RESPONSE TO THE WORD Each week, during our Mid-Week Lenten Services, everyone will be given a "Response to the Word" sheet which lists the readings for the week and asks questions related to the theme. In case you can't be here, or in case you would like to look at those readings and questions during the week, we will post them on our blog. Here is the sheet for Week 2: Read Hebrews 12:1-3 and Matthew 10:5-31. Then answer the following questions: 1. Did Jesus tell the disciples that their mission would be easy or difficult? 2. What did he tell them to take with them on their journey? 3. What kind of baggage do you carry that keeps you from proclaiming the Gospel? 4. What does it mean to you to risk everything for the sake of the Gospel? RESPONSE TO THE WORD: Each week, during our Mid-Week Lenten Services, everyone will be given a "Response to the Word" sheet which lists the readings for the week and asks questions related to the theme. In case you can't be here, or in case you would like to look at those readings and questions during the week, we will post them on our blog. Here is the sheet for Week 1: Read Exodus 3:1-4, 7-12 and Luke 5:1-11. Then answer the following questions: 1. God called Moses and Peter to important, holy tasks in this world. Why did Peter and Moses think they were unworthy to be called by God to holy tasks in the world? 2. In baptism, God called YOUR name just as he called Moses and Peter. He continues to call you to holy tasks in the world. How are you like Peter and Moses in your response to God's call for you? 3. What particular, holy task might God be calling you to do? Will you Come and Follow Me? …Following Jesus on a path of discipleship. Following Jesus is about more than just saying words. It is about more than looking the part. Following Jesus calls us to a life of ACTION. Join us for a Lenten Journey this year as we walk a path with Jesus, and consider what it means to follow him. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday worship on February 13, where we begin Lent with the Imposition of Ashes and Celebration of Holy Communion. We will continue the next five weeks to explore a life of discipleship. The schedule is as follows: Week 1: “If I But Call Your Name” We will look at people in Scripture who answered God’s call. How did it change their lives? How can it change our lives when we answer the call to follow Jesus down a path of discipleship? Week 2: “Will You Risk the Hostile Stare?” A life of faith is risky. People might look at you funny. People might talk about you. Following Jesus isn’t easy. What does Jesus have to say about this? What tools does he give us? Week 3: “Will You Set the Prisoners Free?” Jesus healed. Without boundaries. Without exception. He touched lepers. He made the blind to see and the paralyzed to walk. How can we continue his healing ministry? How can we help others to know his healing touch? Where is his healing presence in the world today? Week 4: “Will You Quell the Fear Inside?” Not only is a life of faith risky, a life of faith is fearless! To change the world requires bravery and strength. Where does our strength come from? How can we live a fearless life? Week 5: “Let Me Turn and Follow You” Becoming a disciple means your life will NEVER be the same. It means losing the life you know to gain a new life in Christ that is better than you could ever imagine. How will you answer this call? How will you let it change your life? Each Wednesday we have services at 11 AM and 6:30 PM, with meals after the 11 AM Worship and before the 6:30 PM Worship. Also…as part of our Lenten Walk with Jesus this year, we will journey with Jesus with some physical exercise, as well as spiritual ones. You are invited to participate in our “Here I Step” walking campaign. We are encouraging you to walk two miles a day during the 40 days of Lent, which will allow you to journey the distance (80 Miles) from Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth to Jerusalem. You can sign up for the “Here I Step” walking campaign at a table in the Narthex beginning next Sunday. There will be recording sheets for you to record your miles, as well as other helpful tools. We encourage you to WORK TOGETHER on this. Grab a partner, or a group, to join you on this Lenten walk. Don’t have a place to walk? The St. James gym will be open for you from 7-8 AM 7 days a week and from 11-6 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Come walk in the gym—and join your church friends! Watch for other incentives and information in the next couple of weeks! The “Here I Step” Campaign will begin on Ash Wednesday—February 13. There will be other resources for prayer and devotion to help your Lenten Discipline on the LENT TABLE in the Narthex. Pick yours up in February! "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" -2 Corinthians 5:17
