Worship Notes for Pentecost 10 (August 2)

Thursday after Pentecost 9

Commemoration of Robert Barnes, Confessor and Martyr

July 30 2015

The Lord be with you.

Before I get to the worship notes, I wish to say a little something about Robert Barnes. He was born sometime around 1495. He was an Englishman and Roman Catholic priest who embraced the Reformation. Many consider his sermon delivered at Christmas Mass in 1525 as the first Evangelical sermon delivered in England. Fleeing to the Continent in 1528, he met Luther, Melanchthon, Bugenhagen, and others. He wrote an epitome of the main doctrines of the Augsburg Confession, which eventually led to him being burned at the stake in England in 1540. His final confession of faith was published in Wittenberg with a preface written by Martin Luther. Such heroes of the faith can be found in every age. They inspire us to remain faithful, even unto death, that we too may inherit the crown of life (Revelation 2:10). 

This coming Sunday is Pentecost 10. We will use the Service of Prayer and Preaching for our liturgy (page 260). This is a non-communion service. We will use the appointed Psalm for the Day (instead of the Introit). The appointed lessons are Exodus 16:2-15, Ephesians 4:1-16 and John 6:22-35. The Psalm is Psalm 145:10-21 (antiphon v. 15). Karen will be out-of-town, so we will speak the Psalm instead of chanting it.

The text for the sermon is Psalm 145:13 and is titled “For Thine is the Kingdom.” The sermon will be expository in style and will cover all of Psalm 145. An insert will be in the bulletin with the Psalm printed on it to make taking notes easier. Expository sermons tend to go verse by verse, or section by section, with comments from the preacher. In this case, the Psalm can be seen as a commentary on the closing of the Lord’s Prayer, hence the title of the sermon.

As the sermon covers twenty-one verses, my first draft was way too long for a Sunday morning message. Much has hit the “cutting room floor.” What I’m planning on doing is posting the text of the “long” version of the sermon with the video of the “short” version I preach, on the sermon page of the blog. That way people can see what got cut.

We sing only three hymns in Prayer and Preaching. This Sunday’s opening hymn will be “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” (LSB 790). The sermon Hymn will be “All You Works of God, Bless the Lord” (LSB 930). The closing Hymn will be “Oh, That I Had a Thousand Voices” (LSB 811).

Below is a video of our sermon hymn, “All You Works of God, Bless the Lord,” sung by the choir and congregation of First Baptist in Ashville, NC. I wonder what they would think if they knew it was written by an LC-MS pastor. It is good to see that Stephen Starke’s work is jumping denominations. That means it just might jump generations as well.  

What follows is a synopsis of Sunday’s lessons, provided by the synod, then the lessons and finally some additional notes. As always, the summary does not include the Psalm. However, if you meditate on the readings, I expect you will see the connection with the Psalm as well.

There are a few notes, following the readings, of interest.

Jesus Is the True and Living Bread from Heaven

Having rescued Israel “out of the land of Egypt” (Ex. 16:6), the Lord manifested His glory and made Himself known to His people. He fed them with “meat to eat” in the evening and with “bread from heaven” in the morning (Ex. 16:4, 8, 12). But now, the “true bread from heaven,” which the Father gives to you, is the Son, “who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:32–33). Whoever comes to Him “shall not hunger,” and whoever believes in Him “shall never thirst.” He is “the bread of life,” who gives Himself to you as “the food that endures to eternal life” (John 6:27, 35). By the gracious working of God, you believe in Him by the calling of one Spirit through the Gospel, so that you also have “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (Eph. 4:4–6). As you eat His one body in the Holy Supper, so you belong to the one body of His Church, in which you “are to grow up in every way into him who is the head” (Eph. 4:15).

Psalm 145:10-21 (antiphon v. 15)

^145:10     All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,

                        and all your saints shall bless you!

¹¹          They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom

                        and tell of your power,

¹²          to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,

                        and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

¹³          Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

                        and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

            The Lord is faithful in all his words

                        and kind in all his works.

