January 2018
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Afraid at Christmas
When the magi announced that a new King of the Jews had just
been born, all of Jerusalem was afraid (Matthew 2:3). Why
weren’t they instead happy that the long awaited messiah had
finally come? In Luther’s sermon on this day he says they were
troubled because they worried that it would “cost them too much
blood to have a new king. Before this they had opposed the
Romans and Herod, to their own great misery, and they were just
like the people of Israel in Egypt, who, when Moses was to lead
them out and they were oppressed more than before, murmured
against Moses (Exodus 5:20–21). This was a sign of their weak
faith, just as this fright of Jerusalem indicates unbelief, that
is, that they looked more to human power than to divine power” (Luther’s
Works
76:81).
So does Christmas scare you too? Have you counted the cost of
being a Christian
(Luke 14:28) – following Christ and obeying his Word – and
thrown in the towel? If so, reconsider. Remember that no one
else has the words of eternal life (John 6:68). Come before
Christ during the days of Christmas and implore him: “Increase”
my faith (Luke 17:5).
Pastor Marshall
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PRESIDENT'S REPORT....by
Bob Baker
Dear Reader,
In
case you are there, I am writing to you once again. Every few
months you mention to me that in fact you actually do read what
I write to you.
So, if you are there this month, dear Reader, I will
assume that you are reading this because you care about the
mission and ministry of our congregation.
This article is written after the December Congregation
Council meeting which ran longer than usual because we compared
and discussed three different possible budgets to present at the
January 28th Annual Meeting to guide our spending for 2018.
There were desirable aspects about each proposal. The
main drawback however, is that, in spite of not covering all the
anticipated expenses, each proposal seemed unreasonably
ambitious given our history of actual giving. Faith, of course,
is not reasonable. Yet we are admonished to be responsible
stewards.
So the Budget and Finance Committee was instructed to
devise a new proposal in light of our discussion and submit it
to the Council January 9th.
One comment that has been made is that if a seemingly
ambitious budget is recommended by the Council and adopted by
the congregation on January 28th, and if during the year we find
ourselves falling behind, then, upon notification, either a
significant increase in giving must take place, or a Special
Congregational Meeting will be needed for a congregational
decision on how to reduce the budget.
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Committee and Council
discussions and recommendations seem to have already reduced or
simply cut out what might be regarded as discretionary or
surplus spending/padding. Again, if need be, it may take a
congregational decision to determine what would need to be
eliminated from the budget.
So, dear Reader, encourage
others to read this, to pray about these matters, to discuss it
with each other (and especially Council members), and to show up
at the Annual Meeting January 28th to help us adopt a budget
that is responsible and faithful to our Mission and Ministry. |
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Stewardship 2017
Month (November)
Year to date (Jan-November)
Budget
$19,684
$227,664
Received
$20,436
$226,868
A Conversion of Life
Stewardship
is a deeper relationship with Christ, a call to a way of life,
for some a conversion of life.
As the understanding of stewardship deepens it becomes a
primary value freely chosen about what we do with our time,
talents and treasure.
In volunteering there is a sense of accomplishment and with the
fall schedule approaching soon there will be several ways to get
more involved within the church.
There is the church council, church school teachers,
Bible study classes, choir, ushering, Altar Guild,
building-grounds maintenance work and much more.
God has given all of us special talents and has intended
us to accomplish his earthly work as our mission in this life.
For where your treasure is there will your heart be also.
Luke
12:34
Evelyn Coy (1927-2017),
Church Council Member (from
September 2000)
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Olaf & Antoinette Olsen
100 Years Ago
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Our Parish Centennial
By Pastor Marshall
Our centennial celebration will be on September 23 this year.
One hundred years ago our church was formally established on
September 25, 1918. That was the culmination of some eight to
ten years of meetings, planning and organizing. During those
years one of the most important event was the baptism of little
Mabel Olsen on October 9, 1912. Her parents, Olaf (1880–1956)
and Antoinette (1885–1968), were later to be charter members of
our church. This was the first baptism registered among those
working on opening our church.
Since the famous baptisms in the New Testament are all of
adults (Jesus, Paul, the Ethiopian eunuch), a case needs to be
made for infant baptism. Luther gives three reasons for it.
First, baptism creates faith in a child even though they can’t
talk about it. Next, reason isn’t needed to create faith in
infants or in adults. And third, we have faith when we’re asleep
even though we aren’t thinking at the time (Luther’s
Works 76:261, 263,
264). All these points underline that faith is a gift just as
baptism is. But because baptism begins passively, it doesn’t
mean it will end that way. Instead, in our adult years it brings
on conflict, collision and suffering (Mark 10:39) (LW
53:102). This comes about by resisting conformity to the world
(Romans 12:2). So it takes guts to baptize kids.
