Dear   Friends in Christ ,

We  invite you to   worship where you will be graciously welcomed in the love and hospitality of Jesus Christ. 

Our purpose is to worship God together, share our faith, and spread the love of Jesus through service to all.

We've been a part of the growing Heath Community since 1965.  We are a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ( ELCA).

Here is an opportunity for all ages to grow, learn, share and celebrate the  love of God!  Come and See!

We hope you are inspired by our website and will want to come and join us in worship next Sunday.

This week's gospel message FOR

July 5, 2009

Fifth  Sunday after Pentecost

Rejection and Acceptance

Many pastors choose to be ordained in the church in which they were baptized or confirmed. They are confident that they are known, loved, supported, and accepted in that congregation. Their former Sunday school teachers will weep with pride and joy.

 Perhaps in his heart of hearts Jesus was expecting that kind of welcome as he embarked on his role of rabbi. Instead, the response of the people of his hometown congregation to his teaching was disdain. "Who does he think he is? We've known him since he was a baby in diapers; and we've known his parents longer than that. We remember picking him up and dusting him off when he was learning to walk and stumbled. We were there when he first began to talk. We remember the times he whacked his thumb with a hammer when he was learning to set a nail. What a smart aleck he's become!"

 This rejection, this unbelief, had a powerful effect on Jesus. "He could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them" (Mark 6:5). He lost his enthusiasm and his zest, however briefly.

 Fear of rejection can stop us dead in our tracks and thwart our best intentions. What if they spurn my idea, my help, my work, my love? The most painful rejections come from those who know and supposedly love us. Perhaps familiarity does indeed sometimes breed contempt.

 In the coming week, we should all take care not to reject the people with whom we come in contact, especially our family and friends. Spend time, make eye contact, smile warmly, and say "thank you" a lot. Despite sometimes experiencing the sting of rejection from those around us, we can be confident that God knows us, loves us, supports us, and accepts us.