Happy St Patrick's Day!

"And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life." (John 3:14-15)

Snakes are everywhere! One tempted us in Eden. Others bit and killed the Israelites. Another was put on a stick in order to bring healing to the same Israelites. Jesus compares Himself with that last one. We find our salvation by gazing on Him, the Crucified. It is said that St Patrick drove the snakes from Ireland. That's probably not true (see below), but he did swing a nation from paganism to Christ - a continuing task for us today. Join us on Sunday to blessed by the Crucified who continues to offer us Himself, forgiveness of sins and eternal life!

Join us for the Jerusalem Cafe tomorrow during worship when we'll meet Deborah who owned the house where the Last Supper was eaten.

Notice that we have a slimmed down schedule for Spring Break week. There will be no KICK, but midweek Lenten services will be held, this week at Bethany Lutheran church.

Enjoy Spring Break!

Sunday, March 18
8:15 am Senior Choir Rehearsal
9:30 am Service of the Word (ELW 1)
10:30 am Fellowship
11:00 am Sunday School for all ages
4:30 pm 1 Peter Bible Study

Monday, March 19
Spring Break (through March 23)

Wednesday, March 21
5:45 pm Lenten meal at Bethany Church
6:45 pm Lenten worship at Bethany Church

Saturday, March 24
8:00 am Men's Bible Study

Sunday, March 25
8:15 am Senior Choir Rehearsal
9:30 am Service of the Word (ELW 1)
10:30 am Fellowship
11:00 am John Apel (pastor Dean's brother) will speak on mission in Mali, West Africa
6:15 pm Genesis for GenXers

"The St. Patrick mythology includes the claim that he banished snakes from Ireland.
It's true no snakes exist on the island today, Freeman said. But they never did.
Ireland, after all, is surrounded by icy ocean waters—much too cold to allow snakes to migrate from Britain or anywhere else.
But since snakes often represent evil in literature, "when Patrick drives the snakes out of Ireland, it is symbolically saying he drove the old, evil, pagan ways out of Ireland [and] brought in a new age," Freeman said.
The snakes myth and others—such as Patrick using three-leafed shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost)—were likely spread by well-meaning monks centuries after St. Patrick's death, Freeman said." http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/03/090316-st-patricks-day-facts.html
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Pastor Dean Apel; Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church; 402 N. 1st St; Lindsborg, KS 67456; 785-227-3977