|
June 2007 Newsletter Contents [Newsletter Archive] |
|
|---|---|
| Pastor's Article | Vicar's Article |
| Christian Education | Parish Notes |
| Portals of Prayer |
|
    
|
|
|
June 2007 Newsletter Contents [Newsletter Archive] |
|
|---|---|
| Pastor's Article | Vicar's Article |
| Christian Education | Parish Notes |
| Portals of Prayer |
|
|
|
|
With the celebration of the Day of Pentecost the Christian Church enters the season known as Pentecost, sometimes known as the Green Season because the color of the paraments is green and seldom changes unless a special festival is celebrated. The First Sunday after Pentecost is The Holy Trinity, a festival Sunday, but after that, there are few intrusions.
The Pentecost season is about the Church, or to be more accurate, how Christ's Holy Spirit operates in the Church, among the Bride of Christ. Word and Sacrament, of course, are always front and center in this season, but they are there now to provide a basis for the unity that should exist among the redeemed. Word and Sacrament work closely together to form and shape the community that is what God wants to happen among his people.
From Creation human beings were created to be in community. Man cannot be happy alone. Human beings need fellowship. They need to be in relationship. Only Christ with his bride, the Church, can satisfy this as God intends. There are other vehicles in which we can find fellowship, such as through interests and hobbies, but only Christ can transcend all human-made groups and barriers.
The Church must always be reaching beyond herself. Church and mission are inseparable. The Church must be the Church. She must be a community of love, grace, and mercy, and she must always be reaching out in love. She must reach out in love not only to those within her, but also to those who are outside of her. Wilhelm Löhe, a German Lutheran pastor whose mission activities included the founding of Concordia Theological Seminary at Ft. Wayne and mission work among American Indians in Michigan said that mission "is the obligation of the Christian." Being a Christian means being in mission.
With the adoption of our new constitution and bylaws we created a board which is to be focused specifically on these activities, our Board of Outreach, Assimilation, and Fellowship. Please note the order in which these activities are listed! A congregation engaged only with herself is a congregation loving only herself! It isn't that we should ignore these activities; we shouldn't ignore them! Perhaps we haven't always done a good job at that. We certainly could use more help on this important board. No qualifications are needed other than a willingness to be engaged. It would seem that if we are to live up to our constitutional obligations, then we need more of you to be involved, helping identify places where Immanuel can reach out with the love of Christ and reach inwardly with the love of Christ.
The Sacraments are a real expression of this fellowship because they create and sustain fellowship with Christ and fellowship with those who also participate in the Church. Thus, our faithful attendance at the Divine Service is absolutely necessary to be part of and maintain this God-given fellowship. It is around Word and Sacrament that we find our unity and our fellowship because it is in Christ. Without it, we cut ourselves off from Christ and the fellowship of his saints. We begin to live in isolation from Christ and from our fellow Christians. Receiving the gifts of God in the Divine Service must be the necessary first part of anything we do as a congregation. Summer is a time when we look for relaxation and recreation, but such refreshment should never come at the expense of the community we have in Christ. It is divorced from the Lord who give life to the Church and sustains her in her struggle against sin and all that disrupts our relationship with him.
If the Church is to receive blessing from the Holy Spirit, the Church must use the Holy Spirit's tools, namely, Word and Sacrament. They are indispensable to our lives as individual Christians and our lives as fellow believers in Christ. It is easy to forget that we are connected to our brothers and sisters in Christ in our congregation because we believe that we can substitute other relationships that will satisfy just as well, but that's not true. Where there is no Word and Sacrament there is no real, lasting satisfaction either because we are disconnected from Christ.
In a sermon for Pentecost Pastor Löhe told his congregation at Neuendettelsau: "Pentecost and mission are nothing other than the church's powerful life of love directed outwards . . . In a certain sense therefore, Pentecost and mission mean the same thing." Mission is really the expression of love necessary for the inner life of the Church now to those who are not part of that community. Mission is the external expression of the life of that community.
