October 10th following worship service is your chance to meet and greet Ryan and his wife Alicia.
This will also be a time for everyone to update their church direc-tory information and contact information. Forms and your cur-rent directory listing will be available to assist you in making any corrections that may be necessary.
Also, if you will review the back page, you will note that the year long theme entries will also be discussed. And you will have the opportunity to submit your own catchy or inspiring theme for the year. Food will be provided !!!
We are looking forward to meeting with many of you at that time.
And hope to have the revisions made and Church Directory ready for printing soon after this date.
Monday, October 25, 2010
The "R" Word
No, It is not rebellious. But, rebellious describes sinners.
No, it is not rest, but it will result in rest to your mind, body, and spirit.
No, it is not river, but it will result in the river of living water flowing into, through and from your life.
No, it is not run or race, but it will increase your endurance by leaps and bounds as you run the race of life to the completion line.
No, it is not accomplishing righteousness, but is a key to receiv-ing righteousness. The perfect righteousness of Christ.
No, it is not resume, but it is central to resuming your Christian walk whenever you spiritually stumble.
Yes, it is required for a genuine conversation.
Yes, it is the right thing to do.
Yes, it remains available daily through the blood of Jesus.
Yes, it results in a clear conscience and freedom in Christ Jesus.
Yes, it is repeated many, many, many times in the sermons of John the Baptist, Jesus, the Apostle Paul, and throughout the Scriptures.
Yes, it could be redemption, regeneration, religion or receiving.
Yes, as this is the October newsletter of a Lutheran church the "R" word certainly could be Reformation.
BUT, the “R” Word that is a good, gracious, granted gift of God is REPENTANCE
Repentance and Reformation do go together. 493 years ago on October 31st, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg. The very first thesis reads, When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said “Repent,” he intended that the entire life of believers should be repentance.
All of the Christian life is repentance. By God’s Holy Spirit at work in the means of grace we are to daily turn (be turned) away from sin and turned toward trusting in the good news that Jesus saves sinners. Repentance isn’t a one time inaugural experience but is to be a daily occurrence. Martin Luther also wrote ex-plaining the ongoing meaning of Holy Baptism, Baptism indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
The "R" word is to be such a part of our daily lives that really every day is to be ―Reformation Day. Someone once suggested that a fitting bumper sticker would be a rewording of the familiar, Have you hugged your child today? To, Have you repented today?
No, it is not rest, but it will result in rest to your mind, body, and spirit.
No, it is not river, but it will result in the river of living water flowing into, through and from your life.
No, it is not run or race, but it will increase your endurance by leaps and bounds as you run the race of life to the completion line.
No, it is not accomplishing righteousness, but is a key to receiv-ing righteousness. The perfect righteousness of Christ.
No, it is not resume, but it is central to resuming your Christian walk whenever you spiritually stumble.
Yes, it is required for a genuine conversation.
Yes, it is the right thing to do.
Yes, it remains available daily through the blood of Jesus.
Yes, it results in a clear conscience and freedom in Christ Jesus.
Yes, it is repeated many, many, many times in the sermons of John the Baptist, Jesus, the Apostle Paul, and throughout the Scriptures.
Yes, it could be redemption, regeneration, religion or receiving.
Yes, as this is the October newsletter of a Lutheran church the "R" word certainly could be Reformation.
BUT, the “R” Word that is a good, gracious, granted gift of God is REPENTANCE
Repentance and Reformation do go together. 493 years ago on October 31st, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg. The very first thesis reads, When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said “Repent,” he intended that the entire life of believers should be repentance.
All of the Christian life is repentance. By God’s Holy Spirit at work in the means of grace we are to daily turn (be turned) away from sin and turned toward trusting in the good news that Jesus saves sinners. Repentance isn’t a one time inaugural experience but is to be a daily occurrence. Martin Luther also wrote ex-plaining the ongoing meaning of Holy Baptism, Baptism indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
The "R" word is to be such a part of our daily lives that really every day is to be ―Reformation Day. Someone once suggested that a fitting bumper sticker would be a rewording of the familiar, Have you hugged your child today? To, Have you repented today?
Sore Jaws!
Within minutes after the combine left the cornfield north of church, I happened to see a squirrel scamper past the front door of the church with an almost complete ear of corn in its mouth. My first thought was: that big heavy ear of corn probably weighs almost as much as the squirrel! His/her jaw must hurt after hav-ing carried the corn that far. I doubt the squirrel was complaining.
My second thought was: God has blessed us in a similar abundant fashion. We likely don’t have sore jaws, but instead rather sore stomachs from the variety of food, the delectability (tastiness) of that food and the quantity of the food that our God provides.
A third thought was: Of course, God’s abundant provision is not limited to food for our bodies. We have the abundance of food for our souls. God graciously gives us divine gifts. This includes the feast of the Savior’s body and blood, in with and under the bread and wine.
So, as my thoughts momentarily turned again to that sore jawed squirrel. I thought, we Christians should all have sore jaws at the close of Sunday Divine Service. God feeds us an abun-dance even more extravagant than a complete ear of corn.
And a final thought was: Maybe our sore jaws should come from the smiles and the singing of thanks and praise out of the gratitude and relief of renewed forgiveness given us each time we gather for worship!
My second thought was: God has blessed us in a similar abundant fashion. We likely don’t have sore jaws, but instead rather sore stomachs from the variety of food, the delectability (tastiness) of that food and the quantity of the food that our God provides.
A third thought was: Of course, God’s abundant provision is not limited to food for our bodies. We have the abundance of food for our souls. God graciously gives us divine gifts. This includes the feast of the Savior’s body and blood, in with and under the bread and wine.
So, as my thoughts momentarily turned again to that sore jawed squirrel. I thought, we Christians should all have sore jaws at the close of Sunday Divine Service. God feeds us an abun-dance even more extravagant than a complete ear of corn.
And a final thought was: Maybe our sore jaws should come from the smiles and the singing of thanks and praise out of the gratitude and relief of renewed forgiveness given us each time we gather for worship!
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