tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30272918738911113232024-03-13T02:01:19.864-05:00Faith Lutheran ChurchFaith Lutheran, a congregation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, is located in the heart of Missouri's wine country and welcomes all for fellowship and spiritual renewal. Come experience the bridge to life everlasting in the presence of Christ through Word and the Sacramental Life.Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-10529304280563933162023-01-29T10:57:00.001-06:002023-01-29T10:57:09.013-06:00<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Faith has merged with The Bridge to form A Bridge to Faith Church</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">A member of the LCMS</span></p></blockquote>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-52710891594364194222021-11-08T12:44:00.004-06:002022-01-05T01:06:19.136-06:00November Sermons<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/h-RF18nQUWQ"><span style="font-size: large;">Wait Upon The With Faith</span></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;">11/28/2021</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/Zl-B0gYqKcQ">Until Then, Watch And Pray</a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">11/21-2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/5YwvjGcjRSw"><span style="font-size: large;">Firm To The End</span></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">11/14/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/dvIHFFXNVv8">Saints By Grace</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">11/7/2021 </p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-56455856151263747332021-10-31T11:43:00.001-05:002021-10-31T11:43:06.698-05:00November Pastors Article<span id="docs-internal-guid-42800076-7fff-0c9c-7511-1f3876a8c5ce"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> NOVEMBER ARTICLE</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since the leaves this year seem to be late in changing, November may be more colorful than in some years. However, colorful or not, November has important days in the Church Year.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 1</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">st</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is All Saints Day, a time to remember and praise God for all those who have died in the Lord and now rest from their labors. We remember also our sainthood bought by Jesus’ dying on the cross for our sins. Now as both saints and redeemed sinners we are strengthened to serve Him by the power of the Holy Spirit. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Although not a religious holiday, November 11, encourages us to give thanks for all those who have served our country in the military over the years and presently. They have helped to preserve our freedoms, especially our freedom to worship our Triune God.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanksgiving is, of course, a national holiday but we in the Church take the opportunity to offer a Service of Thanksgiving to our Lord for all He has given us in our lives . We especially give thanks for </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God’s gift of Grace in Christ Jesus, our Savior. It’s sad that so few feel the need to attend this special opportunity. (The service this year is Wednesday, Nov. 24</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at 7:P.M.).</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The First Sunday of Advent is November 28</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> with special orders of worship for the four weeks</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pre-ceding Christmas. During this time as we look forward to celebrating Christ’s birth we also direct our thinking to His Second Coming and His coming into our hearts to assure us t of the peace that passes all understanding in this world of sin.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We hear this year that people should shop early for Christmas due to a shortage of material items for Christmas. Yet as Christians we recognize that the greatest Gift we could ever have is the Christ Child,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">our Savior, whose birth we celebrate and through Him we have the promise of eternal life.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I pray we will all look forward to and attend our Sunday morning Advent Services and maybe even our Wednesday evening Advent Bible Classes at 7P.M. (light meal at 6:15P.M.). Take time as you share plans for the upcoming season to share your faith with others through Word and action. Invite others to worship with you as you attend these special services. Show your faith and share it by the Holy Spirit’s power.</span></p><br /><br />Rev. James W. Rhiver, Pastor<br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"> </p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-49316370270205752021-10-03T12:12:00.011-05:002021-10-24T11:37:17.091-05:00October Sermons<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/ubSQtCpsjdc">The Faith Jesus Commands</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">10/24/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/VqepFfnb7Ts"><span style="font-size: large;">A Sabbath Rest</span></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">10/17/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://youtu.be/Tk_PMpr9e5w"><span style="font-size: large;">What Must I DO</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">10/10/20</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/-9aa5hIbV7Q" style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christlike Faith</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">10/3/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-83796835591747770102021-10-03T12:05:00.005-05:002021-10-03T12:06:37.781-05:00Pastor's October Article<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="text-align: left;">GRACE ALONE, FAITH ALONE, SCRIPTURE ALONE</span></p><p></p><p>It would be hard for a Lutheran pastor not to include thoughts of Martin Luther when writing an article for October. As you might remember, it was on October 31 – the Eve of All Saints’ Day – that Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the church door at Wittenberg so the scholars might begin debating issues that were in conflict with Scripture, thus starting the REFORMATION.