Give some thought as to how you can help enhance congregational life at Immanuel. As of first importance is your faithful reception of Word and Sacrament. Nothing can be substituted for the life-giving and life-sustaining gifts that Christ distributes every Sunday in the Divine Service. You can help enhance the community that God has created here by being a faithful part of it. Through it God can build stronger loving ties among our brothers and sisters, and that is the hallmark of the community of the faithful. It is also the beginning of learning to reach out in love to others.
Pastor Meyer
THE GOSPEL AT GUNFLINT LAKE
In the 1920's, my great grandfather bought some land off of Gunflint Lake-a ten mile long body of water that straddles the border of Minnesota and Canada. Like my mother before me and her father before her, I spent a good amount of time up there for almost every summer of my life-as have nearly all of my mother's nine siblings and their subsequent forty seven children. By virtue of its rather remote location and the fact that no one else owned property on the Canadian side, Gunflint was always the truest of getaways. The only other people around were family. The air was pure. The nights were quiet, serene and celestially lustrous. And, as an added benefit to the many pastors in my family, lodging was free and it was virtually impossible for anyone to get a hold of you while nestled snugly in the north woods.
Just a few weeks ago, a nearby wildfire spread throughout the wilderness and eventually hit a large portion of Gunflint Lake, destroying miles upon miles of trees and foliage, along with all eight of my family's cabins on the Canadian side. Needless to say, this was a rather heartbreaking occurrence for us. I suppose that once this current fog of sadness dissipates a bit, we may find some clarity with regard to what the future will hold for us and Gunflint. But, in the meantime, it seems that the only thing we can do with true certainty is remember the majesty of the way things were.
As the swell of those majestic memories has squalled through my mind in these days after the fire, I haven't just been thinking about what the lake has been to me throughout the years. I've also been thinking about what I want the lake to be to my son. And the one thing I hope my son will have, just as I did, is the Gospel at Gunflint Lake.
Theology was never in short supply up there. And though I relish images such as chicken fights in waist-deep water or listening to the loons on a still and balmy evening, my most cherished memories of the lake are all deeply Christian ones. They are memories of eight year old kids making smores in the moonlight while talking about Jesus, of my grandfather sitting outside on a folding beach chair during the adult's cocktail hour, discussing justification with his children and their spouses. They are memories of my ordained uncles and my father taking turns preaching little sermons on Sunday mornings when all would gather together in one of the cabins to hear the Word of forgiveness.
It's not for the sake of nostalgia or ancestral continuity that I want my son to have moments such as these of his own. Rather, I want my son to have these things because I attribute so much of my growth in the faith to those moments. I want him to see, as I did through those moments, how strongly a family is bound together in loyalty and love when they share a common confession of Christ crucified. I want him to see how the Gospel still lives in all its glory even when he's a thousand miles away from his church's sanctuary. I want him to see that, no matter how many campfire conversations center on the forgiveness of sins, the Gospel never gets boring or stale.
While catharsis may still be a motivating factor in my decision to write about Gunflint, my intention here is not to offer a eulogy for the lake. Rather, I've addressed this personally heartbreaking loss in order to plead with all of you for whom the following plea applies: give theological moments like these to your children.
Doing so doesn't require a summer home or a large extended family. These specifics are merely my own personal experiences and are certainly not prerequisites for confessing the Gospel to your children when your family seeks a break from the daily grind. So consider your own respective situations and, in whatever way you can, give your children theological moments. Read to them from the Scriptures during long car rides. Make time for devotions and prayer together. Talk with them about Christ wherever you go-whether it's walking on the beach, in the woods or through a mass of people wearing Muppet or mouse costumes. Let them see that your strength as a family is formed not merely by common blood but ultimately by a common confession of Christ. Teach them that, wherever you go to escape the world, the Gospel always comes with you because the Gospel is not of the world. Teach them that, though cabins, cottages and even Disneyworld will come and go on this earth, our faith will remain forever because Christ will remain forever.
