September 2013
 



A New Translation of Sermons

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Highlights from Luther’s Works Volume 75

 

Volume 75 of the new series of Luther’s Works was published this summer. It is largely a re-translation of sermon from Lenker’s edition of Luther’s sermons, volumes 1 and 6. Here are some of my favorite passage from LW 75:

 

“Christ was… laid in a manger, that is,… he is contained [in] the Old Testament” (10). “[The] Gospel… is to be promoted not with the pen but with the mouth” (11). “[Man’s] life on earth is a struggle and a temptation” (20). “[We] must be ashamed when we see Christ and find ourselves to be so much unlike Him” (25). “[Whoever] believes in Christ must perceive riches in poverty [and] joy in sorrow… and hold fast to them” (32). “[The] beginning of your salvation [is to] despair of yourself” (34). “You do not seek [God]; He seeks you” (35). “Sin…. naturally feels that God is the enemy of sin and severely punishes it” (36). “[The] church is a mouth house, not a pen house” (51n72). “A Christian lives only to be useful to other people” (69). “[There] is no greater wrath of God than when He permits His Word… to perish” (77). “[True] Christians suffocate in great temptations and persecutions from sin and all kinds of evil, so that this life becomes bitter and loathsome to them” (103). “[Judgment] day will be at the same time the highest joy and safety to the believer and the deepest terror… to the unbeliever; just as also in this life the truths of the Gospel are exceedingly sweet to the godly and exceedingly hateful to the wicked” (104). “[Faith] is nothing other than a constant, unquestioning, unwavering confidence in divine grace” (129). “Law and Gospel…. must be carefully distinguished and recognized, for I tell you that outside of the Scriptures there never has been a book written to this day… in which these two preachings are correctly and distinctly treated, and yet so very much depends on knowing this” (143). “[No] on one [loves] God and righteousness…. by nature” (144). “[God] teaches by the Law what is to be done and by the promises where….we are to receive that” (146). “Nothing will be of help to [the spiritually poor], unless they have a merciful God” (147). “[True faith] does nothing other than keep quiet, lets [God] do good and accepts Christ’s work, and lets Christ practice His love on you. You must be blind, lame, deaf, dead, leprous, and poor, or you will take offense at Christ” (154). “[How] difficult it is to acknowledge Christ…. [for although] we must confess that the Christian life is faith in God and kindness or love to our needy neighbor,…. [we] always forget the fruit of faith” (155-56). “[What] does the Gospel promise other than that… only through Christ… are our sin forgiven, God reconciled, and our consciences acquitted?.... When this correct faith in the Gospel is in the heart, then… [it] feels nothing but favor and grace [with] all kinds of confidence and is unafraid of His punishments” (158). “[Snotty], filthy human nature” (165). “As [we] believe, so it happens” (169, 371). “[We] are to use the Word of God in two ways: as both bread and sword, for feeding and for fighting, in times of peace and in times of war. With the one hand we build, improve, teach, and feed Christendom, and with the other we oppose the devil, the heretics, and the world. Wherever there is no defense, there the devil ruins the pasture, of which he is the enemy” (187n2). “[We] must believe [that God] knows our hearts better than we do, and confess that if our affairs were not godless and damnable, then He would not have had His grace proclaimed to stop this. Only a fool would give medicine to someone who is not sick” (190). “God requires a heart and a life which exist in His grace and which fear other ways and life outside of His grace. You can give Him nothing more than that” (197). “[The Christian] must live contrary to [the world]…. That means living soberly in a tavern, chastely in a brothel, godly in a theater, righteously in a den of murderers” (198). “[In the Christian] evil inclinations remain in body and soul, just like stench and disease from a prison” (204). “Teach those who do not know. Admonish those who do know, so that they do not diminish, become lazy, or give in, but rather continue against all temptations” (206). “Grace does not shatter or interfere with nature and its work, but rather improves and promotes it” (213). “[All] men are spiritual lepers because of unbelief” (222). “[Preachers] are to be… constantly engaged with God’s Word” (223). “[All] of life which a right-believing Christian lives after Baptism is nothing more than a waiting for the revelation of the salvation that he already has”