A new year brings with it a chance at all new things in our lives. That's why so many of us make New Year's Resolutions--for the opportunity for a fresh start. Unfortunately, our resolutions don't always pan out. And often we get frustrated by our failures and give up the new chance we have been given--settling instead for the same old routines and patterns. The Good News is that while New Year's Resolutions often don't work out the way we want, we always have a fresh start with God. His grace and forgiveness and mercy are new for us every single day. It's never too late to have a whole new relationship with God. And in God, there are always new chances to change your life! So where are the places you desire a fresh start? Where would you like God to help you form a new path? What are the old things you want to give up? Seek God's direction and guidance--and live in His abundant forgiveness and grace--and you just might find a whole new beginning! And if you fail, and if things don't work out the way you had hoped, ask for a fresh start again and God promises a new beginning--every day...every hour. God's grace is new for you! That is true in our lives--and it is also true for our congregation. As we begin a new year at St. James, we have a chance for a fresh start. What are your New Year's Resolutions for our congregation? Where would you like to see God take us in 2013? We will be asking you those questions in the next several weeks--at Board Meetings, group meetings, and in general conversation. Be thinking and praying about your hopes and dreams for St. James and help us frame the ministry for the coming year. And may God bless you abundantly in 2013...and may you remember every day the grace, forgiveness and mercy you have in Him! -Pastor Jeni As the weather gets blissfully cooler and the leaves begin to fall from the trees, it can only mean one thing here at church. It's time for our fall programs to kick back into high gear! This is my favorite time of year. A time for new beginnings. A time to hear the sounds of children (and adults!) filling the hallways and the gym and the classrooms on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings! We have a lot of great events planned for you and we hope you will join us. Here are just a few of the things we have going on:
Sunday, September 9: RALLY DAY--Let's all worship TOGETHER! Rally Day worship will be held at 9:30 AM (this is our only service this Sunday morning). Bibles will be handed out to new pre-school children and 3rd graders. Towards the end of the service, all Sunday School children will be dismissed to classrooms where they will meet teachers and start the year. Weather permitting, we will enjoy our last Sunday outside! Wednesday, September 12: 7th and 8th grade Confirmation, Wednesday evening meals, and hildren and adult choirs all start. Sunday, September 16: We move indoors for our regular worship schedule at 8, 9:30 and 10:45. Adult Bible class begins at 9:15 and children's Sunday School starts at 9:30. We will also have a Middle School Youth Group picnic at 2 PM that day. Tuesday, September 18: Toddler storytime begins for our 0-3 year olds at 9:30 AM here at church. Wednesday, September 19 is 9th grade confirmation orientation at 6:15 PM. Saturday, September 22 is the kick-off for our new High School and young adult Youth Group i-Transform. High School Youth and college-age students are invited to join us as we sing, hear faith-filled messages, and talk about issues of life and faith. We will meet from 7 PM-9 PM in the youth room. Whether you come to worship every week...have been missing for awhile...or are looking for a Church home, we invite you to join us this fall at St. James as together we worship and praise God! And we encourage you to become involved in these or any of our other ministries!!! Blessings, Pastor Jeni LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF THE KINGDOM…AN ASSIGNMENT FOR YOU! On Sunday June 17, during the sermon, we talked about God’s Kingdom—and looking for it in surprising and unexpected places, people, and situations (like my sweet, little child handing me a dandelion!). As I left worship that day, I was in awe of the many places where I saw glimpses of God. My son holding hands with his grandpa, walking ahead of me on the sidewalk; a swan tending to her young babies; my little boys thrilled to give their dad hand made (with great love!) Father’s Day gifts; a church bell ringing in the distance as I went for a walk. As we talked about it that morning, I announced an “assignment” for you—a summer-long assignment. I want you to be on the look-out for God’s Kingdom as well! And then I want you to TAKE PICTURES of it! Where do you see the Kingdom of God? Where do you find hope? Where do you see God transforming the world? Take those pictures. And then turn them in to me. I would like to post them all over the church building by Rally Day. You can also post them to our St. James Facebook page (www.facebook.com/stjamesmasoncity). Snap away! -Pastor Jeni |
St. James Blog
Periodic notes and updates from the staff of St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mason City, Iowa Archives
November 2018
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St. James Lutheran Church1148 4th Street SE
Mason City, IA 50401 |
Contact Us641-423-4702
stjamesofficemc@gmail.com |