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March 2007 Newsletter Contents [Newsletter Archive] |
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| Pastor's Article | Vicar's Article |
| Christian Education | Parish Notes |
| Portals of Prayer |
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March 2007 Newsletter Contents [Newsletter Archive] |
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| Pastor's Article | Vicar's Article |
| Christian Education | Parish Notes |
| Portals of Prayer |
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"Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words."(Ecclesiastes 5:1-3, ESV)1
It isn't often that we delve into the Old Testament, especially into books like Ecclesiastes. It is sometimes known as "The Preacher." It is commonly understood as coming from the pen of Solomon, whose wisdom is considered as the highest. We're much more familiar with the words of chapter 3.1-8. Here Solomon offers advice about coming into the house of God. It got me to thinking that we 21st century Americans might do well to pay attention to it because we are always quick to speak, to offer our words about how we think things should be. After all, don't we seem to have cell phones growing organically from our ears?
It seems that evangelical Christianity is consumed with speaking to God. Is that a bad thing? Doesn't God tell us to bring our prayers to him? Indeed, he does, but just what constitutes the content of our prayers? Aren't we always telling God what we need or what we think or what we want? Aren't we often overly narcissistic in our lives, which is another way of saying that we are self-absorbed or selfish?
Solomon, a wise man in his own right, here speaks by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In other words, God is here speaking to us! To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools . . To listen is one of the disciplines of Lent. We draw near to God in his house to listen to his Word, but often we are so busy talking to ourselves that we do not make the time to listen. We are like little school children who chatter about aimlessly making noise. Learning doesn't take place while we are talking.
I've noticed before Divine Service that when I come out to sit for a few minutes before the Divine Service begins that there is an awful lot of chatter going on in the congregation. Some of it I can hear, and most of that is inconsequential. Friendliness is important in greeting visitors and each other, but I sometimes wonder whether our chatter is merely a way of avoiding uncomfortable silence, much like having the TV on at home all the time because we are afraid of what broadcasters call "dead air," the horrifying feeling that if someone isn't talking constantly, viewers will change the channel. Do we think that if we aren't talking others will "change the channel," as it were?
Please do not misunderstand! I am not asking you to become mutes, to refuse to speak and greet others! I am merely asking if we are preparing adequately to let God speak to us. Do you take the time to prepare for the Divine Service by looking through the service folder or by praying one or more of the prayers that are printed on the inside cover of your hymnal? Do you pray a Psalm in preparation? Do you look forward to the hymns and contemplate what connection they might have with the theme of the day? Do you glance at the insert with the various worship helps printed in the third column? In other words, are you preparing to draw near to listen to God?
Perhaps anticipating God speaking through his Word by being silent isn't something we do. Yet, Solomon doesn't have much good to say about us speaking too many words! Listening at all seems to be a casualty of life in our society! Perhaps our personal preparation for the Divine Service is the right place to begin.
Listening to the Word of God is an art to be developed. We learn by listening to God speak, and we begin that by quieting our hearts in preparation, but listening to words that God has already spoken and by praying that God will bless our listening.
Lent is meant to be a time of spiritual discipline. Let's see if we can cultivate this discipline of being slow to speak and being quick to listen to God in his Word! Let us practice not being rash with our mouths and speaking when we should have been listening. One of the ancient church fathers opines that when we are silent, reflecting on God's Words then "we should find a little place in heaven" [Theodore of Tabenesi].
Pastor Meyer
Words from Luther on certainty in one's spiritual life:
Above all, then, learn the lesson and habituate your hearts in such a way that your whole life becomes certain and steadfast, according to the statement of Heb. 12:12: "Lift your drooping hands, and strengthen your weak knees." And in 2 Peter 1:10 we read: "Confirm your call and election." Remain in your calling. And conclude as follows: "I have been baptized; I have received the body and blood of Christ; I have been absolved; God will not deceive me. Why, then, would I be mistaken or doubt, since I know that the works of God are good and sure?2
1The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
2Luther, M. (1999, c1965). Vol. 7: Luther's works, vol. 7 : Lectures on Genesis: Chapters 38-44 (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.). Luther's Works (7:155). Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House.
THE GOSPEL AT THE KODAK THEATER
As I write these words, Hollywood's award season is again in full swing, which has made me somewhat excited. You see, I enjoy awards shows for two reasons. The first is that, occasionally, someone who's long deserved a relatively meaningless trophy finally gets one (a la Morgan Freeman and his 2004 Oscar). The second is that-especially when they give politically charged acceptance speeches-it's always funny to watch celebrities try to establish themselves as moral beacons to the world.
