readings for today Exodus 20:1-17, Romans 6:1-11 and Matthew 5:17-26 (lectionary readings can be found in the front of the hymnal on page Lectionaries xxi)

today’s topic I heard some great input regarding the bulletin layout and next Sunday I will make revisions. I was out of town for a few days this past week therefore I did not have the time to work on the new layout. I appreciate the congregation’s approach on this and other matters of the church. It is a good mark of a healthy congregation. Today in the Gospel we hear from the Sermon on the Mount about how we relate to one another. As I have said in other sermons, there is an old saying, “The character of an individual is how he acts before his bitterest enemy.” How baptized Christians interact with one another is not only addressed in the Holy Scriptures but is seen as a distinctive mark and character of a Christian. Today we hear about this in the sermon, how we act before one another and what it means to live as “church.” Also, I haven't been updating it lately but I will be actively adding to our Church's blog with sermon notes and the like again, the address is: http://stjohnlutheran bingen.blogspot.com/

In our prayers Wilbert Reinking (Adams Memorial), Brooke Conrad (home), Esther Selking (Parkview North), Fred Berning (New Haven Care and Rehabilitation), Eileen Zwick, Bob Peters, Herb Mailand (Woodcrest), Gert Deister (Woodview), Xavior Palacios, Marie Hobrock, Sherrill Peters (sister-in-law of Bob and Jeanette Peters) and Betty Schroeder (sister-in-law of Jean Uffelman and Jeanette Peters. We celebrate with Tom and Sonia Croucher on their 40^th anniversary. Our soldiers: in Iraq – Jason Sauer; Katie Tedeschi in Japan; Casey Holt in San Diego, CA; Garry Murdock, Jr. at Harrogate, England; Deb Chappel (daughter of Phil and Evie DeBolt) at Fort Sill, OK; Matthew Owen (nephew of Kevin Selking) at Camp Legune, NC; Daniel Ulman (grandson of Roger and Fay Koenemann) at Bremerton, WA; Nathan Shelton (grandson of Bob and Ann Thorn) at Camp Pendleton, CA and Chaplain Daniel Gard, in Louisiana. Shut-ins: Evelyn Aumann, Tom Aumann (Woodcrest), Velma Zelt (Regency), Deanie Holle (Concord Village), Donna Conrad (Huntington), Margaret Scherer (Village of Heritage) and Geraldine Buuck.

flowers in front are given to the glory of God in honor of Tom and Sonia Croucher’s 40^th anniversary by their family.

The SIXTH Sunday after Trinity 7/19/2009 EVENTS

hospitalization/outpatient If you or someone in your family is scheduled to go into the hospital or outpatient for any reason or is being released from the hospital, please call Pastor Dreyer at church or 701-0001 (Decatur). Due to HIPPA Laws hospitals will not contact us-so you must.

Summer bible class is held after services each Wednesday evening at 7:30 pm and will continue until sometime in August. Bring your family and friends. All ages are welcome and encouraged to attend.

adult catechesis classes are being held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-8:00 pm. All members wanting a refresher course are also welcome to attend.

presentation today Pastor Dreyer will continue a series of presentations and discussions on “Lutheranism in a Growing Secular Society.” The presentation will be held from 6:00-8:00 pm. The presentation originally scheduled for July 26, will be postponed due to Professor Reverend Joseph Tom Omolo being with us next Sunday. Watch for the rescheduled date (possibly the opening of Sunday School. It is intended for anyone eighth grade and up and babysitting will be available.

Guest preacher/presentation On Sunday, July 26, Professor Reverend Joseph Tom Omolo will be our guest preacher at both services. He will also give a presentation after services from 10:45-11:45 am. Professor Reverend Joseph Tom Omolo is Chairman and Theological advisor Professor, Matongo Seminary; Chaplain, Matongo Lutheran Teachers College. He also is a participant in the forming of a Lutheran Service Book for Kenyans, the Kenya Hymnal Project. Concordia Theological Seminary is abundantly blessed with some of Synod’s finest liturgical scholars. Bishop Obare has requested that the Seminary support this endeavor to produce “a good Lutheran Hymnal with a Kenyan (African) touch.” We take his words very seriously. CTS is committed to assisting the ELCK produce a Lutheran Service Book in which the liturgy and hymnody are biblically and theological sound and faithful to our Lutheran liturgical heritage. Equally important is that we do not produce the hymnbook for the Kenyans. We will work with and support the liturgics committee appointed by Bishop Obare. Only then will the fruits of our labor be both truly Lutheran and Kenyan.

office hours This week the secretary will be in the church office Tuesday-Thursday 10:00 am-2:00 pm and on Friday from 8:00-10:00 am and 4:00-6:00 pm, and is available at 639-6178. Pastor can be reached at 701-0001.

NEWSLETTER ITEMS August newsletter items are due tomorrow. Leave all information in church office.

adult choir is featured today on Worship for Shut-Ins. They will be performing “Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me” and “Savior, Like a Shepherd, Lead Me.”

