Luke 8:4-15  ⁴ When a great crowd gathered and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable:  ⁵ "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up.  ⁶ Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture.  ⁷ Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it.  ⁸ Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold." As he said this, he called out, "Let anyone with ears to hear listen!"  ⁹ Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant.  ¹⁰ He said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to others I speak in parables, so that 'looking they may not perceive, and listening they may not understand.'  ¹¹ "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.  ¹² The ones on the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.  ¹³ The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe only for a while and in a time of testing fall away.  ¹⁴ As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear; but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.  ¹⁵ But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.

            It is now that time of year where Bible School preparation has begun.  This year’s Bible School will be better than ever.  First of all, the text for this year is the Parable of the Sower (above).  On top of that, we have so many children this year that we are for the first time going to have 2 classes, one for the older kids (elementary school) and one for the younger (pre-school). So, as we begin to prepare for Bible School (which is NEXT MONTH!!!), we as adults have to ask ourselves (and pray about it): “Where do I fit in?”  Not only is Bible School a great chance for us as adults to teach our children (see ELW Baptismal service pg. 231), but it is a great opportunity to also reach out to the community.  So again, how will you fit in?  We will need everyone’s help.  Currently, Carrie has the lesson teacher and some of the crafts covered.  However, they will need helpers, and we will also need individuals to prepare dinner each night, as well as be “floaters”.  Also, we need people to help with the music aspect and with decorating.  So please be thinking about and praying about where you will help.  Feel free to contact Carrie for more information.

In our prayers this week:  Ann, Gail H., Jane and Norm.