Faith vs. Feeling

Commemoration of Joseph of Arimathea

July 31, 2012

The Lord be with you

This morning I began doing my research, some in books and some on line, to prepare my posts concerning the Feasts and Commemorations for the month of August. August 3 is the Commemoration of Joanna, Mary, and Salome, Myrrhbearers, so I typed their names in my search engine and up came an article from Memorial Lutheran Church in Texas posted August 3, 2010. The names Joanna, Mary, and Salome, are in the date line, just like Joseph of Arimathea is in the date line for this post, but the post was not about them, just like this post is not about Joseph. The post is titled “Faith vs. Feeling.”

I was quite impressed with the post. It begins:

A seminary professor of mine told the story of a colleague in the pastoral ministry who was continually confronted by psychotic delusions. The man saw visions of demons and other horrible sights, which led him to doubt God's mercy toward him and even his own salvation. On these occasions he became convinced that what he saw and felt were absolutely true, a la the character played by Russell Crowe in the movie, A Beautiful Mind, about the mathematician, John Forbes Nash, Jr. But what he saw led not merely to social faux pas for this pastor, but a kind of spiritual despair. He knew several things theologically about what he saw. First, he knew that the horrible accusations levied against him by the monsters that seemed to crawl into and out of his own mind were absolutely true. It was true that he was a depraved sinner. It was true that decaying death was stalking him. It was true that he felt God's burning wrath against him and he deserved it. Second, he knew that such things were trumped once and for all by Christ His Lord and Savior. He confessed this faithfully in his whole life's work. Everything that he did and stood for was a rebellion against the feeling of spiritual despair that he experienced when he suffered one of these psychotic episodes. He found on those occasions that he needed to return to the Word of God, which brought him something …

To finish reading the post follow the link: http://www.mlchouston.org/memorialmoments/mm_20100803.html

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

Joseph of Arimathea - 2012

Commemoration of Joseph of Arimathea

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

The Lord be with you

Today, in the LC-MS, we remember Joseph of Arimathea. This Joseph is mentioned in all four Gospels. He came from a small village called Arimathea in the hill country of Judea. He was a respected member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish religious council in Jerusalem that condemned Jesus to death. Joseph, of course, did not support or consent to the actions of the Sanhedrin (Luke 23:51). He was a wealthy man (Matthew 27:57) and so owned his own unused tomb in a garden not far from the site of Jesus’ crucifixion (Matthew 27:60). Joseph, a man waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went to Pontius Pilate after the death of Jesus and asked for Jesus’ body (Mark 15:43). Along with Nicodemus, Joseph removed the body and placed it in the tomb (John 19:38-39). Their public devotion contrasted greatly to the fearfulness of the disciples who had abandoned Jesus.

One thing we can learn from Joseph’s story, that might not immediately be obvious, is to read the Bible carefully. Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin so, while the Sanhedrin condemned Jesus to death, clearly not everyone on the council was on board with Caiaphas’ plan. Also, when the New Testament says Jesus was condemned by the Jews, we should not think of all the Jews as supporting this decision by the leaders. Joseph was a Jew, after all.

Prayer: Merciful God, Your servant Joseph of Arimathea prepared the body of our Lord and Savior for burial with reverence and godly fear and laid Him in his own tomb. As we follow the example of Joseph, grant to us, Your faithful people, that same grace and courage to love and serve Jesus with sincere devotion all the days of our lives, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

Robert Barnes - 2012

Commemoration of Robert Barnes, Confessor and Martyr

Monday, July 30, 2012

The Lord be with you

Today is the anniversary of the day Robert Barnes was burned at the stake (1540), in England, for his Lutheran beliefs. Barnes was a devoted disciple of Martin Luther and considered to be among the first Lutheran martyrs. Born in 1495, Barnes became the prior of the Augustinian monastery at Cambridge, England. He was apparently one of the Cambridge men who gathered at the White Horse Tavern for Bible-reading and theological discussion in the early 1530s. Converted to Lutheran teaching, he shared his insights with many English scholars through writings and personal contacts. During a time of exile to Germany, he became friends with Luther and later wrote a Latin summary of the main doctrines of the Augsburg Confession titled Sententiae. Concerning this book, Stephen Vaughan wrote to Thomas Cromwell: “Look well upon Dr Barnes’ book. It is such a piece of work as I have not yet seen any like it. I think he shall seal it with his blood.” Upon his return to England, Barnes shared his Lutheran doctrines and views in person with King Henry VIII and initially had a positive reception. In 1529, Barnes was named royal chaplain. The changing political and ecclesiastical climate in his native England, however, claimed him as a victim; He was burned at the stake in Smithfield. Five others were also executed, two of them like Barnes and three by hanging. His final confession of faith was published by Luther, who called his friend Barnes “our good, pious dinner guest and houseguest … this holy martyr, St. Robert Barnes.”

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs included the martyrdom of Barnes and his final words. It reads:

            “I am come hither,” said Dr. Barnes, “to be burned as an heretic, and now hearken to my faith.

            “I believe in the blessed Trinity, three Persons and one God, that created the world, and that this blessed Trinity sent down the second person, Jesus Christ, into the womb of the Virgin Mary. I believe that he was conceived by the-Holy Ghost, and took flesh of her, and that he suffered hunger, thirst, cold, and other passions of our body, sin excepted, according to the saying of St. Peter, ‘He was made in all things like to his brethren, yet without sin.’ And I believe that this his death and passion was the sufficient ransom for sin. And I believe that through his death he overcame sin, death, and hell, and that there is none other satisfaction unto the Father, but this his death and passion only; and that no work of man did deserve anything of God, but his passion only as touching our justification, for I know the best work that ever I performed is impure and imperfect.” And with this he cast abroad his hands, and desired God to forgive him his trespasses:—“Wherefore I beseech thee, O Lord, not to enter into judgment with me, according to the saying of the prophet David. Wherefore, I trust in no good work that ever I did, but only in the death of Christ. I do not doubt but through him to inherit the kingdom of heaven. But imagine not that I speak against good works, for they are to be done, and verily they that do them not shall never come into the kingdom of God. We must do them, because they are commanded us of God, to show and set forth our profession, not to deserve or merit, for that is only by the death of Christ.”

            He then desired all men to forgive him and to pray for him.

