Pastor’s desk
Over the last few months, we have been going over the customs of the seasons. For the next two articles I want to go over some of the customs of Easter. I want to discuss a day that usually gets forgotten in our Easter Customs, that being the day before Easter. It is sometimes called Holy Saturday or Easter Eve. At Dusk on Holy Saturday, people used to light lamps and candles. It was to mark the beginning of the Easter Vigil. People were waiting to celebrate Easter. This light was the symbol of Christ who was the light of the world.
In some places Easter Vigils lasted the entire night with people hearing readings from Scripture, antiphons, and prayers. There were a lot of customs surrounding Holy Saturday in the ancient church. Previously pagan adults were still being converted to the Faith and had gone through instruction were now ready to be Baptized. At Midnight, people who were going to be baptized stripped themselves of Jewelry. Then they listened to the final exhortation of the bishop and then marched to the Baptistery. There the Bishop Baptized them. After being anointed with Oil, they donned fresh white linen tunics and were given new sandals. They then stayed in these outfits for the Easter Service. Later in the Easter Procession the Bishop, other clergy, the newly baptized, and other faithful, gathered up the sacred vessels and the bible they would do the readings from. Then they left out a side door of the church and then marched around the church. Others would come to join them as everyone gathered around the main entrance which was now locked and closed. The closed door represented the closed tomb of Christ. When dawn approached the doors would swing open. The people would chant “Christ is Risen”. Then the whole assembly would re-enter the sanctuary for the Service of Eastertide. That would have been the end of a very eventful Saturday Night.
I always try to think of these old Customs on Holy Saturday. The new converts ready to be Baptized. Spending a whole night praying then in the middle of the night being Baptized. Then entering into a new day, washed with water and oil. Then putting on new clothes. All of this to celebrate Easter. It would be easy to see yourself as reborn, as a new creation. Is this not what Easter is all about? How the death and resurrection of Christ has made us a new Creation.
Taken from “The Year of The Lord: The Church Year: It’s Customs Growth and Ceremonies. By Theodore Kleinhans. Concordia Publishing, 1967. Pages 75-76.
Holy Week and Easter Schedule
April 10th - Palm Sunday – Confirmation 8:30 am and 10:00 am
April 14th - Maundy Thursday Service – St. Paul at 7:00 pm
April 15th - Good Friday Service – St. Paul 6:00 pm and St. Peter 7:30 pm
April 17th Easter Sunrise Worship 6:30 am at St. Peter
April 17th - Easter Breakfast – 7:30 am – Both Churches
April 17th - Easter Communion Service – 8:30 am and 10:00 am
Congratulations to our Confirmands
Willa Culp – Daughter of Jeffrey and Carrie Culp
Ashlyn Mullins – Daughter of Gregory and Stacie Mullins
Cole Cereghin – Bill and Alicia Richardson
LWML
You are invited!
LWML members from the Defiance, Napoleon and Toledo Zones are preparing for the first ever LWML Ohio District Concise Convention to be held June 17-18, 2022 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Napoleon, OH. The theme is “Lord of the Harvest”. This will be an inspiring and fun-filled time for all who attend. The Friday evening worship/communion service will be led by Proclaimer Rev. Keith Witte, LWML Ohio District Counselor. The Bible study leader for this convention will be Rev. Peter Marcis, Pastor, St. Paul Lutheran Church and the Keynote speaker will be Rev. Dr. Ryan Peterson, Vice President of Administration and Chief Liaison to the Office of the President Concordia University, Ann Arbor, MI. Mission grants will be chosen and District officers elected. Betty Hoy and Alice Knepley will represent our unit as delegates, along with Pastor Stuenkel. Ruth Block and Sharlene Bunke will attend as alternates. All information concerning the Convention is featured in the current and next ODE publication which is inserted in the LWML Quarterly or ask any of our St. Peter LWML members. This information can also be found at www.lwmlohio.org.
All women of LCMS congregations are encouraged to attend. Plan to attend all or part of the LWML Ohio District Convention. There is a registration fee for attending the convention. The uplifting Friday evening worship service with Rev. Keith Witte, LWML Ohio District Counselor, as Proclaimer is open to everyone at no cost. There is a registration fee for attending the convention. Registration forms are posted on the bulletin board.
Our adopted seminary student, Michaela Dub, wrote in a recent note, “Dear Saints at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Thank you for your continued prayers and support. So far my studies have been going very well as I continue to learn and grow as a future deaconess. I am grateful to have your support as I continue through my final year of classes at the seminary. It was very nice to get to come visit and meet you. I hope to get to visit again soon”. Michaela Dub.
We sincerely appreciate all the assistance and support our congregation gives towards our mission projects.
Easter Breakfast
The Easter Breakfast will be happening following Sunrise Service Easter morning, Sunday, April 17th. There will be a signup sheet in the narthex and also evites will be sent. Please RSVP so we know how much food to prepare! Ladies mark your calendars for April 30th to make earrings. If your ears aren't pierced, you can come and make them as a gift for a friend or family member. Bring a friend to join in the fun!
Stay tuned for a Picnic in the Park date. Lastly, remember new ideas and activities are welcome. Let's share God's love as well as our own with our community!
Blessings to all,
Bridgett
Greetings from Preschool!
Our class has been busy welcoming Spring and have finally been able to get outside to enjoy some nice weather. We had our Spring Open House on March 8th and it was such a great success! We enrolled a few new children for the upcoming school year and ALL our students in our current class will also be returning next year in the 4-5 year old class! We are currently preparing for Easter in the classroom and look forward to our Community Egg Hunt & Storytime on April 8th from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm. Mrs. Arce will be reading the Easter story to the children and the Easter Bunny will also be making an appearance. We are still in need of egg/candy donations for that event and appreciate any help we can get. Our Preschool also helped host concessions for the area Dartball Tournament held at the church on March 13th and we were excited for the donations we did receive that will be put towards playground improvements! We look forward to our upcoming month and focusing on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ with the children!
Mrs. Arce
