Pastor John M. Taggatz, Carol Wentz, Secretary
September, 2009 Lela Rehmer, Custodian Kevin Kahle, Groundskeeper
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Serving on the Altar Guild for September are: Geraldine Stahre & Linda Schoenbeck
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Ushers for the Month of september are:
Larry erdmann, Cory Rehmer, Terry Rehmer, Brian Schoenbeck, Bruce Schoenbeck, Wes Stellhorn & Dennis Wegener
July, 2009
TOTAL RECEIPTS $9,767.62
Total Personnel Expenses 6,305.31
Parochial School Tuition 2,017.00
District-Synod Missions 1,817.00
Operating & Misc. Expenses 2,655.74
TOTAL EXPENSES 12,795.93
ENDING BALANCE 21,798.91
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 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.
As many of you may have already heard the Evangelical Lutheran Church
The first statement is from Pastor Larry Peters (LC-MS), from his website: http://pastoralmeanderings.blogspot.com/. The second is from our LC-MS President Rev. Dr. Gerald Kieschnick.
“Today in Minneapolis Evangelical Lutheran Church America United Methodist Church
“First my reaction is one of grief and sadness. It is as if we have lost a family member. These actions have created an impossible distance between Lutheran cousins like the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS, to which I belong as does my parish) and the ELCA. I am deeply saddened by this deepened rift and for the hundreds of faithful pastors and congregations I know whose place within that church body has been made so very difficult. There is no room to gloat or pride when other members of the Lutheran family have acted so out of keeping with historic Lutheran identity, confession and practice.
“Second, this is not about sexuality or homosexuality. Some will try to make it about this but that is not the cause of such great sadness and distance. No, what is the greater issue here is the way in which a church body has disconnected its current life and confession from Scripture and its Confessions. This is the real issue. It is not about gays or lesbians but about the choice to make the gospel (small g in this case) a principle instead of a message and to set this principle of tolerance, acceptance, liberation, and freedom against the clear passages of Scripture which clearly define sexuality within the context of male and female, marriage and family. For in setting up the rationale for this departure from what Christianity has always understood, the ELCA has put into place the very mechanism to depart from the very Gospel (big G – meaning the cross and empty tomb) itself. This is the inevitable outcome when gospel becomes the legitimacy for any new understanding or new idea that once was clearly prohibited in Scripture and tradition. Indeed the real issue is what do we have left when gospel stands in opposition to the clear words of Scripture? Surely it is the Gospel — the message of Jesus Christ and the salvation He won for us by His death and resurrection — that is lost when the church has the freedom to oppose Scripture or to disregard what Scripture has clearly said and the Church believed for two thousand years (and longer in the Old Testament).
“Third, is the foundation that was used to support and justify the full communion relationship with the United Methodist Church
“As a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, I grieve with my brothers and sisters in the ELCA, for the decisions made, for the faulty theology underlying those decisions, and for the resulting consequences for this church’s future. I do not in any way imply that my church body, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, is without fault or problems for such is not the case. But the errors prevalent in Missouri
“So where do we go from here. On one hand we have some very fine documents in the LCMS that we can offer to state positively what we believe, teach, and confess (in accord with Scripture). I offer you links to several of those below: (These can be found on the LCMS website)
1. Marriage and Human Sexuality
2. Legislation Regarding Same Sex Unions
3. What About Homosexuality
4. Ministry Plan to Homosexuals
5. Initial Response to the ELCA Proposal
6. The Contemporary Debate on Homosexual Clergy
2. Legislation Regarding Same Sex Unions
3. What About Homosexuality
4. Ministry Plan to Homosexuals
5. Initial Response to the ELCA Proposal
6. The Contemporary Debate on Homosexual Clergy
“To those interested in a fuller review of the issues I have touched upon, please check out the links above. To those who have deeper questions, I would offer you to check out the web site of Robert Gagnon (www.robgagnon.net/) whose publications have proven to be faithful to Scripture and yet sensitive to the parameters of this very public debate.
“In terms of the general public, it is important that we affirm that we of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod have faced the same issues as the ELCA but come to very different conclusions and we can reference some of the links above as evidence of that stance which is both Scriptural and consonant with our Confessions. However, we gain nothing by tearing down others. It is sufficient that we make distinction between their position and our own.
