From Pastor’s Desk:
When I was at Glidden we had this service called “CPH’s creative worship resources”. It was for building services on Sunday. Each church service they would have this opening paragraph before the service called, “As you Gather”. It’s a short introduction that explains the worship service that you as the believer are entering into. So you can read these introductions and imagine you are entering into the church for that worship service.
I thought it would interesting to share a few that open up some of our most important services of the church year, all of which happen in April.
AS WE GATHER [For Good Friday] ( There should be no talking or visiting as you enter .) This is a service of meditation and silence, commemorating what is the most solemn night of the Church Year. Tenebrae means "darkness" or "shadows." Most of the service is simple and austere. There is little movement in the chancel. The service ends in almost total darkness. We will hear and reflect on each of Jesus' seven last words from the cross. After the seventh word, the paschal candle is removed to signify the death and burial of Jesus. There is a loud noise symbolizing the sealing of the tomb. The Lord's Prayer is then whispered. You may remain for meditation and reflection as long as you wish. Please exit in silence.
AS WE GATHER [Easter] We come today because it's Easter. We come seeking God's mercy and grace because we believe the Lord Jesus is risen from the dead! Because we know the story it is hard for us to feel or experience the strange mixture of shock and surprise of the women at the moment they first discovered the empty tomb. The women went to Jesus' tomb because He died. Where do we put people who have died? In a tomb, in the cemetery! Who are in a cemetery? ---dead people! But today we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. He died, but He is not dead any longer. He's risen! He's alive! Therefore He's not in a tomb, among the dead. Since then, to this day, all people are invited to seek the Lord, the living Lord, not among the dead mingled with words or places of gruesome death but among the living proclaimed as the resurrected, glorious Word of Life everlasting. [Taken from Creative worship for the Lutheran parish. Series C. Concordia Publishing House. ©2012, St. Louis, Mo. : Concordia Pub. House. Good Friday, Sunrise]
Holy Week and Easter Schedule
April 2nd - Palm Sunday 10:00 AM
April 7th - Good Friday Service 7:30 PM
April 9th Easter Sunrise Worship 6:30 AM / Easter Breakfast 7:30AM
April 9th - Easter Communion Service - 10:00 AM
Congratulations to our Confirman Corinne Leigh Vance – Daughter of Tony and Erin Vance
LWML
LWML Ladies, You Are Invited To: The LWML Defiance Zone 2023 Spring Rally to be held Saturday, April 22 nd in our Fellowship Hall. Registration/Breakfast starts at 8:30 am. A deaconess from Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Ft. Wayne will lead a Bible study "A New Spring Wardrobe" based on Colossians 3:12. She will also give a Deaconess Studies Presentation. There will be an in-gathering of feminine products for the Seminary Food and Clothing Co- Op. There will be a Mite box available for Mite donations. God's blessings to our adopted Seminarian James Haugen, III, and his family as he finishes his studies for service in His Kingdom and awaits his placement call to a congregation.. The support and participation we receive from all members of our congregation for our mission projects is greatly appreciated.
LWML Napoleon Zone Spring Rally Saturday
April 15, 2023 St. John, Freedom Twp. Registration and Breakfast at 8:30 am Theme: Gathering the Scattered Bible Translation Return from Babel Guest speaker: Michael Nicol, Bible translator of the Gokana language
Easter Flowers
Have you ever wondered where you can read about flower lilies in the Bible? - Check out Luke 12:27
Easter flowers: Place your flowers on the table in the church library with your name on your plant/plants by 12:00 Noon on April 8th . Please make arrangements to have someone pick up your flower after the late service on Easter. Thank You !
A Peek from Preschool
Our Preschool students are getting more excited as it gets closer to Easter. They enjoyed having guest readers for Dr. Seuss week, had some crazy Shenanigans for St. Patrick’s Day and have been learning about Lent and the events leading up to the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Parent teacher conferences were held in March and the Open House also went great, bringing in a few more families for the upcoming school year. We are looking forward to our Storytime & Egg Hunt Event being held on Saturday, April 1 from 4:30-6:00. Anyone willing to help with this event can contact a Preschool Committee member or Emilie Parsons for more information. We are also in need of volunteers and donations of baked goods for our upcoming Parent Workshop being held on Friday, April 28 from 5:30-7:00. There will be a sign-up in the narthex for those interested in donating baked goods for this event and we really appreciate your support of St. Peter Preschool! Ms Stephanie
We would like to give a HUGE Shout-Out to our area donors and sponsors of our Community Egg Hunt:
Meijer Keller Trucking Clubhouse Pizza, Florida, Ohio ServiceMaster Defiance, OH Phoenix Theatres Northtowne Mall Putt Putt Golf & Games YMCA The Fun Company, Defiance, OH Tano’s of Napoleon Padrone’s Soaring Arts Studio Meek’s Pastry Shop Kyra’s Bakery Connection Cakewalk Cakery C & H Lanes River City Bowl-A-Way Wendy’s Jewell Ca
fe Mya’s Sweet Treats, Napoleon Megan’s Sweet Treats, Oakwood Simply From Scratch Bakery, Defiance
