Author: TechCommittee
Elder, Usher, and Acolyte Schedules for April 2016
Elder and Usher Schedules
| Apr 3 | Gene Fuller, Gerald Semelka, Nathan Kluender, Richard Ross | John Hardy | Mike Huth |
| Apr 10 | John Hardy, Mike Field | Randy Reinhardt | Bud Kessler, Curt Kessler, Holden Lueck |
| Apr 17 | Charles Nottingham, Craig Culp, Daryle Schempp, Paul Gerike | Nathan Kluender | Brian Dirks, Bryan Reichert |
| Apr 24 | Ben Holland, Jeff Piper | Mike Field | Greg McNeely, Theron Noth, Ryan Kleiboeker |
Acolyte Schedule
| Apr 3 | Garett Sheley | Pastor/Elder |
| Apr 10 | Pastor/Elder | Justin McNeely |
| Apr 17 | Chloe Hitch | Pastor/Elder |
| Apr 24 | Pastor/Elder | Christian Dowell |
Stewardship Corner April 2016
The greatest surprise about Easter is not that Jesus is alive, risen from the dead, out of the grave, that He conquered death and hell, and comes to meet you as He promised. The greatest surprise is that He did all that and is not angry. There is no fear for us in His return because He is not angry. He bears no grudge. He seeks no vengeance. He comes to give peace, with mercy and forgiveness and salvation.
Jesus lives and is not angry. Imagine that. He is not angry. He doesn’t blame those who killed Him. He doesn’t blame you. For no one takes His life from Him. He lays it down of His own accord. He gives Himself into death to win us back from sin, death, and hell. He does it willingly without coercion. He does it sacrificially, Him for us. He gave what was His to give. Thus His petition to the Father from the cross, “Forgive them” is granted to you in His resurrection. He comes alive out of death to forgive and to give His life to you.
There is nothing to be afraid of because Jesus is raised from the dead and is not angry. Thus we are free—free from worrying about how to make it up to Him, and free to give as He has given to us. He gave Himself as a gift, His life in exchange for our death, willingly and sacrificially. And so it is that we are now free to give in like manner: willingly, sacrificially, with what we have been given.
We give to the church because it is in the church where our eyes have seen and our ears have heard that Jesus lives and is not angry. It is here where we learn of God’s mercy and forgiveness in Christ. It is here where we continually receive that message of life, where He visits us to give peace, with mercy and forgiveness and salvation.
So do not be afraid. Jesus lives, and He is not angry. The sacrifice has been made. The debt is canceled and forgotten. Righteousness is declared. Jesus lives. He lives, and He is not angry. You are restored. You are reconciled to the Father in the Son. Your future is assured: Jesus lives. It is not just death and Hell, the devil and his demons, that are undone. Your sins, your fear are undone. They are gone, forgotten, destroyed. Jesus lives. Hallelujah! Jesus lives. And because He lives, you are just. You are right with God, pleasing and delightful to Him. You are forgiven, clean, pure, holy, and filled with His good works and with His Name. He is not angry. He is glad to have you. He wants you. He loves you. He gave everything that is His to and for you, willingly and sacrificially. In faith and trust in Him, let us do likewise.
Celebrating April 2016
Birthdays
4/2 Nancy Fuller
4/3 Finley Mosier
4/4 Dorothy Herberts
4/6 Craig Culp
4/9 Carol Schroeder
4/12 Carly Benjamin
4/12 Drew Kemp
4/13 Gerald Semelka
4/20 Harriet Campbell
4/21 Angelina Isaac
4/22 Marvin Huth
4/27 Daryle Schempp
Baptismal Birthdays
4/1 Fern Noth
4/3 Herbert Renken
4/6 Justin McNeely
4/9 Mary Anne Kirchner
4/11 Toni Lueck
4/13 Michael Anderson
4/16 Nancy Thomas
4/22 Taylor Dirks
4/25 Audrie King
4/29 Laura Kessler
4/30 Bob Bier
Pastor’s Notes April 2016
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Rom. 6:4)
Following Sunday School and worship on Easter a family was on its way home in the car. The son was looking at his Sunday School lesson, My Easter Faith. As boys are apt to do sometimes, he folded the lesson into a paper airplane and rolled down the back window to test his creation. There was a sudden gust of wind that snatched the paper from his hands. He shouted, “Dad, My Easter Faith just went out the window.”
Where is your Easter faith as you read this? The church was beautifully decorated, the hymns lifted our spirits and the sermon let us know that Our Redeemer lives. But what about the days and weeks after Easter? There are strong impulses to draw our Easter faith out the window. We don’t want it just blowing away in the wind.
Through our Baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection we have died to the old life of our sin and we are made alive in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit teaches us that resurrection power can be used in daily faithful living. The Lord wants us to know Him and the power of His resurrection for all the days of our lives.
Ever faithful God and Father, let not Satan snatch our Easter faith from us. Help us overcome the evil one with resurrection power.
In Christ,
Pastor