A great example of Hollywood's moralistic posturing came about after a recent awards show. In late January, the Golden Globes, which awards both film and television excellence, gave the Best Television Series-Drama trophy to Grey's Anatomy. During the press interviews following their win, Grey's cast member Isaiah Washington addressed a recent on-set incident where he allegedly tossed a disparaging epithet at a homosexual costar, stating, "I never called him a -," then used the term he supposedly never used.
Almost immediately, the entire Hollywood community began lambasting Washington for his use of this taboo word. Then, at the height of the public tongue-lashing, Washington entered sensitivity rehabilitation, apparently to appease Grey's producers-though some suspect that his character may still be written off the show.
What's interesting about Hollywood's virtual excommunication of Washington after his Golden Globes comment is that, at another awards show in 2003, the beautiful people gave a standing ovation to Best Director winner Roman Polanski, who couldn't be there to accept his Oscar in person. In fact, Polanski hasn't set foot in the US since fleeing from California prosecutors to France after raping a 13 year old girl in 1977.
To those of us outside the 90210 zip code, Hollywood's morality rating scale-where using hateful language is apparently worse than child rape-seems a bit ridiculous. But the interesting thing about moralism is that, if you look closely enough at any morality rating scale, you'll find ridiculous inconsistencies in all of them. In ancient Hinduism, burning a man's widow to death on his funeral pyre was considered holy but eating beef was considered abominable. In the moral system of Pentecostals, gently swaying back and forth at a school dance is sinful but writhing and grinding around in a church service when "filled with the Spirit" is sacred.
The reason one can find such odd and varying ideas as to what is and isn't acceptable in every brand of moralism is because moralism is, in its nature, a very malleable thing. The core teaching behind every kind of moralism is that a person becomes righteous or holy in God's sight by doing moral things and by not doing immoral things. The goal of any moralist is to stand before God in judgment with hands full of the holy things he's accomplished. Because the moralist believes he must accomplish this holy-hand-filling by himself, he will automatically consider as holy whatever makes this process the easiest. So for the actor who has committed adultery on numerous occasions but never uttered an anti-gay phrase, the latter is deemed as holier than marital faithfulness. For the Hindu who has assisted in killing his brother's widow but never eaten a hamburger, he will believe that following dietary restrictions makes one more righteous than not burning a woman to death. If there are a million different but equally ridiculous moral scales in the world, this is because there are a million different moralists trying to weigh their own behavior in whatever manner leaves each individual appearing the holiest.
As Christians, we should always be wary of moralism in all its forms-not only because it argues that one can, in fact, lead a holy enough life to please God but also because it argues against the entire Christian foundation of forgiveness. True forgiveness isn't earned. It's given freely from the gracious heart of the one sinned against. Furthermore, a sin is only forgiven when the one sinned against says it doesn't exist anymore-not when the sinner says that. If Isaiah Washington has to enter sensitivity rehabilitation in order to personally remove the ding from his holiness credit check, he's not being forgiven-he's paying off the bill of his sin. In the same way, Roman Polanski may have made a brilliant film called The Pianist that brought much light to the injustices of the Holocaust. Good for him. But a thousand Holocaust movies wouldn't erase the fact that he raped a child.
The wonderful thing about the Christian doctrine of justification is that it doesn't tell lies about either sin or forgiveness. Once we've sinned, we cannot remove the stain. It doesn't matter how many hungry children sponsored or soup kitchen visits we throw on top off that stain, we can't erase it. But yet, when God shows us how utterly incapable we are of erasing our own sins, He also shows us how truly gracious He is when He erases that sin out of his own mercy and through the perfect life and death of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. When Christ and Christ alone is responsible for erasing all that is unholy within us, we no longer need to follow the example of Hollywood Moralism-where we stand and applaud ourselves for fulfilling the holiness requirements we've created while our guilt still screams from within the mound of the false good works we've used to hide our sins. Rather, we can rest assured that there is no sin too great that it can't be destroyed forever by the blood of the Lamb of God who is God.
Vicar Hans Fiene
[Note: each month we shall endeavor to include a quote from the Lutheran Confessions about important items.]
