Thursday, April 19, 2012

“The Chief Priests--A Lie Spread, the Truth Victorious”--Matthew 28.11–15--April 8th, 2012



1.                          Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed!  Alleluia! Today the living Lord Jesus Christ comes and rips away the blanket of death which once enshrouded this sinful world. To all who doubt; to those who deny; to those whose hearts are ruled by cynicism, their minds by skepticism, the Holy Spirit speaks and says, "...in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. Follow Him, believe and be saved." Amen. 
2.                        The chief priests confront us with the one teaching that truly defines a Christian: What do you believe about the resurrection of Jesus, the Christ? What one believes about the events of the first Easter is the test of faith.  Paul seems to sum it all up in 1 Cor. 15: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. . . . And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Cor 15:14, 17).  The message is taken from Matthew 28:11-15, which says, 11While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief  priests all that had taken place. 12And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.”  The message is entitled, “The Chief Priests--A Lie Spread, the Truth Victorious.”  Let he who has ears to hear, let him hear.
3.                      Good Friday alone doesn’t save. The debt for sin was paid, but there was no victory.  Jesus’ lifeless dead body was taken down from the cross and placed in an empty tomb.  So what does the resurrection show? It shows that God the Father accepted the life of Jesus for our sins. Without the resurrection, this Jesus was swallowed up by death, just like all the rest of humanity from the beginning of time. Without the resurrection, believers who have already died have perished, and so will we. Without the resurrection, this world and our Christian life are without meaning. Once you snip off eternity, what point is there to this world at all? What difference does it make whether you’re a saint or just plain evil, if there’s no moral reckoning beyond this life? If this world is all there is, then we’d better say what the other children of this world say: “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” Right? The resurrection is what gives all of life its meaning. Without it, life is empty, hopeless, and pointless.
4.             You can’t have it both ways: either Jesus rose from the dead, or he didn’t. The various attempts to ride the fence—Jesus rose in spirit rather than body, and the variations on that theme—are quite stupid and extremely unacceptable.
5.                           Nothing in this world’s past or present is of more importance, interest, or controversy than our Lord Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Critics of Christianity have repeatedly attempted to discredit the resurrection. They’ve done so to protect their position, to deal with their fear of God, and to undermine the confidence of believers.
6.                       The lie of the chief priests in our text, which they told to protect their position, is only the first of many to cast doubt on the resurrection at the first Easter. It’s called the “stolen-body” theory: the disciples removed Jesus’ body so that they could produce the myth of a risen Christ.
7.                        Other theories range from the crude to the elaborate. They include theories about an angry gardener who wanted to keep people out of the garden and moved the body to an unmarked grave, the wrong tomb, or the idea that Jesus didn’t really die on the cross, and that the whole thing was a hallucination. Probably my favorite is that Jesus had a twin brother who remained in seclusion until Jesus’ death on the cross. Then he emerged, giving the impression of resurrection.
8.                                    The danger of a lie isn’t that it will destroy the truth, but that the lie makes us uncertain and undermines our belief in the truth. A lie told a million times will be believed as if it were the truth.
9.                                        The various lies about the resurrection have one important point in common: they all set down as fact that the tomb was empty! Strange! Wouldn’t it have been a much more effective attack against Christianity to prove that Jesus’ body was never missing, but that it lay in Joseph’s tomb all the while? Amazingly, this argument hasn’t been used, and for good reason: there’s compelling evidence, outside the Gospel accounts, that Jesus’ tomb was truly empty on Easter morning.
10.                    Let’s grant the argument of his enemies. If Christ didn’t rise, suppose the disciples stole the body: where is he buried? And you have another problem when you deny the resurrection. Remember what the disciples did on Good Friday? They were very courageous, right? They were more like grade A cowards. They ran! They hid! If Christ didn’t rise, and the disciples all got together and decided to lie about it, can you tell me what changed those 11 men into courageous witnesses of the resurrected Christ? Would you be willing to die for a lie? Because history suggests that all the disciples except one were martyred. Do you follow me? Something changed those people. We know, of course, that the resurrection is the truth, but it would’ve been an awfully obvious lie. If Jesus didn’t rise, and the disciples stole his body and hid it someplace, then they had an awful lot of nerve to die for a lie that size. Instead, Scripture says, “Take God’s Word for it,” and the reality is so obvious. It transformed the lives of those men completely. The reality of the resurrection and the pouring out of the Spirit has the power to transform us too.
11.                    The circumstantial evidence for the empty tomb is overpowering. It deals with the question “Where did Christianity first begin?” To this, the answer must be “Only one spot on earth: the city of Jerusalem.” But this is the very last place it could’ve started if Jesus’ tomb had remained occupied, since anyone producing his body would’ve snuffed out the flame of an infant Christianity preaching his resurrection. What happened in Jerusalem 7 weeks after the first Easter could’ve taken place only if Jesus’ body were somehow missing from Joseph’s tomb. For otherwise, the temple establishment, in its confrontation with the apostles, would simply have ended the movement by making a brief trip over to the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea and unveiling exhibit A. They didn’t do this, because they knew the tomb was empty. Their official explanation for it—that the disciples had stolen the body—wasn’t just a lie, but also an admission that the tomb was vacant and empty.
12.                    The chief priests spread a lie, but the truth is victorious! Jesus Christ is alive!  Alleuia! We have a living Lord. And because Christ lives, there is a tomorrow for you, me and all who have faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Because Jesus lives, we have a future and a hope. Not only that, there’s meaning to all our days. We can face each day with the reality that we’re not alone. All our days are changed. All our feelings rest on the foundation of joy in the forgiveness of our sins that Jesus won for us through His death on the cross and His glorious resurrection from the dead. All our behavior is motivated because he “was raised to life for our justification” (Rom 4:25). Therefore, We Live in the Reality of Easter as God’s People.
13.                    We worship him. We’re not afraid to say that we believe in the living Lord. “[We believe in] the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting” (Apostles’ Creed, Third Article). We stand on the faith given to us, by which we’re saved. Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed!  Alleluia!  Amen.