Youth Group The next meeting will be Pastor Dreyer’s presentation today. For more information contact Mr. Dicke.

cancer pads We will resume making cancer pads on Tuesday, July 21, at 8:00 am.

couples club is planning a get away weekend to Little Nashville for August 28-30. For reservations or more information contact Shirley Braun (724-7502).

thank you A special thank you to everybody who donated hot dogs, root beer and money, and to everybody who volunteered to work and make it a success. Thanks again, Evelyn, Faye, Virginia and Jean

lwml treatshop This year’s Treatshop will be held at Carmel Lutheran Church, Carmel, IN, on August 15, 2009. All ladies of the church are invited.

LUTHERAN STUDY BIBLE The new Lutheran Study Bible is available to preorder from CPH. A sample booklet with selections from the new bible and the pricing for all styles is available to preview in the church office. Stop by and check it out. A link to a sample of the bible in large print can be found on our blog at http://stjohnlutheranbingen.blogspot.com

Scrip Remember Scrip for any gatherings you may be planning. If you frequent Sam's Club, Walmart Scrip can be used there just like cash, along with your membership.

Wyneken office closed The Wyneken office will be closed Thursday, July 23 – Tuesday, July 28.

Volunteers We need some volunteers to help with some painting at Wyneken. We will start at 8:00 am on Friday, July 24. Also, we need some more help on Saturday, August 8, at 8:00 am to install the new playground equipment for the daycare. Please contact Mark Scheumann (639-6067), Mr. Timm at school or any school board member if you can help.

Building closed Wyneken will be closed from July 1-August 1, for floor waxing.

school Physicals Wyneken Athletics Physicals Day will be held at Wyneken on Thursday, August 6, in the evening. A sign-up sheet for times will be available at registration; do not call the school office.

school registration Registration letters were mailed to all current Wyneken families on Friday, July 10. If you do not receive your information in a timely manner, please call the school office as soon as possible, 639-6177. Registration will be held on Tuesday, August 4, from 3:00-5:00 pm and 6:00-7:30 pm.

Wyneken Golf outing Enjoy a great day of golf and win a Harley-Davidson Motorcycle from Ehlerding Motorsports/Ehlerding’s River City Harley-Davidson for sinking a hole in one! The 8^th grade class is sponsoring the annual golf outing at Cross Creek Golf Course on Saturday, August 15, with a shotgun start at 1:00 pm. Individual fees are $50 and teams of four are $200. Cost includes eighteen holes, carts, a great meal, door prizes, and a team picture. Please call Tim Ehlerding at 724-8760 to reserve your team slot. Support our 8^th grade trip to Washington, D.C. and have a great time!

Thrivent Tin caps night will be Saturday, August 15. Special tickets have been received by our Thrivent Coordinators. If you are interested in purchasing these specially priced tickets contact Glendolyn Rhymer (547-4712), Kathleen Krey (724-9554) or Alicia Kneuss (724-8549). Also consider volunteering at the Kids Against Hunger event (more information below). Since the game starts at 7:05 pm, the possibility of tailgating prior to the game is being discussed. Contact the Thrivent Coordinators for more information on this.

Help Strike Out Hunger with the Fort Wayne Tin Caps-on Saturday, August 15, 400 volunteers are needed to pack 100,000 meals! Two shifts are needed from 9:00 am-Noon or 2:00-5:00 pm. To volunteer, register online by August 3, at www.lutheransonline.com/rfo270.

Attendance last week: 8:00 am (153) 9:30 am (97) Wed. (31)

Calendar of the Week

Today 8:00 am Matins - 9:30 am Divine Service

6:00-8:00 pm Presentation on “Lutheranism in a Growing Secular Society”

MONDAY August Newsletter Items Due Today

TUESDAY 8:00 am Sewing Cancer Pads

6:00-8:00 pm Adult Catechesis Class

WEDNESDAY 6:30 pm Midweek Divine Service

7:30 pm Summer Bible Class

FRIDAY 8:00 am Volunteers to Paint at Wyneken

Sunday 8:00 am Divine Service - 9:30 am Matins

10:45 am Presentation Professor Reverend Joseph Tom Omolo from Africa

WORSHIP FOR SHUT-INS

“Worship for Shut-Ins” can be seen every Sunday on the new Comcast Cable Channel 19 (MY TV) at 8:00 am, on WPTA-TV21 at 6:30 am and repeated on Comcast Cable Channel 55 on Sundays and Mondays at 4:00 pm.

Psalm 19 (English Standard Version)

¹ The heavens declare the glo | ry of God,
and the sky above proclaims his | handiwork.

² Day to day | pours out speech,
and night to night reveals | knowledge.

³ There is no speech, nor | are there words,
whose voice | is not heard.

⁴ Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end | of the world.
In them he has set a tent | for the sun,

⁵ which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his | chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its | course with joy.

⁶ Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the | end of them,
and there is nothing hidden | from its heat.

⁷ The law of the LORD is perfect, reviv- | ing the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise | the simple;

⁸ the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing | the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening | the eyes;

⁹ the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for- | ever;
the just decrees of the LORD are true, and righteous alto- | gether.

¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold, even | much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and drippings of the | honeycomb.

¹¹ Moreover, by them is your | servant warned;
in keeping them there is | great reward.

¹² Who can dis- | cern his errors?
Declare me innocent from | hidden faults.

¹³ Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion | over me!
Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great trans- | gression.

¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable | in your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my re- | deemer.

And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.^”