April 26 Grace Notes

Was your church absolutely beautiful this past Sunday? Ours was. Salem
is a well-loved church, and it shows. The Spirit imbues this space, in
its tall tall ceilings, its radiant stained glass windows, in its solid,
magnificent altar, pulpit, and lectern. All the candles were lit, the
paraments were glowing white, and the cross - - - thank GOD the cross was
finally empty. Empty of the purple drape that half-covered it all during
Lent and empty of the black cloth that hung on it from Good Friday till
the Easter vigil. The flowers scented everything, the lilies especially.
There were flowers in a cross-shape built specially for Easter. There
were flowers all surrounding the altar, there were flowers by the
baptismal font. How glorious it all was! I don't know another beauty
like it, and there are many, many beautiful things in this world. This
beauty is God-touched. And the music! We sang our hearts out,
accompanied by brass and bells, timpani and organ. Glorious, grand music
so fitting for this most precious of occasions!

Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Hallelujah!

It seems to me that I have known these precious words all my life long.
Perhaps I learned them from Pastor Hawkins back in the 50's, do you think?
When did you learn them? They're a part of us, aren't they? And not
only the words, but the belief, the faith behind them! Our Lord Jesus
Christ loved us so MUCH that He
went with those Roman soldiers, partook in that awful so-called trial,
submitted to their beatings, and dragged the cross given Him to Golgotha.
Nailed to that cross, He hung there for three hours and then died. Our
Lord died! His friend Joseph of Arimathea came and took his body to
Joseph's own tomb, anointed His body with oil, wrapped Him in swaddling
cloths, and left Him. And what happened? Mary came. Mary came back,
still weeping the loss of her Lord and Saviour. What did she find? That
huge stone covering the cave entrance rolled away and the cloths left
behind. No body of Jesus. No Jesus at all. How terrifying! What did
she think? I wonder if she thought that maybe someone had taken Jesus'
body. But why? And where?

And then, a young man sitting at the side told her that Jesus had arisen
and gone ahead of her to Galilee; go and tell the others.
And Jesus appeared twice more to His earthly friends before ascending into
Heaven.

This is the very essence of our faith, isn't it, this story? We believe
that Jesus died for us, for our sins, out of sheer love for us, God's
children, and that we are saved by grace through faith and will one day be
called to live in the Heavenly Kingdom with God the Creator of the
Universe, His Son Jesus the Christ, and the Holy Spirit, one God, world
without end.
How deeply, profoundly blessed we are. We shout it again: Christ is
risen! Christ is risen indeed! Hallelujah!

Judy Bergeson
Diaconal Minister

COMING UP AT SALEM:
New Member dinner 5 PM Sunday, May 1st – served by Salem's Council

Love in the Name of Christ's Annual Banquet 6 PM Sunday, May 1st – St.
Mary's Fellowship Hall in Sycamore

Saturday, May 14: WALK to benefit the Children's Advocacy Center. This
is a child abuse and awareness event and fundraiser. Walk! Sponsor a
walker! Register at Good Thymes Shelter off Airport Rd. at Sycamore Park
at 8:30 AM.

Pray often!

Grace Notes, April 19, 2011

Grace Notes April 19, 2011

Thanks to my call as a church musician and a piano technician, I have the
privilege of visiting many area churches. I always enjoy seeing other
worship spaces. Some are old, others new. Some are plain while others are
elaborately decorated. Some have altar, pulpit, and pews set in their
places, but others have portable furniture so the room can be changed as
needed. Sometimes I see banners or posters that give a glimpse of a
congregation's belief on some particular aspect of theology or faith…that
belief might be much like our own at Salem, or it may be nearly opposite.

While visiting two DeKalb churches today, I realized one thing that is
present in almost every Christian church: the cross. One common symbol we
all share. All respect. All cherish. All worship. The crosses are as
different as the buildings and sanctuaries where they are found, with such
a variety of sizes, materials, and styles. But all remind their
congregation of God's great love…love so great that he gave his own son to
save the world.

