Announcments for the Week of February 18th

Announcements for the Week of February 18th

ANNOUNCEMENTS for the Week of February 18th

ASH WEDNESDAY service and sermon

LAST SUNDAY'S service and sermon

AARON’S ELDER GROUP - WOULD YOU LIKE PASTOR TO VISIT? Please let me or Aaron know.  For those not in Aaron’s elder group, I am still available to meet with you, too.  My hope with a faster rotation is that visits and the care of your souls outside Sunday mornings will be a little more deliberate.  I have explained this more in the February Newsletter  Also, feel free to stop in during scheduled Office Hours, which are Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:00 - 6:00pm.  Thank you and God bless you.  Pastor Pautz

HEAR MORE ABOUT LWML Who: Any women interested in learning about LWML. What: Learn and Serve! Make school kits for Families Helping Families of Iowa, hear ladies share their experiences with LWML, and learn what resources are available through LWML. When: March 11, 2-4pm. Where: Iowa East District Office (1100 Blairs Ferry Rd, Marion). Why: To enjoy fellowship, learn about LWML and serve the Lord!  Please email Rachel at rach.wegener@gmail.com to RSVP by March 6 , so we can have an idea how many to plan for.

THE LWML MITE BOX is in place at the exit of the sanctuary today.  Your coins and dollars are appreciated in helping reach our mites goals!  Thank you!

DIRECT OFFERING Some of you have asked again what are the ways in which you may give your offerings.  The offering envelope given during the offering in the church service.  Some mail in envelopes.  Some stop in during the week to give an offering or ask me to put it in the offering plate during visits.  Also, you may give a single or ongoing offering through Direct Offering.

THRIVENT CHOICE - Remember Our Savior Lutheran Church in your annual Thrivent Choice distributions.  Click here for the Thrivent website.  Thank you.

THANK YOU FOR SERVING                                Next Sunday

Organist           Mary Francis                                Organist Susan Eversmeyer

Elder Group     Aaron Eversmeyer                       Elder Group John Buttke   

Acolyte Zarah Stoltzfus                                       Acolyte Kayla Hirschfeld

Greeters Darren & Angie Banko                          Greeters Darren & Angie Banko

FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT

Invocabit Sunday

Sunday, February 18th  at 9:00am  &  Monday, February 19th at 6:00pm

Service   151      Introit            in bulletin      

Hymns   431(1-2),  656,  421,  438,  439,  752,  801,  431(3-4)

CALENDAR FOR THIS WEEK

Today    

08:00am Individual Absolution   

09:00am Divine Service            

10:30am Sunday School

Monday      

01:00pm Sunnybrook Bible study

02:00pm  Homebound Visits

04:00pm Office Hours            

06:00pm Divine Service

Wednesday

06:30am Men’s Bible Study    

09:00am Matins Service    05:30pm  Lenten Meal

09:30am Women’s Bible Study     

04:00pm  Office Hours

05:30pm  Lenten Meal

06:00pm  Catechism Classes

06:00pm  Choir Practice

07:00pm  Lenten Service

Sunday

08:00am Individual Absolution   

09:00am Divine Service                         

10:30am Sunday School

IN OUR PRAYERS

+Salem Osland (Darin’s wife) hip surgery +Juliette (John & Carolyn Yeater’s great-granddaughter) heart surgery +Isabella Valenzuela (Jerry & Peggy Hart’s granddaughter) bone marrow transplant +John Francis (Mary’s husband) treatment +Tom Van Hemert  (Liz’s husband) seminary student - contact information is located in the Narthex +Lucille Wingerter - homebound +Marvin (Bud) Plank - homebound +Lillian Graf - homebound during the winter months +John & Becky Ernst Anniversary

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday

Sermon Notes

2 Peter: 2-11

Grace and mercy to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

It is written in 2 Peter 2:   10Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Thus far the text.

Let us pray: Holy Father, you have made us brothers to your Son Jesus Christ.  Grant us Your Holy Spirit during this Lenten season so that we may be confident that You will never forsake us and that we may remain confident in the hour of our death and joyful always; in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Lent is a time of somber joy.  Somber because you are reminded that you are dust and to dust we shall return (Gen 3:19) meaning, you will die in the body.  Joyful because you believe in Jesus the Savior of your soul.  In this Gospel death does not have the last say.  Jesus does.

After hearing receiving ashes upon your forehead and hearing the Gospel reading

You might think only hypocrites would do such a thing in public.  We do it as a little signal of unity among us as a congregation.  We do it at the end of the day so no one will see you marked with ashes.  Finally, I encourage all of you to go home after the service and wash your face.  

St. Peter’s second letter is the topic of this sermon.  His first letter focused on justification by faith,  That you believe in Jesus is the work of God for you.

