August 15, 2024, 5:30-7pm.

Join Faith Lutheran Church and Sursum Corda Classical School for a Back to School Blessing Pack! FREE Backpacks, School Supplies, Dinner, and a Blessing for the New School Year!

Join us for an evening to celebrate the blessing of a new school year! Every student in attendance with a parent will receive a backpack filled with supplies from the Oregon School District supply lists. All to the glory of God!

A very short presentation on balancing work/school and rest will be offered as well.

RSVP

(Faith members: Volunteers are needed to help give away school supplies and host a hot-dog & chips meal for our community here at Faith.  Contact Pastor Hendrix if you can help)

Compiled from the NKJV by Rev. Jeff Hendrix (A.D. 2024).

Psalm 118:24

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it!

Mark 16:1

Now when the Sabbath was past, 

Colossians 2:15

Christ, having disarmed principalities and powers, made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it, 

1 Peter 3:18-21

went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Mark 16:1-3

Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.

Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?”

Matthew 28:2-5

And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.  His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.  And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.  

Mark 16:4

[W]hen [the women] looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large.

John 20:2-10

Mary Magdalene ran [away from the tomb]. 

Luke 24:3-4

Then [the other women] went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this,

Mark 16:5-8

they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.  But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”  So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

John 20:2

[Mary Magdalene] came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 

Luke 24:12

But Peter arose [along with the other disciple]. 

John 20:4-10

So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.  And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.  Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 

John 20:8-10

Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed.  For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.  Then they went away again to their own homes. 

Luke 24:12

Peter marveled to himself at what had happened.

1 Corinthians 15:4

[After this, Christ] was seen by Cephas [Peter].

John 20:11-17

But Mary [who had followed them back to the tomb] stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ” 

Luke 24:8

[Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them] remembered [Jesus’] words.

Luke 24:9, 11

Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the [disciples] and to all the rest.

And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.

Luke 24:13

Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.

Matthew 28:9-10

[Then the women hurried to Bethany,] and as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

John 20:18

[Now also,] Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

Luke 24:14–32

And [as the two disciples walked to Emmaus] they talked together of all these things which had happened.  So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.  But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.  And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”  Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”  

And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.  Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.  When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.  And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”  

Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!  Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”  And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.  Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther.  

But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.  

Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.  And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

Luke 24:33-40

So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 

John 20:19

the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews,

Mark 16:14

as they sat at the table,

Luke 24:34-40

[They said to them,] “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread. 

Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.”  

But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.  And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?  Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 

John 20:20-25

Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

John 20:26-29

And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”  And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Luke 24:41-43

But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.

John 20:30-31

And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

John 21:1–14

After this Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 

Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.  Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.  But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.  Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.”  And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.  Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.  But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.  Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”  Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.  Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.  This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.

John 21:15–23

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.  Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”  This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”  Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”  Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”  Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”

1 Corinthians 15:5-6

After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:7a

After that He was seen by James,

1 Corinthians 15:7b

then [He was seen] by all the apostles. 

Acts 1:2b-3

He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Psalm 118:29

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Pastor Hendrix was asked to prepare and present an historical and practical essay on the first generation of Norwegian Lutheran Circuit Riders for the annual ELS Great Lakes Pastoral Conference on April 9, 2024.

CircuitRidersHistoryApplication–Hendrix

SOUTH-MADISON AREA ELS/WELS JOINT EASTER VIGIL

Join Faith, Resurrection, and Western Koshkonong Lutheran Churches for our annual joint Easter Vigil Service. This year’s service in our yearly rotation will take place here at Faith.

The Easter Vigil is an ancient (c. 350 A.D.) tradition that connects our Baptism to Jesus’ Resurrection. The service, which is unlike any other in the church, begins outside with a fire. Believers then process into the darkened sanctuary with candles, as the lights are gradually illumined, when finally the feast of the Lamb, the Lord’s Supper, is celebrated and the Alleluias are sung! Join us as we await the dawn of Easter together!

When: Holy Saturday March 30, 2023.  Service begins at sunset: 7:22pm.  

Where: Faith Lutheran Church, 143 Washington St., Oregon, WI

Join us for our Easter worship services in Oregon, WI over three historic services from Friday-Saturday, in addition to Easter Sunday.

After 40 Days of Lent, the Christian Year has now reached its climax. We have come to the celebration of the suffering, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the celebration for which we have been preparing throughout Lent. Now we see what our Savior came to do. We see Him suffer and die for our sins and for the sins of the world. And we see Him rise triumphantly on Easter morning to assure us that our salvation is complete, the victory is won.

The three services begin on Maundy Thursday. All three services are dramatic each in their own way and intimately connected to each other. The focus as always, is Christ.

Maundy Thursday | 6:30pm – Divine Service. After celebrating the Lord’s Supper, the altar is stripped of its vestments and appointments, recalling the Lord’s abandonment in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Good Friday | 6:30pm – Tenebrae Service. A solemn service of adoration of Jesus the Lamb of God as He offers up his life. Throughout the service the Passion Account from John’s Gospel is read as candles are extinguished.

Holy Saturday | Sundown (7:22pm) – Easter Vigil Service. 
A joint service of South Madison Area ELS & WELS Churches. This service begins at dusk with a bonfire outside, before we process into the darkened sanctuary.

The Easter Alleluia sounds forth for the first time in the midst of the dark night and we are carried in spirit to Christ’s tomb where the Creator’s Sabbath rest was transformed into a new Day and Age, the Day of the Lord.

Collectively, these services over these three days are called the Paschal Triduum.

Paschal = The Biblical word for “Easter”
Triduum = “The Three Days.”

Finally, join us for…

Easter Sunday | 9:00am – Easter Festival Divine Service.  Fellowship breakfast at 7:45am.

With Easter, Christ fulfills the Old Testament Passover, proving God’s anger has passed over us because of His sacrificial death as the Lamb of God.  For this reason, it is most fitting to celebrate with the feast that Christ Himself instituted to commemorate His death and resurrection until He comes (1 Cor. 11:26): Holy Communion.