“Joseph of Arimathea: In Secret, Now Out” (John 19:38) Good Friday, April ‘12




1.              Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  The message from God’s Word this Good Friday evening is taken from John 19:38, which says, 38After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus,  but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body.”   The message is entitled, “Joseph of Arimathea:  In Secret, Now Out.”  Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
2.             “Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last” (Lk 23:46). It seemed all over except the crying. I’m sure that many went home to beat the rush, like sports fans in the last minutes of a lopsided game. But the history of Jesus, who is called the Christ, isn’t over. There comes a rich man, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected “member of the Council, a good and upright man” (Lk 23:50), one who looked for the kingdom of God (Mk 15:43), one who likely sat in on the trial of Jesus, but “who had not consented to [the council’s] decision and action” (Lk 23:51), and whom Matthew calls also a disciple of Jesus (Mt 27:57). He went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. And Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, and laid it in his own new tomb.
3.             There’s nothing really attention-grabbing about all that, except Mark’s comment that Joseph “went boldly” (15:43). What does Mark mean by that?  Our text spells it out further. “Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews.” Joseph was looking for the fulfillment of all the Old Testament hopes and knew the Word of the Lord concerning the Savior. He saw and heard Jesus, and the Word of God brought Joseph to faith. He believed, but he didn’t want anyone to know. Why didn’t he want anyone to know? He was afraid. And of what? The Jews—the religious rulers of Israel, Joseph’s friends and relatives in high places, and his associates and clients on the council. You see, Joseph believed the truth, but the truth was no more popular then than it is now. The belief in Jesus was risky stuff for Joseph. He was a rich man who had a lot to lose if he didn’t go along with the popular views. Not only was he rich, but he was also a man of position. Yes, he was on the council, the Sanhedrin, the Supreme Court and the law-making body of the Jews. Wrong politics or religion could get you thrown out. Belief in Jesus as the Messiah was both. So, being a good and upright man, Joseph would work within the system to do what he could to keep things fair for Jesus, but he wouldn’t admit to believing in Jesus. He would protect his interests—money and position—but also hold on to the truth. He would live in two worlds and believe in secret.
4.             Though Joseph tried to protect himself, something more powerful and more important than self-preservation confronted him: the death of Jesus, the Son of God. He couldn’t witness the trial, the crucifixion, and the death of Jesus and remain silent. He couldn’t remain a secret believer. Either secrecy destroys belief or belief destroys secrecy. The words of Jesus brought Joseph out of hiding. “Whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven” (Mt 10:33). Jesus was who he said he was, and Jesus’ words wouldn’t pass away.
5.             It’s Joseph who gave Jesus the burial cloth known as the shroud. It’s this secret believer who spoke out before Pilate and who still speaks today. You and I see that we can’t remain secret believers. We often want to. Why? Because we’re afraid. We’re afraid of others and what they’ll think and do. Belief in Jesus is risky for us. Dare we say what we believe at school or around the crew at work? Belief in Jesus challenges the beliefs of others. Not going along with your friends is a challenge. It could cost you a friend. It’s often shameful to raise questions about what someone else finds acceptable or fashionable. Expressing your faith could cost you your job. What’s the sense of blowing the whistle on someone if it means cutting your own throat? You have to be practical, don’t you?
6.             Joseph reasoned like that, until he reached the point where he had to stand for and on the truth. Belief destroyed the secrecy. He spoke out. He found the courage. What gave him that courage? Knowing that Jesus was truly God.  The Fact That Joseph Couldn’t Hide His Faith Is Evidence That We can’t Either.
7.             The four Gospel accounts record the witness that Joseph gave for Jesus. This wasn’t a common criminal who died on the cross, but a man worth the dignity of burial: a King, the God-man.
8.             The Shroud of Turin isn’t the evidence that creates faith in Jesus, nor is it the place to which we look to add to our faith, yet it is interesting that the whole investigation into its authenticity keeps the Gospel account of Joseph’s testimony of Jesus before the eyes of the world. Because Joseph buried Jesus in a shroud, the discussion of the Shroud of Turin reminds us of Joseph. Hidden belief is before the eyes and ears of the world.  Here is a miracle of faith in the middle of a time that doesn’t believe in miracles. It’s the testimony of this Joseph, who was given courage, went boldly because of the cross, and spoke.
9.             If we were put on trial today, would there be enough evidence to convict you and me of being Christian, a believer in Jesus as God in the flesh? Maybe we, too, need the courage of our convictions—the boldness of our belief not to be secret believers, but to speak out for him. Not only do we have the first evidence that Joseph had, but we also have the evidence of nearly 2000 years of Church history: the finds of historians, archaeologists, and even the investigation into the shroud. Above all, and most important, we have the evidence of the prophetic Word of God made more sure. On this we can take a stand, and nothing in this world is more certain or sure, for Jesus truly is the Son of God.



