Tuesday, February 28, 2012

St. John March '12 Newsletter


St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, LCMS Newsletter                       P.O. Box 162, Baldwin, Illinois 62217-0162 (618) 785-2344              
        Pastor John M. Taggatz,          Carol Wentz, Secretary
March, 2012                                        Lela Rehmer, Custodian          Kevin Kahle, Groundskeeper      
                                                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                        Church E-mail:  stjohnch@egyptian.net; jtaggatz@yahoo.com
                                                                                                        Church Web Site:  www.stjohnbaldwin.ctsmemberconnect.net

Text Box:


PSTRSDSKALTRGILD





Serving on the Altar Guild for March are:  Renee Luthy & Melba Luthy
Text Box:

               
Ushers for the Month of March are: Larry Erdmann, Kevin Luthy, Terry Rehmer, Cory Rehmer, Brian Schoenbeck, Bruce Schoenbeck, Wes Stellhorn & Dennis Wegener

PLSENOTE


CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE…
(618) 785-2344    (or)
(618) 785-2602

-When a member of your family is admitted to the hospital, so a visit can be made by Pastor Taggatz.
- When your group plans to hold a meeting, so it can be cleared and placed on the church calendar.
-When your home or business phone number or address is changed, so church records can be corrected.
- When you are planning to move either out of town or locally.
- When you know you are pregnant so that we will be able to assist you in any way we can with prayers, encouragement and support.
- When a new baby arrives in your family or in the family of another church member.
- When you are planning a wedding or baptism.








 


“Where is Your Treasure?”

                Jesus said in Matthew chapter 6 :16-21, “16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  17But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.  19“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

During the season of Lent as we meditate on the passion of our Lord Jesus it is the practice of many Christians to fast as a way of focusing ourselves on the very Bread of Life who suffered and died for us.  It should be noted that fasting is not a work of righteousness to be witnessed by men but a penitential reverence for the Word of God as the one teaching needful the very Bread of Life. So if we fast, we do so to prepare and present ourselves to the Lord as empty vessels ready to receive His body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins.

Some Christians even today fast before partaking in Holy Communion on Sunday so that they may meditate on how God feeds us both physically and spiritually and makes us whole through the very body and blood of our Lord Jesus.  But, there are some Christians who don’t see the importance of fasting in order to focus on our need for God’s Word and His Sacraments, nor do they see the need to worship the Lord regularly every Sunday and receive His gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation in the Divine Service.

This brings to mind what a man wrote to his hometown newspaper one week.  He wrote to the editor that he had given up worshiping on Sunday mornings with his wife because he felt that he didn’t get anything out of the worship service.  He felt that the 30 years of going to church with his wife from Sunday to Sunday was a waste of time, because he couldn’t remember a single sermon his pastor had preached each week or what the Bible readings were in the service.  Well, the editor of the newspaper wrote back saying that his wife had made him dinner every day for the last 30 years.  The editor couldn’t remember every meal his wife had fed him, but one thing he did know, if his wife had not fed him for those last 30 years he would not be living to this day.  This goes well with why we go to church.  We may not realize that our God is feeding us through His Word and Sacraments, but He is, and He’s keeping our faith alive in us through them. 

During Lent we have many more opportunities to receive the life giving Word and Sacrament that our Lord has given to us.  These opportunities are all a chance for us to continue to receive the assurance of the forgiveness, life, and salvation our Lord Jesus has purchased and won for us.

Notice here in this excerpt Luther’s Large Catechism that he urges Christians to receive the Sacrament frequently. Those who realize the enormity of their sin, how many dangers abound, and how great Christ’s gifts are that are given in the Sacrament will receive the Lord’s Supper as often as possible. This is precisely why the early Lutheran congregations began to offer the Lord’s Supper every Lord’s Day and on other festival days to those wishing to receive it. (See AC X; SA III VI; FC Ep VII and SD VII.)[1]  
                                                                
“. . . 37 Fasting, prayer, and other such things may indeed be outward preparations and discipline for children, so that the body may keep and bring itself modestly and reverently to receive Christ's body and blood. Yet the body cannot seize and make its own what is given in and with the Sacrament. This is done by the faith in the heart, which discerns this treasure and desires it. . . . 39 . . . since we now have the true understanding and doctrine of the Sacrament, there is also need for some admonition and encouragement. . . .  40 For we see that people seem weary and lazy about receiving the Sacrament. A great
multitude hears the Gospel. Yet . . . they go one, two, three years, or even longer without the Sacrament. They act as though they were such strong Christians that they have no need of it. 41 Some allow themselves to be hindered and held up by the excuse that we have taught that no one should approach the Sacrament except those who feel hunger and thirst, which drive them to it. Some pretend that it is a matter of liberty and not necessary. They pretend that it is enough to believe without it. For the most part, they go so far astray that they become quite brutish and finally despise both the Sacrament and God's Word. 42 Now, it is true, as we have said, that no one should by any means be forced or compelled to go to the Sacrament, lest we institute a new murdering of souls. Nevertheless, it must be known that people who deprive themselves of and withdraw from the Sacrament for such a long time are not to be considered Christians. For Christ has not instituted it to be treated as a show. Instead, He has commanded His Christians to eat it, drink it, and remember Him by it. 43 Indeed, those who are true Christians and value the Sacrament precious and holy will drive and move themselves to go to it. . . . For we know and feel how the devil always opposes this and every Christian exercise. He drives and deters people from them as much as he can
.” (Large Catechism, Sacrament of the Altar)

See You in Church!

