April 2026 – Digital Newsletter

Click HERE to download full printable PDF

Contents

• From the Pastor
• Saint of the Month
• Life-to-Life Evangelism with Matt Kay-Final Session
• Ask the Pastor
• Holy Week Schedule
• Christ in the Passover
• VBS 2026
• Giving Service to the Lord
• Church Council Minutes

Happy… Easter? Passover? Pascha?
When he was visiting with us during Lent, Rabbi Mark Shulman made some comments that I would… dispute. Mark is a friend, and I was grateful for him taking the time to come to our congregation, but there were a number of things he said that were disputable, and put plainly, just historically wrong.
One of these is that the word Easter comes from the word Ishtar, who was an ancient Mesopotamian goddess of love, fertility, sex, and war. She held an important place in the worship of the Akkadian, Babylonian, and Assyrian cultures that surrounded Israel in the Old Testament and whose gods and goddesses were the idols against which the prophets railed regularly. The idea that the modern word “Easter” has Ishtar as its base came from 19th century atheists who thought that the resurrection of Jesus was an invention of the early Church, who they believed used pagan myths as their inspiration.
Unfortunately for their theory, it is completely historically wrong. Philology, the science of how languages develop, demonstrates conclusively that the origin of the word Easter is the ancient Anglo-Saxon word Oestre. Early Christian historian the Venerable Bede mentions this word as originally referring to a pagan goddess of the British Isles (not Mesopotamia) for festivals were held in April and whose worshipers Christians had to evangelize. Because of Christian evangelization, those celebrations and the name Oestre with whom they were associated came simply to designate the season of Spring, when the celebration of Jesus’s resurrection always happens. In other words, naming the resurrection of Jesus “Easter” is a way of proclaiming the triumph of YHWH over the pagan gods and goddesses that had lured His people toward death for centuries.
A related mistake Rabbi Shulman made is when he claimed that the Council of Nicaea (who gave us the Nicene Creed) established the celebration of Easter in order to replace the Jewish celebration of Passover. This is nonsense, and in the language of Greek–the language in which the New Testament is written and the Council of Nicaea was conducted–it is quite literally a ridiculous thought. This is because the word for Easter and the word for Passover are the same word, Pascha, which is merely a transliteration of the Hebrew word for Passover, Pesach. In other words, to those who heard first the decrees of the Council, Pascha was being replaced by… Pascha?
You see, Christians (including Jewish Christians) were already referring to the celebration of Christ’s resurrection as Pascha because, since Christ is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, His resurrection was the fulfillment of what God had done as a type of Christ (Romans 5:14) in the original Passover meal. Whereas the original Passover was performed so that the angel of death would pass over the homes of the Hebrew slaves in Egypt so that they might be set free from slavery under Pharaoh, Christ’s resurrection (and our being united to it through Baptism) made the angel of death pass over Christians forever, setting them free from slavery to sin, death, and the devil.
The Council did establish the way for setting the date for Christians to celebrate Pascha, but that is because Christians were already debating this among themselves, and Emperor Constantine called the Council in order to get Christians to stop arguing among themselves on several issues now that he had made Christianity legal. In fact, the time to celebrate Easter was far less important than how Christians understood Jesus as both divine and human… which is why the Nicene Creed describes both Jesus’s divinity and humanity at such length.
On Sunday, April 12th, the Sunday after Easter, I will explore these and other issues related to Rabbi Shulman’s presentation, but for now, have confidence when I or another Christian greets you with the phrase, “Happy Easter!” knowing that the history of this phrase is Biblically faithful, and is a valid development of the more ancient Christian proclamation, “Christ is risen… He is risen, indeed!”

Like St. Paul, Lutherans refer to all those in Christ as “saints,” and we look to the great ones as role models in the faith.

This month we are remembering St. Catherine of Siena on Wednesday, April 29th. She was born on March 25, 1347 to wool dyers, and was child number twenty-five, though many died in infancy. She was a mystic and had her first vision at age six. Her parents wanted her to marry, but she refused, dedicating her life to God. She began fasting and became a tertiary in the Third Order of St. Dominic at age sixteen, later giving her family’s food and clothing to the poor and needy, though they opposed her. St. Catherine also went to hospitals and homes to care for the sick. Moreover, she wanted to reform in the church, she was a “peacemaker” in the land, she helped start a crusade, and returned the papacy to Rome. St. Catherine wrote hundreds of letters, her Dialogue, which recorded her mystic experiences and her prayers. She died, age thirty-three, on April 29th of a paralytic stroke in 1380.
As we read this, let us remember Romans 12:1-2, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
A few quotes by Saint Catherine of Siena include:
“Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world ablaze.”
“Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.”
“All the way to heaven is heaven, because Jesus said, ‘I am the way.’”
“Hope comes from love, because people always trust in those they love.”

If you attended the Life-to-Life Evangelism sessions during Lent, you were privileged to have some great conversations and hear some great teaching, but what happens when people don’t welcome your witness? When they come back at you with objections to the Christian faith or even anger that you would share the gospel with them?
This is when it becomes crucial to listen and love well… not just as Jesus would, but in the power of Christ Himself. Join us for the final presentation in this series, a “deep dive” into loving well through tense moments with those for whom the gospel is not “good news” but rather, is felt as an attack on their own self-understanding, relationships, or worldview. Date is TBA.