(237).  “[It] is not enough for salvation if you believe in God as do the Jews…. [You] must believe in God through Jesus Christ” (244). “It is… faith by [Christ’s] blood with which… He made satisfaction and thus become for us a throne of grace” (246). “In the entire Gospel [Christ] does nothing more than to draw us out of ourselves into Him” (246). “[A] Christian life consists not in outward conduct, [therefore] one does not become aware of his Christianity” (253). “[Whoever] would find Christ must first find the Church” (254). “Sin is such a great thing [that] the payment for our sins must be as great as God Himself is, who is offended by those sins” (267). “Scripture is clear, but our eyes are not very clear” (276). “[The] Word is God but also… God is the Word” (284, 249). “[In Christianity, ones] old light is extinguished and a new light, faith, is kindled” (308). “[The] old man [is] the enemy of God and His grace” (309). “[True] love has a hard shell but sweet insides. It is bitter to the old man, but very sweet to the new man” (327). “True faith… does not rest or take a vacation” (329). “[What] is the narrow door? It is faith, which makes a person small, even nothing” (367). “Christ and nature are totally opposed to each other” (403). “[We] have in Scripture enough to study for all eternity” (422).

Pastor Marshall






What a Relief to Read Luther

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Kierkegaard’s Love for Luther’s Sermons

 

By Pastor Marshall

 

Because Kierkegaard was so critical of the church of his day, some think he hated everything about it. But he was able to sort the good from the bad. And the sermons of Martin Luther were among the good! “[What] a relief,” he writes, “to read Luther. There is a man who can really stay with a person and preach him farther out instead of backwards” (JP 3:2464). This is part of what endears Kierkegaard to me.

     One of his favorite sermons “contains the… stringent assertion that: Christ is not a savior for this life but for eternal life. Yes, what is more,… he is the very opposite of a savior for this life [in that] he lets those who believe in him slog along as if in a bog” (JP 6:6503). In that sermon Luther says that Christ “is not called a gulden-Savior.… His name is not Jesus because he provided enough money for you to become a great lord upon earth…. [No], he is a savior by God’s will against sin, death, devil and hell, and is able to help us precisely where no one else could…. Meanwhile, in this world, it often seems as though we don’t have a God, for he lets us stick in all manner of physical trouble, does not fend off the wicked rascals who persecute and plague us, but allows them to… get their fill of things in this life. That’s why it seems as though he is not of this present world. But he has promised us that we shall have something better than this temporal life” (Luther’s House Postils, 1:191, 193). May we with Kierkegaard cherish these salutary words.

 

The Kierkegaard Bicentennial

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Our November 17, 2013, Celebration

 

By Pastor Marshall

 

We have been commemorating Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) and his witness to Jesus Christ every November since 1980. In 2005 we had a special celebration for the sesquicentennial of his death (1855-2055) – with the publication of my Kierkegaard’s Year 2005 (46 pp.).

     This year we are having our largest commemoration ever for the bicentennial of his birth (1813-2013). We will celebrate this anniversary in November on his heavenly birthday, or death date – which for us is the closest Sunday after the actual date of his death on November 11th – which is November 17th this year – even though his earthly birthday was on May 5th.

At our November 17th celebration, we will enjoy: a sermon, an Education Hour lecture, a new musical setting by Carl F. Schalk, a world premiere fugue, a world premiere poem, the dedication of our bronze statue of Kierkegaard, free copies of the fall 2013 issue of Lutheran Forum journal, a book signing, a special guest, a Scandinavian reception with pastry and dancers, and free coffee mugs.  What more could one ask for?  

     Save this date and make plans to attend – inviting your family and friends!

 
 



                                    PRESIDENT'S REPORT....by Larraine King

            O, he whom Jesus loved has truly spoken,

                              That holier worship, which God deigns to bless,

                                                Restores the lost, and heals the spirit broken,

                                                               And feeds the widow and the fatherless…..

     So begins a hymn text by John Greenleaf Whittier.  Additional verses can be found in the Service Book and Hymnal (1958) #539.  Its essence is service, caring for our brother, and true worship.  Our entire purpose is to be of help to others – yes, to help spread the Gospel by caring for those in need, the hungry, the homeless, even those with whom we live and daily associate.  According to the dictionary, service is any helpful activity where assistance or aid is given to others; an outpouring of our love for God and His Son in a practical and tangible way.

