The way of the Lord is righteous and just: “The soul who sins shall die” (Ezek. 18:4). However, because the Lord has “no pleasure in the death of anyone” (Ezek. 18:32), He calls sinners to repentance and faith in His gracious forgiveness of sins. The man who is thus turned away from his wickedness, who henceforth lives by the grace of God, “shall surely live; he shall not die” (Ezek. 18:28). This way of repentance has been opened for us by the cross of Christ. In the righteousness of faith and love, “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death” (Phil. 2:8), and He was vindicated in His resurrection from the dead. Indeed, “God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name” (Phil. 2:9). He has given us this name in our Baptism into Christ, in whom we now “shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15). He uses the authority that He has received from His Father (Matt. 21:23–27) to preach a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, by which even “the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God” (Matt. 21:31–32).
Bible Readings
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 (Repent and turn.)
EPISTLE READING: Philippians 2:1-4, 14-18 (Reflect the mind of Christ.)
HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 21:23-27 (The path of the contrite heart and faith.)
Sept 24th 10:30 am Worship Service Sept 20th 10:00 am Women’s Sewing for Missions Sept 24th 10:30 am Worship Service Sept 27th 10:00 am Women’s Sewing for Missions
Oct. 1st 10:30 am Communion Service Oct 3rd 11:00 am New Bible Study Oct 4th 10:00 am Women’s Sewing for Missions Oct 8th 10:30 am Worship Service / Thanksgiving Sunday Oct 9th Church office Closed Oct 10th 11:00 am New Bible Study Oct 11th 10:00 am LWML-C Meeting
Oct 15th 10:30 am Communion Service Oct 17th 11:00 am New Bible Study Oct 18th 10:00 am Women’s Sewing for Missions Oct 22nd 10:30 am Worship Service / Voter’s Meeting Oct 23rdPASTOR AWAY – Church Worker Conf. Oct 23-26 Oct 29th 10:30 am Worship Service / Daylight Savings / Bulletin Sunday Oct 31st 11:00 am New Bible Study – Halloween
Volunteers are needed: It would be wonderful to have a list of volunteer readers to assist Pastor Henock Sunday mornings! They would read the Old Testament & the Epistle Readings. If you can help out, please speak to Pastor Henock or phone/email the church office.
New Adult Bible Study Coming Soon!
Pastor Henock invites you to join him for his upcoming bible study beginning Tuesday, October 3rd, from 11:00 – 12:00pm. Philippians has been chosen to be the focus of the study. All are welcome!
SEWING FOR MISSIONS~ Our first meeting will be on Wed., Sept 20 from 10-12 pm, here in our church. Elsie from Hope Lutheran church is coming to demonstrate sewing Hygiene/Kleni kits for our mission project. Bring your sewing machine and scissors if you can or come to help with the assembling.
We will also sew pillowcase sun dresses, boy’s shorts, stuffed fleece animals, back packs, games and more. We want to share our love and the joy of Jesus and bring smiles to some children’s faces this Christmas. We will be sewing them for Samaritan’s Purse and Christmas shoe boxes which will be sent to many other countries.
We have already collected flannel sheets, pillow cases (patterned or plain), cotton materials, batting and trims. We could use your help by donating more flannel sheets, printed flannelette, fleece, cottons and or your $donation to help buy more supplies.
We look forward to good fellowship and having you join the “SAS”. Phone Lucille or Darlene for more info if needed. SEW AND SEW!! come and sew with us and be an SAS!
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS! TLC’s Annual Christmas Banquet will take place on Saturday, December 16th!
UKRAINE AID FUND UPDATE: As of June 23, 2023, the people of LCC have raised a total of $763,961.28 for the LCC Ukraine Relief Aid Fund. @ Lutheran Church-Canada Donate
REMINDER: Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)’s Ukraine Aid Fund directly supports our partner church, the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU) during this current crisis. The Ukraine Aid Fund established by Concordia Lutheran Mission Society (CLMS) will contribute to rebuilding efforts and other expenses, anticipating the significant financial need that will arise in the aftermath of this current conflict. As auxiliaries of LCC, the funds raised through CLMS, and Lutheran Women’s Missionary League of Canada (LWMLC) to name another example, will be directed to our partner Church in Ukraine through LCC. This is just one of the ways that the various auxiliaries, listed service organizations, and people of our Synod are working together, as one Body under Christ in support of humanitarian works of mercy. Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) is also working to provide general humanitarian relief in Ukraine through the help of their partner organizations.
AS WE GATHER How’s your prayer life? Many think of prayer as a big red button on the wall with the instruction, “when all else fails, press!” When are you most likely to pray? For most of us our most fervent prayer happens in times of crisis or suffering. For Christians, says St. Paul, rather than seeing suffering as God’s judgment for sin or as God abandoning us, we need to learn of suffering’s being as much of a gift of God as is the gift of faith. Suffering for the sake of Christ, because we are disciples and believers is more obvious. But even our suffering of the ills and misfortunes, heartbreaks and catastrophes that are but common to all who live in a sinful world are moments of God’s grace for us as we look to the Cross of Christ where He suffered for all. In Christ we can rejoice even when we face trials in this life.
Bible Readings
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 55:6-9 (The message of restoration, a matter of life and death.)
EPISTLE READING: Philippians 1:12-14, 19-30 (Faith tested and purified through suffering.)
HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 20:1-16 (To question God’s grace for others is to lose it for yourself.)
