“And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”

(Acts 1: 24-26 ESV)

Dear Christian Friends,

The first reading you will hear this Sunday is about the replacement of Judas as apostle. He needed to be replaced because Jesus chose 12 initially. They were to be eyewitnesses of Jesus’ teaching and miracle ministry, but even more so, eyewitnesses to Jesus’ death and resurrection from the dead. Judas’ tragic suicide prevented him from being an eyewitness of this most glorious event.

But what draws my attention is the way that the new apostle # 12 was to be chosen – by prayer and a casting of lots.

Imagine calling a pastor that way! At a call meeting people pour over a list of candidates, pray and vote. It sounds pretty heady, but I have attended enough call meetings to know that it is a lot more random than we like to think.

But Prince of Peace has a pastor. You called me to that responsibility 3 years ago. However, what about other decisions in your life? We like to think that we are so smart – well educated, scientific, and rational. Yeah, right! How often does it come out that in spite of our best efforts and calculations that it still seems like it’s all a matter of chance.

Well, it is not chance. It is all in the Lord’s hands. And so, like the early church, we should talk it over, pray and then just give it our best shot. We do so trusting the Lord will guide and bless according to His good purposes and His unending love toward us. That is true no matter how it seems to be playing out at the moment.

May the Lord bless your life and our life in Christ together.

Coming Up this Sunday at Prince of Peace (June 1) …

9:00 Sunday School for children and adults

10:30 Holy Communion (Final Sunday of 10:30 service time)

Sermon: “Clowns Don’t Tame Lions” based on 1 Peter 4:12-17; 5:6-11

Noah – The Man, The Ark, The Flood: The final Adult Bible Class for this season will be video on the great flood of Genesis 6-9. A five centuries-old man building a huge boat on the startling news of coming floodwaters – sounds like the makings of one remarkable story. It is. Jump in and get your feet wet with “Noah: The Man, The Ark, The Flood”. Come Sunday morning, June 1. Coffee will be on. The video starts at 9:15. What a great topic in light of the recent Hollywood feature film.

Next Sunday (June 8) …

Summer Service Time begins. From June 8 through Labour Day weekend our worship time will be 10:00 a.m.

Pork Tenderloins (& Sliders), Outdoor Worship, a Tent, Stuff for Kids – It’s a special congregational BBQ at Prince of Peace on June 8.  Service time will be at 10:00am with the festivities following. Sign up in the lobby to attend and to bring salads/baked beans/dessert and/or to help with setting up. A reminder to bring your lawn chairs.

Coming Up …

Ascension mid-week Service tomorrow: On Thursday, May 29, at 7:00pm, we will observe and celebrate the wonder of Jesus’ ascension into heaven. It will be a communion service. Come and hear how our Lord Jesus, still true God and true man, reigns with the Father from heaven for our sakes. The theme will be “Forgiveness – Everywhere!”

“Celebrating Our Women” Tea: Please Come – we would like to encourage all of the women of our congregation (from under one year to over ninety years) to come to Prince of Peace on Saturday May 31 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm for a “Celebrating Our Women” Tea.  It will be a time to socialize, encourage and celebrate – with perhaps a surprise or two.  Let’s make it an intergenerational event! Which family will have the most generations present?

Spring Retreat . . .   (June 7)  Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 53 Miller Park Ave., Bradford is holding a one-day spring retreat with the theme of “Life in the Early Church: Lessons for today” between 9:30 am and 3:30 pm. The speaker is Dr. John Stephenson (CLTS Professor of Church History). Be transported back to the time period shortly after the New Testament was compiled, and hear about the practices, teachings and struggles that the early persecuted Christians underwent, many of which are strikingly similar to those of our church today. Taught by a renowned expert in the field, this is an event that you will not want to miss! A free-will offering (suggested $10/person) will be collected for lunch. Questions: ristau3@yahoo.com.

There will be a Special coffee hour following worship on Sunday, June 22 to celebrate with Phil and Josephine, God’s gift of Eva.   Envelopes are available in the lobby if you would like to contribute to the gift from our congregation (please return them to Helen or place them in the offering plate).

Online …

Call Service streaming live to Internet: The seminary’s annual Call Service takes place on Saturday, 31 May 2014, 4:00 pm, at Grace Lutheran Church, St. Catharines. The plan is to broadcast the service live by webcam. If you would like to watch, follow the link here. (A recording will be available after the event until 18 June.)

Magazine for Lutheran women goes digital. Tapestry, a magazine developed for the women of Lutheran Church–Canada by Lutheran Women’s Missionary League – Canada (LWMLC), is now available in a fourth format—digital—for those who prefer to do their reading online. Click here.

Our People Reading God’s Word …

Week 91 of the Bible Reading Plan: (June 2-7)

You can listen to the day’s reading by clicking the links on our Bible reading webpage. Go to poplc.ca. 

In your prayers, please remember:

• Joel & Alena married last Sunday in Michigan. Carol & I are very thankful for all of God’s blessings this past week.
• Thanksgiving for twin baby girls of Ian & Heidi born safely and with no complications, weighing 5 lb 12 oz. and 5 lb 11 oz.  They have not yet been named.
• Phil’s sister-in-law Sarah undergoing treatment for cancer, and Sarah & Joe’s baby boy Thomas who was born weighing less than 2 lbs.

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

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