I would certainly love it if my son could learn all of these things at Gunflint Lake in the same way that I did. But what I've been praying for more than anything else lately is that he just learns them-Gunflint or no Gunflint. I hope it doesn't take ten years for normalcy to return to the lake. But if it does, I pray that his first time hacking a trail through the woods with his cousins won't also be his first time talking with them about Jesus.
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.
NEW IN THE LIBRARY
A series of children's books, Follow and Do, are based on the Six Chief Parts of Luther's Small Catechism and show in picture form to very young children each of those Chief Parts. These include the Ten Commandments, the Apostle's Creed, the Our Father, Holy Baptism, Confession, and the Lord's Supper. . . . Also new in the library is My First Catechism, An Illustrated Version of Luther's Small Catechism. This volume is designed for elementary school children and features Bible stories with each Chief Part. Parents will find these valuable tools in teaching their children the basics of the Christian faith as well as helping them learn the Small Catechism before Children's Catechesis with Pastor. The books may be checked out of our church library by signing the card that goes with each book. Alternatively, these volumes may be purchased from Concordia Publishing House at www.cph.org.
VBS 2007, "THE REMISSION OF SINS" IS THIS MONTH
This year's Vacation Bible School will be held from June 11-14, 2007. A light supper will be served each night form 5:00 PM to 5:45 PM, with the Bible School taking place from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Adults, Vicar Fiene will be teaching a course focusing on the Lutheran Confessions each night.
For the children, the lessons of "The Remission of Sins" focus students and teachers on the ways in which God's wonderful gift of forgiveness are given to His Church. The Bible stories studied will be Jesus healing the paralytic, the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus and Zacchaeus and Christ breathing His Holy Spirit onto the apostles.
Your donations of snack foods and drinks (for children and for teachers), as well as your help as classroom aides or nursery attendants are needed. If you can help in any way, please speak to Vicar Fiene, Leslie Bilyeu or Katie Fiene as soon as possible.
VBS STAFF MEETING
Everyone who has generously volunteered their time and talents for this year's VBS will be having a staff meeting Monday, June 4, at 7:00 PM. Please contact Vicar Fiene as soon as possible if you cannot attend this meeting.
VBS IN-GATHERING
One again this year, during VBS we are asking the children to bring items to help others in our community who are less financially fortunate. This allows the children to express the love of Christ to their neighbors, as Christ first loved them. We will be collecting elementary level school supplies for the Vigo County School Corporation. Please send the items with your child(ren) everyday. Feel free to give a donation even if you do not have a child in VBS. Please bring in all donations before June 23.
03 June The Holy Trinity, 10:30 AM Divine Service 06 June Wednesday, 7:00 AM Office of Matins 10 June Pentecost 2, 10:30 AM Divine Service 13 June Wednesday, 7:00 AM Office of Matins 17 June Pentecost 3, 10:30 AM Office of Matins 20 June Wednesday, 7:00 AM Office of Matins 24 June The Nativity of St.John,the Baptist, 10:30 AM Office of Matins 27 June Wednesday, 7:00 AM Office of Matins |
BOARD OF EDUCATION REPORT
"Something Different", our theme for Sunday school starts June 3rd with lessons entitled "Growing in Christ". Remember the start time is "something different" too, 9:30a.m.-10:15a.m.
With a preschool equipment inventory completed by Frances Cook and Gloria Hayne, Pastor Meyer is editing the inventory list which will then be sent to an Indiana located Lutheran Church to see if they have a desire for the equipment. Pastor has a list of six churches that have expressed an interest. Thank you, Pastor, Frances and Gloria.
Hoi Polloi is planning a Family Night in June and an August trip to the water park in Plainfield.
Upcoming dates:
VBS June 11-14God's richest blessings,
Next Board of Ed. Meeting August 17
BOARD OF PROPERTY AND GROUNDS
Completed activities:
> The entrance door to the Vicarage was replaced.
> New flood lights were installed for the church sign.
> The blackboards in the Sunday School rooms were refinished.
