readings for July 8-14, 2012

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, Bill Uchtman, 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 Rod Thompson, Zach Samson, Maggie Howarth

Happy Anniversary: Jim & Teresa Jorn

SUNDAY’S DIVINE SERVICE—I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN - 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)

Themes from the Fifth Sunday after Trinity

The Lord called fishermen to be fishers of men (Luke 5:1–11). The net they would use is the message of the cross, which is foolishness and a stumbling block to the world (1 Corinthians 1:18–25). The power of God to save is not in spectacular signs like wind and fire and earthquakes (1 Kings 19:11–21), nor is it to be found in human intelligence and wisdom. The power of God to save comes in the still, small voice of the preaching of Christ crucified. In worldly darkness the disciples could catch nothing. But in the light of Christ whose Word was attached to the water, the boats were filled with fish. So it is that in Baptism you have been drawn in to the ship of the church. Though the nets are breaking and some who hear the Word do not believe, pastors continue to cast the net of the Gospel and the Sacraments, that you fish may abide in the boat of the Church and that you may be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:8–15).

This Sunday 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 SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

“Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:17–26). God demands nothing less than perfection and holiness from you in regard to His commandments (Ex 20:1–17). Your only hope, then, is not in your own goodness but in the goodness of Christ, who did not come to destroy the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them for you. In Christ your righteousness does indeed exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. For you have been baptized into Christ’s death and your sinful nature crucified. Therefore, he who has died has been freed from sin (Rom 6:1–11). You are now raised with Christ to walk in newness of life and to share in His resurrection on the Last Day. Christ has brought you through the baptismal sea “out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” Therefore, “reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Collect: Lord of all power and might, the Author and Giver of all good things, graft into our hearts the love of Your name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of Your great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Old Testament: Exodus 20:1–17

Epistle: Romans 6:(1–2) 3–11

Holy Gospel: Matthew 5:(17–19) 20–26

Readings for the Week of Sixth Sunday after Trinity July 8-14, 2012

July 8                             Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem—Luke 19:41-48

                                                 1 Samuel 28:3-25; 1 Corinthians 6:1-20

July 9                 Paul’s Third Missionary Journey—Acts 18:23—19:10

                                                 1 Samuel 31:1-13; 1 Corinthians 7:1-24

July 10                           The Miracles Worked by Paul—Acts 19:11-20

                                                2 Samuel 1:1-27;  1 Corinthians 7:25-40

July 11                                          The Riot at Ephesus—Acts 19:21-41

                                                  2 Samuel 5:1-25;  1 Corinthians 8:1-13

July 12              Eutychus Falls from a Window at Troas—Acts 20:1-16

                                                  2 Samuel 6:1-19;  1 Corinthians 9:1-23

July 13              Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders—Acts 20:17-38

                                           2 Samuel 7:1-17; 1 Corinthians 9:24–10:22

July 14                                                                       Sunday’s readings

                             Exodus 20:1–17; Romans 6:1–11; Matthew 5:17–26