Matthew 10:25
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
22 June 2008
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Who do you look like? I am sure every one of us has had someone tell us that we look like someone else, that we remind them of someone else.
Ralph Simon was the representative agent for Aid Association for Lutherans while I was at Historic Trinity Church in St. Louis. After meeting him for the very first time, Ralph started calling me “Little Sam.” “Big Sam” was The Reverend Dr. Samuel Goltermann, Senior Pastor at Historic Trinity. He was truly “Big Sam.” He was a true giant of a man in literally every way. He was a recognized man of high standing and high achievement in our church body. He was an absolutely brilliant Biblical scholar. He could rattle off phrases in Greek, in Latin, in Hebrew and in German without even stopping to think about it. After more than 40 years in the ministry he could preach a sermon like you wouldn’t believe without even one note in front of him. He was a servant-shepherd pastor to his people. He literally reached deeply into his own pocket day after day to help the homeless who would come to the door of our office, those who would see him in the neighborhood and call him “Father.” On top of all that, he literally stood about 6 feet tall and maxed the scale at well over 300 pounds. He was “Big Sam.”
I got named “Little Sam.” I have never asked Ralph exactly why I got named “Little Sam,” but let me assure you that as the years have ticked on – and its been about 18 years now since I was first called “Little Sam” – especially during these last few years since Sam’s death – I have considered it a truly great and humbling honor not only that I had the privilege of working alongside Sam – and that’s actually what he preferred to be called – but also that someone would call me “Little Sam.” In fact, there is truly only one greater honor I can imagine and that would be to be called a “Little Christ.”
Forty years ago this coming Thursday, a baby boy was born at South Shore Hospital in Chicago. His parents named him Christopher George. His middle name was given to honor his two grandfathers, both of whom had “George” in their own names. “Christopher” was prophetically bestowed upon him because it means “Bearer of Christ.”
Forty years after my birth, I hope you can say that about me. Whether I am standing before you in this pulpit or at that altar, wearing these colorful vestments, or whether you catch me on a day like last Friday, wearing shorts and a t-shirt and sweating under the hot sun pruning some roses around our campus, or whether I stand at your bedside and read comforting Scripture passages, I hope you can say, “He is Christopher. He is a Bearer of Christ.”
But it’s not enough for me to be a “Bearer of Christ.” It wasn’t enough for even Christ Himself to be Christ alone. Oh, sure, only Jesus Christ would be the only One to pick up the sins of the world and carry them to the Cross of Calvary, but it wasn’t enough for there to be only one Christ. Our Gospel today tells us that Jesus picked out twelve “Christs” and sent them into the world [Matthew 10:5]. Though they were named Peter and Andrew, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew, James and Thaddeus, Simon and Judas, Jesus could have named them each “Little Christ.” Jesus gave them all kinds of instructions, but one above all stands out in our Gospel today – “It is enough for the student to be like his teacher and the servant like his master” [Matthew 10:25].
Are you “like” Christ? Do people in your life call you a “little Christ”? If so, why? If not, why not? Those are important questions to ask.
Serving Jesus Christ, especially in today’s culture and climate, is not easy, but serving Jesus Christ has never been easy. Those first 12 disciples literally risked life and limb to be called “Little Christs.” Today we may not risk life and limb, but we do risk popularity and opinion. We do risk being a salmon swimming upstream when all the trout are swimming downstream. To be “like Christ” today means saying things and doing things that some people may not like. To be “like Christ” today also means being tender and loving and gracious and compassionate. It is not easy being “like Christ,” being a “little Christ.” It never has been. It never will be. But it’s not about being easy. If you think it’s about being easy or hard, you’ve missed the point.
At Bridger Wilderness Area in Wyoming, people can spend the day hiking on trails and enjoying God’s creation. At Bridger Wilderness Area, people can also complete comment cards and given them to staff members as they leave. Here are some actual comments collected during 1996:
Trails need to be wider so people can walk while holding hands.
Trails need to be reconstructed. Please avoid building trails that go uphill.
Too many bugs and leeches and spiders and spider webs. Please spray the wilderness to rid the areas of these pests.
Please pave the trails so they can be snow-plowed during the winter.
Chair lifts need to be in some places so that we can get to wonderful views without having to hike to them.
The coyotes made too much noise last night and kept me awake. Please eradicate these annoying animals.
A small deer came into my camp and stole my jar of pickles. Is there a way I can get reimbursed?
Reflectors need to be placed on trees every 50 feet so people can hike at night with flashlights. Escalators would help on steep uphill sections.
A McDonald’s would be nice at the trail head.
The places where trails do not exist are not well marked.
Too many rocks in the mountains.
The people who wrote those comments entirely missed the point of being at Bridger Wilderness Area.
I am afraid far too many Christians miss the point of being followers of Jesus Christ. It’s not about it being easy. It’s not about it being hard. It’s about being “like Christ.” It’s about the student being like the teacher. It’s about the servant being like the master. It’s about being Christ’s own hands and feet to people in the world around us. It’s about Christ being seen in us and through us.
So this week I encourage to stop thinking and talking about being a Christian being easy or hard. Instead, simply be “like Christ.” Allow Him, through the power of His Holy Spirit, to take up residence in your body. Allow Him to allow you to bear Him to one person this week, maybe to one broken person who needs Christ’s tenderness, maybe to one misguided person who needs to hear Christ’s concern. One person bearing Christ to one person, being sent by the Master-Teacher to be His Servant-Student-Imitator.
If you’re willing to pick up that challenge, to allow Jesus Christ to send you out into His world, I invite you to fold your hands and bow your head and silently pray this prayer: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on me. I am a broken pot, broken by sin and problems, but I desire this week to be Your beautiful creation. Forgive me the times I have not been ‘like You.’ Fill me with Your Spirit, giving me the strength to go where You would have me go and bear You to the one person in my life who needs You. I can’t do it alone. I don’t have to do it alone. Savior, send me into Your world and go with me. Amen.”
