“God’s Mystery Revealed” Romans 16:25-27—Series B, Dec. 18th, ‘11

1.            Please pray with me.  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.  Amen.  The message from God’s Word this 4^th Sunday in Advent is taken from Romans 16:25-27, it’s entitled, “God’s Mystery Revealed,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.            The Apostle Paul loved a good mystery and maybe you do too.  Maybe you can remember sitting in front of the television screen as a child watching the detective trying to unravel his case to discover who committed the crime.  Only to find out that you’ll have to wait until next week to find out if he cracked the case.  In our text today from Romans 16:25-27 the Apostle Paul says, “25Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.”

3.            Here the Apostle Paul is referring to the biblical mystery of Jesus Christ.  In Scripture “mystery” is a technical theological term.  It identifies some previously hidden or only hinted at facet of God’s eternal plan, which has only been recently revealed.  Christ, Paul realized with wonder, is the greatest of all the mysteries of God.  How could God forgive the sins of past saints?  How could God not simply declare human beings righteous in His sight, but actually make them righteous?  How could God, committed as He was to the Jews, open wide His arms to the Gentiles too?  How could Jew and Gentile ever find common ground, enabling the race to be drawn back together into one?  How could God’s love for all the human race be so stunningly displayed that hardened sinners would suddenly halt, reconsider, and kneel, broken, before God?

4.            These and all of history’s unanswered questions are, for Paul, answered in Jesus Christ.  He is the mystery hidden for long ages past.  He is the one glimpsed in prophetic writings.  He is the One who has come and stands fully revealed today that all nations might believe and obey Him.  He is the one who has at last enabled us to sense not only the love but also the wisdom of God.  He is the One whom God receives glory, forever and ever.    The Old Testament did not make all things clear. But in the New Testament, the mystery is now revealed. God in Christ has united Jew and Gentile together in one Body.  Paul also writes in Eph 3:4–6, “⁴When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. ⁶This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”  As St. Augustine, one of our early Church Fathers has put it, “The new is in the old concealed, and the old is in the new revealed.”

5.            Here at the end of Romans 16 Paul gives us a grand doxology where he wraps up his lengthy letter to the Church at Rome.  This is the whole Epistle of Romans in a nutshell.  God strengthens us through His Gospel in Jesus Christ, through the preaching of Christ, the mystery that was long hidden and is now broadcast through the length and breadth of the world to all nations.  This Gospel brings about “the obedience of faith” that is, it imparts the faith that clings to the righteousness of God so that people are rescued from the old dead end way of living and made partakers of the living Body of the Son of God, whom they eagerly await from heaven.  And for this Gospel—this joyous good news—all glory goes to the Father of Jesus Christ forever!

6.            This doxology that Paul uses here near the end of his letter to the Romans reflects everything Paul has said in this New Testament Epistle.  You may recall how the book of Romans began with Paul’s assertion in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” 

7.            Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is at the heart of Paul’s message.  Jesus is the key, the revelation that unlocks the mystery hidden for long ages past.  God’s gracious plan of salvation has been effect since Adam and Eve—yes, even from eternity.  But for a long time it looked like the personal possession of the Jewish nation.  But, all of that changed when Jesus came to earth, completed His saving work and commissioned His followers to proclaim the salvation to all the world.  Thus, the “mystery” of God’s grace—disclosed to Paul and proclaimed in his gospel—is that by faith in Christ as our Savior from sin, death and the devil’s power, God’s salvation is for all people, Jew and Gentile alike.

8.            The Apostle Paul had experienced the power of God in the gospel not only in the spiritual rebirth it brought into his own life, but also in seeing that miracle repeated in hundreds and thousands of lives in connection to the work the Lord had privileged him to do.  His gospel had brought the power of God into the hearts of both Jews and Gentiles, setting up centers of Christian worship all the way from Jerusalem to Illyricum.

9.            Hence Paul is confident that this Word will now also establish the Romans both through the written message he is sending them and through the spoken Word when he comes to visit them.  So confident is Paul that he could say in Romans 15:29, “I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.”

10.        Paul’s confidence, of course, was not misplaced.  For almost 2000 years now, that Word has advanced, particularly to the west—to Spain and beyond—to the point of also having reached us and won our hearts.  Moved by that gospel in general, and in particular by Paul’s exposition of it in his magnificent Epistle to the Romans, we too join with the apostle in saying, “To him who is able to establish us by the gospel… to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ!  Amen.” 

11.        Christians can differ honestly about many doctrines.  They can dispute about practices.  But on one thing we all agree.  We all love the One Jesus Christ whose coming into our world in the form of a little baby, which we’ll celebrate at Christmas, explained the mystery of God’s plan, and revealed once and for all the full extent of His mysterious, wonderful love in dying on the cross to save each and everyone of us from our sins.  Amen.    

“Pointing the World to Jesus” (John 1:6-8, 19-28) Series B Advent 3, Dec. 11, 2011

