Pastor’s Notes

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

How is your patience?  Back in December at a university in Germany they suffered a malware attack.  The school network was taken down and each campus computer had to be scanned.  As a precautionary measure the school had to reset every password for every email account issued by the school.  Because of German law the new passwords could not be mailed out.  The new passwords were handed out to 38,000 students on slips of paper and it took five days!  How is your patience?

These last 10 days since schools began shutting down and life changed, the days have been a drag.  The boys and I missed our beloved Illini in both the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.  We also missed the Boys State High School Tournament.  The other night I found a live sports program – Australian Rules Football at 12:30 a.m.  No fans but something new.  What have you been missing?  How is your patience?

Have you had to stand in grocery lines?  Was there a line for milk, butter, bread?  What’s the deal with toilet paper?  Crazy.  The flip side is that some places have no lines because people are staying home.  Driving, which can test our patience, finds less cars on the road.  Gas stations, even with the low prices are easier to get in and out of. 

Are you impatient about being back in worship?  This is the hardest for me.  Word and Sacrament ministry is done in person.  We miss the fellowship, the human contact with the handshake after worship, the presence of Christ’s body and blood on our lips and in our mouth.  We do our best at home, but many of us need someone to help us carry a tune – the organ or that God blessed singer that sits near us.  How is your patience?

The Lord gives us perspective.  “This too shall pass.”  History shows us that.  Think about the patience of God.  He creates a beautiful world and man and woman mess it up.  They lie, they blame, they kill, they turn their back on Him who gave them breath.  It continues for thousands of years.  The pain, the pestilence, the disregard for one another.  His heart must ache.  But the world will wait.

Then at just the right time, He sends a Savior, His Son, Jesus Christ.  The world is where it needs to be so that this message of salvation can be spread far and wide.  As opposed to a virus, one person after another through the Holy Spirit tells about the love and forgiveness of His beloved Son.  His Son goes to a cross.  He dies for disease and death and denial.  He’s placed in a tomb.  How patient will the world have to be?

Three days.  He has Risen.  Disease and death and denial are forgiven and conquered.  There is hope.  There is a future.  The world waited and God sent the greatest gift.  As you wait, ponder these thoughts, look to a hill closer than you think, where the Lord’s people gather to worship.  The wait is over.  Thanks be to God.

In Christ’s Love,         
Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

            Any time you make a change in a church some planning has to go into it.  Such is the case with our change in Worship, Bible Class, and Sunday School on Sunday mornings.  Some changes in a church affect a group here or there.  This type of change affects everyone who is a member and even those who are not members but worship with us occasionally.  When discussing this change a list was made of everything that needs to be thought about.  If you think we left something out, let us know. 

Ushers – we just need one set

Acolytes – needed every service as Holy Communion will be in every worship service

Altar Guild – one service, more preparation numbers wise

Organist – one service

Heating/Cooling – can kick on later, does not need to be on as long

Fellowship Time – donut pick-up time change

Church Signage – our sign company is aware and will make the change (the one area where there is a small cost)

LCMS.org & Lutheran Annual – changing the times for people traveling who look up our worship time

Holy Communion – every worship service

Member Rides – coordinating this 

The last thing on the list – How Best To Get The Word Out.  This is where you can help.  We can all tell our friends and relatives and people who might visit.  At least in the first few months this will be important until we get into a routine.

We can also expect a time or two where people show up expecting our former worship times.  Greet them and the Lord gives an opportunity to visit with them and tell them about our change.

Easter worship times will remain the same – 7:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.  Easter breakfast following the early service.  Bible Class & Sunday School at 9:15 a.m.

I have learned in the church you can never tell people too many times.  After all, don’t we hear Law/Gospel each week and the Lord knows we need the constant reminder.  So, again here is the new schedule starting on Sunday, March 1^st.

Worship – 9 a.m. with Holy Communion – Fellowship time to follow

Bible Class & Sunday School – 10:15 a.m. – ending at 11:15 a.m.

Thank you for the feedback we have received.  Everyone seems to understand the need for the change.  See you in worship – when we are all together!

In Christ,

Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

            Sometime during the last week of December 2019 someone in our house decided to have cauliflower for supper.  This odorous, vile food stunk up our house.  Something had to be done.  A plan had to be executed.  Noses and eyes were at stake.  What to do?

            The one female in our home had purchased a candle for the holidays.  The scent – cocoa cream.  Ahh…the aroma.  The sweetest smell of any candle I have had the pleasure of breathing into my nostrils.  It was time to act.  The cauliflower smell was spreading and we could not let it reach the neighbors!

            I took the candle around the house and the cleansing was beginning.  We live in a bi-level home and the stench had made its way to our entryway.  I placed the candle on the floor of our entryway and I just sat there on the stairs staring at the flame.  The fragrance of the air in our home was starting to change.

            As I sat there I thought about fire.  It is one of God’s creation’s that is both a blessing and a curse.  We use fire every worship service to remind us of the light of Christ.  Christmas Eve is always special with everyone holding a lighted candle and singing Christmas hymns.  Fire can warm us around a campfire, cook our food and a fireplace can accent a room and give us a warm, cozy feeling.

            But fire can also ravage and cause destruction.  We see wildfires in our country and around the world.  If you’ve ever watched a home or building burn you know how quickly fire can turn lives upside down.  Fire can cover up crimes.  The biggest serial arsonist in the United States was a Lutheran who was turned in by his family in the Seattle area.  He had a sick fascination with fire.

            In God’s Holy Word, the word “fire” is used throughout the Old and New Testament.  Fire is consuming and devouring and kindled against.  Fire is associated with hell and is unquenchable.  There is even a “lake of fire” in the Book of Revelation. 

