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In This Issue:
  • Message from Pastor Jim
  • Easter Hours
  • Wear Your Mask
  • Weekend Worship
  • Graduation Recognition
  • Book Discussion
  • In-Person Activities
  • Vacation Time
  • Food Shelf Campaign
  • Fall Festival
  • Community Prayers and Links
Dear Friends,

I want to greet you with "Happy Easter" but I don't want to get ahead of Jesus. His crucifixion cannot be separated from his resurrection. Nor can ours. That makes Good Friday an essential part of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Our theme for tonight's 6:30 pm worship service is "#ExcelLENTpower". Paul writes that he preaches nothing but Christ crucified as the power of God that breaks the bonds of fear, sin and death. You can join us online or in-person.

Easter Sunday is marked with Christ's victory of fear, sin and death. Right? I've entitled our Easter theme as "ExcelLENTfear?" Why not joy? Why not vindication or victory? Mark's gospel is different that the other gospels because there is no story about seeing the risen Jesus. Instead, the women who go to Jesus' grave on Easter morning and are greeted by an angel who tells them Jesus had been raised, and they were to go and tell the disciples. And it ends like this:  So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. (Mark 16:8) Mark's theme throughout was fear paralyzing followers, and Mark leaves it up to us do decide for ourselves if we are going to find the crucified and risen Jesus, or are we going to hid in fear? May Jesus crucified and raised lift us out of fear that constrains our lives of faith!

Happy Easter,

Pastor Jim
Rejoice Closed Monday

The Rejoice office is closed Easter Monday, April 5.
The Virus Stops Here

As we begin to gather with the coronavirus pandemic ongoing, we want to remind everyone to cover their nose, mouth and chin with a face mask unless they are eating or drinking.
Worship at Rejoice

  • Tonight, April 2 - Good Friday Worship at 6:30 p.m.
  • April 4 - Easter Sunday Worship with Holy Communion at 9:30 a.m. followed by mini breakfast
Graduation Recognition

We'll celebrate an important milestone with graduates on Sunday, May 23.
 
Graduates, return the bio form that was mailed to you along with a photo to rejoice@rejoicelutheranchurch.org.

Final Adult Book Discussion
One discussion remains for the book “A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota” by Sun Yung Shin.
Returning to Normal

Some of our favorite weekday activities will resume in April!
  • Yoga
  • Wednesdays, beginning April 7
  • 9:00 a.m.
  • Stitch & Pray
  • Wednesdays, beginning April 7
  • 1:00 p.m.
  • Women's Bible Study
  • Monthly on 3rd Tuesdays, beginning April 20
  • 10:00 a.m.
Does it seem like Pastor Jim has been on vacation a lot lately?

Well, it’s true, he has. In fact, both he and Carol had unused PTO time at the end of 2020 and the council gave approval for both of them to carry those hours over and use them in the first 3 months of 2021. We greatly appreciate all they do for Rejoice and want Pastor Jim and Carol to have time to relax, renew and energize.

Becky Brzinski, Council President & Linnea Lindquist, Personnel & Finance team
Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign

Minnesota FoodShare Campaign is the largest grassroots food and fund drive in the state. Please help support those families in our community that are struggling with food insecurity. All food and financial donations made to the Clearwater - Clear Lake Emergency Food Shelf through April 11 earn additional funding from the Minnesota FoodShare Food Fund.
Save the Date

Rejoice Fall Festival will be held Saturday, September 25!
Community Prayers
If you have a loved one or friend in need of prayer, fill out a prayer request or use one of the prayer concern requests located on the Interest table and in the sanctuary welcome pads. The star(*) in front of a name denotes a Rejoice member. This is a dynamic list. Requests will be printed for up to four weeks; call the church office at 320.558.6851 to extend listing. If a name of a friend or loved one has been omitted please resubmit the name and/or concern using one of the prayer concern forms found in the red Welcome Pads in the worship area. 
Receiving Treatment for Cancer:
Joyce, Laurie, & Stephanie (friends, Scott & Doris Scharmer)
Eric Westland (cousin, Ray & Mary Wilson)
Jim Hartle (friend, Lori Lanes)
Kelly (cousin, Pam Bender)
Steven Ray (cousin’s husband, Darlene & Duane Johnson)
Mark Grommash (friend, Kari Line)
Julie Lovig (friend, Kirk Suchomel)
Mary Swanson (friend, Lori Lanes)
*Pam Bump
Sami (friend, Lori Lanes)
Lucille (friend, Jim Lanes)
Kris (friend, Kari Line)
*Kent Asheim
Lester Dupont (father, Linda Painter)
Kathy Ryan (sister, Brad Johnson)
*Pete Lidberg
Others:
*Jerry Jagadzinski
*Hudson Hendricks
*Tom Allen
Frank Mason (friend, Karolyn Boucher)
*Martha Johnson
Kathie (friend, Lori Lanes)
Theresa Klicker (daughter, Brad & Martha Johnson)
Aaron (friend, Kari Line)
Doug Lindseth (friend, Linnea Lindquist)
Lucas Barrett (grandson, Mike Barrett)
Ken Johnson (brother, Brad Johnson)
*Charlie Johnson
Brian (nephew, Scott & Doris Scharmer)
Linda O’Dell-Cowles (family friend, Leigh Holman)
Kent Petersen (brother, Rhoda Senkler)
MJ Havlicek (friend, Lori Lanes)
Nancy Nicoloff (friend, Lori Lanes)
Ron Dettman (friend, Linda Agre)
Marlene Vogel (mother, Joni Hagstrom)
Ron Wolfbauer (nephew, Carolyn & Ron Stensby)
Rejoice Staff
Jim Bump Lead Pastor
Carol Eich Office Administrator
Nicole Heberling Music Coordinator
Mary Bergeron Office Assistant
Rejoice Name & Logo