¹⁴          The Lord upholds all who are falling

                        and raises up all who are bowed down.

¹⁵          The eyes of all look to you,

                        and you give them their food in due season.

¹⁶          You open your hand;

                        you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

¹⁷          The Lord is righteous in all his ways

                        and kind in all his works.

¹⁸          The Lord is near to all who call on him,

                        to all who call on him in truth.

¹⁹          He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;

                        he also hears their cry and saves them.

²⁰          The Lord preserves all who love him,

                        but all the wicked he will destroy.

²¹          My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,

                        and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

Exodus 16:2-15

^16:2        And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, ³and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

⁴           Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. ⁵On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” ⁶So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, “At evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, ⁷and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against the Lord. For what are we, that you grumble against us?” ⁸And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord.”

⁹           Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, ‘Come near before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’” ¹⁰And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. ¹¹And the Lord said to Moses, ¹²“I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’”

¹³          In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. ¹⁴And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. ¹⁵When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.

           

Ephesians 4:1-16

^4:1         I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ²with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—⁵one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. ⁷But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. ⁸Therefore it says,

            “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,

                        and he gave gifts to men.”

⁹(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? ¹⁰He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) ¹¹And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, ¹²to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, ¹³until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, ¹⁴so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. ¹⁵Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ¹⁶from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

John 6:22-35

^6:22        On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. ²³Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. ²⁴So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

²⁵          When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” ²⁶Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. ²⁷Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” ²⁸Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” ²⁹Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” ³⁰So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? ³¹Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” ³²Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” ³⁴They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

³⁵          Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

Some Additional Notes

• The August Newsletter has been posted on the blog.

• The Voters’ Meeting that was scheduled for July 19 has been rescheduled for Sunday, August 16.

• There are only two Sunday’s left to bring in school supplies to donate to Jesse Boyd Elementary school. We will be dropping off the supplies August 10.  

·         Keep Praying for your Neighbors and Walking your Neighborhoods.

• At the District Convention this past May the delegates voted to have a special “Sunday for the City” August 9. This was shortly after the shooting death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. Since then we had the murders in Charlotte at Emmanuel AME congregation. The planning for “Sunday for the City” has expanded to include, not only Charlotte, but all our cities. The SED is preparing special material for this local commemoration, and we will participate at Lamb of God.   

• Our Sunday morning Bible hour begins at 9:00 am. We will begin an new study from the Lutheran Spirituality Series title Word: God Speaks to Us. One of the questions in the first study is: “What does the Transfiguration tell us about the origin and use of the Scriptures?” If nothing comes quickly to mind, then join us Sunday morning and let the learning begin.

• Don’t forget to check out the other posts on our blog that have been made this past week. Many of these posts are from district, synod or one of the groups affiliated with us (like a seminary). For example, you can find a response from the LC-MS to the BSA decision to allow actively homosexual leaders for their Boy Scout troops.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor Rickert