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Scared Straight
Luther on the
Wrath of God
“We are to consider the great, serious, and terrible wrath of
God against sin…. We are to consider that by our sins we have
merited and been the cause of this wrath of God, so that God’s
Son had to be sacrificed on the cross and had to shed His blood.
This should cause us to be frightened in earnest because of our
sins, since this cannot be any trifling wrath of God when we
hear that no other sacrifice can stand up to this or compensate
for sin…. Do you think that you will endure that wrath or that
you can remain standing in the face of it, if you
do not respect and recognize it?”
[Luther’s
Works 77:19 – contra
Lutheran Quarterly (Winter 2017) p. 433.]
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Gerhard Forde
(1927-2005)
Our Biting Gospel
Turning Bad News Into Good
“When I preach, I usually look for the bite, the way the gospel
impinges on the hearers, the hard saying, the controversial
word, the unsettling word and use it, first as the attack and
then turn it around – because it is finally the good news…. So
preachers today – even if faith is on the wane – [should] go
with the gospel. However, we should consider a proclamation of
the gospel that actually out does the law – a gospel with a
cutting edge that doesn’t coddle old beings, but goes on the
attack to end them, and has the aim of making new beings.”
[Gerhard Forde, “Lutheran Faith and American Freedom” (1992),
Lutheran Quarterly (Winter 2017) p. 435.]
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With the Mind:
Readings in Contemporary Theology
3-5 pm in the Church Lounge, Saturday, January 27th
The book for January is
Taking Pascal’s Wager: Faith, Evidence and the Abundant Life
(2016) by Michael Rota, professor of philosophy at University of
Saint Thomas, Saint Paul, Minnesota. Pascal’s wager is about
probabilities and that you should believe in Christ even if you
aren’t sure it’s true since there is “much to gain, relatively
little to lose” (p. 12). But what if faith is a gift and not
something to wager over? Rota responds: “For the person who does
not have faith, a careful look at arguments for (and against)
Christianity is a natural and reasonable step to take.
Examination of evidence can also be worthwhile for the person
who does have faith, but has doubts, too” (p. 16).
A copy of this intriguing book is in the library. If you would
like to purchase one for yourself, contact Pastor Marshall. Feel
free to attend our meeting when we discuss the role of
probability in Christian faith.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS:
FOOD BANK COLLECTION
suggested donation for January is pasta, noodles and sauces, but
any non-perishable foods are fine.
OFFERING ENVELOPES
for 2018 are now available on the office window counter.
2018 FLOWER CHART
is available for sign up.
Sign up early for the best selection!
ANNUAL REPORT
for 2017:
Staff, officer and committee reports are now due.
SUNDAY ADULT EDUCATION:
In January the class will be
The Law for Christians: Luther’s Newly Translated 1539 Treatise:
In this four week class we will study Luther’s treatise,
“Disputation on the Three Divine Hierarchies” (1539).
PASTOR MARSHALL’s
next Koran Class starts on Thursday, January 4th.
Call the office if you plan to attend.
Pastor Marshall has been teaching this four week class
four times a year, or more, since 2003.
Many Thanks
to those who put together Christmas gift bags to cheer the
elderly who are not able to make it to church.
Pastor Marshall delivers the bags when he makes his
regular visits; including Lillian Schneider who turned 99 in
2017.
Also
our THANKS to all
those who helped with decorating the church. Once again, it
looked beautiful!
And Thanks to those
who brought in Christmas gift items for Compass Housing
Alliance. This year
Pastor Marshall was able to deliver one scarf, six multi-packs
of socks, five packs of gloves, two packs of men’s briefs, one
pair Converse sport shoes, a puzzle, 14 packs of air activated
warmers, and 15 pounds of personal size toiletries, to the
Compass Center downtown.
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KITCHEN CLEAN-UP
A list is posted in the lounge for a Saturday Kitchen Cleaning
party to come in from 9 am to noon.
Please sign up if you would be available on Saturday,
January 20th.
(Oh, guys are invited too!)
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THANK YOU
for supporting the Sunday School
students to help raise money for Lutheran World Relief!
Your donations exceeded
their goal. You helped
raise $700! The students were excited to choose a variety of
items. With your help,
they were able to purchase worms to enrich soil, chickens, fruit
trees, cocoa seedlings, farming tools, coffee seeds, cocoa
seedlings, a pig, a goat and their favorite of all…
—
a modern rickshaw!
Many thanks for your donations
to
help those in extreme poverty.
Gina Allen, Church Council
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ST. NICHOLAS FAIRE “THANK YOU!!!!”
What a wonderful time was had by everyone who attended and
helped make this event such a big success!
We raised close to $7,500 for the West Seattle Food Bank
and the West Seattle Helpline, and collected over six boxes of
food, filling many shopping carts (165 lbs. worth!).
Way to go!
