INDEED HE IS RISEN!
Easter Sunday is perhaps the one day of the year we don’t take for granted that Jesus really, truly, bodily, indeed rose again. In our creeds we confess, “He died and was buried. On the third day he rose again,” and “For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures.” We sing hymns of his death and resurrection. We wear jewelry and symbolize his death and life with the very cross he died on and leave his image off that cross to remind us he is no longer dead. But how often do we, even those of us devoted to Jesus and his Gospel, tuck the story of the empty tomb away as an idle tale – a nursery rhyme or myth we pull out every now and then when we need to be reminded of a lesson or comforted? We cling to Jesus’ parables and stories of his miraculous healings. We treasure the stories of his patience with and devotion to his imperfect disciples. We cheer for accounts where Jesus stands up to authorities who oppress, prejudge, and mistreat others. But when we consider the empty tomb we often consign that story to the stack of sentimental memories that warm our hearts.
Friends, a resurrected Jesus is a big deal! The empty tomb matters! It matters today – in this world, in our time, for our lives! If Jesus was dead (good and dead as the three days is supposed to indicate) and not simply sleeping or hidden from view, then all hope was lost. What good were all of the signs and wonders, healings and teachings if this indigent man was just another eccentric who was relatively harmless and had a kind heart? That would mean, all we have now are stories. But! When the women went to the tomb on that third day, he was not there! He is risen! Just as he said he would be. He had fulfilled so many prophecies of others, and now, Jesus had done an impossible thing that he had said only he could do: He took the one unbeatable enemy of the living world and defeated death. Even death could not keep Jesus down. Even the most final thing could not be final in the face of Jesus – God in a human body. The Creator of all things, the Giver of Life – by Jesus’ very essence death could not win against one who’s entire mission and makeup was about bringing new life to birth in all people for all of the world.
Rolling that stone in front of the tomb sealed off any hope that Jesus would be able to create the new life and new rules that those who hung on his promises so needed – not just to hear but from which to benefit. When that stone was rolled away to reveal that Jesus’ body was no longer there, the hope for the hopeless and possibility of the impossible were also brought back to life! That tomb was not just empty to those who discovered it, nor simply to those to whom he appeared later that day – that tomb is empty today, for us, for the sake of every “lost cause,” every unknown outcome, every fear, each unseen or unrealized possibility. We may be sitting at the foot of the cross of Good Friday, but that sealed tomb could not hold the life-giving future of the one who is in himself all life.
He is Risen, friends! He is Risen Indeed!
Pastor Stephanie
READ AND DISCUSS WITH US WEDNESDAYS FROM 11:00 – 12:30
Beginning April 15th, our Wednesday Book Discussion Group will meet to discuss President Jimmy Carter’s book The Virtues of Aging. Written in his 65th year, President Carter was already offering insight and wisdom about “getting up there” in age. Please place your orders now to obtain your copy directly through Napa Bookmine, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Apple Books, the library or your favorite place to get books. This title is available in print, as an ebook or as an audiobook. Please be ready to discuss the introduction and chapter 1 on April 15th.
DEVOTIONAL RESOURCES
CHRIST IN OUR HOME: The April, May and June 2026 booklets are available now. If you would like to have one of these delivered to your home, please contact the church office at secretary@napavalleylutheran.org or 707-226-8166 to make arrangements.
COUNCIL MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Ellen Wulf
Don was raised in the Presbyterian Church and I in the Episcopal Church. We moved to Napa just weeks before our first child was born in 1973. After his birth, it was time to find a church home.
Owen Grams, the Pastor of Emmanuel, visited us after our first service there and made us feel like Emmanuel would be a common ground church for us.
We joined Emmanuel in November 1974. Over the years, Don was President of the Congregation several times and I was special funds Treasurer and board member several years as well as the hospitality chairperson. After the merger, I wasn’t very active in the day-to-day operations until Pastor Stephanie announced that they were looking for a new Treasurer. I really wasn’t going to say yes, but that little voice inside my head kept saying something different. I did say yes when I was asked to serve. My job right now is to update the church books before handing them to an external bookkeeper.
Being back on the board has been interesting and I would encourage each of you to consider serving. The church’s operations extend beyond weekly services, requiring the coordinated efforts of numerous individuals to ensure its smooth functioning.