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Pastor Taggatz

STWRDSHP
“Upper Room: Furnished”

In the midst of a prayer meeting service in a large downtown church, with several hundred people present, a timid little woman arose to speak.  It was in the midst of the Lenten season and the pastor had asked a rather simple but searching question: “Suppose you had the chance to be some one person associated with those last days of Jesus in Jerusalem, whom would you choose to be?”  The woman was trying to reply to that question.

“There are a lot of people in the passion story whose place I could never fill,” she said.  “I could not carry my Master’s cross as Simon of Cyrene did.  Nor could I have followed Him out to the garden as some of the others did.  But I could make ready for Him the best room in my house, where He might eat the last supper with His disciples.  I could promise Him that it would be made ready to His satisfaction.”  There was something very simple in her testimony, but those who knew the little woman were well aware of the truth in her words: “…it would be made ready to His satisfaction.”  She was that kind of person.

Someone had to make ready a room and furnish it.  There is no record of any such thing in the Scripture, but is easy to imagine some housewife telling her Christian friends, years afterward, how the Lord had come to their home that night and had eaten that last solemn meal under her roof.  She never wrote a gospel, nor became a martyr, nor did she hold an office in the church; but she could provide a furnished room!

A great deal of the service of the kingdom of God (and the church) must be rendered by those who never get their names into the papers, are never publicly commended, and are never elected as a delegate.  But there is need for a furnished upper room and some devoted heart furnishes it without thought of publicity or commendation.  In the eternal records of God the name is inscribed, and after it the notation—clearly written: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

We Remember in Our Prayers— We pray for Linda Nagel, Elizabeth Montroy, Lori Adair, Jason Mines, Bonnie Highberger, Lee Hogandobler, Evan Saldana, Dennis Bunte, & Jim Spier, all who are battling serious illnesses.  We pray for Greg Laufer, as he continues to be under rehabilitation.  We also pray for Sophia Cook and for Del Anderson.  We pray for Roxanne Taggatz’s brother Ron, who is currently recovering after a stroke he recently had. 

We mourn with the Adair family, upon the death of Lori’s father, David, with Kathryn Copple’s family, upon the death of her mother-in-law, Opal, and with the family of Nicki Buch, upon the death of her grandfather.   May God give to these families comfort and hope in the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ who says in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”

COMING EVENTS

 Our Annual Chicken Dinner will be held Sunday March11th. Plan now to bring your appetite and enjoy good food, good fellowship and on your way out the door pick up a tasty treat from the Ladies Aid Bake SaleDonations of pies and cakes are always greatly appreciated for the dinner.  There’s a signup sheet in the back of the church.  Bring your desserts the morning of the dinner to the Ladies Aid room.  Thank You.   Please note: that there will be a Saturday night Worship service before the chicken dinner on Sat. March 10th at 5pm.

BIBLE STUDY—
  Sunday Mornings (8:45 a.m.)                       
                “Walther:  The Movie”
Prepare to visit the early Lutheran Church in America, circa 1840. Prepare to meet this early hero of the church: Dr. C. F. W. Walther – a man who sacrificed his homeland, his health and nearly his life…For the freedom to speak freely, to believe freely, to live freely… To save his Church and the Faith for those he loved… AND for us who would come after.
LYF UPDATE
-On Sunday March 4th we will be having our Youth Group Meeting after church.
-17 March @1:00 p.m. there will be Laser Tag with games, pizza and soda.
-If you have any questions email:  Fleta Junge: tfjunge@htc.net  /call 282-4642 or 618-444-2764.

Our Ladies Aid has been collecting items for the Pregnancy Center in Sparta for several years.  The clients that are served really appreciate these donations.  If you’d like to donate here is a list of items that we need to put together the kits.  Health Kits include:  Hand towels, wash cloths, bars of soap, tooth brush, toothpaste, wide toothed comb, nail file, nail clippers, band aids, large size disposable diapers. The items should be new. There will be a box available in the back of the church to place your donations in for the Sparta Pregnancy Center.

You are invited to . . . A Study of the Book of Exodus.  Led by Dr. Paul Schreiber - Dr. Schreiber just completed his work on the commentary for Exodus to be published by Concordia Publishing House.  Thursday, March 8 & 22, 10 AM – 11:30 AM.  Trinity Lutheran Church, Red Bud (Prairie) School meeting room.  All are welcome to attend!