</p><p></p><p>Luther continued to find evidence in Holy Scripture that the Church in his day was not consistent with Scripture. Finally at the Diet (Meeting) at Worms some years later, Luther was challenged to recant (take back) his writings. Paraphrasing his response Luther said that unless he could be proven wrong- by Scripture, he would not recant.</p><p></p><p>Since that time a basic premise of our church has been that we are saved by “Grace alone, by Faith alone and by Scripture alone.” Unfortunately, many Lutherans today do not take the time to really study Scripture. This is evident even at Faith Lutheran Church where Bible class attendance is certainly low (in spite of the addition of donuts and coffee every Sunday morning). It would be interesting to know why people do not want to study God’s Word more. We always give opportunities to pick what book of the Bible or topic members would like to discuss or find answers for. We read what God says in His Word, talk about what it means and apply it to present day problems or concerns. Whatever is studied from His Word, God has promised to build our faith through it as the Holy Spirit works through the Word. It changes our hearts and helps to remind us that we can learn from other times, people and circumstances. The Bible is God’s “love letter” to each one of us.</p><p></p><p>At this time we are studying Micah – one of the shorter books of the Bible which contains the prophecy of where Jesus would be born about 700 years before it happened. Its theme of judgment and deliverance by God are topics relevant today! You are personally invited to come to our adult Bible class here at Faith on Sundays at 9:15 a.m. Bring your favorite Bible or use one provided on the table downstairs where Bible class is held.</p><p></p><p>Rev. James W. Rhiver, Pastor</p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-54158543886347612152021-09-06T14:06:00.007-05:002021-10-03T12:01:59.187-05:00September Sermons<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/1PUPxiEkjdE">One Christ, One Holy Christian Church</a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">9/26/2021</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">No Video</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">9/19/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/lsGD4UzjiLQ"><span style="font-size: large;">Watch Your Mouth</span></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">9/12/2021 </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/wRgPORS3f2s" style="font-size: x-large;">Jesus Does All Things Well</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">9/5/2021</p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-30271107574612946552021-08-29T11:51:00.005-05:002021-08-29T11:51:47.672-05:00Pastor's September Article<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> CHRISTIAN EDUCATION IS FOREVER</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When I was a child, school always started up again in September after Labor Day. Times have changed and now most have already returned to classes –actual or virtual. In the church, we want to continue to study God’s Word so we can remain firm in our faith and grow in the knowledge of our Lord.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As Lutherans we have long been known as “a Church of Word and Sacrament.” This means that we take seriously the hearing and studying of God’s Word and understand how the Holy Spirit works through the</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Sacrament of Baptism and Holy Communion.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As babies we are brought to faith by the Holy Spirit creating faith in us through Baptism. Adults learn that we receive the blessings of Baptism when we believe, then we want to be baptized as it says in John 3:16, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.” We believe that we have participated in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Holy Communion, the effect is similar.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In the Old Testament God introduced the Passover so His people would remember their deliverance from bondage in Egypt. Each year, yet today, they celebrate the Passover with the attitude that they, too, participated in that deliverance. It was at the Passover meal that Jesus instituted Holy Communion. He broke the bread to signal deliverance from sin and proclaimed “This is My body” and had them drink the wine that signified the blood that was on the doorposts so the angel of death would “pass-over” the Israelites. He said, “…this is My blood” of the New Covenant.” He told His disciples (and us) to do this often. Through Holy Communion we are to remember that we, too, participated in His death and resurrection and are assured of eternal life through His action.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Out of love for God’s Grace through Word and Sacrament, we want to take the opportunities to praise Him often and open our hearts to the Holy Spirit so He can continue to strengthen our faith unto life eternal. Christian education is forever.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rev. James W. Rhiver, Pastor</span></p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-51372532185444957912021-08-01T11:51:00.008-05:002021-09-03T00:37:41.503-05:00August Sermons<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/mwD5AQyfaEs"><span style="font-size: large;">Know Your Enemy</span></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">8/29/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/eiJoirqx81A">True Christians In Christ</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">8/22/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/WHaK2uGRC74"><span style="font-size: large;">Lord To Whom Shall We Go</span></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">8/15/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/8z2oPe_ZPYg">Made New Each Day</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">8/8/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/h8NNhjmp-vE"><span style="font-size: large;">Unity In Christ</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">8/1/2021</p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-16994227142644150442021-07-24T01:36:00.003-05:002021-07-24T01:41:34.104-05:00Pastor's August Article<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">WHY WORSHIP?