Newsletter
July 06,2025
St Paul Lutheran LCMS
Julesburg, CO
970.474.2592
The Pathlight
Your Word Is A Lamp To My Feet A And Light To My Path.
Ps 119:105
Zion Lutheran LCMS
Big Springs, NE
308.289.5148
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Who Do You Say That I Am?
“Then all “Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’” Matthew 16:16
Peter gets Jesus’ question right. Jesus is not just a reincarnated Moses or Elijah. He’s not just another religious life coach with good ideas on how to be kind to one another. Jesus asks His disciples, “Who am I?” not to trap them but to reveal to them who He is.
Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, the One all of Scripture points to as the One who will save and deliver God’s people. There’s more to it than that, though, to Peter’s confession than even Peter realizes.
This confession is one that is seen only with the eyes of faith. It’s the confession that the church, the baptized community, makes every Sunday in the Creed. It is your confession and mine when we remember our baptisms: that we are united to Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the Living God who saved us from our sins.
Peter is not handed the keys here to guide the church in confessing. This is the beginning of Peter’s own confession, his own struggle against his own flesh and to continue that confession whatever may come.
And then there’s Paul. Paul is the persecutor of confessors then turned pastor to the Gentiles, whose ministry is marked by his own suffering as Jesus suffered for the sake of the Gospel and being content in all things. Paul’s confession was all things to all people, men and women, rich or poor. Never sacrificing the truth, but boldly proclaiming that Christ Jesus, the Son of the Living God, came into the world to save sinners “of whom I am the foremost” (1 Timothy 1:15).
Confession of who Jesus is matters. He’s not Moses or Elijah or John the Baptist. He is the Christ who took on our flesh and came into the world. The Son of the Living God to save you who are now reading this piece and that this would be revealed to all who read and hear His Word. To open their eyes of faith just as it was for Peter and Paul. When you stand and confess the Creed, you see those witnesses around you at the moment, but know also that there’s a whole multitude of witnesses confessing the same who have gone before you.
Pastor Christensen
For now, we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 1 Cor. 13:12
Lutheran Service Book
Order of Worship
HYMN # 966“Before You, Lord, We Bow”
LITURGY Divine Service (setting Four) pg.203 with Communion
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
INTROIT Bulletin Insert
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 66:10-14
EPISTLE: Galatians 6:1-10, 14-18
HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 10:1-20
NICIENE CREED pg.206
HYMN #856 “O Christ, Who Called the Twelve”
SERMON
OFFERING
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT pg.208
HYMN #627 “Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior
NUNC DIMITTIS pg.211
COLLECT
BENEDICTION pg.212
HYMN #763 “When Peace, like a River”
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Servants today
St.Paul
Organist - Gail Nicolaus
Ushers / Greeters –Jay Lindsay/Jeff Larsen
Zion
Organist-Gail Nicolause
Ushers/Greeters-Randy Schlake, Alter Guild-Shelle & Jodi
Calendar of Events
St. Paul- July 13-8:00AM-Bible Study
9:00AM-Worship Service
Servants for Worship Service-Randy Renquist/Gerry Priest/Jeanie Boehm
Zion-July 13-11:00AM- Worship Service
Servants for Worship Service- Randy Schlake/Shelle & Jodi/Jeanie Boehm
Happy Anniversary…… July 8-Kent & Danielle Mauser
G'day, Mate! You're Invited to an Epic Adventure! Join us for an unforgettable Australian Adventure Vacation Bible School — where faith, fun, and discovery come together in the land Down Under! July 14-18, 2025 from 9:00AM to 11:20AM!!
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff!
“Often we allow ourselves to get all worked up about things that upon closer examination aren’t really that big a deal,” wrote Dr. Richard Carlson in his classic little book entitled Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff. Carlson illustrates how we may “focus on little problems and concerns and blow them way out of proportion. A stranger, for example, might cut in front of us in traffic. Rather than let it go, and go on with our day, we convince ourselves that we are justified in our anger.”
There are so many little things that can divert our attention from the bigger, more important issues of life. Slow service at a fast-food restaurant, listening to criticism that is unjustified from someone who’s uninformed. Wait in line at the grocery store, being stalled in traffic, doing most of the work without anyone helping. What do you do about small irritants? Complain to Jesus? I know someone who did.