Prayer: Almighty God, heavenly Father, You gave courage to Your servant Robert Barnes to give up his life for confessing the true faith during the Reformation. May we continue steadfast in our confession of the apostolic faith and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Other appropriate prayers:

• For those who live in lands where being a Christian can cost them their lives
• For the Church, that we may hold to the apostolic faith in all situations
• For governments, that they may allow the Gospel freedom in their lands

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus - 2012

Commemoration of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany

Sunday, July 29, 20125

The Lord be with you

Today is the Commemoration of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany. They were disciples with whom Jesus had a special bond of love and friendship. John’s Gospel records that “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus” (John 11:5). On one occasion, Martha welcomed Jesus into their home for a meal. While Martha did all the work, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, listening to His Word, and was commended by Jesus for choosing the “good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38-42). When their brother Lazarus died, Jesus spoke to Martha this beautiful Gospel promise: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25). Ironically, when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the Jewish leadership became more determined than ever to kill Jesus (John 11:39-54). Six days before  Jesus was crucified, Mary anointed His feet with a very expensive fragrant oil and wiped them with her hair, not knowing at the time that she was doing it in preparation for Jesus’ burial (John 12:1-8; Matthew 26:6-13).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Your beloved Son befriended frail humans like us to make us Your own. Teach us to be like Jesus’ dear friends from Bethany, that we might serve Him faithfully like Martha, learn from Him earnestly like Mary, and ultimately be raised by Him like Lazarus. Through their Lord and ours, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

(Treasury of Daily Prayer, Concordia Publishing House, 572, slightly altered)

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert`

Johann Sebastian Bach, Kantor - 2012

Commemoration of Johann Sebastian Bach, Kantor

Saturday, July 28, 2012

The Lord be with you

July 28 is the anniversary of the death of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) and the date he is commemorated on our calendar. Born in Eisenach and orphaned at the age of ten, Bach was mostly self-taught in music. He was a highly skilled violinist and organist, and a brilliant composer. His professional life as conductor, performer, composer, teacher, and organ consultant began at age nineteen in the town of Arnstadt and ended in Leipzig, where for the last twenty-seven years of his life he was responsible for all the music in the city’s four Lutheran churches.

Although his musical compositions are overwhelming, during his lifetime Bach was known much more for his playing skills. After his death, his compositions were ignored. They were seen as “old fashioned” compared to the new classical style. This, even though the great composers of the classical age all seemed to recognize Bach’s genius. Still, the compositions of Bach had to wait until the 19^th century to get much recognition. Felix Mendelssohn was one to the key reasons for the revival of interest in Bach. Before he gave a concert, instead of practicing the pieces he would be performing, he would play Bach. When asked why, Mendelssohn said, “If you can play Bach, you can play anything.” Today Bach is recognized as one of the greatest composers of all time.

One of the outstanding features of Bach was how he kept his Christian Faith front and center in his life. He was a devoted Lutheran. In his day and age, orthodox Lutheranism was under attack by those who sought to compromise with Reformed theology or the current cultural trend called “the Enlightenment.” Bach’s music filled the churches being a major force in keeping the Church focused on Christ. His influence was so pervasive that Archbishop Nathan Söderblom called him “the fifth evangelist.” Bach insisted that all his music was for the glory of God and for the life of the Church.

Bach married twice. His first wife was Maria Barbara Bach (a distant cousin). She died in 1720. A year later, he married Anna Magdalena Wülcken. Bach had twenty children, nine who survived him and four who had significant musical careers.

Prayer: Almighty God, beautiful in majesty and majestic in holiness, You have taught us in Holy Scripture to sing Your praises and have given to Your servant Johann Sebastian Bach grace to show forth Your glory in his music. Continue to grant this gift of inspiration to all Your servants who write and make music for Your people, that with joy we on earth may glimpse Your beauty and at length know the inexhaustible richness of Your new creation in Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Appropriate prayers include:

• For all who make music for the church
• For a renewed appreciation of music as a gift from God
• For God to raise up new musicians for the church and his people
• For the worship life of the church

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

Worship for Pentecost 9 - 2012

Thursday after Pentecost 8

July 26, 2012

The Lord be with you

This coming Sunday is the 9^th Sunday after Pentecost. It is also the Commemoration of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany. The liturgical calendar used in the LC-MS divides special days into two general categories. The first is called “Feast and Festivals.” The second is called “Commemorations.” The days that fall into the “Feast and Festivals” section all have special lectionary readings assigned to them. The days that fall into the “Commemoration” section do not have special lectionary readings. The day we recognize Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany is a “Commemoration” so we have no special Bible readings assigned. In stead, we will use the ones assigned for Pentecost 8, which are Genesis 9:8-17, Ephesians 3:14-21, and Mark 6:45-56. For our liturgy we will be using Morning Prayer, which begins on page 235. The appointed Psalm is Psalm 136:1-9, and the antiphon is verse 26. This is a non-communion service.

Our opening hymn is “The Gifts Christ Freely Gives” (LSB 602). Our sermon hymn is “O God, Forsake Me Not” (LSB 731). Our closing hymn is “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me” (LSB 761). Our sermon text is Mark 6:49-50a. The sermon is titled “Desperate Times.”

In our prayers on Sunday we have been remembering different denominations and their leaders as we accent the Communion of Saints this year. So far, we have only remembered “partner” churches of the LC-MS. However, as of last week, we have remembered all of them. The Church, though, is not circumscribed by the LC-MS and those denominations with which we are in alter and pulpit fellowship. So we will continue to remember other denominations in our prayers. This week we will remember the Roman Catholic Church and Pope Benedict XVI. We will also remember our missionary, Emily Goddard, who serves in South Africa. We will remember the persecuted believers in Oman. Oman is on the Arabian Peninsula, and is a neighbor of Saudi Arabia. The country is 92.66% Muslim and 2.54% Christian. Other religions compose the other 4.8%. Non-Muslims are mainly foreigners. It is illegal to convert from Islam to any other religion. Christians live as second-class citizens, but their condition is better than Christians in many other Muslim nations. Still, they need our prayers as they carry the light of truth in this spiritually darken country. We will also remember our sister SED congregations: Good Shepherd, Reston, VA; Bethlehem, Richmond, VA; Redeemer, Richmond, VA; Resurrection, Richmond, VA; and Calvary, Charleston, SC. We will continue to remember those who have been misled by our cultures acceptance of abortion and sexual immorality, asking God’s grace for their lives that they may be healed and restored by the Holy Spirit. We will also continue to remember those trapped in the modern practice of slavery and ask God to bless all efforts that are pleasing in his sight to end this sinful practice.

Below is a recording of the LutheranWarbler singin our closing hymn, “Rock of Ages” (LSB 761).

Our adult Bible class meets at 9:00 Sunday morning. We are currently in Matthew 24.

