Sermon for 5th Sunday after Pentecost--July 17th, 2011

“Of Weeds & Wheat” (Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43)

1.                    Please pray with me.  Sanctify us in the truth, O Lord, Your Word is truth.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear.  The message from God’s Word this 5^th Sunday after Pentecost is taken from Matthew 13:24-30 and 36-43, it’s entitled, “Of Weeds & Wheat,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ. 

2.                    Did you hear about the man who was going to a masquerade ball in a devil’s costume? It was a stormy night, and the man was driving along a country road. The car went off the road into a ditch. He couldn’t get the car started again, so he got out and made his way across a cornfield to a small country church.  People were inside for an evening worship service. Just as the man got to the front door of the church and opened it—dressed in his devil’s costume, there was a bolt of lightning and clap of thunder. All the people looked around in amazement and saw the devil standing there. They went flying out the doors and windows as quickly as they could—except for one little old lady standing in the center aisle.  With her cane in hand and shaking from head to toe, she said, “Mr. Devil, I don’t know what you want here, but I’ve got only one thing to say. I’ve been a member of this church for 40 years, but I’ve really been on your side all the time!” (David F. Burgess, comp., Encyclopedia of Sermon Illustrations [St. Louis: Concordia, 1988], 107).

3.                    As humorous as this story is, it does teach us something in connection to the parable Jesus told His disciples in our text from Matthew 13 on the parable of the weeds & wheat.  As a follower of Christ, I must confess there are times when I get frustrated and discouraged by evil in the world. And since that evil is often carried on by people, I get very frustrated with certain individuals, governments, religious organizations, groups, or gangs. There are even times when I get frustrated at people in the church who profess faith in Christ, who claim to be heirs of his kingdom, like the old woman in this story, but who do some very weed-like things. Maybe you feel that way too. Like the Apostle Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane who drew his sword, we may want to take matters into our own hands.  Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the weeds is intended for our hearing, so listen up! Not only does Jesus intend that hearing His parable will ease our frustration, but much more, He also intends that when we hear His word of truth & life from Holy Scripture, that His word bears fruit in our lives to stamp out evil and continue to make us heirs of His Kingdom.

4.                    Matthew 13:24-30 & 36-43 says, “²⁴[Jesus] put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, ²⁵but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. ²⁶So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. ²⁷And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ ²⁸He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ ²⁹But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. ³⁰Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”  ³⁶Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” ³⁷He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸The field is the world, and the good seed is the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, ³⁹and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. ⁴⁰Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. ⁴¹The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, ⁴²and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.”

5.                    Last week in the parable of the sower, we saw that God’s Word is the seed that works in people’s hearts, bringing them to faith in Christ.  This week, in the parable of the wheat and weeds, God’s working creates good seed that becomes the good plants, heirs of his kingdom.  Unfortunately, the devil has also been at work in the world sowing weeds.  The devil can’t create but only destroy; his sense of joy comes not from watching his weeds grow but from watching the wheat die or become weeds.  The weeds that were sown by the enemy in this parable were most likely darnel, a plant that resembles wheat and barley during its early stages of growth, but eventually bears black, poisonous seeds.  Because the darnel resembles wheat so much it becomes very difficult to eliminate from the field.  These weeds have the characteristic of ripening earlier than wheat, so by the time the crop is ready for harvest, the seed of the weed has fallen to the ground for the following year.  To get rid of this weed, one must let the field stay idle for a year and uproot the weeds before they go to seed again.

6.                    In this parable, the good seed are the children of God, the believers in Christ.  They are you & me who have come to faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior from sin, death and the power of the devil by the seed of the Word of God.  But, as believers we still live in the world.  In the field of the world, believers grow and bring forth the fruit of the Spirit as an evidence of their faith and spiritual life.  Although we’re in the world, we’re not of the world.  We are not to be too worldly, idolatrous and materialistic.  As believers in Christ we don’t turn into weeds but, by God’s grace, we increase in faith through the hearing of God’s Word and His Sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  Without the good news of Jesus Christ who died on the cross to save us from our sins, we would spiritually grow into a weed.

7.                    As Christians we understand that the bad seed that the devil sows results in sin. Sin is lawlessness, rebellion against God. We’re born in bondage to sin, death, and the devil.  Some examples of the actions of children of the devil in the world include terrorism, genocide, murder, abortion, rape, homosexuality, adultery, greed, slander, and so on.  Although God works through his Word and Sacraments to plant good wheat in his Church, the devil is still hard at work even there planting weeds.  Hypocrites continue to exist within the church, and because only God can see into a person’s heart, they may go undetected by the saints.  Because Christians are simul iustus et peccator, simultaneously saint & sinner, we sometimes do weed-like things out of weakness.  People sometimes blame God or the church, confusing marks of the church with the actions of individual people or an outward structure or form of polity instead of recognizing as the marks God’s Word and Sacraments.

8.                    Through God’s Word and Sacraments, He’s calling others to faith in Christ.  There may be some here today who are really weeds instead of wheat and whom God is calling to repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  God doesn’t want any of these heirs to be pulled up and lost!

9.                    Knowing this lets ears that hear patiently anticipate the way things will be.  Jesus reminds us in this parable that the harvest is coming when our Lord Jesus comes again in glory on Judgment Day.  Our loving Savior is the Sower, and He will send out his angels on the Last Day to gather the harvest.  We’re called to trust that our Lord Jesus will do the sorting.  Those who have not believed in Christ Jesus, who have really been sons of the devil, will face the torments of hell.  Our loving Savior doesn’t want this parable to go in one ear and out the other.  We are also called to trust that faith in Jesus Christ will distinguish us from the sons of the devil.

10.                As believers in Christ we’re not disturbed by the weeds.  Unbelievers, hypocrites, atheists, scoffers and those who are wise in the eyes of the world don’t upset us.  As Christians we continue to grow in God’s grace & truth in our Lord Jesus Christ.  And when time ends for us believers, the Lord will recognize us as His own and gather us into His heavenly kingdom.

11.                As Christians we must not be anxious and irritated by the godless and wicked world that takes on at times the appearance of Christian virtues while the selfish heart continues to serve sin and self.  As children of God’s family, we hold fast to His Word and Sacraments that feed and nourish our souls.  We abide in Christ and His Gospel.  We don’t imitate the world in its worldliness, but serve Christ and confess Him who in turn will confess us in eternity before His Father and give us a glory that is eternal.  Amen.