1.             Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  When he preaches repentance, John the Baptist points us to Jesus.  In our Gospel lesson for this day we learn that John was sent by God “as a witness, to bear witness about the Light, that all might believe through him” (John 1:7).  He baptizes with water in order to “make straight the way of the Lord,” who shall redeem His people from their sins (John 1:23).  John’s whole ministry was to point the world to our Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  The message is entitled, “Pointing the World to Jesus,” let he who has ears to hear, let him hear.   
2.             Of the many saints commemorated by the Christian Church, Nicholas (d. A.D. 342) is one of the best known.  December 6^th has been the day that the Church observes the festival of St. Nicholas, which we celebrated this past week. Known for his generosity and his love of children, Nicholas is said to have saved a poor man’s 3 daughters from slavery by tossing into their window enough gold for a rich dowry to enable them to get married, a present that landed in some shoes or, stockings that were hung up to dry. But there’s more to the story of Nicholas of Myra. He was also a delegate to the Council of Nicea in a.d. 325, which battled the heretics who denied that our Lord Jesus is fully God, equal to God the Father. He was one of the authors of the Nicene Creed, which affirms that Jesus Christ is both true God and true man. In fact, Nicholas was particularly zealous in standing up for Christ.  During the Council of Nicea, Nicholas got so fed up with the heretic Arius, who taught that Jesus was just a man, that he walked up and decked him! That unbishoplike behavior got him in trouble. The council almost stripped him of his office as bishop, but Nicholas said he was sorry, so he was forgiven.
3.             St. Nicholas was a lot like John the Baptist in our Gospel lesson this morning.  He was someone who flew off the handle when he heard someone minimizing the name of Christ. Maybe we can battle our culture’s increasingly Christ-less Christmas by enlisting St. Nick in his original cause. The poor girls’ stockings have become part of our Christmas customs. So should the St. Nicholas slap. Not a violent hit of the kind that got the good bishop in trouble, just a gentle, warning tap on the cheek. This should be reserved not only for nonbelievers, but for heretics (that is, people in the church who deny its teachings), Christians who forget about Jesus, and people who try to take Christ out of Christmas. 
4.             As I said before, both St. Nicholas and John the Baptist remind us that they themselves aren’t so important as the message that they came to proclaim of Jesus Christ and Him crucified on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins.  John 1:6–8, 19–28 says,  “6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.”         
5.             John 1:19 says, “19And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” This is the first incident in the life of John the Baptist which John gives us in his Gospel record. We find out about his birth in the Gospel of Luke, but here the record of John the Baptist begins when a delegation from Jerusalem comes to question him. They come out to ask him, “Who are you?”  In this question there’s a subtle temptation because this offered John an opportunity to make something of himself. In John 3:30 we find his response when his disciples wanted him to make something of himself. He said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” What a statement that is! That’s a statement that every believer should make.  A statement that I’m sure St. Nicholas would make as well. And every believer should live it too. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Either Christ is primary in your life and takes first place, or you (that is, the selfish “I”) will be on top. You can’t have both. He must increase and I must decrease, or else it will be the other way around. 
6.             Then John 1:20 continues saying, “20He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”  You see, the priests and Levites from Jerusalem suggest that John the Baptist might be the Messiah. But he makes it very clear that he’s not the Christ; he’s not the Messiah. They’re looking to the wrong man. So, if he’s not the Christ, what great person is he?  John 1:21 says, “21And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Notice how brief and matter–of–fact John is. If he’s not the Christ, he must be Elijah. If he’s not Elijah, he must be “that prophet.” They are referring to a prophet “like Moses” who had been promised back in Deuteronomy 18:15. John gives an emphatic “No!” He’s not the predicted prophet of Deuteronomy.
7.             John 1:22-23 continues, “22So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”  Notice that John is a voice. You see, Christ is the Word! John is the voice! A voice is all that John wants to be and that St. Nicholas wanted to be. Both of them along with you and me have a grand message to give, a message much greater than we are. And notice the grand message that John gives, “Make straight the way of the Lord.” In other words, “Get ready for the coming of the Lord.” John means that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. It was at hand in the person of our Lord Jesus, you see. And he tells them to “Make straight the way.” This would be the same as telling them to get the crooked things out of their lives, to deal with the things that are wrong. This we need to do also. 
8.             And what are the crooked things in your lives?  It may be that you fail to bear the name of Christ in your everyday life.  That you live as a Christian on Sunday, but the rest of the week you hide your faith and act more like an unbeliever for fear of being found out by the world.  Or maybe you continue to use pornography and defile your body by committing adultery in your heart and with your eyes.  You indulge yourself in too much alcohol and lose control of your body and your speech because of it.  You fail to honor those in authority over you that God has placed into your life as your leaders.  You sin when you don’t help your neighbor when he or she is in need.  Or, have you considered that when you curse, swear, or use God’s name aimlessly that you’re taking God’s name in vain?
9.             John the Apostle says in 1 John 1:6, “⁶If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” We need to get our lives straight.  But, we can’t do this on our own.  The way our lives are straightened out is when we take our sins to Jesus, as we are taught in 1 John 1:8–9, which says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  If you confess your sins to Jesus and repent of them our Lord Jesus will forgive you and give you eternal life because He bled and died on Calvary’s tree for you!
10.             Both John the Baptist’s and St. Nicholas’ purpose in life was to point the world to Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  That includes your sin and my sin.  And from this flowed John’s calling as a believer, teacher, preacher, catechizer, prophet and more.  But, in all that John did for Jesus, none of it could ultimately save him from his sins, since he like you and me, was conceived into sin.  Nothing in John’s divinely given purpose could save him from his own sin.  He, like the rest of us would need Jesus to take away our sins.  Thanks be to God that our Lord Jesus has come to take away our sins and that He promises to come again to take us to our heavenly home.  Amen.  Please pray with me.   O Christ, prepare a royal highway in my heart, that I may receive You in steadfast humility and joy. Amen.

Worship from the heart

“...but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making medlody to the Lord with all your heart...” Ephesians 5:18-19

 Jerome: Commentary on the Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians Jerome (ca. 345-419) “Let youth hear this, let them hear it whose office it is to make melody in the church: Sing to God, not with the voice, but with the heart; not, after the fashion of tragedians, in smearing the throat with a sweet drug, so that theatrical melodies and songs are heard in the church, but in fear, in work, and in knowledge of the Scriptures. And although a man be kakophonos, to use a common expression, if he have good works, he is a sweet singer before God. And let the servant of Christ sing so that he pleases, not through his voice, but through the words which he pronounces, in order that the evil spirit which was upon Saul may depart from those who are similarly troubled and may not enter into those who would make of the house of God a popular theatre.”