Preview of the Lessons

Genesis 9:8-17:          This reading is pretty much the ending of the story of the Great Flood. It has the covenant God makes to never flood the entire earth again and the establishment of the rainbow as a symbol of that promise. There is a detail or two that are often overlooked in the reading. First, the covenant isn’t between just God and Noah (and his family). God’s covenant is with the entire earth, including “every living creature” (10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17). God is actually hammering the point in but, because we are so sinfully self-centered, we tend to think that God is making the covenant between himself and humanity only. This is one of those passages that indicate God has real concern for his entire creation, not just the human creation. This entire creation has a place in God’s plan, and has value simply because it is God’s creation. This is true even if we don’t recognize what is that value. The rainbow has caused some people problems. Did God change the properties of light or water so that rainbows could now appear? There are two standard answers these days. Answer 1) the environment in the pre-flood world was such that rainbows didn’t appear. In other words, the earth was covered with a thick marine layer. Answer 2) there always were rainbows but God is now selecting it as a symbol to remind his creation of his promise. There is no need to go into the arguments for each answer as both conform to the “Analogy of Faith.” If you are interested, there are books and books on the subject.

Ephesians 3:14-21:    This is one of those passages that is far too rich to cover in these brief notes. It ties in with the OT lesson as Paul wrote that he bows before the Father “from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.” While this refers first to Creation, it also alludes to the flood, for, in the Bible, all people and animals are descendent from the passengers on the ark. It ties into the Gospel lesson as Paul writes about all the blessings we have in Christ, and in our Gospel lesson we see some of those blessings. It is well worth noting the role of faith and love in this text. Faith in Christ results in love for others. However the evidence that Christ is in our hearts is not our acts of love, but the gift of faith in him. In Christ we have abundant riches. The question is not whether or not we have them, but what are we doing with what we have been given. His power is at work in those who believe. Also note the presence of the Church in verse 21. This underscores that being a Christian is not simply and “God and me” thing. It is always a community thing (without excluding the personal element). We are to be in the Church.

Mark 6:45-56:            Jesus puts his disciples on a boat while he goes to a mountain and prays. If prayer was important for Jesus, how much more so for us. Jesus sees that the disciples are having trouble in the crossing because of the bad weather. This reflects our Lord’s divine knowledge. Jesus walks across the water, reflecting his divine mastery over nature. The disciples are terrified, but Jesus comforts them. Jesus is always willing to comfort our terrified hearts. The disciples are astounded when Jesus calms the storm, because they still didn’t understand just who Jesus is. To this day, those who do not know Jesus by faith are flabbergasted by what the Bible says he did. They find it impossible to believe. When they have finished their crossing, many people began to bring their sick to him. Jesus had compassion on them all. So, too, today, Jesus has compassion on all who come to him in faith.

Tidbits

• Our August newsletter should be posted on the blog before Sunday. Print copies will be available for those who do not have internet access.

• The LWML has a meeting scheduled for Sunday after the worship service.

• A small group of us met this past Wednesday to discuss Lamb of God’s involvement with the Lutheran Malaria Initiative. You can look for more about this in the newsletter, bulletin, and on this blog in separate posts, over the next several months.

Well, I pray I’ll see you Sunday.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

James the Elder - 2012

Feast of St. James the Elder, Apostle

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

The Lord be with you

Today we remember James the Elder (or Great). He was born in Galilee and was, like his father Zebedee and his brother John and the apostles Peter and Andrew, a fisherman. His mother was Salome (Matthew 27:56). His is believed to have been older than his brother John because his name is almost always put before John’s in the biblical lists of the apostles, hence his title “the elder.” (In fact the lists almost always go: “Peter, James, John …,” probably reflecting that these three held positions of leadership among the twelve.) Shortly after calling Andrew and Peter from their fishing to be disciples, Jesus saw the sons of Zebedee in a boat with their father, mending nets. He called them, and they left their father and followed him. James and his brother were called Boanerges, “sons of thunder,” (Mark 3:17), presumably because of their impetuous spirit and flashing temper (Luke 9:49, 54; Mark 10:37).

Incidents in St. James’ life are recorded in all four Gospels and in the book of Acts. As a member with Peter and John of the privileged “inner circle” of the disciples, he witnessed the cure of Peter’s mother-in-law (Luke 4:38-39) and the raising of the daughter of Jairas (Mark 5:37), and was with Jesus at the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2) and at his suffering in Gethsemane on the night of his arrest (Matthew 26:36-37).

James was apparently an active leader in the early church, although there is no reliable information on where he preached or what he did. He was the3 first of the apostles to die a martyr’s death and the only apostle whose death is recorded in the Bible. He was beheaded by Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:2) just before Passover in 43 or 44 ad. He is said to have been buried in Jerusalem. The Western date of his commemoration seems to derive from the burial of his supposed relics in the great Church of Santiago de Compostella, July 25, 816. (The Easter churches remember him on dates closer to Passover.)

James traditional symbol is the scallop shell.

James the Elder should not be confused with James the Less (or “younger”), the son of Alphaeus, who is commemorated on May 1 with Philip, or with James of Jerusalem, the brother of Jesus and Martyr, who wrote the book of James.

Prayer: O gracious God, Your servant and apostle James was the first among the Twelve to suffer martyrdom for the name of Jesus Christ. Pour out upon the leaders of Your Church that spirit of self-denying service that they may forsake all false and passing allurements and follow Christ alone, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Other appropriate prayers:

• For the gift of generosity and self-sacrifice
• For courage and faith to gladly follow Christ
• For the spirit of service

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

Mary Magdalene - 2012

Feast of St Mary Magdalene

Sunday, July 22, 2012

The Lord be with you

Today is either the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost or the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene. At Lamb of God we recognized Mary this day. Mary is, perhaps, one of the most celebrated ladies of the Bible. This day is used to recognize her on all liturgical calendars I am familiar with. So, what makes her so special?

With only one exception (John 19:25), whenever the New Testament Gospels name the women who were with Jesus, St. Mary Magdalene is listed first. Many speculate that the reason for this is that Mary was blessed to be the very first person to see the risen Lord Jesus (John 20:10-18).

According to Luke 8:2, Jesus had cured Mary of being possessed by seven demons. Through the centuries, she has often been identified with the repentant “woman of the city” (prostitute) who anointed Jesus’ feet as He sat at the table in the Pharisee’s home (Luke 7:36-50). This identification led to the inclusion of the word “Penitent” in her official title in the Medieval Church, the only person to be so designated. However, there is no biblical reason to identify the two women. This miss-identification found expression in the “Rock Opera” Jesus Christ, Superstar.

