“The Authority of Jesus” (Mark 1:21–28) 4th Sunday after Epiphany, Jan. 29th, ’12 Series B

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 4^th Sunday after the Epiphany comes to us from Mark 1:21-28.  In our text from Mark’s Gospel this morning we see that the LORD’s promise to Moses that He would raise up “a Prophet” like him came true in the person and work of Jesus.  But, Jesus is more than a prophet of the Scriptures. He’s the Word of God in human flesh, and He speaks “a new teaching with authority” (Mark 1:22, 27). He enters the synagogue of His Church and provides true Sabbath rest, using His authority to cast out even demons (Mark 1:21–27). By His Word of the Cross He removes the accusations of the law and of the devil, and He cleanses our consciences before God the Father.  The message from God’s Word this morning is entitled, “The Authority of Jesus,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.                  My favorite quote from Martin Luther comes from the preface to the Large Catechism where Luther writes, “Therefore, I again beg all Christians—especially pastors and preachers—not to think of themselves as doctors too soon and imagine that they know everything… Instead, they should daily exercise themselves well in these studies and constantly use them. Furthermore, they should guard with all care and diligence against the poisonous infection of contentment and vain imagination, but steadily keep on reading, teaching, learning, pondering, and meditating on the catechism. And they should not stop until they have tested and are sure that they have taught the devil to death, and have become more learned than God Himself and all His saints.^[1]”

3.                  Did you notice in that last line of Luther’s that it is important that we as Christians teach the devil to death?  What do you suppose that Luther means by that quote?  I think he means that we as Christians need to be diligent in our studying and meditating on Holy Scripture and the catechism so that we may be prepared to stand against the attacks of the evil one, Satan.  For Scripture calls the Devil a prowling lion seeking that which he may devour.  This is why we support our Lutheran Elementary grade schools and High Schools.  Do you see what a wonderful gift to the church schools like Unity Lutheran in East St. Louis, St. John Red Bud, Trinity in Prairie, and Christ Our Savior Lutheran High School are?  These schools are training grounds for our children to learn, study, and meditate on the Word of God, that sword of the Spirit, to enable them to fight off the attacks of the devil.

4.                  Luther believed in the existence of Satan and his attacks on our consciences tempting us to sin.  Many theologians deny the possibility of demon possession then and now. It’s true that we today do not identify many such cases. Maybe the trouble is with us, we fail to recognize them. But we also know that Satan and his demons are wise to adapt themselves to the times. Today we find their power displayed in the human attempts to undermine Scripture and its teachings. False doctrine, cults, pagan religions, science that rejects Scripture—all these are the working of Satan. Since they attack us on all sides, we too need to turn to Christ and to the Scriptures for refuge. Jesus, the Holy One of God, points us to the Scriptures and testifies, “Your Word is truth” (John 17:17).

5.                  We see in our text from God’s Word this morning that the devil is real and very much among us in Mark 1:21–28, “²¹ And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. ²² And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. ²³ And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, ²⁴ “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” ²⁵ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” ²⁶ And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. ²⁷ And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” ²⁸ And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.”

6.                  What Jesus’ specific message was on this Sabbath day, Mark doesn’t tell us.  But, he does tell us about the impression Jesus’ preaching made on the worshipers. They were amazed, for Jesus didn’t teach as the teachers of the law did. They always referred to the interpretations of past rabbis and were particularly skillful at breaking down God’s Word into a number of legalistic regulations.   But, Jesus always proclaimed the gospel of God. He quoted no experts but proclaimed the good news on His own authority. This was one of the first lessons the disciples had to learn that in Jesus they were face-to-face with the final authority. For us too Christ is more than just a wise teacher or a model on which to pattern our lives. He’s the one who in word and deed reveals to us the undeserved love of God for sinners incorporated in His own person. His is the final word.

7.                  It’s not at all surprising that Satan wasn’t ready to let such a message and a preacher go unchallenged. It was the devil who caused a man in that synagogue to cry out against Jesus, for it’s clear that this man wasn’t speaking for himself. He couldn’t by his own power have known what he said about Christ. However, Satan and the evil spirit that possessed this man knew who Jesus of Nazareth was and what his purpose was. They knew he was the Son of God and that he had come to destroy Satan’s hold over mankind. With his words Satan revealed himself wiser than many modern theologians. This knowledge did him no spiritual good; it only filled him with fear and trembling. He knew that he faced hell and the gospel wasn’t meant for him.

8.                  The demon was afraid of Jesus because he knew that Jesus is the holy one of God.  Nothing strikes more terror into the heart of God’s creatures, which includes you and me for we are God’s creatures too, than to be in the presence of the holy.  We will see this throughout the Gospel of Mark.  When the holiness of Jesus is revealed, the immediate response of the people is fear and dread.  You and I fear the holy because we’re sinful and unclean.  We sin against God and our neighbor in thought, word, and deed.  We take God’s name in vain, we swear, curse, and lie, we fail to worship God and serve Him only.  We fail to love our neighbor through our words and actions.  And when we’re brought into the presence of the holiness of God, as Peter was (Luke 5:8), we say, “Depart from us, for we are sinful people.”  This is why the demon screamed when Jesus came into his presence.

9.                  These words of the demon, “Have you come to destroy us?” confess a challenge to you and me, sinners that we are.  As you come to Jesus of Nazareth, the Holy One of God, Jesus says to you, “Be silent and come to Me, and I will give you rest.”  What destruction did the flood of Baptism ravage upon you as the Holy One of God came to drown your old sinful flesh and raise you to new life in Him?  What destruction does the public announcement that your sins are forgiven work upon your sins to destroy their power and silence your fears?  Freeing destruction!  And what destruction does the Lord’s Supper work upon you, where your sins are exchanged for Jesus and His righteousness, and you are left with the peaceful silence and reconciled to God almighty?  Nourishing destruction!  For in Christ, your old sinful self is crucified and you are raised to newness of life in Him, both now and for eternity.

