Volume LVI Volume LVI Number 3 Number 3 March 2018 Holy March 2018 Holy Week Week Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday) Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday) Sunday, March 25, 9:00 A.M. Sunday, March 25, 9:00 A.M. Maundy ursday Eucharist Maundy ursday Eucharist ursday, March 29, 7:00 P.M. ursday, March 29, 7:00 P.M. 0 MountOliveOmaha.com 0 MountOliveOmaha.com Good Friday Worship Good Friday Worship Friday, March 30, 7:00 P.M. Friday, March 30, 7:00 P.M. Great Vigil of Easter Great Vigil of Easter Saturday, March 31, 8:00 P.M. Saturday, March 31, 8:00 P.M. Easter SundaySunday————AprilApril 1 Easter SundaySunday————AprilApril 1 Easter Breakfast, 7:45 A.M. Easter Breakfast, 7:45 A.M. Festival Holy Communion, 9:00 A.M. Festival Holy Communion, 9:00 A.M. Messenger Messenger MOUNT NE Omaha, 68112730128 402.455.870Ave N OLIVE LUTHERAN CHURCH MOUNT NE Omaha, 68112730128 402.455.870Ave N OLIVE LUTHERAN CHURCH MOUNT OLIVE LUTHERAN CHURCH Page 2 MOUNT OLIVE LUTHERAN CHURCH Page 2 The last words Martin Luther ever wrote The last words Martin Luther ever wrote were: We are beggars, this is true. Luther was were: We are beggars, this is true. Luther was aware of his unworthiness before God aware of his unworthiness before God through the very end of his life. Are we? through the very end of his life. Are we? Matthew 5:48 says, “ Be perfect, as your Matthew 5:48 says, “ Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. ” What a lofty heavenly Father is perfect. ” What a lofty standard God expects us to meet. The Gospel standard God expects us to meet. The Gospel of Mark tells us that Jesus was tempted by of Mark tells us that Jesus was tempted by Satan for 40 days in the wilderness. The very Satan for 40 days in the wilderness. The very point of those temptations, or any other temp- to the cross where they were crucified once point of those temptations, or any other temp- to the cross where they were crucified once tations He ever experienced, was to see and for all. Then in His perfect righteousness, tations He ever experienced, was to see and for all. Then in His perfect righteousness, whether Jesus was in the tiniest point imper- He clothes us through the waters of Holy Bap- whether Jesus was in the tiniest point imper- He clothes us through the waters of Holy Bap- fect. If Jesus would have given in to Satan’s tism. So that where before there was “sinner,” fect. If Jesus would have given in to Satan’s tism. So that where before there was “sinner,” empty promises even once, then we could God now sees “perfect.” Where before there empty promises even once, then we could God now sees “perfect.” Where before there only be saved if in every commandment we was “not even close,” there is now only be saved if in every commandment we was “not even close,” there is now ourselves were perfect. And we well know “completely a child of God.” This is God’s ourselves were perfect. And we well know “completely a child of God.” This is God’s that will never happen. We are beggars, after work given to us finished completely, all be- that will never happen. We are beggars, after work given to us finished completely, all be- all. We are far from perfect. We fall short of cause of Christ. This is how we have been all. We are far from perfect. We fall short of cause of Christ. This is how we have been God’s expectations of us daily. So we need made “perfect” beggars. We are beggars, this God’s expectations of us daily. So we need made “perfect” beggars. We are beggars, this Jesus to come through for us. Since Jesus is true, but we are now perfect beggars . Jesus to come through for us. Since Jesus is true, but we are now perfect beggars . proved Himself perfect in obeying His Fa- proved Himself perfect in obeying His Fa- ther’s will completely, He opens up the pos- This is the message of Lent. This is the mes- ther’s will completely, He opens up the pos- This is the message of Lent. This is the mes- sibility that we can be “perfect” beggars. sage of Holy Week. This is the message of sibility that we can be “perfect” beggars. sage of Holy Week. This is the message of Easter. Walk with your brothers and sisters Easter. Walk with your brothers and sisters Jesus took the punishment we rightfully de- here at Mount Olive these days as we face Jesus took the punishment we rightfully de- here at Mount Olive these days as we face served and went to the cross for us. He went the bad news of our beggarly condition be- served and went to the cross for us. He went the bad