Pastor’s Perch
If we waited for people to be loveable, we would never love anyone. It is easy for us to make a list of why we should not love someone. “They talked behind my back. They spread lies about me. They hurt my child. They stole from me.” And the list can go on and on. But I am confident that as much as we can make a list about others, they in turn can make a list about us. If love depended on the object, love would cease to exist.
Imagine if God waited for us to be worthy of his love! We all would be swept away into the fiery lake. If God made a list of each one of us, it would contain every unlovable sin we ever committed. But God shows us the true nature of love. Love is given even to the unworthy. God’s love in Christ was given to us despite the loveless sins we committed against God and each other. “16 This is how we have come to know love: Jesus laid down his life for us.” (1 John 3:16) God has shown us what love truly is and that changes how we show love. His love in Christ has covered all our sins.
Now that all our sins are covered in the blood of Christ, we know how to show constant love to one another! We will continue to sin against each other, but the love of Christ which God gives us, will compel us to love one another despite our sins. This does not mean we say sin is okay. On the contrary, we still call sin a sin, but in love. Our goal will always be to point each other back to the love of Christ. He has covered the sins of all people. Christ’s love is the reason why we will continue to love one another!
Our loving Father! We cannot thank you enough for the love you have given us in your Son Jesus Christ. Help us to love one another as you have loved us. Give us opportunities to show love to people in our lives that reflect your great love for all people so that more and more will come to know how your love has covered all sin. In Your Son’s name, we pray! Amen.
A Servant of Christ,
Rev. Patrick Feldhus
Grace’s News
- Bible Study after worship on Sundays will focus on the book of Proverbs.
- Please note that the Pastor offers an online topical bible study on Tuesday nights at 7:30 pm. If you are interested, please let Pastor know. He is also looking for topics that are interesting to you.
- We need volunteers for the Giant’s Day parade on August 4th.
- Our next Jesus Cares program will be on August 8th at 6:30 pm. If you would like to help, please be at church by 6:15 pm.
- Please join us on August 15th at 6:30 pm for a movie night. Invite a friend or relative! Goodies will be provided.
- The next Pastor’s circuit meeting will be on August 15th at Trinity in Belle Plaine.
- We will have our Vacation Bible School on August 18th from 10 am until 4 pm.
- Our outdoor worship and picnic will be on Sunday, August 19th starting at 10 am at the Legion Park pavilion.
- The Women of Grace will next meet on September 18th at 10:30 am. All women are welcome to join us.
Synod News
Apache congregations look to offer aid after fire
Two WELS congregations and one school—Grace Lutheran Church, San Carlos, and Peridot-Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and School, Peridot—were spared any damage when a wildfire swept through parts of the San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona on July 11, burning more than 2,000 acres. The fire destroyed 15 homes, displacing 75 people in those communities.
Larger relief organizations provided immediate aid with food, clothing, and personal items to those affected by the fire, but more help will be needed in the weeks and months following the fire. “Now the Lord is giving us an opportunity to help those who aren’t part of our church,” says Rev. Dan Rautenberg, team leader of the Native Christians One Team, who could see the fire burning from his back porch in Peridot.
He continues, “You can’t build a home that quickly. Some of these families will be displaced for quite a length of time. We’re part of the community, and we want to be there and be part of the ongoing support as they get back to their lives.”
Rautenberg says that after reaching out to the families to talk about their needs, the congregations are looking to provide cleaning supplies, tools, and transportation help as these families get back on their feet. They are also working to put together community seminars that will provide counseling for the victims.
The Native Christians One Team will be working closely with WELS Christian Aid and Relief. “In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, there is always a lot of help, often more than can be used. Later, interest often wanes, and with it, there is the need for assistance,” says Rev. Dan Sims, director of WELS Christian Aid and Relief. “We are excited to be partnering with our Native Christians Mission Team to provide ongoing support to those in need.”
Learn more about Native American Missions at wels.net/missions.
WELS summer events involve thousands
For a church body the size of WELS, our synod is blessed to be able to provide a wide variety of spring and summer events. Each of those events presents opportunities for worship, spiritual growth, supporting the synod’s mission, training for service in various ways, and Christian fellowship. Some of the events held in 2024 feature all five elements.
Two of the synod’s summer events happen next week:
- WELS Women’s Ministry ConferenceThe WELS Women’s Ministry Conference will be held July 28-30 at the Ingleside Hotel, Pewaukee, Wis. It is a sold-out conference with 450 attendees planning to come.
- WELS National Conference on Worship, Music, and the ArtsThe National Conference on Worship, Music, and the Arts will take place on the Carthage College campus in Kenosha, Wis., July 30-Aug. 2. More than 800 people have registered to attend. Walk-ins are welcome at the event.
Several other events occurred earlier this summer:
- Taste of MissionsNearly 500 people attended the annual Taste of Missions on June 15 at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., for a day of food, fellowship, fun, and learning about WELS mission work. The event kicked off with a special worship service in the morning, during which nine new home and world missionaries were commissioned.
2024 WELS International Youth Rally
- WELS International Youth RallyFrom June 25-28, WELS teens had the opportunity to worship together, learn and study God’s Word, grow in faith and fellowship with one another, as well as enjoy recreation and entertainment at the 2024 WELS International Youth Rally. Around 2,200 teens and 600 adults convened at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo. This was the second largest rally ever, second only to the 2005 rally in Orlando, Fla.
- Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society convention
The 61st annual convention of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) in Sioux Falls, S.D., on June 27-30 drew more than 1,000 people for the opening service. This year’s convention theme was “Being Built into a Spiritual House.” Convention highlights included the presentation of more than $100,000 to support WELS Home and World Missions projects and an opportunity to hear about the latest developments from mission administrators. In addition, the LWMS kids c.a.r.e. program received more than $43,000 in 2023–24 to support annual retreats for children of world missionaries who assimilate back to American culture. - WELS Night at the Brewers
More than 2,000 members from around the Midwest enjoyed an evening of fellowship, fun, and baseball at the annual WELS Night at the Brewers on July 12.
Rev. Paul Lindhorst sang the national anthem at WELS Night at the Brewers.
In addition to those synod-wide events, summer is also the time throughout the synod when district or regional gatherings are held. Those include such things as district conventions, Sunday school workshops, marriage retreats, Lutheran summer camps, handbell festivals, and lay leadership retreats.
The popularity of these events indicates that we are a synod whose members are willing to give their time to events that support the mission of the synod and provide them with opportunities to grow in their knowledge and be equipped for service.
Learn more about upcoming events at wels.net/events.
Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder