IfWeCanJust

Tuesday after Pentecost 10

July 30, 2013

The Lord be with you

Tomorrow (Wednesday, July 31) is the Commemoration of Joseph of Arimathea. It is also time for our next summer Vespers service. As before, the service will begin at 7:00 pm and run about 45 minutes. We are continuing our series “Breaking the Rules.” The homily is titled “IfWeCanJust.” The text is Galatians 3:2. The lessons are Jeremiah 1:9-10, Galatians 3:1-3, and Matthew 28:16-20. The Psalm will be Psalm 119:73-80 (YODH), antiphon verse 74. Our opening hymn will be “Blessed Jesus, at Your Word” (LSB 904). Our homily hymn will be “The Church’s One Foundation” (LSB 644). Our closing hymn will be “Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer” (LSB 918).

All are welcome, so why not come and invite a friend to join you.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor

Worship for Pentecost 9 - 2013

Thursday after Pentecost 9

Festival of St. James the Elder, Apostle

July 25, 2013

The Lord be with you

This coming Sunday is the 10^th Sunday after Pentecost. It is also the Commemoration of Johann Sebastian Bach, Kantor. Anyone who makes a list of the greatest composers of all time has to put him on the list. Many would rank him number one. For Bach, his music was an expression of his Lutheran faith. One lesson we can all learn from him is that, whatever our calling, our calling should be an expression of our faith. It may be more obvious how this can be done for a musician than a clerk or cook, but everything we do, we do for the Lord. So we value Bach, not only for his wonderful music, but also for giving us a great example of living our lives for the Lord.

We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper this Sunday. To prepare you can read what your Small Catechism has to say about the Lord’s Supper. We will be using Divine Service I (page 151) for our liturgy. Our opening hymn will be “Awake, O Sleeper, Rise from Death” (LSB 697). Our sermon hymn will be “Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus” (LSB 685). Our closing hymn will be “My Faith Looks Up to Thee” (LSB 702). Our distribution hymns will be “Oh, That the Lord Would Guide My Ways” (LSB 707), “Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness” (LSB 636), and “Crown Him with Many Crowns” (LSB 525).

Our lections will be Genesis 18: (17-18), 20-33; Colossians 1:21-29; Luke 11:1-13. The sermon text will be Colossians 1:22. The sermon is titled “Are You Righteous?”

Below is a video of our sermon hymn, “Let Us Ever Walk With Jesus.” It is preformed by “2GuitarGirls.”

In our prayers, we will remember the blessing of music, The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti and their President, Rev. Marky Kessa. We will remember the persecuted believers in North Korea. We will remember Emily Goddard, our missionary 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 will continue to remember the churches in our denomination. This week we lift up before our Lord Bethany-Trinity, Waynesboro, VA; King of Glory, Williamsburg, VA; Our Savior, Winchester, VA; Grace, Woodbridge, VA; and Calvary, Charleston, SC. We will continue to remember all those who have been misled by our cultures advocacy of sexual immorality and abortion. We ask, not only that the Lord turn our country around, but also that he bring healing to the lives damaged by our current culture. We also remember the modern slave trade and ask God to bless all efforts pleasing in his sight to end this sinful practice.

In our Sunday morning Bible study we are in our second read through of the Gospel of Luke. We are using the “book” method of studying Luke. This means we are giving our own titles to the book, and small sections, seeking to capture in our own words, the message of Luke. Everyone is welcome to join us and provide your own section titles. In discussing the titles of our choice and why we like them, we are discussing the themes of Luke. Bible study (reading) begins at 9:00 am.  

Preview of Lessons

Genesis 18: (17-18), 20-33

This is the well-known story of Abraham interceding with the Lord on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah. Angels, and the pre-incarnate Christ, visited Abraham. They made known the plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah due to their very great sin. Abraham intercedes until God says if only ten righteous people were found the cities would not be destroyed. Abraham probably thought things would be okay as he knew his nephew Lot, his wife, and three daughters lived in Sodom. His own flesh and blood should fill half the count. As we know, it turned out that his family were the only “righteous” people found. We also know that God spared them, but the cities were destroyed. Prayer certainly is accented in this lesson. Because one of the major sins of Sodom and Gomorrah was homosexual activity, many focus on this. However, as the prayer of Abraham accents, it wasn’t any specific sin that brought ruin upon these cities, but that the people were not “righteous.” In biblical language, a person is righteous by grace through faith in Jesus. So, ultimately, these cities fell because they abandoned God. We may also learn that prayer for those outside the Christian Faith is a vital part of our prayer life. Even the heathen pray for those they love and who love them. Christians pray also for their enemies. Another lesson often extracted from this story is that God was indeed willing to spare Sodom and Gomorrah if only a handful of believers were found. So why does a country stand when many have forsaken the Lord? It may well be for the sake of the believers who remain. God does not wish to destroy the righteous with the wicked.

