Summer. That brings me to you. What will you do to make sure your faith doesn t whither when the heat gets turned up a notch?

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1 Concordia Lutheran "The wind blows where it wills..." John 3:8 Church July 2018 N W 3705 Harwood Rd., Bedford, TX : 10:00 a.m. Pastor: Rev Mark Lasch Office Phone: Sunday 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Summer Perhaps I ll have better luck this year, but I doubt it. The last 2 years in July the temperatures skyrocketed into the triple digits, and my lawn sprinklers malfunctioned leaving my grass parched, scorched, and withered. Bringing it back to life is a struggle. I ve always taken pride in my lawn! This year when I see my neighbor mowing his perfectly manicured grass as thick and soft as a carpet it only adds to my struggle I struggle not to break the 9 th commandment. A persons faith can be a lot like my lawn in the summer. God s Word says, in Isaiah 40: All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the L blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. That brings me to you. What will you do to make sure your faith doesn t whither when the heat gets turned up a notch? For me I just assumed my lawn would be okay in my absence. I believed it was strong and well nourished I followed a specific program to ensure its needs were met. Two days before we left for vacation God gave us the gift of rain I shut the sprinklers off. Last year Catherine, the boys and I went to Austin for a couple of days the first 2 days of triple digit temperatures. My neighbor Ben called to tell me that it looked like the new grass I bought was getting scorched. Being the good neighbor that he is, he put a soaker hose over the new grass and let it drink. Thank God for good neighbors! If your faith is anything like my grass then it needs to be watered. Taking the summer off from regular church attendance could put your faith in a perilous situation. You might assume it will be okay you might be right, but you might also be exposing yourself to conditions that could have a very harmful effect. Our faith is nourished in the Word of God. We must not vacation from a close relationship with Him. Having said that let me encourage you to walk closely with your Lord by being in His Word. If you are out of town why not find a place to worship? If you are at home come and nourish your faith with your neighbors at Concordia? Satan doesn t take any time off. He simply waits for an opportunity. Idle hands, empty hearts, be filled on the Word of God! E S

2 - LWML at Concordia... Please consider supporting one of the below ministries: NEED: Food and hygiene items can be donated at any time. The bins are in the Fellowship Hall just past the kitchen. (Fellowship Hall collection area) Mites: Coins can be brought at any time and placed in the LWML box located at the back of the sanctuary. This money will be sent to district. 75% of the money at district will go to Texas mission grants, and 25% will support international mission grants. Matthew 25 Ministries (prescription bottles): This organization helps with natural disasters by using items that are usually thrown away. We are collecting clean prescription bottles (labels removed) and other health care items (first aid supplies). Please place bottles etc. in the collection area in the Fellowship Hall. Lutheran World Relief (Postage Stamps): By selling cancelled postage stamps, Lutheran World Relief can earn money to send items like blankets and other necessities when needed in an emergency. Please prepare your stamps by cutting stamps from envelopes and leaving a 1/2 inch (if possible). Place these in the jar in the Fellowship Hall collection area. Questions? Contact Monica or at monicalindquist@hotmail.com From the Board of Christian Education... Eph. 5:20 Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything First off we want to thank all those who purchased Concordia Cash; we were able to buy items for N.E.E.D. and replenish the Corner Store. The children always have a good time shopping! Plans are underway for VBS; Saturday, July 28, 9am-1pm. The theme is Shipwrecked - Rescued by Jesus. Please register no later than July 20 the deadline for ordering T- Shirts! (To register your child and to volunteer go to: myvbs.org/concordia_bedford.) Have a safe and happy summer! CASSEROLES FOR CASH BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND FOR THE SUMMER!!!!!! Our teen youth group will be making and selling casseroles during the months of June, July, and August. Need an easy dinner idea while the kids are out of school for the summer or you just don t feel like cooking? Maybe you want to help out a friend, neighbor or family member by providing them with a meal. Order a handmade casserole to support our youth for less than you d pay to feed your family at a fast food restaurant! The youth will use any remaining proceeds, after the cost of the ingredients and supplies, for fun activities to do this summer in between their volunteer work. A sign-up sheet will be located in the hallway of the Narthex at the beginning of each month for two Sundays. Pick up of casseroles will be on the third Sunday of each month. All casseroles are frozen and come with an ingredient list and directions for re-heating. Small casseroles (serves 2-4) are $12.00 and large casseroles (serves 6-8) are $20.00.