Another miss-identification that is common is to think she is the same woman as Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. By now you have probably guessed that “Mary” was a rather common name in 1^st Century Judea.

Over the centuries, there has been wild speculation about her. The book/movie The daVinci Code capitalized on these myths. These Medieval fantasies often have Jesus surviving the crucifixion and moving to the south of France with Mary and other New Testament persons, where Jesus and Mary get married and have children. There isn’t a scrap of truth in them.

Here is what we do know, aside from Jesus healing her. Mary was one of a number of ladies who followed Jesus and helped support him and his disciples. She was present when Jesus was crucified. She watched Jesus be buried by Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. Easter Sunday morning she went to the grave and found it empty. After the others left, she remained behind and was the first to see the resurrected Jesus. Jesus sent her to tell the other disciples that he had been raised from the dead. The word “apostle” means “sent one.” Because Mary was sent to tell the apostles about the resurrection, Bernard of Clairvaux (1090 –1153) called her the “apostle to the Apostles.”

Mary stands out for her deep faith and devotion to Jesus, and as a witness to the founding events of our Christian Faith, the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord.

Prayer: Almighty God, Your Son, Jesus Christ, restored Mary Magdalene to health and called her to be the first witness of His resurrection. Heal us from all our infirmities, and call us to know You in the power of Your Son’s unending life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

Commemoration of Ezekiel - 2012

Commemoration of Ezekiel

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Ezekiel by Raphael

Today we remember, on our liturgical calendar in the LC-MS, Ezekiel, the son of Buzi. He was a priest called by God to be a prophet to the exiles during the Babylonian captivity (Ezekiel 1:36). In 597 bc, King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army brought the king of Judah and thousands of the best citizens of Jerusalem – including Ezekiel – to Babylon (2 Kings 24:8-16). Ezekiel’s priestly background profoundly stamped his prophecy, as the holiness of God and the temple figure prominently in his messages (for example, Ezekiel 9-10 and 40-48). From 593 bc to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 586 bc, Ezekiel prophesied the inevitability of divine judgment on Jerusalem, on the exiles in Babylon, and on seven nations that surrounded Israel (Ezekiel 1-32). Jerusalem would fall, and the exiles would not quickly return, as a just consequence of their sin. Once word reached Ezekiel that Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed, his message became one of comfort and hope. Through him, God promised that His people would experience future restoration, renewal, and revival in the coming messianic kingdom (Ezekiel 33-48). Much of the strange symbolism of Ezekiel’s prophecies was later employed in the Revelation to St. John. Because of that strange symbolism, both Ezekiel and Revelation have attracted some of the wildest and most unsound interpretations of any of the biblical books.

Prayer: Lord God, heavenly Father, through the prophet Ezekiel, You continued the prophetic pattern of teaching Your people the true faith and demonstrating through miracles Your presence in creation to heal it of its brokenness. Grant that Your Church may see in Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the final end-times prophet whose t5eaching and miracles continue in Your Church through the healing medicine of the Gospel and the Sacraments; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

Commemoration of Elijah - 2012

Commemoration of Elijah

Friday, July 20, 2012

The Lord be with you

We again, on the liturgical calendar used in the LC-MS, follow the suggestion of the 19^th century liturgical scholar Wilhelm Löhe (see January 2), and recognize today as the Commemoration of Elijah. The Eastern Church, on this day, commemorates the “Glorious Prophet Elias (Elijah),” who is commemorated on our calendar June 14.

The prophet Elijah, whose name means “My God is Yahweh [the Lord],” prophesied in the Northern Kingdom of Israel primarily during the reign of Ahab (874-853 bc). Ahab, under the influence of his pagan wife Jezebel, had encouraged the worship of the Phoenician idol Baal throughout his kingdom, even as Jezebel sought to get rid of the worship of Yahweh. Elijah was called by God to denounce this idolatry and to call the people of Israel back to the worship of Yahweh as the only true God (as he did in 1 Kings 18:20-40). Elijah was a rugged and imposing figure, living in the wilderness and dressing in a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt (2 Kings 1:8). He was a prophet mighty in word and deed. Many miracles were done through Elijah, including the raising of the dead (1 Kings 17:17-24) and the effecting of a long drought in Israel (1 Kings 17:1). At the end of his ministry, he was taken up into heaven in a whirlwind while Elisha, his successor, looked on (2 Kings 2:11). Later, the prophet Malachi proclaimed that Elijah would return before the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5-6), a prophecy that was fulfilled in the prophetic ministry of John the Baptist (Matthew 11:14).

Fresco at Rila Monastery of Elijah

Elijah was not a “writing” prophet, meaning he left us no written document. However, he and his ministry are recorded in 1 Kings 17-21 and 2 Kings 1-2. During his lifetime Israel was economically prosperous and a major regional political and military power (Egypt was confined to the area of the Nile and Assyria was confined to the Mesopotamia area).  People are often inclined to judge the value of their religion in terms of economic, political and military success as well as whether or not it is keeping in step with the times. Thus Elijah faced a stiff challenge. Today people are not different. Because our country is powerful economically, politically, and militarily, people are inclined to endorse the sinful lead of our cultural leaders (abortion, sexual immorality, political expediency, a godless creation, violence as entertainment, etc.) seeking to keep in step with the times. Those who call us back to faithfulness are considered obdurate, hardhearted, backward, ignorant, and all sorts of other ugly things. Elijah can be an inspiration to faithfulness to all who stand against the tide of secular culture’s efforts to pull us away from Jesus.

Prayer: Lord God, heavenly Father, through the prophet Elijah, You continued the prophetic pattern of teaching Your people the true faith and demonstrating through miracles Your presence in creation to heal it of its brokenness. Grant that Your Church may see in Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the final end-times prophet whose teaching and miracles continue in Your Church through the healing medicine of the Gospel and the Sacraments; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

Worship for the Feast Day of St. Mary Magdalene - 2012

Thursday after Pentecost 7

July 19, 2012

The Lord be with you

Because we are recognizing all the alternate days this year on our calendar, this coming Sunday will be the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene. There will also be a post dedicated to her on this blog, which will be posted Sunday. (For those not using the alternate days, this coming Sunday is the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost.)

The appointed readings for the Feast Day of St Mary Magdalene are Proverbs 31:10-31, Acts 13:26-31, and John 20:1-2, 10-18. The appointed Psalm is Psalm 73:23-28 and the antiphon is verse 1. We will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper, using the first setting of the Divine Service (LSB, page 151), and therefore will be using the appointed Introit instead of the appointed Psalm.