“Jesus-- Rejected, but the Christ”--Luke 22.14–22--Maundy Thursday April 5th ‘12



1.                  Sanctify us in the truth, O Lord, Your Word is truth, in the name of Jesus.  Amen.  The message from God’s Word for this Maundy Thursday is taken from Luke 22:14-22 and is entitled, “Jesus--Rejected, but the Christ.”  Let he who has ears to hear, let him hear. 
2.                  It doesn’t take a lot to realize that we’re close to the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry and life in Luke’s Gospel account. Jesus’ first and last words are clear: “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (v 15); “The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed” (v 22).  The Passover comes at a time when Jesus had been rejected by men, but The Passover Shows Us That Jesus Is the Christ, the Son of God.
3.                  Jesus knew what lay ahead of him. He told the disciples that this was his last supper before he had to suffer. Jesus wasn’t acting in some sort of misdirected self-fulfillment of his own words: “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed” (Lk 9:22). Jesus knew who he was. He was the anointed Servant King, who came to save sinful humankind. He knew it was written from Isaiah 53, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. . . . Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows. . . . He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Is 53:3–5). So it was prophesied about the Son of Man. By this time, the religious leaders hadn’t only rejected Jesus, but they’d also determined to kill him. Because of Jesus’ teaching, he had been rejected. All the miracles over demons, disease, nature, and death didn’t convince the religious leaders that Jesus was the Christ. In fact, the miracles gave them a reason to reject Jesus as the prince of demons.
4.                  People continue to reject Jesus even today. Jesus isn’t accepted as true God. It’s often said that Jesus never claimed to be God’s Son. Jesus is placed, by those who want to be tolerant, as a great teacher among teachers; he’s considered a founder of one of the great religions. By others he’s dismissed as a metaphysical maniac, whatever that means. Even among those who claim to believe in Jesus as the Son of God, the rejection continues. In countless daily decisions, Jesus is rejected by the Christian as not being the Lord of their lives when we don’t follow His commands, or not being the God who’s there and jealously guards the loves of our hearts. “Despised and rejected by men” (Is 53:3) means that Jesus is rejected as the Son of God. But if Jesus isn’t the Son of God, then we have no substitute for our death, no one to take the punishment for our sins, and no healing for our losses and sorrows.
5.                  Thanks be to God, man’s rejection doesn’t change who Jesus is! And when we find that we need the truth about God, when we’re ready to assess our lives honestly, then we need Christ, the Son of God. He offers us the forgiveness of sins through the new covenant. It is at the Supper, which Christ instituted in light of the Passover, that we see Jesus is who he claims.
6.                  You’ll remember that God commanded Old Testament Israel to observe the Passover when the angel of death was to pass over their houses, on which the blood of the lamb was to be painted over the door. Each year, the people of God were to celebrate this meal to remember their freedom from Pharaoh in Egypt and to remember that God was their Redeemer.  Four cups of wine were drunk during this meal to remember the four “I will” promises of God to redeem his people: “I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people” (Ex 6:6–7, emphasis added).
7.                  As the Passover meal began, the youngest child was sent outside to look for the Messiah, or in Greek, the Christ. Jewish tradition expected the Christ to come on the eve of Passover. The father then asked the youngest, “Why is this a great night in Israel?” And the youngest person there rehearsed the history of the salvation of God and what it meant. The meal consisted of sharing the bitter herbs, reminding them of the bitterness of slavery. Then the first cup was passed around and shared. Next came the eating of the unleavened bread. The second cup was passed, followed by the eating of the lamb. The third cup passed around was known as the cup of blessing. They sang some hymns and then passed the fourth cup.
8.                  Luke records only the first cup and the third cup. The matzah, or unleavened bread, was placed on the table in a special container called a matzah tash. This square, white silk bag is divided into 3 compartments for the 3 matzah wafers, symbolizing unity. Jewish Christians understand this unity to represent the triune God, with the three matzos symbolizing Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In other Jewish tradition, the middle matzah represents the Christ. What was Jesus Christ saying “on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it” (1 Cor 11:23–24), and gave it to them? Not just, “This is my body given for you” (Lk 22:19), but “I am the Son of God. I am the Christ. Wait for no other.” The breaking of the bread was Jesus’ last prediction that he would be crucified for us. The traditional hiding of half of the middle matzah represents the burial and the resurrection of Jesus. The meaning is clear: this is the meal that frees us from sin, gives us the sure hope of eternal life, and places us in full fellowship with God. “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Rom 4:25).
