Stewardship Corner April 2015

“And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? . . . I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you? Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?” (Matthew 20:11–15).

Entry into the Kingdom of heaven is by grace not by works. And this is the point of the parable. Those hired first received the same wage as those hired last. Those hired first, even though they bore the heat of the day, received the same wage as those hired last. Entry into the kingdom comes by grace, by the gracious call and invitation of the owner of the vineyard.

And we chafe against this. We, like those hired first, object to the master’s decision. We begrudge him because of his generosity. We think that those who labored longer should receive a greater wage. And we protest that it’s not fair. But that is precisely the point. It’s not fair. It’s by grace. It’s given from God’s undeserved love and kindness, not by merit. So we should rejoice. For to ask for fairness, to ask to be treated by what we deserve and have earned, is simply to ask for hell.

For God owes us nothing. For by grace you are saved, by his underserved love and mercy. And even though it was undeserved, that doesn’t mean it was cheap. It wasn’t cheap, but costly. It cost God the Father His own Son. It cost the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, His very life. God’s grace is costly grace. It costs us nothing but the cost for God was great. For it was achieved by the shedding of the holy and precious blood and the innocent suffering and death of Jesus. And it is by that shed blood that God by grace calls us to be His own. It is by that death that God by grace gives us entrance into His kingdom.

He doesn’t owe us. We’re not entitled to anything from God. He is not indebted to us. We are indebted to Him. For we have not lived as He mattered most. We have not loved Him with our whole heart, body, mind, and soul, with all that we are and all that we have. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve his temporal and eternal punishments. But unlike us, He doesn’t hold this debt over our heads. He has instead place our debt upon the head of His Son, and His Son has taken it willingly so that we would be forgiven and free.

For reasons all His own God has determined to love us. He has taken the punishment we deserve upon himself. He has given gifts to those whom He knows would take it for granted. This is grace. He is kind, forgiving, steadfast. He is slow to anger and abounding in love. For the kingdom of heaven is entered by grace, by His giving not our earning.

He is allowed to do what He chooses with what belongs to Him. But it doesn’t work the same way with us. For what belongs to us? Nothing. We belong to Him, by water and His Name. He purchased and won us from sin, death, and the devil by His holy, precious blood and His innocent suffering and death, so that we would be His own special possession. Thus, we have nothing of our own, it all belongs to Him. We are stewards of what He has given to us. And so we give of ourselves, all that we are and all that we have, to those whom God has placed us to care for in our vocations of members of a family, society, and the church.

And if He has done all this for us, how can we not do with everything that He gave us likewise?

Elder, Usher, and Acolyte Schedules for April 2015

Elder and Usher Schedule

Date
8:00
Elder
10:30
April 2 Maundy Thursday 7PMNathan KluenderCharles Nottingham, Craig Culp, Marvin Huth, Paul Gerike
April 3Good Friday NoonNo ElderNo Ushers
April 3Good Friday 7PMJohn HardyJeff Piper, Matthew Holland, Theron Noth
April 5
Easter Sunday		7:00 AM
Daryle Schempp, Gerald Semelka, Mike Field		Barry HamlinBud Kessler, Curt Kessler, Holden Lueck
April 12Gene Fuller, Richard RossCraig CulpBrian Dirks, Karson Lueck, Mike Huth
April 19Joshua Parry, Nathan Kluender, Paul Gerike, Steve ParryCurt KesslerBryan Reichert, Ryan Kleiboeker
April 26Charles Nottingham, Craig CulpPaul GerikeMarvin Huth, Travis Henson

Acolyte Schedule

Date
8:00 AM
10:30 AM
April 2Maundy Thursday 7PMJessica Isaac
April 3Good Friday NoonPastor
April 3Good Friday 7PMHolden Lueck
April 5
Easter Sunday		7 AM
Anna Holland		William McNeely
April 12Pastor/ElderChristian Dowell
April 19J.T. PiperPastor/Elder
April 26Pastor/ElderJustin McNeely