Our opening hymn will be “For All the Faithful Women” (LSB 855). This hymn has 13 verses but we are not expected to sing all 13 at any given time. Verses 5-13 are each dedicated to specific women of faith throughout biblical history. Verse 11 is about Mary Magdalene. Therefore we will sing verse 1, verse 11 and then verses 3 and 4. Our sermon hymn will be “By All Your Saints in Warfare” (LSB 518). This 28 verse hymn has the same sort of set up as “For All the Faithful Women,” only it is restricted to New Testament individuals. Verse 20 deals with Mary Magdalene, so we will sing verse 1, verse 20, and then verse 3. Our closing hymn will be “Rise, Shine, You People” (LSB 825). Our distribution hymns will be “The Death of Jesus Christ, Our Lord” (LSB 634), “O Sons and Daughters of the King” (LSB 470), and “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing” (LSB 643).

The text for the sermon will be John 20:18. The sermon title will be “A Woman’s Place.”

In our prayers on Sunday we will remember The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti (ELCH) (Eglise Evangelique Lutherienne D’Haiti) and their President, Rev. Marky Kessa. We will remember our missionary, Emily Goddard, who serves in South Africa. Emily writes, “I would appreciate prayers for God to open the hearts of the community where I serve and that He would use me as a tool to spread His love and the Gospel to the people of South Africa. I also ask for prayers to prepare me for all that lies ahead. And, please pray for the school, including its teachers, administrators, students and families.” We are grateful to God for the opportunity to support Emily by responding to her request in our Sunday worship. We will remember the persecuted believers in North Korea. Communism has never been friendly towards the Church, and North Korea is a Communist nation. However the LC-MS has been able to make some very positive strides there with an international school. We will also remember our sister SED congregations: Christ, Norfolk, VA; Trinity, Norfolk, VA; Unity, Norfolk, VA; Redeemer, Portsmouth, VA; Bethlehem, Aiken, SC. We will continue to remember those who have been misled by our cultures acceptance of abortion and sexual immorality, asking God’s grace for their lives that they may be healed and restored by the Holy Spirit. We will also continue to remember those trapped in the modern practice of slavery and ask God to bless all efforts that are pleasing in his sight to end this sinful practice.

Below is a recording of our first distribution hymn, “The Death of Jesus Christ, Our Lord” (LSB 634). It includes the words in a sing-a-long fashion. Those words are not exactly like the ones in our hymnal, which have been “updated.”  

Our adult Bible class meets at 9:00 Sunday morning. This Sunday we will finish Matthew 23 and begin chapter 24. This teaching of our Lord occurred during Holy Week. As always, everyone is invited to come.

Preview of the Lessons

Proverbs 31:10-31:    I must admit, this is one of my favorite Bible passages to give people who think they have a good handle on what the Bible has to say about women. It just doesn’t fit anyone’s stereotype. First, though written down by “King Lemuel,” the opening verse clearly identifies his mother as the source of the chapter. The opening verses, which are omitted in our reading, have some general advice for rulers, including to watch out for women, but clearly she does not mean the type of women spoken of beginning with verse 10, a woman with a “noble character.” The feminist will object that such a woman brings her husband “good, not harm,” and that her husband is “respected in the city gate,” saying why should the husband be the recipient of her hard work. The traditionalist will object that this woman is engaged in the work force, which certainly should be the husband’s duty. The beauty queen will object to the words “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting.” One thing that comes through loud and clear to me is that women are individuals. To use modern vernacular, women are people in their own right. However, God has made humanity as social beings, and this is true of women as well. So, while they are individuals, they are not islands. This also comes through in Proverbs 31. Finally, Proverbs 31 lets you know that you can’t pigeon hole women any more than you can pigeon hole men. In both cases, the one who “who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

Acts 13:26-31:            Paul is on his first missionary journey. He and his company have arrived in Pisidia Antioch. Invited to speak at the local synagogue, Paul launches into a review of Jewish history, culminating in Jesus as the fulfillment of all the promises made to the Hebrews. The leadership didn’t recognize this, and had him crucified. But God raised him from the dead, and the witnesses to this are still alive. It is this reference to the witnesses that earned this reading a place during the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, for she was one of those witnesses. Of course, the witnesses are not the main focus of the text. That focus belongs to “the message of salvation” which is focused on Jesus.

John 20:1-2, 10-18:    This is a portion of the Easter story told by John. Mary Magdalene is prominently featured as the first person to see the resurrected Lord. After seeing Jesus, Mary is commissioned to tell the disciples, which she does. John doesn’t tell us the response of the disciples. His accent is on the resurrection and the multitude of witnesses as he continues to report post-resurrection appearances. Mary is privileged to be the first to see Jesus and to be the first to be commissioned to share the message. Many have pointed out that this account screams authenticity because a woman, in a male dominated culture, is the first to see Jesus and the first to faithfully tell about his resurrection. If the story was a fiction, the writer would have made the first witness someone believable, like Peter. Because women were considered unstable, their witness wasn’t allowed in the courts, but Jesus selects a woman to be his witness. How is that for a special place for a woman?

Tidbits

• Information for our August newsletter is due Sunday.

• Our Voters’ Meeting went well this past Sunday. Some of the reports were clearly looking towards the future. Jill Snow reported on the Lutheran Malaria Initiative. The general attitude of the voters was that this was something we should find a way to support. The Elders reported on a proposed Spiritual Life Survey to assist in planning for our future. This was also well received and the Elders are moving forward in finalizing the form, which will be given to the congregation, hopefully, sometime in August. Thanks to the efforts of many, we are still paying our bills. Kitty reported on the Southeastern District’s Convention, to which she was our lay representative. All in all, a good meeting.

Well, I pray I’ll see you Sunday.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

Improving Your Pastor

So you want to improve your pastor? He’s not done anything wrong for which he can be removed from office in your parish, but you think he could do better, be a better pastor.

