January 2012
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Saying
Amen Twice at Christmas
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The Two Sides of Our Faith
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| Both sides of this faith
[are] first that Christ is a man, but also the Savior
and Lord or King. This needs to be revealed from heaven.
One who really has the first faith also has the other….
Beyond the first faith there must be the second faith,
that Christ is not only the virgin’s Son, but also the
Lord of angels and the savior of men…. [So] we do not
believe that the virgin mother bore a son and that he is
the Lord and Savior unless, added to this, I believe
the second thing, namely that he is my Savior and Lord
(Luther’s Works 51:212-213, 216). |
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| So keep two matters in
mind at Christmas. The first double matter is that the Word
truly became flesh (John 1:14) – since Jesus isn’t a phony
person but an actual one, otherwise he couldn’t bear our sins
(Romans 8:3). But also that he is fully divine (Colossians 2:9)
– and not just some famous person who couldn’t rid us of our
sins (1 Peter 1:19). And the second double matter is that Jesus
is the Savior – apart from anything we say about him (1 Timothy
2:5). But he’s also my Savior when I believe in him –
which is required if we are to be saved (John 3:16). So let our
amens be double at Christmas! –
Amen & Amen! Pastor Marshall |
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ST.
NICHOLAS FAIR
“THANK
YOU!”
The lights are still aglow, and the garland is still framing the
windows and doors of the parish hall, but the joy and buoyant
spirit that filled the room on Sunday, December 4th, that truly
made the St. Nicholas Faire magical, are a distant but vivid
memory. And because
of everyone who came and participated by helping, enjoying
themselves, and buying selected items, the third St. Nicholas
Faire was a smashing success!!!
We have netted almost $5,500 to donate to the West
Seattle Food Bank and the West Seattle Helpline.
WOW. That is
the best yet! Plus
we collected over 200 pounds of food to donate to the food bank.
We sure have some great bakers in our midst, as those of you who
purchased baked goods know!
Thank you to Maxine Foss, Kathrine Young, Ieva Young,
Teri Korsmo, Valerie Schorn, Holly Petersen, Sonja Clemente,
Bridget Sagmoen, Louis Petersen, Gina Allen, Mona Ayer, and Liz
Olsen. And what a
varied array of goodies you provided.
Then there were the simply scrumptious appetizers that Matthew
and Dana Kahn prepared and served.
What a sumptuous feast!
Add to that, the spiced cider and mulled wine, and
everyone was definitely in party mode.
An extra special
thank you is given to everyone who helped in the kitchen and
at the event, and at the close to put the room back in order –
Barbara Schorn, Lynn Hopson, Teri Korsmo, Kathrine Young, Jane
Harty, Liz Olsen, Rollie Storbakken, Bridget Sagmoen, Sonja
Clemente, Matthew Kahn, Dana Kahn, Gina Allen, David Juhl, Peter
Douglass, Taylor Smith, Dale Korsmo, Ron Marshall, Janice
Lundbeck, Andrew King, Steven Liang, and David King.
You all were amazing and extremely efficient.
Thank you also to everyone who donated items for the
baskets, wine for the wine toss, and cider and wine for the
beverages. And a
special thanks to Rich Marshall and Maryhill Winery for their
most generous donations of the wine tasting and wine.
Lastly, and most importantly,
THANK YOU to
everyone who came, invited friends and relatives, and purchased
items. You each
helped make the event a success and aided in easing the plight
of members of our community who are in need of food and shelter.
Raising money for the Food Bank and Helpline is the
reason for the event.
But isn’t it super that we can have such a grand time
doing something so wonderful to help others???
̶
Larraine King |
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January Book
With the Mind:
3-5 pm in the Church Lounge, Saturday, January 28th.
The book for January is Jesus Land: A Memoir (2005) by Julia Scheeres, a journalist who writes for The New York Times and other prominent publications. This is a book about growing up in an abusive, strict Christian home. It covers racism and seclusion as well. The first half of the book is about growing up in a biracial family in Indiana. Then, after getting in trouble with the law, Julia and her black adopted brother, David, end up in a Christian reform school in the Dominican Republic – where the teachers believed in beating the devil out of naughty kids. Throughout the misery of it all, Julia struggles with her faith – wondering why God hasn’t intervene to protect and guard her and her friends at this correctional institution (pp. 274, 281). At the end of the book, when she is free to leave the reformatory and live on her own, she reports that she no longer is a Christian and that one of the key things she learned from being abused was “not to turn the other cheek, but to master and subvert the rules of the game” (p. 354). A copy of this important critique of Christian abuse is in the church library. If you would like to purchase one for yourself, contact Pastor Marshall. Feel free to attend our meeting when we discuss how Christianity can go awry – and then how to turn it upright again. |
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ANNOUNCEMENTS: GOLDEN FELLOWSHIP luncheon in January is planned for Tuesday, January 24th. Sign up on the sheet that is posted in the lounge. SCRAPPERS will meet on Wednesday and Thursday, January 25th & 26th this month. FOOD BANK COLLECTION suggested donation for January is pasta, noodles and sauces. PASTOR
MARSHALL’s next Koran Class starts on Thursday, January 5th.
