NEWS

April 4, 2012

SonRise Lutheran Church will be reopening several former camp lodging facilities at SonRise from Memorial Day-Columbus Day 2012, including the Lodge, two Lakeside units, the Family Campground for RVs and tents, and other summer facilities.  Bible studies, devotions, and other family activities will be planned each week.  Download pricing and other details.

We thank the Atlantic District for their encouragement and cooperation in making these facilities available.  It’s important to note that this is an initiative of our congregation and does not change the status of SonRise or the current plan to cease operations and sell the property.  But it hasn’t sold yet, and while we have it, we’re going to use it!  Tell your friends, family, neighbors, and winter churches about this beautiful spot for spiritual rest and relaxation on Schroon Lake.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Holy Week & Easter

Palm Sunday: April 1

We will have palms and a processional at our 10:30 worship service, commemorating the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem.  Also, there will be an Easter Celebration egg and candy hunt today from 1-4 PM for children toddler through grade 6.  All are welcome.

Maundy Thursday: April 5

You are invited to worship with our sister congregation, the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Glens Falls.  Their service is at 7:00 PM at 543 Glen Street.

Good Friday: April 6

We will have two different worship services on Good Friday.  At noon, there will be a service of prayer and meditation.  This service, held at the time of Christ's Passion, will help us break free of the busy world and spend some time in quiet, thoughtful meditation.  At 7:00 PM, we will observe the service of Tenebrae (darkness).  In this service, the only one in the church year to end in total silence, we are witnesses as the weight of the world's sin (including our own) is brought to bear against the spotless Lamb of God.  This is a very moving service.

Easter: April 8

Our Easter Sunday celebration of the Resurrection of Our Lord will be at 10:30 AM, and we return to Faith Hall today!  This is the pinnacle of the entire church year.

THE CHURCH YEAR

Lent

February 22-April 7

Lent is a special time of reflection in the church year.  It begins on Ash Wednesday and continues for 40 days until Easter Sunday.  (Interesting fact: Sundays are not counted as part of the 40 days.)  During Lent, we take an honest look at ourselves and realize our need for a savior.  We also follow the steps of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem and the cross which awaited Him there.  You’ll notice that worship services during Lent are more reflective than normal, and that the altar color has been changed to purple to remind us of repentance.  We call our sins to mind.

Why?  Certainly not because we like feeling guilty.  But as Jesus said: “ ‘A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?’ Simon answered, ‘The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘You have judged rightly.’ ” (Luke 7:41-43)

Because we take these six weeks to understand our debt, we can grasp the implications of our forgiveness.  Because we’ve taken time to mourn our sinfulness, our joy on Easter Sunday will be that much more sweet.  Because Jesus faced all the burdens of pain, sorrow, and suffering in our place, we know that we are set free from our guilt and fear.  And when Lent has passed and we gather to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, our shouts of joy will echo in the heavens.