WMLTblog — On Improving Your Pastor (written for church members)

July 16th, 2012 Post by Norm Fisher

Found on Witness, Mercy, Life Together blog:

More than that, you also know just what he needs to do to improve! Should you tell him? How do you tell him? You want him to grow, of course, so you go to him with your laundry list of complaints – concerns you have, plus some you have “heard” from others.
Now pastors who are wise will listen to and benefit from constructive criticism. But pastors are human, too, sinners just like you! When the list of faults is long and the discussion becomes personal, it’s not hard for the pastor (and his family!) to become more and more discouraged.
I ask you now, who benefits from a discouraged pastor who’s “down in the dumps?” No one! (And believe me, I’ve seen and talked with my share of discouraged pastors.) But you still really would like your pastor to grow and improve! What do you do?
Here are some questions you first need to ask yourself (actually, this article is developed from a conversation I had along these lines several years ago with my friend, Pastor Mark Willig of St. John Lutheran Church in Chester, Illinois).
So you want to improve your pastor? Are you Lutheran? “Well, of course I am!” you respond. Then you will remember that Lutherans believe in the means of grace that God does His work of saving, forgiving, encouraging, strengthening us in faith through His Word and through Baptism and Holy Communion. That means when we speak God’s Word, God Himself is speaking that Word through us to accomplish His purposes.
Now here’s another question. Do the means of grace also work on pastors? Does the Word of God work, is God also speaking, when someone speaks that Word to a pastor? Yes, of course He is, right? Perhaps you haven’t thought of it this way, but this is exactly what pastors need! They need to hear the Word of God spoken to them!
If your pastor grows in faith, it will help him be a better pastor, right? How do we grow in the faith? As Lutherans we know we use the means of grace. So, how do you “improve” your pastor? You use the means of grace on him. You can’t baptize him all over again, but you can use the Word of God on him. In fact, the most important thing you can do for your pastor is to speak the Word of God to him. Tell him of Jesus Christ and His love for him. Tell him that Jesus died and rose also for him. Demonstrate that Word of God to him by your words and actions.
It happened to me one Lent about 20 years ago. We had come through some minor difficulties in our parish (I don’t even remember what they were) when some women of the parish, during Holy Week, took it on themselves to send me a card, a flower, a word of encouragement from the Word of God every day that week before Easter. God used them, spoke through them, to “improve” their pastor. And I was truly strengthened for the task of bringing the resurrection Gospel with renewed vigor that year.
What I am advocating for you, the lay people reading this, is a simple approach centered in the Word of God. We are Lutherans. We believe God Himself speaks in His Word. So SPEAK that Word to one another, and especially to your pastor.
What you will find is that you will not “improve” your pastor – we can’t do that ourselves anyway – but that God will. He can and He does work through His Word. What does Jesus say about your pastor? He’s forgiven, washed in Jesus’ blood, just like you are. Through His Word, God fills him with the Spirit.
That’s why we want to make the center of our meetings, everything we do, our very life together, the speaking of God’s Word to one another. See each other through the eyes of Jesus, who loves each of us with an everlasting love. God “improves” us by forgiving us, restoring us, renewing us in Jesus Christ.
Just in case there are any pastors reading this, it works the other way, too. So you want to “improve” (or grow!) your congregation? Are you Lutheran? Yes? Bring the means of grace to them, over and over.  Speak the Word of God to them, day in and day out, the Word focused on Jesus. Keep on speaking. It’s what you have been given to do, even when you are tired of it. Tell them what a blessing it is to serve them with the Gospel, how precious they are in God’s eyes.
God will work through His Word – He promised! – to accomplish His purpose. May we in our parishes, pastor and people, live as St. Paul describes the church in Thessalonica:

“We also thank God continually because, when you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the Word of God, which is at work in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

+ Herbert Mueller
LCMS First Vice President

Commemoration of Ruth

Commemoration of Ruth

Monday, July 16, 2012

The Lord be with you

Today, on the LC-MS liturgical calendar, is recognized as the Commemoration of Ruth. In doing so, we are following the liturgical calendar proposed by the 19^th century Lutheran scholar Wilhelm Löhe. Löhe was also a key player in the formation of the LC-MS, and is remembered on our calendar January 2. (To see a post concerning Löhe click here.)

Ruth and Naomi

Ruth of Moab, the subject of the biblical book that bears her name, is an inspiring example of God’s grace. Although she was a Gentile, God made her the great grandmother of King David (Ruth 4:17) and an ancestress of Jesus Himself (Matthew 1:5). A famine in Israel led Elimelech and Naomi of Bethlehem to immigrate to the neighboring nation of Moab with their two sons. The sons married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth, but after about ten years, Elimelech and his sons died (Ruth 1:1-5). Naomi then decided to return to Bethlehem and urged her daughters-in-law to return to their families. Orpah listened to Naomi’s advice, but Ruth refused, replying with the stirring words, “Where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). After Ruth arrived in Bethlehem, Boaz, a close relative of Elimelech, agreed to be Ruth’s “redeemer” (Ruth 3:7-13; 4:9-12). He took her as his wife, and Ruth gave birth to Obed, the grandfather of David (Ruth 4:13-17), thus preserving the messianic line. Ruth’s kindness and selfless loyalty toward Naomi and her faith in Naomi’s God have long endeared her to the faithful and redounded to God’s praise for His merciful choice of one so unexpected.

A few lessons we can learn from Ruth (not all of them) include:

• Ruth was a Gentile and did not know the true God until her husband and mother in law shared with her about the real God. Family ties continue to be an important way the Christian Faith is shared.
• Ruth was not just any Gentile but was from Moab. According to Deuteronomy 23:3 “No … Moabite may enter the assembly of the Lord,” yet she does. Here we see that God’s grace and forgiveness is greater than any transgress. As the old prayer puts it, God is always more ready to forgive than we are to ask. No one is beyond the grace of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
• Ruth was a Gentile and yet also an ancestor of Jesus. This is a testimony that Christ came for all, not just the physical descendants of Abraham.

Prayer: Faithful God, You promised to preserve Your people and save Your inheritance, using unlikely and unexpected vessels in extending the genealogy that would bring about the birth of Your blessed Son. Give us the loyalty of Ruth and her trust in the one true God, that we, too, might honor You through our submission and respect and be counted among Your chosen people, by the grace of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and the Holy Spirit, who reign together with You, now and forever. Amen.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

Worship for Pentecost 7 - 2012

Thursday after Pentecost 6

July 12, 2012

The Lord be with you

This coming Sunday will be the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost. The appointed lesions are: Amos 7:7-15; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6:14-29. Because we will be using Matins for our liturgy (page 219), we will be using the appointed Psalm for the Day instead of the appointed Introit for the Day, which is Psalm 85:1-13. The antiphon is verse 7. Our hymns will be “Baptismal Waters Cover Me” (LSB 616) (the hymn we are learning this month), “Speak, O Lord, Your Servant Listens” (LSB 589) and “Almighty God, Your Word Is Cast” (LSB 577). The sermon text is Mark 6:20 and the sermon title is “Words.”