Luke records an occasion where Jesus journeyed to Bethany to visit two sisters. Mary and Martha. (Lk. 10:38-42). Their brother was Lazarus, whom Jesus later raised from the dead. Apparently, Jesus had a close connection and felt a special affinity for this family.
Martha welcomed Jesus into her home and began preparations for a meal. This would have been a considerable task. Usually, Jesus traveled with some or all the apostles. If he did on this occasion, it would have been a lot of work to prepare a meal for so many people. Remember, too, this is before the days of modern conveniences. No casseroles were already prepared and in the freezer. No restaurants to deliver food. No microwave ovens.
Martha was busy. The Bible says she was “distracted with much serving.” There was a lot on her plate. Because she was doing all the work by herself. Where was her sister, Mary? Sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to His Word. Martha had enough. She was irritated, anxious and upset. So, she complained to Jesus. “Don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me! Think about Martha’s complaint. She has the audacity to accuse Jesus of not caring. And she tells Jesus what he ought to do–make my sister help me! No doubt Martha was expecting Jesus to rebuke Mary and propel her into action. Ironically, Martha is the one who received a mild reproof. “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Jesus was not only telling her not to sweat the small stuff but to refocus her priorities on something of infinitely more value.
Now before, we’re too hard on Martha. She was a good person. A hard worker. A ministry minded woman. She loved Jesus. But she was distracted. She allowed the “small stuff” to aggravate her. There are many lessons from this text. But for today don’t let yourself get overwrought with the mundane issues of life. Sure, there are bills to pay. Appointments to keep. A house to manage. A car to service. People who need our attention. Notes to be written. Events to attend. Vacations to plan for. And retirement to plan for.
Add to all these personal responsibilities, the concern of our community, national and international problems. We worry about our safety, the economy, world peace, who’s in the White House, and what life is going to be like for our children and grandchildren.
Whoa! Slow down. Relax. Take a deep breath. Refocus on your thinking, practice patience, live in the moment! Accept the imperfection of others, manage your stress, and lighten up. Remember Jesus’ advice to choose the good part and never forget…. Jesus does care and that can never be taken away!
1. In Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth, he determined that he would not come again to them in what?
a: Heaviness b: Drunkenness c: Sickness d: Sorrow
2. At what age did Paul say to Timothy that a widow must be at least before the church could consider supporting her?
a: 10 years b: 40 years c: 50 years d: 60 years
3. According to the book of Hebrews, Jesus our High priest is able to do what?
a: Exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think b: Stand against the wiles of the devil c: Supply all your need d: Save completely those who come to God through him
4. In addition to other good qualities, what else did Paul say to put on?
a: Meekness b: Humbleness c: Forgiveness d: Love
5. Which of these word showed that Paul was in prison when he wrote the epistle?
a: I am now a slave b: I am in chains c: I am hiding in a fellow prisoner’s home d: I am in the mountains
6. How did Balaam die in the bible?
a: Killed by the sword b: Died due to plague c: Devoured by fire from heaven d: Stoned to death
7. The book of Psalms 120 to 134 is also known as what?
a: The Songs of Solomon b: The songs of priests c: The Songs of Degrees (or Ascents) d: The Psalms of Asaph
8. A young man who was listening to Paul preach fell asleep and fell out of a third story window. Who was this young man?
a: Stephen b: Eutychus c: Sopater d: Tychicus
9. What reason did Moses give for not wanting to be the spokesman?
a: I am not fully confident yet b: I have sinned and not worthy c: My anger will get the best of me d: I am slow of speech and tongue
10. Which part of Moses body became leprous and then became normal again?
a: His hand b: His heel c: His face d: His leg
11. Jeremiah’s prophesies were not well received by his own people, so they plotted to kill him. Which town did Jeremiah come from?
a: Bethlehem b: Jerusalem c: Anathoth d: Jordan
12. What did Maacah do that made her son Asa remove her from her position?
a: She built an idol in a grove b: She committed adultery c: She committed murder d: She betrayed prophets and children of God
