Why the Justice of God is Good News
the Jesus of the Gospels talks about judgment in no less scathing terms than the boldest of the Old Testament prophets
Read Orginial at https://mbird.com/2020/10/why-the-justice-of-god-is-good-news/
Just a few decades after Jesus’ resurrection, a wealthy shipbuilder from the southern coast of the Black Sea in modern-day Turkey stretched the insights of his favorite Christian teacher — the apostle Paul — toward what he understood to be their logical, magnificent conclusion: that the God and Father of Jesus Christ was purely, exclusively gracious, without one iota of wrath or judgment to his name. Enamored with what John Barclay has called “the singularity of nothing-but-benevolence,” the shipbuilder set out to reform the church in Rome in accord with his radical “perfection” of grace.[1] The shipbuilder’s name was Marcion, and he was eventually condemned as one of the first and greatest Christian heretics…………..
Read The Rest at https://mbird.com/2020/10/why-the-justice-of-god-is-good-news/
![Freedom and Why We’re Afraid of It: Dave Zahl [Video]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1603545118502-EG710AT8PM935OW4IYLV/maxresdefault%5B1%5D.jpg)
Freedom and Why We’re Afraid of It: Dave Zahl [Video]
Here We Still Stand is a Two Day Digital Celebration of The Freedom of the Christian: The theme of our 2020 Here We Still Stand Conference is The Freedom of the Christian.
![[Bible Study] Mark Chapter 1 - Zoom to Scripture](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1603471966172-LK5JQHSDHHTKOEGLQKZF/Zoom+to+Scripture+%2820%29.jpg)
![Mask Myths and Covid 19! [Video]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1603228355946-14N758JLVXB82KO3LX89/maxresdefault%5B1%5D.jpg)
Mask Myths and Covid 19! [Video]
Bottom line: Masks work. They are safe for almost everyone to wear, and the more people that wear them along with adhering to physical distancing and other strategies, then that’s more lives we’ll save. But there’s still a lot of confusion and misinformation out there when it comes both to wearing masks and the actual risks of getting infected with COVID-19. In this video I address a few of the most common myths and misunderstandings using scientific evidence. #WearAMask
This is where pastor Cris got his information from last sunday.
![[Sunday] Jonah Chapter 4](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1602868143507-DMTTUEJ1PK9JWILJZ1W7/Jonah+Weekly4a.jpg)
[Sunday] Jonah Chapter 4
Should I care? Jonah sets up a little camp on a hill to watch the show. But the show never comes, and he is left with a terrible sunburn. How could he have avoided all of this? Perhaps he could have not wanted the city's destruction.
Service [above] Sermon releases at 10pm [under]
Questions for the Week
Who is your most bitter enemy? What characteristics about them do you hate?
Read John 4:1-4. What do you think Joanh wants to happen to his enemies? Have you ever thought that about your enemies?
Read Jonah 4:5-11. What do you think God is trying to get Jonah to see and understand through his questions of Jonah?
Thinking back to question 1, do you see any characteristics of your enemy in yourself? How do you respond knowing that God is “slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” for your enemy and also for you?
Quotes from Sermon
“6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands,[a] forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.””
“Speaking form his hospital bed, Wilson described his last conversation with his daugher “She held my hand tightly, and gripped me as hard as she could. She said, “Daddy, I love you very much.” Those were her exact words to me and those were the last words I ever heard her say.” to the astonishment of listeners, Wilson went on to add, “But I will bear no ill will. I will bear no grudge. Bitter talk is not going to bring her back to life. I will pray tonight and every night for the men who did this, that God will forgive them.” No words in more than twenty five years of violence in Northern Ireland had such a powerfu, emotional impact ”
“This is the gift our enemy may be able to bring us: to see aspects of ourselves that we cannot discover any other way than through our enemies. Our friends seldom show us our flaws; they are our friends precisely because they are able to overlook our ignore those parts of us. The enemy is therefore not merely a hurdle to be leaped over on the way to God. Our enemy might actually be the way to God. we cannot come to terms with oru own inner shadows except through our enemies. We have almost no other access to those unacceptable parts of ourselves that need redeeming except through the mirror that our enemies hold up to us”
---- THIS WEEK AT GRACE - Today October 18, 2020
Worship Service 8:30 AM
Second Worship Service and
video service www.gracelutheranpsl.com 10:15 AM
Zoom into Fellowship 12:00 PM - Noon
Korean Church Worship 1:00 PM
AA 7:30 PM
Rest of the week October 19 - 24, 2020
Olivet School Tuesday, 8 AM - 1 PM
Individual/Family Communion Wednesday, 11:00, 11:20, 11:40 & Noon
ZOOM Bible Study Thursday, 11:00 AM
Korean Church Prayer Saturday, 6:00 AM
For complete calendar information, go to www.gracelutheranpsl.com/calendar
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK: Janice Kamrath - 10/18, Karen Sawyer - 10/19, Joyce Dare & Katy Vik - 10/24,
ANNIVERSARIES THIS WEEK: Al & Doris Vollmann - 10/22 (43 yrs)
THE FLOWERS ADORNING THE ALTAR are given by Jan & Jan Lendak in celebration of their 55th wedding anniversary that was on Friday, 10/16
PLEASE CALL PEOPLE I realize I take for granted that people just come to the church on a regular basis. So that we all don’t descend into madness, let’s call and talk to each other regularly. Phone directories are available for your convenience.
“OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD SHOEBOX PROJECT”: Please keep your packed shoeboxes at home until November 15-21, between 9:00 and noon daily. Thank you, Judy, 561-315-9555
COMMUNION ON WEDNESDAY: If you, or someone you know, would like to celebrate Holy Communion but prefer a small group or unable to attend Sunday service, Pastor Cris has set aside Wednesday’s to celebrate the meal in small/family groups. Please come by on Wednesday at: 11:00, 11:20, 11:40 or 12:00 (noon) and partake of this wonderful meal.
SEE YOUR GRACE FAMILY ON ZOOM! Pastor and Coli will be hosting Zoom to Coffee at NOON every Sunday for those who would like to join in fellowship “virtually” to see and chat with Grace members and friends. All are welcome!
BIBLE STUDY FOR ALL Pastor Cris is conducting a “livestream” Bible study online (www.GracelutheranPSL.com) with ZOOM, for you to participate in on Thursdays at 11:00 AM. ** You are also welcome to attend the Bible Study at church, in person! ** Seating with social distancing along with wearing your mask is now happening, at the Bible Study on Thursday at 11 AM and at Worship on Sundays at 8:30 AM and 10:15 AM.
GIVING - We are here to provide “Grace and Peace in this Chaotic and Lonely Time” to those in our church and community. Thank you for your past and continual prayers and financial support to Grace and your community. We have added Paypal for online donations. If you would like to give through Paypal, please go to: www.GraceLutheranPSL.com and click the “GIVE” button on the upper right side of the page.
What Had happened at Grace this week.
![Christmas Dinner at Mission BBQ [photos]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1766111458710-ULPCKS16DAZCMUN7LI93/PXL_20251218_000243197.jpg)
![[Sunday] A Song of Christmas Light - Know Me Better Man Stave 3](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1765482111687-AQYCM4FZQV9BO7JIPL02/Christmas+light+3a.jpg)
Google’s Search to Know Me: Social Media Algorithms and Being Known by God
While the law of social media tries to figure us out and make us meet its demands, the Gospel frees us from the churning machine of algorithms.
I got a Facebook account in 2008. It was before the age of selfies and smartphones, Snapchat and Instagram. Then, it truly was a social network — simply a tool for connecting, and everything was fairly innocuous. I was in eighth grade, and my friends and I posted albums containing way too many pictures of our sleepovers and vacations. We wrote inside jokes on each other’s “walls.” Things got really interesting when Facebook added the private messenger and the like button.
That was twelve years ago — saying that makes me feel old — and now there are dozens of options for social media. What was once a tool for connecting now feels like a Pharaoh demanding more time and energy every day from its users. Make sure you post often, but not too much. Make sure you use the right hashtags, but not too many. Make sure you use a filter, but look authentic. It’s a delicate balance we’re all constantly trying to strike. Every platform has its own law we have to obey, or else we get punished by the algorithm. And it seems like while we’re trying to figure these platforms out, they’ve already got us figured out.
![[Bible Study] Jonah 4 Zoom to Scripture](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1602864600207-JGKO4HI8F00F3SOPJY1H/Zoom+to+Scripture+%2817%29.jpg)
Baptism - Confirmation
Baptism
Baptism
The beginning of your life in the body of Christ.
In baptism, God names you, claims you, brands you as a part of the herd and adopts you into an eternal relationship.
Titus 3:4-7
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
![shutterstock_281577512[3].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1571154344509-UWTB21LRY92UHNFHLYTA/shutterstock_281577512%5B3%5D.jpg)
Brands
What makes a brand a brand?
