“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32 When Simeon takes the Christ...

"And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb." Luke 2:21 Joseph obeyed God. The angel had instructed him to give the child the name Jesus because Yahweh would save His...

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they...

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer...

“But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they...

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In...

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1While Thanksgiving Day is not a festival on the Church’s calendar, it is central to the Church’s life. Thanksgiving Day may not be celebrated across the border in Canada or among sister congregations across the...

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”1 Thessalonians 5:18The person who taught me about thankfulness the most was not a pastor or seminary professor, but a young mother of two. As a new pastor, I visited this young woman who...

Rev. David Johnson February 17, 1951 – November 16, 2024 Pastor David Johnson, age 73, finished his battle with cancer November 16, 2024, and entered into his heavenly inheritance with the Lord. Dave was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on February 17, 1951, to John and Esther Dyer Johnson. After high school,...

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16“Songs of Thankfulness and Praise” is not just an Epiphany hymn, but also the joyful response of the saints to God...

Rev. Richard Ingmire January 29, 1940 – November 5, 2024 Rev. Richard Lee Ingmire, son of Helen and Forrest Ingmire, was born on January 29th, 1940, in Perry, OK. There, in a two-room Lutheran schoolhouse, he developed his faith in a loving God. His strong faith gave him a sunny personality and...

Lutherans for Life invites you to partake in its annual contest. From art posters to essays, with a variety of grades included, be sure to click below to check out this great opportunity! Grades 3–5 Grades 6–12 Class of '25 Seniors

“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe…”  Hebrews 12:28The Christian life is one of receiving from God innumerable blessings of body and soul. The primary way that we know God is through His...

"And he said, 'The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground.  He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.  The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in...

Rev. Gregory K. Smith February 8, 1949 – October 14, 2024   Faithful servant of the Lord, Rev. Greg Smith, went home to be with Jesus on October 14, 2024. He was born in Decatur, IL on February 8, 1949, to John William “Bill” and Lela Smith. He was a devoted husband,...

Hurricanes Helene and Milton have caused significant damage to churches, schools, and homes of members in the Southeastern and Florida-Georgia Districts. Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) trained volunteers are needed. Missouri District LERT Disaster Response Coordinator, Kris Schuldt, has deployed to North Carolina with other volunteers from across the country.

“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.  And some fell among thorns, and...

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:24 The Word of God does what it says, as we were reminded last week.  However, Christians who believe the Word of God are to...

Rev. Dr. Thomas “Tom” Baker September 17, 1945 – October 10, 2024   Pastor Thomas “Tom” A. Baker was born in Windsor, Ontario on September 17, 1945, to Albert and Theresa Baker. After graduating from Concordia College in Fort Wayne, IN with a Bachelor of Arts (1967) Tom attended Concordia Seminary, St....

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return...

“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like...

“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so...

“This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” Ephesians 3:6 St. Paul’s emphasis on togetherness in Ephesians includes the idea of Gentiles being “fellow heirs” or literally “heirs together” with Christ-confessing Jews. Sadly,...

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a...

Rev. Benjamin Charles Schumacher May 26, 1943 - August 30, 2024   Benjamin Charles Schumacher, 81 of St. Robert, MO, a Minister of the Gospel, passed away Friday, August 30, 2024 in the Aurora Health and Rehab of Rolla, MO.   Pastor Schumacher is survived by his wife: Elaine Schumacher...