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Pastor Christopher Schaar
Historic First Lutheran Church of Pasadena
June 22 – Luke 24
June 23 – John 1
June 24 – John 2
June 25 – John 3
June 26 – John 4
June 27 – John 5
June 28 – John 6
ALTAR FLOWERS are given to the glory of God by Ocilda and Bill Files in gratitude to God for their many blessings and in celebration of the birthdays of their two grandsons, Logan on 7 June and Erich on 22 June. Flowers are also given to the glory of God by Lena Meyers in celebration of her birthday.
A REMINDER OF GOD’S PROVISION AND LOVE The extra bouquet of roses on the altar are from the 140+ roses around our church campus. They are a reminder of God’s eternal love for us.
ALTAR FLOWERS FROM LAST SUNDAY Our apologies to Carol and Jeff Potter who also donated the Altar Flowers last Sunday in honor of their 28th Wedding Anniversary on 14 June.
SOME OF YOU WON’T LISTEN, BUT THIS COMES FROM PASTOR SCHAAR “Some of you have been very generous in past years with birthday cards and gifts. I truly appreciate that! I also recognize how good God has been to me in many ways and I am truly in want or need of nothing. Since Historic First Lutheran has been my “first love” next to the Lord Himself for these past 14 years, I would consider it the greatest honor if, instead of cards and gifts, you would instead consider a gift in my honor to Historic First Lutheran to help us in our current budget deficit. Please use a designated envelope, marked ‘In honor of Pastor Schaar’ so I can personally thank you for your thoughtfulness. All gifts will be used toward our general operating budget.”
GOT QUESTIONS? The faith-question sheets for Pastor Schaar’s ongoing irregularly scheduled “Our Questions of Faith” preaching series can be found in the Information Rack in the Church Narthex. These should be returned to Pastor Schaar.
REPORTING A DEATH We have been notified that Mrs. Harriet Croft, a teacher in our school from 1949 to 1953, died on 6/8 at age 100. Mrs. Croft was the grandmother of Tony Valazza, our local Thrivent Financial for Lutherans agent.
SUMMER HOME VISITS Pastor Schaar has reinstated his “Pastor to People” visits for the summer. Check out his schedule posted in the Narthex and sign up for a time for Pastor to stop by your home. Please note that Pastor is not looking for meals to be provided him on these visits.
THANK YOU! “How very thoughtful of you. Thanks for all the prayers offered up during my mom’s illness. Each and every one was appreciated. It was her plan to come to church when she got well and thank you in person but please accept our thanks on her behalf. Karen, Jessie and J. J. Murphy.”
PORTALS OF PRAYER The July - September edition of “Portals of Prayer” in both regular and large print are available from the Information Rack in the Narthex.
CONGRATULATIONS! Our hearty congratulations to Hilda Nichols and former member Don Mager as they have announced their engagement!
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBER We warmly welcome Sam Stoterau as our newest member. Sam transferred his membership to us from Saving Grace Lutheran Church in Queen Creek, Arizona.
SPECIAL THANKS! For the past 19 years Debbie Richardson has been a teacher at First Lutheran School in Temple City. Debbie has also been a regular worshiper with us and has been a member of our Omega Handbell Choir. Debbie has accepted a new position in Arizona. She will be missed!
SPECIAL THANKS! Many of us were surprised to discover no cost for the Bus Trip to Citrus Singers. Rudy Melinat used his Economic Stimulus Rebate to pay for the tickets as well as for the bus. Thanks, Rudy, for the treat!
USHERS TAKE NOTE Next week’s service will involve Usher Team #3 – Chris Baker, Asunta Barnes, Michael Dickens and Rudy Melinat.
Sunday 22 June – Thank God for the freedom to worship and praise Him.
Monday 23 June – Pray for friends celebrating birthdays this week: Erich Files (22); Lena Meyers (22); Brian Norden (22); Ocilda Files (23); Steve Swift (23); Jackie Schaar (24); Asunta Barnes (26); Pastor Christopher Schaar (26); Lenice Coury (27); Elouise Smith (27); Julian Romero (28).
Tuesday 24 June – Pray for missionaries Dan and Kay Finley (friends of Pastor Schaar), formerly serving in Guatemala, now recording the Bible in Spanish for “Faith Comes by Hearing.”
Wednesday 25 June – Pray for Ruth Koch, widow of Pastor David Koch (a mentor of Pastor Schaar) as she spends a “Semester at Sea.” Pray for her safety and for witnessing opportunities.
Thursday 26 June – Join with Pastor Schaar in thanking God on this, his birthday!
Friday 27 June – Tonight is our last “Good Friday” Youth Outreach until September. Ask God to bless and protect all the children and youth during the summer.
Saturday 28 June – Ask God to fill Pastor Jerry Kosberg with His Spirit as he prepares to preach tomorrow for our “Mission and Evangelism Awareness Sunday.”
Historic First Lutheran Church, 808 N. Los Robles Ave., will observe "Mission and Evangelism Awareness" Sunday on Sunday 29 June at 10:00 a.m. The guest preacher will be The Rev. Jerry Kosberg of Phoenix, AZ. Pastor Kosberg is a Regional Mission Facilitator for the Pacific Southwest District of The Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod. He previously served as Director of Evangelism for The Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod at its International Center in St. Louis. A luncheon will follow the service. Everyone is invited. For more information, contact 626.793.1139 or historicfirstlutheran.org
Exodus 19:2-8a
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Fathers’ Day
15 June 2008
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Okay, I’ve heard this question now three times during the past two weeks: “Why do you have a lawn at your cabin? Vacation or weekend homes are supposed to be free of that stuff.”
I have to admit that my cabin is a lot of work. A lot more than I ever expected. This time of year I have to be there at least once a week. Preferably I like to go up on Friday night and back down on Sunday morning. However, the past two weekends I have had other commitments on the weekends and I have had to just go up there on Monday. I have watering to do. I have a lawn to cut. I have other gardening chores that need to be done regularly this time of year.
“Why?”
I admit that I could have a yard of dirt and rocks and cedar chips like the majority of my neighbors. Instead I do have a substantial lawn, which is very unusual for the Lake Arrowhead area. Not only do I have a sodded lawn, but I actually water it and I also fertilize it so that it is country club green. I have 12 rose bushes and a number of other plants that need regular attention.
