*Maundy Thursday*
Dear Saints and Friends of Grace & Trinity,
Today begins the *Sacred Triduum*
*Maundy Thursday *(Bulletin <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/e3d7fe15-7a81-9942-54d7-f30944831ba5/2022_04_14_Maundy_Thursday.pdf>) 7pm – Trinity
*“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Cor. 11:26). By eating His body and drinking His blood, we proclaim to all the world that Jesus is, indeed, our Passover Lamb (Ex. 12:1–14), who was sacrificed for us on Calvary. In Christ, the Lord remembers us in mercy and remembers our sin no more; He forgives us all our iniquity. With such love, he “loved His own who were in the world,” and even loves us “to the end” (John 13:1). As He washes us and feeds us in love, let us love one another, just as He has loved us (John 13:34).*
Exodus 24:3-11; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32; John 13:1-15, 34-35 <www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+24%3A3-11%3B+1+Corinthians+11%3A23-32%3B+John+13%3A1-15%2C+34-35&version=ESV>
*Good Friday *~ Chief Service, 12pm – Grace (Bulletin <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/1c48e64b-e418-76c4-1422-ca98a074fbb7/2022_04_15_Good_Friday_Chief_Service.pdf>), Tenebrae Vespers, 7pm – Trinity (Bulletin <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/3bb60535-024d-bb32-2f50-e8e0bc978639/2022_04_15_Good_Friday_Tenebrae.pdf>)
*The name may originally have been “God’s Friday,” but it is certainly also “good” because of the good gifts Christ won for us on this day, defeating death and bestowing life. Good Friday is not observed as a funeral for Christ. It is a day for repentance over sin and restrained joy and praise for the redemption Christ accomplished for us on the cross. In keeping with this character, music is kept to a minimum, though not silenced. Elaborate words of praise are omitted. The altar remains bare, having been stripped on Holy Thursday. The chief service for Good Friday contains a number of ancient elements, particularly the full reading of the Passion according to St. John, the Bidding Prayer, the adoration of the cross, the Reproaches, and the Responsory. Given the solemnity of the day, silence is observed at various times in order to reflect upon the Word of God. Because the service is part of the Triduum, it has neither entrance rite nor benediction. The concluding hymn ensures that the final note of the service is one of triumph, for God’s faithful know the story’s end. We meet again for that end at the Easter Vigil!*
Isaiah 52:13—53:12; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; John 18-19 <www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+52%3A13%E2%80%9453%3A12%3B+2+Corinthians+5%3A14-21%3B+John+18-19&version=ESV>
*Holy Saturday & the Easter Vigil *(Bulletin <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/50aa0526-a788-9582-8d18-79580fe8d3ed/2022_04_16_Easter_Vigil.pdf>) 8pm – Trinity
*“Vigil” means “keeping watch”—it’s traditionally an all-night service on the eve of a major feast or holiday (that’s where our tradition of Christmas Eve services began, from the vigil). The Easter Vigil connects the days of Holy Week, especially Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, and culminates in the resurrection of Christ. The early Christians would gather in the night full of expectation for Christ’s return. The vigil consists of prayer, psalms, hymns, and Old Testament readings proclaiming the resurrection, leading into the Lord’s Supper as its high point. This service moves from the darkness of death (Good Friday) to the light of life (Easter). For the first time in 40 days you’ll hear, “Alleluia! Christ is Risen!”*
Genesis 1-2; Genesis 7-9; Genesis 22; Exodus 14-15; Ezekiel 37; Jonah 3; Daniel 3; John 20:1-18 <www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1-2%3B+Genesis+7-9%3B+Genesis+22%3B+Exodus+14-15%3B+Ezekiel+37%3B+Jonah+3%3B+Daniel+3&version=ESV>
*The Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord *(Bulletin <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/d3778077-9e2c-5ce6-0c96-809d05307d1c/2022_04_17_Easter_Sunday.pdf> )
*“Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Cor. 5:7). By the shed blood of Christ, the Lamb of God, eternal death has passed over us. Now we pass with Christ through death into life everlasting. For Christ the crucified One is risen! The stone has been rolled away from the tomb, revealing that the tomb could not hold Him (Mark 16:1–8). Now our Redeemer lives eternally to save us from sin and Satan and the grave, and we can live in the sure hope of our own bodily resurrection with Christ. “After my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God” (Job 19:26). Feasting on the living Christ, who is our meat and drink indeed, we boldly say: “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? . . . But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:54–55, 57).*
Job 19:23-27; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; Mark 16:1-8 <www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+19%3A23-27%3B+1+Corinthians+5%3A6-8%3B+Mark+16%3A1-8&version=ESV>
Also, here are Sunday’s news/notes <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/82c1f9e1-2c56-a75c-4917-f7ae90054157/4_17_22_News_Notes.pdf> and the congregation at prayer <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/699bc313-5cfa-d6a2-1c29-a8e27446df00/2022_4_17_Easter_Sunday.pdf> .
