The Eighth Sunday after the Festival of the Holy Trinity
also known as
The Tenth Sunday of the Pentecost Season
July 25 2021
Judas Iscariot….Betrayer
Judas’s name was the Greek version of the Hebrew “Judah” which roughly means “Praise” or “Let God Be
Praised.” The origin of “Iscariot,” however, is not as clear. It is widely held that Iscariot comes from the Hebrew word that means “man of Kerioth,” a city within the tribal area of Judea (Joshua 15:6). In a sense, then, the name “Judas Iscariot” would be similar to our calling someone “Bob from Los Angeles” or “Jenny the Bostonian” today.
If the speculations about the meaning of “Iscariot” are true, Judas would have come from a village in southern Judah. That means that with all the rest coming from Galilee, Judas would have been the only one of the 12 disciples from Judea (and so might have had problems initially being accepted). For whatever reason, Judas became a follower of Jesus and, in time, a specially chosen member of His closest disciples, the Twelve Apostles.
At the time, the territory of Israel was occupied by Rome. The land for centuries had been fractured due to fighting between the Samarians, the Jews, and other local groups. But with the Roman occupation, Palsestine became a hotbed of political unrest, rebellion, and oppression, making it a volatile and dangerous place to live—especially for anyone following a leader like Jesus, Who attracted so much attention and controversy.
As we previously noted, Judas was one of the Twelve Apostles, who were Jesus’ closest companions. Unlike other disciples, such as Philip, Nathaniel, Matthew and Peter, the specific story of Jesus’ calling Judas to be one of His followers was not recorded in the Gospels. Nevertheless, from early on (Mark 3:19) he was is included in every list of the Twelve.
Although Judas isn’t mentioned nearly as much during Jesus’ ministry as other disciples, s like Peter, James, and John, the Bible does indicate that he was given the band’s only “office” – that of their treasurer (John 12:6; John 13:29). It suggests that he was held in considerable esteem by his fellow disciples. Sadly, however, the Bible also reveals that Judas misused this position for his own personal gain. John 12:6 says, “he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.”
Another insight the Scriptures offer into Judas’ (deficient) character involves a scene in which Judas protested something that publicly happened to Jesus. John 12 presents Jesus participating at a dinner when a woman, Mary, took a large quantity of expensive perfume, poured it over Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair as an act of worship.
Judas immediately objected. “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages” (John 12:5). Though his intentions seemed noble and selfless, the next verse (John 12:6) goes on to say, “He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief.” Had Mary donated the money to the groups’ treasury, the treasurer – Judas – would have used the funds for himself….not for the poor.
Interestingly, rather than publicly expose what was in Judas’ heart, Jesus replied to his “supposed” concern for the poor, while at the same time He poignantly spoke about His own impending death (which, of course, would be partially brought about by Judas’s betrayal). “Leave her alone,” Jesus said. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of My burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have Me’” (John 12:7-8).
Instead of repenting of his greed, Jesus’ dismissal of Judas’ objection to such waste seems to have been a tipping point of sorts for our defective disciple. After relating to us the story of the perfume (which is included in all four Gospels), both Matthew and Mark immediately follow that scene with the story of Judas making a deal to betray Jesus to His enemies – who desperately wanted to kill Jesus.
Matthew records, “Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand Him over.”(Matthew 26:14-16)
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly predicted that He would be betrayed (e.g. John 6:70-71). The act of betrayal that Jesus had predicted finally occurred on the night of His final meal with His disciples, the Last Supper. It was only hours before His crucifixion.
As a part of this setting, John 13:2 tells readers of the Scriptures that the Devil had already prompted Judas to betray Jesus. The Bible nowhere states precisely why Judas did what he did. His attitude toward money shows us he was greedy and materialistic. But if money was his motivation, 30 pieces of silver was a modest pay-off. It’s also possible that Judas was simply tired of and disillusioned by Jesus. Perhaps Judas was one of the many in Israel who were expecting that the Promised Messiah would be a strong political/revolutionary leader. Even before Holy Week began, but definitely by Tuesday of Holy Week, it was clear to almost everyone in Jerusalem that Jesus was not going to fulfill their Messianic expectations. He was not going to lead a revolt against Rome, and – therefore – He was not going to reestablish David’s Kingdom and “make Israel great again.” Perhaps Judas was a Jewish “patriot” at heart, and had been following Jesus more for political than Spiritual reasons. Crushed expectations could have been his motivation for betraying Jesus and for getting what little money he could gain for himself (as a “silver parachute”) after three long years of following Jesus. But finally, all speculation aside, we just don’t know for sure what motivated Judas to “sell out” his Savior. All we can say from Scripture is that Satan was involved in encouraging Judas’ actions, but not to the extent that Judas was simply an innocent pawn in the betrayal affair.
