A N N O U N C E M E N T S
5 FEBUARY 2012 — EPIPHANY V
ABOUT THE SERVICE TODAY
The first lesson for this day is Job 7:1-7. You know the story of Job how he was
tested in his faith by the Lord. Job lost everything…and gained everything. Hear
what that means today. In these verses of the book you will hear Job speaking about
the brevity of life and about its trials and sorrows. Remember that this same Job
is the one who said he would see his Redeemer with his own eyes and behold him. The
sermon and theme come from these words.
The Second Lesson is from 1 Corinthians 9:16-23. Paul is speaking about his compulsion
to be in the ministry. It really wasn’t his choice, he says. Think of the bright
light he saw and the temporary blindness God let him experience as he was going to
Damascus to persecute Christians. Then once Paul had started on his ministry of
telling Gentiles about Jesus he did it using all means at his disposal. He “thought
outside the box” in his approach. These were God’s directives to him. He studied
each potential convert and worked in the very best way he could with each to tell
them of Jesus. His mantra for ministry was “All things to all people to win some.”
The Bible study will come from these words.
The Gospel for the day is from Mark 1:29-39. These words tell of Jesus’ ministry.
They speak of his healing Peter’s mother-in-law. They speak how Jesus went from
village to village and town to town. They speak of Jesus’ prayer life. On this
one day anyway he rose very early and prayed before his day began. The words are
especially encouraging for those who minister for Jesus…both the pastors and the
parishioners. Jesus is the best example for both.
GEORGETOWN LIVING — There will be a devotion/service at Georgetown Living today.
The service today begins at 11:45.
FEBRUARY 18, 2012 - SISTERS MEETING will be at 10am at the church. Please plan to
go out to lunch following the meeting.
MARCH 3, 2012 - LWMS HEART OF TEXAS SPRING RALLY will be held at Holy Word Lutheran
Church in Austin. Watch for sign up sheet and more information.
JUNE 21-24, 2012 - LUTHERAN WOMEN'S MISSIONARY
SOCIETY (LWMS) 2012 -49TH ANNUAL CONVENTION to be held in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Check bulletin board for convention workshops scheduled.
MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY
There will be Bible study on this Wednesday evening at 7:00. The study will look
at Isaiah 58:6-14. These words speak about living the Christian life. Isaiah here
calls it “fasting.” This is the kind of intentional living that God says is right
for us. And then the Gospel comes in hearing the wonderful blessings God gives to
those who follow these commandments. Like it says in the Beatitudes, “But whoever
practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
There will be Bible study Thursday morning at 10:00. We are beginning a study of
the book of Revelation. This Thursday we will be continuing in chapters 2 and 3
with God’s words to the seven churches of the book.
NEXT SUNDAY
The First Lesson will be 2 Kings 5:1-14. This is the wonderful account of how
God heals a leprous enemy---Naaman from Syria---and makes him well. It is how God
deals with enemies. It is a story of how God is merciful and good. It is the story
of faith and action.
The Second Lesson is 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. This tells us how to run our race and
fight our fight. Life for the Christian is a race and it is a struggle. Effort
is involved. Energy is expended. God is good. This section of Scripture is the
text for the day’s Bible study.
The Gospel is Mark 1:40-45. This is the New Testament equivalent of the First Lesson.
Here Jesus is healing a leper. He does an absolutely amazing thing: he touches
the leper. He didn’t have to do this, but he did. It reminds us of Isaiah 53 where
we hear that Jesus was touched by our infirmities. He contracted our leprosy! He
did it willingly and knowingly. The sermon will come from this Gospel reading.