*Easter Brunch* & *Kids’ Activities *at *Trinity at 9:30am*. Join us!
*Those Serving* *at Grace & Trinity today…*
*Trinity** Grace*
*Counters: The Lewallens Counters: Jeanette*
*Greeters: The Smiths Greeters: The Petersens*
*Ushers: Derrel Pressnell & Ushers: Cory & Terry*
* Dave Ketteman Altar Guild: The Kennys*
*Altar Guild: Sheryl Anderson *
*Elder: Kendall Patterson*
*Coming up this week…*
· *Today*: *Maundy Thursday*
o *9am *Matins, Grace
o *7pm *Divine Service, 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 *1pm *Spanish Easter Brunch, Grace
o *2pm **Misa en Español*, Grace
· *Monday: **Easter Monday*
o *9am *Divine Service, Grace
· *Tuesday: **Easter Tuesday*
o *9am *Divine Service, Grace
o *9:45am *OMT, Grace **We’re reading Dostoevsky’s **Notes from Underground* <www.eighthdaybooks.com/product/120961/Notes-from-the-Underground>
o *6:30pm *Sisters of Sophia, the Ladder
o *6:30pm *Grace Council Mtg., Grace
o *7pm *Trinity Security Council, WBC
· *Wednesday*: *Easter Wednesday*
o *9am *Matins, Grace
o *9:30am *Bible Study, Grace
o *11am *Divine Service, Grace
o *4:15pm *Bell Choir, Trinity
o *5:15-6:45pm *Youth Catechesis, Trinity
o *7pm *Evening Prayer, Trinity
· *Thursday*: *Commemoration of St. Anselm of Canterbury*
o *9am *Matins, Grace
· *Friday: *
o *9am *Matins, Grace
o *4-5pm *Private Absolution, Trinity
· *Saturday: *
o *2-4pm *Concordia Academy Open House, Immanuel
· *Sunday (4/24): **Quasimodo Geniti *
o *8am *Divine Service, Grace
o *9:30am *Grace Voters’ Mtg., Grace
o *11am *Divine Service, Trinity
o *12:30pm *Trinity Voters’ Mtg., Trinity
o *2pm **Misa en Español*, Grace
o *3:30pm *Elders’ Book Study, Grace
*Looking Ahead…*
· *April 23*: Concordia Academy Open House at Immanuel, 2-4pm.
· *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…*
· *Preparations for Calling a New Pastor:*
o *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. A tentative date for the first meeting is set for Sunday, May 1 at Grace.
o *Pastoral Characteristics: *All are invited to fill out this form <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/e2651863-43bb-e1cc-08bc-6f5513f19a29/7_Pastoral_Characteristics.docx> (also available in the narthex) and return before May 1 to either Bob Petersen (spiroides@protonmail.com) at Grace or Curt Engelbrecht ( curtengelbrecht@protonmail.com) at Trinity.
· *Prayers Continue for Ukraine and “This Other Russia”*: At a recent gathering of the International Lutheran Council, a Russian pastor from one of our sister churches laments the state of this war and how it came to be. He calls for solid Law & Gospel preaching and for much prayer, both for the Ukrainians as well as the “other Russia” that resists this war. See what he said here <ilc-online.org/2022/04/10/russian-lutheran-laments-sinfulness-of-this-war-during-european-ilc-meetings/> .
· *Christ Academy: *The Seminary in Fort Wayne offers a 2-week summer camp for men and women in or entering high school that might consider a vocation of ministry. It meets June 19-July 2 in Fort Wayne, IN. The cost is $650, which includes room and board as well as all meals and instruction. For more information, click here <www.ctsfw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022-Christ-Academy-Bulletin-Insert.pdf> .
· *Open House for Concordia Academy-Wichita! *With Concordia Academy moving to Immanuel Lutheran (909 S Market St.), we thought we’d have an open house. Join us NEXT SATURDAY, 4/23 from 2-4pm to see the facility, meet the headmaster, and enroll your student for this fall. Please remember to 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