“Return to the Lord”
Lenten Season Series
In the Book of Joel, the prophet paints a vivid picture of the coming judgment of God, the Day of the Lord. The imagery is bold and terrifying: hordes of locusts swarming over the land and decimating everything. Joel’s prophecy has teeth even today as wars rage, natural disasters threaten and destroy, and our culture seems to be unraveling. But right in the middle of this frightening portent, we find a tender invitation from the Lord: “Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and He relents over disaster” (Joel 2:13). God’s invitation and promise finds its fullness in Jesus Christ, who personifies and accomplishes all that God declares. During this season of Lent, we will consider the theme “Return to the Lord” and examine how the call to return played out in practical ways for the people who walked alongside Christ as He demonstrated and carried out God’s grace and mercy on our behalf, taking God’s wrath upon Himself, setting the stage for God to “turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him” (Joel 2:14).
Each sermon in this series focuses on a particular event in the Passion, with a special focus on the people involved in the event. Studying the events and people helps to connect the hearers with their own sinful nature, to emphasize how we have turned away from the Lord, and to reinforce and rejoice in God’s call for us to return to Him with all our heart.
Maundy Thursday Worship Service
Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 7:30 p.m.
On this night known in the Church as Holy Thursday, Jesus invites us to join Him once again at His Table. He knows our need for strengthening and reassurance. The place in which we gather is filled with the blessing of fellowship as we remember the new command of our Lord Jesus to love one another. Our Lord serves us in many ways, most singularly as the Host at His Table, where we receive His body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. Time and again we are invited to return to the Table, where truly we experience a foretaste of the feast to come.
We look forward to sharing our Lord’s meal with you.
Good Friday Worship Service
Friday, April 15, 2022 at 7:30 p.m.
Peter addressed the people in Solomon’s Portico at the temple in Jerusalem after the time of Pentecost, and said directly, “Men of Israel . . . you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life” (Acts 3:12, 14–15). In the service of Good Friday, we reflect on that truth and remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for each of us. The hymnist describes the event with poignant beauty: “The Shepherd dies for sheep that loved to wander” (LSB 439:4). Good Friday is good for us. It is good to be here!
Easter Sunday Celebration!
Sunday, April 17, 2022
7:45 a.m. – Easter Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – Adult Bible Study
10:00 a.m. – Worship with Communion