February 2007 Newsletter Contents [Newsletter Archive]
Pastor's Article	Vicar's Article
Christian Education	Parish Notes
Portals of Prayer

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PASTOR'S ARTICLE

FOR THE SAKE OF THE ABSOLUTION

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines "Absolve" this way:
ab•solve
ab•solved; ab•solv•ing [ME, fr. L absolvere, fr. ab- + solvere to loosen
1 : to set free from an obligation or the consequences of guilt
2 : to remit (a sin) by absolution syn see EXCULPATE¹

Absolution in the Church is all about the forgiveness of sins, about God forgiving us our sins. It's the main doctrine of the Christian faith, just as the Augsburg Confession says, terming it Justification:

1 It is also taught among us that we cannot obtain forgiveness of sin and righteousness before God by our own merits, works, or satisfactions, but that we receive forgiveness of sin and become righteous before God by grace, for Christ's sake, through faith, 2 when we believe that Christ suffered for us and that for his sake our sin is forgiven and righteousness and eternal life are given to us. 3 For God will regard and reckon this faith as righteousness, as Paul says in Romans 3:21-26 and 4:5.2

The Lutheran Confessions, these writings which norm our doctrine and practice, have plenty to say about Holy Absolution, that is, the Sacrament that brings it to us. Over the years we've taught extensively about it, prepared and printed booklets to teach and assist you in preparing for using this third sacrament. Our catechumens are instructed about its necessity and usage. We even require them to come to it in order to learn how to use it properly. But something is amiss among us Lutherans, and among us here at Immanuel. Basically, we say all the right things about it but generally treat it as though it were an extra button on the remote control that we don't know how to use. It's that button that looks brand new, that isn't worn smooth by continual usage.

Luther himself wrote much about its necessity and use:

1 Since absolution or the power of the keys, which was instituted by Christ in the Gospel, is a consolation and help against sin and a bad conscience, confession and absolution should by no means be allowed to fall into disuse in the church, especially for the sake of timid consciences and for the sake of untrained young people (tr-495) who need to be examined and instructed in Christian doctrine.³

The Apology of the Augsburg Confession says that "it would be unconscionable [ literally "against God"-wider Gott-in the German!] to remove private absolution from the church" [Apol. XII.99-100]. Earlier, in the article on Confession, Apology XI states:

2 It is well known that we have so explained and extolled the blessing of absolution and the power of the keys that many troubled consciences have received consolation from our teaching. They have heard that it is the command of God - yes, the very voice of the Gospel - that we should believe the absolution and firmly believe that the forgiveness of sins is granted to us freely for Christ's sake and that we should be sure that by this faith we are truly reconciled to God. This teaching has encouraged many devout minds, and in the beginning brought Luther the highest praise of all good men, since it discloses a sure and firm consolation for the conscience. Previously the whole power of absolution had been smothered by teachings about works, since the scholastics and monks teach nothing about faith and free forgiveness.⁴

That being said, why aren't more of our people using Private Confession and Absolution? Why the avoidance of that which is good, right, and salutary, to use the words of the communion liturgy? Why indeed, after years of teaching and preaching about the blessings and benefits of this Sacrament, do not more of you use it? Why the avoidance of it as though it were the plague?

Perhaps it is because you consider the Preparation before the Divine Service to be sufficient, but that rite was never part of the Divine Service until the age of Pietism. At certain times we have omitted this opening rite. It would be perfectly in order to omit it altogether if you had the habit of confessing. It was added precisely to avoid Private Confession and Absolution which the Pietists were determined to deep six. Part of it had to do with a disdain for the Office of the Holy Ministry and part of it had to do with an overemphasis on personal feelings. Instead of confessing and being absolved, people were encouraged to have a heart to heart talk with the pastor, but no absolution was ever spoken.

Perhaps you are worried that your pastor will know that you are a sinner! If he didn't already know that he would be selling widgets on the internet for tons of money! That you are a sinner and that you have specific sins comes as no surprise to him. That's the very reason he is here, namely, to distribute Christ's Absolution to you! It's the Gospel ministry!

