'He breathed on them and
said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."' St John
20.22
Jesus is sharing his own
essence with the disciples when he breathes the Holy Spirit into them in his
Resurrection appearance. In the Bible, the words 'wind and spirit' are
identical in Hebrew, and this event recalls the Creation story of how God
breathed life into the first human being in Genesis 2.
Here in St John, when Jesus
breathes on his disciples, it constitutes a remaking of humanity in full
communion with God, a 'new creation' in the words of St Paul. Our Easter
celebration continues for 7 weeks right up until the day of
Pentecost.
NEW ADULT BIBLE
STUDY: I've just started a new discussion class
centered on Paul's letter to the Philippians. Please join us each Sunday
at 8:50am in the Commons Room. Coffee and some kind of breakfast food are
usually available to help you wake up!
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR
SAM CURTIS is scheduled for this coming Saturday, April 14, at 10am here at
Redeemer. Sam is Karen Curtis' husband, and died on Good
Friday after a long and difficult struggle with cancer. We welcome your
attendance and support of Karen in her loss, as together we affirm the great
Resurrection story of Easter and commend Sam into the Lord's eternal
life.
Memorial gifts may be made out to
Redeemer Lutheran Church or to the American Cancer Society.
STRICT DEADLINE FOR
MAY NEWSLETTER: Please note that the
April 20 deadline for
submissions to our May newsletter is going to be strict this month.
Anything coming in after that date will not be published. Thanks for being
timely with your articles!
JANIS PETERSEN
SURGERY: Janis' triple bypass surgery has been moved
up to tomorrow (Thursday) morning at 7:30am. Because
this surgery requires an extensive recovery period with a lot of restrictions on
normal adult daily living functions, and because Janis lives alone, our Social
Ministry Board will be asking you for help in giving care to Janis during her
recovery at home. More details on that yet to come, but please welcome
this opportunity to extend our Christian love and care to a sister in Christ,
and pray for Janis as she prepares for her surgery.
Christ is risen!
Earth and heaven
nevermore shall be the same.
Break the bread of new
creation
Where the world is
still in pain.
Tell its grim demonic
chorus: "Christ is risen! Get you gone!"
God the first and last is
with us,
Sing hosanna,
everyone!
(With One Voice, #672)
