“The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings;
they are given by one Shepherd.”
(Ecclesiastes 12:11 ESV)
Dear Christian Friends,
If you are involved in the 2-year Bible reading programme you will be reading the words above this week. Even if you are not, the words are sage advice for everyone. There are two metaphors – the “goad” and the “nail.”
“The words of the wise are like goads.” Advice from God may be like cattle prods, as we are sluggish and resistant to go the way God desires for us. Much later, after Jesus’ ascension and His disciples were spreading the Good News and Saul/Paul was persecuting the early Church, Jesus met him on the road to Damascus and said “ ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ And (Saul) said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.’” (Acts 26:14–15 ESV) From that day, Paul quit fighting the Gospel of Jesus Christ and started to believe and share it. God’s Word is powerful to move us.
“Like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings.” God’s words fasten the loose parts of our lives together and make them solid. God is the ‘Shepherd’ of His people. These words of wisdom have come from Him. As the fall season of church activity centred on God’s Word begins anew, let’s listen to Him!
Coming Up this Sunday (September 8) at Prince of Peace…
10:30 Matins with alternative accompaniment
Sermon: “Dare to be a Disciple” based on Luke 14:25-35
The New Season begins this Sunday with:
- 9:00 Sunday School. This year we will be test driving a new and exciting
interactive curriculum for the children. - 9:00 Adult Bible Class will be held on the lower level with coffee served.
- 10:30 Matins with alternative accompaniment
(We will be installing our Sunday School staff that day.)
(Coffee Hour is postponed till September 15 with Back To Church Sunday)
Next Sunday …
Back-To-Church Sunday! Who will you invite to church on September 15? It will be an effort involving you! Think for a minute of someone – a relative who is not involved in a Christian congregation, a PoP member and old friend you haven’t seen in church for a while, a neighbor you’ve met, a co-worker going through a difficult time – you get what I mean. If you have been praying about it – Good! Now it’s time to invite.
Send an online email invitation to your friends by clicking here. (Be sure to delete the sample ‘personal message’ and fill in with your own message.) Maybe edit to your liking the following:
You are invited to my church on (Sunday September 15th at 10:30am). I think you will enjoy this special service with a casual refreshment time following. Call me!
Try sending an email to yourself for you to see? There is also an interesting little eBook available for free to your invitee entitled reDiscover Church (which you can read yourself here).
On the lighter side, here’s another video urging one and all to invite folks to church on September 15. Click here .
Coming This September…
During the Sunday School hour:
- “Echo the Story” is a Sunday morning class for confirmands & youth beginning next Sunday at 9:00 a.m. What is Echo the Story? It is an imaginative way to engage in the Bible using storytelling, creative reflection, and dialogue. This approach helps participants discover meaning in the biblical account.
- “Knowing Right from Wrong.” What is happening to society? How shall we live? Plan to attend the Adult Bible Class where we will take a new look at the 10 Commandments. Coffee will be on.
Bible Reading: On September 9, 2012 we began the Two-Year Bible Journey with over 20 people! The reading plan guides you through the Bible in two years. Even if you join now, or restart after dropping off last year, you will benefit going the remaining Old Testament and all the New Testament in the coming year. Doing this to any extent is a plus. So go for it! May God bless your study of His Word.
Tuesday Bible Study: If you’re just joining our journey through the Bible, you might be concerned about reading alone and getting totally lost in all the detail. One option is to join the Tuesday Morning Bible Study (held in the PoP lounge) where we will review the previous week’s readings. If you’ve never attended the Tuesday group you will love it. We begin at 9:30 am and finish by 10:45 a.m. starting September 3.
Busy Bees begins its new season of Christian service in a pleasant atmosphere. If you like to cut and sew or help out in other ways, consider joining this fun-loving group on the 2nd Tuesday of the month beginning September 10 at 9:30 a.m. See June McCleary for more information.
Choir begins another of singing to the Lord and leading the congregation in worship starting with practice on Thursday, September 5, at 7:45 p.m. If there is anyone who would like to join the choir please speak to Diane Bates. As always, new voices are welcome.
Confirmation – classes are on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm for students in Grades 6, 7, 8. If you haven’t already done so, please speak with Pastor if you know of someone who would like to join this year’s Confirmation class.
