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The Time of Easter
As a church we will celebrate the Time of Easter. The Time of Easter invites us into the story of Jesus’ sacrificial death and his glorious resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus gives proof that our salvation has been completed and that our hope for eternal life with God is secure.
Easter was the major celebration of the Early Church, which also set aside a period of preparation to celebrate the Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord (Easter). Lent was a period of preparation first prescribed for baptismal candidates. During this period, the candidates were examined in preparation for Baptism at Easter (or Paschal) vigil. Later these forty days were associated with Jesus’ forty days in the desert prior to his temptation (Matthew 4:1-11) and with the forty years the children of Israel spent in the wilderness (Numbers 14:34), becoming a period of preparation for every Christian.
The Sundays during this season are not “of Lent” but “in Lent.” Thus, they retain an Easter tone and may be less solemn than the midweek services that congregations typically offer. The observances of Lent are concrete reminders of the greater solemnity of this season, yet Lutherans emphasize the Gospel of Christ as central even to this penitential season.” (From the Pastoral Desk Diary 2022 pages 66-67)
The theme for this year’s midweek services will be “Glittering Vices”.
“Vices are habitual dispositions of the sinful heart that show forth the reality that we, as people of God, fail to fear, love, and trust in God above all things. In place of God, vices cling to the self, or the things of this world, in an attempt to secure our own good. We seek justice, and don’t trust God to provide it, so we take justice into our own hands and lash out in anger at our enemies. We want status, but instead of seeking our worth in knowing Jesus, we envy others and tear them down. Indeed, vices “glitter” with the appearance of providing “do-it-yourself” shortcuts to happiness. But while they look good on the surface, in the end, they turn out to be idols that fail.
In the passion account of our Lord, we find these vices manifesting themselves time and time again as broken people live their sinful lives. The disciples show their greed when the Lord is anointed with expensive perfume, and they label the money “wasted.” Judas betrays our Lord for the false security of silver he can hold in his hands. Prideful Peter boasts, his faith is so strong he will never betray the Lord. Slothful disciples slumber in Gethsemane, unable to watch with our Lord even a single hour. Scripture says it was out of envy the Pharisees and the Sadducees delivered up Jesus for crucifixion.
When we do endeavor to fear, love, and trust in God above all things, we increasingly free our hearts from the grips of idolatrous vice, and are enabled to pursue holy habits—habits that run intentionally counter to our unholy penchants. Instead of being greedy, we strive to be generous. In place of pride, we learn humility. Rather than be slothful and lazy, we pursue the tasks of the Kingdom with diligent zeal. Instead of hating our enemies in anger, we forgive them, pray for them, and even serve them in Christian love.
As we journey through the passion account once again this Lenten season, we invite you to peer into the story through the lens of virtue and vice. As you do, examine your own sinful heart to recognize the vices that dwell deep within. Then, listen in for how you might learn holy habits, the virtues that grow and bear fruit from hearts that trust in the reality that the Lord provides for every need of body and soul.” (MT Feberkorn)
I hope to see all of you at the Wednesday evening worship services which begin on March 5 at 7 pm.
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