In our prayers on Sunday we will remember The American Association of Lutheran Churches (AALC) and their President, Rev. Franklin E. Hays. The AALC is 25 years old and views themselves as continuing the tradition of the American Lutheran Church (ALC), a denomination with whom the LC-MS was in altar and pulpit fellowship but since has been absorbed by the ELCA. The LC-MS is currently in altar and pulpit fellowship with the AALC. We will remember our missionary, Emily Goddard, who serves in South Africa. Emily writes, “I would appreciate prayers for God to open the hearts of the community where I serve and that He would use me as a tool to spread His love and the Gospel to the people of South Africa. I also ask for prayers to prepare me for all that lies ahead. And, please pray for the school, including its teachers, administrators, students and families.” We are grateful to God for the opportunity to support Emily by responding to her request in our Sunday worship. We will remember the persecuted believers in Nigeria. Nigeria is in West Africa and is the nation on that content with the most people. The northern part of Nigeria is mainly Moslem and the southern part is mainly Christian. Radical Islamic sects in the north, demanding a separate Islamic state, have greatly increased the death total in recent years, though the government is trying to keep things under control. These separatist groups attack and kill Christians as well as Moslems who desire to maintain peace in the country. We will also remember our sister SED congregations: St. Matthew, Meherrin, VA; St. Paul’s, Meherrin, VA; New Hope, Midlothian, VA; Resurrection, Newport News, VA; Grace, Summerville, SC. We will continue to remember those who have been misled by our cultures acceptance of abortion and sexual immorality, asking God’s grace for their lives that they may be healed and restored by the Holy Spirit. We will also continue to remember those trapped in the modern practice of slavery and ask God to bless all efforts that are pleasing in his sight to end this sinful practice.

Below is a recording, on a harp, of “Speak, O Lord, Your Servant Listens”. Only one verse, and no one is singing, but it is nice.

Our adult Bible class meets at 9:00 Sunday morning. This Sunday we will be in Matthew 23, walking with our Lord through Holy Week. While the events in the chapter occur during the final week in the life of Jesus, they are not the events of which we normally think. Those events typically are Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. Matthew 23 has our Lord’s teaching on Monday through Wednesday. As always, everyone is invited to come.

Preview of the Lessons

Amos 7:7-15:  Amos is one of the “minor” prophets. They are called “minor” only because their books are short, not because their books are unimportant. They are all grouped at the end of the Old Testament, not because they all worked near the end of the Old Testament time period, but because all twelve could fit onto one scroll. Amos lived and prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II (793-753 bc) (see 1:1), and he was active probably from around 760 to 750. His work was in the northern kingdom of Israel, which fell to the Assyrians in 722. Through him the Lord warned Israel and called them back to Him, a warning and call the king and the majority of the people ignored. In this vision Amos sees a wall and a plum line. Plum lines are a string with a weight at the bottom. They are used to determine if a wall is “true,” that is, straight. With different terrains and such, your eyes can play tricks on you. But the weight makes sure the string is being pulled straight down so if the wall doesn’t line up with the plum line, the wall isn’t “true.” If the wall is “true,” it passes. If it doesn’t pass, you tear it down and start again. The wall might represent the “house of Israel” or the “house of Jeroboam.” It doesn’t matter because they are really one and the same. The plum line is the word of God. The house is not true. Instead of repenting, the religious leaders and king tell Amos to move to Judah, where faith in the True God is more welcomed.

Ephesians 1:3-14:      This is a wonderful passage to read if you are feeling down or questioning your salvation. This passage speaks about predestination. While this teaching troubles many, in the Bible it is always used for our comfort. We are predestined, in Christ, for good. Predestination is, in the New Testament, always associated with Jesus. The evidence of predestination is our faith. Do you believe that Jesus died for you? That is the mark of being predestined. So, if you have faith in Jesus, then you also have “every spiritual blessing.” These blessings come in the manner God chooses, and that manner is through word and sacrament. How frustrated some Christians become by chasing after other ways to receive these great blessings from God! The phrase “word of truth” is referring to the word of God. The phrase “sealed with the Holy Spirit” refers Paul’s readers back to their baptism. How do you know you have the Holy Spirit? Were you baptized in the name of the Triune God? Then you have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. This reading could be a whole book. For now, just read it and thank God for all the great gifts he has for you.

Mark 6:14-29:            This reading picks up where last weeks reading ended. It is how Mark introduces the death of John the Baptist. It is not a “current event” in this account. In stead, Jesus’ popularity is growing and the news reaches Herod. In identifying Herod, Mark tells how Herod speculated that John the Baptist had come back from the dead, and about the how Herod had John beheaded. The stage is set for this speculation by Herod by informing us that Herod knew John was a “righteous and holy man” and that he heard John “gladly” even though the message of John disturbed him. In contrast to those Paul wrote to, who received the word of truth and the joy that such reception and trust brings, Herod rejected the word of truth (like Israel and Jeroboam) and so was troubled. Now his guilty conscience was kicking in. Of course, Herod is not really the focus for Mark, but John the Baptist and how John’s words about the importance of Jesus were fulfilled. John said, “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” John had passed away. Jesus had arrived. Those who did not attend to John were not going to easily understand who Jesus is and what he came to do.

Tidbits

• There will be a voters’ meeting following our worship service Sunday. The focus of the meeting will be on reports. Kitty will tell us about the SED convention. Pastor will tell us about what the surveys reveled concerning the Stations of the Cross project on which he is working. Our Elders will tell us about some ideas concerning proposed worship services, and an upcoming survey to make it easier to plan for our future. Of course we will be given the latest information about our financial health. All boards and committees will have an opportunity to share.

Well, I pray I’ll see you Sunday.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

Commemoration of Isaiah - 2012

Commemoration of Isaiah

Friday, July 6, 2012

The Lord be with you

The Prophet Isaiah by Raffaello

July 6, on our calendar, is the Commemoration of Isaiah. Isaiah, the son of Amoz, is considered to be the greatest of the writing prophets and is quoted in the New Testament more than any other Old Testament prophet. His name means “Yahweh [the Lord] saves.” Isaiah prophesied to the people of Jerusalem and Judah from about 740 bc to 700 bc and was a contemporary of the prophets Amos, Hosea, and Micah. Isaiah was a fierce preacher of God’s Law, condemning the sin of idolatry. He was also a comforting proclaimer of the Gospel, repeatedly emphasizing God’s grace and forgiveness. For this he is sometimes called the Evangelist of the Old Testament. No prophet more clearly prophesized about the coming Messiah and His saving kingdom. Isaiah foretold not only the Messiah’s miraculous birth (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6), His endless reign (Isaiah 2:1-5; 11:1-16), and His public ministry (Isaiah 61:1-3), but most notably his Suffering Servant role and atoning death (Isaiah 52:13-536:12). The apostle John’s description of Isaiah, that Isaiah saw Jesus’ glory and spoke of Him (John 12:41), is an apt summary of his prophetic ministry.