Maybe it's a level of trust. Maybe you feel that he'll blab any specific sins to his wife or to the Deacons. When he was ordained he took a solemn vow never to divulge any sins confessed to him: " . . . will you promise never to divulge the sins confessed to you?" Your pastor's ears are a tomb, as the saying goes. As Christ remembers your confessed sins no more, neither does your pastor. In truth, he can honestly say that he remembers very little of what is confessed to him. Besides, your sins are no more unique than anybody's else's sins.

It could be that the problem is merely overcoming your inertia with regard to this salutary practice of confessing and being absolved. While there is "safety in numbers," that so-called "general confession" in the Preparation, there is untold comfort and reassurance in Private Absolution. Why do you deprive yourself of what we sometimes call the "individualized Gospel?" In an age where everyone tries to make everything individually meaningful, this great blessing of Holy Absolution is treated as though it were poison, that God means to do you harm through it.

Of course, there is no forced enumeration of sins. Luther says that this is up to the individual:

2 However, the enumeration of sins should be left free to everybody to do or not as he will. As long as we are in the flesh we shall not be untruthful if we say, "?I am a poor man, full of sin. I see in my members another law,?" etc. (Rom. 7:23). 5 If there are no specific sins, this is what is known as "the general confession," not the confession in the company of the assembled congregation.

What do you hear from the pastor? You hear the living voice of God! People want to hear God speak to them! Well, here is a place that God speaks to you, and by name!

3 It is not the voice or word of the man who speaks it, but it is the Word of God, who forgives sin, for it is spoken in God's stead and by God's command. 4 We teach with great diligence about this command and power of keys and how comforting and necessary it is for terrified consciences. We also teach that God requires us to believe this absolution as much as if we heard God's voice from heaven, that we should joyfully comfort ourselves with absolution, and that we should know that through such faith we obtain forgiveness of sins.^5&6

The Lenten season is upon us this February with Ash Wednesday [21 February]. This Lent it might be good spiritual discipline for you to come to Private Confession. The normal schedule is for the third Thursday of the month from 4:30-6:00 PM and the first Saturday of the month from 11:00-12 noon [June, July, and August excepted]. The third Thursday this month is 15 February. If you can't make those times, you may always make an appointment with your pastor.

Private Confession exists, not for the sake of your sins, but for the sake of the forgiveness, Absolution, that is pronounced over you. God is not seeking to harm you by directing you to it, but wants to bless, console, and encourage you.

Isn't it time?

Yours for the sake of the Absolution,
Pastor Meyer

¹Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary. Includes index. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, Inc.
²Tappert, T.G. (2000, c1959). The book of concord: The confessions of the evangelical Lutheran church (30). Philadelphia; Fortress Press.
³Tappert, T.G. (2000, c1959). The book of concord: The confessions of the evangelical Lutheran church (312). Philadelphia; Fortress Press.
⁴Tappert, T.G. (2000, c1959). The book of concord: The confessions of the evangelical Lutheran church (180). Philadelphia; Fortress Press.
⁵Tappert, T.G. (2000, c1959). The book of concord: The confessions of the evangelical Lutheran church (312). Philadelphia; Fortress Press.
⁶Tappert, T.G. (2000, c1959). The book of concord: The confessions of the evangelical Lutheran church (61). Philadelphia; Fortress Press.

VICAR'S ARTICLE

THE GOSPEL AT ORANGE COUNTY

If you pay any attention to the relatively meaningless stories that occasionally pop up on Yahoo! News, you might have read the shocking announcement that FOX has decided to cancel its three year old program The O.C. I never actually watched The O.C., but from the promos, it seems that the show is about pretty, rich high school students (played by 29 year olds, of course) who live in California and enjoy various types of sin. For those of you who remember Beverly Hills 90210, it appears to be the same show, minus the sideburns.

When the Fox Network announced the cancellation of The O.C., they cited low ratings as the reason. What is interesting about this decision is that, just about a year ago, The O.C. was a Nielsen Ratings superstar. It was especially popular with the teenage audience who adored the young and beautiful people's soap-opera-like storylines. But over the past few months, the teen audience's all-consuming love for all things O.C. died as quickly as it was born.

While some may blame elements within the show for the ratings nosedive, I believe it is much more likely that the loss of an audience is simply the result of teenagers being teenagers. When it comes to entertainment, fashion and taste, youth often have no rhyme or reason for devoting themselves to a trend and no rhyme or reason for abandoning it completely. And, despite the fact that this has been the case with every generation of youth since the invention of pop culture, many people seem to forget this lesson each time a new trend rolls along.

