The Concordia Courier Non-Profit Org. Concordia Lutheran Church, LCMS U.S. Postage 2185 Wood Street • Sarasota, FL 34237-7915 Paid ———————————— Manasota, Return Service Request Florida Permit No. 1230 The Concordia Courier January 2017 Worship Church Staff Concordia Lutheran Schedule Church, LC-MS Rev. Stephen Gaulke, M.Div., S.T.M……Pastor Worship Services Lei Ann Ahl ....... Parish Secretary / Bookkeeper 2185 Wood Street Johnora L. Hildebrand ................ Music Director Saturday Chapel Worship 5:30 pm Sarasota, FL 34237-7915 Dawn Brown ...................... Praise Band Leader Sunday Contemporary Worship 9 am Ph: (941)365-0844 Fax: (941)365-0845 Christie Basinger .............. Youth Group Leader Sunday School & Bible Class 10 am E-Mail: “[email protected]” To be announced ................... Sunday Nursery Sunday Traditional Worship 10:45 am Website: www.ConcordiaSarasota.org Facebook: search Concordia Sarasota Holy Communion Office Hours: The Lord’s Supper is celebrated 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Tuesday-Friday) at every weekend’s worship service. Jesus promises, “This bread is My body. Drink, this wine is My blood for your forgiveness.” In worship Jesus serves! Concordia: “Jesus’ Harmony for the Heart of Sarasota” A Publication Of Concordia Lutheran Church † Jesus’ Harmony For the Heart of Sarasota † January 2017 For What Do You Hunger? THE LORD’S SUPPER (Holy Communion) How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things? What is the Sacrament of the Altar? Certainly not just eating and drinking do It is the true body and blood of our Lord these things, but the words written here: “Given and Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” These Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink. words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes Where is it written? these words has exactly what they say: “forgiveness The holy Evangelists Matthew (26:26-28), of sins.” Mark (14:22-25), Luke (22:19-20), and St. Paul (1 Corinthians 11:23-25) write: From the “Small Catechism.” Written by the Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He Rev. Dr. Martin Luther in 1529, the little book is was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given treasured still by the world’s 74 million Lutherans thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and for clearly opening the Bible’s truth and celebrating said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for the heart of the Christian faith. Translation by you. This do in remembrance of Me.” Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis ©1992. In the same way also he took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” What is the benefit of this eating and drinking? These words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation. New Beginning Preschoolers’ Christmas Pageant The Courier - January 2017 Portals of Prayer “Portals of Prayer” would like to make your New Year merrier. Take home the daily devotional booklet after Concordia’s worship. All January Our Youth Group welcomes all 5th through 12th through March you will be glad you unwrapped this graders to their special events. Watch our little gift! Why not share a copy with a friend? Concordia Pretzel Facebook page or ask leader Pocket size, or large print? Either way, keep Christie Basinger (744-0905). your “Portals” handy at your bedside or kitchen table. Wake up with Jesus, and feed on His Word! Young and Fun Friday - January 20, 7-9 pm ! Would you like the church office to mail you your Concordia's youth leaders and volunteers copy? Ask, and you shall receive (365-0844). will host a fabulously fun Friday night event for our youth! Our Willer Fellowship Hall will be Growing Time transformed for a night of music, games, Pastry, coffee, fruit drinks, priceless hanging out, eating and just generally having a friendships. Enjoy “between Sunday services” adult great time. There will be games including table Bible study, 10 a.m. at our Willer Fellowship Hall. tennis! Enjoy your favorite music, and maybe These weeks with DVD and discussion will follow join a line dance. Make sure you bring an Jesus’ apostle Paul into mission. To whom is the appetite for plenty of pizza handmade by your good Lord next sending you?! friends. The night will end on a special note as We welcome all nursery age children in our we gather to give thanks and praise to our educational building (room 6). We give nursery care Lord, Christ Jesus! there also during the