Newsletter

<p>July 23, 2024 Dear Friends, A bunch of business items to start: 1) The schedule is normal tomorrow (Wednesday, July 24), but I’ll be away at a conference next Wednesday (July 31), so there’ll be no Bible Class or Vespers next week! 2) The Constitution Update will be on the<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/07/23/when-kingdoms-totter/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">When kingdoms totter</span></a></span>

<p>July 16, 2024 Dear Friends, Just a brief note today — the schedule is back to normal for this Wednesday (7/17) and the next (7/24). I’ll be away at a conference the last Wednesday in July, but come along to Bible Class and Vespers these next two Wednesdays! Then, here’s<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/07/16/collecting-our-prayers/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Collecting our prayers</span></a></span

<p>July 9, 2024 Dear Friends, Just a reminder that I’ll be out of the office until next Monday, July 15. That means there will be no Wednesday morning Bible Study or evening service tomorrow (July 10). If something comes up, and you need to get a hold of a pastor,<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/07/09/the-free-gift/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">The Free Gift</span></a></span></p>

<p>July 2, 2024 Dear Friends, First of all, a heads-up that I’ll be out of the office next week, July 8-14. That means there will be no Wednesday morning Bible Study or evening service on July 10. If something comes up, and you need to get a hold of a<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/07/02/be-prepared/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Be prepared</span></a></span></p>

<p>June 25, 2024 Dear Friends, First, keep an eye on the bottom of this e-mail for things coming up! Then, consider the words from Ecclesiastes in the picture above. There are lots of strategies out there for dealing with hurtful things that people say. You can recite the mantra, “Sticks<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/06/25/think-less-of-yourself/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Think less of yourself</

<p>June 18, 2024 Dear Friends, First, a few things coming up: Come along for hot dogs and a softball game this Sunday (June 23) after Bible Study @ 12pm! The folks from St. John Kimball are invited again, and the game will be with a 16″ mush ball, so no<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/06/18/coming-up-soon/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Coming up soon</span></a></span></p>

<p>June 11, 2024 Dear Friends, First thing — come along this Wednesday for pizza out back of church at 5:30 pm before the evening service at 7 pm! Although we don’t have Family Night during the summer, let’s enjoy some time together over a meal! Bring a friend, invite your<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/06/11/thinking-about-the-topic/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Thinking about the topic</span></a></

<p>May 28, 2024 Dear Friends, Three things this week: 1) Last week I sent a letter to St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Almena, WI notifying them that I was declining their call. I’m very thankful for all of you, your patience and input, and above all I thank God for<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/05/28/getting-ready/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Getting ready</span></a></span></p>

<p>May 21, 2024 Dear Friends, Let me commend to you the following questions and answers that are helpful in preparing for Communion. These are the kinds of questions, among other things, that I ask anyone before they join the congregation – it’s the most important stuff. You can find this<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/05/21/the-good-life/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">The good life</span></a></span><

<p>May 7, 2024 Dear Friends, A whole bunch of things: 1) Join the St. Cloud Circuit for worship at 7pm on Thursday at St. Paul’s – Eden Valley. It’s Ascension Day! 40 days after Easter we celebrate the enthronement of Jesus at the right hand of the Father where he<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/05/07/a-few-things-to-note/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">A few things to note</span></a></span></p>

<p>Join us for our last Small Catechism Bible class this Wednesday @ 6:00 pm! We’ll wrap up our discussion of the Lord’s Supper with the topic of worthiness. How do we receive the Lord’s Supper rightly? A helpful refresher for all, young and old, new and familiar! April 30, 2024<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/04/30/building-your-appetite/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Building your appetite</span></a>

<p>Join us for our second-to-last Small Catechism Bible class this Wednesday @ 6:00 pm! Our discussion of the Lord’s Supper moves on this week to the benefits of the body &amp; blood of Jesus. What’s it for? A helpful refresher for all, young and old, new and familiar! April 23,<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/04/23/a-peaceful-quiet-life/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">A peaceful &amp; quiet life</span>

<p>Join us for Small Catechism Bible class this Wednesday @ 6:00 pm! Our topic for the next few weeks is the Lord’s Supper – a helpful refresher for all, young and old, new and familiar! April 16, 2024 Dear Friends, Lots of good questions in Sunday Bible Study lately! Here’s<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/04/16/a-sin-is-a-sin/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">A sin is a sin</span></a></span></p>

<p>Join us for the final Family Night of the season, this Wednesday @ 5:30pm! Pizza, followed by a lesson on the Lord’s Supper – for all ages! April 9, 2024 Dear Friends, A brief word about weaknesses in the body of Christ: Weaknesses are incredibly easy to spot in others.<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/04/09/strength-weakness/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Strength &amp; Weakness</span></a></span></p

<p>April 2, 2024 Dear Friends, The Easter sermon of John Chrysostom (circa 400 AD) _________________________________________ Are there any who are devout lovers of God?Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival! Are there any who are grateful servants?Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord! Are there any<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/04/02/easter-tuesday/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-tex

<p>March 26, 2024 Dear Friends, Every Sunday, there’s a prayer that I sing during worship just before the congregation sings the Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth. . .”). It’s called the Proper Preface. It’s Proper because it changes depending on the season of the church year –<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/03/26/holy-week/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Holy Week</span></a></span></p>

<p>March 19, 2024 Dear Friends, The little things add up, as I mentioned last week. It’s like the power of compound interest, which is how our Lord describes the abundance of his kingdom. Remember the guy who had 2 talents and doubled his investment. So also did the man with<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/03/19/heres-how/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Here&#8217;s how</span></a></span></p>

<p>All are invited for tacos tomorrow night (Tuesday, March 13) at 5:30 pm, leading into our family night lesson on the Last Supper, followed by Evening Prayer at 7 pm! March 12, 2024 Dear Friends, If you think back to science class, you may remember the physics concept called inertia.<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/03/12/its-the-little-things/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">It&#8217;s the little thing

<p>March 5, 2024 Dear Friends, Just a quick note today about upcoming events! First, this Wednesday (March 6), we continue our Small Catechism Bible Study (6 pm) followed by Evening Prayer (7 pm). Second, next Wednesday (March 13), we’ll have Family Night, starting with tacos at 5:30 pm, followed by<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/03/05/mark-your-calendar/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Mark your calend

<p>February 28, 2024 Dear Friends, The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the pure, clear fountain of Israel.1 That’s how our Lutheran forefathers described their commitment to being led and governed by the Bible. It is a powerful image because everyone knows the difference between clean and dirty<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/02/27/pure-water/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Pure water</span