 Ouch! That’s the problem with Church history – those who have preceded us have already wrestled with many of the issues with which we struggled today. We look to the wisdom and experience of our forebears to help us maintain right doctrine; should we not also consult them concerning right practice? Jerome encouraged heart-felt singing, not entertainment, and called on even those who don’t thing they can sing to make a joyful noise to the Lord. Give me that old time cacophony over those carefully rehearsed performances any Lord’s Day. Can people learn to sing from the heart? What is the pastor’s responsibility in teaching them to do this?

“Our Patient God” (Isaiah 40:1-11 & 2 Peter 3:8-14) Dec. 4th, 2011

1.            Please pray with me.  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.  Amen.  As the Prophet Isaiah had written, John the Baptist in our Gospel lesson for today is the messenger of our Lord Jesus, sent before Him to prepare His way.  To this day, the ministry of John continues in the preaching of the Law and the Gospel, and in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.  By these means of grace your Good Shepherd Jesus “will gather you into His arms” (Is. 40:11).  The Lord Jesus comforts you by forgiving all of your sins (Is. 40:1–2).  So during this Advent season take time to repent and humble yourself as you wait for His coming in peace (2 Pet. 3:14), because He “is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).  And that’s the message that we want to talk about today, the fact that God is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but that all may receive eternal life through His Son Jesus.  The message is entitled, “Our Patient God,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.            Waiting is never easy. In our day of high speed internet, instant messaging, and fast food, waiting for anything seems like forever. Do you remember your days as a child?  When the season of Advent came closer and closer to the day of Christmas.  How difficult was it for you and your siblings to wait to open your presents? Maybe you had such a hard time waiting that you would often coax your parents into allowing you to open some, or maybe all of your presents on Christmas Eve. You probably remember some years where you couldn’t wait any longer, and your parents couldn’t stand your whining and begging either, so they finally gave in and let you open all of your presents before Christmas Day. 

3.            The season of Advent begins a season of waiting. It marks the beginning of the church year and asks us to wait for the coming of Christ, the King. Each new Advent season raises our expectations as we wait. Will we see the return of the Lord in this Advent season? But, it also leads us to a time of reflection concerning how we wait because waiting, by its nature, is difficult for all of us. Like children getting up on Christmas Day to open their presents early because they can’t wait any longer, we often wait impatiently, rather than with expectant hope. 

4.            Waiting for God is difficult enough, but, waiting in the wilderness can make the calmest soul waver. The whole history of Israel is a history of waiting, waiting in the wilderness to enter the Promised Land, waiting for a king, waiting in exile for return to the land of Israel, and waiting for God to deliver them from their enemies. Imagine, then, how their hearts moved with hope when they heard of the promise of the Lord once more from Isaiah. We can feel the hope rise as the prophet Isaiah cries out: “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low...Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together” (Isaiah 40:3-5). And yet, generations came and went and the years passed by with no sign of the promised one. Israel went into exile, and the voice of the prophets became silent. Would there be a way in the wilderness, and a smooth path cut through the desert? Or would God leave his people as exiles in the wastelands? 

5.            For over 2000 years, we’ve seen Advent season come and go, each year raising our hopes for Christ’s return. Unfortunately, as happens to so many, we lose hope and heart in waiting. You grow tired and weary, and you, like the false prophets of old ask, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation” (2 Peter 3:4). Your temptation in the exile of waiting is to lose hope, to grow weary and faint. Your temptation is to give up rather than hold on. Rather than fill you with expectation, waiting can dull your hope and dry out your hunger for God. Yet the Advent season calls you back to watch and to wait in anxious expectation for the return of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

6.            But, have we every considered how much God the Father waits patiently on us?  Jesus says in Mark 7:21-22, “From within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.  All these evils come from inside.”  When God sees anger in our hearts, He sees sin.   God does wait patiently on us.  We fail to worship Him as we ought.  Our bed is so much more comfortable to sleep in on Sunday morning, than to have to sit in an uncomfortable pew in worship.  Don’t forget the fact that maybe you despise having to hear God’s Word preached and taught, because of some sin you’re unwilling to repent of.  Maybe you’re living in the same house as your boyfriend or girlfriend and both of you keep putting off getting married.  As a Christian you know that God says don’t commit adultery, but you figure that God will just turn a blind eye to your adulterous way of living and forget about the fact that you’re living with someone else outside of marriage.  Or, maybe you just can’t stop talking about someone behind their back.  Each moment you get the chance you have to share that jaw dropping story to the next person who comes into your midst.  For all of these things God is very patient with you.  Remember, He tells you through 2 Peter 3 that He’s patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but that all come to repentance to receive the forgiveness of sins you need through Jesus Christ your Savior.   

7.            So Isaiah the Prophet says to us from Isaiah 40:1, “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.”  The Lord Jesus our burden and sin bearer has come, He is the One who later on will fulfill everything that Isaiah said about Him. He will be the One to give the invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). The Lord Jesus Christ lifts our burdens. 

8.            Isaiah continues in 40:2, “Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”  It’s been suggested that when there was an indebtedness on a house in Israel, the fact was written on a legal document, and put on the doorpost so that all their neighbors and friends would know that they had a mortgage on their place. Another copy was kept by the one who held the mortgage. When the debt was paid, the second copy, the carbon copy, was nailed over the other doorpost so that all might see that the debt was paid. This is the meaning of “she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” The sins of Jerusalem were paid for by the One who suffered outside her gates, Jesus Christ the crucified.

