St. Luke Lutheran Church

The crowds on that first Palm Sunday wanted a Warrior King, but Jesus came as a suffering Messiah, as one who would die on a cross for the sake of humankind. The crowd missed the point. The crowd thought they knew but did not. Their ignorance of God’s love fueled their anger and nailed God’s only begotten Son to the cross.

What about us. Do we get the point? Perhaps we are we like the boy in the following story:

A bunch of kids, one summer afternoon, we involved in a pee-wee baseball game. When one little guy came up to the plate, he looked over to the coach for a signal. The coach signaled to sacrifice bunt. The little kid promptly proceeded to take three big swings and strike out.  The coach ran up to him afterwards and said: "Didn’t you see me give you the signal to sacrifice?"  "Yes," the boy replied. "But I didn’t really think you meant it."

“I didn’t really think you meant it”- is that how we react to Jesus’ sacrifice for our freedom? Perhaps we really don’t think He meant to be the Messiah who suffered and died for us. Are we similar to the crowd way back then, still living in bondage because we didn’t think He meant it? Do we understand the power that transforms us and the world around us is the power of suffering love?
Suffering love is the power that:

• looks us in the eye, forgives our sin, our fear, our anger, our resentment, our prejudice!
• didn’t assert itself over and against us, but died for us!
• sets us free from all of that which is within us that dehumanizes us and those around us!
•  loosens our grip on all of our expectations and even allows us to see the face of Christ in the least and most lowly on this planet!
• relates in grace, and invites us to join with Him in being one of His chosen grace givers.
• assures us, we don’t need to be afraid of suffering, self-giving love, because it’s the only way we will ever fulfill our humanity, and find our purpose, and experience true joy and peace.

As Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote:

"God allows himself to be edged out of the world and on to the cross....and that is the way, the only way, in which he can be with us and help us....Only a suffering God can help."

Do we see Jesus as the suffering Messiah who did turn the world upside down for our sake and continues to shape the world with his love and grace? Quick, a parade is gathering to see Jesus.  He is coming again, but what do you see?  Amen

West Wing Bible Study: Join us in the West Wing for a discussion based on the previous week’s through the Bible readings. If you have a question, or a comment for further discussion, you can send it in for inclusion in the class by using the form located at https://www.stlukeaa.org/bible. God’s Word is powerful and effective. Please join us this Sunday as we continue our one-year journey through the Bible.

Women’s Study: Lynn Corker and Libby Fink will be leading a study geared toward women, in room 104/105. This year, we’ll explore what it means that God is with us now, and we’ll trace this promise of His presence from the lost garden of Genesis to the garden city of Revelation, where we will dwell with the Lord forever. A $20 study guide is available for this class.

Parent’s Study: Andy VanEgmond will lead a study for all parents with children in the congregation, in room 101/102. We’ll discuss the Sheepfold lesson for the week and work to build a strong community of parents here at St. Luke, as we all navigate the tricky task of raising kids in the faith.

Nursery: 3-year-olds and younger
Sheepfold: 4-year-olds thru 5th Grade
Youth Group: 6th-12th Grade

Plan on joining us for an pancake breakfast on Easter Sunday, March 31st, between worship services, from 9:30am-11am.  Our youth group families will be preparing and serving a pancake breakfast consisting of pancakes, sausage, fruit, danishes/pastries, juice, coffee, and tea.  We are asking the congregation to help provide the food, so see the display in the lobby and sign up to bring something.  We’re looking forward to a fun time as we gather to celebrate Easter!

Did you know that your Mites support God's work through ministries right here in southeast Michigan?

St Martin Lutheran School for the Deaf and Clark Park Street Ministry at Family of God, Detroit were two of the fourteen ministries that received grants through Michigan LWML.

Pick up at MITE box at the LWML table in the ministry hall.  Return it to the LWML table and know that your Mites are helping spread the love of God in our midst.  Thank you.