 |
|
|
FEBRUARY 2012 |
|
|
Vicar Jeremiah T. Heydt |
NEW DEVOTIONAL SERVICE
Daily "Whatdoyouthink?", a devotional email and a link on the "Vicar's Voice" page is now available. If you are interested in receiving these via email, send your address to: If you would like to read the installments here, you can click on the link above or go to "Vicar's Voice" page on the top bar and click on the link there.
|
|
FROM THE VICAR Earth
to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. You are dust and to dust you
shall return. Sunday, January 22nd, leaving worship, I
was met with high winds and a sky that
was thick with blowing reddish brown dust. This dust was everywhere. My
car was coated with a fine layer of dust. Everywhere I touched anything
it left my finger prints on it and the dust would cling to me as well.
The first thing that came to my mind were the words at the heading of
this column…ashes to ashes, dust to dust. It made me think of the season of Lent almost being
upon us and how we will be hearing those words as we receive the
imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday. The imposition of ashes feels like
an imposition, a stark reminder that we will not live forever. It is a
humbling reminder of our limits and finitude as human beings; that we
are merely dust in the wind. We are a children of God, of the earth, created
from dust, yet filled with the breath of God. As we turn to God, we ask
for mercy, we ask God to remove this dusty film of sin that is upon us.
We ask God to wash away our sins and create in us clean hearts. The season of Lent calls us into a deeper
relationship with God and service to others. The honest confronting of
our sins enables us to humbly know our limits as children of earth. We
are utterly dependent on earth at every moment of our lives….earth to
earth, dust to dust reminds us that we are always
rooted in earth as
creatures….so, the issue is not whether we can escape earth…we can
not. We live in earth as well as earth. Lent is a time for us to return to our
baptism….to wash the dust film of sin from our souls with a solemn
call to almsgiving, prayer, fasting and repentance as we begin our
journey to the baptismal waters of Easter. Now is the acceptable time to
return to the Lord and reflect on the meaning of our baptism into
Christ’s death and resurrection. What seems like an ending is really
an invitation to make each day a new beginning, shaking the dust off of
us and being washed in God’s mercy and forgiveness……remember,
earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. You are dust and to dust
you shall return. Amen. |
|
“FAT”
Tuesday & Ash Wednesday Our 2012
Lenten journey begins Tuesday, February 21st with a
“fattening” pancake supper at 6:00 p.m. followed by a Brief Order
of Confession in the Sanctuary at 7:00 p.m. We will then
adjourn to the parking lot to burn our palm branches from last Easter.
The ashes will then be used for the following night with the
“Imposition of Ashes” during our Ash Wednesday Worship. Ash Wednesday begins with Soup and Salad at 6:00 p.m. followed by worship in the Sanctuary at 7:00 p.m. p.m. |
|
STEWARDSHIP
STEWARDSHIP What is DiscipleLife Alive!?
DiscipleLife: living the Grace-filled, God's-love-proclaiming life. It is a journey to Form Leaders for DiscipleLife and mission across the NT-NL Mission Area and throughout the world. It's a launching pad for our 110 congregations to grow leaders, pastors and laity, with a passion for living the Jesus-life in relationship with others. It is a $3 million campaign of the people of NT-NL to grow the DiscipleLife Center for Mission at Briarwood, the Leadership Endowment for Mission, and to complete the Jubilee Lutheran center in Sierra Leone, West Africa by next January. Congregations Begin DLA! Response Congregations across the NT–NL Mission Area have begun the Response Phase of DLA! this month. Congregations are invited to conclude their congregational pledge campaign by Mission Assembly time at the end of April. Here is what is happening in a couple of congregations.... * Faith, Meridian, Pr. Jonan Iker, approved $200 per month from their budget, an amount equal to more than 5% of their congregational contributions. * Advent, Arlington kicked off their campaign this past Sunday with a Council–designated gift of $10,000 in designated benevolence. They had a sermon on the DLA! on Sunday, showed the video in their adult forum, will e-mail additional information this week, and with another sermon on January 29 will invite commitments that Sunday. Their early commitments stand at $45,000 or so with the goal of $100,000 or more. Some congregations are designing their Lenten offerings for DLA! this year. Be sure to show the DLA! a video to your Council and congregational leaders so they understand the vision of DLA! |
