Month: March 2015

Pastor’s Notes, March 2015

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We begin with what I consider an easy question:  Do bad things happen to Christians?  From the Scriptures and our life experiences we can answer with a resounding:  “Yes!”  We all quantify bad things differently, but it still does not change the answer.

For the believer in Christ, we know that our Lord is there.  No matter what might happen to us – sickness, accident, financial challenge, problems with spouse or children, job loss, or just the daily irritants that can really bug us – we are assured through the Holy Bible that God loves us.  That love was never more evident than in the sending of His Son to die in our place on a cross.  Our filthy, damning sin was paid for by Our Redeemer.  He rose again so that we can look forward to an eternity in heaven with Him.  The bad things will cease!

God is always by our side to help us and strengthen us.  Sometimes when things seem to be going along swimmingly, we lose sight of our gracious Savior.  We need Christ each and every day.  Each block of 24 hours has its own challenges.

The Psalmist wrote, “Call upon me in the day of trouble; and I will deliver you.” (Ps. 50:15).  So we pray to Him and ask for His guidance and assistance.  He will answer our prayers.  He will never leave us.

 

In Christ,

Pastor

“R.I.P. – REST IN PEACE?” — Text: Romans 5:1-11 (March 1, 2015)

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March 1, 2015 Text: Romans 5:1-11

Dear Friends in Christ,

Exactly six months from today, the whole world will celebrate again one of the greatest days in human history. On Sept. 1 we’ll reach the seventieth anniversary of the end of World War II. Peace. Of course, that peace left millions dead, including over 400,000 Americans, many of whom are buried in Europe or the Pacific in cemeteries marked by rows and rows of white crosses.
Many of these grave markers bore the initials “R.I.P.” for the Latin requiescat in pace, meaning, with the same initials in English, “rest in peace” – words written and spoken on the dead. Is that really peace? Can there be peace when someone lies in the grave – whether death has come violently in war or peacefully in one’s own bed? And what about while we live? Since the world never lives in peace, can we?
“R.I.P. – REST IN PEACE?”
Paul had stated earlier in Ephesians that apart from Jesus, we have no hope and can expect only eternal death. Now here in our text, he continues to describe how desperate we were: “we were still weak” (v. 6). There is never a good time to be weak. Weak in sin, weak in moral fortitude, weak in faith. That does a nice job of describing you and me. Paul goes on to say, “we were still sinners” (v. 8) We know that’s true, don’t we? We still sin. Sometimes it seems as if our lives have wandered into one of those survival shows on television and we are about to be eliminated, or at least have questions about lasting longer than a few more weeks or months. Too many false calculations, too many wrong-headed decisions. Too much time spent looking out for ourselves to the detriment of others.
But it gets worse. We aren’t just weak and sinful; we were enemies of God. Verse 10, “we…were…enemies.” Enemies of God.
Enemies? But God is so nice. He’s the “Big Guy Upstairs,” the doting uncle who gives you daily treats of bread and breath. It’s hard to imagine being a screaming-in-your-face enemy of God. But look at the crowd in front of Pontius Pilate. “Crucify him! Crucify him!” goes the shouting. (Matt. 27:22-23) Yeah, like I said, we’d never do that. Enemies of God?
Yeah, world war. The whole world has been at war with God since the time of Adam and Eve. Enemies. Not buds who occasionally step on each other’s toes. Not allies who occasionally disagree about foreign policy. Enemies. Every one of our sins puts us at war with God. False calculations – enemies! Wrong-headed decisions – enemies! Looking out for ourselves – enemies! Our sin means war. Our indifference isn’t neutrality; it’s opposition. Jesus says, “Whoever is not with me is against me” (Mt. 12:30). Enemies of God. No resting in peace for us.
But…but. “While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly” (v. 6) Despite our weakness, Jesus became weak in death. To see in Scripture the almighty Lord and Savior sweat blood and stumble down the street with a cross on his torn back and then his weak hands and feet nailed to the cross – what wondrous love. Jesus wrested the keys of death from the devil and now Jesus holds them in his strong, resurrected hand. You are “died for” by Jesus. Weak and ungodly, yes, but washed in the peace-giving blood of Jesus.
And if he couldn’t preach enough good news, Paul continues, “While were still sinners, Christ died for us” (v. 8). While you were weak, the death of Jesus became your death in Baptism. You did nothing, have done nothing, to be saved. Jesus takes the weak you and makes you strong and redeemed. Is that not a peaceful message, one that can give you rest even in the worst of times?
And while we were also enemies, Jesus in his great love for you defeated your enemies – devil and sin and death. When “R.I.P.” is said of you at death it will be true. But that peace is also yours right now. Reconciled by Jesus, you now have “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, which will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7).
Wherever we may be buried – in a military cemetery or the plot next to a country church – whatever may mark our grave – polished marble or weathered wood – if our lives have been marked with the cross, we will most surely rest in peace.
Today, Paul celebrates the end of the world war, and we rest in peace because Jesus ended the world war. “R.I.P.” – Rejoice in the peace of Jesus, dear people of God. Fear not, and rest in His peace.
Amen.

