Several Christmas concerts will be broadcast by synodical schools starting today.

Martin Luther College’s highly anticipated Christmas Concert weekend will be Saturday, December 3, at 7:00 pm and Sunday, December 4, at 4:00 pm. Join us as we open the Advent season with a musical celebration of Jesus’ birth. Four choirs, Wind Symphony, and Handbell Choir will proclaim the good news of salvation in two identical concerts. Follow this direct link to MLC's streaming video. There are also downloadable service folders so you can follow along with the concert service.

Christmas at Bethany concerts will be streamed live on their website. Please join us at 3:50 p.m. both Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3 to watch and listen to the concerts. Follow this link to the Bethany website.

The Seminary Chorus will present its annual Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 11, 2011, with two identical performances beginning at 3:00 pm. This concert will be streamed live from the WELS Streams website.

Luther Prep will be broadcasting their Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 11th at 3 pm and again on Friday, December 16th at 10 am. This concert can be seem via Livestream at this link.

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

Dear Pastor Neuman and Brother Marvin Van Haften,

I have learned from Pastor Neal Schroeder about a very generous gift to the Barnabas Project from you. We appreciate it very much. Ukrainian Lutheran Church is one of the largest church bodies of our fellwoship in Europe and it is in a very difficult situation as our support declined rapidly and Ukrainian economy is in the worst condition in Europe now. Results of recent Presidential elections, as some experts say, may cause shrinking of religious freedom in our country. We hope and pray it does not happen. Yet we know the Lord is loving us, and He has expressed his love through your congregation. We continue to preach the Word and administer the Sacraments whatever happens around us but what a joy bring such news that we are not forgotten and that we are not alone but have faithful brothers and sisters in Christ! Thank you very much!

Have a blessed Lenten Season!