Thurs. Jan 9, 2014

DEVOTION:  "Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.  The Story pg. 11
 
Ever get I a grumpy mood?  I don't know if it is the weather, the news I listen to too much, my getting older every day, sin in the world, or what, but we all get down in the dumps from time to time.
 
Many people suffer from SAD seasonal affective disorder which is caused by the lack of sunlight and serotonin on the brain.  This past Monday is considered by many to be the saddest day of the year.  
 
Truth is that it is easy to get down, depressed, sad, angry, and bitter not just this time of year, but every time of the year, especially when our circumstances aren't quite what we want or the sin in our lives is weighing us down.
 
Then we see a passage like the one today.  Everyone loves rainbows.  They are pretty.  They brighten up the sky after a storm.  They give us hope.  
 
They remind God of something too.  Every time he sees a rainbow he is reminded of his covenant to His people. Imagine all of the rainbows God sees from his throne on high every day.  He is constantly reminded of His promises!  
 
His promises are
1. He will never destroy all life on earth again with a global flood.
2. He will never leave us or forsake us.
3. Whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
 
You can trust in God's promises, because history has proven that He ALWAYS keeps them!

Prayer:  Lord God, help me to be reminded of Your promises, because Your promises give me peace, comfort, joy, and hope.  Amen.
 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:  How many days did the ark float on the water before is came to rest on Mt. Ararat? 150 days  Genesis 8:2-4 (The Story Pg. 10)  (Good job again Dianne!)
___________________________________________________________________________________
TODAY'S QUIZ:  Is the Tower of Babel before or after the flood?
_____________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Thurs- Confirmation 5-6:15; Parents meeting for Steak Dinner 6:30; High School Bible Study 7
Fri- Bible Study at Hendershots 7pm
Sat- Bible Study 4pm; worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and Bible class 9:45; Elders meeting noon; Widows group 1pm; High School Bible Study 5pm
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND
Acolytes- 8:30- Ian Brunson;  11- Jacob Winn
Altar guild- Set up Marilyn Foster and Sue Ruhl; Clean up Joanne Hachtel
Greeters- 8:30- John Fahrni; 11- Joan Sexton
Elders- Sat- John Hachtel; 8:30- Don Turnure; 11- Dave Winter
Lay Readers- Sat- John Hachtel; Sun- Jo Fahrni
Sat. Pianist- Kathy Barrow
Ushers- Don Hance, Rich Boeger, Don Weigle, Don Tate
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
CONFIRMATION IS THURSDAY AT 5PM!!
Make sure you are ready for your test over the Apostles' Creed and that you have read chapter one of the The Story!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
YOUTH PARENT'S MEETING AT 6:30 TO PLAN THE STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION
All parents of seventh through twelfth graders are expected to be there for this VERY IMPORTANT MEETING!!   Be there!!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
HIGH SCHOOL KIDS MEETING AT 7PM THURSDAY!!
Bring your book with you as we begin our study of The Story!!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
HELP FOR PARENTS TO GUIDE THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH THE STORY
A big part of The Story experience is that the whole family grows together in it as each person in the family reads it, you will all literally be on the same page.  yet, it may be hard to get discussion going or to help you get started together.   Are you looking for a way to connect with your kids as they and you read The Story together?  There's help!
 
If you click the link below you will find parent pages for all age groups that you can use to connect with your kids at least once a week.  Whenever your "together" time is, make it productive.  It is a .pdf file of parent pages that goes from lesson one all the way through 31.  Check it out and tell me what you think.  I think they are excellent!! 
https://assets1.mytrainsite.com/501196/the_story_parentpages_weeks1_31.pdf?r=1438
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS IS RESCHEDULED FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND!!
Please make plans to attend and receive a blessing from God as you either begin a new assignment or continue on in your service to the Lord!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEW BIBLE STUDY DAY AND TIME ADDED TO THE SCHEDULE
In order to give everyone a chance to participate fully in The Story we have added a Saturday afternoon Bible study at 4pm.  This is especially good for those who normally attend worship on Saturday evening, but is for EVERYONE who wants to attend!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY, JAN 11, AT 8AM!!!
Get the word out!  Come and enjoy biscuits and gravy, sausage, and scrambled eggs!  Stay for some good fellowship and time in Scripture and prayer!!
________________________________________________________________________________________________
ANY INTEREST IN STARTING A SMALL GROUP TO STUDY THE STORY?????
If anyone is interested in starting a small group Bible Study, please call, text, or email me.  I am ALWAYS OPEN FOR NEW IDEAS!!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ELDER'S MEETING THIS SUNDAY AT NOON!!
Please be there so we can start the new year off on the right foot!
______________________________________________________________________
WIDOW'S GROUP IS MEETING AT 1PM THIS SUNDAY!!
All widows of the church are invited to join!  They will meet for lunch an then come back to church for a game of UNO.  Contact Evelyn Sherman at 456-4734 for all the details!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYER REQUESTS:  (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)
DONNA HEITGERD recovering from a broken hip at St Joe's Hospital St. Charles Rehab.
 
WILMA WEIGLE as she continues to recover from pneumonia and other complications due to brain surgery.
 
LOUIS GOETZ, Linda Ketterer's dad, who is dealing with pneumonia.
 
PAMELA, a friend of Kathy Fischer, who is suffering with a different types of cancer and is recovering from surgery. 
 
 
           

Salvation Army Bell Ringer Thank You Letter

To all who rang bells for Agape this past December 14 and throughout the holiday season.


-------- Original message --------
From: Carleen Williams <carleen.w@agapemo.org>
Date: 01/08/2014 4:14 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: Jeremy Klaustermeier <revklaus@hotmail.com>
Subject: Salvation Army Bell Ringer Thank You Letter

 

I wish to personally thank you from the bottom of my heart, for participating in the Salvation Army Bell Ringing campaign during this Holiday season. This year more than 175 volunteers worked 350 hours to raise $13,195.56 in the Bell Ringing campaign. We keep 85 cents of every dollar raised, so this year's campaign netted $11,216.20 for our homeless prevention programs. This money is used to fight homelessness in our community by helping people when they cannot pay their rent or utilities because of job loss, illness or disability, or because the job they have does not pay enough to cover their basic needs.

 

If you are part of a group, business, or organization, please pass my gratitude along to your members. It is the kindness of the community members such as yourself that make our job of helping the hungry, hurting, and homeless of Warren County possible. On behalf of myself, my volunteers, directors, and staff her at Agape and on behalf of our clients and families that were blessed by your participation in the Salvation Army Bell Ringing campaign, I thank you.

 

Sincerely,

 

Carleen Williams

 

Carleen Williams

Interim Executive Director

Agape Ministry, Inc.

713 Powell

Warrenton, Mo 63383

PH: 636.456.4645

FX:  636.456.7175

 

Helping the Hungry, Hurting, and Homeless in Warren County

 

Wed. Jan 8, 2014

DEVOTION:  The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time..  The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled."  Genesis 6:5-6 (The Story pg. 8)
 
Yesterday I was getting increasingly angry at my 5th grade basketball team.  They were acting goofy and weren't taking practice seriously.  They didn't listen when I gave them instructions and kept doing the same wrong things over and over again.  Even Gus, who is usually paying attention, was running around like a chicken with his head cut off.  I made them run.  That didn't work.  I yelled at them.  That didn't work.  Nothing I tried was going to change them yesterday.  Man, I can't wait till they get back to school and get into a regular routine again.  I was so frustrated.  The whole rest of the night I was grumpy and grumbling about everything. 
 
