Lutheran Hour

Sunday:

KWTO (AM 560) 6:30 am

KKBL (FM 95.9) 7:00 am

KSCV (AM 90.1) 8:00 am

KSGF (FM 104.1) 9:30 am

KLFC (FM 88.1) 9:30 am

KRUM (FM 100.5) 12:30 pm

KNEO (FM 91.7) 1:00 pm

05/24/2020 SERVICES TO START ON May 31, 2020

Council & Elders: met on May 22nd to discuss resuming services and the church calendar for June. Grace will resume services on May 31, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 virus we are putting in new rules for service. Please see the back page regarding changes that will be put in place. We will have communion on May 31.

PASTOR: Pastor will continue to have time at the church. But the best way to contact him is by his cell phone which you can do at any time. (417-366-3597) If he doesn’t answer, please leave a message and he will return your call.

Prayer List: We will keep the prayer list current. If you have anyone or yourself that needs to be on it, contact Pastor or Charlie.

Physical or Spiritual Needs & Care Baskets & Food sources are avail-able in the community. Please contact Pastor or Charlie.

Thanks to All who sent their contributions to church to help with on going expenses. Click on “Give OnLine” to donate online. It’s very easy and you don’t have to set up an account!

Donations may still be dropped off at church with Pastor or placed in

the mail slot at the South entrance to church or mailed if you choose not to

attend service.

Communion: Anyone wishing to receive communion needs to con-

tact Pastor and he will arrange a time. (417-366-3597) if your unable to

attend services.

Elmer Lindeman: passed away at 4:06 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, at his home in Aurora. A graveside service was held at 11:00 a.m. for friends and family at the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora on Saturday May 23, 2020.

LINKS

Trinity Lutheran

Live Service: Sunday

KKBL (FM 95.9) 10:00 am

PRAY for the Week of May 24th: Jim & Alice Troyke Family

Peace, Shell Knob

Family of Elmer Lindeman - (Peace and comfort on his passing) Kay Heubel and family - (Friends of Diane French—peace and comfort on death of husband Paul) Tom & Renae Holmgren Family – (Friends of Jodi Wright – peace and comfort on Renae’s passing) Linda Schoen - (peace and comfort at the death of her sister Marilyn Larson) Devin Lindeman Family - (peace and comfort on loss of a child) Mercy Workers - (who are being furloughed and/or their job eliminated—peace and comfort) Luann Parks - (health and healing after surgery ) Corey Gregory - (Friend of Leah Henbest—health and healing) Christi Krueger – (Friend of say Clarissa Ehrhardt – health and healing) Teri Ediger - (Daughter of Cathy Munden—health and healing from recent surgery) Ben Schumacher - (Former Pastor—health and healing) Miriam Flores - (Daughter of Schumacher’s—health and healing from a fall) Mark Rosenquist and Gayle Rosenquist – (Brother and sister of Margaret Morrison—health, healing & safety) Rick Knutson – (Friend of Grace - health and healing) Linda Brandsma – (Friend of Betty Gordon – health and healing from cancer) Emily Parsons – (Niece of Bill & Joanne Michel - health and healing) Janice Hicks – (Friend of Ruth Stoddard – health and healing) Milton Johnson – (Friend of David Lampe – health and healing) Cindy Yang – (Friend of Kathy Holle - health and healing from cancer) Bill Oldfield – (health and healing after surgery) Sherry Oldfield – (health and healing) Kamryn Rockett – (Granddaughter of Jeeper Meyer - health and healing after a car accident) Karl Fritz – (health and healing) Ronnie Garoutte – (Father-in-law of Amy Garoutte – health and healing) Courtney Lynne Thurmon – (Daughter of Cindy Springer – peace and healing from cancer) Helen Springer - (health and healing)

CDC Guidelines to pre-

vent coronavirus disease

(2019):

Click on the graphic to go to the CDC website and below for

the screening steps web site.

COVID-19 Screening Tool Steps to slow the spread of #COVID19

Trinity Lutheran School in Freistatt is currently seeking a middle school Math/Science teach-er for the 2020-2021 school year. Located just off of I-44, south of Mt. Vernon, Trinity is an easy drive from the Springfield or Joplin area. The ideal candidate is grounded in their faith, has strong communication and collaboration skills, and loves to work with both children and adult peers. Trinity is an accredited school with an average of 12 students per class. Employees receive full health, vision, dental, and retirement benefits and a yearly salary. Call 417-235-5931 or email Amanda Moennig at amoennig@tlsfreistatt.org to apply by May 26. www.trinity1874.com.

First Reading - Acts 1:1-11

1In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach

2until the day

he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had

chosen. 3After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he

was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jeru-

salem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John

baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. ” 6Then they gathered

around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel? ” 7He

said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Je-

rusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. ” 9After he said this, he was

taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10

They were looking intently up

into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11

“Men

of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been

taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven. ”

Second Reading - Ephesians 1:15-23

15

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s

people, 16

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17

I keep asking

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and

revelation, so that you may know him better. 18

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened

in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inher-

itance in his holy people, 19

and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the

same as the mighty strength 20

he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at

his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21

far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and

every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22

And God

placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23

which

is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Gospel Reading - Luke 24:44-53

44

He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that

is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. ” 45

Then he opened their

minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46

He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah

will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47

and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will

be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48

You are witnesses of these things. 49

I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been

clothed with power from on high. ” The Ascension of Jesus 50

When he had led them out to the vicini-

ty of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51

While he was blessing them, he left them

and was taken up into heaven. 52

Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53

And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

Devotion

During this pandemic many of us have experienced being separated from family or friends or fellow church members. Even if it has only been a couple of months, we are eagerly looking forward to the time when we can be together again. Maybe in a very small way this can give us a sense of what it must have been like for Jesus when He returned home after having completed His mission here on earth.

