Deaconess in Naples

08/24/2026

This upcoming Rally Day will be epic‼️

08/23/2026

✝️🙏

If the Church is where the Word is rightly preached and the Sacraments are rightly administered, it is important that the Apology turns to the Sacraments and asks the question: “What are they actually for?”

The Apology rejects the idea that the Sacraments are merely outward symbols by which Christians demonstrate their faith. Instead, they are gifts and testimonies of God’s gracious will toward us, instituted by Christ and joined to His promise. Their direction is first from God to us. In Baptism, the emphasis isn’t primarily on our declaration that we belong to God, but on God’s declaration and promise that we belong to Him. In the Lord’s Supper, we aren’t just demonstrating that we remember Christ’s death; Christ gives His body and blood with His promise of forgiveness in a divine mystery. In Absolution, we don’t just confess our repentance; Christ’s forgiveness is spoken into our ears.

The Sacraments belong to the same Gospel we have been discussing throughout this series. They don’t compete with faith or add human works to Christ’s saving work. They give faith something objective to receive. The Apology says that the Sacraments are given to us to awaken and confirm faith in those who use them. That’s why faith matters. Simply performing a ceremony as though the outward act automatically earns God’s favor or fulfills a new law misunderstands the Sacraments entirely. The promise is given so that it may be believed.

This is also why the Sacraments provide such comfort to troubled consciences. When our emotions fluctuate, when our faith feels weak, or when guilt causes us to wonder whether God’s grace could really be meant for us, Christ doesn’t direct us deeper into ourselves. He gives us something outside ourselves. Water joined to His Word. His body and blood given with bread and wine. His forgiveness spoken into our ears. The Sacraments aren’t our attempts to climb upward toward God. They are Christ coming down to sinners with gifts He has promised to give. Faith doesn’t make those promises true. Faith simply receives them. And because the One making the promise is Christ, the troubled conscience has somewhere certain to stand.

08/23/2026

Women's Bible study tomorrow, Monday at 11am at Grace Lutheran Church. Join us as we read through Dark Clouds ~ Deep Mercy, discovering the grace of lament. We are on Chapter 3 but you can still jump in and join us.

08/22/2026

This will be great!

Reformation Sunday will be here before we know it and we celebrate the 509th Anniversary of Luther nailing the 95 Thesis to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg, Germany.

At Hope Lutheran Church, guest preacher, Dr Bushur from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne-CTSFW will preach during the Reformation Service and you will want to hear him as he is an amazing preacher and professor.

📅 - Sunday, October 25, 2026 at 4pm
⛪️ - Hope Lutheran Church, Bonita Springs

08/20/2026

Looking forward to attending with Pastor and Vicar!

We goofed on the time in our previous posts! 🤦‍♀️

Please note the 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝟗–𝟏𝟏𝐀𝐌 for our upcoming Coffee with a Cop.

📅 Tuesday, August 25th
⏰ 𝟗–𝟏𝟏𝐀𝐌
📍 Spanky’s Speakeasy Naples, 1550 Airport-Pulling Rd. N., Naples, FL 34104

We’re teaming up with the Collier County Sheriff's Office, and we’d love for you to join us! Come grab a cup of coffee, enjoy some conversation, and get to know the officers and deputies who serve our community.

No agenda, no formal program — just a chance to connect, chat, and build relationships over coffee.

Bring your questions, bring a friend, and come say hello!

08/19/2026

📣 Calling all middle and high school youth 📣
A Youth Ministry Weekend is upcoming up, Nov 6-8, 2026 at the Lake Yale Retreat Center in Leesburg, FL.
Please see flyer below along with the itinerary per group! Looks like a fantastic weekend. Please see me if interested.
⭐️Early sign-up is encouraged⭐️

08/16/2026

Youth event coming up!
Cool down at the ice rink and join us for fellowship. Bring a friend!

08/13/2026

Classes begun today for Grace Lutheran Academy and what a joy it was to see familiar faces and new students and meet our awesome new teachers. The Academy is growing and Headmaster Patrick Steckbeck is absolutely amazing with the kids. The teachers have been busy putting their rooms together the last couple weeks and everything looks so great. I'm honored to help out at the Academy as needed. I am eager to see them grow this school year especially hearing them memorize Matins service.

Our Academy is a classical hybrid homeschool academy for grades K-8.

08/08/2026

I have pre-ordered this for a future women's Bible study!! Looks excellent 👌

"Peace is not found within ourselves. It isn’t found in self help, self-care, mindfulness, lavender candles, or even in the love of our family. This peace is found in Christ alone. Psalm 56:3 says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.” With prayer and petition, we trust that God hears us and faithfully guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." —Jennifer Londgren

Strong in the Lord: A Women's Bible Study on Faith and Mental Health will be available August 18. Preorder your copy at the link in the comments.