Yesterday, many of us reflected on the tragic and horrific events that took place 19 years ago. Sometimes we find ourselves asking: where is God in all of this? I would like to encourage you with following exchange from the Gospel of John where Martha conveys to Jesus a similar concern and disappointment:

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” (John 11:21-27)

We don’t know all the things that will happen to us in this life. We don’t know the joyous moments awaiting or the horrific events that will befall us. We live in a broken world. But we do know what will happen in the end. One day God will restore his broken creation and make all things new. Martha knew this as well and that is her hope for her family, for Lazarus. What she didn’t realize was to what extent Jesus himself embodied that newness. He is the one who would bring about the restoration and the future that awaits us. Not knowing what the immediate future holds, we live our lives focused on that. This Sunday, we’re going to talk about the burial of Jesus himself. Even though there is so much to fear in this world, Jesus prepares us for something greater. So, we walk in faith.

Communion Visits

If you are not attending the in-person services but would like to schedule a communion visit, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone or email, and we’ll get something setup.

Registration for In-Person Services

This week’s service pre-registration (September 13th) can be found here.  Next week’s service pre-registration (September 20th) can be found here.

You must re-register every week.  Again, please see the worship guidelines linked above and note that masks covering the nose and mouth are required.

Update on Live Streaming

FELC Streaming Update – Week 3: Last Sunday our FELC Streaming team was able to further assess the state of our audio system. Over the next few weeks we plan to augment the existing sound system with a more reliable microphone to improve the quality of the audio used in our streaming system.

As we wait for the remaining equipment to arrive the team will be organizing and optimizing our new equipment and overall installation. We plan to perform an internal test using the equipment we currently have by the end of the month.

Confirmation Classes

Confirmation classes restart Oct 6th:  Confirmation classes will restart on Tues, Oct 6th at 6 p.m. in the FELC Fellowship Hall.  Masks and social distancing are required.  Those persons wanting to be enrolled as 1st year students are warmly invited and will be given their study material during this first class.  Also in the class will be 5 students who will be confirmed on Sun, Oct 25th.  We currently have 3 second year students and 1 first year student.  If you have any questions, please contact Mike Petersen at 443-223-5884 or 410-674-4936 or via email at maprlp@verizon.net

God continues to guide us… 

This week I’ve been thinking about the very beginning of St Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians. He writes:

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” (1 Thessalonians 1:2-5a)

Paul and his companions first visited the Thessalonians on his Second Missionary Journey, and their visit was not without conflict. In fact, he and Silas had to be snuck out of the city by night and escape to safety (Acts 17:1-10). Still, as Paul writes this letter to the Christian community there, to those who suffered alongside him, he is sure to tell them that he remembers them in his prayers, that they are on his heart. As we continue to be separated in many ways, I encourage you to continually pray for one another. Even as we all miss being in-person and in community with each-other, we are still connected through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the same Holy Spirit who, by the grace of God, lives and resides in each of us. Our current situation, as long as it has gone on, is not eternal. It too will come to an end, hopefully sooner rather than later. I pray for you constantly that you are well and that our Lord would continue to lead you, guide you, and grant you the peace that only he can give. Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Alec

Upcoming Events

September, 2020

No events scheduled at this time.

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