Newsletter
March 23, 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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0317025 Vol.6 Issue 17
For the Love of God!
And you Now therefore mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the Lord your God, and the Lord will relent of the disaster that he has pronounced against you. Jeremiah 26:13
You’d better shape up! Perhaps one of your parents or a teacher or a coach said something like that to you or you said it to someone else. Get your act together! Turn it around! Fix that attitude! Seriously, we need to be told those things because we get bent out of shape, our actions are hurtful, we walk down the wrong paths, and we have a poor attitude way too often. All more often than we’d like to admit.
Jeremiah has a similar message for the officials of Judah and all the people: “Mend your ways and your deeds!” he says. In other words, he means, “Obey the voice of the Lord your God!” Shape up, get it together, turn it around, fix that attitude. Or the Lord will bring disaster. If you obey, God will relent.
That’s the way the Law of God works. Threats and punishments. Obey…or else. We call that the first use of the Law, and sometimes it gets people to do the things that they should do. In this case, it worked. The officials and all the people decided not to put Jeremiah to death. But behavior motivated by threats and punishments don’t last because it’s superficial.
The Law of God also shows us what we should be doing and even offers rewards for those who do it. The opposite of Jeremiah’s threat is that if the people mend their ways and obey God, they will be rewarded. We call that the third use of the Law. But that also goes only so far. That’s keeping the Law for selfish gain. The Law of God can keep us from doing what we shouldn’t do and even get us to do what we should do, but it will never make us love doing it. And without love, you cannot fulfill the Law (Rom. 13:10).
There is another function of the Law. Paul writes, “Now the law came in to increase the trespass” (Rom 5:20). Even though the people relented in putting Jeremiah to death, the pattern of persecuting the prophets continued clear up to Jesus, whom the officials and the people put to death for speaking God’s Word. But in putting Him to death, God revealed the solution to the problem of the Law. “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Rom. 5:20). By increasing
the trespass, the Law also shows the severity of our sin and the abundance of God’s grace. Turn it around! Turn to the love of God in Jesus Christ.
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
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DON’T FORGET TO DIRECT YOUR 2024 “THRIVENT CHOICE DOLLARS”
by March 31, 2025
Members of Thrivent Financial who have eligible 2024 Choice Dollars must direct these Dollars by March 31, 2025. Don’t miss this opportunity to help support our church and/or an organization of your choice. If you wish to donate any part of your Dollars to Orphan Grain Train be sure to select the “Rocky Mountain Branch” under Orphan Grain Train.
There are two easy ways to direct your Choice Dollars: Go to www.thriventchoice.com or call 1-800-847-4836 and say “choice dollars” at automation.
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Lenten Midweek 111 - The Hand of the Lord Heals the Sick - March 23,2025
Quarantine is a term for isolating people suspected of carrying some infectious or contagious disease. In Latin, the term literally refers to “forty days.” The forty-day season of Lent serves as a sort of quarantine for sinners, a time when the medicine of repentance and faith in God’s Word brings healing and deliverance from sin, sickness and death – whatever causes a person to be rejected, abandoned, or shunned by others, or even by God. The hand of the Lord is reaching, touching, healing hand of the Son of God, Christ, the mighty Savior, that touches you, bringing healing and reconciliation with God and His people.
Third Sunday in Lent - March 23,2025
Throughout the Holy Scriptures the Lord inspired several refrains that shape the confession of the church – repent and live, abhor evil, flee destruction and love righteousness! The justice of Christ’s righteousness abolishes the merit of good works; He redeems those who genuinely repent of their iniquity. These are the ones upon whom He bestows eternal life. By divine standards, it is total grace! God is faithful. He will do it!
Divine Service Setting One page 151
OPENING HYMN #809 “Great is Thy Faithfulness”
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Ezekiel 33:7-20
EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 13:1-9
APOSTLES CREED pg.159
HYMN #609 “Jesus Sinners Doth Receive”
SERMON
OFFERING
OFFERTORY pg. 159
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
LORD’S PRAYER
BENEDICTION pg. 166
HYMN #918 “Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer”
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SERVANTS
ST. PAUL
USHERS / GREETERS –Brian Lanckriet / Gerry Priest
ORGANIST – Jeanie Boehm
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Lenten meals 6:00 meals – 7:00 Service
March 26 -Pizza served by Sharon, LoRayne
April 2 -Pancakes, eggs, sausage - Randy, Susie, Murl, Judy
April 9 -Pulled pork - Judy and friends
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Happy 100th Birthday to Harry Reichert !
Harry will be 100 on April 1st. Cards and blessings may be sent to Harry at 545 6th St. Chappell, NE 69129.