We are incredibly blessed to have a congregation characterized by strong teaching ministries. Whether it be the Bible or the Lutheran Catechisms, we have strong offerings to help fortify you in your Christian walk.
Over the last few months, however, multiple congregation members have come to me with questions relating to other areas of the Christian life; apologetics, Church history, theology, spirituality, liturgy, prayer… as the Spirit is growing our faith, He seems to be sparking a hunger for new and more varied aspects of the Christian life.
Unfortunately, mind reading is not a gift they give you upon ordination, so this month we are running a survey to find out where the Spirit is drawing us as a community, when would be a good time to offer such a class, and what format would work best for us to meet this apparently growing need. If you have an interest in a class like this and think you would participate, please fill out and turn in a copy of the survey. You can fill in a paper copy of the survey at the sign-in station in the social hall or by printing the survey on page 10 and turning it into the wall baskets at the sign-up station, the church office, the library, or the pastor’s office. Or if you are tech-savvy, you can fill in the survey on our church website at https://holycrossnazareth.org/pastor-class-survey/ or by scanning the QR code below.
Thanks in advance for helping us better meet your needs!

On March 25, 2026, Holy Cross hosted “Christ in the Passover: An Interactive Experience.” This powerful, interactive experience, led by Samuel Rood of Jews for Jesus, illustrated the link between the Jewish feast of Passover and the last supper Jesus shared with His disciples.
If you were unable to join us for this event, you can view a video of the Jews for Jesus presentation on the symbols of Passover and how they point to Christ here: https://youtu.be/c72-se67Q6M
Samuel Rood weaved the story of the exodus and freedom from slavery together with the messianic hope realized in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. The words “do this in remembrance of me” takes on an even deeper meaning to Christians when we learn the significance of the tradition Jesus observed the night before He died and gives us a closer look at the very Jewish life He led.

Coming this July!

Vacation Bible School 2026
For ALL ages
July 20-24, 2026
6-8 PM (Dinner at 5:00 PM)

“Small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life” – Matthew 7:14
ASKING FOR PRAYERS AND VOLUNTEERS!

Please pray:

• that we may answer God’s call and serve Him wherever we are needed.
• that all helpers will be a blessing to the children who will attend VBS by helping to bring them closer to a life in Christ.
• for the children who will attend VBS this summer. Jesus said, in Matthew 19:13, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Needed: Advertising, Craft preparation, Set-up, Registration, Leaders and helpers (for Storytelling, Music, Crafts, and Games stations), Guides (to take children to stations), Computer Tech helper, Nurse, Nursery Attendant, Dinner preparation and serving.

We pray that the people whom God is calling to participate in VBS will enthusiastically say “Yes, I choose…” to follow Him and serve! If you are willing to help and serve in the preparation, set-up, and/or running of the VBS program, please sign up at the Volunteer Station in the Social Hall!

COMPLETE Church Council Minutes are posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex. Attachments are filed in the church office with the originals.
The meeting minutes summarized here are pending Council approval at next month’s meeting.
Meeting Highlights for March 12, 2026 (Thursday)

Nine members present. (Tim Kryman via phone)
Absent: Lynne Auger & AJ Arfanella
GUESTS: Pastor Jenkins
Review of Reports:
Secretary’s Report – BSA Troop 74 has requested use of our facility for an Eagle Scout Court of Honor to be held on Sunday, April 19 from 1-8pm and to setup on Saturday, April 18. Application emailed to President and Vice President of Council for their approval due to timing. Facility use request submitted by Laura Longley for use of room 2B to hold her women’s small group bible study every other Tuesday evening beginning 3/17 and ending on 5/26. Application included in President’s folder. Approved.
Treasurer’s Report – Category Overview provided, month by month. Some explanation given by Lois about why general online giving is different between Category Overview and Income Statement. Lois explained that the amounts take longer to go into the Income Statement, so the numbers are not the same.
Pastor’s Report – Response to the Lenten sermon series has been good so far. 32 people attended Matt Kay’s workshop. 35 attended the second week. Lenten suppers have averaged 25-30 people. Jews for Jesus will be hosting March 25 Lenten supper. The workshop includes the elements of the Passover meal and will cost $150 for travel and a freewill offering. We are keeping the website where it is. No hosting change. Sanctuary computer came back in five days and is set up. African Children’s Choir contacted us about doing another concert. A date of 10/3 has been selected with a meal, and they will come to Sunday worship and stay for a potluck. It was suggested by Rich that we get Thrivent cards and cater the event.
Committee Reports:
Christian Education: See hard copy of minutes.
Fellowship Committee: See hard copy of minutes.
Hospitality/Funeral Servers: See hard copy of report.
Social Ministry: See hard copy of report.
Spiritual Care Team: “We continue to send get well, thinking of you, sympathy, etc. cards to those who need a kind word letting them know that their friends in Christ of thinking of them. Barbara continues to visit with our homebound members.
Women of Abundance: See hard copy of minutes.
Other Committee Reports: See hard copy of the Quarterly Committee Heads meeting notes/minutes.
Old Business: Church Directory- discussion about low turnout and possibly making more announcements. Andy said some are still asking him questions and may want photos at different times. He said he would take care of it for them. Security cameras – Andy explained four solar cameras have been installed with three wired camberas remaining. Andy gave an overview of how cameras work with AI and tracking.
New Business: Rabbi Shulman visit on March 15.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.