March 31 Update

Written By Rick Krueger

Dear Brothers and Sisters of Messiah,

Here we are, two days into the most sacred observance of the Church Year - Holy Week. We remember our Lord Jesus' death and resurrection; we gather to repent of our sins and receive eternal life from His sure and certain promises, given us in Word & Sacrament. We'll hope you'll be able to join us in these most holy moments, as well as in our events coming after Easter.
 

WORSHIP AND CLASS SCHEDULE

  • Our Holy Week service schedule is as follows:

    • Maundy Thursday, April 2nd – Divine Service at 7:00 pm.

    • Good Friday, April 3rd – Chief Service at 11:00 am; Service of Darkness (Tenebrae) at 7:00 pm.

    • Easter Sunday, April 5th - identical Divine Services at 7:30 & 10:00 am.  There will be no Sunday School or Bible Class on Easter Sunday; our annual Easter Breakfast will be held between services.

  • We resume our regular Sunday schedule on April 12th: 

    • Divine Service at 10:00 am. 

    • Bible Class at 9:00 am.  

    • Sunday School for children PreK and up after worship, starting about 11:15 am. 

  • Livestreams of our Holy Week and Sunday services can be found at:

  • CARES (Caring, Active, Reaching, Encouraging Sisters in Christ) returns Wednesday, April 15th at 9:45 am, discussing the book Come and Be Filled: Feasting with Jesus in His Word by Kristopher R. Whitby. Click here for a sample.


APRIL NEWSLETTER PLUS WHAT'S NEW & NEXT
Our April newsletter is now online; click here to view or download a copy!  Paper copies are available at the Welcome Center.  We post the newsletter (including monthly calendars) and our weekly announcements online at www.messiahgr.org; calendars are also online separately at www.messiahgr.org/calendar.  Be sure to check these sources regularly for updates on the events listed below and more!

  • Preschool Yard Signs are now available for you to display in your neighborhood; sign them out at the Welcome Center. 

  • Our annual Garage Sale will be held Friday, April 17th from 5:00 – 8:00 pm & Saturday, April 18th from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. Donations can be brought to the church basement. Contact Renee Davis or Zachary Poggemoeller if you have questions or would like to volunteer.

  • Adult Easter Egg Hunt Sunday, April 19 at 11:15 am. For this fun fellowship event, we’ll search indoors for eggs filled with play money; mystery prize bags will be awarded to everyone! More details and a sign up coming soon!

  • NEW! Lutheran Women's Missionary League Spring Rally at St. Peter's, Big Rapids, Saturday, April 25th from 9:30 am – 1:00 pm. Contact Linda Blain for details.

  • NEW!  Prayer Pal Spring Gathering Sunday, April 26th at 6:00 pm in the fellowship hall. Contact Deb Krueger for details.

  • Grand Rapids Civic Theater Outing Sunday, May 3rd at 2:00 pm. Sign up at the Welcome Center by April 19th to see a new version of the classic mystery Dial M for Murder. Contact Sherry Troutwine with questions.

Yours in Christ, Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant


FROM PASTOR ERIC (in the April Newsletter)
Many people go about their lives believing, with great confidence, that Christ, in fact, did not rise from the dead. They believe many things about Jesus, that He was a great moral teacher, or that He was a revolutionary, that He was a prophet even. Many people believe that His death was a miscarriage of justice, while others believe He never even existed. Opinions abound, but all of them believe Christ most certainly did not rise, and they are just fine with this.  The earth continues to orbit the sun, the seasons still change, days come and go, life goes on. All is well, or if it isn’t, we can change that.

And in some ways, they are right. We do have control over many things. Life does go on. The universe continues to plow ahead. But to what end? If I am the only one who provides purpose to my life, if I am the sole author of meaning, if it all rests on me, and my mind, well then, all that purpose, and meaning dies with me when I die.

But the risen Christ offers true meaning and purpose - better than scientific materialism, heroic idealism, or other, works-oriented religions. A bodily resurrection. Eternity for the soul, and the body. Salvation not just for the good, the worthy, but for sinners, the imperfect, the fallen. Salvation for all creation, a creation that was created good, and will be again. Salvation that does not depend on our works, but on God’s work on our behalf. Meaning and purpose that comes from outside us. In Christ we are given life itself that comes from outside us. Which is why even though we die, we in fact live, and whoever believes in Christ, will never truly die. But we are not just saved to while away eternity doing nothing, it is not just our souls that will go on, but all of it together, body and soul, the physical and the spiritual. Anything else, all other answers drop one or the other, or make it all subject to us, frail, mortal beings. But in the resurrection of Christ, the victory won, the promise given, we receive far more than anything this fallen world has to offer.

Because Christ is our life, our Savior, our Redeemer, and because He lives, we shall live also. What could possibly matter more than this? Amen.

Rick Krueger Messiah Lutheran Church
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March Events Update