April 17, 2022 | 10:45 a.m.
Easter Sunday | Resurrection Sunday
READINGS
Psalm 16
Isaiah 65:17-25
1 Corinthians 15:19-26
Luke 24:1–12
message presented by Rev. Frank C. Ruffatto
April 15, 2022 | 7 p.m.
Good Friday
The last word from the cross is a word of fulfillment announcing the fulfillment of all things: “It is finished.” Completed. Perfected. Mission accomplished. It is done literally to the death. There are no loose ends for us to tie, no missing pieces for us to puzzle over, nothing to be added, subtracted, multiplied, or divided. “It is finished.” The redemption price is paid. The world’s sin is atoned for. The work of reconciliation, peacemaking, is accomplished. The Law is fulfilled. “There is therefore now no condemnation of those who are in Christ Jesus.” It is finished.
READINGS
Psalm 31
Isaiah 52:13–53:12
Hebrews 4:14-16,5:7-9
John 17:30
message presented by Rev. Frank C. Ruffatto
April 14, 2022 | 7 p.m.
Maundy Thursday
It is Passover night, the night before the day the children of Israel walked though blood-stained doorways into freedom and life as God’s people. This is the paschal night, the night of the remembrance meal—the hard, unleavened bread, the bitter herbs, the lamb roasted to dry toughness. The Lamb’s blood painted on the doorposts. It is the night of judgment and death as God seeks out the blood. Under the blood of the lamb, you are safe. Death passes over. Without the blood you are dead. It is neither safe nor salutary to deal with God apart from the blood of the Lamb.
READINGS
Psalm 116:12-19
Jeremiah 31:31-34
1 Corinthians 11:23–26
John 13:1-18, 31b-35
message presented by Rev. Frank C. Ruffatto
April 10, 2022 | 10:45 a.m.
Palm Sunday | Passion Sunday
READINGS
Psalm 31 : 9-16
Deuteronomy 32 : 36-39
Philippians 2 : 5-11
John 12 : 9–19
THE PASSION OF OUR LORD ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL OF MARK (Mark 14 : 1 – 15 : 47)
message presented by Rev. Frank C. Ruffatto
April 3, 2022 | 10:45 a.m.
The Fifth Sunday of Lent
The next word is the Jesus dying word, a word of committal, a word of trust. His dying words are faithful, full of trust in His Father, trusting that in His death His Father will receive Him in loving arms just as the father of the prodigal received his son with open and welcoming arms. Here again is the paradox of faith. Jesus had cried out in abandonment, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” and yet now He cries out in faith, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!”
READINGS
Psalm 31:1-5
Amos 8:7-10
1 Peter 2:18-25
Luke 23:44-49
message presented by Rev. Frank C. Ruffatto
March 27, 2022 | 10:45 a.m.
The Fourth Sunday of Lent
The next word from the cross is a word of suffering: “I thirst.” This is genuine, human pain, the parched lips of our humanity desiccated by the dry desert of our sin. Do not imagine that Jesus had some special exemption from suffering because He is the Son of God. Quite the contrary! His pain is all our pain combined. “He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows.” He is the Sufferer who embodies all suffering, bearing in His own wounded flesh the suffering and sickness of a humanity fallen into decay and death.
READINGS
Psalm 69:17-21
Exodus 12:21-23
Hebrews 9:19-22
John 19:28-29
message presented by Rev. Frank C. Ruffatto
March 20, 2022 | 10:45 a.m.
The Third Sunday of Lent
This week’s word from the cross is a word of compassion. “Woman, behold, your son! . . . Behold, your mother!” The disciples had fled in fear. Only the women remained, along with the disciple whom Jesus loved. Mary, His mother, her sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene together with John. These remained near the cross, keeping vigil.
READINGS
Psalm 103:8-14
Isaiah 49:13-18
Acts 20:18b-24
John 19:23-27
message presented by Rev. Frank C. Ruffatto
March 13, 2022 | 10:45 a.m.
The Second Sunday of Lent
The word of the cross this week is an entirely different word. It is a word directed to the Father, a cry of abandonment in the God-forsakenness of our sin. “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” spoken in Jesus’ native tongue, Aramaic. This emanates from the very depths of His soul.
READINGS
Isaiah 59:11-13
Psalm 21:1-7
Hebrews 5:7-10
Matthew 27:45-50
message presented by Rev. Frank C. Ruffatto
March 6, 2022 | 10:45 a.m.
The First Sunday of Lent
READINGS
Job 14:10-13
Psalm 86:1-5
Revelation 2:1-7
Luke 23:39-43