Devotion, Prayer Families & Birthdays

DEVOTION

Many people are ‘holding out’ for next week and the beginning of school holidays. That makes sense. It has been a long, hot term, and students, staff and families have used a lot of energy making a positive start to the year. We are thankful for the effort everyone has put in and for some cooler weather this week! 

But next week is more than the end of term or start of holidays. For Christians, it is also ‘Holy Week,’ the most important celebration of the Christian calendar. It begins on Sunday with Palm Sunday. On that day people re-enact the time Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, as people waved palm branches and said, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’ 

It was a time of great anticipation. But crowds can be fickle. By mid-week some of the same people were plotting Jesus’ downfall. Next Thursday night is called Maundy Thursday, from Jesus' ‘mandate’ to love one another as he loves us. That same night he was betrayed by Judas and arrested by the guards. His time had come. 

On Good Friday we remember Jesus' death on the cross. It is a time to reflect on what Jesus went through as ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.’ Good Friday services are often quiet, solemn, reflective and powerful. On Easter Sunday we celebrate with the disciples who saw a vision of angels telling them, ‘He is not here, he has risen.’ 

The message of Easter is one of renewed hope and blessing. Whatever term one has been like for you, I hope and pray that you have a special and restful Easter and look forward to how God will bless you in the term to come.  

See Alice Springs Lutheran Church Easter service times later in the newsletter. All are welcome!

Pastor Ben

PRAYER FAMILIES

for the coming weeks: 

Charles, Chen, Childs, Choudhary, Colotti, Conover, Dissanayaka, du Venage, Edelman, Edwards

And staff:

Sharreena Delaforce, Josephine Ewin, Megan Gardner, Lisa Goldsworthy

BIRTHDAYS

Happy Birthday to the following students for the coming weeks:

Luke Pfeiffer, Alora Oliver, Oakley Venables, Sofia Spencer, Kaylyn Kim, Flynn O'Connell, Aarush Sharma, Asha Linsley

And Staff:

Josie Ewin