Thoughts Drawn Forward

During these holy days our thoughts are drawn forward to something better.

Friends in Christ, This letter should reach you during the somber time between our Maundy Thursday and Good Friday gatherings. As fellow members of the body of Christ we wait eagerly to share the joyful cry "He is risen!" As this week of contemplation draws our thoughts forward to Sunday's celebration, may our lives follow a similar pattern. May all of our days draw our thoughts forward in anticipation of our Lord's return, and the resurrection of all people. Our life does not end in death. Our life goes forward in Christ who has defeated death. Here for you, Matt Behrens, Pastor When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:     Death is swallowed up in victory.    O death, where is your victory?     O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:54-57‬)‬‬   Worship Worship This Sunday We have two worship times this Sunday in anticipation of guests gathering with us for Easter. If you are able, please join us at 8:00am or 10:00am to celebrate the resurrection. The printable worship below is provided for those who might worship at home, or those who would like a print copy as they follow the service. Home Worship - printable Other News Dear Saints of Calvary Lutheran, I want to personally thank you for your generous gift to LAMP. With the challenges of the pandemic, and a shift in how we carry out the ministry to northern communities, your gift will make a significant difference and help LAMP continue our mission of taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to the northern communities. God's blessings! Pastor Dennis Ouellette Interm Executive Director Can You Help? Jan Curler and Margie Luehrs are looking for some help with altar guild responsibilities. If you can help on a rotating basis, please contact Margie (510-852-3059) or Jan (510-506-2581). This group takes care of the flowers, candles, and altar dressings for each worship time. Small Groups at Calvary The Marriage Course After Pastor Matt and Sherrah went through this course, they wanted to bring it to more people at Calvary and in the Bay Area. Now it's available for you and your friends. Sign up for yourself, or share this invitation with a friend. The Marriage Course is private, self-paced, and available online now. Click below for more information. BayAreaMarriageCourse.com Women's Bible Study This daytime group centers on connections with sisters in faith and connection to God's Word. The current study is focused on the book of Nehemiah. This group meets Mondays at 3:00pm on Zoom. Click here for the Zoom link.  (You shouldn't need this with the link above, but the Zoom password is slz.) The Truth Project The Truth Project study group meets in-person following Sunday worship. Videos and discussion will take place in the sanctuary immediately following worship. If you have questions, feel free to contact Dave Schultz by email or phone (510-507-5634) Received this By Forward? Want to Sign Up? If you received this email from a friend and you want to be added to Calvary's email list, use the link below. Welcome, friend!   Sign-Up for Emails Copyright © 2021 Calvary Lutheran Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Calvary Lutheran Church 17200 Via Magdalena San Lorenzo, CA 94580-2928 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Holy Week Ironies

Take time to consider the ironies of this week, lest familiarity drain them of significance.

Friends in Christ, We unholy pilgrims have begun our journey through Holy Week. Is it not ironic that we are made holy by the desecration of the Holy One?  Jesus must suffer so that we can be healed. His blood will be spilled that we might drink new life. He will yeild his own will to his Father's will in order to atone for our willful disobedience. The Truth will stand before an earthly judge who scoffs with the question assumed unanswerable, "What is truth?" The Eternal Son will be denied by his Father. The Light of the World will descend into darkness. The Life will cease to live. In the end, God will die so that we might not.  These unfathomable realities are the basis of our meditation this week. If you are able to join us, we will gather for worship at 6:00pm on both Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. If not, I pray the worship outlines linked below will serve to guide your personal worship.  We will never know the true depth of suffering our Lord experienced in these days. However, the descent into his suffering makes exponentially greater the ascent to joy we will experience at his resurrection. We look forward to that celebration at the culmination of our pilgrimmage. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. (1 Corinthians 15:42b) Here for you, Matt Behrens, Pastor Worship Maundy Thursday & Good Friday We will gather in the sanctuary for worship at 6:00pm both days. For those who are unable to join us (or if you would like a paper copy of our worship), there is a print-ready worship service provided at the link below. Maundy Thursday - printable Good Friday - printable Easter Sunday There are two opportunities for worship this Sunday. Both services will be identical.  Easter Sunday - 8:00am and 10:00am, April 4 Copyright © 2021 Calvary Lutheran Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Calvary Lutheran Church 17200 Via Magdalena San Lorenzo, CA 94580-2928 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.