Why do people pick branded items over generic items? How much more do you pay for a name brand than a generic item?
How is baptism like a brand? What does it show? What is it worth?
![cattle_brands_early[1].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1571154227450-PS1F6LJP8PQ7SU1IERSI/cattle_brands_early%5B1%5D.jpg)
Why do ranchers brand their animals?
Why do some people get tattooed?
What do brands and tattoos tell you?
How is baptism like both?
How does this scene relate to baptism? How does it not?
The Parent’s Promise
What do parents promise in baptism?
What is the parent’s role in keeping those promises?
How can the church help parents keep their promises?
What happens when parents don’t keep their promises to God?
Baptism
Being marked with God’s brand
Becoming a child of God through adoption into Christ’s family
A special sacramental washing away of sins and rising to new life in Christ
Being washed, sprinkled or immersed in water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
![[Sunday] Jonah Chapter 3](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1602256579938-CV2SMDNWSGEGTKYH8U74/Jonah+Weekly3a.jpg)
[Sunday] Jonah Chapter 3
Vomited up on the shore of a new beginning, Son of Faithfulness must be reminded by God of his true calling. Will he grab the new beginning from God with everything in him, or will he just phone in another performance? Will the king come off of his throne?
Service [above] Sermon releases at 10pm [under]
Questions for the Week
Can you share a time when you saw someone right a wrong or brought justice to an unjust situation?
Read Jonah 3:1-5. How much effort does Jonah make in bringing God’s Word to those in Nineveh? Considering Jonah is a prophet in the Bible, what are the things you think he’s missing from his sermon?
Read Jonah 3:6-10. Here the king gets down from his power and throne and repents. He then leads others to repent and hope for God’s mercy. Describe a time when you’ve seen someone repent and experience God’s mercy.
---- THIS WEEK AT GRACE - Today October 11, 2020
Worship Service 8:30 AM
Second Worship Service and
video service www.gracelutheranpsl.com 10:15 AM
Zoom into Fellowship 12:00 PM - Noon
Korean Church Worship 1:00 PM
AA 7:30 PM
Rest of the week October 12 - 17, 2020
Columbus Day Monday
Olivet School Tuesday, 8 AM - 1 PM
Individual/Family Communion Wednesday, 11:00, 11:20, 11:40 & Noon
ZOOM Bible Study Thursday, 11:00 AM
Korean Church Prayer Saturday, 6:00 AM
For complete calendar information, go to www.gracelutheranpsl.com/calendar
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK: Mechelle Arbuzow - 10/12, Piper Neagles - 10/16
ANNIVERSARIES THIS WEEK: Phillip & Alie Griffin - 10/13 (8 yrs), David & Lorrie Vik - 10/14 (20 yrs), Jan & Jan Lendak - 10/16 (55 yrs)
THE FLOWERS ADORNING THE ALTAR are given by Paul & Sarah Yoo with the Korean congregation.
PLEASE CALL PEOPLE I realize I take for granted that people just come to the church on a regular basis. So that we all don’t descend into madness, let’s call and talk to each other regularly. Phone directories are available for your convenience.
GIVING - We are here to provide “Grace and Peace in this Chaotic and Lonely Time” to those in our church and community. Thank you for your past and continual prayers and financial support to Grace and your community. We have added Paypal for online donations. If you would like to give through Paypal, please go to: www.GraceLutheranPSL.com and click the “GIVE” button on the upper right side of the page.
COMMUNION ON WEDNESDAY: If you, or someone you know, would like to celebrate Holy Communion but prefer a small group or unable to attend Sunday service, Pastor Cris has set aside Wednesday’s to celebrate the meal in small/family groups. Please come by on Wednesday at: 11:00, 11:20, 11:40 or 12:00 (noon) and partake of this wonderful meal.
SEE YOUR GRACE FAMILY ON ZOOM! Pastor and Coli will be hosting Zoom to Coffee at NOON every Sunday for those who would like to join in fellowship “virtually” to see and chat with Grace members and friends. All are welcome!
BIBLE STUDY FOR ALL Pastor Cris is conducting a “livestream” Bible study online (www.GracelutheranPSL.com) with ZOOM, for you to participate in on Thursdays at 11:00 AM. ** You are also welcome to attend the Bible Study at church, in person! ** Seating with social distancing along with wearing your mask is now happening, at the Bible Study on Thursday at 11 AM and at Worship on Sundays at 8:30 AM and 10:15 AM.
“OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD SHOEBOX PROJECT”: Please keep your packed Shoeboxes at home until November 15-21,2020 between 9:00 and Noon. Thank you, Judy
What Had happened at Grace this week.
![[Sunday] A Song of Christmas Light - Pointing to Greatness Stave 4](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1766107074577-MKU6U8LW1N5S1EATE1RW/Christmas+light+4a.jpg)
I Love You Dead: The Good News of Incongruous Grace
In Luther’s words, “God’s love does not find but creates that which is pleasing to it.”
Love in the Ruins. The title of Walker Percy’s 1971 novel captures the book’s setting and theme — Thomas More’s Utopia this is not. But the phrase also catches a moment in the marriage of its protagonist, Dr. Tom More:
“Don’t you see,” says his wife, “people grow away from each other … We’re dead.”
“I love you dead. At this moment.”
“Dead, dead,” she whispered…
“Love,” I whispered.
The poignancy of this exchange is the paradox, the surprising where, when and who of this whispered love: it is “in the ruins,” “at this moment” of despair, this dead end, and it is “love” for “you” — for the “dead.”
……………………..
Read the rest at
https://mbird.com/2020/10/i-love-you-dead-the-good-news-of-incongruous-grace/
![[Bible Study] Jonah 3 Zoom to Scripture](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1602258540333-0OMTFK3Y4X1LRMU75R52/Zoom+to+Scripture+%2816%29.jpg)
Christians Must Learn To Keep Politics In Their Right Place
When politics becomes a cultural force, it provides a venue for self-expression, self-affirmation and a source of community that can ultimately divert politics from its right and just aims.
Earlier this week, we at RELEVANT ran an excerpt from a new book by Cameron and Stuart McCallister on a healthy Christian posture for the upcoming election. The piece connected and left a lot of people wondering about what that might look like on a practical level.
One way to get that question answered is to pick up the McCallisters’ book Faith That Lasts and read more of their argument. But we also thought we’d put in a call to Michael Wear, a former staffer for President Barack Obama who founded a consulting firm called Public Square Strategies LLC to help businesses, non-profits, foundations and Christian organizations navigate the tensions between faith and politics. Here are some of his thoughts about what direction politics is heading in the U.S. and how Christians can resist the tide towards defining themselves in terms of their political beliefs.
We ran a piece on how Christians should be politically engaged without putting their hope in politics to save them. But how do you actually do that?
Politics has become an even more prominent cultural force. When politics becomes a cultural force, it provides a venue for self-expression, self-affirmation and a source of community that can ultimately divert politics from its right and just aims.
…………….. Read the rest.
![[Sunday] Jonah Chapter 2](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1601656590278-ZJ5LYIE4DXKME6QLOGJV/Jonah+Weekly2a.jpg)
[Sunday] Jonah Chapter 2
Jonah’s in the belly of the whale. This time of terribleness as Jonah lays next to all the old meals of this giant fish causes him to lament, causes him to think back and causes him to see salvation in the LORD alone.
Service [above] Sermon releases at 10pm [under]
Questions for the Week
Describe a time of struggle in your life, where God used it to draw you closer to him?
Read Jonah 2:1-3. Jonah cries out from the belly of the fish. What does Jonah see as God’s role in his current situation?
Read Jonah 2:4-9. What does God use this negative situation to cause Jonah to see?
How has God used difficult situations in your life, to help you see His mercy more?
Read Jonah 2 :10. What eventually does God do to Jonah? How has Jesus rescued you after going through a rough situation?
---- THIS WEEK AT GRACE - Today October 4, 2020
Worship Service 8:30 AM
Second Worship Service and
Video Service www.gracelutheranpsl.com 10:15 AM
Zoom into Fellowship 12:00 PM - Noon
Korean Church Worship 1:00 PM
AA 7:30 PM
Rest of the week October 5 - 10, 2020
LWML Monday 12:30 pm
Olivet School Tuesday, 8 AM - 1PM
Adopt - A - Mile Tuesday 8:30 AM
Individual/Family Communion Wednesday, 11:00, 11:20, 11:40 & Noon
ZOOM Bible Study Thursday, 11:00 AM
Korean Church Prayer Saturday, 6:00 AM
For complete calendar information, go to www.gracelutheranpsl.com/calendar
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK: Bob Fox - 10/5, Clara Creelman - 10/6, Glen Hudson & Katie Hoffman - 10/7, Pat Bachman - 10/8, Lorie Schultz - 10/9.