“In terms of family members of friends in the ELCA, I would encourage patience and compassion. I do not expect a mass exodus away from the ELCA. First, there are many who would believe that as long as it does not directly affect me or my congregation, I can live with this. Sort of a NIMBY (not in my back yard) mentality. Second, it will take time for people to come to grips with what has taken place and how they will respond to it. Third, there are already groups in the ELCA that have prepared options (Word Alone is one group, Lutheran CORE is another).
“As far as those who find that they no longer wish to remain, I would welcome a conversation and offer them faithful pastoral care until they decide what path to follow… and if any seek out a new church home, we can cross that bridge if and when it comes.”
Statement of the president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in response to certain actions of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church America
The two largest Lutheran church bodies in the United States are the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) with 4.8 million members and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) with 2.4 million members.
On Friday, Aug. 21, the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church America
The Lutheran Church
Addressing the ELCA assembly on Saturday, Aug. 22, I responded to their abovementioned actions, stating: “The decisions by this assembly to grant non-celibate homosexual ministers the privilege of serving as rostered leaders in the ELCA and the affirmation of same-gender unions as pleasing to God will undoubtedly cause additional stress and disharmony within the ELCA. It will also negatively affect the relationships between our two church bodies. The current division between our churches threatens to become a chasm. This grieves my heart and the hearts of all in the ELCA, the LCMS, and other Christian church bodies throughout the world who do not see these decisions as compatible with the Word of God, or in agreement with the consensus of 2,000 years of Christian theological affirmation regarding what Scripture teaches about human sexuality. Simply stated, this matter is fundamentally related to significant differences in how we [our two church bodies] understand the authority of Holy Scripture and the interpretation of God’s revealed and infallible Word.”
Doctrinal decisions adopted already in 2001 led the LCMS, in sincere humility and love, to declare that we could no longer consider the ELCA “to be an orthodox Lutheran church body” (2001 Res 3-21A). Sadly, the decisions of this past week to ignore biblical teaching on human sexuality have reinforced that conclusion. We respect the desire to follow conscience in moral decision making, but conscience may not overrule the Word of God.
We recognize that many brothers and sisters within the ELCA, both clergy and lay, are committed to remaining faithful to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, are committed to the authority of Holy Scripture, and strongly oppose these actions. To them we offer our assurance of loving encouragement together with our willingness to provide appropriate support in their efforts to remain faithful to the Word of God and the historic teachings of the Lutheran church and all other Christian churches for the past 2,000 years.
Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, President
TheLutheran Church Missouri
The
[Editor’s Note: A complete draft of President Kieschnick’s address to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly is posted on the LCMS Web site at www.lcms.org.]
See You in Church,
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Pastor Taggatz
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.
New topics are added throughout the year. The newest pamphlet added to the rack is entitled, “Why do Bad Things Happen?” If you are interested in a particular subject that’s not on the rack, please contact Pastor Taggatz.
We Remember in Our Prayers—We pray for Zuehla Rowold & Tom Dawson
We pray for the family of Laverne E. Falkenhein who was called home to heavenly rest on Sat. Aug. 22nd. We pray that God’s continual comfort and care would be upon her family. May they continue to put their hope and trust in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting, all that we have given to us through Jesus Christ our Savior. “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life!” (Rev. 2:10)
God’s Abundant Blessings
Our God is a gracious God Who provides for all our needs regardless of whether we express our gratitude to Him or not. We are indeed blessed people who are created in His image.
God promises even greater blessings to those who respond to His great providence by sharing with others what they’ve been given. In 2 Chronicles 31:10 we read about the donations God’s people in Hezekiah’s day were bringing to the temple. Azariah, the chief priest, said, “Since the people began to bring their contributions to the temple of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the Lord has blessed His people, and this great amount is left over.” A similar circumstance occurred when two fish and fives loaves of bread were more than adequate to feed a crowd of five thousand people who were gathered to hear Jesus preach (Luke 9:10 -17). God took what was offered and magnified and multiplied the gift.
In Proverbs 3:9-10 we find a command with a promise: “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” The prophet Malachi quotes a similar promise: “ ‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it’ ” (Malachi 3:10).
We have God’s word that He will provide for all our needs. “Now He Who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:10 -11).
How do we take that step of faith that asks us to give generously when we wonder how our paychecks will stretch till the end of the month? Perhaps the answer is to look to the Provider instead of to our own limited means. Jesus said, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33 ). As our faith is nourished through Word and Sacrament, we will find it a joy to “test [Him] in this.”
