St. P et er L u ther an C hu rc h - LCM S, 906 Hwy 59 N P O Box 133, Bowie, TX The Parson s Pen. By Pastor Larry Knobloch

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1 The Key to St. Peter April 2017 St. P et er L u ther an C hu rc h - LCM S, 906 Hwy 59 N P O Box 133, Bowie, TX p et er tex.co m s tpet er tex@att. ne t I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E 1 Parson s Pen 2 Parson s Pen (cont d) 3 Welcome/Easter Season Schedul;e 4 Congregational News 5 Congregational News (cont d) 6 Gardens/Quilting/Ramps/ Directory 7 Seminarian 8 Invite/Serving in God s House The Parson s Pen By Pastor Larry Knobloch Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! With everything going on with Lent and Easter, I struggled to find a topic for this month s article. And then I ran across this blog about Millennials or the group that has been labeled Generation Y. The definition varies among the people who label generations but it roughly includes those born from 1981 through the early 2000s, which is pretty wide range. Either way one of the aspects that most people agree upon is that they are the personal electronic device generation. If it can be done electronically, then that s how they want it. That is a pretty broad brush stroke but this thought has caused many churches to believe that they need to change everything that they do to attract these Millennials. Many have changed all of their formats to electronic devices. Their services and Bible studies are all broadcast on the web or put into podcasts. The hymnals are done away with and everything is put up on a screen and more often than not, there is not a sermon or Bible study but an easychair. This article seems to buck that trend and after talking to a few more in this age group myself, maybe the media s perception of Millennials is not quite FIVE REASONS WHY THIS MILLENNIAL STILL LIKES USING HYMNALS By Jonathan Howe I might lose my Millennial card for admitting this, but: I like hymnals. A lot. Yes, I realize I m supposed to want to worship with fog machines and song lyrics on projector screens with cool moving backgrounds. And sometimes I enjoy that too but not all the time. So why would a 36-year old Millennial enjoy hymnals? Here are my five reasons: 1. Holding the hymnal in my hands and reading the lyrics help me focus in worship. If my eyes are fixed on the words and notes to sing, I m less distracted. Other than maybe the first and last verse of many hymns, I don t know the words. Unlike many newer worship songs that I ve memorized easily, I have to pay more attention to what I m singing when using a hymnal because I m less familiar with the words. 2. I prefer the ability to read music and sing harmony. I m one of the strange people you sit next to in church who default to singing harmony and not melody. Having the music in the hymnal helps especially with unfamiliar tunes. While I can sing harmony by ear when needed, having the music in front of me is always preferred.

2 The Key to St. Peter Page 2 3. Hymns use phrasing and words that modern songs don t. Hymnals are full of rich theology and turns of phrase that we just don t see anymore. Twitter s 140 characters and the short lyrical hooks we find in modern songs have seemingly diminished our vocabulary. Hymns are full of poetic theological language missing in many contemporary songs. 4. Responsive readings are virtually nonexistent in many protestant churches, and I m not sure that s a good thing. Our liturgies have left behind responsive readings a core component found in many hymnals. Like the hymns mentioned in the previous point, responsive readings are filled with rich theology. As hymnals have been used less and less, responsive readings in our church services have all but disappeared. 5. I want my kids to know hymns as well. I recently took my kids to an event that included a hymn sing. They knew virtually none of the songs. I knew all but one. I realized in that moment that they ve never been in church services where hymnals were used. Everything is on the screen, and the songs being sung are the ones they hear on the radio. It s good that they know the songs they do, but I d also love for them to know hymns as well. I thought this was a rather interesting article. It gives us a bit of food for thought. You can read the original article at: We may one day install screens in the Sanctuary and Narthex, but it will be because we want to, not because we have too. Continuing into the final weeks of Lent and Holy Week, there are many things happening right here at St Peter. Our final midweek Lenten service is on Wednesday, April 5 th at 7 p.m. The following Sunday is Palm Sunday where we will process into the Sanctuary waving our palm branches singing All Glory, Laud and Honor. This leads us into Holy Week. There is no Wednesday night service but we will gather for Maundy Thursday where we remember and celebrate Jesus institution of Holy Communion on the night in which He was betrayed. (Mt. 26, Mk 14, Lk 22, 1 Cor. 11) This service closes with the stripping of the altar and we leave in silence, with no benediction, symbolizing the continuity from Maundy Thursday until Easter morning. On Friday evening we will observe Good Friday with the Tenebrae, Service of Darkness. As we have done in the past, we will all participate in the Passion reading as the church lights are slowly dimmed during the service. And then, into that glorious Easter morning! The day begins with the Youth Group serving a fund raiser breakfast in the fellowship hall at 8 a.m. At 9:30 a.m. we have our regular Sunday School and Bible Class time and then at 10:30 a.m. begins our Easter Resurrection Celebration! I look forward to this every year; going from celebration to sadness and then to that wonderful Easter morning. Some have lost loved ones this year, including my family, and we wonder if Easter will be the same. Every Easter afternoon, for my whole life thus far, has been spent at my grandmother s house as she watched her grandchildren and then great-grandchildren hunt so many Easter eggs around her house. But this year, who knows. Even though we are going to gather, it s just not going to be the same because she is not out there watching. But that is the greatest part of Easter Christ s resurrection! Because Christ is Risen Risen indeed we know that His sacrifice for our sins was accepted by God and He is the firstfruits of those that have died, and all who belong to Him will rise also! (1 Corinthians 15:20-23) So we can celebrate, even thought there is a hole in our hearts. Our celebrations might not be the same, but rest assured, God s promise in Christ will never change! Our salvation is assured through faith in Jesus as our Savior. Amen!

