All our Neighbors' Needs

Last week, we contemplated the 4th commandment, reflecting on how the commandment creates order in our homes and between us and others in authority.  Today, we move to the 5th commandment, God’s command against killing, and wonder about how this commandment urges order in our communities.

It is no surprise that God is against murder.  It is plain to see how violently taking the life on another creates chaos, fear, grief, and loss – and how that pain ripples out across families and the community.  So, of course, God forbids killing like this in the 5th commandment.

But, as always, there is more to this commandment than, “don’t murder.”  As Luther explains the 5th commandment, our fear and love of God compels us to not hurt our neighbor IN ANY WAY.  That’s a serious expansion of the commandment.  If we desire to fix our disagreements through hurting another, there’s a lot of ways to get that done without actually killing them.  In fact, you don’t even need to lay a hand on them!!  So God with this command, God forbids us from inflicting harm on another in any way.

Instead, we are to help our neighbor with all his or her physical needs.  Now that’s a challenge!  I encourage you to make a list of what you perceive to be the greatest physical needs facing our community right now.  How might you serve your neighbors in helping meet those needs?

May God strengthen us to keep the 5th commandment in every sense that Luther explains it.  And way we be strengthened for the next few steps in the journey.

P.S. – Join us in the sanctuary!  If you’d like to join us in the sanctuary Sundays at 8:30am, sign up by calling the church office or visiting our website: https://www.wadenaimmanuel.org/sanctuary-worship-registration. 

Facebook Live, YouTube, and the Radio … and House Church, too – there are lots of other ways to be the church at this time.  You can watch our Sunday services on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/immanuelwadena/), watch our YouTube videos (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVMFQfq69KQTMX70_5fwARQ), listen to us on the radio (KWAD 920AM at 9:30am each Sunday) or participate in House Church (https://www.wadenaimmanuel.org/housechurch).

Fair Trade Coffee is Available

Selling coffee on Sunday mornings isn't a great idea right now, but your favorite fair trade items are still available during the week. We've set up a display in the kitchen with prices marked. Stop by the church building during the week and pick up anything you'd like. Fair trade coffee, tea, and chocolate make great Christmas gifts too! Make checks payable to Immanuel Church Women" and put "Fair Trade" in the memo line. You can drop off checks in the church office. Thanks for helping support small scale farmers around the globe!

 

Thank You Thanksgiving Dinner

All members of the congregation age 50 or older are invited to sign up for this year’s “Grab and Go” Thank You Thanksgiving.  This is a youth event to thank members of Immanuel for their generosity to our young people.  This is a free event to say thank you. The drive-through pick up will be Sunday, November 22 - 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Please RSVP by Monday, November 16 so we know how many meals to prepare. To RSVP: 1) Call church office 2) Register on Immanuel's website (wadenaimmanuel.org); or 3) Sign up on church bulletin board.  If you would like to donate to this event, the youth are appreciative of monetary donations which will complement the Thrivent Grant we received to purchase ingredients and to-go containers.

Check out our news page to learn more and for other important announcements: https://www.wadenaimmanuel.org/announcements

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