Accent on Worship
The Third Sunday of Easter
The annotations in the Lectionary about the Scriptures for the Third Sunday of Easter focus on the restoration of humankind through the suffering and death of Jesus. In the first lesson Peter explains to a crowd of Israelites the fulfillment of the prophecies of the suffering Messiah in Jesus. In the Gospel, Jesus appears to his disciples and “opens their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day.’”
However, another message popped out at me as I was reading in preparation for writing this “Accent on Worship.” The message is that humankind has a hard time recognizing Jesus for who he is. Before Peter went into his explanation of the fulfillment of the prophecies of the suffering Messiah, he admonished the crowd for killing “the Author of life.” Then he acknowledged their behavior as an act of ignorance, and invited them to repent and turn to God. In the Gospel, most of the verses tell of the disciples’ fear at the appearance of their beloved Jesus. They thought he was a ghost and Jesus had to first put their fears to rest and convince them that he indeed had risen from the dead. He even had to eat a piece of fish to show them that he was standing before them in the flesh, before he could teach them about the meaning of his suffering.
In my opinion, nothing has changed. Humankind still does not recognize Jesus nor do most recognize what God in Jesus stands for. Some very powerful people who broadcast their faith in Jesus on a daily basis are working hard to cut the benefits of those most vulnerable in our nation and the world. Wasn’t it Jesus who said that if you do unto the least you do unto me? These folks do not recognize Jesus in the face of the suffering poor, in poor women who watch helplessly as their children die of diseases that could have been prevented through proper nutrition. They do not recognize Jesus in the young women and men they send off to war in order to defend the interests of the most powerful, offering their bodies to be ripped apart by bullets or their spirits to the deep depression of knowing they killed another human being. In these, the least, Jesus suffers and dies every day, because he is not recognized.
We do not recognize Jesus when we are comfortable with this situation. This Sunday Peter invites us to repent and turn to God.
- Donna Pususta Neste
Sunday Readings
April 15, 2012 – Second Sunday of Easter
Acts 4:32-35 + Psalm 133
I John 1:1—2:2 + John 20:19-31
April 22, 2012 – Third Sunday of Easter
Acts 3:12-19 + Psalm 4
I John 3:1-7 + Luke 24:36b-48
Congregation Meeting to Be Held This Sunday, April 22, Noon
The purpose of the meeting is to elect officers and Directors for the coming year as well as hear a report of our delegates to the most recent Minneapolis Area Synod assembly.
Contribution Statements
First quarter contribution statements are available to be picked up by the coat room. Please stop and get yours when you are at church.
Meals on Wheels
TRUST, Inc. calls on members of Mount Olive to deliver Meals on Wheels for its program. The following members of Mount Olive delivered Meals on Wheels for TRUST, Inc. during the first quarter of 2012: Nancy & Gary Flatgard, Elaine & Art Halbardier. Karen Johnson, Mary & Bob Lee, and Connie & Rod Olson. Thanks to all of you!
Book Discussion Group
On April 14 the Book Discussion Group will discuss Birth of Venus, by Sarah Dunant. For the meeting on May 12 they will discuss Paths of Glory, by Jeffrey Archer.
Advance announcement: at the meeting on July 14 we will discuss The Way We Live Now, by Anthony Trollope. This advance notice is shared due to the length of the book.
CaringBridge Site for Delacy Kloehn
Royce Kloehn called last week and asked that we publish a link to Delacy’s Caring Bridge website. This site includes information about her diagnosis and treatment, and the latest information on her condition: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/delacykloehn.
All are encouraged to keep Delacy and the Kloehn family in their prayers.
Grateful Thanks
To those who donated flowers for the Paschal Garden;
To Gary Pagel, for providing and arranging the palm plants for Palm Sunday and the outdoor floral arrangements for Easter;
To Naomi Peterson for procuring and arranging the flowers for the Paschal Garden;
To members of Cantorei for their participation in many services of Holy Week;
To the many who served in all of the liturgies of Holy Week;
To those who for prepared and served the wonderful reception following Easter Vigil.
Bishop’s Installation
The Minneapolis Area Synod invites everyone to a Service of Holy Communion and the Installation of The Reverend Ann M. Svennungsen as Bishop of the Minneapolis Area Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
All rostered leaders are invited to vest and process. The color of the day is red. Please gather in the Community Room no later than 1:45 p.m. to line up for the processional. A reception will immediately follow the service.
Bishop Ann Svennungsen Installation
May 6, 2012, 2 p.m.
Central Lutheran Church
333 S 12th St
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Church Library News
April is a busy month for library-related events and observances. I was not able to confirm everything until last week, so this is a bit late - but we think it is important to note that last week, April 8-14, was National Library Week. Sponsored by the American Library Association, the theme chosen for this observance is "YOU Belong @ Your Library," which is obviously important to remember all year long. Other observances in April included National Bookmobile Day on April 11, which was dedicated to library professionals who provide this valuable service in their communities each day. Also important all year long but especially remembered on April 12 was Support Teen Literature Day.
The Children's Book Council alerts us to their upcoming library sponsored event, Children's Book Week, which is May 7-13. Check with your local or community public library for special events that may be scheduled during that time.
A very helpful brochure from the Hennepin County Library System is entitled "Every Child Ready to Read @ Your Library" which indicates that "Early Literacy Begins With You -- Helping Your Child Be Ready to Read." If you are a parent of a baby/toddler or of a 2-3 year old child and would like more information on the above topic, stop into our church library to check out my brochure, or if more convenient, check at your closest Hennepin County library branch to pick up your own brochure.
If you are (or have been) a devoted fan of novelist Miss Read's fiction series of books about English village life, come into the church library soon to check out the display of her books with the following titles: Gossip From Thrush Green, Battle At Thrush Green, Return to Thrush Green,Village Affairs, No Holly for Miss Queen, and Summer at Fairacre. Others may remember author Bette M. Ross, whose novels include Celia's House, and Gennie, the Huguenot Woman.
Come in soon to check out the wide variety of good reading and reference materials available in YOUR church library!
To close, I thought you might want to ponder this quotation, a Chinese Proverb: "A book is like a garden carried in the pocket."
- Leanna Kloempken
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