3 Serving Concordia in July LAY MINISTERS: Mike Eskew and Justin Randermann LAY READERS July1 Gail Shepperd July 8 Jeanice Gerlikovski July 15 Kathy Nelson July 22 Alice Allison July 29 Diann Lasch N.E.E.D. Needs July 1: Canned meat (tuna, spam, etc.), Hamburger Helper, Canned Vegetables, Toothpaste, and Deodorant July 8: Peanut Butter & Jelly, Rotel, Refried Beans, and Toilet Paper. July 15: Canned Vegetables & Fruits, Condiments (Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo, BBQ sauce, and Razors. July 22: Canned Tomatoes, Pasta, Rice, and Beans, and Feminine Products. July 29: Sugar. Flour, and Cooking Oil JULY ANNIVERSARIES JULY USHERS Concordia is in need of volunteers for ushering. If you would like to serve in this way please see Justin Randermann. JULY BIRTHDAYS 4 Jack Finder 5 Vanessa Thomas 5 Hope Walker 6 Nancy Sperry 10 Valerie Andersen 11 Gail Shepperd 12 Scott Western 14 Benjamin Bush 15 Mike Eskew 15 Peg Trowbridge 16 David Nelson 17 Vincent Brossman 18 Noelani Hoffmann 20 Heather Finder 20 Susan Lindquist 22 Wilfredo Silva 26 Ruth Boucher 26 Conor Doyle 29 Jaron Luckenbill 1 Justin and Katie Randermann 11 Randy and Yvonne Lowke 16 Richard and Stella Hlad 30 Marcos and Sarah Veloz If we missed your important date please share it with us so we may update our records. We will be sure to get it in next year.

4 VBS 2018 START PLANNING NOW! Board of Christian education has begun planning for VBS Mark your calendar VBS will be Saturday July 28 from 9am to 1pm. This year s theme will be Shipwrecked, Rescued by Jesus! Registration begins now! To register a student for VBS please visit our VBS website at myvbs.org/concordia_bedford. You can also use this website to register as a VBS volunteer. We will need many volunteers to make this year s VBS successful. If you have questions about VBS or VBS volunteer opportunities please see Heather Finder or Roni Scheibe. Financial Peace University At Concordia Next Class Begins Sep. 10, 2018 at 7PM Class will be coordinated by John & Heather Finder. To register for the class go to: Membership and materials for this class can be purchased on Daveramsey.com If you have questions please reach out to John or Heather. Join us for the first class for free! Hope to see you there! LOOKING FOR MUSICIANS Would you like to use your gifts and talents to honor and praise God? If you, or someone you know, sings or plays and instrument please consider joining our Music Ministry Team. For more information, please contact Ruth Boucher at ruthboucher1@yahoo.com or

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6 July 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Important July Sundays July 1 Patriotic Picnic Blended 12:00pm Patriotic Picnic 8 9:00 am :00 am :00 am 7:00 pm Board of Christian Education 7:00 pm Church Council 3:30pm VBS Set-up 11:00am VBS crafting 9am-1pm VBS :00 am

7 Concordia Lutheran Church 3705 Harwood Road Bedford, Texas RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED The Windsock is a monthly publication of Concordia Lutheran Church, 3705 Harwood Road, Bedford, Texas entered as third class mail at the Bedford, Texas post office under permit number 37 as a non-profit organization. Staff Editor: Rev. Mark Lasch Publication Manager: Heather Finder Director of Distribution: Bruce Nelson Internet Webmaster: Heather Finder Cartoonist: Richard Hlad Concordia Lutheran Church 3705 Harwood Road Bedford, Texas Phone: (817) :00 a.m. - 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. OUR MISSION AT CONCORDIA Living joyfully in friendship, love and ministry Openly reaching out with the Gospel Visibly sharing the life of Christ through Word & Sacrament Encouraging spiritual growth and development SHARING GOD S LOVE & TOUCHING PEOPLE S LIVES