Colossians 1:21-29

This reading is the foundation for the sermon, so I’m not going to say much. However, it is packed. Paul reminds us that we have been saved by the power of God, and we are to cling to him in faith. Based on that foundation, we live for him.

Luke 11:1-13

The disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray. Jesus does so. Therefore this lesson ties in with our Old Testament lesson, which is also about prayer. As our lesson from Genesis points out , God is merciful to those who believe in him. Jesus also indicates that God is merciful to those who pray to him in faith. Jesus also gives us the family prayer of the Church, the Lord’s Prayer. Notice that this prayer is in the plural. Even if we pray this prayer in solitude, we are praying it with the whole Church. Therefore we pray that God gives all of us our daily bread, that God forgives all of the Church, just as the Church forgives, a forgiveness based on Jesus’ merit, not our merit, and so forth.

Lesson Synopsis (from the LC-MS)

The Prayer of the Church Is the Voice of Faith

Jesus catechizes His disciples in the way of faith by teaching them how to pray. He promises us: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9). If earthly fathers know how to give good gifts to their children, “how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” (Luke 11:13). Thus, father Abraham was bold in his prayer because he believed the gracious promise of the Lord, that he would “surely become a great and mighty nation” (Gen. 18:18). When we pray in Jesus’ name, we also hold “fast to the Head” (Col. 2:19), “rooted and built up in him and established in the faith” (Col. 2:6–7).

Tidbits

• The August Newsletter will be posted, probably tomorrow. Print copies will be available Sunday.

• Remember, we are all on “Walkabout” all summer long. So, keep walking in your neighborhood, and beyond. When you see someone, say hello. If you don’t know them, introduce yourself. It is that simple.

• Our Youth/Adult VBS will be in just a couple of weeks (August 5-9).  Time will be 6:30 – 8:00 pm. Refreshments will be available.

Well, I pray we will see you Sunday.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

"In the World but Not of It"

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

"In the World but Not of It"

July 23, 2013

Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you. 2 Corinthians 6:17

In the 14th chapter of Luke, the Savior noted that if a ruler is going to wage war, he would be wise to first check out the size of his enemy's army. If it becomes apparent to the ruler he is going to get clobbered, he will show wisdom in trying to make peace.

Today, we've boiled that down to the simple expression: "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

It should be noted that most of the time the Lord tells His people to keep their distance from the world. He tells us to remain separate because He knows that while that which is good can occasionally influence evil in a positive way, most of the time evil manages to corrupt that which is pure.

Being separate is the position which has just been adopted by representatives of some churches, youth organizations, and folks who had once been associated with the Boy Scouts of America. These folks, not pleased with the moral direction the Boy Scouts have taken in recent years, believe it is time to create a new organization for boys. This group, which has not yet been named, will do many of the things the Boy Scouts do, except it will be founded on Christian principles.

Rob Green, the temporary executive director for the organization says, "Our vision is to be the premier national character development organization for young men which produces godly and responsible husbands, fathers, and citizens."

That's a noble cause and I give thanks there are still people out there who recognize that we Christians, having been redeemed by the Savior, cannot always approve of, or go along with, those things which the world suggests.

When those times come, we, like Luther, are compelled to say, "Here we stand. We can't do anything else."

No doubt, as this organization gets off the ground, the world will level all kinds of nonsensical charges against it. The critics will snarl, "Those Christians think they're too good to be associated with the likes of us."

If you hear that, please let these folks know nothing could be further from the truth. Like all of humanity we believers are sinners, but unlike the rest of humanity we have been given faith in Jesus who offered Himself so that we might be forgiven, saved and redirected.

