April Showers Bring May Flowers...
“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God “‘ (Psalm 14:1)
Grace and peace to you, fellow members of the body of Christ, from the One who was, who is, and who is to come, our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
Springtime is upon us. And with it come the new buds and blossoms of flowers, trees, bushes, and other foliage. The brown earth of winter surrenders to green grass. The sloppy snow and slush have come and gone, and God’s good earth is now fed with fresh rainfall. Songbirds, which flew south for the winter, begin to make their appearances, and dormant animals come out of their winter hibernation.
As I write this, April is fast approaching, making me think of April foolery. A favorite pastime in my family, it has been tradition to see “who gets who” on the one day of the year specifically set aside for practical jokes. Laughter is indeed the best medicine! And it is important to take time to have fun and catch a little of that spring fever, as the restlessness of indoor confinement gives way to finally enjoying outdoor activities.
Yet with springtime also comes the joyous Easter season. The season in the church year to rejoice and celebrate the glorious resurrection of Christ Jesus. It is a season where signs of resurrection abound—newness of life all around. And it is a season of new beginnings in the life of our church. What better time than the time of Christ’s own resurrection to begin a joint commitment to the resurrection, regeneration, and renewal of
ministries here at Zion.
In this newsletter you will find an abundance of information on prayer, a listing of people and other churches to pray for in our own city, and a calendar of prayers to include in your daily prayer life. Prayer is the most vital ministry of Zion Lutheran Church. Absolutely everybody and anybody can participate. I encourage you all to pray for us as we continue to strengthen the ministries of Zion and the ministries of the larger church.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness;
for we do not know how to pray as we ought,
but that very Spirit intercedes for us
with sighs too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26)
My prayers are with you all!
In Christ,
Pastor Leah
From the Pastor
April/May 2004