FYI – Please remember to be careful with your individual communion cups so they don’t drip onto the carpet. Thank you for your help in this matter.
Please be sure to sign the attendance pads during each worship service as it helps us keep track for not only our records, but also for Synods. Also so we can keep track of who has been receiving Holy Communion as that is also sent to the Synod.
EDUCATING A NEW GENERATION OF LUTHERANS...You can listen to in-depth discussions on subjects like: The Ordination of Women & the Endorsement of Homosexuality, Christ in the Old Testament, The Person & Work of the Holy Spirit, The Defense of Marriage Act, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" and more. Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken and produced by Lutheran Public Radio. You can listen LIVE weekdays from 4-5 p.m. on KSIV, 1320 AM in St. Louis
LYF UPDATE—We will begin meeting again on Sunday September 13th after church from 11:30am-1pm . This will be an important meeting for both youth and parents who want to go to the National Youth Convention in July of 2010. All youth who want to attend are asked to be at the meeting and to bring their parents.
CHRIST OUR SAVIOR
LABORERS FOR CHRIST: The laborers have moved on (if they got their campers out)! Dale and Irma are going to spend a little more time with us to make sure everything is finished. It will seem a little empty around here for a while. Donna Wegener would like to thank everyone that helped with the snacks or donated food. The high school would like to thank all the association churches that helped with the Saturday lunches and the volunteers who helped in so many ways. Thank You!
Popeye Picnic: Next big event on our list of things to do. Sept. 11-13. I am not sure about the bake sale but will post more info later.
Coming Events: Music Fest at Fort Kaskaskia
Wish list: Fireproof file cabinet, Roller maps for History class,
Prayer requests for:
- Students, staff, and teachers of COSLHS
- All who are sick, hurting, or just need prayers.
- The congregations and their members as they consider their part in the continued “Walk of Faith” program.
- The matching funds, as we have not reached our goal.
Cheese…
After returning from a photography trip with my two-year-old granddaughter Danielle, I placed my camera on the table. Her aunt, Lora, arrived a little later and started talking with her. Noticing the camera Lora asked Danielle, "Do you know what this is?"
Without hesitating, she grinned and replied, "Cheese."
—Charlene Daley,Janeville , New Brunswick
Without hesitating, she grinned and replied, "Cheese."
—Charlene Daley,
I Know It’s God…
I was teaching a geography lesson to my kindergarten class using a map of North America . I pointed to Canada
Five-year-old Savanna exclaimed, "I know! It's God!"
Astonished, I asked her why she thought that.
"Because," she said, remembering the pledge of allegiance we say every morning, "theUnited States
—Suzanne Scott-Marzec, Moss Bluff,Louisiana
Five-year-old Savanna exclaimed, "I know! It's God!"
Astonished, I asked her why she thought that.
"Because," she said, remembering the pledge of allegiance we say every morning, "the
—Suzanne Scott-Marzec, Moss Bluff,
MOOOOOVE—
Driving through rural central California
Finally, my son rolled down the window, stuck his head out, and yelled, "Moo-o-o-ove!"
He must have been speaking their language; they obeyed his command.
—Alan Davis,Belleville , Wisconsin
Finally, my son rolled down the window, stuck his head out, and yelled, "Moo-o-o-ove!"
He must have been speaking their language; they obeyed his command.
—Alan Davis,
Happy Turtle Life…
One day I heard my son Kyle, 3, singing along with a song about John 3:16. I was heartened that God's Word was soaking into his heart and mind, then I realized what he was singing: That whoever believes in Jesus "will never die, but happy turtle life!"
Nobody in My Family Knows…
When I was expecting my first baby, a six-year-old neighborhood girl was particularly curious. She wanted to see the baby furniture and hear our list of possible names.
When she asked where the baby was, I was a walking show-and-tell even at four months. But then she asked the question that probably had been foremost in her mind: "How did the baby get in there?"
"I think you'd better ask your mother about that," I said.
"Oh, I tried that," she confessed. "Nobody in my family knows!"
—Mary L. Hickey,Kirkersville , Ohio
When she asked where the baby was, I was a walking show-and-tell even at four months. But then she asked the question that probably had been foremost in her mind: "How did the baby get in there?"
"I think you'd better ask your mother about that," I said.
"Oh, I tried that," she confessed. "Nobody in my family knows!"
