Redeemer Lutheran & St. Theodore
On Sunday, Feb. 23, the congregations of Redeemer Lutheran Church and St. Theodore of Canterbury Episcopal Church will celebrate the Seventh Sunday after Epiphany, with Rev. Brad Stienstra presiding.
The Communion and worship service gathers at 13564 St. Andrews Drive every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Fellowship continues afterward in the Fellowship Hall, where members will celebrate February birthdays with coffee, tea, cookies and snacks. All are welcome.
The congregations will continue to collect donations of canned and boxed foods for the hungry.
The Congregational Annual Meeting Part 2 will be held on March 2, immediately following the Sunday service. Plan to stay for this important meeting.
Bible Study will continue on Feb. 26, from noon-1:15 p.m. as the group finishes its study of Matthew 5-7; the Sermon on the Mount. Wednesday, Feb. 19, will focus on Matthew 7:1-28.
The Ash Wednesday service will be held in the sanctuary on Wednesday, March 5, at 10:30 a.m. This will be a Holy Communion Service with the Imposition of Ashes. This is the beginning of the Lenten Season. This year, the congregations will hold Lenten reflections and suppers every Wednesday of Lent: March 12, 19, 26, and April 2 and 9. The theme of this series is “Cross Ways.”
The Gospel lesson for this Sunday is from Luke 6:27-38.
Jesus can be quite radical in his teachings. He starts out telling his followers to turn the other cheek. This was actually quite radical for the times. There were limits on how people could punish those under them. They could only hit with the back of an open left hand. By turning a cheek, it prevents a second hit.
Jesus wants his followers to be like him. Jesus was strong, forgiving, merciful, understanding and loving. He was also willing to stand up for what is right in God’s eyes, give his life for others, and address social issues of the time. Jesus calls all believers to that radical love where they love and pray for their enemies, do not judge a person, and are kind, forgiving and merciful.
