Cross 

Words 

	
Monthly N ewsletter of CI-OSS Ev. Lntheean Church 
	Maloch 2011 	Volmne II, Issue 3 

The Great Exchange 

He was pierced/or our transgressions, he was crushed/or our iniquities; 
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 
Isaiah 53:5 

Life is filled with exchanges. Employees choose to exchange 
forty hours for a paycheck. Fans choose to exchange forty 
dollars for a seat at the game (and then exchange another ten 
dollars for a hotdog and drink!). Every day we choose to 
exchange time, money, effort and emotion for what we hope 
brings us joy, peace and satisfaction. 

The Bible speaks about exchanges, too. A very important 
truth that God makes clear for us in his word is that he does 
	., 	not want us to have any sin. In fact, he says that if we do sin, 

we cannot live with him because he is a sinless, holy God. Sin is so serious to God that he pronounces the death 
penalty for anyone who sins. He says, "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23) and "The soul who sins is the 
one who will die" (Ezekiel 18:20). So who can ever hope to stand in God's presence and enjoy his favor? For 
try as we do, we are not perfect. Sinful thoughts, words and acts clutter our lives. 

There is good news, however. In love for us, God made an exchange. Instead of holding us under his judgment 
for all our wrongdoing, he placed his Son under judgment instead of us. The Bible is speaking about Jesus when 
it says, "He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought 
Us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." 

That is a great exchange! Jesus came and exchanged his life for ours. Our transgressions (times when we fail to 
live according to God's holy will) were taken away when Jesus was pierced on the cross. Our iniquities (all the 
things we think or do that don't measure up to God's perfect will) were taken away when Jesus was crushed in 
death. Our punishment was paid for by Jesus. 

Through Jesus you have peace with God. Through his wounds you are given life with God. Through Jesus you 
are forgiven and loved by God. Yes, you! God chose to make that exchange for you. 

PEOPLE 
	Or 	SS 
rrHEPA .ION 
People of the Passion is the theme for our 
Lent and Easter services this year. With this theme, 
we will be looking at some of the key figures in our 
Lord's "passion" - His suffering and death and 
resurrection: Judas - The Opportunist; Pontius Pilate - 
The Thinker; Caiaphas - The Schemer; Nicodemus - 
The Silent Believer; and Peter - A Born Leader. In 
looking at these individuals and the roles they played, 
we will see that we too are People of the Passion, for we 
can't deny that there is a little bit of Judas, Pilate, 
Caiaphas, Nicodemus and Peter in all of us. Lent is a 
season of confession and repentance. We are People of 
the Passion for it is our sins that brought Jesus to 
Gethsemane, the judgment hall and Golgotha. 
Let us also be People of the Passion by taking 
part in this Lenten season, attending the Wednesday 
services, in addition to the Sunday services. Most of us 
are aware of the ancient custom during Lent, still 
followed by some people, of "giving something up for 
Lent". If someone does that as a way to center their 
thoughts on the true meaning of Lent and what Jesus has 
done for us, it can be a profitable exercise. But if 
someone sees it as a sacrifice they are making for God, 
then it is an act of self-righteousness that should have no 
part in the Christian's life. Taking an extra hour for 
worship in the 6 weeks of Lent is not sacrificing 
anything. Indeed, worship is not a matter of us giving 
something to or doing something for God. It is a matter 
of God giving to us. He comes to us in the Word and 
Sacraments, giving us the comfort and assurance of 
forgiveness, strengthen our faith and increasing our 
knowledge and understanding of Him and His will. 
So People of the Passion is not just the theme of 
Lenten 2011. It is also a fitting description of us. 
Lord's Supper - Part 2 
How Can This Be Christ's 
Body and Blood? 
"How can Jesus give us his body and blood in 
the Lord's Supper?" It's been asked time and again. 
Usually, what the questioners really mean is "Jesus can't 
be giving us his body and blood in the Lord's Supper- 
and here's why." 
Then follows a list of reasons. For instance: 
"That can't be Jesus' body and blood because it looks, 
smells, and tastes like nothing but bread and wine." Of 
course, the assumption is that if we can't see, smell, or 
taste something, it must not be there. But that's just an 

