“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
(Psalm 23:5)
Dear Friends,
Greetings in the name of Jesus!
How many times have you read or heard the 23rd Psalm? It is a feature of every Fourth Sunday of Easter. It is a regular passage used by your pastor when you’re a patient in the hospital.
But there is this curious verse 5 about having dinner with your enemies watching you. That sounds rather ominous. One might envision getting indigestion from such a meal eaten under duress. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” What is that all about?
Yet, to be honest, that is a description of the Christian life. We live on this earth under God’s care but not without danger in our midst. We should believe and trust in the Lord and be kind to our neighbour, but there are all these distractions. They are the devil, the world, and our sinful nature described as follows:
- “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 ESV
- “Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin!” Matthew 18:7 NIV
- “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit.” Galatians 5:17 ESVNow He invites us to His Table – the Lord’s Supper. The devil, the world, and our sinful nature can only look on us in their defeated state as we receive the body and blood of our Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep. They cannot really touch us when we are solidly in the care of Jesus, our Good Shepherd.
Sunday (April 22) here at Prince of Peace…
9:00 am Matins with alternative accompaniment
9:00 am Sunday School & Adult Bible Class
10:30 am Matins with alternative accompaniment
11:30 am Youth Bible Study
Prince of Peace News …
Spaghetti Dinner and Baked Goods Live Auction: I urge you to attend this delicious and fun-sounding event. Invite your friends to come as well. Cost is $15 for adults, $10 for kids 5-12 years of age and kids 4 and under are free. This Spaghetti Dinner is a youth fundraiser helping them reach their goal to attend the National Youth Gathering in Langley, B.C. Currently, there are six youth from Prince of Peace planning to attend. Your help will be much appreciated and you will have a great time this Saturday.Come hungry to Prince of Peace this Saturday, April 21 at 5:00pm. Additionally, it is not too late to make a contribution to the baked-goods live auction.
Ladies Bible Study Breakfast: This Saturday morning at 9 o’clock. The group will be looking at the lives of Mary and Martha from the New Testament and Sarah from the Old. What do their lives have to do with ours today? You’ll be surprised! Come and find out.
Youth Bible Study: Calling all youth and confirmands – we will meet after church on Sunday to discuss a relevant topic with Pastor. Please join us!
Adult Bible Study: The Bible Study series “Uninvited” features bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst offering help to explore the roots of rejection; the lies we believe as a result; and the truth about who God is, who we are, and what it looks like to live loved. Join the class Sunday mornings at 9:00am downstairs. The coffee will be ready.
EDLYA (East District Lutheran Young Adults) invite you to a retreat May 4 to 6 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 30 Erie Ave N, Fisherville. Pastor Danielson is going to be the speaker and the topic is The Occult: A Christian Perspective. They want all of you 18-35 year olds to come out! For more info contact Erika Schroth-Gajdos erikaes12@gmail.com.
LWML-C Spring Rally “Life is Precious” – Saturday May 5 @ 9am. Guest speakers Tara Hart & Rev. Perry Hart on “Also Created & Redeemed by God – Special Needs Children”. To be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 30 Erie Ave. N, Fisherville. Ingathering for Haldimand Pregnancy Care & Family Centre. Please bring a dessert and/or fruit ready to serve.
Spring Clean Up Saturdays at Prince of Peace will be held on Saturdays, May 5 and 12. Stay tuned for further details. The time frame of our work will be 9:00am till noon. Come when you can.
Seminary’s Annual Golf Tournament: Mark your calendars now! Concordia Seminary’s annual golf tournament is scheduled for Monday, June 4th at Sawmill Golf Course in Fenwick, beginning at 11:30 am.
Annual March For Life event takes place in Ottawa May 10. Pilgrim Lutheran Church is planning to attend and they invite youth from our congregation to join them. They’ll depart Wednesday, May 9, by 4pm. St. Luke Lutheran Church, Ottawa has agreed to give shelter in the church for the night. On Thursday (day of the March), St. Luke’s is providing a light breakfast and sack lunch to eat on Parliament Hill. All that is needed is a little spending money and $15 to help cover gas and car rental. There’s music, speeches, the March, and return to the “Hill” for more speakers. The plan is to be back in Hamilton between 11-12pm. Confirmation age youth and young people are invited to attend. Adults are also welcome. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:13-14a) – from Pastor Mark Koehler. (Reply to Prince of Peace for a youth permission form.)
Online News …
Indigenous people and the Christian faith: a new way forward: Moving forward requires a realistic acknowledgement of the past in order to deal with it and its fallout. Read More
Back to the Catechism: Table of Duties: The Book of Concord never instructs us on how to preserve and grasp our own rights, but rather speaks of our obligation to preserve the rights of others. Read More
Forging Armour, Apologetics Conference: {RSVP Deadline May 16} Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kitchener and Rev. Perry Hart are hosting a Forging Armour Conference for ages 12 – 100 on May 26 (9:00 am – 3:30 pm). The Conference speaker, Rev. Charles St-Onge, will be talking on “Speaking Scientifically and Believing the Bible: thoughts from an Engineer–Sci-fi–Pastor.” This apologetics (making a defence for the faith we have) conference will speak to how one can appreciate science while loving the Bible. $25/person covers all expenses for the day, including food and all sessions. Register online at http://forgingarmour.com and click on “Conference” or contact Rev. Perry Hart at 519-742-1589 ext. 202.
In your prayers, please remember:
- Those being treated for cancer
- Those in declining health
The Lord be with you.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Pastor Kevin Walrath
