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July 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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July 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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Last month a group of people gathered to celebrate what is called the Global Day of Prayer. It was held at Memorial Stadium on Pentecost Sunday. The idea is supposed to be a kind of Pentecostal experience. One of the organizers commented: " . . . There's no sermon, no lesson, it's just prayer and worship; it's just kind of blended together for a seamless experience" [Tribune-Star, 25 May, 2007. C1]. It seems that the organizers view this a "fresh encounter" [headline]. Attendees also walked around the stadium because the path is in the shape of the State of Indiana.
But what is fresh about an encounter than doesn't include the Word of God? We're not trying to be critical, but when one announces that there will be "no lesson," one must wonder what that has to do with God. God is tied to His Word. We Lutherans confess that the Triune God does not reveal himself in any other way than through his Word and Sacraments. We are very much Bible people, not only in our official statements, but especially in our doctrine and practice. No proper "worship experience," if we use their terminology, can exist unless there is the Word. Lutherans aren't even "Word only" people, but "Word AND Sacrament" people. They go together-always!
Experience-based events can be dangerous because they are divorced from objective truth. Rather, they are based upon what one "feels," often a very dangerous thing. When one uses words like "encounter," one is talking experienced-based things. God is probably not part of such things because human feelings and emotions are running the show.
What strikes us as particularly odd in this Global Day of Prayer, which the organizers tell us is different than the World Day of Prayer because the latter event is supposed to be "a government-sanctioned observance," is that the only prayers which seem to count are those offered during such large-group demonstrations of unity. Never mind that there is no doctrinal unity involved, the sheer amount of people praying is supposed to influence God.
In many ways we find this to be highly inflammatory because it assumes that congregations don't pray for the world unless someone organizes a big event like this and holds it in a stadium! It assumes that local congregations are not praying for all sorts and conditions in this world. Every Sunday in Lutheran congregations around the world the Church prays the Prayer of the Church, which, by definition, prays for all sorts and conditions of man. In other words, we have been praying for the world, for the conversion of mankind, for the Church, for families, for our enemies, for our government and the governments of the world, for the suffering, the sick, the bereaved, and whatever else needs to be included. You will notice all those themes in the weekly Prayer of the Church because we ARE doing this regularly. Are we to believe that such prayers are ineffective because we didn't join with these self-appointed organizers of this event? If we don't have an interdenominational prayer gathering, does it mean that we are shirking our Christian duty to pray for the world? Does it mean that our prayers are not answered by God?
One of the organizers has called the walk after the experience "prayer walking" as they walk about Memorial Stadium on the path laid out in the outline of our state. Whatever does that have to do with prayer? Whatever does that have to do with the effectiveness of prayer? Is God persuaded to answer these prayers because these people have walked around in full view of everyone? Did not Jesus say something about praying on street corners so as to be seen by all? Did he not say something about praying privately? Of course, no one will see you praying privately, but are we to believe that such prayers are not heard?
Another claim is that because others around the world are doing this outside, the event must be held outside. Does God not hear prayers offered within the walls of our sanctuary? If he does not, then we are wasting our time praying in the Divine Service and at the Office of Matins!
Some people are always seeking "new encounters" because they become dissatisfied with the way they have been doing things. Yet, God tells us how we are to approach him and for what things we should ask. The historic liturgy and practice of the Church for nearly two thousand years, that of the Prayer of the Church and the Prayer Offices, seem to answer that need rather well. God has promised to be with us in Word and Sacrament, the Divine Service. Here our prayers come as a response to God speaking to us in His Word. We say back to God what He has already said to us. That makes our prayers certain and sure.
Pastor Meyer
THE GOSPEL AT HOUSTON
In addition to being a season defined by Slip 'n Slides and snow cones, summer is also the season when various church bodies convene together in order to hold elections, pass resolutions and hammer out any disagreements they may have. On account of the vast divisions found in many denominations, conventioneers can be fairly certain that the Fourth of July will not be the only time they will witness explosive fireworks during the summer.
Generally speaking, when the media cover denominational conventions, accurate reporting is rarely a result. This is because the media tend to report on the fireworks themselves without ever asking why those fireworks are being lit in the first place . For example, during their last synod (what we would call a convention), the United Church of Christ passed a resolution "in support of equal marriage rights for all." If you read any media coverage of this synod/convention, you may have gotten the impression that the issue of homosexuality in the church was actually the root cause of UCC discord.
