St. Paul's Lutheran

Bible Study
2022-11-16 19:00 - 20:00, 2022-11-14 10:00 - 11:00, 2022-11-13 09:00 - 10:00, 2022-11-09 19:00 - 20:00, 2022-11-07 10:00 - 11:00, 2022-11-06 09:00 - 10:00, 2022-11-02 19:00 - 20:00, 2022-10-31 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Vancouver) and 7 more dates | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 394 Shepherd Avenue, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9R 3X1, Canada
Bible Study returns beginning on Sunday, Sep 11th. WE continue a study of the prayer book of the Bible, the Psalms.

The Bible Study will be held in three separate sessions. If you are interested in joining, please contact Pastor Fraser for additional details. Studies are occurring as follows:

Sundays at 9am at the church – beginning Feb 6

Mondays at 10am at the church – beginning Feb 14

Wednesdays at 7pm on Zoom – beginning Feb 16

Loaves and Fishes
2022-11-15 11:00 - 12:00, 2022-11-08 11:00 - 12:00, 2022-11-01 11:00 - 12:00, 2022-10-25 11:00 - 12:00, 2022-10-18 11:00 - 12:00, 2022-10-11 11:00 - 12:00 | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 394 Shepherd Avenue, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9R 3X1, Canada
Loaves and Fishes is a Nanaimo area food bank that provides food for those in need. Food pick and registration is by appointment only. Please check the information below for additional details. Food pick up is between 11am and 12pm.

Divine Worship
2022-11-13 10:30 - 12:00 | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 394 Shepherd Avenue, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9R 3X1, Canada
Worship Service at 10:30am
PROPER 28C
(13 November 2022)

Malachi 4:1–6
2 Thessalonians 3:(1–5) 6–13
Luke 21:5–28 (29–36)

God’s Plan of Redemption Trumps Earthly Destruction and Violence

There are signs of the Lord’s coming all around: the cross that marks His Church, the violence and death of the sinful world, and the shaking of the natural order. “There will be great distress upon the earth” (Luke 21:23), but the faithful know that “the kingdom of God is near” (Luke 21:31). Therefore, “straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). Be awake and alert, and heed the words of Christ, which “will not pass away” (Luke 21:33). For you, “the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings” (Mal. 4:2). He sends His preachers of repentance in the spirit and power of Elijah “before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes” (Mal. 4:5), in order to “direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ” (2 Thess. 3:5). Although you are often faithless, “the Lord is faithful,” and by the preaching of His Word “he will establish you and guard you against the evil one” (2 Thess. 3:3). Therefore, “do not grow weary in doing good” (2 Thess. 3:13). In the midst of calamity, believe upon the Lord, Jesus Christ.

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Ushers:
Coffee Service:

Board Meeting
2022-11-10 19:00 - 21:00, 2022-10-13 19:00 - 21:00 | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 394 Shepherd Avenue, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9R 3X1, Canada
Elected members of the board meet for the monthly board meeting.

Malaspina Gardens Worship Service
2022-11-10 10:30 - 11:30 | Malaspina Gardens, 388 Machleary Street, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9R 2G9, Canada
Once a month Pastor Fraser and volunteers share a Worship service for members of the Malaspina Care Residence in Nanaimo. If you would like to help with singing, please come and join Pastor Fraser at the care home as singing voices are always welcome.

Divine Worship
2022-11-06 10:30 - 12:00 | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 394 Shepherd Avenue, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9R 3X1, Canada
Worship Service at 10:30am
ALL SAINTS’ DAY (OBSERVED)
(6 November 2022)

Revelation 7:(2–8) 9–17
1 John 3:1–3
Matthew 5:1–12

Saints Are Blessed in the Eternal Presence of Christ

“A great multitude … from all tribes and peoples and languages” cry out, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne” (Rev. 7:9–10). Faith-filled saints from every place and time with unified voices eternally magnify the Lamb of God. As His beloved children, we, too, “shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Joined with the throng of angels and countless saints, we shall “serve him day and night in his temple” (Rev. 7:15). In our earthly tension vacillating between saint and sinner, faith and doubt, sacred and profane, we earnestly seek Jesus to calm our fears, comfort our spirits and forgive our sins. The Holy Spirit, through faith in Christ, propels us forward, fortifying us in Word and Sacrament, to our eternal home. In the midst of our constant struggle as believers, we need to be blessed. And so we are. The poor in spirit, the meek, the hungry, the thirsty, the merciful, the pure and the persecuted are all blessed, and we will most certainly inherit the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:1–12).

