Bind weed is spreading everywhere here at church, invading the flowerbeds, the lawns and my dead grass. I heard if you pull it out, the deep roots just split and it comes back bigger and stronger than ever. Sin seems to work that way too, doesn’t it? Let it take root in your heart and life and it seems so hard to get rid of, coming back so often bigger and stronger than ever. So it is with the weeds Satan sows in our hearts. That’s why I like the picture presented in the Gospel lesson this coming Sunday. There Jesus reminds us that we are connected to him by faith and his love – love that is rich and powerful, that chokes out weeds and produces fruits of love in our lives. See you Sunday as you connect to the Vine who is the Lord of Life.

Pastor Sievert

News:

1. Speaking of bind weed, could you spare an hour or two or three helping spruce up our church grounds tomorrow? Saturday, May 5, is our work day. We’ll start around 8 AM and go through the morning. Come when you can, leave when you want.

2. Sign up on the web site for our picture directory is up and running on our web site. Go to lordoflife.net and click the red box on the right hand side of the home page. Dates to choose from are May 22-24, and June 8-9. And an advance warning – you will receive 2 recorded phone messages encouraging you to sign up. If you hang up, I won’t be offended – it’s just my recorded voice.

3. Our church picnic this year is June 3rd and will be at the Woodglen park pavilion. We are planning a special outdoor service that day at the park at 11 AM. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets, dress comfortably and plan on staying for the picnic and fun afterwards. Worship that day will be at 8 AM at church and 11 AM at Woodglen park.

4. Bible Study on Sunday for adults will be a one lesson study on a Psalm-thing for everyone. It’s a one lesson study – give it a try for a Sunday!

Jesus once told his disciples, “Simply let your yes, be ‘Yes,’ and your no, be ‘No.” It was a warning against making meaningless oaths. “I swear on my mother’s grave…” But there is a place to call on God as witness; to ask him to help you keep a promise that you know is important. A president taking an oath of office and your marriage promise are good examples. This weekend, nine of our youth are swearing an oath before you and God that they desire to remain faithful to God, that they would rather die than turn away from him. That’s an oath that can only be kept with God’s help, for they are sinful like you and I, and they will fail on their own. But the God who has never broken a promise, the God who called you and me to be his child through baptism, the God who went to hell and back for us on a cross, is the God who will bless them and keep them. Will you pray for them? And while your at it, would you pray God continues to keep you in your baptismal grace and your confirmation promise?

Confirmation class: Armon Bachicha, Austin Breitner, Liz Dalbotten, Keanen Hill, Luke Lopez, Taylor Norman, James Schmidt, Eli Sievert and Alejandra Walters

Other announcements:
You can begin signing up for portrait appointments for our new pictorial directory. Dates are May 22-24 and June 8-9. Sign up is on line through our web site, www.lordoflife.net (the red box on the right side of the home page) or with the help of volunteers at church on Sunday after services.

Work/Spring Clean up day is next Saturday May 5th.

Stephen Bautista, a contemporary Christian musician from Las Vegas, will be here May 31st for a concert.

Blessings,
Pastor Sievert

Thank you to all the kind words and cards given to our family for the passing of Shannon’s mother. The funeral was celebratory, focusing on Easter resurrection and the certain hope my mother-in-law is now experiencing – heaven. Keep Shannon and her father in your prayers as they face the waiting period until they are with mom in heaven.

Life Groups, our small group Bible Study, will begin again next week, April 22 and run through June 3 (40 days or just 6 weeks to commit to). The goal of course is to get into God’s Word but also to get to know other church family members just a bit better. Sign up at church this weekend or shoot me an email.

The Stewardship Committee is sponsoring a new picture directory. The dates for photo shoots are May 22-24 or June 8-9. You’ll be contacted soon with more information.

Finally, if you would like to prep for worship this weekend – the sermon comes from the first of seven lessons from 1 John. We’ll follow the theme: Walking with the Risen Christ and learn how it helps us in our life for Christ. This weekend it’s 5:1-6.

Blessings,
Pastor Sievert

Greetings,

After some summer like temperatures, flowers blooming, trees budding and people running around in shorts, it took only one day of gloomy dark cold weather to snap us back to reality – it is barely spring. But wonderful Colorado – the sun once again shines, the temperatures rise, grass is greening, life resumes. A dark cloud hung over Jesus on Good Friday as well. Sin and death and hell had its grip on Him. The Father had turned away from Him. But on Easter, the sun rose again and so did the Son to give us life and hope and to destroy the shroud that enfolds all people, the sheet the hangs over us all. Whatever hangs over your head, whether it’s guilt, or fear, or stress, or struggles, know that Jesus lives and worship Him with us this week.

Maundy Thursday – 7 PM communion
Good Friday – 7 PM (devotion at 3 PM for those who don’t drive at night)
Easter Dawn – 6:30 AM
Easter Festival – 8:30 and 10:30 AM

Easter breakfast is served from 7:30 on. MEN – we need help setting up and putting the breakfast burritos together SATURDAY night at 6:30 PM and then serving Sunday AM.

Easter / Spring flowers – if you have a lily or Spring flowers to share with us this weekend we would love to Jazz up the church for worship. Bring them sometime before Sunday AM.

Easter egg hunt for the kids is at 8:00 AM

God’s Blessings on your Holy Week,
Pastor Sievert

Would you share your Easter Lilies or Spring flowers for worship next Sunday. Bring them by next weekend.

Ever wonder why things seem to be so out of control. I mean, if God is Almighty, why are there earthquakes in Mexico and tornados in the midwest. Why do good people get cancer and lose jobs and bad people get ahead and lose no sleep over things? Isaiah had a message for God’s people when they had their questions. Simply put: God is in control. He would guide history and use it for the good of his people. The Apostle Paul said a similar thing in the New Testament: “God works all things for the good of those who love him.” (Romans 8:28) We can be certain of this for God let the worst thing happen to the best of people – the cross and death and hell heaped upon his perfect, innocent, holy Son. The worst thing happened to him so we might have the best – life. So, if God’s hand is stretched out like that over us, who can turn it back?

Tonight we have our second to last midweek Lent service – the focus: Glory be to Jesus. Our 6 PM supper is a Mexican Food theme – we still could use some dishes / chips and salsa / desserts or veggies if you would like to share.

Easter is April 8 – who will you bring as a guest?
Friendship Sunday is April 1 – who will you invite to join us?

Blessings,
Pastor Sievert