I imagine that this, in a much bigger way, is how God feels toward us.  He is standing there, like a coach, trying to tell us the right way to go, giving us instruction, motivating us to go the right way and do the right thing, and all we want to do is climb the walls and act like idiots. 
 
The good news about all of this is that He knew we wouldn't win the game on our own.  We would lose it every time.  If left up to our own will and our own ability, we would get run over by the devil.  That is why He took the ball into His own hands and sent His Son into the game.  Jesus is, was, and always will be the star of this game we call life on earth.  He is the one who took the devil down.  He is the one who suffered, died, and rose again for us.
 
How, since we are filled with the Holy Spirit and Christ lives in us by virtue of our baptisms and our faith in Christ, let us throw all that nonsense, called sin, off of us.  Let's get our heads in the game and do what God has called us to do, to live our lives to His glory because we are saved! 
 
Let us pray: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for winning the game for us.  Amen.
 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: What did God create on day four?  On the fourth day God created the Sun, the Moon and the Stars.   I found this on page 2 of The story and in Genesis 1:14-19. (Great job Dianne!!)
_________________________________________________________________________________________
TODAY'S QUIZ:  How many days did the ark float on the water before is came to rest on Mt. Ararat?
___________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Wed- Jonesburg nursing home worship 10am; Choir 7pm
Thurs- Confirmation 5-6:15; Parents meeting for Steak Dinner 6:30; High School Bible Study 7
Fri- Bible Study at Hendershots 7pm
Sat- Bible Study 4pm; worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and Bible class 9:45; Elders meeting noon; Widows group 1pm; High School Bible Study 5pm
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND
Acolytes- 8:30- Ian Brunson;  11- Jacob Winn
Altar guild- Set up Marilyn Foster and Sue Ruhl; Clean up Joanne Hachtel
Greeters- 8:30- John Fahrni; 11- Joan Sexton
Elders- Sat- John Hachtel; 8:30- Don Turnure; 11- Dave Winter
Lay Readers- Sat- John Hachtel; Sun- Jo Fahrni
Sat. Pianist- Kathy Barrow
Ushers- Don Hance, Rich Boeger, Don Weigle, Don Tate
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
CONFIRMATION IS THURSDAY AT 5PM!!
Make sure you are ready for your test over the Apostles' Creed and that you have read chapter one of the The Story!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
YOUTH PARENT'S MEETING AT 6:30 TO PLAN THE STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION
All parents of seventh through twelfth graders are expected to be there for this VERY IMPORTANT MEETING!!   Be there!!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
HIGH SCHOOL KIDS MEETING AT 7PM THURSDAY!!
Bring your book with you as we begin our study of The Story!!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
HELP FOR PARENTS TO GUIDE THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH THE STORY
A big part of The Story experience is that the whole family grows together in it as each person in the family reads it, you will all literally be on the same page.  yet, it may be hard to get discussion going or to help you get started together.   Are you looking for a way to connect with your kids as they and you read The Story together?  There's help!
 
If you click the link below you will find parent pages for all age groups that you can use to connect with your kids at least once a week.  Whenever your "together" time is, make it productive.  It is a .pdf file of parent pages that goes from lesson one all the way through 31.  Check it out and tell me what you think.  I think they are excellent!! 
https://assets1.mytrainsite.com/501196/the_story_parentpages_weeks1_31.pdf?r=1438
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS IS RESCHEDULED FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND!!
Please make plans to attend and receive a blessing from God as you either begin a new assignment or continue on in your service to the Lord!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEW BIBLE STUDY DAY AND TIME ADDED TO THE SCHEDULE
In order to give everyone a chance to participate fully in The Story we have added a Saturday afternoon Bible study at 4pm.  This is especially good for those who normally attend worship on Saturday evening, but is for EVERYONE who wants to attend!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY, JAN 11, AT 8AM!!!
Get the word out!  Come and enjoy biscuits and gravy, sausage, and scrambled eggs!  Stay for some good fellowship and time in Scripture and prayer!!
________________________________________________________________________________________________
ANY INTEREST IN STARTING A SMALL GROUP TO STUDY THE STORY?????
If anyone is interested in starting a small group Bible Study, please call, text, or email me.  I am ALWAYS OPEN FOR NEW IDEAS!!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ELDER'S MEETING THIS SUNDAY AT NOON!!
Please be there so we can start the new year off on the right foot!
______________________________________________________________________
WIDOW'S GROUP IS MEETING AT 1PM THIS SUNDAY!!
All widows of the church are invited to join!  They will meet for lunch an then come back to church for a game of UNO.  Contact Evelyn Sherman at 456-4734 for all the details!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYER REQUESTS:  (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)
DONNA HEITGERD recovering from a broken hip at St Joe's Hospital St. Charles Rehab.
 
WILMA WEIGLE as she continues to recover from pneumonia and other complications due to brain surgery.
 
LOUIS GOETZ, Linda Ketterer's dad, who is dealing with pneumonia.
 
PAMELA, a friend of Kathy Fischer, who is suffering with a different types of cancer and is recovering from surgery. 
 
 
           

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Men's breakfast: 3 things

1. Menu: biscuits and gravy, sausage, scrambled eggs, fruit
 
2. I do have several things that we could do for our Bible Study time for this coming men's breakfast this Saturday, but I wanted to get your feedback.  Is there something specifically that you would like to learn.  Do you have questions about things in the Bible or Christianity? Let me know so I can make our monthly time together as productive as possible. 
 
3. We need to clear 3 feet away from the furnace in the trustees closet and then paint the floor yellow in that spot so that no one puts anything there.  Who is willing to stick around and do that?  PLEASE LET ME KNOW.  (I have a b-ball game at Holy Rosary at 11 so I will need to leave by 10:15)
 
 
Please let me know whether or not you are coming! 
 
 
Thanks!
Pastor

January 7, 2013

DEVOTION:   "Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.  The Story, Pg. 4
 
What if instead of putting on clothes one day, you just went to work naked?  What do you think would happen? 
 
1. You would be very cold, especially today. 
 
2. You would be very self conscious because everyone would be looking at you.
 
3. You'd probably get arrested, fired, or sent to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. 
 
Being naked is not normal.  It is frowned upon.  It is called indecent exposure for a reason.  Yet, that is not the way God meant it.  Did you ever wonder why it took till Adam and Eve sinned for them to realize that they were naked?  Could it have been that, before they sinned their bodies were perfect?  Maybe.  Could it be because they had no reason to be ashamed of their nakedness?  Maybe.  Could it be that the sin that they committed not only affected that one instance but everything around them and in them, including their now mortal bodies.  Most definitely! 
       Truthfully it is all three.  It is only indecent for us to be naked because our bodies are full of sin both the sin we are born with (original) and the sins we commit (actual).  We are only ashamed of our nakedness because of the sin that is in us. 
 
Truthfully, if we weren't sinful we could walk around naked all day long and no one would care.  It would be normal.  One day it will be normal again!!  We will throw off these sin filled bodies and our bodies will become like His glorious body..... sinless and perfect. 
 
Until then we continue to "cover" our sin with the blood of Christ and wash it away as we remember our baptisms!  Thank the Lord that he covers you with His grace and mercy. 
 
