THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL

Sunday (3/29)

• 9:00 am—Divine Service with Holy Communion
• 10:30 am—Bible Class & Sunday School
• 11:30 am—Catechism Class
• 4:00 pm—Answers New Members Class

Monday–Thursday

• 7:30 am—Matins

Monday

• 9:00 am—Classical Conversations Home School Coop

Thursday

• 7:00 pm—Maundy Thursday Divine Service

Friday

• 7:00 pm—Good Friday Divine Service

Saturday

• 5:30 pm—Easter Vigil Divine Service

Sunday (4/5)

• 6:00 am—Easter Sunrise Divine Service
• 7:00 am—Easter Breakfast
• 9:00 am—Easter Day Divine Service
• 10:30 am—Sunday School Easter Egg Hunt

IN OUR PRAYERS

HEALTH CONCERNS: Mia Anderson (great-granddaughter of Joan Vukelich); Jack Appleby; Brenda Bunting (friend of Ann Carroll); Ellie Crawford (daughter of Laran Crawford); Alberta Dallas; Jim Harbaugh; Marvin Kingery (father of Miranda Czerwonka); Erica Kremitzki; Beverly McDade (friend of Mary Appleby and Joan Vukelich); Laurie McMillen; Mike Merna (friend of Joan Vukelich); Sandra Oehmke (sister of Joan Vukelich); Barb Pearson (friend of Joyce Alexander); Fred Rahn (son of Joan Rahn); Harold Wattjes; Shane Yardley (brother of Jaimee Whitson).

DEATHS: Family of Rose Robinson (aunt of Ronald Legg

SEMINARY STUDENT: Dustin Fry.

DEACONESS STUDENT: Allison Gummerus.

HOMEBOUND: Bernita Ashwill; Bessie Benson; Dolores Byers; Joan Mulligan; Corinne Oye; Art Rahn; Ruth Rentschler.

MILITARY: John Bookas; Jeremy Gordon; Jack Leonard; Sam Leonard; Jake Lindgren; Raymond Longtin; Joey Pollock; Chase Reifsteck; Blake Stokes; Paige Stokes; Ruben Wilson.

THE ANNOUNCEMENTS

THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . .

• Holy Thursday—Exod 12:1–14; 1 Cor 11:23–32; John 13:1–15, 34–35
• Good Friday—Isaiah 52:13–53:12; 2 Cor 5:14–21; John 18:1–19:42
• Vigil of Easter—Gen 1:1–2:3; 7:1–5, 11–18; 8:6–18; 9:8–13; Exod 14:1–15:1
• Easter Sunrise—Isaiah 25:6–9; 1 Cor 15:1–11; John 20:1–18
• Easter Day—Job 19:23–27; 1 Cor 5:6–8; Mark 16:1–8.

ABOUT THIS WEEK’S READINGS . . . “Behold, your King is coming to you . . . humble and mounted on a donkey” (Zech 9:9–12; Matt 21:1–9). Our Lord rides in this humble fashion because He is entering Jerusalem to humble Himself even to the point of death on a cross (Phil 2:5–11). His kingly crown will not be made of gold but of thorns, the sign of sin’s curse. For His royal reign is displayed in bearing this curse for His people, saving us from our enemies by sacrificing His own life. The sinless One takes the place of the sinner so that the sinner can be freed and bear the name “Barabbas,” “son of the Father” (Matt 26 and 27). It is at the name of this exalted Savior, Jesus, that we bow in humble faith. With the centurion who declared, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matt 27:54), we are also given to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil 2:11).

THOUGHTS ABOUT STEWARDSHIP . . . Matthew 21:3—“If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” Did Jesus really need the donkey? If the man had refused to give the donkey would the work of salvation have been derailed? Of course not. But what an honor for the man who owned this donkey and foal! Likewise with us—the Lord needs none of us, but what an honor for God to choose to use our generosity in the work of His Church.

