Worship into the Week- This Message of Life

 

Worship into the Week- Acts 5:12-32

The Apostles Heal, Meet Opposition.

The signs and wonders that the apostles 

were doing was known to the people.

The believers were meeting at the 

temple at Solomon's Colonnade,

 but people were afraid to join them.

They brought the sick people so that Peter's shadow might fall

on them and they were all healed.

The people came from all the villages around Jerusalem.

This didn't go well with the Sadducces, 

who were filled with jealousy, so they arrested the apostles.

But an angel of the Lord came at night to the public jail

 and opened the gates and released them saying,

"Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!"

So the apostles went at dawn and began teaching.

Amazing drama came next with missing apostles, 

locked gates and clueless guards.

A reporter announced the Apostles were once again 

teaching. They were promptly arrested again 

and brought before the high council.

They didn't follow orders and replied,

 "We must obey God rather than any human authority."

 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead 

after you killed him by hanging him on a cross...

We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, 

who is given by God to those who obey him."

This reading reveals much tension between the rulers

 in Jerusalem and the followers of Jesus. 

The heated conflict became aggressive with the Sadducees

 because of the proclamation of- Resurrection.

Not believing in the Resurrection set the Sadducees apart.

But this fervor in Jerusalem set fire to the power

 and political hierarchy. 

The testimony of the apostles was very bold, 

especially since the Sanhedrin was more concerned 

with man's opinion.

They did not defend their actions, or plead for mercy,

 but simply explained their actions.

What a wonderful reminder for us in today's world. 

 We must please and obey God first.

Worship into the Week- Palm Sunday-Easter 2025

 

Worship into the Week resources 

starting with Palm Sunday.

Deuteronomy 32:36-39

"Now see that I, even I, am He 

and there is no God bedsides ME.

Maundy Thursday- Jeremiah 31:31-34

"I will be their God and they shall be my people."

Good Friday- Isaiah 52:13-53:12

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace and with his wounds we are healed."

Easter Sunday Sunrise- Psalm 118:15-29

"I will not die but live, 

and will proclaim what the Lord has done."

Easter Sunday- Isaiah 65:17-25

"For behold, I create new heavens and earth

 and the former things shall not be remembered."

Finished the readings of this past 

 Holy Week.  So much to think about as another Lent 

ends and another Eastertide begins.

The days march right on...

Supplies:

Visual Church Year Printables

vcy-graphics-only-april-2025

Magazine Cut outs

Colored pencils

Distress Ink

Griffin is 11!

 

The oldest grandson turned eleven this month.

I got to spend a morning out with him this year.

We celebrated with the family 

and a meal at the local Tony's in Saginaw.

Some Star Wars for a birthday this year.

Aunt Jess baked a birthday cake and we celebrated

 on Easter on your Baptism Birthday.

Some cousin time on Easter 

as we gathered to celebrate the Risen Savior and 

the gift of another year for Griffin.

The Schumacher family gathered together

and thankful for the gift of this young man.

Worship into the Week- God Makes a Way

 

Worship into the Week-

Isaiah 43: 16-21

At an event this past weekend we spent some time

 preparing for Worship with the Isaiah reading.

We used the new Open Spaces resources

 at Visual Faith® Ministry to pull out phrases and 

words in the reading.

Simply writing them out and putting them back

 together allows for better retention.

This image and the phrase-

"Behold, I am doing a new thing.."

Was with me during worship and into the this week.

God makes a way. 

We may be in the wilderness,

but we know the one who makes the path.

Therefore there is HOPE in this proclamation.

Some time spent in my Bible too.

Also a very special worship service with the 

installation of daughter Sara,

at her growing up church- 

Prince of Peace Lutheran in Springfield, Virginia.

She is the new Grow Group Director.

Supplies:

scripture-prayers-open-spaces

vcy-graphics-only-april-2025

Magazine Cutouts

Colored Pencils

Worship into the Week- Sing for Joy

 

Worship into the Week-

Isaiah 12:1-6

The Lord is My Strength and My Song

 This psalm is a song of praise and thanksgiving,

 anticipating a future salvation where God's people

 will recognize Him as their strength and song.

In this chapter Isaiah promises that on that day,

Israel will direct their attention to the Lord

and thank Him for all He has done for them.

We really do have spiritual amnesia 

and forget everyday the story of God's faithfulness to us.

 They will acknowledge that He was rightfully angry with them.

 But they will also thank Him for restraining His anger 

and mercifully giving them comfort (Isaiah 12:1).

Gospel Lesson- The Parable of the Lost Son

The reminder that we are all prodigals.

We have all been lost and found.

Supplies:

Recycled bill envelope

Colored pencils

Vintage postage stamps

Distress ink

Calendar Journaling- March 2025

 

Calendar Journaling- March 2025

Thanking God for the journaling

this past month. 

Using the The Way, the Truth, and the Life

 by Henri J.M. Nouwen.

The take away that stands out for me is:

I have thought about this every day since the 14th.

How do we live the way of Jesus?

What has gotten in the way of this ?

Have ideas and power become more important 

than people?

Somehow I feel like we have lost the way of 

following Jesus.

Lord, we need your help to return.

Allow me to make sure I see eyes and

feel hearts and listen well. Amen.