Summer is arriving quickly. Gardens are growing, vacation plans are being made, and the days are becoming hotter and longer. Here at Grace, we see that especially in Katie’s Garden. Every year there is the challenge of keeping plants properly watered. Without water, plants quickly wither under the summer heat. With proper nourishment, however, the garden flourishes and produces blessings for others.
In John 7, Jesus gives this beautiful invitation: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” Our Lord is speaking about the deep spiritual thirst that exists within every human heart. People search for peace and satisfaction in many places, yet only Christ can truly satisfy the soul. Through His Word and Sacraments, Jesus gives the living water of forgiveness, peace, comfort, and eternal life.
That reminder is important during the busy summer months. Schedules change, vacations happen, and routines are interrupted, but our need for Christ remains. The Holy Spirit continues to strengthen and refresh God’s people through the steady gifts of Word and Sacrament.
June will be a joyful and busy month here at Grace Lutheran Church. Vacation Bible School will take place June 15–19 as we gather children together around God’s Word and the saving love of Jesus Christ. We pray that through the teaching of Scripture, songs, crafts, and fellowship, the Holy Spirit will continue planting and strengthening faith in young hearts.
As we celebrate Father’s Day this month, we give thanks for faithful Christian fathers, grandfathers, and men who serve as examples of Christian love and leadership. In a world that often mistakes strength for selfishness or power, Christian men are called to reflect the sacrificial love of Christ through patience, humility, forgiveness, and faithful care for those entrusted to them. I’d also like to invite the men of Grace to join “The Forge”, our new men’s group, which meets on the first and third Saturdays at 12:00 noon. Together we encourage one another in faith, fellowship, and faithful Christian vocation as men, husbands, fathers, and brothers in Christ.
Early in June, we plan to begin our Saturday vegetable giveaways once again. Those weekly Katie’s Garden veggie giveaways are a wonderful reminder that God’s blessings are meant to be shared with others. Just as the garden provides nourishment for the body, Christ provides the living water that nourishes the soul.
So as summer begins and schedules become busier, remember that our need for the Lord’s gifts never takes a vacation. Families travel, routines change, and calendars fill quickly, but the living water Christ gives remains just as necessary in summer as at any other time of year. Through His Word and Sacraments, our Lord continues to refresh weary souls with forgiveness, peace, and eternal life. “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.”
In Christ,
Pastor Al
Our mission: “Bringing People to Christ by Bringing Christ to People”