As the saying goes “many hands make light work”. Please say yes when you’re asked to participate, it really isn’t hard.
COUNCIL UPDATES
The church council met on March 12. Pastor Stephanie reported on worship happenings and plans for the season of Lent. She refreshed our memories about discussions at the planning retreat in January. We nominated Jill Jameson to serve as a voting member for the Synod Assembly this year. Along with Pastor Stephanie and Leanne Martinsen, they will participate in the regional gathering in San Jose on May 30 as well as the June 13 business meeting on Zoom, and another budget meeting in October. Plans are being made for a fun church + community picnic on July 26. Stay tuned for more information and make plans to invite friends and neighbors! The minutes of council meetings are posted on the bulletin board in the narthex for more details.
SECOND MILE GIVING FOR MARCH
Each month we designate a ministry partner for our Second Mile Giving emphasis, inviting members to donate as they feel moved to support the work of various synod, Churchwide, and community organizations. This month our Second Mile Giving recipient is Lutheran World Relief (LWR). Founded in 1945 by Lutherans in the U.S., LWR is an international aid and development organization that partners with communities to help them develop productive and stable economies, improve resilience in the face of a changing climate, and respond to natural disasters and humanitarian crises. In 2019, LWR joined the Corus International family, an ensemble of global leaders united in a commitment to ending poverty, suffering and injustice once and for all. If you would like to contribute, you can make a donation (checks payable to NVLC) this month – just mark your gift as “2nd Mile Giving” and include it with your offering anytime during April.
In coordination with this second mile giving designation, Lynette Felsing is conducting a Thrivent Action Team Project. She has purchased LWR Farmers Market Coffee which will be served at the Easter Brunch. The coffee and chocolate bars, will be available for purchase in April. For every bag of rich, delicious LWR Farmers Market Coffee you buy, a farmer receives a strong, up-front price for their coffee beans and shares in the profit of the final sale. If you are a Thrivent member and have considered organizing a Thrivent Action Team, it is easy to do – you can talk to other members that have done so. And if you want to coordinate with the scheduled second mile giving plan, here are the designated organizations for the remainder of 2026.
May — Mt. Cross Ministries
June – Reconciling Works
July – SPS Companion Synods
August – Lutheran Campus Ministries
September – Lutheran Social Services
October – Lutheran Office of Public Policy
November – Giving Tree (VOICES, NEWS, Abode)
December – ELCA World Hunger & Napa Food Bank
If you would like to lift up any other organizations, please contact Dorothy Arata so that the Gifts and Services committee can consider supporting them in 2027.
SYNOD ASSEMBLY REGIONAL GATHERING SAN JOSE
Saturday May 30, 2026 (9:00 am – 3:00 pm)
Christ The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, San Jose
1550 Meridian Ave. San Jose, CA 95125
Voting members AND visitors are invited to join us at these regional gatherings.
These gatherings will be about learning and growing together. We will spend time in worship and conversation, enjoy lunch together, and connect as we journey in faith.
Cost – $25 for lunch and materials. You can find more information and registration at this link: Synod Assembly 2026 — Sierra Pacific Synod
Registration & Payment Closes April 27, so please let Leanne or Pastor Stephanie know if you are interested in attending.
Join Lutherans on Wednesday, May 20th, to meet with your state legislative offices. Let Pastor Stephanie know if you are interested in registering or would like the registration link for the event. Registration is now open until Tuesday, May 12th. You can access the form here: https://forms.gle/9XcJbnZ1myF2VaoM8.
A WORSHIP WORD
While we are not holding an Easter Vigil service this year, an important symbol in worship has its origins in the ancient rite of the church. The Paschal Candle our congregation has been using for about ten years has been showing some signs of wear. Our Worship Team has replaced it this year with a candle of simple design. Traditionally, this candle would be replaced every year at the Easter Vigil, though for a congregation like ours it is highly impractical to do so. This candle represents many things, but chiefly, it reminds us that Jesus calls himself “the light of the world.”
We tend to over emphasize the juxtaposition of “light versus darkness.” However, where there have been sinister meanings projected on darkness over the centuries, invoking the image of light was intended to show the way Christ revealed things that had not been seen before his coming. In the way God’s pillar of fire led the Israelites through the wilderness nights, so we look to the light of Christ symbolized in this candle to lead our way in faith on ventures yet unknown.