One place where the fickleness of youth is forgotten frequently is in congregational life. When it seems to adults that the youth are not as engaged in the life of the Church as they should be, those adults often conclude that they must approach the youth in a different, more effective way. So, driven by the best of intentions, they try to present the Gospel by using pop culture stuff that does engage their children, hoping for a more enthusiastic response. The mentality seems to be that you can get teens to be interested in the Faith if you wrap it in the kinds of music or movies or language that have proven to excite them.

There are two flaws to this mentality. The first flaw is what I like to call the dog medicine error. Many people have dogs that will only eat their heartworm pill if you trick them by putting it in a piece of bread. When applied to teens, the idea is that you have to trick them into embracing the Gospel by wrapping it in something that isn't the Gospel at all. In reality, there is probably no group of people alive who are more acutely aware of their sinful nature than adolescents. Consequently, there is nothing that would be more beneficial for them to hear than the pure, straight Gospel that Christ Jesus has died for the very sins that hound them daily. The idea that the Gospel needs to be jazzed up in order to effectively reach teens not only insults teens by labeling them as too flaky to desire anything of substance. It also insults the Gospel by insinuating that it's just not good enough to get the job done by itself.

The second flaw is the failure to realize the trivial nature of the things that interest teens. As the cancellation of The O.C. reveals-the hotter the flame, the faster the burnout. Things like The O.C, 80's hair bands and disco entertained people because they were cheap and silly and shallow. But it's that same lack of substance that explains why those things could no longer captivated people when the entertainment value wore off. And if the Christian faith is only presented to teens within the confines of such shallow entertainment, don't expect it to matter to them when they move past those things. If teens see the Christian faith as something to embrace because it's a fun and cool and totally awesome thing to do, many of them will probably want to be a part of it. But if that's all the know of it, when they grow up and mature, don't expect them to be any less embarrassed by their Christian phase than I am of my middle school grunge phase.

There is a great episode of the television show King of the Hill in which Hank Hill's son Bobby gets involved with a sort of skateboarder, alternative Christian ministry, much to his father's chagrin. After several blowups with his son over issues such as concluding the family's dinner prayer with "mad props to the Lord J.C.", Hank brings his son home from a Christian Rock Festival and takes him out to the garage. There, Hank locates an old shoebox filled with various trendy things that he and his son abandoned over the years. Some of the things include a picture of Bobby in his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles outfit and Hank in his Members Only jacket. After the two express their embarrassment over having embraced such fads whole heartedly, Hank looks at his son and says, with great sincerity, "Bobby, I don't want the Lord to end up in this box." That's pretty insightful stuff from the creator of Beavis and Butthead. If we want the Gospel to matter to youth, both now and when they are adults, not only is it import to present the Gospel as a message that is fully capable of standing on its own. It is also important to believe that youth are capable of embracing things that have a great amount of substance and depth. It's important to recognize that those who briefly reveled in the triviality of The O.C are capable of understanding, loving and appreciating far more than just The Gospel according to the Macarena.

Vicar Hans Fiene

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

[Note: each month we shall endeavor to include a quote from the Lutheran Confessions about important items.]

We on our part also retain many ceremonies and traditions (such as the liturgy of the Mass and various canticles, festivals, and the like) which serve to preserve order in the church. 41 At the same time, however, the people are instructed that such outward forms of service do not make us righteous before God and that they are to be observed without burdening consciences, which is to say that it is not a sin to omit them if this is done without causing scandal.⁷

⁷Tappert, T.G. (2000, c1959). The book of concord : The confessions of the evangelical Lutheran church (69). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.