9.                  “In the same way, after the supper he took the cup” (Lk 22:20). What cup was that? The cup of blessing, to which the promise of God was attached, “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment” (Ex 6:6). Jesus referred to this promise of redemption when he said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (v 20). The prophet Jeremiah had said, “I will make a new covenant. . . . They will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. . . . For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Jer 31:31, 34). With arms outstretched on the cross, Jesus would pay for our sins, and in a great act of judgment, God would condemn the sinless Jesus in our place.
10.              This Passover was never completed. The 4th cup of wine was never drunk. After they sang the psalms, they went out to the garden. With Jesus’ redemption, God’s promises were fulfilled. The Lord’s Supper replaced that last Seder.
11.              Jesus’ words remain, “Do this in remembrance of me” (v 19). What does “remember” mean in English? It means to think backward in time mentally to something that isn’t present now. That’s not what the Greek word (anamnēsis) “remembrance” means, though. And the Hebrew word “remember” (zakar) is used in the Old Testament specifically for people to remember the exodus continually.
12.              Neither word means to go backward in time mentally and think about something that isn’t here now. When a Jew was encouraged to “remember the exodus,” he or she was to remember that the event long ago made him or her free today. The effects of that event are present in the here and now! “Do this in remembrance of me” means that in the Lord’s Supper, the benefits and the presence of the Christ who died on the cross 2000 years ago are present and being distributed now. We, who know firsthand the bondage of sin and the forgiveness of Jesus, need to remember again that this is done again for us daily. He who called us by the Gospel, through our Baptism by the Word of God, “daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers” (Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation, p. 15).
13.              We’re the ones who still have that old nature of sin with us, and, when we’re honest, we must confess we’ve sinned by rejecting Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God by what we think, say, and do. But Jesus initiated this Supper to save us from bondage to sin, death, and the devil. He comes to us, offering us himself with all God’s promises. “Take and eat. Take and drink. This is my body and my blood given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Hear his words. See his redeeming acts. Live before God and man as a forgiven child of God eternally, because Jesus truly is the Son of God.  Amen.



May/June 2012 Newsletter


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




Serving on the Altar Guild for May/ June areMay--Julia Kahle and Carol Wentz
June--Geri Stolte and Marla Huebner

               
Ushers for the Month of May/ June are: Gary Huebner, Kyle Junge, Leland Junge, Tony Junge, Carol Laufer, Gene Luthy, Corey Roscow, and Mark Schoenbeck


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.


“We’ve Won!”

“Behold!  I tell you a mystery.  We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed… the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed…The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:51-57).

                We’ve all been stung by death.  Children die.  People in great physical condition die.  Sickness or age or accident creeps up on us, and we all die.  Sounds morbid, doesn’t it?  But death is a final and painful reality.  When death comes to one we love, no matter the age of the person, we are stung.  For some the sting remains, even though it may be eased by passing time.  When death comes to a Christian, however, the sting of death is momentary.  We who mourn do not mourn without hope, for we know that death is not the end.

                The disciples who watched their Savior hang on the cross were stung by His death.  They mourned without hope, for they didn’t know His death was not permanent.  That hopelessness turned to great joy, though, when Christ appeared to them alive!  Because He rose from the dead, we, too, shall rise.  Death could not triumph over Christ and it cannot triumph over us.  Through Christ, we’ve won!  Death is defeated.  Eternal life begins at our Baptism and carries us into Heaven.