St. Peter’s second letter is focused on the fruit of your justification.  Fruit does not produce a tree.  A tree produces the fruit.  The tree is the forgiveness of your sins.  Tonight we focus on the fruit of your forgiveness; which is love toward others; with is good works.

The question in particular is this:  How can you be confident that you will die in a somber joy?  

St. Peter gives us a little roadmap to follow.  This Lent ask the Holy Spirit to increase your fruit for the benefit of others while at the same time for the benefit that even in the face of death, you will be joyful.

First, St. Peter says supplement the tree of faith with the fruit of virtue.  What does this mean?  It means let your faith be seen by others.  Attend the Divine Service more often.  Attend Bible study more often.  Supplement the faith you have with this virtue, the Word of God.  Martin Luther has this to say about the difference between lazy Christians and mature Christians, saying:

He, whose manner of living shows that his faith is accompanied by good works and thus becomes strong will have an entrance richly provided for him, and he will enter yonder life cheerfully and confidently. Thus he dies courageously, despises life, departs with pride, as it were, and leaps into the eternal kingdom. But if the others enter at all, they will not go so joyfully. The door will not be open so wide for them. They will not have such a richly provided entrance; but it will be narrow and difficult for them, so that they struggle and prefer a lifetime of weakness to the thought that eventually they will have to die.  Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, Vol. 30: The Catholic Epistles, ed. Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, Hilton C. Oswald, and Helmut T. Lehmann, vol. 30 (Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1999), 160.

Second, to the tree of faith add the fruit of knowledge - knowledge about how to lead your outward life in a sensible manner.  Not eating or drinking too much or too little.

Third, to the tree of faith add self control - in all outward living, life, words, deeds, bearing with the weak gently, etc.

Fourth, to tree of faith add steadfastness - if you live life well don’t expect to escape attack.

Fifth, to the tree of faith add godliness - serve God and not our own glory

Sixth, to the tree of faith add brotherly affection - help others in their needs.

Finally, to the tree of faith add the fruit of love - this love extends beyond brotherly affection toward friends to helping even our enemies in their needs.

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Quinquagesima Sunday

Quinquagesima Sunday 

Quinquagesima - 50 Days Before Easter

1 Corinthians 13

Faith Alone - The Fruit is Love

Grace and mercy to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

It is written 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.  13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.  Thus far the text.

Let us pray, Creator Father, who gives faith through His Holy Spirited Word, grant us faith so that we may love you and those around us; in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

In the resurrection, you won’t need faith because you will have all that faith receives.

In the resurrection, you won’t need hope because you will see with your eyes all things you previously hoped for.

In the resurrection, you will love others naturally.  In this sense, love is greater than faith and love.

However, right now, faith is greatest because faith gives birth to hope and love.  St. Paul is emphatic, if you say you are the most faithful person around but show no love or kindness to others, then you don’t have the faith in Jesus Paul is talking about.  You would have a different Jesus.

As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

Faith and love always go together, but for right now faith is first and love follows.

You have received faith in Jesus.  This is the work of God that you believe that Jesus is God and that by believing you have life in His name.  

You have received faith in Jesus.  So you are a child of God.

As children of God, you still need encouragement to grow up in this faith.  12 For now you see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now you know in part; then you shall know fully, even as you have been fully known.  

Faith without love is not the Christian faith.  Paul is arguing in our text that faith and love are so closely connected that where you find Christian faith, you will find Christian love.  The opposite is not true.  Where you find love does not mean you will find Christian faith.

Pastors and teachers and parents need to grow in the faith.  Paul says that even if you were the greatest apostle of God (which Paul is) you need to give up from your childish ways.  He says, If I (Paul) speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  We are the same.

2 And if I (Paul) have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.   Since it is true of the apostle Paul it is true for you and me too

3 If I (Paul) give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.  Same for us.  Without Christian faith there is nothing to boast about before God.

Now, it is nearly impossible to talk about Christian love in light of all its many abuses in our culture and in our churches.  

What is Christian love?

Love is patient and kind.  Mature Christians are patient and kind to others who love wrongly.  Mature Christians understand that people sin.  Friends might fornicate.  Adults might adulterate.  They might call it love but it is lust.  If you are loving wrongly or if you give approval for others to love wrongly, you have found your repentance for today.  A repentance that leads you back to the Christian faith.

Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Mature Christians are aware that many wrongdoings are done in the name of love.  Friends might experiment with same-sex relationships.  Parents might rejoice in legal same-sex marriages.  Church bodies might officially bless same-sex marriages in the name of Jesus.  They might call it love but, again, it is lust.  If you are loving wrongly or if you give approval for others to love wrongly, you have found your repentance unto faith for today.  A repentance that leads you back to the Christian faith.

Like the apostle Paul, we live in an unloving society.  You may have acted childishly in your sinful lust thinking it was Christian love only to find yourself outside the Christian faith.

Today, you are all encouraged to grow up in Jesus.  You are encouraged to put off lustful, childish ways regardless of age.  As you mature in the faith of Christ, you will give up more of those childish ways.  

