San Pablo Lutheran Church gathered to celebrate on Sunday morning

For the last two years, many people have been “logging in” to church from their living rooms. The difficulty of the lock-downs due to COVID continues to impact so many churches, but with the 2022 Easter celebrations, people are discovering the beauty of coming together for worship.

Pastor Misael Tovar led the Easter celebration at Gloria Dei in Chihuahua

“We call it the Divine Worship,” Rev. Dr. Karl Heimer explained during the Sunday morning sermon, “We meet together here, not to come to God, but because it is through the Divine Worship, through His Word and Sacraments, that God meets us, His children.”

For the mission-churches partnering with Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLM), this Easter was one full of joyful celebration, from Palm Sunday to Good Friday, culminating in exuberant worship on Easter morning. At San Pablo Lutheran Church, members of the church worked together to decorate the altar, proclaiming the victory of Christ over death.

Pastor Jose Hernandez confirmed 9 youth after a year of intense instruction

The opportunity for fellowship was given to the people of San Pablo for an Easter breakfast before the bilingual service, with good food from menudo to apple cake brought to be shared. The music provided declared the joy and victory for all believers, and the children enjoyed an Easter egg hunt after the church service.

At Santisima Trinidad in Juarez, baptisms and confirmations took place after a year of instruction from Pastor Jose Hernandez. At Santisima Trinidad, Easter baptisms and confirmations are a tradition, which allow for Pastor Hernandez to help parents, sponsors, and youth understand commitment to faith-growth.

Santisima Trinidad welcomed eight new brothers and sisters through Baptism on Easter Sunday

“It’s been a great way to help these families grow in the faith,” Pastor Hernandez shared the Tuesday before Easter, “And it is an opportunity to answer questions and help them take hold of this faith and make it their own, not simply a cultural tradition.”

Gloria Dei, in Chihuahua, also had their Easter service, with Pastor Misael Tovar guiding their worship as the people sang of victory together. San Lucas, in Anapra, had their Easter service on Sunday afternoon, and though they have no musicians or instruments, those in attendance sang together in one voice in exultation of the Risen Lord.

“It was so good to be able to come together,” Maritza, a member of San Pablo Lutheran Church, shared, “To fellowship together, to sing together, to celebrate together. This was definitely needed by so many of our members.”

As the mission-churches continue to work in bringing the Gospel to their surrounding communities, they move forward with the triumphant joy of being Easter people. What an amazing blessing it is to be proclaimers of God’s love and grace in Jesus Christ!