Newsletter
November 9, 2025
St. Paul Lutheran LCMS
Julesburg, CO
970.474.2592
The Pathlight
Your Word Is A Lamp To My Feet and a Light To My Path.
Ps 119:105
Zion Lutheran LCMS
Big Springs, NE
308.289.5148
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Precious – Holy in His Sight
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
Imagine the disciples and the huge crowd gathered around Jesus for the Sermon on the Mount. Yes, yes they all nod to each of the Beatitudes. Maybe they even look around to see how the other 11 disciples are reacting. “Maybe I’m not perfect, but I’ve been pretty good at this one or that.” “I think I’m good enough; I don’t talk without thinking. Like you know, ….Peter.” “I think I’m good enough; at least I haven’t cheated people in the past, like you know,…..Matthew.”
But Jesus isn’t talking about being good enough in other people’s eyes, He is talking about what is holiness before God – pure in heart – a holiness of the heart. The thing is, there is nothing pure in our heart by nature. The Lord says, “Out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.” (Mark 7:21-22) So who’s to argue?
There is One who is pure in heart. Jesus Christ, who is Holy God in the flesh – He alone is perfectly pure in heart. Then at your Baptism, in the incredible exchange, the Lord cleansed you entirely, taking all of the sinfulness from your heart and traded it for all the righteousness, holiness, and purity of Jesus’ heart!
Your Baptism was “not just plain water, but it is the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s word,” Luther explains. So, with God’s Word, that water delivered Jesus and His forgiveness and salvation. You were made blessed and holy by the Holy Spirit.
There is daily war against this “new you” – the saint that God made you at your Baptism. You face difficulties all of the time; some of them known only to you and God. We all have our own great afflictions. Before Christ returns, we can expect the afflictions from “non-saints” will increase.
Jesus Christ is perfect and pure. And He gifts you with being pure in heart, holy, and blessed for His sake. You belong to Him as His baptized saint. You sing with those saints now in the glory of God’s presence, and one day, Jesus will resurrect you and gather you with the rest of His saints to stand before Him, arrayed in white, washed in the Blood of Jesus, and singing His praises forever.
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. 1Cor. 13:12
Lutheran Service Book
Order of Service
HYMN #779 “Come, My Soul, with Every Care”
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION pg. 184
INTROIT pg.186
KYRIE
SALUTATION and COLLECT OF THE DAY pg. 189
OLD TESTMENT READING: Exodus 3:1-15
EPISTLE: Thessalonians 2:1-8, 13-17
HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 20:27-40
APOSTLES CREED pg.192
HYMN #741 “Jesus Christ, My Sure Defense
SERMON
OFFERING
PRAYER of the CHURCH
LORD’S PRAYER
SALUTATION pg. 201
HYMN # 802 “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” SILENT PRAYER
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Servants this morning
St. Paul
Ushers/Greeters-Randy Renquist/Gerry Priest
Organist-Gail Nicolaus
Zion
Greeters and Ushers – Dayton & Jodi, Altar Guild-Jodi/Shelle
Organist-Gail Nicolaus
Calendar of Events
St. Paul
Nov.10-9:00AM-Bible Study
Nov.12-5:00PM-Catechism
Nov. 16-8:00AM-Bible Study
9:00AM Worship Service/Communion
Servants for Worship Service-Les Ebke/Jeff Larsen/Gail Nicolaus
Zion
Nov. 12-3:30PM-Midweek
Nov. 16-10:00AM-Sunday School
11:00AM-Worship Service/Communion
Servants for Worship Service- Dayton & Jodi/Shelle & Jodi/Gail Nicolaus
Voters Meeting Announcement
All members of the congregation are warmly invited to attend our upcoming Voters Meeting on Sunday, November 23, at 2:00 PM at St. Paul Lutheran Church. This important gathering is a time for us to come together as a faith family to discuss upcoming plans and make decisions that shape the life of our church. Your voice and presence matter—please join us as we prayerfully steward the mission and future of our congregation.
Nov. 10 Tonia Spyke
Nov. 16 Gene Aulston
“The Thankful Twelve — Hidden in the Harvest”
Twelve disciples are tucked away in the paragraph below, hidden like autumn leaves in a pile. Their names may appear forward, backward, split across words, or disguised within other phrases. Some are easy to spot; others require a keen eye and a thankful heart. Can you find all twelve?
As the November chill settled over Galilee, the disciples gathered for a harvest celebration. The table was set with roasted lamb, barley bread, and fig preserves. “I’m grateful for the sunrise,” said Tom, stirring cider with cinnamon. “Matthew’s recipe for the bread is unmatched,” noted John, who had just returned from the olive press. “Drew, can you pass the jam?” asked James, eyeing the golden rolls. “Sure,” said Phil, “but I think Bart took the last one.” “Andy’s carving the turkey,” chimed in Luke, who had been arranging pomegranates in a basket. “Thad’s still napping under the sycamore,” muttered Simon, brushing leaves from his cloak. “Let’s not forget Jude,” whispered Nate, “he’s always late—but never forgets to pray.” The wind rustled through the branches as lanterns flickered. Somewhere in the distance, a shepherd named Tomás sang a psalm. “Is that Peter’s voice?” asked James again, straining to hear. “No,” said Andrew, “he’s helping with the firewood.” The group bowed their heads in thanks, each name echoing in the quiet.
Instructions:
• Find all 12 disciples’ names hidden in the paragraph.
• Names may be forward, backward, split across words, or embedded in other names.
• Bonus: Which name appears more than once?
• Extra Challenge: One name is hidden in a non-English variation—can you find it?
“The Turkey That Got Away”
It was the Great Turkey Chase of 1998. My Uncle Ray, convinced he could save money and impress the family, decided to raise his own Thanksgiving turkey. He named it “Gobbletron” and treated it like royalty—organic feed, daily walks, even lullabies. But when Thanksgiving morning came, Gobbletron had other plans. The turkey escaped the coop, sprinted across the yard, and launched itself into the neighbor’s trampoline. What followed was a chaotic ballet of feathers, flailing limbs, and one very confused golden retriever. Uncle Ray ended up serving frozen lasagna that year, and Gobbletron lived to gobble another day.
We laughed until our sides hurt—but something about that day stuck with me. Uncle Ray had planned the perfect feast, but it was the imperfection, the unexpected, the ridiculous that brought us closer. We didn’t gather around a turkey—we gathered around grace.
November is a month of preparation and gratitude. In the church calendar, it’s a time of endings and beginnings—wrapping up the liturgical year, anticipating Advent, and reflecting on the saints who’ve gone before us. It’s also a time when our plans often go sideways. Schedules shift. Dishes burn. People cancel. Turkeys escape.
But Scripture reminds us that God’s presence isn’t found in perfection—it’s found in the gathering. In Luke 17:11–19, ten lepers are healed, but only one returns to give thanks. Jesus doesn’t scold the others—He simply honors the one who saw grace and responded. Gratitude isn’t about getting everything right. It’s about recognizing the sacred in the messy middle.
This November, whether your table is full or quiet, whether your plans unfold or unravel, remember God shows up in the trampoline moments. In laughter, in the lasagna, in the unexpected grace that binds us together.
Reflection Questions:
• What’s one “Gobbletron moment” in your life that didn’t go as planned but brought unexpected joy?
• How can you practice gratitude even when things feel imperfect?
• Who in your life needs a reminder that they are part of your gathering—even if they’re not at your table
St. Paul Lutheran Church
7th & Maple
PO Box 72
Julesburg, CO 80737