news of our beggarly condition be- to the tomb. He left the tomb empty, for us. fore God. But be thrilled once again by the to the tomb. He left the tomb empty, for us. fore God. But be thrilled once again by the This was all part of Jesus paying the ransom good news that Jesus’ perfect obedience and This was all part of Jesus paying the ransom good news that Jesus’ perfect obedience and price for us. He made the necessary sacrifice His perfect sacrifice make us righteous in price for us. He made the necessary sacrifice His perfect sacrifice make us righteous in for us. He did all this perfectly for us. When God’s eyes forever. That means that one day for us. He did all this perfectly for us. When God’s eyes forever. That means that one day Jesus spoke from the cross, “ It is finished, ” we will stand before God, by grace, clothed Jesus spoke from the cross, “ It is finished, ” we will stand before God, by grace, clothed His saving work for us was perfectly finished in the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ, His saving work for us was perfectly finished in the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ, once and for all. the crucified, but risen one. once and for all. the crucified, but risen one. Now a great exchange occurs as our gracious This reminds me of another thought: We are Now a great exchange occurs as our gracious This reminds me of another thought: We are God applies Jesus’ perfection to us freely. The all beggars, but some of us know where the God applies Jesus’ perfection to us freely. The all beggars, but some of us know where the clothes that were once ours —of sinfulness and food supply is. No wonder we gather around clothes that were once ours —of sinfulness and food supply is. No wonder we gather around rebelliousness toward God —Jesus took upon Word and Sacrament weekly. rebelliousness toward God —Jesus took upon Word and Sacrament weekly. Himself. He carried our spiritual shortcomings —Rev. Roland A Jank, Jr. Himself. He carried our spiritual shortcomings —Rev. Roland A Jank, Jr. MOUNT OLIVE LUTHERAN CHURCH Page 3 MOUNT OLIVE LUTHERAN CHURCH Page 3 MIDWEEK LENTEN WORSHIP SERIES CONTINUES MIDWEEK LENTEN WORSHIP SERIES CONTINUES Please join us on Thursday evenings at 7:00 Peculiar Please join us on Thursday evenings at 7:00 Peculiar p.m. as we continue with our Midweek Lenten Thursday, March 1 p.m. as we continue with our Midweek Lenten Thursday, March 1 Services Calling Us Home. These special Suffering Services Calling Us Home. These special Suffering services continue every Thursday until March Thursday, March 8 services continue every Thursday until March Thursday, March 8 22. A tasty dinner is served before the service Blessed and Blessing 22. A tasty dinner is served before the service Blessed and Blessing from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. to help busy families Thursday, March 15 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. to help busy families Thursday, March 15 attend this Lenten tradition. Graced Toward Glory attend this Lenten tradition. Graced Toward Glory Thursday, March 22 Thursday, March 22 CANVAS AND COFFEE CANVAS AND COFFEE Please join us Saturday, March 17th, at 9:30 come to bring your own brushes. Please sign Please join us Saturday, March 17th, at 9:30 come to bring your own brushes. Please sign a.m. in Luther Hall for Canvas and Coffee . up in advance by emailing [email protected] a.m. in Luther Hall for Canvas and Coffee . up in advance by emailing [email protected] We will provide the materials you need to or the church office at [email protected]. We will provide the materials you need to or the church office at [email protected]. take home a small canvas painting. Our Artist Questions? Call Marsha Behr at take home a small canvas painting. Our Artist Questions? Call Marsha Behr at -in -Residence, Marilyn Beig , will once again 402 -250 -1269. Looking forward to a morning -in -Residence, Marilyn Beig , will once again 402 -250 -1269. Looking forward to a morning guide us in making our creation. If you al- of fun and fellowship. Guests are welcome guide us in making our creation. If you al- of fun and fellowship. Guests are welcome ready like to paint in acrylics, you are wel- and refreshments will be served! ready like to paint in acrylics, you are wel- and refreshments will be served! MOUNT OLIVE ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT MOUNT OLIVE ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT Saturday, March 31 Saturday, March 31 1 to 3 p.m.