mclclititz

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

In the evening Tenebrae service, Pr. Seifferlein preached on the life of Pontius Pilate, telling the story of the trial of Jesus from the eyes of the man who condemned Him to death.

In his Good Friday Noon service Pr. Seifferlein concluded his sermon series, “This is My Blood,” with a sermon titled, “the Blood that Protects” drawing this theme from Hebrews 11:23-29.

Maundy Thursday is dedicated to the remembrance of the Institution of the Lord’s Supper. It is set off from the rest of Holy Week and Lent in that it is a day of festive joy; a time to rejoice over the gift God has given us in Holy Communion.

On Sunday we rejoice to join the procession of pilgrims who welcome Jesus into Jerusalem. We grab our palms and sing our “Hosannas.” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!” We praise our Savior who comes to give His life to rescue a fallen humanity.”

Join us for our Midweek Lenten Services where this year we consider the theme, “This is My Blood.” We will examine the Epistle to the Hebrews and renew our appreciation for Jesus’ blood and this gift that God gives to us in Holy Communion so that we will all the more joyfully receive it and recognize and appropriate its benefits. This week we will look at Hebrews 12:18-24 as we consider the theme, “The Blood That Speaks.” You may wish to read this lesson before the service.

This Sunday we turn decisively to the cross. Opposition grows, and Jesus is accused of having a demon. Jesus, no longer passive, confronts the people boldly with the truth of who He is, the eternal existent Son of God and the only Savior from sin and death. He calls them liars and those who do not know God His Father because they reject Him. They pick up stones to kill Him. But Jesus escapes. This time. Come this Sunday for great Lenten hymns and the story too of Abraham and the sacrifice of Isaac.

Join us for our Midweek Lenten Services where this year we consider the theme, “This is My Blood.” We will examine the Epistle to the Hebrews and renew our appreciation for Jesus’ blood and this gift that God gives to us in Holy Communion so that we will all the more joyfully receive it and recognize and appropriate its benefits. This week we will look at Hebrews 10:19-22 as we consider the theme, “The Blood That Gives Access.” You may wish to read this lesson before the service.

Trekking through the season of Lent leaves us weary. Heavy lessons about demonic attack and a heavy lesson ahead (the cross) leaves us exhausted. Overcome by our own weakness, Christ brings us to an oasis. This Sunday is like no other in Lent. Jesus bids us sit down as we hear how He miraculously feeds thousands with bread and much left over. This Sunday is a day where we consider Christ’s provision, and what He does to strengthen and feed us. We’re headed to the cross, yet we pause to be refreshed. In the end, Lent is about what HE DOES, and not what WE DO. Jesus is our Savior.

Join us for our Midweek Lenten Services where this year we consider the theme, “This is My Blood.” We will examine the Epistle to the Hebrews and renew our appreciation for Jesus’ blood and this gift that God gives to us in Holy Communion so that we will all the more joyfully receive it and recognize and appropriate its benefits. This week we will look at Hebrews 9:15-22 as we consider the theme, “The Blood That Pardons.” You may wish to read this lesson before the service.

In Lent Christ does battle against Satan. Though He successfully casts out demons from a possessed man, in the Gospel for this Sunday Jesus is strangely accused with being in league with Satan (Satan will use any means to turn people away from Christ). Jesus clarifies that He is not one of Satan’s allies, but is eminently stronger than Satan, and comes to permanently to cast Satan out of this world. Where can we find victory against Satan? In our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Join us for our Midweek Lenten Services where this year we consider the theme, “This is My Blood.” We will examine the Epistle to the Hebrews and renew our appreciation for Jesus’ blood and this gift that God gives to us in Holy Communion so that we will all the more joyfully receive it and recognize and appropriate its benefits. This week we will look at Hebrews 9:6-14 as we consider the theme, “The Blood that Cleanses.” You may wish to read this lesson before the service.

What is it like to wrestle with God? Jacob finds out in our Old Testament lesson for this Sunday as God comes to fight against him. The Canaanite woman in the Gospel also has a verbal wrestling match with our Lord, Him seemingly pushing her away. God loves a good wrestling match where His people pin Him to the ground, holding fast to what He has said. Great faith clings to the Lord’s promises even when God seems to be totally against us.

Each year on the First Sunday of Lent we listen to the account of Jesus’ temptation by the devil after He was in the wilderness for 40 days. The devil offered Jesus the three temptations of provision, power, and glory, subtly attempting to trick Jesus to believe that His Father in heaven didn’t care and had left Him alone. Satan wanted Jesus to think that being in league with him, bypassing the cross, was a much easier path. Easier path it would be, however, Jesus took the harder path for you. Lent begins with the end in view. For the 40 days of Lent we will observe what Jesus will face for us, yet do so knowing that Easter also is ahead. In Christ and through God’s Word we have the victory over Satan and all his lies.

We welcome seminarian Martin Hill, with us this Sunday, who will bring God’s Word to us in the sermon, preaching on the topic of spiritual blindness and sight. Martin is a fourth year student at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, preparing for his first assignment to serve as a pastor in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Martin is a member of Mount Calvary, his family having lived in Lititz before his time of entry into the seminary. He awaits his marriage to Miss Amberlyn Tuma of Nebraska, also this spring. May God bless us this Sunday in our time together, surrounded by God’s Word and Sacrament, and with His faithful people.

Silas, a leader in the church at Jerusalem, was chosen by Paul (Acts 15:40) to accompany him on his second missionary journey from Antioch to Asia Minor and Macedonia. Silas, also known as Silvanus, was imprisoned with Paul in Philippi and experienced the riots in Thessalonica and Berea. After rejoining Paul in Corinth, he apparently remained there for an extended time. Beyond that there is little further mention of Silas and his association with Paul.

The three Sundays before Lent teach us three things about salvation. Last week we considered that salvation operates by grace. This week we learn that salvation takes place by the word of God. We listen to the Parable of the Sower. Jesus’ Word has the mysterious power to create faith and cause it to increase. Let not the sly satanic foe This holy seed remove, But give it root in ev’ry heart To bring forth fruits of love. (LSB #577.2)

We welcome in the three week mini-season known as “Pre-Lent.” We have said goodbye to the Alleluias until Easter, the Gloria in Excelsis is also gone, and the color on the altar has been changed to violet. As we pack our bags for our Lenten journey, we hear these three Sundays about salvation. This first week we will hear about GRACE. Our salvation is by grace, and not because of anything we have done, but because of what Christ has done for us. Join us as we pass the first signpost on our way to Mount Calvary.

Fair are the meadows, Fair are the woodlands, Robed in flow’rs of blooming spring; Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, He makes our sorr’wing spirit sing. Join us this Sunday with the disciples on the Mountain of Transfiguration as we see and worship our Beautiful Savior.

The village of Cana of Galilee was located 8 ½ miles North of Nazareth. Situated atop a hill of 330 feet, there were 1,200 residents in the village, roughly occupying the area encompassing ¾ of a mile on either side. A man and woman invited Jesus, his mother, and His disciples to the wedding. Jesus made the trip, and this Sunday we will join them at the feast. Come join us as we overhear Mary say to the servants, “Whatever [Jesus] says to you, do it!”