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">Following the resurrection, the early Christians were very anxious to be with fellow believers. They had a faith and hope they never realized previously. No longer did they feel the oppressive nature of the Law. Saved by grace they looked forward to the day when Jesus would return or at least at their death, they knew the promise of eternal life with Him. Later, during the periods of persecution they would even meet in secret, hiding and worshipping in the catacombs (burial places for the dead) so the Romans would not disrupt their worship and put them to death.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">Moving much later to the period following the Reformation (1500’s) our early Lutheran ancestors took seriously salvation by grace alone and faced persecution again, but the church grew stronger. Later in the 1800’s when rationalism became prevalent in the European countries our Missouri Synod founders fled Germany and came to America to be able to establish communities centered on worship of pure Scriptural principles. Worship was strong as each community sacrificed to see that churches were built to come together and praise and receive strength in Word and Sacrament. Schools were built also so that the next generation would learn what God’s Word said. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">Our Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, of which Faith is a member, remained very active in maintaining strong worship practices into the 50’s and 60’s. As a child I can remember large attendance at worship, even Advent, Lenten and Easter Sunrise Services. Special services outside the local church such as Mission Festivals and Reformation services and special Circuit and District services were fostered and well-attended.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">But much of that has severely dwindled. Affluence, outside activities, and pleasures of this world have had a crucial effect on worship. God’s Word says: “Seek first the Kingdom of God.” I believe we need to pray fervently that God’s grace will help our society and our personal attitudes to realize the need to continue to worship our Creator and Redeemer. That His Holy Spirit draws us to realize His steadfast love that we need not know adversity to return to seek His preservation and care. Help us personally to remember His words: “And let us consider how we may spur one another toward love and good deeds, not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">Rev. James W. Rhiver, Pastor</span></p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-22272024452343893372021-07-04T12:04:00.004-05:002021-07-25T11:35:02.481-05:00July Sermons<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/MZHWH8jQdtE"><span style="font-size: large;">God Strengthens His Church</span></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">6/25/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/xcEN5XGiOeI"><span style="font-size: large;">An Attribute Of God, Compassion</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">6/18/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/FHCWtP8x6Mo"><span style="font-size: large;">Praise God For His Grace</span></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">6/11/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/Dpyc1XDMbfg">Free To Speak In Love</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">6/4/2021</p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-76610993844290248622021-07-04T10:42:00.005-05:002021-07-23T22:04:53.623-05:00July Pastor's Article<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">FREEDOM
WITH SECURITY<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
recalled a statement by one of our nation’s founders so I looked it up and
found it was made by Ben Franklin which says: “Those who would give up
essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty
nor safety.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means so much to us in
terms of the tension between government power and individual liberties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is one statement very much debated in
today’s political scene.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">During
July much emphasis is placed on our freedom as a country as we celebrate our
nation’s independence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along with the
July 4<sup>th</sup> celebration we also want to thank God for our nation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our nation was founded on Judeo-Christian
principles - although sometimes flawed by human sinfulness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has certainly blessed us and we should
prayerfully strive to follow His will in showing love and concern for all.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In
spite of political ramifications or decisions by our government, we as
Christians, can be assured that we have both freedom and security under God’s
grace.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our
freedom is in Jesus Christ, Who died and rose, overcoming sin, death and the
devil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our security lies in His promise
that nothing can separate us from His love for us, even unto eternal life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God enables and strengthens us through all
trials of this life and gives us peace and eternal joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In faith we know He keeps His promises.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As
those made righteous by the blood of Christ - the new “Israel” we want to remember
what God said to the people of Israel at the time of Solomon’s dedication of
the new temple “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves
and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear
from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land,” 2 Chronicles
7:14.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rev.
