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Second Sunday of Easter. April 12, 2026. DeSoto and Freeman Lutheran Churches, Ferryville and DeSoto, Wisconsin.

The Gospel is John 20:19-31. The disciples are behind locked doors on Easter evening. The tomb is empty. The news has been spoken out loud. They are still afraid. Thomas was not even there.

This sermon draws on what was already happening in two small Mississippi River communities: volunteers at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery repairing mussel cages ten days before Easter, a birding workshop at the village hall on a Saturday morning, Friends of Pool Nine preparing for the annual river cleanup, and the fire department running a meat bundle raffle to fund their own equipment because the county budget does not cover it. Nobody was waiting for certainty before they showed up.

Thomas did not get a lecture. Jesus came back for him. Through locked doors. With the wounds still showing.

The river is open. The birds are back on Pool Nine. Easter happened and you are still here.

SHOW NOTES

Marc My Words | Season 2, Episode 3 April 12, 2026 | Second Sunday of Easter | Year A DeSoto and Freeman Lutheran Churches | Ferryville and DeSoto, Wisconsin

Presiding: Marc Bulandr Reader: Jennifer Bulandr

Scripture First Reading: Acts 2:14a, 22-32 Psalm 16 Second Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9 Gospel: John 20:19-31

Sermon "Faith in Boots" | Marc Bulandr | 11:44

Hymns from Worship Gathering Song: I Know My Redeemer Lives (ELW 619) https://youtu.be/Cl4lKtBuF6E?si=jIVXo8gi3b65RQaJ

Hymn of the Day: O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing (ELW 386) https://youtu.be/Y5GCvaJGH3A?si=A-9waI7RSIpI6wqa

Closing Hymn: Beautiful Savior (ELW 838) https://youtu.be/XxMaMOrEKRU?si=fxD5Ka8BTumncZ4R

Note on worship music: DeSoto and Freeman do not have an organist or accompanist. Marc donated a large-screen television and built a curated YouTube playlist so the music could live in these services. The congregation sings along. That is the whole system.

Community referenced in the sermon Genoa National Fish Hatchery volunteer work, ten days before Easter, mussel cage repairs Ferryville birding workshop, Saturday morning, village hall Friends of Pool Nine annual river cleanup, Lansing VFW Ferryville Fire Department meat bundle raffle, self-funded equipment Congregants volunteering at area hospitals weekly April is National Volunteer Month. In this community, that is just a Tuesday.

About Marc My Words Marc My Words is the podcast of Marc Bulandr, lay worship leader and SAM candidacy candidate in the La Crosse Area Synod (ELCA), and founder of Qualitative Intelligence Systems. Weekend episodes are grounded in Scripture and drawn from active congregational ministry at two small Mississippi River churches in the Driftless region of Wisconsin.

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