 

“HOW COULD YOU STOOP SO LOW?” — Palm Sunday, 3-29-15, 1030am Service (Philippians 2:5-11)

March 29, 2015 – Palm Sunday

Text: Philippians 2:5-11

Dear Friends in Christ,

A first grade teacher was explaining to her class what Holy Week was and why we call it holy. She explained Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and finally Easter. When she thought she had made her point, she asked the students if they had any questions. One curious little boy raised his hand and asked, “What happens if you don’t want to be holy all week?”
Insightful. Who does want to be holy all week? Who wants to be holy on this Palm Sunday? This side of heaven most of us are aware that being holy at all is an impossibility. The only way to get there is through what Jesus is going to do for us this week. He is going to lower himself so that we might be saved. The Sunday of the Passion is upon us as we ask . . .
“HOW COULD YOU STOOP SO LOW?”
What an excellent question for us to contemplate during this last week of Lent. How could you stoop so low? How could you, disciples of Jesus and the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, stoop so low to climax Jesus’s humiliation?
The betrayal of Judas helped carry out the humiliation of Jesus. He feigned concern for the poor while being a thief. He facilitated it all because of his lust for money and perhaps as a way to remove the last voice of truth and conscience in his life. Jesus would stoop so low.
The contention and denial of Peter added to Jesus’ humiliation. He was so proud that he would stand when others were falling. Instead of a rock, he became a pile of sand by denying Jesus three times. Jesus would stoop so low.
The religious leaders would find false witnesses; condemn Jesus as a liar and blasphemer all because Jesus spoke the truth as the Son of God. This added to his humiliation. Jesus would stoop so low.
How low do we go to cause Jesus’ humiliation? We can see what is no good in others. We just did it with Judas, Peter, and Caiaphas. Didn’t that make you feel good – at least a little? But Lent – especially this day in Lent – is devoted to looking at ourselves. Our self-exaltation required His humiliation. When we create conflict in our relationships because of pride, don’t we humiliate Jesus by ignoring His words, “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Mt. 7:3) Jesus would stoop so low.
Our selfishness required his death. How many families are broken because one or many family members take care and affection while giving nothing back – and feel justified in doing so? We contend that we deserve the good things for which Jesus suffered. Jesus would stoop so low.
Our materialism required his death as one accursed. When we trade God as Creator for the firstfruits of His creation we lower God to the place of a servant who is rudely expected to provide constantly for our every comfort. Jesus would stoop so low.
How could you, Jesus stoop so low to allow your humiliation? His nature made such a response to our condition inescapable. He is the Lamb of God slain for the whole world. He not only created all things, but He sustains them by His power. He would stoop so low so that He could raise us up. His love knows no limits. He would go lower and lower and lower because of His love for us. That love sets us free from concern for ourselves.
Instead of exalting this Lord Jesus, we have many proponents of other world religions lowering the Christ by saying they are all the same.
The late Dr. Malcolm Muggeridge, curmudgeon of the British journalistic establishment, once gave a speech in Washington D.C., in which he made a number of comments about the current state of the world’s affairs – all of them negative. Afterward, one person asked him if he had any reason for optimism. Muggeridge responded, “My friend, I could not be more optimistic than I am, because my hope is in Jesus Christ alone.” He paused for a moment to let that sink in, then finished: “Just think if the apostolic church had pinned its hopes on the Roman Empire!” The kingdom of Jesus, a liar and fool to those who deny or lower Him, is the eternal kingdom of God whose truth we must live out in our lives.
Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus as Lord. It is good to be reminded of that. Jesus stooped so low as he rode the colt into Jerusalem. He used humble means so that His redemption is accessible to us. Word and Sacrament. Bibles, water, bread and wine. In these instances are head is usually lowered. While reading, when we were baptized, and at the communion rail. We can do that because He stooped so low for us. As the head arises, we look heavenward to the glory that awaits. Stand up straight; your Savior and your redemption are on the way.
Amen.

