A young Jesuit named Dan Schutte was asked by a friend on a Wednesday if he could write a song for the friend’s upcoming ordination to be held the following Saturday. Mr Schutte often uses Scripture as the basis of his songs. When composing the song, he thought about the idea of vocation for the ordination mass. He turned to the stories of the prophets who asked God to give them the right words to say.

He found inspiration in the words of Isaiah 6:8, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”” and in the story of “The Call of Samuel” from 1 Samuel 3. “In all those stories, all of those people God was calling to be prophets have expressed in one way or another their humanness or their self-doubt,” Mr. Schutte said.

This Sunday we hear the story of God calling Samuel. Samuel was lying down in the temple when he heard a voice calling “Samuel! Samuel!” Three times he heard the voice and three times he went to Eli the priest, thinking it was Eli who was calling him. After the third time, Eli realized it was God who was calling to Samuel. Eli tells Samuel the next time to answer “Speak, Lord, for you servant is listening.”

Oh, Mr Schutte was able to finish the song in time for the ordination. You may have heard or sung it. “Here I Am, Lord” (ELW #574)

Worship is 9:30 Sunday morning, followed by coffee hour at 10:30 and Adult Forum in the Music Room at 10:45. Sunday afternoon at 4:30 is Dinner Church in the parish hall.

When Salem’s Food Pantry first opened in October, 2015, barely a quarter of the parish hall was used for the shelves of food. Today almost half of the parish hall is being used for the shelves of food, tables full of fruits, vegetables, and bread products.

The pantry is open every 2nd & 4th Thursday from 4:30 – 6:30. Offering healthy and nutritious food items and everyday supplies. Fresh fruits and vegetables will also be available. Volunteers will be graciously accepted. Interested individuals should contact Joe Bales at joebales39@yahoo.com. Monetary contributions and food donations also graciously accepted. To view our Facebook page, click here.