     We have many opportunities to be of service at church.  Currently we are beginning the planning and collecting process for the St. Nicholas Faire that will be held Sunday, December 8th to benefit the Helpline and Food Bank.  Many ornaments have been taken from the Christmas in July/August tree.  However there are still many items that are needed.  Please help us secure items to make into marketable baskets for sale at the Faire.  The amount of money we make is directly related to the number and quality of the baskets and items we have for sale.  We also have a chance to support the Lutheran ministry in the Skagit Valley by donating money to El Camino de Emaus.  There are many Hispanic farmers living and working in that area, and this ministry has been very helpful to the residents.

     The Summer Hymn School was attended by 15 children, and with the expert help of Jane Harty and Pastor Marshall, they learned a number of hymns.  On the last day they sang them for some of the residents of Mt. St. Vincent as well as shared a handmade gift with each attendee.  Thanks to Gina Allen, Kari Ceaicovschi, Matthew Kahn, Rollie Storbakken, Soren Sagmoen, and Kyra Stromberg for making this such a successful event.  As a post script, the fundraising for Gospel for Asia netted $852.61.  Ask the Sunday School students what they decided to buy.  They did a great job and enjoyed choosing the animals.

     Financially, we finished the first half of the year acceptably, with expenses being about $2,000 less than what was budgeted.  However income has been consistently  behind the projected budget amount.  The second quarter Pledge Report shows that 14 members exceeded their pledge by $3,493; 15 members met their pledge; 12 members fell short of their pledge by $5,316; and 18 members who had not pledged, gave $12,056.  July was a good month and August is looking promising, but please don’t forget to give your pledge.

     In closing, we are blessed.  We each have special gifts to share with others; we are able to support our church in its mission; we help our neighbors at home and abroad.  We are Christ Jesus’ representative to the world.  Or as I have often heard it said, we are each a living epistle written for the world to read.  Be the best read possible!

…..Gifted by you, we turn to you,

                        Offering up ourselves in praise;

                                                Thankful song shall rise forever,

                                                                        Gracious donor of our days.

                                                                                                                        (Hymn # 408 LBW)


 



Stewardship 2013                                     Budget                     Received

                  Month (July)                                 $17,629                    $24,931

                  Year to date (Jan-July)                  $140,312                  $143,965

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

STEWARDSHIP

“With Joy and Thanksgiving”

 

Merciful Father, We offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us: Ourselves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love.

                                                                                                                      –Lutheran Book of Worship pp.108

 

We pray this prayer most every Sunday.  This short, direct, simple prayer reflects what stewardship is. In tithing not only our income, but also our time and our gifts, we recognize that all of those things are not really ours.  They belong to God, and He has granted those gifts to us so that we may further His kingdom on earth.  So, as a reflection of our joy for the sacrifice God has provided for our redemption in His son, Christ Jesus, we are to tithe our money, gifts, and time.

     Sometimes it can be easy to assume that stewardship is about nothing beyond giving a full 10% of our income to the Church.  Stewardship also means that we use our gifts and talents to further the mission of the Church by participating in and volunteering within the Church community and outside of it.  For each of us, this will manifest itself in different ways.  For some, it may be participation in our church’s music programs, for others it may be helping with worship assistance or altar guild, for others it will be serving on the council or helping to plan luncheons and fellowship opportunities within the church, and for still others it will be helping our congregation plan and execute its extended ministries outreach programs.  Whatever way each of us is able to offer our time and ourselves, we should all be constantly thinking of additional ways that we can use our talents in a way that best serves the Lord, both within the church and in the world here on earth.  And, as the above prayer reminds us, we should do these things with joy and thanksgiving in our hearts for all of the blessings that the Lord has given to us.

                                                                                                                                                -David King, Church Council









Fall Schedules

Sunday Education

with Pastor Marshall

2013-2014

9:00 to 10:00 am, Room D

 

FALL SESSION I, September 8 - October 27

Kierkegaard’s Most Famous Book: Fear & Trembling in Genesis 22

      This eight week class will study Kierkegaard’s short book, Fear & Trembling (1843), on the near sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22. He thought this book would make him “immortal,” and it has – being read throughout the world, year after year. We will use the new translation by S. Walsh. Copies will be available in class ($15).

 

FALL SESSION II, November 3 - December 22

A Training Manual for Children: A Study of the Book of Proverbs

      In this eight week class we will study the book of Proverbs – guided by Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Luther accentuated this verse noting that the whole book of Proverbs “ought… to be impressed on the young… throughout the world and put into daily use and practice” by them as soon as possible (Luther’s Works 35:262).

