April 2024 Lightshine
“His light shines in the darkness”
Dear friends in Christ,
“The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it…. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart that has made him known.” John 1:5, 18
Joan and I wanted to see the total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024. The next in contiguous America won’t be until 2044. It came very close to us. Like something out of a Star Trek episode, the path traversed right through southern Illinois going northeast into Indiana. We wanted the fullest possible exposure within a reasonable distance. A place we could drive there and back again in one day. We found a map, a ruler and pencil and drew a line of the total eclipse pathway from Carbondale, IL. to Kokomo, IN. The line intersected the edge of Paris, IL. We asked Google the distance from Sandwich to Paris, Illinois? It was only three hours and twenty-one minutes away….
Ooh la la!
On Monday, Joan said that she wanted to drive the first shift. After a challenging two hours, I asked if she’d like a break. She said she was doing fine. “That I was a great navigator.” You who have attempted a trip of this shared interest, magnitude, curiosity, and distance would be surprised to know. Because of Joan’s creative driving we arrived at Sunset Park in Paris just as the moon’s path began to move between the earth and the sun blocking its light and creating a dark crescent shape on the sun. Oh, my goodness! Then we joined the millions of other American star gazers looking through our really cool special solar glasses (actually we look ridiculous wearing two pairs of glasses while holding up our cell phones) while others watched on T.V. Who cared what we looked like! God’s most amazing of celestial shows was on and took center stage. The sun’s light began to dim. Sunset Park and the sky before us grew more and more dark. You could feel the air chill. Joan ran to the car to retrieve her sweatshirt. Then while we watched, an amazing ring of glowing sunlight encircled the moon. A blinding bright flash of light shot from the sun’s right top corner. Soon the sun’s blazing light filled the sky flooding the earth with light. The darkness could not extinguish the light!
In another garden and time, Jesus prayed to the Father for strength to face the hour of darkness that lay before him.
For us, He would face Satan and his temptations to quit along with the rejection and depths of human sin. He endured the worst: Crucifixion. He was nailed to a cross
and humiliated - hung there for all to see. The religious leaders in jealousy wanted him dead. With the consent of cowardly and conniving political leaders, they succeeded. For six hours Jesus suffered. Here he prayed for his enemy’s forgiveness, and ours. Then with his triumphant cry, “It is finished” he yielded himself into the Father’s hands. But the darkness could not extinguish the light. God raised his Son, Jesus, from death on Easter Sunday. His tomb is empty. His light still shines. An angel told the women who came to finish his burial. “He is risen and goes before you.” He told us, “I am with you always.”
He told his disciples to bring this good news of hope to the people of the world because it is the gospel of resurrection of the Crucified. He came to die for us. This was his purpose and God’s purpose. “He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, by his bruises we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5. This was necessary. By his death he would release us from everlasting death. Here he would take our sins and the sins of the world and atone for them before God. In our darkest hours of despair, the Cross is where we turn to find consolation. When we are tempted to doubt everything, it is the Cross that tells us plainly that God loves us. Bowed down by our sense of failure, we turn to the cross to receive the grace of forgiveness. When we lose or cannot find our way, when the way is not clear, he entreats us, “Follow me.” It is on the darkest nights that the stars and even the smallest of lights can be seen at their brightest. His light still shines. He said let my light shine in you. That we are to pick up our cross and follow him in a life of loving service giving his care to others. His Spirit lives in us. Let his light and love shine in you and me even in the darkest hour. For Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.
Happy trekking in Jesus and may his love and peace surround you.
In His love, P. Dave
P.S. I took the drive home along with the thousands of people traveling north on highway 47 when the eclipse concluded. How many cars make up a mile waiting at a stop sign on highway 47? Answer, “A lot!” It was so worth it!
I am also thankful for family birthdays and Joan’s and my 51st wedding anniversary, 4/21/73. Ron and Bonnie Bauer were married on the same date!
PRAYERS FOR APRIL 2024…
“O give thanks to the Lord for He is good.”
Thank you God for...
+ our Lenten series of Jesus’ passion in the gospel of Mark and the joyful Easter resurrection. The generosity and hard work of people who made this Lent special: attending Wednesday and weekend worship on site and on the O.S. Facebook page where 400 to 800 people joined us each week, the Bible study, cleaning out the basement and recycling furnaces, kitchen stove, water heater and more. Each week interest and participation grew leading into an amazing holy week and Easter and Easter egg hunt.
+ Carol Hill accompanying Lenten worship, Rick Olson lighting Good Friday crosses, Joan and P. Dave putting out 3 crosses used in Live Nativity made by John Niemann.
