American Lutheran Church

09/06/2026

“The two ideas, justice and vocation, are inseparable.
It is by way of the practice of vocation that sanctity
and reverence enter into the human economy. It was
thus possible for traditional cultures to conceive that
‘to work is to pray’.”
~ Wendell Berry

Almighty God, by your labor you created the world and all that is in it, the world and those who live in it. You have connected us with one another and with the rest of creation such that in all we do, we touch the lives of others, near and far. Be present with your people in their work in a way that calls us to do our best, to serve the common good, and strengthen our bonds with one another. Give us a sense of pride in our work and grant just compensation for our effort. May we never succumb to the temptation of placing profits over people or compromise our values for the sake of gain or love of power. We lift up the unemployed and under-employed and all those who yearn for gainful and meaningful work. May those who are retired continue to find ways to enrich and contribute to community life. O Lord, in all we do, strengthen us to work with integrity and to use your many blessings in service of others and to the glory of your name. Lord, in your mercy...

09/06/2026

Time after Pentecost/ Ordinary Time
September 6, 2026

09/06/2026

Good morning! Today is the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost. In the appointed reading for today from his Letter to the Romans, Paul confirms that neighborly love is not a mere feeling but is carried out in concrete actions; that living fully according to the law of Moses grants a certain freedom, not to do as one pleases, but freedom to be the Christ-like disciples we are called to be…

Owe no one anything, except to love one
another; for the one who loves another has
fulfilled the law. The commandments,
“You shall not commit adultery; You shall
not murder; You shall not steal; you shall
not covet”; and any other commandment,
are summed up in this word, “Love your
neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong
to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling
of the law.
~ Romans 13: 8 – 10

For Paul, freedom found in the law is not so much freedom from, but the freedom to live in a spirit of neighborly love, to truly see others, to care for the other. Fulfill the law of love, Paul says, and the law will be fulfilled in you. Jesus said, ‘All the law and the prophets rest on two commands: to love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Paul continues with an image of darkness and light (ways of death vs. life in the Spirit) and counsels believers to put on the armor of light, i.e. ‘put on’ the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, to “put on Christ” is to imitate him in a spirit of neighborly love through sacrifice and service, to push back against the darkness of self-interest, jealousy, and conflict.

Prayer of the Day:

O Lord God, enliven and preserve your church with your perpetual mercy. Without your help, we mortals will fail; remove far from us everything that is harmful, and lead us toward all that gives life and salvation, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Readings:

Ezekiel 33: 7 – 11
Psalm 119: 33 – 40
Romans 13: 8 – 14
Matthew 18: 15 – 20

09/02/2026

Wayne E. Janssen Funeral
April 28, 1926-August 19, 2026

09/02/2026

We still need help with deliveries next week!

ALC friends! Please sign up to deliver Meals on Wheels the week of September 7 -- due to Labor Day, we only need drivers Tuesday - Friday. Plan to be at the Senior Center at 11:15. There are 6 routes. If you are able to take more than one route, please sign up for the extra route so we are sure ever...

08/30/2026

August 30, 2026 Service

08/30/2026

Good morning! Today is the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost. For the past several weeks our readings have been themed on the meaning and substance of discipleship; what does being a follower of Jesus mean in practical terms? In our reading from Romans for today, Paul gives us a kind of blue print for an alternative, radical way of living in the world…

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil,
hold fast to what is good; love one
another with mutual affection; out do
one another in showing honor. Do not
lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the
Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in
suffering, persevere in prayer. Contri-
bute to the needs of the saints; extend
hospitality to strangers.
~ Romans 12: 9 – 13

Authentic Christian discipleship – lining up to follow Jesus – raises the question of who is going to be our lord, which way of being in the world reflects the will and intentions of the Crucified and Risen One. It demands an all-or-nothing approach and a clear-eyed fix on what God is up to. Choices need to be made, but our answers do not create or determine our salvation, they are the consequences of God acting in us and through us.

Prayer of the Day:

O God, we thank you for your Son, who chose the path of suffering for the sake of the world. Humble us by his example, point us to the path of obedience, and give us strength to follow your commands, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.. Amen.

Readings:

Jeremiah 15: 15 – 21
Psalm 26: 1 – 8
Romans 12: 9 – 21
Matthew 16: 21 – 28

08/29/2026

People and Friends of ALC,

Be reminded that tomorrow (8/30) we will be gathering for worship at the Lafayette Park Pavilion (north of Lake Helen) at our usual 10AM time. Potluck to follow - bring a salad, side dish, or desert - and activities for all ages. See you there!

08/27/2026

ALC Policy on Children in Church

If your children seem loud to you, please still come to church.

If you’re running late because getting everyone dressed and out the door and into the car is a battle (especially during the winter), please still come to church.

If your toddler can’t sit still and won’t use their ‘inside voice’ and asks (again) ‘How much longer?’ please still come to church.

If your infant is crying to be fed, please still come to church.

If a toy gets dropped for the umpteenth time, or someone needs another snack, or has to make a third trip to the bathroom and you feel like you spend the entire service doing crowd control, please still come to church.

If you’re worried your children are a disruption to people around you, you should know that those people are actually not bothered at all because most of them have been where you are. And they love your children. So please, just come to church.

At ALC we believe that children learn how to be part of church life by being present in the assembly.
They learn the hymns by hearing them sung.
They learn to pray by listening to prayers.
They learn the rituals and rhythms of Sunday morning by being in worship.
They learn they are part of the church family when they are not merely tolerated,
but welcomed and embraced.

So just come and bring your children. Sit where you like. Step out if you need to, and then come right back. Children are not only the future of the church, they are part of the body of Christ right now. And there is a place for them at ALC. So please, just come to church.

(Adapted with gratitude from St. John Lutheran Church, Indianapolis, IN)

08/25/2026

https://bit.ly/ALCMealsSept2026

It's that time again! Please sign up to help deliver Meals on Wheels the week of September 7th.

ALC friends! Please sign up to deliver Meals on Wheels the week of September 7 -- due to Labor Day, we only need drivers Tuesday - Friday. Plan to be at the Senior Center at 11:15. There are 6 routes. If you are able to take more than one route, please sign up for the extra route so we are sure ever...