As We Gather
Jesus' parable of the seed and the soil is one of His most familiar and favorite parables. Besides, our Lord Himself told us what this parable means. He left nothing to speculation. Yet we often wonder "what kind of soil am I?" Our prayer today is that God would pour His grace upon us, that our hearts may be open to the seed of His Word, that nothing may prevent the abundant growth of the seed and the production of the fruits of faith for the glory of God.
Holy Communion
The Lord’s Supper is celebrated today with the confession that we receive the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, in, with and under (a way of saying that Christ is fully present in) the bread and wine. Christ's presence gives us the assurance that our sins are forgiven and to nourish our faith. This is a solemn celebration, “For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves” (1Corinthians 11:29). The Lord’s Supper is meant for our good, not to our judgment. But, before presenting yourself ask these questions:
1. Am I sorry for my sins and need forgiveness?
2. Did Christ die and rise to forgive my sins?
3. Am I receiving the very body and blood of Christ Jesus?
If your answers are yes, you are welcome. If you are not a member of a LCMS church, or have further questions about The Lord’s Supper, please speak with the pastor.
Stewardship
We owe the flesh, the world, and the devil nothing at all. We are not debtors to these enemies; we are freed by the blood of Christ. We are joyful servants in Christ’s kingdom – servants that He calls friends. We share our Lord’s plans and purposes, and this gives direction and purpose to our lives.
Lutherans For Life
Altar Flowers
The Altar Flower Chart is posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex by the drinking fountains. Check chart for donation opportunities and availability.
Children Sunday School
Youth Group
Nurturing discipleship by building a community focused on the Word of God with food, studies, service, games, crafts, and cultural commentary. For more information contact Family Life Minister Curtis
Council Meeting
Let us do everything with love. The Church Council is a gathering of elected advisers who serve and guide the ministries of the congregation toward our given mission. (Matthew 28:19-20).
Benevolence
MomCo Planning Meeting
We are gearing up to launch MomCo, a ministry dedicated to providing moms in our community with a welcoming place for fellowship, scripture discussion, encouragement, and connection. To bring this vision to life ahead of our late-August launch, a leadership team will meet in Classroom 6.
For more information contact Kathy Lee
Church Directory
The Church Pictorial Directory is back on track! A church directory helps us put names with faces, encourages meaningful relationships, and builds a stronger sense of belonging within our church family. We need at least 35 families to participate. Photography is scheduled for Thursday, 23 July and Friday, 24 July, with signups now available before and after each service. Participating families will receive a free directory and 8x10 photo. Please sign up and help us strengthen connections in our church!
For more information contact Anna Haase.
Marionette Puppets
Sharing and Caring
A ministry supported by our congregation through donations of non-perishable food items, placed in the collection basket in the inner Narthex. Sharing and Caring serves individuals and families in need by providing food, clothing, and emergency assistance. It brings hope, encouragement, and practical support to those experiencing hardship or crisis.
Back To School Supply Drive
We are collecting school supplies for Kenwood Elementary. With school starting on 11 August, now is the perfect time to help students begin the new school year with the supplies they need. We will take care of delivering the donations to the schools! If you don't feel like shopping, monetary donations are gladly accepted, and we will do the shopping for you.
Jean Greive.
Mite Boxes
Board Of Outreach
Philemon 4-6. The Board of Outreach has a two fold mission: To Communicate the Gospel of Christ through the members of our congregation and in the endeavor to identify the congregation with the Gospel in the local community. Meets with Pastor Klemme in the Cafe.
Board of Properties
For the maintenance and repair of the congregation’s facilities; to enable the congregation and its members to carry out our Christ centered ministries. Meets in the Library. For more information contact Jeff Adams
Board of Elders
Meeting with the Called Ministers and the Board of Elders to discuss, plan, and implement strategies to carry out corporate worship, and addressing the spiritual health of the congregation.
For more information contact Joe Staton
Cruising with the King Car Club
All men of the congregation are warmly invited to join us, along with men from the community, in Cruising with the King Car Club. Whether you’re a car enthusiast or simply looking for meaningful fellowship, we gather regularly for monthly to build friendships while reaching out to our local neighbors. We already have a strong group of men actively participating. Join our signal group.
Dancing Through the Decades
Join us as we celebrate Lance's birthday! Enjoy an evening of dinner, fellowship, dancing, and timeless hits from across the decades. Come as you are or dress in the style of your favorite decade. Bring your dancing shoes, leave the gifts at home, and join us for an evening of fun, laughter, and good company with your church family.
