Faith is the theme of today’s readings, a life-transforming faith, one that demonstrates the very presence of God moving, alive, and active in God’s people. God, who creates and claims each of us as God’s own children, brings us into this family by our baptisms and by the faith God gives us makes us holy children. Being part of this divine family gives us our worth, even at those times we may not think of ourselves as worthy. In 2 Timothy, the author writes a history of the faith in Timothy’s family, beginning with his grandmother and then passed on to his mother and himself. This is how many of us were first brought into the family of God: we had faithful parents who knew of their own God-given righteousness and then passed this gift on to their children. But again, it’s all God’s doing! Finally, Jesus’ disciples boldly ask their teacher to “Increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). They knew that faith was something needed, and Jesus explains that even a small amount of faith can do great wonders.
 

SUNDAY:  October 6
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 7
6 pm – WWW at the Parsonage

TUESDAY: October 8
8 am – Breakfast Gals
9 am-3 pm: Blanket Making Party at CTS

WEDNESDAY: October 9

THURSDAY: October 10
9 am – FLC Quilting
1 pm – Women of the ELCA
7 pm – Slavic Worship

FRIDAY: October 11
Office Closed

SATURDAY: October 12
9 am-3:30 pm:  “Jesus, Old, New, & Now”
Bible Study at FLC
Featuring Dr. Mark Mattes and
Dr. Ken Sundet Jones
Authors and Professors of Religion
at Grand View University
All are invited!!
$5.00 cost includes lunch and snacks
Please contact Del Kray (515-360-5936) if you can join us on this day.

NEXT 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 – Executive Committee at FLC
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

Place-sharing
Today’s gospel evokes our sympathy. It opens the possibility—described as an impossibility—of place-sharing, trading or sharing places with each other. Pastor Sally preaches and presides at our healing service this Sunday. The Gospel she will proclaim in Word, story, laying on of hands, and sharing Jesus’ invitation to come and eat, echoes a common theme: the pursuit of wealth in this world can lead us into idolatry and away from faith in Christ.
Pastor Sally always preaches the Gospel, yet relies on the other readings, such as the reading from 1 Timothy. That reading reminds us, we should pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness, so that there is no “poor man named Lazarus” dying at our gates. After all, the greatest treasure—our eternal salvation has already been procured for us through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Knowing this, we can share all we have with our neighbors, even our very place and salvation, confident that God will continue to provide for our needs. And hear this ultimate proclamation – whether through healing prayers, song, gathering at the table, staring out the window or leaving worship to attend to something else more important, God loves each one of us as if each of us was the only person to love. Jesus gave his life for us out of very personal love. The Holy Spirit keeps us together and in that love forever. Amen.
 

SUNDAY:  September 29
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: September 30

TUESDAY: October 1
10 am – FLC Worship Committee at FLC
1:30 pm – CTS Women’s Bible Study at CTS
6 pm – ICC Annual Banquet
at Chariton Presbyterian Church

WEDNESDAY: October 2
1:30 pm – Prayer Shawl Ministry at FLC

THURSDAY: October 3
9 am – FLC Quilting
7 pm – Slavic Worship

FRIDAY: October 4
Office Closed

SATURDAY: October 5

NEXT SUNDAY:  October 6
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

Love or Money?
Brittany Swanson is joining us on this great fall day to tell even more people about life at Lutheran Lakeside Camp. She will lead, preach and teach, but we will not be celebrating Holy Communion with bread and wine this Sunday. Our communion with God and one another will occur as Brittany talks about camp life and Gayle shares pictures and stories about the group of children and adults who went to camp with her this past summer. Trusting Gayle’s wise understanding of God’s Holy Word, you may hear parables, other stories of fun and faith at camp, and special music. Come to worship prepared to hear something ordinary and extraordinary, with a twist that leads us to experience reality in a new way, even to the point of transforming our daily lives. Remember? That’s what Jesus’ parables do. You may even hear about Jesus boasting about a man who is a crook?  The surprise this morning may come from Brittany, from Gayle, from Jesus and the boss who shows mercy. The stories may remind you of the well paid farm workers who spent barely one hour in the vineyard. Or the father running out to welcome a shamed and destitute, long-lost son. Maybe even someone who’s been in the news lately. In God’s economy, people matter more than profits. The prophet (first reading), the psalmist, and Jesus, telling the parable, agree on this. The epistle writer adds a prayer for “a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity” for everyone, boss and beggar alike. Well, there it is – for all to gather in their own minds and hearts. Here it is, as it appears EVERY Sunday, God’s love is eternal, salvation by Jesus’ great and peaceful act is for ALL, and the Holy Spirit will make sure no one misses this message.
 

SUNDAY:  September 22
Worship
9 am – First, Chariton
11 am – Christ the Servant, Corydon
10 am – CTS Sunday School Begins
10:15 am – At FLC, All Church Activities & Picnic
1 pm – Slavic Worship
6 pm – Lutheran Adult Fellowship at FLC
September 22-24:  Pastor Sally to Fall Conference
in W. Des Moines

ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, AT FIRST LUTHERAN & CHRIST THE SERVANT, Brittany Swanson, from Lutheran Lakeside Camp will be at both worship services to present news and updates from the camp.

FOLLOWING WORSHIP at FLC on Sunday, September 22:

MONDAY: September 23

TUESDAY: September 24
9 am-3 pm: Blanket Making Party at CTS

WEDNESDAY: September 25

THURSDAY: September 26
9 am – FLC Quilting
7 pm – Slavic Worship

FRIDAY: September 27
Office Closed

SATURDAY: September 28

NEXT SUNDAY:  September 29
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