WISCONSIN – On the Thursday night before Easter, Maundy Thursday, New Life joined friends from two other churches for a potluck, service and worship. Three pastors shared brief messages reflecting on Jesus’ words to his disciples as he prepared them for his arrest and crucifixion. I spoke on behalf of New Life, joined by Rev. A.J. Strutz of Baraboo First Church of the Nazarene and Rev. Dr. Dan Gunderson, pastor of Walnut Hill Bible Church, the host church. The service ended with shared communion.
On Friday evening at New Life, we hosted a Passover Meal (or Seder) for roughly 25 people. We were pleased to have in attendance a missionary with Jews for Jesus, Jennifer Razzouk, who guided attendees through the six items on the Seder plate and their meanings. All were challenged to understand the meaning of the Passover and the Passover meal, so that they might have a greater understanding and thankfulness for God’s rescue.
On Easter Sunday morning, we hosted our annual Norwegian Pancake breakfast. Starting at 8:30, orders were taken for crepe-like pancakes with a choice of strawberry or raspberry filling and sausage, with choice of beverage.
Our Easter morning service followed featuring a special song from the choir “Long Live the King,” followed by other worship songs and a message. At the end of the service, we baptized Oliver Taylor, Taylor Wegner, Volc Long, Unique Nyholm and Theresa Zabel. The congregation left challenged to not only follow Jesus but to continue choosing to let him change their daily lives.
