Redeemer Lutheran & St. Theodore

On Sunday, Jan. 21, the congregations of Redeemer Lutheran Church and St. Theodore of Canterbury Episcopal Church will celebrate the third Sunday after Epiphany. Bishop Murray Finck will return to the pulpit.

The churches meet every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at 13564 St. Andrews Drive in Leisure World.

This week, Carol Costello will be the reader and prayer leader. All are welcome.

The congegations continue to collect donations of canned and boxed foods for the hungry in the church sanctuary.

The first declaration of the Kingdom of God happens on the third Sunday after Epiphany “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near, repent, and believe in the good news.” Another version of the calling of the disciples from the Gospel of Mark will also be studied this Sunday.

Jesus’ message is the same as John the Baptist’s: repent and believe. Again, people are just dropping their lives and following Jesus. There’s no hesitation in the thought process for any of these people. Maybe it was time for a change for them. Maybe they were tired of fishing. Maybe they were ready for a new adventure.

The point is, Jesus calls each person in a unique way, at different points in their lives, for different reasons. Each of person answers that call in their own way. Some are called to change their lives completely. Some are called to live their lives more completely. Others are called to simply live lives of faithful devotion where they are and as they are. Believers cannot and should not judge which are better or worse; that’s God’s job. What believers can and should do is live their lives answering God’s call every day and helping others to do the same.