Sermon for 4th Sunday after Pentecost--July 10th, 2011

"No Depth of Soil" (Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23)

1.                               Please pray with me.  Sanctify us in the truth, O Lord, Your Word is Truth.  Amen.  The message from God’s Word this 4^th Sunday after Pentecost is taken from Matthew 13:1-9 & 18-23, it’s entitled, “No Depth of Soil,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.                               People often use the same words but have entirely different meanings in mind. For example, Johnny Carson, on the day after a World Series, asked band member Tommy Newsom: “Well, Tommy, what do you think of the Cincinnati Reds now?” Tommy answered, “I just don’t like Communists! I don’t care where they live!” (David F. Burgess, comp., Encyclopedia of Sermon Illustrations [St. Louis: Concordia, 1988], 204). Who can forget the baseball conversation of Abbot and Costello: “Who’s on first; What’s on second; I Don’t Know’s on third”? Hilarious! When someone is trying to have a meaningful relationship with someone else, though, such misunderstanding isn’t funny. It can be devastating. Communication experts tell us that filters often inhibit meaning between the sender of the message and the recipient. They encourage people to use active listening to enhance communication. However, active listening won’t overcome the filter of sin that prevents us from a relationship with God. Instead, God breaks through with his powerful and effective Word. The Holy Spirit uses the Word to break down the barrier so that we come to know, trust, and understand Jesus Christ as our Savior.  This is what Jesus is getting across to us today in the Parable of the Sower.

3.                               The parables of Jesus have always aroused the imagination of those who read or hear them. Jesus takes the ordinary events of life and sanctifies them into a spiritual significance. How often have we seen a farmer plant crops and thought only of the backbreaking and tedious hours in the extremes of weather?

4.                               But Jesus saw more.  To the simple act of sowing seed, the Savior gives a heavenly interpretation. The sower throws out a handful of seed, but because it doesn’t fall on fertile ground, the plant dies.  There is no depth of soil on the hard roadside, the stony plot, or the weed infested corner.   It is amazing on what tiny bit of ground a weed will grow, but not the wheat.  Without proper moisture and sunshine, the plant withers and dies.   But what does this mean? 

5.                               Let’s look at what Jesus says here in Matthew 13. “¹That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. ²And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. ³And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. ⁴And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. ⁵Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, ⁶but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. ⁷Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. ⁸Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. ⁹He who has ears, let him hear.”…¹⁸“Hear then the parable of the sower: ¹⁹When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. ²⁰As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, ²¹yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. ²²As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. ²³As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

6.                               Jesus doesn’t always explain His parables, but in this instance He makes some pertinent points and gives some significant interpretations.   The devil goes to church, but not to hear. He goes to divert our attention from the preaching so it doesn’t benefit us and strengthen our belief.  If we begin to daydream, the Word won’t take root.  Or we may go to church and our feelings may be hurt. Someone wasn’t as friendly as they ought to be or we thought the preacher was aiming his darts and arrows at us. We leave in a huff and the Word finds no room in our hearts.  Who among us hasn’t let everyday problems take over our thinking while we should be meditating on God’s Word?  A child misbehaving, another child is causing great trouble at home, and expenses seem to be greater than our income.  We worry and worry.  It’s doesn’t help but only closes our heart to the hearing of God’s Word.  We go back home to our problems without finding comfort in God’s gracious promises in our Lord Jesus Christ.

7.                               Our sinful nature hates God.  It doesn’t wish to listen to Him but would rather listen to the devil’s lies that tell us we don’t need God.  This is why Jesus tells us in Luke 8:18, "Take care then how you hear.”  God’s Word speaks of “stopped and heavy ears.”  Many people have grown so fat with prosperity and are so surrounded by the pleasures of this life that nothing penetrates their mind.  They have no interest in anything spiritual.  With their abundance of possessions they are satisfied to feed their souls on the ashes of the temporal pleasures of this life.  They have goods laid up for many years, so they may just as well eat, drink and be merry and enjoy life.

8.                               But, Jesus’ warning in this parable is clear.  If we don’t appreciate the good news of salvation found in His death on the cross for our sins, it will be taken from us and given to others.  If we persistently turn from Him and His Word by not going to Church to hear His Word, by resisting our devotional time to read His Word, by avoiding the study of His Word, then God’s judgment will strike us.  Then when we hear God’s Word, we won’t understand it.  This is why the Apostle Paul says to the Thessalonian church in 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11, “They refused to love the truth and so be saved.  Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false.” 

9.                               This is why sermons fail.  Our minds become closed to the spiritual truths of God’s Word, and our interests lie in another direction.  This is why Jesus urges us to hear properly and adds, “Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears for they hear.”  So Jesus uses this parable of the sower to help us understand the importance of recognizing our responsibility as Christians to be hearers of the Word of God and to be careful how we hear His Word.

10.                           We must remember that our Lord Jesus is the sower in this parable.  He is the Word of God made flesh as the Apostle John says who was sent by God the Father to save us from our sins.  God’s Word tells us that God the Father wanted all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  So He commissioned His Son to carry out His wish.  This is why Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son.”  God’s salvation began in a manger at Bethlehem, it continued on into Jesus’ public ministry, and it reached its climax in our Lord Jesus’ death on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins and His resurrection from the dead.

11.                          As we join in our Christian worship and fellowship, we should ask ourselves whether by our testimony and conduct we are drawing others to hear the Good News about Jesus.  Men and women observing us note something about us that makes us different.  Being reconciled to God through our Lord Jesus’ blood shed on the cross makes us new creatures whose lives give off an inward peace and hope.  Those who don’t have that hope see it in us and would also like to have it.  It is our God given task to let our light shine before men that others may know we belong to Jesus.  Amen.     

“The Truth Shall Set You Free” John 8:31-36--Sermon for Independence Day Weekend, 2011

“The Truth Shall Set You Free” (John 8:31-36)

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 on this Independence Day weekend is taken from John 8:31-36 and it’s entitled, “The Truth Shall Set You Free,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.              Can we, as Christians, thank God for the United States of America? After all, we recognize many flaws in our nation. We remember the flaws of the past, such as the cruel treatment of Native Americans, slavery, abuse of immigrant workers, and denial of civil rights to various groups. We can easily cite sins of our own age: the lack of protection for the life of the unborn child, the violence and illicit sex promoted through our mass media, the encouragement of materialism by Wall Street and Main Street. In the future, there will continue to be flaws in the leadership, the institutions, and the people of this land. Can we, as Christians, give thanks for the United States of America? 

