Birthdays This Week:​ Shirley Zhai, Brad Zeher, 周媽媽, Jaydee Fang

Anniversaries This Week: Penny Zhou & Judy Wang 

2026 Flower & Eternal Candle Calendar

Flowers: To donate and/or dedicate flowers for a birthday, anniversary, special even or person, choose a date, print your name clearly on that line, and then under “Dedication: list what or to whom you are dedicating the flower bouquet(s). There are 2 spots available for each week. It will be noted in the News & Notes for that week. You do NOT have to donate in order to dedicate, but it does help the church if you do. Donation for each bouquet is $20. Checks should be made out to Loving Savior and placed in the flower envelopes provided and placed in the offering plate.

Eternal Candle: To donate and-or dedicate the eternal candle in remember of a person(s), special occasion or event, choose a month, print your name clearly on the line, and then your “Dedication” for the month. It will be noted in the News & Notes for the entire month. You do NOT have to donate in order to dedicate, but it does help the church if you do. Donation for a full month is $20. Check should be made out to Loving Savior, placed in the eternal candle envelopes provided, and place in the offering plate.

LCMS Stewardship Ministry Newsletter Article – April 2026

A Better Way (Originally published in April 2023)
The most common question about stewardship is not whether a Christian should give to their church. Of course Christians should give to their church. Everyone knows this. Rather, the question asked most is, “How much should I give?” But this question really means, “Should Christians give a tenth of their income to their local congregation?”
Here are some common reasons against tithing. Some say tithing isn’t necessary because it isn’t expressly commanded in the New Testament. There is no “Thus saith the Lord,” or “should” concerning tithing. Others say that Christians give to their congregation in ways much broader than money. They give of their time and their talents, and these together with treasures (money) add up to more than a tithe. Still others say that they give of their treasures to other things besides their congregation, and they want to support those things alongside their church. And then there are those who think Christians shouldn’t tithe because of some fear. They are afraid that if they tithe, their gift will be misused, or that after tithing, there won’t be enough left over to get the things that they use, want or need.
Here are some reasons why Christians should tithe. Even though the New Testament doesn’t specifically command Christians to tithe, the Old Testament people were commanded to. And on top of this, St. Paul often describes giving a regular and generous proportion of the first fruits of one’s income — terms similar to a tithe (2 Cor. 8:7–23; 2 Cor. 9:2–7).
But here’s another way to think about it. What was the point of the tithe in the Old Testament? Where did it go? This tithe was intended to support the ministry of the Levites. They were not given any land because they had no time to farm; their full-time job was the ministry. What does it say in the New Testament? “The Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:14). This is the verse that Luther used in the Small Catechism’s Table of Duties to explain what Christians owe to the support of the ministry.
It seems clear from both the Old and the New Testaments that the tithe is the goal of Christians in their giving. But what if we’re not there yet? How should we handle this? What are we to do?
Let’s answer this by asking a different question. What would you say to your adult children who only attended church quarterly or once a month? After all, there is no passage in the New Testament that requires Christians to go to church weekly. Hebrews 10:25 is the closest verse we have, and it states simply that Christians should not neglect gathering together. And even though there is no passage that commands Christians to gather weekly, that is the implicit expectation throughout the Old and New Testaments.
So, what would you say to that son or daughter? The conversation might go something like this. I’m glad you’re still going to church. It is a wonderful blessing to hear God’s promises of forgiveness, life and salvation, and to receive His gifts in Word and Sacrament. But you can do better, and it will only be a blessing to you. There is a better way, and I’d really like you to try to attain it.
We should approach the topic of tithing with a similar conversation. The tithe is not specifically commanded in the New Testament, but it sure seems like the implicit expectation of both the Old and New Testaments. So, we’re ecstatic that you’re giving, and that you’re giving in all these various ways — time, talents and treasures. But there is a better way. And that will only be a blessing to you, just as the Word of God — Old and New Testament alike — promises. Can you try increasing your gifts over the coming weeks, months and years? Can you put your trust in the God who sent His Son to take away your sin and give you everlasting life? And if He did this for you, if He did not spare His only Son, how will He not give you all things? He will not disappoint.

LCMS Health Ministry Newsletter Article – April 2026

The English word, “Easter,” is the term we use in referring to Christ’s Resurrection Day. “Easter” comes from the same word as “east,” the direction from which the sun rises every morning. East is the direction of dawn. In Christ’s Resurrection — in His Easter — we, His people, are given a new morning; the light and eternal life of Christ now dawns in us also. As the prophet Malachi foretold, indeed the Sun of Righteousness has risen with healing in His wings (Mal. 4:2). In Baptism, this healing has been applied to us and is renewed in us as we daily rise in Christ, the Dayspring (Dawn) of Life (Luke 1:78 NKJV). Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He has come to bring health and healing to all!