June 30-July 6, 2012

Vacation Bible School

We will have a planning meeting on Sunday July 1 at 11:00 am

We appreciate your prayers for Amazing Desert Journey, our Vacation Bible School being held on August 6-August 10. Ask God to bring children and adults to our program so they can know and grow in Jesus, our Savior!

LUTHERAN HOUR July 1   "Desiring Greatness or God's Strength?"
Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Gregory Seltz    Jesus brings real power to weakness, real joy to sadness, real hope in the middle of despair. When we feel weak and defeated, God's grace is sufficient for us in all things. (2 Corinthians 12:1-11)

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

Lutherans for Life – www.lutheransforlife.org

Life Thought: We actually find the full impact of today’s Old Testament reading, Lamentations 3:22-33, in the preceding verse. “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:” (21) Then the text begins, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;” The prophet’s certainty of hope does not come in the midst of good times but in the midst of great despair (chapters 1-3:19). The hope given us in the death and resurrection of Jesus will never fail us.

Life Quote:   “When we call things like abortion or embryonic stem cell research or assisted suicide political issues and avoid talking about them in church, our silence speaks loudly. Our silence allows the destruction of human beings who belong to God. He paid a price for them and won a victory for them. Thus, our silence insults Him. We need to speak for them. We need to speak for Him.” Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb, executive director of Lutherans For Life

CALENDAR

Saturday          June 30           5:30 pm                            Divine Service

Sunday               July 1           9:00 am                                  Bible Class

                                             10:00 am                            Divine Service

                                             11:00 am                VBS Planning Meeting

Wednesday        July 4          7:30 pm                                              AA

Saturday             July 6           5:30 pm                            Divine Service

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

NEXT WEEKS LESSONS: The Fifth Sunday after Trinity

I Kings 19:11-21: The prophet Elijah is shown by the Lord that the Lord's greatest power and glory will be demonstrated in the "still small voice" of His Word that preaches salvation to the poorest and lowliest sinner. So it is for us, in the time of faith, this earthly life, the Lord comes to us in His Word. Unlike Satan, He does not force Himself upon us in an oppressive and coercive way, He speaks to us, calling us to repentance and faith that He might bestow upon us the freedom of life with God through the forgiveness of all our sins.

            1 Corinthians 1:18-25: "Christ crucified" is what the true Church of God and her ministers preach. This means that we believe in the God who became man and died for our sins. This means that we preach what is considered "foolish" and a "stumbling block" to the unbelieving world, namely, that salvation is a gift of God's grace alone through the death of His Son for all those who believe without distinction.

            Luke 5:1-11: By a great miracle, Jesus called four fisherman to be fishers of men in token that the Gospel must be preached to the four corners of the earth. Peter, on behalf of all ministers, rightly confessed "we have toiled...and caught nothing; nevertheless, at Your Word" we will preach the Gospel. This miraculous sign gave Peter a deep sense of his own sinfulness. The minister of the Gospel has no strength apart from the Word he is called to preach. But this Word is all sufficient for the task at hand. "To obtain faith in Christ" the Lutheran reformers declared in the Augsburg Confession, "God instituted the preaching office to give the Gospel and Sacraments. Through these (the Gospel and Sacraments) the Holy Spirit works faith when and where He pleases in those who hear the Gospel." (Augsburg Confession, Art. V)

Readings for the Week of Fourth Sunday after Trinity

July 1                                                    “Be Merciful”—Luke 6:36-42,

                                                                 Joshua 6:6-27, Acts 10:18-33

July 2                     The Mustard Seed and the Leaven—Luke 13:18-35

                                                                 Joshua 7:1-26, Acts 10:34-48

July 3      A Man with Dropsy Is Healed on the Sabbath—Luke 14:1-14

                                                                   Joshua 8:1-28, Acts 11:1-18

July 4                        The Parable of the Great Supper—Luke 14:15-35

                                                              Joshua 10:1-25, Acts 11:19-30

July 5       The Parable of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin—Luke 15:1-10

                                                                 Joshua 23:1-16, Acts 12:1-25

July 6                         The Parable of the Prodigal Son—Luke 15:11-32

                                                               Joshua 24:1-31, Acts 13:1-12

July 7                                                                         Sunday’s readings

                         1 Kings 19:11-21, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25,  Luke 5:1-11