AS WE GATHER The most essential, important, and difficult aspect of living the Christian life is learning how to live in the forgiveness of sins. There is a direct connection between my receiving God’s forgiveness and my forgiving another person. However, it is not that God’s forgiveness is caused by my forgiving someone else, but rather it is the extent to which I do not forgive or am reluctant or find it difficult to forgive someone else that should make one wonder if you have really appreciated God’s forgiveness for yourself. There are no limits to God’s forgiveness; neither is there to be for us forgiving others. Joseph, and his forgiveness of his brothers, points us to Jesus. In Jesus God took our debts into Himself, paid the price Himself so that forgiveness might be the free gift of His pure grace.
Bible Readings
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Genesis 50:15-21 (No revenge, only forgiveness)
EPISTLE READING: Romans 14:1-12 (Both weak and strong have one Lord.)
HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 18:21-35 (A life-style of compassion.)
AS WE GATHER Instead of a children’s sermon, today Jesus makes a child the sermon, saying, “unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). We like to think of ourselves as mature adults, independent and able to take charge of our lives, acting as if we are God. No children’s stuff for us! A child, though, is one who is totally dependent on father and mother for all of life, just as we are dependent on God the Father for all of life. Becoming like a child in humble faith, however, is impossible apart from the grace of God in Christ, Mary’s Child, whose blood has reconciled us to the Father and enables us to be reconciled with one another in the forgiveness of sins.
Bible Reading
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Ezekiel 33:7-9 (The message of restoration, a matter of life and death.)
EPISTLE READING: Romans 13:1-10 (The life of faith lived in the world.)
HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 18:1-20 (The fellowship of the forgiven.)
AS WE GATHER How often have you lost your patience? Some Christians say they either “aren’t” or even “can’t” be patient even though patience is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Patience is a gift of God rooted in His mercy. In His mercy God not only gives us forgiveness of our sins but also transforms our lives. In today’s Epistle St. Paul urges patience in tribulation by reminding us of hope and prayer (Romans 12:12). Rather than giving up in frustration we draw ever closer to God’s mercy in prayer. And we can rejoice in hope even in circumstances beyond our control. These three things belong together: patience, hope, and prayer.
Bible Readings
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Jeremiah 15:15-21 (Hanging on to God’s promises by prayer.)
EPISTLE READING: Romans 12:9-21 (Hope is faith looking forward in the mercies of God.)
HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 16:21-28 (The cruciform pattern of the disciple’s life)
AS WE GATHER In Isaiah the people are bid to look to their spiritual ancestors as the Rock from which they were hewn. Jesus declares that the church will be built on the rock of Peter’s bold confession of faith. God’s word of reconciliation and mercy are keys to the church’s mission. Paul urges us to not be conformed to this world, but to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, using our individual gifts to build up the body of Christ. From the table we go forth to offer our spiritual worship through word and deed.
Bible Readings
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 51:1-6 (God offers comfort in the knowledge that His deliverance will come soon and will never end.)
EPISTLE READING: Romans 11:33-12:8 (God calls us to service and reminds us that all forms of ministry function to build up the body of Christ.)
HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 16:13-20 (Peter gives his inspired confession of faith, and Jesus responds with the promise of a church that will overcome the very gates of hell.)
AS WE GATHER Many of us came to church today from somewhere close by. As we humbly approach our Lord and celebrate God’s work in our own communities, we also celebrate God’s work around the globe. We join with believers around the world in hearing God’s Word, singing His praises, joining our hearts in prayer, and receiving healing, mercy, and forgiveness. We come to our Lord’s table and celebrate the victory of our Lord over all demonic forces. We humbly pray for God’s guidance as we reach out and touch others with the mercy we have received from Him.
Bible Readings
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 (Salvation for Foreigners)
EPISTLE READING: Romans 11:1-2, 13-15, 28-32 (The Remnant of Israel)
HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 15:21-28 (The Faith of a Canaanite Woman)
AS WE GATHER “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles” (Psalm 34:6). This is the story of humanity throughout time: We realize we can’t do it on our own, so we cry out and God saves us. Peter cries out as he is sinking and Jesus reaches out and saves him. Paul reminds us of this eternal truth in Romans 10:13, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” God hears our cries and saves us through Jesus Christ, giving us the gift of heaven. God’s love in Jesus Christ draws us here as we experience God’s free gift of grace in baptism, communion, and the precious words of absolution which begin our time together.
Bible Reading
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Job 38:4-18 (The Lord answers Job in the storm.)
EPISTLE READING: Romans 10:5-17 (How can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard?)
HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 14:22-33 (Peter walks on the water.)
AS WE GATHER We usually hear the account of Jesus feeding the 5,000 during the summer months of the long, green season of the Church Year. This miraculous feeding affirms God’s generous and daily provision for all our needs. But also, this miracle propels us forward to receive and confess Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins, through the cross. Daily, He feeds us with magnanimous grace and forgiveness. His Church continues to be that place of respite where we are fed by holy Words and precious Sacraments from Jesus Himself. Jesus has great compassion on the 5,000 and continues to sustain His Church with equal compassion in the midst of our complex circumstances and needs.
Bible Readings
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 55:1-5 (Compassion from of old.)
EPISTLE READING: Romans 9:1-5 (Adoption, glory, and God’s covenant belongs to Israel.)
HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 14:13-21 (Jesus provides food in a desolate place.)