LIBRARY NEWS
These books are new in the library:

Loving God with All Your Mind by Gene Edward Veith Jr. (#238V)
The Young Reader's Bible by Bonnie Bruno and Carol Reinsma (#J220B)

These are Old Testament Arch Books for Children:

Elijah Helps the Widow by Nanette Thorsen-Snipes
Jacob's Dream by Bryan Davis
Zerubbabel Rebuilds the Temple by Larry Burgdorf

Dorothy Senff, Librarian

CREMATION
In our adult Bible class study of 1 Corinthians, particularly, chapter 15, the chapter which deals with the resurrection of Christ and the resurrection of the dead, a small discussion arose about cremation. Pastor Meyer promised to prepare a study on Cremation for the class, once Vicar Fiene finishes off chapter 16. Those days are soon upon us. The study will be a biblical and Christian examination of the practice of cremation. Does the Bible say anything about it? Is it an option for Christians? Does the history of the Church say anything about this practice? What if I have had a loved one cremated? Find out the answers to all these questions and many more. Watch the Sunday announcements for the beginning of this study.

PARISH NOTES

SCHEDULE OF DIVINE LITURGIES

04 February The Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, 10:30 AM Divine Service 07 February Wednesday, 7:00 AM Office of Matins 11 February The Sixth Sunday after Epiphany, 10:30 AM Divine Service 14 February Wednesday, 7:00 AM Office of Matins 18 February The Transfiguration of Our Lord, 10:30 AM Divine Service 21 February Ash Wednesday, 7:00 PM Imposition of Ashes/Divine Service 25 February The First Sunday in Lent, 10:30 AM Divine Service 28 February Wednesday, 7:00 PM Office of Vespers

THOUGHTS FOR LENT
Instead of "giving up something for Lent," why not do something positive instead? There are 40 days in Lent. For each day of Lent put pennies in a jar. On Ash Wednesday put 1˘ in the jar. On Thursday put 2˘ in the jar, on Friday put 3˘ in the jar, etc., until the Lenten season is over. By the time you get to the 40th day, you will put 40˘ in the jar. Bring your offering to Divine Service. There will be a nice thank offering to God!

REMEMBER IMMANUEL IN YOUR WILL!
Help keep the work of the Gospel going here after you are gone.

BOARD OF EDUCATION
The 2006 Children's Christmas Service was greatly enjoyed well-organized and well-attended (129). A special thank you to the co directors Stacy Gibbens and Katie Fiene, to the participating children and all the parents for arranging their schedules so the children could attend practices.

All 2006 Board of Education members have been asked to return to the 2007 BofE have accepted and been approved. Thank you for the year 2006 board members.

January 7th YPI continued their money raising work for their Youth Gathering trip to Orlando this summer by stuffing 22,800 envelopes with the help of parents and congregational members (35 total participants).

Vicar's 500pm Sunday college student class after a holiday recess began again January 14th studying sanctification. The 8 or so students have been well fed by members of the congregation. Thank you very much to all concerned. See the bulletin board and sign up if you can help serve a light meal to the college students.

Reviewing/updating the Sunday School handbook continues.

The Sunday School mission project for the next few months is a stipend for parochial school teachers at Baguga Lutheran School in Southern Sudan.

Up coming dates - Next BofE meeting Tuesday February 13, 2007

God's blessings
Chuck Lux, Deacon

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
A representative from Habitat For Humanity will give a short presentation following Divine Service on Feb. 4, 2007. Please stay and see how our church can get more involved in our community. We would like to have a group (or groups) organized to participate at least one Saturday this year. You don't have to be handy with tools---there is a job for everyone!

Jaymie Duerlinger

BOARD OF PROPERTY AND GROUND'S REPORT
7 January 2007

Old Business:

Remodeling Sacristy is underway.
New stoves and refrigerator are being priced.
North side heating unit needs rewiring to the circuit breaker.
Water leak in the nursery above North window needs to be repaired.
The men's rest room toilet has been replaced.
Vicarage bathroom sink needs fixed.
Lighting on the Church sign has been worked on.
Discussion on the steeple lighting is continued.
Estimate on painting the inside of the Church is being investigated.

Next meeting 6 March 2007 at 6:30pm.

Jim Senff, Deacon

TABLE TALK
The editor has considered that this segment of each Esprit called "AND SO IT GOES . . ." was not really Lutheran enough! It could be anybody's title. Martin Luther used to sit around the dinner table and talk for hours with his friends about all kinds of topics, some of them merely reflections on what was happening in their society. In Luther's Works, American Edition, this is called "Table Talk," from the German Tischreden, which can be translated as "after dinner talk." In that spirit we have renamed this monthly column.

