Eastern Mission ALC

05/11/2026

May 2026 Newsletter
Eastern Mission Board
May 3

“Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Matthew 12:38-40

The three days.



This is our cause for celebration. As Christians worldwide gather for worship during the time of Holy Week and Easter, we are drawn to the singular act in human history: the death and Resurrection of Jesus the Christ.



This is the sign that Jesus speaks of when addressing the representatives of the scribes and of the Pharisees. Although Jesus had already performed many signs and wonders, the scribes and Pharisees demanded more. Jesus tells them that the greatest sign that will be given is the sign of Jonah “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12:40 Jesus says this, because there is no greater sign that demonstrates both the power of God over the forces of darkness and the relentless love of God that would send His Son to the Cross. The events on those three days would forever change the course of human history. To say that this sign of Jonah was an earth-shattering event is no exaggeration. The Gospel of Matthew records that the earth literally shook when Jesus died on the Cross, and also when He rose from the dead. It is the sign of Jonah that sends forth the glorious message “Your sins are forgiven! The devil is defeated! Death is swallowed up in victory!”



In the celebration of the three days, we do not celebrate a mere historical event. The tremors of the Christ event still resonate in a deeply personal manner in us even today. The Apostle Paul says “For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Colossians 2:9-15 Jesus was crucified for you. Jesus died for you. Jesus rose for you. Because He lives, you too shall live. Praise be to God! God bless you during your celebration of Holy Week and Easter.



Christ is Risen! He Is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia!



Yours in Christ,

Pastor Chuck Bylkas



2026

04/20/2026

This is our reminder letter, I did send out emails but some came back. If the church congregations can email their current contact information, I can use it when i send out our convention Packet
/agenda in May. If you want to text to me my number is on the EM web page.

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Apostolic Lutheran Church of America
EASTERN MISSION

Dear Congregations of the ALC Eastern Mission God’s Peace to all,

The 2026 Eastern Mission annual meeting will be held at North Greenville University, July 29,2026.

The Eastern Mission year ends on April 30th so if you haven’t done so yet please submit your financial contribution by April 30,2026.

I will be sending a copy of last year’s EM Annual meeting report along with the 2026 EM agenda and your delegate for the meeting as we get closer to the convention.

Please send me email addresses especially if they’ve changed for whom correspondence should be sent for your congregation.

Jonathan Salo
Secretary, Eastern Mission
201 S Van Buren Ave.
Eveleth, MN 55734
[email protected]

The Vision and Goal of the Eastern Mission is to provide the means of proclaiming the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in America from the East Coast to the Rocky Mountains.

04/13/2026

EM Newsletter April 2026

April 2026
Eastern Mission Board
Apr 3
4 min read

“And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering” Genesis 22:8.

There are many blessed passages in scripture that prophecy of the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This April we rejoice when we consider the events of Good Friday and Easter, not just as history, but as a personal confirmation of the work that our Savior performed for each one of us.

We can read of the many times that our Savior reminded his disciples, and those that were with him, of the mighty plan of redemption, and that He would have to suffer and ultimately die for the sins of the people and then rise again for their eternal hope and promise of eternal life. This is the whole story of the Bible, to show us and teach us that we indeed need a Savior, and then show, teach, and reveal to us this Savior who performed this work for our eternal redemption.

This world is filled with many people with many hearts, but one thing we all have in common is that each of us personally needs this Savior and this hope of Eternal Life. We cannot consider eternity with a peace in our hears and a confidence of obtaining eternal life without this personal knowledge that it is because of what Jesus has done to earn our salvation that grants us this confidence. We of ourselves have done nothing.

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all”. Isaiah 53:3-6.

Jesus cried out on Good Friday “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” Luke 23:34. Here we see as our Savior suffered and died on the cross, the great love that flowed from His lips and the cleansing blood that flowed forth from His holy wounds to cleans us, to purify us, to forgive us, to make us perfect in His Fathers sight. We preach this glorious gospel to all the broken and contrite and penitent ones that find themselves helpless of their own to make themselves better, all who have no hope in themselves. All who find that there is nothing else in all the world that can pacify the hurt, the pain, the sorrow, the guilt, the shame of sin, of iniquity, and the wrong. This is how we come to see ourselves when God’s Holy and eternal word finds us right where we are, when the Holy Spirit reveals to us our sin. We find like Scripture states, we have all gone astray, we know not what we do. We rejoice that God through His word and by His Holy Spirit reveals these matters to us and points us to this Sacrifice where we find cleansing, forgiveness, healing, comfort, peace, hope, faith, strength, and all the good that comes from our Savior when we by faith believe on Him. We rejoice also, that our dear Savior so personally speaks to us, comforts us, loves us, and continues to reveal Himself to us, more and more.

We ask of our Heavenly Father, of our Lord Jesus, of the Holy Spirit, that They would reveal and perfect these matters, in all of our minds and hearts. Today we rejoice, that for a surety, we know that this is not just a story, but this is the very essence of our lives of faith. We hold fast to these promises, and we remind each other again and again, of this finished work of redemption that was performed for each one of us. Although it happened so long ago, it is as real and personal today as it was then. We move forward in life toward eternity with this hope of eternal life because of this work of redemption, because we have a risen Lord Jesus that sits at the right hand of God the Father in Heaven interceding for each one of us.

“But I would not have you to be ignorant brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For is we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18.

In God’s Peace, and a Blessed Easter to all of you!

Mark Traffie