                What a profound mystery this is!  Our only response is to cry, “Thanks be to God!”  The sting of death is removed because, in Christ, we’ve won!

Please pray with me.  Dear Lord, You have taken away the sting of death through Your death and resurrection.  You have given us new victorious lives to live in You each day.  Keep us steadfast in faith until the end and use us to spread the Good News of victory in Jesus.  In His name we pray.  Amen.

See You in Church!

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Pastor Taggatz

STWRDSHP
“Where Are You Looking?”

                Imagine the faithful women going to the tomb after that saddest of all days when Jesus was crucified.  It’s very early in the morning, the Gospel writer Mark tells us, when they begin their walk with their spices to anoint their Savior’s body.  They’re still grief-stricken, of course, but they have another problem: How will they move the huge stone that blocks the passageway to Jesus’ burial place?  They arrive to find it’s already been moved.  Well, that’s curious.  They enter the tomb, but there’s no body!  While they were “perplexed about this,” the Gospel writer Luke understates, “behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.  And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead?’” (Luke 24:3-5).
                Why did they look for Christ to be in His tomb?  Why were they looking in the wrong place?  Because they hadn’t completely understood the things Jesus had told them before His crucifixion.  Because they were operating according to human logic.  Once someone has died, He’s dead.  Of course, they would look for the dead among the dead.
                This is a story that cannot be comprehended by human logic.  This is a story to be believed and shared with others.  It’s the good news the women heard: “Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but has risen” (Luke 24:5-6).  We don’t look for Christ among the dead for we know He is living!
                Many around us are looking.  They read self-help books and follow the advice of the newest guru on TV.  They start reading “spiritual” books.  They’re looking for the Living among the dead.  The angel brought God’s Word to the women; it is our privilege to bring His Word to those around us who are looking.  He is risen!  Christ is risen indeed!  Alleluia!  “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:56).

We remember in our prayers— We pray for Mickey Umbdenstock, Karen Willis, Linda Nagel, Elizabeth Montroy, Lori Adair, Jason Mines, Bonnie Highberger, Lee Hogandobler, Evan Saldana, Dennis Bunte, Pastor Armand Mueller & Jim Spier, all who are battling serious illnesses.  We pray for Greg Laufer, as he continues to be under rehabilitation.  We pray for Stacy Miller, a friend of Tammy Prost, who is currently undergoing therapy after a recent injury.  We pray for Leland Stamm, who is currently hospitalized after a recent injury.  We pray for Alex Junge, who is currently hospitalized after an auto accident, and for Madison McDougall, who is recovering from a broken leg.  We also pray for Jim Spier, as he recovers from surgery that he recently had.  

We mourn with Julia Kahle’s family, upon the death of her Aunt Rosie Phegley.   We pray that God would comfort Julia’s family upon the death of her Aunt with His Son Jesus’ victory over death and with the assurance that their loved one who have departed in the faith, join the whole company of heaven in singing praises to the living Lamb and that they too, through faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, will see them again and their Lord Jesus who bled and died that we would have eternal life with Him in heaven. 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!  We thank the Lord so much for blessing Larry & Bev Erdmann with the birth of a new grandson, Stephen Lee, who was born last month.  Stephen is the son of Clayton Erdmann and his wife Rachel.  O Lord, continue to watch over little Stephen, so that He may grow up in the knowledge of You, and the grace and mercy found in Your Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU--To all of those who donated monetarily and gave items to help out with this year’s St. John Baldwin Community Easter Egg Hunt that we held on Saturday March 31st at the Baldwin Community Park.  Thanks also to those who volunteered to help out with the event.  We had 25 children, along with their parents, enjoy a good time and all of the kids went home happy with their Easter egg baskets.  Special thanks to Linda Schoenbeck for organizing the event this year.  

Special thanks to all those who helped out with the LYF Easter Breakfast this year.  Thanks to the congregation for supporting our youth group as well!  Your donations to our Youth Group are greatly appreciated! It was a great time of fun, food, and fellowship as we celebrated our Lord’s resurrection from the dead together as a congregation!  Because He lives we too shall live!  Christ is Risen, He’s Risen Indeed, Alleluia! 

