Holy Week
Greetings friends,
We are in Holy Week and so with that, we’re looking at continuing our online services as we would if things were normal. Things will obviously be a little different from how the “services” are conducted, but I thank everyone for their understanding that this is how church looks for now. All the “norms” have gone out the window. One thing you’ll notice that is very different is that Maundy Thursday service will be more of a devotional/lesson on what Communion means and why we partake in it. Good Friday will be a service like we have been doing with our online format, as well as Easter Sunday service. I want to thank all those that have come in to record their music so that we can continue to see some familiar faces!
The services will be on Facebook Live at their normal service time and they will also be posted to our new Hope Free Lutheran YouTube page as well as on our website www.hopefreelutheran.org/sermons
Here is the schedule for the services that will be on Facebook live:
Maundy Thursday: 7pm
Good Friday: 2pm
Easter Sunday: 9:30am
Just a reminder, there will be a Sunday School video at 11am on Facebook for the kids (we’ll get those loaded to our YouTube channel as well).
Let me leave you with a reminder of what Christ’s offering has meant for all of us.
Hebrews 7:26-28:
26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
God’s blessings,
Pastor Dave
Upcoming Service/Holy Week
Greetings friends,
You know the expression “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”? Well, I witnessed a really great example of that on Monday. You see, I had been recently asked if I would do a wedding at the end of May. I agreed and met the young couple on Saturday for our first session of pre-marital counseling. Monday morning my phone rings and it’s the young man saying “Pastor Ryerson, there’s been a change of plans…”. Honestly, I was fearing that maybe there was an issue between the couple and they were deciding to postpone the wedding. I could NOT have been more wrong, because the next words out of his mouth were “so we’re going to get married this Sunday.” Let’s just say my week has been quite unique, packing in the remaining six pre-marital counseling sessions, along with preparing planning to do a wedding this Sunday (4-5-20).
Ok, enough about me and onto church business…This week is Holy Week and though there will obviously be no services at the church, the plan is to produce a devotional for Maundy Thursday, a Good Friday service and of course an Easter morning service. Right now, the plan will be to do Facebook live at the scheduled time, but also have them available on the website for those that either are not on Facebook, or are planning to watch at a later time:
*Maundy Thursday 7pm
Good Friday 2pm
Easter Sunday 9:30am
*One note I would like to add, and this may not be the most popular of decisions, but I feel it best to not be attempting some sort of “virtual communion”. I have had many folks ask about it, and I too am greatly longing for that spiritual nourishment, but for reasons too long to explain here, I think it best we hold off until we can meet together again in person.
As for this week, we’ll again be streaming our service live on Facebook at 9:30am. It will be up on the website as well at www.hopefreelutheran.org/sermons . You can also find it on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLOJuoO-_Pc If you go on YouTube, you can subscribe to our Hope Free Lutheran page, and you’ll be able to always find them there.
Thank you for all those who reached out to me who are willing to record a song or two. I have a feeling that we will not be gathering again in church until at least May. I hope I am wrong about that, but if that’s the case, the more music we have, the more we can feel connected to one another. So, please feel free to reach out to me and we can arrange a time to record you.
I would like to leave you with this passage I came across as I was reading through Hebrews. As we prepare for Holy Week, this is the great reminder of why Jesus came and what he’s done for you. Hebrews 2: 14-15:
14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
Thank you Lord Jesus for all that you have done for us!
Pastor Dave
4-4-20 Palm Sunday Service
Pastor Dave Ryerson preaches on John 12:12-19