Call the office if you plan to attend.
He has been teaching this 4 week class 4 times a year
since 2003. ANNUAL REPORT for 2011: Staff, officer and committee reports are now due. If you have not already submitted your report please get it in to the office as soon as possible. If you need inspiration, dust off your report from last year, or pick up a copy from the office. ANNUAL MEETING: The 2012 Annual Meeting is planned for Sunday, January 29th. Following the liturgy on that day, voters registration will be set up at the back of the parish hall. Please bring your favorite dish, salad or dessert to share. Beverages will be provided. OFFERING ENVELOPES for 2012 are now available on the office window counter. 2012
FLOWER CHART is available for sign up.
Sign up early for the best selection! |
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SUNDAY ADULT EDUCATION: Going for the Jugular: Luther on Genesis 22 – In this four week class we study excerpts from Luther’s 100 page commentary on Abraham’s near sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22. This class is the fourth in our series on studies in the Reformation leading up to its 500th anniversary in 2017. PASTOR MARSHALL's sermon, "Welcome St. Stephen at Christmas," preached last year on December 26, has been published online in Logia (Blogia) -- posted December 20, 2011. This is Pastor Marshall's seventh published sermon. |
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1 Timothy 6.18 Monthly Home Bible Study, January 2012, Number 227 The Reverend Ronald F. Marshall Along with our other regular study of Scripture, let us join as a congregation in this home study. We will study alone then talk informally about the assigned verses together as we have opportunity. In this way we can "gather together around the Word" even though physically we will not be getting together (Acts 13.44). We need to support each other in this difficult project. In 1851 Kierkegaard wrote that the Bible is "an extremely dangerous book.... [because] it is an imperious book... – it takes the whole man and may suddenly and radically change... life on a prodigious scale" (For Self-Examination). And in 1967 Thomas Merton wrote that "we all instinctively know that it is dangerous to become involved in the Bible" (Opening the Bible). Indeed this word "kills" us (Hosea 6.5) because we are "a rebellious people" (Isaiah 30.9)! As Lutherans, however, we are still to "abide in the womb of the Word" (Luther's Works 17.93) by constantly "ruminating on the Word" (LW 30.219) so that we may "become like the Word" (LW 29.155) by thinking "in the way Scripture does" (LW 25.261). Before you study, then, pray: "Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in Our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen" (quoted in R. F. Marshall, Making A New World: How Lutherans Read the Bible, 2003, p. 12). Week I. Read 1 Timothy 6.18 noting the line they are to do good. Why are we especially to urge the rich to do good deeds? On this read 1 Timothy 6.9 noting the words fall, temptation, snare, senseless, hurtful, plunge, ruin and destruction. Read also James 5.3 noting the words rusted, against, eat and fire, and Luke 18.24 noting the words hard, enter and kingdom. Why are the rich so vulnerable to these corruptions? On this read Deuteronomy 8.17 noting the words beware, my and wealth. Is it that wealth makes us feel independent and self-sufficient? If so, what’s wrong with thinking that way? On this read Hosea 13.4-6 noting the words Egypt, wilderness, drought, fed and forgot, and John 15.5 noting the words apart, me and nothing. Is it, then, that wealth falsely covers up our inherent, deep dependence? On this read Isaiah 30.10 noting the word illusions. So then is it illusory of us to imagine that we’re independent when we really aren’t? Is that then what it’s like to sit in darkness, as Luke 1.79 says? Week II. Read again 1 Timothy 6.18 noting this same line about the rich doing good. Following up on last week, read John 3.19 noting the line men loved the darkness. If that’s the case, what follows from it? Is all hope for the rich lost? On this read Matthew 6.21 linking your treasure to your heart. What does this mean? On this read 1 Timothy 6.10 about the love of money being the root of all evils. Why do riches take over our hearts like that? On this love of wealth, read Psalm 62.10 noting the words increase and set. Is it possible to countermand this setting of our hearts on wealth? But what is the setting-of-one’s-heart like in the first place? On this read Exodus 32.1-4 noting the words