Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and
utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account
- Jesus, Matthew 5

Be blessed with us this weekend!

This Sunday all adults and youth are invited to participate
in a conversation about children and youth ministries at MELC.
Please join us and contribute your input and ideas.
Children's Sunday School (K-6) will continue as usual.

Please note the start of a new prayer ministry.
Meet with us every Monday evening (6:30pm) at the home
of Jim and Barbara Peterson (405 N. Chestnut).

FRIDAY, January 29
2 pm Memorial Service: Paul Holcombe (Bethany Home)
Post game "5th Quarter" at the DeWitts - for all youth

SATURDAY, January 20
8 am Men's Bible Study
11 am Memorial Service: Willis Holwerda
2 pm Cappa Sorority Soup Supper

SUNDAY, January 30
8:15 am Senior Choir Rehearsal
9:30 am Holy Communion (ELW 5)
10:30 am Fellowship
11 am Sunday School for Children
11 am A Conversation about Children's and Youth Ministries
4:30 pm Rotary International Dinner
4:30 pm Ephesians Bible Study at Ken and Marilyn Sjogrens' (210 W. Columbus)
7 pm Senior High Devotions and Games at Messiah

MONDAY, January 31
3 pm Bethany Home Bible Study
6 pm Executive Committee
6:30 pm Prayer Meeting at the Petersons' (405 N. Chestnut)

WEDNESDAY, February 1
3:30 pm K.I.C.K. and children's choirs rehearse at Messiah Church
5:30 pm Family Meal
6:30 pm Confirmation
6:30 pm Adult Study (13 Apostles)

FRIDAY, February 4
6:30 pm Council Retreat, Villa Ro

SATURDAY, February 5
8 am Men’s Bible Study (Family Room)

SUNDAY, February 6
8:15 am Senior Choir Rehearsal
9:30 am Service of the Word (ELW 5)
10:30 am Fellowship and Time and Talent Fair
11 am Sunday School for All Ages
7 pm Senior High Devotions and Games at Messiah

Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church
Lindsborg, KS

^{Matthew 5:1}When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. ²Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

³Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

⁵Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

⁶Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

⁷Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

⁸Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

⁹Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

¹⁰Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account ¹²Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

What is your favorite beatitude?

Notice who the blessed are here: poor in spirit, the meek, those who mourn, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, the persecuted. Do you find yourself in any of those categories?

In the context of Matthew's own time, it seems likely that his congregation was experiencing alienation and persecution because of their stand to believe and trust in Jesus. How are you alienated from others or persecuted by them for your faith in Him?

Notice what the blessings are here: the kingdom of heaven (twice), comfort, the earth, being satisfied with God's righteousness, receiving mercy, seeing God, being called God's children. Do you consider these things to be blessings? Are they the things you value most highly?

Do you think the beatitudes are just "pie in the sky," i.e. a future reward for patient endurance in this life? If not, how should they be interpreted and understood? If so, how might this pie nourish and strengthen us? What things might it strengthen us to do here and now?

Follow Jesus with us this Sunday!

Our Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday at 10:30am,
immediately following worship.

Please note, we will not celebrate Holy Communion this Sunday,
but will do so on Sunday, January 30.

Look below for Sunday's gospel and
some questions to think about.

SATURDAY, January 22
8:00 am Men's Breakfast

SUNDAY, January 23
NO SENIOR CHOIR REHEARSAL
9:30 am Service of the Word (ELW5)
10:30 am Annual Meeting
10:30 am Movie for children
11:00 am Fellowship
6:15 pm GenX Bible Study at Apels'
7:00 pm Senior High Devotions and Games

MONDAY, January 24
1:30 pm Prayer Shawl Ministry at Swedish Country Inn
6:30 pm Prayer Meeting at J & B Petersons'
9:00 pm [BYMT]

WEDNESDAY, January 26
10:00 am Martha Circle at Betty Peterson's
3:30 pm K.I.C.K. and children's choirs rehearse at Messiah Church
5:30 pm Family Meal
6:30 pm Confirmation
6:30 pm Adult Study (13 Apostles)
7:00 pm Hannah Circle at Dorene Anderson's
7:00 pm Mary-Ruth Circle at Patty Karstadt's

THURSDAY, January 27

7:30 pm Worship and Music Committee

FRIDAY, January 28
Post game "5th Quarter" at the DeWitts - for all youth

SATURDAY, January 29
8 am Men’s Bible Study (Family Room)

SUNDAY, January 30
8:15 am Senior Choir Rehearsal
9:30 am Holy Communion (ELW 5)
10:30 am Fellowship
11:00 am Sunday School for Children
11:00 am A Conversation about Children's and Youth Ministries
4:30 pm Ephesians Bible Study at Ken and Marilyn Sjogrens' (210 W. Columbus)
7:00 pm Sr. High Devotions and Games at Messiah

Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church
Lindsborg, KS

Matthew 4¹²Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. ¹³He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, ¹⁴so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
¹⁵"Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles —
¹⁶the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned."
¹⁷From that time Jesus began to proclaim, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
¹⁸As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea — for they were fishermen. ¹⁹And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." ²⁰Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ²¹As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. ²²Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. ²³Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

How has Christ illuminated your way in the last year?

