This Past Sunday at St. Thomas—Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
Believers of St. Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church,
This past Sunday was...
+ The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity +
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: 1 Kings 17:17-24; Ephesians 3:13-21; Luke 7:11-16
Our Hymn of the Day for this past Sunday: The Will of God Is Always Best, LSB 758
Jesus Calls forth Life from Death
A large funeral procession carrying the only son of a widow is confronted by another large procession, Jesus and His followers. Death and Life meet face to face at the gate of the city (Luke 7:11–17). Filled with compassion, Jesus comes into direct contact with our mortality in order to overcome it. He touches the coffin and speaks His creative words of life, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” Jesus does what is neither expected nor requested. For through Christ, God the Father “is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think” (Eph. 3:14–21). Jesus bore our death in His body that we may share in His resurrection. Even as Elijah stretched himself out three times over the Zarephath woman’s son (2 Kings 17:17–24), God stretched Himself out over us in the threefold application of His name in the baptismal water, breathing new and everlasting life into us. “To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Prayer for the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
Lord Jesus, You have compassion upon the troubled widow of Nain, and You also mourn over the death of Lazarus. We firmly believe that our misery is not only well known to You but that, with Your tears, You also wish to blot out eternal, hellish misery and evil. We also admonish ourselves that, in this vale of misery of the present danger and distress, we would not forget to grieve with those who are grieving and to earnestly prepare for Your heavenly joy. Look upon our suffering and the suffering of all troubled hearts. Gladden us and them through Your Word and Holy Spirit. When the great sorrow of departing from this world comes before our eyes or stirs our hearts, receive, O Lord Jesus, our souls into Your hand. Shorten the pains of death and help us to depart joyfully from here, You who are the way, the truth, and the life. Amen.
—Esaias Heidenreich, Betbüchlein (translation from Treasures from the Lutheran Church)
STEWARDSHIP THOUGHTS | From LCMS Stewardship Ministry
Ephesians 3:20-21 – “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” God delights in exceeding expectations and in pouring out mercies in abundance. This truth stands in contrast to our fears about lacking what we need for “this body and life.” We have an abundantly-blessing God who has proven His love for us on the cross. How could we not trust Him? How could we not respond to His love with generosity toward His mission in the church? How could we not have a desire to imitate Him in blessing others?
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONFIRMATION We give thanks to God as Cody Topping is confirmed in the Christian faith this morning! Please give him a warm welcome as he joins the St. Thomas family!
PASTOR LACEY’S SURGERY Pastor Lacey will be having a tonsillectomy on Monday, October 6. During his 2-3 week recovery period he is not supposed to use his voice, so we will have substitute pastors on October 12 (Rev. Dr. Ron Bogs) and October 19 (Rev. Isaac Schuller, Grace, Brenham). Please keep him and his family in your prayers!
VOTERS MEETING The 2025 voters meeting will take place on November 1st, 2025, and the informational forum will take place on October 18th, both at 10AM at St. Paul Magnolia. Members will review and act on the following items: the 2026 Proposed Spending Plan and Officer Elections. They will also be updated about the announcement of the Strategic Planning Committee and an update on the Constitution Sunset Review. All members are encouraged to attend and participate in these important matters for the life of our congregation.
OCTOBER 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!
KRESSTON MEETING CANCELED Dear St Thomas Saints, Stephen Barrera, Vice President and General Manager of Kresston, has had to cancel our October meeting due to an unforeseen family scheduling issue.
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!
YOUTH NIGHTthis week is for the senior youth (ages 13-college). We will be meeting at the Winoske home on Thursday at 6:00 PM for supper, Bible study, and fellowship. 19202 Charisma Rose Ln, Tomball, TX 77377. See Lynea Sander or Pastor Lacey with any questions!
EVENTS
SATURDAYS IN THE PARK All ages are welcome to join us for Saturdays in the Park on the fourth Saturday of every month! This month we will meet on Saturday, October 25 at 10:00 AM at Unity Park in Magnolia – 19450 Unity Park Drive, Magnolia, TX 77355.
REFORMATION CELEBRATIONJoin Luther and the “95 Reese’s” for this year’s Reformation Celebration at the Spannagel House! Brats and hot dogs will be served with pot luck sides and desserts, so bring a plate or two to share! There will be activities for kids as well as a piñata! Hope to see everyone there. 1008 Holly Drive, Conroe, TX 77301
Blessings,
Pastor Lacey
For more about who we are and what we believe, visit the St. Thomas homepage.