10.              Jesus’ authoritative teaching and power over the unclean spirits created a stir among those who saw and heard Him in the early days of His ministry. Today, we see the same thing. People continue to be interested in and even amazed by Jesus’ teaching, and yet many fail to depend on Him for life and salvation. But, by the power of His authoritative Word and Spirit, you and I are brought and kept in saving faith and life.  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

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^[1] Concordia : The Lutheran Confessions. 2005 (Edited by Paul Timothy McCain) (355–356). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.

“Repent & Believe the Good News” (Mark 1:14-20) Jan. 22nd, 2012 Series B

“Repent & Believe the Good News” (Mark 1:14-20) 

1.                                Please pray with me.  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, our Rock, and our Redeemer.  Amen.  The message from God’s Word this 3^rd Sunday after the Epiphany is taken from Mark 1:14-20, it’s entitled, “Repent & Believe the Good News,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.                                    Our LCMS Synodical President Pastor Matt Harrison recently was on the radio talk show Issues Etc. talking about the Christian teaching of repentance.  In that talk show President Harrison stated how he was recently in Germany and attended a triple parish there in order to worship.  He asked Pastor Wilken, the talk show host, how many Christians were in attendance on average in those churches each Sunday.  “I don’t know, how many are there in those parishes each Sunday,” Pastor Wilken asked?  President Harrison said, “26.”  And this is in the land of Martin Luther, the great reformer of the Christian church.  How is it that in the land of Luther, where the Gospel was rediscovered some 500 years ago, that churches have such a small church attendance each week?  I think the answer is a lack of repentance among the people of Germany and within their Christian churches as well. 

3.                                    Recently President Harrison wrote in the Lutheran Witness these words about our need for repentance.  “What is the single most critical issue in the life of the Missouri Synod? Is it evangelism? Church planting? Missions? Seminaries? Church-worker well-being? Theology? Congregational vitality? Finances? Education? Mercy?  I submit to you, dear reader, that the single most vital issue facing this church body today is our great need for individual and collective repentance--thorough-going sorrow over sin, and faith that grabs hold of the Savior of sinners, Jesus.  Repentance is a matter of eternal life and death. "Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight!" (Matt. 3:3).  [Jesus] the eternal Lord of the universe came as a babe at Bethlehem. He comes in His Word and Sacrament. He shall come again in the end. If you meet Jesus secure in your sins, whether at the Communion rail or on the Last Day, you shall die in your sins, eternally.  Friends, I may know a couple of your sins, but I know many, many more of my own. Under the Law, I too am nothing but a damned sinner. My prayer life wavers. I'm not what I should be as a father and husband. My love for God's Word is often grown cold. I worry. "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?"  Grant repentance, O Lord!  Grant faith, O Lord! Grant forgiveness, O Lord! Grant us love for each other, O Lord! Grant us zeal for the Gospel and those who need it, O Lord! Renew our preaching and our hearing, O Lord! Come quickly, and save us!”

4.                                    Mark 1:14-20 says, “¹⁴ Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, ¹⁵ and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”   The way to God, as Jesus points out, is to “repent and believe the good news.” Repent means “to have a change of heart as far as sin is concerned” and in this connection points to the good news concerning the one in whom they would find forgiveness of sins. Jesus called on his listeners to turn away from the service of sin, to be sorry they had fallen away from God, and by faith to trust in him who alone offers forgiveness. Surely that is the good news mankind needs, whether in Galilee or in our community here in Baldwin.

5.                                    The moment when our promised Messiah and Savior Jesus came was a moment of profound crisis.  The English word crisis is a transliteration of the Greek krisis, which means “judgment.”  When the Kingdom of God broke through and the Messiah appeared, it brought the most profound crisis humanity ever faced.  That crisis was this:  those who received Him would receive eternal life; those who did not would pass into God’s judgment.  Jesus was saying to the Jews, “Your crisis is right now.”  He says the same to everyone in the world today who hears His name.  No one can heard the Good News of Jesus death on the cross to pay for the penalty of our sins and His resurrection from the dead to show His victory over death for us and walk away indifferent.  When someone receives the gospel, it’s the greatest moment of his life.  But if he rejects the gospel, he brings the greatest judgment on himself.  The gospel is a two-edged sword.  Jesus was saying, in essence, “You are not ready for the coming of the kingdom; therefore, repent and believe.”  Those two actions are absolutely necessary to receive the Savior.  The coming of Jesus requires repentance and faith by all who hear of Him.

6.                                    So what sort of sins do you need to repent of?  Is it your lack of worship to Jesus as your Lord and Savior and devoting yourself to the reading of Scripture and receiving His gifts of Word and Sacrament?  Or, is it your lack of love for your neighbor?  The words that you say that hurt your neighbor, the actions that you commit in order to hurt those even closest to you.  Have you taken God’s name in vain or failed to worship Him and serve Him only?  Have you watched something on TV or over the internet that was sexually immoral and sinful?  Have you stolen something from your classmate’s locker or from your place of work that wasn’t your own?  Have you desired something that doesn’t belong to you and wanted to do anything that you can to get it?  Have you failed to honor and respect those God has placed in authority over you?  If so, then you need to repent.  Ask the Lord for forgiveness and look to Jesus, the one who fulfilled all of God’s commandments perfectly on your behalf.

