Lutheran Church of the Resurrection

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For 40 days during the season of Lent, the Church prepared for Good Friday and Easter. Now, the season of Easter lasts for 40 days to frame what took place on Good Friday and Easter.

St. Luke writes the account of the life of Christ in his gospel. And then St. Luke writes a sequel to the gospel called the Acts of the Apostles. He begins the sequel by saying that what was recorded in the gospel is just what Jesus “began to do and teach…” It was certainly not the end of it all. It was just the beginning. The crucified and risen Jesus is alive and well and continues to do and to teach – just as physically and bodily present as in the gospels, but now in His body – the Church. With all of the power to forgive sins and set men and women free from Satan’s hold and raise us up to eternal life.
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I can’t remember who it was, but someone once said that “there has got to be something wrong with a theology that doesn’t set men to singing.” How true. Today, the one, holy, Christian Church is set to singing. We sing that song of victory to our God that has remained pent-up within our hearts for these last 40 days. And we would explode if we had to keep in any longer – Christ is risen! (He is risen indeed!) This is the feast of victory for our God and there must be something wrong with men who come to this feast and don’t find themselves compelled to “sing with all the people of God and join in the hymn of all creation…” (more…)

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I. Jesus Led Out Of The City, Carrying His Own Cross A. Isaac Carries Wood Himself “So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross…” (John 19:16-17a)

We read in Genesis 22, that when God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his only, beloved son, Isaac, as an offering for sin on Mt. Moriah, Abraham collected the wood for the fire and made Isaac carry it himself. (more…)

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“Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it, broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
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The Magi came from the east in search of the King of the Jews. “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?” they asked. “For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship Him After checking in with King Herod, they continued to follow that star until it led them right to the house of one Joseph and Mary and a child named Jesus. “Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:2, 9-12).

Now, 33 years later, He is recognized as King of the Jews, not by a star, shining over His head but by a donkey that carries Him upon its back. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! See your king comes to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt the foal of a donkey.” (Zech.9:9)
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Holy Week is upon us. During this holy and solemn week, we follow our Lord from Bethany to Golgotha. The two words that ring loudest in our hearts and minds during this week are these: “FOR US.” It is “for us men and for our salvation…” (Nicene Creed) that Jesus goes to Jerusalem on a donkey, weeps over the rejection of His people, takes our place in the judgment and dies our death on the cross. All of this is “FOR US.”

We follow our Lord from Bethany to Golgotha with rapt attention because our fate depends upon His willingness to endure what He in no way deserves FOR US. As with Christmas, there is no surprise in how this fierce and bloody struggle will go. We know that Jesus will be faithful and completely willing to endure the worst unto death – even death on a cross. Yet we are drawn to follow Him in both repentance and thanksgiving because we know that by His love we continue to receive what we in no way deserve – life and salvation FROM HIM.

Palm Sunday – April 9th – 8:15am. and 10:45am. Palm Sunday is both joyful and somber. We gather in the Fellowship Hall and shout with exited joy, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” A procession with palms while singing “All Glory, Laud and Honor” joins us to the crowds that gathered around Jesus as He rode into Jerusalem on donkey-back long ago. Once upstairs in the sanctuary, it doesn’t take long before the mood turns much more somber as we hear the entire passion account read this year from St. John’s gospel. For this reason, Palm Sunday is also referred to as Passion Sunday.

Maundy Thursday – April 13th – 7:00pm. On this night Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. We prepare ourselves for this sacred meal with a public confession of sins and a individual absolution. The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin “Mandatum” which means “mandate” or “commandment” which Jesus gives to His disciples seated around Him at table. The “new commandment” that He gives them is to “love one another as I have loved you.” Jesus demonstrates His willingness to stoop low FOR US by washing His disciples feet. We remind ourselves of this call to humility and the life of servanthood by washing the feet of a small child during the service. The high point of the night is the participation in the body and blood of Christ at His Supper. His body given FOR US and His blood shed FOR US is not merely symbolic or spiritual but the real presence of the God/Man Jesus Christ – inseparably divine and human, given FOR US and for our salvation.

Good Friday – April 14th – 7:00pm. This service brings us to the foot of the cross where we can almost hear His groans and smell His sweat as Jesus atones for our sin. The service begins with the “Reproaches” which come directly from Jeremiah’s Lamentation. As the prophet weeps over Israel, so we weep over Jesus who becomes unfaithful Israel and bears the judgment due their unfaithfulness which is equally ours. Seven readings follow, one for each of Christ’s seven last words from the cross. After each reading, one of seven candles is extinguished and the approaching darkness settles around us until we leave in total darkness and silence – reminding us of what life apart from the Light of the World would be like.

I hope that you will set aside the time to join us for all three worship services during Holy Week. There is no better preparation for the celebration of Easter, April 16th. Easter Worship begins at 8:15am. and 10:45am. Please join us for breakfast served from 9:15am. to 10:30am.

Yours in Christ, Pastor Nielsen

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“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.”

Charles Dickens opens his “Tale of Two Cities” with the famous line, ‘It was the best of times it was the worst of times.” When Jeremiah was called by God to be His prophet, it was the worst of times. It was the worst of times to be called to preach the Word of God because no one really wanted to hear what God had to say to them. Yet, Jeremiah preached the word God gave him to preach. He spoke faithfully and with deep sincerity, often being overcome with emotion and tears. But no one listened. He preached repentance for the forgiveness of sins no one repented. He warned of God’s coming judgment for their long list of loves that they loved more than God. They just laughed at Jeremiah. The other preachers made the people feel good about themselves. They said, ‘everything’s just fine.’ “Peace, peace, they said.” And the people liked their message and they drew the big crowds and had the mega-churches.
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