News and Announcements are published on Friday each week.

The Second Sunday After Trinity

June 29, 2025

Readings: Proverbs 9: 1-10; 1 John 4:16-21; Luke 16:19-31 

 Hymns: 514, 510, 904, 622, 545, 587

Calendar 

Witness

We get to tell them.  What do you know about missionary work in the LCMS?  Not much?  The LCMS offers many opportunities to serve for a week, several weeks, or even long term in positions near and far.  Check out upcoming mission trips and information about other service opportunities at at LCMS.org/serve.  To hear a missionary’s story check out this interview on the KFUO Coffee Hour program: kfuo.org/2023/03/09/coffee-hour-030923-opportunities-to-serve-international-mission-business-managers  

The last issue of the Journal of Lutheran Mission (JLM) was published in 2017. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) is delighted to relaunch the publication with a renewed emphasis on theological and academic fidelity.  The LCMS Office of International Mission (OIM) has a number of academic faculty members who serve in our partner churches’ seminaries around the globe. In addition to their regular duties, these theological educators will be editing JLM so the LCMS’ theological and practical mission in the 21st century might be made available for academic study and discussion.  You can sign up to receive this email journal at this LINK.

Mercy  

The Gorham Backpack Program is distributing weekend food bags and school-day snack bags to Gorham students facing food insecurity. The current need is to stock the Food Closet at Gorham High School.  We will be collecting food items on an ongoing basis.  Please bring your donation to church.  There will be a box in the narthex for the collection. 

They are requesting the following items: Pretzels, Cheez-Its, Trail mix, Granola bars, Capri sun or other juice boxes, Fruit snack, Goldfish, Mac and cheese (Velveeta cups), Ramen Individual size, cereal boxes, Individual size popcorn bags, Spaghettios, Deodorant, Chapstick.

If you need anything (rides, supplies, medicine pickups) or any assistance please feel free to contact Sandy or Tom DiPasqua at 207-536-1547 or tjdipasqua@aol.com.  

Life Together 

Redeemer Saints: Two extremely dedicated and long-serving members of the church council have asked that they begin their transition out of their council positions. George Flarhety, our Financial Secretary and Betsy Gorneau our Hospitality Committee Chair, are both facing some challenging issues and have asked for some help and to eventually step down from their positions on council.  George and Betsy have tirelessly served our congregation for decades and for that we all owe them a sincere debt of gratitude and sincere thank you!  Both George and Betsy have both offered to stay on and assist in training and the transition process for the individuals who volunteer to take up their positions.  If you are interested in helping with Hospitality or serving as Financial Secretary, please contact Darik Day @ 207-650-1204.

Looking for hosts for our coffee hours following service. Sign up on the Fellowship Board near Pastor’s office. This can be one family or several families.  

 Life Thought in the Church Year for June 29 – St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles: Humankind once mistook Jesus for somebody less than Lord God (Matthew 16:13-14). Even His own people once mistook Gentiles for something less than just as special (Acts 15:5). The Gospel and its Apostles delight to embrace neighbors not yet born and neighbors no longer able as blessings, brothers and sisters, beloved and belonging to one Heavenly Father. May we rejoice to proclaim and practice it!

A Stewardship June 29 – Trinity 2  Proverbs 9:9 – “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.” We need the Lord’s instruction and wisdom. We just don’t know enough on our own. It seems foolish to the world that Christians drop their hard-earned money into the collection plate every week. The world just doesn’t see a benefit to the preaching of the Word, the administration of the Sacraments, the sending of missionaries, or the educating of children in the faith. But from the Lord’s instruction and wisdom, we know better. Giving teaches us generosity. The work of the church is the salvation of mankind, and we are blessed to be called to participate in it in this way.

DEFENDING THE FAITH, TEACHING THE TRUTH… Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show and podcast produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken.  You can listen to conversations about: Israel in the Bible & the Nation of Israel Today, Contending for Christ Through the Apostles’ Creed, Sacred Art in the Church, The Consequences of Sexual Liberation and more.  You can listen on-demand at issuesetc.org, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomePod, TuneIn, the LPR mobile app and a podcast provider.

 Communications

Newsletter Deadline – If you wish to contribute to the AUGUST church newsletter, please email your submission to the church office by JULY 22. 

All announcements and prayer requests received in the church office by noon on Thursday will appear in print that week in Friday’s email. If there is an announcement that you would like Pastor to make following Sunday’s FB live stream, please email him that information.