delayed, make, gold, at, calf and brought. Against this, read Colossians 3.1-2 noting the words seek and set. How can one go about switching allegiances like this? On this read Colossians 3.3 noting the words died and hid. Also re-read Colossians 3.1 noting the words if and raised. On these two verses read 2 Corinthians 5.17 noting the phrase new creation. Does that explain how the shift happens? If so, how so? Week III. Reread 1 Timothy 6.18 noting the word generous. What does it mean for the rich to be generous? On this read Mark 12.41-44 noting the words multitude, money, many, rich, large, poor, penny, more and everything. Does this mean that we are generous only when we are extravagant? On this read Romans 5.6-8 noting the words weak, for, ungodly, hardly, dare and yet. Should we practice this same extra or excess – that we too might be generous like God is? Or would that be unfair to expect of us in general? Should we instead only give what the needy deserve? On this read Ephesians 1.8 noting the word lavished. Doesn’t that mean that we’re only generous when we go beyond what’s reasonable? Read also Luke 10.29-37 noting the words compassion, pouring, whatever and more. If we are to act this same way, would that mean doing more than is fair? The fair amount of help would probably have been only to drop the injured man off at the inn. But if that were the case, why did Jesus tell the young rich man in Matthew 19.21 to give away all that he had to the poor? Would that loss have made him destitute? What about his income producing ability to replenish his wealth in short order? What if Jesus had asked this instead of a wealthy, elderly, retired woman? Would that have been the same? If so, why don’t the Gospels ever record him as having done so? Week IV. Read 1 Timothy 6.18 one last time noting the same word generous. So what’s so wrong with the rich keeping what they have for themselves? Since they earned it, shouldn’t they be able to spend it on themselves? On this read Luke 12.16-21 noting the words plentifully, store, larger, barns, ample, ease, fool, required, toward and God. Why is God contrasted with us in this parable? Read also in this regard Matthew 6.24 noting the contrast between God and mammon. Are these contrasted for the same reason? If so, what is it? Finally read Luke 12.15 noting the words life, consists and abundance. What does this have to do with John 10.10 and the same word abundance used there? |
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A Special Thank you to
Larraine King and Elizabeth Olsen for all they did to make the
St. Nicholas Faire a great success! Thank you! |
Many
Thanks Thank you to those who were able to help with our Compass Center collections. This past October/November 22 pairs of socks were donated, and in December 14 McDonald’s and 6 Safeway gift cards were given for Christmas. All of these donations were taken to Compass Housing Alliance in downtown Seattle. |
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Christmas Presents 2011 Thanks to those who made contributions to the Agape Fund! We were able to buy Christmas presents for two families (12 people). These families were assigned to us by the West Seattle Helpline
Thanks! |
Thank You to the Christmas
Decoration
Party
Chester Allen, Lily Allen, Sam Allen, Tim Allen, Cristian Clemente, Sonja Clemente, Jane Collins, Kyra D’Michael, Dean Hard, Jane Harty, David Juhl, Andy King, David King, Larraine King, Steven Liang, Gregg Lyon, Pastor Marshall, Stephen McCord, Elizabeth Olsen, Justin Olsen, Marlis Ormiston, Barbara Schorn, Scott Schorn, Valerie Schorn, Taylor Smith, Hali Stromberg, Howard Storhoff, Kathrine Young. |
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The King James Version of the
Bible:
Its 400th Anniversary, 1611-2011
By Pastor Marshall I am including
this postscript to my column from last year on the anniversary
of the KJV because of an article that appeared last month in the
National Geographic
on the KJV. Because it appeared too late to be included in my
December 2011 column, I want to comment it on it now. That
article begins with the story of a
You don’t have to be a
Christian to hear the power of those words – simple in
vocabulary, cosmic in scale, stately in their rhythms,
deeply emotional in their impact” (p. 43).
Singing the praises of the KJV, the author, Adam
Nicholson, also goes on to note what is amiss about this
classic:
“But there is a dark
side to this Bible’s all-conquering story. Throughout
its history it has been used and manipulated, good and
bad alike selecting passages for their different ends.
