We pause today in our liturgy to remember and celebrate the Reformation of the Church, led over 500 hundred years ago by Martin Luther. Today’s service is also an annual reminder that the Church of Christ is always undergoing reformation. Can we hear the familiar readings today and hear the current challenge to reform the church? How is God leading, not just the ELCA, but First Lutheran and Christ the Spirit, to an ongoing reformation? It is not easy to listen for God’s voice in our busy lives but God does continue to speak and does continue to call us to listen and to act based on what we hear. If we agree that “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold” (Ps.46:7) then we will respond to Jesus directive, “Continue in my word…you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Come to worship today to enjoy the procession, treasured scriptures, and songs of the reformation. Come prepared to hear God’s Word speak into our lives today.

A widow steps out of scripture today to teach us about persistence in prayer. The widow is acquainted with grief as one among many marginalized and vulnerable people, but also as a woman who stands her ground in her quest for justice. The unnamed widow repeatedly appeals for justice and finally is vindicated. Many have known persistent prayer as a kind of wrestling with God. Many have pleaded with God for justice and mercy. Today God’s grace and mercy is known in the blessing of baptismal remembrance and our identity as beloved children of God.

Holy Communion
9 am – First, Chariton
11 am – Christ the Servant, Corydon
10 am – CTS Sunday School
10:15 am – FLC Sunday School
1 pm – Slavic Worship

MONDAY: October 21
7 pm – Quilt Guild in Fireside Room

TUESDAY: October 22

WEDNESDAY: October 23

THURSDAY: October 24
9 am – FLC Quilting
7 pm – Slavic Worship

FRIDAY: October 25
Office Closed

SATURDAY: October 26

NEXT SUNDAY:  October 27
Reformation Sunday
Holy Communion
     9 am – Joint Worship at FLC
(There will not be a service at CTS on this day.)
10:15 am – FLC Sunday School
1 pm – Slavic Worship

Today is a day of unexpected blessings and miracles, signs of how God is active and alive and present in our world and in our lives. Fragile relationships are restored. Hope is experienced in profound ways. Ten lepers implore God’s mercy and are made clean. But the outsider—the foreigner—is the only one who returns to give thanks. Today many of us encounter other hardships of all sorts, and our reading in 2 Timothy makes the stark point that we all suffer. But our God joins us in our sufferings and in our hardships, making us whole through our spiritual cleansing of baptism and filled with God’s Spirit.
 

SUNDAY:  October 13
Holy Communion
9 am – First, Chariton
11 am – Christ the Servant, Corydon
10 am – CTS Sunday School
10:15 am – FLC Sunday School
10:15 am – FLC Special Congregation Meeting
Noon – CTS Special Congregation Meeting
We will be discussing amending the budget to
include possible parking lot improvements.
1 pm – Slavic Worship
6 pm – Lutheran Adult Fellowship

MONDAY: October 14
2 pm – Laplanders Quilt Guild at CTS
6:30 pm – Council at FLC

TUESDAY: October 15
Noon – CTS Women’s Bible Study
at the home of Ann Sipma
3:30 pm – CTS Worship Committee
4:30 pm – CTS Task Force

WEDNESDAY: October 16

THURSDAY: October 17
9 am – FLC Quilting
Noon – Wayne County Ministers Meet
6 pm – CTS Serve Football Team Meal
7 pm – Slavic Worship

FRIDAY: October 18
9-11 am – CCC at CTS
Office Closed
Newsletter Deadline

SATURDAY: October 19

NEXT SUNDAY:  October 20
Cinnamon Roll Sunday
Holy Communion
9 am – First, Chariton
11 am – Christ the Servant, Corydon
10 am – CTS Sunday School
10:15 am – FLC Sunday School
1 pm – Slavic Worship