June 18, 2024
Dear Friends,
First, a few things coming up:
Come along for hot dogs and a softball game this Sunday (June 23) after Bible Study @ 12pm! The folks from St. John Kimball are invited again, and the game will be with a 16″ mush ball, so no mitts are required and all can play. Cheerleaders and base coaches are also welcome!
Old Settler’s Day at Fairhaven Park is coming up on Saturday, June 29! Concordia is serving Pork Chops for lunch – join in the fun! You can sign up to bring bars or help out with preparation and serving on the bulletin board by the church kitchen.
Mark your calendars for VBS on August 5-7 (Monday-Wednesday), 5:30-7pm! Invite your friends and neighbors! Come for part even if you can’t make it for all the days! The whole congregation is invited on Wednesday as we close out VBS with a pizza dinner followed by Vespers at 7pm!
The Ladies’ Book Club has another title in the works: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen! Copies of the book are available for $5 – just put your name down on the sign-up outside the offices. Meeting date/time are TBD sometime in July.
Then, take a minute to read Matthew 9:9-13:
[9] As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
[10] And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. [11] And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” [12] But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. [13] Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
What’s difficult about being a Christian is not that there are so many rules to follow or rituals to keep or facts to know. What’s difficult is acknowledging that we’re sick and in need of a physician, that we’re sinners and not righteous. But the glory that follows from repentance is the full forgiveness and restoration that comes from Jesus. Why did the outcasts and lost ones and people full of shame flock to Jesus? Not because he overlooked their sin. No, they flocked to him because he cured them of sin. He forgave them and made them clean. He gave them his own spotless life. Let us also flock to our Savior and receive from him new life!
God bless and keep you,
Pr. Buchs
COMING EVENTS:
Wednesday, June 19
9:30 am – Chapel
10:00 am – Bible Study
7:00 pm – Vespers
Sunday, June 23
9:00 am – Divine Service
10:30 am – Bible Study
12:00 pm – Softball!
Wednesday, June 26
9:30 am – Chapel
10:00 am – Bible Study
7:00 pm – Vespers
Sunday, June 30
9:00 am – Divine Service
10:30 am – Bible Study