We, the members of the Genesee Lutheran Parish, in receiving God’s gracious gifts, are committed to be living examples of Jesus’ love by strengthening and encouraging each other. We commit to love every person and serve anyone we can through word and deed, following the example of our Lord.

Monday, February 20, 2017

Help us welcome Pastor Helsing and his family, Feb. 26th, 2017

Next Sunday, Feb. 26th, there will be a potluck during fellowship. Pastor Helsing and his family will be attending the service as visitors. He will not be preaching.

Pastor Helsing has agreed to be our supply pastor, both during the week and Sundays, through the seasons of Lent and Easter and beyond if needed. He will start on Ash Wednesday.

He knows we have a parsonage and asked about the use of that. He is aware it is currently under renovation. The council will take him on a tour during his visit.

I hope everyone can attend as we extend a Genesee Lutheran Parish welcome to Pastor Helsing and his family.

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Parsonage renovation work party



Here are some of the 20 people that helped with the parsonage restoration. Missing from the photo are Randi, Betty, Mary, Brent, Mark, Amy, and Connie. In two days we cleaned and painted the entire house, removed boxes from the attic, heavy items from the basement, church documents from the safe and front bedroom, and cardboard from the garage ceiling. Tasks remaining are installing new flooring (kitchen, entry ways, and basement), curtains throughout, light fixtures in the front bedroom, back door entry way, and basement, locksets (front and back door), and touching up the hardwood floors. We will also put in a new toilet, vanity top, sink, and faucet in the basement bathroom.

Spence Hardware has graciously given the church a 20% discount for paint, tools, and supplies.

As of 2/12/17 $1,352 dollars have been donated to the parsonage renovation fund. We have spent $1,027 dollars so far. Future major expenses include flooring installation, curtains, electrical outlet replacement, and an egress window in the basement.

Sunday, Feb. 19 Gospel

Matthew 5:38-48

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters,[a] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Footnotes:

  1. Matthew 5:47 Gk your brothers

Sunday, Feb. 19 Readings

First Reading

Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18

Ritual and Moral Holiness

19 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
2 Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. 

9 When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the Lord your God.
11 You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another. 12 And you shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God: I am the Lord.
13 You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a laborer until morning. 14 You shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind; you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.
15 You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor. 16 You shall not go around as a slanderer[a] among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood[b] of your neighbor: I am the Lord.
17 You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. 18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Footnotes:

  1. Leviticus 19:16 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  2. Leviticus 19:16 Heb stand against the blood

Second Reading

1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23

10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ. 

16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?[a] 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
18 Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written,
“He catches the wise in their craftiness,”
20 and again,
“The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise,
    that they are futile.”
21 So let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all belong to you, 23 and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

Footnotes:

  1. 1 Corinthians 3:16 In verses 16 and 17 the Greek word for you is plural