March 25, 2022
Dear friends,
The church traditionally celebrates the Annunciation on March 25. It makes sense, considering that we celebrate Christmas nine months later on December 25.
The Annunciation marks the day that the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced: “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women! Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:26ff).
What sets Mary apart is not her purity (though she is a virgin) or her righteousness, but her faith. She responds with words that encompass the whole of faith: “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
This festival typically occurs during Lent (Easter can land anywhere from March 22 and April 25), which is a great opportunity to consider who it is that suffered and died for us on Good Friday. It is none other than the very Son of God who was conceived in the womb of Mary. By a mysterious and glorious union between the human and the divine, God takes on flesh so that he can lay down his life for us.
It is the proclamation of this mystery and the profound blessings of God’s grace in Christ Jesus that loosen our lips to pray like Mary by faith: “Let it be to me according to your Word!”
God bless and keep you,
Pr. Buchs
COMING EVENTS:
Elder’s & Council – Thursday, April 7 @ 6 & 7pm
Family Night – Thursday, April 14 @ 5:30pm
Maundy Thursday – Thursday, April 14 @ 7pm
Good Friday – Friday, April 15 @ 7pm
Easter Sunday – Sunday, April 17 @ 9am