|
…….THE EPISTLE :
II
Corinthians This second epistle to the Church at Corinth was occasioned by the report of Titus that while the Apostle’s first epistle had served its purpose, and that wrongs had been righted (II Corinthians 7:7-16), yet a fresh peril had arisen demanding immediate attention. Judaizing teachers, bearing letters of introduction from the Jerusalem Church were in Corinth, preaching a different Gospel from that of Paul’s, and denouncing the apostleship of Paul. The results of the efforts of these false teachers was the rapid growth of a party hostile to Paul (3:1-3; 4:2; 10:10; 11:1-13). Quickly Paul acted and sent this letter warning the Church against heresies (11:3, 4, 13), and vindicating his own true apostleship – which is why the letter contains more of Paul’s personal history than any other of his epistles. What a moving narrative he gives us of his sufferings, sorrows and secrets (1:8-10; 5:4; 12). Here abound the contrast of sorrow and joy; humiliation and exaltation. “Comfort” is the key word of the epistle (7:6,7). Because of the depth and strength of his love (5:14), Paul was grieved by the sins of the Corinthians, but comforted by their repentance (1:3,4; 2:4; 7:6,7). The preacher will find ample sermonic material in the many glowing and brilliant metaphors Paul uses. Sections to develop are: 1. Explanation, 1-7 2. Exhortation, 8-9
3. Exoneration, 10-13 Chapter
9 Continuing his exhortation regarding
financial aid for the needy, Paul was anxious that the Macedonians
should not be disappointed. He had boasted of the ability and
readiness of the Corinthians to help, and did not want to be let
down. They are reminded that God, because of His sufficiency and
bounty, loves a cheerful giving. Some there are who give merely to
satisfy the impunity of those who seek their aid. What they give
is forced from them, and this unwillingness spoils all that they
do. May we never be guilty of giving with a grudge! There is some
doubt as to whether Paul meant, by this “unspeakable gift”,
the gift of grace bestowed on the saints, making them able and
willing to give, or Jesus Christ, God's gift to the world. Well,
Calvary should color all our giving. Chapter
10 Paul gets back to the main theme of this
epistle, namely, the vindication of his apostleship. His warfare
had not been carnal, but spiritual. He had been Christ's
love-slave, and was proud of it. When he met his critics, he would
be as bold in rebuking them face-to-face as he was in his letters.
The practical results of his work attested to its purity. Yes, and
he wanted those who challenged him to know that his own ultimate
Judge was the Lord. How important it is to understand the
spiritual conflict inverses 3-5! Satanic warfare with the Saints
is little understood. As to victory, our powerful weapons are
written in Ephesians 6:13–17; the channel of victory, in
Revelations 12:11; and the spoils of victory in Revelations 21:24. Chapter
11 This is a most enlightening chapter in that
it reveals the power and devices of Satan, which are ever the
same. One of his diabolical methods is the sowing of the seeds of
doubt and disunity. He was behind the deceivers appearing among
the Corinthians, teaching error. He was the instigator of the
contempt and prejudice Paul had to face. No matter how plausible
false teachers may be, even if they are “ordained” ministers, all
of them are satanically inspired. They are not included among
those so delicately and beautifully described as “a chaste
virgin” (verse 2). Paul found his boasting distasteful, yet
necessary. His sufferings, his devotions to his converts, and his
manifold dangers all alike prove his genuineness as an apostle.
How he shames us all by his absolute devotion to the Master! Chapter
12 Much has been written about the supernatural
experiences of Paul, as well as his physical weakness. Introduced,
as he was, in some miraculous fashion to the other world, there to
see things human language could not describe, he was yet made
painfully conscious of the fact that he was still in the flesh.