Quill Receives Advancement on CTSFW Faculty

	Quill Receives Advancement on CTSFW Faculty
	For Immediate Release July 29, 2015 FORT WAYNE, IND. (CTSFW)—The Board of Regents of Concordia Theological Seminary (CTSFW), Fort Wayne, Indiana, has advanced the Rev. Dr. Timothy C.J. Quill in rank from associate professor to professor. He serves as professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions and director of International Studies at CTSFW.  Since 2011, Quill has also served as director of Theological Education for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s (LCMS) Office of International Mission. "No one on our faculty has logged the miles that Dr. Quill has in building international relationships, teaching and encouraging a confessional Lutheran witness to Christ and His saving work around the globe,” commented the Rev. Dr. Charles A. Gieschen, CTSFW academic dean.  “His advancement in rank recognizes his many contributions, especially what he has done for this seminary and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to promote the formation of confessional Lutheran pastors across the various continents.” In addition to teaching pastoral theology, homiletics and liturgics, Quill carries out his duties as director of International Studies at CTSFW by overseeing the recruitment and care of international students. During the 2014–15 academic year, 33 students came to campus from Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Myanmar, Nigeria, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Tanzania and Venezuela.  Since March of this year his teaching and administrative duties have taken him to the Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Germany, Kenya, Taiwan and South Korea. The CTSFW community rejoices that Quill has been able to continue to serve in this manner just one year after suffering a severe brain aneurysm while in Australia. By God’s grace, his hotel was located a mere 10 minutes from a hospital with some of the best neurological specialists in the country. Miraculously, he not only survived, but experienced a full recovery. “For almost two decades I have enjoyed life in the classroom with seminarians who are eager to study Holy Scripture and Lutheran doctrine. It is a pleasure to watch them develop compassionate pastoral aptitudes and attitudes which are absolutely necessary in the parish,” said Quill. “It is humbling to be allowed to spend one’s life doing the work of the Holy Ministry. I’ve always loved being a pastor and teacher in our Lord’s Church. The experience in Australia this past year has had a way of making one even more thankful for all of our Lord’s gifts including family, friends, church and vocation. Every time one enters the classroom or pulpit or a new mission task, it could be for the last time. I love my work. Thanks be to God!”     Share ### Concordia Theological Seminary (CTSFW), Fort Wayne, Indiana, exists to form servants in Jesus Christ who teach the faithful, reach the lost and care for all.  Founded in 1846, CTSFW is a seminary of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). Learn more about CTSFW at www.ctsfw.edu and the LCMS at www.lcms.org. For additional information concerning educational opportunities and events at CTSFW, please contact Jayne Sheafer, director of Seminary Relations, 260-452-2250 or SeminaryRelations@ctsfw.edu. If you no longer wish to receive these updates, you may opt-out.
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	Concordia Theological Seminary 6600 North Clinton Street Fort Wayne, IN 46825 260.452.2100

LCMS responds to Boy Scout decision

LCMS leadership: ‘It is a sad day’ On May 23, 2013, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) announced a policy change admitting homosexual youth to Scout programs effective Jan. 1, 2014. At the same time, the BSA reaffirmed its longstanding policy of not allowing openly homosexual adults to serve as scoutmasters or leaders in any capacity. That changed on Monday. The decision of the BSA officially to change its adult leadership standard policy has many again asking The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) to respond and offer guidance to congregations who charter troops in their congregation. Last month, on June 2, 2015, via conference call, Chief Scout Executive Mr. Wayne Brock spoke with LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison and the Rev. Bart Day, executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission. Mr. Brock explained what was coming, indicating that a proposed change in the BSA adult leadership standard policy would be considered by the BSA in mid-July. While few details were shared, it was clear that the BSA felt that their existing national policy prohibiting gay adults from serving as leaders was no longer legally defensible. At the same time, the BSA’s commitment to “duty to God,” as noted in the Scout oath, and the right of religious chartered organizations to select their leaders was unwavering. The BSA believes those two principles can coexist with a new policy that will pass legal scrutiny but also protect religious freedoms. On July 13, 2015, additional information was shared. That email communication noted that the Executive Committee met July 10, 2015, and unanimously adopted changes to its adult leadership standard policy. The National Executive Board was asked at a meeting July 27 to ratify this resolution, and that took place on Monday. Such a decision certainly and rightly raises concern for many LCMS congregations that have enjoyed longstanding relationships with the BSA. The LCMS has appreciated the open and forthright conversations with the BSA over the last two years, but while the legal pressures are certainly understandable, Lutherans as a whole cannot help but feel frustration and disappointment over the decision. It is a sad day when any organization, seeking self-preservation, must bend the knee to the civil authorities in a way that marginalizes and potentially excludes many who have participated in and been supportive of that organization for so many years. While the BSA believes yesterday’s decision is the best way forward and that these two principles can coexist, the LCMS is not willing to accept that conclusion. As such, while President Harrison and Rev. Day received information from the BSA over the last two months, including a draft document that outlines religious organizations’ protection, the LCMS simultaneously sought the input of the Synod’s legal counsel and others involved with the BSA. To that end, a meeting is planned for early August to review the Memorandum of Understanding between the BSA and the LCMS and determine the best course of action for the LCMS, based on Monday’s decision. Harrison and Day have assured the BSA that before a final determination is made, an additional conversation with BSA leadership will occur. Today the LCMS simply asks for prayers, patience and time as Synod leaders continue to look into the full meaning of the decision and its implications for LCMS congregations and their involvement with the BSA. And as those conversations occur, may the Lord have mercy on the Church — and especially her young people — as she seeks to remain faithful to Christ, even as she continues to share the Gospel in a world increasingly unwilling to hear it. For more resources on the topic, visit lcms.org/freetobefaithful (Youth Organizations). The Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison President, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod The Rev. Bart Day Executive Director, LCMS Office of National Mission Resources •  “Boy Scouts of America Amends Adult Leadership Policy” by Boy Scouts of America •  Memorandum of Understanding between the LCMS and Boy Scouts of America

