The Ten Commandments aren’t complicated. In fact, you can narrow it down to just two: Love God. Love your neighbor. It sounds so easy, doesn’t it? But how often have parents wished they could just tell their kids what to do or not do and they do or don’t do it? It’s true in work, in families, even in church. Sometimes as a pastor I wish could just say: “Keep the commandments! They’re not hard!” It’s true, the commandments are not hard to keep. They are IMPOSSIBLE to keep! That’s why Jesus tells the religious rulers that all of the Law and Prophets HANG on the two commandments of loving God and loving neighbor. That word “hang” is used by Jesus on purpose. The Law actually says, “Cursed is everyone who HANGS on a tree.” Jesus is going to hang on the Law. On the cross, He’s hanging on the commandments that you and I have broken and in doing so, He is keeping. He loves His Father above all things to honor Him and die for sinners. He loves His neighbor—you!—by giving His life for you. Truly the Commandments are a gift. But we don’t see them that way as long as we see them as a way to be better than others or to be holy enough. Rather, redeemed in Christ, the Commandments are transformed for us into the wisdom of God which guides and directs us and shows us how Christ is living in us. The Law of God is good and wise! In Jesus. In Him, the Law is fulfilled and we are perfect and holy in God’s sight. That’s the gift we hear this coming week, the 18th Sunday after Trinity.

BONFIRE TONIGHT!
Come on out for our bonfire tonight! We’ll have it going a little before 7pm. We’re going to pray Evening Prayer and then enjoy s’mores, hot chocolate, and some nice, fall fellowship together. If you need a ride down the hill we can do that. If you’d like to sit around the fire, you’re encouraged to bring a chair to sit in. See you tonight!

LADIES GUILD CLOTHING DRIVE
Time to clean out your closets. The Ladies Guild is accepting bags of clean clothing (no socks or underwear), shoes, and kitchen and bathroom linens. Items should be put into 30 gallon trash bags and may be placed in the large box in the Rotunda. (Bags are available next to the box if you need to use them).

MASKS IN WORSHIP
We are currently wearing our masks during worship. At this time there is no restriction on capacity or seating arrangements. Please consider the well-being of your neighbor most especially by staying home if you have any symptoms of illness. As always, you can get in touch with me to request a visit if you can’t be in church. Thank you for your patience and understanding and love of neighbor in all of this!

LIVE STREAM INFORMATION
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.

Yep, just keep the commandments! Sounds so easy in theory. But with our sinful natures hounding us constantly, it’s an impossibility. So we don’t look at our lives in comparison with the Ten Commandments. We look at ourselves in Christ, who keep them perfectly and died and rose. The Law is fulfilled by Jesus for you!  We’ll give thanks to God for that! See you int the bonfire tonight and n the Divine Service!

In Christ,
Pastor Buetow

School Chapel