News and Announcements are published on Friday each week.

The Baptism of Our Lord

January 11, 2026

Readings: Joshua 3:1-3, 7-8, 13-17; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 3:13-17 

Hymns: 345, 404 405, 600, 602, 594

Calendar 

Witness

From Lutherans Engaged, “The work of redemption is done and accomplished … but if the work remained concealed so that no one knew about it, then it would be useless and lost. So that this treasure might not stay buried, but be received and enjoyed, God has caused the Word to go forth and be proclaimed. (Large Catechism II 38)"  Who might you invite to discover the Treasure that is found in our worship?  

Would you love to tell others about our church?  Local newspapers often have worship service listings.  If you know of such a newspaper, let Brenda know and she’ll submit our information.  brenda8198@gmail.com.

Mercy  

If you need anything (rides, supplies, medicine pickups) or any assistance please feel free to contact Sandy or Tom DiPasqua at 207-536-1547 or tjdipasqua@aol.com.  

"The Locker Project" of the Gorham School district is collecting snack items again for the students. Any contribution would be appreciated.  There is a list of suggestions and a box for donations in the narthex.

Saints of Redeemer, the Mercy committee would like to keep a supply of meals for members in need. Meals can be anything freezable, in a disposable container and should feed at least two people. Please bring your meals to church and put them in the fridge freezer. Label your contribution with the contents and how to heat it. Currently we have two families that will benefit from meal donations. 

Life Together 

Looking for hosts for our coffee hours following service. Sign up on the Fellowship Board near Pastor’s office. This can be one family or several families.  

A Life Thought in the Church Year for January 11 (Baptism of our Lord): Jesus was baptized to “fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15), that all whom God created and gave breath to (Isaiah 42:5) might be baptized into His death and resurrection and have everlasting life (Romans 6:4-5). Living in that new life in Christ and dying to sin (Romans 6:7-8) means that we are to cherish all life the way God does, caring about our neighbor’s physical life and wellbeing, as well as their everlasting life in Christ.

A Stewardship January 11 – The Baptism of Our Lord Matthew 3:15 – “But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’” God sent His Son into the world to fulfill all righteousness for us, to do what we could not do. Here, Jesus plunges Himself into our sins and soaks them up in His Baptism, so that in our Baptism we might be cleansed and renewed. The whole of Jesus’ life, everything He did and said, was one great offering to the Father in our stead to fulfill all righteousness for us. All our offerings back to our Lord are in thanksgiving for this one great, true offering.

EDUCATING A NEW GENERATION OF LUTHERANS... Issues, Etc. is a podcast and radio talk show produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken.  Recent topics include: Stranger Things: Season 5, The Top Biblical Archeology Stories of 2025, The Parable of the Prodigal Son, The Baptism of Our Lord, The Epiphany Season and more.  You can listen at your convenience at issuesetc.org, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomePod, TuneIn, the LPR mobile app and a podcast provider.

Communications

Newsletter Deadline – If you wish to contribute to the FEBRUARY 2026 church newsletter, please email your submission to the church office by JANUARY 22. 

All announcements and prayer requests received in the church office by noon on Thursday will appear in print that week in Friday’s email. If there is an announcement that you would like Pastor to make following Sunday’s FB live stream, please email him that information

Looking Forward to The Second Sunday after the Epiphany

Readings: Exodus 33:12-23; Ephesians 5:22-33; John 2:1-11 

The Second Sunday after the Epiphany

January 18, 2026

Readings: Exodus 33:12-23; Ephesians 5:22-33; John 2:1-11 

Hymns: 947, 402 696, 702, 434, 534

Calendar 

Witness

From Lutherans Engaged, “The work of redemption is done and accomplished … but if the work remained concealed so that no one knew about it, then it would be useless and lost. So that this treasure might not stay buried, but be received and enjoyed, God has caused the Word to go forth and be proclaimed. (Large Catechism II 38)"  Who might you invite to discover the Treasure that is found in our worship?  

Would you love to tell others about our church?  Local newspapers often have worship service listings.  If you know of such a newspaper, let Brenda know and she’ll submit our information.  brenda8198@gmail.com.

Mercy  

If you need anything (rides, supplies, medicine pickups) or any assistance please feel free to contact Sandy or Tom DiPasqua at 207-536-1547 or tjdipasqua@aol.com.  

"The Locker Project" of the Gorham School district is collecting snack items again for the students. Any contribution would be appreciated.  There is a list of suggestions and a box for donations in the narthex.

Saints of Redeemer, the Mercy committee would like to keep a supply of meals for members in need. Meals can be anything freezable, in a disposable container and should feed at least two people. Please bring your meals to church and put them in the fridge freezer. Label your contribution with the contents and how to heat it. Currently we have two families that will benefit from meal donations. 

Life Together 

The January 2026 edition of the LWML NED newsletter “Pass It On” is available at this LINK.  There is a printed copy posted on the bulletin board downstairs.

Memento is a distinctly Lutheran devotional platform for men, rooted in Scripture, prayer, and the Church Year, and supported by shared disciplines and fraternity. Audio version built into daily prayer offices are included on our website platform: https://memento70.com/

Concordia Publishing now has the Book of Concord Online: a free, easy-to-use website that provides access to the Lutheran Confessions at bookofconcord.cph.org. This platform was thoughtfully designed to support pastors, educators, and laypeople who desire to study and confess the Lutheran Confessions with clarity and confidence.  While other websites featuring the Triglotta are currently available, our version features the text of Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, the most widely used and trusted version in the LCMS for more than twenty years.

Looking for hosts for our coffee hours following service. Sign up on the Fellowship Board near Pastor’s office. This can be one family or several families.  

A Life Thought in the Church Year for January 18 (Epiphany 2): Life issues (abortion, suicide, sexual identity, physician-assisted suicide to name a few) can often be the result of a person trying to solve their own problems or fulfill their own needs instead of relying upon the Lord to help them. The appearance of our Lord as the sacrificial Lamb of God (John 1) reminds us that God is always faithful (Isaiah 49:7), even at the cost of His own blood. By faith in Christ, we can and should wait patiently for the Lord (Psalm 40:1) and make Him our trust (Psalm 40:4) in any and every situation, and we should invite our neighbors to do the same.

A Stewardship Thought for January 18 – Second Sunday after Epiphany Ephesians 5:27 – “So that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” Our Lord has cleansed us with His blood — in His sight we are now pure and holy. He has given Himself, laying down His life for us. Now we are His spotless and beautiful bride. By His sacrifice, we are moved to sacrifice. By His cleansing, we find a desire to ourselves be clean and live blamelessly as He is blameless.

EXPERT GUESTS, EXPANSIVE TOPICS, EXTOLLING CHRIST... Issues, Etc. is a podcast and radio talk show produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken.  Recent subjects include: The Return of the Jewish Question; Fact-Checking Sermons; Strengthening the Hyde Amendment; Jesus as Prophet, Priest & King; Luther’s Large Catechism and more.  You can listen on-demand at issuesetc.org, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomePod, TuneIn, the LPR mobile app and a podcast provider.

Communications

Newsletter Deadline – If you wish to contribute to the FEBRUARY 2026 church newsletter, please email your submission to the church office by JANUARY 22. 

All announcements and prayer requests received in the church office by noon on Wednesday will appear in print that week in Friday’s email. If there is an announcement that you would like Pastor to make following Sunday’s FB live stream, please email him that information

Looking Forward to The Transfiguration of Our Lord

Readings: Exodus 34:29-35; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1=9 

Hymns: 413, 414 872, 417, 512, 537