17th Sunday After Pentecost
 

St. Johannes Lutheran Church
October 6, 2019

A little faith goes a long way is our Lord’s point in the gospel. A mustard seed’s-worth has miraculous potential. The patience, tenacity, and endurance required for the life of faith are the blessings received in water and the word (holy baptism), bread and wine (holy communion), the word read and proclaimed in this assembly. Anticipate them. Receive them with thanksgiving.

       17th Sunday After Pentecost

Worship Assistant: Jean Rivas
Lector: Bob Mays
Acolyte: Barbara Pace
Communion Assistant: Barbara Williams
Council members of the Month:  Susan Crocker and Barbara Williams

Sunday’s message
Pastor Phillip
Integrity

Integrity means -

The Lord looks at your heart, not your personal outwardly experience.  

“Blessed are the pure in heart - for they shall see God.”

Wholeness. It’s whole.   
Your life isn’t in pieces when you have integrity.  You at who you are no matter who you’re with.

Authentic.  What you see is what you get.  

Sincere.  You don’t have mixed motives.  What are your motives?  

Integrity is what you do when no one is looking.   

God’s not about image - He is about integrity.  ...but the Lord looks at your heart. ️

How to have integrity -

1. Keep your promises.   No matter what.  
2. Pay your bills.  Money is a test of integrity.  Debt is a lack of integrity.  Rigorous give generously.  They don’t live above their means.  Pay your taxes.  
3. Refusing to gossip.   Relational integrity.  Psalm chapter 15.  It’s breaking a confidence.  It is betrayal.  Can you keep a secret? Are you safe? It’s our secrets that make us sick.  

4. Doing your best at work.  We should be the hardest working, most reliable, most dependable employee.

Special thanks to Chuck Long, who so graciously gave of his time, to be our church interim organist! We appreciate all that you have done to bring joy and healing through your music and leadership.  We also appreciate you encouraging the talented members of our church to share their musical skills to enhance our worship experience.  Special thanks also to Bob and Cynthia Mays and Scott Carpenter.  We also know that other members have been taking out their instruments and practicing so that in the future they can take part in the worship service. Thank you for planting those seeds of faith in those members and new members to join soon!  From that wonderful song "Pass It On" by Kurt Kaiser comes this lyric: 

It only takes a spark to get a fire going,

And soon all those around can warm up to its glowing

That’s how it is with God’s love

Once you’ve experienced it

You spread your love to everyone

You want to pass it on.

CALL FOR MUSICIANS

We have Many Gifts and One Spirit!  I would like to invite anyone whose gift is music, to join me at 6:00 in the evening on Wednesday, October 9th to explore the ministry through music here at Saint Johannes.  If you are interested in
singing in a choir, singing a solo, or playing an instrument of any shape or  size, please drop in on Wednesday  at Gatch Hall.  If you are unable to make it to the meeting, please contact
Sean Holleran at (502)533-0785 or swholl01@gmail.com. 

“Let every instrument be tuned for Praise, let all rejoice who have a Voice to raise!”

NEXT STEPS OF CHARLESTON
 
Visit the Community Outreach Center at St. Matthews Church on any Friday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., and you’ll find somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 people – some homeless and some not – who have come in looking for a chance to make their lives better.  And this is just what Next Steps is there to do – improve lives one step at a time. To those of us who have food on our tables, cars to drive, a roof over our heads, and the financial means to eat out, go to a concert, take a trip, etc., it’s hard to imagine how someone can actually become homeless. But for someone who is homeless, or in a desperate situation, it’s often extremely hard, if not impossible, to know how to dig out of that hole.  For those people, Next Steps does just that! They start with an END goal – perhaps a home and a job . . . and then they start at the beginning, taking baby steps to reach that end goal.  Maybe it’s as simple as helping someone learn to read . . . get a state-issued ID . . . and then maybe a driver’s license . . . or a health exam . . . temporary housing . . . a part-time job . . . then a full-time job . . . and maybe a real home. Volunteers at Next Steps work tirelessly giving these people a helping hand UP, rather than just a handout.  Not all cases are successes, but MANY of these people sincerely want to better their lives – they simply need some help taking the steps to get there. And there definitely ARE successes! 
Unfortunately, there are financial needs in order to make this program a success. Funds are needed to help with prescription meds, bus passes, work boots, eyeglasses, dentures,  insect repellent, etc. 
 
During the month of October, we will be accepting monetary donations, large or small, for Next Steps of Charleston.  At the end of the month, we  will use matching funds from the Semken Outreach Fund to provide financial support for this local organization. Donations may be placed in the offering plate and marked for “Next Steps.”  Every  donation will really be appreciated.  Any questions about Next Steps of Charleston should be directed to Tom Pinckney.