How do you grow in the Christian faith?  Hear God’s Word again.  Be forgiven  your sins again,  eat and drink Christ’s body again.  Not only is your sin forgiven these ways, but you will mature in Christian love and display more fruits of the Christian faith in patience and kindness toward others as well as rejoice more and more in the truth and power of God’s Word.

And yes, mature Christians understand not everyone shares their belief in Christ and not everyone lives according to the Christian faith they profess.  Yet,  love bears all things.  You live confident that God also bears your daily burdens all the way to the cross.  You believe all things the Lord says about sin, faith, and love.  You hope all things the Lord promises in His Word.  You endure all things that even your own lust and unbelief throw at you. 8 Love never ends.  

So, let us continue mature in the Christian faith and encourage each other to do the same.  It won’t be easy, but it is filled with joy; in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

The peace of God, which passes understanding, guard and keep in you in Jesus Christ our loving Savior in whom we believe.  Amen.

February 11 Announcements

Announcements for the week of February 4, 2018

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ASH WEDNESDAY is this Wednesday.  The Ash Wednesday Service is a Holy Communion Service that begins at 7:00pm.  Imposition of Ashes is offered between the public confession and absolution.  “From dust we came and to dust we will return” (Genesis 3:19) in anticipation of the Absolution in Christ.

JOEL’S ELDER GROUP - WOULD YOU LIKE PASTOR TO VISIT? Please let me or Joel know.  For those not in Joel’s elder group, I am still available to meet with you, too.  My hope with a faster rotation is that visits and the care of your souls outside Sunday mornings will be a little more deliberate.  I have explained this more in the February Newsletter  Also, feel free to stop in during scheduled Office Hours as well, which are Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:00 - 6:00pm.  Thank you and God bless you.  Pastor Pautz

LWML will be serving the ASH WEDNESDAY LENTEN MEAL of various casseroles, salads, vegetables and desserts beginning at 5:30 pm on Wed. The freewill offering will given to the Domestic Violence Center of Muscatine.

DIRECT OFFERING Some of you have asked again what are the ways in which you may give your offerings.  The offering envelope given during the offering in the church service.  Some mail in envelopes.  Some stop in during the week to give an offering or ask me to put it in the offering plate during visits.  Also, you may give a single or ongoing offering through Direct Offering.

THE FEBRUARY LWML MEETING will be this Thursday, February 15th at 7:00 pm.  Judy Yates, from the Domestic Violence Center will be our guest speaker.  All ladies of the Congregation are invited to attend.  Our hostess and bible study leader is Becky Ernst and Wendi Ingram provided our February bulletin display.

THRIVENT CHOICE - Remember Our Savior Lutheran Church in your annual Thrivent Choice distributions.  Click here for the Thrivent website.  Thank you.

THANK YOU FOR SERVING                         Next Sunday

Organist           Joel Hirschfeld                    Organist Mary Francis

Elder Group     Joel Hirschfeld                    Elder Group Aaron Eversmeyer   

Acolyte Mallory Bruhn                                 Acolyte Zarah Stoltzfus

Greeters John & Mary Francis                     Greeters Darren & Angie Banko

QUINQUGESIMA SUNDAY

(50 Days Before Easter)

Sunday, February 11th  at 9:00am  &  Monday, February 12th at 6:00pm

Service   151      Introit            in bulletin      

Hymns   702,  849,  645,  756,  644,  643,  797,  744

CALENDAR FOR THIS WEEK

Today    

08:00am Individual Absolution   

09:00am Divine Service            

10:30am Sunday School

Monday      

01:00pm Sunnybrook Bible study

02:00pm  Homebound Visits         

04:00pm Office Hours    

06:00pm Divine Service

07:00pm Investment Committee Meeting

Tuesday

09:00am Pastor at Circuit Meeting in Burlington, IA til 2pm

Wednesday

06:30am Men’s Bible Study    

09:00am Matins Service    

09:30am Women’s Bible Study     

04:00pm  Office Hours

05:30pm  Lenten Meal

06:00pm  Catechism Classes

06:00pm  Choir Practice

07:00pm  Ash Wed. Service

Thursday    

07:00pm LWML Meeting

Sunday

08:00am Individual Absolution   

09:00am Divine Service                         

10:30am Sunday School

IN OUR PRAYERS

+Salem Osland (Darin’s wife) hip surgery +Juliette (John & Carolyn Yeater’s great-granddaughter) heart surgery +Isabella Valenzuela (Jerry & Peggy Hart’s granddaughter) bone marrow transplant +John Francis (Mary’s husband) treatment +Tom Van Hemert  (Liz’s husband) seminary student - contact information is located in the Narthex +Lucille Wingerter - homebound +Marvin (Bud) Plank - homebound +Lillian Graf - homebound during the winter months.