      Each class session will be based on a worksheet of questions handed out the week before.

 

WINTER SESSION, January 5 – 26th

Luther’s Creed – His 1528 Statement of His Basic Beliefs

      In this short, four week class, we will study Luther’s creed, appended to the end of his “Confession Concerning Christ’s Supper,” Luther’s Works 37:360-372.

      This class is in our series on studies in the Reformation leading up to the 500th anniversary in 2017 on the Reformation of the Church in Germany in 1517.

 

SPRING SESSION I, February 2 – March 30

On the Beauty of Christ: A Study on the First Epistle of John

      In this eight week class we will study the first of the three letters of John the Evangelist. On it Luther writes: “This… outstanding epistle…. can buoy up afflicted hearts,…. so beautifully… does it picture Christ…. Because we are never without sins and the danger of death, we should [always] ruminate on the Word” (Luther’s Works 30:219)!

      Each class session will be based on a worksheet of questions handed out the week before.

 

SPRING SESSION II, April 6- May 25

God’s Costly Word: Luther’s Famous Sermon from 1532 on 1 Timothy 1:5-7.

      This eight week class will study in detail Luther famous sermon, “On the Sum of the Christian Life,” Luther’s Works 51:259-287. When Luther reviewed the printed version of this sermon, he exclaimed that it was better than he had remembered it being after preaching it!

      This class is in our series on studies in the Reformation leading up to the 500th anniversary in 2017 on the Reformation of the Church in Germany in 1517.

Schedule for

Wednesday Bible Classes

with Pastor Marshall

2013-2014

 

Morning 10- 11:30 am

Fall: Thessalonians 1 & 2, Colossians, Philippians      Spring: Hosea

1) 1 Thess 1.1-10               9) Col 1.1-29                    1) Hosea 1.1-11           9) Hosea 8.1-14

2) 1 Thess 2.1-19               10) Col 2.1-23                  2) Hosea 2.1-23           10) Hosea 9.1-17

3) 1 Thess 3.1-13               11) Col 3.1-25                  3) Hosea 3.1-5             11) Hosea 10.1-15

4) 1 Thess 4.1-17               12) Col 4.1-18                  4) Hosea 4.1-10           12) Hosea 11.1-12

5) 1 Thess 5.1-28               13) Phil 1.1-30                 5) Hosea 4.11-19         13) Hosea 12.1-14

6) 2 Thess 1.1-12               14) Phil 2.1-29                 6) Hosea 5.1-15           14) Hosea 13.1-9

7) 2 Thess 2.1-17               15) Phil 3.1-21                 7) Hosea 6.1-11           15) Hosea 13.10-16

8) 2 Thess 3.1-18               16) Phil 4.1-23                 8) Hosea 7.1-16           16) Hosea 14.1-9

 

Evening 7:30 - 9:00 pm

Fall: Ecclesiastes                                                          Spring: 1 Corinthians

1) Ecclesiastes 1.1-18        9) Ecclesiastes 6.1-12       1) 1 Cor 1.1-31               9) 2 Cor 1.1-24

2) Ecclesiastes 2.1-11        10) Ecclesiastes 7.1-13     2) 1 Cor 2.1-3.23         10) 2 Cor 2.1-3.18

3) Ecclesiastes 2.12-26      11) Ecclesiastes 7.14-29   3) 1 Cor 4.1-5.13         11) 2 Cor 4.1-5.21

4) Ecclesiastes 3.1-9          12) Ecclesiastes 8.1-17     4) 1 Cor 6.1-7.39         12) 2 Cor 6.1-7.16

5) Ecclesiastes 3.10-22      13) Ecclesiastes 9.1-17     5) 1 Cor 8.1-9.27         13) 2 Cor 8.1-9.15

6) Ecclesiastes 4.1-16        14) Ecclesiastes 10.1-20   6) 1 Cor 10.1-11.33     14) 2 Cor 10.1-18

7) Ecclesiastes 5.1-10        15) Ecclesiastes 11.1-10   7) 1 Cor 12.1-13.13     15) 2 Cor 11.1-33

8) Ecclesiastes 5.11-20      16) Ecclesiastes 12.1-14   8) 1 Cor 14.1-16.24     16) 2 Cor 12-1-13.14

 

With the Mind

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Readings in Contemporary Theology with Pastor Marshall

in the Church Lounge, 3-5 pm, the fourth Saturday of each month.