7.                                    Did you notice that the response of Simon, Andrew, James, and John was immediate to Jesus’ calling them to repent and be His disciples? When Jesus called, they were ready to follow him, for they had learned to love him and believe in him. Business, wealth, family—all were secondary to following Jesus and becoming fishers of men. The same faith that filled their hearts should also fill ours, whether we are pastors, teachers, missionaries, or lay Christians. Christ must be first in our lives. Note also that Father Zebedee didn’t object. Without a doubt he, together with the hired men, continued to bring great sacrifices to support Jesus’ mission and the training of his disciples.

8.                                    This immediate behavior of Simon, Andrew, James, and John can only come from our Savior Jesus whose Gospel deeds are characterized by a sense of urgency and commitment.  In the very first verse after our Gospel text we read of Jesus, “Immediately on the Sabbath day He entered into the synagogue and taught” (Mark 1:21).  When the disciples on a stormy sea fear that the figure approaching them might be a ghost, “immediately Jesus spoke unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; do not be afraid” (Matt. 14:27).    Really, it’s at His Baptism that Jesus establishes the tone of His ministry, “Jesus, when He was baptized, went up immediately out of the water” (Matt. 3:16).  It’s true of His miracles too.  There’s nothing showy about them.  A woman sneaks up behind Jesus to touch His robe and “immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague” (Mark 5:29).  Jesus commands a dead girl to get up and “immediately the girl arose” (Mark 5:42).  In the presence of a deaf man, Jesus says, “Ephphatha…be opened” and “immediately his ears were opened” (Mark 7:34-35).

9.                                    The point is that you and I can have a sense of urgency like Jesus’ disciples only because our Lord Jesus had a sense of urgency.  You and I each day can repent of our sins each day and turn to Christ for forgiveness.  We can respond immediately to God’s calling through His Word and to serve our neighbor with the love of Jesus only because of Christ.  The sense of immediacy in our lives is the product of the immediacy of our Lord Jesus in His earthly career.  May God enable us to follow Him each day as we repent of our sins, turn to Him in faith, and live, following Him as our Lord and Master.  Amen.  

The God Who Knows You (Psalm 139:1–10) Jan. 15, 2012

“The God Who Knows You”—Psalm 139:1–10

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 2^nd Sunday after Epiphany is taken from Psalm 139:1-10, it’s entitled, “The God Who Knows You,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.                                    Psalm 139 teaches us that all of life is valuable to God our Lord and Creator.  We minimize God’s power when we say He can’t be at work and give value to the deformed baby who lives only a few hours. We minimize God’s power when we say He can’t be at work and give value to the grandma who has lived 95 years but no longer remembers her family.  An elderly pastor living in a nursing home struggled each day to care for his wife, who had lost all physical strength and her ability to communicate. Despite these troubles, her husband visited with her each day, recalling the life of love and commitment they still shared. They didn’t realize that their simple gestures were observed by a young man working at the nursing home. The couple’s loving interaction moved the young man to consider dedicating himself to the pastoral ministry.  “Why is God keeping me around?” “The quality of Grandma’s life just isn’t what it used to be.” You may have said similar things.  Statements like this reflect a view of the value of life based on people’s abilities rather than on God’s ability. Assigning value to human life based on mental or physical capacity can lead to the terrible conclusion that maybe there is life not worthy of life.

3.                                    Not so! All life is worthy of life, because God makes it so. He created life with His hands.  God knows you better than you know yourself. You and every life have value! God redeemed life with His outstretched hands when He sent His Son to die on the cross for your sins. You and every life have been bought with a price! God’s power is at work in those He calls His own.  Thank God for the gift of life! Thank God for the value He gives to every life!

4.                                    Psalm 139:1-10, 13-16 says, “O Lord, you have searched me and known me! ²You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. ³ You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. ⁴ Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. ⁵ You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. ⁷ Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? ⁸ If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! ⁹ If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, ¹⁰ even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me…¹³ For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

5.                                    This psalm reveals something of the attributes of God in relation to His creation. It reveals that God is all–knowing (omniscient), He is everywhere present (omnipresent), and He is all–powerful (omnipotent). That God knows our every thought, word, and deed can be terrifying to us sinners. This psalm proclaims God’s love, which He expresses in His personal care and involvement in all of His creation. God’s knowledge, power, and presence were manifest most fully when He Himself assumed our substance, with a human body knit together in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and grew up to bear in that body God’s hatred of sin at the cross.

6.                                    Notice here in Psalm 139 that David says he was a person before his body was even formed. He was a person as he was being formed in the womb. The personhood is declared to take place at the very moment of conception.  This is very important in our day because of the question of abortion. While the body was being formed, David said he was a person, a human being. God had the blueprint of his members before they came into existence. The person was there.  Now hear it straight: abortion is murder unless it is performed to save the mother’s life or even the child’s life. Abortion to get rid of the little unformed baby before he has an opportunity to utter a cry in order to cover up sin or escape responsibility merely enhances the awful and cruel crime.  The unborn child is being shaped and cared for by God, and God has already ordained his days for him. So a human being who interferes and cuts off the life that God is developing is certainly taking over a right that belongs to the Creator alone. As the giver of life, God alone has the right to take it.

7.                                    Although God does not create us directly from the ground or from a rib, as he did Adam and Eve, the Lord is our Creator just as much as he was theirs. Although he brings us into existence through the natural processes of conception and birth, he remains fully in control of creation. He maintains the processes and watches over us with a personal care even before our birth. He shapes us as he shaped Adam, so that it can be said that we were made in “the depths of the earth.” Like Adam, we came from the dust and will return to it.

8.                                    If we are fearfully and wonderfully made by God and all life is precious to Him, then we as Christians need to be especially careful how we treat our own bodies and the bodies of those around us.  This leads us to what the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:18–20, “¹⁸Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. ¹⁹Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”  Notice how the Apostle Paul puts it bluntly, “Flee from sexual immorality.” He doesn’t say “Stand up to it.” He commends the example of Joseph, who ran out when Potiphar’s wife invited him to have sex with her.

