St. Luke/St. Mark E-News
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost | July 19, 2026
READINGS
- Old Testament: Isaiah 44:6-8
- Epistle: Romans 8:18-27
- Holy Gospel: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
HYMNS
- Entrance Hymn: How Firm a Foundation | LSB 728
- Hymn of the Day: I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus | LSB 729
- Distribution Hymns:
- Hymn to Depart: My Hope is Built on Nothing Less | LSB 575
COLLECT OF THE DAY
O God, so rule and govern our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that, ever mindful of Your final judgment, we may be stirred up to holiness of living here and dwell with You in perfect joy hereafter; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
IN OUR PRAYERS
- In thanksgiving for who God is and for what He has done for us, let us pray to the Lord.
- For the unemployed that they may find sufficient work, let us pray to the Lord.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Sunday Morning Bible Study (SL): What is unique about Lutheran theology? Do ladders make for sound theology? Find out the answers to these questions and more at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning during Bible Study at St. Luke!
- Sunday Fun Day! Bad news! No Sunday Fun Day again this week with the voters’ meeting scheduled during that time at St. Luke. Mark your calendars for next Sunday, July 26, though, for more family fun. “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” Psalm 133:1
- Midweek Bible Study: The Intro to Lutheranism class continues this Wednesday, July 22, at 4:30 p.m. in the basement at St. Mark. We’re talking confession, the ten commandments, and absolution. Join us!
- St. Luke Voters’ Meeting: The St. Luke voters’ assembly will hold its quarterly meeting this Sunday, July 19, at 6 p.m. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend.
- A Celebration of Terry Terrill: Darlene Terrill is inviting members of St. Luke to her lakeside home at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, for a Shrimp Boil and celebration of her late husband Terry Terrill’s life. Bring your swimsuits, your appetites, and your memories of Terry. Please RSVP to Darlene today (Friday, July 17) if you are planning to attend.
- Vacation Bible School (SL): St. Luke’s 2026 VBS will be held from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m., Monday, July 27, through Friday, July 31. If your children will be attending or you are interested in volunteering to help, please speak with Michelle Bangel. A registration link is in the works and will be coming soon.
- Circuit 3 Forum on sustainable ministry: The LCMS Indiana District Circuit 3 LaPorte Circuit will be holding a forum on Sunday, Aug. 9, at 6:30 p.m. Eastern at Our Redeemer (1600 S. Heaton St. in Knox) on the topic of sustainable ministry in this circuit. Indiana District President Rev. Richard Stuckwisch will be present, along with pastors, educators, and lay leaders from all of the congregations and schools in Circuit 3. Both St. Luke and St. Mark have been encouraged to send as many lay leaders as we would like. If you are planning to attend, please let Pastor Gray know.
LCMS MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK
1 John 4:18: There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.
CATECHESIS: TEN COMMANDMENTS
As the head of the family should teach it in a simple way to his household.
First Commandment: You shall have no other gods.
What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.
Luther in the Large Catechism (I 28-31): 28 Let every one, then, see to it that he esteem this commandment great and high above all things, and do not regard it as a joke. Ask and examine your heart diligently, and you will find whether it cleaves to God alone or not. If you have a heart that can expect of Him nothing but what is good, especially in want and distress, and that, moreover, renounces and forsakes everything that is not God, then you have the only true God. If, on the contrary, it cleaves to anything else, of which it expects more good and help than of God, and does not take refuge in Him, but in adversity flees from Him, then you have an idol, another god.
29 In order that it may be seen that God will not have this commandment thrown to the winds, but will most strictly enforce it, He has attached to it first a terrible threat, and then a beautiful, comforting promise which is also to be urged and impressed upon young people, that they may take it to heart and retain it:
30 For I am the Lord, thy God, strong and jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me and keep My commandments.
31 Although these words relate to all the commandments (as we shall hereafter learn), yet they are joined to this chief commandment because it is of first importance that men have a right head; for where the head is right, the whole life must be right, and vice versa.
WORTH THE WATCH
An Outsider Visits a Lutheran Church: Ever wonder how a visitor feels when coming into one of our churches? In this video, a non-Lutheran stopped by a Lutheran church for a visit and the conversations and questions are both enlightening and fascinating. It is absolutely a must watch. Check it out today!
WORTH THE READ
Excuse me… you have a delivery! In Sunday morning Bible study, we’ve been talking about objective vs. subjective justification. Sure, Christ died on the cross, but how do I know that His death was for me? In his essay “Against the Heavenly Prophets,” Dr. Luther explains why we make a distinction between salvation won and salvation delivered and what it means for you. Check it out today!
IN THE (SL) CHURCH LIBRARY
Concordia Commentary Series (Matthew 11:2-20:34): Have questions about the gospel reading for this week or the sermon text from last? What’s going on in the parable of the sower? What about the weeds? Answers to these questions and more can be found in the commentary on the gospel according to St. Matthew by the Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs, which can be found in the church library in the basement at St. Luke! Check it out today!
WEEKLY CALENDAR
| Day | Time | Event | Location |
| Saturday, July 18 | 6 p.m. | Divine Service | SL |
| Sunday, July 19 | 8 a.m. | Bible study | SL |
| Sunday, July 19 | 9 a.m. | Divine Service | SL |
| Sunday, July 19 | 11 a.m. | Divine Service | SM |
| Sunday, July 19 | 6 p.m. | St. Luke Voters’ Meeting | SL |
| Wednesday, July 22 | 4:30 – 6 p.m. | Midweek Bible Study: Intro to Lutheranism | SM |
LOOKING AHEAD
| Day(s) | Time | Event | Location |
| Sunday, July 26 | 6 p.m. | Sunday Fun Day resumes | Winamac Town Park |
| Monday, July 27 – Friday, July 31 | 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. | St. Luke Vacation Bible School | SL |
| Sunday, Aug. 9 | 6:30 p.m. (Eastern) | LaPorte Circuit Forum | Our Redeemer (Knox) |
| Saturday, Aug. 15 | TBD | Potato Festival Parade Float (SM) | Medaryville |
| Saturday, Sept. 19 | TBD | Francesville Fall Festival Parade Float (SM) | Francesville |
ST. LUKE INFORMATION
721 S. Market St.
Winamac, IN 46996
(574) 946-3501
ST. MARK INFORMATION
114 E. Ridge St.
Medaryville, IN 47957
(219) 843-4251