Bulletin Announcements – March 1, 2015

† Bulletin Announcements †

March 1, 2015

THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Mark 8:32:  “And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.”  Anytime we sin we are acting like Peter: thinking we know better than the Lord.  But as Jesus says, such acts stem from Satan.  So let us repent: let us trust our Lord Jesus and follow Him.  For certainly He has earned our trust with His gracious sacrifice for us.

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS, led by Pastor Lueck, will be studying during Lent: “Singing With The Exiles”, based on the Book of Isaiah.  This Bible Study corresponds with the Wednesday evening Lenten messages.  The class is at 9:15 a.m. in the church basement.

TODAY IN SUNDAY SCHOOL students study the account “Jesus Calms a Storm.”  Just as Jesus calmed the storm with His Word for the frightened disciples, so He calms and ends the storm of sin and death by taking our sin upon Himself and dying in our place so we may live eternally.  Consider discussing, “What did Jesus do to calm the storm?  How does Jesus calm the storms in our life?”

THIS WEEK:  Pastor hosts the Bloomington South Circuit Pastors and Delegates this Tuesday, March 3rd, from 9:30 a.m. to noon.  Please be aware if you need to be at church that day.  Thank you.

MIDWEEK LENTEN WORSHIP SERVICE:  We gather for Lenten Worship this Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.  The Sermon: “Marked”.  The Evangelism/Stewardship Board with smiles on their faces will be serving the soup/sandwich meal at 5:30 p.m.  The free-will Offering will support the mission of Wittenberg Lutheran Center on the campus of Illinois State University.

SUNDAY, MARCH 8TH & Sunday, March 15th:  This month we will have two door Offerings.  Next Sunday, March 8th, will be our regular one, which will go to Reverend Michael Kearney.  On Sunday, March 15th, we will have a door Offering for Seminarian Chris Suggitt who will preach and lead Adult Bible Study that day.  Both men have sent a card or letter recently.  Please read their correspondence posted on bulletin board outside the church office.

ADULT INSTRUCTION CLASS TO BEGIN:  Pastor will be conducting another Adult Instruction Class.  It will begin on Thursday, March 5th, at 7:00 p.m.  It will last for ten weeks.  This class is for those wanting to learn more about the teachings of the Lutheran Church, both member and non-member.  Those wanting to join Good Shepherd at the conclusion of the class are welcomed and encouraged.  Please invite those you might know.  If you have someone you would like Pastor to invite, please let him know.

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS:  The sign-up for help with coffee/doughnuts is posted on the wall by the north stairwell.  We need an individual/family to sign-up each week to pick up the donuts and make the coffee.  If no one is signed up by Friday of each week, the order will be cancelled.  We thank everybody who continues to help with this part of our church fellowship.

CID LLL CONVENTION REGISTRATION:  Lutheran Hour Ministries update of ongoing projects, such as the State Fair, will be held on Saturday, March 14th at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 200 Charleston Ave., Mattoon IL.  Registration Forms are available on the table in the narthex and are due no later than Monday, March 9th.  Come and have fun and great food!  If you have any questions, please see or call Herb Renken at (309) 454-2986.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “Lifted Up” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Psalm 103:8-12.  When sinful pride lays us low, God’s grace in Christ lifts us up again.  The speaker will be Reverend Gregory Seltz.  Hear this Sunday’s message on the Lutheran Hour on WGN (720) at 6:00 a.m.; WJWR (104.7 FM) and WJWR (90.3 FM) both on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.  Also, if you can receive Lincoln, IL radio station WLLM (1370 AM) the program is broadcast two times on Sunday at 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.  Tune in!  You can also listen to The Lutheran Hour on your personal computer at RealAudio, www.lhm.org.

PRAYER CHAIN:  If you have a prayer request please submit them by email to Mary Anne Kirchner at makirchner@yahoo.com or you may phone a Prayer Request to Mary Anne; her home # is (309) 661-6522; her cell phone# is (309) 532-2582.  The Prayer Request box is on the table in the narthex for any written requests.

CHURCH OFFICE: The Office Hours for Janet and Sandy are as follows:  Janet:  Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and others times by request/appointment. Sandy’s hours are Mondays, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.; and Fridays, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  Also, if you stop by the church please let the office know that you are in the building.

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