Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

False prophets tell us what we want to hear. True prophets tell us what God says. False preachers teach us to trust in ourselves. Faithful preachers proclaim the Good News of Jesus crucified and risen by which the Spirit bring us to true in Him. False preachers teach us that we are really our own gods. Faithful preachers teach us that we need and have a Savior: Jesus. The fruits of false preaching are those who put themselves first and think they are spiritual and righteous because of how they are. The fruits of true preaching are repentance and faith in Christ, trusting in Him, and love and good works for our neighbors and even our enemies! That’s the work of the Spirit who calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies us in the true faith of Jesus. That’s the Eight Week after Trinity. 

Speaking of faithful preachers, THANK YOU to the Rev. Gary Peterson who will be preaching and celebrating the Sacrament this Sunday in my absence. We’ll be back Sunday night from our trip to visit family. 

Reminder that there will be NO BIBLE STUDY THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 2 between services. 

Here’s our usual information about worship, which is our main focus at the moment: 

Worship in Church 
By now everyone should have seen our detailed guidelines for how our worship services will be conducted as we gather together again. Here are the highlights:

WORSHIP TIMES:

Sundays at 7:45 AM and 10:30 AM

Wednesdays at 7:00 PM. 

All of these will be the same service. (Readings, hymns, etc.)
 

STREAMING:

We will continue to stream and record one of our Sunday services (probably Early for now). These are available to watch live and recorded here:
We stream live on our FACEBOOK PAGE HERE. 

Our videos are also live and recorded on YOUTUBE HERE. 

The simplest way to watch online (not live) is probably through our church’s website HERE.

AT CHURCH:

Key points to remember when you come for worship: 

• Wear your MASK once you are in the building. Masks WILL be available if you forget to wear one. 
• Maintain PHYSICAL DISTANCING; please do not gather in the Narthex. (If you want to visit with others, you can do so outside or in the gym between services). 
• CHECK IN with the Usher or Elder before the Service. We will NOT be using pew cards but will be taking attendance with a checklist. 
• Please DO NOT SIT IN PEWS MARKED WITH BLUE TAPE. We will be using every third pew. If a pew has a piece of blue tape on the end, do NOT use that pew. BLUE TAPE = DON’T SIT THERE. 
• For DISTRIBUTION OF HOLY COMMUNION
  • Communicants will stand in line near the front pew, not at the rail. If you need to sit in the front pew for the Distribution, you may do so. 
  • The Elder will follow the Host with the tray of Individual Cups and Pastor will follow with the Chalice. (This is the reverse of how we have been doing it; it will more easily indicate to pastor who desires to receive the Chalice). 
• Please PLACE YOUR BULLETIN IN THE RECYCLING BIN in the narthex unless you wish to take it home. Please do NOT stack it with the unused bulletins. 
• The OFFERING PLATE will be on the table in the Narthex. You may place your offering there before or after the service. 
• Please DO NOT LEAVE MASKS OR TRASH IN THE PEWS.

Also, two gentle reminders:

• It is OK to stay home if you feel you are not ready to venture out just yet.
• If you have any SYMPTOMS OF ILLNESS, please love your neighbor by staying home until you are symptom free and recovered. 

Please reach out to me or your Elder if you have any questions about how the service will go. 

Color A Stained Glass Window
Our church stained glass windows are turning into coloring sheets! Download the latest window 
HERE.

There’s so much conflicting information and so many contrary voices out there, about just about every topic and issue! God’s Word is no exception: there are many who miss the main point, sometimes out of ignorance but very often out of satanic malice. So we cling to Christ and trust in His faithfulness to keep and sustain us in the true faith that trusts in the salvation accomplished for us on the cross and by His empty tomb. Thank you for welcoming Pastor Peterson this week and listening with attentive ears! See you next week. 

In Christ, Pastor Buetow