Three times over he prayed for the removal of his thorn, whatever
it was, but it was not removed. God, however, gave him grace to
bear. Many of us find it hard to be brought back to earth after
ecstatic, spiritual experiences. When on the mount, we say with
Paul: “Lord, it is good for us to be here,” and we should like
to stay. But there must also be the vexations of life, so that we
might glory in our infirmities; as well as glory in heaven. Chapter
13 Paul minces no words when, in concluding his
vindication of authority, he tells the Corinthians how severe he
will be when he visits them and deals with wrongdoers. He trusts,
however, that they will right all wrongs, so that he can use all
his time for their edification. The word “reprobate”, used
twice in this chapter means “discarded”, or “put on the
shelf”. Paul tells the Corinthians to test themselves to find
out whether they were “on the shelf”. How many there are who
have need to examine themselves! Alas, it is sadly possible to
work for faith, yet not be in the faith! Too many
are religious, but not regenerated; they have been baptized, yet
never washed in the blood of the Lamb. The last verse in this epistle has become one
of the most renowned in church worship, for such an apostolic
benediction usually closes all our services. It contains a
three-fold cord. It is a trinity in unity. It is an evidence of
the Oneness of the Godhead. This solemn, renowned benediction
places God in the center, and this is as it should be, for His
love is the source and foundation of all His gifts. Because of His
love, grace was manifested in Christ. Because of Christ's finished
work, we have all the blessings of the Holy Spirit. As sinners we
need grace; as saints we need all the Spirit can bestow. How rich
we are with God's twin love–gifts -– Christ and the Spirit! Next month: Galatians |
|
The Life and Lot of Women of the Bible
Beginning
alphabetically… Abigail
No 2 She was David's half-sister of whom we know nothing
apart from the fact that she had the same mother as David, but a
different father, namely, Zeruiah Nahash, and that she became the wife
of Jether also known as Ithra. This Abigail became the mother of Amasa,
a leader in David's army (II Sam. 17:25; I Chron. 2:16, 17). Amasa came
to a tragic end at the hands of his cousin, Joab. ABIHAIL This name is used for both males and females in Scripture. Name
meaning -- Father, or Cause of Strength or Father of Splendor ABIHAIL
No 1 She was the daughter of a son of Merari, of the
tribe of Levi the mother of Zuriel, a “prince” among the families of
Merari (Num. 3:35). ABIHAIL
No 2 She was the wife of Abishur of the tribe of Judah,
in the line of Hezron and Jerahmeel (I Chron. 2:29) ABIHAIL
No 3 She was the mother of Rehoboam’s wife, Nahalath,
and daughter of Eliab, David's eldest brother. There was frequent
intermarriage in the Davidic house.
The LXX Version makes this Abihail the second wife of Rehoboam
(II Chron. 11:18). ABIHAIL
was also the name of Queen Esther’s father (Ester 2:15; 9:29) ABIJAH
– See ABI ABISHAG
-- The woman who nursed a king Scripture References -- I Kings 1:3, 4, 2:13--25 Name
Meaning -- My father wanders or errs, or My father causes wandering Family
Connections -- She was a Shunammitess from Issachar. Because of the feebleness of King David his
physicians recommended a fresh young maiden be found to “cherish”
him, a treatment implying that through physical contact she could give
David the advantage of her superabundant vitality. Abishag was chosen
for the task with great care on account of her virginity, youth, beauty
and physical vigor, and as a practical nurse for the aging king. The
prescribed method was not successful, for David died soon after Abishag
had taken on her duties. After David's death, Adonijah, the rebellious son of David and Haggith, desired Abishag as his wife, and approached Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, with a seemingly harmless but really insidious request, “Let Abishag be given to me. ”See nothing wrong with such a request, but thinking it simply an affair of the heart, Bathsheba innocently acted as a matchmaker. Solomon, with due reverence, received his mother, but as soon as the request was presented, the mental acumen of the king saw through the scheme. He construed Adonijah’s desire as virtual treason seeing legal rights followed the possession in marriage of a deceased king’s wife. Matthew Henry observes, “That Abishag was married to David before she lay with him, and was his second wife, appears from its being imputed as a great crime to Adonijah that he desired to marry her after his father's death.” Although, David had not known Abishag (1:3), that is, had no sexual relations with her, nevertheless she was considered an inheritor, and with her could go the rights to the throne. “Having once failed in an abortive attempt to seize the kingdom, Adonijah now sought in a more subtle way to gain his objective.” But his scheme cost him his life, and relentless judgment fell upon him for his intrigue, because of her close association with David, Abishag was present when, through Bathsheba’s was intercession, Solomon was placed on the throne. “If that act had been questioned she would have been a most important witness. By reason of this and of her personal charms, she might become a strong helper to any rival of Solomon who should intrigue to supplant.” With keen insight Solomon saw what was behind Adonijah’s wish to marry Abishag, and he was slain by the hand of Benaiah. ABITAL Scripture Reference -- II Samuel 3:4, I Chronicles 3:3 Name
Meaning -- Whose father is as dew The historian took a mere seven words to tell us
all there is to know about this colorless female character. Born in
Hebron, she was one of David's many wives. In his most profitable study,
Personal Names in the Bible, W. F. Wilkinson reminds us that in
the figurative language of Scripture poetry, “Dew often represents
blessing, beneficence, refreshment, consolation; and in this sense it
may be understood in such a name. Or its significance, when thus used,
may be found in the early appearance and rapid
evanescence of dew (Hosea 6:4; 13:3); and so it may intimate the death
of a young husband, perhaps birth of a child.”
