Redeemer Lutheran and St. Theodore

On Sunday, June 7, the congregations of Redeemer Lutheran Church and St. Theodore of Canterbury Episcopal Church will celebrate the second Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Murray Finck will preside over the Holy Communion service at 13564 St. Andrews Drive at 10:30 a.m. All are welcome.

People can stay after service for fellowship in the Fellowship Hall with coffee, tea, cookies and snacks. The congregations collect donations of canned food for those in need.

The Bible study group will meet on Wednesday, June 10, from noon-1:15 p.m. The group is currently studying the Acts of the Apostles. People are encouraged to bring their Bibles, a friend or neighbor, and lunch. This is a great opportunity for believers to expand their knowledge of the early church and make a new friend.

The gospel lesson for this week is from Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26. In this passage, Jesus challenges the status quo. He was willing to talk with and eat with those who society saw as less than. Jesus came for all people. Every person needs his salvation and redemption. He humbled himself to become human and wants people to “go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”

When people acknowledge their need for mercy, they can learn to be merciful. Jesus calls all believers to live out his mercy with others, as seen when Jesus shows mercy to those who were less than in society, like a child and a woman with hemorrhages. The faith of both the synagogue leader and the woman is what Jesus looked for: faith and trust in him.