EASTER BREAKFAST . . . Alexis, Caleb, Ethan, and Gunnar can’t wait to serve you breakfast. That means it’s time to sign up for the Easter Breakfast! We’re asking for donations of an egg dish/breakfast casserole, muffins (or cinnamon rolls if you’re Mary Appleby—hint, hint, wink, wink), fresh fruit or juice. Or all of the above! These four youth who serve our congregation each week in the Divine Service are making the trek West to Seward, Nebraska, this summer for the annual Higher Things Youth Conference. Come have a tasty breakfast from 7:00 am to 8:30 am on Easter morning and give generously to help support their trip. All proceeds will be matched by the Board of Mission and Evangelism. Thanks!

FUNERAL LUNCHEON PHONE CALLS . . . If you’re interested in having the funeral chairperson call and ask for a food donation for funeral luncheons, please sign up on the sheet in the back of the church. We’re updating our list and want to make sure the names and phone numbers are up to date. Thank you!

SPRING CLEANING TIME . . . The church will hold a garage sale on Saturday, April 18. The funds raised will defray the costs of the youth group’s attendance at the Higher Things Youth Conference this summer. If you have gently used items to donate, both big and small, please drop them off at the church in the room across from the nursery or in the library. Let a member of the Board of Education know if you will need assistance getting these items to church. Thanks for your donations.

APRIL BI-MONTHLY MISSION . . . is Sunday, April 12, for the Tuscola Christmas Bureau.

EASTER LILY ORDER FORMS DUE . . . today, Sunday, March 29. If you would like to order an Easter Lily as a memorial or thank offering, please fill out the order form and return it to the church office by next Sunday. Lilies are $13.00 each.

THE CELEBRATION of the Triduum . . . the holy three days of Christ’s Passover begins on Holy (Maundy) Thursday on the eve of our Lord’s Crucifixion. The service on Holy Thursday culminates the Lenten period of preparation for Christ’s Passion and Resurrection and leads into his sacrifice on our behalf. On this day we remember Christ’s sacrificial service demonstrated in his washing of the disciples’ feet, a servanthood enacted on the cross, whose benefits are bestowed in his means of grace. The service culminates with the Lord’s ministry to his people through the Sacrament of the Altar. The depth of Christ’s servanthood is also demonstrated as the altar is reverently stripped in preparation for the church’s observance of Jesus’ death on Good Friday. GOOD FRIDAY is not observed as a funeral for Christ. It is a day for repentance over sin and restrained joy and praise for the redemption Christ accomplished for us on the cross. In keeping with its character, music is kept to a minimum, though not silenced, and elaborate words of praise are omitted. Because this service is part of the Triduum, the three holy days, it has neither an entrance rite nor benediction. The concluding hymn ensures that the final note of the service is one of triumph, for God’s faithful know the end of the story. THE VIGIL OF EASTER which is celebrated at the end of Holy Saturday as the conclusion to the sacred Triduum, ushers in the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord. To hold vigil means to “keep watch.” In some places in the early centuries of the church’s life, a vigil in expectation of Christ’s return at Easter became a common feature of the celebration of his Crucifixion and Resurrection. It was also a common time for individuals to be baptized. Because the Vigil of Easter marks the final day in the sacred Triduum, the service ends with the Benediction (which has not been heard since the Triduum was begun) and the Easter acclamation: Christ is Risen!

GREETERS

THIS WEEK

• Tim & Teri Pollock (West)
• Donna Campbell (East)

NEXT WEEK

• Harold Wattjes (West)
• Jim Dyer (East)

COMMUNION HELPERS

THIS WEEK

• Ronald Legg
• Janice Arthur; Marissa Russo

HOLY WEEK

• Mark Whitson
• Janice Arthur; Lexie Russo

ACOLYTES

THIS WEEK

• Gunnar Campbell (Crucifer)
• Caleb Stumeier (Torches)
• Coulson Poffenberger (Torches)
• Ethan Stumeier (Gospel)

NEXT WEEK

• Gunnar Campbell (Crucifer)
• Ethan Stumeier (Torches)
• Josh Dyer (Torches)
• Caleb Stumeier (Gospel)

COFFEE COMMITTEE

• Arleigh & Mary Jane Jones—March
• Greg & Celeste Nau—April