Reconciler Update

We are about the enter Holy Week. This week we deliberately and liturgicaly walk the way of the cross into the celebration of Easter. On Palm Sunday we Enter Jerusalem with those who shout Hosanna as Jesus Christ rides into the city on a donkey. Then we hear the passion narrative which prepares us for the three days: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday which leads from Jesus last supper with his disciples and Jesus arrest, to crucifixion and then on to the joy of Easter, and the Resurrection.

As we celebrate these holy days my hope is that your faith will be renewed that we will find in this celebration and proclamation the center of our faith and action in the world. It is these events we celebrate in Holy Week and Easter that provide the logic and the ground of our action and compassion in the world. Here we find the Gospel in all its radical world shattering power.
Announcements:
Holy Week and Easter

We are having joint worship services Holy Week and Easter Day with the Immanuel and St Elias Lutheran congregations. On Easter Sunday, we will not have our regular evening service at 6:00 p.m., but will have a joint service with Immanuel at 10:30 a.m.

For Holy week, there will be a Maundy Thursday service at 7:30 p.m., a Good Friday service at 7:30 p.m., and an Easter Vigil service on Holy Saturday at 7:30 p.m. There will also be a festive reception following the Vigil. These are gorgeous services, each with their own unique character and flavor. We hope you will join us for as many of them as you can.

If you are interested in taking part in leadership roles in any of the above services please talk with Laura, Larry or Tripp. Monte Johnson is asking for volunteers from all three congregations to read Scripture, help with artistic displays in the sanctuary and Founder's Hall and help set up Founder's Hall for the Vigil and Easter Sunday breakfast. If you're interested in singing in the Immanuel Choir -- and are willing to attend at least two rehearsals, Wednesdays at 7:30 at Immanuel -- let one of the pastors know. Thanks.

Bible Study

We'll begin a new Bible Study April 18. This will be a four-week series focusing on the travel diaries of Egeria, a fourth-century Spanish nun and pilgrim. Through Egeria's diaries we have compelling information about how early Christians worshipped. Come and see how early Christian worship relates to what we do on Sundays at Reconciler, and bring your questions and thoughts about worship.

Worship Committee

Would like to invite all interested Reconcilers to come to a worship committee meeting -- likely at Kaffein in Evanston on a Wednesday night -- to discuss such hot-button liturgical items as:

Which version of the Lord's prayer we want to use? What kind of processional cross do we want to purchase? And....what about inclusive language?

Suggested dates are Wednesday evening, May 16 or 23. Stay tuned and let us know which date would work better for you.

In Christ,
Larry Kamphausen