Perhaps the name Abital was chosen by the parents to whom her
birth came as a blessing, as a source of consolation. Next month:
Achsah |
|
Alphabetical List of Women of the Bible A - Abigail, Abihail, Abijah, Abishag, Abital, Achsah, Ada, Adah, Ahinoam, Ahlai, B
- Bashemath,
Bath-sheba,
Bathshua,
Bernice,
Bilhah,
Bithia C
- Candace,
Chloe,
Claudia,
Concubine,
Cozbi,
Cushite,
D
- Damaris,
Deborah,
Delilah,
Diana,
Diblaim,
Dinah,
Dorcas,
Drusilla E
- Eglah,
Elisabeth,
Elisheba,
Elizabeth,
Ephah,
Ephratah,
Ephrath,
Esther,
Ethiopian
woman, Eunice,
Euodia,
Euodias,
Eve F
– There are no “F” names G
- Gomer H - Hadassah, Hagar, Haggith, Hammoleketh, Hamutal, Handmaid, Hannah, Hazelelponi, Hazzelelponi, Heifer, Helah, Hephzibah, Herodias, J
- Jael,
Jecoliah,
Jedidah,
Jehoaddan,
Jehosheba,
Jemima,
Jerioth,
Jerusha,
Jezebel,
Joanna,
Jochebed,
Judith,
Julia,
Junia(s) K
- Keren-happuch,
Keturah,
Kezia L
- Lapidoth,
Leah,
Lois,
Lo-ruhamah,
Lydia M - Maachah, Magdalene, Mahalath, Mahlah, Mara, Martha, Mary the mother of Jesus Christ, Mary, Mehetabel, Merab, Meshullemeth, Michaiah, Michal N
- Naamah,
Naarah,
Nagge,
Naomi,
Nehushta,
Noadiah,
Noah
(female) O
- Oholibamah,
Orpah P
- Peninnah,
Persis,
Phebe,
Priscilla,
Puah Q
- Queen
of Heaven: the moon, worshipped by the Assyrians
as the receptive power in nature (Jer.
7:18; 44:17,
25) R
- Rachab,
Rachel,
Rahab,
Rebecca,
Rebekah,
Reumah,
Rhoda,
Rizpah,
Ruhamah,
Ruth S
- Salome,
Sapphira,
Sara,
Sarah,
Sarai,
Serah,
Sheerah,
Shelomith,
Shelomoth,
Sherah,
Shimeath,
Shimrith,
Shiphrah,
Shomer,
Shua,
Shulamite
woman, Succoth-benoth,
Susanna,
Syrophenician T
-
Tabitha,
Tahpenes,
Tamar,
Taphath,
Timna,
Tirza,
Tirzah,
Tryphena
and Tryphosa U - There were no “U” names. V
- Vashti W,
X, Y - There were no “W”, “X”
or “Y” names. Z - Zebudah, Zeresh, Zeruah, Zeruiah, Zibiah, Zillah, Zilpah, Zipporah
Clicking on a name will take you to an explanation as well as Bible chapter and verse |
|
HAPPY
CHURCH NEW YEAR Year
“B” : The Gospel of Mark Through the course of this
year almost all of the Gospel of Mark will be read. This will give our
congregation a chance to extend our knowledge of the book most scholars
consider to be the first gospel written. On the other hand, the name
can be misleading. Much more than Mark is read in this year. John
appears in great strength and Matthew and Luke make appearances at
important festival times. Large passages of at least
six different New Testament letters are read in sequence. And a
significant passage of the Hebrew Scriptures sets the tone, again and
again, as the first reading for nearly every Sunday and festival. Still, mystery, symbolic
power, are some of the characteristics of Mark. Even a casual reader of
Mark can see striking, mysterious things. For one, the accounts of
Jesus’ activities are constantly surrounded by misunderstanding, even
on the part of his closest disciples. Jesus’ own mother and brothers
think he is mad (Mark 3: 21, 31.) For another, Jesus himself is
continually charging those around him to keep silent regarding his power
and his identity. The mystery only grows upon a closer reading: Jesus’ identity is plainly recognized by unclean spirits or by one of the soldiers who put him to death. The truth is there in other mouths, as well, but then in profound misunderstanding or mocking or rejection. And, Jesus’ teaching seems intended to cloak and hide and puzzle, with only a promise of final open revelation. |
ADULT BIBLE STUDY Our Sunday
morning 9:00 am Adult Sunday School hour continues through the
Book of Acts. The Book
of Acts sometimes referred to as “the fifth gospel” is the
sequel in time and history to the proceeding four gospels. Beginning
with the Ascension of Christ and the historical foundation of the church
and ending with the imprisonment of Paul, about 60 AD, the Acts,
witnesses to the gospel having been planted in all the great capitals of
the known world. Luke, the historian, covers the first thirty years of
church history, and tells us in his book of witness that the things
Jesus “began to do and teach” in the gospels is here, through the
Holy Spirit, continued in the Acts and is the basis for the epistles. So….come and follow along as the door of Faith is opened successively to Hebrew, Roman and Greek, as in the order of the gospels…..SEE YOU SUNDAY MORNINGS !!! |
. |
February MEETING SCHEDULE
|
|
|
|
Lutheran Questions, Lutheran Answers Why Do Lutherans Have Two
Sacraments? This question comes up because many Christians, among
them Roman Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox, celebrate more sacraments,