9.                                    Paul’s reason for avoiding sexual immorality is this: “All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.” The body of a Christian is violated by sexual immorality more than by any other sin. Maybe Paul has in mind the complete physical intimacy; or that in sexual immorality the participant uses his own body as the instrument of sin; or that no other sin affects the body as this one does. What is clear is that God considers sexual immorality to be an especially shameful sin. Old Testament accounts show that his penalties for such sins are severe, even the penalty of death.

10.                    Paul continues in saying, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” Our bodies are sanctuaries where the Holy Spirit, God himself, lives. We can no more conceive of our sainted bodies as polluted by sexual immorality than we can imagine the temple in Jerusalem turned into a brothel.

“You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” The words of Luther’s explanation of the Second Article come to mind: “He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death … that I should be his own.” We do not serve that Savior with bodies surrendered to lust, but with bodies that “serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness.”

11.                    It would be fitting for us to conclude with what David says at the end of Psalm 139 in verses 23-24.  We realize that we don’t honor our bodies as we ought.  For this reason we need God’s forgiveness.  We need God’s forgiveness for allowing abortion to take place, for allowing our minds to wander to sexually impure thoughts, or to say things we shouldn’t that are sexually degrading.  So David writes, “²³Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. ²⁴See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  David closes not with pride but with humility. He recognizes that without forgiveness he too would fall under the wrath of the holy God. David circles back to the beginning of psalm 139 and asks that the Lord would use his knowledge of us as His creation to cleanse us from every evil way that would lead us away from God. For us as sinners the only solution to God’s holy anger against sin is the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. This love moves him to use his knowledge and power to save us, rather than to destroy us. This love opens the way of life everlasting. Amen.

Jan. '12 St. John 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

January, 2012                                      Lela Rehmer, Custodian          Kevin Kahle, Groundskeeper      

                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                        Church E-mail:  stjohnch@egyptian.net; jtaggatz@yahoo.com

                                                                                                        Church Web Site:  www.stjohnbaldwin.ctsmemberconnect.net

Serving on the Altar Guild for January are:  Geri Stahre and Susan Piel

               

Ushers for the Month of January are:  Connie Buch, Richard Buch, Dan Hartmann, Charlotte Liefer, Dale Luthy, David Piel and Susan Piel

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.

  “Present Yourself in the Temple”

                The trip to Bethlehem has been made.  The Child has been born.  The night skies are again lit only by the moon and stars, the angels having departed from the shepherds.  The shepherds, too, have gone back to their fields, going back to the business of shepherding their flocks.  Routine has returned, although, of course, nothing will ever be the same – certainly not for the shepherds and certainly not for Joseph and Mary.

               

                The new family makes its way to Jerusalem.  “When the time came…according to the Law of Moses, they brought [their newborn baby, Jesus] up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord” (Luke 2:22).  Holding the Son of God in their arms, they brought their “sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, a ‘pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons’ ” (Luke 2:24).  And there in the temple they received God’s blessings.  There waited “righteous and devout” Simeon.  He waited because “it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:26).  We all know Simeon’s prayer as he held God’s Son and blessed God with his thanks and praise as he himself is blessed by the fulfillment of God’s Word to him.  And he blesses the holy family as he himself is blessed by the Child.  Blessings all around!

                That’s what we can expect when we present ourselves to the Lord in His house.  We bless Him with our songs of praise and thanksgiving and our tithes and offerings.  We bless each other by our presence and by our words of encouragement in the faith.  The greatest blessings, however, are those God pours out upon us as He showers us with His Law and Gospel, as He seals us as His very own children in the Sacrament of Baptism, and as He gives us forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation in the Sacrament of the Altar.  Why not make it a priority each week to present yourself to the Lord in His house? 

See You in Church!

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Pastor Taggatz

“Living to Serve”

                Many of us take time around the beginning of a new year to reflect on the past year and its accomplishments and disappointments and to speculate on what our goals might be for the coming year.  Most of us can come up with very worthy goals – many of which you can list in your mind right now – but how many of us have an earnest desire to live this new year with the goal of serving?

                Serving is something we fit into our schedules when we have the time. Serving is an obligation we fulfill as part of a family, a community, or a job.  Serving is usually not what we live to do; it’s not what we consider our purpose in life.

                As God’s people, we are urged to “fix our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2).  The writer to the Philippians asserted, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).  What is that attitude?  When we “fix our eyes on Jesus,” what will we see? 

                We see the Suffering Servant about whom Isaiah wrote.  The One Who “took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows”; the One Who was “pierced for our transgressions . . . crushed for our iniquities . . . and by [Whose] wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4, 5).

                We see the Son of Man Who, in His own words, “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).  This is the Son of Man Who lived a childhood in obedience to His Father and to the earthly parents who were chosen for Him.  This is the Son of Man Who preached and taught, Who healed the sick, confronted the wicked, and comforted the despairing.  This is the Son of Man Who showed us what serving is all about and Who has directed us to “deny [ourselves] and take up [our crosses] and follow [Him]” (Matthew 16:24).

                What would happen if each Christian steward made serving a priority, rather than an obligation?  How might the Kingdom of God grow and be strengthened if we put into practice the Apostle Paul’s command to have the “attitude of Christ”?  Let these thoughts serve as a challenge to us to serve others even as our Lord has served us.

“Sharing God’s Love”

                At the heart of the Christian life is the love God has shown to us through His Son, Jesus.  Because He loves us, He has given us “redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us…” (Ephesians 1:7-8).  God’s not stingy with His gifts: He “lavishes” them on us.  Forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation would be enough, wouldn’t they?  But God chooses to give us more gifts – the gifts of His creation to care for, food and clothing, family and friends, and much more.  He “richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17).  Responsibility comes with this enjoyment, for we “are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” (1 Timothy 6:18).