“Why?”
It’s because, if you haven’t yet learned about me, I enjoy outdoor work, which to me can very often be a very mindless activity. After dealing with people and their problems day after day for a week at a time, there is nothing better or more enjoyable for me than to push a lawnmower or a wheelbarrow for an entire day, both of which are exactly what I did all day yesterday. In the course of all that work is exactly when I had this thought: the attention and concern that I show to my lawn and yard at my cabin must be exactly the same as – or at least very similar to – God’s attention and concern to and for this world, to and for you and me.
Imagine for a second if this world were perfect. Imagine if this world were uncorrupted just as it was when God created it and declared it all “very good” [Genesis 1:31]. If that were the case, what would God do with all His time? If God didn’t have to work 24 hours a day 7 days a week solving all the problems we get ourselves into, what would He do with all His time? If God didn’t have to be available 24/7 to hear all our prayers and all our complaints, what would He do with all His time?
But, of course, we know all of that not to be the case. This world is far from perfect. This world is far from uncorrupted. God does every day solve the messes we get ourselves into. And God is always available to hear our prayers – and our complaints.
That was the whole point God made through Moses to the Children of Israel. Listen again to these words God commanded Moses to speak to the Israelites: “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself” [Exodus 19:4].
God didn’t have to do any of that. He could have left the Children of Israel languishing under the heavy burden of slavery in Egypt. He didn’t have to effect the ten plagues upon Egypt. He didn’t have to guide them through the desert for 40 years. He didn’t have to provide them leaders like Moses and Aaron, Miriam and Joshua. He didn’t have to give them a set of rules to follow in life. He didn’t have to carry them on eagles’ wings, ultimately leading them into their “Promised Land.” God didn’t have to do any of that – and yet He did. Why?
That question is truly as unanswerable as is the question why I have a lawn and garden at my cabin. While we may not be answer “WHY” God did any of that stuff, we can be sure He did it. We know all that because it’s recorded for us in the Bible, His true, living and active Word, His account of His interaction with human beings, His account of His interaction with you and with me.
Listen also to this great news: “When we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” [Romans 5:6]. Why? You’ve got me there! Why care about an imperfect world? Why care about a corrupt world? Why care about people who intentionally get themselves into one mess after another? Why care about people who are constantly bringing to you their cares, concerns and complaints, people who are not the joy you thought they would be?
Why? Because God is our Father and we are His children, His prized possessions, the crown of His entire creation. As imperfect, corrupt, messy and complaining as we are, as much work as we are, God loves us. He can’t stand the weeds of sin, death and Satan to invade our lives. Instead, He went to great lengths and to great cost to show His love to us in Jesus Christ, Who indeed invaded our very existence to suffer, die and rise again for us – for you and for me.
On this Fathers’ Day, as our thoughts go back to the many “WHYs” we each asked our earthly father, let us today change our words to God. Instead of asking Him “WHY?,” let us each today say “THANK YOU” to our Heavenly Father for going to such great extreme lengths to show His love for us and to maintain a personal relationship with us. Let us each today say “THANK YOU” to our Heavenly Father for the multiple ways that He continues to carry us on eagles’ wings and bring us to Himself.
Today is Sunday. For me, that means five short days until I will again load my lawnmower into a car and haul it up the mountain to care for my lawn. But God is already at work in each of the lawns that we call our lives, tending them as only He can, tending them as only He knows why.
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Pastor Christopher Schaar
Historic First Lutheran Church of Pasadena
ALTAR FLOWERS are given to the glory of God by Marlene and John Ochetti in celebration of their anniversary.
A REMINDER OF GOD’S PROVISION AND LOVE The extra bouquet of roses on the altar are from the 140+ roses around our church campus. They are a reminder of God’s eternal love for us.
HAPPY FATHERS’ DAY! A special word of welcome and thanks to all the Dads in our midst today!
PEGGY MURPHY MEMORIALS Those desiring to make memorial contributions to celebrate the life and commitment of Karen Murphy’s mother, Peggy, are asked to donate to the “Educational Trust Fund for Jessica and Jamie Murphy,” c/o Bill Orsburn, Foothill Federal Credit Union Acct #4926, Box 660130, Arcadia, CA 91066-0130.
GOT QUESTIONS? The faith-question sheets for Pastor Schaar’s ongoing irregularly scheduled “Our Questions of Faith” preaching series can be found in the Information Rack in the Church Narthex. These should be returned to Pastor Schaar.
DOWNTOWN Issue #2 of “Downtown,” edited by our own Pastor Schaar, has been printed and mailed to almost 400 churches and church leaders across the country. Copies are available from the Information Rack in the Church Narthex. Get yours today!
REPORTING A DEATH We have been notified that Mrs. Harriet Croft, a teacher in our school from 1949 to 1953, died last Sunday at age 100. Mrs. Croft was the grandmother of Tony Valazza, our local Thrivent Financial for Lutherans agent.
SUMMER HOME VISITS Pastor Schaar has reinstated his “Pastor to People” visits for the summer. Check out his schedule posted in the Narthex and sign up for a time for Pastor to stop by your home. Please note that Pastor is not looking for meals to be provided him on these visits.
THANK YOU! “How very thoughtful of you. Thanks for all the prayers offered up during my mom’s illness. Each and every one was appreciated. It was her plan to come to church when she got well and thank you in person but please accept our thanks on her behalf. Karen, Jessie and J. J. Murphy.”
PORTALS OF PRAYER The July - September edition of “Portals of Prayer” in both regular and large print are available from the Information Rack in the Narthex.
CONGRATULATIONS! Our hearty congratulations to Hilda Nichols and former member Don Mager as they have announced their engagement!
SPECIAL THANKS! Many of us were surprised to discover no cost for the Bus Trip to Citrus Singers. Rudy Melinat used his Economic Stimulus Rebate to pay for the tickets as well as for the bus. Thanks, Rudy, for the treat!
USHERS TAKE NOTE Next week’s service will involve Usher Team #2 – Rudy Melinat, Zora Oglesby, Chad Schmutzer and Julie Schmutzer.
