This Past Sunday at St. Thomas: Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
Believers of St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church,
This past Sunday was...
+ The Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul +
The Sunday About the Faithful Testimony of Peter and Paul that Jesus is Our Savior
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: Acts 12:1-11; Galatians 2:1-10; Matthew 16:13-19
Our Hymn of the Day for this past Sunday: Lord Jesus Christ, The Church’s Head
St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles
Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” So confessed St. Peter. And Christ promised to build His Church on it by the forgiveness of sins (Matt. 16:16–19). He does this so we don’t try to build the Church ourselves, on this or that person, or by any human means. “Let no one boast in men … whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas,” for “all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s” (1 Cor. 3:21–23). The same Lord “who worked through Peter … worked also through” Paul and is still at work in His Gospel and Sacraments (Gal. 2:7–8). The Church of every age must be recalled to “hear the word of the gospel” — the free forgiveness of sins for Christ’s sake apart from the Law — “and believe.” The Holy Spirit makes “no distinction” among men, but cleanses “hearts by faith” alone. So “we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 15:7–11). Both were imprisoned (Acts 12:1–11), both wrote Scripture (2 Peter 3:15–16), both opposed the world — and sometimes each other (Gal. 2:11–16) — all so “that the truth of the gospel might be preserved” for us (Gal. 2:5).
STEWARDSHIP THOUGHTS | From LCMS Stewardship Ministry
Proverbs 9:9 – “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.” We need the Lord’s instruction and wisdom. We just don’t know enough on our own. It seems foolish to the world that Christians drop their hard-earned money into the collection plate every week. The world just doesn’t see a benefit to the preaching of the Word, the administration of the Sacraments, the sending of missionaries, or the educating of children in the faith. But from the Lord’s instruction and wisdom, we know better. Giving teaches us generosity. The work of the church is the salvation of mankind, and we are blessed to be called to participate in it in this way.
LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT SUNDAY
Readings for the Third Sunday after Trinity: Micah 7:18-20; 1 Peter 5:6-11; Luke 15:1-32
Hymns for the Third Sunday after Trinity: 611, 608, 616, 612, 609, 709
Jesus Receives Sinners
“This man receives sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2). The Pharisees’ statement of judgment against Jesus is in fact a proclamation of Gospel truth. For our God is one who delights in mercy, who casts all our sins into the depths of the sea through the cross (Micah 7:18–20). “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15). Those who refuse to be counted as sinners also refuse Jesus who came only for sinners. Those like the older son (Luke 15:11–32), who think they are righteous of themselves, will not join in the heavenly celebration over the sinner who repents and so remain outside of the Father’s house. Let us therefore be on guard against self–righteously trusting in our own merits. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you” (1 Peter 5:6). Rejoice that Jesus receives sinners like us and that He still sits at table with us in the Holy Supper, bestowing His forgiveness and life.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
UPCOMING MIDWEEK FEAST DAY Join us for our next principal feast of the Church that falls during the week this year: July 2, the Feast of the Visitation. A Divine Service for this feast will be held at 6:30 PM at St. Paul Lutheran in Magnolia.
TEXAS CONFESSIONAL LUTHERANS MEETING The quarterly meeting of the Texas Confessional Lutherans discussion group is scheduled for July 24 at 10:30 am at Grace Lutheran Church in Brenham. All are invited to attend! If you’d like to join TCL’s email list to be alerted of upcoming events, please email the chairman, Pastor Kory Boster at kbos567@outlook.com.
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.
BREAKFAST TACOS will be offered on the first and third Sundays of the month during the summer. Tacos are $2 each, with proceeds going to our youth’s Higher Things trip. Thank you for all your support!
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.
Blessings,
Pastor Lacey
For more about who we are and what we believe, visit the St. Thomas homepage.