During the Last Supper, Jesus had told His disciples that He was going to be betrayed. When asked by whom, He replied, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. “So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly” (John 13:26-28). At that, Judas left immediately.
The next time we see Judas in the Passion story, he is in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus is taking time to pray for strength to successfully complete His mission of redemption. Familiar with the fact that Jesus often used Gethsemane as a place of prayer, Judas had led a detachment of soldiers and officials to capture Jesus under the cover of darkness. Judas informed the soldiers who were tasked with seizing Jesus, “The one I kiss is the Man; arrest Him” (Matthew 26:48). He then approached Jesus, greeting his Friend with the title “Rabbi,” after which he kissed the Savior. Moments after that, Jesus was arrested.
Matthew 27 records the tragic and pathetic conclusion of Judas’ betrayal of Christ. When Judas could see that Jesus was actually going to be condemned to death, Scripture says he was “seized with remorse” (Matthew 27:3). (Perhaps he had assumed that Jesus would be arrested, tried and imprisoned….but not that He would be killed.) The reality is, we just don’t know what touched Judas’ heart in that moment. What we do know is that, conscience-stricken, he brought those 30 silver coins to the chief priests and elders. Maybe he just wanted to calm his guilty conscience; maybe he thought he could reverse what was happening and even have Jesus freed. Regardless, the Jewish religious hierarchy scorned Judas and dismissed him. Feeling helpless, ashamed, depressed and worse, Judas hurled the blood money into the temple, left, and went away to commit suicide by hanging himself. That money he threw into the temple would be used to buy “the Potter’s Field” (also called “Akeldama” or “field of blood” as a burial place in Jerusalem for foreigners.
Judas’s story is not the only tragic one in Scripture, but it is undoubtedly the most tragic. Nevertheless, it displays both the power and grace of God in a number of ways.
First, through a number of prophecies, expressed by the Holy Spirit through Old Testament prophets hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, it was predicted that the Savior would be betrayed by a friend, then innocently executed to redeem sinful humanity from eternal condemnation and endless death in hell. Zechariah predicted that Jesus would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zech 11:12-14). Today’s Psalm, Psalm 41:9 predicted Jesus’ betrayer would be someone close to Jesus, who shared His bread. Jesus even made a refer-ence to this in John 13:18, while what was predicted was acted out in John 13:26-28.
Thus, Jesus knew, long before it occurred, about the “disastrous” turn of events that would place Him in His enemies’ hands and soon thereafter bring Him to the cross. Unlike we often feel when friends betray us, our Savior-God was not blind-sided by Judas’ act of betrayal. The truth is, while God did not will Judas’ wicked act any more than He would have willed Caiaphas’ hatred of Jesus, or Peter’s denials…..God incorporated their sin acts, words and thoughts into His perfect plan to redeem us from our sins. In order to save sinful humanity from the everlasting horrors of hell and from eternal separation from God, Jesus had to die as our Perfect Substitute and as the All-sufficient Payment for all our sins. Incorporated into His plan of redemption – God even utilized Satan’s hatred and Judas’ act of betrayal to help bring about Jesus’ death for the salvation of all who believe.
In the hours leading up to the Jesus’ death on Good Friday, Satan might have thought he was finally thwarting God’s plan of salvation by using – among others – Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus into the hands of the Jews and Romans. But the results show just how foolish and failed Satan’s “plan” was. This story of Judas should encourage us that God is always in control of all things for our good. Judas’s name itself, “Let God Be Praised,” is a reminder that even the worst of situations can be used by God in powerful and gracious ways for the ultimate good of His people….as well as for His glory.
