Schedules for April 2019
Elder and Usher Schedule
| Apr 7 | Barry Hamlin, Jeff Piper, Lucas Piper | Randy Reinhardt | Brian Dirks, Mike Huth |
| Apr 14 Palm Sunday | Gene Fuller, Gerald Semelka, Richard Ross | Paul Gerike | Greg McNeely, Randy Reinhardt, Theron Noth |
| Apr 18 Maundy Thursday | 7PM | Paul Gerike | Bary Hamlin, Bob Love, Nathan Kluender |
| Apr 19 Good Friday | 7PM | Paul Gerike | Barry Hamlin, Bob Love, Nathan Kluender |
| Apr 21 Easter Sunday | Jeff Piper, Lucas Piper, Nick Hitch **NOTE** 7AM | Craig Culp | Brian Dirks, Mike Field, Mike Huth |
| Apr 28 | Daryle Schempp, Steve Parry | Randy Reinhardt | Greg McNeely, Theron Noth |
Acolyte Schedule
| Apr 7 | Clayton Piper | Pastor/Elder |
| Apr 14 | Tanner Hitch | Matt Williamson |
| Apr 18 | 7PM | Justin McNeely |
| Apr 19 | 7PM | Luke Piper |
| Apr 21 | Chloe Hitch | Jessica Isaac |
| Apr 28 | Pastor/Elder | Will McNeely |
Stewardship Corner April 2019
“Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out” (Deut 28:3-6).
This is God’s promise to the Israelites as they stood beyond the Jordan outside of the Promised Land. He promises blessing to His people. He will make them prosper, whether they are in the city or the field. He will make their fruit of their work to prosper, whether from the ground or their wombs, their flocks or their herds. He will make them to prosper in all things, whether upon their coming in or their going out.
But there’s a catch. He would do this for Israel only “if you obey the voice of the Lord your God” (Deut 28:2b). If they did that, He would cause that “all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you” (Deut 28:2a).
If they didn’t obey the voice of the Lord, if they didn’t keep the commandments of the Lord and walk in His ways (Deut 28:9), they would be met with curse and woe. The blessings would be replaced with curses. Everything that the Lord promised to prosper and bless would be cursed and fail.
Thanks be to God that our Lord Jesus Christ has come into our flesh, fulfilled the law for us – in our place and for our benefit; died for us – in our place and for our benefit; and is risen from the dead for us – in our place and for our benefit.
By this we have justification before God. We are forgiven, clean, holy, and righteous. The blessing of God is promised to us in Christ Jesus. It depends upon His work and not ours.
All this is ours in Holy Baptism. For in Holy Baptism, God claims us as His own, makes us His children, His heirs, His holy people. And so it is that the work of our hands and its fruit is holy because we are holy in Christ. It is pressed into His service, and thereby it becomes a blessing to us and to our neighbor.
For this great gift, our reception of the blessings of God because of Christ Jesus our Lord, it is our duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. This is not in order to receive blessings but because in Christ we already have.
It is with this in mind that we sit down on the first day of the week and set aside as He has prospered us to give to His church for His work of blessing in our midst (1 Cor 16:2).
Celebrating April 2019
April Birthdays
Nancy Fuller 4/2
Dorothy Herberts 4/4
Craig Culp 4/6
Sarah Lange 4/7
Matt Williamson 4/7
Carol Schroeder 4/7
Carly Benjamin 4/12
Drew Kemp 4/12
Gerry Semelka 4/13
Garett Sheley 4/14
Summer Sheley 4/14
Harriet Campbell 4/20
Angelina Isaac 4/21
Marvin Huth 4/22
Ethan Bliese 4/25
Daryle Schempp 4/27
April Baptisms
Fern Noth 4/1
Herb Renken 4/3
Justin McNeely 4/6
Mary Anne Kirchner 4/9
Toni Lueck 4/11
Michael Anderson 4/13
Nancy Thomas 4/16
Garett Sheley 4/18
Audrie King 4/25
Bob Bier 4/30
Pastor’s Notes April 2019
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Back in the 19th century there was a tightrope walker named Charles Blondin. He would cross the Niagara Falls Gorge 160 feet above the water. He did it blindfolded, pushing a wheelbarrow and even on stilts!
During one of his stunts he asked the crowd if they thought he could carry a man across. They thought he could. He then asked, “Which one of you will climb on my shoulders?” Silence.
Finally someone came forward. It was Blondin’s manager who had known him for years. Blondin told the manager, “You must not trust your own feelings, but mine. You will feel like turning when we don’t need to. If your trust your feelings we will fall. You must become a part of me.” The two men made it across safely.
How would you handle that? I get a little nervous just looking down from our church balcony. No thanks! But you and I do put our life in someone hands, don’t we? Christ Jesus has already performed a death-defying act by overcoming death through His resurrection. He navigates the tightrope for us and lands us on the other side – heaven.
Like the manager was told there are times we want to turn our own way. In our Christian faith we are part of Christ. He has made us this way through our Baptism. We feed on Him in the Holy Supper. He carries us.
How do you like the view from a top the Savior’s shoulders? Don’t look down. Trust. He’s got you!
In Christ,
Pastor