Pastor's Points for August 9th service
This Sunday, August 9, is the 10th Sunday after Pentecost. According to our Gospel reading for this weekend, Matthew 14:22-33, God can walk on water; no question about it! God can do anything he desires. But can God make you walk on water? Don't think so? Neither did the apostle Peter. But he did—for a moment, anyway. The point isn't the miracle itself. The point is what God can do with a person's faith; and what God can do with you and your faith in Jesus Christ. To call faith "little" or "great" is to speak of the wrong thing. Whether great or small, saving faith looks to Jesus and receives his protection, strength and the redemption of your body and soul.
During the Covid pandemic, Concordia will continue to offer a worship service at 11 a.m. on Fridays. The social-distancing precautions that we have been observing since mid-May, when we resumed in-person worship, will be in effect for that service.
It is time to be in Bible class! On Sundays at 8 a.m. in the sanctuary, we are unpacking “Stewardship Basics,” a study that will change your view of what biblical stewardship is all about. On Wednesdays at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., we are hearing the word of the Lord as spoken by the prophet Zechariah, sometimes referred to as “the Prophet of Holy Week.” And coming in September, a small-group study led by Whitney and Garrett Hemman will focus on the book of Proverbs, and how it relates to Christian parents raising young children. Talk to Whitney or Garrett for more information.
Stewardship thought for the week: Matthew 4:30 says, “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’” The world can be a scary place—Corona pandemic, natural disasters, terrorism, and a hundred other things, too. But where do we place our hope, our trust, and our vision? Where do we look for aid and comfort? When Peter’s eyes were on the Lord, he had confidence. When he turned to look at his problems and took his eyes off the Lord, he fell apart. Sometimes, God’s call to support the work of his Church with our offerings makes us nervous. But put your eyes back on your Lord. Trust Him! Obey his Word, to give joyfully and generously, and all will be well.
Too much produce and not enough time to eat or pickle it? Why not share your extra with the Concordia community? Simply bring your produce on Fridays for the folks at the 11 a.m. service, or on Sundays for those attending the 9 a.m. service. Place the items on the table provided and let your abundance bless others!
And for those of you without the gift of the green thumb—this is the day you've been waiting for—fresh, grown, Perry County garden produce that you didn't have to weed or water! And, if anyone feels so moved, you can make a donation, which will help send our high-school youth to the 2022 LCMS Youth Gathering in Houston. It’s a win/win/win! There will be a table set up outside, under the portico; just look for the sign. Lutheran Youth Fellowship thanks you in advance!
Mission Minute: Next Sunday, August 16, Concordia congregation will collect a door offering for University Lutheran Chapel of Hope, the LCMS campus ministry at SEMO. This campus ministry is located at 903 College Hill Place in Cape Girardeau. Typically, 8-15 students gather at noon on Wednesdays for a free lunch and Bible Study hour. The ministry does some work with a small number of international students, too. In 2019-20, on Thursdays afternoon/early evening, students were invited to gather for “Evening Prayer” from Lutheran Service Book. (Anyone is invited to participate, including folks from local congregations.) Afterwards, a light supper was served. Sunday afternoons are also a time for worship at the chapel. The chapel’s greatest need is for students to know that this ministry exists, and to be encouraged to try it. There is also a need for people to prepare meals for the Wednesday noon gatherings. Of course, your prayers for God to work through his Word and sacraments to create and strengthen faith in college students are always appreciated!
Did you know…if you are 70½ years old, or older, and have an IRA, you can instruct your IRA trustee to make a distribution directly from your IRA to Concordia Lutheran Church. This distribution is called Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). It counts toward satisfying any required minimum distributions (RMDs) and is excluded from your income for tax purposes. If you have questions, or want to know more, please contact Carol Duggan at 573-824-6060.
Concordia Lutheran Youth Fellowship (LYF) is going to the movies! At 7 p.m. Sunday, August 16, LYF will gather for a meal in the parsonage backyard; then watch the movie “Overcomer,” followed by a short Bible study. Please RSVP to Amy Hoemann or Katie Miesner by Friday, August 14.
Lutherans for Life Quote for August 9: “When a child is adopted into a family, there is a real family formed there. Our entire Gospel is at stake in that recognition because there is no such thing as an ‘adopted child,’ only children who were adopted. Adopted in the New Testament is a past-tense verb, not an adjective.” Dr. Russell D. Moore, author of “Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families” and chair of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. – A Life Quote from Lutherans For Life • www.lutheransforlife.org
