for Feb 22

Weekly email for Sunday February 22, Transfiguration Sunday

We end our Epiphany Season this Sunday with a bang as we remember and ponder the meaning of Jesus “Mountain Top” experience when he was ‘transfigured’ before the eyes of 4 of his disciples. This story functions as a foreshadowing of the resurrection and the identity of Jesus as the Son of God to whom we should listen.

My sermon title is “Good to Go” and will I will be talking about how our religious encounters with Jesus become the motivation for us to witness and serve in the world. God does not just encounter us in the great moments when God’s presence and goodness are in bright evidence, but in the challenges of daily walking with Christ.  Listening to Jesus is hearing his call to serve others in the real world.

We will be celebrating the baptism of Thadin Lewis Sanders this Sunday at the 8:30 service. His parents, Kenny and Jennifer, and their families are very excited about this great event.

I am glad to announce that the confirmation class at their bake sale raised $844.00 for Lutheran World Relief. With matching funds this total will go to $1600 for serving those in need throughout the world. They want to thank all who contributed and gave to their cause. They will now begin the work of choosing which LWR projects they want to support.

For fun we will have a “Fat Tuesday” pancake and sausage/ham dinner of Feb 24 from 6:00-8:00pm. The choir will be providing the entertainment. We will have a free will offering to help pay for our special musicians on Easter and Good Friday services.  The cost for these musicians could be as high as $800.00. (It’s a popular Sunday for hiring special music)

On Wednesday will begin our Lenten journey with two Ash Wednesday Services at 12:30 and 7:00. Communion and the opportunity for the imposition of ashes will be at both services.

Our Lenten services will continue at each Wednesday until the week before Holy Week. I will be preaching and teaching about Luther’s catechism and we will be distributing pocket catechisms.  I encourage you to keep one in your Bible as a way of understanding the Gospel contained in its pages.

We will have soups available before each service, 12:30 and 7:00. Be sure to come for the fellowship.

I am adding “Ministry and Mission Prayer Intercessions”  to my weekly email as a way to draw us into conversation with God about the mission and ministry of Peace. This came out of our Stewardship Workshop yesterday. These intercessions are not personal in nature but call upon God to engage us in mission and ministry in our congregation and with the wider church.

“Ministry and Mission Prayer Intercessions”  

We pray for……

• Generous hearts as we seek to collect enough offering to support our synod and national church. (Currently we are withholding support until offerings increase)
• Our Lenten Journey that it will call us all back to the great Gospel of the cross of Jesus and that faith and love will increase.
• Our confirmation class as they grow in faith and love and we give thanks for the parents and families who are so faithful in supporting them.
• God’s guidance for Pastor Timothy Pan and Pastor Newman Chiu in Los Angeles, who are reaching out to the Mandarin-speaking populations in their communities in two new mission starts.
• For our Bishop Rinehart and the synod staff as they seek to guide and support the ministries of our congregations.
• For New Life Lutheran in Pearland as they meet this Sunday to discern their ministry and mission.

 

Pastoral Care Notes:

Hospitalized and Released: Sammy Jorgenson,  Jason Elliott, David Beck

Hospitalized:

 Warren Bienvenu  Bayshore

Louis Nicholson at Bayshore

 

Finally, a little humor…………..

 

Hymn #365

A minister was completing a temperance sermon. With great emphasis he said, 'If I had all the beer in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river.' 

With even greater emphasis he said, 'And if I had
All the wine in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river.'

And then finally, shaking his fist in the air, he
Said, 'And if I had all the whiskey in the world,
I'd take it and pour it into the river.'

Sermon complete, he sat down.

The song leader stood very cautiously and announced
With a smile, nearly laughing, 'For our closing song,
Let us sing Hymn #365, 'Shall We Gather at the River.