Apology II. 2-3
"It is also taught that since the fall of Adam all men who are born according to the course of nature are conceived and born in sin. That is, all men are full of evil lusts and inclinations from their mothers' wombs and are unable by nature to have true fear of God or true faith in God." 3 This passage testifies that in those who are born according to the flesh we deny the existence not only of actual fear and trust in God but also of the possibility and gift to produce it. We say that anyone born in this way has concupiscence and cannot produce true fear and trust in God. What is wrong with this? This explanation should be enough for any unprejudiced man. In this sense the Latin definition denies that human nature has the gift and capacity to produce the fear and trust of God, and it denies that adults actually produce it. When we use the term "concupiscence," we do not mean only its acts or fruits, but the continual inclination of nature.3
3Tappert, T.G. (2000, c1959). The book of concord : The confessions of the evangelical Lutheran church (100). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.
The following report is a fascinating account of the opportunities that we confessional Lutherans have in Central Africa. Rev. Simojoki is a Finnish national pastor who has lived and worked in East Africa for many years. He was Pastor Meyer's host when Pastor Meyer visited Kenya and Sunday in 2000. Your Sunday offerings help support the work of the Lutheran Heritage Foundation, but only if we can meet our budgetary obligations. Please remember to send in your offerings if you are not present!
DISTRIBUTING AND TEACHING
The latter part of the mission statement of Lutheran Heritage Foundation (distributing and introducing confessional Lutheran materials) may look at the first glance quite ordinary: once Lutheran books have been translated and published, what else to do but to haul them to those who are in need of them?
The realities of our African work, however, are often much more colourful than one might expect. Sometimes a bus rolls through the gates of our centre in Karen, Nairobi, Kenya. Boxes are being loaded into the vehicle before the instructor hits the road to a distant place to deliver the books we have translated and published, together with Swahili issues of the "Good News" magazine. Sometimes a small plane takes off with a good number of publications and an excited instructor on board, heading from Nairobi's Wilson Airport for a distant airstrip somewhere in East Africa.
Confessional Lutheran teaching is something which those who receive our publications strongly desire. They initially invented it, saying, "Why don't you come over and teach us your books?"
We have also learned to do so. Since 2000, the LHF Centre in Karen, Nairobi, in the capital city of Kenya, has served as a centre of constant catechetical teaching for various groups: Lutheran pastors, evangelists, leading laymen in congregations, women's groups, Kenyans, Somalis, Lutheran Christians from our pioneering areas. Apart from our Karen centre, similar seminars have been arranged also in other locations in Kenya, Tanzania and other countries as well.
Teaching is the foremost way of distributing literature and the "Good News" magazine. Lutheran doctrinal teaching is also the initial step of becoming Lutheran translator.
"COME WITH LUTHERAN BOOKS!"
Not quite one year ago, I met Rev. Victor Bwanangela Kambuli Kikagu, a Lutheran bishop in Bukavu, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). I was extended his solemn episcopal invitation: "Come over to the Diocese of Kivu-Maniema in Eastern Congo! Come with Lutheran books and teach us to fully understand the Lutheran doctrine!"
Bishop Bwanangela had heard in some international meetings about the work of Lutheran Heritage Foundation. He had even come across our books and the Swahili version of the "Good News" magazine. So he had come to the conclusion: "This is what our war-torn diocese first and foremost needs!"
Finally, on October 29, 2006, I left our compound in Nairobi for Congo. For a week's time I taught to the pastors of the Kivu-Maniema Diocese as well as to a number of lay leaders from Dr. Martin Luther's Small Catechism in the Swahili language. Their questions during the one-week course focused upon the specific Lutheran teaching in each article of the catechism, distinguished from general Protestant jelly-like theology. It was a privilege to answer their questions.
CONGO'S HISTORY
Swahili arrived in Eastern and Southern Congo centuries ago with Arab slave traders who trekked to the heart of Africa from Zanzibar and the coast of the Indian Ocean. "Swahili" is Arabic and means "coast." Once the coastal tribes had been converted to Islam, they could not be taken to slaves. Instead, coastal tribesmen were used as porters and slave-handlers who did the dirty job for Arabs in the slave caravans. Swahili was their language.
It has been estimated that annually tons of ivory and tens of thousands of slaves from African inlands were transported from the Eastern coast to the Arabian Peninsula and the Persian Gulf. Unlike in the Americas, no African population ever grew up in Arab countries. Generally the question has been passed with ominous silence: What happened to the African slaves and their descendants in various Arab countries? What was the black hole of their extinction?
Congo experienced further dark chapters in its history when King Leopold II of Belgium directed in the 19th century his greedy attention to the opulent heart of the African Continent. This was the time of Joseph Conrad's epochal novel "Heart of Darkness." The dark heart in the heart of Africa belonged to white men, Mr. Kurtz and his kind, who mercilessly looted the incredible riches of Congo and cruelly subjugated its people. Belgians made Congo Francophone.
