Good morning! Hope you are enjoying your EPC Fair weekend, so far.
Many thanks to the Board of Evangelism and other Concordia members who helped pass out children's Bible books along the parade route yesterday. What a great opportunity it was to "go and share the Gospel with others in words and deeds," one of our core values at Concordia. As we sow the Word, we trust the words of Isaiah 55: "So is my word that goes out from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." To God be the glory!
As We Gather: One denarius—that's what each worker receives in Sunday’s Gospel, Matthew 20:1-16. It is a full-day's wage, even for those who work only one hour. For Jesus' sake, God generously gives us a wage equal to having lived a perfect life: eternity with him. That is unbelievably generous, and it is conceivable only by receiving the gift of faith. We gather to respond not as we ought, but as we have been enabled by our generous God.
Stewardship Standard: Matthew 20:9 says, “And when those hired about the 11th hour came, each of them received a denarius.” Behold, the generosity of God! He gives out of his grace, not what we deserve to receive, but what he desires to give. Living a godly life means imitating God, and surely one of the foundations of God’s being is his generosity.
Did you know: 1. Our culture is often better at indoctrinating (catechizing) the ways of the world into a child than the Church is at catechizing the truths of God’s Word into a child (Jamie Smith)? And the longer parents go without taking up their role and responsibility for faith development, the harder and longer it will take to overcome? 2. There is still time for you to register for "Passing the Promise" which will be held 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, October 7, at Hanover Lutheran Church, 2949 Perryville Rd., Cape Girardeau? Lunch and childcare will be provided; the event is free. Presenter is Dr. Mart Thompson of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. The goal for this day is to help you, as a parent or grandparent, to better do what God has called and gifted you to do: to make your home a place where disciples are raised. Register at: passingthepromise@hanoverlutheran.com by Monday, October 2, and let them know that you intend to participate.
On Sunday, October 15, immediately after worship, there will be a pancake breakfast fund-raiser for the Hall renovation project in the UCLS gym. More details to come, but please invite family members and friends to come for a delicious breakfast and to support this renovation project, which will provide a home for our Lutheran Youth Fellowship as well as creating useful space for other kinds of ministry--small-group Bible studies, funeral luncheons, small receptions, etc. All funds raised will be matched by money from our Concordia endowment funds, up to $15,000.
If you are a Thrivent member, you may now direct your CHOICE dollars to Concordia, with the intent of having them go towards the Hall renovation project. In case you didn’t know, all gifts given for the Hall project after August 1 will be matched by funds from our Concordia endowment, up to $15,000. So, now is the time to direct your CHOICE dollars for that specific purpose. Go to Thrivent.com and direct your dollars yourself, or contact Carol Duggan at 573-824-6060, and she can do it for you. After that is accomplished, please notify our treasurer, Derek Miesner (concordia.treas@att.net or 573-576-7841) and let him know the number of dollars you have directed towards the Hall renovation.
Please continue to pray for the vacant congregations in the Altenburg Circuit:
Trinity, Altenburg; Trinity, Friedheim; Immanuel, New Wells; and for our search for the next principal at UCLS.
Lutherans for Life Note for September 24: “Every human life meets us as gift and privilege, created and redeemed and called by our Lord as his precious treasure from fertilization to forever. And our life-affirming witness and service is surrounded and celebrated by a magnificent multitude of like-minded saints gone before, yet to come, and the world over.” Rev. Michael Salemink, Lutherans For Life – A Life Quote from Lutherans For Life • lutheransforlife.org
See you tomorrow morning at Concordia!
Pastor Hoemann
The mission of Concordia Lutheran Church is to gather, teach, and inspire all generations to share the Good News.
Many thanks to the Board of Evangelism and other Concordia members who helped pass out children's Bible books along the parade route yesterday. What a great opportunity it was to "go and share the Gospel with others in words and deeds," one of our core values at Concordia. As we sow the Word, we trust the words of Isaiah 55: "So is my word that goes out from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." To God be the glory!
As We Gather: One denarius—that's what each worker receives in Sunday’s Gospel, Matthew 20:1-16. It is a full-day's wage, even for those who work only one hour. For Jesus' sake, God generously gives us a wage equal to having lived a perfect life: eternity with him. That is unbelievably generous, and it is conceivable only by receiving the gift of faith. We gather to respond not as we ought, but as we have been enabled by our generous God.
Stewardship Standard: Matthew 20:9 says, “And when those hired about the 11th hour came, each of them received a denarius.” Behold, the generosity of God! He gives out of his grace, not what we deserve to receive, but what he desires to give. Living a godly life means imitating God, and surely one of the foundations of God’s being is his generosity.
Did you know: 1. Our culture is often better at indoctrinating (catechizing) the ways of the world into a child than the Church is at catechizing the truths of God’s Word into a child (Jamie Smith)? And the longer parents go without taking up their role and responsibility for faith development, the harder and longer it will take to overcome? 2. There is still time for you to register for "Passing the Promise" which will be held 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, October 7, at Hanover Lutheran Church, 2949 Perryville Rd., Cape Girardeau? Lunch and childcare will be provided; the event is free. Presenter is Dr. Mart Thompson of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. The goal for this day is to help you, as a parent or grandparent, to better do what God has called and gifted you to do: to make your home a place where disciples are raised. Register at: passingthepromise@hanoverlutheran.com by Monday, October 2, and let them know that you intend to participate.
On Sunday, October 15, immediately after worship, there will be a pancake breakfast fund-raiser for the Hall renovation project in the UCLS gym. More details to come, but please invite family members and friends to come for a delicious breakfast and to support this renovation project, which will provide a home for our Lutheran Youth Fellowship as well as creating useful space for other kinds of ministry--small-group Bible studies, funeral luncheons, small receptions, etc. All funds raised will be matched by money from our Concordia endowment funds, up to $15,000.
If you are a Thrivent member, you may now direct your CHOICE dollars to Concordia, with the intent of having them go towards the Hall renovation project. In case you didn’t know, all gifts given for the Hall project after August 1 will be matched by funds from our Concordia endowment, up to $15,000. So, now is the time to direct your CHOICE dollars for that specific purpose. Go to Thrivent.com and direct your dollars yourself, or contact Carol Duggan at 573-824-6060, and she can do it for you. After that is accomplished, please notify our treasurer, Derek Miesner (concordia.treas@att.net or 573-576-7841) and let him know the number of dollars you have directed towards the Hall renovation.
Please continue to pray for the vacant congregations in the Altenburg Circuit:
Trinity, Altenburg; Trinity, Friedheim; Immanuel, New Wells; and for our search for the next principal at UCLS.
Lutherans for Life Note for September 24: “Every human life meets us as gift and privilege, created and redeemed and called by our Lord as his precious treasure from fertilization to forever. And our life-affirming witness and service is surrounded and celebrated by a magnificent multitude of like-minded saints gone before, yet to come, and the world over.” Rev. Michael Salemink, Lutherans For Life – A Life Quote from Lutherans For Life • lutheransforlife.org
See you tomorrow morning at Concordia!
Pastor Hoemann
The mission of Concordia Lutheran Church is to gather, teach, and inspire all generations to share the Good News.
