Author: TechCommittee

Stewardship Corner August 2019

Have you ever noticed the subtle ceremony of receiving the offerings during the Divine Service?  The offerings are collected in plates or baskets, and they are brought forward and given to the pastor or an assistant.  The pastor turns toward the altar, and, as he slightly bows his head, the offerings are raised slightly to the Lord and placed on the altar or an adjacent table.

Why do we have this ceremony?  And what does it teach us?  For that is what ceremony does – it teaches, as the Augsburg Confession tells us what we need to know about Christ (AC XXIV, 1–3).

Originally, this ceremony included more than simply bringing forward what was collected in the offering plates.  The elements for the Holy Communion – the bread and the wine – were brought forward with the offerings.  The offerings and elements were lifted toward the Lord and placed upon the altar. The altar, now made a table, would be set for the Lord’s Supper.

Gifts brought to the altar come from the sweat of His people’s brow.  They are the bread and wine, the fruits of His people’s labor in this fallen world.  After six days of labor and toil, the people are to bring a generous proportion for the Lord’s work.  Gifts set upon the altar are offered to the Lord for Him to take up and press into service for His gracious work.

For what is offered to the Lord from the sweat of His people’s brow – the bread of anxious toil – comes back to us as the bread of life.  The bread comes down from heaven that whoever eats this bread and drinks this cup will receive life through the forgiveness of their sins.

This is not unlike what the Lord did for His people in the Old Testament:

“You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year.  And before the Lord your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.  And if the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, when the Lord your God blesses you, because the place is too far from you, which the Lord your God chooses, to set his name there, then you shall turn it into money and bind up the money in your hand and go to the place that the Lord your God chooses and spend the money for whatever you desire – oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves. And you shall eat there before the Lord your God and rejoice, you and your household.” (Deut. 14:22-26)

What a blessing!  God provides for us in all things.  He provides bread from the sweat of our brows.  He receives this from us in the first-fruits offerings we give to Him in thanksgiving and praise, and He turns these into spiritual bread.  He gives this heavenly bread – the bread of eternal life – back to us so we might have joy.

So, the next time you are in the Divine Service, watch this ceremony in wonder.  The offerings we have given to Him, the Lord gives back to us in His supper so that we may rejoice in the salvation He won for us upon the cross.

Celebrating August 2019

Birthdays

Georgia Boriack
Vicki Miller
Paul Gerike
Eric Schneider
Ben King Jr 		8/1
    8/3
    8/5
    8/5
    8/8
Jeannette Ross
Bryan Benjamin 		    8/9   
8/10
Clayton Piper    8/11
Emilia Schempp    8/11
Brian Dirks    8/12
Brian Hoop    8/14
Jackie Kwasny 8/15
Kristina Warren 8/16
Michael Renken 8/17
Becky Love 8/18
Kitti Miller 8/22
John Campbell 8/24
Michael Huth 8/24

Baptismal Birthdays

Deborah Huber 8/7
Andy Benhamin 8/11
Phoenix Kleiboeker 8/15
Ben King Jr 8/19
Stephanie Schempp 8/23
Paul Gerike 8/24
Eric Schneider 8/25
Jerzey Kleiboeker 8/28

Pastor’s Notes August 2019

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

            Pull up a chair; let’s have a talk.  This has been weighing on my mind.  My heart aches.  Care and concern are the motivation.

            While it is nice this will be read by those of you involved in the church, you may even compliment it – which I appreciate – this heart-to-heart is intended for a different audience.  I will let the Holy Spirit guide the words.  I will just type.

            This is for the drifter.  Those who have drifted from the shore of God’s House.  The boats are in different positions.  Some are in a boat far out to sea.  One Sunday became another Sunday, which became another Sunday until you find yourselves in the middle of the water and can barely see the shore.  It started innocently enough and now you wonder – can I get back to shore?

            Some boats are getting away from the shore but still the distance is not insurmountable.  The recent months have found you finding a reason to stay away.  The interesting thing is that your family’s boat has always been safely in the harbor.  Do you see it happening?  How do I approach what has always been a good relationship?  Beating you over the head with the Law is no good.  Your brothers and sisters in Christ miss you.  Want to worship and fellowship with you and your family.

            Come on a visit with a shut-in some time.  They cry because they can’t be in God’s House.  Oh, how they miss that presence of the Lord in their life.  Singing hymns as a glimpse of heaven.  A short, concise and to the point Law/Gospel message.  Holy Communion with the body of believers.  Fellowship and love felt by their fellow members.  If you could experience this would the boat be on the path it is?

            The cause is hard to define.  Has something been left unsaid?  Has your life changed?  Health-wise, children-wise, activity-wise, lifestyle-wise?  What do you see?