Let us pray:  Lord God, we are afraid because we are naked and so we hide, just like Adam and Eve did.  Help us to "come clean" with our sins before you so that you may truly cover us with your love, mercy, and grace.  Amen.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TODAY'S QUIZ: What did God create on day four?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilters 9-2; The Story 11:30-12:15
Wed- Jonesburg nursing home worship 10am; Choir 7pm
Thurs- Confirmation 5-6:15; Parents meeting for Steak Dinner 6:30; High School Bible Study 7
Fri- Bible Study at Hendershots 7pm
Sat- Bible Study 4pm; worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and Bible class 9:45; Elders meeting noon; Widows group 1pm; High School Bible Study 5pm
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND
Acolytes- 8:30- Ian Brunson;  11- Jacob Winn
Altar guild- Set up Marilyn Foster and Sue Ruhl; Clean up Joanne Hachtel
Greeters- 8:30- John Fahrni; 11- Joan Sexton
Elders- Sat- John Hachtel; 8:30- Don Turnure; 11- Dave Winter
Lay Readers- Sat- John Hachtel; Sun- Jo Fahrni
Sat. Pianist- Kathy Barrow
Ushers- Don Hance, Rich Boeger, Don Weigle, Don Tate
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
HELP FOR PARENTS TO GUIDE THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH THE STORY
A big part of The Story experience is that the whole family grows together in it as each person in the family reads it, you will all literally be on the same page.  yet, it may be hard to get discussion going or to help you get started together.   Are you looking for a way to connect with your kids as they and you read The Story together?  There's help!
 
If you click the link below you will find parent pages for all age groups that you can use to connect with your kids at least once a week.  Whenever your "together" time is, make it productive.  It is a .pdf file of parent pages that goes from lesson one all the way through 31.  Check it out and tell me what you think.  I think they are excellent!! 
https://assets1.mytrainsite.com/501196/the_story_parentpages_weeks1_31.pdf?r=1438
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS IS RESCHEDULED FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND!!
Please make plans to attend and receive a blessing from God as you either begin a new assignment or continue on in your service to the Lord!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEW BIBLE STUDY DAY AND TIME ADDED TO THE SCHEDULE
In order to give everyone a chance to participate fully in The Story we have added a Saturday afternoon Bible study at 4pm.  This is especially good for those who normally attend worship on Saturday evening, but is for EVERYONE who wants to attend!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY, JAN 11, AT 8AM!!!
Get the word out!  Come and enjoy biscuits and gravy, sausage, and scrambled eggs!  Stay for some good fellowship and time in Scripture and prayer!!
________________________________________________________________________________________________
ANY INTEREST IN STARTING A SMALL GROUP TO STUDY THE STORY?????
If anyone is interested in starting a small group Bible Study, please call, text, or email me.  I am ALWAYS OPEN FOR NEW IDEAS!!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ELDER'S MEETING THIS SUNDAY AT NOON!!
Please be there so we can start the new year off on the right foot!
______________________________________________________________________
WIDOW'S GROUP IS MEETING AT 1PM THIS SUNDAY!!
All widows of the church are invited to join!  They will meet for lunch an then come back to church for a game of UNO.  Contact Evelyn Sherman at 456-4734 for all the details!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________
CONFIRMATION IS THURSDAY AT 5PM!!
Make sure you are ready for your test over the Apostles' Creed and that you have read chapter one of the The Story!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
YOUTH PARENT'S MEETING AT 6:30 TO PLAN THE STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION
All parents of seventh through twelfth graders are expected to be there for this VERY IMPORTANT MEETING!!   Be there!!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
HIGH SCHOOL KIDS MEETING AT 7PM THURSDAY!!
Bring your book with you as we begin our study of The Story!!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYER REQUESTS:  (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)
DONNA HEITGERD recovering from a broken hip at St Joe's Hospital St. Charles Rehab.
 
WILMA WEIGLE as she continues to recover from pneumonia and other complications due to brain surgery.
 
LOUIS GOETZ, Linda Ketterer's dad, who is dealing with pneumonia.
 
PAMELA, a friend of Kathy Fischer, who is suffering with a different types of cancer and is recovering from surgery.
 
 

To all parents: Parent pages for home devotions for The Story

Hey parents,
 
A big part of The Story experience is that the whole family grows together in it as each person in the family reads it, you will all literally be on the same page.  yet, it may be hard to get discussion going or to help you get started together.   Are you looking for a way to connect with your kids as they and you read The Story together?  There's help!
 
If you click the link below you will find parent pages for all age groups that you can use to connect with your kids at least once a week.  Whenever your "together" time is, make it productive.  It is a .pdf file of parent pages that goes from lesson one all the way through 31.  Check it out and tell me what you think.  I think they are excellent!! 

https://assets1.mytrainsite.com/501196/the_story_parentpages_weeks1_31.pdf?r=1438

 

Thanks for participating in this wonderful experience!!

Pastor          

Installation of board members and officers rescheduled for this coming weekend

Since the storm keep many of our board members and officers from church this past weekend.  We will do installation this weekend. 
 
We will do it in all three services so it doesn't matter which one you show up at. 
 
 
PLEASE MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND WORSHIP THIS WEEKEND!!
 
In the meantime, thank you SO MUCH for your service to the Lord and to His church!!!
 
Pastor

Last update

We had three guys here for worship. Thanks to Bob Linke for trying to shovel, and to Erv Yoder and Tim Smith for showing up.
 
 
9:45 adult Bible study along with everything else scheduled for today and tomorrow is canceled.
 
Stay safe and warm everyone!!
 
peace. 

Update

I made it to church.  I'm here and Jesus is here.  Unless you have four wheel drive and good snow boots, I would kind of advise against it.   Roads are snow covered and it is coming down hard. 
 
Otherwise If you want to brave it and be adventurous come on up and enjoy the beginning of The Story!!  Take extra time and be safe if you do.  
 
Late service is canceled for today. 
 
 
God bless you all!
 
Pastor

The Lutheran Hour: January 5, 2014

-------- Original message --------
From: Lutheran Hour Ministries <lh_min@lhm.org>
Date: 01/04/2014 9:16 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: revklaus@hotmail.com
Subject: The Lutheran Hour: January 5, 2014