+ we crossed another important building fund financial threshold in April: on 4/15, balance is $390,981!
+ the work of Brigette Bagg, janitor of Our Saviors, who is moving to Wisconsin. Help in finding a new janitor.
+ the 30 years of Nora Cromwell service as director of the Sharing Pantry helping feed the hungry in our community.
+ Organist/pianist Ann Chen’s baby, Isabella, to be born sometime in April and that fun baby shower.
+ A sister’s successful surgery.
+ A friend’s successful aneurysm surgery and recovery. He said he’d be at worship Easter Sunday, and he was!
Healing for friends...
God, as your child I believe that You cause all things to work together for good, both of body and spirit. But sometimes in the midst of illness and pain I can forget and doubt. Forgive me when I become impatient, encourage me by your Word. Place your cross before me to let me know that you are my brother in suffering. In spite of my worry and in my pain, help me to trust in your promises and that you want good and healing for us. Restore good health, let your Holy Spirit be ever present to encourage and give strength, O Lord have mercy and hear my prayer for Jesus’ sake.
+ Healing for family and friends in hospice care..
+ Healing for family and friends battling cancer.
+ Healing for family and friends on dialysis and await or seek a kidney transplant. Friends battling kidney stones.
+ A friend who fell and broke her shoulder.
+ A friends heart valve surgery.
+ A friend battling vertigo.
Comfort as we mourn the passing of loved ones with the promise of the resurrection in Christ Jesus.
Amid our tears, O Lord, we thank you for receiving our loved one to yourself and your glory in heaven. Comfort us with the hope of the resurrection and eternal life in Jesus Christ. Thank you for the gift of knowing and sharing life with the beloved. Let us seek to place all things in your hands. For you love us. Send your Holy Spirit to guide and give us strength. Thank you for the support and love of family. Amen.
+ Thank you for the blessing of sharing life with Blake Neitzer, brother of Marilyn (Bob) Houlne
+ Thank you for the blessing of sharing life with Keith James Allen, father to Michael (Kiley) Allen, Jeff (Brittany) Allen, and Jennifer (Trevor) Hall.
+ Thank you for the blessing of sharing life with Shirley Anderson, sister of Donald (Sharon) Ness.
+ Thank you for the blessing of sharing life with Steve Johnson, friend of Sheila Thompson; he was a joy to work with at Our Savior’s Chicken BBQ.
First Communion..
If you want faith and joy to grow, even if you are super busy in Lent, meet with children and adults who are eager to learn and share with them God’s gift of the sacraments.
James and Eric Swanson, Aria and Lynn Olson, Lily and Sue Schiller joined Pastor Dave in study of the sacrament of communion and to prepare for their first communion. We learned the bread is Jesus’ body. The grape juice and wine are Jesus’ blood given and shed for us. This is more than a memorial feast, for Jesus is risen and promised to be with us in the contents of the bread and cup. Here he gives us his gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation. This is one of the highlights of the year: Aria, Lily, James, we welcome you to Jesus table.
On giving our tithes and offerings in thanks to God and to support God’s work at Our Savior’s.
“Praise the Lord. I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart...great are the works of the Lord.” Ps 111:1,2
We believe that God blesses us with his gifts. We give our generous offering in thanks because we trust in the Lord to provide for our needs and to support the work of his church. Thank you for giving your offerings to the general fund and the building mortgage. We crossed an important building mortgage threshold on 4/15/24 - Our loan principal balance that began at $1.55 million in 2006 is now $390, 981.00!! Thanks God for providing, and Our Savior’s members and friend for giving.
+ Chair Jennifer Johnson announced that the 2024 chicken BBQ is August 10.
Thank you for the beautiful Easter Flowers: Ron & Bonnie Bauer, Jeff & Sharon Beverage, Paul & Donna Bunge, Gene & Janelle Burd, Dave Buri, Todd & Jen Clason, Jerry & Karen Dietzman, Lisa Flyte-Quast, Bruce & Cindy Fraser, Don & Iris Greif, John & Ann Hagemann, Bill & Sue Hall, Dwain & Jana Harrison, Tom & Mary Heggen, Ron & Carol Hill, Pastor Dave & Joan Kaul, Michael & Tara Kotalik, Vickie Matthies, Nancy Melcher, the Moses Family, Mary Munson, Rick & Lynn Olson, the Ross Family, Florence Sebby, Douglas Stahl, Norm & Geneva Steuck, Sheila Thompson, the Wren Family!
New Sunday School Unit Begins
April 14
“Feed My Sheep, Peter”
The New Church
Workshops:
Art Bible Knowledge Postcards
Cooking Music Party Games