought him and his stuff back home for the summer.  So, I'm ready to get back at things here.

Sunday is the third Sunday of Easter.  For those of you who can remember the historic church year for the Sundays of Easter.  Last week was Quasi Modo Geniti (as newborn babies) Sunday, this week would be Misericordia Domini (goodness of the Lord) Sunday, next week would be Jubilate (rejoice) Sunday,  then Cantate(sing ye) Sunday, Rogate (pray ye) Sunday, and concluding the Easter season with Exaudi (hear) Sunday, which would be the Sunday after Ascension.  We don't use these terms anymore because we don't use an introit in our service anymore.  Introit means "entrance" or "beginning."  It was usually a Psalm verse that set the tone for the worship and the theme of the worship service.  Those terms, which were the title of the Sunday, were the first Latin words of that Sunday's introit.  Just a little church history lesson.  I do miss some aspects of the historic liturgy that were dropped over the years.

Sunday's worship theme will be:  The news of the resurrection invests us with holy awe.  Led by the Spirit, we are filled with desire to speak of our hope to others.  The sermon text and theme will be:  1 Peter 4:12-29,  "Partakers of Christ's Suffering."  Sunday will be a communion service.  I urge you to review the Q & A on Personal Preparation for Holy Communion, on page 156 in the hymnal, prior to communing.  I think that always helps to set the proper mood or attitude for communing.

The Elders will meet on Tuesday evening at 7:00pm.  The Ladies' Aid will meet on Wednesday evening at 6:30pm. The Youth Group will meet next Sunday, May 15, at the church from 6-8:00pm.

God's blessing on your weekend.  I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday.

"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight, says the Lord."  Jer 9:23,24

In Christ,

Pastor