Newsletter

<p>September 26, 2023 Dear Friends, Here’s a great way to put the Bible stories to use: ask yourself, “Where have I heard this before?” Let me explain – The homeschool co-op this year is working on memorizing Scripture, and we started with Psalm 112. Have a quick read: [1] Praise<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/09/26/whats-the-use/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">What&#8217;s the use?</span></a></span></

<p>September 19, 2023 Dear Friends, Don’t forget! Pork Chops in the park this Saturday! And then, I handed out this worksheet with the bulletin on Sunday. Take a look! It’s an opportunity to ask yourself about your time. How much time do you spend studying God’s Word? How does that<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/09/19/time-in-the-word/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Time in the Word</span></a></span></

<p>September 12, 2023 Dear Friends, Things are now officially in full swing for the Fall at Concordia! * Sunday School (through 5th grade) kicked off this Sunday with new materials from Concordia Publishing House. Learning the Bible Stories well is a foundational part of learning the faith as a child!<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/09/12/family-night-circuit-news/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Family

<p>September 5, 2023 Dear Friends, Wednesday Evenings at Concordia2023-2024 Family NightWhen: 2nd Wednesday of the Month (6-7pm with Pizza starting at 5:30pm!)What: This year’s Family Nights will focus on food in the Bible to help us understand what God is doing for us in the Lord’s Supper. Who: All ages are<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/09/05/in-case-you-missed-it-coming-up-soon/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-re

<p>August 29, 2023 Dear Friends, There are lots of people who are baptized, but they’re no longer Christian. Does that mean that Baptism is ineffective? A waste? Do we give too much credit to Baptism when we say that “it works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil,<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/08/29/questions-about-baptism-part-4/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Questions about Baptism

<p>August 22, 2023 Dear Friends, What does repentance look like? John the Baptist gives us a helpful answer: __ John said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/08/22/questions-about-baptism-part-3/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Questions about Baptism – part 3</span

<p>August 15, 2023 Dear Friends, This may seem too obvious, but hear me out: when you do your laundry, you’re washing your clothes. Notice what’s not happening. Your clothes are not washing you. And your clothes are not washing themselves. You’re doing all the work. Your clothes are doing nothing<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/08/15/questions-about-baptism-part-2/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Questio

<p>August 8, 2023 Dear Friends, When Martin Luther compiled his questions and answers into the Small Catechism, he did not miss the mark: “How can water do such great things?” This is not a silly question. In fact, it’s a question that gets to the heart of the matter. How<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/08/08/questions-about-baptism/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Questions about Baptism</span></a></spa

<p>August 1, 2023 Dear Friends, Without God, there’s no point. This is a mystery that remains unresolved by the evolutionary thinkers of our world. What’s the point? How can we talk about good or bad, right or wrong, purpose and meaning if it’s all just a bunch of material stuff?<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/08/01/whats-it-for/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">What&#8217;s it for?</span></a></span></p>

<p>July 25, 2023 Dear Friends, The weeds are onto something. While the inattentive gardener may feel like the weeds spring up overnight, in actual fact, the weeds take their time. But they are also diligent. Slow and steady. It’s not a childish insight, it’s wisdom for the ages. And it’s<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/07/25/a-little-goes-a-long-way/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">A little goes a long w

<p>July 11, 2023 Dear Friends, I don’t mean, of course, that church is going on vacation. But what do you think about church while you’re on vacation? It’s easy for that to be the last thing on your mind, since vacation is time away from all of the normal things<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/07/11/church-on-vacation/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Church on Vacation</span></a></span></p>

<p>July 4, 2023 Lord Jesus, Thou King of Kings and Lord of lords, on this day when my country thrills to the greatness of its past and loyalty and patriotism are aroused, give me also gratitude for the blessings I enjoy here and the readiness to serve my nation well.<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/07/04/a-prayer-for-independence-day/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">A Prayer for Independence Day</span></

<p>June 27, 2023 Dear friends, Here’s the question: “Is it difficult to invite people to church? If so, why? And what can be done to make it easier?” Last week, I suggested that it’s difficult because we often think of church as ordinary and unnecessary. It would be easier for<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/06/27/extending-the-invitation-ii/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Extending the invitation, II</

<p>June 20, 2023 Dear friends, I’m interested in hearing from you on this one. Shoot me a reply to this e-mail, or ponder it and tell me what you think next time you’re here at church. Is there anything that makes it hard to invite people to church, and what<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/06/20/extending-the-invitation/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Extending the invitation</span></a></span></p>

<p>June 13, 2023 Just a quick reminder today that Concordia is serving Pork Chops at Old Settlers’ Day on Saturday, June 24, 11am – 2pm at the Fairhaven Park! There’s a sign-up by the kitchen at church – lots of opportunities to chip in! I always think about how this<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/06/13/old-settlers-day/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Old Settlers&#8217; Day</span></a></span></p>

<p>June 6, 2023 I have often thought about (and maybe you’ve heard me mention) the foresight required to build our church building just over 100 years ago. Folks now long gone were thinking about generations to come when they planned and constructed the building that still stands today. You may<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/06/06/handing-over-the-faith/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Handing over the

<p>May 30, 2023 Dear friends, Do you think there’s anybody at church that you’ve never talked to? Or maybe you’ve seen them across the room, but you don’t know their name? We heard the story of Pentecost on Sunday from Acts 2. Just after the tongues of fire and the<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/05/30/life-together/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Life together</span></a></span></p>

<p>May 23, 2023 Dear friends, “Someone traveling in the Dakota prairies for the first time might notice that the few trees which have been planted by human hands never stand straight but have all grown crooked. In some it is not only the trunk that has this tendency, but also<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/05/23/taking-your-time/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Taking your time</span></a></span></p>

<p>May 16, 2023 Dear friends, This week is a little wonky! Here are the details: Wednesday morning chapel (9:30am) and Bible Study (10am) like normal. Women’s Bible Study is on Wednesday at 7pm (instead of the usual 6pm).We’re wrapping up our study of virtues – Loyalty and Chastity. Men’s Bible<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/05/16/this-week/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">This week!</span></a></span></

<p>April 26, 2023 Dear friends, You may have heard me make this recommendation in Bible Study a couple of times over the last week, but I want to make it just one more time and put it in writing. Galatians 5 contains a striking description of the conflict between the<span class="more-button"><a href="https://www.concordialcms.com/2023/04/26/mercy-and-grace-to-help/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text">Mercy and grace to help</span></a></span></p