The great story of death and life
17 February 2026
by Paul Smith, LCANZ Bishop
Ash Wednesday means we are getting ready for Good Friday and Easter: the great story of death and life.
We are so used to thinking that death is final, but the death of Jesus on the cross on Good Friday changes that forever.
His death brings life! How does that work?
Crucifixion was a terrible way to die, but Jesus went to the cross out of love for the world. On the cross, although he was the sinless Holy One of Israel, Jesus took upon himself the sin of the world. He dies for sin and gives us his righteousness as a free gift as we are baptised into his death. Through the work of Jesus on the cross, we receive our peace with God. Dr Martin Luther has taught us to call this the great exchange. The death of Jesus gives the free gift of eternal life for all who believe.
Each year, we get ready for the Easter holidays with delicious chocolates, buns and bunnies, but in the background, there is always the cross. For Christians, the cross is no longer the sign of suffering and death that it was for people in the Roman Empire at the time of Jesus. The cross is a sign of hope because of all that Jesus has done for us.
For Jesus, Good Friday was a matter of life and death.
Because of Jesus, Good Friday is now a matter of death and life – for our sake.
‘If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him’ (2 Timothy 2:11,12).
God guide you and your family as you travel through the Lenten season this year, to the cross and empty tomb of our gracious Lord Jesus, to live as people of hope in the resurrection of the dead and of the life of the world to come.
In Christ,
Rev Paul Smith
Bishop of the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand
Upcoming Events:
Tuesday, 24th February Mainly Music Hub (St Michael’s Hahndorf) 9:30am (Any Mainly Music leaders welcome)
Saturday 28th February Young Adult “Welcome Event” Parkside Hotel - 6pm
Friday 3rd April GOOD FRIDAY
Sunday 5th April Easter Sunday
16th- 20th April “NOVO” Statewide Camp for High School students (Unity College, Murray Bridge)
(If you would like to know any further information about any of these events, please contact us at admin@blueprintministries.org.au
The support you gave in 2025 helped so many in our region and we at Lutheran Care are very grateful.
Your continued wonderful support is appreciated as we move into Harvest Thanksgiving. Pantry items currently needed are:
Long Life Milk, Pasta Sauce, Pasta, Tinned Soup, Tinned Spaghetti, Cereal, Vegemite/ Peanut Butter, Men's Deodorant.
Don’t miss this opportunity to reflect, renew, and rejoice in the message of the cross.
7:30pm each Wednesday evening during Lent.
Wednesday Feb 25: Schoenborn – Pastor Greg Schiller
Wednesday March 4: Tabor – Pastor Ian Lutze
Wednesday March 11: Bethany – Pastor Brian Schwarz
Wednesday March 18: Langmeil - Pastor Graham Jenke
Wednesday March 25: Lyndoch – Pastor Jim Bryan
SBLC Sunday 22nd February 2026
Bethany: 10:30am HC Pastor Joyce Graue
Grace - St John’s: 9am HC Pastor Mark Kleemann
Langmeil: No services
Lyndoch: 10am Parish HC + Baptism Pastor Wayne Kerber
Tabor: 9am HC Pastor Joyce Graue, 10:30am German Service, Gerhard Ruediger
BIBLE READINGS
The First Reading: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 The creation and fall
Psalm 32
The Second Reading: Romans 5:12-19 Death through Adam, life through Christ
The Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11 The temptation of Jesus
7pm Sunday 1st March for the next movie at Holy Trinity Church Hall in Nuriootpa. $5 entry fee
Movie is “Gifted Hands-The Ben Carson Story”.
The true story about a renowned brain surgeon who overcame obstacles to change the course of medicine forever. Young Ben Carson didn't have much of a chance. Growing up in a broken home amongst poverty and prejudice, his grades suffered, and his temper flared.
And yet, his mother never lost her faith in him. Insisting he follow the opportunities she never had, she helped to grow his imagination, intelligence and, most importantly, his belief in himself.
That faith would be his gift – the thing that would drive him to follow his dream of becoming one of the world’s leading neurosurgeons.
PNG MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP REUNION 2026 8th March, (the Sunday of South Australia's long weekend) Langmeil Lutheran Church, 7 Maria St, Tanunda
Preacher: Dr Dean Zweck. Registration and fellowship from 9am with worship beginning at 9:30am.
MC is Anna Schrapel, daughter of missionaries Ralph and Julia Goldhardt.
The day's program will include worship, a meal and a program, concluding about 3:30pm. Morning tea and lunch will be catered at a cost of $25 per person (cash only). For catering purposes please respond no later than 22 February.
There will be a worship offering going to LCA's International Mission and a silent auction (cash only) with proceeds going to Lutherans working with Wycliffe Bible Translators.
RSVP to Mary Jo mjzwar@hotmail.com or by phone 8263 7867
FRIENDS OF LUTHERAN ARCHIVES - Lobethal Relics - celebrating 180 years of the Lobethal College.
Thursday 26 February at 7.30pm Speaker: Andrew Zilm 139 Archer St, North Adelaide. $5 Donation, Supper.
The presentation will show a pictorial record of relic buildings in and around Lobethal. The project was born out of the idea of celebrating the 180 years of the Lobethal College in 2025 as a ‘Relic’ as well as including other old buildings in and around Lobethal.
Andrew Zilm has been a volunteer at Lobethal Archives and Historical Museum since 2022.
As far back as 1995, recorded some old buildings of Lobethal, primarily because of his family tree research.
He also volunteers at Lutheran Archives.
HAPPENING AT THE HUB
Tuesday 17 February:
KYB 9:30am
Shrove Tuesday Pancakes at The Hub.
Wednesday 18 February
Bible Study 9.00am
Art Group 10:00am
Thursday 19 February
My Time 9:30am
Monday 23rd February
Christian Community Hub Inc. AGM, 7pm. Agenda and Reports available from The Hub. All welcome.