Prayer: Lord God, heavenly Father, through the prophet Isaiah, You continued the prophetic pattern of teaching Your people the true faith and demonstrating through miracles Your presence in creation to heal it of its brokenness. Grant that Your Church may see in Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the final end times prophet whose teaching and miracles continue in Your Church through the healing medicine of the Gospel and the Sacraments through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

(From: Treasury of Daily Prayer, published by Concordia Publishing House)

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

Worship for Pentecost 6 - 2012

Thursday after Pentecost 5

July 5, 2012

The Lord be with you

This coming Sunday will be the sixth Sunday after Pentecost. The appointed lesions are: Ezekiel 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; Mark 6:1-13. We will be using the third setting of the Diving Service for our liturgy (page 184 of LSB). This is a communion service. If you have a copy of one of our hymnals (past or present), you may prepare by reading/singing/praying the hymn “I Come, O Savior, to Thy Table (LSB 618/619; LW 242; TLH 315). If you don’t have a copy of a hymnal, then you can read what Luther has to say about the Lord’s Supper in the Small Catechism.

Our opening hymn will be “Listen, God Is Calling” (LSB 833). Our sermon hymn will be “On Galilee’s High Mountain” (LSB 835). Our closing hymn will be “On What Has Now Been Sown” (LSB 921). Our distribution hymns will be “The Death of Jesus Christ, Our Lord” (LSB 634), “O Christ, Our Hope, Our Hearts’ Desire” (LSB 553), and “Salvation unto Us Has Come” (LSB 555). “The Death of Jesus Christ, Our Lord” is the hymn we are currently learning. Our final hymn, “On What Has Now Been Sown,” was written, sort of, by John Newton. Newton’s most famous hymn is “Amazing Grace.” This hymn is really a compilation made from selected verses taken from two of his hymns. Newton, as you may recall, is the former slave trader, turned minister and became a key voice for the abolition of slavery in the English Empire.

Below is a recording made last year during evening chapel service at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN, of our final distribution hymn, “Salvation unto Us Has Come.” They are certainly singing is slower than we will. The hymn was written by Paul Speratus, probably in 1532, and included in the first Protestant (Lutheran) hymnal.

The text for Sunday’s sermon is Mark 6:1. The sermon is titled “Blindness Doesn’t Make the World Dark”.

In our prayers on Sunday we will remember the Lutheran Church - Canada (LC-C) and their President, Rev. Robert Bugbee. We will remember our missionaries, George and Shary Frahm, who serve in Cambodia. We will remember the persecuted believers in Nepal. Nepal is about the size and shape of Tennessee and lies between China and India. The majority of people in Nepal are Hindus (81%) and Buddhists (11%). Until recently, the government was Communist. Today they have a democracy. In the 1950s, with efforts towards democracy starting, Nepalese who had become Christians returned home, bring their faith with them. Persecution comes from the majority religions and the government when Christians cannot obey certain laws and remain faithful to Jesus. We will also remember our sister SED congregations: Peace, King George, VA; Our Savior, Lynchburg, VA; Hope, Manassas, VA; St. Paul, Mechanicsville, VA; Risen Christ, Myrtle Beach, SC. We will continue to remember those who have been misled by our cultures acceptance of abortion and sexual immorality, asking God’s grace for their lives that they may be healed and restored by the Holy Spirit. We will also continue to remember those trapped in the modern practice of slavery and ask God to bless all efforts that are pleasing in his sight to end this sinful practice.

Our adult Bible class meets at 9:00 Sunday morning. This Sunday we will in Matthew 22, walking with our Lord through Holy Week. As always, everyone is invited to come.

Preview of the Lessons

Ezekiel 2:1-5: This lesson is part of the call of Ezekiel to the prophetic ministry. He was a member of the priestly line and part of the first group to be deported by the Babylonians. His ministry was to the Jews in Babylon. His contemporary, Jeremiah, was working in Judea with much the same message. That message was to repent and accept Babylonian suzerainty as God’s just punishment for their sins. If they didn’t, the Babylonians would destroy Judea, including the Temple. However they would be returned. God knows the Jews will not repent, but that doesn’t stop God from sending his prophets and warning the people. The same is true in every generation. God calls us to repentance and faith. It is a sad fact of human nature that so many of us are prone to reject God, interpreting his patience as either proof that he doesn’t follow through or that he doesn’t exist.

2 Corinthians 12:1-10:           Paul didn’t have an easy life. Many in the Church questioned his credentials. I guess that was only natural. He didn’t become a Christian until after the first Pentecost. He first was a persecutor of the Church. However he was converted by Jesus through a personal appearance while he was traveling to Damascus, to persecute Christians of all things. He quickly became a powerful speaker, sharing Christ with one and all. Still, the questions continued. In this lesson Paul speaks of his credentials. He is seeking to do so in a way that doesn’t seem like boasting. He speaks of a certain “thorn in the flesh.” Personally, I think it was poor eyesight, but that is only an educated guess. No one really knows for sure. Whatever it was, it handicapped him. It is notable that Paul pleaded with God to take away his “thorn,” but God didn’t. Those who contend that God must give us whatever we desire, as long as we pray correctly and in faith, must contend with this passage (verse 8). Paul came to understand this “thorn” as God’s way of keeping him dependent on the grace of God in Christ Jesus (verse 9). As Paul wrote, “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong: (verse 10). When Paul speaks of the “third heaven” he is talking of what we might just call heaven. The “first” heaven is the air, where birds and airplanes fly. The “second” heaven is where the stars, moon, and so forth, are found. The “third” heaven” is the dwelling place of God.

Mark 6:1-13:  This reading comes from the first year of Jesus’ ministry. He returns to his home town of Nazareth, where the people have a hard time accepting him. So, just like Ezekiel and Paul, Jesus is also rejected by those he came to serve. So Jesus moves on, sending out the twelve to places he intends to visit, where they preach and prepare the way for Jesus. Just like Jesus, Paul, and Ezekiel, their reception is mixed. Jesus prepares them for this.

Tidbits

• We have no meetings on Sunday. However, both our Greek Club and our Elders will meet this coming week.

Well, I pray I’ll see you Sunday.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert