Save the date
This year’s Vacation Bible School will be held Sunday, July 21 -Thursday, July 25, in the evening. The theme this year is “Celebrate the Savior”. We’re having a party – a party to celebrate the Savior – and you’re invited! It will be a fun-filled week of learning about God’s love. Of all the blessings God gives us, His Son, Jesus, is the biggest reason to celebrate.
Thanks to everyone who donated items for the Easter eggs. It is wonderful to have such a generous church family.
2024 VBS, “Celebrate the Savior”, has been scheduled for July 21 – 25.
Offerings for the second quarter from Sunday School and Adult Bible class will be given to Lutheran Family and Children Services of Missouri (LFCS).
We are looking forward to seeing everyone in Sunday School as we study God’s word together. If you would be interested in teaching a Sunday School class or would like to be on our substitute list, please contact Becky C.
Samuel Medley
I know that my Redeemer lives; what comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead; He lives, my ever-living head.
Samuel Medley was born in the United Kingdom in 1738. The culture into what he was born was fairly Christian but simply being born in a predominantly Christian culture does not make one a Christian. It seems that Samuel wandered from his faith in his early years and even wandered from home, joining the British Navy. The French and the British were at war during this time and Mr. Medley was injured in the Battle of Lagos. The Battle of Lagos was a resounding victory for the British but not so much for Mr. Medley as his leg was injured and he was told that it would need to be amputated if it did not improve. His leg did, in fact, improve the night before the operation was scheduled to begin. It seems that his relationship with his Redeemer also improved through this situation as well.
Upon returning to England after being discharged from the Navy, Samuel Medley went on to become a Baptist minister in and around London. He wrote some 230 hymns during his lifetime. As inspiration for the hymn “I Know That My Redeemer Lives,” Medley could have found inspiration in Paul Gerhart’s German hymn “Ich weiß, dass mein Erlöser lebt,” that repeats the phrase “Er libt” (He lives) several times. There were also other hymns at the time based on Job 19:25 that could have served as inspiration as well. In any case, in this hymn we have an Old Testament look at the resurrection set to a memorable and singable tune with bit-sized phrases.
With Job and Samuel Medley, we too can look beyond our current or past suffering and know that our Redeemer lives and that with Him our bodies and our souls will be kept safe.
Pastor Mehl
“To Forgive And To Cleanse”1 John 1:1-2:2