Sermon Text for January 5, 2014   "Pray, Praise and Give Thanks" #81-18 Presented on The Lutheran Hour on January 5, 2014 By Rev. Gregory Seltz, Lutheran Hour Speaker (Did Wise Men Really Visit Jesus?) Copyright 2013 Lutheran Hour Ministries Text: Psalm 150 Grace, mercy, and peace be to you in the Name of Jesus who invites you to a life of prayer and thanksgiving that will never end. Amen. What a way to end the prayer that Jesus has taught us, right? He has taught us to pray to God as our Father and not just a majestic force in the universe; He has taught us to use His Name as our source for life and salvation; He has taught us to put the power of His forgiveness and Spiritual protection to work in our lives. And He has even taught us to ask for our daily needs in a way that unleashes the power of thanksgiving in our prayerful petitions. Lord Jesus, you have indeed taught us how to pray! So, what better way to end this prayer than with a doxology, a word of praise! The whole prayer has been building towards such an end, hasn't it? Indeed, the very Good News of grace in Jesus Christ, the proclamation of salvation in His Name, it invites us to pray praisefully; in full confidence that all power, honor, and glory are His, forever and ever. What a way to end the prayer, right? Well, there is some question as to whether this doxology was actually in the Bible's accounts of the Lord's Prayer. It seems likely that this praise ending was inserted into Matthew, chapter 6 because it had become a common ending to the prayer in the worship of the early church. If so, the thought was appropriately drawn from elsewhere in the Scriptures, probably from 1 Chronicles 29. But, whether Jesus closed the prayer with these words or not, He instructed the people to pray with just this way of thinking....to pray to the Father who eagerly desires to give good gifts to His children, to pray to the Father who has the power and authority to give those gifts as well. So, when believers in the early church prayed this prayer in worship when they burst forth in doxological praise at the end of the Lord's Prayer, they were merely saying, "Yes, Lord, we will pray your way, with your confidence, with your promises as our focus, our strength, and our guide." Doxology, praise, not only is it a fitting end to the Lord's Prayer, but it's also a challenge from the Lord's Prayer to all who pray it. The point of the doxology calls us to pray His prayer and live our lives especially in the coming year of 2014 in faith. And the question to you, my friend, after all these weeks of learning to pray Jesus' way, is "How will you receive this prayer; how will you use this prayer; how will you put this prayer to work in your lives?" So, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that, even if this doxology isn't in this section of the Bible right here in Matthew 6, there's no better way to end this prayer than to pray, "for Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever, Amen." For such a doxology ends the prayer well, focusing our prayerful attention where it belongs, on the things of God, on God Himself. Such a doxology ends the prayer well; for praise is a word of the believer, the one who knows who God is, who knows what God has done, and trusts in Him and entrusts his or her life to the Father who loves them with an everlasting love. Doxologies are not only words of praise; they're prayerful words of praise-filled faith! And that's exactly how Jesus wants us to pray His prayer to live our lives in the year of our Lord 2014; in faith, with praise and thanksgiving. So, the church has always received the gifts of Jesus Christ with doxology, with praise and thanksgiving. When early church believers worshipped and prayed, surely they were reminded of David's doxology in his final prayer as King in 1 Chronicles 29. He prayed, "Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power, and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom." The doxology of King David surely is a great way to close the prayer of the King of Kings. When believers worshipped and prayed, they were reminded of John's vision of the coming of the kingdom of heaven in Revelation 5, where he heard the angels singing in a mighty chorus: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor, glory and blessing." And when believers prayed the prayer and the songbook of the Old Testament, the Psalms, the book itself ended with a doxology, a psalm of praise, saying, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." That's just how God's people have always received His gifts of grace; they revel in them, rejoice in them, and receive them with praise. So, it doesn't shock us that the church responded to the teaching of the Lord's Prayer the same way, with praise! And that's the opportunity that we have today and in the New Year too; if we trust in the Lord Jesus, we also get to receive this prayer in praise, and in faith, and put it to work in our life, inviting God's gracious hand to be over all that we say and do. So, what else can we say but "Thine is the kingdom, the power, the glory forever and ever, Amen!" But this doxology is not merely a state of mind or a state of our hearts; it's a way of life. Indeed, our praise ending of this prayer reminds us that this prayer changes things because this prayer changes people! When we say this doxology, our full, final attention is drawn to the things that really matter in our lives. And, when our attention is drawn to God, who He is, what He has done, and what He is yet doing in the world and in our lives, that changes things! Prayer with praise, praise in prayer; that way of life it changes hearts. Just think about it; doxology, praise, it reminds us to whom we're praying....Our Father is the Creator of the universe. He has the power to answer your prayer. The Prophet Isaiah says it best, "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary...He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak...those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Think about it; doxology, praise, it reminds us of what God has done for us and for all. God the Father sent His Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to redeem and to restore you to Himself, now and forever. Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, the kingdom of God is here, now, available to all by faith in Jesus Christ. And He promises that nothing in this world can separate us from His love! Prayer prayed in such faith, focused on the God of the Bible who has made and kept all of His promises, such prayer changes people because God is the One who saves, who redeems, and gives you and me life. Connected to Christ, His work, His promises; prayer in such faith makes a difference in our lives all year round! It was Easter morning, 1799, the people of Feldkirch, Austria, were terrified. Indeed, they believed that this Easter would probably be the worst day of their lives. Outside the gates stood the army of Napoleon and he wanted in. The citizens were ready to raise the white flag of surrender. But the bishop of the church had another agenda. In a voice trembling with emotion, he said to the townspeople, "This is Easter Day. This is the day of our King's resurrection. We must have one moment of triumph. Let us even now prayerfully ring all the bells of Easter." The people agreed. Soon the sound of church bells ringing filled the air with sounds of victory. Napoleon's army was astounded. What could it mean? It didn't take long for the generals to conclude that only one possible explanation could account for such celebration: the Austrian army had arrived during the night to help defend the town. The bells had not yet stopped ringing when the French army broke ranks and fled. Prayer prayed in the confidence of the resurrected Lord can truly change things, can't it? But, praying the Lord's Prayer in faith, in confidence, and trust; now that truly is ringing resurrection bells of hope, bells of eternal victory in the struggles and challenges of our lives now even more. But, you know when I say that, you say, "Well, Pastor, I know this prayer can change people, but do you really think it can change our communities, our world?" Well, remember the promise of what is yet to come. The Apostle John gives us a glimpse of that in Revelation 7. He says, "After these things I looked, and behold, I saw a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.'" Even now, this very year, God is at work bringing such a promise to fruition. Even now, as God's Word goes forth, it is penetrating each culture, each tribe, each nation and language, person by person, life by life. When we pray, "Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory," we can see John's vision of heaven by faith, but someday we shall see it with our eyes. But even more, such prayerful participation in the majesty of God's mission is to bring all people, from all tribes and nations, to faith in Jesus Christ by the power of His Spirit. That's the dream. That's the prayerful vision of God and His people. That's the joy of being a Lord's Prayer praying member of Christ's church, now and forever! The Lord's Prayer is challenging all of us not to be shocked by what you see; keep on praying, keep on serving. And the Lord's Prayer is also preparing us for the amazing reality of what is yet to come. For the Lord is protecting and blessing His people right now and what is yet to come we can't even imagine. But, in all things, as John reminds us, as the believing church reminds us, the kingdom, the power, the glory are His, now, this New Year and forever! So, to pray the "Kingdom, power, and glory are yours Lord," is to be bold in our praise and testimony about Jesus in the midst of the world; just as it is. This prayer marks us as God's people in this world, for the world. This Lord's Prayer orients all of our life to the things of God. When we pray this prayer, God establishes us as pillars of prayer in the world, for the world. His majesty is seen in our prayerful mission to share the Gospel with others in His Name. We are called to be prayer pillars of His hope in a world devoid of hope. We are called to be pillars of that grace in a world that is anything but gracious and loving. We are called to be pillars of His truth in a world that has dispensed with truth for temporary pleasures of a world passing away. Thine is the kingdom and we, yes, we are followers of the King Jesus. Thine