Plus we had a fabulous time in the process. Thanks to all of you
loyal Faire goers who came and brought friends and family.
Many of our attendees were not members of First Lutheran
Church. What a great way to reach out to our community.
The event would not have been a success without the many helpers
and contributors.
The parish hall was transformed into a sparkling fairyland of
lights by the King family.
It was a sight to behold. Thanks to Dale and Teri Korsmo
for helping with the room set up, security, and suppliers and
executors of outstanding and artistic ideas to make the Faire a
success. The kitchen helpers were indispensable.
Thank you to Lynn Hopson, Bridget Sagmoen, and Peter
Douglass for their help in the kitchen before, during and after
the event. And a special
THANK YOU
to Dana and Matthew Kahn, and their super assistants, Samantha
and Max, for donating, preparing, and serving such a sumptuous
feast! Feedback
from those in attendance said the fried pickles were a
highlight!
Thank you to Liz Olsen, David King, and Tim Allen for managing
the “Ring Toss” game.
A special thank you to Rich Marshall and Maryhill Winery
for providing the wines to taste.
Thanks to Pastor Marshall for adding commentary during
the Silent Auction, announcing the drawing winners, and helping
with the wine orders.
Teri Korsmo, Andy King, Dale Korsmo, and
Janice Lundbeck served as cashiers; not an easy job, so
we are extremely appreciative of their hard work, that goes on
until all the dollars have been collected.
Thanks to Sonja Clemente for contacting winners of items
who were not present when the event closed.
All those little loose ends getting tied up make a huge
difference.
Finally, thanks to everyone who donated items from the sign-up
sheets
—
Bob and Connie Baker, Kathrine Young and Steve McCord, Phil and
Natalie Nesvig, Sonja Clemente, Gina and Tim Allen, Lynn and
Ernie Hopson, Tyler Schorn, Peter Douglass, and Bridget and Jeff
Sagmoen, for wine and cider. Our table closers this year did an
awesome job. Thank
you to Carol and Earl Nelson, Liz Olsen, Jane Harty, Gina Allen,
Scott and Valerie Schorn, and Kathrine Young.
Janine Douglass and Gina Allen did a super fantastic job
of manning the storage of auction items, and the distribution of
the baskets to the winners.
Plus we had some great bakers who prepared dessert for us
– Connie Baker, Wendy Gehring, Valerie Schorn, Kathrine Young,
Carol Nelson, Tyler Schorn, and Gina Allen.
The desserts were delicious and extremely popular!
Plus a huge
THANK YOU
to everyone who
participated in the “Christmas in July and August” ornament
donations for the gift baskets.
Without your contributions we would have had very little
to sell! It could not have been done without you.
As is evident by the length of this list, a lot of people helped
and donated time, talents, and treasures that helped make this
event a huge success.
It takes many people contributing in their own unique way
to accomplish what we do at the St. Nicholas Faire.
Thank you all for your generosity and commitment to our
church and our extended ministries.
─Larraine King
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Our sincere thanks
to Larraine King, her family and the many volunteers for all of
the work they did to organize and put on the
St.
Nicholas Faire!
Once again an outstanding event, bringing in
$7,500.00 for our local
West
Seattle Food Bank and Helpline.
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Romans 2.5
Monthly Home Bible Study, January 2018, Number 299
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). (This study uses the RSV translation.)
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). And don’t give up,
for as Luther said, we “have in Scripture enough to study for
all eternity” (LW
75:422)!
Week I.
Read Romans 2.5 noting the line
you are storing up wrath
for yourself. Why say this? On this read Luke 12.19–20
noting the words ease
and fool. Read also
Revelation 3.17 noting the phrase
not knowing. Read as
well 2 Corinthians 4.4 noting the word
blinded, and 1
Corinthians 10.12 noting the line
take heed lest he fall.
All these verses take up recklessness and delusion. How is that
best combated? On this read Amos 4.6–12 noting the five uses of
the word yet and then
the word therefore.
Here we see relatively mild chastisements followed by a more
severe threat. On that more severe threat –
prepare to meet your God
– read the details in Hosea 13.4–8 noting the line
I will fall on them like
a bear robbed of her cubs, I will tear open their breast, and
there I will devour them like a lion, as a wild beast would rend
them. Read also Ezekiel 5.13–17 noting the phrase
with furious
chastisements. Is this what is needed to wake us up? On this
read Acts 7.51 noting the description
stiff-necked. Read
also Zechariah 7.11–12 noting the words
adamant and
therefore. So is it
clear why wrath is coming?
Week II.
Read again Romans 2.5 noting that same line
you are storing up wrath
for yourself. Why are we so reckless and foolish? On this
read Psalm 10.11 noting the line
God… will never see it.
Read also Psalm 64.5 noting the question
Who can see us? and
the similar question in Psalm 73.11
How can God know? and
finally the line in Psalm 94.7
The Lord does not see.
