Hope Lutheran April Newsletter

Dear Members and Friends,

Can something that is empty bring you hope? Yes!

"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus." (Luke 24:1-3)

The very thought of death can make us feel empty, sad and even scared. Death came into the world because of sin - sin handed down to us from our first parents, Adam and Eve. Our own sins add to this terrible burden. God solemnly declares that the wages of sin is death (Romans 3). If we look within ourselves for some power of our own to do something about our sinful condition we will find no hope - only emptiness.

Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man faced death and died. But there was no sin in Him, only the fullness of the Godhead in His Bodily form (Colossians 2:9). He never broke a single one of God’s Commandments. “God made Him Who did not know sin to become sin for us.” (2 Corinthians 5:23). Jesus became sin for us on the cross and received the punishment that our sins deserve. When Jesus had died, he was placed in a tomb, empty of life.

Here is our hope: Jesus and His empty grave. His body was not stolen - because the government placed a seal on the grave and posted an armed guard of professional soldiers. Nobody could have emptied the grave of Jesus through human cunning or power. Yet Jesus rose from the dead. The heavy sealed stone was rolled away. The guard detail were knocked to the ground helpless in the face of God’s tremendous power. His grave is empty, and that gives us hope.

Jesus has been where all of us are headed one day, to death and a grave. But that is not the last word. Jesus is alive, and all who believe in Him will be, too. Hope comes from Jesus and His empty tomb. This hope brings us peace and joy, and strength to face the eventual day when we have to face death.

Can something that is empty bring hope? Yes - the empty tomb of Jesus. He is not there. He is Risen. May God grant all of you a blessed Easter season.

Why I make the Sign of the Cross - Michael Benoit

March 11th 1979, at the hands of a Roman Catholic priest in St. Patrick's of Philadelphia I was baptized into Christ. In my youth at a non-denominational "Bible" Church and in the Southern Baptist grade school I attended this baptism was considered to be invalid and I was encouraged to be baptized again in my teenage years and eventually was, by immersion in a community swimming pool.

By the grace of God, I came to know the teaching of the scriptures that are so powerfully taught in our Lutheran confessions. Luther admonishes us to make the sign of the cross in remembrance of our baptism. I now cherish the baptism that I received from that priest as a 3-month-old. The LCMS teaches that because my baptism was administered in the name of the Holy Blessed Trinity it brought me from Death To Life and gave me the Holy Spirit (and Indeed the Roman Catholic Church accepts LCMS baptisms as valid for the same reason). Because of my background the frailty of my heart, I often need to remind myself that I belong to Christ and have received his Name in my baptism, and therefore I make the sign of the cross at every rubric in the hymnal that suggests it.

I visited a friend's Russian Orthodox Church for his first sermon as a Deacon, and I could not help but notice that people cross themselves so elaborately and frequently as to be distracting and possibly to be admired by others for the depth of their devotion. I hope that my gesture is never interpreted as an attempt to be noticed for my piety ("virtue signaling" in our current parlance, see also Matthew 6:1).

As I have learned more about Lutheran history, I have recognized that that there are some who reject the suggestion of Luther because it smacks too much of Roman Catholicism and that at times it has made sense for us to distance ourselves from Rome as much as possible. I think there is an equal and opposite danger of being drawn into the practices and assumptions of the American Evangelical world.

I have been in both camps and I am grateful that God, in His providence, has brought me to a Church where His gospel is preached and His sacraments are rightly administered. Thus I am free to make the sign of the cross boldly, in thanksgiving for his faithfulness.

PRESCHOOL CLASS:
We are learning about Jesus going back into heaven, the letters V, W, and X, the color yellow, the number 8, animals and the nursery rhyme “Itsy Bitsy Spider”.

PRE-K CLASS:
We are learning about Jesus going back into heaven, the letters Vv, Ww, and Xx, the colors yellow and gold, the numbers 22 and 23, the rectangle shape, animals and dental hygiene.

This spring we will begin working on our garden. We are starting plants and flowers as seeds in our classroom and will move outdoors as soon as the weather permits.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
It is time to register for the 2017 – 2018 school year. Pick up a registration form from the preschool bulletin board outside of the offices. Sign-up before May 1^st and receive a coupon for $25.00 off the registration fee! Even if you do not have a preschooler, grab a flier and pass it along to someone who does!

April 1st
9am - 2pm

We are making the Sausage from 9a-12p. There is a luncheon to follow for those who helped. The doors will be open from 12pm-2pm for sausage pick up. You may also pick up on Sunday after church.

April 23rd
6pm - 8pm

We have created a new HYO Group for our young adults!

This youth group is a safe place to discuss real life issues. They meet on the 2nd and 4th Sunday's of the month from 6pm-8pm. REGISTER HERE

Sunday School is still at 9:15am for kids age 3-9.

April 11th & 25th
6:30pm - 8pm

We are looking for more individuals to help us plan events, fundraisers and work days.

Please consider donating your time with For the Love of Hope!

April 25th
6am-10pm

Enjoy a nice breakfast, lunch or dinner at Bob Evans on Arlington and 15% of your check will go to Hope Lutheran!

You must have a copy of the flier with you for Hope to get the credit. Fliers can be printed by CLICKING HERE

April 8th
10am - 2pm

Come help set up the Fellowship Hall for the Confirmation Celebration. Sign up here. All ages are welcome to help. The more the merrier!

April 9th
11:30am

Join us in celebrating our new confirmants with a luncheon after the service.

RSVP your family by THIS SUNDAY (APRIL 2ND) by clicking here

We have several items that we need for the luncheon. All monetary donations are due April 2nd!! Please sign up to donate by clicking here

April 9th
11:30am

During the Confirmation Celebration we have several live animals and Elizabeth Sturm Photography taking pictures of your kiddos! Photo shoots are $10 and include 2-5 digital copies. Monies are to be given to Lauren Kozak by the end of Celebration on April 9th.

Hop on outside after the Confirmation Celebration lunch for an Easter Egg Hunt! Bring baskets for your kiddos to collect eggs.

April 17th
1:00 pm

We are going out to eat at Green Diamond Grille! Sign up here

April 22nd
10am

We are cleaning the church room by room to make our space more purposeful!

For April we will be doing a Spring Cleaning. Dusting, windows, curtains, etc. Sign up here

April 26th
6:30pm-8:00pm

Financial Peace University is a biblical based nine-lesson money class that will teach you step-by-step ways to create a budget, pay off debt, spend wisely, save for the future, and give generously.

This nine-week course will be taught by Chris and Lauren Kozak. If you would like to register please either visit bit.ly/HopeFPU or email lauren@hopelcmsakron.org. We have a limited supply of discounted kits for $70. Pay Hope directly to obtain the discounted kit which will reserve your spot.

We would love to be able to offer childcare for participants. If you are able to volunteer please click here

Wednesdays at 6:30pm
Financial Peace University

May 13th at 9am
Hope Cleaning Project

May 19th
Euchre Tournament

Pastor's Passage

Elder's Epistle

Special Services

Group Updates

Fundraisers

Save The Dates