in most cases seven. Since Lutherans tend to live down the block from or
under the same roof with Catholics – there has been much intermarrying
– they hear of rites that these other Christians observe but that
Lutherans, whether they share the rites or not, do not consider
sacraments. Among these are
confirmation, marriage, ordination, and the like.
Once upon a time this “numbers game” – two sacraments versus
seven – inspired heated arguments, and some of the things both parties
fought about had some point. As
time has passed and conferences have been held, the temperature has gone
down, and better questions have come to the fore. One way to begin to respond to this question about
two sacraments -- Holy Baptism and the Lord's Supper (or Holy Communion or
the Eucharist) -- is to pose another question: “Why do Lutherans have
sacraments at all?” The first and easiest answer that could be decisive
is that they have sacraments because Jesus Christ commanded them. He told his disciples that they should go and baptize, make
disciples of all nations. The Gospels also report that Jesus commanded the
disciples to “do this,” eat the bread that was his body and drink the
wine that was his blood, in remembrance of him. Jesus recommended or
commanded some ceremonies, such as washing each other's feet, but he made
clear that doing so was more to follow his example of being humble. In the
case of baptism and the Lord's Supper, his command was associated with
promise. Whoever believes and is baptized has eternal life and
all the gifts that go with that prospect. Who ever eats and drinks at the
Holy Communion table is to receive forgiveness of sins. The fact that such
promises came with these two acts is what leads Lutherans to join many
other Christians in calling them sacraments and using their distinguishing
marks to name them sacraments. “Distinguishing marks” -- there's another feature
that goes into defining sacraments. In this case, Christians who live
sacramental lives all agree that there are visible signs. These are
sometimes called “the elements.” Their very physicality helps remind
Christians that their faith is very much bound up with the material world,
the world we see and touch and feel. One Anglican thinker with a bit of
wit, arguing against those who think that Christianity should be
“spiritual” and almost “immaterial,” said that Christianity is a
most material religion: you cannot even get it started without a loaf of
bread, a bottle of wine, and a river. Munching on bread and sipping wine, which is
something Christians might do at home or at church outside the sanctuary,
is not sacramental. It can be a sign of good fellowship and it certainly
provides sustenance for the body. In most ways, however, its benefits are
no different from what one might get at a sorority dinner or a club
banquet. Bread and wine there are “elements,” but for them to be
sacramental, Christians who reflect on this have always said something
like this: “The Word of God comes to the element and makes of it a
sacrament.” Now we have another feature of a sacrament. Word + element
is the key combination. This the believers receive in faith when the
congregation gathers and the words of Jesus’ institution at his last
supper are repeated as a call for faith and obedience. Grace is central to
the promise and, Christians testify, its fulfillment. Looking back, it is necessary first to remember that
the Bible, the only source and norm of faith, does not even come close to
using the word “sacrament.” It does not spell out what all goes or
should go into the definition of a sacrament. It only talks about water
connected with God's Word and bread and wine connected with God's Word,
and does not set about saying, “Do these two things and call them
something special.” There were no category, no box, labeled
”Sacrament” that says “Fill this in with two rites that you can file
here.” It does not make clear that these rites or practices have to have
been initiated by Jesus. The church cannot make them up, label them, and
expect them to be categorized with the sacraments. Next month: Why are the sacraments important? |
|
MID
WEEK LENTEN SERIES 2012 You
Shall Love the Lord Your God In
Mark 12, a scribe comes to Jesus and asks, “Which
commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answers, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God, the Lord is one;
you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your
soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength’”.
