Faith Community Lutheran Church LCMS

04/09/2026

Movies like Fight Club and The Sixth Sense have the kind of startling finales that shock us into rewinding our minds back to the beginning. We thought we were just watching one thing, but it turns out we were watching that one thing and something else entirely.

Once we reach the end, it revolutionizes our understanding of everything that came before.

Something like that happens when we watch the “movie” of Leviticus and arrive at the final Christ-scene.

Jaws drop.
Minds rewind.
Eyes see.

At first, we view Leviticus as a bewildering and seemingly repetitive presentation of sacrifices, priests, and rituals. Lots of blood. Lots of impurity talk. Lots of goats and lambs and bulls.

Then we come to the final scene, as we did today in Bible in One Year, reading Leviticus 8–10 alongside Hebrews 9.

Suddenly, we are compelled to go back and watch the Leviticus movie again. Only now, we are not seeing the same thing. We are seeing far more.

We begin to see Christ everywhere.

Christ, our priest.
Christ, our sacrifice.
Christ, our tabernacle.
Christ everywhere.

Hebrews is that final scene that changes everything.

He is the priest who is washed, baptized in the Jordan River by the hand of John the Baptist, the son of a priest. He is the high priest of the good things to come, who enters through the greater and more perfect tabernacle into the holy places of heaven itself, not with the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood.

What Leviticus whispers, Hebrews shouts from the rooftops.

04/09/2026

Our Next Youth Activity. Sign up on Mrs. Guse's Door!

04/08/2026

Pastor Jake says, "Who is the first person who comes to mind? Do it. Courage!"

04/06/2026

The body of Jesus lay cloaked in the dark. Cold. Waxen. Put your ear to his chest. No ba-bum, ba-bum of a pulsating heart. No gentle rise and fall as the lungs filled and emptied. Just a co**se, scarred by whip and nail and thorn. A smiling young mother once swaddled him; now, tear-stained cloths wrap him round about.

He had walked on the water, but was spiked to the wood.
He had touched the l***r, but was nailed to the cross.
He had spoken words of life, but gave a final gasp.

The Messiah was dead.

Then it happened. In a flash, in that dark stone tomb, the body—did you see it?—it twitched. If your hand had been on his, your hair would have stood on end as you felt the warmth of blood run down the veins in his arms, into his hands, through his fingers.

Suddenly, his hand, strong as iron, grips yours.

A sharp intake of breath. His eyelids open. He blinks, once, twice.

And there it is. See it? First, just a hint, a playful movement at the edge of his lips, then a broad and victorious smile spreads across his face.

He sits up. He lifts his hands, palms facing him, to look at the scars. He glances toward his side to see the wound from the Roman spear. He leans forward, gazing down at his feet. There they are, the trophies of redemption, beautifully scarred sermons of love.

He is alive. He stands. He moves.

It is time to vacate his briefly borrowed tomb. He will need it no more. Not now, not ever.

Stand and marvel at him, death’s victor, the grave’s conqueror, who plants his flag of conquest over the grave of every child of God, waving a banner of hope as the winds of time blow us closer and closer to our resurrection day.

It is the day of resurrection, my friend. Join me in mocking death. Rally round the empty tomb to fill the air with “Christ is risen!”

He is risen, indeed. And because of that, nothing will ever be the same.

04/06/2026

This Week at Faith Community Lutheran

Monday 6:00 PM — Safety & Security Meeting

Tuesday 10:00 AM — Women’s Fellowship
” 6:30 PM — Knowing Rediscovered Small Group
” 7:00 PM — Following Jesus Small Group (Amy)

Wednesday 10:00 AM — Midweek Bible Study
“ 6:00 PM — Confirmation
” 6:00 PM — HS Bible Study
” 6:00 PM — Worship Team
” 7:00 PM — Elders Meeting
” 7:00 PM — AA Meeting

Thursday 9:00 AM — Faith Pantry Food Distribution
“ 11:00 AM — Home School Game Day
“ 6:30 PM — Council Meeting
“ 6:30 PM — Following Jesus Small Group (Brian)

Friday 7:00 PM — NA Meeting

Fri. – Sun. District Youth Gathering – Wilmar

Next Sunday 8:45 AM — Sunday School
“ “ 8:45 AM — Adult Bible Study
“ “ 8:45 AM — Apologetics Outpost
“ “ 10:00 AM — Sunday Worship
“ “ 11:30 AM — LERT Team Meeting

There will be no refreshments served after worship today. Please take this time to enjoy this blessed Easter day with your family.

Due to Holy Week, the April Elders Meeting is scheduled for this Wed, April 8 at 7 PM. As usual, you are encouraged to reach out to any of your Elders before the meeting with any spiritual needs or concerns. Your Elders are: Al K, Brian O, Curt H, Dennis B, Joel S, Len P, and Mike L.

