This Week at Mt. Olive

Good evening, fellow redeemed!

This morning, the Adult Bible Class took up the sentence, "Evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where to get some bread."

The great truth of the Bible about mankind is that we bring nothing to God. How many times I've heard that we're all basically good at heart, but we're not. We are, in fact, inclined toward evil. In Genesis 6, "God saw that the thoughts of man's heart is only evil continually." Many in our world say that we have free will when it comes to belonging to Christ, but the Bible says otherwise. If we have a choice, the Bible makes clear, it's sin.

But the great truth of the Bible about the true God brings unimaginable comfort. Where we bring nothing, God brings everything. "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself," Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5. In 1 John 2, the apostle reminds us that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. Through the preaching of the Word of God about Christ, God the Holy Spirit works faith in hearts. It's like we rehearse every time this comes up in Bible Class or Confirmation or anywhere else I can get away with it: How does the Holy Spirit get into our hearts to work faith? Through our ears! It all seems so plain: the spoken word, splash of water, morsel of bread, sip of wine. Yet, in these simple ways God has promised to come to us - He doesn't demand that we come to Him.

Evangelism, then, isn't about technique; it's about content. It's one beggar (you and I) telling another beggar (those with whom we have the opportunity to share the faith) where to get some bread (Christ coming through Word and Sacrament in His Church).

We continue in the way of the cross during this Lenten season. This week, in Life Together, our focus is "What do We Thirst For?"

Also this week, the Lenten meal is furnished by the Fellowship Committee with a menu of tacos.

I'll be sending out an email later this week after the Board of Elders and I have had an opportunity to look at the Holy Week Schedule.

In your Holy Week plans, don't forget to include the Living Last Supper at Messiah Lutheran Church in Calallen. Messiah will be hosting this important presentation on March 29, 30, and 31.

One important note: Because of a scheduling conflict at this time in the Church Year, it was necessary for the Voters Meeting originally scheduled for March 21 to be moved. The new date for the Voters Meeting is 11 APR. I hope this generated minimal confusion.

Prayer Concerns:
My family at the death of my cousin, Robert Koenig
Those who serve in our armed forces: Rob Vadney (preparing for deployment), John Miller's niece (Afghanistan), Andrew Epley (Iraq), Richard Rhode (North Carolina), Michael Baker, Ryan Radtke, Dru Blanc, John Sorensen (Corpus Christi), William Worley (Kingsville)
The leaders of our nation
Pastors of the church and their families as the Church begins the final week of Lent and enters Holy Week
Our Altar Guild as they begin a very busy time of the year
All of us, that our Lord would guide us in the way of true repentance and faith

This Week at Mt. Olive:
Monday, March 22
Girl Scouts, 6:30 p.m. (Overflow)
Zumba Aerobics, 6:30 p.m. (Fellowship Hall)
Board of Elders, 6:30 p.m. (Pastor's Conference Room)

Tuesday, March 23
Pastor's Information Class, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 24
School Chapel, 8:30 a.m.
Bible Study on Philippians, 9:30 a.m.
Lenten Prayer at Midday, 12:15 p.m.
Lenten Meal, 5:30 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal, 6 p.m.
Lenten Evening Prayer, 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, March 25
Cub Scouts, 6:30 p.m.
STARC, 7 p.m. (Fellowship Hall)

God bless!
PKJ