2013-2014

 

Sept. 28     Caroline Coleman O’Neill, Loving Søren: A Novel (2005).

Oct. 26      Johan Corvino and Maggie Gallagher, Debating Same-Sex Marriage (2012).

Nov. 23     Duncan K. Foley, Adam’s Fallacy: A Guide to Economic Theology (2006).

Dec. 28      Stacy Horn, Imperfect Harmony: Finding Happiness Singing With Others (2013).

Jan. 25      J. M. Brandt, ed., Selections from Friedrich Schleiermacher’s Christian Ethics [Sittenlehre, 1843] (2011).

Feb. 22      Gregg A. Ten Elshof, I Told Me So: Self-Deception and the Christian Life (2009).

Mar. 22     Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck, Why I Love the Church: In Praise of Institutions and Organized Religion (2009).

Apr. 26     Mark A. Gornik, Word Made Global: Stories of African Christians in New York City (2011).

May 24     Richard John Neuhaus, American Babylon: Notes of a Christian Exile (2009).

 

September Book

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3-5 pm in the Church Lounge, Saturday, September 22nd.

 

The book for September is Loving Søren: A Novel (2011), by Caroline Coleman O’Neill – a first novel on the broken engagement of Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) to Regine Olsen (1822-1904). A great deal of historical research has been done trying to figure out why Kierkegaard broke off his engagement to her after one year. This well research, historical novel does a good job trying to answer that question. (I have provided a lengthy review of it in my new book, Kierkegaard for the Church.) And the novel is well written. Note, for example, how O’Neill describes the first time Regine see Kierkegaard: “The maid mumbled a name, and a thin young man strode into the room. His blue eyes, defiant and questing…. He held his lips in a tight, compressed smirk that quivered slightly at the edges…. The man’s face had the nervous intensity and delicate beauty of an artist. His whole body… radiated an inner zeal” (2).  
     A copy of O’Neill’s book 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 this marvelous, imaginative introduction to the thought of Kierkegaard.



 


EXTENDED MINISTRIES….. by Larraine King

There are a lot of ways that we “extend our ministries.”  So far this year we have focused on the West Seattle Food Bank and Helpline, and Gospel for Asia.   There is another organization in our general area that has been quietly operating in the Skagit Valley, ministering to the many Latino farm workers, that deserves our attention.  It is El Camino de Emaus.  They worship at Burlington Lutheran Church, with Mary Bosell serving as their ELCA support pastor.  But their congregation is served by two sons of the congregation, who came to the United States as young boys, didn’t even know what a Lutheran was and who also happen to be cousins – Pastor Esau Cuevas and Pr. Emilio Benitez.  The majority of their work centers on the families of the farm workers.  Last summer they helped an Episcopal church in the area hold a 2 week summer day camp, and this year they again helped with the day camp for children ages 2-13 which ran for 4 weeks.  They offer tutoring in reading, math, and writing for school age children, day care for younger children, meals, and field trips.  Quite an undertaking.  Pastor Benitz assists with celebrating the Eucharist for La Iglesia Episcopal de la Resurrection, which is the sponsoring church of the day camps.  El Camino also sponsors various youth events, musical presentations, and potluck get-togethers, in additions to offering weekly church services.

     Since many of the parishioners have small incomes, their need for additional help is great.  El Camino provides back to school supplies and backpacks for the children.  They help with utility bills.  They even help families hold on to their houses when facing foreclosure and help with debt reduction when funds are available.



 


Colossians 2.5

Monthly Home Bible Study, September 2013, Number 247

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 Colossians 2.5 noting the word absent. What’s the point about this absence? On this read Colossians 2.1 noting the line all those who have not seen my face. So this absence is about Paul having no physical presence among the Colossians (see also 1 Corinthians 5.3). But why is this an issue? On this read 1 Corinthians 12.12-13 noting the phrase one body, and 12.26-27 noting the words together and members. These verses seem to suggest that the church is a physical assembly of believing, baptized people. So with Paul being absent in body, it raises the question of whether or not he is still a member of the church, which is the body of Christ, when he’s not there with them in the flesh. On this importance of his physical presence, see Acts 20.37-38, noting the words wept, sorrowing and face. And read also Romans 1.8-13 noting the words thank, always, coming, long, impart, mutually and often. For another witness to the physicality of the church, read 1 Corinthians 11.29 noting the line discerning the body.

