Lutheran Church of Providence
April, 2019 Newsletter
Pastor’s Corner
“Bless me Father for I have sinned, it has been four months since my last confession.” The Roman Catholic priest then listens for a few minutes to the confession and says, “do ten Hail Mary’s, one Our Father and light three candles and your sins are absolved.
For us as Lutherans the process is a bit different. First of all we daily sin much and need to recount our sins regularly ― at least once a week before we partake of Holy Communion. Second, we confess our sins directly to God and not to the clergy although the clergy are available if we want to talk about something in our life but it’s not mandatory that we consult the clergy. Third, the minister does not tell the confessing person what they must do to be reconciled to God but the minister reassures them of God’s love and forgiveness of them by Christ’s death on the cross and His Resurrection to proclaim the victory over sin, death and the devil.
As you can tell from the above, there are great differences between denominations in how we are reconciled to God. As Lutherans we see what God has already done for us rather than what we need to do to return to the good graces of God.
Lent is about one half over and we are appalled at how often we have sinned against God. If it were up to us to be reconciled to God we would indeed be eternally lost. That’s why God sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth as a human being so He could live as one of us except without ever falling into sin. He was tempted as we are but didn’t yield to Satan’s wily ways. He was disobeyed, mocked, ridiculed, spit upon, beaten and ultimately crucified because of the sins you and I have committed. When He said from the cross “It is finished,” He was declaring once and for all the forgiveness of our sins. This is the forgiveness I, as Pastor, declare to you each Sunday. I, as God’s mouthpiece, declare your forgiveness won through Jesus’ death and resurrection for you.
Some people think that because Christ died for all sins that all people will go to heaven. The reality of it all is that Christ’s death must be accepted and believed if it is to atone for our sins. Being a member of a church isn’t enough; contributing to the church and/or the community isn’t enough; being ordained to the ministry or serving at the altar or on church council isn’t enough. It is only by believing and trusting that Christ paid the price for our sins on the cross and then rose again on the third day sealing the victory over sin, death and the devil that we are assured of eternal life.
Easter is coming soon and will be a time to celebrate the above. However, for Easter to truly be meaningful we must walk with Jesus to the “upper room” where He gives Holy Communion (the Eucharist or Thanksgiving meal) for the first time as He celebrates the Old Testament Passover meal after washing His disciples feet.
We will gather at 7:00 P.M. on Maundy Thursday, April 18 to worship God and partake of Holy Communion. The service will not have a benediction because we will continue the worship service on Good Friday, April 19 at 7:00 P.M. This service will be very solemn as we commemorate Christ’s death and end with a service of darkness (Tenebrae) as we hear a loud BANG signifying the rolling of the rock up to the entrance to the tomb. All is then silent for a few days.
On Sunday, April 21, we will happily gather for a breakfast (9:00 A.M.) together before we celebrate Christ’s Resurrection at 10:30 A.M. There will be Easter lilies in various places around the church, special music, a processional and bright colors as we joyfully celebrate Christ’s victory over the devil and His payment for our sins once and for all. We then will hear the joyful news “Because Christ lives, we will live also.” The only thing we need to ‘do’ is repent of our sins and believe and trust that Christ paid for them by His death and resurrection.
This ‘good news’ drives us to love God as He loves us and to desire to come and establish a close relationship to Him out of love and thankfulness. May God bless us as we continue our journey though Lent to Holy Week and then to Easter.
In His service,
Pastor Weikart
THOUGHTS AND REQUESTS
FROM PASTOR WEIKART
As we move forward in our church there are several needs that we have as a congregation. We need someone to volunteer to head up our Property Board. This is coordinating the tasks that need to be done to keep God’s house in the best repair all around.
We also need a person to volunteer to take care of our sign out front. We need to learn more about the programming of the sign and the various messages we can put on the sign. We must
regularly change the sign to inform the community of the activities of the church.
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Easter is just around the corner! We have a lot going on at the Lutheran Church of Providence in the month of April and a lot of work around the church that needs to be done. Thank you to all the folks that are getting it done! The days are flying by. Soon we (myself , my wife and son) will head back to Northern Michigan for the summer and once again attend other LCMS churches and learn what they are doing to bring people back to the church and maybe we can copy their great ideas and use them in Deltona. The Council Vice-President Grady Gresham will fill in for me until I return Oct 1, 2019 and if there is a problem I can be reached by phone and if it’s a big problem I can fly back from Michigan in about 2.5 hours. I will call the Pastor and Grady once a week and get updated on Church events.
PRAISE THE LORD that Jesus loved us so that He suffered and died to take away the power of sin and death and Satan. PRAISE THE LORD that, for all caught in the bondage from which we cannot free ourselves, Jesus rose from the dead and offers forgiveness, eternal life, and life with a Christian purpose, through faith in Him.
Because Easter is late this year, I feel a special opportunity for us to remember and receive the blessings of Jesus’ suffering, His Death, and His rising. Please join all of us at the Lutheran Church of Providence in taking the month of April this year to continue your Lenten walk and observance with Jesus’ family at your church. Please take the month of April this year to really celebrate Jesus’ Easter victory, which is also our victory through faith!
A Child of God,
Roy Armstrong
FOOD PANTRY
The Food Pantry at the Lutheran Church of Providence is our outreach to the community to feed the hungry. We are open the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month from 9:00 A.M. ― 10:00 A.M. We serve almost 60 families each week. We also do a food drop twice a year where 25,000 pounds of food is delivered from Second Harvest in Orlando.
QUILTS
We have a group at the Lutheran Church of Providence who are making quilts for Lutheran World Relief. This organization sends quilts all over the world for people in need. The quilts are used in many different ways. They are used for warmth, tents, flooring and to carry children. Our mission is strictly funded by donations and volunteers. If you can spare some time, we would appreciate any help you can give. You do not need to be a quilter to help put the quilts together. Any donations are greatly appreciated. We need material, cotton or cotton poly, used (unstained sheets) – any size or color will do or money donations. Please do not donate any material with religious or political symbols on it. These symbols could be misinterpreted and jeopardize the distribution to the people.
We would like to make and donate 100 quilts this year. I realize this is an ambitious number, but with the help of God, all things are possible. I read an article about a church with three members, all in their 90’s, who made and donated 100 quilts. So come on and let’s give it our best. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions. My number is 386-747-6082. We meet at the church the first and last Tuesday of every month from 9:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
Sandy Wylie
MEMORIALS
Memorials were given to the Roof Fund in memory of Mr. Harry Domenech from: Roy and Diana Armstrong, Bob and Mary Kohli, Myrtle Wells, Melanie and David Scheumann, Kathi Grages, Grace Grages-Friedrich, Nancy Barnickel, Evelyn Scott, Gaye and Jim Vogel, Judy Zarling, Carol and Ken Huebner, and Greta Davis.