“Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29 ESV)

Beloved in Christ,

I was lost in my work yesterday and plum forgot to send this out yesterday.

If someone promised you the best gift, would you accept it? If the offer was coming from a stranger, or a shady character, you might say “No.” But what if the gift was from someone you knew since you were young and you not only know this person but you also deeply trust this person? Then would you come and receive it?

And that Person is Christ. He says to you, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29 ESV). Most of you have known Christ since you were an infant–from the time you were baptized into the name of the triune God–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

People are skeptical about many things. The devil and the world have sway on us and cause us to be skeptical about Christ. Is anything really that good there for you in the place where the holy God dwells? And I believe that this is why many are skeptical about and are unmotivated to attend church these days. Is the Word of God beneficial to me and my children?

I just told my Confirmation class last evening that Confirmation is not Graduation. Once you are confirmed does not mean that you have graduated from Christ and His Church. It’s a new beginning–a richer participation in the life of the Church. Consider that the confirmed in Christ can now receive even more of Christ’s blessed gifts by now being invited to partake of His body and His blood in the Sacrament of the Altar. And there, Luther tells us that we Christians are given “double assurance” that our sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake. What a GIFT and blessing from our Savior who is the Shepherd of our souls!

Did you know that in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod over 50% of those confirmed stop going to church? This statistic is alarming. The trend fits in with the culture about us as more and more people fall away from the Church. But that having been said, if a Christian truly believes that the best gifts of God are found where Christ has promised to be, here in church (specifically in Divine Service through Christ’s Word and Sacraments, i.e. the Means of Grace…the preached Gospel, Holy Baptism, and Holy Communion), how then could one want to stay away? This is the best place where the best gifts are given. Faith sees this to be true based on Christ’s holy Word.

The sinful flesh is weak. It rebels against God all the time. But it is who we are in Christ that is drawn to Him to receive mercy again and again–Sunday after Sunday–in true repentance and faith. The ungodly want nothing to do with God and His gifts. Christians want to receive His Word and sacraments.

Dear people, listen to Jesus: “Come to Me…and I will give you rest for your weary souls.” Go to your church knowing of your great need–the cleansing of your sins, assurance of eternal life and salvation, for strengthening of your faith. Jesus’ hands of mercy are extended to you and He says, “Come, My child! And stay with Me. I give you My rest; I give you My best.”

In His service,

Pastor Kotila

ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Sunday is our next Signed Service for the Deaf. There will be no Holy Communion.

You are welcome to join me and attend Divine Service at Shepherd of the Hills in Morris this Saturday, June 6, at 4:00PM. Let me know if you would like to go.

Thanks to the many who have volunteered to help with our TE DEUM Vacation Bible School June 29th — July 2nd from 6-8PM. Our next planning meeting for all our volunteers is this Sunday after Divine Service (around 10:30AM). The meeting should be done by 11:00AM. Pray for more helpers and pray that we get children to attend. We are taking steps to get this well advertised to the community and beyond. May the Lord bless us with a good response. If you have not yet signed up to help, just respond to this e-mail and let me know how you would like to help.

Prayers:
Pray for our Confirmation students as they prepare for the Witness the Faith event next Wednesday (June 10th) at 7:00PM. This is the public questioning. Pray that the Lord would bless their preparation and retention and understanding.

Pray for our New England District, pastors and lay delegates, as it prepares to meet in convention next week–June 11th – 13th.

Pray for God’s blessings upon those graduating from high school and college.

Pray for God’s mercy upon those suffering in Nepal after the horrific earthquake there a few weeks ago.

Pray for God’s mercy upon those who have suffered loss of loved ones and/or property due to storms here in the United States, especially Texas from all the flooding.

Pray for our gracious God to continue to bless and guide the efforts of our Orphan Grain Train New England Branch.

Pray for our Central CT Lutherans For Life Chapter as they work hard to prepare for the LIFE RALLY being hosted by Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bristol on September 12th and 13th. Please mark your calendars to attend this significant event. Pray for the Lord to bless Rev. Dr. James Lamb, Executive Director, national Lutherans For Life, as he prepares for serving as presenter at this rally.

Pray for little Cohen Daveluy. Pray for God to work a miracle to remove the cancer in His body, praying “Thy will be done.”

Pray for Maggie Karner that her treatments would continue to supply her with benefits and help.

Pray for strength and healing for all who are on our Sunday Prayer List, with the additions of: Mildred Giblin, Gene’s mother, who is recovering from a fall; and also, Clem Valerio, Hendrickson’s neighbor, who is recovering from heart surgery.

Pray for our church that the Lord would bless her and her members with love, joy, and faithfulness to His Word.

SERVING THE LORD THIS WEEK:
Ushers:    Brian Lassy
Matthew Hendrickson
Elder:        Steven Ayers
Altar:         Leona Damboise
Acolyte:    Megan Hendrickson
Coffee:     Ellen Ferrier

Have a wonderful and blessed week in the Lord!

Pastor Kotila