—Mary L. Hickey,
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.
New LUTHERANS FOR LIFE Chapter—If you would like to be involved in future meetings/events, or if you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Becker-Roscow at 618-282-5343 or mroscow@htc.net.
BIBLE STUDIES—
Monday Night (7pm )
“How Do We Know the Bible is True?”
Location: School
Lead By: Pastor Taggatz
This course will focus on how we got our Bible as it is today, how it has been communicated to us. We will learn that Scripture is the most reliable of all ancient documents. We will also learn what the word “inspiration” means and how we received the 66 books of the Old and New Testament and so much more. You won’t want to miss it!
Sunday Mornings (8:45 a.m. )
“From Terror to Triumph”
Location: Church
Lead By: Pastor Taggatz
In this Bible class we will go through an overview of the victories and the tribulations that the Christian Church has witnessed in its 2000 year history. In this 12 part series we will look to the solution to the pessimistic and defeatist mentality that pervades modern Christian teaching today. Topics include, The Battle Plan for the Ages, The Rise and Fall of Rome, Lighting the Dark Ages, Christianity under Siege, Heroes of the Middle Ages, Divine Right Kings, Truth Triumphs over Tyrants, The French Revolution, The American Revolution, The Century of Genocide, Christianity Spreads, & The Stage is Set for Victory.
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Emma Rehmer
New Athens , IL 62264
Edmund Buch Zuehla Rowold
Red Bud Nursing Home 202 W. Chestnut
350 W. South 1st Baldwin , IL 62217
| Church Council Minutes |
Present: Pastor Taggatz, Marvin Liefer, Dennis Wegener, Gene Luthy, Terry Rehmer, Darla Porter, Dave Stahre, Linda Schoenbeck, Connie Buch, Larry Erdmann, and Fleta Junge.
The meeting was called to order by Pres. Terry Rehmer.
Opening devotions were given by Pastor Taggatz.
Minutes were read and approved.
Financial Secretary's Report: Total receipts, July, 2009, $9767.62.
Treasurer's Report: Ending monthly balance, July, 2009, $21,798.91.
Spiritual Ministries: Concordia Seminary is asking for financial assistance. The seminary is under major financial constraints. A door collection is recommended by the Elders. Motion was made and second to hold a door offering for Concordia Seminary. Motion carried.
Church Properties: Warnecke Building
At the time of installation of new heating and cooling units in the Parsonage, Williams Heating and Cooling recommended additional insulation to be put in the Parsonage attic.
Two bids were received: Wright Building Center
Batt Insulation $533.19 Buchheits,
Blow In Fiberglass $455.81
Batt Comfort $719.91
Due to pending steeple repair, council decided to table the additional insulation at this time.
Trustees will seek bids for yearly maintenance of the heating and cooling systems in the Parsonage, church, and school.
Estimates received for carpet cleaning in the church are as follows:
Pam Horrell, Horrell Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning, Downstairs carpet with
scotch guard $597.75, steps $26.00, upstairs with scotch guard $273.00 - total $896.75.
Jeremy Blechle, Steam Away Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning, Downstairs $692.34, scotch guard (including steps and upstairs) $249.00 - total $941.34.
Both companies are confident in removing the stains. A third estimate is pending from Rug Buster. A decision will be made after receiving all the bids.
Awaiting return phone call from Church Art Glass regarding plexi glass.
COSLHS: Volunteers are needed to lay tile, paint and do miscellaneous jobs.
Current enrollment for the upcoming school year is 26 students.
The school is looking for videos of past and present school events to make a promotional DVD for the school. Please call if 853-7300 if you have any promotional material.
August 30th an open house and dedication service will be held for the new classroom building.
Sunday School: Installation of Sunday School teachers will be on Rally Day, September 6, 2009 .
Stewardship: The applicant for the Alan Luthy Scholarship Fund has been approved. Motion was made and second to approved the applicant. Motion carried.
LYF: Next meeting is scheduled for September 13, 2009 . Parents and youth are encouraged to attend. The July, 2010, Youth Gathering in New Orleans
Pastor's Report:
PASTORAL ACTS
PALS (Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Support) MEETING—next one will be on Thur. Sept. 3rd…(this will be my 3rd year of belonging to t his, also my last year)
-Attended the COSLHS Board Meeting on Monday Aug. 3rd and will be attending on Thur. Aug. 13th) (will attend—I will be a Pastoral Delegate for the COSLHS board for the next year)
-I will be helping with the designation of the classroom building for COSLHS on Aug. 30th.
-4th Wednesday of the month @ 2pm leading worship at Randolph County Care Center
-2 Nursing Home Chapel services @ Red Bud Nursing Home…
-Various Hospital and homebound calls
-4 Counseling sessions
Funeral—for Lucille Buch on Friday July 31st
-Wedding—
--affirmation of marriage was held on Saturday Aug. 8th for Jennifer & Corey Seders
- Youth Events—
-Attended the Grizzlies Baseball Game—Friday July 17th
-The kids mentioned that they wanted to go to Gilbert and Julia Kahle's house again in the Fall for fishing etc...
LYF UPDATE—We will begin meeting again on Sunday September 13th after church from 11:30am-1pm . This will be an important meeting for both youth and parents who want to go to the National Youth Convention in July of 2010. All youth who want to attend are asked to be at the meeting and to bring their parents.
Pre-Confirmation & Confirmation—on Wed. Aug. 19th at 7pm there will be a special confirmation meeting and pre-confirmation to discuss acolyting schedule etc…
Rally Day—Sunday School and the installation of the Sunday School teachers will take place on Sunday Sept. 6th…
VBS—We had 26 kids enrolled in VBS this year. The kids had fun and exciting time learning more about how Jesus makes all things new! The closing for VBS will be this coming Thur. at 7:30pm and the kids will be singing in church on Sunday morning.
125th Anniversary of our church—
-we decided that it would be a good idea to have a special Sunday morning service to celebrate this event, to invite people who have been our past pastors and teachers to attend as well. We’ve asked Pastor Clifford Adair to be our guest preacher and we’re planning on asking Pastor Merlin Wegener to be our guest liturgist. A special supper after the service is planned. We are looking to have this on the 1st Sunday in October (October 4th). Due to the fact that this will be the first Sunday of the month we have decided that we won’t have a Saturday evening service beforehand so as to get as many people to attend this service as possible.
RSVP’s appreciated but not required to attend.
Members are asked to bring a vegetable/potato casserole and/or dessert. Meat and drinks will be provided.
Any memorabilia from the church’s past such as old Confirmation pictures would be appreciated.
Discussion to cancel Saturday Evening Service on this first Sunday of the month weekend to achieved better church attendance on Sunday morning for the special service was held. Motion was made and second to cancel Saturday Evening Service on October 3, 2009 . Motion carried.
The last committee meeting for the Anniversary Celebration will be September 17th at 7:00 p.m.
There will be no Saturday night Holy Communion Service on October 3rd so everyone may attend the special service on Sunday.
2009 Bi-Circuit Reformation Service—The circuit pastors have asked that our next Bi-Circuit Reformation service would be held here at St. John Sunday Oct. 25th, 2009 at 7pm . Pastor Larry Vogel will be our guest preacher…
Members are asked to sign up to bring brownies, cookies or other baked goods to share after this service. The sign up sheet will be on the table at the back of the church at the end of September.
The Bi-Circuit Reformation Service will be held here at our church on October 25, 2009 , at 7:00 p.m. Approximately 200 to 250 will be in attendance. Refreshment will be served by the council following the service. A sign-up sheets for those wishing to donate cookies or brownies will be in the back of the church in October.
Concordia Seminary—I would like to see if it would be alright for us to have a special door offering for Concordia Seminary St. Louis that is under some major financial constraints right now. You may have seen this in the bulletin these past few weeks.
A special confirmation meeting will be Wednesday, August 19th at 7:00 p.m. All confirmation and pre-confirmation students and parents should attend.
Monday night Bible study will be moved to Wednesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. in September. Current topic is how we have received our Bible as we know it today.
Old Business:
New Business:
Suggestion to hold Free-Will Offering Soup Dinner to offset some of the cost of the steeple repair was discussed. Pending date for the soup is Sunday, October 18th following the church service.
One half of the Thanksgiving Offering is designated for Operation Blessing, motion was made and second that the remaining half of Thanksgiving Offering be designated for the steeple repair. Motion carried.
The family of Lucille Buch has asked that memorials given in her memory be designated for the steeple repair.
Motion was made to adjourn. Motion carried.
The meeting was closed with prayer.
