Elder, Usher, and Acolyte Schedules September 2017

Elder and Usher Schedule

Date
8:00
Elder
10:30
Sept 3Daryle Schempp, Gene Fuller, Richard Ross, Nathan KluenderMike FieldGreg McNeely, Mike Huth
Sept 10Gerald Semelka, Craig CulpPaul GerikeBrian Dirks, Bud Kessler, Curt Kessler
Sept 17Joshua Parry, Mike Field, Nathan Kluender, Steve ParryBarry HamlinGreg McNeely, Theron Noth
Sept 24Daryle Schempp, Paul GerikeCurt KesslerBrian Dirks, Bud Kessler, Mike Huth

Acolyte Schedule

Date
8:00 AM
10:30 AM
Sept 3Garett SheleyPastor/Elder
Sept 10Pastor/ElderMatt Williamson
Sept 17Lucas PiperPastor/Elder
Sept 24Pastor/ElderJustin McNeely

Stewardship Corner September 2017

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might”  (Eccl. 9:10).

God bids us to be faithful in the tasks He calls us to do.  He calls us to be members of a family (husbands and wives; fathers and mothers; sons and daughters).  He calls us to be members of society (those who govern and those who are governed).  And He calls us to be members of His family, the Church (those who preach and teach and those who hear and learn).  Each of these callings from God places a duty on us.

As members of a family, husbands are given the duty to die for their wives as Christ gave His life for His bride, the Church; while wives are given the duty to respect their husbands and submit themselves to them as the Church does to Christ.  Fathers and mothers are to raise their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, teaching them the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Scriptures concerning Baptism, Confession, the Office of the Keys, and the Lord’s Supper.  Children are to honor their parents throughout their lives, and even when their parents are no longer alive, serving and obeying them, loving and cherishing them, and speaking well of them.

As members of society, God calls those who govern to bear the sword, that is, to punish those who do evil—those who live contrary to God’s will—and to reward those who do good—those whose lives are lived in conformity with God’s will.  Those who are governed are to obey their leaders as to the Lord Himself, for their leaders bear the sword of God’s temporal justice for a purpose.

As members of God’s own family, the Church, He calls those who preach and teach to do so in faithfulness to His holy Word.  To preach and teach the Law of God to convict the hearts of hearers of their sin and to encourage, admonish, and exhort them to do good works in accordance with God’s will.  They are to preach and teach the Gospel, the full forgiveness of their sins accomplished by Christ and received through faith, not by works.  They are to administer the means of grace in accordance with the Gospel and the Word of God.  They do all this for the young and old alike, for those who are near and far off. Those who hear and learn are to submit themselves to their preachers and teachers. They are to support them by their prayers and their gifts.

Each of these callings from God places a duty on us.  They make a claim on our presence, our prayers, and on our time, talents, and treasures.  So, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Eccl 9:10).  Pray for your family, for your government, and your church.  Give of yourself by means of your time, your talents, and your treasures to your family, your government, and your Church.  That is what it means to be faithful in the tasks that God has given us.  That is what it means to do it with all your might.

Celebrating September 2017

September Birthdays

9/4 Joan Renken
9/5 Nathan Kluender
9/6 Randy Reinhardt
9/9 Pastor Lueck
9/10 David Marlow
9/16 Andrea (Reichert) Brown
9/20 Janet Evans
9/22 Jeff Piper
9/26 William Huber
9/26 Cleo Korte
9/27 Ronald Kwasny
9/28 Karah Kemp-Golden

Baptismal Birthdays

9/2 Kathleen Parry
9/3 Joann Nottingham
9/6 Jeannette Ross
9/8 Oliver Mosier
9/10 Joann Hart
9/10 Becky Love
9/12 Jessica Isaac
9/14 Emilia Schempp
9/17 Karah Kemp-Golden
9/18 Bryan Benjamin
9/18 Mary Ward
9/20 Clayton Piper
9/25 Michael Huth
9/30 Randy Reinhardt

Pastor’s Notes September 2017

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In reviewing history, we find some amazing statements made by respected and knowledgeable people.  Charles Duvelle, Director of the US Patent Office in 1899, said, “Everything that can be invented has been invented.”  In the days of silent movies, H.M. Warner, Chairman of Warner Brothers Pictures, said, “Who wants to hear actors talk?”  Gary Cooper said, “Gone With The Wind” is going to be the biggest flop in Hollywood history.  I’m just glad that it will be Clark Gable who’s falling flat on his face and not me.”

