"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'" - Matthew 9:35-38
What do the names Sandy, Nelson, Buck,
Keith, Obaldo, Troha, Levio, Hunt, and Loyacano have in common?
They're all names that flesh out what Jesus makes plain in today's verses--HELP IS NEEDED!
On this Reformation Day, we, in the Lutheran tradition of the Christian Church, celebrate God working through Martin Luther to tell the world that our freedom from sin and freedom for acts of love is by God's grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone. And God chooses to work through the means of real people to spread the news of His grace in Christ.
God chooses to need and work through teachers and preachers of the good news, people who are prayer warriors for and healers of disease and sickness, those who are compassionate for both those who are harassed by chronic illness and also those who are helpless in the face of Perfect Storms.
Sandy - Perfect Storm Sandy has probably wreaked more havoc than any storm since the Biblical flood. Please give gracefully, in response to God's grace, to help the millions whose lives are torn apart. Our church here in Birmingham will work in partnership with our sister congregation, Redeemer Lutheran in Damascus, Maryland.
Nelson x 2 - Tom is a capable volunteer who will preach on God's saving grace through Jesus and lead prayer for Perfect Storm Sandy at tonight's 6:30 p.m. worship at our church. Maizie's a volunteer who will teach choirs to sing of God's grace.
E.J. Buck - The great man, who was Sherry Russell's dad, died in Christ yesterday. His Thursday morning viewing and funeral will be a celebration of everlasting life that Jesus won for us by his grace on the cross.
Keith - Brenda Keith will lovingly frame 1st Communion celebration certificates for 5th graders who will receive God's grace in Holy Communion this coming Sunday.
Obaldo and Troha - Laurie Obaldo and Cathy Troha are volunteers who haven't even joined our church yet but who have already fed many in grace.
Levio - Joy Levio also hasn't joined yet but has coordinated a grace ministry for parents of children with autism.
Hunt and Loyacano - Regan Hunt has just discovered God has given her a gift of healing that she's begun to use in a prayer ministry that Larry Loyacano has been dedicated to for years so that immediately after each worship service people can receive the word and power of God's grace through prayer.
God chooses to need and work through teachers and preachers of the good news, people who are prayer warriors for and healers of disease and sickness, those who are compassionate for both those who are harassed by chronic illness and also those who are helpless in the face of Perfect Storms.
Please offer yourself in faithful service as a thanks to God for His grace to us in Jesus Christ.
"Then [Jesus] said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'" - Matthew 9:38
Praise God!
Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson
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