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Dear Faithful People of Christ the King Lutheran Church,

In Old English, Lent (lencten) means “spring" and this week marks the opening days of the former and the closing days of the latter. While many of us are gardening, the Church – especially this church, particularly our staff – is engaged in preparations for Holy Week, the most important week of the year because it conveys the most important event of human history: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ “for us and for all people.”  That fact prompts me to ask three things of every member of Christ the King Lutheran Church.

First, participate. From next Sunday morning (March 29) through the following Saturday night (April 4), our role in worship is not so much to listen as it is to immerse ourselves in the action and find our part in the story of Jesus’ great acts of love for us. 

Next Sunday is Passion Sunday and begins outdoors with the Palm Sunday procession and has as its centerpiece our participation in the Passion of Christ, this year according to Matthew. There is no sermon this day; I subscribe to the ancient notion that a preacher cannot add to the Good News we experience as we find our place in the action of this story. It is our story; and the best we can do is participate in it.

Second, invite. Christ’s Church is at its best during Holy Week. It’s easy to find our place in Jesus’ story. I urge you to invite family members, friends, and neighbors to join you in experiencing the depth of God’s love for all in which we participate in these days. Invite into the drama, those you love so that they can see themselves clearly as those God loves. Invite them, not only to Palm Sunday, but to all the participatory liturgies (work of the people) of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil (April 2, 3, 4) too. I’ll write more about those days next Friday and Monday.

I would normally stop writing at this point, but there is one more “ask,” unique to this time in the life of our congregation. So,

Third, bring in your pledge. I know it’s off our usual schedule. I also know many of us have already pledged and brought or sent our pledges in. If you haven’t already, please do so in the event-filled days ahead. While I know how well we are doing as stewards of the gifts God has given us, it is important that our leaders know what we have to work with for the rest of this year. It is even more important for each of our spiritual lives that we know what we intend to offer in thanksgiving to God.

As always, Christ the King Church has a myriad of ways for each of us to prepare for these holy days which are listed in the rest of this email. I have written here what I believe to be most essential for each of our lives of faith.

Peace and Joy – and Courage,

Mandy

Amandus J. Derr

Interim Senior Pastor