Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.  Matthew 4:10b

As the family was getting ready for a Sunday outing at the lake, the young daughter asked, “Are we going to church first?” “We can worship God at the lake,” Dad replied. After a moment, his daughter questioned, “But will we?”

As Christians, why are we to set aside a special time for worshiping God? Basically, because He directs us to in His Word. Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only (Matthew 4:10b). Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name … (Psalm 96:8a).

Making time to worship God is still our choice, so why bother? Truthfully the question should really be “Why not bother?” How can God’s people help but take time to worship Him? Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you (Psalm 63:3). For the Lord is good and his love endures forever … (Psalm 100:5a). Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name (Psalm 100:4).

Worship is more than a Sunday morning duty. It is a daily loving response to our mighty and loving God.

• Dear Lord, guide Joel & Amy Grulke as they both consider calls to serve our family of faith in Grafton and also to teach at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church and School in Delano, MN. We pray that you would guide them as they prayerfully deliberate where you would have them serve you. This week we also include Emily Platzer as we extended a call for her to teach part time grades 1-2 for one year. Grant both families the confidence that you will lead them to a peaceful decision in accordance with your will.
• We seek your loving care for Audrey Fischer, who now knows that the tumor is cancerous and she will need chemo treatments. Though this is a rare cancer it has a high survival rate, so we ask that you might grant a good response to the medicine and a continuing great attitude as together with Werner she learns how to deal with this new challenge in life.
• For Extended Family – Sincere prayers again for Armand & Ruth Goeden as Armand’s brother Ken has now ended his journey here on earth.  Carry this family, that has had a second loss in just a few months, on the wings of faith.  Bless all who knew and loved Ken with the assurance of your resurrection and wisdom even as you have said, “Be still and know that I am God – God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble.”   Psalm 46 selected
• We pray along with Jimmy & Alyssa Pautz for good news as diagnostics are done for Alyssa’s mom, Pam. They are going to be testing her liver for damage – so we ask that the Spirit might sustain her, give her medical options and allow her to feel better.
• We rejoice that Jon & Linda Hahm’s nephew, James Hahm, a teacher at WISCO who collapsed with a massive heart attack, has been stabilized and is not now in immediate danger of losing his life. Extend even more the already awesome testimony which has been shared by his wife Kari and five children, as they stood by him at the hospital.
• Special prayers go forward with Jeremiah & Jessica Backhaus for niece Lorian who has a rare form of childhood cataracts and will face eye surgery at age 10. We pray for clarity as J.D. & Jo make decisions for their daughter.  Bless the preparations and outcome that she doesn’t lose her ability to interact well and learn.
• Our prayers ascend on behalf of Mark Semmann who this past week donated a kidney to Lori to spare her life. We ask that you grant them both good health and a long future.

Hymnal project – Lord of hosts, we thank you for the gift of music through which many of the inspiring truths of your Word are so regularly placed upon lips. We ask that you bless the work of those who are currently working on the new hymnal project. Lord, may their work bring glory to you, and may the new hymnal serve to edify your church in the years and decades to come. Amen.