LWML e-News #37 During these weeks following Easter, we remember the glorious celebration of Christ's resurrection and His triumph over sin and death. Let us continue to join Together in Prayer Every Monday at Noon and say with the angels: ... He has risen, just as He said. Matt. 28:6 NIV Thank You, Jesus, for loving me so very much that You became the ultimate sacrificial Lamb just for me. You continually bear my grief and carry my sorrow as You walk beside me each day. Your precious blood washes my soul clean, so that the Father sees me through the purifying lens of the cross. Easter is what faith is all about, isn't it, God? I can almost see You bursting from the tomb in all Your heavenly splendor as You crush Satan's head, defeating him for me. Help me always to remember that You are in control of my life. You have all the power over sin, death and the devil. Increase my desire more and more each day to follow wherever You lead me in Your service until I stand before You in heaven. I thank and praise you with all my heart. Hallelujah! Amen. HE IS RISEN! LWML President Linda Reiser shares her thoughts on this Easter season: Easter is ... He is risen! HE IS RISEN INDEED! Alleluia! EASTER IS today in our lives! We can awake each day to the Easter reminders around us: sunshine after the darkness of night, blooming flowers, new green grass and waking to a new day after a restful night's sleep. These are reminders that EASTER IS the power of a God who brings life from death. Some of you will be planting flower seeds or garden seeds this spring. As you plant, you expect each of those very small seeds will be the source of great results and produce rich, positive fruit or beautiful flowers to enjoy. In much the same way, I encourage you to plant some very small, but very positive "mustard seeds" in the lives of those around you daily. Share the blessings God has given you, tell the Easter story to someone else, send a card, share a hug, give encouragement or be an LWML mentor to someone. Even planting the smallest of seeds can produce great results. In Christ's love for us on the cross, we can see the arms reaching out to enfold us one by one in His undying love. In that love, we are united in His family. Sing with me, "Oh, How He Loves You and Me"! Oh, how He loves you and me; Oh, how He loves you and me. He gave His life what more could He give? Oh, how He loves you; Oh, how He loves me; Oh, how He loves you and me. Jesus to Calv'ry did go, His love for sinners to show. What He did there brought hope from despair, Oh, how He loves you; Oh how He loves me; Oh, how He loves you and me. From the grave that Easter morn, Jesus to life was reborn. He rose again to overcome sin. Oh, how He loves you; Oh, how He loves me; Oh, how He loves you and me. Kurt Kaiser Song Number 15850. Copyright 1975 Word Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) CCLI#927254 Verse 3 written by Rev. William Voelker, Peace Lutheran Church, Grand Island, Nebraska, used with permission. PRINTABLE PROGRAM HELPS Did you know that free, printable program helps are available for you to download from the LWML Web site? The programs available have recently been updated, so check out http://www.lwml.org/catalog/program_helps.html#program_helps to see what's new! You can also browse additional resources available through the LWML Catalog, including a CD that contains more than 80 program helps. WE NEED YOU! Did your LWML or congregational group hold a terrific Lent or Easter event recently? Were any devotions, sketches or Bible studies written specifically for your event? If so, we need YOU to submit your writings to the Christian Resources Editors Committee at: depcl@lwml.org These manuscripts go through an editing process that includes LCMS doctrinal review and may be included in the new LWML Catalog. Thank you. Please remember we need you! THE LUTHERAN WOMEN'S MISSIONARY LEAGUE The Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML), with a membership of over 250,000, is the official women's auxiliary of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The LWML focuses on affirming each woman in her relationship with Christ to enable her to be in ministry among the people of the world. For over 60 years the LWML has been encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and to financially support global mission. The first issues of LWML e-News are available as text documents; click here: http://www.lwml.org/e_news.html. To subscribe, click the link below and follow instructions to add your email to the LWML subscription list under "Mission and Ministry." "Full Text Version" will include LWML graphics and logo. The "Weekly Summary" version comes on Friday in a weekly abbreviated version with links to the entire text without graphics. Refer to your Internet provider about enabling images and links embedded in email.