June 15 – Luke 17
June 16 – Luke 18
June 17 – Luke 19
June 18 – Luke 20
June 19 – Luke 21
June 20 – Luke 22
June 21 – Luke 23
Sunday 15 June – Praise God for being Your Heavenly Father!
Monday 16 June – Pray for friends celebrating birthdays and anniversaries this week: Silvia Romero (15); Dorothy & Rev. Walter Fisher (15); Sergio Diaz (16); Donna Chan (18); Marlene & John Ochetti (19); Alicia Lorenzana (20); Clara & Charles Newhouse (20).
Tuesday 17 June – Pray specifically today for the significant budget deficit we have incurred as a congregation this year due to the expansion of our mission and ministry outreach. Ask God for the confidence that He will continue to provide for our needs.
Wednesday 18 June – Pray by name for our shut-in members: Cleora Bryan, Jill Fenske, Elizabeth Larson, Lucile Moore, Charles Newhouse, Clara Newhouse, Arline Pace, Claudia Proctor, Estelle Thaxton and Ethel Watkins.
Thursday 19 June – Thank God for the beauty of His Creation.
Friday 20 June – Thank God for His eternal love shown us in Jesus Christ.
Saturday 21 June – Pray by name today for people you personally know who don’t know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
We have received notice that Mrs. Harriet Croft died this past Sunday morning (6/8) at age 100. According to records, Mrs. Croft was a teacher in our Lutheran School from 1949 - 1953. Our sympathies to her family. Services are pending.
Romans 4:23-25
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
8 June 2008
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
“Get the message straight, Missouri! Get the message out!”
That clarion call was issued a number of years ago by the now-sainted President of our church body, The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.
“Get the message straight, Missouri! Get the message out!”
The message to which Dr. Barry was referring was, of course the message about Jesus Christ, the message we call the Gospel, the message that it is by grace through faith in Jesus that we are saved, not by our own works.
I have to admit that when Dr. Barry issued that clarion call to our church body, I really thought it was a stupid phrase. I would have never imagined that I’d be preaching a sermon using that title. I am at least a fourth generation member of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. I am a second generation church worker in The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. In my nearly 40 years of life, including 3 years at Lutheran High School La Verne, 4 years at Christ College Irvine and 4 years at Concordia Seminary St. Louis, trust me, I have heard many sermons preached by clergy and aspiring clergy of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Some of those sermons have been very good. Some not so good. I thank God that in the hundreds of sermons I have heard preached by Lutheran preachers I can’t honestly say that I have ever heard anything but the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached and I would like to think that fact is the standard not the exception, so why the clarion call from our Synodical President, “Get the message straight, Missouri! Get the message out!”?
In the more than 15 years since Dr. Barry coined that phrase, I have grown in my understanding of why I think he said what he said. In fact, if you heard some screams of pain and frustration coming from the Church Administrative Center this past week, it was just me reacting to some bad doctrine. Just this past week, I again heard two phrases that I have grown to extremely dislike. Both phrases were used by members of this congregation. Phrase #1 – “She was a good woman.” Phrase #2: “He really is very religious.”
You know, with some minor tweaking to those phrases, they could both be very properly used about Abraham. Abraham is the “Father of Faith.” He’s the one to whom all three “People of the Book” can trace their origin – the Jews, the Muslims, the Christians. Abraham’s the one to whom God promised, “As many as the stars in the sky, so shall your descendants be” [Genesis 15:5]. Abraham was the one who was willing to sacrifice his son, Isaac, simply because God told him to. Abraham was faithful. He is the “Father of Faith.” He was a good man. He really was very religious.
Yes, but.....none of that matters in God’s eyes.
Listen to what St. Paul wrote about Abraham some 2,000 years ago: “The words ‘it was credited to him’ were written not for him alone but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness – for us who believe in Him, Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” [Romans 4:23-25].
The righteousness of Abraham – his uprightness in the eyes of men and especially in the eyes of God – was not his own doing. It wasn’t something he earned no matter how good or religious he was. Even Abraham’s salvation was a gift of God, something totally unmerited.
But, as St. Paul reminds us, that’s not just something for Abraham. It’s a message for each of us as well. Don’t get me wrong. It’s very important and very admirable to be a good person. It’s very important and very admirable to be a religious person. In the end, though, neither of those things give you or me our entrance ticket into Heaven. You and I are saved simply and solely by grace, by God’s unmerited favor shown us in Jesus Christ, Jesus Who had to be crucified because of all of our “good works,” Jesus Who spent three days in the grave, Jesus Who burst the bars of death and rose victorious to life on Easter Sunday so that you and I could also live.
If Abraham needed God’s grace and favor and if St. Paul found that important for him to mention, how much more important is God’s grace and favor for you and for me?
“Nothing in my hand I bring. Simply to Thy Cross I cling.”
That, my friends, is the message that we must get straight. We have to first get it straight in our own minds – that we are saved by God’s unmerited grace shown us in Jesus Christ. Whatever is in you hand, waiting to show St. Peter at the pearly gates, let it go and grab onto Jesus. He is the only way into Heaven!
That, my friends, is the message that we must get out because there are thousands of people dying every single day without knowing Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, people who are making an appearance before God, telling Him how good they were in life or how religious they were, but it won’t get them very far in God’s eyes, anymore than Abraham’s goodness and religiosity got him.
Would you please say a phrase with me? ‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves. It is the gift of God – not by works so that no one can boast” [Ephesians 2:8-9].
“Get the message straight, Missouri! Get the message out!”
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Pastor Christopher Schaar
Historic First Lutheran Church of Pasadena
Downtown
A Quarterly Publication of The Association of Downtown Lutheran Churches
c/o Historic First Lutheran Church, 808 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, CA 91104
DowntownChurches@aol.com
Issue #2 – June, 2008
WELCOME!