Pres. Terry Rehmer
Sec. Darla Porter
CHRIST OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL
COSLHS DVD: The school is looking for videos of events at the school to make a DVD about the school past, present and future. Please call if you have any we may use. 618.853.7300
MATCHING FUND: We have received $46,000.00 toward the $75,000 Matching Fund for the new classroom building. Upon receipt of the matching funds we will be able to complete all the projects started in the new classrooms and perhaps do additional work.
Laborers for Christ: Thanks to everyone who has been helping the Laborers For Christ work on the new classrooms. Air conditioners. Furnaces and bathroom fixtures are being put in at this time as well as drywall, lights and ceilings. All volunteer work saves the school on wages as well as speeds up the completion of the building. Stop by and have a look and stay to help. Lunch is provided on Saturdays.
Walk/Run: Evansville City Park
Wish list: Church benches for the new building, cabinets, or someone to help build cabinets, and shelves (free standing or built in),
Dedication and open house is being planned for August 30 for the new classroom building. Mark your calendar.
Prayer requests for:
· All who are sick, hurting, or just need prayers.
· The congregations and their members as they consider their part in the continued “Walk of Faith” program.
· The matching funds, as we have not reached our goal.
· Laborers for Christ and others as they work on the new classroom building.
ARTICLE XXIV
The Mass
Introductory Note: This article clearly demonstrates Lutheranism’s desire to continue—not to reject—the wholesome, beneficial, and historic worship practices of the Church. Lutheranism retained the traditional form of the Mass, that is, the service of Holy Communion. In many respects, the ceremonies and liturgy of the Lutheran Church Rome
Our churches are falsely accused of abolishing the Mass.
It is clear that for a long time the most public and serious complaint among all good people is that the Mass has been made base and profane by using it to gain filthy wealth [1 Timothy 3:3]. Everyone knows how great this abuse is in all the churches. They know what sort of men say Masses for a fee or an income, and how many celebrate these Masses contrary to canon law. Paul severely threatens those who use the Eucharist in an unworthy manner, “Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:27 ). Therefore, when our priests were warned about this sin, private Masses were discontinued among us, since hardly any private Masses were celebrated except for the sake of filthy gain.
The bishops were not ignorant of these abuses. If they had corrected them in time, there would now be less discord. But until now they have been responsible for many corruptions seeping into the Church. Now, when it is too late, they begin to complain about the Church’s troubles. This disturbance has been caused simply by those abuses that were so open that they could no longer be tolerated. There have been great disagreements about the Mass, that is, the Sacrament. Perhaps the world is being punished for profaning the Mass for such a long time and for tolerating this in the churches for so many centuries by the very men who were both able and duty-bound to correct this situation. It is written in the Ten Commandments, “The Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain” (Exodus 20:7). But since the world began, nothing that God ever ordained seems to have been so abused for filthy wealth as the Mass.
An opinion was added that infinitely increased private Masses. It states that Christ, by His passion, made satisfaction for original sin and instituted the Mass as an offering for daily sins, both venial and mortal. From this opinion has arisen the common belief that the Mass takes away the sins of the living and the dead simply by performing the outward act. Then they began to argue about whether one Mass said for many is worth as much as special Masses for individuals. This resulted in an infinite number of Masses. ‹With this work, people wanted to obtain from God all that they needed, and in the meantime, trust in Christ and true worship were forgotten›.
Our teachers have warned that these opinions depart from the Holy Scripture and diminish the glory of the passion of Christ. For Christ’s passion was an offering and satisfaction, not only for original guilt, but also for all other sins, as it is written, “We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10 ). Also, “By a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14 ). ‹It is an unheard-of innovation in the Church to teach that by His death Christ has made satisfaction only for original sin and not for all other sin. So it is hoped that everybody will understand that this error has been rebuked for good reason.›
Scripture teaches that we are justified before God, through faith in Christ, when we believe that our sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake. Now if the Mass takes away the sins of the living and the dead simply by performing it, justification comes by doing Masses, and not of faith. Scripture does not allow this.
But Christ commands us, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19 ). Therefore, the Mass was instituted so that those who use the Sacrament should remember, in faith, the benefits they receive through Christ and how their anxious consciences are cheered and comforted. To remember Christ is to remember His benefits. It means to realize that they are truly offered to us. It is not enough only to remember history. (The Jewish people and the ungodly also remember this.) Therefore, the Mass is to be used for administering the Sacrament to those that need consolation. Ambrose says, “Because I always sin, I always need to take the medicine.”
