This Week at New Spirit Lutheran Church – Holy Week 2026
1. Pastor’s Reflection
Holy Week 2026. A week of mixed emotions. A week of traditions. If we are not careful it is very easy to think we know this story, that this story can’t speak to us in new ways. One way that we interpret the Bible is by looking at a text from three different levels. One of those levels is “the world in front of the text” or in other words what are we carrying with us as we approach a text. What preconceived notions do we carry? What biases do we carry? What kind of emotional weight are we bringing to the text. What is happening in the world around us as we engage with the text? These are all questions we ask at this level. As we journey through Holy week, let us keep these questions and others in our minds.
2. From Sunday’s Message
This week, instead of a sermon, we entered the story of Gospel of Mark chapters 14–15 by hearing the Passion read aloud. In that story, we see how fear, power, and fragile systems move against truth. Yet even in betrayal, suffering, and death, God’s love does not turn away. The good news is this: God’s love refuses to abandon the world.
Link to Sermon Blog: Read this week’s Sermon Blog, here.
3. This Sunday at New Spirit
Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10
Theme: Resurrection of Our Lord: Easter Day
Worship Time Reminder: 10:00 AM
From palms… to the cross… to resurrection. Stay with the story.
4. Life at New Spirit
A Feeding of Many
The meals for the homeless that happen every second Saturday of every month are a great place to be. I enjoy the company of the people while serving food or just setting up for the meals. As for the homeless themselves, we get some interesting characters. They come through and are great conversationalists. The average homeless or food insecure person or family that comes through are normal. Some small conversations will happen when serving food to them. We all enjoy them.
The food that is served is all homemade by the church people. The serving of the food lasts only a couple hours. We sometimes have double of some type of food and that is good. The most popular food that has been served so far is pasta based with meat and vegetables. The service itself is a relatively quiet and non-stressful experience I enjoy. The thing on my mind is having enough food to go around.
Helping those who are in need is a great thing to do. Does it make those who help feel good sure, though that isn’t the main point. This is not done to make those who organize this and help with this event to feel good about themselves, it’s about helping the people who come to this event. Whether it be food, or clothes, or medicinal supplies they need. The event does more than just feeding the homeless and food insecure, though it is the central focus. The church also has clothes and medicinal supplies and sometime pet supplies and blankets.
This month a woman came in after everyone else. She had four kids and their situation was not great at all. Truly homeless, some of our volunteers helped out with different needs she had. Some of us went through the last of our available food stock and packaged it all up for her and her children. There was one of us who was looking into getting available housing for them too. Situations like that family really get into our heads how lucky those of us are, how grateful we should all be for our housing and food that can be put onto the table at our homes.
Anonymous 18-year-old Author
We give thanks to this author for sharing one of the many stories from our 2nd Saturday event. This author is not a member of NSLC but comes with their grandparents every month for this service opportunity. One of the unique things about ministries at NSLC is that you don’t have to be an official member to participate in most of them. From our Blessings in a Backpack to the 2nd Saturdays to our Monday quilting group, and more, all are welcomed to participate.
5. Upcoming Opportunities
- Holy Week Schedule –Holy Week is March 29 – April 5.
- April 2 – Maundy Thursday, 6:00pm worship service.
- April 3 – Good Friday, our evening service at 6:00pm, Tenebrae worship service
- April 5 – Easter Sunday, Worship service at 10:00 am.
6. Prayer
Jesus, we have heard the story of Holy Week. Now help us stay with it. When we want to rush ahead to celebration, slow us down. When we want to skip past what is hard, hold us here. Keep us near you as the story moves. When the crowds shift, when the voices grow louder, when the path becomes clear and costly, give us the courage to remain. Stay with us in the tension, in the questions, in the quiet moments we would rather avoid.
Show us where love is calling us forward, even when it is uncomfortable, even when it asks something real of us. As we walk from palms…to the cross…to resurrection—teach us to trust that you are present in every part of the story.
Not just in the joy, but in the struggle. Not just in the victory, but in the waiting. And when the time comes, open our eyes to the life you are already bringing forth. Until then, keep us close. Amen.
7. Helpful Links
Sermon Blog: The Passion of Christ: A Love That Refuses to Abandon the World
Livestream: Palm/Passion Sunday, March 29, 2026 Livestream
Church Website: New Spirit Lutheran Church
