Newsletter

<p>February 20, 2024 Dear Friends, We often think that taming our tongues simply means not saying things we might regret in the heat of the moment. There’s a fight or flight instinct that kicks in when we’re confronted with conflict, and we assume that the virtuous thing is fleeing instead<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/02/20/taming-the-tongue/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Taming the tongue</span></a

<p>Heads-up – Holy Week Choir! It’s time for the choir to start getting ready for Holy Week! We’ll have music for Maundy Thursday (March 28), Good Friday (March 29), and Easter Sunday (March 31). Rehearsal times are TBD, but recordings will be available to practice at home even if you<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/02/13/fasting-well/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Fasting well</span></a></span></p>

<p>February 6, 2024 Dear Friends, Just a quick reminder — no Bible Study or Worship tomorrow (Wednesday, Feb. 7)! And then, be sure to set aside next Wednesday, February 14 to mark the beginning of Lent! Chili will be served for dinner at 5:30 pm. Proceeds from a free will<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/02/06/ash-wednesday-coming-up/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Ash Wednesday coming up!</span></a></s

<p>January 30, 2024 Dear Friends, “Good sense makes one slow to anger,and it is his glory to overlook an offense” (Proverbs 19:11). This is a proverb worthy of much reflection, and I find myself thinking about it often. First, Solomon says that if you have good sense, your blood boils<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/01/30/overlooking-faults/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Overlooking faults</span></a></

<p>** Heads-up! No Chapel or Bible Study tomorrow morning (Wednesday, January 24)! January 23, 2024 Dear Friends, “Know, therefore, that you must be concerned not only about hearing, but also about learning and retaining God’s Word in memory. Do not think that this is optional for you or of no<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/01/23/giving-an-account/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Giving an account</span

<p>January 17, 2024 If you still need to read it, you can find January’s issue of our St. Cloud Circuit Newsletter here: https://www.lcmscloud.org/newsletter! Dear Friends, “Catechism study is a most effective help against the devil, the world, the flesh, and all evil thoughts” (Martin Luther, Large Catechism, Longer Preface, 10).<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/01/17/scaring-off-the-devil/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="s

<p>January 9, 2024 Dear Friends, Revelation 1:12-13 “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man.” No, you’re not supposed to imagine that the Son of<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/01/09/one-like-a-son-of-man/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">One like a Son of Man</span></a></span></p>

<p>January 2, 2024 Dear Friends, It’s the 9th day of Christmas – let’s keep the festival going! On Sunday we heard about the greening of the world as Jesus, the living water, flowed into our sin-darkened, desert land and brought growth in places you’d never expect: among shepherds sitting in<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2024/01/02/its-still-christmas/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">It&#8217;s still Christ

<p>December 26, 2023 Dear Friends, Concordia has been privileged to support Luther Classical College in Casper, WY as it gears up to open its doors in the fall of 2025. Here’s a letter Concordia recently received with gratitude for our support and an update on how things are going: If<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/12/26/luther-classical-college/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Luther Classical College<

<p>Don’t miss the calendar at the bottom! December 19, 2023 Dear Friends, Here’s a great Christmas hymn: From heav’n above to earth I come. It can be a bit tough for us to sing 15 verses, but reading them isn’t so difficult! Take a look and see how the story<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/12/19/ad-fontes/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Prepare your hearts!</span></a></span></p>

<p>A quick note about choir! We’ll rehearse this Wednesday (Dec. 13) after the 7pm service, but next Wednesday (Dec. 20), we’ll rehearse at 6pm. See you then! December 12, 2023 Dear Friends, There is a lot of sentimental value to the songs of this season, and that is one of<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/12/12/he-himself-is-our-peace/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">He himself is our peace</span></a></s

<p>December 5, 2023 Remember to check the calendar at the bottom – lots of things coming up! If you’re interested in singing in the choir for Christmas Eve, but the 7:45pm practices are too late for you, let me know and I’ll loop you in another way! The more the<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/12/05/getting-things-done-2/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">The son in whom he delights</span></a></span></p>

<p>November 28, 2023 Be sure to note the calendar at the bottom – lots of things coming up! Also! Here’s an Advent Devotional written for you by the pastors of the St. Cloud Circuit. Thanks to Pastor Reber for prompting us and assembling the book! Dear Friends, Last time I<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/11/28/getting-things-done/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Getting things done</span></a></span></p>

<p>November 21, 2023 Be sure to note the calendar at the bottom – lots of things coming up! Dear Friends, Why doesn’t God erase the marks of sin? Once we hear the sure and certain word of forgiveness, why don’t we experience a great reset, as if it never happened?<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/11/21/broken-bones/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Broken bones</span></a></span></p>

<p>November 14, 2023 Dear Friends, Last week I wrote about Atonement. Let’s talk next about what forgiveness does and does not mean. Forgiveness means that there is no more debt. Take a trivial example. Suppose you eat my piece of pie when I get up from the table. You owe<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/11/14/consequences/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Consequences</span></a></span></p>

<p>November 7, 2023 Dear Friends, I’d like to spend some time writing about the relationship between atonement, forgiveness, punishment, and discipline. I’m going to take it slowly because this is a big topic. I’m also going to take it slowly because I think this is a topic that takes time<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/11/07/atonement/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Atonement</span></a></span></p>

<p>October 31, 2023 Dear Friends, One more word about Stewardship as we head into Stewardship Sunday (catch up on where we’ve here, here, and here)! If you haven’t picked up a worksheet, you can still grab one at church. You can drop your pledge in the offering basket on Sunday,<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/10/31/stewardship-focus-part-4/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Stewardship focus, part 4</span

<p>October 24, 2023 Dear Friends, If you’re just jumping into the conversation now, read up on where we’ve been two weeks ago and last week! This week, I handed out a worksheet – a self-assessment – to help you think through how much you give (specifically to church) and to<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/10/24/stewardship-sunday/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Stewardship Sunday!</span></a></span></p>

<p>October 17, 2023 Dear Friends, If you’re just jumping into the conversation now, read up on last week’s newsletter first! This week, we talked briefly about the question: “How much should I give?” Take a look below, and plan to be in church &amp; Bible Study next Sunday (Oct. 22)!<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/10/17/stewardship-focus-part-2/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Stewardship focus, part 2<

<p>October 10, 2023 Dear Friends, This Sunday during the announcements I introduced a focus on stewardship that we’ll have for the next several weeks. There’s a common complaint, that churches are always asking for money. I don’t know if that’s true, but I’d invite you to see how this is<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/10/10/stewardship-focus/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Stewardship focus</span></a><