                We’re enabled to shoulder this responsibility because God Himself has called us to be His stewards. Because God has chosen to work through us, we faithfully respond to His love and grace.  Because of God’s grace in our lives we are transformed into Christ’s likeness.  We read in Galatians 2:20, “I 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.”

                As followers of Christ we’re capable of doing marvelous things because of God’s power at work in our lives.  God uses us as His instruments to share His love and rich supply with others.  God not only calls us to His work of stewardship, He sets out the good deeds He wants us to accomplish: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

                God’s love shines through us as we individually share our blessings with others.  We can reflect God’s love as we follow His guidance and willingly serve Him with our time, talents, and treasures.  As the Apostle Paul said, “Therefore,  my beloved brothers be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).  May our love never grow cold and may we never tire of doing God’s work. 

We Remember in Our Prayers—We pray for Lori Adair, Jason Mines, Bonnie Highberger, Lee Hogandobler, Evan Saldana, Dennis Bunte, & Jim Spier, all who are battling serious illnesses.  We pray for Greg Laufer, as he continues to be under rehabilitation.  We also pray for Liz Cook’s daughter Sophia, who was born three months pre-mature, Liz is a friend of Roxanne Taggatz, that Sophia would become healthy and be able to go home with her parents.  We pray for Del Anderson, a relative to Pastor and Roxanne, who is currently having problems in her pregnancy. 

We mourn with the family of Loretta Piller.  Loretta was called home to heavenly rest on Wednesday Dec. 28^th, 2011.  Lord, we pray that you would comfort Loretta’s family with Your Son Jesus’ victory over death and with the assurance that their loved one, Loretta, who has departed in the faith, joins the whole company of heaven in singing praises to the living Lamb and that they too, through faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, will see Loretta again and their Lord Jesus who bled and died that we would have eternal life with Him in heaven.

Installation of 2012 Church Officers will be held during the worship service Sunday January 8th.

We will be having our Soup Dinner fundraiser to raise funds for our Baldwin Food Bank here at our church following the worship service on Sunday Jan. 29^th, 2012.  This past year of 2011 we raised over $2000 for our local food bank in Baldwin with Thrivent matching funds.  The Soup Dinner committee asks that donations of pies and desserts be made for the dinner.  There will be a sign up sheet in the back of the church for this. All donations are greatly appreciated.

An Invitation to Play Basketball—This is an invitation to all people to a night of scrimmage basketball.  The first night will be Sunday January 8th from 5 to 7pm at Trinity Lutheran School in Prairie.  Please call or text Kevin Luthy at 618 420-7423 if you have any questions.  Thank you and we hope to see you there!

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You—We would like to thank everyone who donated items, helped out, or attended the Spaghetti & Meatball dinner on Sunday Dec. 11^th.  It was a SUCCESS! We made a total of $2925 with the matching funds! Thanks, from the Parochial School Families 

The Ladies Aid - Quilters we have a quilt in the Ladies Aid room. Anyone is welcome to come on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1:00 p.m. to ?

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

BIBLE STUDY—

  Sunday Mornings (8:45 a.m.)                       

“Joseph: Carpenter of Steel (through Sun. Jan. 15^th)” By: Rev. Greg Seltz
 

Coming later in January ‘12 to our Sunday morning Bible Studies:  “Walther:  The Movie”

October 25, 2011, marked the 200th anniversary of the birthday of Dr. C. F. W. Walther, the first president of The German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States and both Concordia Seminary, St. Louis and Concordia Theological Seminary. In honor of this historic event, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis is producing a 5 part video series, which will follow the life of Dr. Walther, present a history of the The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (Synod), and – through studying Dr. Walther’s life and teachings – provide viewers with a better understanding of the importance of the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.

The five-part DVD series will include commentaries by well known Walther scholars and professors from both seminaries of the Synod.

Viewers will travel across the globe from Wittenberg, Germany to Wittenberg, MO. Each of the 5 parts will focus on a particular area of Dr. Walther’s life.

·         Part 1: Explore the theology of Lutheranism vs. Rationalism which the early church sought to escape. Where do we see Rationalism today? You may be surprised!

·         Part 2: A study on the Ten Commandments, Martin Luther, the theology of the Two Kingdoms and the importance of repentance, confession and absolution. Is there a place for private confession in today’s Lutheran church?

·         Part 3: Viewers will learn about the chaos, confusion and conflict that plagued the early church in America as it struggled to answer theological questions pertinent to day-today life in America. What is a “church”? What is the role of the laity? What is the role of the clergy?

·         Part 4: Hear Dr. Walther’s teachings on the invisible church, the visible church, the Law and the Gospel.

·         Part 5: The video series concludes with the legacy of Dr. Walther and his impact on modern society. It concludes with interviews of Synodical President Harrison; former Synodical Presidents Gerald Kieschnick, Robert Kuhn and Ralph Bohlmann; Concordia Seminary president Dr. Dale Meyer and former Concordia Seminary Presidents John Johnson and Karl Barth.

Re-enactments of key scenes in Dr. Walther’s life will drive the video forward.

Get excited about our Lutheran Church history and heritage!

Prepare to visit the early Lutheran Church in America, circa 1840. Prepare to meet this early hero of the church: Dr. C. F. W. Walther – a man who sacrificed his homeland, his health and nearly his life…For the freedom to speak freely, to believe freely, to live freely… To save his Church and the Faith for those he loved… AND for us who would come after.

Our next Evangelism task force meeting is:  Sunday Jan. 22nd after church. 