Bulletin Announcements – March 29, 2015

† Bulletin Announcements †

March 29, 2015

 THOUGHTS ON STEWARDSHIP:  Zechariah 9:9:  “Behold, your King is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”  No king ever rode to war like this. But no king had ever come to wage battle by dying.  In His Passion, our Lord Jesus gives everything He has and is to bring us from death to life: He is the king who wins by losing.

THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS, led by Pastor Lueck, will be studying during Lent: “Singing With The Exiles”, based on the Book of Isaiah.  This Bible Study corresponds with the Wednesday evening Lenten messages.  The class is at 9:15 a.m. in the church basement.

TODAY IN SUNDAY SCHOOL the lesson focuses on “Jesus and Zacchaeus.”  Like Zacchaeus, we are among the lost whom the Son of Man seeks and forgives.  We are called to forgive those who sin against us, no matter how Zacchaeus-like they may be in their sins.  Parents might ask, “How does Jesus seek you? How has God forgiven you?”

OUR WORSHIP SCHEDULE FOR HOLY WEEK IS AS FOLLOWS:  Maundy Thursday Worship with Holy Communion at 7:00 p.m.  Good Friday we have a brief Tre Ore Service at noon and our Tenebrae Service of Darkness at 7:00 p.m.  Holy Communion will be celebrated at the evening service.  On Easter Sunday the first Worship Service is at 7:00 a.m.  Easter Breakfast follows; please see the sign-up in the narthex.  Sunday School and Adult Bible Class at 9:15 a.m. and our 2nd Worship Service is at the normal time of 10:30 a.m.  We will have Holy Communion in both Divine Services.

PRAYER TIME IN APRIL:  It’s a good time to pray in silence and reflect on our Savior’s sacrifice on the cross.  In the month of April we will have Prayer Time at the church on Good Friday, April 3rd, from 6- 7:00 pm  Everyone is welcome to come and pray for a few minutes before the Tenebrae service.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR and watch for the sign-up as we are blessed to serve a meal once again this year at the Illinois State International House.  The date is Friday, April 17th at 6:00 p.m.  We will need many volunteers and we pray you can be a part of this congregational outreach.

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS:  The sign-up for help with coffee/doughnuts is posted on the wall by the north stairwell.  We need an individual/family to sign-up each week to pick up the donuts and make the coffee.  If no one is signed up by Friday of each week, the order will be cancelled.  We thank everybody who continues to help with this part of our church fellowship.

PORTALS OF PRAYER:  The April – June 2015 Portals of Prayer are available on the book rack located in the narthex.  Pick up your free copy today.

THE PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER is having a Confidential Week-end Retreat for post abortive men and women on April 10th–12th.  For more information please see www.hopeforafuture.com/deeperstill.

THE LUTHERAN HOUR:  “One Step Ahead” is the topic for next Sunday.  The sermon text will be from Mark 16:1-8.  Your future is not a mystery.  Our risen Savior is one step ahead and He leads you to eternal life.  The speaker will be Reverend Gregory Seltz.  Hear this Sunday’s message on the Lutheran Hour on WGN (720) at 6:00 a.m.; WJWR (104.7 FM) and WJWR (90.3 FM) both on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.  Also, if you can receive Lincoln, IL radio station WLLM (1370 AM) the program is broadcast two times on Sunday at 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.  Tune in!  You can also listen to The Lutheran Hour on your personal computer at RealAudio, www.lhm.org.

PRAYER CHAIN:  If you have a prayer request please submit them by email to Mary Anne Kirchner at makirchner@yahoo.com or you may phone a Prayer Request to Mary Anne; her home # is (309) 661-6522; her cell phone# is (309) 532-2582.  The Prayer Request box is on the table in the narthex for any written requests.

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