Paschal Candle
A large candle that symbolizes the risen Christ. It is often decorated with a cross, symbols of the resurrection, the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, and the year. The term “Paschal” concerns Easter or Passover. At the Easter Vigil, the Paschal candle is lit from the new fire. It is carried by the [pastor or assisting minister], who pauses three times and sings or says, “The light of Christ,” and the people respond, “Thanks be to God.” After it is carried to the chancel, its flame may be used to light candles held by members of the congregation. This symbolizes the spreading of the light of Christ into the congregation and the world.…
After the Easter season, the Paschal candle is typically placed near the [baptismal] font. It should burn at baptisms, representing the new life in Christ that we share in baptism. The newly baptized person may be given a small baptismal candle that is lit from the Paschal candle. It may also be carried in procession at burials and placed near the coffin as a symbol of resurrection life.
From EpiscopalChurch.org
Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,” Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.
LET THE SUN SHINE!
We have been making progress on installing our new solar panels! In preparation, Bob Shepersky and Bill Parks received quotes from 3 roofing companies to replace the shingling under the peaked portion of the sanctuary roof. Council accepted the bid from CSA Roofing who completed their work in mid-March. We can rest assured that the roof below our installation is now in great shape to usher in solar and shelter our worship space. To make sure nothing would interfere with Holy Week worship or activities, completing the solar installation has been scheduled for the week following Easter (as soon as April 6th!). The final step in this process before we “go-online” with our solar use belongs to PG&E. Completion of the last step is sometimes quick, but more often than not comes with some waiting. We are excited for this next chapter at NVLC and for the stewardship of creation and finances going solar will mean for us.
GRATITUDE
This is a generous congregation! We received a very special letter from Global Refuge recognizing our support and generosity in 2025. The letter noted that the support they have gotten this past year from communities like NVLC has enabled them to continue serving populations who might have otherwise experienced a drop in services. We have directly helped food, shelter, mental health support, safety and dignity remain accessible for some of our most vulnerable neighbors. They reported that our community is among the top 100 that more than doubled what they received from congregations last year! They also sent a certificate, which is posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex. Check it out!
Just a few other thank you letters received in recent weeks:
- From ELCA World Hunger for our gift of $430.00 for water.
- From Lutheran Social Services of Northern California for our gift of $910.00.
- From the Rwanda School Project for our donation or $65.00.
- From Global Refuge for our contribution of $413.00
- From Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary for our donation of $110.00.
From the Soroptimist s of American Canyon for our donation of $1,000 to further their mission of serving women and girls in their community.
THE WOMEN OF NAPA VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH are invited to meet together each month in Luther Hall. Our next meeting is Wednesday April 15 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. If you are interested, please notify Pastor Stephanie so she can make sure you are mailed your own copy of Gather, the quarterly magazine published by WELCA. During our meetings we discuss the themes presented in the magazine along with projects we may be interested in supporting or undertaking ourselves. Gather with us for community, prayer, and partnership in the Gospel. Please also let Pastor Stephanie know if you wish to be included but are unable to attend our monthly meetings.
LUNCH BUNCH will be on Thursday April 23 at 12:45 PM at Napa Valley Bistro, 975 Clinton St. Call Carol Holmes for reservations.
SAVE THE DATE: SYNOD WOMEN’S RETREAT
SPS Women of the ELCA Retreat will be held September 11–13, 2026 at the San Damiano Retreat Center in Danville, CA. Join us for a meaningful weekend of community, reflection, and renewal. Stay tuned for more details about guest speakers, workshops, and possible discounts!
HELP!
We are looking for a few more members to step up and help with worship. We would like to schedule regular greeters to help welcome members and visitors, in addition to the ushers and assisting ministers that have been so faithful. Please contact Pastor Stephanie or Jill Jameson to let them know if you are interested, and we will be happy to provide you with a bit of training and add you to the schedule.
Thank you to the members of our congregation that have been sending in your contributions to the church office. It is much appreciated. Your financial giving to NVLC is still necessary for us to meet the needs of the congregation. Remember, that although we did not provide boxes of offering envelopes, as in past years, we still have the opportunity to make special offerings for special occasions, any occasion that is special to you!
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