Epistle #40: Friday Update

1.   Please look for a more Comprehensive Worship Outline that will be coming to you on Sunday morning! You may wish to use it for your Sunday worship experience. Pastor Brian’s message will focus on John 17:1-11.

2   Hats Off!…to all of our St. Paul members who have given of their writing ability to share heartfelt words of encouragement and faith stories through the sharing of EPISTLES to St. Paul in such meaningful ways. Do you have some thoughts that  you could offer to be of support and encouragement to your fellow St. Paul members? Please contact Brenda Hollingsworth, who is coordinating and scheduling these wonderful EPISTLE messages. Brenda’s email address is: hollingsworthb51@gmail.com.

3.   Reach Out – An important reminder that one way to overcome challenges of isolation and loneliness is to bring love and care and humor to another! Email, call, text, or maybe even write a good old-fashioned letter! Certainly start with those in your own families, but also consider reaching out beyond to others in the community. People will benefit and be encouraged when you express interest in how they are doing. Build each other up, encourage them in  knowing that there will be an end to all of this someday, and in the meantime let others know that you are thinking of them.

4.   A Final Word:
Take a guess, as to who this message was written by, and when?
“I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence.”
It was in 1527, that Martin Luther addressed anxious Germans who were themselves facing the prospect of an epidemic. He wrote that above all else, the Christian’s duty is to care for one’s neighbor, including the most vulnerable, following the best medial advice available, avoiding unnecessary risks.
500+ years later, we can take heart in his confidence in caring for one another and finding patience and endurance in faith in Jesus Christ, seeing this through to the other side.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea: though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.” Psalm 46:1-3

 

 

Church office phone: 515-462-4270
Church office email: StPaulLutheranChurch@hotmail.com
Pastor Brian Mortenson email: StPaulPastor1941@gmail.com
Pastoral Emergencies: 605-351-0867