Remember:  Every 3rd Sunday of the month we are praying for people who are in the military.  If you have a relative or friend who is an armed serviceman and woman in our Nation’s military please let the Church know so that we may be able to pray for them on the third Sunday of the month.

CHRIST OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN HS
810 Soldiers Way, Evansville, IL   62242
Phone 618-853-7300       Fax 618-853-7361
www.coslhs.org               admin@coslhs.org
John Christman, Principal

FISH & MORE: The annual Fish & More will be Friday, March 2 in the mezzanine of COS’s gymnasium. Due to lack of pre-orders, we will NOT have smoked chicken, but offer fried chicken for those interested in an alternative to fish.  No pre-ordering necessary.

THANK YOU for your continued prayers for Janet during this time. Assistance with events is always appreciated. Anyone who is interested in volunteering time to help with the school lunch stands, the upcoming Fish & More,  and/or the dinner auction (by either picking up items within your community or making phone calls from your home), please call the school’s office.

14th ANNUAL DINNER AUCTION: Save the date!  Christ Our Savior’s Annual Dinner Auction will be Saturday, April 28. The silent auction will begin at 4:00 p.m. Dinner will be at 6:00 p.m. followed by the live auction at 7:00 p.m.

SCIENCE TEACHER NEEDED: COS has an opening for a part-time science teacher for the 2012-2013 school.  Candidates must be qualified to teach Biology & Chemistry.  IL 7-12 Certification preferred.  Please submit resumes to the office by March 15.

SHUTINS
Zuehla Rowold                        Laverna Luthy
Red Bud Nursing Home        Three Springs N. Home  
350 W. South 1st                             161 Three Springs Rd.    Red Bud, IL 62278                Chester, IL 62233   

Opal Luthy                               Patty Theobald
Red Bud Nursing Home        402 W. 2nd  St.  
350 W. South 1st                               Apt. F.
Red Bud, IL 62278                Sparta, IL 62286

Dorothy Junge                      Mr. & Mrs. Russell Mahan
7555 State Rte. 15              800 Baldwin Rd
Baldwin, IL 62217               New Athens, IL 62264
      


Church Council Meeting

Tue. Feb. 14th
7:30 p.m.
 
MANDSPLY









Present:  Pastor Taggatz, Gene Luthy, Gerald Poeniski, Marla Huebner, Toni Rehmer, Tony Junge, Corey Roscow, Linda Schoenbeck, Fleta Junge.

The meeting was called to order by Pres. Gene Luthy.
Opening devotions were given by Pastor Taggatz.
Minutes from the previous meeting: were read an approved.
Financial Secretary’s Report:  No report
Treasurer’s report:  Ending balance for the general fund for January 2012 - $528.42.

Spiritual Ministries/Elder:  Membership transfer requested and approved for Richard & Judy Brege to Salem Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, IL.
-Deb Stamm has accepted to be the head organist and a schedule has been set for this year thru December 2012.
-Dean Buch has agreed to continue serving our congregation as organist.

Church Properties:  Previous roofing bids were only good for 30 days. The council and trustees recommended getting more roofing bids, possibly from Roscow Roofing, Whelan, and Bauer Brothers.  Also it was suggested that a detail quote outlining all materials necessary for repairs be presented to parties involved in the decision making process so that each bid can be compared equally.
-Still no decision has been made as to who is responsible for the payment of the sewer digging that has been done at the school.
-Water in the school basement and the sump pump continues to be an issue. It was noted that Marvin Liefer and Jonathon Liefer will check it out. Also they will be checking as to where exactly the water is coming from and how it accumulates in the basement.
-Ron Sommer agreed to give $4,500.00 from the ceiling fan fund to the roofing repairs.
-It was noted that the dust to dawn light behind the school is burnt out and need to find out who owns it.

Stewardship:  Community Easter Egg hunt will be held on Saturday, March 31st at 2 p.m. at the Baldwin Village Park. There will be plastic eggs with candy, scripture verses etc. If anyone would like to volunteer or donate items, contact Linda Schoenbeck.

Lutheran Youth Fellowship: 
-The Chicken & Dumpling Dinner has been changed from February 3, 2013 next year to February 10th, 2013 in order not to conflict with a neighboring congregation’s dinner.
-LYF lock-in at Red Bud Lutheran will be February 18th, 2012.
-The LYF Chili Dinner is scheduled for November 4th, 2012.
-LYF will be doing Laser Tag on March 17th, 2012.