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Ushers:
Coffee Service:

Divine Worship
2022-10-30 10:30 - 12:00 | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 394 Shepherd Avenue, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9R 3X1, Canada
Worship Service at 10:30am
REFORMATION DAY (OBSERVED)
(30 October 2022)

Revelation 14:6–7
Romans 3:19–28
John 8:31–36 or Matthew 11:12–19

The Son of God Has Set Us Free from Sin and Death by His Grace

“Wisdom is justified by her deeds” (Matt. 11:19), and the true Wisdom of God, Christ Jesus, the incarnate Son, justifies us by His deeds. He prepares His way by the preaching of repentance, but He has suffered the violence of the Law and voluntarily handed Himself over to violent men, that we might eat and drink with Him in His kingdom and “remain in the house forever” (John 8:35). For He is “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matt. 11:19), and He has rescued us by His grace from the slavery of sin and death. By the proclamation of His eternal Gospel “to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people” (Rev. 14:6), “the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law” (Rom. 3:21), “that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26). And by hearing the Gospel of Christ Jesus, “whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith” (Rom. 3:25), “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

Reader:
Ushers:
Coffee Service:

Divine Worship
2022-10-23 10:30 - 12:00 | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 394 Shepherd Avenue, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9R 3X1, Canada
Worship Service at 10:30am
PROPER 25C
(23 October 2022)

Genesis 4:1–15
2 Timothy 4:6–8, 16–18
Luke 18:9–17

In Humble Repentance, Faith Lives by Grace and Mercy and Is Exalted by God in Christ

Jesus tells a parable “to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous” (Luke 18:9). In this parable, the Pharisee unjustly boasted before God on the basis of his own merits, whereas the tax collector intently prayed, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:13). That poor, miserable sinner trusted Christ, and he went “down to his house justified, rather than the other” (Luke 18:14). So do little children, “even infants,” come to Jesus with their need, and they “receive the kingdom of God” through faith (Luke 18:15–17). For “the one who humbles himself will be exalted,” but “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled” (Luke 18:14). That is why “the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard” (Gen. 4:4–5). St. Paul’s life, “poured out as a drink offering,” was another sacrifice like Abel’s (2 Tim. 4:6). The Lord stood by Paul and strengthened him, that “the message might be fully proclaimed” (2 Tim. 4:17). It is by that Gospel message of Christ that we “have loved his appearing” and as repentant sinners pray to “the Lord, the righteous judge” by faith (2 Tim. 6:8).

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Coffee Service:

Divine Worship
2022-10-16 10:30 - 12:00 | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 394 Shepherd Avenue, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9R 3X1, Canada
Worship Service at 10:30am
PROPER 24C
(16 October 2022)

Genesis 32:22–30
2 Timothy 3:14–4:5
Luke 18:1–8

Faith Clings to the Word and Promises of God and Perseveres in Prayer

“Left alone,” Jacob wrestled through the night with the Lord, “until the breaking of the day” (Gen. 32:24). Though “Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him” (Gen. 32:25), he would not let go until the Lord blessed him. At times, we, too, strive with God; He strives with us and blesses us by grace. So Jesus teaches us “always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). Jesus speaks of “a judge who neither feared God nor respected man” and of a widow “who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary’” (Luke 18:2–3). Because of her persistence, the judge agreed to “give her justice” (Luke 18:5). Our Lord dispenses justice generously and swiftly, giving “justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night” (Luke 18:7). He does so according to the Gospel. Therefore, His ministers are to persevere faithfully in their vocation, in what they “have learned and have firmly believed” (2 Tim. 3:14). On the basis of “the sacred writings” (2 Tim. 3:15), they are to “preach the word” at all times and not lose heart (2 Tim. 4:2).

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Ushers:
Coffee Service:

Divine Worship
2022-10-09 10:30 - 12:00 | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 394 Shepherd Avenue, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9R 3X1, Canada
Worship Service at 10:30am

Coffee Service: Refreshments served after Worship