LYF UPDATE—

On Sunday Jan. 8^th the youth will be taking Christmas decorations down after the divine service.  On Sun. Feb. 5^th, the LYF will again be putting on the Chicken & Dumpling Dinner to raise funds for their trip to the National Youth Gathering.

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

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

Zuehla Rowold                        Laverna Luthy

Red Bud Nursing Home        Three Springs N. Home  

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

Opal Luthy                               Patty Theobald

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

350 W. South 1^st                               Apt. F.

Red Bud, IL 62278          Sparta, IL 62286

Dorothy Junge           Mr. & Mrs. Russell Mahan

7555 State Rte. 15      800 Baldwin Rd

Baldwin, IL 62217        New Athens, IL 62264

      

Church Council Meeting Tue. Dec. 13th 7:30 p.m.

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

Opening Devotions—were led by Pastor Taggatz

Minutes of the last meeting were read and approved

Financial Secretary’s Report:  Total receipts for November, 2011 $13,199.37.

Treasurer’s Report: Ending balance of the General Fund November, 2011 (­-­$5,205.88).

Church Properties:

àFinish work is being done on Parsonage sump pump.

àMark and Brian Schoenbeck will attend a town meeting to discuss issues regarding the sewer line at the Parsonage.

àFire extinguishers need to be checked

àElectric work has begun on church and school

àSump pump in church basement needs repair

àBob Wirth met with owners of property surrounding the cemetery. The property line is correct. According to the property lines an additional 120 gravesites can be added along the east and south sides. Motion was made and seconded to add the additional sites. A site costs $20.00. Motion carried.

LYF:  The youth will distribute candy bags on Christmas Eve to the children.

àJan 8^th, 2012 – The youth will take down the Christmas decorations after the worship service.

àFebruary 5^th, 2012 – The youth are planning the Chicken and Dumpling Dinner.

Pastor’s Report:

Pastoral Acts from Nov. 9^th ‘11 through Dec. 13^th, 2011—

-Regular Saturday & Sunday worship responsibilities & catechetical youth instruction

            - 4 Bible Study class sessions (Sunday      mornings)

                        -2 COSLHS Meetings— Nov. 10^th & Dec. 8^th

            -1 School chapel @ Trinity Lutheran Church

            -3 Counseling sessions

            -8 Hospital Visits

            -17 Homebound/Member Visits

            -Attended Pastor’s Circuit meeting at St. Peter’s Campbell Hill—Dec. 6^th

            -Nov. 27^th did chapel at Red Bud Nursing             Home

            -R. County Care Center Chapel—Nov. 23^rd

            1—Baptism àMcKenzie Grace Schmoll       (daughter to Ken & Julie Scholl)—Nov. 27^th,                 2011

                1—Lutheran Marriage Encounter in S. County            St. Louis Nov. 11^th-13^th, 2011 with my wife   Roxanne (this helped me learn more about           how to counsel couples before they get married           and even counseling couples on their              marriage when they’re already married and how   to work on my own marriage with my wife as               well.  It was a great experience and I learned a             lot)

Julia Kahle requests that we have the Soup Dinner Fundraiser here at our church again on Sunday Jan. 29^th, 2011.  Jeff Rowold and Jim Buch will be helping out with this fundraiser on that day as well to support our Baldwin Food Bank.  This past year we raised over $2000 for our local food bank here in Baldwin.

Door Offerings for Missions at St. John Baldwin in 2012—

-At our recent Annual Meeting we approved to have door offerings after our worship service for these mission opportunities, they will be after one worship service per month:

                -Issues Etc. Radio program (in January 2012)

                -Operation Blessing (through our Lutheran    Ministerial Alliance of Churches that goes                     through St. John Sparta, IL) (in March 2012)

                -SIGHT Ministry Center (in Oct 2012 for       LWML Sunday)

                -Rev. Tim & Lisa Beckendorf of Lutheran Bible          Translators in Botswana, Africa (in                                                 August 2012)

Thank you to all who helped out and donated their time, food and money to support our Parochial School Tuition Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser—Here is a letter of thanks from Candace Ford:  I just want to thank ALL of you for making our first Meatball and Spaghetti dinner a success!!  We made $1956 in total profit!  I will let you know the total after Thrivent matches this.  What a great group of people to work with!!  Everyone was such a BIG help!  We appreciate all of you!!  Thanks again!!

   

DOXOLOGY FOR Pastor Taggatz & for leaders of our Church Council—At our annual meeting it was decided that I attend the Doxology program for next year.  When I looked at the Doxology website I found out that the Rockford, IL sessions for Doxology were already full, but the sessions in Donaldson, IN were still open, which is still roughly the same distance from our church.  It’s about 30 miles further from our church than Rockford.  Here’s how Dr. Yahnke, one of the directors for the Doxology program explained payment for this program.  “I'm happy to learn that you are planning to be with us for the Donaldson training events beginning this summer.  Since the Early Bird Registration closed only today, we will "grandfather in" your request and honor the $1,200 fee.  Please include a copy of this email with your congregational pledge of support (or with your check if you are paying by snail mail.)  You may surely proceed with making three payments, over an interval of two fiscal years, with the final payment coming due in August of 2013.  Each of the $400 payments would be due prior to the training event.”

Rich Advent blessings to you,

BKYahnke

Dr. Beverly Yahnke

Executive Director for Christian Counsel

3415 Tall Oaks Dr.

Brookfield, WI  53045

www.doxology.us

414-305-0131

DOXOLOGY PROGRAM IN Donaldson, Indiana in 2012

Lindenwood Retreat Center

Gathering July 15 - 18, 2012

Encore Nov 16 - 18, 2012 

Grand Reunion for IL Venue will be August 2-4, 2013 in Belleville, IL at “Our Lady of the Snows”

Encouragement to attend Bible Study—On Sunday mornings after church we will be focusing on the life of “Joseph the Guardian of Jesus” in a video Bible study series with the current Lutheran Hour Speaker Rev. Gregory Seltz.

