Beloved in Christ,

The theme text chosen from Holy Scripture for our New England District – LCMS Convention (which meets this week in Springfield, MA, June 11th-13th) is from Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God….”   While that text is always so timely and relevant in our daily lives as Christians, it is especially so in the wake of all that has happened within New England during these past several years: Hurricane Sandy,  the shooting in Newtown, CT, and the Boston marathon bombing.  We live in anxious times.

By nature we tend to worry about things…lots of things: our health, our safety, our financial security, concerned for our children and grandchildren as they grow up in a faith-less and god-less and anti-Christian culture and world.  There are plenty of evil ones who serve as messengers of Satan as they bring fear and threats of death to innocent, law-abiding, civilized, responsible, and decent people.  We cannot go by one day without news of some serious criminal activity that happened in our state or nation.  As days go by, we see more and more that many have no sense of decency and of right and wrong.  We are living in dark and sinister times.

But then Christ is proclaimed.  His Word is declared.  Our hearts are lifted in faith by His mercy upon us in the Gospel preached and His Sacraments administered.  So, in our troubled-lives–troubled because of this fallen world–troubled because of our own sins–troubled because of the appearance anyways of Satan’s continued advancement–troubled because we see the seeming decline of the Christian Church, so His Word to us is a constant Word of HOPE: “Be still and know that I am God.”

What do these words mean?  The Lord God speaks calmness to our hearts in the midst of life’s storms.  He pronounces His assurance of peace by the truth that He is God and that He forgives us for Jesus’ sake.  He assures us that He is in perfect control of His creation–of all that goes on in the world, and He is working and has worked for our good: eternal life and salvation through Jesus Christ.  The truth is: while Satan prowls and roars, while he continues to devour whoever he can by deceptive lies, while he rages about us and sets this world raging, yet our gracious and almighty God stands before us and with us.  We are always safe and secure in Him–even when we don’t feel safe.  And He works in our hearts such confidence and trust in Him, that we shall fear no evil.  Our loving Savior-God holds us in the palm of His hands–forever.  You and I are blessed in the name of Jesus, who by His death for our sins and by His resurrection to life has won salvation’s victory for us; He lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

And so, with glad hearts–calmed and refreshed–we celebrate the blessed assurance that all is well for our souls and we are heavenward bound.

In the name of Jesus; Amen.

Jr. Confirmation will meet one more time this evening fro 6:30–7:30PM.

Wednesday evening at 7:00PM is the “WITNESS THE FAITH” event.  Come and see our confirmands witness their faith through Questions and Answers with the pastor.

Pray for the New England District – LCMS as it meets in convention Thursday — Saturday this week.  Pray for the pastors and lay delegates as they carryout elections for our district and as they vote on a number of resolutions concerning Christ’s Word and mission.  Accompanying the pastor and serving as lay delegate, is our member, Gene Giblin.

This Sunday is Confirmation Day. We will witness Richeeba Frederick, Megan Hendrickson, Jordan Klepps, and Kyle Krantz (of Shepherd of the Hills – Morris, CT) as they affirm their baptismal vows in the Rite of Confirmation.  A reception will follow in the fellowship hall. If you are inviting friends or family to join us in worship, please advise them concerning our Communion practice in advance.  We ask those who are not properly instructed and who share a different confession of the faith to refrain from receiving the Sacrament.

Pray for Kari Kotila as she heads off to the Church Interpreters Training Institute (CITI) at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana this Friday.  Her classes begin on Saturday and finish the following Saturday.  Pray for safe travels and a blessed week  of instruction.  Rev. S. R. Schumacher is the principal instructor.  Through this intensive instruction, Kari will be further strengthened in her ability to sign worship services for the Deaf.

Pray for strength and healing for:

Bob Wentland, who was hospitalized, but is now at Ingraham Manor in Bristol.

Bill Ayers, who was hospitalized but continues recovery at home.

Clem Valerio, Stev and Bonnie Hendrickson’s neighbor who is recovering from heart surgery.

Mildred Giblin (Gene’s mother) who is recovering from a fall.

We commend to the Lord, little Cohen Daveluy, whose time on earth appears to be drawing nearer to a close.

We pray for all the others on our Sunday Prayer List, that the Lord would continue to work healing and strength in them.

Ushers:  Brian Lassy

               Josef LaMadeleine

Elder:     Steven Ayers

Altar:      Donna Madonna

Acolyte:  Ben Lassy

Coffee:   G/L Giblin

Have a blessed week in the Lord!

Pastor Kotila

Pray for