St. Paul S Evangelical Lutheran Church

November 2016

THE VOICE

ST. PAUL’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

POST COMMUNION & THE BENEDICTION

“It’s so hard to say goodbye, except in faith!”

arting is such sweet sorrow.” At least that’s what Juliet thought. And we are certainly to cherish the precious time we have with the LORD and his gathered people even more than time spent with Romeo. So how do we come down from the Mount of the Divine Service (LSB 414, stz. 5)? How are we to cope with the knowledge we are parting from God’s intimate holiness and salvific gifts?

Having received the LORD’s Supper our faith is again led by the Word of God. If there is a song to sing it is the song of faith in proclaiming the presence of God in Christ Jesus and what that means for us. So the Song of Simeon (Lk. 2:25-32) is a unique Lutheran addition to our joy of receiving Holy Communion with God. As Simeon held the Christ child in His arms prophesying “the salvation for all people” even a light to the Gentiles…so His Words are fulfilled for us. We’ve seen Christ in Communion. We are forgiven by His body and blood and promise. So like Simeon we also sing, “Now I can die!” How do we say goodbye in faith? We say it knowing that God has fulfilled His promises to us by His Word we receive in the Divine Service.

In the English, goodbye doesn’t mean that I’ll never see you again. “Goodbye” comes from the French and Old English (14th-16th cent.). It is a mere contraction of “God be with you.” The components “Good + bye” are really “God + be.” Although the meaning has been lost through the years its essence is still there.

As Christians we have this made explicit for us in the Divine Service. The Salutation is heard 3 times in the liturgy (before the readings, before Communion, after Communion). The people hear again and again: “The LORD be with you.” The regular Christian interchange within the service isn’t nearly as subjective as in a typical worldly bump-in:

“Hi, how’s it going Bob?”

“Good. How are you doing, Fred?

Instead, in God’s house we speak the truth. The LORD be with you. That’s how you’re doing. God is with you. This is how we end the service even. God is still with you, even as you’re leaving.

Parting is different. We are no longer the assembled saints receiving God’s Divine gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation. In the world, we are still receivers, now of our daily bread. But as we live our lives in faith, Christ lives in us. We are cooperators of the Holy Spirit’s work. The love we’ve first been given from God, we now share with others (1 John 4:19). We forgive even our enemies, for we have truly heard God’s Word of forgiveness for Christ’s sake. This is the LORD’s Spirit that is heard through His called ministers as we are absolved, hearers of the Gospel, and receivers of the sacraments. Make no mistake about it, our daily lives outside of the Divine Service are different than when in it. However, wherever we are called in our daily lives, we now are given to love and serve our neighbor freely knowing God is with us.

When we say goodbye in the Divine Service, it’s different than all other parting. For God goes with us in the world. This is exactly what we hear in the Aaronic Benediction (Numb. 6:24-26). Benediction is simply Latin for “The LORD bless” which is heard 3 times. Hmm? I wonder what that has to do with anything??? Freed from our Me Monster’s we have God’s Triune Name placed on us in the Invocation and leave the Holy Mount with His name placed us again in the Benediction. We are truly blessed by grace through faith in Jesus. He’s the reason the Father’s face turns toward us in favor 24-7. As God’s people we live by grace through faith all the time! In faith, there is never a bad-bye…because God is always with us! We are given this faith through God’s Word and sacraments in the Divine Service so that throughout life we can always say “Now I can die.” At any time, we are ready to depart without sorrow for we have God’s promises to us over and over… The same God, the same gifts, coming to us again and again. The Divine Service always begins with our dependence on God’s mercy, continues according to His promise, and is fulfilled by Him for us here in time and there in eternity. This is most certainly true.

CORPORATE CONFESSION AND LITANY

Several people have commented concerning the upcoming election on November 8th. What can we do? Pray. On Saturday November 5th 7pm, we will hold a service of Corporate Confession. All who are present are invited forward to hear the Words of Absolution over the baptismal font (a reminder of God’s adoption by grace). This is a great preparation before Holy Communion. At the end of the service we will pray The Litany: an ancient responsive prayer that includes the needs of our world, country, and homes.

On Wednesday, November 9th at 5:30pm we will also pray the Litany along with evening prayer. This will be the day after our nation’s election day. If you are anxious come and pray with your brothers and sisters in Christ! (Hymnal p. 288)

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS

Don’t forget to set your clocks back an hour before going to bed on Saturday, November 5.

ALL SAINTS

Join us All Saints Sunday, Nov. 6 for recognition of the faithfully departed in this last year:

Aileen Meadows, Norman Petersen, Mark Lorenzen.