3.              Yes, we can.  As Americans, we can give thanks to God for a heritage of faith that has been passed down through the generations. We can read about the faith of godly men and women in the history of our country. Of the 250 people we call Founding Fathers, the vast majority, by their own testimony, were Christians. They believed in the Good News of Jesus Christ. They confessed that he died on the cross for our sins and rose again for our justification. These men and women, and their fellow citizens, prayed for their nation and the future of their country. They witnessed to the next generation. We’re the recipients of those answered prayers, and their witness of faith uplifts us.

4.              But, probably the one thing that we’re most thankful for here in America is the fact that we can still observe the freedom of our religion.  The freedom to speak the truth of God’s Word in all its fullness and purity without worrying about being jailed for it.  Our Amercian soldiers who are fighting overseas for the sake of our freedom know that freedom is costly.  They do it because they know if the battle is lost it allows the tyranny of the religion of Islam and Islamic extremism to tell us what we are to believe and if we don’t we may be killed for rejecting their Islamic faith.  That’s why fighting for the sake of our freedom and for the truth of God’s Word is worth it as many of our American forefathers have done.

5.                       John 8:31–36 says, ³¹So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ³³They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”  ³⁴Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. ³⁵The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. ³⁶So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”  .This is a crucial passage in understanding true discipleship and true salvation. It's critical because in this Jesus puts the emphasis on the very heart of discipleship and He does it by talking about two basic subjects and they are truth and freedom. Those two subjects become the theme of this passage.

6.                       And fitting that they should be because they are the two things that man has sought since his first searching for anything. And man continues to search for truth and freedom.  They are extremely related because the only thing that ever sets a man free is truth. And so man has searched endlessly for truth that he might be free from the bondage of ignorance. And so the subject of these two verses...this section in John 8 is these two things: truth and freedom. And, of course, people have been asking all along...what is true? What is right? What is wrong? What really matters? What is meaningful?  What can I put my life on and know that it will hold? What can I trust? What can I count on? Where are the realities? And the search for truth goes on, it goes on in the lab, it goes on in the classroom, it goes on in the library, it goes on in the courtroom, it goes on in the home, it goes on most of all in the heart of every man. It's an endless quest that continues with every new beat of every heart. And truth alone will free a man.

7.                       But, it’s sad to say that many people have given up the quest. Many people have concluded that there is no truth, that nothing really is meaningful, that meaninglessness is everything and that all you need to do is live for the moment because there is no truth. And people have substituted non truth and non morality and they have gone off into all kinds of escapes to escape the shock that they can’t find truth. So they go into drugs and sexual freedom and they drop out of school and they do every other possible thing even to the extent of killing themselves because they think that they have discovered that there's no truth.

8.              But, these people are wrong.  It is only the truth that frees us. And it gives us to us eternal freedom.  And yet, this is what the Jews who were listening to Jesus in John chapter 8 were denying.  They were denying the truth that Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior from sin, death and the power of the devil.  In John 8:33 they say, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone.”  This would be true if the Israelites had not been enslaved to the Egyptians for 400 years, or if their land had not later come under control of the Babylonians, Persians or Greeks.  Even as those in the crowd spoke these words, they were enslaved because their land had been under Roman control for nearly 100 years.

9.              “Jesus,” they thought, “we’re not slaves, so You can’t set us free.”  Misguided as they were regarding slavery, Jesus was speaking of a more significant slavery.  A slavery from which no one can set himself free—the slavery to sin.  Just as Jesus’ hearers balked at the notion of slavery, so His words still rub people the wrong way.  People still think things like this:  I can do whatever I want.  No one tells me how to live my life.  It’s my body and my choice.  This is the creed of many today.  But, the irony is that the more a person exercises his or her imagined freedom, the more that person becomes entrapped by sin.  Whether it’s drugs, pornography, gambling, or sexual sins, a person continues on a downward spiral, unable to break free from sin.

10.                      You sin, and because of this you are a slave to sin.  That’s the truth.  But that’s not the only truth Jesus spoke in the temple that day.  Sin enslaves, but the Son sets you free.  By His death and resurrection you are free—free from sin, death and the power of the devil.  The price for your freedom has been paid.  The cost was the perfect life and the terrible death of God’s Son.

11.                      The Jews objected not only to the truth that they were slaves to sin but also that Jesus alone could set them free.  They didn’t believe they needed to be liberated from anything or anyone, and they certainly refused to believe that by abiding in Christn and His Word would they be set free.  Ultimately, they concluded that Jesus wasn’t the source of truth but a Samaritan who had a demon as they say in John 8:48.

12.                      But, we know that Jesus is the source of truth and our Savior.  That’s why we’re here today to give Him our worship, honor and praise.  And because Christ has set us free from our sins, then He is also the Lord of our lives.  But, some people say, “Well I'm taking Him as Savior but not Lord." No...no. You take Him as He is. The question is not, "Is Christ Lord of my life?" the question is, "Do I obey His Lordship?" That's the question. From the day that Jesus came into your life by making you His child through the waters of Holy baptism, He’s been on the throne of your life. The only question is have you obeyed Him? That's all. You don't make Christ Lord, you don't have that option. When you received Him, He became your Lord.

13.                      The word "disciple,"is an interesting word.  Mathetes, which is the word for disciple in Greek, literally means learner. Isn't that good? A disciple is nothing but a learner. Oh, sweet homework to sit at the feet of Jesus Christ and learn.   Are you a true disciple?  You start out as a disciple of Christ by being given the gift of faith through His Word and Holy Baptism. That's where you've got to start. But have you ever put that faith to commitment and continue in the Word? You love to learn at the feet of Jesus? That's the character of true discipleship. He's a learner. If your salvation is genuine, my friend, you will continue in the Word of Christ, obeying it and learning it. There's no other way to grow. Peter says in 1 Peter 2:2, "As babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that you may...what?...grow." That's it, be a learner, sit at the feet of Jesus, soak it up, take it in.

14.                      You dear brothers and sisters in Christ have the words of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The Scriptures reveal to us the truth.  You are a slave to sin, but the Son has set you free.  Abiding in God’s Word, you will remain in the freedom of Christ, both freed from your sin and as a baptized child of God, free to serve others in His name.  Amen.   