A more recent dark post-colonial chapter was the long dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Gbwendu wa za Banga, a darling of the West during the Cold War. Mobutu was the most notorious impersonation of African kleptocratic leadership, a habit of dictators and elites to loot with no inhibition whatsoever their national economies. Finally, the war, which toppled Mobutu, broke out in the aftermath of the genocide in Rwanda in 1994 and was prosecuted across the vast country with Ugandan and Rwandese troops. These armies entered the Congolese territory through Kivu. The war destroyed the property of the Lutheran church and left too many orphans behind.
BLACKMAIL AND BRIBERY
All in Congo is grand, magnificent. The territory of the Diocese of Kivu-Maniema alone amounts to that of a well-sized state or two in the United States. The rebuilding of the Eastern territory has witnessed strange turns: Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Geneva has poured out millions to Pentecostal churches, which have set up expensive headquarters and church buildings with this aid. The Lutheran church (EELCO) has not received a dime.
The supporting liberal missions of EELCO have not been much better than Geneva. All promises of aid for the vast Kivu-Maniema Diocese of EELCO have been tied to one condition: ordination of women! B&B does not mean "bed and breakfast" in the missions. Instead, it is a fitting acronym for blackmail and bribing under the pretence of assistance. Contrary to this, Bishop Bwanangela has often made his profound statement: rather poor and Lutheran than rich and liberal!
Although I visited Congo already in 1989 and 1990, I had personally considered the boundaries of the country more or less as the end of my world. During this visit, however, I realised how closely the conservative Lutheran churches in Rwanda and Burundi are connected to the Lutheran Diocese of Kivu-Maniema. Instead of reaching out for the end of the world, I found myself in Bukavu in the middle of what I would call as a gigantic Swahili-Speaking Confessional Lutheran Church Province of the Heart of Africa.
On my way back I began to assess what I had seen and heard: a new vast market for our Swahili books and "Good News" magazines! Incredible potential of growth! A country where even modest missionary investments may yield rich harvest! A hidden spring-board for a confessional Lutheran renewal in and from the Heart of Africa!
WHAT CAN WE DO?
The stark history and present harsh conditions have taught Lutherans to weigh various options: rather poor and Lutheran than rich and liberal! I realised that since my departure from Bukavu I am hounded by the question: what can we do?
The Revd. Dr. Anssi Simojoki, Vice-President for LHF-Africa
+ + + Confessional Lutherans in Missionary Boldness + + +
SCHEDULE OF DIVINE LITURGIES
04 March The Second Sunday in Lent, 10:30 AM Divine Service 07 March Wednesday, 7:00 PM Office of Vespers 11 March The Third Sunday in Lent, 10:30 AM Divine Service 14 March Wednesday, 7:00 PM Office of Vespers 18 March The Fourth Sunday in Lent, 10:30 AM Divine Service 21 March Wednesday, 7:00 PM Office of Vespers 25 March The Fifth Sunday in Lent, 10:30 AM Divine Service 28 March Wednesday, 7:00 PM Office of Vespers |
REMEMBER IMMANUEL IN YOUR WILL!
Help keep the work of the Gospel going here after you are gone.
Council of Deacons Report
The Council of Deacons met on 17 February 2007. Present were: Chairman Ron Dunbar, Secretary David Robinson, Chairman of Finance Jim Russler, Outreach Assimilation and Fellowship Chairman Brad Cress, Education Chairman Charles Lux, Chairman of Worship Support Dave Miller; Pastor Meyer and Vicar Fiene.
• The Council continued its study of the Book of Concord, discussing Article XIII through XVI of the Augsburg Confession.
• Pastor Meyer reported on new members and transfers received since the January meeting, and explained the new procedure for imposition of ashes to be used at the Ash Wednesday service this year.
• Finance Chairman Jim Russler reported that CDs coming due shortly will be invested short-term (6-months) in light of impending repairs to the sanctuary. The finance committee is looking into filing rules regarding personal property for our tax exempt status.
• Worship Support Chairman Dave Miller reported that at least one organist trainee has been working regularly with Norma Norder.
• Kathy Tschudny is now working only a reduced schedule and will be assisted by Leslie Bilyeu, who will work approximately 9-12 hours per week during the daytime. As soon as Leslie has an e-mail in-box, she will take over the reception of notices for the Esprit.