In what area do you need his illumination this year?

What is the first word of Jesus' proclamation? (see 4:17)

What is repentance?

What do Simon, Andrew, James and John give up to follow Jesus?

What is the difference between admiring Jesus and being His disciple?

What are the three areas of Jesus ministry according to 4:23?

Would you have followed Jesus in a similar situation? Why or why not?

Have you ever had to choose a difficult path in your work because of your Christian discipleship?

Behold, the Lamb of God!

Join us for Scrapbooking tonight!

Calling all men!
Join us for a good breakfast and a discussion about the gospel of Luke.
8am tomorrow (Saturday) morning.

Don't forget the Open House at the Apels on Sunday, 3-6 pm.
All are welcome!

Look below for Sunday's gospel and
some questions to think about.

TODAY, Friday, January 14
6 pm Scrapbooking

SATURDAY, January 17
8 am Men's Bible Study and Breakfast

SUNDAY, January 16
8:15 am Senior Choir Rehearsal
9:30 am Service of the Word (ELW5)
10:30 am Fellowship
11 am Sunday School for All Ages
3-6 pm Epiphany Open House at Apels'
7 pm Senior High Devotions and Games

MONDAY, January 17
7 pm Council
9 pm [BYMT]

TUESDAY, January 18
10 am Retired Church Workers luncheon

WEDNESDAY, January 19
3:30 pm K.I.C.K. and children's choirs rehearse at Messiah Church
5:30 pm Family Meal
6:30 pm Confirmation
6:30 pm Adult Study (13 Apostles)

SATURDAY, January 22
8 am Men’s Bible Study (Family Room)

SUNDAY, January 23
NO SENIOR CHOIR REHEARSAL
9:30 am Service of the Word (ELW 5)
10:30 am Annual Meeting
10:30 am Movie for children
11 am Fellowship
4:30 pm Ephesians Bible Study at Ken and Marilyn Sjogrens' (210 W. Columbus)
6:15 pm Genesis Study at Apels'
7:00 pm Sr. High Devotions and Games at Messiah

Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church
Lindsborg, KS

^{John 1:29}The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' ³¹I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel." ³²And John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. ³³I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' ³⁴And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God."
³⁵The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, ³⁶and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!" ³⁷The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. ³⁸When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" ³⁹He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon. ⁴⁰One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. ⁴¹He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed). ⁴²He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter).

Can you find six different names for Christ in the above passage? (two of them are translated)

Beyond the names, what are four ways Jesus is described?

What does it mean that Jesus is the "Lamb of God"? And why does John the Baptist emphasize that name?

Who are some of the people who have brought you to Jesus?

Who are some of the people whom you are bringing to Jesus?

Reflect on your own Christian discipleship. What name would Jesus give you?

"This is my Son, the Beloved,
with whom I am well pleased."
Matthew 3:17

Enjoy the pleasure of the Father
with us this Sunday!

SATURDAY, January 8
8am Men's Bible Study
9am Undecorate the Church

SUNDAY, January 9
8 am Senior Choir Rehearsal
9:30 am Holy Communion (ELW5)
10:30 am Fellowship
11 am Sunday School for All Ages
4:30 pm Ephesians study
at J & B Petersons' (405 N. Chestnut)
6:15 pm Genesis study at Apels'

WEDNESDAY, January 12
3:30 pm K.I.C.K. and children's choirs
rehearse at Messiah Church
5:30 pm Family Meal
6:30 pm Confirmation
6:30 pm Adult Study (13 Apostles)

THURSDAY, January 13
7 pm T.A.C.O.L. Board Meeting

SATURDAY, January 15
8 am Men’s Bible Study (Family Room)

SUNDAY, January 16
8 am Senior Choir Rehearsal
9:30 am Service of the Word (ELW 5)
10:30 am Fellowship
11 am Sunday School for All Ages
3 pm Epiphany Open House at Apel's

Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church
Lindsborg, KS