This Past Sunday at St. Thomas: Twelfth Sunday after Trinity
Believers of St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church,
This past Sunday was...
+ The Twelfth Sunday after Trinity +
The Sunday About the Lord Who Make the Deaf to Hear and the Mute to Speak Rightly
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: Isaiah 29:17-24; 2 Corinthians 3:4-11; Mark 7:31-37
Our Hymn of the Day for this past Sunday: My Soul, Now Praise Your Maker, LSB 820
Faith Comes from Hearing
A man who was deaf and therefore also had an impediment in his speech was brought to Jesus (Mark 7:31–37). In the same way, all are by nature deaf toward God and therefore also unable to confess the faith rightly. For “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:9–17). Jesus put His fingers into the man’s ears, and He spat and touched His tongue. Even so in Holy Baptism, water sanctified by the words of Jesus’ mouth is applied to us; and the finger of God, that is, the life–giving Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 3:4–11) is put into our ears in the hearing of the baptismal Gospel. Jesus’ sighing “Ephphatha” opened the man’s ears, and his tongue was loosed to speak plainly as Isaiah prophesied of the Messiah, “In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book” (Is. 29:18–24) So also, He who sighed and breathed His last on the cross for us has given us to hear and believe in Him and has opened our lips that our mouths may declare His praise.
Prayer for the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity
Alas, Lord Jesus, through sin we are so far removed from You. Take us, miserable ones, up today from the horde of the unrepentant and the despisers of Your name, and lead us into the number of Your rightly believing ones. Sink Your finger, the Holy Spirit, into our hearts. Command and defend, through the power of Your Word, against all that would keep and hinder us from You. With the spittle, that is, with the use of Your most worthy Sacrament, seal and quicken our body and soul, so that closed ears may be opened and the bands of tongues may be loosened, that we may speak rightly, and live, walk, and blessedly die unto Your honor. Amen.
—Esaias Heidenreich, Betbüchlein (translation from Treasures from the Lutheran Church)
STEWARDSHIP THOUGHTS | From LCMS Stewardship Ministry
Romans 10:15a – “And how are they to preach unless they are sent?” Each week in the Lord's House, the Word goes out to us. Indeed, every day and all around the world, the Word goes out wherever it is preached and read. This brings us great joy, but even more joy is derived from realizing that God has blessed us with being part of this sending of the Word. From the blessings God gives us, we return a portion to Him in the church for His work. And thus we are doubly blessed. We receive the Word, and we get to send it forth to others.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
KRESSTON INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION A poll has gone out by email to schedule an informational presentation from the Kresston development, with a proposed date in October. This presentation is not about purchasing property in the near term. Its purpose is to hear about new developments in our area so we can begin a larger conversation about possible boundaries and opportunities for St. Thomas as Montgomery County grows. Please check your email for details and indicate your availability.
SEPTEMBER CALENDAR A fridge-worthy monthly calendar is available on the table at the back of the chapel – pick one up to keep up with this month’s events!
PICTORIAL DIRECTORY We are in the process of putting together our first pictorial directory! As a part of this process, please check the booklet in the back of the chapel to verify your contact information and either approve the use of the existing photo we have, or request/provide a new one. Lynea will be taking pictures on Sunday mornings for the next several weeks, so please see her before or after the service for a new photo! If your contact info needs to be updated or provided, please add it to the booklet. If your information isn’t in the booklet, please contact the church office to be added. The deadline for new photos/updated information is TODAY!
FALL FRESH START Check out the back of the propers insert for a full announcement about the kick-off of our schedule for the academic year!
CHOIR REHEARSALS RESUME TODAY for ages high school through adult! We will rehearse each Sunday following Family Catechesis for about half an hour, and once a month on the second Saturday we will have an intensive rehearsal at Lynea’s house for about an hour and a half in the morning. We will be singing during the service once or twice per month depending on the season. If you’d like to join the Choir, please contact Lynea!
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 are back on the menu each week for the school year! Tacos are $2 each, with proceeds going to our youth’s Higher Things trip. Thank you for all your support!
EVENTS
SATURDAYS IN THE PARK All ages are welcome to join us for Saturdays in the Park on the fourth Sunday of every month! This month we will meet on Saturday, September 27 at 10:00 AM at Jerry Mathews Park in Tomball – 1240 Ulrich Rd, Tomball, TX 77375.
Blessings,
Pastor Lacey
For more about who we are and what we believe, visit the St. Thomas homepage.
