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Good News! The Monthly Newsletter of St. Paul Lutheran Church * April 2017

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In your With all the frills upon it You'll be the grandest lady In the Easter

In 1933, the great American songwriter published a song that he titled Easter Parade. In 1948 it was immortalized in a movie (also called Easter Parade) that featured Judy Garland and Fred Astaire. Although the story of the movie is fictional, the event it portrayed – a million or more people, all dressed in their Easter finery, parading down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on Easter Sunday – had started as a spontaneous event in the 1870’s and had grown more popular with each passing year.

It might surprise you to know that the concept of the Easter parade – or, more correctly, an Easter – has a strong religious background. In a tradition still followed by some churches (including some Lutheran churches), the faithful would gather outside the church on Easter morning and process together into the sanctuary as Easter hymns of joy were sung. This coincided with another ancient tradition, where newly catechized Christian converts were baptized at sunrise on Easter Sunday, dressed in white robes to symbolize purity and holiness. Soon after he legalized in 313 A.D., Roman Emperor Constantine issued a ruling that Christians should dress in their finest clothes and parade in honor of Christ’s resurrection.

One other religious-related aspect of the Easter parade is that less than 200 years ago, churches usually did not make any efforts to beautify their sanctuaries on Easter morning. No flowers – no Easter lilies – no special decorations. But in the mid-1800’s some of the larger and ornate churches in (including St. Patrick’s Cathedral) began decorating with Easter flowers – and before long, those who attended those churches (as one writer noted) began to wear more festive clothes. A 1873 newspaper article about Easter celebrations at New York’s historic (and visually opulent) Christ Church said: “More than half the congregation were ladies, who displayed all the gorgeous and marvelous articles of dress … and the appearance of the body of the church thus vied in effect and magnificence with the pleasant and tasteful array of flowers which decorated the chancel.”

Although Easter later sprang up in other cities (, , Atlantic City and others), I don’t remember any type of parades for Easter when I was growing up in Springfield. I do remember my church being decorated with Easter lilies, just as Saint Paul will soon be adorned with Easter lilies. The other thing I remember is that Easter was the day when every member of the family wore new and very special clothes. My mother and sister always had a new dress … new white gloves … new white shoes … and especially a festive new hat. The boys and men wore new suits and new shirts and new ties and shiny new black shoes. Either before or after Church we always had a group photo to show how excited we were and how festive we looked on this glorious Easter day.

Of course, we were also excited about the other well-known trappings of Easter. Just like on morning, we could not wait to get up to see what the had left for us in our Easter baskets. Chocolate, of course – lots of chocolate eggs and bunnies. Jelly beans. Marshmallow Peeps (for others in the family – I detested them when I was a child and still don’t like them). Fry’s Crème Eggs (known since 1963 as Cadbury Crème Eggs). Springfield was the home of Pease’s Candy Shops – and it just wasn’t Easter without some chocolate delight from Pease’s in your basket.

But more than the flowers and clothes and candy, we were also excited about Easter itself – and the special Easter Church services. We always climbed in the family car (often still in our pajamas) while it was still dark to get a good spot at the Easter held every year at the Springfield Drive-in Theater. When the service was over we would head home … have breakfast … get dressed in those new clothes … and head back to the Church at Second and Monroe streets for the Easter Service. There was always special music at that service, usually including some trumpets and other brass instruments and sometimes even the sounds of a timpani, and that mighty pipe organ in the balcony was cranked up to full volume. “He is Risen!” Pastor Sommerfeld or Pastor Niemoeller would proclaim, and we would respond with full-throated joy: “He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!” Because extra hymns were often sung … and since the large crowds of worshippers meant that Communion distribution took far longer than usual … the service itself might easily run close to an hour and a half long. But we honestly did not care. We were celebrating the resurrection of our Savior. The excitement was – well, it was just incredible.

I sometimes wonder if people really get excited about Easter anymore. A few cities (but not many) still hold a formal Easter parade, but the crowds have dwindled. While the New York parade down Fifth Avenue used to have a million participants and even more parade watchers, recent parades have counted fewer than 30,000 participants. Instead of being elegantly dressed, many of the participants are dressed in outrageous and even lurid costumes that sometimes make mockery of Easter itself.

Fewer and fewer Easter sunrise services are held today, and that is not just because most of the drive-in theaters have been torn down. We still have many of the non-religious trappings of Easter – chocolate bunnies, Cadbury crème eggs and Peeps in countless colors and flavors. Peter Cottontail will still come hoppin’ down the bunny trail for excited small children – but unfortunately, for many children and their parents, that will pretty much be the extent of any Easter excitement. The family Easter meal of baked ham cooked by Mom and Grandma and served at the dining room table has been replaced by an Easter meal or brunch at a restaurant or banquet hall. The children are excited to be out of school for Easter break – while parents might excitedly be looking forward to the kids going back to school. ABC will broadcast Cecil B. DeMille’s 1956 film The Ten Commandments on Easter evening as it has for so many years – and when the last credits have rolled across the screen at 10:00 p.m. we can go to bed and wait for Easter of 2018.

