Your Congregation Is Wonderful! Worship: July 7, 2024

Cover image: The Burning Tree: Tree on Fire. Doely, Noah 2004 Chromogenic print

What a joy it is to gather as God’s people! In this collection of people we know as a congregation, we are called, gathered, and enlightened by the Holy Spirit. In this collection of people we call a church, we are reminded the one holy Christian Church will be and remain forever. This is “the congregation of saints . . . in which the Gospel is purely taught and the Sacraments are correctly administered” (Augsburg Confession, Article VII, paragraph 1). As we remain steadfast in our witness to our neighbors to also gather with us in the truth of God’s Word centered on our Savior, Jesus Christ, we are reminded in the Gospel today there will always be those who despise the Word as even Jesus faced rejection in His own hometown. We continue to pray for softened hearts of others in this world, and we remain firm in the foundation of our faith served in both Word and Sacrament within this place.