Every day do something that won’t compute. Love the Lord. Love the world. Work for nothing. Take all that you have and be poor. Love someone who does not deserve it.…Ask the questions that have no answers….Plant sequoias. Say that your main crop is the forest that you did not plant, that you will not live to harvest.…Be joyful though you have considered all the facts…. Practice resurrection.
excerpts from Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front, by Wendell Berry
I love Wendell Berry’s exuberant poem about living radically, and find his exhortation to “practice resurrection” to be timeless, though it’s especially fitting this year since Easter falls on April Fool’s Day. St. Paul describes us all as “fools for Christ” (1 Cor. 4:10), and so we are. We are people who lose our lives to find them, and who come not to be served, but to serve. It is my joy to do this with you every day of every week. This year April 1 marks my 7th anniversary as pastor at Trinity. I am delighted to be doing ministry alongside all of you.
The month of March is filled with opportunities for us to follow Jesus in his counter-cultural ministry of service and self-sacrifice. Join us on Wednesdays in Lent at 6:00 p.m. for a period of quiet reflection (Holden Evening Prayer) and a peek into Lent from the Margins, a glimpse of often-overlooked characters in the Passion Story and in our time.
If you are hungry for a day of learning, you may want to attend the South Central Synod of WI’s LEAD event on Sat., March 10 (you must sign up immediately at http://www.scsw-elca.org)! LEAD is a day of worship, inspiring presentations and informative, engaging workshops. This year it’s being held at First Lutheran Church, in Janesville. Talk to me if you’d like to carpool.
On Sundays in Lent, Trinity continue to follow Jesus toward the dramatic events of Holy Week, which begins with Palm/Passion Sunday—March 25 at 9:15 a.m.—and continues through Maundy Thursday March 29 (Worship with Foot Washing and Communion at 6 p.m.) and Good Friday, March 30 (Worship at 1 p.m.). The week culminates with a joyous service on Easter morning—April 1—at 9:15a.m. There will be a potluck breakfast downstairs before worship–watch for a sign-up sheet! We’ll need extra readers in worship on Palm Sunday and Good Friday; please let me know if you’d like to help!
The 50 days following Easter are days of continued celebration and renewal. After its Lenten hiatus, the lectionary Bible study will begin again on Thursdays at 6 p.m. in the library, starting April 12th. We’re also offering another educational opportunity on Sundays after worship, beginning April 8th—a series about Paul, with DVDs from leading historical-critical Biblical scholar, Dr. John Dominic Crossan.
Keep living authentic, joyful, radical lives! Practice resurrection!
~Pastor Sue
Trinity Lutheran Church 