Why are we so cocky about our privacy? On this read Psalm
139.7–12 noting the words
flee and cover.
Can we ditch God (fleeing from him) and trick him (hiding from
him)? On this read Genesis 3.8–10 noting the words
hid and
called. How does
God’s voice blow their cover? On this read Psalm 29.3–9 noting
the words thunder,
breaks,
fire,
shakes and
strips. How does this
work? On this read Acts 2.37 noting the line
cut to the heart. How
does God disrupt our consciousness like this? On this read 1
Samuel 16.7 noting the line
but the Lord looks on the
heart. What can he do because of that? On this read 1 Samuel
7.10 noting the words
thundered and
confusion. Can God scramble our attention span? On this read
about God-induced panic
in Joshua 10.10, Judges 8.12, 1 Samuel 5.9–11, and Zechariah
12.4 and 14.13. Do these verses erase any and all reasons for
being smug?
Week III.
Reread Romans 2.5 noting again that same line
you are storing up wrath
for yourself. What is this wrath? On this read Numbers
16.31–35 noting the words
earth, split and
swallowed. Read also
Ezekiel 13.13 noting the words
deluge and
hailstones. Why does
God strike us with natural disasters? On this read Genesis 7.19
noting the line the
waters prevailed so mightily. So nature’s magnitude is
overwhelming to us – which is its built-in intimidation. So
David could stand up against a giant man (1 Samuel 17.45) – but
hardly against massive floods, hurricanes or great earthquakes!
Is there more? On this read Mark 9.48 noting the words
worm and
fire. This is about
hell. On hell read also Revelation 9.5 noting the word
torture. What’s
terrible about this additional mode of punishment is its length
– there’s no end to it. Do you agree this makes it worse?
Week IV.
Read Romans 2.5 one last time noting again that line
you are storing up wrath
for yourself. But what if these threats don’t work? Does
that mean they are useless? On this read Ezekiel 2.5 noting the
words refuse,
rebellious,
know and
among. Why is this
knowledge valuable if it doesn’t change thought and action? On
this read John 1.5–11 noting the contrasting phrases
not overcome it and
received him not. So
can the threats be operative even if they don’t accomplish
anything? On this read Psalm 62.8–12 noting the words
extortion,
power and
work. Note also the
play between the words
began and completion
in Philippians 1.6. So if the threats don’t work does that mean
they might work later? On this read Luke 15.14–17 noting the
words spent,
want and
when. How much time
do you think elapses between these verses? Does it matter?
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The Epiphany of Our Lord
On Saturday, January 6, 2018
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.
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The Baptism of Our Lord
First
Sunday After the Epiphany
The Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord
Sunday, January 7, 2018.
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).
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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.
Sam & Kevin Lawson, Kyra Stromberg, Pete Morrison, Mia Schorn,
Asha Sagmoen, Melanie Johnson, Marlis Ormiston, Eileen Nestoss,
Emma Sagmoen, Celia Balderston, The PLU Lecturers, Tabitha
Anderson, Jordan Corbin, Nell & Paul Sponheim, Lee & Lois Snook,
The Rev. Kari Reiten, The Rev. Paul Smith, The Rev. Joanne Brown
& Kristie, The Rev. Howard Fosser, Ion & Galina Ceaicovschi,
Nathan & Les Arkle, Margaret Douglass, Chris & Margeen Boyer,
Elizabeth Banek, Jeanne Pantone, Diana Walker, Jack & Sheila
Feichtner, Martin Nygaard, Myra Skubitz, Charles Wilson, Robert
Bly, Jennifer Combs, John & Joann Beckman, Bob Coburn, John
Quinn, Lawrence Johnson, the Southern California fires, and
those killed and injured in the Tacoma train wreck.
Pray for the shut-ins that the light of Christ may give them
joy: Bob & Barbara Schorn, Chuck & Doris Prescott, C. J.
Christian, Louis Koser, Anelma Meeks, Dorothy Ryder, Lillian
Schneider, Crystal Tudor, Nora Vanhala, Mildred Nikula, Mary
Goplerud.
Pray for our bishops Elizabeth Eaton and Brian Kirby Unti, 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 for our sister congregation:
El Camino de Emmaus in the Skagit Valley that God may
bless and strengthen their ministry.
Also, pray for our parish and it's ministry.
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
Dear Lord, grant me your Spirit that I may
reverently seek your kingdom. Help me to follow after your Word
as my miraculous guiding star. Accept the offerings you have
first given me: the gold of faith, the frankincense of prayer,
and the myrrh of a contrite heart. Save me from all shameful
paths of sin. And after this life, grant me that great New Year,
the jubilee of everlasting life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
[For
All the Saints (ALPB, 1994-1996) 4 vols.,
III:211, altered]
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