is the power, yes, and we preach Christ crucified, the power of God for salvation. Thine is the glory, yes, and we are privileged to be part of His glorious mission of preaching the Good News of life and salvation in Him for all! In the middle of one of the most powerful political centers of the modern world, Washington D.C., stands a monument-The United States National Monument, the Washington Monument. It's the tallest building in D.C. by law! And at its highest peak, on the aluminum cap on the east top portion of the monument, are displayed these two words: Laus Deo. These two words were placed on the top the monument facing skyward to God. They are placed in the highest position of one of the most powerful cities in the world. What do those two Latin words mean? Laus Deo? Well, you know what it means; "Praise Be to God!" That's right. Praise be to God! It's a pillar of praise in the midst of the power of Washington D.C. Within the monument itself there are also memorial stones with scriptures and prayers from the nations. Prayer and praise! And, deposited in the cornerstone of the Monument, on July 4th, 1848, was deposited the Holy Bible presented by the Bible Society, with thanks and praise! So, there it is; the Washington Monument, a pillar of praise in the midst of the nation, built on a foundation filled with the Word of God; now that's something that someone didn't want you to miss. Well, here's something God doesn't want you to miss. God wants the world to see in 2014 and beyond, pillars of praise and prayer, as well; and we get to be the Lord's Prayer practitioners alive in faith, active in prayer, established by Him in this world for the sake of the world in hopes that they might come to faith in Him too! The doxology is a vital part of our discipleship and prayer because it focuses our prayerful attention where it belongs, on God. And Jesus, throughout the Gospels, He's inviting His followers to pray with a much larger view about life and salvation. He wants His people to start seeing things the way He sees things, the way the Father sees things. The Lord's Prayer is ultimately about reorienting our life toward the things of God, the future as God sees it, the priorities that He has about things. And there is no greater truth than the fact that the kingdom, the power, and the glory are God's forever and ever and we pray that His kingdom, power, and glory might indeed be ours as we strive to reflect Him in this New Year and throughout our days on this earth! And that's the point, my friend; God's glory is not merely that His kingdom will finally be realized in all of its fullness. That's a given. The majesty is best seen not in God's raw power, but in His power to save; as people still come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior too. The mission is the majesty. God wants all to be saved! So, if you are struggling a bit today because you wish things looked better in your life or in this world in the year ahead, you are not alone. But, don't wait hopelessly; rather wait prayerfully in word and deed, like a bride or a bridegroom waits for that day when they become husband and wife; as parents wait for the day to come when their child enters the world; wait as people who wish the days of waiting would pass quickly, but know for certain that the best is yet to come! That's doxology in action, in faith, in praise, in service to others in His Name, the One who is worthy of our praise and eager for our prayers! I love the song "Wedding Day," by Casting Crowns. It speaks of that kind of joyful expectation of waiting with Him, for Him. The bride in the song is the church, and the bridegroom is Christ. The first stanza says it this way, There's a stirring in the throne room, And all creation holds its breath Waiting now to see the bride groom, Wondering how the bride will dress And she wears white, And she knows that's undeserving She bears the shame of history But this worn and weary maiden, Is not the bride that he sees And she wears white, head to toe, But only he could make it so For when someone dries your tears, When someone wins your heart And says you're beautiful, When you don't know you are And all you've longed to see, Is written on his face When love has come and finally set you free On that wedding day On that wedding day. Well, we pray with that kind of expectation, of the final day when the Lord, the eternal Bridegroom, will come to bring us all to Himself forever and ever. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever and ever. God's mission is the majesty; His prayer focuses us on His power, His provision, and His purpose for us in this world. So, pray on, dear friend, pray on! Pray this prayer in your life throughout this New Year; pray it with me each Sunday on the Lutheran Hour, and may God empower you to a life of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving in His Name, forever and ever. Amen! LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for January 5, 2014 Topic: Did Wise Men Really Visit Jesus? ANNOUNCER: Now, Pastor Gregory Seltz responds to questions from listeners. I'm Mark Eischer. Nativity scenes often depict three Wise Men who came to visit the Baby Jesus. What do we really know about them? SELTZ: That's a great question, Mark. It reminds us again of the celebration of Epiphany, which means "appearing." Epiphany is a day celebrated as a kind of a presentation to the public of Jesus as Wise Men, or Magi, from the east visit Jesus and His family. ANNOUNCER: So the Wise Men did pay a visit? SELTZ: Well, that's what the Bible tells us, Mark. It's recorded in Matthew chapter two. We're told that Magi from the east came to Jerusalem to visit the "One who had been born king of the Jews." They went there, the Bible says, because they "saw His star in the east" and they came "to worship Him." ANNOUNCER: That account from the Bible has become very popular in depictions of the manger scene. We also think of songs like "We Three Kings." Even sayings like "Wise men still seek Him," but what was it really all about? SELTZ: We believe these Wise Men or Magi were from Babylon or Persia, located east of the Holy land. The word "magi" is an Aramaic word for eastern spiritual men who looked for signs in the stars and tried to discern God's wisdom. These particular Magi may have descended from people who learned about the promised "King of the Jews," One who would literally change the world as they knew it. Their relatives may have learned such things from the people of Israel who were exiled in Babylon. Their relatives may have met people like Daniel or Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego--believers who were forcibly settled in the east during captivity. So, we're not sure how many Magi came, but we do know that a group of them visited Jesus. ANNOUNCER: Why then does the song indicate there were three Wise Men? SELTZ: Most likely the number three came about because of the three gifts offered to Jesus. ANNOUNCER: All right; gold, frankincense, and myrrh. SELTZ: Exactly. With these three precious gifts offered, history began to talk about three Magi. But, as I said, we don't really know how many there were. The significance of the visit is what's most intriguing. Throughout the Bible, God emphasized that His Messiah and also His own people were to be a light to all nations. ANNOUNCER: Because God's salvation is for the whole world. SELTZ: Absolutely. God wanted to reach everyone through the people of Israel. The message of salvation in the true God wasn't just for one group of people on earth. It was for the whole world. So God worked throughout history to make certain the Good News of salvation, that it was shared with everyone. The fact that the Magi, non-Jewish people, came to visit Jesus and worship Him, that underscores God's plan that the Savior was for the redemption and rescue of the whole world. ANNOUNCER: As predicted in Isaiah chapter 60. SELTZ: Exactly. Think about that. It's even more remarkable. If you were to try to predict who might visit the newborn Messiah, there is no way that anyone would ever guess that a contingent of foreign spiritual men would stop by. But 700 years before it ever happened, the prophet Isaiah foretold this amazing event--even down to the gifts they give the Christ child. ANNOUNCER: Now, did they see Jesus lying in the manger? SELTZ: The Bible says that the Magi came to a house in the Bethlehem area. Some scholars think that Jesus may have been two years old when the Magi visited. So, we're not certain about the timeframe, but we do know that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were in a house at the time. ANNOUNCER: What's the significance of the gifts? SELTZ: People have speculated about what the gifts meant. Some have said that the gold symbolized the kingship of Christ; frankincense symbolized the prophetic work of Jesus as He made the Word of God known; and myrrh, a spice used for embalming a body, pointed to the priestly work of Jesus as He was to become the sacrifice for our sins. Those are wonderful symbols, but the Magi probably brought these gifts because they were valuable items suitable to be presented to a king. What is most remarkable and encouraging is that the Magi believed. They openly demonstrated that the newborn Jesus was the King sent by God, the promised Messiah, as they bowed down and worshipped. ANNOUNCER: Which brings to mind the verses in the book of Philippians, "that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Christ is Lord." SELTZ: "To the Glory of God and the salvation of all who believe!" ANNOUNCER: Certainly a Savior worthy of gifts as well as faith, theirs and ours. Thank you Pastor Seltz. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries. Music Selections for this program: "A Mighty Fortress" arranged by Chris Bergmann. Used by permission. "Have You Not Known?" by K. Lee Scott. From The Wind of Heaven by K. Lee Scott (© 1991 K. Lee Scott / VQR Digital) Concordia Publishing House "Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow" From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House) "Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word" From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House) Print this sermon Sign up for LHM news Daily Devotions Visit lutheranhour.org Change my email Contact Us subscribe / unsubscribe / visit our website 660 Mason Ridge Center Dr. St. Louis, MO 63141 1-800-876-9880