Most crosses in our worship places are beautiful works of art. Craftsmen
and artists used their talents to create the best tribute they could for
their God and his church. But there was nothing beautiful about the cross
Jesus died on. Crucifixion was a terrible form of capital punishment. The
intent was to cause a slow, painful, agonizing, humiliating death. For the
victim and for any family or friends who stood by. It was public, not only
to be an example to discourage others from similar offenses, but also to
add to the humiliation as passers-by could stare or taunt the victim.
Crucifixion was a most shameful and disgraceful death.

Why, then, has the church claimed such a cruel, ugly object as a symbol of
our faith? Because the ugliness of the cross has been overcome by the
unimaginable love of God. Jesus loved us even to death. On a cross. He
willingly gave himself to die on the cross to save us for life with him.
It has been said it wasn't nails that held Jesus on the cross…it was love.

I want to think of the cross often this week. I want to be reminded of
Jesus' sacrifice. Of his love for me. And for you.

Ron Vanatta

This week at Salem:
Maundy Thursday Worship at 7 pm
Good Friday Tennebrae Service at 7 pm
Easter Vigil Worship of scripture, baptism, and communion Saturday at 5 pm
Easter Sunrise Worship at the Elmwood Cemetery Pavilion Sunday at 6 am;
followed by coffee at Ruff's home
Easter Festival Worship at 8 and 10:30 am
Easter Breakfast in Fellowship Hall at 9 am

Grace Notes, April 12, 2011

Salem Lutheran Church
GraceNotes …………..….. April 12, 2011

It's a busy time of the year with so much to do. So I am taking this time
to try to relax and reflect on the Lenten season thus far this year. I do
know it seems to be flying by, with not enough hours in the work week to
get everything done. But it is still a time of waiting, maybe not patient
waiting nor anxious waiting, but the "I can't wait until it's here"
waiting!

Today, Christians know the joy of Easter before Easter is even here, and
we await its coming with anticipation. But imagine how the people living
in Jesus' time, his followers, his disciples felt. They really had no
clue as to what was soon to happen. Even though as you read the Bible you
can see how Jesus tried to prepare them, they just didn't seem to get it.
Let's hope we, as present day Christians, are really getting its true
meaning and are living our lives accordingly.

I do so enjoy being a member of Salem during Lent and Holy Week. They are
my favorite times of the church year. The Holden Evening Prayer Services
on Wednesday are a time I look forward to. I love singing the beautiful
words to the songs in the service and listening to the leaders' wonderful
voices. It centers my week and gives me a time to rest my thoughts and
self to continue on with the rest of the busy week. I make it a point to
try to attend each of the Holy Week Services. The Maundy Thursday service
reminds me of the gift we receive each time we have communion, and the
humbleness of Jesus' life. Good Friday services show me what Jesus
suffered for us and it makes me grateful for his gift to all. Easter
Vigil service on Saturday gives the first indication of the joy coming in
the morning. All these services lead up to the joy of Easter and the
happiness felt on Easter morning. I love coming to Easter morning
services and eating a great Easter Breakfast with other members of Salem.
It is truly a joyous time and a great time to be a Salem member!
God's Blessings,
Sue McMillan

Upcoming at Salem …

Wednesday – April 13
Final Lenten Midweek Services (Prayer & Pie at 2:00 / Holden Evening
Prayer at 7:00 p.m.)
Don't forget the Benson/Carlson Soup Supper Buffet at 5:30 p.m.

Saturday – April 16
Church Cleaning from 9:00 a.m. to Noon
5:00 p.m. WORSHIP (Palm Sunday Worship)

Sunday – April 17
PALM SUNDAY WORSHIP – 8:00 a.m.
Sunday School - 9:15 a.m.
"What's Pastor Up To?" – 9:15 a.m. in F.H.
PALM SUNDAY GRACE WORSHIP – 10:30 a.m.
Sunday Night Thing – 7:00 p.m.