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First Annual

Beard Conference

A Men’s Leadership Retreat for WELS Churches in the Reno Area No Beards Required!

“It’s like oil running down on Aaron’s beard.” (Psalm 133)

Saturday, May 4, 2019 9:00 am to 2:00 pm

@ The Springs LC - Lunch Provided

It is evident that God is “pouring oil” on the ministry of WELS churches in the Reno area. All one has to do is look back over the past decade and see the blessings that have poured out on the Gospel ministry in our area. One congregation has become three. Worship has doubled. Our reach has been widened. We’ve been highlighted on WELS Connections and other synod publications, allowing us to inspire other ministries across the country. And the list goes on. In order to keep the “oil flowing,” we’d like to invite the men of our congregations, to the first “Beard Conference.” Don’t worry, beards aren’t required. The goal of the gathering will be to celebrate the unity we have as brothers in Christ. In addition, we’d like to consider how we can improve our individual congregation and joint ministry efforts.

In preparation, please pick up one of the sheets on the Display Table. There are some questions and exercises on the back to work through

ahead of time.

Join the Teen Group Saturday, May 18th at noon at Oxbow Nature Area, 3100 Dickerson Rd, Reno for a hike and picnic.

Wear comfortable shoes and bring water and a sack lunch. This is an easy hike and a fun adventure in our own backyard. If you need a ride, talk with Lydia Reed or Teri Salgado to arrange car-pools. Siblings are welcome with parent participation. Thanks to the Alano and Reed families for organizing this outing.

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

APRIL 28, 2019

“Sharing the unchanging Word of God with a changing world!”

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“Sharing the unchanging Word of God with a changing world!”

The Springs Ev. Lutheran Church 470 Rockwell Blvd. Sparks, NV 89441 Phone: (775) 354-2800 Website: TheSpringsLutheran.org

A Member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod ~ www.WELS.net

Pastor Steven Hillmer Cell: (775) 229-3194

Email: shillmer76@gmail.com

Vicar Jake Brohn Cell: (651) 239-4644

Email: jbrohn21@gmail.com

Welcome to The Springs Lutheran Church!

Welcome! What a glorious day! When Jesus rose from the grave, he proved that he was who he claimed to be – the Son of God. The reality that he conquered death gives us the certainty that we will rise from the dead, for he says, “Because I live, you also will live.” As such, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of our faith.

Thank you for celebrating with us today. As we go to the tomb with people like Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John, we realize that many of us came here today with hardships that weigh heavy on our hearts. But it’s not how you come to the empty tomb… it’s how you go away from it. May you go away joy, confidence, and the certainty of your forgiveness.

Prayer Before Worship Thanks to you, O Christ victorious! Thanks to you, O Lord of life! Death has now no power o’er us, You have conquered in the strife. Thanks because you did arise And have opened paradise! None can fully sing the glory, Of the resurrection story! Christian Worship 147 verse 2

Guest Preacher Our church is affiliated with two others in Reno: Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church (955 Peckham) and Light of the Valleys Lutheran Church (8790 Red Rock). Today, we welcome Pastor Joel Heckendorf from Light of the Valleys. Pastor Hillmer and Vicar Brohn are preaching at the other congregations.

Guests & Visitors If you are visiting with us today or have questions about The Springs Lutheran Church, please contact us using the information at the bottom of this page or leave a note using the Connection Card located in the back of the pew.

Children If your child becomes restless and you need a “place of retreat,” feel free to make use of the Cry Room in the back of the church.

Restrooms are though the narthex down the hallway on the left.

Thank you for silencing your cell phones before worship.

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Highlights and Announcements Please join us for refreshments and fellowship following worship. More information about The Springs Lu-theran Church is available on the tables in the Fellowship Hall.

Sunday Bible Classes Our Sundays begin with Bible study for all ages here at 9:00 am. There are 3 classes for younger children, a teen Bible class, and an adult class. Next week in our adult class, we will begin a new series on the Lord’s Prayer.

Midweek Bible Classes Resume Our Wednesday class meets at 7:00pm. The Adults are studying the book of Romans. NEW!! Cristie Gilkey, Jenny Hillmer and Rachel Brohn are teaching post-Easter Bible stories of Jesus and making use of our new instruments to teach them hymns. The Adult Bible Class portion on Romans is also offered on Fridays at 10:30 am

Bible Information Class If you would like to learn more about the Bible, we have a great class just for you! We will be starting a new class on Thursday nights after Easter. If you or someone you know is interested, please speak with Pastor or Vicar.

Church Work Day - Thanks You! Thanks to all who helped out cleaning the church inside and out.

Replacement Piano Opportunity Our Church council approved the purchase of our new piano from our Building Fund. To help replace these funds, we are encouraging members to help with this project. You may do so with the blue “Building Fund” offering envelopes or put a note “Building Fund—Piano” on your gift.