Jesus made many amazing statements, too, such as these:

“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matt. 10:39)

“See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him over to the Gentiles.  And they will mock Him and spit on Him, and flog Him and kill Him.  And after three days He will rise.” (Mark 10:33-34)

“Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.” (Luke 4:24)

“I must preach the Good News of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” (Luke 4:43)

“It is finished.” (John 19:30)

            “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold from any, it is withheld.” (John 20:22b-23)

All these statements made by Jesus proved to be true and are still true today.  We can trust the words spoken by our Savior.

In Christ,

Pastor

Sermon for August 27, 2017: “What Are We Doing With Him?”

August 27, 2017                                                                    Text:  Matthew 16:13-20

 

Dear Friends in Christ,

 

Dorothy Leigh Sayers has been described as “a renowned English crime writer, poet, playwright, essayist, translator and Christian humanist.”  She died in 1957.  Concerning our Lord Jesus Christ she wrote the following which I have always found interesting:

“The people who hanged Christ never accused Him of being a bore; on the contrary, they thought Him too dynamic to be safe.  It has been left for later generations to muffle up that shattering personality and surround Him with the atmosphere of tedium.  We have very efficiently pared the claws of the Lion of Judah, certified Him ‘meek and mild,’ and recommended Him as a fitting household pet for pale curates and pious old ladies.  To those who knew Him, however, He in no way suggested a milk and water person; they objected to Him as a dangerous firebrand…But He had a ‘daily beauty in his life that made us ugly,’ and officialdom felt that the established order of things would be more secure without Him.  So they did away with God in the name of peace and quietness.”

But have things remained quiet and peaceful when it comes to Jesus?  Hollywood, part of the scientific community, the humanists and liberal “theologians” can’t do enough to do away with Jesus!  And us?

“WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH HIM?”

Jesus is traveling again this morning and He comes to Caesarea Philippi.  He gets into a discussion with the disciples about who He is.  You know the answers they gave of what people thought – John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah.  Maybe the soul of one of these entered Jesus.  Ridiculous, you think?  No more so than the ridiculous thoughts of our day.  Jesus the example.  Jesus the “son” of God in the sense that we are all sons and daughters of God, goes the liberal drivel.  Maybe a womanizer.  Maybe a lowlife.  A liar.  A scam artist.

There now.  The genius of human wisdom can reduce Jesus to a zero – with little or no scholarship – and thus safely, or so it thinks, ignore His Words:  “You are of this world; I am not of this world.  I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.” (John 8:23-24)

The world is evil and sin has made it so.  Why doesn’t someone step up and say those words when we have all these killings and disasters and people hating one another?  Because that is too simple, and anyway, everyone has their own thoughts and are not afraid to express them.  God help us!

The world is going to be in the world in their unbelief.  What is before us is:  What are we going to do with Him?  Who is this Jesus?  On this day, Peter seems to know.  “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

God the Son Who is God in the flesh.  He comes to pay for every sin and secure eternal life for those who believe.  Human wisdom will never, ever make this reasonable to sinful thinking.  Listen carefully:  It’s a matter of faith.  Hebrews reminds us:  “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Heb. 11:1)  That is what brings us here:  faith.  Saved by grace through faith, say Paul.  The greatest miracle you could ever receive in this world and you possess it.

Jesus accepts Peter’s confession of faith at face value.  Not a word is disputed.  God put these words into Peter’s mouth.  The Lord then says, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Please hear this:  Jesus is not building the church on this smart theologian Peter.  If he was, he would have said, “Upon you I will build my church.”  The church of Jesus Christ is not to be built either on a man or on the confession of a man, but on the saving revelation of God’s grace in the truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.  This is not Peter’s church; it is the Lord’s church.  Christ is the builder.  He builds His church so solidly on the Gospel revelation of his grace that all the forces of hell, huffing and puffing combined, will never destroy it!

What are we doing with Him?  This prayer request came across the desk of one of the Pastors at my home church in Decatur.  It stated:  “She thought she had allergies and sinus problems and whamo!  She has cancer in her sinus, colon, gall bladder, numerous other places.  She had gone to Barnes, St. Louis, but they are sending her home tomorrow and she will be on hospice.”

Life can do a U-turn just that quick.  No plans for next year’s vacation or birthdays or…whatever.  Just the reality of what this world is and our need of God’s love through Christ.  The Holy Spirit guides and lifts us through the sacred Word and Sacraments.  Allows our faith in Him to grow and prosper in spite of the mud and crud that people want to throw in our face.  Peter had his challenges after this wonderful confession.  We too will have ours.  We will prevail through “Christ, the Son of the living God.”               Amen.