September 2014 Usher/Elder Schedule

Date
8:30
Elder
10:30
Sep 7Daryle Schempp, Gerald Semelka, Lucas Schempp, Paul GerikeMike FieldMike Huth, Theron Noth
Sep 14Mike Field, Steve DavisNathan KluenderBud Kessler, Curt Kessler, Marvin Huth, Ryan Kleiboeker
Sep 21Charles Nottingham, Craig Culp, Gene Fuller, Richard RossJohn HardyBryan Reichert, Karson Lueck
Sep 28Joshua Parry, Nathan KluenderSteve ParryBrian Dirks, Greg McNeely, Holden Lueck, Travis Henson

Stewardship Corner

Stewardship Corner 

The Gospels are filled with irony. Death itself is defeated by the death of Jesus. Jesus, the Son of God the Father, is given to Pilate in exchange for Barabbas, which means “son of the father.” But one particularly puzzling bit of irony is that Judas was given charge of the moneybag.

In response to Mary Magdelene’s lavish gift, when she poured out almost a year’s wages to anoint Jesus’ feet, Judas replied, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor” (John 12:5)? And then John tells us, “He said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it” (John 12:6).

So, why is Judas put in charge of the money? Jesus could have put any of his disciples in charge of it. He could have put Nathaniel in charge, of whom Jesus said, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit” (John 1:47), or John, “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:20), or Levi, the tax collector, who was financially savvy (Luke 5:27). But he didn’t. He chose Judas, whom He called “a devil” (John 6:70). Why?

Jesus put His money where his mouth was. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19–20). Our Lord put not His trust in earthly treasures, but in the word and will of His Father. The Lord will provide.

In Judas, we see the heart and gut-wrenching end of one who treasured the wrong thing. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21; Luke 12:34). “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13). It’s an alarming example, a visceral image, of what loving money and hating God can look like.

But no one, save Jesus, was the wiser. During Jesus’ three-year ministry, Judas looked, talked, and acted like the other eleven. He seemed to be about the right things. But “love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6:10). And this craving led Judas to sell Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, which the chief priests used to buy his own grave — an ironic transaction indeed.

All of this is to say that money is a good thing but it is not God. Use it for the purpose which God gives it. Spend it on providing for your family. Spend it on support of your community. Give it to support and provide for the work of God among you in church, the ministry of Word and Sacrament, through which you receive forgiveness, life, and salvation. Invest in all these things. Put your treasure where God calls you to put it, and your heart will follow. Your hearts will be set on things above, for these things — family, society, and church — are of God. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all this will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

So, do not be anxious, but trust in the mercies of God. All you need will be given by your Father in heaven. “For it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). The Father can easily out-give what any thief can steal. And the beauty is: He not only can, but does. There is nothing ironic about that.

A LETTER FROM THE CONGREGATION PRESIDENT

Open Letter Greetings.  I wanted to provide an update since my last message:

First, of all, the Church Council is busy reviewing the expenses of the church.  We will be asking the various Boards to keep expenses in mind as we prepare for the 2015 Budget.  We are still running behind in our General Fund, and we want to make sure this doesn’t continue into next year.

Let me remind again that we are a very blessed congregation.  We have had some attendance decline in worship, but our Offerings have not decreased.  We have spent more this year on some items than we anticipated – heating in winter, snow removal, etc.  We will be praying that next winter is not as harsh as this one.  In the meantime, we will be asking for a Special Offering in the Fall to help offset utility costs.  Please be watching for this Special Offering and pray about helping the church pay for the utilities.

Last time I wrote a message, I wasn’t able to provide the balances for the various Church Funds because I was sitting in Washington, DC.  I have the fund balances available this time, so here they are (please note: I am only including the ones with balances):

  • Kitchen Fund – $120
  • LLL Fund – $50
  • LWML Fund – $1082
  • Operating Fund – ($2715)
  • Parking Lot Resurfacing – $8248
  • Portico Fund – $16,553
  • Stained Glass Fund – $542
  • Sunday School Fund – $78
  • Youth Fund/Higher Things – $75
As I stated in my previous message, even with the Operating Fund in the negative, we are still blessed.  That is important and something we must remember.

Finally, we will soon be looking to elect some new Officers and members of Boards at our Annual Voter’s Meeting in November.  Curt Kessler, the Vice President of the Congregation and his committee will be reaching out to ask for volunteers to become members of Boards.  I would urge you to prayerfully consider serving on a Board if you are not already doing so.  We are always in need of people to serve the Church.

If you have any questions about what is happening in the Council or the church, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Blessings,  Steve Parry

It’s time for Choir to start again!

Announcement 

We will practice from 6-7pm on Wednesday evenings starting Wednesday, September 10th.  We will be preparing music for the Lessons and Carols service as well as other Sunday Services.

Join the Choir

We are always in need of singers.  Please join us for this opportunity to enhance our worship and praise our Lord. 

Celebrating September 2014

9/04    Joan Renken
9/05    Nathan Kluender
9/09    Pastor Lueck
9/10    David Marlow
9/11    Ed Vize
9/16    Andrea Reichert
9/20    Janet Evans
9/22    Jeff Piper
9/26    William Huber
9/26    Cleo Korte
9/27    Ronald Kwasny
9/28    Karah Kemp-Golden

9/02    Katie Nord
9/02    Kathleen Parry
9/03    Joann Nottingham
9/04    Lawrence Nord
9/06    Jeannette Ross
9/10    Joann Hart
9/12    Jessica Isaac
9/14    Emilia Schempp
9/17    Karah Kemp-Golden
9/18    Bryan Benjamin
9/20    Clayton Piper
9/25    Michael Huth