SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER GOSPEL

     “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world , but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father protect them by the power of your name — the name you gave me — so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one deemed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

     “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any morethan I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

John 17:6-19

SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER SECOND READING

     At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

     The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”

     But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk'”

      So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”

     The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

John 5:9-13

SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER PSALM

     Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

     But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he miditates day and night.

     He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

    Not so the wicked! They are life chaff that the wind blows away.

     Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

     For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER FIRST READING

    In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, “Brothers, the Scriptrure had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus — he was one of our number and shared in this ministry.

     Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been whith us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

      So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which  Judas left to go  where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and they lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

EASTER THANK YOU

What a fabulous Easter we had. Easter Jubilee had over 105 children and their adults on top of that. Hits were Daniel Ropar as Bunny, live bunny from Gary Shannon’s daughter, ChaCha the clown, facepainting by the Standleys, crafts, and all those Easter egg hunts. The community certainly supported us. Thanks to Karen Olomua for heading this event and all the volunteers. Thanks from me personally for all those who helped build our floral cross: Diane, Christie, Candace, and Shannon. Apologies if I missed someone. We did it quickly and oh so much better. Thanks to all those who decorated and prepared our breakfast. Our service was spectacular.
We are blessed,

Sherry

CHURCH COUNCIL NEWS

We continue to do well fiscally for our mission at St. Timothy. We have missed Cathy and look forward to her tax free return in May. We felt blessed as we met to pray for Ernie Rippe for surgery the next day after our meeting. All committees have been busy and would love to have any member willing to volunteer to help.
The Synod business meeting is May 19th and will be at Gethsemane. We have two representative positions and have one volunteer, Greta Christensen. If interested, please let me know. Blessings to all
Sherry Willmschen, President

CAMP LUTHERWOOD

    With the councils blessing we are proceeding to provide ½ of costs for camp to member children or those close to members. We may have as many as 6 young people attending. They are in middle school or high school. All of those attending are busy doing fundraising. Planned fundraising assistance at St. Timothy include:
1. Quilt Raffle of two beautiful quilts by Christine Lutz.

               Tickets will be on sale until June 30th when the drawing will be                  held.
2. On June 30th there is a plan for a music afternoon. See                                   information in bulletin as well as newsletters.
3. We continue to collect bottles/cans. You can bring any                                     redeemable items to St. Timothy.

    Thanks to all for your support and prayers for these young people.

FROM YOUR PASTOR

     What is the big deal about Pentecost? It’s just another church day, right? There are arguments that Pentecost is more important than Christmas. The pecking order being: Easter, Pentecost, Christmas. The rationale being that without Pentecost there would be no church. Without Pentecost, the message of God’s immense love and the sacrifice Jesus made would not have been spread to the far reaches of the world. Pentecost is extremely important because that is the day the disciples put aside their fears and anxieties and started to live into their calling: to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.
Pentecost is derived from the Greek word, pentekostos, meaning fifty and began long before the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples. Pentecost (also known as the Festival of Weeks or Shavuot) was actually the second most important Jewish holiday. Originally it was a harvest festival but after the temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. and people could not bring their harvest offerings, Pentecost turned into a day to commemorate the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai. The disciples were gathered in Jerusalem with Jews from all over to celebrate the Jewish holiday Pentecost. At this time, there was no church. They had not begun to tell anyone about Jesus. As promised, though, the Holy Spirit descended upon them. The prophet Joel prophesied: “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions” (Joel 2:28).
The Holy Spirit came down, the disciples finally broke their silence, the crowds understand them in their own language, and thousands believed and chose to follow Jesus. The church was born! On Pentecost we celebrate the birth of the church, the coming of the Holy Spirit, the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, and the church living out its calling in the world. We decorate the church and ourselves in red to symbolize the presence and work of the Holy Spirit. We will turn out the lights and light a fire to symbolize the power of the Holy Spirit. We will celebrate together over red desserts the power and might of the Holy Spirit in guiding us and our church in the world. Is Pentecost just another day of worship? Absolutely not. It is a day to remember that the spirit has led us and continues to lead us out into the world
to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

By Pastor Jennifer Biel

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER GOSPEL READING

    “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love eachother as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you my friends, for everything that I have learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit —  fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever  you will ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.

John 15:9-17

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER SECOND READING

    Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

     This is the one who came by water and blood — Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies because the Spirit is the truth.

1 John 1-6