Now because of all that Jesus has done for us, we want our sons and daughters to walk on His path, and not that of anyone else. It is a different path, but it is a better path, it is a right path. It is God's path ... and that is what we think scouting should be about.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, may we do all we can so that those who come after us may walk the road of faith. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of  The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

 NOTE: To read the Herald-Journal Article on Rob Green, click on this link:  http://www.goupstate.com/article/20130603/articles/130609952

Worship for Pentecost 9 - 2013

Thursday after Pentecost 8

July 18, 2013

The Lord be with you

As anyone knows who lives in the Spartanburg area, we had a large thunderstorm roll through our area yesterday evening. It pounded the area with heavy rain, strong winds, and a great deal of cloud to ground lightning. No big surprise, our Wednesday Vespers service was impacted. The typically small group was reduced to our organist Karen, my wife Kitty, and myself. So we canceled the service and went out for ice cream.

This decision has left me with a sermon I didn’t preach. Therefore I will use it this coming Sunday. Instead of using the regularly appointed readings, we will use the readings that were selected for Wednesday. Those readings are: Ecclesiastes 1:1-4; Galatians 1:3-5; and Matthew 6:19-24. Both Vespers (the liturgy scheduled for last night) and Matins (the liturgy scheduled for Sunday) use an appointed Psalm instead of the appointed Introit. As I’ve done with the lessons, so we will do with the Psalm, and use the one scheduled for Wednesday (Psalm 119:49-56, antiphon verse 49).

Both Matins and Vespers have three hymns, so hymn selection for Sunday is also complete. They are: “What Is the World to Me” (LSB 730), “I’m But a Stranger Here” (LSB 748), and “Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise” (LSB 917).

Below is a video of our closing hymn, “Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise.”

The sermon is titled “Prosperity Problems.” The text is Matthew 6:24.

This coming Sunday is the 9^th Sunday after Pentecost. It is also the Commemoration of Ezekiel. We will pray the collect for the commemoration of Ezekiel.

In our prayers, we will also remember The American Association of Lutheran Churches and their Presiding Pastor, Rev. Franklin E. Hays. We will remember the persecuted believers in Nigeria. We will remember Emily Goddard, our missionary 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 will continue to remember the churches in our denomination. This week we lift up before our Lord Living Hope, Stafford, VA; Concordia, Triangle, VA; Hope & Prince of Peace, Virginia Beach, VA; and Bethlehem, Aiken, SC. We will continue to remember all those who have been misled by our cultures advocacy of sexual immorality and abortion. We ask, not only that the Lord turn our country around, but also that he bring healing to the lives damaged by our current culture. We also remember the modern slave trade and ask God to bless all efforts pleasing in his sight to end this sinful practice.

In our Sunday morning Bible study we are in our second read through of the Gospel of Luke. We are using the “book” method of studying Luke. This means we are giving our own titles to the book, and smaller sections of it, seeking to capture in our own words the message of Luke. Everyone is welcome to join us and provide your own section titles. In discussing the titles of our choice and why we like them, we are discussing the themes of Luke. Bible study (reading) begins at 9:00 am.  

Preview of Lessons

Ecclesiastes 1:1-4

These are the opening words of the book (obviously). Ecclesiastes has traditionally been ascribed to Solomon in his old age. The book considers the pursuits that often engage our days and concludes that these human endeavors are meaningless. The only thing that lasts is our relationship with the Lord. Fame, power, wealth, knowledge, all fade and are forgotten. Don’t think so? Here is a quiz. See if you can answer without checking the internet or a reference book. Identify the following people: Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, Sebastian Pinera, Dilma Vana Rousseff, Carlos Mauricio Funes Cartagena, and Stephen Joseph Harper. Having any problem? Hinojosa is the president of Mexico. Pinera is the president of Chile. Rousseff is the president of Brazil. Cartagena is the president of El Salvador. Harper is the Prime Minister of Canada. These are all important people as far as the “world” is concerned. Maybe you knew some. What if I put the leaders of these countries in 1960? How about another question? What do the following men all have in common: Peyton Randolph, Henry Middleton, John Hancock, Henry Laurens, John Jay, Samuel Huntington, Thomas McKean, John Hanson, Elias Boudinot, Thomas Mifflin, Richard Henry Lee, Nathaniel Gorham, Aurhur St. Clair and Cyrus Griffin? Answer – They were all President of the United States under the Articles of Confederation (that is, before George Washington). Do you know who Mansa Musa I (died 1331) was? He ruled the west African Malian Empire and is/was the richest man in the history of the world (after adjusting for inflation). The pursuit of wealth is also vanity. Well, you get the idea.

Galatians 1:3-5

This is the opening blessing of Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia. It includes what is timeless, the opposite of the vain pursuits of humanity.