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KFUO Weekly Update

Get a brief KFUO message in your congregational/school bulletin HERE! For churches outside the St. Louis area for the week of August 9:                         HIS TIME --- on your Lutheran Radio Station Worldwide KFUO.org.  Start your day by sanctifying it with the Word of God and prayer. Based on God’s time in the Church Year, we feast on God’s Word in daily Scripture readings and interview guests on various topics vital to your daily life.  Weekdays from 7:15-9:30am Central Time. Find it at kfuo.org and Facebook.com/KFUOradio.

Women's Bible Fellowship Schedule

Women's Bible Fellowship Schedule

Currently the ladies are considering various hymns, the theology and stories behind them. They meet on Wednesdays at church, beginning at 6:30 PM. The upcoming schedule is:

August 12- “When I Behold Jesus Christ” LSB 542

August 26 - “I Know that My Redeemer Lives” LSB 461

September 9 - “All You Works of God, Bless the Lord!” LSB 931

September 23 - “The Lamb” LSB 547

October 7 - “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” LSB 770

October 21 -   “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” LSB 359

November 4 - “Silent Night, Holy Night” LSB 363

Hymns they have already considered are:“By Grace I'm Saved,” (LSB 566), “When Peace Like A River” (LSB 763), “Lift High the Cross” (LSB 834) and “Chief of Sinners Though I Be” (LSB 611). The study is open to all ladies.

Lit Wits' Reading Schedule 2015-2016

Lit Wits' Schedule 2015-2016

October 18, 2015

An Advent for Religious Liberty: A Stephen Grant Novel. Ray Keating . 164 pages. 2012.

Advent and Christmas approach. It’s supposed to be a special season for Christians. But it’s different this time in New York City. In An Advent for Religious Liberty, religious liberty is under assault. The Catholic Church has been called a “hate group.” And it’s the newly elected mayor of New York City who has set off this religious and political firestorm. Some people react with prayer – others with violence and murder. Stephen Grant, former CIA operative turned pastor, faces deadly challenges during what becomes known as “An Advent for Religious Liberty.” Grant works with the Cardinal who leads the Archdiocese of New York, the FBI, current friends, and former CIA colleagues to fight for religious liberty, and against dangers both spiritual and physical. An Advent for Religious Liberty is a thriller torn from today’s headlines. It’s a different, fast-paced, action-packed story of politics and violence trying to undermine faith during the Advent and Christmas season. No copies in the library.

December 20, 2015

The Autobiography of Santa Claus. Jeff Guinn. 280 pages. 1994.

