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May 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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May 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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A little known part of the Easter season is known as Rogation Days. These days are the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in the week of Rogate, the Fifth Sunday after Easter. These days are to be days of special prayers for God's blessings on the fruits of the earth. To a society closely tied to agriculture these days were especially important and appropriate. This year the Fifth Sunday of Easter falls on the first Sunday in May. While the liturgical calendar no longer lists the Sundays of the Church Year with the old Latin titles [which I certainly regret!], it is still salutary for us to consider the theme of Rogation during this time.
Christians are to pray. Our Lord Jesus Christ makes it clear that God has commanded us to pray because he loves to answer prayer and because we need to draw near to God in prayer. Prayer does not benefit God, as though he needed to be informed of our needs, but we pray so that others may benefit by our prayers.
Prayer helps us understand our dependence upon God. Since 9-11 we have gotten used to the term "first responders," those emergency personnel who are to first to respond to a serious situation. God wants to be our First Responder in all aspects of life. Rogation Days remind us that we are to pray to God to bless even the crops that we have planted, for without his blessing there will not be an abundant supply of the fruits of the earth. Too often we rely only upon ourselves and not on God as our First Responder. Instead he becomes the Last Responder, the Person of last resort when all our efforts have failed. Rogation reminds us to call upon God first.
It seems to be that the prayer life of our congregation needs some serious repair. It may be-and I certainly hope that this is true!-that you have an active prayer life in your homes, that you use faithfully the insert from the Sunday bulletin for your prayers, that you teach your children to pray at least the prayers suggested in Luther's Small Catechism, that is, the Our Father and Luther's Morning and Evening Prayers. If you don't use this one, which has suggested Scripture readings and also a suggested order of devotions as well as a prayer list of those who need your prayers, then I hope that you use something like Portals of Prayer. In our weekly insert there are the suggestions for daily prayer, how you should pray for all sorts and conditions of men as well as for yourselves. I certainly hope that you are doing this! If not, then I suggest you use the week of Rogate to begin.
But corporately we don't do so well. We don't gather for the prayer offices of the Church, like Matins and Vespers. We have seen a decrease in your use of the prayer offices over the past few years. There seem to be fewer and fewer of you who will take the time to pray corporately. One suspects that when corporate prayer sees decay, then personal prayer also suffers. On this level the communal life of our congregation suffers from a lack of attention. We seem too busy with ourselves and cannot find the time to gather as the people of God in this congregation.
For quite a number of years we have gathered to pray the Office of Matins every Wednesday morning at 7:00 AM, except for the seasons of Advent and Lent. Our Advent and Lenten attendances have declined over the past few years. There are a few other Wednesdays that we do not gather due to other liturgical observances or because Vicar and I must be absent. We have had a hard time recruiting you to pray with us on those Wednesday morning Matins. One realizes that it isn't possible for many of you due to work and family obligations, but certainly more than a handful could be present!
I marvel that persons of a very prominent non-Christian religion pray five times a day no matter what. While they do not pray to the true God and while their prayers are certainly not even heard nor answered, one must marvel at their devotion. If they can be so devoted to a lost cause, why can't Christians be devoted to the cause of the living Christ? Indeed, we have a God who actually can and does answer our prayers! As to why we don't gather as people who have every reason to pray, one can only look into his own heart for the answer. If it is laziness or indifference, there these must be repented of and a different course of action must be taken.
The ancient practice of Rogation Days reminds us how important corporate prayer is. While we won't be gathering each morning of those three days, we will gather on that Wednesday morning. When we pray corporately we encourage each other. We also pray with one heart to God to grant his blessings on our world and on the Christian Church on earth. We remember our fellow Christians in our prayers. We again extend an invitation for you to join us as we pray the Office of Matins each week. We will be praying for you!
Pastor Meyer
THE GOSPEL AT SPRINGFIELD
In an episode of The Simpsons from last season, the blue beehive hairdo sporting Marge Simpson became a sort of nanny for Rod and Todd Flanders-the sons of the Simpson family's ever cheery and highly religious neighbor Ned Flanders. Due to some plot twist that I can't remember, Ned no longer wanted Marge to look after his sons near the end of the episode. Protesting, one of the boys confessed to his father, "We love Mrs. Simpson. She makes us happy. And not church happy-for real happy."
