Coming up at St. Paul

August 4th - 10th

Tuesday Aug. 5
10:00 AM - Bible Study
5:00 PM - Jesus Over Java (Panera's)

Wednesday Aug. 6
7:00 PM - Outreach Committee Meeting

Friday Aug. 8
10:00 AM - Piecemakers

Sunday Aug. 10
10:00 AM - Communion Service
5:00 PM - Youth Group Meeting

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Betheny

This family from Betheny was one of the closest groups to Jesus. They played an important part in Jesus' ministry, especially near the passion. Mary is portrayed as a very contemplative religious person, and in John's account is the woman who anoints Jesus' feet. Martha is portrayed as a very task minded individual who confessed her faith after Lazarus died. Lazarus was the friend of Jesus who died and was raised from the dead in John. He is believed to have been an early leader in the church.

Lord God you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses. Grant that we, encouraged by the examples of your servants, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, may persevere in the course that is set before us to be living signs of the Gospel and at last, with all the saints, to share in your eternal joy; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Readings for Today:
Micah 6:6-8
Psalm 9: 1-10
Romans 12: 9-13
John 11: 17-44

George Frederick Handel: Musician

Handel, like Schuetz originally began studying law, but left it to work on operas. He traveled to England, where he eventually became a British subject. Handel worked on many different projects for private clients, but as time passed and the opera fell out of popularity he began to work on oratorios. These oratorios were large scale works that centered around a religious theme to be sung by soloists and a choir. Handel's most famous oratorio is The Messiah. Most of Handel's compositions were for the theater and not the church, but they still deal with religious themes.

Today we pray for all who make music, a renewed appreciation of music as a gift of God, and for God to raise up new musicians for the church and His people.

Heinrich Schuetz: Musician

Schuetz was the greatest German composer before Bach and began his musical career singing in the Chapel Choir at Landgrove Moritz as a boy. Interestingly enough, Schuetz started to go to school to study law, but was instead sent to Venice to develop his musical ability. Schuetz traveled around Europe and each location influenced his musical styling as he began to blend the different sounds of each location.

Johann Sebastian Bach: Musician

Bach is perhaps one of the more well known composers from the 18th century. He came from a family of musicans, and began playing at an early age. By the time he was 18 Bach was already an established player and composer. He became Kapellmeister, or director of music, to Prince Leopold in 1717. Bach composed many cantatas, one for each Sunday and Holy Day in the Lutheran calender and consciously served God while he was composing and playing music. Bach passed away July 28th 1750, and was buried without ceremony.

St. James: Apostle

James, the son of Zebedee was one of the first apostles. James left with his brother John when Jesus called to him. They were called the "Sons of Thunder" by Jesus. James was in the inner circle along with Peter and John and was there for some of the miracles that Jesus preformed privately, including the healing of Peter's mother-in-law, the raising of the daughter of Jarius and the Transfiguration of Jesus. James was the first of the apostles to be martyred and his death is the only one that is actually recorded in the Bible.

O gracious God, we remember before you today your servant and apostle James, first among the Twelve to suffer martyrdom for the name of Jesus Christ; pour our upon the leaders of your Church that spirit of self-denying service which is the true mark of authority among your people; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Readings for Today:
1 Kings 19:9-18
Psalm 7: 1-11
Acts 11: 27-12:3a
Mark 10: 33-45

Birgitta of Sweden

Birgitta was the daughter of a high-ranking Swedish official. She found herself to become the lady-in-waiting for the queen of Sweden. In this position she received many dreams about Christ and denounced the wickedness that was in the court at the time. Birgitta went on several pilgrimages and devoted much of her time to helping the needy in Sweden. She received papal approval to form a monastic order, the Order of the Holy Savior, or the Brigittines, which consisted of monks and nuns and was the last monastic order to disappear. She went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and died in Rome on her way return.

Lord God, you have surrounded us with so great a cloud of witnesses. Grant that we, encouraged by your example of your servant Birgitta, may persevere in the course that is set before us, to be living signs of the Gospel and at last, with all your saints, to share in your eternal joy; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Readings for Today:
Micah 6:6-8
Psalm 9:1-10
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Luke 6:20-23

Coming up at St. Paul

July 27th - August 3rd

Monday: July 27th - LMM (Shoney's) @ 8:00 AM
Tuesday: July 28th - Bible Study @ 10:00 AM
Friday: August 1st - Piecemakers @ 10:00 AM
Sunday: August 3rd - Communion Serice @ 10:00 AM

Bartolome de Las Casas: Missionary to the Indies

Bartolome de Las Casas was an ordained member of the Church that traveled to Central America. He was probably the first person to be ordained in the New World. Las Casas worked hard to try and prevent what he saw were the inhumane cruelties that the Spaniards were inflicting upon the native peoples. After retreating into the Dominican Order for a few years, Las Casas resumed his crusade for peaceful evangelism of the New World. He gained more and more influence at court and then composed several books about the Spanish conquest of the New World. His books were used by enemies of the Spanish as weapons. Las Casas died on July 17, 1566.

Today we pray for the Indians of Central and South America, those who fight against slavery and inhumanity, increased sensitivity to human rights, and for justice and reconciliation among all peoples.

Vladimir: First Christian Ruler of Russia

Vladimir along with his grandmother Olga, were among the first-born Christian people in Russia. Vladimir suffered as a young man, and fled to Scandinavia from his brothers. Later on he returned to Russia where he assumed control and decided to turn his country into a Christian nation. Vladimir changed his life around and then began to fully live the life of a Christian. He remained close to the Church in Constantinople, but maintained friendly relations to the Church in the West. Today we pray for the Christian people of Russia, the growth and grace of all new converts to Christianity, and for Christian families.

John Hus: Martyr

Yesterday we commemorated John Hus, a martyr in the early 15th Century. Hus was a professor of theology and ordained minister in Prague, where he began to feel that the Catholic Church was not doing all that it should. There were three men claiming to be the pope, and Hus began to start condemning the abuses of the Church in his sermons and lectures. He received a summons from Rome, after which he became excommunicated because he refused to answer. Hus was then arrested, brought to trial, and after his refusal to recant articles that he did not write, was executed.

On this day we pray for fearless and faithful preachers, and the renewal of Christian life.

Catherine Winkworth: Hymnwriter

Today we commemorate Catherine Winkworth, a hymnwriter and translator of German hymns. She was one of the best translators, able to preserve the spirit of the German hymns, while rendering their words into English. She also worked as a supporter for women's rights. She spent a lot of time working with women's education systems and their reform.

God our Father, beautiful in majesty, majestic in holiness, you have shown us the splendor of creation in the work of your servants John and Catherine. Teach us to drive from the world the ugliness of chaos and disorder that our eyes may not be blind to your glory, and that at length everyone my know the inexhaustible richness of your new creation in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Readings for Today:
2 Chronilces 20:20-21
Psalm 96
Ephesians 5:19-20
Matthew 12:44-52