This enchanting Christmas Chronicles classic combines solid historical fact with glorious legend to deliver the definitive story of Santa Claus. For anyone who has ever wondered . . . you're right to believe in him! In The Autobiography of Santa Claus, Santa reveals his story for the first time. Nicholas (his real name) was born in the Middle Eastern country of Lycia to wealthy parents who died while he was young. The kind people of Lycia taught him the lessons of goodness and generosity had bestowed upon him special abilities to distribute his presents to deserving children everywhere. And so it was that Santa broadened his gift-giving and spread his message to many others who also valued his belief in the goodness of giving. Families will delight in each chapter of this Christmas classic--one per each cold December night leading up to Christmas! And who better to lead us through seventeen centuries of Christmas magic than good 'ol Saint Nick himself? 2 copies in Library.

February 21, 2016

Killing Jesus. Bill O'Reilly, Martin Dugard. 304 pages. 2103.

"From the outset, the authors make it clear that though they are Roman Catholics, they are not writing a religious book. Rather, they are writing a historical account of a historical figure ‘and are interested primarily in telling the truth about important people, not converting anyone to a spiritual cause.’ They necessarily rely on the four gospels for their source material and often tell their story by directly quoting the Bible. They begin, though, by setting Jesus firmly in his historical context. As the authors begin to tell about the life of Jesus, they follow the biblical accounts quite closely. The reader is left with no doubt that Jesus' whole life was leading to a cross and that Jesus knew he would end up there. The reader sees that the claims Jesus made about himself put him at odds with both the Jews and the Romans. However, Jesus' life is not mere history. He also claimed to be God's Son and his followers claimed that in his life and death he had done something unique and, literally, world-changing. The same Bible that describes Jesus' life, also interprets and explains it. And this is the story the authors do not tell. Any author who writes a narrative account of Jesus' life will find it difficult to do justice to both his humanity and his divinity. These authors err far to the side of his humanity. A brief aside before I wrap up: If you have read Killing Kennedy you may remember that the authors seem have a strange obsession with kinky sexuality. Both Kennedy and the Roman rulers give them a lot to work with in that regard, and in this account they are sure to point to the ugly sexual deviancies that marked the Roman rulers of that day. While they do not go into lurid detail and do not mean to excite lust, neither do they exercise a lot of discretion, making this a book you would probably not want to hand to a child. As O'Reilly and Dugard begin this book they claim the story of Jesus' life and death ‘has never fully been told. Until now.’ That's very dramatic but also ridiculous. This story has been told repeatedly over the past two millennia and it will be told again and again in the future. Killing Jesus is another account that will be here for a while and then disappear and be forgotten. In the meantime, it will take Jesus out of the realm of fantasy and place him squarely in history, but even as it does that, it will neglect to tell why his life, his crucifixion, his resurrection are of eternal significance, a matter of his life and death and our own." Review by Tim Challies. 10 plus audio in library

April 17, 2016

The 100-year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared. Jonas Jonasson. 396 pages. 2012.

“The international publishing sensation--over six million copies sold worldwide! A reluctant centenarian much like Forrest Gump (if Gump were an explosives expert with a fondness for vodka) decides it's not too late to start over . . . After a long and eventful life, Allan Karlsson ends up in a nursing home, believing it to be his last stop. The only problem is that he's still in good health, and in one day, he turns 100. A big celebration is in the works. Desperate to avoid his 100th birthday party, Allan Karlsson climbs out the window of his room at the nursing home and heads to the nearest bus station, intending to travel as far as his pocket money will take him. But a spur-of-the-moment decision to steal a suitcase from a fellow passenger sends Allan on a strange and unforeseen journey. In his slippers, Allan embarks on a hilarious and entirely unexpected journey, involving, among other surprises, a suitcase stuffed with cash, some unpleasant criminals, a friendly hot-dog stand operator, and an elephant (not to mention a death by elephant). It would be the adventure of a lifetime for anyone else, but Allan has a larger-than-life backstory: Not only has he witnessed some of the most important events of the twentieth century, but he has actually played a key role in them. Starting out in munitions as a boy, he somehow finds himself involved in many of the key explosions of the twentieth century and travels the world, sharing meals and more with everyone from Stalin, Churchill, and Truman to Mao, Franco, and de Gaulle. Quirky and utterly unique, The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared has charmed readers across the world.” 3 in library plus a large print copy.