Pre-Service Prayer – O Lord God, Almighty Creator, from Whom every good and perfect gift comes, You have bountifully blessed me throughout my life. You have established my faith and kept me in this true Christian faith. You have provided for my bodily needs. You have protected me from spiritual harm and fortified me through Your Word and Sacraments. For your abundant goodness to me, I humbly praise and thank You. In whatever lies ahead for me, I plead with You to bless me with Your continued presence, Your Fatherly protection, and Your guidance in all areas of my life. I submit myself to Your gracious will, with the confidence that You will use me, as Your humble servant, in whatever ways will serve to further Your glory and Your kingdom. Bless and enrich my faith as I hear Your Word today, and receive my heart-felt praises in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ, Your Son, my Savior. It is in His name that I pray. Amen.
The portions of God’s Word used in this worship flyer have been taken from
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version Copyright 2019,
The Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission
Prayer upon entering the sanctuary Pre-service Music
Pre-Worship Hymn Singing, beginning at 9:25 a.m.
We Praise Our God
Service Introduction and Invitation to Worship
after which the Congregation will rise for
The Invocation
Pastor We begin this service in the name of the Father
Congregation Who gave us our lives through His almighty power.
P: And of the Son
C: Who redeemed our lives with His precious blood.
P: And of the Holy Spirit
C: Who gave us eternal life through faith in Christ Jesus.
P: Amen.
Our Psalm Reading for Today Psalm 41
P: How blessed is the person who understands the plight of the weak!
C: May the Lord deliver him in the day of trouble. + May the Lord guard him and keep him alive.
P: May he be blessed in the land. May you not surrender him to the desire of his enemies.
C: May the Lord sustain him on his sickbed.
P: You raise him up from his bed.
C: I said, “Lord, have mercy on Me. + Heal My soul, for I have sinned against You.”
P: My enemies speak evil about Me: “When will He die and His name perish?”
C: If one comes to see Me, he speaks falsely. + In his heart he collects malicious plans. + He goes out. He speaks about them in the street.
P: All who hate Me whisper together against Me. They plan evil for Me. They say, “A deadly affliction is
poured out on Him. He will never get up from the place where He lies.”
C: Even a man who was at peace with Me, + a man whom I trusted, who ate My bread, + has raised up his heel to step on Me.
P: But You, Lord, have mercy on Me. Raise Me up, so that I can repay them.
C: From this I know that You are pleased with Me: + My enemy does not triumph over Me.
P: As for Me—in My integrity You uphold Me, and You set Me up in Your presence forever.
C: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, + from eternity to eternity. Amen and Amen.
after which the Congregation will be seated for
The Opening Hymn “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You”
Joyful, joyful we adore You, God of glory, God of love!
Heav’n and earth bow down before You, Praising You, our Lord above.
You our Father, Christ our Savior, With the Spirit faith provides,
Life eternal we’ve been granted, gracious gift that e’er abides.
You are giving and forgiving, Ever glorious, Ever blest.
Source of every kind of blessing, Giver of eternal rest.
You have claimed us as Your children Heaven’s heirs through faith alone —In the Rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ, our Lord, Your Son.
Lord, receive our prayers and praises, weak and humble though they be.
Yours the power, Yours the glory, Both today and endlessly.
None beside You, None before You, God of mercy, full and free.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, ever blessed Trinity.
after which the Congregation will rise as
We Make Confession Of Our Sins To God
Pastor Brothers and sisters in Christ: the Word of God urges us to confess to our Lord all our sins of thought,
word, and action. This is something that ought to be daily part of our spiritual lives, and should come
forth from every heart that is humble and penitent. But we should especially do this when we meet together in His house to thank God for all that He has done for us, to praise Him, and to hear His life-giving Word. Therefore, come with me now, to our Heavenly Father’s throne of grace, and let us confess our sins together.
Congregation Miserable person that I am, + I confess and lament to You, O most holy God, + that I am a
weak and sinful creature, + guilty of every sin, of unbelief, and of blasphemy. + I also confess
that Your Word has not brought forth good fruit in me. + I hear it, but do not receive it earnestly. + I do not
show works of love toward my neighbor. + I am full of anger, hate, and envy. + I am impatient, greedy, and
bent on every evil. + Therefore my heart and conscience are heavy. + Lord, I ask You, free me from my sins, +
strengthen my faith, + and comfort my weak conscience by Your divine Word, + that I may obtain Your
promised grace.
