Redeemer Lutheran and St. Theodore

On Sunday, March 23, the congregations of Redeemer Lutheran Church and St. Theodore of Canterbury Episcopal Church will celebrate the third Sunday in Lent with Rev. Murray D. Finck presiding. He will deliver a sermon titled, “What Shall It Be…an Axe or a Hoe?”

The Communion and worship service gathers at 13564 St. Andrews Drive every Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

New members will be accepted at this week’s service. Those who are want to become a member should contact the church to let the pastor know and fill out the paperwork as soon as possible.

Fellowship will continue after the service in the Fellowship Hall, with coffee, tea, cookies and snacks for everyone. All are welcome.

The congregations continue to collect donations of canned and boxed foods for the hungry.

This year the congregations will hostLenten Reflections and Suppers on the Wednesdays of Lent on March 26, April 2, and April 9. The theme of this series is “CrossWays.” It is an exploration of the meaning of the cross from the writings of Martin Luther and will include discussion and sharing.

The Gospel lesson this week is from Luke13:1-9. During the third Sunday of Lent, believers have a call to repentance and a reminder that they need to bear good fruit. This lesson also addresses the idea that bad things happen to sinners—and even worse things if they are big sinners.

Jesus reminds believers about a couple of important things in his response: believers are not to judge others, suffering has a purpose and obedience to the will of God should be foremost in our actions. There is no limit to when the bearing of fruit ends. In fact, there is the implication that if that tree stops bearing fruit there is a very real possibility of it being uprooted.