WELS Board for Home Missions Meetings - were held the first week of April. The Board re-viewed all the current missions and the new start requests, along with all the Vicar-in-Missions re-quests. Our congregation did apply for a subsidized Vicar for 2019-20; however due to funding cuts our request was not approved. While there still may be some adjustments, it is likely we will not have a Vicar next year.

Ministry Coordinator Position - Our Elders and our Christian Education chairman have brought to the Council, and ultimately to the congregation, a request for a Part-time (20 hrs a week) Minis-try Coordinator. This person would help to coordinate the planning of worship, work with our chil-dren’s ministry and help facilitate better congregational communication. These three areas were identified as needs during the Ministry Evaluation sessions in February. Handouts have been pre-pared that explain this position in greater detail. You can also direct your questions and comments to Jordan Bonow, Ryan Gilkey or Larry Porath.

Watch Worship Online If you can’t make it on a Sunday here to church, you can always watch our services which are Livestreamed and recorded. Click on the link on our website which will take you directly to our YouTube channel.

Confirmation Sunday will be Sunday, May 12. During the 9:15 hour, we will have our Examina-tion Review of the Catechism in the sanctuary. Our two confirmands, Robert Deboy and Grace Alano, will be confirmed during the 10:30 am service.

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This Week at The Springs...

Today 12:00 pm

2:00 pm

Youth Confirmation Class—8th Grade only No Bible Information Class Tree of Life Board Meeting

Monday 9 to 3 Pastors’ Conf. - St. Peter’s Lutheran, Modesto, CA

Wednesday 7:00 pm Midweek Bible Class & Children’s Music

Thursday 7:00 pm 7:00 pm

Bible Information Class Elders Meeting

Friday 10:30 am Midweek Bible Class

Saturday 9 - 2 pm Men’s Leadership Retreat - Beard Conference

Serving the Lord This Week Next Week May 5

Ushers Early - Ryan Gilkey

Adam Porath

Late - Jamison Buckley

Matthew Schlittenhart

Early - Jeff Schlittenhart

Kevin Schlittenhart

Late - Ken Deboy

Yuan Liang

Snacks Dan & Karen Barbera

Marilyn Hanson

Dave & Pam Clizer

Marvis Beutel, Nancy Beutel

Counters Al Koch Kevin Schlittenhart

Pam Clizer

Jay Brown

Music Jenny Hillmer Jenny Hillmer

In Our Prayers Rachel Brohn’s uncle, David (leukemia); Yuan Liang (whose grandfather passed away); Rick Feldman (cancer treatments); Larry Porath’s brother, Dale (continued health challenges); Joe Banholzer (wrist surgery 4/3); Nancy Deboy’s niece and her family (multiple emotional and physical challenges); Robert Wood (guidance as he cares for his aunt).

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Our Easter Worship Continues

“To and From the Tomb”

Welcome A Reading from God’s Word Luke 23:50 - 24:1

Sung Response: Hymn 104:4

Early hasten to the tomb Where they laid his breathless clay; All is solitude and gloom. Who has taken him away? Christ is ris’n! He meets our eyes. Savior, teach us so to rise.

Confession and Absolution

Leader Even though we celebrated our Savior’s victory last week, we often fail to live with the joy and confidence the empty tomb provides. So we confess:

Group Victorious and risen Lord, forgive me for often living like I am on the

wrong side of Easter. For the times we grieve our personal losses more than celebrating your victory, we are sorry. For the times we carry our guilt even though you have said, “All is forgiven,” we are sorry. For the times we have doubted your promises, we are sorry. Forgive us.

Leader Brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus was delivered over to death and raised

to life for your justification. By his resurrection, you are declared, “Not guilty.” Bask in the joy and certainty that, “He is risen!”

Group He is risen, indeed! Congregation stands to sing the following hymn.

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP FOR

THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

APRIL 28, 2019

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Hymn 160 This Joyful Eastertide Call to Worship our Triune God

Leader We gather for worship, on this glorious day, in the name of the Father: Group Who raised his Son from the dead. Alleluia! Leader We gather for worship, on this victorious day, in the name of the Son: Group Who rose triumphant from the grave. Alleluia! Leader We gather for worship, on this joyous day, in the name of the Holy Spir-

it: Group Who brought us to know and believe the great victory which we have

in Christ Jesus. Alleluia!

Prayer of the Day

Leader Almighty God, by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ you conquered death and opened the gate to eternal life. Grant that we, who have been raised with him through baptism, may not see Easter as a once a year event, but a life-changing one. Lead us to daily walk in the newness of life and ever rejoice in the hope of sharing his glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit be dominion and praise now and forever.

Group Amen.

Be seated.

Children’s Message

We invite our young children up through grade school age to come forward to sit on the altar steps as we share a brief message of God’s love for them.

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A Mission Update from

History & Timeline Over ten years ago, the members of Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church adopted a “5 in 20” ministry plan, with the goal of having five minis-tries in the Reno area within 20 years. The Springs was the first result of that plan. In spring of 2018, Light of the Valleys (LOV) launched worship as the next part of that plan. Since August, LOV began worshiping at 8790 Red Rock in the North Valleys. Pastor Joel Heckendorf arrived in December 2018 as the first full-time pastor.

Highlights of the Past Four Months • Average worship attendance has increased from 16 (December) to 38 (April). • 154 individual worshipers since December, 56 of which are non-WELS • Over 20 first-time guests on Easter • Monthly Community Nights & Easter Funday Event • Community Awareness • Ongoing support from sister Churches & WELS

How Can You Assist • Prayer & Encouragement • Tell your friends and family who live in the North Valleys • Assist with ministry tasks (worship, events, canvass, etc.) • Financial support • Be part of a launch team for at least a year

Sunday Worship - 9:30 am

www.LightoftheValleys.org

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Prayer & Lord’s Prayer

ALL Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Leader Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive wisdom and power and honor and glory and praise!

ALL SING Then sing your hosannas and raise your glad voice; Proclaim the blest tidings that all may rejoice. Laud, honor, and praise to the Lamb that was slain, Who now sits in glory and ever shall reign. Christian Worship 143: 5

Blessing

Leader The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace. Leader Confident that all of God’s promises are “Yes” in Christ, let all God’s people say: ALL Amen.

Be seated.

Closing Hymn 588:6,7 Abide with Me

Silent Prayer

We encourage you to take these last moments of worship for silent prayer as the candles are extin-guished and the organist plays softly.

Copyright Acknowledgements Content requiring a copyright license is reproduced under OneLicense.net #A-721771. All rights reserved.

Scripture Quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV 1984), Copyright @ 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica.

Artwork by Ian. M Welch. Copyright 2015 Ian M. Welch. All Rights Reserved. Paramentics.com

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A Lesson from God’s Word Exodus 15:1-11 Just as the Israelites rejoiced in the deliverance from the oppressive hand of the Egyptians, so we too rejoice in our God’s great deliverance from the oppression of sin, death and Satan.

1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has

hurled into the sea. 2 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my sal-vation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

3 The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name. 4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea. The best of Pharaoh’s officers are drowned in the Red Sea. 5The deep waters have covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone.

6 “Your right hand, O Lord, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy. 7 In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stub-ble. 8 By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up. The surging waters stood firm like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.

9 “The enemy boasted, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.’ 10 But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

11 “Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you— majestic in holi-ness, awesome in glory, working wonders?

Hymn 166:1,3 The Day of Resurrection

Gospel John 20:1-18

Christ is Risen! No more fears, no more mourning. Jesus lives forevermore.

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The

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cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

10 Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11 but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two an-gels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have

put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

15 “Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell

me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means

Teacher). 17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father.

Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”

18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Sermon Focus

We come to the tomb with:

______________ & ______________

______________ & ______________

_______________________________

We go from the tomb with:

______________ & ______________

______________ & ______________

_______________________________

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Hymn 159 Morning Breaks upon the Tomb

Connection Cards

We are delighted you have joined us for worship today and we would love to stay connected with you. To help us do so, please fill out the Connection Card in the seat back. You may place it in the offering plate as the offer-ing is gathered or hand it to one of the ushers.

Offering & Online Giving It is the joy and privilege of the members of The Springs Lutheran Church to support the Gospel outreach in the Spanish Springs area. If you are visiting with us today, please do not feel obligated to participate in the offer-ing. As God’s Word moves your heart, know that your offerings will support the spread of the Gospel. Also, you have the option of giving gifts online through our website: www.TheSpringsLutheran.org. Click on “Online Giving” in the upper right corner to give a one time gift or set up reoccurring gifts each month.

THE SACRAMENT

The Service continues on Page 21

Distribution Hymns 311 Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness

Distribution

The Scriptures teach that the celebration of the Lord’s Supper connects us intimately with Christ and with one another as Christians who are united around a common confession of faith. (1 Cor. 10) While the Lord’s Supper is a tremendous gift, our Lord instructs us that we properly prepare our hearts and understand what we are doing so that we do not misuse this sacrament or even sin against our Lord by partaking in an unworthy manner. (1 Cor. 11)

Therefore it is out of love that we practice “Close Communion” and kindly ask you for the oppor-tunity to meet with the pastor before you commune with us for the first time so that the Sacrament may truly be a blessing to you. For those who will be participating, you may find page 156 in the front of the hymnal helpful as you prepare to receive the Lord’ Supper.

After Communion, we stand for the Song of Thanksgiving and prayer.

Song of Thanksgiving on page 24