Back to my original question: Does anyone really get excited about Easter anymore? Will you be seated at Saint Paul on Easter morning to hear the proclamation “He is risen!” and respond “He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!” In the early days of the Christian Church, those words were exclaimed not only on Easter but every time that Christians met. They would remember the glorious fact that rose from the dead to give them eternal life, and with those words they would joyfully express their faith! Their words expressed their excitement about God’s mercy – and their excitement in knowing that Jesus has forever vanquished sin and death for them and all believers.

So go ahead and enjoy your Easter this year. Have some chocolate … devour a Cadbury egg or two … and even though you’ve seen it countless times, sit back on Sunday evening and watch Charlton Heston part the Red Sea in The Ten Commandments. But do not forget – never forget – the excitement of knowing that your salvation is assured because Jesus was raised from the dead on that long-ago Easter morning. He is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Saint Paul Lutheran Church

Maundy (Holy) Thursday Divine Service – April 13, 7:00 p.m.

On this evening we celebrate the institution of the LORD’s Supper in the upper room on the eve of our Savior’s suffering and death. With Christians of all ages, we join together to receive His true body and blood at His Altar. Following the distribution, however, the Service takes a radical turn as all linens, paraments, candles, communion ware and even the cross are solemnly removed from the Chancel. These adornments are removed to symbolize the abuse that our LORD endured on that night, and worshipers will depart the Sanctuary in silence.

Good Friday Service – April 14, 7:00 p.m.

This most solemn service, also known as the service of darkness, focuses on the suffering and death of our LORD on the cross at Golgotha. We also remember that our own sins – which, like nails, have placed Jesus on the cross – have been forgiven because of Jesus’ suffering and death. Worshippers enter and depart from Saint Paul in silence as we contemplate the meaning of this day.

St. Paul Easter Breakfast – April 16, 8:45 to 9:45 a.m.

Again this year a delicious Easter breakfast will be served in the Church basement prior to our celebration of our LORD’s resurrection. Join your fellow Saint Paul members for this scrumptious feast prior to the Divine Service.

Easter Sunday Divine Service Celebrating the Resurrection of Our LORD – April 16, 10:15 a.m.

After observing Christ's death for us and the means through which He gives us a share of that death, we now gather to rejoice in His resurrection from the dead and celebrate the reality that through His resurrection we have the assurance that He will raise us up on the Last Day. He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! CONGRATULATIONS

… to all baptized and/or confirmed members of Saint Paul Lutheran Church who are celebrating birthdays or wedding anniversaries during the month of April. Please send any additions or corrections to the Church office.

APRIL BIRTHDAYS

1 Mason Kindred 13 Heath Miller 1 Megan Merrifield 14 Mildred Dickey 3 Jacob Cutler 14 April Hunter 4 Anna Simac Miles 15 Hunter Williams 5 Barbara Walsh 19 Harley McCombe 11 Larry Neal 25 Lyle Craig

APRIL ANNIVERSARIES

1 Pastor and Sharon O’Brien (39th) 21 Merlyn and Joann Lower (50th) 1 Jerry and Patti Schnarr (11th) 26 Darrell and Tera Stremming (48th) 12 Richard and Nancy Amling (59th)

SERVING OUR LORD IN HIS HOUSE DURING APRIL

Communion Assistant: Lee Eilers Elder on Duty: Buck Miller Altar Guild: Audrey Durbin, Cindy Schmitz

Ushers Greeters April 2: David Allen, Wally Bingaman April 2: Dick and MJ McGee April 5: Wally Bingaman, Mark Miller April 9: Andrea Chamberlain, Pat Williams April 9: Larry Durbin, Jason Simac April 16: Lana Cross, Judy Glick April 13: Rob Amling, Dick McGee April 23: Carol Schramm, Joann Miller April 14: Todd Bockewitz, Bill Farr April 30: Diane Hildebrand, Sharon O’Brien April 16: Michael Chamberlain, Darrell Stremming April 23: John Livesay, Larry Durbin April 30: Tim Karbach, Joshua Simac

April 2017

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Class 3:00 p.m. Bible Class 10:15 a.m. Bi-Circuit 5:15 p.m. Divine Service Meeting at Bell Choir Saint Paul Rehearsal 6:00 p.m. Choir Rehearsal 7:00 p.m. Lenten Vespers Service 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Palm 9:00 a.m. Maundy Sunday/Sunday Bible Class (Holy) of the Passion 5:15 p.m. Thursday 7:00 p.m. Bell Choir Tenebrae 9:00 a.m. Bible Rehearsal 7:00 p.m. Service Class 6:00 p.m. Divine Service 10:15 a.m. Choir Divine Service Rehearsal

2nd Sunday Food Collection 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Easter Sunday 6:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Elders Voters 8:45 – 9:45 a.m. Meeting Meeting Easter Breakfast 7:00 p.m. 10:15 a.m. Church Divine Service Council Meeting 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 9:00 a.m. Bible 9:00 a.m. Class Bible Class 10:15 a.m. Divine Service

30 9:00 a.m. Bible Class 10:15 a.m. Divine Service