ANNIVERSARIES THIS WEEK: Bernie & Shirley Mullins - 10/4 (23 yrs), Steve & Kim Glish - 10/5 (35 yrs), Paul & Pat Hasz - 10/10 (33 yrs)
THE FLOWERS ADORNING THE ALTAR one vase is given by Hatha & Terry Brown in memory of her daughter, Mary Ellen Padrick. The second vase is from Shirley & Bernie Mullins in honor of their 23rd wedding anniversary.
LWML will meet this MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1:00 p.m. in the church fellowship area. Join in snacks and fellowship at 12:30! ALL ladies at Grace are welcomed! Bring a friend!
ADOPT-A-MILE (A WEEK EARLIER!) is this Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at 8:30 AM! Our meeting place will be on the corner of Torino and Conus. For more information contact: Judy Fredrich (561) 315-9555 pjfred@outlook.com
CARENET BANQUET THANKS Rough stats as of now, Thursday evening $70K, Friday evening $116K. This will greatly help the development of a much needed Carenet center near Gatlin Blvd. Thank you all so very much for your support to save babies and families.
PLEASE CALL PEOPLE I realize I take for granted that people just come to the church on a regular basis. So that we all don’t descend into madness, let’s call and talk to each other regularly. Phone directories are available for your convenience.
GIVING - We are here to provide “Grace and Peace in this Chaotic and Lonely Time” to those in our church and community. Thank you for your past and continual prayers and financial support to Grace and your community. We have added Paypal for online donations. If you would like to give through Paypal, please go to: www.GraceLutheranPSL.com and click the “GIVE” button on the upper right side of the page.
COMMUNION ON WEDNESDAY: If you, or someone you know, would like to celebrate Holy Communion but prefer a small group or unable to attend Sunday service, Pastor Cris has set aside Wednesday’s to celebrate the meal in small/family groups. Please come by on Wednesday at: 11:00, 11:20, 11:40 or 12:00 (noon) and partake of this wonderful meal.
SEE YOUR GRACE FAMILY ON ZOOM! Pastor and Coli will be hosting Zoom to Coffee at NOON every Sunday for those who would like to join in fellowship “virtually” to see and chat with Grace members and friends. All are welcome!
BIBLE STUDY FOR ALL Pastor Cris is conducting a “livestream” Bible study online (www.GracelutheranPSL.com) with ZOOM, for you to participate in on Thursdays at 11:00 AM. ** You are also welcome to attend the Bible Study at church, in person! ** Seating with social distancing along with wearing your mask is now happening, at the Bible Study on Thursday at 11 AM and at Worship on Sundays at 8:30 AM and 10:15 AM.
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Love Across the Political Divide
You can laugh when you know with humility the limits of the truths you hold so dearly.
Life is not politics.
That has not been so obvious in these months. Everything is qualified (or disqualified) by whether you want the President to be our president or not. There is less and less tolerance, more and more nullification of any validity of any credibility depending on what you believe is best for our government. People speak of revolution and “saving our country” and fascism — when we are having an election in a month.
Read the rest at
https://mbird.com/2020/09/no-sense-love-across-the-political-divide/
![[Bible Study] Jonah 1 + 2 Zoom to Scripture](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1602258656606-NN12A9KF69MJDPFGBLHO/Zoom+to+Scripture+%2814%29.jpg)
Is Your Church A Racist Monument?
Article written by a personal friend of Pastor Cris. Fellow LCMS pastor who has been working in North City St Louis. This is also the first location of Coli’s First Teaching Job. This is a Large National Magazine. Congrats Chris
Article written by a personal friend of Pastor Cris and fellow LCMS pastor who has been working in North City St Louis. He is also working in the location of Coli’s First Teaching Job. This is a Large National Magazine. Congrats Chris
Chris Paavola also works with Lutheran Hour. https://thred.org/
—— read here
During the Great Migration, millions of Black Americans fled the violence of the Jim Crow south for a new life in northern cities. In response, thousands of white Americans left their diversifying city to resettle in homogeneous suburbs in a reactionary migration known as white flight. Left behind in the systematically segregated communities of color was something white families couldn’t take with them– their churches.
White Churches………………………….
Read the Rest at
https://relevantmagazine.com/faith/church/is-your-church-a-racist-monument
While the Ghost points to the grave our ambition digs, Jesus answers by becoming the humble Child who enters that grave to raise us to new life.