Jesus responds to the scribe’s question with words from the Shema, the
passage from Deuteronomy 6 that is recited daily by many of the Jewish
faith. These words form a covenant between God and God’s people and
show us a way to respond to this God who so extravagantly loves us
through the cross. The
first week of this series sets the stage with the Shema from Deuteronomy
and the encounter between Jesus and the scribe in Mark 12. The following
weeks center on how we can love the Lord our God with all our hearts,
our souls, our minds, and our strength. The
readings for the Sundays in Lent then also contain covenants: through
Noah, Abraham, the Ten Commandments, Moses, and the new covenant in
Christ. Week
1: Hear, O Israel;
Reading, Mark 12: 28-34 Week 2: You Shall Love the Lord Your God with All Your Heart; Week
3: You Shall Love the Lord Your God with All Your Soul;
Psalm 42 Week 4: You Shall Love the Lord Your God with All Your Mind; Week
5: You Shall Love the Lord Your God with All Your Strength; Isaiah 12: 1-6 Join
us every Wednesday evening beginning February 29 with Soup and Salad at
6:00 p.m. followed by worship at 7:00 p.m. |
|
2011 YEAR END REPORT FROM THE VICAR Vicar Jeremiah T. Heydt Baptisms Brenden Ferguson-Rascon Elizabeth Ann Graves James Tyler Graves Paxson Jace Sabin McKlya Rose Sullivan Lucas Alenander West . New
Members (via Baptism)New
Members (via Baptism) Brenden Ferguson-Rascon Elizabeth Ann Graves James Tyler Graves Paxson Jace Sabin McKlya Rose Sullivan Lucas Alenander West . Marriages Robert Wayne Herrell to Amanda Evans . Members
Granted Eternal Rest Maritta Hansen Otto Julius Wagenfuehr
|
|
ONGOING PROJECT: Community Service Ministry
Collect your newspapers, old blankets and towels for the Animal Shelter. Bring them to the church and they will be transferred to the Animal Shelter. The animal shelter can always use volunteers also. So let's recycle our old blankets and towels to help keep God's wonderful furry four legged creatures warm and comfortable this winter while they await adoption. |
FEBRUARY 2012 VOLUNTEERS |
|
S U N D A Y |
Altar Guild |
Altar Flowers |
Greeters |
Lay Readers |
Tellers |
USHERS |
Sunday Surprise |
| 5 | Paula Philips | Hilde Snyder | Jan Ramsey | Jan Ramsey |
Team 1 Erwin Soell Mae Hatcher |
Team 1 T. Mussachio J. Hams J. Ridinger Mark Lee |
February Sunday Surprise Paula Philips |
| 12 | Paula Philips. |
Katherine Moss |
Helen & James Sorenson | Gail Deason |
Team 2 Tim Mussachio Kirk Smith |
Team 2 J. Sorenson C. Briesemeister E. Oehlerking R. Hatcher |
Katherine Moss |
| 19 | Paula Philips | Open |
Teri Price |
Teri Price |
Team 3 Robert Billing B. Briesemeister |
Team 3 J. Pope K. Smith |
Ester & Bruce Briesemeister |
| 26 | Paula Philips. | Glenda & Walter Splinter |
Jean Dickson |
Jean Dickson |
Team 4 Lois Grandy Lauri Oehlerking |
Team 4 B. Briesemeister F. Schneider
|
Doris Ridinger |
|
Pennies for prescriptions... Interfaith Ministries are still implementing this program for the elderly and for persons who can not afford to buy their medications. We have two big bottles in which to put change: one in the fellowship hall and one in the Narthex. So the next time you walk by a bottle drop some coins in, hey you might be helping a friend. Let's see if we can fill one of the containers this year, may need a crane to life it but that will be okay. Remember every penny counts. |
GROCERY CARTS are not as full as they should be. At this time of year there are more people that need food. With school going on and the holidays coming up this is a great need. If you haven't contributed in the "food carts" n a while, maybe it is time that you do just that. We take the food once a month to either the Wichita Food Bank, Interfaith Ministries or the Salvation Army. |
