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Dear Friends,

As you all know the situation with Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) continues to change quickly.  At ELC we want to respond with calm, compassion, and caution.  We are relying on advice from government agencies, our synod, and the Wisconsin Council of Churches.  

We have decided to cancel public worship gatherings at the church building through at least March 22nd.   This suspension of worship gatherings will allow us to observe the continued impact of this virus in our community, and formulate plans to help us gather again while minimizing the risks to those who attend.

In the meantime, we  will offer an online recording of each Sunday’s message on Facebook live, and post it later to the church’s webpage  https://elcmthoreb.org/home/worship/sermon-archive/    We are looking at ways to expand our streaming of more of our worship.

Regarding our offerings, your continued financial giving is important for the health of our congregation – especially in this time. We appreciate your generosity, and we will need to work together to continue to support our mission. You always have the option to mail your offering to the church office, or it’s easy to give online. Go to https://elcmthoreb.org/home/give/

Finally, I want to encourage you to look out for each other. All of these precautions are taken out of an abundance of care for you and for our community. We will look for ways to support one another and care for the most vulnerable. 

Please share the word with your friends and neighbors, especially those who don’t have access to email or internet.

God’s Peace and Strength,

Pastor John

Jesus can see the bigger picture in a way we never will.  He gives what we need, not always what we ask for. Join us for worship this week!

WORSHIP SCHEDULE 

SATURDAY EVENING WORSHIP

5 p.m.
Modified Traditional Worship
A modified traditional worship service; generally less than 45 minutes.
We gather in the chapel on the Front Street side of the building near Fourth Street

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP

8:30 a.m.
Traditional Worship
We gather in the main sanctuary for liturgical Lutheran worship,
accompanied by the pipe organ and featuring our excellent  choir.

9:30 a.m.
Sunday School, Adult study, Coffee & Fellowship

10:30 a.m.
Contemporary Worship
Led by our Praise Team, we share contemporary Christian music,
God’s Word and prayer in the main sanctuary.

Devotions for this week: Bartimaeus Healed – March 8, 2020

 SHARE:   What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding

Monday, Psalm 34:11-14, Psalm

Tuesday, Psalm 111, Psalm

 Wednesday, Mark 11:12-14, Jesus curses the fig tree

Thursday, Mark 11:15-19, Jesus Cleanses the temple

Friday, Mark 11:20:26 Lesson from the withered fig tree

Saturday, Mark 11:27-33, Jesus Authority is questioned

Go to clergystuff.com/daily-devotions for devotions on the daily readings.

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas

Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 10:52)

The disciples wanted glory and the received the promise of suffering.  Bartimaeus wanted mercy and was healed.  Jesus knows what people need, and what the world needs from them.

• Fairness isn’t always treating everyone the same.  Think of times when some people need to be treated differently?  Should we always get what we ask from God?
• When has suffering touched your life.  How did it impact your faith?

PRAY:  O God, you know exactly what we need, even when we ourselves do not.  Grant us the vision and strength to live as you have taught us as true disciples of Jesus, in whose name we pray.  Amen..

BLESS:  May our God of healing fill you with hope to continue your journey of faith.

Everyone has something (or many somethings) that keeps them from living faithfully as Jesus’ disciple.  What do we have trouble letting go of today?

WORSHIP SCHEDULE 

SATURDAY EVENING WORSHIP

5 p.m.
Modified Traditional Worship
A modified traditional worship service; generally less than 45 minutes.
We gather in the chapel on the Front Street side of the building near Fourth Street

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP

8:30 a.m.
Traditional Worship
We gather in the main sanctuary for liturgical Lutheran worship,
accompanied by the pipe organ and featuring our excellent  choir.

9:30 a.m.
Sunday School, Adult study, Coffee & Fellowship

10:30 a.m.
Contemporary Worship
Led by our Praise Team, we share contemporary Christian music,
God’s Word and prayer in the main sanctuary.

Devotions for this week: First Last and Last First – March 1, 2020

SHARE:   What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding

Monday, Psalm 19:7-10, Psalm

Tuesday, Exodus 20:1-21, The Ten Commandments

Wednesday, Deuteronomy 5:1-21, The Ten Commandments

Thursday, Psalm 52, Psalm

Friday, Psalm 62, Psalm

Saturday, Jeremiah 32:1-25, Jeremiah buys a field

Go to clergystuff.com/daily-devotions for devotions on the daily readings.

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas

“But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”   (Mark 10:31)                                                       

A rich young man asked Jesus how he might inherit eternal life, perhaps believing he was already on the right track.  When Jesus challenged him to sell his possessions, he recoiled.  But eternal life isn’t something we can earn, It is gift from God for whom “all things are possible.”

• What amount of money does it take for a human to survive?
• How can we reconcile that with the notion that earthly possessions are not the way to eternal life?
• What would you struggle to give up if Jesus asked you to?
• Do you think miracles healings can happen today?  What makes it possible?  Is healing with medicine a miracle?

PRAY:  Saving Lord, you know there is nothing we can do to save ourselves.  make us joyful in your promise of eternal life, which is ours because you choose to give it, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Amen.  

BLESS:  May God fill you with the peace that fills your heart!