God Has Not Abandoned Us
This Weeks Announcements and Events
Registration for the GROW Conference has been extended to January 23. If you would like to attend the GROW on February 3 &4 in Houston, you may register at https://sc.wels.net/grow-home. The cost is $125/ person plus lodging. If you would like to attend, pleases also let Pastor know so we can plan a carpool.
The annual voter’s meeting will be held on January 30 at 11 am in the sanctuary.
Prayer Requests for this Week:
Ted Johnson – health issues
Sarah Sauer – health issues
Mike Knicker – health issues
Evie Schroeder – Recovering from stroke
Amy Pauers
Mel Murray – Fractured Vertebrae
Walt Zimmerman – Health Issues
Brianna (Mike and Alexis Wolosz’ granddaughter) – dealing with health issue
On Our Calendar this week
Tuesday January 18
10 am - BIC
Wednesday January 19
4:15 pm – Confirmation
Sunday January 23
9:30 am – Worship
11 am – Sunday School
For the sake of Zion I will not be silent. For the sake of Jerusalem I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth shining brightly, and her salvation burns like a torch. (Isaiah 62:1)
Did you know that God is not silent? He is the kind of God that works secretly behind the scenes, without you knowing or hearing him. God tells us in Isaiah that he will not keep silent, and will not be quiet. But there is a purpose to God not keeping silent. It is for your salvation and for your righteousness, as well as the salvation and righteousness of the world.
Though God’s people had sinned against him and turned from him, God had promised to send them salvation and make them righteous, even before he sent them into exile for their sin. But many felt like God had abandoned them when he sent them into exile. they felt as though God had deserted them becasue their land lay in desolation. But they were the once who had abandoned God. They had given their hearts over to the gods of the peoples around them. And God exiled them to turn them back to him.
Through our sin, we too had abandoned God. We rebelled against him and separated ourselves from him. Yet God did not keep silent, or turn his back on us. Instead, he sent his son into this world, as the one who brings our salvation and makes it shine like a bright light, like a dawn sunrise. Through Jesus we are made righteous before God. God has not abandoned us. He calls to us, and to all people so that all may know of his salvation and be rightoeus on the day when he appears again on this earth. Amen.
The song for today is “For Zion’s Sake” by Marty Goetz