Holy Week

We have entered into a truly awe-filled time of the church year. We see the God of heaven and earth deeply concerned for His creation. Here on Holy Thursday, the Lord knowing we would need sustenance and strength gives to us His very body and blood. On Good Friday, the Lord knowing that we needed forgiveness and reconciliation suffers and dies for His Creation. The Lord knowing we needed peace in death slumbers in death for us. The Lord knowing we needed hope and promise and a future rose from death that we might join Him in heaven eternally at the resurrection. This week is seen by God as being all about you. What an amazing God with whom we are blessed!

“Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54c).

Rev. Mark J. Maas

Senior Pastoral Counselor
Lutheran Women in Mission

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Easter Resources

Spring is one of my favorite times of the year. I love to see the trees and flowers blooming and enjoy the warmer temperatures. Easter is right around the corner. We will have a quiet Easter this year, but I remember how much my children enjoyed doing crafts and decorating.Will you be hosting children or grandchildren at your house for Easter?

Check out the Spring and Easter coloring pages, bookmarks and cards, and the Spring and Easter Paper Ornaments on the LWML website.

You can share the message of Christ and the mission of Lutheran Women in Mission with resources you can make or color yourself. Little hands love to help. As we approach Holy Week I wish you Easter joy.

But the angel said to the women. “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said (Matthew 28:5–6).

Debbie Yocky

Public Relations Director
Lutheran Women in Mission

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Visual Prayer Guide for District Conventions

One of my daily devotion activities is to pray over requests and praises on my prayer list. As we begin the season of district conventions, please join me in praying for them! One simple way to do this is by using the Visual Prayer Guide found at lwml.org/district-conventions. In 2024, Meeting Manager Leslie Colligan invited us to use a Prayer Guide and a number of you did – even posting photos on social media! I used the colors of each district’s convention logo to color in the shape so mine ended up looking like a “crazy quilt.” I loved it! Will you pray for our district leaders, host committees, speakers, and guests as they prepare and participate in district conventions? Thank you in advance for doing so!

Also found on the webpage is an alphabetical listing of the districts, their dates, locations, convention themes and corresponding Scripture verses. Or, if you prefer a chronological listing, that is available too!

Eden Keefe

President, 2023–2027
Lutheran Women in Mission

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The Shepherd and the Lamb

Outside the farm and ranch store I almost literally ran into a friend I had not seen in a while. She was bubbly, telling me about a new baby lamb.

“He gets so excited when we come toward him with the bottle. His little behind just wiggles with expectation. He will let us hold him as he falls to sleep. He has such a sweet little voice. Do you want to see a picture?”

Of course, I wanted to see a picture of a cute wooly little white lamb, but what I saw was a thin, almost gray, dirty, limp-looking creature.

I was kind, wished her well, and then as I drove home, it dawned on me. The way she loves and looks at her lamb, is the way my Savior, my Shepherd, loves and looks at me. My Shepherd rescues me as she has rescued this lamb.

LWML has devotions to remind us of our Shepherd.

• Green Pastures
• His Sheep
• Mustard Seed — Water of Life: Life of a Sheep
• Mustard Seed — The Race of Faith: Water Stations

The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures (Psalm 23:1–2a).

Dianna Just

Recording Secretary
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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Gather and Share

District conventions are approaching, and Lutheran Women in Mission nationwide are preparing to gather, study God’s Word, and plan for the coming biennium. These gatherings also provide an opportunity to celebrate recently funded Mission Grants and learn about the work accomplished by their recipients.

As you prepare, your plans may include a servant event or a Gifts from the Heart collection. These activities offer meaningful ways to share the Gospel with those in need throughout our districts.

A helpful list of Mission Service Activities is available here.

Even if your District Convention plans are complete, I encourage you to use these ideas within your congregations. It is a blessing to join with fellow believers in service and extend that care into our communities.

“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36).

Anne M. Hartman

Vice President of Gospel Outreach
Lutheran Women in Mission

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Opportunity!

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed (1 Peter 2:24).

We are now in the season of Lent, 40 weekdays before Easter. Lent is a penitential time — an opportunity! — to reflect on Christ’s Calvary-bound mission on earth. We journey to the cross with Jesus and focus on His perfect life, suffering, and death for each of us, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

Lent is also an opportunity to be in God’s Word. Does your church provide Lenten devotion booklets with a devotion for each day? Do you regularly attend worship and Bible study? Do you have a regular devotional plan that keeps you daily in God’s Word? However you choose to do so, take this Lenten opportunity to begin or continue in the study of God’s Word.

Read the devotion, What An Opportunity! It gives you other suggestions for observing Lent this year and ways to serve Him. You can also access free resources available for Lenten Bible Journaling. Serve the Lord with gladness (Psalm 100:2a) in whatever Lenten opportunities you choose! God’s blessings during your Lenten journey!

Shari Miller

Vice President of Christian Life
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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Cherish Memories

After more than 40 years of living in the same home, we decided to embark on the daunting task of moving into a new one. As boxes were filled, taped, and then transported to our new address, I learned a great lesson. There is no substance to the memorabilia you collect throughout the years that compares to the love of Christ, to the joy of spending precious time with loved ones, and to creating fond memories embedded in your heart.

At the end of our moving days, we took time sharing photographs recalling the blessings of our old home and getting excited about the anticipation of the memories to come.

Be blessed by listening to LWML’s devotion Photo Memories and hear how you’re never forgotten but are cherished and chosen by God. “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:16a).

Linda Guteres

Vice President of Communication
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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