As We Gather
A battle has been raging over the centuries between those who ignore the hard truth that we are sinners, hopeless by ourselves, and those who have realized the real good that our Lord has graciously won for us. At the time of Jeremiah, self-proclaimed prophets such as Hananiah preached a false peace even as Israel was in exile in Babylon. In Paul’s day, members of the Early Church thought freedom from God’s Law meant they could ignore it. And when Jesus was calling new disciples, He warned that following Him would mean “a sword” coming between them and even members of their families. In Christ, the peace that only God can bestow has been given to us by grace. Because of the truly good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can face the hard truth of our sinfulness and then sing with the psalmist of the real good, “the steadfast love of the Lord, forever” (Psalm 89:1).
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
The tithes and offerings you give to the Lord’s work in His church go to supporting all manner of discipleship. They provide for a minister of the Gospel to preach, teach, and conduct the Sacraments; they provide for our missionaries and ministries of mercy here and abroad; and they make sure that the folks in your area have a place to go to worship the Lord. The Lord is pleased with this work, and He wants to bless you through supporting it.
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
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.
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
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.
Congregation 4th July Picnic
The 4th of July falls on a Saturday this year, making it an ideal time for another Good Shepherd Group event! We will be gathering at Eglin Beach Park for a fun afternoon of swimming, snorkeling, and building sandcastles. As evening approaches, we will enjoy a shared picnic supper together before watching the nighttime fireworks show. This is a wonderful opportunity for fellowship and family fun with your church family. Bring your swimsuit, beach chairs, sunscreen, and a dish or snacks to share for the picnic. More details, including the exact meet-up time, will be shared soon. We hope to see you there! For more information contact Curtis Parker.
Concert Series
The second in the 2026 concert series "Sheep May Safely Graze" featuring classical music. A community event to reach out and draw people in. For more information contact David Ott
Mite Boxes
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
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
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 Friday, July 24th, 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.
Back To School Supply Drive
The Human Care Board is collecting school supplies for Kenwood Elementary and Opportunity Place. A supply list will be available in the Narthex. We will take care of delivering them to the schools! If you don’t feel like shopping, donations are gladly accepted and we will do the shopping for you.
Jean Greive.
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.
MomCo
MomCo is a ministry that provides moms in our community with a dedicated space for fellowship, scripture discussion, and encouragement. If you're looking to connect with other moms navigating the joys and challenges of daily life, we would love to have you! Meetups are held on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month, beginning August 27, 2026
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.
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.
The Nativity of St. John the Baptist
The Church honors saints for showing us tangible demonstrations of how living out faith can be done.
John the Baptist was not the Christ, only His forerunner (Acts 13:25). He was called from the womb to bring Jacob back to God through his Baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Isaiah 49:5), just as Christ was the true servant of the Lord. Miraculously conceived by Zechariah the priest of barren Elizabeth, John was marked to be the greatest born of women (Matthew 11:11). The Church rejoices over the Lord’s mercy just as Elizabeth’s neighbors and relatives did at John’s birth. But when Zechariah’s tongue was loosed, John was not the subject of his song. “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people” (Luke 1:68). John is the voice “[preparing] the way of the Lord” (Isaiah 40:3); Jesus, the virgin-born Son of God, is that Lord. John is “the prophet of the Most High.” He is born to “give knowledge of salvation to [God’s] people in the forgiveness of their sins,” because Christ, the Dayspring, is visiting (Luke 1:76-79). Thus, what John preaches is the comfort of iniquity pardoned by Jesus, the promised Savior of Israel (Acts 13:23) and “the nations, that [His] salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6).
Commemoration of the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession
The Augsburg Confession, the principal doctrinal statement of the theology of Martin Luther and the Lutheran reformers, was written largely by Phillip Melanchthon. At its heart it confesses the justification of sinners by grace alone, through faith alone, for the sake of Christ alone. Signed by leaders of many German cities and regions, the confession was formally presented to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at Augsburg, Germany, on June 25, 1530. A few weeks later Roman Catholic authorities rejected the Confession, which Melanchthon defended in the Apology of the Augsburg Confession (1531). In 1580 the Unaltered Augsburg Confession was included in the Book of Concord.
