June 2021 Messenger
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The Messenger Praising Christ…Growing in Christ…Serving for Christ… Loving like Christ! The Newsletter of Bethlehem Lutheran Church June 2021 Address: 3705 S. Anthony Blvd. Phone: 260-744-3228 Email: [email protected] Fort Wayne, IN 46806 Fax: 260-744-3229 Web: www.bethlehemlcms.org From the Pastor’s Desk A Father’s Love And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. Luke 15:20 I have embarrassed my father more times than I can count in my life. As Father’s Day approaches this year, it has me thinking about some of those moments. I don’t feel it necessary to confess all of them to you in this article. I don’t think I have enough space to do it anyway. The point being that I wasn’t always the kind of kid a father would brag about or point to as a shining example of what a son should be. He put up with a lot. Both of my parents did. But this Father’s Day I am thankful that my dad loved me despite myself and the mistakes I made growing up. He might have loved me through clenched teeth at times but he loved me all the same. I’m not sure what your father was like. Maybe you were blessed with a similar experience. You might not have been. Your father may still be with us or he may have passed. The conversations around fatherhood can be sensitive at times because of the complicated relationships we have with our fathers. This is why some have a hard time looking to God as their Heavenly Father. The passage shared above is from the parable of the prodigal son. If you are unfamiliar with the parable then I will briefly explain. A father had two sons and the younger of the two decided that he wanted out of the house. He asked for his share of the inheritance so that he could set out on his own. If there’s a way to nicely tell your dad to drop dead this would be it. I’m sure it hurt him but the father gave his son the money anyway and off he went. It didn’t take long for this young man to lose everything. It was all wasted on wild living that would have brought shame and embarrassment on his father. He came to town with his inheritance in hand and was left with nothing. His “rock bottom” moment was when he found himself longing for what the pigs were eating. He finally came to his senses and decided to return home to work for his father as a lowly servant. That way he’d at least have a place to live and a guaranteed meal. Continued on next page He had written off his father. He had written him out of his life but his father had never forgotten about him. As the son turned the corner for the final stretch home his father saw him. The father couldn’t wait for him to get close. At once he lifted up his robe and ran to his son. This simple action tells us all we need to know about the father. He had been abused and rejected by his son and yet he chose to run to him, hug him and kiss him. This would have brought shame and embarrassment to the father. He makes a fool of himself running toward a son that had wished him dead. Yet, his love for his son far outweighed any pride or sense of justice he might have within him. This is a father’s love and this is how our Heavenly Father loves us. Our rebellion didn’t cause God to turn from us. Our sinful behavior that has earned us death and damnation wasn’t enough for God to write us off either. Instead, the Creator of the universe put his reputation on the line by endlessly pursuing an unfaithful people. Why would an almighty God do something like that? Why would he lower himself for such a lowly people? It’s a father’s love. It is his great love for us, his children. A love that has done more than just run a mile up the road to embrace us, but one that brought him down to earth to be one of us. Jesus brought embarrassment and scorn and shame onto himself as he hung from the cross for our salvation. His arms stretched wide show us just how great the Father’s love is for you and me. Because of that loving sacrifice, one that caused God to turn away in shame and disgust, we are forgiven and free. I’m not sure what your Father’s Day will look like this year. I don’t know what emotions it will stir up for you. But during that day I’d suggest you spend a moment to remember the great love of your Heavenly Father. A love that sees you staggering on the horizon, ragged from sin, and chases after you at a great cost to himself. This is a father’s love and it is there running toward you time and time again. Pastor Ben Worship Anew Online - https://worshipanew.org/ Sunday at 6:30am on (WISE-TV Channel 33) Sunday at 7:00am on (EPTA channel 21.2) Sunday at 11:30am on TCT (WINM channel 12). JUNE 26 MEN'S PRAYER BREAKFAST June 6, 2021 – Second Sunday after Pentecost In Romans 7:15 Paul states, "I do not “Crazy or Faithful?” - Mark 3:21 understand what I do. For what I want to do I Rev. Shayne Jonker do not do, but what I hate I do." Have you ever It’s crazy. Getting up for church, going through found yourself in this troubling paradoxical ancient rituals that have no connection with state? Our Bethlehem Men's Prayer Breakfast contemporary culture, and calling yourself a sinner, and set for 8:00am on Saturday, June 26, 2021, in the believing that a pastor’s word is Christ’s Word forgiving Bethlehem cafeteria will consider this dilemma your sins. Singing difficult hymns, praying to a God you of the human condition in light of Romans 7. can’t see or hear directly, eating a bit of bread and Please plan to join us for breakfast, drinking a sip of wine believing they are the sacrificial prayer, a devotion by Bill Ihssen, and a study and Body and Blood of Jesus. Trusting Jesus’ finished work discussion of Romans 7. instead of your own works for salvation. Some will say, It’s of the devil. Most will say you’re crazy. God calls it faithful. June 13, 2021 – Third Sunday after Pentecost “Our Forever Home” - 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 Rev. Paul Shoemaker SUNDAY ADULT BIBLE CLASSES As we age, we become more and more aware of Greg Shediack continues his series on our mortality. Our once strong body shows signs of weakness and age. The day will come when the burdens "Who Am I? Why Am I Here?" In each session of this life will be over, and we will be forever with the a video featuring Professor Joel Biermann of the Lord. Concordia Seminary will be presented followed by questions and discussion led by Greg. Topics June 20, 2021 – Fourth Sunday after Pentecost are as follows: “Fear Knot!” - Mark 4:35-41 June 6: In the Groove Rev. William Mueller June 13: Two Taboo Topics with a Twist The picture is very familiar: Jesus, asleep in the June 20: Living in the End boat while His disciples battle the elements, trying to A new class will begin starting June 27 keep the boat afloat. Is Jesus unaware of their concern Our Sunday morning classes meet at or, worse yet, the danger at hand? The answer to that 10:30am in the cafeteria following our 9:00am question is the same answer He lovingly gives us to worship service. All Bethlehem members and answer our questions of where He is during the storms of visitors are invited to attend to learn more about our life. Where is Jesus? He is right here! Listen to what our God and the great things He has done and will He says. do for us. [Jesus said,] "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this June 27, 2021 – Fifth Sunday after Pentecost bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, “Praise and Adoration” - Psalm 30 which I will give for the life of the world." Rev. Dr. Thomas Ahlersmeyer John 6:51 NIV. The “business of living” brings incredible joys and unbearable sorrows. Christ-followers praise God in the highs and lows of life and all conditions in between. We live with the sure and certain hope that Jesus Christ is with us through it all. Rescue Mission Update Bethlehem has had a long tradition of sending volunteer servers to the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission, every 4th Sunday of the month. This was a great opportunity to serve the folks in our community that used the Rescue Mission’s services. With Covid-19 and time, things have changed. The mission has since moved to a new location and is now called the Rescue Mission. All volunteer opportunities such as ours had to stop due to the pandemic and restrictions put in place to help prevent and slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus.