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 at the historic Western Koshkonong Lutheran Church.

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 April 8, 2023.  Service begins at sunset: 7:32pm.  

Where: Western Koshkonong Lutheran Church, 2633 Church Street Cottage Grove, WI 53527 (between Stoughton and Cottage Grove)

Sunday after our Easter Festival Divine Service, join us for some fun finding over a hundred Easter eggs!

From 7:45am–8:45am, a free breakfast will be served in the fellowship hall in the basement.

At 9:00am is our Easter Festival Divine Service, the feast of victory for our God!

Afterward at around 10:15/10:30 will be the family Easter Egg Hunt! Every family will receive a take-home gift!

Join us for our Easter worship services in Oregon, WI. We celebrate the historic (nearly 2000-year-old) tradition of the Paschal Triduum.

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

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 over these three days 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 (7:32pm) – Easter Vigil Service at Western Koshkonong Lutheran Church 
A joint service, this year at Western Koshkonong Lutheran Church, 2633 Church Street Cottage Grove, WI 53527.

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.

Easter Sunday | 9:00am – Easter Festival Divine Service.  Fellowship breakfast at 7:45am.
Family Easter Egg hunt following the service (approx. 10:15am)

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.

For the 6th year in a row, Faith Lutheran Church is proud to organize a “Spring Cleaning Drive” to benefit the Oregon Food Pantry!

Most people are aware the Pantry accepts food donations, but the Oregon Food Pantry is in persistent need of Personal Essential Products (PEP), which include hygiene and cleaning products.

Please consider donating unopened hygiene & cleaning products, including:

• Laundry Detergent (preferably non-scented)
• Personal Hygiene Products (deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, etc.)
• Feminine Hygiene Products
• Multipurpose Cleaners

Pick-up: Week of March 19-26

Youth and members from Faith Lutheran Church will pick items up from various neighborhoods. Youth and members of the church will be hanging green bags on doors with a flyer saying what date they will stop by and pick the items up.

If you would like to arrange a pick up, please contact Pastor Jeff Hendrix via Email or Cell 608-405-9522.

Or, you may drop items off at Faith Lutheran Church, 143 Washington St. Oregon, WI anytime before April 2.

Items will be sorted and given to the Oregon Area Food Pantry.

Family Liturgy for Lent.