13. How many years did it take Solomon to build the temple of God?
a: Seven years b: Thirteen years c: Forty years d: Ten years
14. How many years after Israel’s exodus from Egypt did Solomon commence construction of the temple?
a: 300 years b: 400 years c: 560 years d: 480 years
15. Which book in the New Testament talks about the patience of Job?
a: James b: Job c: Romans d: Hebrew
16. How much longer did Job live on earth after God restored his fortune double fold?
a: 40 b: 110 c: 120 d: 140
17. If someone shows favoritism to someone else, what does James say he has committed?
a: Sin b: Hypocrisy c: Unfairness d: Prejudice
18. According to Ecclesiastes, what is better than desire and fine ointment?
a: Pleasure and wealth b: Grace and mercy c: The sight of the eyes and a good name d: Promises and fame
19. Who stole Joash son of Ahaziah, from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered?
a: Jehosheba b: Joram c: Jehu d: Elisha
20. What does Paul refer to as the observance of things such as meat, holydays, and Sabbath days?
a: Walking in blindness b: The shadow of things to come c: The loss of self-awareness d: Worthless things
21. What is the name of the best-selling Christian book of all time?
a: The Torah b: Noah and the ark c: The Bible d: The Hymns
22. Who is the author of the best-selling Christian book of all time?
a: Tyndale b: Moses c: God d: Clergymen
Answers
1. Heaviness – 2 Corinthians 2
2. 60 years – 1 Timothy 5:9 (KJV)
3. Save completely those who come to God through him – Hebrews 7:25 (KJV)
4. Love – Colossians 3:14
5. I am in chains – Colossians 4:3
6. Killed by the sword – Numbers 31:8
7. The Songs of Degrees (or Ascents)
8. Eutychus – Acts 20:9
9. I am slow of speech and tongue – Exodus 4:10
10. His hand – Exodus 4:6-7
11. Anathoth – Jeremiah 11:21
12. She built an idol in a grove – 2 Chronicles 5:16
13. Seven years – 1 Kings 6:38
14. 480 years – 1 Kings 6:1
15. James 5:11
16. 140 – Job 42:16
17. Sin – James 2:9
18. The sight of the eyes and a good name – Ecclesiastes 6:9
19. Jehosheba – 2 Kings 11:2 20. The shadow of things to come – Colossians 2:16-17
21. The Bible
22. God
Can you find all 16 of the most-frequently-used biblical names in the word search puzzle grid? The names may run forward, backward, diagonally, vertically, or horizontally.
Fourth of July: Thanking God for Our Freedoms
On July 4, 1776, Congress officially approved the Declaration of Independence. In response to this momentous declaration of the united colonies’ separation from Great Britain, John Adams wrote these insightful words in a letter to his wife concerning the remembrance of this day, now known as Independence Day:
“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”
This weekend, Americans from sea to shining sea will gather family, friends, and neighbors to celebrate their liberty with cookouts and local festivities on the Fourth of July. The warmth of early summer and the sounds of children will fill the air as patriotic music pulls at our hearts. Fireworks will be painted overhead on a canvas of clear night sky. This favorite day of summer provides the opportunity for people from all backgrounds to celebrate the precious freedoms and opportunities we enjoy in this country.
And while it’s important to be with family and friends on this day, it’s also good to reflect on why we’re celebrating. Our early forebears left England for the unfamiliar shores of America mainly because they were unhappy under the tyranny of religious persecution. Since those dawning years of our country, many others have migrated for the same reason. They gave up everything for the right to freely worship God here.
Among the many freedoms our country guarantees, what we as believers particularly hold dear is the right to worship God and to read His Word, the Bible, freely. In many countries on this earth, this freedom still does not exist. In the United States we are so thankful that we can spread His Word across this nation. This is something we do not take for granted; we thank God for the establishing of this country with such freedoms.
This July 4th, as we watch fireworks and wave flags in celebration, may we also pause to reflect on our nation’s heritage. As the festivities end and the last trails of smoke glide across the summer night sky, take a moment to solemnly thank God for all that our freedom allows.
May God bless all the inhabitants of America with His salvation and the full knowledge of the truth in His Word.
CAN YOU SOLVE THESE RIDDLES???????????????
1. She may have been sweet like sugar But her fate didn’t leave her sweet Nowadays she could add flavor In olden days she would have preserved meat Who Am I?
2. In the dessert I was found Hotter than the sand on the ground A strange sight to him that was tending a flock He couldn’t believe I can talk Who Am I?
3. There was a man who went one day On top a Joppa house to pray, And while he waited for his meat He dreamed he saw a great big sheet Let down from heaven, and inside Fowls and creeping things did ride, The one who prayed was told to eat, For God had cleansed this “common” meat. Who was he?
Answers:
1-Lot’s Wife (Pillar of Salt)
2-Burning Bush
3-Peter