9.            This is the difference between the dealings of God with His people in the Old Testament and with us in our day. This actually separates Christianity from all pagan religions and from the Mosaic Law. The difference is all wrapped up in that little word propitiation. In the heathen religions the people bring an offering to their gods to appease them, and that is what propitiation means. Many people think that that is what it means in the Bible, that they have to “do” something—because God is angry—to win Him over. The people in heathen religions are always doing that because their gods are always angry and difficult to get along with. Their feelings are easily hurt, and they aren’t very friendly. The fact is that sin, your sin, has alienated you from God, but it is God who did something for you.

10.        And today God is propitious. You don’t have to do anything to win Him over. Propitiation is toward God, and reconciliation is toward us. God has done everything that needs to be done.  For He is patient with you, not wanting you to perish in your trespasses and sins, but for you to come to the forgiveness of your sins through your Savior Jesus Christ. Today you are asked to be reconciled to God, not to do something to win Him over. God is already won over; that is what Jesus Christ did for you on the cross. You need only to receive what Christ has done for You through the hearing of the Word that Your sins are forgiving, remembering that You are a baptized child of God, and that He gives You of His body and blood to forgive You of your sins.   So today do not harden your hearts, but hear the voice of our patient God speak to You through His Word, repent of your sins, turn to Christ and live.  Amen.

St. John Baldwin Dec. '11 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

December, 2011                                  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 December are:  Linda Schoenbeck, Renee Luthy & Toni Rehmer

               

Ushers for the Month of December are:  

Larry Erdmann, Kevin Luthy, Terry Rehmer, Cory Rehmer, Brian Schoenbeck, Bruce Schoenbeck, Wes Stellhorn & Dennis Wegener

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.

“The Holy Family & Kim Kardashian”

                “The very rich are different from you and me.” F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote that about Jay Gatsby in his book, “The Great Gatsby”, but he could just as easily have said it about the famous Kardashian family. A descendant of Armenian immigrants to Los Angeles, Robert Kardashian was one of O.J. Simpson’s attorneys. His daughters have become West Coast “personalities.”

                The most famous of them is Kim, who just caused yet another stir by filing for divorce from her husband of 72 days, NBA basketball player Kris Humphries. I have absolutely nothing to say about the “marriage,” because there’s nothing there to learn about relationships. They are different from you and me. It seems to have been just more entertainment for the masses who seem to like the spectacle of rich people behaving badly. Kim and Kris were reported to have been paid $17 million for their own wedding. Just the free Perrier-Jouet champagne alone cost $400,000. There was a media frenzy over the wedding and there is now another one over the divorce.  Elizabeth Taylor’s marriages lasted a little longer, but she had eight of them.

                Jesus said, “What God has joined together, let man not separate” (Matthew 19). Do you believe him? Do you believe that wrecking a marriage is sin and brings his judgment? Do you believe that staying faithful “till death us do part” will bring his blessing?

                Since we are in the season of Advent preparing our hearts for Christ’s coming, it would be good for us to reflect on what took place with Joseph the Guardian of Jesus and the Virgin Mary as they prepared to become husband and wife.  They did this even in the midst of the controversy of Mary conceiving baby Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit and how in the midst of it all God sought to keep these two together as husband and wife.  Their relationship in becoming husband and wife is far different from what we see in the lives of celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Kim Kardashian.  This is because Mary and Joseph understood that marriage is not a man made institution, but an institution that has been divinely designed by our Lord and Creator.  And, in fact, marriage as Paul says in Ephesians 5, is an illustration of the relationship of Christ and His Church.

One illustration that shows us the relationship of Christ and His church is the bridegroom and the bride.  2 Corinthians 11:2 says, “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”  “I have betrothed you” is a figure of speech that Paul used—“I am making you engaged to Christ,” as it were. You’ll find that John, in the Book of Revelation, used that same figure of speech in Rev. 19:7 it says, “The marriage of the Lamb has come.”  And James the Apostle used it in a negative way. He said, Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  (James 4:4)  What words of warning for people like Kim Kardashian or Elizabeth Taylor who have played with marriage so loosely and lightly.

                In other words, James compares a believer’s unfaithfulness to Christ to committing adultery!  In a first–century marriage, the initial step was taken by the young man who had fallen in love with some girl. What happened was this: When he’d fallen in love with the girl and knew that she would marry him, he traveled from his father’s house to the girl’s home, and he bargained with the father of the girl about how much he would pay for her. The purchase price that he was to pay for his bride was called a mohar, and when the amount of the mohar was mutually satisfactory to the father and also to the young man, then the young lady was consulted. If it was also satisfactory with her, a marriage covenant was made. The bride was then declared to be sanctified. And that means only that she was set apart for the bridegroom. That is the picture we have at the opening of the New Testament; Mary was espoused to Joseph, which tells us they had already gone through the betrothal service.

        Now this betrothal service was actually like a marriage ceremony. It was concluded by the prospective bridegroom and bride taking a glass of wine and each drinking from it. She was now espoused to him. Then when the betrothal benediction was pronounced, the young man returned to his father’s house to prepare a place for his bride. During this time, the bride–to–be prepared herself to become a bride and to enter married life.

This was the first stage, and I’m sure that by now you’ve recognized the parallel to Christ and His church. Almost two thousand years ago He left the ivory palaces of heaven. He left His Father’s house and came to our house—this world in which you and I live—to seek His bride. He gives us this tremendous movement in John 16:28, and many scholars consider this verse to be the key to John’s Gospel. The Lord Jesus said, I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.  What a tremendous movement: out of the glories of heaven and down to this earth for just a brief period of time. And then, having made the engagement down here, He goes back to heaven to prepare a place for us His bride the Church.