James W. Rhiver, Pastor<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-71865383278017581052021-06-08T00:42:00.003-05:002021-06-27T10:41:33.518-05:00June Sermons<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="Christ The Word Of Life"><span style="font-size: large;">Christ The Word Of Life</span></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">6/27/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://youtu.be/hpHE-81cmO8"><span style="font-size: large;">Identifying The Christ</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">6/20/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/vxcQXM4AMVQ"><span style="font-size: large;">Always With The Lord</span></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">6/13/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/kmwqLMe_4X4"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Blessings Of Afflictions</span></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">6/6/2021</p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-62770508022834588302021-06-08T00:35:00.004-05:002021-06-08T00:48:05.979-05:00June Pastor's Article<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">PLANS, PRIORITIES AND PROCRASTINATION</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">June is here! For many it is a time to look forward to summer activities. As a student I always looked forward to summer vacation when we were free to go to museums in St. Louis, Forest Park, fishing, etc.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This year, for sure, there are many, who after months of COVID want to get out and do things. Things are really opening up, especially for those vaccinated; who know the fear has lessened for serious medical problems. It’s great to be able to make plans. Where do we start?</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As Christians we want to prioritize our activities. Scripture reminds us “Seek first the kingdom of God.” So this encourages us to include worshiping Him in our plans. If traveling, simply look at the week and remember to take time to attend worship so that the Holy Spirit will continue to strengthen us in our faith through Word and Sacrament.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">June is the month for Father’s Day, when we take the opportunity to honor our earthly fathers or father-figures, who in most cases showed their love and provided for us throughout our years. So much more we want to always remember the undeserved love and grace of our Heavenly Father, who gave His only Son, Jesus Christ to die for our sins, assures us of eternal life and is with us every day of our earthly life.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This summer don’t “procrastinate” – that is “Put off ‘til later” those plans for doing things you enjoy. God wants us to love the life He has given us. But, don’t procrastinate and put-off worshiping the One Who gives you all things</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">eternally.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I also want to especially thank the congregation for your many prayers of healing for Pastor Zastrow and myself after our recent auto accident on the way to Pastor’s Conference in Belle, May 18th which resulted in totaling both vehicles, braking three of my ribs, plus scrapes and bruises . We praise and thank God that His holy angels kept us from a much more serious outcome!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">--Rev. James W. Rhiver, Pastor</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"> </span></p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-77632177216226923172021-05-02T10:58:00.010-05:002021-05-30T12:07:18.300-05:00May Sermons<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> May Sermons</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/LfHVS3rfRjw"><span style="font-size: large;">One Triune God</span></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">5/30/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/gr-fGqrc9vI">Empowered By The Holy Spirit</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">5/23/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/fwDbsXLFeOE"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Christ Calls Us Friends</span></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://youtu.be/Gyrf1XuTRPY"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Christ Calls Us Friends: Part 2</span></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">5/9/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/T-hLogMnHOI"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Confident In Christ</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">5/2/2021</p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-35245424633263554982021-05-02T10:57:00.000-05:002021-05-02T10:57:11.836-05:00May Pastor's Article<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155905530 BCX0" paraeid="{2898ac1e-54e6-4ee0-9761-5687d425faf3}{161}" paraid="1823363733" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: center; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">THREE DAYS IN MAY</span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":2,"335551620":2,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155905530 BCX0" paraeid="{2898ac1e-54e6-4ee0-9761-5687d425faf3}{167}" paraid="1730831961" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: center; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":2,"335551620":2,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155905530 BCX0" paraeid="{2898ac1e-54e6-4ee0-9761-5687d425faf3}{171}" paraid="1909293985" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">There are three important days for Christians to take note of in May. The first is May 9</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-fontsize="14" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> – Mother’s day. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">On this day we give thanks for mothers (or others) that loved and nurtured us as we grew up. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Perhaps we still remember and hold fast to lessons learned and fond memories</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155905530 BCX0" paraeid="{2898ac1e-54e6-4ee0-9761-5687d425faf3}{189}" paraid="171397149" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155905530 BCX0" paraeid="{2898ac1e-54e6-4ee0-9761-5687d425faf3}{193}" paraid="657474615" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">A second day of significance is May 3oth, Memorial Day, when we pay homage to all those men and women, who served in the military, especially those who suffered or gave their lives to serve our country. We give thanks to God for their dedication and service to keep our nation free, especially our freedom to proclaim God’s message of salvation. We pray that this right will never be hindered.</span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155905530 BCX0" paraeid="{2898ac1e-54e6-4ee0-9761-5687d425faf3}{199}" paraid="1571515515" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155905530 BCX0" paraeid="{2898ac1e-54e6-4ee0-9761-5687d425faf3}{203}" paraid="507799780" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">The third day, even Christians often neglect or overlook, falls on May 13</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-fontsize="14" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> this year, As</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">cension Day. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">On this day, forty days after the Resurrection (Easter), Christ ascended into heaven to sit on the right hand of His Father, for us. </span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155905530 BCX0" paraeid="{2898ac1e-54e6-4ee0-9761-5687d425faf3}{217}" paraid="48969615" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155905530 BCX0" paraeid="{2898ac1e-54e6-4ee0-9761-5687d425faf3}{221}" paraid="1300036039" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Those forty days must have been awesome for His followers – seeing, hearing, even touching and eating with the risen Christ. Then He and His disciples went up on the Mount of Olives and He ascended back to heaven.