Looking Forward To the Third Sunday After Trinity

Readings: Micah 7:18-20; 1 Peter 5:6-11; Luke 15:1-10 

 Hymns: 611, 608, 641, 618, 609, 614

The Third Sunday After Trinity

July 6, 2025

Readings: Micah 7:18-20; 1 Peter 5:6-11; Luke 15:1-10 

 Hymns: 611, 608, 641, 618, 609, 614

Calendar 

Witness

The Lutheran Women in Mission 2025 Growing in God’s Grace Conference was held this past week.  You may watch recorded sessions of the conference at https://www.lwml.org/live.  Of particular interest was Chelsea Irwin’s Mites in Action presentation.  Chelsea is the Volunteer coordinator for short-term missions in Europe.  She trained our Czech Republic mission team in 2023 and now also serves with Ben and Becca Helge, whom we support.  Chelsea’s presentation starts at the 2:55:00 time clock.  The Mites in Action segment highlights how the Mites that we give regularly are used to further sharing the gospel.

Where are you traveling this summer?  We often worship with other LCMS churches when we travel within the US, but how about when you travel overseas?  We have missionaries all over the world who would love to meet you and invite you to worship with them.  Additionally, many countries have Lutheran churches with whom we are in fellowship.  For more information visit https://www.lcms.org/worldwide-regions.

Mercy  

The Gorham Backpack Program is distributing weekend food bags and school-day snack bags to Gorham students facing food insecurity. The current need is to stock the Food Closet at Gorham High School.  We will be collecting food items on an ongoing basis.  Please bring your donation to church.  There will be a box in the narthex for the collection. 

They are requesting the following items: Pretzels, Cheez-Its, Trail mix, Granola bars, Capri sun or other juice boxes, Fruit snack, Goldfish, Mac and cheese (Velveeta cups), Ramen Individual size, cereal boxes, Individual size popcorn bags, Spaghettios, Deodorant, Chapstick.

If you need anything (rides, supplies, medicine pickups) or any assistance please feel free to contact Sandy or Tom DiPasqua at 207-536-1547 or tjdipasqua@aol.com.  

Life Together 

Redeemer Saints: Two extremely dedicated and long-serving members of the church council have asked that they begin their transition out of their council positions. George Flarhety, our Financial Secretary and Betsy Gorneau our Hospitality Committee Chair, are both facing some challenging issues and have asked for some help and to eventually step down from their positions on council.  George and Betsy have tirelessly served our congregation for decades and for that we all owe them a sincere debt of gratitude and sincere thank you!  Both George and Betsy have both offered to stay on and assist in training and the transition process for the individuals who volunteer to take up their positions.  If you are interested in helping with Hospitality or serving as Financial Secretary, please contact Darik Day @ 207-650-1204.

Looking for hosts for our coffee hours following service. Sign up on the Fellowship Board near Pastor’s office. This can be one family or several families.  

A Life Thought in the Church Year for July 6: Our Lord Jesus Christ has the courage to speak warning to His country’s culture and communities (Luke 10:13-15). He whose eyes keep watch on national happenings (Psalm 66:7) knows no other way to restore ones He loves. Only abandoning evil allows anyone to embrace the Gospel’s comfort (Isaiah 66:13, 15-16!) and joy (Luke 10:19-20). May our sanctity of life witness follow His lead!

A Stewardship July 6 – Trinity 3 Luke 15:10 – “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Why does Jesus eat with sinners? Certainly not so that they will remain stuck in their sins! Jesus meets sinners where they are so that they will come to know His love and repent. To repent means to turn — turn away from sin and toward Jesus in faith. Whether the sin we struggle with is pride, greed, doubt, etc., the Lord calls us to turn to Him again in faith and away from our sin.

YOU CAN TEACH LAYPEOPLE THEOLOGY... Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show and podcast produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken.  You can listen to recent in-depth interviews about: A Lutheran View of Natural Law, The Problem of Male Friendship, Christian Endurance, Did Martin Luther Remove Books from the Bible? and more.  You can listen at your convenience at issuesetc.org, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomePod, TuneIn, the LPR mobile app and a podcast provider.

 Communications

Newsletter Deadline – If you wish to contribute to the AUGUST church newsletter, please email your submission to the church office by JULY 22. 

All announcements and prayer requests received in the church office by noon on Thursday will appear in print that week in Friday’s email. If there is an announcement that you would like Pastor to make following Sunday’s FB live stream, please email him that information.

Looking Forward To the Fourth Sunday After Trinity

Readings: Genesis 50:15-21; Romans 8:18-23; Luke 6:36-42 

 Hymns: 544, 696, 627, 815, 732, 851