Pastoral Musings

With Ash Wednesday behind us, we have entered into the season of Lent. All month long we will step deeper into the season, the heart of God, the heart of the gospel message that God loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son up into death on a cross for us.

At the closing service of our February confirmation retreat, Pastor Hoyer (Grace Lutheran Church, Coopersville) told a story about a family that had to “give up” their son in order to save the world from a deadly plague. After the son died (because they had to use all of his blood to make the antidote), a memorial service was held in his honor, and some folks slept through it, and some didn’t even come because they decided to go to the lake instead, and some came with a pretentious smile and just pretended to care. If you were those parents would you want to jump up and say, “MY SON DIED! DON’T YOU CARE?” Is that what God has to say to us today? “MY SON DIED. DON’T YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I CARE?” Seeing it from God’s eyes and heart, hopefully, brings home why we hold extra worship services during Lent.

We have the opportunity to show the Father and His Son how much we appreciate His Son, how much we appreciate His sacrifice. It is part of our Lutheran heritage to gather for “extra” weekly worship services during the Lenten season, to stand before the cross for an extra hour every week and ponder our Lord’s love for us.

Won’t you join your fellow saints on Wednesdays from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.? This year’s mediations are based on the Lenten Hymn: “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded.”

Wed., (Mar. 4) “The Wound of Betrayal” Mt. 26:20-25
Wed., (Mar. 11) “The Wound of Apathy” Mt. 26:36-45
Wed., (Mar. 18) “The Wound of Denial” Mt. 26:69-75
Wed., (Mar. 25) “The Wound of Mockery” Mt. 27:27-31
Wed., (Apr. 1) “The Wound of Abandonment” Mt. 27:45-48

Maundy Thursday (Apr. 9 at 7:00 p.m.) “A Meal for the Wounded” Ex. 24:3-11

Good Friday (Apr. 10 at noon and 7:00 p.m.) “The Wounds that Heal” Is. 53:1-6

Holy Saturday (April 11) Our annual Easter Vigil reverse candle light service at 6:00 p.m. Holy Communion will be celebrated.

Easter (April 12) “Son” rise worship at 7:00 a.m. with Holy Communion and at 10:30 a.m. Festival Worship with Holy Communion.

I look forward to worshiping with you at the foot of the cross.

Pastor Haupt