Sermon for 2nd Sunday after Pentecost--June 26th, 2011

“Under New Management” (Romans 7:1-13)

1.             Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  The message from God’s Word this morning comes to us today from Romans chapter 7.  Specifically from Romans 7:4 which says, “Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to Him Who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.”  It’s entitled, “Under New Management,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
2.             At Christmas we sang about the birth of our Lord Jesus and celebrated the fact that He’s our Prince of Peace. But, now we see in our Gospel reading from Matthew 10 that Jesus our Prince of Peace proclaims that He hasn’t come to bring peace but a sword. Christians through the ages and in all places know what it means to follow Christ and to know rejection even by one's own family members. Like their Master they may find themselves bearing a cross, a cross of rejection, a cross of death. Life is found only in Christ. To cling to life in this world, to place our trust in the dead life of our sin is to lose the only real life there is in Jesus Christ. The Scriptures read in church, the sermon preached, the hymns sung---all proclaim this life in Jesus Christ. Those who hear us proclaim this new life in Christ actually hear Him and hear His Word of peace and forgiveness.  And as we live this new life in Jesus we begin to realize that we’re under new management, no longer ruled by the devil, but by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
3.             Some time or another most of us have dined in a restaurant that has changed ownership and is now “Under New Management.”  With the new management comes a new attitude, new menu, new and different service.  The decorations in the restaurant may even have changed.  The old restaurant is hardly recognizable.  So it is with our lives in Christ.  God makes us into new people who live by grace and “have died to the law through the body of Christ.”  In essence, we’re new people who live under new management.  The old godless person is hardly recognizable.   God is now in control.  Galatians 2:20 says, “²⁰I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. “
4.             We were born in sin as sinful flesh.  Ephesians 2:1 & 2 says, “¹And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.”  Our Old Adam is totally sinful.  He wants to disobey God.  He’s an enemy of God.  Within each one of us is a spiritual battle.  The management that we live under will determine where we will spend eternity.  We are either on the devil’s side or we’re on the side of our Lord Jesus Christ.  There’s no middle ground.  Depending on whose side that we’re on will either give us great joy or complete sadness in our daily living.  Do we live in victory or in defeat?
5.             That’s why the Holy Spirit gives us new understanding of ourselves and the spiritual battle going on inside us between our Old Man and the New Man. Titus 3:5–7 says, “⁵he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, ⁶whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” By our baptisms and the hearing of God’s Word we are under new management.  The Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts.
6.             But, what is the nature of a person under God’s management?  Our text from Romans 7:4 says that we belong to God and are to bear fruit for Him.  Ephesians 4:24 tells us that as new people we are, “created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”  This righteousness is not our own doing for we didn’t make ourselves holy or righteous.  We are holy and righteous because we are forgiven for our sins through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.  The restaurant changed to a new management through a financial transaction.  God’s people are placed “Under New Management” through Jesus’ blood, suffering, and death.
7.             When there are two completely different beings (one good and one bad) inside the same place, next to each other, there will be trouble because one is perfect and the other one evil.  We experience constant battles.  Our New Management is seen as we put down the Old Man and put on the New Man, by keeping in step with the Spirit, by living by the Spirit.  The Apostle Paul tells us, in Galatians 5:16, “I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”  And in Galatians 5:25, he tells us “Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk by the Spirit.”  That is the gospel way we will be able to live under our New Management.
8.             What are the actions and deeds of the new person under this New Management?  Let us ask ourselves if we have real love for God and for others.  Do we show kindness and goodness to others regardless of whether they are first kind and good to us?  Are we gentle in the way we speak to and treat others?  Do we have self-control in our daily habits?  Are we sharing the Gospel with others?  Are we generous in our gifts to God through our church?
9.             Unfortunately, within the Church there are Christians who gratify the desires of the sinful flesh, rather than allowing the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts and lives.  Some of these people we may call “haters.”  A “hater” is an outspoken and active critic, an opponent who harbors hostility, animosity and ill-will toward a public person.  We can easily find “haters” in the newspaper, on the TV, and the radio, or at our local gas station.  But, sadly the “haters” are sweeping through the church as well.  In the past, most church leaders have had a “patiently endure” approach to such haters.  But lately, an increasing number of Pastors have taken to pulpits and blogs, videos and tweets, to denounce and dismiss their detractors.  Denominational leaders have also begun condemning those who unduly criticize ministers. 
10.             As Francis Schaeffer, a great defender of the Christian faith, observed toward the end of his life, being a “hater” has almost become a matter of personal privilege:  “We rush in, being very, very pleased, it would seem at times, to find other men’s mistakes.  We build ourselves up by tearing other men down...we love the smell of blood, the smell of the arena, the smell of the bullfight...”  We may be pleased, but when we act like this as Pastors and laypeople we’re not being Christian and we’re not bearing fruit for Christ.  When we act this way we are under the management and control of the devil, the prince of the power of the air.
11.             Lest there be any doubt, spewing hate and dissension, and slander is sin.  Being openly divisive is sin.  Tearing down rather than building up is sin.  Refusing to practice Matthew 18:15 is sin.  And remember Pastors are susceptible to this as well.  Refusing to properly honor leadership in the church is a sin.  And it’s doing enormous damage to the cause of Christ.  When outsiders look at us they may say, “I don’t want to be a member of that church, all they do is fight with one another.”  “Doesn’t the Bible say that Christians are to love one another, even their enemies, why is it then that they are so quick to fight and hurt one another?”
12.             There’s no excuse for a hater.  There are times when it needs to be forcefully confronted for the sake of the witness of the church.  But since so many of the “haters” in our world - whether in sports or politics, business or ministry - seem tied to their pride, let’s meet their hate with humility.
13.             This is why as Christians when we’re “Under New Management,” we surrender any pretense of self-sufficiency and pride.  As His children, we stand in total need of God for all we have and all we are, and He abundantly provides for both our spiritual and physical needs.  God knows each of us by name and seeks fellowship with each of us through Jesus.  In spite of our poor choices and our continual disobedience, He still loves us and holds us in the palm of His hand.  We were dead in our transgressions and sin…but “God, Who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ” (Ephesians 2:4).   We now live as His forgiven and redeemed people.
14.             God gives us His grace and power through His Word which is the food He provides to strengthen the New Man.  He provides the strength to bear the fruit of faith, the good works that we do.  God’s love, grace, and mercy shown on the Cross compel us to serve Him by serving others.  May God grant that we will serve our Creator faithfully as people Under His New Management, knowing that we have victory over the old self, for Jesus sake!  Amen.

July '11 St. John Baldwin Church 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

July, 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 July are:  Marla Huebner and Diane Luthy

Ushers for the Month of July are:

Leland Junge, Gary Huebner, Tony Junge, Carl Laufer, Gene Luthy, Corey Roscow, Mark Schoenbeck & Kyle Junge

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.