| GRAB
YOUR HAT MINISTRY
This group stays busy visiting our shut-ins or someone in the hospital. They do a super job and wear some pretty funny hats. Just the hats will make you laugh! They will make your day. Call the church office or Ms. Sorenson, Ms. Secord, Ms. Winchell, Ms. Krasovic or Ms. Dickson. They meet monthly, on the first Thursday of each month at 1:00 PM. If you want to be a "Grab Your Hatter" come join us. |
Caring for Others Caring for others through local agencies and charities is the focus of the Trinity Women's benevolence project this year. As in their tradition, a separate offering will be taken during the congregation's annual Thanksgiving and Praise Service. |
|
LUTHERAN
BASICS Claiming
our Catholic Heritage
"This church accepts the Unaltered Augsburg Confession as a true
witness to the Gospel, acknowledging as one with it in faith and doctrine
all churches that likewise except (its) teachings."
(Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Confession of Faith, 2.05) The Augsburg Confession
summarizes in twenty-eight articles the chief teachings and reforms of the
16th century German Lutheran territories. These articles were presented to
Emperor Charles V in Augsburg, Germany, June 25,1530.
At that time the reformers still hoped their proposals would be
accepted by the church. Martin Luther had been banished by the Emperor and
therefore was unable to come to Augsburg. The final drafting of the articles
was done there by his colleague, Philip Melanchthon, who was noted for his
precision and peaceful spirit. Melanchthon blended two earlier
sets of articles to produce a splendid confession of faith. The first part,
twenty-one "articles of faith and doctrine," attempted to show
that the essential Catholic faith had been maintained. The Nicene Creed, the doctrine
of the Trinity, the power of original sin, and the two natures of Christ are
affirmed in the opening three articles. This leads to the central Lutheran
concern-justification by faith. Article four explains that
"we receive forgiveness of sin and become righteous before God by
grace, for Christ's sake, through faith." The following article affirms
that the office of the ministry of Word and Sacrament was instituted by God
to lead people to such faith. The rest of the first part
spells out key doctrines such as the church, the sacraments (with strong affirmations of baptismal grace and the real
presence of Christ's body and blood in the Lord's supper), civil government,
and the right relation between faith and works. The second part discusses more
explosive issues – “articles about matters in dispute.”
Here Melanchthon tried to show that changes in church practices were
made responsibly for the sake of the gospel. Articles 22 – 28 discuss
distributing both bread and wine at communion, the marriage of priests, the
mass, confession, the distinction of foods, monastic vows, and the power of
the bishops. The Augsburg Confession failed
to produce reconciliation in a divided church. There was scarce hope that
the last seven articles would be approved. But even the first twenty-one,
which had tried to show Lutheran agreement with Catholic teaching, were
divisive. Only eight of these were accepted outright. Lutherans rallied around the
Augsburg Confession after 1530, and it became the church’s chief
confession as the Lutheran Reformation spread beyond Germany. It reminded
Lutherans of the Catholic side of their heritage even through centuries of
religious wars and bitterness. It
holds a place of honor in Lutheranism equaled only by Luther's Small
Catechism. But the real contribution of
the Augsburg Confession to Christian unity has come in our time.