                Hebrews 2:16-17 says, For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  Now that is the wonderful, glorious picture of the Lord Jesus coming from the Father’s house down to our house and becoming a man.

And when Christ came down here, He paid a price for His bride. He explains that price in Mark 10:45,

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

He paid a price for you and me through His death on the cross for our sins. I wasn’t worth it, and neither were you. Someone has said that if we could see ourselves as God sees us, we wouldn’t be able to stand ourselves. My friend, what a price was paid for you and me! We were alienated from God. Paul said to the Ephesians, “You were without hope and without God in the world. Dead in trespasses and sins.” But Jesus came down and paid a price, and what price did He pay? Peter tells us in 1 Peter 1:18 and 19, Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 

                He paid a tremendous price!  And all this was made possible because God used a man named Joseph to guard, protect, and watch over the young Virgin Mary so that Jesus could grow in the wisdom and knowledge of our Lord through the Scriptures and ultimately die on the cross for our sins.  My what a contrast between the celebrity marriages of this world and the marriage that Christ has made to you and me by making us His bride and giving us the glories of heaven through His death and resurrection.  Merry Christmas!

 

See You in Church!

<+><

Pastor Taggatz

“It Was so Simple”

                What Christian ever tires of hearing the Christmas story?  First we hear about the Angel Gabriel.  He was a busy guy, delivering messages from God.  He must have enjoyed this task, though, because he was bringing good news.  To Mary he said, “You’re going to have a son, and you shall call His name Jesus.”  To Joseph, who understandably was a little unsure of how to proceed with Mary, Gabriel said, “Don’t worry Joseph.  This is God’s doing.  Mary’s going to have God’s Son.”  Simple, right?  Just follow God’s plan.

                Then there’s a decree from Caesar Augustus.  He had no idea he was just a pawn in God’s hands.  As the powerful ruler he was, he issued a decree: “Everybody has to go to his hometown to be registered for the census.”  And everybody went, including Joseph and Mary.  Even though Mary’s pregnancy was quite advanced, she went on that arduous trip.  Why not?  She was in God’s hands, too, although far from a pawn.  She was God’s channel.  Through her God would bring to earth the greatest gift ever received.

                Just in time, the innkeeper said they could stay in his barn – just in time for the birth.  No hospital, no neonatal unit, no Lamaze – God brought His Son into this world.

                Some poor shepherds were out in the fields that night, just like most nights.  But it wasn’t like most nights, for the night sky filled with light as angels appeared and “the glory of the Lord shone around them.”  Those shepherds looked and listened, and then they acted.  “Let’s go see what God’s been doing in Bethlehem,” they said to each other, and they went.  And they believed, and they told others what they had seen and heard and now believed.

                Sounds simple, doesn’t it?  Not complicated like the world is today?  Not exactly true.  The world was complicated then, too.  Political intrigue abounded; wars were being fought; the greedy still coveted more and more; some people then, as now, were too busy to see the angels or hear their message.  But not everyone!  Then as now, some will put aside the hustle and clamor.  We’ll slow down and listen for angel’s wings, and we’ll hear the message of “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”  We’ll take time to peek into the manger and worship God’s Son and we’ll eagerly “[make] known the saying that [has] been told [us] concerning this Child.”

We remember in our prayers— We pray for Lori Adair, Jason Mines, Bonnie Highberger, Lee Hogandobler, Evan Saldana (son of (Kathy Hammel)) and Dennis Bunte, all who are battling serious illnesses.  We pray for Greg Laufer, as he continues to be under rehabiltation.  We also pray for Verna Zanders, as she recovers from surgery that she recently had.

The Ladies Aid has been given a large amount of fabric to be used to make comforters. Anyone in the congregation or anyone you know that would be willing to take some to make comforters please contact Evelyn Schwartzkopf 785-2918 or Beverly Schoenbeck 785-2563. They are to be tied and will be given to World Relief or a local charity. Quilters we have a quilt in the Ladies Aid room. Anyone is welcome to come on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1:00 p.m. to ?

The Ladies Aid will hold their Christmas Potluck on December 8^th at 11:30 a.m. Please bring a covered dish.  Everyone is invited so bring your spouse or good friend and join us.

Those wishing to purchase Poinsettias to be placed in the chancel of the church during the Christmas Season may contact Lela Rehmer at 785-2593 by Dec. 4^th. The cost is $6.00 per plant. Those who purchase their own plant should bring them to the church by 9:00 a.m. on December 10^th and be sure to mark them with the donors name.

2012 Offering Envelopes may be picked up at the school. 2012 OFFERING ENVELOPES—The 2012 Offering envelopes are larger in size, (they are dollar size envelopes), this year than in years past, but the cost for purchasing the envelopes has remained the same.  The smaller envelopes that we’ve used over the years are no longer being printed by CPH.

BIBLE STUDY—

  Sunday Mornings (8:45 a.m.)                       

“Explaining All of the Scary Stuff in Revelation” with Pastor Ken Klaus, Lutheran Hour Speaker Emeritus…

          Nobody said demons, plagues, and an appointment with Armageddon would be fun, but it doesn't have to be feared-at least not for the Christian. Often, the book of Revelation is viewed with mixed emotions. Its fantastic imagery and cryptic phrasings can leave people scratching their heads as they wonder about its real message. Unfortunately, this impasse can lead the individual to side step the book altogether, thus missing its power and significance as a one-of-a-kind text of Scripture.  What awaits believers according to Revelation's final chapter is a "new heaven and a new earth" (Revelation 21:1a). Through an angel sent by God, John testified "to everything he saw-that is, the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 1:2). In this LHM Men's NetWork Bible study, you, too, will glean fresh insights into this fascinating book and discover why-even for all its horrendous descriptions and obtuse references, it stands first and foremost as a text of enduring hope and ultimate victory for the Christian.