Matthew 6:19-24

Jesus also points out the vanity of the pursuit of “mammon” (KJV). The ESV has the weaker translation of “money.” The things that last are the “treasures of heaven.” Such treasures are where our hearts should be. Mammon actually becomes an idol when we place our hearts focus there. This is a problem throughout time, but an especially strong one in American culture.

Tidbits

• Newsletter information is due Sunday.

• Remember, we are all on “Walkabout” all summer long. So, keep walking in your neighborhood, and beyond. When you see someone, say hello. If you don’t know them, introduce yourself. It is that simple.

• How rainy has it been? According to today’s paper we have had in July 11.27 inches of rain. Our average for July is “only” 4.8. We still have almost half a month to go and are over double the average rainfall.

Well, I pray we will see you Sunday.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

LHM Daily Devotions Link Added!

Daily devotions, time to meditate on God's Word for our lives, especially at the beginning of each day, are so critical. These devotions/meditations do many things. They: set the outlook for your day; give you strength to face today's trials; remind you of your calling to spread the Good News to your fellow man; train your mind on what really matters; answer the question of "Why am I here?"; link you to the world and how others find ways to say and show the work of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ; and so much more. Because this is so important in our daily lives as effective Christians, the Lutheran Hour Ministries Daily Devotions link has been added to the top of the list of links on the homepage, on the left-hand side. Here is a sample of what you may get to begin your day in Jesus (this is today's - 17 July - devotion):

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
"Failed Fatherhood"
For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. ... Hosea 8:7a

* According to the U.S. Department of Health, 63 percent of youth suicides come from _______ homes.

* According to the Center for Disease Control, 85 percent of all children with mental or behavioral disorders come from __________ homes.

* According to the National Principals Association 71 percent of high school dropouts come from ______________ homes.

* According to The Christian Post, teenage girls are 711 percent more likely to have children as a teen, 53 percent less likely to marry as a teen, and 92 percent more likely to get divorced if they are from a ____________ home.

Well, did you figure out the answer?

To get 100 percent on the quiz you can put the word "fatherless" into each of the blanks above.

In spite of those frightening figures, in my lifetime I have seen society "sow the wind," as fathers have gone from knowing best to knowing nothing at all. The king has been evicted from his castle and is now confined to his man cave. No longer revered and respected, dads are discounted and disregarded.

And where does the whirlwind come in? In this: even as the percentage of women who respect marriage is rising dramatically, the percentage of men who value marriage is dropping -- like a stone. And who will pay the price for this shift in society? It will be the children, of course. You need not be a rocket scientist or brain surgeon to see the downward spiral this situation creates.

Now you may wonder what does all this have to do with a Daily Devotion. Simply this: the homes of Christian men and women are to be different. We have a different standard, a different goal, a different direction. Most certainly, in the Savior, we have a different model to follow.

Paul showed us that Model when he wrote, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her" (Ephesians 5:25).

That is a concept the world has never understood. The best, the most noble idea it can come up with is "Marriage is a 50-50 proposition." That is not what the Bible says. In Scripture fathers are told to emulate the Savior; they are told to give as Jesus gave.

That means giving when it's not wanted, giving when it's not appreciated, giving when it is not applauded. It means putting the welfare of others above that of yourself. It means giving until it hurts, giving even to the point where you are ready to sacrifice yourself.

We are to give because that is what Jesus has done for us. From start to finish, from beginning to end, Jesus' life was dedicated to us. And we fathers with our families can honor our Lord and impact the future by doing as He did.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, may our homes be blessed by the Savior's presence. May our lives be lived trying to follow His example. This we ask in Jesus' Name. Amen. 

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,    Pastor Ken Klaus  Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®  Lutheran Hour Ministries

Breaking the Rules - 4

Monday after Pentecost 8

The Lord be with you

I apologize for not getting anything up for this past Sunday. For those who missed it, the sermon was titled “Christian Prayer.” This post, though, is about the upcoming Vespers service this coming Wednesday (July 17). We continue our series, “Breaking the Rules.” The homily is titled “Prosperity Problems.” The lessons are: Ecclesiastes 1:1-4; Galatians 1:3-5; and Matthew 6:19-24. Our Psalm will be Psalm 118:49-56. Our hymns will be “What Is the World to Me” (LSB 730), “I’m But a Stranger Here” (LSB 748), and “Savior, Again to Thy Dear name We Raise” (LSB 917). Join us at 7:00 PM. Worship lasts about 45 minutes.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor