“Thoughts on Human Suffering” “Why do bad things happen to good people?” It’s a question we’ve all asked at some point.
1. There is no perfect answer to the problem of suffering. I’ve heard many “answers” to the problem of human suffering through the years, and I’ve yet to hear one that was completely satisfactory.
2. Some people suffer more than others. All people will suffer at some point in their lives. But simple observation of the world around us leads to the conclusion that some people have been through
3. Jesus himself suffered. Jesus was arrested, put on trial, and sentenced to death. He was beaten, whipped, mocked and ridiculed. Then he was nailed to a cross and left to die.
4. Suffering can be a barrier to faith. There are people (perhaps ones we know) who have suffered, or seen the suffering of others, and lost their faith.
5. Suffering doesn’t have to be a barrier to faith. Although some have lost their faith, suffering doesn’t have to be a barrier to faith. But it does require a degree of humility, perspective,
6. God is with us in our suffering. God doesn’t promise that we won’t suffer, but he does promise to be with us in our suffering. Jesus said, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
7. We can learn and grow from our suffering. None of us would choose to suffer. But when we do experience it, our suffering can (although there’s no guarantee) make us stronger, wiser, and
8. God wants us to depend on him in times of suffering. When we suffer, we have a choice. We can turn away from God and be bitter and angry; or we can to turn to God and depend on him.
9. We are called to support those who suffer. As Christians, we are called to love our neighbor. We are to show compassion for those who suffer and do what we can to alleviate their suffering and
10. There is no more suffering in heaven. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:18, “I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.”
+ Pastor Paul Kratzke
|
|||||||||
Worship Services Worship Services will be held on Sundays at 9:30 AM in July. Holy Communion will be served on the first and third Sundays of the month.
Schedule of Musicians Here is the schedule of Musicians/Singers for the months of July and August.
Sunday, July 5- Terry will play his accordion. Sunday, July 12- Lenore will play the piano and the Praise Team will sing. Sunday, July 19- Patty will play the piano. Sunday, July 26- Connie will play her guitar and the Men’s Group will sing.
Sunday, August 2- Patty will play the piano. Sunday, August 9- Eggestravaganza Service Sunday, August 16- Patty will play the piano. Sunday, August 23- Connie will play her guitar and the Men’s Group will sing. Sunday, August 30- Connie will play her guitar and the Gospel Group will sing.
Thank you to Terry, Lenore, Patty and Connie for sharing their musical talents!
Pastor Paul is preaching a Sermon Series this summer called “Epic Meltdowns in the Bible.” A number of Bible figures had epic meltdowns, displaying strong feelings of anger, fear, resentment, and bitterness.
Outdoor Service There will be an Outdoor Worship Service on Sunday, July 5. The plan is to meet on the front lawn, south of the parking lot.
The Women of the ELCA will meet on Wednesday, July 8 at 12:30 PM and on Wednesday, August 12 at 12:30 PM.
Bible Camp Blessing There will be a Service of Blessing/Presentation of Scholarship for Aubrey, the daughter of Spencer & Nicole, during the service on Sunday, July 12.
It’s not too late to register for Bible Camp! And due to generous scholarships, there’s no cost for members of the church to attend.
The Church Council will meet on Wednesday, July 15 at 6:30 PM and on Wednesday, August 19 at 6:30 PM.
Quilting Schedule There will be Quilting Days on Monday, July 20 at 9:00 AM and Monday, August 17 at 9:00 AM.
Music Under the Oaks Volunteers from church will serve the meal for Music Under the Oaks on Wednesday, July 29 from 5:00-7:00 PM at Oak Tree Park.
Church Golf Outing The American Lutheran Church Golf Outing will be held on Monday, August 3 starting at 5:00 PM at the Winthrop Golf Course.
Bayside Manor Service Pastor Paul will lead the Worship Service at Bayside Manor on Saturday, August 8 at 10:00 AM in the chapel.
Eggstravaganza Service The Eggstravaganza Worship Service will be held on Sunday, August 9 at 10:00 AM at the Oaks Pavilion in Oak Tree Park.
The Worship Committee will meet on Wednesday, August 12 at 7:00 PM to review summer services and make plans for services this fall and early winter.
Vacation Bible School- for students entering kindergarten through eighth grade this fall- will be held from Sunday, August 16 through
Blood Drive American Lutheran Church will host a Red Cross Blood Drive on Thursday, August 20 from 12:00-5:00 PM in the fellowship hall.
Financial Situation As of June 1, 2026, we have $22,375.10 in the General Fund. That is more than we often have at this point in the year, but our
Informational Meeting Friends of Sibley Area are forming a new Lion’s Club dedicated to supporting individuals with diverse abilities and disabilities.
**************************************************************************
Synod Assembly The SWMN Synod Assembly was held on Friday, June 5 at Saturday, June 6 at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter.
Bert Pautsch Funeral We extend our sympathy to the family and friends of Bert Pautsch who died on October 8, 2025 at his home in Brighton, Michigan
Ruth Lund Funeral We extend our sympathy to the family and friends of Ruth Lund who died on June 5 at the Good Shepherd Community in Sauk Rapids where she was
Harold Jackson Funeral We extend our sympathy to the family and friends of Harold Jackson who died on June 18.
Coffee & Treats Gathering for Coffee & Treats after Sunday worship is a good form of fellowship. Thank you to everyone who has served in recent months!
Lawn Care Thank you to Larry for planting and watering flowers, weeding and spraying weeds (and all the other projects he’s working on!) around the church again |
|||||||||
911 Eighth Street PO Box 176 Gaylord, MN 55334 507-237-2428 www.alcgaylord.com |
|||||||||
The mission statement of American Lutheran Church is: “to help people grow in their faith in Jesus and to live out their faith in daily life.” |
