Milt Warkentien, Music Ministry Coordinator
Upcoming Worship & Music Schedule:
Sunday, March 4, 8:30 & 10:45 a.m. — Traditional with communion Chancel Choir at both services
Wed., March 7, 7:00 p.m.– Lenten Service (Holden Village) Leaders: Now and Then Singers & Liz Ericksen
Sunday, March 11, 8:30 & 10:45 a.m. — Traditional Bells of Peace at both services
Wed., March 14, 7:00 p.m.– Lenten Service (Holden Village) Leaders: Tricia Wright, Barb Lyman, & Liz Ericksen
Sunday, March 18, 8:30 & 10:45 a.m. — Band led with communion 8:30 Lightshine Youth Choir 10:45 Chancel Choir
Wed., March 21, 7:00 p.m.– Lenten Service (Holden Village) Leaders: Melissa Burke & Stephanie Hogen
Sunday March 25, 8:30 & 10:45 a.m. — Traditional (Palm/Passion Sunday) 8:30 Chancel Choir 10:45 Joyful Noise Children’s Choir
Thursday, March 29, Maundy Thursday Services — at 12 noon and 7:00 p.m.
Friday, March 30, Good Friday — 12 Noon Family Service Joyful Noise 7:00 p.m. Journey to the Cross Service with strings
Sunday, April 1, 8:30 & 10:45 a.m. — Easter Sunday with communion Chancel Choir and brass at both services
We are now fully in the season of Lent. I hope you’ve been finding the “I am” statements and the “Her-story”/Holden services meaningful.
In looking at the “journey to the cross stories” in the bible, I’ve really noticed how often women are mentioned, or named. This wasn’t a total surprise, but there were a few times I hadn’t remembered them being there. I’ve often wondered why women in many churches aren’t allowed a more prominent role in leading worship. Women have long been the “educators” in the church via Sunday School and Bible Studies, so then why not in leading worship? Why did it take so long to allow women pastors in the ELCA and its preceding synods.
Many women have had a great influence on my faith, both here at Prince of Peace and growing up. So I guess I wasn’t fully aware of how male-dominated religion could be. It’s just mind boggling to me that people are judged to be better equipped to lead religion because of gender, race, age, or anything else.
“We All Are One in Mission” ELW 576 verse one:
“We all are one in mission; we all are one in call, our varied gifts united by Christ the Lord of all. A single great commission compels us from above to plan and work together that all may know Christ’s love.”
Seems simple enough; we all have gifts to use, to proclaim Christ’s love to the world. I think this is what Jesus is getting at when he states that he is the vine and we are the branches. In looking at the “I am” statements we’re studying this Lenten season, my biggest question for myself and all of us is “am I?”. Am I leading my life Christ-like as a follower of the Vine, Bread of Life, Light for the World, Door, Good Shepherd and Resurrection? What does it mean for each of us to be a follower of the “I am”?
Are we like Peter when he denies knowing Christ, or are we truly branches of Christ’s love and life? Do we help keep Christ’s light shining in the world, or are we more like Judas and help arrest Jesus? Do we enter the door that Jesus opens for us, or do we walk away to find our own way? Am I a follower, or a wanna-be? Do I welcome women as leaders of the faith, or am I one that blocks their path? My prayer for all of us is that we examine our own faiths and ask AM I?………………..
Milty