Today’s Theme: The Gospel Call Goes Out to All
Wisdom has issued an invitation to the divine feast: “Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk
in the way of insight” (Proverbs 9:5–6). This
is the call of the Spirit of Christ to believe the Gospel and to receive His
saving gifts in the Holy Supper. Many make excuses and reject this invitation,
even as the Jews did in the days of Jesus, yet the Master’s house will be
filled. The Gospel call therefore goes out to the lowly and despised, into the
highways, even to all the Gentiles (Luke 14:15–24). For “you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of
Christ” (Ephesians 2:13–22). In Christ, believing Jews and Gentiles are no
longer strangers but fellow members of the household of God. The enmity of
class and race is put to death through the cross. Having been reconciled in the
one Body of Christ, we are enabled to love one another (1 John 3:13–18) as we
await the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom which will have no end.
Please Pray For: Emily
Rodenbeck, Phyllis McElroy, Ada Dambacher, Dan Worth, Dorothy Robison, Juanita
Rankin, George Van Huss, Crystal Ray, Ruth Hedrick, Walt Hedrick, Erna Van
Winkle, Mary Kay Schmidt, Kathy Schmidt, John Haynes, Katie Ketchum, Colin Starks, George Shepherd, Donna Smith, and Bill Hoff.
Military: Please keep in your prayers all
Military persons, especially Brittany Worth who is deployed to Afghanistan.
Hospitalizations: Please notify Pastor GeRue about
any sickness or hospitalizations.
Happy Birthday This Week: Larry Maddox, Veronica Jones
Happy Anniversary: Pastor and Valerie
GeRue
LUTHERAN HOUR June 17 “Bridging the Gap” Lutheran
Hour Speaker: Rev. Gregory Seltz God bridges the gap between His
holiness and our sinfulness, because only He can, through the person and work
of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:19-20)
WLUJ Springfield, IL 89.7 FM Sunday
3:00 pm
WLLM Lincoln, IL 1370 AM Sunday
7:00 am & 7:00 pm
WSMI Litchfield 1540 AM Sunday
9:30 pm
Next Weeks
Lessons: The
Third sunday after trinity
Lessons: Micah 7:18–20, 1
Timothy 1:12–17, Luke 15:1–10
“This man receives sinners and eats with them”
(Luke 15:1–10). This statement of judgment against Jesus by the Pharisees is in
fact a proclamation of Gospel truth. For our God is one who delights in mercy,
who casts all our sins into the depths of the sea through the cross (Micah
7:18–20). “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:12–17).
Those who refuse to be counted as sinners also refuse Jesus who came only for
sinners. Those like the older son (Luke 15:11–32) who think they are righteous
of themselves will not join in the heavenly celebration over the sinner who
repents and so remain outside of the Father’s house. Let us therefore be on
guard against self–righteously trusting in our own merits. “Humble yourselves
under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter
5:6–11). Rejoice that Jesus receives sinners like us and that He still sits at
table with us in the Holy Supper, bestowing His forgiveness and life.
Collect: O
God, the Protector of all that trust in You, without whom nothing is strong,
nothing is holy, increase and multiply upon us Your mercy that, You being our
Ruler and Guide, we may so pass through things temporal that we finally lose
not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord . Amen.
Daily
Lectionary For June 17–June 23
June 17 The Parable of the Great
Feast—Luke 14:15-24
Proverbs
17:1-28, John 16:17-33
June 18 The
Seventy Return with Joy—Luke 10:17-24
Proverbs
20:5-25, John 17:1-26
June 19 The
Parable of the Good Samaritan—Luke 10:25-37
Proverbs
22:1-21, John 18:1-14
June 20 Mary
and Martha—Luke 10:38-42
Proverbs
22:22–23:12, John 18:15-40
June 21 Lord’s
Prayer & the Friend at Midnight—Luke 11:1-13
Proverbs
24:1-22, John 19:1-22
June 22 A
House Divided Cannot Stand—Luke 11:14-36
Proverbs
25:1-22, John 19:23-42
June 23 Looking
Forward to the 3rd Sunday After Trinity
Micah
7:18–20, 1 Timothy 1:12–17, Luke 15:1–10
July 8, 2012 – Church Picnic/Potluck
Fun, Food, Swimming, and Fellowship. The Fun begins at
3:00 pm. We will begin eating around 5:00 pm. Please bring a dish to share and
your chair! Meat and drinks will be
provided. David Ray farm, 12958 Lead
Line Rd., Auburn – 438-4202
Lutherans for Life –
www.lutheransforlife.org
Life Thought: Psalm 1 describes a noble man who “walks not in the
counsel of the wicked” but “his delight is in the law of the Lord” (1:1, 2).
Such nobility flows not from himself but from the “streams of water” by which
he has been planted (1:3). Such nobility could only be surpassed by the father
who brings his children to be planted by these streams in baptism and instructs
them to delight in the Lord.
Life Quote: “Just as our children are part of us, and we are part
of them, so our heavenly Father is part of us, and we are part of Him. As we
celebrate Father’s Day this year, we can spare a thought for our Heavenly
Father. Better still, spare Him a prayer. Say thank you for all the blessings
we have, and ask Him for whatever you need. He will only give you the very
best.” Rev. John Henderson, Face to
Face radio program (Australia)
CALENDAR
Saturday June 16 5:30
pm Worship Service
Sunday June 17 Happy
Fathers Day
9:00am Bible Study
10:00 am Worship
Service
Tuesday June 19 8:00 am North
Mac Ministerial
5:00 pm Unity BOD
Wednesday June 20 7:30
pm AA
Thursday June 21 7:30
am Virden Chamber
Friday June 22 Pastor’s
Family Day
Saturday June 23 5:30
pm Worship Service