Pastor Having humbly and sincerely confessed your sins before Almighty God, now be strengthened in your
faith, mindful that our Lord is not willing that anyone should perish eternally, but that everyone
should come to repentance, turning from their evil ways and receiving from Him everlasting life. God has
commanded His ministers to declare His forgiveness of sins to all who are penitent. Therefore, rest assured that
your sins have been fully covered by the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ your Savior. May the peace of
God rest upon all of you. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Now, in the peace of God’s forgiveness, let us together praise our gracious and glorious Lord!
The Congregation responds by singing: “All Glory Be To God On High”
sung to the melody of “Almighty Father, Strong To Save”
All glory be to God on high! We praise, we thank, we glorify,
And worship You, Who gives earth peace, Whose love and favor never cease.
Lord God, our King, on heaven’s throne, Our Father, the Almighty One.
O Lord, the Sole-begotten One. Lord Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son,
O Lamb of God, You take away The sin of all, now hear us pray.
You rule at God’s right hand this day, Have mercy on us, Lord, we pray.
You only are the Holy One; O’er all things You are Lord alone.
O Jesus Christ, we glorify You only as the Lord Most High,
Who with the Spirit e’er shall be One in the Father’s majesty. Amen.
The Prayer For This Morning
Heavenly Father, + You graciously sent Your Son to deliver me from sin, death and Satan’s power + and You’ve placed Your Holy Spirit in my heart + enabling me to believe in You as my Savior-God. + Having rescued me from unbelief and eternal death + that I might live with you eternally in heaven one day, + please protect me from my own sinfulness + so that I do not forfeit Your grace + lose the faith You have given me + and throw away the salvation You have given me. + Please keep me well-grounded in Your Word and Sacrament + so that my faith remains strong and growing + and so that my salvation remains certain. + All this I humbly ask in the name + and through the merits + of Jesus Christ, Your Son my Lord, + Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, + one God, now and forever. Amen.
After which the Congregation will be seated
We Hear God’s Word
The First Lesson Luke 22:1-6
The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. 2 The chief priests and the experts in the law were trying to find some way to put Jesus to death, because they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve. 4 He went away and spoke with the chief priests and officers of the temple guard about how he could betray Jesus to them. 5 They were glad and agreed to give him money. 6 He promised to do it and was looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them away from the crowd.
The Second Lesson John 13:18-30
18 “I am not talking about all of you. I know those I have chosen. But this is so that the Scripture may be fulfilled: ‘One who eats bread with Me has raised his heel against Me.’ 19 I am telling you this right now before it happens, so that when it does happen, you may believe that I am He.
20 “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Whoever receives anyone I send, receives Me. And whoever receives Me, receives the One Who sent Me.” 21 After saying this, Jesus was troubled in his spirit and testified, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: One of you will betray Me.”
22 The disciples were looking at each other, uncertain which of them He meant. 23 One of His disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. 24 So Simon Peter motioned to him to find out which one He was talking about. 25 So leaning back against Jesus’ side, he asked, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus replied, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread, after I have dipped it in the dish.” Then He dipped the piece of bread and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do more quickly.”
28 None of those reclining at the table understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Because Judas kept the money box, some thought that Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the Festival,” or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
The Third Lesson Mark 14:43-50
43 Just then, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. A crowd was with him, armed with swords and clubs. They were from the chief priests, the experts in the law, and the elders. 44 Now his betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “The One I kiss is the Man. Arrest Him and lead Him away under guard.” 45 He went right to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 46 They laid hands on Him and arrested Him. 47 But one of those who stood nearby drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
48 Jesus responded by saying to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to capture Me as you would a criminal? 49 Day after day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest Me. But this happened so that the Scriptures may be fulfilled.” 50 Then the disciples all left Him and fled.
The Fourth Lesson Matthew 27:3-10
3 Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he felt remorse. He brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders 4 and said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? That’s your problem.”
5 He threw the pieces of silver into the temple and left. Then he went out and hanged himself. 6 The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put these into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 They reached a decision to buy the potter’s field with the money, as a burial place for foreigners. 8 So that field has been called The Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price the sons of Israel had set for Him, 10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, just as the Lord commanded me.