Sunday worship services. Invitations will be coming by (snail) mail. Christie Basinger teaches the youngest Sunday Could you win a $10 gift certificate attendance School group (also in room 6). Deborah Bond leads prize? Bring a friend! the middle schoolers (Willer Fellowship Hall’s Library Room). As Jesus’ Pretzels, we’re twisted and salty, “Spirit, give to our minds the Father’s sin twisted (and forgiven!) and salted saints. wisdom, our hearts Jesus’ love!” We bring Jesus’ flavor and crunch to His world! Two Days: Free Bread Breads, muffins, pastries, bagels, day-old... Prayer and Healing yours free! Concordia, with Panera’s “Dough- Healing is part of the journey for all nations,” gives away bread every Tuesday and Christians. Wednesday, January 18 at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, 9 to 10 a.m. Volunteers serve our you and your friends are invited to Concordia’s neighbors, and your friends. Give this a try? special Service of Prayer and Healing. Together we We need a new volunteer to pick up the bread turn to Jesus. We will hear God’s Word. Individuals from Panera, 9 p.m., one Friday each month. Learn will have an opportunity to receive personal prayer how to love this hour! Ask Jean Williams (443-799- and, if desired, anointing oil. 4860) or the church office. Some of our previous Healing can take place in a number of ways. volunteers can no longer safely drive at night. In our body, mind, spirit, and relationships, we need “Bread of life, give your life-giving love!” Jesus! He often works through the God-given talents of doctors, nurses and other health Altar Guild professionals. We’ve also seen Him answer our Thursday, January 5, 9:30 a.m. we’ll have prayers with His supernatural power. Together, we our regular meeting. The date for the removal of the rest in Jesus’ hands. Christmas decorations will be decided at a later date. “13If any of you are having trouble, pray. If you are happy, sing psalms. 14 If you are sick, call for Work Morn the church leaders. Have them pray for you and anoint you with olive oil in the name of the Lord. Concordia’s volunteers have set aside every 15 month’s third Saturday for a property work morn. (Prayers offered in faith will save those who are sick, and the Lord will cure them.) If you have sinned, We need new helpers, too! Please join us Saturday, 16 January 21, 9 a.m. to noon. Look forward to you will be forgiven. So admit your sins to each pastries and coffee to get the morning started. Come other, and pray for each other so that you will be any time. Can we add you to our volunteer email healed. Prayers offered by those who have God’s list? Phone Charlie Scott at 925-7808. Or drop an approval are effective” (James 1:13-16). email to at [email protected]. Have fun, feel good, and see the church shine. “Lord, let our neighbors see Your beauty!” The Courier - January 2017 Open Doors: Please Join Us! Christmas Thanks Thanks to the many who make Concordia's The following invitations welcome you nearly Christmas so festive: worship assistants and every week here at Concordia. For further details service preparers, altar guild, ushers, band, choir, ask the church office (365-0844). bell choir, special Christmas musicians, the cooks Tuesdays and Saturdays, 9 to 10 a.m. We and cleaners, Wednesday Advent meals (Norma and give away free day-old Panera “Dough-nations” on her crew enabling our “pot-luck”), the women’s the circle driveway. Advent by Candlelight leaders, those who hosted Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. GiFtS women “Grow December 11’s brunch, all who decorated the church in Faith through Scripture” at our Willer Fellowship and Willer Hall (beautiful both inside and out), the Hall’s Library Room. many properties volunteers, Christie and all the Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. Men’s Bible Study pageant’s children and Sunday school helpers, and Group at our Choir Room. the many others who made our Christmas so merry! Our Praise Band rehearsal time varies. Can A number of bighearted individuals gave gift you add your talents? Please contact Dawn Brown cards to Pastor, asking him to “bless someone.” (536-3783). All this Christmas cheer was received with much Our Youth Group welcomes all 5th through th gratitude, even tears. 12 graders to their monthly events. Watch our Who can name all the names, and recite all Concordia Pretzel Facebook page or ask leader the events? All this festivity, on top of the regular Christie Basinger (744-0905).