We know from the Scriptures that forty days after His resurrection Jesus ascended back into heaven. When He ascended there were no bells, or parades, or banners here on earth. Only the eleven disci-ples were present. But surely all the hosts of heaven must have been excited. This was Jesus’ home-coming. Jesus’ ascension brought Him back home to the right hand of the Father, back to the glory and majesty which had been His from the very beginning.

Christ’s redemptive work on earth for our salvation was completed. Jesus had left behind all of the glory and splendor of heaven for one reason. He had come to seek and save the lost. To accomplish His mission, He had willingly taken our place on the cross, suffering and dying for our sins. And His resurrection on that first Easter morning was visible proof that He had conquered sin and Satan for us. Jesus was the victorious Lord. Forty days later the time came for Jesus to go back home to be seated at the right hand of the Father in the heavenly realms. In the Church Year Ascension Day was this past Thursday, May 21. It’s so easy to let Ascension Day go by unnoticed. Yet the ascension of our Lord is a very significant event both for Jesus and for us.

Christ’s ascension reminds us that Jesus is in control. Paul writes: He is “head over everything for the church.” (Eph. 1:22) Christ is in control for the good of all those who believe in Him as their Savior. I find that especially encouraging in the midst of this pandemic when there is so much uncertainty and conflicting information. No matter what happens in the coming months, we do know our Lord will still be in control and we can trust in Him.

Furthermore, Paul tells us, Christ’s reign is supreme. He writes, it is “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in this present age, but also in the one to come.” (Eph. 1:21) We can’t be sure exactly what all those terms refer to but Paul wanted everyone of every age to be sure that there is no one greater than Jesus Christ. He is and always will be the supreme ruler over the entire universe. And therefore, you and I also have cause to celebrate as we remember our Lord’s ascension.

And while Ascension Day is past, I encourage each of us to rejoice and give thanks for the Good News that our ascended Lord is still in control. And I humbly ask you to join me in praying that people all across our nation will come to know this truth and place their faith and trust in Him.

Prayer

Almighty God, we praise You for Christ’s ascension and give You thanks that He reigns and is in con-trol of our whole universe. Help us to spread the good news of Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension, and return to people in our community. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen

Guidelines for Resuming Worship Service at

Grace Lutheran Church

1. If you are ill, have symptoms of any kind or a temperature, please continue to stay at home until

you are well. Additionally, if you have concerns about your own health status, please use your own

best judgement. We are anxious to resume church but depend on members to not jeopardize the

health of other members. Sermons will continue to be available on line.

2. We will only have our 10:00 a.m. worship service. We will not have Happy Half Hour (Bible Study)

or Fellowship Time or Choir or Wednesday night Bible Study as we begin. We look forward to resum-

ing all activities at a later date.

3. We will ask everyone to stay upstairs. This will reduce the area that needs to be cleaned and sani-

tized after each service.

4. We will ask everyone to enter through the south door. The door will be held open by a gloved

greeter or propped open for people coming and going. The greeter will also be ready to answer any

questions people may have.

5. On entering the church, please use hand sanitizer and go directly to the sanctuary and practice

social distancing.

6. If you would like to wear a mask when you come, please do so. If you do not have a mask and

would like one, we will have some available for you to use. After the service, please drop the mask

you used in the basket to be sanitized. We will have large and small sizes available.

7. We will practice social distancing. There will be no handshakes or hugs. We ask that people visit

outside before or after the service and not in the church entrance where social distancing will be diffi-

cult to maintain.

8. In the sanctuary every other pew will be blocked off to maintain social distancing. If possible, do

not sit directly behind another family group. We have space in the pew for a couple and a single per-

son. The usher can assist if you want.

9. The entire service will be printed out in the bulletin. It will be handed to people by a gloved usher.

Hymnals will be removed temporarily to avoid having to sanitize them.

10. Offering plates will be placed on a stand by the door of the sanctuary rather than handled by an

usher.

11. We will have communion but only with the individual glasses. No common cup will be used. Peo-

ple setting up for communion will wear gloves and a mask in their preparation. In order to maintain

social distancing during distribution, the usher will send up one family group at a time. Pastor will be

on one side and the elder on the other. Both the pastor and elder will use hand sanitizer before com-

munion and will wear masks and gloves during the distribution.

12. At the close of the service, to avoid everyone being in the aisle at the same time, the usher will

dismiss people one pew at a time.

13. If you become sick after attending a service, please notify Pastor or Charlie so we can notify other

members who were in attendance at the service.

Guidelines for Resuming Worship Service at Grace Lutheran Church

14. The church will be sanitized before the next service by our cleaning ladies.

15. Until social distancing guidelines are changed, we will not be using Acolytes.

16. Mailboxes will not be used for the time being and communications will be by Email or US Postal

service. If you have Email but prefer US Postal mail, please let us know. Linda Myers will email do-

nations to those with email addresses. If you wish to receive a printed copy by US Mail, please let

Linda know.

17. The sermons will continue to be available through the web site or with the phone app. If you

need help, please let Charlie know.

18. If you need to use the water fountain, please use a paper cup and wipe down the fountain after

you have used it. Wipes are available for use.

19. If you need to use the bathroom, please use spray and wipe down the area after you have used

it. Spray and wipes are available for use.

20. In June we will continue to evaluate our options at church and inform you of new changes as we go forward. If you have questions at any time, please call Pastor or an Elder.