St. Paul’s and St. Matthew will celebrate Thanksgiving Eve together at St. Matthew for a joint service on Nov. 23 at 7pm. All are invited. Offerings can still be given to St. Paul’s that evening, using the offering envelop.

ST. MATTHEW PASTOR

Pastor Christopher LaBoube will be installed at St. Matthew, Mapleton on Nov. 20. Pastor Manley will officially end covering the vacancy on Nov. 26.

HISTORY OF ST. PAUL’S

1916, March 19, The Church is to be built of brick. Altar was to be inside the church proper and not extended. The basement will be fully under the Church.

Save the Date

March 5, 2017

Dedication Anniversary Celebration

Thank you to Evelyn and Vernon Thies for donating this month’s flowers in memory of Evelyn’s Grandmother, Clara Wellner Miller, whose birthday was in November.

Thank you to all that donated flowers in 2016. Now we would like to start thinking about altar flowers for 2017. The flowers provided will usually last for the entire month. If you would like to provide flowers for a month in 2017, please contact Barb Mordhorst.

THANK YOU

The LWML noisy collection on Oct. 2 was $174.76. This money will go to LWML mites for mission projects.

LCW NEWS

LCW Meeting is November 9th at 1:00 p.m.

Thank you for the donations for Orphan Grain Train. The next month we will be taking clothes is April.

NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

The newsletter this month is sponsored in honor of cancer patients & their families. Please contact the office if you’d like to sponsor the newsletter. The cost is $37.

BAPTISMAL BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER

We are listing Baptismal birthdays to remember and celebrate the day we were adopted into the family of God through the washing of the Holy Spirit. Those having Baptismal birthdays in November are:

Ethan Winsor 1

Tory Greder 2

Sierra BeBout 4

Jenna Hanson 6

Nick Goslar-Jeremy Creese-Gavin Purcell 7

Todd Teut 11

Michael Sorensen 14

John Dorale 15

Brian Vinke 17 Deanna Sorensen 18

Kevin Bumsted 21

Payton Thies, Preston Thies 23

Dylan Meadows 24

Kevin Vogt 25

Bruce Mohr 26

Ray Dorale 29

“THY STRONG WORD”

‘Thy Strong Word’ is a daily devotion airing at 6:25 a.m. Monday through Saturday on KDSN 107.1FM).

Nov. 7-12 Rev. Ross Fritz

Trinity, Manilla

Nov. 14-19 Rev. Merle Mahnken Immanuel, Schleswig

Nov. 21-26 Rev. David Loeschen

Bethlehem/Our Savior

Nov. 28-Dec. 3 Rev. Richard Merrill

St. John, C.O.

ADVENT DEVOTIONS FROM LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES

Every year Lutheran Hour Ministries makes available Advent devotions. Copies of this devotion can be picked up at church in mid-November. You can also read the devotion each day at www.lhm.org/advent.

Christmas Memories

Thinking back on Christmases past is a fun way to reflect on the good old days. The wonderful lights and decorations, festive holiday atmosphere, warm family get-togethers, unforgettable melodies, and jovial Christmas cheer all make for pleasant memories. But, of course, our hearts aren’t merry for these things alone. Christmas is the believer’s celebration of the arrival of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, “who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a Servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:6-7).

Hallelujah! It is this Gift of God—His own beloved Son—whom we joyously adore with our hearts this Advent season. Jesus, who took on human flesh so that we might partake of His divine redemption, is the One our Christmas memories turn to, worshipping and adoring Him for all He has done for us. Take time this holiday season to make Christmas memories that last—memories that lovingly honor the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

November 5, 2016 - 1:00 pm - Kasters in Ghana

November 5, 2016 - 1:30 pm - Burches from Peru

November 5, 2016 - 1:45 pm St. Onge from Canada

For more information you can go to http://www.missioncentral.us/ and click on the events.

SUGGESTIONS FOR A SAFE WINTER

As we head into the winter months, realize that snow and cold awaits us. At times, services may be held in less than ideal conditions. We encourage those with special concerns for dangerous conditions to use suitable caution. Reasonable effort will be made to have sidewalks clear, and ice melt placed where needed. Be cautious of the north parking lot, especially on mornings after a thaw and refreezing. We understand that for some it may be wiser to listen to services at home and not take chances. Please call the church office and ask if you have any questions about weather concerns or interest in listening at home.

If the weather is so severe that services are cancelled, it will be announced on KDSN radio: 107.1 FM and 1530 AM, hopefully by 7:30. Services will be held if some can attend safely.