Source: LCMS Calendar of Commemorations
Source: LCMS Calendar of Commemorations.
Commemoration of Jeremiah
The Church honor's saints for using their gifts for the Kingdom of God. In so doing, it strengths faith insofar as it demonstrates God's Grace. The inspiration that the Saints offers is in showing us how living out our faith can be done.
The prophet Jeremiah was active as God's prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah ca. 627 to 582 B.C. As a prophet he predicted, witnessed, and lived through the Babylonian siege and eventual destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. In his preaching he often used symbols, such as an almond rod (Jeremiah 1:11-14), wine jars (Jeremiah 13:12-14), and a potter at work (Jeremiah 18:1-17). His entire prophetic ministry was a sermon, communicating through word and deed God's anger toward his rebellious people. He suffered repeated rejection and persecution by his countrymen. As far as can be known, he died in Egypt, having been taken there forcibly. He is remembered and honored for fearlessly calling God's people to repentance.
Source: Lutheran Calendar of Saints
Commemoration of Cyril of Alexandra, Pastor and Confessor
The Church honor's saints for using their gifts for the Kingdom of God. In so doing, it strengths faith insofar as it demonstrates God's Grace. The inspiration that the Saints offers is in showing us how living out our faith can be done.
Cyril (ca. A.D. 376-444) became archbishop of Alexandria, Egypt, in 412. Throughout his career he defended a number of orthodox doctrines, among them the teaching that Mary, the mother of Jesus, is "rightly called and truly is the Mother of God"--Theotokos, "the God-bearer" (Formula of Concord, VIII, Ep VIII, 12). In 431 the Council of Ephesus affirmed this teaching that the Son of Mary is also true God. The writings of Cyril on the doctrines of the Trinity and the person of Christ reveal him to be one of the most able theologians of his time. Cyril's Christology influenced subsequent church councils and was a primary source for Lutheran confessional writings.
Source: Lutheran Calendar of Saints
Commemoration of Irenaeus of Lyons, Pastor
The Church honor's saints for using their gifts for the Kingdom of God. In so doing, it strengths faith insofar as it demonstrates God's Grace. The inspiration that the Saints offers is in showing us how living out our faith can be done.
renaeus (ca. A.D. 130-200), believed to be a native of Smyrna (modern Izmir, Turkey), studied in Rome and later became pastor in Lyons, France. Around 177, while Irenaeus was away from Lyons, a fierce persecution of Christians led to the martyrdom of his bishop. Upon Irenaeus' return, he became bishop of Lyons. Among his most famous writings is a work condemning heresies, especially Gnosticism, which denied the goodness of creation. In opposition, Irenaeus confessed that God has redeemed his creation through the incarnation of the Son. Irenaeus also affirmed the teachings of the Scriptures handed down to and through him as being normative for the Church.
Source: Lutheran Calendar of Saints
Festival of the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul
The Church honor's saints for using their gifts for the Kingdom of God. In so doing, it strengths faith insofar as it demonstrates God's Grace. The inspiration that the Saints offers is in showing us how living out our faith can be done.
“Lord, show us the Father.” Philip did not yet recognize that the Father is glorified in the Son. In His name we have access to the Father, for they are one. Jesus is “the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through [Him],” and whoever believes in Him will do the works He does and greater (John 14:6-13). And so Philip and James did; the “household of God” is built on the apostles, with Christ as her chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19-22). The beloved words of Jesus from today’s Gospel were the words of their “Teacher,” echoing in their ears as they walked in His way (Isaiah 30:20-21). And so their hearts were not troubled (John 14:1) as they ate “the bread of adversity and the water of affliction” (Isaiah 30:20). Philip, who in John’s Gospel brings Jews and Greeks to Jesus, is said to have journeyed to Phrygia where he was martyred. James “the Younger” (son of Alphaeus, whose mother Mary was at the crucifixion) is said to have died by being sawn in half. Where Christ is, they also are, and so shall we be (John 14:3).