Sunday Order of Worship:
Welcome
Thanksgiving for Baptism
10,000 Reasons
Prayer for the Day
Baptism of Lena Elizabeth Heberling
Welcome New Members ~ Jim & Victoria Jasper
Welcome and Announcements
Romans 8:31-35, 37-39
Gospel ~ John 13:31-35
Message
Offering/They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love
Offering Prayer
Prayers of the Church
Lord’s Prayer
Blessing
Send Us Out
Sending
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In This Issue:
- Note from Pastor Jim
- Spring Clean-Up
- Sunday School Takes a Break
- Celebrating Graduates
- Pork Chop Dinner
- Community Garden
- Finding YouTube
- Online Store
- Food Rescue
- Finding Fred
- Graduation Open Houses
- Rejoice Activities
- Community Activities
- Donate to Ukraine
- Community Prayers and Links
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"What then are we to say about these things..." Romans 8:31
"Where is God in Ukraine? What hope do the people have? Only death and destruction are in their future."
This may be the heaviest question I received when I asked for your questions. We could talk for weeks and months about responses to these questions. Since the dawn of time people have wondered about God's role in suffering and evil.
In theological circles it is called "theodicy." It revolves around the idea of God being good, all loving and all powerful. If God is all powerful, why does God allow suffering? Some people wrongly ask, "Why does God cause this suffering." God does not cause it. Jesus makes it very clear.
In Romans 8 Paul writes about sufferings in his present time. He writes, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now, and that in hope we were saved." At the conclusion of chapter 8 Paul gives us his response to the question of an omnipotent, loving God and the existence of suffering. In a nutshell, his answer is that there is nothing, including suffering, that can separate us from God's love in Christ.
I will be very briefly giving some of my thoughts on this theodicy on Sunday. It has something to do with a wrongly placed emphasis on substitutionary atonement theory (I will explain Sunday) and perhaps a false assumption that God is omnipotent (at least as we have traditionally understood).
Instead, can we see in Jesus' cross and suffering a hope that comes to us in knowing suffering and evil cannot separate God from us in our most hopeless, despairing times? Can we understand that real hope is borne not out of good things happening to good people, but bad things happening to good people? Can we find hope in trusting that God is right there in Ukraine, in the lives of the suffering?
We pray: God of the Universe, we do not understand how your love, power, and suffering can continue to exist in such horrifying ways. We know suffering is not your doing, nor is it part of your plan. But, how can we make sense of it in a way that fills us with hope? We cry out to your Spirit with words of sorrow too deep for anyone's understanding. Redeem our suffering and in it, draw us closer to you. Amen
Pastor Jim
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Rejoice Spring Cleanup Day
- Saturday, May 21
- Begins at 9:30 a.m.
- Please bring yard tools if you have them
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Summer Break Time
Our last day of Sunday School for this school year will be:
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Graduation Recognition
We hope that graduates and their parents or families will make every effort to be present at our 9:30 a.m. service:
- Sunday, May 22
- Cupcakes will be served during fellowship following our service to celebrate
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Pork Chop Dinner
- Sunday, June 26
- Watch for more information coming soon
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Community Garden
If you are interested in a space in the garden, please contact Mary Wilson at 763.228.8182. The price for a space is $20, including water.
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Finding Rejoice's YouTube channel is super simple! Just click on the YouTube icon found at the bottom of each weekly update in the What's Happening section. |
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Rejoice Store
Rejoice wear is available at our online store, you can choose for a variety of items from coffee cups to sweatshirts. Orders can be shipped directly to you or can be picked up at church. Anyone can purchase and there is not a minimum purchase amount so support and promote Rejoice. Remember, it is not too early to think about Christmas presents.
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Community Food Rescue
You are welcome to stroll to the Education Wing after Sunday worship each week and take food offerings that you and your family will enjoy. Good for you, good for the environment!
