Redeemer Lutheran and St. Theodore Canterbury
On Sunday, Oct. 25, the congregations of Redeemer Lutheran Church and St. Theodore of Canterbury Episcopal Church will celebrate Reformation Sunday at the 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion service at 13564 St. Andrews Drive in Leisure World. Rev. Murray Finck will preside over the service. All are welcome to join.
People will meet in the Fellowship Hall after the service for coffee, tea, cookies and snacks.
The congregations are still collecting non-perishable food for those in need.
The Church council will meet at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28, in the Conference Room.
Bible Study
The Bible Study will meet on Wednesday, Oct. 28, from noon-1:15 p.m. in the sanctuary. The group will continue its study in the “The Life, Ministry, and Mission of Jesus,” reading story from all four of the Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The class will be augmented with episodes in season two of “The Chosen.” All are welcome to join and are encouraged to bring a Bible, lunch and a friend or neighbor.
Holiday Bazaar
The Holiday Bazaar will be held on Oct. 22-23 from 9 a.m.3 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m Lunch will be available for purchase; baked goods, crafts, boutiques, plants, breakfast and lunch sandwiches will be available.
Operation Christmas Child
The congregation is assembling and collecting gift boxes for Operation Christmas Child, sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse for worldwide distribution. Boxes and information pamphlets will be available at the back of the church and downstairs through the turnin date on Nov. 12 (for more information, see page 7).
The church is also accepting monetary and individual new items donations, with a goal of filling 100 boxes.
Reformation Day
The Gospel lesson for Reformation Day is from John 8 :31-36.
In this passage, Jesus speaks of the connection between truth and freedom. He is referring to God’s truth. The more believers align themselves and their will to what God wants, the more freedom they have. Jesus calls people to “share his yoke, for his burden is light” in Matthew 11:28-30. He calls them to “trust in him, and out answers to our accusers will be given to us,” in Mark 13:11. He calls people to be poor in spirit, to mourn, to be meek, to hunger and thirst for justice, to be merciful, to be pure of heart, to be peacemakers, and to be righteous in Matthew 5:3-10.
When believers are living in the truth, they do not have to fear. There is great freedom in living a life without fear. When believers live this kind of life: not steeped in sin, not being afraid, but walking with and towards Jesus, they are set free. Believers are called to walk in the light and to be light to others and journey in faith together, in trust and freedom.