A warm welcome to this issue of “Downtown,” a quarterly newsletter full of interchange and exchange between downtown Lutheran churches across our great country! As your editor, it’s my hope you’ll find this a helpful, powerful resource to further equip and empower your ministry in the great downtown. As your editor, I can only accomplish that goal when you respond to the content of this newsletter and feed me information about what’s going on with your own particular ministry. Responses, comments, constructive criticisms, etc. can be directed to DowntownChurches@aol.com
A LIL’ HISTORY
The Association of Downtown Lutheran Churches was founded in 1996 under the auspices of The Department of Evangelism of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, an outgrowth of the great vision of Dr. David Eberhard at Historic Trinity, Detroit. The belief of those involved in the start of this organization was that our cities were great, often untapped, often ignored mission fields. It was also clear that many “downtown” churches were uniquely different from other “urban” ministries. Hence the separate organization.
ADLC IS ALL-INCLUSIVE!
Permit me the opportunity to clarify the scope of The Association of Downtown Lutheran Churches since some of you raised the issue following the receipt of our inaugural issue in January. While the origination of the Association was under the auspices of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, it has never been the intent of the ADLC to be denominational specific or to promote “party politics.” In fact, our first conference in October, 1996, involved participants and speakers from The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Episcopal Church.
Since the “re-invention” of the ADLC under the interest of Wheat Ridge Ministries, a concerted effort has been made to identify and involve our brothers and sisters in The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as a way of cross-pollinating and enhancing our network. Each newsletter is now mailed to 330 downtown churches across our great country, as well as the District Presidents of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, the Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Presiding Bishops of both the LCMS and ELCA.
EXCITING NEWS!
The Association of Downtown Lutheran Churches has been “adopted” by the Center for U.S. Missions (C4USM) in Irvine, California.
This new association will lend the ADLC additional credibility and visibility and allow it to use the C4USM’s electronic distribution lists for its quarterly newsletter. In addition, the dream of reviving regular gatherings of downtown churches across the country will become a reality. The C4USM is very interested in further expanding the cross-denominational reach of the ADLC.
Details are currently being worked out with Pastor Mike Ruhl (Exec. Director of the C4USM) and with other prominent downtown church leaders to define the mission statement of the ADLC and embark upon this new direction. If you have suggestions as to what you feel the mission of the ADLC should be, please fire off an email to DowntownChurches@aol.com
Thank God for this development!
DEDICATORY THANKS
You might remember that the January, 2008 inaugural issue of “Downtown” was dedicated in loving memory of The Reverend Dr. David V. Koch, who was granted the Crown of Eternal Life on 27 September 2007. David’s widow, Ruth, sent the following note of thanks:
“Dear Chris,
How dear of you to dedicate the first issue of Downtown to David’s memory. I am grateful for your remembering and he would have been delighted!
He always considered himself a downtown person – and prayed for the peace of the city. Thank you for highlighting that part of his life and commitment.
God bless your new newsletter and your new year of grace. Love, Ruth”
REQUEST FOR FUTURE DEDICATIONS
If you have suggestions for future issues of “Downtown” to be dedicated to other great veterans of downtown ministry (clergy or lay, living or faithfully departed), please pass that information along to me at DowntownChurches@aol.com
FINE! DON’T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT!
Our inaugural issue celebrated the rebirth of many of our downtown areas with revitalization of all our downtown areas as a soon-approaching reality.
Perhaps you saw the article about the rebirth trends of downtowns and how congregations are catching onto those trends. If you did not see the article, a copy that appeared in the Los Angeles Times is included in this mailing. Make sure to check it out and celebrate what God is doing in our downtowns!
QUESTIONS ASKED AND CHALLENGES NOTED
?
In the days following our inaugural issue, many of you took the time to respond to many questions I asked. In future issues, these questions and challenges will be addressed:
☛ Developing “ownership.”
☛ What is “spirituality” in a diverse community?
☛ How do you do stewardship in a diverse community (maintaining healthy finances)?
☛ Perceptions of a lack of safety in the community & security for staff and members.
☛ Lack of support from colleagues.
☛ Competition with other downtown “venues.”
☛ Many in the civic community do not see the contributions made by the church or devalue them.
☛ Evangelism to the downtown and marketing the downtown church (outreach ideas).
☛ Overcoming the “mother church” attitude (the “stuffed shirt” syndrome and pride that prevents the downtown church from overcoming apathy).
☛ Men’s ministry / women’s ministry / youth ministry.
☛ Loss of Leadership.
☛ Membership age of the congregation.
☛ Dealing with those who want to go back to the past.
☛ Dreaming new dreams.
☛ Parking.
☛ Long time members viewing themselves as owners of the buildings instead of being “disciple-making” people.
☛ Maintaining facilities (including graffiti and trash).
☛ Building and stabilizing families and communities.
☛ Helping people understand (or care) that “Lutheran” in not a cult or antiquated term.
☛ Bringing people to evening events.
☛ Building a sense of unity and fellowship among diverse members, some of whom live at a distance.
☛ The “clinical depression” of the community.
If you have found success with any of these challenges, PLEASE SHARE THEM with the rest of us! Please email your successes to Downtownchurches@aol.com or use the enclosed response sheet.
CHRISTUS PRIMUS AWARD
Concordia University of Ann Arbor, Michigan awarded the Christus Primus Award to The Rev. Dr. David Eberhard, a former Detroit City Council member and the visionary behind the Association of Downtown Lutheran Churches, at their Spring Commencement on May 3, 2008. The Rev. Dr. Thomas R. Ahlersmeyer, President of Concordia noted: “This award is given to recognize your many years of distinguished service to the Lord and His Church, especially the creative and courageous leadership you have provided as a churchman and statesman in the city, one of our church body’s most neglected mission fields and for your mission at Historic Trinity to develop a meaningful paradigm for downtown churches in America.”
Congratulations, Dr. Eberhard!
SAVE A TREE AND A STAMP
If you would prefer to receive this newsletter and other important communications from the ADLC via e-mail in electronic form, please e-mail your request to Downtownchurches@aol.com
THANKS FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS
This newsletter comes your way today thanks in part to monetary gifts made by The Rev. Dr. David Eberhard, by Pastor Christopher Schaar, and by St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Toledo, OH
GIFTS APPRECIATED
At this point, funds collected by the Association of Downtown Lutheran Churches are underwriting the cost of the printing and mailing of this newsletter. At this particular time, each of these mailings cost about $300.00 to reach the nearly 450 on our mailing list. If you have found this an insightful tool, gifts of any size would be appreciated to help defray the ongoing cost of this resource. You may make checks payable to Historic First Lutheran and mail to 808 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, CA 91104, designated for “Downtown.” Personal gifts will be receipted for tax purposes. Individual and congregational donors will be acknowledged in future issues.