LYF UPDATE—

The LYF’s help is needed at the Christmas Eve program here at St. John (it’s at 7pm on Dec. 24^th, please be there 15 -20 minutes early to meet with Fleta)—we ask that you hand out the bags of candy to the younger kids after the Christmas pageant.  You may even get some candy too!!! J 

If you have any questions email me (pastor):  jtaggatz@yahoo.com or Fleta Junge: tfjunge@htc.net  /call 282-4642 or 618-444-2764.

Remember:  Every 3^rd 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.

All you can eat Spaghetti and Homemade Meatballs Dinner on Sunday, December 11^th from 11 am to 1 pm at St. John’s Lutheran Church , Baldwin , IL .  $8 a plate for Adults, $4 a plate for Children 5-12, and Children 4 and under free.  This price includes all you can eat homemade spaghetti, meatballs, Italian salad, garlic bread, dessert and a drink.  Carry outs included.  Proceeds go to our local Lutheran parochial schools for children’s tuition.  If you would like to donate any items towards this fundraiser there is a signup sheet in the back of the church.  What we really need is donations of desserts, especially pies for the fundraising dinner. 

CHRIST OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN HS

810 Soldiers Way, Evansville, IL   62242

Phone 618-853-7300       Fax 618-853-7361

www.coslhs.org; E-mail:  admin@coslhs.org

Mr. John Christman, Principal

Early Bird Registration:  From now until December 15^th you can register your student for the 2012-2013 school year.  The early registration fee is $150; 50% off regular price.

Boys Basketball Schedule:

Dec.1     First Baptist Academy                                                 Home  6:30

Dec. 16 @ Saxony Lutheran, (Jackson, MO)                Away   6:30

Jan.6-7   Calvary Lutheran, Tournament  Jefferson City, MO)

Jan. 11   Saxony Lutheran                                         Home  6:30

Jan. 17   @ Marissa,                                     Away  7:15

Jan. 24  @ First Baptist Academy (O’Fallon)  Away  6:30

Feb. 2    Governer French Academy                         Home  6:30

Craft & Flea Market: 

On December 10^th and 11^th COSLHS will be holding their annual Craft and Flea Market.  If you would like to set up a booth there is a $25.00 fee for a 10 x 10 area with one table and chair.  More tables are available for $3.00 each.  Call the office for more info.  (853-7300)  COSLHS will be having a bake sale table and a craft table so we are asking for any baked sale items, or extra crafts etc. you may have.

Zuehla Rowold                        Laverna Luthy

Red Bud Nursing Home        Three Springs N. Home  

350 W. South 1^st                             161 Three Springs Rd.    Red Bud, IL 62278                Chester, IL 62233               

Opal Luthy                               Patty Theobald

Red Bud Nursing Home        402 W. 2^nd  St.  

350 W. South 1^st                               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. Nov. 8th 7:30 p.m.

 

Present:  Terry Rehmer, Gerald Poenitske, Toni Rehmer, Susan Piel, Connie Buch, Fleta Junge, Linda Schoenbeck, Tony Junge, Mark Schoenbeck, Brian Schoenbeck , Marvin Liefer, Bob Wirth, Darla Porter and Pastor Taggatz

Opening Devotions were led by Pastor Taggatz

"Atheists Don't Have No Songs."”  Psalm 18:49-50; Psalm 27:6; Psalm 30:4; 2 Corinthians 4:8; Revelation 7:12 (TLH 36)

Minutes of the last meeting were read. Corrections were made regarding the fee for the guest pastor for November 13^th. Marriage Encounter will pay his fee.

October minutes also reported that The Lutheran Witness distribution would be discussed at the Annual Meeting. No discussion or motion was made at the October meeting. However, due to the renewal deadline of November 15^th it was decided by the Pastor’s Office to ask members to sign up to receive The Lutheran Witness. Those members who do not sign up will no longer receive the magazine through the church.

Financial Secretary’s Report:  Total receipts for October, 2011 $14,358.09.

Treasurer’s Report: Ending balance of the General Fund October, 2011 (­-­$4,141.62).

Spiritual Ministries:  Suggestion was made to release two members, Shirley Liefer and Zach Deffenbaugh, from membership. Motion was made and seconded. Motion carried.

Church Properties:

Marvin and Jonathan Liefer installed the new Carrier school furnace.  The furnace was purchased from Vogel Heating and Cooling through Jonathan at a reduced price. Vogel also donated the duct work that was needed.  Thank you to Vogel Heating and Cooling and to Jonathan and Marvin Liefer for their work and contributions to this project.

Rich Heuman will continue with the service contract on all heating and cooling systems in the church, parsonage and school.

Brian Schoenbeck is working on electrical work bids. The parsonage sump pump still needs some finish work.

Sunday School:  The Christmas Eve Program is titled “Jesus-God’s Greatest Gift”. Practice will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Sundays in November and December except for November 27^th.

LYF:  The youth would like to thank everyone who donated items for the Chili Dinner. Also thank you to everyone who supported the youth at the Chili Dinner.

Pastor and Roxanne will attend the Marriage Encounter on 13^th November.

Thrivent Choice Program for October and November has amounted to $921.00.

Advent Midweek Services begin at 7:00 p.m. during November and December.

