Hats!

Last year I posted about wearing our hats to church on Easter. A picture of the ladies from Redeemer was in the local paper, and then later there was an article in The Lutheran Witness. It has been fun this year to see friends at other churches talking about getting women to wear hats, and to hear from former Redeemer members who took the hat-resurgence to another congregation with them. Here's a post from one friend who has started the tradition at her church.

We wore ours again this year. I hope to have a picture of all of us soon, but until then my favorite from the day (thanks to Nancy Nus):

Patrick's Easter Post

I love this kid.

Tre Ore 2009

Easter Monday

The kids and I went to church this morning. I really appreciate the Easter Monday service. It helps with the let down after the richness of Holy Week and Easter.

Back now to real life. I need to finish my taxes, clean my house, and do some major organizing.

Ladies in hats

I hope this is the beginning of a tradition at Redeemer. A pretty good chunk of the ladies in the congregation wore hats today. I think there are a few more who will when we do it again. Have I mentioned recently how much I love these ladies, and the rest of my church family?

The service was of course, lovely. The music was glorious! The sermon was excellent. All in all a wonderful Easter.

Easter

  1. I know that my Redeemer lives;
       What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
       He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
       He lives, my ever-living Head.
      
       2. He lives triumphant from the grave,
       He lives eternally to save,
       He lives all-glorious in the sky,
       He lives exalted there on high.
      
       3. He lives to bless me with His love,
       He lives to plead for me above.
       He lives my hungry soul to feed,
       He lives to help in time of need.
      
       4. He lives to grant me rich supply,
       He lives to guide me with His eye,
       He lives to comfort me when faint,
       He lives to hear my soul's complaint.
      
       5. He lives to silence all my fears,
       He lives to wipe away my tears
       He lives to calm my troubled heart,
       He lives all blessings to impart.
      
       6. He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly Friend,
       He lives and loves me to the end;
       He lives, and while He lives, I'll sing;
       He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.
      
       7. He lives and grants me daily breath;
       He lives, and I shall conquer death:
       He lives my mansion to prepare;
       He Iives to bring me safely there.
      
       8. He lives, all glory to His name!
       He lives, my Jesus, still the same.
       Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives,
       "I know that my Redeemer lives!"
      
       

       Notes:
       Hymn #200 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_
       Text: Job 19:25-27
       Author: Samuel Medley, 1775, ab.
       Composer: John Hatton, 1793
       Tune: "Duke Street"

Easter

Although it is late in the day, I must still say,

He is risen!!

Each year it seems that Holy Week couldn't get better, and yet each year something seems to be sweeter.

Last night, standing in the darkened sanctuary with my sons each taking part in the gorgeous vigil, singing with my husband and my daughter and my friends, smelling the mixture of incense and lilies that will forever be the smell of Easter to me, (replacing the ham of my childhood!) I thought, "It just doesn't get any better than this."

Then I realized that the beauty of that moment, the thrill of the pealing of the bells while we sang the long-silenced Gloria, and the closeness in the Holy Supper are just a peek, just a hint, of the glories of Heaven.

At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing

At the Lamb’s high feast we sing
Praise to our victorious king,
Who has washed us in the tide
Flowing from his pierced side.
Alleluia!

Praise we him, whose love divine
Gives his sacred blood for wine,
Gives his body for the feast
Christ the victim, Christ the priest.
Alleluia!

Where the paschal blood is poured,
Death’s dread angel sheathes the sword;
Israel’s hosts triumphant go
Through the wave that drowns the foe.
Alleluia!

Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,
Paschal victim, paschal bread;
With sincerity and love
Eat we manna from above.
Alleluia!

Mighty Victim from the sky,
Hell’s fierce powers beneath you lie;
You have conquered in the fight
You have brought us life and light.
Alleluia!

Now no more can death appall,
Now no more the grave enthrall;
You have opened paradise,
And your saints in you shall rise.
Alleluia!

Easter triumph, Easter joy!
This alone can sin destroy;
From sin’s power, Lord, set us free,
Newborn souls in you to be.
Alleluia!

Father, who the crown shall give,
Savior, by whose death we live,
Spirit, guide through all our days;
Three in One, Your name we praise.
Alleluia!

Notes:
Hymn # 126 from Lutheran Worship
Author: Bohemian Brethren
Tune: Sonne Der Gerechtigkeit
1^st Published:

Easter Vigil

Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain
By: John of Damascus

Come, you faithful, raise the strain
Of triumphant gladness!
God has brought his Israel
Into joy from sadness,
Loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke
Jacob’s sons and daughters,
Led them with unmoistened foot
Through the Red Sea waters.

This the spring of souls today:
Christ has burst his prison
And from three days’ sleep in death
As a sun has risen;
All the winter of our sins,
Long and dark, is flying
From his light, to whom is given
Laud and praise undying.

Now the queen of seasons, bright
With the day of splendor,
With the royal feast of feasts
Comes its joy to render;
Comes to gladden faithful hearts
Which with true affection
Welcome in unwearied strain
Jesus’ resurrection!

For today among his own
Christ appeared, bestowing
His deep peace, which evermore
Passes human knowing.
Neither could the gates of death
Nor the tomb’s dark portal
Nor the watchers nor the seal
Hold him as a mortal.

Alleluia! Now we cry
To our King immortal,
Who, triumphant, burst the bars
Of the tomb’s dark portal
Come, you faithful, raise the strain
Of triumphant gladness!
God has brought his Israel
Into joy from sadness!

Hymn # 141 from Lutheran Worship
Author: Johann Horn
Tune: Gaudeamus Pariter
1^st Published in: 1859