“A Time for War”

As our country begins to celebrate July 4^th and our nation’s independence, I thought it would be fitting for us to hear a story of a Lutheran Pastor named Peter Muhlenberg, who on January 21^st, 1776, announced to his congregation that he was going off to fight in the Revolutionary War.  May this story be a reminder to us that freedom isn’t free, and that we Christians living in America more than 200 years later, still have a responsibility to use the freedoms God has so graciously given to us in a thoughtful and dutiful way.  The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ also reminds us that freedom isn’t free.  Our Lord Jesus had to lay down His life on the cross in order to make us free from sin, death and the power of the devil.  Paul writes in Romans 6:1-4, “1What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”    Here’s the story.

                Pastor Muhlenberg stood in the vestry of his church, putting on his traditional pastoral robes as he had so many other Sunday mornings.  A sense of destiny filled the air around him.  This was the last time he would enter his pulpit, the last time he would open the Bible and share the words of life with his congregation.

                He knew the sermon he had to preach—yet he knew that some of his people would not understand or accept his position.  He himself had wrestled with it for months:  How involved should a pastor be in the affairs of government?  Didn’t Jesus say, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s?”  Would Christ get involved?  Would He runt to the battle?  It was hard to imagine Jesus carrying a weapon.  But it was equally hard to imagine Him not taking  a stand.

                “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heave,” Pastor Muhlenberg proclaimed, reading from Ecclesiastes chapter 3.  “A time to be born, and a time to die…  A time to weep, and a time to laugh…  A time of war, and a time of peace.”  He stopped and looked at the people God had put in his care—hard working famers and their wives, merchants, recent immigrants.  The tine town of Woodstock, Virginia, was a long way from the fighting in the colonies of New England.  And the Blue Ridge Mountains had kept its citizens from hearing the news of events in their own state in early January 1776.

                “It’s a time of war!”  Pastor Muhlenberg declared.  “And not only in New England.  War has come to Virginia!  The British have marched on our city of Williamsburg, seizing our supply of gun powder and munitions.  Soldiers are entering private homes, homes just like ours.

                “It is time for war!  ‘We are only farmers,’ you may say.    Patrick Henry has rallied five thousand men—farmers just like you—to fight back and drive the British out.  It is time to act!  Many of us came to this country to practice our religious freedoms.  It is time to fight for those freedoms that we hold so dear.  It is time for war!

                “Let us pray.”  With that Pastor Muhlenberg bowed his head and offered the traditional closing prayer.  Then, breaking with all tradition, while still standing in the pulpit, he began to remove his pastoral robes and vestments.  “I am a clergyman, it is true.  But I am also a patriot—and my liberty is as dear to me as to any man.  Shall I hide behind my robes, sitting still at home, while others spill their blood to protect my freedom?  Heaven forbid it!”  “I am called by my country to its defense.  The cause is just and noble.  I am convinced it is my duty to obey that call, a duty I owe to my God and to my country.”  With that, he threw off the final layer of his robes—and now stood before his stunned congregation in the full uniform of an officer of the Continental militia.  He marched to the back of the church, declaring to all, “If you do not choose to be involved, if you do not fight to protect your liberties, there will soon be no liberties to protect!”

                Just outside the church army drummers waited.  At Pastor Muhlenberg’s command, they began to beat out the call for recruits.  God’s conviction fell on the men of the congregation.  One by one they rose from their pews and took their stand with the drummers.  Some 300 men from the church joined their pastor that day to fight for liberty.

                Pastor Muhlenberg and his men became the 8^th Virginia Regiment, who fought valiantly in many of the battles of the Revolutionary War.  During the war, Muhlenberg was promoted to major-general.  After the war he was a hero second only the General George Washington among the Germans of his native state of Pennsylvania.  In 1785 he became vice-president of Pennsylvania (Benjamin Franklin was president).  He worked hard to influence others to adopt the Federal Constitution in 1787 and served in the First US Congress from 1789-1791.

                Pastor Peter Muhlenberg also had a brother, Pastor Frederick Muhlenberg.  At first, Frederick criticized Peter for getting involved in the war, saying that a minister of the gospel should not be involved in politics.  But when the British arrived in New York City in 1777, they drove Frederick from his own church and then desecrated the building.  Frederick rethought his position and joined in the fight for liberty.  In 1789, he became America’s first Speaker of the House of Representatives.  In fact, his signature is one of only two on the Bill of Rights.

              Ecclesiastes 3:1–11 says,  “¹For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:  ²a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; ³a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; ⁴a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; ⁵a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; ⁶a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;  ⁷a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; ⁸a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. ⁹What gain has the worker from his toil? ¹⁰I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. ¹¹He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”

               

See You in Church!

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Pastor Taggatz

God Rewards His Followers

                Most of us are familiar with the story of the Rich Young Man (Matthew 19) whom Jesus told to give all his possessions away to the poor.  Because he loved his money, the Rich Young Man could not obey Jesus’ command, so he left in sadness with his wealth.  After hearing this story, Peter, speaking for himself and the other disciples, said, “We have left everything to follow you!  What then will there be for us?” (Matthew 19:27).

                In response to Peter, Jesus directed the attention of Peter and the other disciples away from any expectations that they would be receiving material blessings.  Jesus wanted them to focus on the joy that was in store when God’s kingdom would reign supreme.  Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28).

                Jesus directed the disciples’ attention to the glorious fulfillment of the divine purpose in which they were privileged to share.  In the same way, we are part of God’s divine plan and are privileged to share in the joy of being part of God’s master plan.  This plan can be illustrated by the replies of three men engaged in a building project to the question of what they were doing.  One said, “I am laying bricks.”  Another said, “I am making one hundred dollars a day.”  But the third replied, “I am building a church.”

                After providing insight into the ultimate goal, a vision of the new kingdom, Jesus goes on to associate the satisfactions of the eternal kingdom to present existence:  “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for My sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life” (verse 29).  Not only will we receive life eternal with Jesus, we will experience the joy of being part of God’s kingdom now on earth.  We will not escape the hardships of a hostile world, but we will be equipped and strengthened to face them.  Out of sheer love for us, God offers us the blessings that come from being part of His kingdom.

BIBLE STUDY—(if you would like to have another opportunity to Study God’s Word other than the time listed below, I as your pastor, am always willing to meet with you and a group of people to learn, study and grow in the grace and knowledge of God in Christ Jesus.  Just let me know and we can work out a time that best suits you.)

