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5TH SUNDAY OF PENTECOST - JULY 5, 2020

JULY 5th - 5TH SUNDAY OF PENTECOST
Come as you are.

"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

This quote, from this week's gospel lesson, is probably one of my favorites from Jesus. As someone who has dealt with a lot of anxiety and burdens in my life, this passage gives me great hope. Before Pastor Vanicek went on vacation, he told me that I had to write a reflection for this worship email and all week it has caused me anxiety and stress (I am not as good with words as PV). On top of that, there are so many burdens placed on our society with a pandemic and a long list of social issues facing our neighbors.

The gospel message this week is a significant reminder to lean on Jesus. I was watching a video of this preacher the other day, and he had a tall stack of stones and a board he used to try and lift the stones. At first, he was having a hard time until he added a fulcrum. The stones represent our burdens and the fulcrum represents Jesus. When he added the fulcrum, he started with it close to him, representing letting Jesus in, but not allowing him to get close to the issues at hand. It helped a little, but the stones were still heavy. Finally, he moved the fulcrum as close to the stones as he could. It made the task of lifting the stones so much easier. With Christ, our burdens our lighter. We have to let him in and allow him to take hold of the things we can't control.

As we go into this next week, I encourage you to take a look around. What burdens have you been carrying? Maybe something has had you weighed down for so long, you haven't realized the impact it is having on you. When you take notice of these burdens, take a second to talk to Jesus about it. Let him carry you. It is all light for Him. It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from, Jesus is for all.

Peace,
Olivia Cheesman

P.S. Go listen to "Come As You Are" by Crowder. Music can be such a powerful way to hear a message. :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2zhf2mqEMI

Special thank you to those who helped make our online worship possible this morning, a powerful witness that even though space may separate us, it is the love of God in Christ which connects and re-connects us this day and always (The Cheesman Family, Janette Clausen, Amanda Hammel, Craig and Vonda Orton, Jerry and Doris Schappe).
LIVE-STREAM WORSHIP
The live-stream worship begins at 9AM on Sunday on YouTube and Facebook. Visit our website ( CLICK HERE ) for links to all our online resources for worship and communication.
NOTE: If you subscribe to our YouTube channel or Facebook page, you will get reminders on your device when livestream worship begins.
This Sunday's worship is printed in a downloadable bulletin to aid in your worship this weekend.
DWELLING IN THE WORD
 Martin Luther argued that “the ears are the only organs of a Christian,” since it is through the ear that life begins, through hearing the preached Word of God.

Read scripture from YOUR Bible at home. Remember the story of who gave you or how you got your Bible. May this story remind you of your connection to Christ & others.

READINGS FOR PENTECOST+5
Zechariah 9:9-12 (The king will come in humility and peace)
Psalm 145:8-14 (The Lord is gracious and full of compassion)
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 (The yoke of decipleship)

CLICK HERE for various ways to DWELL IN THE WORD .
REMEMBERING OUR COMMUNION
One thing that many miss is sharing in Holy Communion.  This time invites us to turn our question from, "How do we receive Holy Communion?” to “How does the Word of God come to us and how do we receive the Word of God?
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Prayer is central to the life of faith because it connects us to God and each other, a reminder that we are never socially distanced in Christ. Please say these names aloud as a way of lifting them up to God this day. Names in bold were added this past week. You are welcome in this time of prayer to include your own joys and concerns.
Mike Wilde
Pam Wooten
Kaiden King
Ruby Sanders
David Ping
Carol Stiles
Angie Atkinson
Carolyn Selman
Marci Wilde
Joe Manno
Jim Dipprey
Faith Trapp
Ken Tate
Wyatt Crouse
Jenny Braeutigam
Vondean Schmidt
Vince Wesch
Sandra Conners
Laverne Pullin
Dick Schroer
Jolene Williams
Annie Woods
Nik Schappe
Doris Tate
Linda Williams
Mary Posey
Harold Brueckner
Mary Langehennig

Matt Vella
Jon Bohmann
Judy Saxsma
Chris Tretter
Ellen Adams
Philip Salyers
Gil Debner
Mike Knigge
Craig Fields
Julia Reitz
Lincoln Cortez
Wayne Rhoades
Marnie Casteneda
Wade Herrington
Wanda Center
Charles Butle
Diane and Bill Burke
Amanda Morris
Pete Davis
Danette DeMont
Shane Carpenter
Anne Hunnafin
Greg Schoonmaker
Bob Lenz
Toby Green
Tammy Whitman
Sibi & Don Kraemer
Brayden Ybarra
Larry Stahl
Margo Stahl
Bob & Kris Ward
Ron Burke
Greg Butler
OFFERINGS AND GIFTS TO GOD
Thank you for your continued generosity toward our operating budget during this time.

Stewardship quote for the week:

"There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up." - John Holmes

 If you’re not using electronic giving, you can still mail your offering to the church at 1803 Highway 1431 West, Marble Falls, TX 78654 . And if you’re not already a sustaining member of our ministry through our Consecration Sunday process, this is a great time to ask the question, "What % of my income is God calling me to give?" Even a commitment of $5 or $10 a week can make a huge difference in our community.

CLICK HERE   to give online one time, 
or to set up a reoccurring offering.

Or, simply text the amount 
you want to give to 830-460-5757.
BLESSING FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers,
nor things present, nor things to come,
nor powers, nor heights, nor depths,
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

God, the creator, +Jesus, the Christ,
and the Holy Spirit, the comforter,
bless you and keep you in eternal love. Amen.
GO IN PEACE...TOGETHER, BOLDLY LIVING AND SHARING GOD'S GRACE WITH ALL!
LIVE STREAMS FROM OUR SISTER CHURCHES
If you would like to tune into a live-stream or recorded worship from one of our sister ELCA congregations , click the button below to visit our synod's website archiving a cornucopia of options of how God's people are worshipping.
PRAYER RESOURCES FOR YOUR WEEK
This is wonderfully elegant website with a daily scripture reading, music to go along with the reading, and a reflection.

It's also an app for your smartphone. Search for "pray as you go" and take with you for anytime a way to recenter your day.