After which the Congregation may be seated for
The Apostles’ Creed to the melody of “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”
I believe in God the Father, Maker of the heav’ns and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, our Savior, God’s own Son, of human birth.
Virgin born, the Lord incarnate, Whom the Spirit did conceive,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate; Our salvation to achieve.
Crucified, was dead and buried, Down to hell in victory;
From the dead He rose the third day; Up to heav’n triumphantly.
There at God’s right hand He’s ruling, By His will the world is led.
He will come to judge the nations, Both the living and the dead.
I believe in God the Spirit, In His Church, His chosen band.
They are joined in close communion, Holy in His sight they stand.
I believe in sins forgiven; That the dead will rise again;
I believe in life eternal. Amen! Amen! A – – men!
Today’s Children’s Lesson Matthew 10:1-4
Jesus called His twelve disciples to Himself and gave them authority to drive out unclean spirits and to heal every disease and every sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.
Who Went With Judas?
The Sermon Hymn “Why He Turned Against His Lord”
to the tune of “Glorification” (TLH 118) 7.5.7.5 D
cwh Lent 2007
Why he turned against his Lord, Judas never said.
His fall, not one episode, But a string instead
Of small sins – he’d given in ‘Til his soul was lost —
Not repenting, sold to sin. What a dreadful cost!
“If I hand Him o’er to you, What will you give me?
For with Him I now am through – End my poverty!”
Thirty silver coins they gave, Then the deed was done….
That – the price of one poor slave – To betray God’s Son.
“Jesus likes Gethsemane. Send your troops tonight —
He’ll be there, I guarantee. It will work out right.”
When that mob of men approached And to Jesus came,
By a traitor they were led, Judas was his name.
With an empty kiss of greed Placed upon our Lord,
“Hail, good Master,” Judas said – Christ’s capture assured.
“He’s the Traitor” foes would cry, Full of enmity,
‘Twas their wish that Christ would die On Mount Calvary.
To a cross of shame He went Dying – willingly –
For this reason He’d been sent, Us from sin to free.
Three days later, Christ would rise Victor o’er the grave,
By the Spirit made alive – All our souls to save.
Jesus, we’ve betrayed You too Just like Judas did,
Yet Your grace to us stays true. Lord, our guilt You’ve rid.
Savior, grant us hearts of praise, Penitence and love.
May we serve You here on earth And in heav’n above.
The Greeting
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge
of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Sermon Text Today’s Scripture Lessons
Judas Iscariot: the Betrayer
The Post-Sermon Blessing
To Him Who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy — to the only God our Savior, be glory, majesty, power, and authority now and forever. Amen.
Offering Interlude
Our Offerings of Love to our Lord
after the offerings are brought forward, the Congregation will rise for
The Prayers for this Day –
The Lord’s Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on
Prayer earth as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
We Leave With The Lord’s Blessing
The Closing Salutation
Pastor May the Lord be with you.
Congregation – And also with you.
The Doxology
Pastor Now, to Him Who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy –
Congregation to the only God, our Savior, be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
The Benediction
Pastor – The LORD bless you and keep you.
The LORD make His face to shine upon You and be gracious unto you,
The LORD look upon you with favor, and give you His peace. Amen.
The Closing Hymn “Search Me, O God”
Search me, O God, and know my heart today
Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts I pray.
See if there be some wicked way in me.
Cleanse me from ev’ry sin and set me free.
Lord, take my heart and make it wholly Thine.
Fill my poor soul with Thy great love divine.
Take all I am: my passion, self and pride.
Now and forever, Lord, with me abide. Amen.
Silent Prayer, Announcements, Post-Service Music
Announcements
Last Sunday at Grace Lutheran Worship Attendance: 59 Online views: 22 Communed: 50
Sunday Bible Class Attendance: 19 Online views: 8 Tuesday Bible Class: 19
Budgetary Fund: $3313 Online Offerings for Budget: $20
This Coming Week at Grace Lutheran Church
Today Pre-worship Hymn singing, 9:25 a.m. Morning Worship 9:30 a.m.
Fellowship Period, 10:40 a.m Sunday School and Bible Class – 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday Ten Minutes with Jesus “prayer call and devotion” 6 – 6:10 p.m.