</span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155905530 BCX0" paraeid="{2898ac1e-54e6-4ee0-9761-5687d425faf3}{227}" paraid="1778755593" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155905530 BCX0" paraeid="{2898ac1e-54e6-4ee0-9761-5687d425faf3}{231}" paraid="877577050" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">The words He said were for all Christians - -Go, baptize, preach. “I will send the Holy Spirit to strengthen</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> you” “I will also be with you always.” These words give us both power and comfort plus the commission to share His salvation with the world.</span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155905530 BCX0" paraeid="{2898ac1e-54e6-4ee0-9761-5687d425faf3}{239}" paraid="1513733091" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155905530 BCX0" paraeid="{2898ac1e-54e6-4ee0-9761-5687d425faf3}{243}" paraid="45224479" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Added to the above is the promise that He will come again to judge the world and the assurance that we will be with Him in </span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">heave</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">n</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">. What a joyful event to look forward to.</span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155905530 BCX0" paraeid="{2898ac1e-54e6-4ee0-9761-5687d425faf3}{255}" paraid="1103688598" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155905530 BCX0" paraeid="{3ef9ca0c-f1e0-470a-ae1b-fd005d5d8c08}{4}" paraid="1556681093" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Although we will celebrate His Ascension on Sunday, the 16</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-fontsize="14" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, you </span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">may also enjoy the special Ascension Service for the Washington Circuit on May 13</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-fontsize="14" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> at Ebenezer Lutheran Church. (See note below.)</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155905530 BCX0" paraeid="{3ef9ca0c-f1e0-470a-ae1b-fd005d5d8c08}{22}" paraid="1923339244" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155905530 BCX0" paraeid="{3ef9ca0c-f1e0-470a-ae1b-fd005d5d8c08}{26}" paraid="2145080789" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I encourage you to attend our services here at Faith as we are weekly strengthened through Word and Sacrament.</span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155905530 BCX0" paraeid="{3ef9ca0c-f1e0-470a-ae1b-fd005d5d8c08}{32}" paraid="218862605" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155905530 BCX0" paraeid="{3ef9ca0c-f1e0-470a-ae1b-fd005d5d8c08}{36}" paraid="294370584" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I also want to extend my thanks to all of you for your thoughts and prayers during my recent surgery and follow-up procedure</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> am recovering very well.</span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155905530 BCX0" paraeid="{3ef9ca0c-f1e0-470a-ae1b-fd005d5d8c08}{50}" paraid="237481994" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155905530 BCX0" paraeid="{3ef9ca0c-f1e0-470a-ae1b-fd005d5d8c08}{54}" paraid="152872029" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Rev. James W. Rhiver, Pastor</span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW155905530 BCX0" paraeid="{3ef9ca0c-f1e0-470a-ae1b-fd005d5d8c08}{60}" paraid="1142631768" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">OUR INVITATION</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> TO WORSHIP AT EBENEZER, THURSDAY, MAY 13, 7:00 PM</span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">All members of the Washington Circuit congregations are invited to a very special </span><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: underline; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Ascension Service</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">—</span><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: underline; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">with Holy Communion</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">—at Ebenezer Lutheran Church (Port Hudson</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, Highway YY, Leslie, 63056) on Thursday May 13</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-fontsize="14" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> at 7:00 </span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">pm-DOWN BY THE LAKE-weather-permitting, </span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Ebenezer is celebrating its anniversary this year, and this service is a special part of that celebration.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">All choir members of the circuit congregations are invited to come early to practice at about 6:30 pm and then to join in </span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">singing in</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> four parts “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” </span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">LSB</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">686. Here is a line from stanza two: “Here I raise my </span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Ebenezer</span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. . . .</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">” And here we will raise our voices in a s</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">ong of thanks</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">-</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">giving for that which the Lord has so richly blessed us for so many years. This </span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 SCXW155905530 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">evening promises</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> to be a wonderful time.</span><span class="TextRun SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">”</span><span class="EOP SCXW155905530 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text;"> </span> </p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-18899982675604271982021-04-07T21:45:00.017-05:002021-04-26T00:12:30.471-05:00April Sermons<p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/Q4eJd1mYNVs">Our Shepherd King</a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">4/25/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://youtu.be/ZBGajVT6r5s">Getting Through Suffering As A christian</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;">4/18/2021</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/KS2Uyx1puHM">My Lord And My God</a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">4/11/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/f8I_FhaNmVY">Alleluia He Is Risen On Easter Sunday</a></span><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">4/4/2021</p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-83662926058410379352021-03-28T23:30:00.002-05:002021-03-28T23:30:27.774-05:00April Pastor's Article<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: medium;">EASTER – EACH WEEK?</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Since this is scheduled to be passed out on the first Sunday in April – Easter, this year, I’ll begin with our familiar, joyous greeting:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">P: HE IS RISEN!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">C: HE IS RISEN, INDEED!