Concordia San Antonio

Have you bought your tickets yet?! Come and shake your groove thing with us in just ONE MONTH at Concordia's 23rd Annual Benefit Auction! It will be a night to remember with food, friends, dancing, bidding, and lots of disco! Dress up in your 70's best and join us at Pedrotti's Ranch on Saturday, April 15.

Get your tickets now! >> https://bit.ly/benefitauction2023

WOUNDS • Lent Devotional

"He went to him and bandaged his wounds." (Luke 10:34)

Scars are cool. They tell a story. They show what we’ve been through. Wounds, on the other hand, are not. Wounds are wrapped up, hidden, not on display. Why? Because we don’t know yet how it will all turn out.
We are all walking with wounds. Whether emotional, physical, or spiritual, to be a human means to be wounded. Some of us want to put them on display. The problem is we open ourselves up to a deeper infection and slow our own healing. We need to bind up our wounds. More accurately, we need help. We need someone to help us.
Jesus has come to bind our wounds. God’s unbelievable work is actually to bring our healing through the wounds of Christ. Jesus himself was wounded for us, so that we might be healed in Him! Allow Jesus to come to you, to bandage your wounds, to heal and restore you.

As you spend time in prayer this week, consider:
• What physical/spiritual/emotional wounds do I have?
• Do I want to heal, or am I actually finding comfort in my wounds? Why is this?
• How can I allow Jesus, along with His Church, to help bind my wounds?

Prayer:
Jesus, I recognize my wounds. I can’t clear the infection in my heart. Heal me by Your power. Heal me by Your blood. Cleanse me with Your Spirit. Amen.

Here's your reminder that it's time to SRING FORWARD! Tomorrow is Daylight Savings, so make sure to set your clocks an hour ahead tonight! ☀️

You might be wondering…
What’s hAPPening with the Concordia app?

If you already have the app, it is working normally.

For Apple users only: You may experience an error message if trying to update the app or install it for the first time. We are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.

You can still stream our services online at live.concordia.cc, on our YouTube channel “Concordia SA” or via Facebook.

Thank you for your patience!

CHANGE • Lent Devotional

"We will all be changed." (1 Corinthians 15:51)

It’s time for a change. Something’s gotta give. Lent is the perfect time to drop that habit or behavior for 40 days and see what happens. But the reality is that change is hard. We can recognize when we want something new, but it is much harder to attain it.
Yes, change is inevitable, but there’s a kind of change that is not: a change for the better. Entropy is a natural law, and it says that everything is descending into disorder - unless acted upon by an outside force.
We know what that outside force is. We know WHO that outside force is. Jesus has changed everything through His life, death, and resurrection. Jesus has changed us. And He has only just begun His work in us and through us.
When we seek change, that is called repenting. When God begins to change us, that is called sanctification - being made holy by God. Let this Lenten season be a journey of transformation and change in your life.

As you spend time in prayer this week, consider:
• How have I changed over the last couple months? Year? Decade?
• What am I struggling to change in my own power?
• What is keeping me from seeking God’s power to change?
• Who might I need to ask for help in my struggles?

Prayer:
God, You are changing me. You have saved me, and You continue to be at work in my body, mind, and soul. Renew me and restore my heart to You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“’Give us this day our daily bread.’ Spend time thanking God for the things we need every day.”

Here is a sample of the type of texts that go out to those subscribed to our Lent text messages! We pray that these daily messages help you feel connected to God and your Concordia church family.

Text “40days” to 51555 to join us during this Lenten season in refocusing on Jesus daily.

On Sunday we celebrated the commissioning of our Stephen Ministers, who have been training for the last year to help and equip those in the congregation and community in times of hardship with Christ-centered care. Our Stephen Ministers are prepared and committed to meeting with those going through crisis or life difficulties. If you are in need of this type of care and direction, please reach out to us at [email protected] to get connected to a Stephen Minister.

"Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2

Congratulations to these Concordia middle school students for winning 1ST PLACE this weekend performing “Epic Proportions” for the regional One Act Play! In addition, two of our students earned Best Performer Awards, another two earned All Star Cast distinction, with several others and the entire ensemble making Honorable Mention All Star Cast. These students have worked hard and are seeing the fruits of their commitment. Next up, competing at state on March 7! Way to go, Cardinals! ❤️

BROKEN • Lent Devotional

"They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over." (Luke 9:17)

We want to be satisfied.
We aren’t good at going hungry. We aren’t good at being uncomfortable, wanting, needing. Our natural inclination is to satiate our hunger, satisfy our wants as quickly as they come upon us. Even as we follow Jesus, we run into plenty of times where we don’t have what we need. How do we handle it? What should we do?
During Lent, we realize our hunger goes deeper than our stomach. We want a taste of eternity, an experience that will carry us through the brokenness and pain that comes our way. During Lent, instead of seeking satisfaction, we celebrate our lack by giving up things, by fasting, by prayer.
Jesus fed a crowd of 5,000 with five loaves and two fish. He was demonstrating that “humans do not live on bread alone,” but on the Word of God. Jesus broke the bread and kept passing it out until all were filled. He made sure no one went hungry that day. More than that, the disciples went around and picked up twelve baskets of broken pieces!
That’s how God works. He takes what is broken and fills others with it. He takes Jesus’ broken body and fills the world with life. He takes our brokenness, our need, our lack, and He fills others with hope and joy and peace.