The Episcopal Church has undergone a schism because of its decision to ordain openly homosexual clergy. A number of historic, large congregations in Virginia have left the United States episcopate and placed themselves under the episcopacy of the bishop of Nigeria, an avowed conservative firmly opposed to the practice of homosexuality and the ordination of homosexuals. The fight will now center in who owns these historic properties where such luminaries as George Washington once worshiped and who will control the properties. Members of these congregations voted overwhelmingly to secede from the US episcopacy, and then are supported by some rather influential movers and shakers in Washington, DC. Stay tuned.

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This report via Reuters News Agency: "Several African leaders have blasted Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, the first woman to head the U.S. Episcopal Church, for backing gay clergy and same-sex unions. They have urged Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams not to invite her to a global meeting of Anglican primates in Tanzania." Anglican bishops have been called many things, but linking these "primates" [bishops] to Tanzania makes one think that the Anglicans are up to "monkey business!" It's a whole new way of looking at their clergy! Some have suggested that the Missouri Synod immediately rename her district presidents "primates!"

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When are people going to learn that Pat Robertson is a false teacher as well as being a kook? Robertson again made predictions for 2007 based upon private revelations from God. He predicts a horrific terrorist attack on the United States, resulting in many deaths. He believes it will be "nuclear," although he says God didn't say the word. Supposedly it will take place after September. Amazingly, Robertson said, "I put these things out with humility." Really? He claims to have a pipeline to God's plans but that isn't somewhat arrogant? In the Old Testament, which he claims to know, it says that prophets' predictions that don't come true should be labeled as false prophets and put to death. We'll settle for banishment.

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Do you want to be happier? Yet another study comes up with the result we have long known, namely, that people who practice their religion faithfully are much happier about themselves and with others in the family. Specifically, it relates to Christians. A study by social science researcher Pat Fagan has proved it again. Parents and children got along better when there was a faith genuinely practiced. The same was true of husbands and wives. Men who attend religious services at least once per week were more than 50% less likely to commit acts of violence against their spouses than were peers who attended only once per year or less. The real irony is that we have groups like the ACLU and others who are trying to rid society of all religion, ala John Lennon's plaintiff song, "Imagine." In it he saw a blissful state of affairs where there is "no heaven, no hell, and "peace and harmony reign." Unfortunately, John Lennon isn't around to hear the results of this study. He was shot dead by a looney tune who surely could have used what Lennon didn't want anybody to have. Maybe Lennon would reconsider-if he could.

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Kathleen Parker, whose columns sometimes appear in our local paper, recently lamented that the communications age has become the age of voyeurism. Her proof? The cell phone video of Saddam Hussein's hanging. As of 04 January, it was the number one hit on the search engine that logs internet hits on more than 55 million blogs. Our society is swimming in these images because if the news cameras miss it, somebody with a camera cell phone will get it. Look at the popularity of YouTube. Parker makes the important point that this voyeurism is the same thing that makes us slow up at accident sites. We're hoping to see something gruesome. Poignantly, she said, "We are all executioners now." Television has brought us 24 hour a day news channels. Something has to fill the time. Everything is now news all the time. Is anybody ready to turn off the TV and the cell phone? It reminds us Satan's temptation in Eden: "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:5, ESV). It surely seems as though our eyes have been opened and we know evil all too well.

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Have you noticed that the "peace movement" is none too peaceful? Bullying and threats aren't exactly peace-inspiring activities.

SMILES
By the time Jim arrived at the football game, the first half was almost over. "Why are you so late?" his friend asked. "I had to toss a coin to decide between going to Divine Service and coming to the game," he replied. "How long could that have taken you?" "Well, I had to toss the coin 14 times."

Why do you have to "put your two cents in," but it's only a "penny for your thoughts?" Where's that extra penny going?

Quotes taken from Federal Government employee performance evaluations. . .

"Since my last report, this employee has reached rock-bottom and has started to dig."
"This employee is really not so much of a has-been, but more of a definite won't be."
"This employee is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot."
"This employee should go far, and the sooner he starts, the better."
"He doesn't have ulcers, but he's a carrier."
"He brings a lot of joy whenever he leaves the room."
"Gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn't coming."
"Some drink from the fountain of knowledge; he only gargled."
"Takes him 2 hours to watch '60-minutes'."