 

Week II. Read again Colossians 2.5 noting this time the line yet I am with you in spirit. But how is this possible if the church is physical? And what is

this spirit, anyway? On this read 1 Corinthians 2.6-16, noting the words doomed, secret, eye, depths, comprehends, truths, discerned and mind. What we see here is a realm beyond the physical that links physical creatures together when they aren’t bodily present or together with one another. This spiritual dimension, however, doesn’t oppose the physical. All it does is go beyond it to establish a more stable basis for the church – which makes it immune to any and all physical absence. On this read 1 Thessalonians 3.6-13, noting first the spiritual words faith, remember, if, before, hearts, holiness and saints – setting them over against the more physical words long, see, face, supply and way. On the superiority of the spiritual over the physical, see 1 Corinthians 1.10-13 noting the contrast between the two lines, united in the same mind and quarreling among you. Therefore it is clear that being together doesn’t guarantee togetherness.

 

Week III. Reread Colossians 2.5 noting this time the line firmness of your faith in Christ. What does this line say about the church? Is it that the church is grounded in faith in Christ regardless of physical absence and separation? On this read Ephesians 4.11-16 noting the words doctrine and together. So can the church exist when people share the same understanding of Christ even though apart? Can it exist when they are separated by different institutions, provided that they share that same, proper understanding of Christ? On this non-physical view of the church, read Acts 20.28-30 noting the words church and draw. Here we see that being physically together results in destruction – being ripped apart by fierce wolves and their false doctrine. According to Acts 20. 27 it is the whole counsel of God that makes the church, and not just being together physically. Read also 2 Timothy 4.3-4 noting the words people, sound, myths and wander. Here again we see that people together don’t make the church – but only sound doctrine. People gathered together around false myths don’t constitute a church by their sheer togetherness! Do you then see how far-a-field a church would be that insists on affirming diversity of opinion for its own well-being and togetherness?

 

Week IV. Read Colossians 2.5 one last time noting the word Christ. How did he do on keeping everyone together physically? On this read John 7.43, 9.16 and 10.19 noting the word division. Why didn’t Jesus unite everyone? Was he against unity? On this read Matthew 11.6 and John 6.61 noting the word offense. Now what caused these offenses over Jesus which resulted in the divisions regarding him? On this read John 3.19 noting the line men loved darkness. Why would we do that? On this read Mark 7.20-23, noting the words defiles, heart and wickedness. Can these defilements be washed away so that physical togetherness will finally be enough for there to be a church? On this read Romans 7.18-25 noting the words evil, do, law, war, wretched, death, flesh and serve. Note also Romans 6.6 on how only death breaks our slavery to sin. Do you agree? If so, why?



 


ANNOUNCEMENTS: 

Fall Schedule starts on Sunday, September 8th.  Adult Bible Class, rm. D and Sunday School, rm. 4, 9:00 am.  Confirmation (6th – 8th grades) meet in the library. The Wednesday pastor’s classes start on September 11th, at 10:00 am & 7:30 pm, in rm. D.

GOLDEN FELLOWSHIP luncheons will occur in the late fall and spring of 2013-2014.  Watch for updated information in the coming month's Messengers. 

DEO GLORIA CANTORES will start their practice sessions at 7:30 pm on Thursday, September 19th, in the gallery. 

Deo Gloria Ringers is open to people who have the ability to read music, count, and wish to participate in our worship services. Contact Larraine King if you are interested. Rehearsals will likely be after church on Sundays, or later decided by the group.

WEB ADDRESS:  www.flcws.org  Log in to see what’s new. 

FOOD BANK DONATION for September is canned, boxed or instant soup.


 



LIBRARY NEWS…… by Larraine King

We are pleased to report that we have numerous new additions to the Church library, with the hope that we can get many more catalogued and placed on the shelves.   

     Among the new additions are quite a few children’s books.  We have some new science titles including “Polar Bear” and “Frogs” from the National Geographic Society; “Oceans” from the Smithsonian; and “Dinosaur Discovery.”  We have two new Shel Silverstein titles, “Runny Babbit” and “Falling Up.”  He is a wonderful poet/author and a great way to encourage an appreciation for poetry.  Besides, his humor appeals to all ages!  We have some stories from around the world, including “Seal Children,” “Lotus Seed,” and “Hero of the Land of Snow.”  Plus a wonderful title, “Irena and the Children of the Warsaw Ghetto.”  And for Jan Karon fans, we have “Violet Comes To Stay” a delightful story about the cat who befriended Father Tim’s neighbor, Cynthia Coppersmith, characters in the Mitford Series.