> Two damaged areas on the roof causing water leakage in the parish center entry way were repaired.
New Activities:
> The flood lights in the choir area will be replaced.
> New handles for the East narthex doors are being purchased.
> Replace the defective ceiling tile in the parish center.
> Dates for sealing of the West parking lot was set for 25th & 26th of May at 8:00 am.
Next Property & Grounds meeting will be on 5 June 2007 at 6:30 PM.
Jim Senff
Deacon - P&G Board
BOARD OF OUTREACH, ASSIMILATION AND FELLOWSHIP
The Thrivent Blood drive went well. We had about 14 members sign up to give blood. Some were unable to give, but for the most part everyone was pleased with the turnout. We have at least one prize winner from our congregation. The final state figures aren't to us yet but it seems 40 some from this area were able to donate.
The new member reception was well attended. There were many positive comments. The baby shower for John, Kristin and Noah Schulz also was well attended.
The Confirmation dinner had 90+ people attend. Pastor roasted the confirmands. They in turn presented a skit roasting Pastor. Ask someone who was there about it. Very Funny!
We need more people for Habitat For Humanity! Response has been light. This is an opportunity for us to make a difference in the community and to let others see Lutherans in a positive way. This can show them we do "do good works"
Many thanks to all who have helped with everything, especially to the ladies on the board. None of this happens without your support.
There will be no meetings held in May or June.
Respectfully submitted,
Brad Cress
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
The Altar Guild would like to thank the congregation for its response and support of the paraments fundraiser dinner on May 4th. We also thank the many workers who set tables, decorated, prepared and served dinner. Thrivent is generously supplementing the funds raised by the dinner to help toward the purchase of new paraments in the celebration of the congregation's 150th anniversary. We anticipate our next fund raising dinner will be in February 2008 and we hope to host another enjoyable dinner.
Donna Dunbar
Altar Guild Co-chair
Thank you to all those who remembered me with their prayers, cards and well wishes after my surgery. Thank you also to Pastor for his visits.
Terry Cummings
Thank you to all who remembered me with their cards, phone calls and prayers following my surgery.
Tom Bilyeu
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
As part of Immanuel's community outreach, the Outreach, Assimilation & Fellowship Board is in need of 12-15 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 although volunteers must be 16 years or older to participate. Lunch will be provided. Meet at church at 8:00a.m. and work no later than 4:00p.m. Contact Jaymie Duerlinger if you are interested.
VACATION TIME
Vacation time is upon us and we ask you not to forget the ongoing needs of our congregation. Even if you aren't going to be here for a Sunday or two, the obligations of our congregation go on. Please remember our Lord's work while you relax and play this summer.
NEW MEMBERS (2006-2007)
Bill & Joann Beleslin e Sami Blomquist - John, Susan & Ricky Bradford - Jackie Bradfield - Lynette Browne - Randy, Jaymie, Nikki & Josh Duerlinger - Karen Fell, Brian Hiatt, Eric Hiatt & Heidi Fell - Mary Harbaugh - Jim & A.J. Hayne - Sara Kerns - Brian, Georgianna, Tiffany & Luke Milner - John, Gretchen, Avery & Elisabeth Murphy - David, Sharon, Katherine, Alexander & Ben Robinson - Brandon Samuels - John, Kristin & Noah Schulz - Jodi Tate.
Newly Confirmed (May 13, 2007)
Joshua Duerlinger, Samantha Gibbens, David Hammond, Olivia Kyle, Kyle Mullins, Benjamin Robinson, Nicholas Sears
TABLE TALK
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 include this monthly column.
SMILES
Sometimes women are overly suspicious of their husbands. When Adam stayed out very late for a few nights, Eve became upset. "You're running around with other women," she charged.
"You're being unreasonable," Adam responded. "You're the only woman on earth." The quarrel continued until Adam fell asleep, only to be awakened by someone poking him in the chest. It was Eve. "What do you think you're doing?" Adam demanded. "Counting your ribs," said Eve.