Dear faithful people of Christ the King Lutheran Church,

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The only thing worth writing on Easter Monday after such a glorious celebration of God’s love for us and all people is thanks to all who made the Great Three Days and Easter Sunday as near to perfect as is possible this side of heaven. So, thanks…

First and foremost, to Cheryl Gaspard and Maribel Haro who produced an immense amount of perfect communications and worship booklets – especially the one for the Triduum – and in so many other ways make it possible for us to gather in joy to celebrate the crucified and risen Christ’s presence among us. I also want to thank my wife, Carole, who diligently proof-read and regularly proofreads all our worship materials. I give thanks for them every day!

Second, thanks are due to Deacon Ben Remmert and Cantor Ben Kerswell along with Martin Jones, who are so incredibly gifted and talented and who are unstinting as they use their gifts to upbuild us all. Deacon Ben’s diligent commitment to Christ and to our parish families, children, and youth are, in my experience, unparalleled. As for Cantor Ben and Martin, these two dedicated church musicians are, in my opinion, providing us with the finest musical leadership possible. They do so much to make our thanks and praise worthy of joining with “angels and archangels and the host of heaven.” Frankly, it doesn’t get better than this. To these I want to add Bob Walp whose leadership of our Brass Choir raises our songs of praise to ever greater heights.

Third, and largely unsung, is Niko Ozden, who quietly and competently livestreams our liturgies without fuss or drama. He is an excellent member of our worship staff.

Of course, thanks and praise are also due to the members of our choir and the members of our Altar Guild. We enjoy all they do to enable our praises, but we seldom acknowledge both groups’ hard work “behind the scenes,” rehearsing, cleaning, polishing, baking, ordering, maintaining all we need to worship God in beauty and in truth.

Along with these are our worship enablers – acolytes, bell ringers, crucifers, thurifers, servers, extraordinary assisting ministers, and welcoming, caring ushers who lead our worship with excellence and greet us and our fellow worshipers with enthusiastic and appropriate grace, especially on days like we’ve just experienced. To these I must add our LEM’s who bring Christ to those who cannot physically join us in person; the Quilters and Sew Loved women, and our Godly Play and Confirmation instructors and leaders whose work not only enhances Christ’s Church today but lay strong foundations for faithfulness in the future. Thanks to all of you.

Thanks are always due to Santiago and Arturo, who care for us, Crossing Borders, and our buildings on virtually a 24/7 basis and do so with competence and grace! To these I add thanks to Herlinda and Lena, who care for the youngest and most fragile of our members with loving care.

We all benefit and therefore we all must give thanks for the hardworking members of our Congregation Council, the growing number of committees and committee members, for the faithful and always quiet ministry of our cadre of retired clergy; and of our cadre of gardeners who silently care for the plantings around both our campus.

Finally, I thank God daily for all of you who live out your baptismal identity so completely in so many ways and whose regular presence at worship and stewardship of God’s gifts enable us to be what we used to say we are and still remain, “a village church with a global mission.” Thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving you, and serving Christ with you, in this marvelously faithful and loving congregation. It should go without saying, you are the best! – and the best is yet to come!

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

 

Mandy

Amandus J. Derr

Interim Senior Pastor

 

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