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Friends of Fred
For those of you wanting Fred Varner's address, it is:
430 Belinda Drive, Alamo TX 78516
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Graduation Open Houses
Emily Totz
- Saturday, May 28
- 1-4:00 p.m.
- 7447 State Street, Clear Lake
Ethan Allen
- Saturday, June 4
- 4-7:00 p.m.
- 15042 Hidden River Drive, South Haven
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Happening at Rejoice
Women's Bible Study
- Tuesday, May 17
- 10:00 a.m.
- Rejoice Education wing
Yoga for All
- Wednesday mornings
- 9:00 a.m.
- $10 per class or $32 per month
- Senior discount: $9 per class or $25 per month
Stitch and Pray
- Wednesday afternoons
- 1:00 p.m. in the Rejoice Good News Library
- Bring your knitting needles and crochet hooks to make prayer shawls for those that are experiencing health or spiritual challenges
- All levels of skill are welcome
Young @ Heart
- Thursday, May 19
- Doors open at 10:30 a.m. for card playing and fellowship
- Lunch at 11:30 a.m. followed by music with Frank Erickson
- Mark your calendar and call Carol at 320.558.6851 to reserve your spot for a couple of hours of fun and fellowship! Don't forget to invite a friend to join you!
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Area Happenings
Parents' Night Out
- Saturday, May 14
- Drop kids off between 5-8:00 p.m.
- Salem Lutheran Church
- 90 Riverside Drive SE, St Cloud
- Pre-registration is encouraged
- All proceeds go toward Salem's Youth Summer Service Trip
Red Cross Blood Drive
Garage Sale
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Eastern Europe Crisis Response
Lutheran Disaster Response is accompanying companion churches and ecumenical partners in humanitarian responses to the Eastern Europe crisis. These partners provide refugees with immediate support and supplies such as food, blankets, water and hygiene kits.
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Checks or money orders can be sent to:
Lutheran Disaster Response
P.O. Box 1809
Merrifield, VA 22116-8009
Write "Eastern Europe Crisis Response" on your check memo line.
Give by phone at 800-638-3522 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) or online.
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If you have a loved one or friend in need of prayer, fill out a prayer request or use one of the prayer concern requests located on the Interest table and in the sanctuary welcome pads. The star(*) in front of a name denotes a Rejoice member. This is a dynamic list. Requests will be printed for up to four weeks; call the church office at 320.558.6851 to extend listing. If a name of a friend or loved one has been omitted please resubmit the name and/or concern using one of the prayer concern forms found in the red Welcome Pads in the worship area.
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Receiving Treatment for Cancer:
Karen Emberton (Kari Line)
Kris (sister, Rosemary Monk)
JoAnn Stegura (wife, Jerry Stegura)
Jodi Gerads (friend, Mary Wilson)
Kathy Ryan (sister, Brad Johnson)
Jane (friend, Pam Bender)
John Swan (friend, Ron & Lynn Schneider)
Lester Dupont (father, Linda Painter)
*Pete Lidberg
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Others:
Liam (friend, Lee & Rosemary Monk)
Kent Petersen (brother, Rhoda Senkler)
Jeff Lamb family (friend, Mark & Karie Gohman)
Cris Gears (friend, Linda Agre)
Travis Kent
Mike (nephew, Sue Severson)
Chuck Clausen (brother, Grace Asheim)
Josh (nephew, Susan & Dick Chwalek)
*Martha Johnson
Theresa Klicker (daughter, Brad & Martha Johnson)
Brian and family (nephew, Scott & Doris Scharmer)
Brad Johnson (son, Darlene & Duane Johnson)
Bob Stangler (son-in-law, Dayle & Jean Meyer)
*Kent Asheim
Lucas Martinez (friend, Scott & Doris Scharmer)
*Duane & Darlene Johnson
JoAnn Middendorf (mother, Joyce Middendorf)
*Charlie Johnson
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Active Duty:
Eli Mulqueen (son, Janet Moeller)
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