     We have new DVDs too – The two Black Stallion stories, so amazingly produced by Francis Ford Coppola, and the two

Princess Diary films starring Ann Hathaway and Julie Andrews.  Plus for the dinosaur lovers, we have “Allasourus.”  For adults we also have some new books – “The Noticer” by Andy Andrews, a redemption story about everyday people; “The Visitation” by Frank Peretti, a chilling novel about the anti-Christ in the church; Carl Braaten’s memoirs of a Lutheran theologian, “Because of Christ;”  “Porch Talk” by Philip Gulley, author of the “Harmony” series; and “No Longer Slumdog” by K.P. Yohannen, the founder of Gospel for Asia.  We also have some new CDs – “Feel the Spirit” and “Faure Requiem” conducted by John Rutter; Volume III of “Greats Hymns of Faith” with the choirs of St. Olaf College conducted by Anton Armstrong; and the complete sacred choral works by Antonio Vivaldi.

     So we have quite a few new items to choose from, and more on the way.  We are currently sorting through hardware and software issues with the computer, be we hope to fix those problems in the near future.  So please come in and browse and see if any of the new items appeal to you.  As always, we are open to suggested titles and items.  Just let us know.



 




The Endowment Fund

Putting the Church in Your Will

By Pastor Marshall

 

Our church endowment fund continues to grow.  We thank God for all who have made gifts to this fund and the support it provides our church. Especially we thank God for the major donors to our endowment fund – George (1925-2003) & Marion (1929-2005) Colvin, Lila Granaas (1913-2002), Orma Nesheim (1917-2010), and Alida Rottman (1922-2011). 

    One significant way to support the fund is to include the church in your will.  If you would like to do this and have not done so already, think of giving 10% of the residual value of your estate to the church.  In this way you will be able to tithe the income the investments of your estate has earned over the years.  This is a fitting way to thank God for the blessings of prosperity we all enjoy.

    Our endowment fund was established in January 1996.  The gifts made to the fund are never spent.  Most of the interest earned is added each year to help meet our budget.  In this way you can go on supporting our church long after you have departed to join the church triumphant.  Glory be to God!




 



X  PARISH PRAYERS  X

Remember in prayer before God those whom He has made your

brothers and sisters through baptism.

Leah Baker, Florence Jenkins, Jim Coile, Agnes Arkle, Clara Anderson, Peggy & Bill Wright & Wendy, Bob & Barbara Schorn, Ion Ceaicovschi, Cameron Lim, Luke Bowen, Dano, Karen & W. Erick, Mary Lou Jensen, Tabitha Anderson, Max Richards, Gloria Belarde, Anna-Mae Finley, Dee Grenier, Lou & Lori Landino, Richard Uhler, The Jones Family, Karen Granger, Angel Lynne, Deems Tsutakawa, Ginny Mitchell, The Khamiss Family, Kirsten Christensen, Marie Onsum, Jerry Hollenback, Kurt Alfano. 

     Pray for the shut-ins that the light of Christ may give them joy:  Clara Anderson, Agnes Arkle, Donna Apman, Pat Hansen, C. J. Christian, Vera Gunnarson, Louis Koser, Anelma Meeks, Olive Morrison, Dorothy Ryder, Lillian Schneider, Crystal Tudor, Vivian Wheeler, Peggy Wright.

     Pray for our bishops Mark Hanson and Chris Boerger, and the bishops elect 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 September.  Pray for the mercy of God for these people, and for all in Christ's church to see and help those who are in distress.

     Pray for our sister congregation:  El Camino de Emaus in the Skagit Valley that God may bless and strengthen their ministry.  Also, pray for our parish and ministry.

     Pray that God will bless you through the lives of the saints:  Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist; and Saint Michael and All Angels.

A Treasury of Prayers

 

O God, King of the universe, grant me the purifying discipline of your burning love! I thank you for its fire that consumes my dross, for the blood of Jesus Christ, your Only Son, which cleanses me from all my sin, for the pain which purifies, for the despairs of earth from which the sure hope of heaven is born, and for the light which leads me out of darkness. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen..

                                        [For All the Saints (ALPB, 1994-1996) 4 vols., III: 1081, altered.]