In other words, the joy that Marge brought out of them was legitimate, unlike the joy brought out of them while attending their Sunday morning services. While I don't believe that people should watch The Simpsons in order to learn the truths of the Christian Faith, I do believe nonetheless that this satirical quote nailed a vastly important theological point-that, when people believe that they must exhibit emotions in order to be considered a true Christian, those emotions will often be entirely phony.
Although Rod and Todd Flanders are mere fictional characters, there are many real people in this world who, if forced to be completely honest, would concede that church happy is not always for real happy-that even though they may radiate a look of absolute bliss during a worship service, they don't actually feel blissful inside. Trusting that Christ will always forgive us when we have sinned and will always fill us with the holy things we need, Christians should always feel free to be honest about who they are. And yet, despite Christ's call to freedom, so many people still feel bound to this emotional dishonesty echoed in the Flanders boys. So why is this? The answer is found in this phrase that you hear all the time-the Word and Sacraments.
You see, it is the desire of every Christian to come into the nearer presence of Christ and to have (though I'm wary of the phrase because of its contemporary usage) a personal or intimate relationship with Him. Sacramental Christians believe that this relationship is found in the sacramental life of the Church because Christ has promised that He is found in the water, the blood and the word. Those who reject the sacraments, however, don't believe this.
The late Rev. Kurt Marquart, one of my professors at the seminary, used to say that people who reject the sacraments always try to create their own pseudo-sacraments. They also desire to come into the nearer presence of Christ. But because they don't believe that Christ can be found externally in these things, they then search for Christ internally by looking to their own emotions. In this pseudo-sacramental treatment of all things emotional, they come to believe that you have found Christ when the thought of Him makes your heart feel "strangely warmed"-as John Wesley, the father of Methodism, described it.
Of course, the flip side of believing that a strangely warmed hearts makes you a Christian is believing that a heart feeling rather lukewarm must mean that you're not a Christian-despite what you actually believe. And if someone sporting a lukewarm heart believes that he can't be a true Christian until he's filled with emotional euphoria, the temptation will be quite strong to, as the phrase goes, "fake it till you make it". While manufacturing these emotions may convince others around him that he's truly a Christian, he can't trust in the certainty of his salvation when he knows that church happy is not actually for real happy.
But when we look outside of ourselves to find the certainty of our salvation, then we are not plagued with this emotional dishonesty. When we know that Christ has promised to come to us always in His Word and Sacraments, then we don't have to worry about getting lost trying to find Him in the maze of our fleeting, fickle and conflicted hearts. When we trust that Christ will always come into our presence, even if we are crying tears of sorrow, then we are actually able to cry tears of true joy that aren't invented or staged.
When you know that Christ made you a Christian in your baptism even if your heart didn't burn during that moment, then your heart is freed to be warmed by the promise that Christ gave you in the water and the Word. When you know that Christ will still forgive you through your pastor's absolution even if you don't feel forgiven, then you can actually feel the true bliss of that forgiveness. When you know that Christ isn't barred from strengthening you through His body and blood until you rejoice enough inside, then you truly know what it means to rejoice. True Christian happiness will never come about when we believe that it has to in order for us to be true Christians. True Christian happiness will always come about, however, when know that our salvation doesn't hinge upon our emotional response to Christ and His Gifts. As long as we trust in these Holy Gifts that Christ has given us, we can always be certain that our emotions will never be phony. We can be certain that church happy will always be for real happy.
Vicar Hans Fiene
[Note: each month we shall endeavor to include a quote from the Lutheran Confessions about important items.]
1Tappert, T.G. (2000, c1959). The book of concord : The confessions of the evangelical Lutheran church (415). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.
LUTHERAN HERITAGE FOUNDATION NEWS
Yesterday I received this message from Rev. Dr. Anssi Simojoki, vice president of the Lutheran Heritage Foundation - Africa. Rev. Simojoki travels throughout eastern Africa, teaching from Luther's Small Catechism, the Confessions and Good News magazine. As you might imagine, the work can sometimes be dangerous, but the spiritual rewards are great.
Your servant in Christ, Rev. Robert Rahn Executive Director, The Lutheran Heritage Foundation [editor's note: The Rev. Simojoki was his host when Pastor Meyer traveled to Kenya in 2000]
Dear Rev. Rahn,The Lutheran Heritage Foundation and East of Lake Victoria Diocese of ELCT arranged a seminar for pastors on the Lutheran Confessions March 12-16, 2007 in Mwanza, Tanzania. For the first time, 9 pastors from the neighbouring Mara Diocese attended as well.
