A great feast was prepared! But no one wanted to go. Jesus’ parable of the wedding banquet puts it right to us: What sorts of excuses and other things keep us from wanting the Lord’s feast? For a time, we all had foregone that feast. Covid caused a fast from the Lord’s Supper for a time! That time is drawing to a close and now there is nothing prohibiting us from gathering in the Lord’s House on the Lord’s Day to rejoice in His gifts together as the Body of Christ. Or to put it another way, everyone come back! Jesus’ story is a good reminder that not just a pandemic can drag us away from the gifts. Our lives are filled with things that call for our attention and our hearts. There is only one celebration that truly matters in the end: the wedding feast of the Lamb! Join your brothers and sisters in the Lord’s house. Rejoice in your baptismal gifts, the Word and Absolution and the Supper of our Lord’s Body and Blood!  Only these gifts are true and lasting. As we return to one service on Sundays and things get back to “normal” I hope and pray that we’ll see you soon! And if you still have concerns, let me know and I’ll make sure to bring you the gifts wherever you are! The feast is ready! Come to the feast! That’s the Second Sunday after Trinity coming up!

SECOND SUNDAY – FISH OF MCHENRY FOOD PANTRY
Make sure to bring donations this week for the F.I.S.H. of McHenry Food Pantry. Remember that every dollar you give buys $8 worth of food to stock the shelves!

CHURCH PICNIC
Finally, some time to enjoy some fellowship and recreation together. Join us THIS SUNDAY AT NOON, down at the Pavilion for our Church Picnic. Bring your own food and beverages. Children are welcome to use the playground. We’ll have rides available to the bottom of the hill for those that need them. It’s going to be a good time getting together!

SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
Come on out and cheer on our Zion Zephyrs. They play Monday, June 14 at 6:30 p.m. Zephyrs vs. St. John’s at Township 1.

RETURN TO ONE SUNDAY SERVICE – NEXT WEEK!
We will be returning to ONE Sunday Service on June 20 at 9:00 AM. As always, Wednesdays at 7:00 PM is an option if you cannot attend on Sunday.

UPDATE ON MASK GUIDELINES
Beginning June 20 when we return to one service, our Mask Guidelines will be as follows:

• Masks will NOT be required in worship or Bible Study.
• Pews will no longer be restricted.
• Per CDC guidelines, those who are not yet vaccinated should wear masks.
• Anyone (even if vaccinated) who would prefer to wear a mask is welcome to do so.
• We will not check vaccination status.

As always, if you are sick or showing signs of illness, you are encouraged not to attend in person but watch via the livestream. And, as always, Pastor is happy to visit you with Communion if you are not able to attend.

LIVE STREAM INFORMATION
As always you can watch previous services or join us in person.

You can watch live and find recorded services here:
We stream live on our FACEBOOK PAGE HERE.

Our videos are also live and recorded on YOUTUBE HERE.

The simplest way to watch online (not live) is probably through our church’s website HERE.

The feast that Jesus speaks about isn’t just a one-off dinner party! It’s the “Feast of Salvation,” the wedding feast of the Lamb, the Communion meal of Jesus’ church forever and ever. In the Divine Service every week, we might call this a “rehearsal dinner” for the the Big Party that is to come! Jesus reminds us that nothing is more important or a greater gift than what God has prepared for us. Good, bad, wherever we are, the Lord has called us to be a part of His feast. This is the great scandal of the feast: everyone is invited; everyone has a place! For no other reason than that God is generous like that through His Son, Jesus Christ. See you in the Divine Service!

In Christ,
Pastor Buetow
Vacation Bible School!