Redeemer Lutheran Church and St. Theodore of Canterbury

On Sunday, July 5, the congregations of Redeemer Lutheran Church and St. Theodore of Canterbury Episcopal Church will celebrate the fifth Sunday after Pentecost at the Holy Communion service at 10:30 a.m. at Redeemer church, 13564 St. Andrews Drive. The Rev. James L. Proper, a retired pastor and former director of Lutheran retreats, camps and conferences will preside over the service.

People can stay after service for fellowship with coffee, tea, cookies and snacks. The congregations collect donations of canned food for those in need. The Bible study is taking a break during the summer.

A meeting to prepare crafts for the holiday bazaar will be held on Monday, July 6, at 10 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The group will meet every first and third Mondays of the month. There will be preplanned projects with directions, guidance and materials.

The Gospel lesson for this week is from Matthew 10:40-42; the comparison between Jesus and John the Baptist. One lived a stoic life eating little and dressing funny; the other would eat and drink with anybody. The powers complained about both. As Christians go about their own lives, they need to remember is that they are responsible for building the kingdom.

It’s not enough to have faith. Christians need to live that faith. They need to take the yoke that Jesus offers (he never demands that people take it) and surrender to him.

Most people instinctively resist yokes and laws, but Jesus wants believers to look at his yoke as a way of rest and lightness. When believers take the yoke in faith, they allow Jesus to guide them and share the load with those who are also following him.