EDEVO "ee-dee-voh"
Week of Easter VII

Scripture

Well you know that it was no perishable stuff, like gold or silver, that bought your freedom from the empty folly of your traditional ways. The price was paid in precious blood, as it were of a lamb without mark or blemish - the blood of Christ. Predestined before the foundation of the world, he was made manifest in this last period of time for your sake. Through him you have come to trust in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, and so your faith and hope are fixed on God.
I Peter 1 NEB

Reflection

A wacko website informs us that the pontificate of Benedict XVI will be short. Following it, the devil will impersonate John Paul II and the Church will declare that he has come back to life: one of the "signs and wonders" that are to accompany the arrival of the Antichrist. This bit of dark whimsey comes from a certain style of dispensationalism that imagines history divinely divided into discernable periods or dispensations. While this is a ridiculous - and in this case risible - mishandling of the sacred text, it is clear from our I Peter text that there is at least some periodization going on in the mind of God.

Mention of "this last period," however, is in service to the good news rather than to the promotion of insider knowledge. We have the joy of living in the time of Christ. In his gracious economy of salvation the Father has made the Son's blood count for all, cover all. We sinners' account with our offended Creator is settled; Jesus' resurrection defines our eternal destiny. Far from encouraging loopy Endtime speculation triggered by geopolitical events, this news about God's love conduces to trust, faith and hope.

Prayer

God of history,
we recoil in horror at the news from Burma.
Save those in grave danger.
Be with those whose loved ones have been victims of the cyclone's fury.
Make it possible for international aid workers to reach the victims,
and give the longsuffering people the government justice requires.
We ask this through our crucified and risen Savior, Jesus Christ,
who with you and the Spirit lives and reigns, now and always.

Mission Moment

Now I myself will ask after my sheep and go in search of them.
Ezekiel 34 NEB

Adverts

In gratitude to the God of grace, we generously underwrite his work through the church.

• Day of Pentecost - Sunday, May 11
  • 8:00 am Lively worship in the chapel
  • 9:15 am Study of the book of Psalms in the chapel
  • 10:15 am Worship in the sanctuary
    • Rite of Confirmation
    • Blessing keys of young drivers
  • 6:00 pm Social Justice Discussion and Action Group in the Fireside Room
    
• Tuesday, May 13
  • Memorial service for Chally Chalberg
    2:00 pm at Vista del Monte
    
• Holy Trinity Sunday - May 18
• ONE SERVICE ONLY 9:30 am
  Congregations, choirs and clergy of Christ, Faith, Grace and Trinity congregations and campus ministry come together to mark the birthday of the church with a festive celebration at Trinity. Preacher will be the Rev. Dean W. Nelson, bishop of the SW California Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
  The liturgy will be followed by a discussion of concrete steps we can take in mission together. A name and mission statement will be presented, followed by brunch. The Spirit of Pentecost is moving among us! Come join in the excitement.