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April 4, 2020 From the Pastor’s Desk Easter LetterDear Members and Friends of St. John’s Lutheran Church,Grace, mercy and peace be unto you, from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.. I pray that this finds you well in this time of uncertainty. If not, it will find you as you are; this is what we must deal with. I have taken some exerts from President Harrison’s letter to Pastors of the LCMS to convey his thoughts and mine. I am more interested that you hear God’s Word in this letter than his, because it is for you and your loved ones that we minister at St. John’s with God’s Word. “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.Let us therefore celebrate the festival,not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil,but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Cor. 5:7–8)This certainly brings to completion what John the Baptist declared after Jesus’ baptism at the Jordan River. Remember his words: “Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.” That is what Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is all about. This is what God is all about. We obtain life through Jesus’ death and ours; because He is our Passover lamb. Jesus described God’s greatest commandment as a blessing for us. It should be heard as a promise rather than as a law that condemns us. Hear His words: “You will love the Lord, the God of you, with the whole heart of you and with the whole soul/life of you and with the whole mind, understanding, purpose and attitude of you…” (Mat. 22:37 my translation from the Greek). These words were given as a promise! “You will” is given in the future tense, not as a command in the imperative tense. The obvious meaning is as we develop an understanding of what God has done for us our relationship with Him will cause you to learn to love your God and trust Him above all things. This is how the promise comes to completion.The Death Angel certainly is working overtime. “I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death.” (Rev. 6:8)Or as President Harrison put it: “ Once again, the “pale horse” of pestilence, whose rider’s name is Death, courses over the earth — a piercing call to repentance and a harbinger (forerunner) of the return of Christ (Luke 21:28). “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20). O Lord, we wait but “a little longer” with Your martyrs “until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete” (Rev. 6:11). Let your blessed Gospel fly freely, Lord, even now — even from us — for the salvation of many more.”So now, your unanswered questions, and rough edges, and theological thoughts and concerns, of practical problems demand answers. We face financial challenges as individuals, families, and as a church. We struggle with moving targets, changing health regulations and the high probability of sickness and death. What I want more than anything, dear friends, is that you receive the forgiveness of sins and consoling power of the Word of the Gospel building faith, that is trust of God and believe the promises God has made to us in the Scriptures. At this time the very Sacrament of His body and blood is being withheld because the very coming together to receive Christ’s gifts may greatly endanger you. I am distraught, that because of quarantines, I am not able to be at the bedside of our most vulnerable members and those faithful people may die from this terrible virus or their other medical conditions. As Pastor, I see my ministry blocked by regulations and even becoming the carrier of this virus. Friends, you have Jesus! Only He is much more than sufficient in all that life brings. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9).During Holy Week, let’s follow our Lord into Jerusalem. With Him, let’s turn from false and misguided praise and expectations of earthly glory and success. Let us enter Holy Week with Jesus — humble on our ass knowing that in this life, His way, our way is the way of the cross. “Take up [your] cross and follow me” (Matt. 16:24). Christ ministered humbly through a cross to save us from ourselves and offers to give us eternal life with Him. Do not be surprised when we are afforded the opportunity to follow as disciples and bear one another’s burdens. His grace is not cheap. It requires surrender to Him. We live in His grace.On Monday, Jesus cleared the temple. The Law was on His lips. “Ye have made [my Father’s house] a den of thieves” (Matt. 21:13 KJV). May the Lord scourge our hearts and chase out all that is unholy, uncharitable, ungodly and unbefitting His servants and evangelists.On Tuesday, our Lord was beset with the traps by the religious leaders. They questioned His authority, His view on taxes, on the resurrection, on who He is as the Son of God. O Lord, in the face of the onslaughts of the devil, the world and our flesh, help us cling to You and Your Word! Help us be humble and helpful.On Wednesday, our Lord had time to rest. Nothing is mentioned of His activity in the Gospels. O Lord, even You took time to step away for prayer and rest. Forgive us our lack of care for ourselves and our loved ones as we fret and struggle with fear of tomorrow rather than trust it to You and accept the opportunities to draw close to you and study Your Word. Give us patience and love for our families that here also we refresh in our love of You with them. Let our downtime be a sabbath/holiday with the Lord.On Thursday, our Lord prayed in the garden, “Not my will, but Thine, be done” (Luke 22:42 KJV). End this scourge, O Lord. If that be not Your will, use this plague for blessings as You used the suffering of Your holy cross for our good. Many of us cannot now receive Your blessed Holy Thursday gift of Jesus, forgiveness, life and salvation. Cause us to cling to Your Word of forgiveness and promise. “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins!” This is Your Gospel promise my Lord. Bring us together soon around?You, Your Word, and Your Sacraments!On Friday, beaten and bloodied, You went to the cross. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). You spoke those word of forgiveness to the ones who crucified you. Grant us forgiveness and love to enable us to forgive those who sin against us. You said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). You have done this mighty work. You have been victorious. The strong man Satan is bound. Grant that we, unworthy servants of You our King, trust and proclaim Jesus as Savior and Lord. We have this treasure to share, to proclaim and to live. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Cor. 4:7–9).On Saturday, our Lord’s body rested in the tomb and He celebrated His victory in heaven. “. . . today you will be with Me in Paradise.” “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” (Luke 23:43 & 46) Cause us, O Lord, not to fear death nor the death of Your saints, especially those to whom we have ministered. Comfort us with the sure knowledge that death is but for our bodies a Holy Saturday of slumber, and for our souls a celebration in paradise with our God, Father Son and Holy Spirit. On Easter Sunday, early, the angel said, “He is risen! And we His Church responds, “ He is risen indeed! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Lord, give us an Easter faith full of joy and confidence, for service to Your blessed people. May we with Your Gospel go forth and proclaim to all, our Easter Joy. Jesus Christ is Risen! Death no more reigns over us. In Your name, O Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, to the Father,?Amen!“I thank my God … because of your partnership in the gospel.” (Phil. 1:3–5)Our?risen?Lord Christ consoles us in many ways in these “dark and latter days.” Not least of which is by giving us each other. Jesus said to Peter, “I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32). Let us encourage each other in Christ. We are refraining from regular congregational services. While we cannot gather together safely, stay in contact with each other. Do check the church website. My Lenten Drama is posted for downloading. Just click on it to download. It should give you new insight into the Passion and Resurrection History. I say history to stress that our faith is based in the fact of Jesus’ Life, Death, and Resurrection. Website: Offerings to support St. John’s should be mailed: checks only to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 475 East Herbert Ave.St. Lake City, UT 84111. We do need your offering to continue if possible. Joy and Peace in Christ Jesus Pastor Hank ................
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