• An automated phone voice-mail answering system is being implemented for security/privacy purposes. Cost underwritten by special gift.
• 150-Year Celebration Chairman Ron Dunbar reported on events planned for April, July and October 2008.
• Guidelines from Synod for archiving of church records and other historical materials were discussed. Ron Dunbar and Chuck Lux will be meeting with Kathy to ascertain which materials may be discarded, which preserved, and which are to be stored in the new fireproof safes.
The next meeting of the Council is scheduled for Saturday, March 31st at 7:30 a.m.
Ron Dunbar, Chairman of Deacons
Outreach, Assimilation Fellowship Report
Meeting started at 6:37pm with Pastor, Vicar Fiene, Brad Cress, Kari Cress, Noelle Cress, Jamie Deurlinger, and Leslie Bilyeu attending
Jamie reported the Habitat for Humanity speaker was well received. We want to assemble a group from the congregation to participate in a regular project, not the Apostle Blitz Build. Look for a bulletin insert for more information.
Leslie reported the Advent dinners and Christmas tree decorating went well. Having Children's Service practice at the same time helped attendance.
Five Lenten dinners are planned. Various members host them all. There will be a recipe request basket at all of them.
Thrivent is having a Statewide blood drive to benefit Riley Children's Hospital on April 28th and 30th. All members are urged to participate. Again look for the bulletin insert.
Respectfully submitted,
Brad Cress
Update from the Worship Support Board
We need men to serve as Ushers.
The purpose of the Worship Support Board is to coordinate and supervise activities related to the Divine Service so that worship may proceed in an orderly and godly manner. These activities include those undertaken by the Organists, Choir, Altar Guild and Ushers.
An important task related to the Board occurs each year when the Directors of the Altar Guild and the Vorsteher (Usher Coordinator) prepare their schedules of volunteers for the new year. The Altar Guild has a new schedule and members were installed several weeks ago. Unfortunately, the Usher schedule is only completed through April. We need volunteers. The task is not onerous. If you have not served as an usher before, you can be paired with an experienced usher. In addition, we plan to have a revised checklist available shortly. Please prayerfully consider whether you can commit to helping out the congregation in this way. Please contact Paul Danielsen (443-5931) to volunteer.
The next meeting of the Board will occur after Lent unless an issue arises.
Dave Miller, Deacon
Board of Education Report
The February meeting was cancelled. The next Board of Education meeting will be 7:00 PM on March 13. We are looking for someone with a camera who would like to video the Confirmation Service on May 13. Please contact anyone on the Board.
Chuck Lux, Deacon (765-665-3567)
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.
This item belongs in the category of "very tacky." A youth group from Advent Lutheran Church [ELCA] in Melbourne, FL, is auctioning off on eBay an autographed picture of the NASA Astronauts which includes accused felon, Lisa Nowak, the woman made infamous for attempted murder of one of her fellow Astronauts in a love triangle. The youth group claims that all monies made will go for youth group activities. Starting bid is $99 with a "buy it now" bid of $300. The group claims authenticity due to a member who got the photo for them. It also warns against facsimiles which are not the real thing.
One writer recently complained that the death of bimbo Anna Nicole Smith has gotten more press coverage than the death of President Gerald Ford. It surely says a lot about our national psyche, doesn't it?
An atheistic Princeton University bioethicist, Peter Singer, recently made the case in the New York Times that some human beings don't have as much inherent dignity as dogs or cats. He said, "But why should dignity always go together with species membership, no matter what the characteristics of the individual may be?" He was speaking about the mentally handicapped girl whose parents recently had her uterus removed and put her on hormones to stunt her growth. Such comments by Singer are truly disturbing because they reveal the lack of moral grounding of those who relativists. Relativism is part and parcel of the thinking of most atheists and others in rebellion against God. How opposite is the way our Lord Jesus treated people! In whose world would you rather live, in Singer's, or in Christ's?
SMILES
Theme Songs For Biblical Characters [maybe]
Noah Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head Adam and Eve Strangers In Paradise Lazarus. The Second Time Around Esther I Feel Pretty Job I've Got A Right To Sing The Blues Moses The Wanderer Jezebel The Lady Is A Tramp Samson Hair Salome I Could Have Danced All Night Daniel The Lion Sleeps Tonight Joshua Good Vibrations Peter I'm Sorry Esau Born To Be Wild Jeremiah Take This Job And Shove It Shadrach,Meshach & Abednego Great Balls Of Fire Elijah Up, Up, And Away Methuselah Stayin' Alive! Nebuchadnezzar Crazy |