Total Giving through Thrivent Choice for Jan. –Dec. ‘11— I am pleased to announce that our giving through the Thrivent Choice program for Dec. ‘11 has amounted to:  $472.00  -Total amount our church has received from the Thrivent Choice program since February 2011:  $5,718.00

The “Be Well, Serve Well” Program for Concordia Health Plans—I am currently enrolled in this program through the Concordia Health Plan.  This is a program that tries to get church workers involved in living a healthy lifestyle.  By participating in this program the church worker and the church will get $250.00.  Our church should be receiving $250.00 by the end of the year, since I am participating in this program.

Special thanks to all the Council members for their hard work throughout the year and for their years of service in being leaders of our congregation!!!

OLD BUSINESS:

Due to the cold and flu season, a friendly wave instead of a hand shake during the “Sharing of the Peace” on Sunday mornings is requested.

New Business:

Gerald Poenitske encourages any congregational member who has questions regarding the church’s current financial situation and/or budget to direct those questions to a council member.

The housing Allowance for Pastor’s needs to be recalculated to be accurate according to tax laws. The council needs to determine a reasonable “rental fee” for the Parsonage. This fee plus Pastor’s expense receipts will be the housing allowance. Pastor’s expenses can include utilities, water, electric, cleaning supplies, etc.

Toni Rehmer has requested having Falkenhein Tax Service prepare the tax return. Motion was made and seconded. Motion carried.

No change will be made in Saturday evening services

As there was no other business the meeting was adjourned

Terry Rehmer, President

Darla Porter, Secretary      

We Believe, Teach and Confess.

Martin Luther’s Small & Large Catechism

“Confession & the Office of the Keys”
                                                               

“What is Confession?”

Answer:› Confession has two parts: the one is that we confess our sins; the other is that we receive Absolution, or forgiveness, from the confessor, as from God Himself, and in no way doubt, but firmly believe that our sins are forgiven before God in heaven by this.

“What sins should we confess?”

‹Answer:› Before God we should plead guilty of all sins, even of those that we do not know, as we do in the Lord’s Prayer. But before the confessor we should confess only those sins that we know and feel in our hearts.

“Which are these?”

‹Answer:› Here consider your calling according to the Ten Commandments, whether you are a father, mother, son, daughter, master, mistress, a manservant or maidservant. Consider whether you have been disobedient, unfaithful, or slothful. Consider whether you have grieved anyone by words or deeds, whether you have stolen, neglected, wasted, or done other harm.

                                                                                       

This is what St. John the Evangelist writes in chapter twenty:  The Lord Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”  (John 20:22-23, Small Catechism)

Introductory Note:  Article XXVIII of the Augsburg Confession expands on Articles V and XIV. What authority, or power, do bishops have in the Church? Over the course of centuries, bishops had become not merely Church leaders, but political figures as well, claiming the right to govern both Church and State and to make and enforce laws in both realms. By returning to a biblical understanding of church, the Augsburg Confession clarifies that the true authority, or power, of bishops is the preaching of the Gospel, the forgiving and withholding of forgiveness of sins, and the administering of the Sacraments. The Church is not to interfere in the government, but is to keep its focus on the Gospel. This article is the foundation for the Lutheran understanding of the two kingdoms: God’s work and rule in the world by means of the Church (the kingdom or regiment of the right hand) and the State (the kingdom or regiment of the left hand). Bishops, or pastors, have authority in the Church only to forgive sins in the name of Christ, to reject false doctrine and reprove those who uphold it, and to exclude persons who refuse to repent of open and manifest sin. This article, like the others, places the focus on the chief teaching of the Gospel: we are justified by God’s grace through faith in Christ alone. (See also Ap XXVIII; SC Table of Duties.)

                                                                                       

⁵ The authority of the Keys [Matthew 16:19], or the authority of the bishops—according to the Gospel—is a power or commandment of God, to preach the Gospel, to forgive and retain sins, and to administer Sacraments. ⁶ Christ sends out His apostles with this command, “As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you … Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld” (John 20:21–22). ⁷ And in Mark 16:15, Christ says, “Go … proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation.”

⁸ This authority is exercised only by teaching or preaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments, either to many or to individuals, according to their calling. In this way are given not only bodily, but also eternal things: eternal righteousness, the Holy Spirit, and eternal life. ⁹ These things cannot reach us except by the ministry of the Word and the Sacraments, as Paul says, “The Gospel … is the power of God for salvation to everyone that believes” (Romans 1:16). ¹⁰ Therefore, the Church has the authority to grant eternal things and exercises this authority only by the ministry of the Word.

²¹ The only authority that belongs to the bishops is what they have according to the Gospel, or by divine right, as they say. For they have been given the ministry of the Word and Sacraments. They have no other authority according to the Gospel than the authority to forgive sins, to judge doctrine, to reject doctrines contrary to the Gospel, and to exclude from the communion of the Church wicked people, whose wickedness is known… ²² According to this Gospel authority, as a matter of necessity, by divine right, congregations must obey them, for Luke 10:16 says, “The one who hears you hears Me.” ²³ But when they teach or establish anything against the Gospel, then the congregations are forbidden by God’s command to obey them.

Concordia : The Lutheran Confessions. 2005 (Edited by Paul Timothy McCain) (57–58, 59) (341). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House..