Members have discussed with Pastor about sponsoring a fund raiser for the parochial school tuition. A spaghetti dinner would b e held along with auctioning off ½ of a hog.

Pastor’s Report:

Pastoral Acts from Oct. 12^th ‘11 through Nov. 8^th, 2011—

-Regular Saturday & Sunday worship responsibilities & catechetical youth instruction

            - 4 Bible Study class sessions (Sunday      mornings)

                        -1 COSLHS Meeting—Oct. 13^th

                        -Attended visitation for Lori Adair’s family          on the death of her brother, David--Sat. Oct.         15^th

                        ^-Attended COSLHS Fall Fundraising Banquet        and led them in prayer on Fri. Oct. 21^st

            -1 Counseling session

            -1 Hospital Visit

            -11 Homebound Visits

            -Attended Pastor’s Circuit meeting at St. John       Red Bud—Tue. Nov. 1^st

            -Oct. 16^th did chapel at Red Bud Nursing Home

            -R. County Care Center Chapel—Oct. 26^th

            - 12 Homebound/ Member visits

            -1 Bi-Circuit Reformation Service @ Holy           Cross Renault Oct. 30^th

DOXOLOGY FOR Pastor Taggatz & a member or members of our church council—Would our congregation consider having me enroll in DOXOLOGY for the next year?  It is a program that helps pastors to learn how to be more effective in the spiritual care and pastoral duties within their congregations.  There are three sessions.  The training sessions are in Rockford, IL next year in 2012, with the last session at Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, IL.  Early registration is $1200, but can be paid over a period of two years.  I would be willing to pay towards half of it or more, if the congregation would be able to pay part of my way.  Pastor Leistico has attended this program and my brother-in-law, Rev. Matthew Wurm, is involved in it this year.  It also allows members of the church leadership to participate as well.  

Baptism—We are planning to have a baptism for Mackenzie Schmoll, the daughter of Ken & Julie Schmoll on Sunday Nov. 27^th.

Thanksgiving Day Service w/ Communion will be on Thur. Nov. 24^th @ 9am—Would it be alright for my family and I to go to my father-in-law’s place on Nov. 24-25^th to visit them in Wisconsin over the Thanksgiving Day weekend?  We will still be back by Sat. Nov. 26^th, so that I will still be ready for the Sunday Service and the Annual Meeting…

Annual Meeting—will be on Sun. Nov. 27^th @ 7pm in the Church…  Encourage all of our voting members to be there.

Candace Ford & Tammy Moll—spoke with me recently about putting together a fundraising dinner on the first or second weekend of December to raise money for our parochial school tuition.  It would be a spaghetti dinner, along with auctioning off half a hog, we could get Thrivent matching funds on this too if we have at least 6 Thrivent members working in this, but Juila Kahle needs to have this in before Dec. 17^th…

Encouragement to attend Bible Study—We will be doing, “Explaining all of the Scary Stuff in Revelation” with Pastor Ken Klaus (Lutheran Hour Speaker, Emeritus) on Sunday mornings starting Sun. Nov. 20^th…  After this we will be focusing on the life of Joseph the Guardian of Jesus in a video Bible study series with the current Lutheran Hour Speaker Rev. Gregory Seltz

Marriage Encounter—I will be at Lutheran Marriage Encounter in St. Louis on Nov. 11-13^th.  Pastor Ken Young will be filling in for me while I’m gone on Sunday Nov. 13^th…  He will be talking about his mission work in Taiwan, both in his sermon and Bible class…

Consider doing Mission U with Lutheran Hour Ministries for next year—We might be able to do this in partnership with some of the other Lutheran Churches in our area as a way for our laypeople to gain the tools in witnessing about Jesus to those God has placed into their midst. 

Giving through Thrivent Choice for Oct. –Nov. ‘11— I am pleased to announce that our giving through the Thrivent Choice program for October and November has amounted to:  $921.00… -Total amount our church has received from the Thrivent Choice program since February 2011:  $5,246.00

OLD BUSINESS:

Bob Wirth will oversee the cemetery plot map.

New Business:

Offering envelopes have been ordered. Concordia has changed the size of the envelopes. Some members have not used their envelopes in several years. Motion was made and seconded for Linda Schoenbeck, Pastor and the Elders to discontinue providing envelopes to some members to decrease the expense of purchasing the envelopes.

Discussion was held regarding Thanksgiving Offering. In the past the church has designated 50% of the offering to Operation Blessing. Due to the fact that the General Fund is operating in the red, a motion was made and seconded to designate the Thanksgiving Day Offering to the General Fund. The council discussed the possibility of holding a door offering to support Operation Blessing.

Budget Committee has suggested increasing the rental fees of the school building as follows:

Congregation members:                         Non-Members

Gym (dinner) $10 - $25                          $50     same

Kitchen            $10 - $25                        $25 - $50         

Classroom per room $5 - $20                  $20 - $40

Gym rental for use other than dinners is $20/hour

Increase would take effect on January 1, 2012. Voting will be held regarding rental increase at the Annual Meeting.

As there was no other business the meeting was adjourned

Terry Rehmer, President

Darla Porter, Secretary      

We Believe, Teach and Confess.