 

Sunday Mornings (10:15 a.m.)                                                       “The Truth Project”—Focus on the             Family…

In a recent study, the Barna Research Group revealed a stunning statistic that continues to reverberate throughout the evangelical world. Only 9 % of professing Christians have a biblical worldview.   (The Barna Update, "A Biblical Worldview Has a Radical Effect on a Person's Life," December 1, 2003.)  In fact, a newer Barna Survey is titled, "Most American Christians Do Not Believe that Satan or the Holy Spirit Exist" March, 2009.  Because of this, today's believers live very similarly to non-believers. A personal sense of significance is rarely experienced, we spend our money and time on things that fail to satisfy and we begin to wonder what life's ultimate purpose really is. We are, in short, losing our bearings as a people and a nation.The Truth Project is a DVD-based small group curriculum comprised of 13 one-hour lessons taught by Dr. Del Tackett. Each lesson discusses in great detail the relevance and importance of living the Christian worldview in daily life.

We remember in our prayers— We pray for Jason Mines, John Eggerding, Bonnie Highberger, and for Lee Hogandbobler, all who are battling serious illnesses.  We pray for Susan Piel, as she continues to go through rehabilitation after her knee surgery.  We also pray for Rhonda Nieweglowski, as she prepares to undergo some medical tests and for Pastor Taggatz’s brother Eric, who is currently undergoing some medical treatment.  We pray for Dorothy Junge, who also is currently hospitalized and for Jeremy Nieweglowski, as he recovers from his recent surgery.

We mourn with: Wes Stellhorn, over the death of his brother Wayne, with Edgar Junge’s family, as Edgar recently passed away, with the family of Greg Liefer, who was called home to heavenly rest last month, and with the family of Laura Conway, over the death of her Uncle Max.  May God give to these families the remembrance and hope of the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ who says in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”

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.

On the back table in the church there is a copy of the Book, “The Story Bible” by CPH which would make a great gift for any children in your home.  There are over 130 bible stories in this book with beautiful realistic art.  If we order 10 or more copies from our church we can get a $10 discount on this book, plus free shipping. There’s a signup sheet in the back of the church available for you.

The Southern Illinois District Convention will take place on February 16-18, 2012 in O'Fallon. Our congregation has the privilege to nominate people for the following positions: President and Secretary (pastors), Treasurer (lay person), Board of Directors (lay people and commissioned ministers), Board of Missions and Board of Congregational Support (pastors, lay people and commissioned ministers). Our congregation needs to return these nominations to the district office by October 14. If you are interested in serving God's people in our district in this way, please speak to Pastor Taggatz or our Church President Terry Rehmer. Thank you!

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

Summer Hours:  The office summer hours are 9:00 -3:00, Monday through Friday.  Someone will be in the office during these hours for phone calls or if you would like to drop by.  If we can help you in any way please let us know. 

Your Opinion:  The year 2007 was the last time we held an auction at COSLHS.  Is anyone interested in trying it again?  If you have large items you would like to donate to this auction please let us know.  If you have items you would like to sell for yourself that would be ok also.  There would be a small handling fee.  Please give us some feed back as to your ideas and thoughts.

Rummage Sale:  The annual rummage sale will be held on Friday and Saturday August 5 & 6.  The Village of Evansville will be having community yard sales at this time also. Call before you bring things if possible.  We will be setting up the end of July and will need helpers at that time.

Host Families Needed:  Christ Our Savior is inviting anyone interested in hosting an international student for the 2011-2012 school year to contact the school for more information.  This is a special mission opportunity for the COS family and your family to share the love of Jesus Christ.  Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

Coming Events:  

  July 9, 14, 16,   Randolph County Fair and 4H Horse show

  July 16,    Ward Auction at Renault

  July 16,    Mud Bog at Ames

Vacation Bible School coming soon to St. John!  Our upcoming Vacation Bible School this year will be from Sunday July 10^th – Thursday July 14^th.  On Sunday July 10^th we will meet at 5:30pm and we will go until 8:30pm.  On July 11^th-14^th we will meet from 6pm-8:30pm.   Snacks will be provided on Sunday July 10th and a small meal for the children will be provided on the evenings of July 11^th through the 14^th.  Parents, grandparents and friends are invited to join us especially on Thursday July 14^th at 7:30pm, because that’s when we’ll be having our finale, a celebration of God’s love for us in Christ Jesus that you won’t want to miss.  

                The theme this year is “Pandamania: Where God is Wild About You” based on Psalm 139.  The Bible stories that the children will be learning about will all focus on the fact that God has a purpose and a plan for everyone and that he crafted each of us with his own loving hands.  So we will be studying Genesis chapter 1 and God’s creation of the world, 1 Kings 18, with Elijah and the Prophets of Baal, Jonah chapters 1-3, The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus from Luke’s Gospel, and finally the story of Hannah & Samuel in 1 Samuel chapters 1 & 2. 

                The kids will also participate in a mission project.  Registration forms are available in the back of the church and IN THIS JULY NEWSLETTER. For more information please contact the church office at 618-785-2344.   

 Cut here………………………………………………………...

ST. JOHN 2011 VBS REGISTRATION FORM

Child’s name:                                                                                                                                                      

Child’s age                            Date of birth:                          Last school grade completed:                        

Name of Parent(s)_:                                                                                                                                          

Street Address:                                                                                                                                                    

City:                                                                                                       State:                     Zip:                        

Home Phone #:                                                                                                                                                   

Parent/caregiver’s cell phone:                                                                                                                          

Home E-mail address:                                                                                                                                       

In case of emergency, contact:                                                                                                                       

Relationship to child:                                                                                                                                         

Allergies or other medical conditions:                                                                                                             

Home church:                                                                                                                                                     

Cut here…………………………………………………..

Food Donations Needed for Vacation Bible School here at St. John—We’re in need of donations of food for our upcoming Vacation Bible School this year.  There is a sign up sheet available in the back of the church.  The items we need are 4 pans of mostaccioli (9 x 13 pan) , 2 pans of brownies, 4 dozen cookies, 8lbs of sloppy joe meat.  We will only need the number of lines that are printed on the sheet.  The deadline for when we will need you to sign up for these donations is Sunday July 3.  Please bring the items that you would like to donate to the St. John School kitchen.

