As you notice before the beginning of service, we have been playing a contemporary Christian song. It was really my idea. I wanted to expose you to different kinds of music that is offered up to God. I love our choir. I love the songs that the Music and Worship team pick out for our worship service. My goal and my hope is to show you that there are other kinds of music out there that bring glory to God. I know some of you are frequent listeners of WBGL which is a Christian music station in our area. You will hear many of these songs I have chosen, played on this platform. I know for some it is not your musical choice. But for some it is. There are so many ways we can worship God. This is why I love the Wednesday Lenten services. It is similar but different than what we do on Saturday and Sunday. Again, there are so many ways to worship. Worship is never about the individual but the community. I am hoping that the songs chosen will be another way we can lift up our praise to God.
Had a little discussion about the words sung by Megan Woods in the song The Truth. It was mostly from my wife. Here are the words to the chorus:
The truth is I am my Father’s child
I make Him proud and I make Him smile
I was made in the image of a perfect King
He looks at me and wouldn’t change a thing
The truth is I am truly loved
By a God who’s good when I’m not good enough
I don’t belong to the lies, I belong to You
And that’s the truth.
I hope we can all get on board with the first three lines. When I read “I was made in the image of a perfect King,” it sends shivers up my spine. I could rest right there. But it was the fourth line that bothered my wife, focusing on “… wouldn’t change a thing.” I think it is about interpretation. Even though one of our pillars of the Lutheran faith is that we are saved by grace, it is hard sometimes not to think we have to earn it, or be good until God will accept us. Thank goodness it is not true. If it was, all of us would be in trouble because according to the Apostle Paul, “For we all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God…” But it continues that we are justified, not by anything we have done but a gift from God. I am not saying that we won’t change, but it sure doesn’t depend on us. God is going to take us no matter who we are and/or what we have done. That is my interpretation of “wouldn’t change a thing.”
Your Pastor presented the Discipleship course at the Congregational Resource Event (CRE). With the help of Jeff Whalen, we ran through what this course looks like and actually showed them the first video. I feel it went very well. Many interested people. I will be looking to start another group after the Men’s and Women’s group is finished with the course. Again, my goal is for everyone to learn what it means to be an apprentice of Jesus Christ. I hope you will consider giving up 8-weeks of your time. Not sure when it will be offered. What would work for you?
I shouldn’t have thought it. At least I didn’t say it. I was thinking that the Good Samaritan Fund has been quiet lately. Bam! We had a person come into the office Wednesday needing help with a car payment. Then Thursday, Tri-Counties called us to see if we could help out a young lady who was moving into section 8 housing but had to wait for another form to clear. She has been living in her car. I do not know what that is like. My thinking is most of you don’t either. And of course, we purchase gas cards with this account. Want to make sure you know that this Fund does some wonderful things. It is for the community, which also includes you that receives help. If you need assistance of any kind, please let us know. If you know of anyone needing help, please let us know.
Paul Baker will be preaching this weekend. I will be there to lead service with the assistant.
Sorry. We handed out a flyer for a Men’s Lenten Dinner last weekend. I noticed that the deadline was March 20th. Sorry about this. Hopefully they will have this next year and we can support our sister church in Mendota.
Spring Fling Breakfast is coming Sunday, April 6. You all did a great job of wiping the board clean. I hope you come and enjoy this event at the church.
It is going to start to get a little crazy at church in April. I hope you are making plans to come join us for Holy Week.
Truth: Only by filling up with God’s love, do I have love to share. (Living Lutheran, March 2023)
Pastor Tom
815-223-1144
Readings for fourth Weekend of Lent – March 29 & 30
Joshua 5:9-12 Psalm 32 2 Corinthians 5:15-21 Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Reading the Bible in a Year- Monday, March 24 to Sunday March 30
Day Hosea Psalms Proverbs Romans
Monday Ch 6-Ch 7 88:9-18 Ch 7- Ch 7:25
Tuesday Ch 8-Ch 9 17:25-18:6 Ch 8:1-17
Wednesday Ch 10-Ch 11 89:1-8 Ch 8:18-39
Thursday Ch 12-Ch 14 89:9-13 Ch 9:1-21
1 Chronicles
Friday Ch 1-Ch 2:17 89:14-18 Ch 9:22-Ch 10:4
Saturday Ch 2:18 -Ch 4:8 18:7-16 Ch 10:5-Ch 11:10
Sunday Ch 4:9-Ch 5 89:19-29 Ch 11:11-32
Hosea-again, we see God not wanting to punish but the Israelites are really not giving God a choice. Sometimes you punish your children because actions do have consequences. It doesn’t mean you stop loving them. Some would argue that you are loving them more. That is where God is at in the book of Hosea.
1st Chronicles -okay, you have my permission to skim. The beginning of this reading we will never use. If you get into genealogies, go for it. Be careful though, there are parts we need to read carefully.
Romans-we need to really slow down in Paul’s letter to the Romans. Slow down! There is so much rich material.
Proverbs-it gives some examples of a foolish person. I ask myself if I do this sometimes. Ouch!
Psalms-right off the bat, we get the psalmist demanding that God listens to him. The argument the psalmist uses from 88:10-88:12 pulls no punches. I hope when we need to, our prayers to God would be like this.