3 The Key to St. Peter Page 3 WELCOME It is our pleasure to welcome Steven and Norma Scheppmann into membership with us. The Scheppmanns live in Nocona and have two grown boys and are both retired. They have been worshipping regularly for some time so it s great to make it official! 1. April 5 Final Midweek Lenten Service 7:00 p.m. 2. April 9 Palm Sunday Worship With Holy Communion 3. Holy Week Maundy Thursday Service 7:00 p.m. With Holy Communion Good Friday Service 700 P.M. 7:00 p.m. 4. Saturday - April 15 - Easter Festival Activities and Egg Hunt 5. April 16 - RESURRECTION CELEBRATION Easter Breakfast 8:00 Sunday School 9:30 Festival Worship 10:30 HE IS RISEN! _ HE IS RISEN INDEED! ALLELUIA!

4 The Key to St. Peter Page 4 Congregational News Wishes for God s richest blessings go out to Keelan(Anderson), Kyle and Cason Lewis on the birth of their son and brother, Phifer Jay, in Olney on March 24. Phifer weighed 7lbs, 10 oz and measured 21 inches. Proud grandparents are Dr. Arn and Belinda Anderson. May God hold this wonderful family in His arms as they look toward His Baptism. Congratulations Justin Wilson for placing second at the regional powerlifting competition in Chico, and qualifying for the Power Lifting Association state meet. Justin took a sixth place spot in that state meet. A genuine muscle-man! We know Wanda is very proud of her Grandson.

5 The Key to St. Peter Page 5 (Cogregational News Cont d) Will Jones has continued to rake in the accolades for his showings of his prize heifers Mercury and Freddie. SO FAR. 1. Ft Worth - Freddie 6th place class 1 Santa Gertrudis Heifer Calf 2. San Angelo - Freddie 1st place class 2 Santa Gertrudis Heifer Calf Mercury 1st place class 1 Santa Gertrudis Heifer Calf & Santa Gertrudis Heifer Calf Division Winner 3. Wise County Youth Fair Freddie 4th place class 1 Santa Gertrudis Heifer Calf Mercury 1st place class 1 Santa Getrudis Heifer Calf & Reserve Breed Champion Santa Gertrudis 4. Houston Freddie 8th place class 1 Santa Gertrudis Heifer Calf All this with an affiliate show and nationals in Louisiana yet to come!!! MERCURY FREDDIE

6 The Key to St. Peter Page 6 DON T FORGET YOUR GARDENS There are still lots of available garden plots waiting for adoption. Lets really spruce up for Easter. Weeding can be done on your own schedule. Just come and do it! QUILTING Thanks to all the ladies who made this quilting session a wonderful achievement. We boxed up and sent off a record 80 lap quilts to Lutheran World Relief. We are closing up shop until further notice as we make plans for the next batch! The Carpenter s Crew We have another ramp build scheduled for April 29 th. The Crew has very successful and has added different folks each time. If you men and women - would like to jump in and help, please see Pastor. It s a joy to see the appreciation when someone who couldn t get out gains access to the world outside their home. NEW DIRECTORY We re making progress! A retired friend of the congregation who is a photographer and does this sort of thing has offered his services at no charge. We will put it together ourselves. An 8 X 10 will come with each sitting and a disc will be available to you to have any prints you want made, all at no charge. The picture taking sessions will be held May 11 th, 12 th and 13 th. A make-up day will be available at a later date. MAKE PLANS TO LOOK YOUR PRETTIEST

7 The Key to St. Peter Page 7 David Jander

8 The Key to St. Peter Page 8 ANNIVERSARY ST MARK - WACO St. Mark Lutheran Church in Waco, Texas, is celebrating its 100 th anniversary as a congregation of the Texas District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. You are invited to join us on Sunday, April 30, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. for a special worship service of thanks and celebration. Dr. Dale Meyer, president of Concordia Seminary and former Lutheran Hour speaker, will be our guest preacher. A catered meal will follow the service. St. Mark is located at 2000 Clay Ave., Waco, TX The church phone number is RSVP is requested (although not required) to help us plan. Please RSVP by phone at , or by at smlcmswaco@aol.com. We hope you will join us! In Christ, Jim Price Pastor, St. Mark Waco SERVING IN GOD S HOUSE IN APRIL Acolytes 4/2 Will Jones/Josh Knobloch 4/9 Sid Mayfield/Sarah Horton 4/16 Cooper Hammer/Adam Pickett 4/23 Will Jones/Josh Knobloch Sid Mayfield/Sarah Horton Elder Arn Anderson Counters Bob Aune Mel Hargrove Lay Readers 4/2 Bob Aune 4/9 Arn Anderson 4/16 William Pickett 4/23 Bryan Roth 4/30 Gaylon Rice Nursery Schedule 4/2 Aubrey Gill/Lily Gill 4/9 Katie Jones/Hattie Hammer 4/16 Cyndi Knobloch/Rebecca Pickett 4/23 Kelly Roth/Lauren Gill 4/30 Rebecca Horton/Mary Atkinson Head Usher Gaylon Rice Altar Guild Jeannine Yowell Kristin Henry Altar Care Sonya Dyson Viola Robinson Debbie Jones Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen Luke 24: 5 ALLELUIA!!