Great night tonight at church

I was very proud and excited to see a full basement to start The Story and to see an almost full church for worship! Way to bring it to God's house tonight church! It was fantastic.  

For those who didn't make it tonight we will still have worship tomorrow morning at 8:30 for those who can make it. And we will have The Story study after worship at 9:45.  No kid's Sunday school though.

I'm proud of you church! Let's keep this thing going and growing!

ALERT: UPDATE ON CHANGES DUE TO WEATHER

1. Don't forget about "Saturday" school and Adult Bible Class at 4pm today followed by worship at 5pm!!  All of our Sunday school teachers are ready and raring to go and want to see lots of kids here for it!!!
 
2. Details about tomorrow:
        a. As of right now we will still have 8:30am worship for anyone who wants to show up. 
 
         b. We will still have Bible Study after worship at 9:45.  There will be no children's Sunday school tomorrow.
 
         c. We will cancel our 11am service as it sounds as though the weather is going to get worse as the day goes along.  Winds are going to pick up and it is going to get colder and colder. 
 
          d.  High School Study will be rescheduled for this coming Thursday  at 7pm.
 
 
 
 
3.  Details for reschedule of confirmation and parents meeting on Monday:
     a.  Confirmation will be rescheduled for this coming Thursday at 5pm.
 
     b. Youth and parents meeting will also be rescheduled for Thursday at 6:30pm. 
 
 
 

ATTENTION ALL PARENTS AND KIDS!!! Sunday school is moved up to tomorrow, Saturday afternoon at 4pm!!!

ATTENTION ALL PARENTS AND KIDS!!!
 
 
Due to the impending doom of the blizzard that is predicted for Saturday night into Sunday, We are moving Children's Sunday school to SATURDAY AT 4PM so that we can start The Story and stay on schedule. 
 
So there will be adult and children's Sunday school preschool-8th grade TOMORROW NIGHT at 4pm!!
 
 
Kids will meet in the sanctuary for opening with Mrs. Sherman and then proceed to classrooms.   Adults will meet downstairs in fellowship hall!
 
Teachers are:
Preschool- Karin Klaustermeier
k-2- Hope Tinnin
3-6- Joanna Hoelscher and Donna Sherman
7-8 Naomi Johnson
9th grade- 99 yeas old- Pastor
 
High school study is still on, but we may have to move it to later on in the week. 
 
 
Be there and get started on the right footing in 2014!!
 
Thanks!!  Pastor Klaustermeier

Avoid the storm and come to church Saturday at 4pm for Bible study and 5pm for worship!!

Just a reminder that there is a Saturday evening service that you can go to so that you can avoid the snow storm!!
 
Bible study is at 4pm
 
Worship is at 5pm 
 
Maybe it will be a record Saturday evening attendance!!
 
See you all there!!
 
 

No men's breakfast tomorrow

Sorry this is so late.
 
There is no men's breakfast tomorrow.  I have a basketball game in St. Charles. 
 
 
We will have it next Saturday, January 12 at 8am. 
 
Menu: Biscuits and gravy, sausage, and scrambled eggs
 
Please let me know if you will be there or not. 
 
 
We will NOT be studying The Story, but we will begin a new video study series. 
 
Men's breakfast will usually be the first Saturday of each month at 8am unless otherwise noted. 

Help taking down decorations

We will need help taking down our Christmas decorations this Sunday at noon.  Can you help?  Please reply to this email to let me know if you can be there.  We will provide lunch to whoever can come. 

Bible Study Schedule for The Story

Happy New year everyone!!!
 
This is the NEW schedule for our study of The Story.  It is my fervent prayer that you and the members of your family will choose one of these days and times to participate in this experience.  You won't be disappointed and will grow tremendously in your faith!!
 
Adult Studies
Saturdays at 4-4:45pm
 
Sundays- 9:45-10:45am
 
Tuesdays- 11:30-12:15
 
High School- Sundays at 5-6pm
 
7-8th graders- Mondays 5-6:15pm
 
2-11 year olds- Sundays 9:45-10:45am
 
 
If you cannot make any of these days and times and would like to start a study anytime during the week, please respond to this email and we may be able to work something out. 
 
I am also working on providing different family devotional helps for at home. 
 
Peace be with you all!!
Pastor

Fwd: The Lutheran Hour: December 29, 2013

-------- Original message --------
From: Lutheran Hour Ministries <lh_min@lhm.org>
Date: 12/28/2013 9:16 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: revklaus@hotmail.com
Subject: The Lutheran Hour: December 29, 2013