BIBLE STUDY—
  Sunday Mornings (8:45 a.m. through May 20th, after Memorial Day Weekend @ 10:15 a.m.)                     
                “The Book of Revelation”
If sales of religious books dealing with the end times reliably indicate the nation’s spiritual appetite, one could say there is a deep hunger in the land. Since the 1970’s readers have devoured such titles as Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey, and more recently the Left Behind book series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins (to date over 60 million copies sold).
Maybe popular end times literature offers to satisfy a gnawing desire for a manifestation of Christ’s power and presence in our lives. Maybe complicated Bible mysteries—solved by experts offering tailor-made explanations—offer a soothing diversion from our increasingly complicated existence. Perhaps we pine for a quick deliverance (like a secret rapture) from all of life’s pain and disappointments. Regardless of cause or supposed cure, much of the popular end times material—what we could call “pop-prophecy”—will leave one empty.
In contrast, the apostle John serves a rich banquet remarkably different from the fare contemporary end times authors often provide. In Revelation John presents a Lamb who was slain, yet has been raised from the dead and now rules and reigns from His heavenly throne. His power and presence are not confined to heaven, however. In Word and Sacrament He makes Himself truly present in the everyday lives of His holy people. He offers real strength and encouragement in the midst of Satan’s assaults, pain, suffering, and death. He has conquered these our greatest enemies; they flee in terror at the sight of His holy cross. He is here, now, with us; He will come again to make everything new. These truly Biblical teachings about God’s Lamb can satisfy the hunger of every heart, and soothe the longing of every soul, forever.

The Sunday School Children will be singing the second Sunday in May (the 13th) during our 10 am worship service. 

LYF UPDATE
-May 6th--LYF Meeting after Church
- LYF will be handing out flowers for Mother’s day, May 13th.

-If you have any questions email:  Fleta Junge: tfjunge@htc.net  /call 282-4642 or 618-444-2764.

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

THEOLOGY CLASS: The junior/senior theology class has moved from their in-class discussions and out into the community. The students, along with their teacher Mr. Matthew Foster, have created and prepared a devotional message for the Lutheran grade schools in the area. Students have already traveled to St. John’s Lutheran School in Chester and St. John Lutheran School in Red Bud to present their devotion during chapel. The class also plans to attend St. Mark’s Lutheran School in Steeleville on Wednesday, April 25 and Trinity, Prairie on Wednesday, May 2 for anyone who wishes to support their ministry.

14th ANNUAL DINNER AUCTION: 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.

There are a variety of items to bid on such as delectable desserts, Cardinal tickets along with other sporting and family events, and beautiful hand-made quilts to name a few. . In cooperation with Van’s Yamaha, this year’s auction will also feature a Yamaha Zuma 50F Scooter and a 2012 Grizzly 300 4-wheeler. Both the scooter and ATV will be offered at a reserve price. COS will receive 100% of the amount over the reserve. To check out more information about our auction items, go to our Facebook page.

To purchase your reservations for the evening, seating is $35 or you may purchase table of 8 reservations for $245.

HELP NEEDED: Assistance with events is always appreciated. Anyone who is interested in volunteering time to help with mowing, landscaping, the school lunch stands  at estate auctions or Evansville Days in July and/or the upcoming dinner auction please call the school’s office.

Other Coming Events:
May 13, Baccalaureate, St. Peter’s, Evansville  2:00 p.m.
May 18, Senior Graduation at Gym     7:00 p.m.

Ladies Aid UPDATE
Our Ladies Aid hosted the LWML Zone Rally in Baldwin on April 12. 62 were in attendance for the morning registration and opening devotions were led by Pastor Taggatz. Offering was taken to be used for Zone expenses. Election of Zone Officers resulted in Rosemary Fulton being our new Zone President and Tina Heinemann the Vice-President. Otis Woodard was our speaker who runs a North St. Louis Outreach Center. Over $600 was collected for his mission work. We presented him with 20 comforters that were made by our members and friends from Baldwin to be given to the poor & needy. Thanks to our Aid members who helped with cooking, baking, and organizing the day. Thanks also to Pastor Taggatz for leading devotions and to Pat Hartman, Liz Phegley, Lela Rehmer, and Joyce Camp who helped serve the luncheon and aided in clean up. 

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. April 10th
7:30 p.m.
 
MANDSPLY









Vision: Making Known the Love of Christ
Mission: St. John Lutheran Church is dedicated to the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ within its church and on into the community.

Present:  Pastor Taggatz, Gene Luthy, Gerald Poeniski, Marla Huebner, Susan Piel, Marvin Liefer, Tony Junge, Corey Roscow, Linda Schoenbeck, Fleta Junge, Kevin Luthy and Stan Gegel.

The meeting was called to order by Pres. Gene Luthy.

Opening devotions were given by Pastor Taggatz.

Minutes from the previous meeting: were read and approved.

Financial Secretary’s Report:  Total receipts for March 2012, $18,064.60.

Treasurer’s report:  Ending balance for the general fund for March 2012 – ($4,479.93). Motion made and second to approve. Motion carried

Spiritual Ministries/Elder:  In regards to Pastor Taggatz’s mileage, the elders requested that the mileage change that was approved at last month’s meeting be reversed and allow Pastor to continue to report and pay his mileage usage as he previously did prior to last month’s meeting.  Motion was made and second. Motion carried.
                               