As you spend time in prayer this week, focus on these questions:
• Where am I lacking? Where am I broken?
• How has God satisfied my material and spiritual needs in Jesus?
• What might the purpose be for my brokenness? Who might need the hope that I can give them?

Prayer:
Jesus, satisfy me with Your presence. Jesus, fill me with Your word. Jesus, work in me and through me to fill others, too. Amen.

This morning in Adult Bible Class, Dr. Steve Notley will be here to share archeological discoveries from his work in Israel. All are welcome to join us in the Family Life Center at 9:30am. You won’t want to miss this special presentation!

"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." -Psalm 118:24

Happy Friday! 💛

DUST • Ash Wednesday Devotional

"You are dust, and to dust you shall return." (Genesis 3:19)

We want to get rid of the dust.
It accumulates around our houses and offices, gathering any time something doesn’t get used. No matter how hard we work to eliminate it, we are never done with dust- it keeps coming back and building up.
Ash Wednesday reminds us that we are dust, that we are frail and fallen, that we are doomed to be swept away. We don’t really want this reminder. We don’t want to dwell on the fact that we are mortals. But we can’t avoid it.
As the Church, we don’t just talk about death- we sit in it. We anoint our heads with ashes and loudly proclaim, “We are dust!” We do this because we believe that God has dealt with death in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus destroyed death and has promised to raise all this dust back to eternal life. Through faith in Jesus, we get rid of the dust. We shake off the sin and shame which clings so closely, and we cling to His life.

As you spend time in prayer this week, use these questions as guides:
• What pain/thought/person/action am I trying to avoid? Why?
• How am I allowing fear of death control my life?
• What am I entrusting to Jesus? What am I still withholding from Him?
• Where am I experiencing the curse of sin in my life? How can I invite Jesus into that situation?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, cleanse me and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I recognize my sin and rely on You alone for hope and life. Amen.

At our pep rally on Wednesday, students gathered together to show their Cardinal pride by celebrating and commissioning our middle school basketball teams who travel to Houston this weekend for the State Basketball Tournament! We pray for safety, provision, and that the Lord would be glorified in their hard work this weekend. Go Cardinals!

WORD FOR THE WEEK

Beginning on Ash Wednesday and then each Monday during Lent, we’ll be sharing a new word to focus on for the week, accompanied by a devotional to help you stay in the Word over the 40-day journey to Easter. Our hope is that these words and devotionals will encourage deeper reflection and appreciation for the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross, and come to know the unchanging love of God a little bit better. Stay tuned!

We can bring our doubts and questions to God, knowing that He will ALWAYS provide us with what we need.

Happy Valentine's Day! Jesus loves you and so do we. 💗

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." -John 3:16

It's Random Acts of Kindness Week! How can you pay it forward this week to show a little extra kindness to those around you? Let's hear your ideas in the comments! 💜

These Concordia Childcare kiddos are ready for Super Bowl weekend! Who are you rooting for tomorrow?

Our Cardinals celebrated today with an extra yummy slice in the cafeteria for lunch! 🍕

Our Lady Cardinals earned the ISAL B Division District Championship title yesterday! Way to go Cardinals!

When we follow Jesus, we live mercy and we live grace. We choose intentionally to love like Him.

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow yesterday, so it looks like there's a bit more winter ahead of us yet! Today we're grateful for the slightly warmer temperatures after a few icy days this week. We are praying for those who are dealing with any damage caused by the ice and freezing temperatures.

How did you spend your "snow" days this week? We hope you stayed warm!

New Student Registration for the 2023-2024 academic year at Concordia Lutheran School is now OPEN! Learn more and apply online today at concordia.school/admissions. To schedule a private tour, give us a call at (210) 479-1477, ext. 1017. We'd love to have your child join the Cardinal family. ❤️ Bright futures begin here!

Today is our first session of GriefShare from 12-2pm in the Family Life Center. All are welcome, no matter what stage of grief you may be in. Learn more and register at bit.ly/concordiagriefshare. If you aren’t registered already, that’s okay! Come to today’s session and be reminded that there is a group of people navigating grief alongside you. You are not alone. 💛

It’s officially LOVE MONTH and we are here to remind you of the greatest love there is: Jesus.💗

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
- 1 John 4:7-8

Word For Today check-in! Who committed to reading their Bible more this year? How has the first month of 2023 been for you?

If you are looking for a way to open up your Bible more, our Word For Today calendar gives you Scripture readings each weekday from the Old Testament, New Testament and a Psalm or Proverb. You can find the downloadable bookmark or sign up for daily reminder emails at Concordia.cc.

Save the Date for a STELLAR Vacation Bible School this summer from June 12-16, 2023! Registration opens Easter weekend. More info coming soon. 💫🌟

Tomorrow is JUBILEE SUNDAY!

What is Jubilee Sunday? Four months out of the year have five Sundays, and the fifth Sunday of those months is what we call Jubilee Sunday. Anyone who feels called to come forward to be baptized or reaffirm his or her faith will be given that opportunity after each of our three services on Sunday. If you have felt a pulling on your heart to officially join the family of God in this way, or if you just want to come and bear witness to a truly joyful event, please join us at 8, 9:30, or 11am tomorrow for Jubilee Sunday!