Do we see the same frustration but find the answer hard to grasp?  The Lord is here.  The Lord is patient.  The Lord is forgiving.  The Lord sees you getting farther and farther away.  He aches.  He loves you as His child, made holy in baptism, knowing our time here on earth is brief.  He sends you signals.  He enters your thoughts.  It might be easier to ignore, but you can’t.  The pull of the Gospel is too powerful.  The Holy Spirit is too mighty.  The hole in your heart can only be satisfied one way.

             Come back.  Led by the Almighty Captain the boat makes it’s way to the shore.  You dock at 3516 White Eagle Road.  You see the sign…you see the steeple.  Welcome home!

In Christ, Pastor Lueck

Sermon Text 7.28.2019 — The Privelege of Pleading Prayer

July 28, 2019                                                                                 Text:  Genesis 18:20-33

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Have you ever had someone say to you, “You can’t talk to her like that?”  “You shouldn’t speak to him in that tone of voice?”  Maybe it was a parent admonishing you.  Perhaps a spouse who intervened.  Maybe a basketball official or baseball umpire who didn’t like your questioning of a call.  We all have probably spoken when others around us thought we shouldn’t.

            Do you think the men traveling with Abraham thought the same thing?  “You can’t talk to God like that.  Who does this Abraham think he is?  Man, we are in trouble now?”  But that doesn’t really describe Abraham at all.  He says of himself, “I who am but dust and ashes.” (v. 27b) So, then where does he come off talking to the Lord like that?  Abraham believed and understood what God wants us to understand today.  That is . . .

“THE PRIVILEGE OF PLEADING PRAYER”

            Prayer is first of all a gift.  One that we can misuse.  We might ask for something that is not taught in Scripture or is not loving toward others.  An A on an exam (though I didn’t study), permission to stay out late (though I know it’s not safe) a date with ______ (though her boyfriend won’t like that.)  We might ask for a new job (though my wife thinks it will cut down on family time), for the kids to move closer to home (though that is really what I want.) 

            The Lord is often treated like those newfangled soda machines where you can pretty much get what you want in any combination.  We make the choices – not Him.  “You better do what I want God, or I’m done with you.”

            We also misuse this gift if we never approach Him.  Too cocky in our own abilities.  Too many things to do.  We might believe God doesn’t want to hear from us.  “I don’t really deserve God’s help because look at how I have messed up my life.” 

            None of these is how Abraham understood the Lord’s invitation to pray.  He knows he has no claim on God; he is just dust and ashes.  He’s not dictating.  He’s pleading.  He is not afraid to pray and ask for more, more, more.  How can a dust and ashes human being push Almighty God and not be reprimanded by God?  Because Abraham knew this:  the prayer line is open because of God’s mercy in Jesus.

            The Lord initiated this conversation.  He had told Abraham earlier that his descendants would be blessed.  The Messiah would come from his family tree.  Christ would bless all nations by reconciling the world to God.  He would bring us back into a right relationship with our heavenly Father.

            And get this.  Abraham is talking to none other than Jesus, long before He became flesh and blood Jesus of Nazareth.  The Lord himself invites Abraham to pray.  God himself invites us to pray because of Jesus.

            How would you answer this:  “Does God always answer prayer?”  Most astute believers answer, “Yes, no, and wait.”  But did you notice I just said “prayer,” I didn’t say “Christian prayer.”  A Christian prays a certain way.

            We pray through Jesus.  We are privileged to go to the Father through the Son.  We can do this because Jesus’ death on the cross took away the sin that separated us from God.  Sin nailed to the cross and we are back together with the Father.  We are his children who bring Him our requests.  We plead for mercy in “Jesus’ name” because merciful Jesus makes our prayers acceptable to God.

            Look at the mercy shown Abraham.  Why did he care so much for that moral cesspool of Sodom?  Abraham wanted to save his nephew Lot who lived there.  Six straight times – count ‘em – God says yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.  In the bigger picture God had already answered even more wonderfully back in v. 19:  “that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

            This is our promise.  Don’t we also pray for family and personal concerns?  The Lord says yes when He showers mercy on our prayers.  Loved ones kept safe in travel.  Family comforted in loss.  Friends finding answers in their marriage.  Our children kept in the one, true faith.  God allows us to address Him in the faith He has given us in Baptism and which He strengthens at the Altar of the Lord in His Word and Holy Supper.  As fragile, pleading human beings His grace is more than sufficient for our needs.  The faith He creates in us trusts that His mercy always gives us the best.

            Does prayer change things?  Sometimes we may see this statement as manipulating God.  It isn’t . . . you realize?  The truth is closer to this:  “Prayer changes things; namely, the person praying.”

            “You can’t talk to God like that!”  Well . . . yes we can.  We can confidently stand before the all-knowing and all-powerful Lord knowing that prayer is a privilege, a gift that God gives us through His Son Jesus.  So be bold, be consistent, lean on His mercy as you exercise The Privilege of Pleading Prayer.

                                                                                                                        Amen.