Church Properties:  Roof repairs to the school should be done by May 1, 2012. 
- A request to possibly cutting down tree by the parsonage garage.

Social Ministries:  Chicken & Dumpling Dinner/Silent Auction/Bake Sale will be held Sunday, April 15th for Keith & Lori Adair. Serving will be from 11:00 to 1:30. Help needed to work and cleanup.

COSLHS:

Christian Education:

Evangelism: 

Sunday School:

Stewardship:  Community Easter egg hunt was held on Saturday, March 31st, with 25 children in attendance.

Lutheran Youth Fellowship: 
- LYF will be helping clean tables for the Adair fundraiser.
- LYF will hold a lock-in at St. John Lutheran, Baldwin on April 20th, 2012.
- LYF next meeting will be May 6th.
- LYF will be handing out flowers for Mother’s day, May 13th.

Pastor’s Report:
Pastoral Acts from March 14th, 2012 through April 10th, 2012—
-Regular Saturday & Sunday worship responsibilities & catechetical youth instruction
                 - 3 Bible Study class sessions (Sunday           mornings)
                         -1 Counseling session
                -1 R. County Care Center Chapel service March          28th
                -1 COSLHS Meeting, March 19th
                - 1 Hospital Visit
                -12 Homebound//Member Visits
                -1 Red Bud Nursing Home Chapel service April           8th -
Pastor has been asked to be on the ballot for April nominations for COSLHS Board of Governance to serve as the Vice President and would a part of the COSLHS Executive Committee.
- Pastor will be attending the SID Pastor’s Conference at Camp Wartburg on Tuesday, April 17th.
- LWML Lower Kaskaskia Spring Rally for our Southern Illinois District will be held on April 12th at St. John Lutheran in Baldwin.
- Pastor asked for the council’s approval to be Pastor of the Week at Camp Wartburg during the week of July 1st thru 6th. It was noted that pastor has participated this in event in 2010 and 2011. Motion was made and second. Motion carried.  
 - Church Secretary Training with Jenna Otten is going well. Jenna did ask for a change in her work schedule from Tuesday and Wednesday to Monday and Tuesday mornings from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. This would allow her to maintain her job at Keil’s Pharmacy. Council approved the change. Motion was made and second. Motion carried.
- Request for vacation from May 25th thru 29th. Pastor will ask Pastor MacDougall to cover his calls for that weekend and will get someone to preach, lead worship, and Bible study for that weekend.  Motion was and second. Motion carried. It was also noted that Pastor Taggatz would be covering for Pastor MacDougall’s call from April 12th thru 20th.
- Pastor has already contracted Pastor Wayne Palmer to lead worship and preach the week of June 10th thru 20th.
-Door Offering for Missions at St. John Baldwin for 2012 will be:
-PowerPoint projector door offering will be in May (as approved by the council).
-Rev Tim & Lisa Beckendorf of Lutheran Bible Translators in Botswana, Africa in   August 2012
-SIGHT Ministry Center in October 2012 for                LWML Sunday
-Giving through Thrivent Choice Program for April 2012 has amounted to $138.00. Total amount our church has received from this program since January is $781.00.
- Vacation Bible School will be Sunday, July 8th thru Thursday, July 12th. Sunday evening session will be 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Monday thru Thursday evening sessions will be 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm.
- Heather Junge was confirmed on Sunday, April 1st.

Old Business:  Discussion on paper usage does indeed falls within budgeted contract.
- Any unused money from the repairs of the roof will go back to the general funds.

New Business:  Tuition payment for parochial students will be further discussed with parents of the parochial students.

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

The meeting was closed with prayer and the Lord’s Prayer.

President, Gene Luthy
Secretary, Marla Huebner


Luther_Seal_smWe Believe, Teach and Confess.

Augsburg Confession

“The Sacrament of the Altar”
                                                                                       
Introductory Note:  In this Sacrament, we cling to and trust God’s Word alone. Jesus does not lie to us or deceive us. Therefore, when He tells us the bread and wine are His body and blood, they are what He says. The key to understanding the benefit of the Sacrament is Christ’s words “for you.” What we receive in this Sacrament is a great “treasure”: the forgiveness of sins. The whole Gospel is comprehended in this Sacrament and is offered to us through the Word, which promises that in and under the bread and wine we receive the body and blood that was sacrificed on the cross for our salvation. Those who believe the Words of promise receive the forgiveness this Sacrament promises. Luther 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.)
AC-Augsburg Confession; SA-Smalcald Articles; FC Ep-Formula of Concord, Epitome; SD-Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration  
                                                                                               
The Holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write:
        “Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said,
“Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you.  This do in remembrance of Me.”
        In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when he had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.  This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”  (Small Catechism)

What is the Sacrament of the Altar?
8 Answer, “It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, in and under the bread and wine, which we Christians are commanded by Christ’s Word to eat and to drink.” 9 Just as we have said that Baptism is not simple water, so here also we say that though the Sacrament is bread and wine, it is not mere bread and wine, such as are ordinarily served at the table [1 Corinthians 10:16–17]. But this is bread and wine included in, and connected with, God’s Word.
10 It is the Word, I say, that makes and sets this Sacrament apart. So it is not mere bread and wine, but is, and is called, Christ’s body and blood [1 Corinthians 11:23–27]… 11 It is not the word or ordinance of a prince or emperor. But it is the Word of the grand Majesty, at whose feet all creatures should fall and affirm it is as He says, and accept it with all reverence, fear, and humility [Isaiah 45:23; Philippians 2:10].

13 Now here stands Christ’s Word, “Take, eat; this is My body.… Drink of it, all of you; this is My blood of the new testament,” and so on. Here we stop to watch those who will call themselves His masters and make the matter different from what He has spoken. It is true, indeed, that if you take away the Word or regard the Sacrament without the words, you have nothing but mere bread and wine. 14 But if the words remain with them, as they shall and must, then, by virtue of the words, it is truly Christ’s body and blood. What Christ’s lips say and speak, so it is. He can never lie or deceive [Titus 1:2].

17 The Word by which it became a Sacrament and was instituted does not become false because of the person or his unbelief. For Christ does not say, “If you believe or are worthy, you receive My body and blood.” No, He says, “Take, eat and drink; this is My body and blood.” Likewise, He says, “Do this” (i.e., what I now do, institute, give, and ask you, take). 18 That is like saying, “No matter whether you are worthy or unworthy, you have here His body and blood by virtue of these words that are added to the bread and wine.” 19 Note and remember this well. For upon these words rest all our foundation, protection, and defense against all errors and deception that have ever come or may yet come. (Large Catechism V, 8-11, 13-14, 17-19)

Concordia : The Lutheran Confessions. 2005 (Edited by Paul Timothy McCain) (431-434). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.

EQUIPPING THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS…Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken and produced by Lutheran Public Radio.  This week’s topics include:  Turning Sorrow into Joy, Biblical Archeology, Paul & Timothy, St. Mark the Evangelist and more.  You can listen LIVE weekdays from 3-5 p.m. on KFUO, 850 AM in St. Louis.  You can also listen on-demand at www.issuesetc.org.

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.  Our VBS planning meeting for the Bible Study leaders and the volunteers will be on Tue. May 22nd at 6:30pm.

Giving through Thrivent Choice for April 2012 I am pleased to announce that our giving through the Thrivent Choice program for April ‘12 has amounted to:  $138.00.
.  -Total amount our church has received from the Thrivent Choice program since Jan. 2012:  $781.00
                ***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."

The deadline for getting articles and reports in to be included in the Newsletter is the 18th of every month.

DON’T FORGET!!!  The first Sunday in June our worship service time will go back to 9am for our annual summer schedule.  Adult Bible study class will be following the worship service at 10:15am.

We would like to thank everyone who helped with the Benefit for Lori’s medical expenses. Thanks to all those who donated items for the silent auction, the bake sale, all the planning and for all those who worked so hard to make it success. It has been so humbling to see Christ’s Love at work, from the youth group helping, to all the workers, to all the people showing up to support this benefit. All this has been greatly appreciated and will never be forgotten. God Bless all of you. In Christ, Keith and Lori Adair Family

4-Person Benefit Golf Scramble in Honor of Bob Streuter. For the SID Student Aid Endowment Fund. The Southern Illinois District Board of Directors is asking for your assistance. We need to build up the Student Aid Endwoment Fund in order to financially assist our young men and women who attend our Synodical Universities and Seminaries. There will be registration forms in the back of the church.  The tournament will be held on Saturday May 12th at the Acorns Golf Course in Waterloo.

Information on how the Southern Illinois District money is distributed and used by our District and how much is sent to the Synod is on the table at the back of the church.

Congratulations to our Members who are graduating.
8th Grade
Heather Junge
High School
Cory Rehmer
Amanda Copple
Jake Piller
College
Samantha Buch-Maryville University
Jenna Otten­-Southwestern Illinois College
If we forgot any college graduates please let the office know so we can add to the bulletin.








Church Office Hours will be changed to Monday and Tuesday from 10am -1pm starting in May. Please get the announcements no later than 10am on Tuesday. If you can’t get them in by that time, they will still be announced, but will not be in the bulletin.  Thank You!



















































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

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