This Week at Mt. Olive

A blessed Paschaltide to all!

The Epistle at yesterday's Sunrise Service was the familiar beginning of Paul's great treatise on the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. Every year, I tell the confirmands that one question they will undoubtedly have to answer is where the Gospel is located in the Bible and what that Gospel is. Many of us, of course, gravitate toward what is commonly called The Gospel in a Nutshell, John 3:16.

For the confirmands, and I would urge for us all, special attention needs to be given to 1 Corinthians 15:3 and following, what Paul calls of first importance. Here is the Gospel! "That Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures." This is the first importance, the center of our faith.

Many today will tell us we need to DO the Gospel or LIVE the Gospel. I'd say that's incorrect. We need to know and believe the Gospel, that which is at the center of our faith: "That Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures."

This week at Mt. Olive the activity level subsides quite a bit. There is no Lutheran Book Club on Tuesday, and no Bible Study on Wednesday.

There will, however, be Guitar Practice on Thursday evening, unless otherwise noted.

I will be out of the office Monday, Tuesday, and perhaps Wednesday, getting some much needed "catch up" time.

Some notes of thanks are in order. I praise God for:
The Altar Guild - keeping up with the services, the Sacraments, and the appointments of the sanctuary was done in the usual, excellent manner.
Mary Hanelt - Mary kept up numerous sign changes over the past week, sometimes once a day.
Kim and the Sunday School Staff - It may sound like a band, but this band provided the Palm Sunday activities, the Resurrection Egg Hunt, and yesterday's convocation; all gave excellent opportunities for learning the Gospel.
The elders and organist - Keeping up with the services and what needed to be done was, again, excellent.
The breakfast providers - 0430 and you all functioned well! 'Nuff said.
The bulletin folders - you know who you are! - Your fingertips are probably worn off by now, but praise God for your needed work!
The choir - you taught us a new hymn yesterday!

There are many others I need to include in my prayers of praise to our risen Lord whose names escape me right now. I'll try to include them in the future.

Prayer Concerns:
Those who serve in our armed forces and their families: Rob Vadney (Afghanistan), Richard Rhode (North Carolina), John Sorensen, Ryan Radtke, Dru Blanc (Corpus Christi)
Doris and Burt Nelson, Ruby Rieder, Ann Cleveland, Emmet and Emma Wright, Walter and Pearly Theiss (Houston), Norene Estes (Oklahoma)
The holy Church throughout the world as she rejoices in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ

This Week at Mt. Olive:
Monday, April 25
6 p.m.
Zumba Aerobics

Wednesday, April 27
8:30 a.m.
School Chapel

6 p.m.
Zumba Aerobics

Thursday, April 28
7 p.m.
Guitar practice

God bless!
Pastor Kevin Jennings