Saturday Outreach Calling, leaving from church at 10:00 a.m.
Sunday Morning Worship at 9:30 a.m (including a celebration of the Lord’s Supper) Fellowship Period, 10:45 a.m. Bible Class/Sunday School, 11:05 a.m.
Serving Us Next Week Elders: John Johnson, Vic Walker
Altar Guild: Tina Wambold, Harriet Johnson Fellowship: the Quinlan family
Ushers: Chris Roberts, Eric Lemmon, Fred Cusanelli
Birthdays and Anniversary This Coming Week: July 25 – Brenda Bontke
July 31 – Frank & Kay Giardino July 31 – MiKaela Lemmon;
DO YOU KNOW ANYONE…. within your circle of friends, relatives, acquaintances, or neighbors who is not currently attending a church? Have you prayerfully taken the opportunity to invite them to worship with you (and us) some Sunday morning? Would you be willing to share his/her/their name with us, so that we might include them on our monthly mailing list? If you can answer “yes” to this last question, please speak with Pastor, as we are always looking for more souls to which we can reach out with our Savior’s Gospel of love, forgiveness, and everlasting life. Your prayers and your support in this vital area of our collective ministry will be most appreciated.
For Daily Devotions sent to Your Computer or Phone consider subscribing to the excellent devotions available from www.whataboutjesus.com. Go to the drop down menu for “worship” on the far right of the home page. Devotions can be found there, but at the bottom is a subscribe button. It delivers those devotions to your phone, computer or tablet.
We hope to resume choir practices (and the choir singing inchurch) starting this fall. For that to happen, we need many of you to choose to be a part of our church choir. Won’t you please blend your voice with ours? Rehearsals will be on the 1st and 2nd Sundays of each month, from 8:40- 9:10 a.m.. For more information, please speak to Debbie Huebner.
Benevolence Fund and Food Pantry Appeal …… God has been very good to all of us in many ways – particularly blessing us spiritually (which is, by far, the most important of His mercies to us). For most of us that “goodness” has included an abundance of material possessions, a comfortable home, sound health, good educational opportunities and the ability that comes from it to earn a satisfying income, the capability of paying our bills and still having a little left over. But for some, the aforementioned earthly “blessings” – which many of us too easily take for granted – are not as abundant. Indeed, some among us (and many in our community) have some significant material needs…….material needs that we, as brothers and sisters in Christ, can help alleviate through gifts made to our congregation’s Benevolence ministry.
At the current time, our food pantry is greatly depleted. In the past, whenever we have come to you with an appeal for assistance in this important part of our collective ministry, you have always opened your pantries, wallets, purses and hearts – mindful of Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel Lesson that in helping those in need we are, in fact, serving and showing our love for Him, our Savior. It’s our prayer that, as in the past, so at this time you will prayerfully consider the benevolence opportunities before us and respond, as you are able and willing, with your food and monetary gifts. Beginning with this morning we will leave a barrel in the entryway into which you can deposit items for our food pantry. Cash donations to the Benevolence Fund can, of course, be made via the offering plate. Thank you, and God bless you for your generosity.
This Week’s Bible Classes ……..In our Sunday Bible Class we’re studying Paul’s letters to the Church in Corinth. The general theme is “God’s People in a Hostile Society” It certainly fits our society today, doesn’t it? This morning we’ll start half-way through chapter two. Our lesson is called, “The Preaching of the Gospel…Divine Revelation, OR Human Wisdom?” ……This Tuesday morning, from 10:30-11:30 am, we’ll study I Kings 22 and 2 Kings 1. We’ll see how God dealt with the wickedness Ahab and Jezebel handed down to their children. If you can’t join us in person, please join us over the phone. Call 1-701-802-5405, then dial 7519304#. We also broadcast this Bible class over YouTube.com. (You can find us on YouTube under “Grace Lutheran Church & Academy.”)
Fellowship Volunteers Requested (and Needed) We dearly need more help preparing the after-worship fellowship-time coffee and other drinks, plus furnishing light snack items. Won’t you please volunteer to help? A sign-up poster for 2021 is on the fellowship hall bulletin board.. You can serve one or more Sundays. A reimbursement for expenses can be provided of up to $25 per Sunday. It comes through our “donation jar.”