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 Easter
Vigil
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Saturday, March 22 5:00pm |
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In
the church's early years, few worship events held more
significance than the Easter Vigil. It was customary in the early
church that new Christians, having been instructed in the faith,
were brought forward for baptism on this night. We have maintained
that emphasis as in this service we shall renew our baptismal
vows. Worship experiences include the Service of Light, the
Service of the Readings, the Service of Baptism and the Service of
Holy Communion. |
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 Easter
Sunday |
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Celebration of the Resurrection |
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Pancake
Breakfast
Traditional Celebration Worship
Children's Activities
Contemporary Celebration Worship
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7:30am-10:30am
8:30am
9:45am
11:00am |
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Men's Pancake Breakfast
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The
celebration of the risen Christ begins with the men of St. John gathering to cook pancakes and sausage for the
congregation. This time together marks the end of the Lenten season, a
forty-day period for reflection, sacrifice, re-dedication and preparation
for Holy Week.
As
we walk with Jesus from the wilderness to the cross, we take stock of our
lives, our values and our faith. Traditionally, we give up certain foods
and drink as we prepare for God's tremendous redemption and the
resurrected life that we prayerfully seek as Christians.
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Egg Hunt |
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Although
secular traditions purport that a bunny hides Easter eggs, the
religious aspects symbolized by eggs is rooted in Lent. |
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In
Western Christianity, eggs were viewed as meat which would have
been forbidden during Lenten fasting. |
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In
Jewish tradition, the Passover Seder service uses a hard-cooked
egg flavored with salt water to symbolize new life and the Temple
service in Jerusalem. |
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In
the Orthodox tradition, red colored eggs are given to friends with
Easter greetings to symbolize Mary Magdalene's visit to the |
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Emperor of Rome after the Ascension of
Christ. She greeted him with "Christ is risen" as she gave him a
red egg. |
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At
St. John, we truly love this time of fellowship, eagerness and anticipation with some of our youngest worshippers. |
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We remember the
crowds that cheered Jesus and laid palms before him as he rode on a
donkey into Jerusalem.
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"Maundy" is
the English translation of the Latin word for "commandment
mandate," for the new commandment Christ gave us to "love
one another as I have loved you."
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Seder Meal 6:00pm
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The Seder is one part
of the present-day Jewish Passover celebration. This celebration of freedom
originates from God's deliverance,
through Moses, of the Israelites from slavery.
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Christians recognize
the significance surrounding this historically symbolic meal.
It was during this Passover celebration that Christ, on the night
that he was betrayed, instituted Holy Communion.
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Communion 7:30pm
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On this evening,
Jesus and his followers shared bread and wine as part of their meal.
Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of me." He also taught
them to serve others. Our service ends with the stripping of the
alter as we anticipate Jesus' arrest.
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On this day, Jesus
was tried and the people called for him to be crucified. We recall
Jesus' time under arrest, his death on the cross and his hasty
burial in a stranger's tomb. Worship calls us to remember Jesus'
self-giving sacrifice, suffering and death.
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St.
John Lutheran Church  215 W. Wallace
Shawnee, OK 74801
405-273-1539 PastorKLFL@aol.com
A congregation of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America that is living in God's amazing
grace.
"Marked with
the cross of Christ forever, we are claimed, gathered, and sent for the
sake of the world."
©
2007 St. John Lutheran Church All Rights Reserved
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Gifted with Grace 