Pastor Klemme Salutes the USA
Celebrate America's rich folk music heritage! Enjoy favorites like Oh! Susanna, Home on the Range, and more. Sing along to timeless songs by Stephen Foster and others. Join us for this free event celebrating America's 250th anniversary with music, memories, and community.
For more information contact Pastor Klemme.
American Heritage Girls Troop 1517
MomCo
The MomCo leadership crew is currently inviting Moms in our communities to join us in the Fall. Our Meetups are scheduled for the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. Membership Fee $37. Limited free scholarships are available. We’ll offer moms in our community a welcoming space for fellowship, scripture discussion, and connections with other moms as we enjoy friendships, fun, and food.
For more information contact Kathy Lee
Kenwood Elementary Donates
Kenwood School is currently in need of donations of pants and shorts for students who may require a change of clothes during the school day. Gently used items are welcome, including sweatpants, leggings, jeans, pajama bottoms, athletic shorts, and similar styles. Elastic waistbands are especially helpful, and well worn pants are perfectly acceptable. Needed sizes range from children’s sizes 5 through 14, as well as adult size Small. For more information contact Rachel.Bollinger@okaloosaschools.com.
Rally Day
Whether you're returning after the summer or joining us for the first time, Rally Day is the perfect opportunity to reconnect, build relationships, and find your place in our church family.
This special day highlights God’s desire for all His people—children, youth, and adults—to grow in faith by grounding their lives in His Word. It’s a joyful reminder that learning and living God’s truth should be part of our daily rhythm.
Join us as we celebrate the ministries of our congregation with a day full of fun and fellowship—including food, games, displays, a water slide.
Sanctuary A/C Replacement
After many years of faithful service, our Sanctuary air conditioning system is reaching its end of life and needs to be replaced. A new system will help us maintain a comfortable and welcoming environment for worship. To meet this need, we are launching an AC Replacement Fund. The estimated cost for the new unit is $45K. Your generous gifts will allow us to gather together without the distraction of extreme temperatures, so we can focus fully on worshipping God.
Commemoration of Isaiah
The Church honors saints for tangible demonstrations of how living out faith can be done
Isaiah son of Amoz is considered to be the greatest of the writing prophets and is quoted in the New Testament more than any other Old Testament prophet. His name means “Yahweh [the Lord] saves.” Isaiah prophesied to the people of Jerusalem and Judah from about 740 B.C. to 700 B.C. and was a contemporary of the prophets Amos, Hosea, and Micah. Isaiah was a fierce preacher of God’s Law, condemning the sin of idolatry. He was also a comforting proclaimer of the Gospel, repeatedly emphasizing God’s grace and forgiveness. For this he is sometimes called the “Evangelist of the Old Testament.” No prophet more clearly prophesied about the coming Messiah and his saving kingdom. He foretold the Messiah’s miraculous birth (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6), his endless reign (Isaiah 2:1-5; Isaiah 11:1-16), and his public ministry (Isaiah 61:1-3), but most notably his “Suffering Servant” role and atoning death (Isaiah 52:13-53:12). The apostle John’s description of Isaiah, that Isaiah saw Jesus’ glory and spoke of him (John 12:41), is an apt summary of Isaiah’s prophetic ministry.
Source: LCMS Calendar of Commemorations.
Commemoration of Ruth
The Church honor's saints for showing us how living out faith can be done.
Ruth of Moab, the subject of the biblical book that bears her name, is an inspiring example of God’s grace. Although she was a Gentile, she is the great grandmother of King David (Ruth 4:17), and an ancestress of Jesus himself (Matthew 1:5). A famine in Israel led Elimelech and Naomi of Bethlehem to emigrate to the neighboring nation of Moab with their two sons. The sons marriend Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth, but after about ten years, Elimelech and his sons died (Ruth 1:1-5). Naomi then decided to return to Bethlehem and urged her daughters-in-law to return to their families. Orpah listened to Naomi’s but Ruth refused, replying with the stirring words: “Where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). After Ruth arrived in Bethlehem, Boaz, a close relative of Elimelech, agreed to be Ruth’s “redeemer” (Ruth 3:7-13; 4:9-12). He took her as his wife, and Ruth gave birth to Obed, the grandfather of David (Ruth 4:13-17), thus preserving the Messianic seed. Ruth’s kindness and selfless loyalty toward Naomi, and her faith in Naomi’s God, have long endeared her to the faithful and redounded to God’s praise for his merciful choice of one so unexpected.
Source: Lutheran Calendar of Saints