                                         

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                               Aurelia Harms

Red Bud Nursing Home        10291 Hickory Grove R

350 W. South 1^st                             Baldwin, IL 62217                

Red Bud, IL 62278

Dorothy Junge                         Patty Theobald

7555 State Rte. 154               402 W. 2^nd  St. Apt. F.

Baldwin, IL 62217                Sparta, IL 62286

                  

Patsy Schoenbeck                 Mr. & Mrs. Russell Mahan

322 Joan St.                             800 Baldwin Rd

Marissa, IL 62257                 New Athens, IL 62264

  

Church Council Minutes May 10th & June 14th, 2011

                

  

Present: Terry Rehmer, Darla Porter, Mark Schoenbeck, Gerald Poenitske,  Linda Schoenbeck, Fleta Junge, Tony Junge, Marvin Liefer, Brian Schoenbeck, Stan Gegel and Pastor Taggatz

Opening Devotions were given by Pastor Taggatz

The meeting was called to order by Pres. Rehmer

Minutes from last meeting were read and approved

Financial Secretary’s Report: Total receipts for April 2011 $18,211.54

Treasurer’s Report: Ending monthly balance for April,2011, for the General fund $2,544.08.  Total deposits for April, 2011 $18,101.54 which included the chicken dinner and Lenten folder receipts. Total expenses for April, 2011 $13,585.36. ending monthly balance for all individual funds $17,057.05.

Church Properties:

The Parsonage basement flooded after all the rain on Easter weekend. There is currently no sump pump in the basement only a drain. The furnace took on water. Heuman was called to inspect the furnace for damage. Inspection is scheduled in May.

The school basement also flooded when the pump burned out due to all the water. A temporary pump has been placed in the school basement. A larger sump pump pit will need to be installed. The furnace in the school also took on water. And Heuman was called to also inspect that furnace.

A “work day” will be scheduled to replace the sump pump, add a sump pump in the Parsonage, replace the school kitchen air conditioner and install new fans in the church.

Randolph County is offering flood relief. Pres. Terry will apply for flood relief for the damage to Parsonage and school basement.

LYF:

The youth would like to thank members for their support at the Easter breakfast and for their donations.

The youth will help with VBS on July 10^th – 14^th.

MAY PASTOR’S REPORT

Devotion— Matthew 6:25-34

Pastoral Acts for the month of April 13^th ‘11 through May 10^th ‘11—

-Regular Saturday & Sunday worship responsibilities & Catechetical Instruction on Wednesday nights

                - 4 Bible Study class sessions (Sunday mornings)

                -3 Counseling Sessions

                -1 Southern Illinois District Pastor’s Conference           on May 10^th  @ Camp Wartburg—on:  Technology    & Pastoral Care

                -1 Randolph County Care Center Chapel Service        on April 27^th

                -Guest Preaching @ St. John Chester on Good              Friday April 22^nd

                - 13 Homebound/ Member visits

                - 6 Hospital Visits

                -COSLHS Board Meeting Thur. April 14^th 

                                \

Pastor’s Vacation Dates—June 5^th-June 12^th, 2011 and July 17^th-24^th (Pastor Ken Young is filling in for me on June 12^th and Pastor Bramstet is filling in for me on July 24^th)

-Ascension Day Worship will be on Thursday June 2^nd at 7pm…

An Update on the Parsonage—we’ve had water in the basement recently and have been doing a lot of work to keep it at bay.  We need to replace the furnace filter, and still need to clean up some sewage that’s behind the washer and dryer.  Roxanne has been cleaning the basement with Bleach and Borax, but still is unable to get some of the mold out.

                -There’s a hole in the plastic surround to our                 shower that we need to fill again…

OLD BUSINESS:

New ceiling fans will be purchased for the church

Inventory has been completed. The Insurance company will be contacted to update the current insurance coverage of the church and school.

NEW BUSINESS:

A request was received by the Martin Sommer family that all memorial donations made in honor of Martin be donated to the roofing fund.  Receipts from the Lenten Folders will be made to the General Fund. Motion made, seconded and approved.

Council has great concerns regarding the church’s current financial situation. A congregational meeting will be held on Sunday, 22 May to inform and discuss the church finances. A complete Treasurer’s Report will be available prior to the meeting for all congregational members.

Gross receipts for the Chicken Dinner were $4,404.35. Thank you to all the committee and all who donated and supported the event.

Motion was made to adjourn

The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer

President Terry Rehmer

Secretary Darla Porter

CONGREGATION MEETING – 22 May, 2011

The meeting was called to order by Pres. Terry Rehmer

Pres. Terry announced the purpose of the meeting was to inform the congregation of the council’s concern regarding the church finances. Pres. Terry reviewed the April Treasurer’s Report.  The report shows that in order to meet current monthly expenses the council had to dissolve some individual funds and re-allocate the chicken dinner and Lenten Folder monies to the General Fund. Pres. Terry stated this was a “short fix” for the church’s financial situation.

CHURCH COUNCIL MINUTES June 14, 2011

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

The meeting was called to order by Pres. Terry Rehmer

Opening devotions were given by Pastor Taggatz

The minutes from the previous meeting were read and approved.

Financial Secretary’s report: Total receipts for May, 2011 $25,033.19.

Treasurer’s Report: ending monthly balance for May, 2011 in the General Fund is $3,060.30. Total deposits for May, 2011 $25,033.19. Total Expenses for May, 2011 $26,476.88. Ending monthly balance for all individual Funds $14,798.37.

Church Properties: New water heater was installed in the Parsonage basement

Graves were filled in at the cemetery

Discussion was held regarding filling in the cistern on the south side of the Parsonage.

New Business:  If any member has an undamaged, unused cell phones, please bring the cell phone to the church. The church donates the phones and receive funds for the phones. Empty ink cartridges-palm size-can also be donated. Thank you to the member whom suggested this fund raiser.

Motion was made and seconded to adjourn

The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

President: Terry Rehmer

Secretary: Darla Porter

JUNE PASTOR’S REPORT

Devotion— 1 Kings 19:11-12

Pastoral Acts for the month of April 13^th ‘11 through May 10^th ‘11—

-Regular Saturday & Sunday worship responsibilities

                - 4 Bible Study class sessions (Sunday mornings)

                -3 Counseling Sessions

                -1 Wedding—Chris Moll & Sarah Mehring—Sat.         May 14^th @ Trinity Lutheran

                -1 Randolph County Care Center Chapel Service        on May 25^th

                        ^-COSLHS Graduation Service on Friday May 20^th,      I did the Invocation, Benediction & Prayers

                -1 Trinity Lutheran Chapel Service on Wed. May        11^th

                - 12 Homebound/ Member visits

                -COSLHS Board Meeting Thur. May 12^th 

                -Ascension Day worship on Thur. June 2^nd @ 7pm

                               

I will be Pastor of the Week at Camp Wartburg from July 3^rd through the 8^th—I will still be doing my pastoral duties that week, but will also be leading Bible Studies with the camp staff, leading the children in prayer and their campfire and morning devotions…

VBS @ St. John will be:  July 10^th –July 14^th –On Sunday July 10^th it goes from 5:30pm-8:30pm.  And on Monday through Thursday it will be from 6:00pm till 8:30 pm…  The theme this year is “Pandamania: Where God is Wild About You—Psalm 139”  

Pastor’s Vacation Date— July 17^th-24^th (Pastor Bramstet is filling in for me on July 24^th).