                                                                                               

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

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

EDUCATING A NEW GENERATION OF LUTHERANS… Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken and produced by Lutheran Public Radio.  Topics include: The Wise Men, The Epiphany Season, The Baptism of Jesus, Jesus Calls Philip & Nathanael, the Cappadocian Fathers and more.  You can listen LIVE weekdays from 4-5 p.m. on KSIV, 1320 AM.  You can also listen at your convenience at www.issuesetc.org.

An Update from Lutheran Bible Translators:  Rev. Tim & Lisa Beckendorf (Dec. 2011)

          Thank you for your continued prayers for our ministry and for us personally, we have really been feeling like we are 'under attack' lately, and your prayers sustain us.

          Once again last month did not go quite as planned. You would think we should be used to that by now. In our last update we told you that Tim was due to go to a planning conference for San languages in Windhoek. Well, Tim never made it. Two days before he was to leave, the truck blew a rear axle seal when he was way out in the bush doing community checking of Genesis with Moses and Splash. He limped the truck home but couldn't fix it in time to make it to the conference. Much of the rest of the month was taken up with repairs; vehicles, house, office, you name it.

          Last update we also told you that the translation office burned down. Well, the rubble has been cleaned up, the walls inspected for integrity, damaged bricks and plaster knocked off the walls, and a couple of interior walls removed. A builder has been hired to repair the outside walls, though we are still looking for someone to do the roof (not thatch this time). We have been extremely blessed in that about a week after the fire we were told that there was a charitable organization which would be able to help us with about half of our rebuilding expenses -- an answer to prayer before we even thought to pray it. We are now going to open a mission project with LBT for the rest of the rebuilding costs. Thankfully though, because we already have about half the amount needed we have been able to get a head start on rebuilding the office.

          Tim and the translators were able to get some translation work done during November. Moses and Splash were able to complete the community checking of Genesis 12-50, which means that book is now ready for our consultant to check. Splash has been working on the birth story of Jesus (parts of both Matthew and Luke) and the initial draft has also been completed. Our 2012 Khwe calendar featuring the creation account is on it's way to the printers and we hope to have those in a week or two.

          Another positive thing which happened this past month is that the rains have finally started, giving us some relief from the heat. It was a terribly hot October and first half of November, and we are very thankful for the rains. Things have really greened up and the grazing animals now have something to eat again. We also thought we were going to have to go all the way to the capital city in the south because Tim and Andrew needed new passports, however, we were able to meet the consular from the American embassy while he visited Maun and he was able to do all the paperwork for us there. That really saved us a lot of travel and expense, we are so thankful.

          We are hoping the rest of December will be relatively quiet, that the builder will continue his work on the office building, that the translators will reach their goal for the year (130 more verses to go), that Tim's and Andrew's new passports will come this next week, and that Christmas will be a real celebration of Christ's birth.

Prayers:
* Please pray that rebuilding the office will go quickly.
* Please pray that translation work would go forward smoothly and without so many interruptions.
* Please pray that Splash's son, Genesis, will have successful surgery for a tied tongue this Monday.
* Please pray that Tim's and Andrew's passports will arrive quickly. 

Praises:
- Thanksgiving for the amount of translation work which has been completed this year.
- Thanksgiving that rebuilding has been started on the office.
- Thanksgiving for good health and prayers for continued protection as the malaria season is in high gear.

Thank you again for all of your prayers on our behalf,

Rev. Tim, Lisa, Aaron & Andrew Beckendorf

(Lutheran Bible Translators: Botswana, Africa)

WOMEN’S DAY OF RENEWAL February 3-4, 2012

It is not too late to register for the Women’s Day of Renewal planned for Friday and Saturday, February 3 & 4, 2012 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Collinsville, IL. The theme will be RESPONDING WITH FAITH. Keynote speakers, Phyllis Wallace and Dr. Melanie Wilson will help participants identify their own individual fears, develop a game plan to seek God’s power, and move forward toward replacing numbing fear with a strong faith as they discuss Faith for Freakouts. Saturday attendees wil be able to personalize their experience with two workshops. A continental breakfast and catered lunch wil be included at the cost of $25.00. The fee for Friday evening is $10.00. After January 15 will be a $15 late fee.

Consider Giving to Camp Wartburg—Jesus said to his disciples, “Let the children come to me.”  When you support Camp Wartburg, you support a ministry that shares the Gospel with children.  Through Word and song and teaching and mentoring—all surrounded by the inpiration of God’s creation—Camp Wartburg encourages youth to open their hearts to the Lord.  Statistics show that adults entering church work frequently do so based upon positive camp ministry experiences as a child.  Camp Wartburg makes an impact on young lives.

In this New Year, I hope that you will count Camp Wartburg as a blessing to the thousands of children we serve!  I ask you to add Camp Wartburg in your giving this year. 

Camp Wartburg is a ministry of Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois.  Their address is: 

5705 LRC Road

Waterloo, IL 62298.

Email is:  wartburg@htc.net

Camp Wartburg served over 1100 campers in the summer of 2011:

      -77 campers with disabilities enjoyed a week of fun and new experiences

      -82 campers whose parents are deployed in the armed forces joined us for a weeklong experience

      -55 campers affected by cancer enjoyed a special week just for them

      -36 children in Illinois foster homes had the time of their lives at summer camp

      -14 campers with autism joined us for the first time this year for Camp ADAPT

Camps are subsidized and scholarships granted to make camp accessible to every child.

Warm Regards,

Bob Polansky, Executive Director of Camp Wartburg

Camp Wartburg Wish List

-New or used aluminum canoes in good condition

-New or used pickup truck, minivan or gator in good operating condition

-A large commercial mixer for the kitchen

-Vacuum cleaners

-Weed eaters in good condition

-Lateral file cabinets in good condition

-Donations to purchase new bunk beds ($650 each)

-Donations to purchase new heating/air conditioning wall units ($600 each)

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