This Past Sunday at St. Thomas: Trinity 1
Believers of St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church,
This past Sunday was...
+ The First Sunday after Trinity +
The Sunday About the Word that Produces True Faith and Love
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 15:1-6; 1 John 4:16-21; Luke 16:19-31
Our Hymn of the Day for this past Sunday: To God the Holy Spirit Let Us Pray, LSB 768
Faith Trusts in Christ for Life Eternal
When the beggar Lazarus died, he was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. For he was truly Abraham’s seed. Like Abraham, he believed in the Lord, and the Lord “counted it to him as righteousness” (Gen. 15:6). The name Lazarus means “God is my help.” The unnamed rich man, on the other hand, did not love and trust in God. For he evidently cared little for the beggar at his gate. And “he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20). He who loved and trusted in possessions and prestige died and was in torments in Hades (Luke 16:19–31). Repentance and faith are worked only through Moses and the prophets—that is, the Word of God, for it points us to Christ. Only through His death and resurrection are we brought the comfort of life everlasting.
STEWARDSHIP THOUGHTS | From LCMS Stewardship Ministry
Luke 16:19 – “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.” This is often called the story of “The Rich Man and Lazarus.” But it should really be called the story of “The Two Rich Men and Lazarus.” The other rich man in this story is Abraham. Obviously, these two men used the gift of riches that God gave them in very different ways. The life and decisions of Abraham flowed from faith; the rich man’s life and choices flowed from disbelief and self-centeredness. Abraham was kind and generous, reflecting his trust in a kind and generous God. And the rich man? Well, you saw what happened to him and what god he served.
LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT SUNDAY
Readings for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul: Acts 12:1-11; Galatians 2:1-10; Matthew 16:13-19
Hymns for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul: 518, 647, 645, 617, 818, 644
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).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
UPCOMING MIDWEEK FEAST DAYS Join us for two upcoming principal feasts of the Church that fall during the week this year: June 24th, the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, and July 2nd, 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.
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.