I taught at the seminar, having travelled with the Range Rover from Nairobi all the 725 kms down to Mwanza by Lake Victoria. The vehicle was, once again, loaded with LHF books and Swahili Good News magazines. This year alone, the beast of burden (the Range Rover) has hauled two loads to Arusha, Tanzania, one load to western Kenya and now, one load to Mwanza, Tanzania.
On the way from the border down to Mwanza, the vehicle was stopped several times at police check points. Many times the driver had to tell what he was transporting in those many brown boxes. At one check point the police released the vehicle after the officer had received his bright blue copy of 'The Freedom of A Christian' in Swahili.
The seminar in Mwanza was very lively. Bishop Nehemiah Bomani had observed a profound change for the better in his diocese since the commencement of confessional seminars some years back and the flow of LHF publications.
On the way back to Kenya, a police check-point was erected in Serengeti, where the main road crosses the western-most tip of the world-famous wild-life park. To the astonishment of the driver, a police officer waived his arm from far to stop the vehicle. Yet, there was no inspection.
Instead, the police officer had a broad smile as he walked towards the car with his both hands extended: "Thank you so much for Luther's book! I read it at once. It is an excellent writing! Next time you come, please stop again and give us a good Lutheran book!"
Yours,
Rev. Dr. Anssi Simojoki
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
June 11-14 6:00-8:30p.m.
A light meal will be served from 5:00-5:45 p.m.
Children ages 3 years through 6th grade are invited to attend VBS. Evening classes will consist of bible lessons, crafts, music, recreation and snack time. Invite your friends, neighbors and grandkids.
ADULT CLASS, TOO!
This summer, while the children are studying "The Remission of Sins" program, our adults will study the same subject, but from the Lutheran Confessions. We'll look at what the Confessions have to say about Repentance, Absolution, the Office of the Keys, and the matter of Private Absolution. Materials will be provided for those who do not own a copy of the Lutheran Confessions.
02 May Wednesday, 7:00 AM Office of Matins 06 May Fifth Sunday of Easter, 10:30 AM Divine Service 09 May Wednesday, 7:00 AM Office of Matins 13 May Sixth Sunday of Easter, 10:30 AM Divine Service 16 May Wednesday, 7:00 AM Office of Matins 17 May The Ascension of Our Lord, 7:00 PM Divine Service 20 May Seventh Sunday of Easter, 10:30 AM Divine Service 23 May Wednesday, 7:00 AM Office of Matins 27 May The Day of Pentecost, 10:30 AM Divine Service 30 May Wednesday, 7:00 AM Office of Matins |
COUNCIL OF DEACONS REPORT FOR APRIL 2007
The Council of Deacons met on 14 April 2007.
• The Council continued its study of the Book of Concord, discussing Article XVII through XIX of the Augsburg Confession.
• Pastor Meyer reported on new members received since the February meeting.
• Board of Finance: No Report.
• Property and Grounds Chairman Jim Senff reported that the next workday has been rescheduled for April 21 and that the door handle has been replaced on the east narthex door.
• Worship Support Chairman Dave Miller reported that the guidelines for ushers are being reviewed and rewritten, and that a training session will be needed for all ushers.
• Board of Education Chairman Chuck Lux gave updates on Summer Sunday School, to begin in the first week of June, and on VBS, to run from June 11-14.
• Outreach, Assimilation and Fellowship Chairman Brad Cress reported on events planned for April, and June.
• Old Business: Ron Dunbar, Chuck Lux and Jim Senff have been meeting with Kathy and going through all church files to ascertain which may be discarded, which preserved, and which are to be stored in the new fireproof safes. Materials scattered throughout the files have been consolidated, which will be of great help to those researching the files for the 150-year history.
• New Business: Pastor reported that attendance during Holy Week was very disappointing (ca. 20 at 3 p.m. on Good Friday, less than 100 at the Tenebrae service, and around 50 at the 7 a.m. Matins on Easter morning), but that attendance at Divine Service on Easter morning was strong. Options for next year were discussed, including changing the times of some of the services or in some cases discontinuing certain ones. No decisions were reached, but input from the congregation is welcome.
