This Past Sunday at St. Thomas: Pentecost
Believers of St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church,
This past Sunday was...
+ Pentecost +
The Sunday About the Giving of the Holy Spirit
Join us this Sunday for the Divine Service at 9:00am and Family Catechesis at 10:30am
If you couldn’t be with us this past Sunday, click here for a recording of Divine Service from another congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
RESOURCES FOR HOUSEHOLD PRAYERS THIS WEEK
Our Around the Word Devotions and Family Catechesis Sheet are always available during Family Catechesis. Digital copies of these as well as more notes from Family Catechesis can be found by clicking here!
The Readings for this past Sunday: Genesis 11:1-9; Acts 2:1-21; John 14:23-31
Our Hymn of the Day for this past Sunday: Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord, LSB 497
The Holy Spirit Gives Peace
Following the flood, Noah’s descendants failed to spread out and fill the earth as God had spoken. Rather, they exalted themselves; with “one language and the same words” (Gen. 11:1) they spoke proudly and arrogantly. The Lord humbled them by confusing “the language of all the earth,” dividing and dispersing the people (Gen. 11:9). That dispersal was reversed on Pentecost Day (the fiftieth day of Easter), when God caused the one Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to be preached in a multitude of languages. “At this sound the multitude came together” (Acts 2:6), for the preaching of Christ is the primary work of the Holy Spirit, whereby He gathers people from all nations into one Church. The Holy Spirit teaches and brings to our remembrance the words of Jesus, which are the words of the Father who sent Him. These words bestow forgiveness and peace to those who keep and hold on to them in love for Jesus. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27).
STEWARDSHIP THOUGHTS | From LCMS Stewardship Ministry
Acts 2:1 – “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.” Notice that Pentecost was actually an Old Testament festival. It happened around the time when the wheat and oats were ready to be brought in. In the New Testament, Pentecost foreshadowed the great harvest of humankind that God will bring in through the preaching of His Word. God gives the seed, and God brings about the harvest through the work of His church.
LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT SUNDAY
Readings for Trinity Sunday: Isaiah 6:1-7; Romans 11:33-36; John 3:1-17
Hymns for Trinity Sunday: 505, 498, 604, 954, 960, 941
The Holy Trinity Reveals Himself to Sinners
When Isaiah beheld the glory of the Lord, he cried out “Woe is me!” For the sinner cannot stand in the presence of a holy God and live (Is. 6:1–7). But God the Father lifted up His Son Jesus for us on the cross, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. This eternal life of Christ is given us according to the Holy Spirit’s good pleasure in Baptism. “Unless one is born [again] of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). To sinners in fear of death, the messengers of God place on our lips the living body and blood of Christ and speak His words of absolution, “Your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for” (Is. 6:7). Having received forgiveness and life from the Father through the Son by the Holy Spirit, we join with the angels in praising the blessed Trinity, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts!” (Is. 6:3). “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:33–36).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
UPCOMING MIDWEEK FEAST DAYS Join us for two upcoming principal feasts of the Church that fall during the week this year: June 24, the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, and July 2, the Feast of the Visitation. Divine Services for both feasts will be held at 6:30 PM at St. Paul Lutheran in Magnolia.
BIBLE STUDY SERIES Join us during the 10:30 am Family Catechesis hour for our current Bible study series on St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, which begins TODAY!
YOUTH UPDATE The senior youth’s Higher Things conference trip is coming up VERY quickly! Thanks to our wonderfully generous congregation and Higher Things scholarships, we are very close to our goal, but we still need about $1,700. Please consider supporting our final fundraiser (below). See Lynea Sander with any questions!
BRISKET SALE Give Dad the gift of meat!! This Father’s Day, gift Dad the juiciest gift of brisket from the youth group! Pre-sale is going on now- $15 per pound or 5 pounds for $60! Fill out the order form at the back of the chapel and turn in payment to Lynea Sander by 6/8. Brisket will be delivered on Father’s Day (June 15) after service.
PENNY WARS Empty your coin purse and dig the pennies and quarters out of your car – Higher Things can use them! Each year Higher Things hosts a “penny war” between groups at the conference. These coins (and other cash and checks) are used to fund scholarships for individuals and churches who don’t have enough funds to get to the conference on their own. St. Thomas youth have benefited from these scholarship funds last year and this year, so we know exactly how big of an impact the Penny Wars have! Please donate your coins (and/or any other funds you’d like to contribute) via the receptacle at the back of the chapel. We will be accepting funds until July 6.
NEW WEBSITE Check out our new/updated website: www.stthomastx.church Pastor Lacey posts there once or twice weekly, including the sermon and other information from the previous Sunday. Please remember to share our Facebook and Instagram posts to help get the word out about St. Thomas!
EVENTS
SUMMER PLAY DATES We will not hold our Saturdays at the park during the summer—instead, we will meet for pool parties approximately once a month at the Winoske’s home. Keep an eye on the bulletin for each month’s pool party details.
JUNE POOL PARTY Join us for our first summer pool party on June 21 at 3:00 PM! The food theme is BBQ. Brisket and sausage will be provided. Please bring a side and/or dessert to share, and BYOB. Hosted by the Winoskes: 19202 Charisma Rose Ln, Tomball, TX 77377
Blessings,
Pastor Lacey
For more about who we are and what we believe, visit the St. Thomas homepage.