“DOWNTOWN” SCHEDULE
The plan for “Downtown” is that is will be a quarterly newsletter. The plan is that an issue will be published the first month of each quarter. As you can tell, this quarter didn’t work too well on that schedule, mainly due to the after-effects of Easter. We hope the next issue, which will begin to tackle some of the questions and challenges printed on page 3, will be in the mail by the end of July.
CLOSING
In closing, my sisters and brothers in Christ, my wish for each of you is simple: KEEP PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON FOR HE IT IS WHO IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE.
As you preach Him, may He bless you in all ways, enabling you to continue to bless those around you!
Joined with you serving Christ and His people,
The Reverend Christopher Schaar
Editor
Senior Pastor, Historic First Lutheran, Pasadena, CA
Leader to Leader
“...It seemed good also to me....”
[Luke 1:3 NIV]
Issue #5: May, 2008
The year 2008 has been designated by us as a “Year of Becoming Great.” Our theme verse is from the Book of Genesis, where God looked around at everything He had created and beheld that it was all very good [Genesis 1:31].
Our God is a God of perfection, a God of greatness!
As His people, God expects no less from us!
As His people, we should expect nothing less of ourselves!
One of the primary tasks set before us during this year of 2008 in “becoming great” is the re-identification of and re-dedication to our “core values.” According to instruction from our Board of Directors, this task is currently in the hands of our Board of Elders (Bill Files, John Ochetti and Jeff Potter) and in the hands of the Chair of our Board of Evangelism, Jessica Valentine. They are diligently studying the BEST resource book on Advanced Strategic Planning, highly recommended to us by Pastor Mike Ruhl of the Center for U.S. Missions. They will be meeting with me during the summer and hope to present some ideas back to the Board of Directors this fall for study and presentation to and buy-in from the members of the congregation.
One thing I have learned through the many leadership conferences I have attended during the past 14 years is that no two congregations are the same. The temptation for many struggling congregations is to simply replicate a ministry model that has been successful elsewhere. The common thought is that if it has worked for Dr. Robert Schuller (of the Crystal Cathedral), Dr. Bill Hybels (of Willow Creek Church), Dr. John Maxwell (of Injoy Ministries) or Dr. Rick Warren (of Saddleback Church), it will work for us as well. Of that, I am not so sure......
Listen to some words that St. Paul wrote to the Corinthian congregation:
“I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. I planted the seed. Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, Who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. By the grace God has given me, I laid the foundation as an expert builder and someone else is building on it” [1 Cor. 3:2, 6-10].
There are several truths held within these verses:
❶ This work before us is not ours. It’s God’s! Our questions should never be, “What do we want? What do we think?” Instead, our questions should always be, “What does God want from us? What does God want from our congregation?”
❷ Every congregation of God’s people is at a different stage in life. Some are still drinking milk – and needing to do that. Others are living off solid food – and needing to do that. To force a newborn (no matter its age) to eat adult food is not only not good; its downright dangerous. Some are still in the “foundation” stage. Others are in the “building” stage.
❸ Every congregation of God’s people is different and unique. I regularly watch the televised meetings of the Planning Commission and City Council of the City of Glendora, where I live. Every building plan submitted for approval is unique to the specific property. What is suitable for one property may not be suitable for another. The same is true for mission and ministry, for mission statements and core values, for programs and approaches.
❹ As different and unique and may be each congregation, the end result is always the same. In the end, God brings growth. The illustration of planting cannot be ignored. I have some very slow growing plants in my yard, plants that need a season or two to actually turn out the way they are supposed to. I have other plants that, as soon as they’re planted, look like what they are supposed to be. I can’t expect a bulb to instantly grow like a potted plant. In the end, though, each plant, given time and tender loving care, will grow.
What does this say to us? It says that the task before us of re-identifying and re-dedicating ourselves to our core values and our overall mission as Historic First Lutheran Church is very important. It should not be rushed. It should not simply be cloned from what someone else is doing. We need to personally get out of God’s way and allow Him to show us His plans for us and stay out of God’s way while He works.
Just food for thought for all of us.
God bless your leadership this month! Thanks for reading!
Pastor Christopher Schaar
Senior / Administrative Pastor
Historic First Lutheran Church, Pasadena, CA
ALTAR FLOWERS are given to the glory of God by Teri Higby in loving memory of her mother, Lillian Higby, who was born on June 1st, 85 years ago.
A REMINDER OF GOD’S PROVISION AND LOVE The extra bouquet of roses on the altar are from the 140+ roses around our church campus. They are a reminder of God’s eternal love for us.
GREEN PARAMENTS The beautiful green paraments adorning our altar, lectern and pulpit were lovingly donated in memory of Marsenlane Parker.
PEGGY MURPHY MEMORIALS Those desiring to make memorial contributions to celebrate the life and commitment of Karen Murphy’s mother, Peggy, are asked to donate to the “Educational Trust Fund for Jessica and Jamie Murphy,” c/o Bill Orsburn, Foothill Federal Credit Union Acct #4926, Box 660130, Arcadia, CA 91066-0130.
REPORTING TWO DEATHS We have recently received word of the deaths of two former members of Historic First Lutheran. The first death was Mrs. Lucille Brown, a teacher in our Lutheran School during the 1960's. Lucille was 98 years old. The second death was that of George Doss, our former gardener and husband of former church secretary Yvonne Doss.
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE In keeping with the practices of other churches and organizations, please note that the deadline for submission of items for our newsletter is the 15th of the month. All items should be submitted in writing via paper or via e-mail. This deadline is out of courtesy to the office staff to allow proper time for editing, layout and prompt mailing of the monthly newsletter. Thanks for your cooperation!