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the highest feast of the Church Year, the Feast of the Resurrection. Ideally, the Church would be filled today. Realistically, because of COVID, the attendance still may not be as large as past years. We pray that the down-trend in cases and the vaccinations of many will begin increasing attendance in the coming months.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Yes, it is important that we, as Christians, remember that every Sunday is a celebration of Christ’s resurrection. We want to take serious God’s commandment to not “despise teaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.”</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I remember often what my father said when I, as a youth, questioned going to church every Sunday, “God gives 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; we should take at least an hour or two to worship Him.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Of course we realize we can and should remember to keep Him in our hearts and lives at all times, even when not in church. However, formal worship is when we witness with fellow believers our faith and allow the Holy Spirit to strengthen us through Word and Sacrament.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As things begin to “open up: let’s pray that we all remember to also take the time to worship publically the One who has died and rose to assure us of eternal life.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Please allow me to close by changing the last word in a phrase from one of our hymns:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>“No question will be asked How often we have come.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Although we oft have wandered, It is our Father’s house.”</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> LSB 915, 2nd half of verse 3</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Rev. James W. Rhiver, Pastor</span></p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-63785462529707875432021-03-10T00:29:00.008-06:002021-03-29T00:36:39.933-05:00March 2021 Sermons<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/_tLv6a7-ftY">Jesus in Pilate's Judgement Hall Palm Sunday</a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">3/28/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/w1O3o5qr0V0">Jesus In The High Priest Courtyard the 4th Sunday in Lent</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/OaQ8pqRkI04">Jesus In The High Priest Courtyard Part 2</a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">3/21/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/9aKdMBbQ_F0" style="font-size: x-large; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;">In The Garden Of Gethsemane on the 3rd Sunday In Lent</a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/SM4pfjjVLUw">In The Garden Of Gethsemane on the 3rd Sunday In Lent Part 2</a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">3/14/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/ZYgveeVDmqs">On The Mount Of Olives On 2nd Sunday of Lent</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">3/7/2021</p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-41631565678347026652021-03-10T00:28:00.001-06:002021-03-10T00:28:19.110-06:00March Pastor's Article<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Coming Soon</span></p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-809890017219874702021-02-01T21:53:00.033-06:002021-03-29T00:08:20.247-05:00February 2021 Sermons<p style="text-align: center;">No Service - Weather</p><p style="text-align: center;">2/7/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">No Service</p><p style="text-align: center;">2/14/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/m-Rb1Ju9ChY">Jesus' Journey To Jerusalem the Ash Wed Service</a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;">First Sunday Of Lent</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">2/21/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/oJhlonpXkoI">Jesus At Bethany the 1st Sunday of Lent</a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;">2/28/2021</span></p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-80735894901039277342021-02-01T21:49:00.003-06:002021-02-27T00:52:24.209-06:00February Pastor's Article <p> </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: medium;">GOD IS LOVE</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As a child in grade school, I remember Valentine’s Day. Each year a box was decorated so we could place valentines in it for others in our class. Then on Valentine’s Day we would have cupcakes and other snacks made by parents, as we gave out the valentines. The “rule” was if you gave valentines you must have one for every member of the class so no one felt left out.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Even at that age there were some in the class that you may not particularly want to send a valentine to, but you did anyway. In those cases you usually checked carefully what simple message was on the card. Usually they were mostly general phrases anyway.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The night He was betrayed, Jesus gave His disciples the command to “Love one another” and in I John 4:8 we read, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” It is evident in Scripture that God wants us to love all people. As sinful humans this is a real challenge. People who offend us in some way or do evil, we feel are not worthy of our love.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Maybe we need to process our thoughts in a different way. Is it the person we don’t like, or his or her actions that we find offensive? I know it is hard to separate the sin from the sinner. Yet remember what we know as truth – “God hates the sin but loves the sinner.” Under the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives we are able to disagree and not condone the actions of others, but yet show love. We can remember to pray for those who do wrong, that the Holy Spirit will work on their hearts also. “God so loved us that He sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” and the sins of all.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Lent begins this month. Ash Wednesday is February 17th. Each Sunday following, leading up to Good Friday and Easter, our services will be special emphasizing the various places Jesus went before He was crucified. The season is a season of repentance. This is a good time to invite others to join us in worship. Continue to show love to others.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rev. James W. Rhiver, Pastor</span></p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-89940265717232521392021-01-04T00:05:00.007-06:002021-02-01T21:55:51.040-06:00January Sermons<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/UU8YMvilyrs" style="font-size: x-large;">Defeating Satan's Power</a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/rFl40qBhV2k">Defeating Satan's Power Part 2</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">1/31/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/DGd_wi8tEfs">A New Career As A Christian Part 1</a></span><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/YKpSLbd4-Y4"><span style="font-size: large;">A New Career As A Christian Part 2</span></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">1/24/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/97qY3hQYEv4">Jesus Has Also Called You</a></span><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">1/17/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/bOC7ZKuMhhE">Jesus Baptized, Why?