Much of its text is about freedom, grace, and
redemption, but those parts are matched by an equally
fierce insistence on vengeance and control. As the Bible
of empire, it was also the Bible of slavery, and as such
it continues to occupy an intricately ambivalent place
in the post colonial world” (p. 54). So
Nicholson ends by echoing (albeit imperfectly) 1
Corinthians 1:18 and 2 Corinthians 2:16:
“The King James [Bible’s]…. origins were ambivalent –
for Puritan and bishop, the great and the needy, for
clarity and magnificence, to bring the word of God to
the people but also to buttress the powers that be – and
that ambivalence is its true legacy” (p. 61). |
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A Forgotten But Powerful Voice:
Dr. Kent S. Knutson, 1924-1973 By Pastor Marshall Dr. Knutson
was the presiding bishop of the ALC from 1971-1973. I continue
this winter to select passages from his most famous book,
The Shape of the
Question: The Mission of the Church in a Secular Age (1972)
for our mutual, considered analysis. Here is what he says in
part about the church – which was the topic of his doctoral
dissertation: |
| The church is a community, a reality in itself. It is the body of Christ, says St. Paul, it is Christ’s presence in history. Like the Word of God which is the form through which God’s power comes, so the church, the body of Christ, is also a form through which God’s power comes. It is not just a collection of human powers. It is not only a volunteer society as sociologists and perhaps some theologians may want to say. The church is a reality God has created, a reality greater than the collection of the individuals. The church is a reality in |
| which you believe. I believe in the Holy Christian Church, we confess in the Creed. It is something we can trust because it is something greater than ourselves, something that has enveloped us, grasped us, lifted us up and placed us in a new order of being…. [Even so], in many ways our own church body has been a passive church, lacking in self-confidence, not trusting in God’s power, and not altogether willing to speak out against evil in the public realm. There have been some brilliant moments in the church. When Norway was occupied by Hitler’s Nazis in WWII, the church arose and said clearly to the invading forces: NO. It acted with conviction. It became a power in that place and at that time against evil political forces arrayed against it. Yet at other times the church has not done that. We need to reflect on our task and on the power God gives this church so that we may be prepared for times that call for a clear prophetic witness. We cannot silently watch the genocide of another race. We cannot permit one nation’s power to control the world to such an extent that the majority of the world suffers because of the arrogance or the power of that one nation. And if we are able, then we have the right and the responsibility so to do (pp. 46-47, 50). |
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PARISH PRAYERS
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Remember in prayer before
God those whom He has made your
brothers and sisters
through baptism.
Dorothy Ryder, Richard Hard, Agnes Arkle, Alan Morrison, Clara
Anderson, Pete Morrison, Mary Goplerud, Teri Korsmo, Bob Baker,
Peggy Wright, Bob & Barbara Schorn, Margaret Hard, Craig
Purfeerst, Rolf Sponheim, Dorothy Randall-Wood,
Mary Uhler, Robin Lantzy,
Mona Elliot, Bob Smith, Jacob & Samuel Strehl, Jennie Jaramillo,
Ken Sund, Jeanne Hedington, David & Kay Thoreson, Gail Van
Zandt, Cameron Lim, Rosita Moe, Ion Ceaicovschi, Angelina
Patrick, Frank Reynolds.
Pray for the
shut-ins that the light of Christ may give them joy:
Clara Anderson, Agnes Arkle, C. J. Christian, Vera
Gunnarson, Pat Hansen, Margaret Hard, Lillian Schneider, Crystal
Tudor, Vivian Wheeler.
Pray for
those who have suffered the death of a loved one:
Pray that God will bear their grief and lift their
hearts: Pray for
Carmen Malmanger on the death of her daughter in law, Theresa,
wife of John Malmanger.
Pray for our bishops Mark Hanson and Chris Boerger, our pastor
Ronald Marshall, our deacon Dean Hard and our cantor Andrew
King, that they may be strengthened in faith, love and the holy
office to which they have been called.
Pray that God would give us hearts which find joy in service and
in celebration of Stewardship.
Pray that God would work within you to become a good
steward of your time, your talents and finances.
Pray to strengthen the Stewardship of our congregation in
these same ways.
Pray for the hungry, ignored, abused, and homeless this New
Year.
Pray that God will bless you through the lives of the
saints: Saint Peter; Saint Paul; and Martin Luther King, Jr.,
martyr, 1968.
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A Treasury of Prayers O Lord, I know
that you are the end for which I was created, and that I can
expect no happiness but in you. I know that you have provided me
with all necessary helps for carrying me through this life to
eternal glory, and this out of the excess of your pure mercy to
me. Let this knowledge, O God, rule my heart without a rival;
let it dispose all my thoughts, words, and works. In Jesus’ name
I pray. Amen.
[For All the Saints (ALPB, 1994-1996) 4 vols., I:44, altered] |
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The
Epiphany
of Our
Lord On Friday, January 6, 2011 The Feast of the Epiphany of our Lord will be celebrated at 11:45 am in the chapel with Holy Eucharist. Only Matthew's Gospel remembers this event. Celebrate the magi's coming to worship and bring gifts to the Christ child. |
The
Baptism
of Our
Lord First Sunday After the Epiphany In Matthew 3:15 Jesus tells John to baptize him in order "to fulfill all righteousness." Luther teaches:
Baptism was instituted by God
primarily for Christ's sake and then afterwards also for the
sake of all men.
For first he must sanctify baptism through his own body and
thereby take away the sin, in order that afterwards those who
believe him may have the forgiveness of sins
(Luther's Works 51:318).] Celebrate the magi's coming to worship and bring gifts to the Christ child. |