Pastor’s Report: Devotion1 John 4:10-11

Pastoral Acts from Jan. 11th ‘12 through Feb. 14th, 2012—
-Regular Saturday & Sunday worship responsibilities & catechetical youth instruction
                - 5 Bible Study class sessions (Sunday            mornings)
                -1 School chapel @ Trinity Lutheran Church                Feb. 1st
                -4 Counseling sessions
                -1 High School chapel service @ COSLHS Feb.            7th
                -2 COSLHS Board Meetings (Jan. 12th & Feb.               9th)
                -6 Hospital Visits
                -21Homebound//Member Visits
                -Attended Pastor’s Circuit meeting at St. John              Chester Feb. 7th
                -1 Memorial Serviceà for Opal Copple,        (Kathryn Copple’s mother-in-law) Feb. 8th

I ask the council for forgiveness for my lack of communication with you and for anything that I have said or done to hurt you, especially this past month.  I am sorry that I failed to work out the schedule pertaining to the Soup Dinner and LYF Chicken and Dumpling Dinner and I hope to do better at communicating with all of you in the future.  I am truly sorry and I pray with God’s help that I will do better as your pastor.

My Name is on the Ballot for LWML Junior Pastoral Counselor—I was approved by the District Board of Directors to be a possible candidate.  I contacted SID LWML President Helen Mayer and said that I would be willing to run as Junior Pastoral Counselor.

Church Secretary Position--Last week Carol Wentz gave me her notice of retirement at the end of April 2012.  We thank her for her 20 years of service to our church and for all her years of hard work!
                -I have informed the Elders and Church        President about looking for a new church      secretary. 
                -Right now, Carol works about 6 hours a week             on Wed. & Thur. putting bulletins and            newsletters together, organizing church    announcements, calling members at pastor’s                discretion, tracking church attendance etc…                 I have included a list of duties for the church      secretary position. 
                -Would it be alright with the council if I put a                notice in the bulletin that we’re looking for    someone to be our next church secretary?

2012  Southern Illinois District Convention this week— Theme:  “Rejoice in Hope.”  Thursday, February 16 -Sat. Feb. 18th at the Regency Conference Center.  Our current voting Delegate is our Elder Marvin Liefer and our Alternate Delegate is Vice President Gerald Poenitske.
 
Lenten Midweek Services @ St. John—Wed. Feb. 22nd -Wed. April 8th.  The theme this year is, “Truly, This Is the Son of God.”  We will be using the Order of Vespers from TLH as our order of service.  All services start at 7pm on Wednesday evenings.  Join us for this exciting series as we meditate upon Christ’s passion in dying on the cross to save us from our sins.  Please note:  Due to the Lenten Midweek series Pre-Confirmation will be meeting at 4:30pm and Confirmation class will be meeting at 5:30pm.  

                Here’s an Idea for Evangelism during Lent…           Invite a friend to experience it with you.

PRAY FOR:
                • The Holy Spirit to work in the heart of         your friend.
                • The Holy Spirit to bless all interactions with                your friends and family.
               
BE CREATIVE:
                • Exchange stories of family Easter traditions.              You’ll learn about their current spiritual         situation and be able to share what Jesus means                to you.
                • Invite your friends to make new traditions this          year, especially if the Easter season is stressful             or depressing. Invite them to read the devotions                with you, go to Midweek Lenten services, or                 participate in a servant event, such as our                 upcoming Community Easter Egg Hunt.
                • Bring your friend or family member to help                work at a church activity before Easter. Getting           to know people in a non-threatening way makes              them more likely to attend future worship.
                FOLLOW UP:  Devotions from Lutheran Hour            Ministries can help keep your faith conversations going. Read, listen, e-mail, or            print at www.lentendevotions.net

Door Offerings for Missions at St. John Baldwin in 2012—
-At our 2011 Annual Meeting we approved to have door offerings after our worship service for these mission opportunities, they will be after one worship service per month:
                -Operation Blessing (through our Lutheran    Ministerial Alliance of Churches that goes                     through St. John Sparta, IL) (in March 2012)
                -SIGHT Ministry Center (in Oct 2012 for       LWML Sunday)
                -Rev. Tim & Lisa Beckendorf of Lutheran Bible          Translators in Botswana, Africa (in                 August   2012)   

Pastor Taggatz’s Vacation Request--My wife and I request to have our vacation from June 10th-20th.  Would this be alright with the council?

Sunday School & VBS Update--
The Sunday School children will be singing this coming Sunday Feb. 19th during our worship service.  They will be singing, “I’m in the Lord’s Army,” and “God is so Good.”  The next two dates they will be singing for us this year will be March 25th and April 22nd.

On Sunday Feb 26th we will be having a COSLHS Sunday at our church.  Mr. John Christman, the administrator of COSLHS, will be here to talk about the wonderful Christian ministry that is going on at our Lutheran High School and he will be bringing some students from the high school to talk about their experiences at Christ our Savior and about how the school has impacted their faith in Christ.

Old Business: 

New Business:  A request from Pastor for personal time off from February 19th after church services thru February 21st to visit his wife’s brother Ron who is currently hospitalized was approved and motion carried. Pastor will work the Friday of that week instead of Monday in order to make up for his time off.
-Pastor Taggatz’s vacation from June 10th thru 20th was approved and motion carried.
-A reminder will be put in the bulletin & newsletter for congregational members to put their names on the back of their Lenten folders.
-It was decided to place a notice in the bulletin and newsletter for the church secretarial position and anyone interested should contact our president, Gene Luthy.

Adjournment:  motion was made and second to adjourn. Motion carried.

The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

President, Gene Luthy
Secretary, Marla Huebner

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!  Our Soup Dinner on Jan. 29th raised $1,800 to benefit our own local Baldwin Food Pantry.  In addition to that we will also receive about $900 from Thrivent in matching funds to bring our total in fundraising to $2,700.  We would also like to thank all who brought desserts, made soup, and helped with the dinner.  Thank you!   Julia Kahle (Soup Dinner Coordinator)

Confirmation Questioning & Confirmation Sunday--Sunday March 25th is Questioning Sunday for the Confirmation Students… & Sunday April 1st (Palm Sunday) is Confirmation Sunday…

-St. John Baldwin Community Easter Egg Hunt for 2012the Stewardship Board is once again planning to have a community Easter Egg hunt for the children of Baldwin ages pre-school through 3rd Grade.  -It will be on Sat. March 31st at 2pm at the Baldwin Village Park.  There will be plastic eggs with candy, scripture verses etc.  Gifts bags will be passed out to the children and parents with a magnet of our church, a brochure including our church worship times, Sunday School etc… and a pen of our church along with jelly beans.  If you would like to volunteer or donate items for this event please talk to Linda Schoenbeck.



Luther_Seal_smWe Believe, Teach and Confess.

Augsburg Confession

“Confession & Absolution & Repentance”
                                                                                       
Introductory Note:  (On Confession & Absolution) By the time of the Reformation, the practice of confessing sins privately and confidentially to a pastor had been a well-accepted church practice for over a thousand years. Private Confession and Absolution was never something Lutherans wanted to get rid of. As time went on, the practice fell into disuse, but clearly Article XI assumes that private Confession and Absolution will take place in the Lutheran Church. The problem addressed by this article is that the Roman Church demanded every sin be recalled and confessed. Clearly, this is humanly impossible and makes our forgiveness dependent on our work. Such teaching is certainly dangerous to repentant consciences, which need firm assurance that Christ forgives all sin. (See also Ap XI; SA III VIII; Appendix B, An Exhortation to Confession.) 
(On Repentance)  The Roman teaching about repentance was the spark that ignited the Lutheran Reformation. When Luther learned his congregational members were buying indulgences, hoping to avert God’s punishment for sins by paying money, he was incensed. Repentance is not about “paying off” God or making some satisfaction for our sin. Repentance is recognizing the reality of our sin and turning to God in faith for His mercy. God reveals our sin through His Law; He forgives our sin and restores us to a right relationship with Him through His Gospel. While we affirm there is fruit of repentance, the focus of the Gospel must be clear: our sins are forgiven only because of Christ. Our lives in Christ are lives of repentance, returning again and again to the fount and source of all mercy, our Savior. Notice that this article rejects any teaching that implies our works of satisfaction are part of true repentance. Article XII strikes a fatal blow at the very heart of the Roman sacramental system. (See also Ap XII; SA III III; Appendix B, An Exhortation to Confession.)
(Private Confession and Absolution) The practice of private Confession and Absolution with one’s pastor has fallen out of use in many Lutheran congregations. This was never Luther’s intention. Neither was private Confession and Absolution
abandoned during the first two centuries of Lutheran history. What the Lutheran Reformation corrected were the false teachings about Confession. Problems arose in the Church when teachings about Confession made “satisfactions” such a prominent part of it. When people were told to do certain activities (e.g., repeating the Hail Mary or doing acts of contrition) to “make up” for their sins, Christ’s Gospel was overshadowed, if not completely hidden. Lutheranism, therefore, did away with the anti-biblical teaching about satisfaction for sins and the requirement that people try to remember and confess each sin committed. (See also SA III VIII; Appendix B, An Exhortation to Confession.)
                                                                                               
1 Our churches teach that private Absolution should be retained in the churches, although listing all sins is not necessary for Confession. 2 For, according to the Psalm, it is impossible. “Who can discern his errors?” (Psalm 19:12). (Augsburg Confession XI)
1 Our churches teach that there is forgiveness of sins for those who have fallen after Baptism whenever they are converted. 2 The Church ought to impart Absolution to those who return to repentance [Jeremiah 3:12]. 3 Now, strictly speaking, repentance consists of two parts. 4 One part is contrition, that is, terrors striking the conscience through the knowledge of sin. 5 The other part is faith, which is born of the Gospel [Romans 10:17] or the Absolution and believes that for Christ’s sake, sins are forgiven. It comforts the conscience and delivers it from terror. 6 Then good works are bound to follow, which are the fruit of repentance [Galatians 5:22–23]. (Augsburg Confession XII, 1-6)
1 Confession in the churches is not abolished among us. The body of the Lord is not usually given to those who have not been examined [1 Corinthians 11:27–28] and absolved. 2 The people are very carefully taught about faith in the Absolution. Before, there was profound silence about faith. 3 Our people are taught that they should highly prize the Absolution as being God’s voice and pronounced by God’s command. 4 The Power of the Keys [Matthew 16:19] is set forth in its beauty. They are reminded what great consolation it brings to anxious consciences and that God requires faith to believe such Absolution as a voice sounding from heaven [e.g., John 12:28–30]. They are taught that such faith in Christ truly obtains and receives the forgiveness of sins. 5 Before, satisfactions were praised without restraint, but little was said about faith, Christ’s merit, and the righteousness of faith. Therefore, on this point, our churches are by no means to be blamed.
7 Our churches teach that naming every sin is not necessary and that consciences should not be burdened with worry about naming every sin. It is impossible to recount all sins, as Psalm 19:12 testifies: “Who can discern his errors?”… 9 If only sins that can be named are forgiven, consciences could never find peace. For many sins cannot be seen or remembered. 10 The ancient writers also testify that a listing of sins is not necessary…13 Because of the great benefit of Absolution, and because it is otherwise useful to the conscience, Confession is retained among us. (Augsburg Confession XXV, 1,2-5, 7, 9-10, 13)

Concordia : The Lutheran Confessions. 2005 (Edited by Paul Timothy McCain) (36–38, 49-50). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.

REAL REFORMATION RADIO…Do any of these topics interest you?: The Temptation of Jesus, Jesus Calms a Storm, The Season of Lent, First Century Martyr Polycarp, the Apostle Matthias and more.  Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken and produced by Lutheran Public Radio.  You can listen LIVE weekdays from 4-5 p.m. on KSIV, 1320 AM.  You can also listen at your convenience at www.issuesetc.org.

Giving through Thrivent Choice for Feb. 2012 I am pleased to announce that our giving through the Thrivent Choice program for Feb. ‘12 has amounted to:  $449.00.  -Total amount our church has received from the Thrivent Choice program since Jan. 2012:  $542.00.
                ***Special notice regarding the Thrivent Choice Program:
                You might have already received notice of a change in the Thrivent Choice program by mail, but just in case you haven’t there is some important information for you to know about.  This year of 2012 all Thrivent members wishing to continue their automatic withdrawal to the charity of their choice will have to let Thrivent know either by mail or phone.  It only needs to be done once for this year.  To continue to direct your Choice Dollars to the charity of your choice call: 800-THRIVENT (800-847-4836) and state "Thrivent Choice."

VBS at St. John will be “Babylon, the Prophet Daniel’s Courage in Captivity.”  This year’s VBS will be from Sun. July 8th-12th.  On Sunday it will go from 5:30pm-8:30pm and on Monday through Thursday it will be from 6:00pm till 8:30 pm…  We will be looking in the Old Testament book of Daniel during this year’s VBS. Daniel was way more than the guy who survived a den of hungry lions!  Travel back to Babylon and join Daniel--torn from his home and forced into the king's service. Imagine the pressure of learning a new language and culture…and the shock of discovering your best friends have been tossed into a fiery furnace. In this VBS kids and adults will find that they're not much different from Daniel and his friends, who kept their faith in a faithless culture.  If you are interested in volunteering to help out with VBS this year please contact our Sunday School Superintendent Traci Liefer @ 618-282-3678.

REDISCOVER THE ONE YOU LOVE on a Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekend!  Such a workshop and experience can help you rekindle the sparks you felt on your wedding day.  It will help you communicate more intimately with one another in a comfortable and private environment away from family and other responsibilities.  The upcoming Weekend is at the Holiday Inn, South Lindbergh Blvd, March 2-4.   For more information or to apply contact Tom & Kathy Von Behren, 636-343-9453 or  vonbeh@sbcglobal.net.  Check out the website at www.stlmarriage.com.  Be sure to apply before Valentine’s Day so that LME can secure hotel and meal reservations at the special rate. 

IL Voter’s Guides—There are IL primary voters guides available for you on the table in the back of the church.  Feel free to pick one up and take it home with you.

New Lenten Series @ St. John—Wed. Feb. 22nd -Wed. April 8th
“Truly, This Is the Son of God”

        We will be using the Order of Vespers from TLH as our order of service.  Join us for this exciting series as we meditate upon Christ’s passion in dying on the cross to save us from our sins.  Here is a little description of what the Lenten series is about:  When we look at the Passion of our Lord, we find numerous characters that are hostile to Jesus, the Word in the flesh, and others that are friendly. All of these reactions to Jesus of Nazareth leave historical footprints that this man was not just a man or even a superman, but none other than the Son of God. As we hear and see the witness of their lives, they lead us back to the cross and the person crucified there. The cross and the empty tomb spoke to them and continue to speak to us. Here is the evidence of the lives touched by the Word. We hear and see the evidence. May the Holy Spirit, who works faith daily through the Word, strengthen us in the sure knowledge of faith to believe and confess, with the centurion at the cross, that Jesus of Nazareth truly is the Son of God!  Please note:  Due to the Lenten Midweek series Pre-Confirmation will be meeting at 4:30pm and Confirmation class will be meeting at 5:30pm.  Here is an overview… ASH WEDNESDAY – Will be Feb. 22nd with Holy Communion at 7:00 p.m.
  1. Wed. Feb. 22nd-- Ash Wednesday: Nicodemus: “Doubted, Then Believed,” John 3:1–21; 19:39
  2. Wed. Feb. 29th— Lent 2: Judas Iscariot: “Not the Messiah, but God’s Son?” Matthew 26:6–16; 27:3–10
  3. Wed. March 7th — Lent 3: Pilate: “God’s Son, Found Innocent,” Matthew 27:11–14, 24–26
  4. Wed. March 14th— Lent 4: Simon of Cyrene: “The Cross, Now Carried,” Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21
  5. Wed. March 21st--Lent 5: The Thief: “Rejected, Then Believed,” Matthew 27:38–44; Luke 23:32–43
  6. Wed. March 28th— Lent 6: The Centurion: “Truly, the Son of God,” Matthew 27:51–54
  7. Thursday April 5th— Maundy Thursday: Jesus: “Rejected, but the Christ,” Luke 22:14–22
  8. Friday April 6th— Good Friday: Joseph of Arimathea: “In Secret, Now Out,” John 19:38
  9. Sunday April 8th-- Easter: The Chief Priests: “A Lie Spread, the Truth Victorious,” Matthew 28:11–15

SID LWML Spring Retreat 2012
The District Spring Retreat is coming 3 March, 2012. The theme this year is “Build a Life for Christ”. It will be held at Faith Lutheran Church at 1104 N. 42nd St. Mount Vernon, Il. 618-242-4330. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the program starts at 9:00 a.m. There will be worship with Holy Communion. This retreat is open to all ladies of the congregation. You do not need to be a member of the LWML to attend this retreat. The cost is $20.00 per person and is due 20th February. Registration forms are on the table in the back of the church.

The Ladies Aid will host a Bake Sale in conjunction with our Annual Chicken Dinner 11 March. Donations of baked goods are needed.

St. John’s Lutheran PTL, Red Bud, will host this year’s Dinner Auction 17 March at the Hecker Community Center. Ticket price is $35.00 per person and includes meal, dessert and green drinks for the evening with a souvenir cup. Checks can be made payable to St. John’s Lutheran PTL. Last year’s Dinner Auction was a HUGE success for SJL! All profits raised will be put towards school improvements and expansion. The committee is still seeking donations of any kind. Please consider donating an item, gift card, service donation, group party or a cash donation. No donations are too small. Forms are available in the school for donations or you can call 282-5334 (apiel@htc.net) to make a donation.

HELP WANTED—Due to the retirement of Carol Wentz as Church Secretary at the end of April, 2012 a new secretary will be needed.  The position would be for approximately 6 hours a week on Wednesdays and Thursdays and would include but are not limited to putting bulletins and Newsletters together, answering the telephone, contacting people for the Pastor as well as general office duties. Computer skills are needed. For more information contact President Gene Luthy at 785-2276. We thank Carol for her 20 years of hard work and dedication to our church!

A Notice Regarding Lenten Folders—By now you should have received your Lenten folders for this year.  This is a reminder that when returning your Lenten folder offering back to the church, please be sure to put your name or offering envelope number on the back of the Lenten folder so that we can record your contribution.  Thank you for your offering!

What’s the big deal? … Or why Lutheran Christians should care about the HHS Birth Control Mandate.
You may have been hearing a lot in the news about the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) recent decision to require nearly all private health plans, including those offered by religious employers, to cover all forms of birth control. This mandate includes all birth control (even those which work post-conception and can cause the death of a baby developing in the womb). Contrary to the language heard in the media, these products are NOT contraception because they can operate after conception to destroy the developing baby in the womb. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) objects to the use of drugs and procedures that are used to take the lives of unborn children, who are persons in the sight of God from the time of conception.
We see this as not only a pro-life issue but also an affront to the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This mandate is an infringement of our religious liberties, because never before has our government required religious institutions to obey a course of action that clearly goes against our biblical and moral beliefs.
In response to an immediate outcry, President Obama presented a compromise on this mandate. After rigorous study and consultation with other concerned Christian denominations, we have determined that the compromise did not address any of our previous concerns, and we remain opposed to this mandate, which runs counter to the biblical truth of the sanctity of human life.