</a></span><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">1/10/2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/v7jTBSSOxY4">God's Eternal Plan</a></span> </p><p style="text-align: center;">1/3/2021</p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-22034663456729675132021-01-03T10:39:00.000-06:002021-01-03T10:39:40.464-06:00January Pastor's Article<p style="text-align: center;"> <span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">A BLESSED NEW YEAR</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":2,"335551620":2,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; user-select: text;"> </span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{e9a6e18a-e05c-4b10-8f09-66aa4b99be75}{167}" paraid="1730831961" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: center; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":2,"335551620":2,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{e9a6e18a-e05c-4b10-8f09-66aa4b99be75}{171}" paraid="1193008773" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">At this time of the year my nostalgic thoughts often go back to my childhood. Although I was an only a child, we shared the same yard with five other </span><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">young</span><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> cousins. My two uncles and their families lived in a two family dwelling and we lived in a small house in the back. New Year’s Eve was when we all got together to “welcome in the New Year.” My parents and I would be the last to be there since we attended a New Year’s Eve worship service first.</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{e9a6e18a-e05c-4b10-8f09-66aa4b99be75}{181}" paraid="171397149" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{e9a6e18a-e05c-4b10-8f09-66aa4b99be75}{186}" paraid="451191991" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">The evening consisted of playing games like Monopoly, Sorry, or Canasta</span><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> until midnight. At midnight it was traditional to make a lot of noise. We would have noisemakers and my uncles would shoot a gun or two in the back yard. Everyone would hug and kiss and wish each other “Happy New Year” after which we would have sandwiches, etc., talk a little and go back to our own homes around one or two A.M. This was in the distant past. </span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{e9a6e18a-e05c-4b10-8f09-66aa4b99be75}{194}" paraid="1571515515" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{e9a6e18a-e05c-4b10-8f09-66aa4b99be75}{198}" paraid="1648219026" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">This year is far removed from family parties and get-togethers </span><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">due to the pandemic. </span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{e9a6e18a-e05c-4b10-8f09-66aa4b99be75}{206}" paraid="1222728581" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">But, the New Year of 2021 is certainly upon us a</span><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">s</span><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> we </span><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">anticipate </span><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">what it may bring. As God’s people in Christ, we certainly want to trust in Him to be with us and know we have His promise of strength and peace. With that hope, I share with</span><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> you a song</span><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">/</span><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> prayer that I wrote:</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{e9a6e18a-e05c-4b10-8f09-66aa4b99be75}{226}" paraid="48969615" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{e9a6e18a-e05c-4b10-8f09-66aa4b99be75}{230}" paraid="219423903" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">A PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":720,"335559731":720,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{e9a6e18a-e05c-4b10-8f09-66aa4b99be75}{236}" paraid="1778755593" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{e9a6e18a-e05c-4b10-8f09-66aa4b99be75}{240}" paraid="1275728993" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">We ask you, Lord, for Your blessings in the new year.</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":720,"335559731":720,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{e9a6e18a-e05c-4b10-8f09-66aa4b99be75}{246}" paraid="1076459640" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Keep us and all we love within Your grace,</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":720,"335559731":720,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{e9a6e18a-e05c-4b10-8f09-66aa4b99be75}{252}" paraid="1957224972" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Guide us as we live to Your great glory,</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":720,"335559731":720,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{3}" paraid="1175555545" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Until we meet with Jesus face to face.</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":720,"335559731":720,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{9}" paraid="1513733091" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{13}" paraid="1305078625" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">We don’t know what the New Year will bring us,</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":720,"335559731":720,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{19}" paraid="1590705302" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Whether joy or sorrow, hope or despair,</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":720,"335559731":720,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{25}" paraid="1748685596" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">But we know that you will always be with us.</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":720,"335559731":720,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{31}" paraid="285831803" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">You promised we can cast on You our care,</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":720,"335559731":720,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{37}" paraid="1103688598" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{41}" paraid="757038549" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Because of Jesus’ dying and His rising</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":720,"335559731":720,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{47}" paraid="573138647" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Our sins have all been washed away.</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":720,"335559731":720,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{53}" paraid="336231615" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Eternity’s been promised for the faithful</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":720,"335559731":720,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{59}" paraid="858796149" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">And we will go to live with Him someday.</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":720,"335559731":720,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{83}" paraid="1611013708" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{87}" paraid="658285508" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Although we often fail to love, or remember</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":720,"335559731":720,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{93}" paraid="446156847" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">To follow Your guidance and Your will.</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":720,"335559731":720,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{99}" paraid="479069044" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">In repentance we can turn back to Your love,</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":720,"335559731":720,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{105}" paraid="1888744460" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">And Your grace opens up to us still.</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":720,"335559731":720,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{111}" paraid="1156251036" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{115}" paraid="533962720" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">All glory to the Father, Son and Spirit,</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":720,"335559731":720,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{121}" paraid="1471272028" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">All glory to the great Three in One.</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":720,"335559731":720,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{127}" paraid="374355217" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">All we ask for in the New Year</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":720,"335559731":720,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{133}" paraid="707447085" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-indent: 48px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">In great faith, Thy will be done.</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":720,"335559731":720,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{139}" paraid="1268045221" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{143}" paraid="152872029" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Rev. James W. Rhiver, Pastor</span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW34800950" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW34800950 BCX0" paraeid="{34087e4d-e3a1-4e09-afe6-84271a492f47}{149}" paraid="1039058537" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW34800950 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW34800950 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":276}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 25.3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-41529594284352486042020-12-13T10:46:00.000-06:002020-12-13T10:46:03.346-06:00December Pastor's Article<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">REMEMBER
THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sunday,
November 29<sup>th</sup> is the first Sunday of advent which means the
celebration of our Lord’s birth is only four weeks after that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what preparations are you making to
celebrate?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What, not as many this year because
of the pandemic?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe not as many
family get-togethers? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a name="_GoBack"></a>For
the first time in our family our table will not be complete for Christmas
dinner, since one daughter lives in Arkansas and the risk of spreading the
virus is great right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe for some
it will promote a deeper meaning of what Christmas is all about – that “baby
Jesus” was born in Bethlehem.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Think
about it! Jesus’ birth also included some inconveniences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary was almost nine months pregnant when she
and Joseph had to make that trek to Bethlehem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Today the trip would not be much, about 100 miles, but then it meant
walking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Artists have pictured them having
a donkey for Mary, but there’s no mention of this in Scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a crowded Bethlehem, no rooms left
for travelers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s left—a stable,
possibly a cave? Scripture doesn’t say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was many years later that St. Francis of Assisi displayed the baby in
a stable. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scripture says that the baby
was “laid in a manger” following His birth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mangers were not only in stables, some were along the street or behind a
house.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
most important words of the narration of Jesus’ birth (Luke 2) is found in the
words of the angel to those lowly shepherds in the hills around Bethlehem:
“Today in the town of David (Bethlehem) a Savior has been born to you; He is
the Messiah, the Lord,” (NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In
that brief sentence of the angels is the assured joy of Christmas – the
fulfillment of all the O.T. prophecies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was God’s fulfillment of His promised Messiah, who would grant
salvation to all mankind, so that whoever believes in Him has eternal life.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Some
traditions may have to be curtailed, some visits may not happen, but God
provided the true miracle of Christmas - Jesus. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take the time to call a friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Call someone you haven’t seen. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Attend church if possible or watch a service
on-line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We plan to have a Christmas Day
service at 10:30 a.m. (masks and spacing) and on our web page at: <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:faithlutheran@blogspot.com"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">faithwashingtonmo.blogspot.com</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Above all else praise God, Who became incarnate (in flesh) for you so
you can have His peace in your heart as we face the problems of this
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will strengthen your hopes and
bless you with true joy as you remember the purpose of His coming. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Merry Christmas to each of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-- Rev. James W. Rhiver. Pastor<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Season’s
Schedule: (Masks and Spacing maintained)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sunday mornings – 10:30<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-- Special Advent Services (Nov. 29, Dec. 6,
13 & 20)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Friday, Dec. 25<sup>th</sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>--10:30 a.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>-- Christmas Day Worship<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3027291873891111323.post-67821065920400291222020-12-10T19:25:00.007-06:002020-12-28T03:24:54.053-06:00Dec 2020 Sermons<p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/5z-qBHSTIik"><span style="font-size: large;">The Long Arm Of Grace</span></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">12-27-2020</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://youtu.be/97Tf6wm25bE">The Word Made Flesh</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/SLfepdUmeXc"><span style="font-size: large;">The Word Made Flesh B</span></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Christmas</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/rrZhiNf6t0w">Proclaiming The Lord</a></span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">12/20/2020</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://youtu.be/NYIEIgxL7jk">Rejoice In The Midst Of Problems</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;">12/13/2020</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/blvM1wePtWs">Pray And Trust God's Promises</a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">12/6/2020</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08756577381347575754noreply@blogger.com0