LIVE AND EVANGELIZE!
When we first make LIFE active, then our EVANGELISM, too will become active.
The Bible is a great "lifestyle guide", with its help, we can learn to live a truly Christian life. Not only a life in the congregation, but also in the world. Outside of our congregation, we see and experience the results of living a Christian lifestyle. We also witness moments of evangelism, where we speak of the Gospel and the good news to each other. No doubt, whether we actually do what we say we should do is checked and double checked by our own eagle eyed obervations and observors. Such activity and relationships, challenge us to firmly devote ourselves to a personal relationship with God. When our personal relationship with God deepens and develops, we receive a solid foundation from which can rise up and live a full and active Christian life.
Dean Peltola crystalizes the paradox behind being a Christian:
”To be a Christian on cannot simply raise one side of a story, but it is necessary to give examples of the contrary and the opposite, which are just as often true. A Christian is to attempt in all things to live according to God's will and serve their closest neighbors, friends and family. At the center of Christian action, is to live together in everyday life with our beloved, those closest to us. And, because we are responsible people, we should also agree to live in the center of the struggle between good and evil, between God and Satan. (Ef 6:12–17). Here in the middle, we should trust the promises and teachings of the Bible, to pray, it would be helpful to sometimes fast, to work with faith in bringing forth God's kingdom on Earth, to love those closest to you and do good while alive. The basis and foundation for service, is not that we would be worthy to God thanks to service and action. No, to take action, is instead given to us as a calling and a duty. This is what will be taken into account at the end. (1 Kor. 3:12–13). As it is from service that your actions will be revealed, as well as with what materials you have used to build."
Wishing all friends a blessed March.
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We warmly thank all those who have remembered and supported our congregation through their gifts. We are living through economically challenging times, and we need your prayers as well as financial support, so that our work can continue year round.
May God blesse you and your gift!
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Greetings from our music teams!
We are excited to have our singers from both English and Finnish services singing together for the first 2 Sundays of this month. Combining our congregations and singing in both languages, along with the language of music, simply strengthens God's message and hopefully, sends it deeper into our hearts.
Blessed March and Lenten season to everyone!
Tuomo Karvonen,
Director of Music
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PIRJO-LEENA KOSKISEN'S COLUMN |
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My mother used to have a large selection of folkloric sayings. One of them was: ‘Well, that person is an annoyances to God himself!’ This was heard when someone in the community had been causing annoyance with their stupid behavior or some celebrity had said something stupid. Maybe it was just about youngsters behaving foolishly. This saying, among others, comes to my mind when some celebrity or a person in public office says or does something weird. But we, the ordinary people, quite often behave in the same way; we don’t need celebrities to perform those silly acts. To be honest, we all do or say stupid things, we can all be annoyances to God, from time to time. We know deep in our hearts that we are doing wrong, behaving or saying stupid things, just the opposite of what we have been told to do by God, our Heavenly Father in His own Word. But in spite of that we, the annoyances to God – especially us – have been saved by Jesus Christ. He has given his life to save ours, saved us from the abyss of peril. What grace and mercy for us who don’t deserve it!
Ash Wednesday is already behind us and we are preparing ourselves for Easter by fasting and thinking of the events that lead us first to a great agony and sorrow and finally to victory from death.
Have a blessed March, dear friends!
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The Sundays of February were full of sweet sentiments and greetings. We celebrated Valentines Day, celebrated the birthdays of Terttu Myrskog, Anja Laurila and Anneli Cavuoto and received greetings from our sister church in Jyvaskyla, Finland. This Epiphany was especially delicious thanks to our fabulous cooks and bakers! Thank you to each one you! But it's the Word that really nourishes the soul. Epiphany was made even more sweet thanks to Pastor Sami, Raija, our Council, our musicians and others who have a gift for speech and evangelism! |
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Lunches were well attended and tasty. We think they are getting better and better, because we have so much more help right now. Thank you to all our new volunteers.
If you would like to host a lunch, please let Tarja know!
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ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING |
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CLICK HERE TO GET TO OUR FINNISH
PARTNERS WEBSITES:
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Blessed March,
month of Lent
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St. Andrew's Lutheran Church | (561) 582-0554 | 928 South E Street, Lake Worth, FL 33460 | www.standrewsfl.com |
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