A Special VBS Planning Meeting will be held on June 21^st at 7pm.  All those who are volunteering for VBS this Summer are asked to attend.

The congregation will need to place a nomination for District President, Circuit Counselor, and Delegate from our congregation for the Southern Illinois District by October 14^th, 2011. Congregational members are asked to consider nominations.

S.I.G.H.T. Ministry Update—

The following is the current work schedule and will be adjusted as needed.

Work nights will be canceled if there is no school due to inclement weather.

St. John’s Baldwin is scheduled for the 1^st Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Contacts if you want to volunteer are Linda Schoenbeck 785-2429 and Connie Buch 282-3525. We need 6 people at least per work night. If there is enough interest for a daytime shift we can work that out too.

We Believe, Teach and Confess.

Martin Luther’s Small & Large Catechism

As the Head of the Family Should Teach Them in a Simple Way to His Household

HOLY BAPTISM

                                                                                               

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 in his Large Catechism 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.)

                                                                       

Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew: “¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  (Matthew 28:19 ESV)

Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark:                                                                                                                                                    

^“16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. “ (Mark 16:16 ESV)

St. Paul says in Titus, chapter three:  “⁵he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, ⁶whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ⁸The saying is trustworthy...“ (Titus 3:5–8 ESV)

St. Paul writes in Romans chapter six: “⁴We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4 ESV)

Concordia : The Lutheran Confessions. 2005 (Edited by Paul Timothy McCain) (423). 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.

THRIVENT WORKSHOP & DINNER—On Wednesday, July 13th the Randolph County Thrivent Chapter is sponsoring a special workshop at St. John Parish Hall, Chester, Illinois.  Following a light supper at 6:00p.m., Mr. David Wegenke will give us a market update presentation from 7p.m.-8p.m.  For reservations call, Mike Welge @ 618-826-5453 or Julie Ratz @ 573-579-3592 or 618-282-3873 by July 6th.

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.

Volunteers Needed for Flood Relief

Pastor Jim Rivett of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Golconda is working with other Christian congregations in the area.  He has requested help in cleaning up after the floods. Volunteers are needed to help clean, disinfect and remove flood damaged items.  And later in the summer - after we have done a better assessment of the damage - we'll be able to make use of more specialized labor.  There are facilities in place for teams to stay overnight (and shower, too!); and we will be providing meals for the workers. We ask volunteers be sure to have up-to-date tetanus shots ... and to bring work gloves and work clothes. Volunteers are also welcome to bring cleaning supplies and tools.

For information or to volunteer, contact:

Rev Overstreet, Volunteer Coordinator

Golconda Flood Response Committee

(618) 683-3383

GolcondaPres@gmail.com

Joplin, MO Tornado Relief

(***Our recent door collection for Joplin

at our church was: $420.00)

Immanuel Lutheran Church of Joplin, MO want to thank all who have responded with prayers, assistance, and words of encouragement. The challenges that they face are beyond words, but their faith in Almighty God is very evident. The Red Cross has established a command center at Immanuel. The challenge is that the church does not have large enough refrigerators and freezers to neither store food, nor proper space for other donations that are starting to arrive. Lutheran World Relief & Lutheran Disaster Relief are giving the following advice on how to help those affected by the Joplin Tornado:

Keep everyone in your prayers.

• Send financial contributions to the organization of your choice. See addresses below.
• Volunteers are being coordinated through United Way 211. Groups can register by calling 211 (landline) or (800) 427- 4626 (cell). Registration can also be done online at http://www.211missouri.org/.
• Phone calls should not be placed to Immanuel Lutheran Church until further notice.
• Volunteers of the congregation are attempting to keep the website updated. Please go to www.immanueljoplin.com

Agencies providing assistance:

The Missouri District Disaster Fund LCMS Orphan Grain Train

The Missouri District - LCMS (402) 649-3893 or (402) 649-3896

660 Mason Ridge Center Drive, Suite 100

St. Louis, MO 63141

ogtrelief@cableone.net

Lutheran World Relief and Human Care

1333 S. Kirkwood Rd.

St. Louis, MO 63122

Lutheran Disaster Response

39330 Treasury Center

Chicago, IL 60694-9300

St. John Fundraiser for the School Roof--If any member of St. John, or maybe a friend that you know of, has an undamaged cell phone that's no longer in use. Please bring the cell phone to the church. Also, if you have an unused Palm Pilot or other sort of PDA device, even empty ink cartridges (palm sized), these items can be donated as well. The church can donate these items and receive money for them at 100% profit. Other groups and organizations have taken part in a fundraiser like this and have been able to raise up to $6,000. Please tell your friends and family about this too. If you have any questions feel free to contact Pastor Taggatz at 618-785-2344. Thank you to the member who suggested this fundraiser.

St. John Lutheran Church in Baldwin makes a donation to the Baldwin Food Pantry. Julia Kahle on the left, hands a donation to the Baldwin Food Pantry to Dorothy Linders, who oversees this charity at the Presbyterian Church in Baldwin. On the right is Pastor Taggatz. The church was able to raise over $2,000 for the food pantry this year alone, with matching funds from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

Recent Thrivent Choice Donations to our Church as of June 7^th, 2011—Thrivent is pleased to let us know that they have made a deposit into our account on behalf of the

Thrivent Choice program.

      - Amount of deposit: $ 346.00.

                -Total amount our church has received from the Thrivent Choice program since February 2011:  $2,730.00

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

How Do I Direct My Designated Choice Dollars?—Choose from Lutheran organizations nationwide, including your local congregation. It's easy!

1.       Search for your preferred organization(s).

2.       Direct Choice Dollars online now by going to: https://www.thrivent.com/thriventchoice/

               or call 800-THRIVENT (800-847-4836) and    

               state "Thrivent Choice."

We heartily thank those members of our Church who are involved in the Thrivent Choice Program.  Thank you for your Christian generosity & charity!