The Second Vatican Council, completed by Roman Catholic bishops in
1965, reformed many church practices and gave Lutherans a fresh opportunity
to examine their Catholic heritage. The
Augsburg Confession’s claim to present true Catholic teaching has also
been explored anew by Catholic theologians. But what is meant by the
statement that the ELCA affirms the Unaltered Augsburg Confession?
There are several revised versions.
In negotiations with Reformed churches in the 1540s, Melanchthon
produced an amended edition that some of the Reformed were willing to
accept. Some American Lutherans
in the mid-nineteenth century produced an “American version,” edited to
make Lutheranism fit into the pattern of American Protestantism. The ELCA, with other world
Lutherans, affirms the original version presented in 1530.
Its generous spirit has earned the Augsburg Confession the place of
honor it holds among the Lutheran confessions. Next Month: No Apology for
the Faith |
SUNDAY SURPRISE IS FOR EVERYONE! Every Sunday at Between Sunday School and Main Service. .
Something extra ordinary to have with coffee during break time
. .Sign up to bring your favorite treats on a Sunday morning that you choose. Sunday Surprise is between Sunday School and Church Service on Sunday mornings. .. There has been many surprises brought and everyone has seemed to enjoy all of them. It's not the traditional cookies anymore. It may be fruit cake, cinnamon rolls, cookies or whatever, even donuts. .. There are some Sundays that no has volunteered to bring a surprise. If one of these dates are for you write your name on on that date. .. Thanks a bunch. .. Susan Hrncirik Life & Fellowship ..
|
|
HAPPY
BIRTHDAY TO YOU……. .
. The first Sunday of each month will feature Birthday Cake at the Sunday Surprise time to honor all of those celebrating a birthday for that respective month. Be sure to join us between Sunday School and Church Service for coffee, treats & fellowship. The kids are welcome as well.
.Sign up to bring your favorite surprise. The Sunday Surprise between Sunday School and Church Service has caught on very well. You can have a snack and coffee while you wait for services to begin Use this time to get reacquainted with your friends here at Trinity. So.... bring the family and meet in between to reunite.
February Anniversaries 5th - Sandra & Norm Larson 8th - Brad & Kathi Law 14th - Lori & Cliff Susac 25th - Susan & Kirk Smith 28th - Glenda & Walter Splinter
February Birthdays:
3 - Amanda 6 - Sandra Johnson 8 - Brooke Parish 11 - Katherine Moss 14 - Sean West 15 - Connie Johnson 15 - Norm Larsen 16 - Abigail Dalmau 17 - Vaughnie Murray 18 - Shawn Phillips 19 - Adam Lewis 22 - Richard Balstad, Sr. 22 - Laurie Mussachio 28 - Catherine Lee . .See you all next Sunday!
.
|
|
|
FOOD BASKETS: Food Baskets go to Faith Mission, Interfaith, and Wichita Falls Area Food Bank. Keep bringing food each month for these non-profit organizations. |
| CROSS IN MY POCKET Once again we are ordering "Cross in My Pocket" crosses. Many of these are given out each day and all through the year. If you don't have a cross in your pocket maybe you should get one. They are on the table in the Narthex and on the table outside Vicar Jeremiah's office. If you would like to help with the cost of these crosses you may do so, just designate on your check so it will go into the correct fund. |
| Used Eye Glasses - Yes! We still do collect eye glasses and cases. Sunglasses are also needed. So don't throw your old ones away; bring them to the church and put them in their designated box. I will deliver the full box to the Hayley's Eye Clinic. |
OUTREACH MINISTRY needs your help: There is a group of folks that go to New Day Empowerment ministries o the East Side of Scott St. each 1st Wednesday of the month. These folks provide a meal for young people who are literally hungry. Our ladies group provides some funding for food and treats, but the group is asking if you too might consider contributing funds to help buy food stuffs.
Now, besides that, they could use some woman/man power as well to serve the meals to the youngsters as well. This would only require an hour a month! You could afford this couldn't you? After all, it follows along with our stewardship theme... be rich in good works, generous and READY TO SERVE.
Thank you for all contributions and because of your generous contributions we will be able to keep New Day Empowerment one of our ministries for 2011.
Gail Deason Community Service & Outreach Ministry |
|
BULLETIN articles due each week by Wednesday, Noon. NEWSLETTER articles need to be in the office by the 3rd week of the month. Thank you. |
Music: God Has Said