*Thursday of Judica*
Dear Saints and Friends of Grace & Trinity,
***Reminder: Tonight we have a Pre-Call Mtg. with our District President at Grace at 6:30pm. Please be sure to attend!*
This Sunday is
*Palm Sunday **– **Passion Sunday*
John 12:12–19; Zechariah 9:9-12; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 26:1-27:66 <www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+12%3A12%E2%80%9319%3B+Zechariah+9%3A9-12%3B+Philippians+2%3A5-11%3B+Matthew+26%3A1-27%3A66&version=ESV>
*The Cross and Passion of Our Lord Are the Hour of His Glory*
*“Behold, your King is coming to you…humble and mounted on a donkey” (Zech. 9:9–12; Mt. 21:1–9). Our Lord rides in this humble fashion because He is entering Jerusalem to humble Himself even to the point of death on a cross (Phil. 2:5–11). His kingly crown will not be made of gold but of thorns, the sign of sin’s curse. For His royal reign is displayed in bearing this curse for His people, saving us from our enemies by sacrificing His own life. The sinless One takes the place of the sinner so that the sinner can be freed and bear the name “Barabbas,” “son of the Father” (Matthew 26 and 27). It is at the name of this exalted Savior, Jesus, that we bow in humble faith. With the centurion who declared, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Mt. 27:54), we are also given to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:11).*
*Holy Week Rubrics*
Sunday begins in the narthex, with palm branches in hand, ready to greet Jesus just as the crowds of old. We’ll follow the crucifix in procession while singing “*All Glory, Laud, and Honor*” and lay our palms at the foot of the chancel. Then the focus is directed towards the Passion. At the Passion reading—read by three voices: Jesus, Crowd, Narrator—you may either remain standing, or be seated. One more reminder: in Passiontide the *Gloria Patri* (“glory be to the Father…”) is silenced. You’ll notice this most at the *Nunc Dimittis*.
*Bible Study this Week* is at *Grace*. We’ll look at the readings and rituals of Holy Week. Join us at 9:30am at Grace.
*Those Serving* *at Grace & Trinity today…*
*Trinity** Grace*
*Counters: The Lewallens Counters: Tom & Sandy*
*Greeters: The Smiths Greeters: The Howards*
*Ushers: Derrel Pressnell & Ushers: Terry & Ted*
* Dave Ketteman Altar Guild: The Kennys*
*Altar Guild: Sheryl Anderson *
*Elder: Kendall Patterson*
*To prepare* your hearts and minds for the Sunday gathering of the faithful, here is the bulletin for Sunday <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/4b966ce9-2795-61e3-fdc8-d7a36780fb1a/2022_04_10_Palm_Sunday.pdf>. Meditate on the readings, pray the prayers, and consider what gifts our Lord has for us this week. Also, here are the news/notes <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/33eb8ea8-563e-26c8-dcd7-ca6275a15447/4_10_22_News_Notes.pdf> and the congregation at prayer <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/87ac0b7a-5d65-c3d9-fc3a-d56e04cc36b4/2022_4_10_Palm_Sunday.pdf> .
*Prayer Requests…*
· For Mary Zwemke, who was moved to St. Anthony’s, a more intentional memory/behavioral care center.
*Coming up this week…*
· *Today*:
o *9am *Matins, Grace
o *6:30pm *Joint-Parish Pre-Call Mtg., Grace***
· *Friday: *
o *9am *Matins, Grace
o *4-5pm *Private Absolution, Trinity
· *Sunday (4/10): **Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday*
o *8am *Divine Service, Grace
o *9:30am *Bible Study, Grace
o *11am *Divine Service, Trinity
o *2pm **Misa en Español*, Grace
o *3:30pm *Grace Town Hall Mtg., Grace
· *Monday: **Holy Monday*
o *9am *Matins, Grace
o *7pm *Compline, Trinity
· *Tuesday: **Holy Tuesday*
o *9am *Matins, Grace
o *7pm *Compline, Trinity
· *Wednesday*: *Holy Wednesday*
o *9am *Matins, Grace
o *9:30am *Bible Study, Grace
o *11am *Divine Service, Grace
o *5pm *Bell Choir, Trinity
o *6-6:45pm *Private Absolution, Trinity
o *7pm *Compline, Trinity
· *Thursday*: *Maundy Thursday*
o *9am *Matins, Grace
o *7pm *Compline, Trinity
· *Friday: **Good Friday*
o *9am *Matins, Grace
o *12pm *Chief Divine Service, Grace
o *4-5pm *Private Absolution, Trinity
o *7pm *Tenebrae Vespers, Trinity
· *Saturday: **Holy Saturday*
o *9:30am *LWML Ladies Guild Mtg., Trinity
o *8pm *Easter Vigil, Trinity
· *Sunday (4/17): **The Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord*
o *8am *Divine Service, Grace
o *9:30am *Easter Brunch, Trinity **signup sheets in Narthex*
o *11am *Divine Service, Trinity
o *2pm **Misa en Español*, Grace
*Looking Ahead…*
· *April 10*: Grace Town Hall Meeting – On Sunday, April 10th at 3:30pm Grace members will gather for a discussion on the needs of the church and what to do in the days ahead.
· *April 18, 19, 20*: Easter Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Divine Services – Join us at 9am on Monday and Tuesday, and at 11am at Grace to celebrate the days immediately following the resurrection!
· *April 19*: OMT: Theological Reading Group – We’ll discuss Fyodor Dostoevsky’s *Notes from Underground*.
· *April 20*: Youth Catechesis resumes! At 5:15pm we start with dinner, then class, then evening prayer, all at Trinity.
· *April 24*: Semi-Annual and Quarterly Voters’ Mtg. at both Grace (9:30am) & Trinity (12:30pm).
· *April 30*: Lutheran Lecture Series XXVI – We’re thrilled to have the Rev. Dr. Andrew Das joining us for our 26th annual Lutheran Lecture Series here at Grace. Click here for more details <gracelutheranchurch-wichita.org/LutheranLectureSeries2022.html>.
*Other Things…*
· *International Lutheran Response to Ukraine*: A number of folks have asked how they might help with relief aid for Ukraine, or what involvement our sister churches have with the present suffering. Here is an update <ilc-online.org/2022/03/25/mercy-in-mission-aid-for-ukraine/> from the International Lutheran Council (ILC), of which the LCMS is a member church.
· *Call Committee: *Each congregation designates its Board of Elders as the call committee for the congregation but does not *limit* the committee to the Elders. Should anyone desire to serve on this committee for either congregation, please contact Curt Engelbrecht or Bob Petersen.
· *KS District Looking for Communications Specialist*: A position description can be viewed here <kslcms.org/about-us/communications/> .
· *Another Round of The Plucked Chicken Podcast <thepluckedchicken.com/wordpress/i-surrender-all-i-mean-some/>*…
· *Update on Concordia Academy-Wichita! *
o *New Facility: *Due to the water damage from our improperly repaired roof at Grace, together with my pending departure, Concordia Academy is moving our campus to Immanuel Lutheran (909 S Market St.). Immanuel has a large and secure building featuring numerous classrooms, a gym with a stage, a choir/music room, and much more. We are grateful to Immanuel for hosting us, and to Grace for the use of their facilities and support thus far.
o *Open Enrollment: *Please spread the word about our open enrollment and LARGE tuition grants at Concordia Academy. You can find the enrollment application here <www.concordiaacademywichita.org/uploads/1/3/1/6/131611242/application_form.pdf> .
Many blessings and much joy to you all in Christ our life.
-Pastor