Evangeline G is officially on her way to Peru for a linguistics/bible translation summer internship. Grab her newsletter in the lobby and if you're moved to support her work, mark your gift "Peru". Her budget is just shy of $4,000. She will share in bible class and during worship on Sunday, April 19th.

Youth in grades 6-12 are going bowling on Sunday, April 19, 4-8 pm in Monticello. Friends are welcome! Sign up on Mrs. Guse's door by Wednesday, April 15.

Please join us next Sunday April 12 at 8:45am to hear from LERT members who spent a week in North Carolina helping those still recovering from Hurricane Helene. Stories and pictures will be shared during bible study hour and some sharing during worship. Come join us to hear how we did God’s work and how others did God’s work to us.

Thank you to everyone that brought in an Easter lily or spring flowering plant for this Easter morning. Please feel free to pick up and take your plant(s) home anytime after worship today.

Thank you to all the volunteers that signed up and helped with our Free Community Meal on Thurs., April 2. We served 62 meals and really appreciate the help we received – Lori M & Jan R.

LWML Rum River Zone Spring Rally on Sat., April 18, 2026 at Joy Lutheran Church, 33525 Jefferson St. NE, Cambridge, MN (New Address). Starting at 9am with registration at 8:30am. Theme: “We Are Called” with speaker Candice Bicondoa. Project 24, a MN North District mission project building orphanages in Kenya. Ingathering: Diapers (size 3, 4 or 5/any brand), baby wipes, baby food or formula for the Cambridge Crisis Pregnancy Center. Please join us for fellowship, food and fun!! The cost is $6.00 per person. All women welcome!

13th Annual Quilt Bingo on Sunday, April 12 at 1pm at Christ Our Light Catholic Parish, 11700 293rd Ave NW, Princeton, MN. Win quilt of your choice. Quilts in a variety of sizes, colors and designs. Bingo Cards are: $1 for $15, 2 for $25 or 3 for $35. Crafts and quilts are also available for purchase. Drawing & door prizes awarded. Bag lunch $6, snacks and beverages available.

Would you like to pay a visit to Jan D in Cambridge? She would love a visit from her friends here at FCLC. Connect with her and make arrangements.

Sunday School Offering - Our Sunday School students are currently collecting offerings to support Orphan Grain Train. OGT is a “Nonprofit Christian volunteer network that shares personal and material resources with needy people in America and around the world.” More information can be found at ogt.org and if you wish, you can add your donation to the jar in the fellowship hall.

Please pick up a copy of the new Portals of Prayer (April-June) from the welcome table in the lobby.

Women's Retreat at Lutheran Island Camp is just around the corner, April 17-19. There is still room to sign up and room to carpool. Talk with Amy Guse if you have questions or need financial assistance. Sign up on her office door to carpool. Register at islandcamp.org

Praise Reports & Prayer Requests are NOT shared online.

04/03/2026

Good Friday April 3, 2026

a message entitled

"He Could Not Save Himself"
or
"The Gospel According To Bob Newhart"

based upon Matthew 27:39-44

39 Those who passed by insulted him. They shook their heads 40 and said, "You were going to tear down God's temple and build it again in three days. Save yourself! If you're the Son of God, come down from the cross." 41 The chief priests together with the experts in Moses' Teachings and the leaders made fun of him in the same way. They said, 42 "He saved others, but he can't save himself. So he's Israel's king! Let him come down from the cross now, and we'll believe him. 43 He trusted God. Let God rescue him now if he wants. After all, this man said, 'I am the Son of God.' " 44 Even the criminals crucified with him were insulting him the same way.
-GOD'S WORD

04/03/2026

Good Friday April 3, 2026

a message entitled

“He Could Not Save Himself”
or
“The Gospel According To Bob Newhart”

based upon Matthew 27:39-44

39 Those who passed by insulted him. They shook their heads 40 and said, “You were going to tear down God’s temple and build it again in three days. Save yourself! If you’re the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 The chief priests together with the experts in Moses’ Teachings and the leaders made fun of him in the same way. They said, 42 “He saved others, but he can’t save himself. So he’s Israel’s king! Let him come down from the cross now, and we’ll believe him. 43 He trusted God. Let God rescue him now if he wants. After all, this man said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” 44 Even the criminals crucified with him were insulting him the same way.
-GOD’S WORD

04/03/2026

Good Friday

That head, which angels with ceaseless praise adorn,
Is pierced with crowded thorns.

That face, which our God with grace and beauty lit,
Is marred by sinners’ spit.

Those eyes, outshining the sun’s most piercing light,
Are dull as sable night.

Those ears, accustomed to praise from heaven’s host,
Must hear his haters boast.

That mouth, whose wisdom the wisest could enthrall,
Tastes vinegar and gall.

Those feet, whose footstool is this terrestrial sphere,
To bloody wood adhere.

Those hands, which stretched out the heavens like a tent,
By spikes in twain are rent.

That tongue, uninjured, shall cry from that cursed tree,
A prayer of love for me.

04/03/2026