However, while focusing on the fight over homosexuality may have made for more sensationalistic journalism, the truth is that the homosexuality issue was and is merely symptomatic of a much deeper conflict amongst members of the UCC (and members of Episcopalian and Methodist and ELCA and many other denominations)-that some still believe the Scriptures to be authoritative while others simply do not. In other words, the reason the camps within these denominations do not agree on issues of sexuality is because they do not agree on doctrine.
This month, Houston, Texas will serve as host for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod's convention. But even though the LCMS is larger in membership numbers than both the UCC and the Episcopalian church, do not expect our convention to receive as much attention from the press as those two denominations. After all, we are neither clawing each other's eyes out on the issue of gay marriage nor fighting tooth-and-nail over our stance on abortion. From a journalistic perspective, LCMS Lutherans are probably not much fun to cover.
Though we should certainly rejoice that the LCMS is united on many issues where others are divided, we should also not conclude from this that the Missouri Synod is free from doctrinal discord. Our doctrinal disputes may not manifest themselves in the sensationalistic, tabloid-fashion that often garners the attention of the secular world. However, disputes are still present in the LCMS and are still greatly in need of resolution.
Perhaps the largest dispute in the Missouri Synod today is found in our doctrinal understanding of the Holy Spirit and the growth of Christ's Church. No one in the LCMS is denying that the Holy Spirit "enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth," to use language from Luther's Small Catechism, However, when our synod passes resolutions that effectively state, "We will make Christ's Church grow to X number by Y date," this indicates that many in the LCMS hold to the belief that the "calling and gathering" of Christ's Church is not ultimately the responsibility of the Spirit, but of us men. On one side, there are those holding to the scriptural view that The Holy Spirit will continue blowing where He wills and that God will author growth as He defines it. On the other side, there are those stating the unscriptural belief that the LCMS will die if we do not fundamentally change our approach to making the Church grow.
This unscriptural understanding of the Spirit and the Church, as well as the endorsement of open-communion and the ordination of women by some in the LCMS, shows that we are facing the same root problem plaguing those in the UCC and the like-that many are not allowing Scripture to form their doctrine. While the topics that will be debated at the upcoming LCMS convention will probably not make front page news, the doctrinal discord behind them is just as dangerous as that which lights the bigger fireworks found amongst others, such as the UCC.
Furthermore, it is important to remember that the reason many denominations are fighting over homosexuality is not because their members are less moral than are ours. It is simply because they have stopped viewing the Scriptures as authoritative. As difficult as it may be to believe, if the LCMS were to view God's Word in such an unbinding fashion, it would be long before we found ourselves in the same position as the UCC this summer-convening together to discuss, amongst other things, whether or not physician assisted suicide is deserving of church endorsement.
By the grace of God, the LCMS is nowhere near that point. But, in order to avoid traveling any further down that road, the Missouri Synod must never abandon the Scriptures as the source and norm for doctrine in any way. When you pray this month, please pray that those who have remained steadfast in their devotion to God's Word may be strengthened to continue standing for the truth. In the same way, please pray that those who are have abandoned the true teaching of Christ may return to Him, abandoning instead the false teaching of the world. Pray that a pure proclamation of the Gospel may be heard in Houston, Texas this summer.
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 (113). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.
LIBRARY NEWS
This is a reminder that these books are available in the library. They all have a Christian approach to sex education.
Ages 3-5 Why Boys and Girls are Different by Carol Green
Ages 6-8 Where Do Babies Come From by Ruth Hummel
Ages 8-11 How You Are Changing by Jane Graver
Ages 11-14 Sex and the New You by Richard Bimler
Ages 14- Adult Love, Sex and God by Bill Ameiss & Jane Graver
Parent's Guide How to Talk Confidently with your Child About Sex by Lenore Bath
These are on a special shelf in the library. Kathy or Leslie can point them out if you need help.