GOT QUESTIONS? The faith-question sheets for Pastor Schaar’s ongoing irregularly scheduled “Our Questions of Faith” preaching series can be found in the Information Rack in the Church Narthex. These should be returned to Pastor Schaar.
LEADER TO LEADER The May issue of “Leader to Leader” can be found in the Information Rack in the Church Narthex. This issue confronts the topic of our current evaluation of our core values. Get yours today!
DOWNTOWN Issue #2 of “Downtown,” edited by our own Pastor Schaar, has been printed and mailed to almost 400 churches and church leaders across the country. Copies are available from the Information Rack in the Church Narthex. Get yours today!
LUTHERAN WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP Lutheran Women’s Fellowship will meet this Saturday at 11:30 a.m. in the Green Room. Our guest speaker will be Gerald Freeny, who will close out our series on community outreach. Gerald is president of our congregation and a Parole Agent II in Police and Corrections Team. He will discuss some of the programs designed to protect and serve our community. A potluck lunch will be held. Sandwiches, salads and desserts will be served. Let Ann Price, Jessica Valentine, Joyce Plueger or Carol Numrich know if you will be attending and what you will be bringing, or if you will make a donation for food.
NEXT SUNDAY Bring your “Mighty Mite Boxes” filled with coins and bills for missions. You may pick up a “Mite Box” today from the table in the Narthex. Return it next Sunday filled with change.
YOU’RE INVITED TO CANTALOOP! No, that’s not some strange African country. Cantaloop is a new frozen yogurt store, managed by Steve Sager. It’s located at 524 S. Lake Avenue. Stop by and say hello!
USHERS TAKE NOTE Next week’s service will involve Usher Team #1 – Bernadette Hendry, Greg Hendry, Rudy Melinat and Ann Price.
Sunday 8 June – Thank God for the precious Gospel message that we are saved by the grace of Jesus Christ Who died and rose for us!
Monday 9 June – Pray for friends celebrating birthdays and anniversaries this week: Gary Demko (10); Madeline Campbell (13); Bernadette Hendry (13); Carol & Jeff Potter (14).
Tuesday 10 June – Include Pastor Schaar and Pastor Gómez in your prayers today in their daily tasks of ministering to God’s people.
Wednesday 11 June – Ask God to bless Historic First Lutheran with the numerical and spiritual growth of its members.
Thursday 12 June – Include the musical leaders of our congregation in your prayers today: Karen Murphy and Mark McCormick. Thank God for them. Thank God also for the dedicated members of our Omega Handbell Choir and our Sanctuary Choir.
Friday 13 June – Thank God that through our “Good Friday” Youth Outreach we are following Jesus’ command to let the little children come unto Him.
Saturday 14 June – Ask God to bless our Lutheran Women’s Fellowship as it meets today for its last gathering of this season.
June 8 – Luke 10
June 9 – Luke 11
June 10 – Luke 12
June 11 – Luke 13
June 12 – Luke 14
June 13 – Luke 15
June 14 – Luke 16
It is with much sadness that I report to you the death of Peggy Murphy, the mother of our Music Director, Karen Murphy. Peggy has been fighting a valiant battle after a cancerous brain tumor was discovered last fall. The tumor was removed but she just never caught any breaks in her battle. She has now been granted eternal rest from her earthly pain and travail.
There will be a service for Peggy this Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at Forest Lawn in Covina Hills.
Please keep Karen and her family in your prayers, especially as Karen now assumes full responsibility for the raising of Jessie and JJ, the two girls that Peggy and Karen co-adopted a couple years ago.
Matthew 7:15-29
Third Sunday after Pentecost
1 June 2008
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Today is “Show and Tell” Sunday. I brought with me a coffee cup. Now that fact in and of itself is not that unusual. As many of you know, I would say that 99 percent of the Sundays that I stand in this pulpit I have a coffee cup sitting somewhere behind me within 20 feet. This coffee cup, though, is special. First of all, it was a gift from Shelly Daniels. Secondly, it’s the only place in the world where the “Leaning Tower of Pisa” stands straight. They accomplished that amazing feat by taking the coffee cup and skewing it at an angle.
It was in 1173 that the Italian architect Bonnano Pisano began work on what would become his most famous project, an eight story bell tower for the adjacent Cathedral. Early on in the construction a problem was discovered. The soil was much softer than they had anticipated and the foundation was far too shallow to adequately support the structure. Even during the construction, the tower began to tilt. During the 176 of construction, engineers tried to compensate. The foundation was shored up. The upper levels were actually built on an angle to try to make the tower look straight. Nothing worked. For the last 800 years the tower has leaned 18 feet from where it should be – that’s 10 degrees from the vertical for you engineers out there. One day, experts say, the Leaning Tower of Pisa will fall because it wasn’t built on the right foundation.
Jesus told a similar story, didn’t he? Jesus’ story was not an eyewitness account. Jesus’ story was theoretical, a parable, but it might as well be true because it is so true to life.
When people ask me what I do for a living, I always answer that I am a pastor. Some people know what that is. Some people have an idea what that is, but figure that I only work 1 hour a week. Some people ask me further, “Well, what exactly do you do?” That’s when I will often say that I deal with broken people, that I am like “all the king’s horses and all the king’s men.” I try to put people back together again. People usually get a laugh out of that, not realizing how truly serious I am when I answer in that way.
But, you know, that answer is only half accurate. I do indeed deal with broken people, people who have built a portion or all of their lives upon unsure foundations and they start to lean during life. I also get the privilege, fortunately, of working with many people who have become accomplished students of life construction. They’ve built their lives properly and securely.
After Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida in 1992, a television crew captured an eerie scene. In a literal sea of destruction, one lone house stood on its foundation. The owner of the house was cleaning his yard when approached by the reporter. He was asked why his house was still standing. The owner answered, “I built the house myself. I built it according to the Florida State Building Code. When the code called for 2x6 trusses, I used 2x6 trusses. I was told that a house built according to the code could withstand a hurricane. I did and it did.”
When the storms of life hit you, when the rain comes down and the streams rise and the winds blow and beat against you, what do you look like the next day? Are you still standing tall, maybe a little weather worn? Are you leaning? Are you completely in shambles?