The next meeting of the Council of Deacons has been set for Saturday, May 12 at 7:30 a.m.
Ron Dunbar, Deacon
BOARD OF EDUCATION REPORT
"Something Different", our Summer Sunday school classes begin Sunday, June 3rd and continue until the last Sunday in August which is the 26th. Classes run from 9:30 to 10:15a.m. There will be two classes, 5th grade through adult will be in one class and those 4th grade and younger will be in another class. Further details on "Something Different" will be forth coming. Come on folks, lets all attend Sunday school this summer.
Vacation Bible School will be held in the evenings June 11-14. A light meal will be available from 5:00 -5:45p.m. and classes will be held from 6:00-8:30p.m. The title this year is "The Remission of Sins". Pastor will teach an adult class again this year. Vicar and Katie Fiene are the VBS directors. If you are interested in volunteering (before you are asked), please see one of them or contact Leslie Bilyeu in the office.
Chuck Lux
Deacon, Board of Education
RITE OF CONFIRMATION
Sunday, 13 May
Joshua Duerlinger
Samantha Gibbens
David Hammond
Olivia Kyle
Kyle Mullins
Benjamin Robinson
Nicholas Sears
CONFIRMATION DINNER
Friday, 11 May
In honor of the confirmands, a dinner will be served in the Parish Center at 6:00p.m.
COOKBOOK DEADLINE
Recipes are still needed to complete Immanuel's 150th celebration cookbook. Please give any recipes to Kara Cress or
e-mail her at painter1963@ma.rr.com by May 1st. Categories are: main dishes, appetizers, side dishes, beverages, soup, German, large quantity & desserts.
THANK YOU
The YPI would like to thank everyone who attended the Easter Breakfast. We received over $400 in donations which will be matched by Thrivent.
And thanks to the congregation for their delicious donations, to all the students who prepared and served the food and all the parents who assisted in the clean up.
The money raised from this event along with other fund raising activities over the past 3 years, combined with some money put aside in the annual Church budget, 15 of our members will attend the LCMS National Youth Gathering in Orlando Florida this July.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
As part of Immanuel's community outreach, the Outreach, Assimilation & Fellowship board is in need of volunteers to work with Habitat for Humanity on Saturday June 9, 2007. Our group will help work on a home located in West Terre Haute. No experience is needed! Volunteers must be 16 years or older to participate. Watch for inserts in upcoming bulletins.
ALTAR GUILD'S PARAMENTS FUND RAISER DINNER
Please mark your calendar for Friday, May 4th, as Immanuel's Alter Guild will prepare and serve a Paraments Fund Raiser Dinner in the Parish Center any time between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Proceeds from the dinner will help to purchase new paraments and these will be presented as part of Immanuel's 150th Anniversary celebration. Dinner will be served anytime between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to encourage you to dine here at the end of the work day or you may take dinner home for your family as carry-out dinners will be available. The cost of the dinner is $10 for an adult portion and $5 for a child portion. . We hope to see you on Friday, May 4th!
Our menu is:
chicken breast baked in a white wine & sour cream sauce
feathered rice
seasoned green beans
orange-carrot salad
cornmeal roll with citrus butter
French puff pastry dessert
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 Associated Press reported on 15 March that a United Methodist Church in Wales Township, Michigan, had a Sunday moment of silence to remember what the pastor called "a model member of the congregation." The only problem is that this "model member" was a wild turkey! The turkey hung out in the church parking lot and "greeted" people as they arrived. Others said the turkey showed up every morning at the community's school bus stop and chased the children. In some congregations such "model members" may indeed be called turkeys!
SMILES
A poor widow's son down in Texas struck it rich with oil, and as Mother's Day approached, he made up his mind to show his appreciation with an unusual gift for his dear mother. So he asked the owner of a pet shop: "What is your most unusual and expensive pet?" The merchant answered: "I have a mynah bird worth $27,000. It's the only one in the world that can recite the Our Father, the 23rd Psalm, and the whole 13th chapter of First Corinthians." "I'll take it!" said the oil man. "I don't care how much it costs. Mom is worth every penny and she'll get so much comfort from hearing it recite Scripture." So he bought it and shipped it off to his mother. On Monday after Mother's Day, he called her. "Did you get the bird I sent you?" he asked. "Yes, son, " she said. "How did you like it?" he inquired. "It was delicious, son."