⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. . . .  ⁴⁶Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home^* and ate their food with glad and generous^* hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.   Acts 2:42, 46-47

In the very early days of the church, weeks and months after Easter, the early gathering of believers faced a world that was busy, uncertain, and hostile to the faith.  Our predecessors in faith responded by living out their faith in basic and consistent daily acts like the “breaking of bread and the prayers”.  They weren’t known for the brilliance of their arguments, or their obvious success in worldly pursuits, but that they did all with “glad and generous hearts.”  This daily witness to the love of Christ active in their lives, led more and more to come and hear the story of faith, and the Lord worked through them to bring more and more to faith.

Today we still face a world that is busy, uncertain, and sometimes hostile to the faith.  Now maybe it is because the winter has dragged on so long, or maybe it is because the world around us remains unsettled, but there are days I wonder if we are still known for our “glad and generous hearts”.  It is sometimes easy to stay at home, stay busy, and stay away from the breaking of bread and prayers.  I know I can find it easy to dwell on every shortcoming and fix blame for every difficulty, instead of humbly and prayerfully asking God to restore us to life, love and joy.

So I resolve this Easter season to let the Risen Christ bring new life to my daily walk, setting aside the coldness that creeps into my heart, and seek to let joy and generosity of spirit be my witness to the world.

God’s Peace,

Pastor John

 

Feliz Pascua de Resurrección! (Happy Easter!)

Happy Easter Pastor John!

He has risen!

I’m attaching a picture of our Easter Cross that you can share with the congregation.  This is a tradition in our church, it is prepared by members of Divino Salvador and we always have the service at 5:35 am so we can witness the transition from darkness to the Light that is Christ our Lord of Life.

That the Lord of Life continues to help our congregations on sharing the good news with our communities!    We continue to pray for Mt. Horeb.

Hope you are having a wonderful Easter!

Pastor Carmelo

Easter Worship – 7:00 a.m. Sunrise Worship

                                         9:00 a.m. Traditional Worship

                                         (No Sunday School this Sunday)

                                         10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Easter Breakfast served by Youth  – 7:30 to 10:00 a.m.

Easter
The Tomb is Empty
March 31, 2013
Luke 24:1-16

Key Verse: “The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.’” Luke 24:5

Time: 30 C.E.

Since Last Week: Jesus spent his final days in Jerusalem preparing his disciples for the work to be done following his death and resurrection. After he shared his last meal with his disciples, he went out to pray on the Mount of Olives. There he was arrested and put on trial. Jesus was tried before the Council, before Pilate, and before Herod. Although none could find fault with him, he was sentenced to flogging and death by crucifixion. He died on the evening preceding the Sabbath, so his body was temporarily placed in a tomb to wait for a proper anointing for burial.

Background: It was the morning following the Sabbath when the women went to the tomb to anoint his body. There they found he had been raised from the dead!

Community: Easter marks the most significant event in a Christian’s life. Who could you share this news with?

At Home: How will you honor Christ today?

Read This Week:
Monday: Jesus Appears to His Disciples, Luke 24:36-53
Tuesday: Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas, Acts 1:12-26
Wednesday: The Holy Spirit, Acts 2:1-13
Thursday: Early Christians, Acts 2:14-47
Friday: Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar, Acts 3:1-10
Saturday: Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Portico, Acts 3:11-26

Next Week: The Road to Emmaus, Luke 24:13-35

 

 

 

Community Worship  – 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at United Methodist Church

ELC “Tenebrae” Worship at 7:30 p.m.  at ELC Sanctuary

Tenebrae is a service of increasing darkness as we reflect on the final hours of Jesus’ crucifixion.

Good Friday
March 29 2013
Luke 23:32-47

Key Verse: “Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last.” Luke 23:46

Time: 30 C.E.

Since Last Week: After Jesus’ last supper, he prayed on the Mount of Olives, asking God to “remove this cup from me;” to free Jesus from the responsibility of dying on a cross. Jesus gathered strength in prayer and boldly faced his betrayer, Judas, and those who would arrest him. After his arrest, he was taken to Pilate to be put on trial. Though Pilate and Herod found nothing against Jesus, he was stripped, beaten, and sentenced to death on a cross.

Background: Jesus was crucified between two criminals; one who recognized Jesus as the Messiah and one who didn’t. Several in the crowd taunted Jesus calling him, “King of the Jews.” Little did they know they were proclaiming the truth. After Jesus’ death, the centurion was the first to recognize, “Certainly this man was innocent.”

Community: To whom will you proclaim the entire forgiveness of sins that is possible because Jesus died on the cross?

At Home: In what ways have you put Jesus on the cross? How might you live and behave knowing that your sins have been washed away by Jesus’ saving act of love?

Read This Week:
Monday: Journey to the Cross, Luke 22:28-46
Tuesday: Journey to the Cross, Luke 22:47-71
Wednesday: Journey to the Cross, Luke 23:1-31
Thursday: The Last Supper, Luke 22:1-27
Friday: Good Friday, Luke 23:32-47
Saturday: Burial of Jesus, Luke 23:48-56

Next Week: Easter, Luke 24:1-12

Join us for Maundy Thursday Worship as we recall Jesus’ last supper with the disciples.  We’ll share the story of that evening before Good Friday, and share Holy Communion in remembrance of him.

Worship times —  11:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall

7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Maundy Thursday — The Last Supper
March 28 2013
Luke 22:1-27

Key Verse: “Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’” Luke 22:19

Time: 30 C.E.

Since Last Week: After entering Jerusalem, Jesus prepared his disciples for his death and resurrection as they celebrated the Passover together.

Background: The Passover celebration was a remembrance of the Exodus event, in which God saved the Israelites by leading them up out of slavery in Egypt. In that event, God made a covenant with the people in which God would be their God, and they would be God’s people. In the Last Supper a new covenant was made. By Jesus’ body and blood, all humanity has been saved from sin and death.

Community: How does your community of faith celebrate communion? What does it mean to you?

At Home: From what do you need saving? How might you surrender that to God?

Read This Week:
Monday: Journey to the Cross, Luke 22:28-46
Tuesday: Journey to the Cross, Luke 22:47-71
Wednesday: Journey to the Cross, Luke 23:1-31
Thursday: The Last Supper, Luke 22:1-27
Friday: Good Friday, Luke 23:32-47
Saturday: Burial of Jesus, Luke 23:48-56