Jesus has told us how to properly order our lives. He has published the definitive building code. It’s called His Word. It’s the Bible. It’s the account of how God interacted with human beings. It is the story of that loving interaction that God says to fix in your hearts and minds, to tie it on your foreheads, to teach it to your children, to write it on the doorframes of your house [Deuteronomy 11:18-21]
What, in particular, is that all-important message? Well, St. Paul defines that message [Romans 3:21-28]. We call it the GOSPEL. Here’s the “Gospel” in a nutshell:
<strong>All have sinned.
All are saved by grace through Jesus Christ, Who suffered, died and rose again.
Far beyond the daily storms of life that each of us faces is a coming storm. It’s the perfect storm, the hundred year storm. Its intensity is far beyond anything we face on a daily basis. It’s the storm called death. It usually claims one person at a time, but it leaves many victims in its wake.
Fifteen or more times every year, I get to deal with those victims. Without exception, simply by listening, I can tell what the deceased person has done with the Gospel during his or her life. Without exception, simply by listening, I can tell what the surviving victims have done with the Gospel. Those who have followed the command of God to make the Gospel the very foundation of their lives may suffer a little windburn in the storm of death, but that’s about it. Those who have considered the Gospel hogwash begin even themselves to notice that something’s wrong, something that they thought would always support them has started to cause them to lean and maybe even completely implode. Try as they might, try as much as the engineers have tried with the Leaning Tower of Pisa, they just can’t upright themselves. They will never recover and one day they will fall.
There’s fortunately a lot of comfort I can provide to those who have made the Gospel their foundation in life. There’s honestly not a lot I can do besides putting on a black shirt and saying some empty words to those who have chosen not to build on the foundation of the Gospel.
To all of us here today I say, I beg, I plead, “Believe the Gospel”: All have sinned. All are saved by grace through Jesus Christ. Make the Gospel your foundation. Meditate on it day and night. Tell it to everyone you come across. Tell it to them with the prayer that it will become their foundation because beyond the good that the Gospel brings to our daily lives here on earth, it is the Gospel that makes the difference between eternal life and eternal death to every person who walks the face of the earth.
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Pastor Christopher Schaar
Historic First Lutheran Church of Pasadena
June 1 – Luke 3
June 2 – Luke 4
June 3 – Luke 5
June 4 – Luke 6
June 5 – Luke 7
June 6 – Luke 8
June 7 – Luke 9
ALTAR FLOWERS are given to the glory of God by Charlie Freeny in thanksgiving to God for His many blessings and in loving memory of the birthday of her mother, Evelyn Wrenn.
A REMINDER OF GOD’S PROVISION AND LOVE The extra bouquet of roses on the altar are from the 140+ roses around our church campus. They are a reminder of God’s eternal love for us.
GREEN PARAMENTS The beautiful green paraments adorning our altar, lectern and pulpit were lovingly donated in memory of Marsenlane Parker.
PASTOR’S ALMOST ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE You are all invited to Pastor Schaar’s Open House next Sunday, starting at 2:00 p.m. RSVP forms can be found in today’s bulletin.
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE In keeping with the practices of other churches and organizations, please note that the deadline for submission of items for our newsletter is the 15th of the month. All items should be submitted in writing via paper or via e-mail. This deadline is out of courtesy to the office staff to allow proper time for editing, layout and prompt mailing of the monthly newsletter. Thanks for your cooperation!
GOT QUESTIONS? The faith-question sheets for Pastor Schaar’s ongoing irregularly scheduled “Our Questions of Faith” preaching series can be found in the Information Rack in the Church Narthex.
LEADER TO LEADER The May issue of “Leader to Leader” can be found in the Information Rack in the Church Narthex. This issue confronts the topic of our current evaluation of our core values. Get yours today!
LUTHERAN WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP Lutheran Women’s Fellowship will meet on Saturday 14 June at 11:30 a.m. in the Green Room. Our guest speaker will be Gerald Freeny, who will close out our series on community outreach. Gerald is president of our congregation and a Parole Agent II in Police and Corrections Team. He will discuss some of the programs designed to protect and serve our community. A potluck lunch will be held. Sandwiches, salads and desserts will be served. Let Ann Price, Jessica Valentine, Joyce Plueger or Carol Numrich know if you will be attending and what you will be bringing, or if you will make a donation for food.
YOU’RE INVITED TO CANTALOOP! No, that’s not some strange African country. Cantaloop is a new frozen yogurt store, managed by Steve Sager. It’s located at 524 S. Lake Avenue. Stop by and say hello!
GARDEN PARTY Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is sponsoring a Garden Party / Private Exhibition of Contemporary Christian Art at Christ Chapel at Hill Avenue Grace Lutheran Church, 73 N. Hill, on Saturday 14 June from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Please RSVP to Linda Koci (626.792.6663) by 7 June.
USHERS TAKE NOTE Next week’s service will involve Usher Team #8 – Gerald Freeny, Rudy Melinat, Michealene Melus and Carol Schlichting.
Sunday 1 June – Ask God’s blessings upon this new month that begins today.
Monday 2 June – Celebrate the birthdays and anniversaries of friends by praying for them today: Helen Gold (2); Debby Schmus (2); John Ochetti, Jr. (2); Maria Barrera-Marquina (3); Trina & Gerald Freeny (3); Julie & Chad Schmutzer (4); Eunice Hilgendorf (6); Dr. Lee Settgast (6); Jessica Murphy (7); René & Randy Ricks (7).
Tuesday 3 June – Pray specifically for your own needs, cares and concerns.
Wednesday 4 June – Pray by name for our shut-in members: Cleora Bryan, Jill Fenske, Elizabeth Larson, Lucile Moore, Charles Newhouse, Clara Newhouse, Arline Pace, Claudia Proctor, Estelle Thaxton and Ethel Watkins.
Thursday 5 June – Pray for our country and all her leaders.
Friday 6 June – Pray for all the children who attend our “Good Friday” Youth Outreach.
Saturday 7 June – Ask God’s blessings upon tomorrow’s open house at Pastor Schaar’s.