“Freedom of religion extends beyond the practice of our faith in houses of worship. We must be free to put our faith into action in the public square, and, in response to Christ’s call, demonstrate His mercy through our love and compassion for all people according to the clear mandate of Holy Scripture.”
-Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, President of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

So what has been done and what do we do?
• You can learn more about the LCMS response to this matter and read the statements sent to some 3,500 newspaper, television and radio reporters across the country from LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison by logging on to www.lcms.org/hhsmandate.
• We encourage you to do what you can to add your voice to those of the many others concerned about the implications of the mandate. Please contact your elected leaders and help us create awareness by sharing President Harrison’s statements with others in your circle of influence.

Responding to the Erosion of Freedom of Religion in America

1.  Recent Erosions of Religious Freedom in America

State of Illinois vs. Christian Adoption Agencies

The Civil Unions act is being used to deny state adoption/foster care contracts to those who do not approve of placing children in same-sex homes.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vs. Hosanna Tabor Lutheran School

Listen to the oral arguments on CSPAN at

The justices question the counsel for Hosanna in the first thirty minutes and the counsel for the EEOC in the second thirty minutes.  Justice Scalia gets quite animated in his questioning of the EEOC.  He asks whether there is any difference between telling the Lutherans that their workers can bypass the reconciliation process and sue in secular courts or if a Catholic priest could sue the church because he wants to be married?  The EEOC tries to argue that if the church expands into other services such as education, healthcare, etc., the government should regulate those aspects of the church. 

Health and Human Services Mandate for Religious Organizations to Provide Birth Control (Including Abortificiants)

Videos are available at

2.  The Historical Conflict Between Church and State

Moses and Pharaoh / Samuel and Saul / Elijah and Ahab / Jeremiah and Jehoiakim / Jesus and the Sanhedrin and Pilate / Peter and John and the Sanhedrin / Paul and Felix, Festus and Agrippa

300 Years of Persecution in the Early Church

Martin Luther and the Holy Roman Emperor
700 Saxon Lutherans Flee Germany

3.  The Importance of Prayer – 1 Timothy 2.1-2

God directs the ways of men, and we are privileged to pray for all men and for kings that we might have the peace needed to live faithfully.

4.  The Vocation of Citizen – Acts 22.25; 25.11

When Paul was being “stretched out” for scourging, he appealed to his rights as a Roman citizen.  He used his rights in service of his ministry.  There are other examples of this in Paul’s ministry. In Acts 16.38 Paul forced the magistrates of Philippi to apologize personally for their violation of Roman law.  Perhaps the most famous of all is Paul’s statement:  “I appeal to Caesar” (Acts 25.11).

Sometimes Christians think they should not be involved in politics.  It is true that we shouldn’t rely on political activities to do what only the Word and Spirit can do – bring people to faith in Christ.  But we do have rights, and we should exercise those rights especially when they support the ministry of the church. 

5.  Resisting Compromise and Accepting Persecution – Acts 5.29

When Peter and John are told by the Sanhedrin not to preach in the name of Jesus, they appeal to a higher law. 

6.  Confidence in God’s Preservation of the Church – Ephesians 1.22
The King James Tradition (KJV, NKJ, NAS, ESV) translates this “everything to the church.”  However, this doesn’t really make much sense in English.  The NIV is clearer:

NIV Ephesians 1:22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,

The main point here is to remember that whether the church is persecuted or free, God still protects and blesses His church. 

I am confident that when persecution increases, when rights and freedoms are taken away, God will provide other blessings for His church.  Even under persecution we might find that many Christians have a renewed faith, a bolder witness to Christ, a greater desire to make sacrifices for Christ, etc. 

The Ladies Aid meeting on March 1 will begin at 6:00 with a potluck supper. This is for all our members, spouses, and guests and we invite any others from the congregation to join us. A short prayer and mite box service will be included in the evening and we will conclude with the meeting. This month we encourage all to bring a wash cloth for the health kits given to the pregnancy center in Sparta.

We will be hosting the LWML Lower Kaskaskia Spring Rally here in Baldwin on April 12. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Our speaker for the day is Deaconess Grace Roa with LCMS-World Relief/Human Care. The theme for the Rally is "Hands of Mercy". This will be a day of inspiration, education, and fellowship. All members of the congregation are welcome, both men and women. If you have never attended one of these, this is your opportunity to join us for an encouraging and enjoyable day. Lunch will be provided at a cost of $6, payable to St. John's Ladies Aid, c/o Debbie Hammel. The deadline is March 31.



























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Baldwin, IL 62217
 
St. John Ev. Lutheran Church
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Baldwin, IL 62217-0162

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[1] Concordia : The Lutheran Confessions. 2005 (Edited by Paul Timothy McCain) (431 & following). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.

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