Saint Luke’s Lutheran Church
Colorado Springs, Colorado

July 21, 2010

Dear friends in Christ,

"…even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

St. Matthew 20:28

This weekend we will observe the day of St. James the Elder, Apostle. He is referred to as "the elder", or "the greater", because he was older than his brother, John. Both were sons of Zebedee, were fishermen, and were chosen by Jesus to be part of the Twelve Apostles. We remember such saints to inspire us and to encourage us to greater faithfulness and discipleship. At the same time, however, even when we observe a saint's day, the focus is still on Jesus Christ, the Son of man who came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many, through His death on the cross. This weekend, while we will hear some about James the Elder, we will still proclaim Jesus Christ, and Him crucified and risen!

Also at both services this Sunday, we will dedicate our new baptismal font, donated by an anonymous benefactor! Come join in worship as we as God to bless our new font, and all those who will be baptized there in the future!

As we are always trying to evaluate and strengthen our Sunday School program, we will be sending out a simple survey to all parents regarding our current Sunday School, and how we might shape or improve our program. PARENTS, PLEASE TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY AND RETURN IT TO THE CHURCH IN THE ENCLOSED SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE!

Summer is a wonderful time to get into the habit of Wednesday morning Holy Communion! The sun is up and bright, it's fresh and cheery as we begin our day, and it's great to start the day in the middle of your week with a brief, spoken Holy Communion service each week at 7:15 a.m.

Saint Luke's Lively Seniors will have a tour and luncheon provided by the Gracious Retirement Living Center, 4825 Old Farm Drive . Meet at the church at 11:30 p.m., and we'll carpool for this free lunch! Sign-up in the Atrium. Call Elaine with questions, 531-0439.

Handbell/Music Reading Workshop will be Tuesday, July 27th, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the church, offered by Annette Roinestad, handbell choir director. This is a music reading workshop covering musical notation and rhythm skills. Anyone who would like to learn or review how to read music is welcome. Sign-up in the Atrium. Contact Annette with questions, 708-476-4522.

Giving Tree donations for July and August will benefit the New Hope Center emergency shelter program of the Salvation Army. Immediate needs are: floor sleeping mats, bar soap, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, chapstick, underwear (all sizes male and female), undershirts (all sizes), toothbrushes (adult size), toothpaste and laundry soap.

Go to our Parish Website! Our website is at www.saintlukes-cs.org .

Please note: Worship attendance last Sunday was 167. Our goal each week--at least 200 in worship! I hope to see you this Sunday!

In Christ,

Pastor Dave

The Lessons for St. James, Elder, Apostle

FIRST LESSON: Jeremiah 45:1-5 The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a book at the dictation of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: [2] "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: [3] You said, 'Woe is me! for the Lord has added sorrow to my pain; I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.' [4] Thus shall you say to him, 'Thus says the Lord: Behold, what I have built I am breaking down, and what I have planted I am plucking up--that is, the whole land. [5] And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not; for, behold, I am bringing evil upon all flesh, says the Lord; but I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go."

PSALM 138
I give thee thanks, O Lord, with / my whole heart;*
before the gods I / sing thy praise;
I bow down toward thy holy temple and give thanks to thy
name for thy steadfast love and thy / faithfulness;*
for thou hast exalted thy name / and thy word.
On the day I called, thou didst / answer me,*
my strength of soul thou / didst increase.
All the kings of the earth shall praise / thee, O Lord,*
for they have heard the words / of thy mouth;
they shall sing of the ways / of the Lord,*
for great is the glory / of the Lord.
For though the Lord is high, he re- / gards the lowly;*
but the haughty he knows / from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou dost pre- / serve my life;*
thou dost stretch out thy hand against the wrath of my
enemies, and thy right hand de- / livers me.
The Lord will fulfill his pur- / pose for me;*
thy steadfast love, O Lord, endures for ever,
do not forsake the work / of thy hands.
Glory to the Father, and / to the Son,* and to the / Holy Spirit;
as it was in the begin- / ning, is now,* and will be
forev- / er. Amen.

SECOND LESSON: Acts 11:27-12:3 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch . [28] And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world; and this took place in the days of Claudius. [29] And the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brethren who lived in Judea ; [30] and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. [1] About that time Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. [2] He killed James the brother of John with the sword; [3] and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.

HOLY GOSPEL: St. Matthew 20:20-28 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him, with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. [21] And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." [22] But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him. "We are able." [23] He said to them, "You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." [24] And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. [25] But Jesus called them to him and said. "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. [26] It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, [27] and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; [28] even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."