Sermon Text for December 29, 2013   "Regrets, More Than a Few" #81-17 Presented on The Lutheran Hour on December 29, 2013 By Rev. Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour (Why Bethlehem?) Copyright 2013 Lutheran Hour Ministries Text: 1 John 1:9 Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed! Today, with 2014 just around the corner, God's people joyfully come together in a resolution which confesses Christ crucified and risen. By God's grace and through Jesus' blood may we rejoice in sins which are forgiven and forgotten. God grant this resolution to us all. Amen.  Well, my friends, Christmas is over. Did you get what you wanted? If you didn't get what you wanted on Christmas Day, have you managed to exchange that not-wanted-stuff for the things on which you really had your heart set? Christmas is over and now, at least for the church, we're getting ready for the next sort-of-big holiday called Epiphany. You may not know the name Epiphany, but you do know about the Wise Men who came to worship the Christ Child. Your nativity sets usually have them showing up with the shepherds at Jesus' birth, but that's not the way it was. The Wise Men made their appearance sometime later. At any rate, next Sunday, or officially on January 6th, many churches will celebrate Epiphany by singing, "We Three Kings of Orient Are." I love that hymn. I love it, at least in part, because it has three errors in six words; it sets a record for inaccuracy. We don't know if there were three wise men, they weren't kings and they most certainly didn't come from the Orient.  Of course, before we get to Epiphany all of us are going to have to survive the really non-religious celebration of New Year's. And New Year's really is a celebration, isn't it? No, it's not nearly as family oriented as is Christmas, but even so, folks still love to celebrate the 'out with the old and in with the new.' To that end we have established, and New Year's lays claim to, its very own special, set of select traditions.  New Year's Eve traditions. New Year's traditions. There is the Waterford Crystal Ball which drops down in Times Square at precisely 11:00, if you live in the Midwest. And I thought Dick Clark was always going to be a tradition, but he passed away and now Ryan Seacrest has about a hundred years to catch up to Dick Clark to make himself a tradition. What other New Year's traditions are there?  Oh, I know, the Rose Bowl Parade. I rode in that parade a few years back. Those bands, horses, mobile floral displays have been held in Pasadena on New Year's Day for over 125 years. They tell me a million people line the parade route and a billion more watch it on television. I guess that makes the Rose Bowl a New Year's tradition. Anything else? Oh, songs. Auld Lang Syne, the poem by Robert Burns. You remember: "Shid ald akwentans bee firgot, an nivir brocht ti mynd? Shid ald akwentans bee firgot, an ald lang syn*? Other songs? One by Frank Sinatra: "I Did It My Way." You remember the lyrics, don't you? "And now, the end is near And so I face the final curtain, My friend, I'll say it clear I'll state my case, of which I'm certain I've lived a life that's full I've traveled each and every highway And more, much more than this I did it my way."  I remember that one. "Regrets, I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention." You know, if we said "We Three Kings of Orient Are" had some mistakes, so does that song sung by Frank Sinatra. 'Regrets, I've had a few?' I mean how many of us can sing that line without breaking into a belly laugh? Truth is most of us have a bushel-basket filled with regrets... and when it comes to mentioning those regrets, we couldn't forget them if we tried.  A few weeks ago I re-read Dickens novel, "A Christmas Carol." The story line of Ebenezer Scrooge is all about regrets. First, Jacob Marley, Scrooge's old and painfully-dead partner, shows up and tells how he regrets the bad decisions he made in life, the bad decisions which he wears like chains in death. Then Marley warns Scrooge about how he'd better change his ways if he doesn't want to spend the ever-after regretting all he has done wrong.  At midnight, Scrooge is visited by the Ghost-Of-Christmas-Past who takes the reluctant miser on a tour of his early history. Scrooge is shown some snippets of happy Christmas celebrations from long ago. He is forced to remember how his little sister had held him in awe and admiration, how royally his employer, good, old Fezziwig had treated him. He sees once again the joy he found in the love which he shared with Belle, the woman who became his fiancée.  Then there was the turning point in Scrooge's life when money became his best and greatest love. His fiancée, realizing Scrooge was more attracted to gold than he was to her, broke off their engagement. From then on it was a downward spiral as each year found Scrooge more miserable and more miserly than he had been the year before. The story progresses. At 1:00 Scrooge is visited by the Ghost-of-Christmas-Present who shows him the disastrous, present-day results of Scrooge's past choices. By the time the Ghost-of-Christmas-Future arrives Scrooge could have changed Sinatra's song to read: "Regrets, more than a few, more than I possibly can mention..."  And, if I'm being honest, I must confess I need to add my voice to that of Scrooge. If the Ghost-Of-Christmas-Past grabbed me out of my Texas bedroom, she would be hard-pressed to show me half of my bad decisions, wrong choices, and tragic sins in the hour which she has been given. Regrets, I've had a few? Not likely. Like Scrooge, I would find those numerous recollections of my wrongdoing to be incredibly painful. Like that old curmudgeon I would begin to wonder how much my present and future might have been changed if I had gone a different direction or made some different decisions.  Of course, now that I think about it, most of us don't need to be haunted by ghosts, nor do we need any spirit-world apparitions taking us on a tour of our flaws and failings, our sins and shortcomings. We don't need them because our memories and our consciences keep a pretty good inventory of our many regrets. Some of those things we knew were wrong at the time we were doing them; the error of others came to light with the passing of time. Let's see, there was the time in grade school when everybody was picking on one of the kids and, rather than rising to his defense, I joined in. Allowing him to be used as the sacrificial lamb was my way of making sure that I didn't become the target of the group's cruel comments and criticisms. I would love to say that was a one-time transgression. It wasn't.  Then there have been those times when I spoke far too harshly to someone who loved me or was trying to help me. There have been times when I criticized those who were in authority above me, undermined their position and had considerable fun at their expense. Neither president or professor, parent or pal escaped my judgmental tongue. Then, I am sorry to say there have been moments when my temper flared and my reaction was far stronger than anyone deserved.  Regrets, more than a few. This half-hour broadcast does not give me time to scratch the surface of the many regrets from long ago which are played again and again in my mind. What I can and will say is this: I have shared what I have shared not to give you a deep understanding into my private, public, and personal sins, I did so only because I am quite confident that you are right in my side on the boat of regrets. Your conscience, like mine, is alive and well. It is eager, excited, even enthusiastic in its desire to let you know that you have messed up in a major sort of way. No, my sins may not be your sins, and my faults and flaws may seem foreign and foolish to you; but that hardly means you are without sin and none of us is so innocent that we can cast the first stone.  Regrets, more than a few. Maybe that is why, right around this time of year we start following another New Year's tradition, the making of resolutions. Acknowledging our past failures we make promises to ourselves that we will do better and be better in the future. You know, these things are so universal, I bet you can get most of them without even trying. The five most common New Year's resolutions are: resolving to take up a new hobby; resolving to make more money; resolving to improve relationships; resolving to stop smoking, and the most popular resolution of all, is the resolution to lose weight.  But those New Year's resolutions hardly touch upon our personal sins and our past guilt, do they? What resolution can be of help to the woman who feels guilt about having had an abortion which, at the time, may have seemed like the right, the reasonable, maybe the only option open to her? What resolution can there be for the spouse who regrets the lies, the wounds, the pain which has been inflicted on a marriage because of an affair? What resolution can be adopted which will remove the regret someone feels for having betrayed a best friend? Certainly there is no resolution which can mend the harsh words which were directed against a now-deceased loved one. Yes, our past is full of mistakes. If you are being honest, right now you're thinking about the many regrets which you have, the actions over which you are ashamed and embarrassed, the things you've said and thought which were illegal, immoral, cruel, or scandalous. There are regrets over things which you did wrong and regrets when you failed to do what was right. They are so much a part of us that I don't even have to tell you to, "take a minute to recall those sins for which you are most mortified.' Ever since I started talking about the past, your particular episode or episodes have been right at the front of your thoughts. You may not have shared them with anyone, you probably will never reveal them to anyone, but you know them. You can't escape from them. Regrets, yes there have been more than a few.  Now, before I go any further, I do need to say something positive about regret. Our regrets are a good thing when they lead to repentance, that is, sorrow accompanied by a commitment to abandon past sinful behavior. When a person regrets having embarrassed himself by drinking too much and then learns to curb that habit, regret and repentance have served their purpose. If regret over having treated your children poorly leads to repentance, then you are acting as the Lord wishes. If regret over your sad, sorry relationship with the Lord leads to repentance and an increased faith and devotion to the Triune God, then you have been blessed.  Regret can be a good thing when it turns you around. Unfortunately, most of the time regret just sits there in our minds and hearts. Year after year it sits there looking stern and severe, spitting out cruel, callous, and unkind accusations. Unbridled regret doesn't care about a calendar which changes, it is tireless in its desire to give you ulcers, high-blood pressure, worry, sleeplessness, a feeling of worthlessness, hopelessness, helplessness, and doubt about your possibility of entering paradise.  