Because the Mass is for the purpose of giving the Sacrament, we have Communion every holy day, and if anyone desires the Sacrament, we also offer it on other days, when it is given to all who ask for it. This custom is not new in the Church. The Fathers before Gregory make no mention of any private Mass, but they speak a lot about the common Mass, ‹Communion›. Chrysostom says “that the priest stands daily at the altar, inviting some to the Communion and keeping back others.” It appears from the ancient council decisions that one person celebrated the Mass from whom all the other presbyters and deacons received the body of the Lord. The records of the decisions of the Council of Nicaea state, “Let the deacons, according to their order, receive the Holy Communion after the presbyters, from the bishop or from a presbyter.” Paul, in 1 Corinthians 11:33 , has this command in regard to Communion: “wait for one another” so that there may be a common participation.
Therefore, since the Mass among us follows the example of the Church, taken from the Scripture and the Fathers, we are confident that it cannot be disapproved. This is especially so because we keep the public ceremonies, which are for the most part similar to those previously in use. Only the number of Masses differs. Without a doubt, these might be reduced in a helpful way, because of very great and clear abuses. For in older times, even in churches attended the most often, the Mass was not celebrated every day, as the Tripartite History (Book 9, chap. 33) testifies, “In Alexandria, every Wednesday and Friday the Scriptures are read, and the doctors expound them, and all things are done, except the solemn rite of Communion.”
Ap Apology of the Augsburg
SA Smalcald Articles
FC Ep Formula of Concord
SD Solid Declaration of Formula of Concord
Concordia : The Lutheran Confessions. Edited by Paul Timothy McCain. St. Louis , MO
Singing Schedule—(Please arrive at the church 20 minutes early so that we can practice beforehand)…
“Light of Light, O Sole-Begotten”
“What Wondrous Love is This”
“Alleluia, Alleluia! Hearts to Heaven”
Practice Schedule—(Practice is after church for about 15-20 minutes)
| Jack Ford | | | 9/1 |
| Joshua Adair | | | 9/7 |
| Dean Buch | | | 9/9 |
| Angela Crain | | | 9/9 |
| Kenneth Gegel | | | 9/25 |
| Andrew Hargis | | | 9/7 |
| Jacob Hargis | | | 9/19 |
| Anthony Harms | | | 9/29 |
| Dorothy Junge | | | 9/4 |
| Fleta Junge | | | 9/17 |
| Traci Liefer | | | 9/3 |
| Clifford Luthy | | | 9/3 |
| Gene Luthy | | | 9/1 |
| Rachel Mahan | | | 9/2 |
| Eileen Mehring | | | 9/6 |
| Danny Moll | | | 9/3 |
| Eunice Montroy | | | 9/12 |
| John Nieweglowski | | | 9/8 |
| Susan Reinhardt | | | 9/9 |
| Travis Roscow | | | 9/22 |
| Pamela Sandusky | | | 9/21 |
| Kenneth Schmoll | | | 9/15 |
| Paul Schmoll | | | 9/23 |
| Corey Seders | | | 9/27 |
| Tabitha Seders | | | 9/10 |
| Wesley Stellhorn | | | 9/5 |
| Danielle Hamer | | | 9/5 |
| Cade Wentz | | | 9/16 |
| Edward Taggatz | | | 9/25 |
| Justin Schmoll | | | 9/25 |
| Karen Wilson | | | 9/16 |
| Hilary Renshaw | | | 9/26 |
| Robert Wirth | | | 9/28 |
Roy & LaVerne Falkenheim 9/1/1946
Roger & Patsy Schoenbeck 9/6/1952
Vance & Darla Porter 9/13/1986
Edmund & Lucille Buch 9/14/1947
Don & Eunice Montroy 9/16/1972
Gary & Linda Schoenbeck 9/19/1981
Keith & Lori Adair 9/20/1986
Marvin & Charlotte Liefer 9/20/1975
David & Susan Piel 9/25/1971
Harvey & Pat Falkenhein 9/25/1976
Larry & Patricia Bingham 9/30/1967
Don’t forget - Starting on the 6th of September the Worship Service will be going back to 10:00 a.m. with the Adult bible Class starting at 8:45 a.m. (Sunday School will begin on Sunday September 6th.
| Non-Profit Org. Permit No. 1 |
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
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