            In Scripture fire is also noted positively.  Numerous times God was in the flames when He talked with people.  “A pillar of fire” led the Israelites through the night.  The Holy Spirit and fire are synonymous.  Jude writes, “save others by snatching them out of the fire.”  That is what our Lord does for us.  He suffered the fires of hell on our behalf. 

            I thought of it this way that night on the stairs.  The Lord Jesus took away the stench (sorry cauliflower lovers) and the fire of destruction and left us with a bouquet of cocoa cream candles.  Breathe it in!

In Christ, Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

            Recently Toni and I with an assist from Karson painted our bedroom.  The preparation to paint took as long as the painting on that first day.

            Karson and I first had to move some of our furniture out of the room.  Then it was taking the electrical outlets, the cable outlet and the phone outlet out of the wall.  This was followed by dusting and wiping down walls – oh my the dust!  Then the vacuum got to see parts of our bedroom it had not been to in awhile.  It was now time to commence taping – the two windows, the three doorways (bath, closet, hallway) and the baseboards.  Was it time to paint?  Not so fast, my friend.  Preparations for what all were needed for this project still had to be done.  Do we have the roller and the brushes and the newspapers and the cloths for spills and the bucket of water and the toolbox and the music?  Oh, did someone get the paint?  Don’t forget the most important part.

            Don’t forget the most important part.  Advent is a time of preparation.  It is time to repent and meditate on the Word of God.  Isaiah and John the Baptist and others share this message with us.  Are you ready to paint/celebrate the Christ child?  Painting, as most of you know cannot be done unless you prepare first.  Advent prepares us for Christmas.  But don’t forget the most important part.

            Toni and I would have looked rather silly if after all this preparation we didn’t have the paint – the main thing for what we were doing.  In the same way, if all of our preparations for Christmas are secular and not Christ-focused we lose the main thing.  Prepare and worship the Christ child.  Meet Him in the manger and understand that Jesus was born to save us from our sins.  He comes to you in Baptism, the Lord’s Supper and in His Word.

            When painting you need to wait until the paint dries to see the end result of what was taking place.  Looks good dear!  Christmas affords us that opportunity.  The Advent prep becomes the Christmas reality.  Looks good Lord! 

            Come All Ye Faithful joyful and triumphant to worship your Lord and Savior.

In Christ,

Pastor

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

            Do you know what binge-watching is?  It is the act (though you hardly move) of watching episodes of a TV show one right after another after another.  Recent research is showing that 50% of viewers in their 20’s binge-watch weekly.  More in-depth research on this subject also shows that binge-watching is correlated to depression, loneliness, obesity, and loss of self-control.

            What is the escape?  What is the fascination?  What is missing in people’s lives that they need to make television and/or show their best friend?  What need is being fulfilled? 

            There is another place to look for drama (Cain and Abel, Moses and the Exodus, Noah and the Flood, the Crucifixion/Resurrection narrative, the story of Stephen, the Life of Paul and Abraham and Isaac.)  You can also find comedy (Peter is always good for a laugh, we can find humor in the other disciples, Jonah’s story, the Tower of Babel, Sarah.)  What about irony?  (The Book of Proverbs, what seems good is bad, what seems bad is good, you want to call Who into ministry?) 

            Binge-read, binge-listen (there are audio tapes of the Holy Scriptures), binge-watch the greatest script ever produced.  The ultimate director, the biggest stars, breath-taking locations and oh the stories.  It’s historical and provocative.  It’s timeless and contemporary.  Do you ever stop to think how much of life revolves around the Bible?  Major holidays, 1/7 of our days set aside for worship, commerce, rules of law, sayings and words we use in everyday conversation, prayer and devotional life, family, and salvation. 

            Written years ago but we read it and we are inspired.  We say things like, “That is just what I needed.”  “Those words of hope gave me the strength to go on.”  “Where would I be without my faith?”

            Fill your life with the Lord and His Words.  They were written just for you.

In Christ,

Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I was recently watching a game show from the 1980’s and the lady won a golf prize.  The host asks, “Do you like golf?”  She says, “Yes.”  The host then asks, “Does your husband like golf?”  She remarks, “Yes he does and that’s why I like golf – it gets him out of the house!”

We all like our space, don’t we?  At our house when somebody is suppose to be gone for a certain amount of time and they return early, invariably the person sitting at home will ask, “What are you doing home already?”  The early bird returns said volley with sarcasm, “Thanks for the love!” or some other witty comeback.  Isn’t this what we love about being in families.

We all need space but it is getting harder and harder to find it in our ever evolving world.  We all made comments this summer on how crowded the interstates are getting.  Drive around town for any length of time and it seems as if people are everywhere.  Maybe that takes you to a crowded office or a school with kids and staff everywhere.

Notice in Scripture how many times the crowds surrounded Jesus.  By the lake, in the temple, walking along the road, greeting him on Palm Sunday, at His trial.  For the last three years of His life the disciples were always there as well.  “Can’t you guys go play golf!”

Jesus’ alone time gave him time to think and pray and ponder.  Isn’t it great just to ponder once in a while?  The Savior could then prepare His heart and mind for what was coming.

In this month we also remember another who prepared his heart and mind for what was coming – Martin Luther.  At times he was with the crowds but at other times he was imprisoned or would find time in a room by himself.  Most scholars believe he also spent a lot of time in the bathroom – another great place to think!  What did he ponder?  Who he was under the cross.  A poor, sinful human being in need of rescue.  He saw that he couldn’t save himself, there was no way out.  He had to turn to the Savior.  He had to trust in the mercy and grace and love of Jesus Christ.

He was alone, but not really.  Our Lord was with him the whole time.  You need your space but no matter where you are the Lord is with you.  He loves you and cares for you and is an ever-present help.

In Christ,

Pastor