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? – Saturday September 28th at 6:00 pm. Yes, it’s back! You can join as a host or you can join as an attendee. Families, singles and couples are all encouraged to participate. You won’t know who you are sharing a meal with until Sat September 28! Fill in the form and drop it in the little house box.
Other News …
National Day of Prayer & Fasting (Friday, September 6): Lutherans for Life-Canada president, Cliffe Pyle, is providing notice of a national day of prayer and fasting as Quebec attempts to legalize assisted suicide. The day is organized by Life Canada for whom Lutherans for Life-Canada is a supporting member. We encourage everyone to participate. Join Lutherans for Life-Canada in this day of fasting and prayer as Quebec contemplates legalizing euthanasia under the term “medial aid in dying.” For more information on the Quebec Bill 52, a bill to legalize euthanasia, go to http://www.lifecanada.org/ .
Standing Firm and Reaching Out: This summer, Canadian Lutherans of all ages gathered in Winnipeg for two special events: the National Youth Gathering and a National Outreach Conference. At the same time, LCC held a special 25th anniversary Worship Service. Find out what all the fuss was about here.
Week 53 of the Bible Reading Plan: (September 9-14)
| Monday | Song of Songs 4:1-6:13 |
| Tuesday | Song of Songs 7:1-8:14 |
| Wednesday | Isaiah 1:1-2:22 |
| Thursday | Isaiah 3:1-4:6 |
| Friday | Isaiah 5:1-30 |
| Saturday | Isaiah 6:1-13 |
You can listen to the day’s reading by clicking the links on our Bible reading webpage. Go to poplc.ca.
“I will not forget Your word.” (Psalm 119:16 ESV)
The Lord be with you.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Pastor Kevin Walrath
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
1299 Brant St.
Burlington, ON
905-332-7671
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int’l LLL (LHM).
“No Church Today“
September 5, 2013
(Jesus said) “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew5:43-44
During my parish years I made many mistakes.
The worst was when I cancelled Christmas.
Actually, I didn’t cancel Christmas. Feeling it unsafe for people to be out, my elders and I cancelled the children’s Christmas service. The first time we cancelled the service was because of a snowstorm. Then we had to cancel the rescheduled date because of another snowstorm. Then we cancelled the second rescheduled date because of … you guessed it … a snowstorm. Finally, with Lent around the corner we just decided to skip the service, and we moved on.
No matter how well intentioned, it was a mistake. It was a mistake that pleased nobody. Parents didn’t get to see their children perform; the children didn’t get to say their well-memorized pieces, and the teachers thought all the rehearsal time had been for naught.
The Christians of Minya, Egypt, made no such mistake. Unbroken, they have been celebrating Mass for 1,600 years. Consider what that means.
* It means these people had been saying Mass for centuries when our ancestors were worshipping oak trees in Germany. They kept saying Mass when Rome fell and Islam came to power.
* They said Mass when empires rose and when those same empires fell. They said Mass when Napoleon came to town, and they said it when England’s General Gordon was serving as their protector.
* In times of flood and drought, in times of want and plenty, in times of wealth and poverty, they said Mass.
But last Sunday, for the first time in 1,600 years, the church leaders told our brothers and sisters in Minya, “Do not come to church. It is too dangerous. For your own safety and that of your family, please don’t come to church.”
It occurs to me that the decision was not made lightly. Indeed, for a church with that kind of unbroken tradition the political situation must be pretty bad. No, make that very bad.
In truth, things are terrible in Egypt for the Savior’s followers. Dozens of churches have been destroyed; Christians have been raped, beaten and murdered.
This is why I ask that you, the tens of thousands of Daily Devotion readers, pray for these people. Ask that the Lord will bring peace to this ancient land and that the Savior’s redeemed be able to worship Him as they wish and He wants.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, this Sunday, if You will, I shall go to church. As I walk or drive, may I consider how blessed I am to do so in safety. Please support those who are persecuted. Be with them in worship and when they must worship at home. Most of all I pray for those who are doing the persecuting. May they be brought to see the error of their ways and the peace that comes from faith in the Savior. In His Name I pray. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