Martin Luther’s Small & Large Catechism

“Who Receives What Baptism Gives and Profits?”
                                                                                               

Introductory Note:  Baptism is not our work, but God’s work. It is a priceless treasure God gives and faith receives or grasps. God’s Word of Gospel-promise makes Baptism what it is. Baptism gives us great comfort and strength when our sins accuse us, when we realize how we stand guilty before God. Then, says Luther, the Christian is to say, “But I am baptized!” Luther comments about infant Baptism since, in his time as today, some Christians deny infants this precious Sacrament. Luther’s defense of infant Baptism is interesting. He says simply that if God did nothing through Baptism, how do baptized children believe in Him? For Luther, the fact that the gift of the Holy Spirit is given even to very small children is proof enough that God works in and through Baptism. Luther also explains how Baptism encompasses what was known as “penance.” So for Luther, Confession and Absolution are subsumed under Baptism and the proclamation of the Gospel. True repentance is daily returning to Baptism. Baptism is our daily garment, by which we suppress the old Adam and grow up in the new Adam, being clothed with the righteousness of Christ. (See AC IX; SA III V.)

                                                                       

⁴⁹ The Baptism of infants is pleasing to Christ, as is proved well enough from His own work. For God sanctifies many of those who have been baptized as infants and has given them the Holy Spirit. There are still many people even today in whom we perceive that they have the Holy Spirit both because of their doctrine and life. It is also given to us by God’s grace that we can explain the Scriptures and come to the knowledge of Christ, which is impossible without the Holy Spirit [1 Corinthians 12:3]. ⁵⁰ But if God did not accept the Baptism of infants, He would not give the Holy Spirit nor any of His gifts to any of them. In short, during the long time up to this day, no person on earth could have been a Christian… Since the holy Christian Church cannot perish until the end of the world, the sects must acknowledge that such infant Baptism is pleasing to God. For God can never be opposed to Himself or support falsehood and wickedness, or for its promotion impart His grace and Spirit… ⁵¹ The sects shall not take from us or overthrow this article: “I believe in … the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints.”

⁵² Further, we say that we are not very concerned to know whether the person baptized believes or not. For Baptism does not become invalid on that account. ⁵³ But everything depends on God’s Word and command. Now this point… rests entirely on what I have said, that Baptism is nothing other than water and God’s Word in and with each other [Ephesians 5:26]. That is, when the Word is added to the water, Baptism is valid, even though faith is lacking. For my faith does not make Baptism, but receives it.^[1] (Large Catechism IV, 49-53)

Concordia : The Lutheran Confessions. 2005 (Edited by Paul Timothy McCain) (428). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House..

                                                                                               

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

Do You Have a Question?  There are tracts in the narthex that may be able to help…  Take a moment as you come into church to check out the Lutheran Hour Ministries tract rack.  These pamphlets are free for you to take home.  You may see one that would be interesting, maybe not for yourself, but for a friend or relative who is experiencing or questioning a particular topic.

If you as an individual or your organization would like to help someone less fortunate this Christmas, please consider joining Lutheran Child and Family Services as we strive to make the season a joyous one for the people we serve. We will provide names, ages, sizes and special interests/needs of client. Please call Wanda Rollins, Janet Keiser or Precious Fowler at 618-234-8904.

The Sunday School Children will be practicing for their Christmas Eve Pageant starting at 8:30am on Sunday mornings during December in the Church.

TALK RADIO FOR THE THINKING CHRISTIAN… Do any of these topics interest you?: Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread, The Season of Advent, The Ten Commandments, First Century Bishop of Rome Clement 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 from 4-5 p.m. on KSIV, 1320 AM in St. Louis.  You can also listen to what you want when you want at  www.issuesetc.org.

Advent Midweek Series Coming to St. John—“The Hymns of Advent”

On Wednesday nights @ 7pm during the months of November & December we will once again be having our Advent Midweek services.  We will be following the Order of Vespers from TLH and the services will be on: Nov. 30^th, Dec. 7^th, 14^th, and 21^st.  This year we will be looking at the “The Hymns of Advent.” The messages will be as follows:

1.       Wed. Nov. 30^th @ 7pm— “The Season before the Season” (Matthew 25:1–13)  “Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying”

2.       Wed. Dec. 7^th @ 7pm— “The Uncomfortable Work of Comforting”  (Isaiah 40:1–5) “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People”

3.       Wed. Dec. 14^th @ 7pm— “From the General to the Specific” (Luke 3:1–15) “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry”

4.       Wed. Dec. 21^st @ 7pm— “His Exquisite Birth” (Luke 1:31–33) “Savior of the Nations, Come”

Please Note:  Due to the Advent Midweek Series Confirmation & Pre-confirmation will be meeting at different times on Wednesdays.  Pre-Confirmation will be meeting at 4:30pm and Confirmation will be meeting at 5:30 pm…

Results from the 2011 St. John Ballot for Church Offices @ our Nov. 27^th Annual Meeting—

ELDER:  Marvin Liefer

PRESIDENT:  Gene Luthy

SECRETARY:  Marla Huebner

ASST FINANCIAL SECRETARY:  Renee Luthy

TRUSTEE: Kevin Luthy & Corey Roscow

STEWARDSHIP:  Linda Schoenbeck

SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT:  Traci Liefer

EVANGELISM:     

A Special Task Force Was Put together at the Annual Meeting to work on reaching out to our community and our inactive members:  The task force will consist of:  Toni Rehmer, Kevin Luthy, Dean Buch, Julia Kahle, and Darla Porter.

You are cordially invited to join us in celebrating Marvin Rosenberg’s 95^th birthday today at an Open House at the American Legion Hall in Baldwin from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

TO ALL MEMBERS OF ST. JOHN DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

Pastor Taggatz, Roxanne, Eddie, & Marty would like to extend our warmest Christmas regards to everyone of you!  Because when you get right down to it, the true reason for the season is, Jesus. 

John 17:3—And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

U. S. POSTAGE PAID Non-Profit Org. Permit No. 1 Baldwin, IL 62217

St. John Ev. Lutheran Church

P. O. Box 162

Baldwin, IL 62217-0162

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

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