Dorothy Senff
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Katie and I would like to extend their thanks and gratitude for all of the hard work and effort put forth by the volunteers of this year's Vacation Bible School. Though VBS is often filled with many details and project, our entire program hinged on one simple goal: to teach the children the wonders of Christ's forgiveness-the free gift He gives to His Church. In this regard, we believe that Immanuel's VBS program was entirely successful and we could not have done it without the time and talents that all of the volunteers so graciously donated. Furthermore, Katie and I would also like to thank all the children and adults who donated to the VBS collection. Despite a rather modest turnout of students, Immanuel still raised over $150 for Friend's of Mercy's AIDS Orphan Project. This money will go to help support children in Kenya who have lost their parents to the AIDS virus.
Vicar Fiene
01 July Pentecost 5, 10:30 AM Divine Service 04 July NO MATINS 08 July Pentecost 6, 10:30 AM Office of Matins 11 July Wednesday, 7:00 AM Office of Matins 15 July Pentecost 7, 10:30 AM Office of Matins 18 July Wednesday, 7:00 AM Office of Matins 22 July St. Mary Magdalene, 10:30 AM Divine Service 25 July Wednesday, 7:00 AM Office of Matins 29 July Pentecost 9, 10:30 AM Divine Service |
FAREWELL TO VICAR FIENE, KATIE AND JOHN
July 29th will be Vicar Fiene's last Sunday before he and his family head back to the seminary in Ft. Wayne. A Farewell Reception will be held in their honor on Sunday, 22 July following Divine Service. Please plan to stay and send them off with well wishes.
WELCOME NEW VICAR
A Welcome Reception and Pantry Shower will be held on Sunday, 05 August following Divine Service to welcome our "new" Vicar, Heath Trampe and his wife Andrea. They are originally from Kearney, Nebraska. Look for their picture and bio in the glass case outside the church office.
THANK YOU
Thanks to all who remembered me with their prayers, visits, cards and food during my recent hospitalization and recovery. - Marvin Bucy
PORTALS OF PRAYER
The July through September issue of Portals of Prayer is now available in the narthex for your use. Large print copies are also available.
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. You will find addressed envelopes on the table in the narthex. Please feel free to pick up a few and use them to send in your offering, if you plan to be out of town. Please remember our Lord's work while you relax and play this summer.
SIMPLY GIVINGŪ
Simply GivingŪ is an automated giving program from Thriven Financial for Lutherans. It is designed to help you conveniently, consistently and joyfully give financial gifts to our congregations' ministry. By participating, you can use electric funds transfer to give your weekly, semi-monthly or monthly offering to our congregation. If you are interested in signing up, you may pick up a form in the church office. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the church office.
THRIVENT NEEDS VOLUNTEERS
August 25 & 26, 2007 at Mt. Comfort Airport, IN
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is once again supporting this year's Indianapolis Air Show and providing funding to benefit Riley Hospital for Children. Thrivent's goal is to recruit nearly 1,000 volunteers by July 31st. Volunteers will enjoy: free admission, VIP parking and a T-shirt, a catered meal and front row seats for the Air Show.
Volunteers must provide a commitment to a four-hour work shift and a positive, flexible attitude focused on helping Riley Hospital. Volunteers must be 16 years or older. For more information see Leslie in the office or visit www.lutheransonline.com/rfo270 or contact Edith Mossner at 1-800-408-8160.
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
If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed and dry cleaners depressed?
Laundry workers could decrease, eventually becoming depressed and depleted! Even more, bedmakers will be debunked, baseball players will be debased, landscapers will be deflowered, bulldozer operators will be degraded, software engineers will be detested, and even musical composers will eventually decompose.
A secretary was leaving the office one Friday evening when she encountered Mr. Jones, the Human Resources manager, standing in front of a shredder with a piece of paper in his hand.
"Listen," said Mr. Jones, "this is important, and my secretary has already left. Can you make this thing work?"
"Certainly," said the secretary. She turned the machine on, inserted the paper, and pressed the start button.
"Excellent, excellent!" said Mr. Jones as his paper disappeared inside the machine. "I just need one copy."
An archaeologist was digging in the Negev Desert in Israel and came upon a casket containing a mummy. After examining it, he called the curator of a prestigious natural-history museum. "I've just discovered a 3,000 year-old mummy of a man who died of heart failure!" the excited scientist exclaimed.
To which the curator replied, "Bring him in. We'll check it out." A week later, the amazed curator called the archaeologist. "You were right about the mummy's age and cause of death. How in the world did you know?"
"Easy. There was a piece of paper in his hand that said, '10,000 Shekels on Goliath'."