assumption. Even carbon monoxide can be present 
though we can't see, smell, or taste it. 
Another person considers, "Jesus can't give us 
his body in the Lord's Supper because his body is at 
God's right hand." True, Jesus' body is at God's right 
hand. But God's right hand is not a place like your living 
room or favorite chair. In fact, as Luther said, "God's 
right hand is everywhere." Jesus ascended to God's right 
hand so that he could fill the whole universe (Ephesians 
4:10). Jesus' sitting at God's right hand doesn't take him 
away from us at the Lord's altar. Instead it assures us 
that he is there. 
Still another person objects, "Jesus' body can't 
be in the Lord's Supper because the Lord's Supper is 
being celebrated all over the world at the same time. 
How can a human body be in thousands of places at 
once?" That's true for your body and mine. But why 
couldn't a body that can walk on water, pass through 
walls, ascend into heaven-and above all, atone for the 
sin of the world-be wherever it wants to be and do 
whatever it wants to do? 
All these objections are based on questionable 
ideas about Jesus. They're also built on the assumption 
that the truth of Jesus' words-"This is my body. This is 
my blood"-has something to do with whether we can 
understand or explain them. But there are so many things 
we don't understand. God's ways are different and 
deeper than ours. 
That's the reason the Lutheran church's teaching 
on the Lord's Supper doesn't really "explain" it. We 
simply believe that what Jesus says is true-whether we 
can explain it or not. As one Communion hymn says: 
Though reason cannot understand, 
Yet faith this truth embraces: 
Your body, 'Lord, is ev'rywhere 
At once in many places. 
I leave to you how this can be; 
Your Word alone suffices me; 
I trust its truth unfailing. 
(Christian Worship 312:5) 
NEWS AROUND THE 
CONGREGATION 
New Church Council Members In February the 
Council welcomed it's newly elected member 
(Treasurer Jim Reader & Trustee Tom Ernst) and 
thanked the outgoing councilmen (Mark 
Kettenacker & Todd Beamish). 
Membership Matters: A transfer of membership 
was granted to AI, Linda & Phillip Ruffalo to 
Friedens Lutheran Church in Kenosha, WI. 

Workshop topics: 
•	Worship: "Traditional; Blended; Contemporary 
Worship - Strange Bedfellows?" 
•	Youth Ministry (Sunday School, Teens) 
•	Congregation and Called Workers (Pastor 
evaluations, church assessments, planning) 
•	Stewardship: "All About Christ-Centered Church 
Budgets" 
For Councilmen, Members of Boards and Committees, Called 
Workers, and other Church Leaders 
"Building the Leaders of our Churches to 
Grow in Carrying out Christ's Commission" 
"This event is a great opportunity for lay and called leaders 
of our churches to come to gether to be encouraged and 
inspired, and to receive solid training for carrying out their 
important roles in the church. The fellowship and exchange 
of ideas by the participants is another positivefeature:" 
Pastor Mark Kock, District Adult Discipleship Committee 
Chairman (revkock@yahoo.com) 
Senior Fellowship Presents A Trip 
to the 

Thursday, March 24, 2011 
For lunch and to see ••• 
OtL 
q.o ..... ld .... e .. n1 
.. rJ'cm~ 
A Comedy 
by Ernest Thompson 
A heart-warming and 
hilarious celebration 
of everyday life, love 
and family. 

Cost: $32.25 a person 
(includes play and lunch (including tax & gratuity) 
with a choice of several entrees (see sign-up sheet). 
Leave from church at 11:00 am (car pool) 
Lunch is at 12:00 pm. Play starts at 1:30 pm. 
Everyone is invited. 
Sign up at Church. 
BOWLING FOR THE CHURCH 
Huikko's Bowling & Entertainment Center in 
Buffalo is introducing a new event for the months of 
March and April. Sunday evenings, 5:-11pm, will be 
"Church Night". For anyone who bowls for any 2-hour 
$11 unlimited bowling time frame, Huikko's will give 
$3 back to the church they attend. All you have to do is 
mention which church you attend when paying. At the 
end of the month, Huikko's will total up the number of 
people who bowled and will send a check to the church. 
It is recommended that you call ahead for reservations 
(763-682-4180). It's an opportunity to have some fun, 
get a little exercise and help make a donation to the 
church. 
City Fisherman 
A fisherman from the city was out fishing on a 
lake in a small boat. He noticed another man in a small 
boat open his tackle box and take out a mirror. Being 
curious the man rowed over and asked, "What is the 
mirror for?""That's my secret way to catch fish," said the 
other man. "Shine the mirror on the top of the water. The 
fish notice the spot of sun on the water above and they 
swim to the surface. Then I just reach down and net 
them and pull them into the boat.""Wow! Does that 
really work?" "You bet it does.""Would you be 
interested in selling that mirror? I'll give you $30 for it." 
"Well, okay."After the money was transferred, the city 
fisherman asked, "By the way, how many fish have you 
caught this week?" "You're the sixth," he said. 
Mourning Messages 
Three friends from the local congregation 
were asked, "When you're in your casket and 
friends and congregation members are mourning 
over you, what would you like them to say? 
"Artie said, "I would like them to say I was 
a wonderful husband, a fine spiritual leader, and a 
great family man." 
Gene replied, "I would like them to say I 
was a wonderful teacher and servant of God who 
made a huge difference in people's lives." 
Don answered, "I'd like them to say, 'Look! 
He's moving!'" 