Which is why, if what I've been saying sounds uncomfortably familiar, as you stand poised to enter the New Year of our Lord, 2014, I've got good news for you. For those of you who have no faith, or a misguided and misdirected faith, I have good news. Today it is my privilege to share that you have been unsuccessful in hiding your sins and wrongdoings. You have been a miserable failure at keeping things covered up. The all-knowing Triune God is fully aware of what you have done wrong; He has looked at your excuses and He has seen you suffer under the condemnation of your guilt and regret.  But you need to know that the Lord is much more than a distant Observer of your pain. He cares about you, your happiness, your eternity. He cares more than you can possibly imagine. Indeed, He loves you, even if you cannot love yourself. So that you might be released from your most personal regrets and redeemed from the condemnation they bring, He sent His Son into this world. God's perfect Son, Jesus Christ came into this world for the express purpose of walking in your shoes, living your life, carrying your transgressions, and dying your death. The great difference between you and Jesus is that He did all of this without having done anything wrong.  From start to finish Jesus lived a perfect life and now, to all those who believe, His righteousness becomes theirs. Wait, let me say that in a more simple, a non-theological sort of way. Because Jesus has carried your sins, because He took them to the cross, they are gone. That's right, when you have faith in Jesus, your sins are gone. They no longer can accuse you; they cannot condemn you, they cannot call out for your punishment.  That means, with faith in Jesus as your Savior, 2014 can be a year unlike any other. For the first time in a long time you can be free of your regrets, you can be free to live a life of thanksgiving in praise of your Redeemer; you can be free of the past and able to look forward to the future with joy. Your regrets may have said the wages of sin is death, but the Savior who lived, died, and rose from the dead to save you counters by saying, "the gift of God is eternal life." To those of you who have given up, I call you to see the Savior. See Him who alone can bring light to the darkness which envelopes you; and joy to your soul which has been wrapped in sorrow.  And to you who already know Jesus I must also say a few words. During my years in the parish I met more than one Christian who knew and loved the Savior who had first loved them. Sadly, they were unable to fully grasp the full impact of the words Paul wrote to the church at Colossae. By inspiration the man who had been involved with the murdering of one of God's people, could honestly assure: "you, who were dead in your trespasses... God made you alive together with Jesus, having forgiven us all our trespasses." Col 2:13 (ESV) Far too many Christians think their sin and regret are the singular exceptions to John's statement which promises: "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (11 John 1:9). Which is why I say to you, "Do not let 2013 come to an end with you carrying around some sin which God forgave when Jesus died on the cross. Do not let 2014 begin with Satan accusing you of a transgression which Jesus carried to Calvary. My fellow believers, "Today is your day of freedom. Most certainly you should learn from your past, but do not let the ghosts of years gone by burden you with guilt for a sin which was nailed to Christ's cross." Listen to what Scripture says, believers who have confessed their sins and their faith in the risen Redeemer can be sure and certain that He will forgive us all our trespasses, cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Take those words to your lawyer and he will find no loophole; take those words to your jeweler and he will find no flaw; take those words and put them under an atomic microscope and you will find no exception. In Christ we are forgiven. Forgiven in 2013, 2014, and in all the days we are given.  Last week's mail brought me a notice. The card said, "Your TIME subscription has run out." That was a bit disconcerting. I wondered if the sender knew something I didn't. But, no, that small letter referred to the magazine and not the days of my life. But I couldn't help but remember, time is running out for all of us. Which is why, since the Lord has graciously brought us to 2014, we ought to enter the New Year knowing, believing, saying, "Regrets? I have not one; because of Christ I am forgiven."  May God grant that assurance be yours, and if it's not and you believe it ought to be, please, I encourage you to call us at The Lutheran Hour. Amen.  LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for December 29, 2013 Topic: Why Bethlehem? ANNOUNCER: Why did Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem? Pastor Ken Klaus responds to questions from listeners. I'm Mark Eischer. KLAUS: Hi, Mark. And hello to our listeners.  ANNOUNCER: I realize we're already a week past Christmas at this point, but how about one more Christmas question? KLAUS: Okay by me. ANNOUNCER: Our listener wants to know, why did Luke make a point of saying that it was the Emperor Caesar Augustus who called for a census that required Joseph and Mary to go to Bethlehem? Our listener also has a follow-up challenge for you. KLAUS: Thanks for the warning, but I don't think that would change my answer. Luke and the other Gospel writers include some historical data because they want everybody to know that this isn't a "once upon a time story." The story of the Savior doesn't begin like Star Wars... "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away." They want you to know that Jesus really was born, when He was born, where He was born, the family from which He was born. In this way people wouldn't be able to say, "Ah-ha! This really didn't happen."  ANNOUNCER: And I suppose most Lutheran pastors would answer the same way.  KLAUS: Yes, and now comes the second question, the semi-trick question? ANNOUNCER: Yes, the follow-up. If you say it's so that we know Jesus is an historical figure, then why doesn't history have other records of a census called by Caesar where people had to go long distances in order to be enrolled? If Luke really wanted us to know the facts, why did he get these facts so mixed up?  KLAUS: What he's saying is there is no corroborating record of Caesar telling people to get registered at an ancestral home. Since the part of Luke's story about Mary and Joseph going from Bethlehem to Nazareth is suspect, then the rest of what Luke says is also not to be trusted. Is that it? ANNOUNCER: Pretty much. How would you answer?  KLAUS: A couple ways. First, the Gospel accounts are themselves historical records. Second, we have only piecemeal information surviving from this time and especially from a remote province like Judea. So, just because we do not have additional evidence for the event outside the New Testament, we should not conclude that the Bible account is unreliable. Beyond that, Mark, I'd like to ask you some questions and have you lead us in an explanation.  ANNOUNCER: All right. I'll try. KLAUS: So, where did Mary live?  ANNOUNCER: Luke says the angel Gabriel went to visit Mary in her home of Nazareth.  KLAUS: And where does the Bible say Joseph lived?  ANNOUNCER: I suppose I've always assumed he lived in Nazareth, too. Are you going to tell me that's wrong? KLAUS: Sort of like they were next-door neighbors. ANNOUNCER: Right. KLAUS: No, I'm not going to say it's wrong; but, I am going to say we don't know. The Bible is silent as to where Joseph had his residence. It might have been Nazareth, or it could have been a considerable distance from Nazareth. All we can say is, when Caesar's decree went out, Joseph and Mary went to register in Bethlehem. ANNOUNCER: The place where it was foretold the Messiah would also be born.  KLAUS: Exactly. It is possible that Joseph may have lived near Bethlehem, or he may have had his home elsewhere. Like I said, we always assume that Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth; but, maybe when Caesar's decree came out, what Joseph did was collected his expecting bride and brought her to the ancestral hometown. He may have lived close by. ANNOUNCER: Is there more? KLAUS: In the gospel according to Matthew we're told Herod wanted to kill Jesus and Joseph took his family to safety in Egypt. There they stayed until after Herod died. Now, can you tell me when Joseph was coming back, where did he plan to live?  ANNOUNCER: Does the Bible tell us? KLAUS: Not in so many words. But it does say this in Matthew 2: after Herod's death Joseph rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel... when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea... he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth..."  ANNOUNCER: So, it sounds like Joseph at first was headed to Judea which is where Bethlehem is located and it was only his fear of Herod's successor and God's warning then that redirected him to the north, to Nazareth. KLAUS: Which means when Caesar called for his census, maybe it was only Mary who had to travel a distance. Joseph might have been very near home. ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Pastor Klaus, and we'd also like to thank Dr. Jeffrey Kloha of Concordia Seminary for additional historical information. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries. Music Selections for this program: "A Mighty Fortress" arranged by Chris Bergmann. Used by permission. "My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less" arr. Henry Gerike. From Hope by the Concordia Seminary Chorus (© 2003 Concordia Seminary Chorus) Concordia Publishing House "Drawn to the Cross Which Thou Hast Blessed" From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House) "Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word" From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House) Print this sermon Sign up for LHM news Daily Devotions Visit lutheranhour.org Change my email Contact Us subscribe / unsubscribe / visit our website 660 Mason Ridge Center Dr. St. Louis, MO 63141 1-800-876-9880

No late service Sunday

Just a reminder that there is no 11am service this Sunday. There is also no Sunday school for kids. There will be adult Bible class and regular Saturday service at 5pm and Sunday at 8:30am.  

Have a wonderful rest of the week and weekend!

Message from yesterday!

See y'all Tuesday night and/or Wednesday morning!!!
 
Enjoy this till then:
 
http://youtu.be/gVAKoZqn3T0

Roads are FINE

The  temperature is 33 degrees.  The roads are wet but not icy.  SEE YOU ALL IN WORSHIP!!!