Holy Cross Lutheran Church Renault

09/05/2026

09/04/2026

Today the Church commemorates the great prophet Moses.

Moses was born in Egypt long after Joseph and his service to the Egyptian people had faded in memory. Under the harsh conditions at the time, all Jewish male children were ordered drowned in the Nile. Moses’ mother, Jochebed, hid her little boy for three months and then finally put him in a basket, made watertight, and placed him upon the Nile. In time, the daughter of Pharaoh heard the baby crying and sent her servant to fetch him. She recognized that he was one of the Hebrew children, but chose to adopt him and raise him as her own.

When he was 40, Moses visited his own people. He saw an Egyptian abusing one of them. He killed the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand. […] Moses fled to the wilderness.

A Midianite priest took him in and gave him his daughter Zipporah in marriage. Moses stayed there for 40 years. Then God appeared to him in a burning bush, revealing Himself as “I AM.” He sent a reluctant Moses back to Egypt to bring out the children of Israel from their slavery. […]

Pharaoh was not at all inclined to let Israel go. Yet, through a series of escalating, miraculous disasters, God finally forced Pharaoh’s hand. The final disaster was the death of the firstborn of all the Egyptians, but the saving of all Israelites who sheltered beneath the blood of the Passover lamb. Pharaoh then changed his mind and pursued the Hebrews. He cornered them by the Red Sea, but with a mighty miracle the sea divided and Israel crossed. When Pharaoh and his army attempted to follow, the waters crashed over them. Thus Moses led the Israelites through the sea as on dry ground. He brought them to Sinai where he received the Ten Commandments and the regulations regarding worship. Due to their faithlessness, Israel was condemned to wander 40 years in the wilderness. During this time, Moses constantly interceded for them and pleaded with God to forgive them and to fulfill His promises to them. Moses was not allowed to enter the land of promise. He viewed it from the top of Mount Pisgah and there died.

“Celebrating the Saints,” ©2016 William C. Weedon, published by CPH.

09/02/2026

Today the church remembers Hannah.

Hannah was the favored wife of Elkanah and the devout mother of the prophet Samuel. He was born to her after years of bitter barrenness (1 Samuel 1:6-8) and fervent prayers for a son (1 Samuel 1:9-18). After she weaned her son, Hannah expressed her gratitude by returning him for service in the house of the Lord at Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:24-28). Her prayer (psalm) of thanksgiving (1 Samuel 2:1-10) begins with the words “My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is exalted in the LORD.” This song foreshadows the Magnificat, the Song of Mary centuries later (Luke 1:46-55). The name “Hannah” derives from the Hebrew word for “grace.” She is remembered and honored for joyfully having kept the vow she. Made before her son’s birth and offering him for lifelong service to God.

“Treasury of Daily Prayer,” ©2008 CPH

08/29/2026

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist

What fearful thoughts must have passed through Herod’s guilty mind! His conscience brought back the memory of those days some months earlier when he had sent out his servants to take the great prophet of the wilderness from the lofty hills and verdant valleys he loved into the dark and dingy dungeon of Herod’s castle Machaerus, east of the Dead Sea. Why? Any Jew and any right-thinking man would have told Herod that it was sinful for him to marry his brother Philip’s wife, Herodias, but only John had dared to tell him the truth. Herod was enough of a man to admire John’s courage. And he might not have done much about it if it hadn’t been for the adulterous woman he had married unlawfully. […] Although John was his prisoner, Herod sought and, to a certain extent, followed his advice in many things. John was even allowed certain liberties, for we know that his disciples had access to him.

At Herod’s birthday celebration, Herod promised the daughter of Herodias, with an oath, that he would give her whatever she wanted, up to the half of his kingdom. The girl quickly consulted her mother. What should she ask for? Unhesitatingly, the bloodthirsty monster answered, “The head of John the Baptist.”

The executioner got his orders. The man Jesus Himself called the greatest of all the prophets was neither given, nor did he need, any time for preparation. Soon his loyal soul was in the presence of his Lord. The herald met his King.

The executioner delivered the gory head of John to the waiting damsel, and she took it to her mother, that inhuman monster. They had their satisfaction—or did they? Remember, sin brings no joy. Pity the soul that knows no better happiness! But someone present had some sense of justice, some human feeling left, and the message was brought to the disciples of John. With bleeding hearts, they took the remains of their beloved teacher and gave him an honorable burial. So ended the earthly life of one of God’s noblemen.

“Meditations on the Gospels: According to His Word,” ©2009 CPH

08/15/2026

Imagine becoming the earthly mother of the only Son of God! The challenge of raising any child can be overwhelming, but this baby, miraculously conceived, was both human and divine. He was the Son of God, sent to save the world. He was the long-awaited fulfillment of God’s covenant promises to His people. How could a mere teenager with little experience in life hope to adequately mother the Son of God? How Mary must have prayed and clung to her faith as she replayed the angel’s message over and over again in her mind. Scripture says she kept all these things in her heart and pondered them (Luke 2:19). And it’s no wonder!

Nevertheless, as predicted (v. 35), Mary’s life would prove difficult. Her unexpected pregnancy and her baby’s birth in an animal shelter were only the beginning. Mary, Joseph, and the child Jesus would face the threat of death from insanely jealous King Herod (Matthew 2:1-12). Mary would suffer the anguish of losing her twelve-year-old son, and three days would pass before she received any word of His whereabouts or safety (Luke 2:41-51).

After He had grown to adulthood, she would hear about Him teaching things that angered hearers. At one point, her neighbors would even try to murder Him by throwing Him off a nearby cliff (Luke 4:28-30). Worst of all, she would watch as He died an excruciating death. No mother expects a child to die before she does, and certainly not in such a horrible manner!

But there would also be marvelous reassurances as well. The visits of the angels. The story of the shepherds. The adoration of the Magi. Jesus’ amazing miracles. His resurrection. Strengthened by the same Holy Spirit who caused her miraculously to conceive, Mary remained steadfast as she kept thinking about all these things.

“The Heart of Jesus; Women in the Gospel of Luke,” ©2009 CPH

08/10/2026

Today the church remembers Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr (225–285 AD)

Archdeacon Lawrence had the duty of using church funds to care for the poor and needy. He was commanded by the Roman Emperor Valerian to turn over the treasures of the church in which he served. At the appointed time, Lawrence appeared in court along with a crowd of the poor, diseased, and unwanted of Rome. The furious emperor demanded, "I told you to bring me your treasures! What is this rabble doing here?"

Lawrence coolly replied, "Your honor, these are the treasures of the Christian Church."

For his audacity, Archdeacon Lawrence was sentenced to a particularly cruel death. He was trussed up like a chicken and roasted on a gridiron over a slow fire. But even in his torment he gave thanks to God, and mocked the emperor for his paganism and unbelief. After he had roasted for some time he remarked to his torturers, "Better turn him over now; he's done on this side."

“Holy Martyr Deacon Lawrence of Rome,” St. Lawrence Orthodox Church, Felton, California

07/31/2026

Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Renault held its Vacation Bible School (theme: Tropical Trek) earlier this summer. We chose Camp Wartburg as our Mission Project. Our VBS students and families donated 74 items, including pool noodles, playing cards, Crayola markers, and sidewalk chalk. We also received a total of $901.00 in donations to help send kids to camp and purchase other needed supplies.

Pictured are Pastor Stefanic and some VBS students along with Jay Grant, Camp Wartburg Hospitality Operations Coordinator.

07/31/2026

07/25/2026

Today the church remembers St. James the Elder.

Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

Acts 11:27—12:5