Treasurer's Report: Total Offerings & Memorials 
for January were $11,867, with $11,752 going to 
the Unified Budget. 
Concerning the Thrivent Choice Dollars 
program, where Thrivent members are able to direct 
their benefit dollars to the church or any Lutheran 
school or agency of their choice, the church council 
will bring to the April congregation meeting for 
approval a proposal to divide the Thrivent Choice 
dollars coming to the church among the 3 
organizations in the congregation (Adult Choir, 
Handbells and Youth Under Christ) which had 
previously received matching funds, a program that 
was replaced by Thrivent Choice Dollars. 
Evangelism: Cross will again host a booth at the 
Rockford Expo at the Rockford Community Center 
on Saturday, March 19,9:00 am to 1:00 pm. 
Watch for the volunteer sign-up sheet at church. 
We will be having our annual Easter For 
Kids event on Saturday, April 16, 12:00 pm- 
3:00 pm. This is for all kids, preschool through 5th 
grade. There will be games, crafts, refreshments, a 
movie and an Easter egg hunt. Be sure to sign up 
your children, along with relative's and neighbor's 
kids. This is a good chance to invite the un- 
churched! 
Banner Committee will be using one of the 
upstairs classrooms as a Banner Committee 
Workroom. 
Pastor Out of Town The pastor will be out of town 
March 26 & 27 attending a family function. Pastor 
Will Neumann will conduct the March 27 worship 
service. 
Holy Communion in March Because of Lent, the 
schedule for Holy Communion in March will be as 
follows: Ash Wednesday, March 9 at 7:00 pm and 
on Sunday, March 20 at 9:00 am. 
Food Drive During the month of March we will be 
collecting food for the local Rockford Food Shelf. 
Whatever the Food Shelf collects in the month of 
march in food and cash donations will be matched 
by Minnesota Food Share. 
Sunday School Mission Project The Sunday 
School mission proj ect for this year is our 
Caribbean mission, helping provide equipment for a 
new school & gym. The weekly offerings, as well 
as monies collected in special banks and the 
designated collection jar on the handbell cabinet in 
the back of the church will go to this project. The 
Sunday School invites anyone else in the 
congregation who would like to contribute to this 

mission project to take a bank or put a contribution 
in the collection jar. 
Men's Breakfast Bible Study The March edition 
of the MBBS will be on Saturday, March 26 at 9:00 
am. The breakfast menu will include "Bob & 
Chuck's Breakfast Surprise. We continue our study 
of Revelation, looking at chapters 10-11 All men of 
the congregation are invited to attend. A sign-up 
sheet will be posted. 

3Ntl316S AIJIJ YOU1H 
•••• to 
ANNUAL WINTER WEEKEND 
RETREAT
WHeN1- 
FRIDAY, MARCU 11 - SUNDAY MARCU 13, 2011 
(ARRIVE FRIDAY EVENING, LEAVE SUNDAY AFTERNOON) 
WHen,efJ 
BAKER NEAR WILOERNESS SETTLEMENT 
IN MAPLE PLAIN, MN 
WHAT DO you '001- 
•	A SPIRrrUAL GROWTU srUOY, BROKEN INTO If 
PARTS - "UEY FATUER, CAN WE TALK?" A 
DISCUSSION ABOUT PRAYER. 
•	OUTDOOR WINTER ACTIVITIES ( UIKING, 
SNOWS/-IOEING, Ere>; 
•	FUN INDOOR GROUP ACTIVITIES ANO MOREl 
HOW MUeHfj 
TENTATIVE COST IS $60 A PERSON, WI/ICU INCLUDES 
LODGING AND ALL MEALS. 
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER 
YOUR YOUTH GROUP, CALL 763-477-5292 or 
428-8875 or E-MAIL: Pastor@crosslutberanwels.org