June 26, 2016 (postponed one week due to Father's Day)

The Cellist of Sarajevo. Steven Galloway. 235 pages. 2009.

“A spare and haunting, wise and beautiful novel about war and the endurance of the human spirit and the subtle ways individuals reclaim their humanity. In a city under siege, four people whose lives have been upended are ultimately reminded of what it is to be human. From his window, a musician sees twenty-two of his friends and neighbors waiting in a breadline. Then, in a flash, they are killed by a mortar attack. In an act of defiance, the man picks up his cello and decides to play at the site of the shelling for twenty-two days, honoring their memory. Elsewhere, a young man leaves home to collect drinking water for his family and, in the face of danger, must weigh the value of generosity against selfish survivalism. A third man, older, sets off in search of bread and distraction and instead runs into a long-ago friend who reminds him of the city he thought he had lost, and the man he once was. As both men are drawn into the orbit of cello music, a fourth character—a young woman, a sniper—holds the fate of the cellist in her hands. As she protects him with her life, her own army prepares to challenge the kind of person she has become. A novel of great intensity and power, and inspired by a true story, The Cellist of Sarajevo poignantly explores how war can change one’s definition of humanity, the effect of music on our emotional endurance, and how a romance with the rituals of daily life can itself be a form of resistance.” 4 copies plus audio in library

August 21, 2016

Bachelor Brothers' Bed & Breakfast. Bill Richardson. 152 pages. 1994.

“A pair of endearingly eccentric bachelors--in their fifties, and fraternal twins--own and operate a bed & breakfast establishment where people like them, the gentle and bookish and ever so slightly confused, can feel at home. Hector and Virgil think of their B&B as a refuge, a retreat, a haven, where folks may bring their own books or peruse the brothers' own substantial library. An antic blend of homespun and intellectual humor, Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast is a place readers will want to return to again and again. Bachelor Brothers' Bed & Breakfast, originally published by Douglas & McIntyre, won Canada's prestigious Stephen Lecock Award for Humor in 1994, and was published in hardcover by A Wyatt Book for St. Martin's Press in 1996. "One day, I put myself in the car and simply drove. I had no idea where I was going or why. I had no idea ... I would wind up, at dusk, in a lost little valley, turning up the driveway of the Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast." The best books, as you read them, take you from wherever you are to a place where you want to be. If you're a reader of a certain type--a lover of books, cats, and absurdity of a quiet kind--then the Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast should be on your itinerary. It introduces two fraternal twins, Hector and Virgil, unmarried men who run a cozy establishment on a Canadian island. The book alternates between notes from Hector or Virgil, and "Brief Lives," culled from the B & B's guest book. This variety of perspectives gives Bill Richardson tremendous flexibility, and he weaves all the disparate characters together with an unobtrusive dexterity. The Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast is a pleasant, soothing, quietly absurd place to be.” 1 copy in the library.

Growing Disciples from the Ground Up

	LCMS focuses on teaching the faith to children of all ages The command to “train up a child in the way he should go” has always been a challenge. Young people today are constantly being bombarded by messages from their classmates, the media and our culture that often seek to lead them away from Christ. But Lutheran education, youth ministry and campus ministry are not passing fancies for the LCMS; they are hallmarks of our work in the world. Our young people are part of the Church of today, and they are the Church’s future. That’s why enhancing education and youth ministry is one of the Synod’s six mission priorities. This month, please join the LCMS in focusing on the importance of raising our children in the faith, whether they are toddlers or teens. lcms.org/focus/growing-disciples > > Discover resources, opportunities

If you have questions about this email or need assistance, please contact the LCMS Church Information Center at 888-THE LCMS (843-5267) or infocenter@lcms.org.