The Visitor - October 2016

Transcription

1 - October 2016 A Publication of St. James Lutheran Church, 4425 South Jackson Rd. Jackson MI (517) Office: stjameslutheran.jackson@gmail.com; Pastor: pastor.stjameslutheran.jackson@gmail.com A mighty Fortress is our God, A Bulwark never failing; Our Helper He amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing: For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe; His craft and power are great, And, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal. world to be God s hands in bringing about the Kingdom of God. We know the story of Martin Luther and how he came to understand that he was covered by grace, and this grace prompted him to write this hymn, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. This month we begin a year-long celebration leading up to the 500th year of the Reformation in 2017, when Martin Luther posted the Ninety-Five Theses. It is an exciting time for us to look forward. The Reformation was a major event in history, but the reforming action of the church has not stopped. The transformation continues through the proclamation and message of the Gospel. Martin Luther was pivotal in pointing us to a main tenet in our faith which is found in the Good News of Jesus Christ,, which is that God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead though our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2: 4-5). The concept of God s abundant grace is difficult for us to understand; the free and unmerited favor of God. This grace frees us from focusing on ourselves to earn favor with God, and focuses us outward toward the It was the worst of times 1527 one of the most trying years of Luther s life. It s hard to imagine he had the energy or spirit to compose one of Christendom s most memorable hymns. On April 22, a dizzy spell forced Luther to stop preaching in the middle of his sermon. For ten years, since publishing his 95 Theses against the abuse of indulgences, Luther had been buffeted by political and theological storms; at times his life had been in danger. Now he was battling other reformers over the meaning of the Lord s Supper. To Luther, their errors were as great as those of Rome the very gospel was at stake and Luther was deeply disturbed and angry. He suffered severe depression. Then, on July 6, as friends arrived for dinner, Luther felt an intense buzzing in his left ear. He went to lie down, when suddenly he called, Water or I ll die! He became cold, and he was convinced he had seen his Page: 1

2 last night. In a loud prayer, he surrendered himself to God s will. With a doctor s help, Luther partially regained his strength. But this depression and illness overcame him again in August, September and late December. Looking back on one of his bouts, he wrote his friend Melanchthon, I spent more than a week in death and hell. My entire body was in pain, and I still tremble. Completely abandoned by Christ, I labored under the vacillations and storms of desperation and blasphemy against God. But through the prayers of the saints [his friends], God began to have mercy on me and pulled my soul from the inferno below. Meanwhile, in August, the plague had erupted in Wittenberg. As fear spread, so did many of the townspeople. But Luther considered it his duty to remain and care for the sick. Even though his wife was pregnant, Luther s house was transformed into a hospital, and he watched many friends die. Then his son became ill. Not until late November did the epidemic abate and the ill begin to recover. During that horrific year, Luther took time to remember the tenth anniversary of his publication against indulgences, noting the deeper meaning of his trials: The only comfort against raging Satan is that we have God s Word to save the souls of believers. Sometime that year, Luther expanded that thought into the hymn he is most famous for: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. This verse, translated by Frederick Hedge in 1853, comes from one of more than sixty English versions This story can be found on When we are awakened to the grace of God, we find ourselves anchored to the absolute promises of God. We experience God as a mighty fortress, as did Luther and the psalmists before him. This fortress is not one in which we run to escape from the world, but rather a place from which we are courageously able to engage the world and others moved by love and inspired by faith and hope. In Christian love, Pastor Martha ***************************** Bring your animals (leashed or caged please) on Sunday, October 2nd at 4:00 pm for a blessing! Christian Education We have the following opportunities available: Sunday mornings at 9:00 am (Children and Adult) Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm (Adult only) Thursday Study class will be on October 13. Thursday Book Study Our next Thursday Study class will be on October 13. We will be finding out what happened in Jerusalem after Pentecost. It is easy for us to think of Peter, James and John as Christians but they were Jews and were using the temple in Jerusalem to preach the Good News of Jesus. Page: 2

3 This didn t set well with Caiaphas, the high priest involved in Jesus arrest. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is a part of this story as is Saul. The Story Continues by J. Ellsworth Kalas, First Christians by Paul L. Maier and several other books will be used. It will be presented in PowerPoint form with pictures from the middle ages up to current times. Hoping to see you all there. Fellowship Outing We will be leaving right after church on Sunday, October 9th! We will have lunch (each family pays for their own). There is a flea Market and Antique Show. A signup sheet is in the Narthex. Join our Dining Out Group on: Thursday, October 20th at The Hunt Club. Bread Basket Bash: Come to a Reformation Celebration at Immanuel Lutheran Church on Sunday, October 30th at 3:30 pm as we gather around Martin and Katie s table for a Bread Basket Bash. We will hear an update on our ELCA World Hunger Program and share ideas on how we can raise money and awareness about hunger issues. This is a CSI effort and is a family-friendly event. Childcare is provided. St. James has been asked to provide desserts. A signup sheet is in the Narthex if you can help! Women s Retreat: LADIES!!! RESERVE THE DATE, NOVEMBER 5th is the date for a Women s Retreat which will be held at Camp Michindoh, Hillsdale, MI!!! The retreat will be from 9am-3pm with Bible Study, crafts, time for private prayer and reflection, and time to enjoy nature. The cost is $15.00 per person, which includes all meals and materials. Invite your friends! Christmas Dinner: St. James Annual Christmas dinner Friday, December 16th at 6:00pm Gene Davis Banquet Facility, 3575 Francis Street Dinner will be $10.00 (7.50 child) per person and will include: Ham, Baked Chicken, Barbequed Meatballs, Salads, Potato, Rolls, Vegetables, Pop, Coffee, Tea and Dessert. (Cocktails are available for purchase) More details for sign-up and prepayment reservation to come at a later date. Outreach Food Pantry: We would like to give out men, women & children's winter hats, gloves, scarves, mittens, etc. again this year. We will start collecting in October and would give the items out in January. A donation box is located in the Narthex. Sincerely in Christ's Service, DeAnna and Becky Page: 3

4 This year, we would like to be ambitious and ask folks to dress up in your best Biblically themed costume! Contact Valerie Jurasek with any questions. The Jackson Area CROP Hunger Walk will take place on October 9, The CROP walk is part of a national initiative to encourage the walkers in your community to do more to help end hunger. Please Valerie Jurasek (zebarahv@gmail.com) if you are interested in donating, raising money, and/or walking. For more information you can also visit Thank you for your October Noisy Offering! We were able to collected $63.26 for the CROP Walk. October s Noisy Offering will be directed to our Thrivent Thanksgiving Baskets! 10/3 Claire Campbell 10/8 Neil 10/14 Laura Trombley 10/17 Mike Tackett 10/19 Jeff Tolonen 10/21 DeAnna McMillin 10/26 Kate Souder 10/27 JoAnne Gaffney 10/29 Emily Stebing 10/31 Barb Watson WE ARE GEARING UP FOR OUR 4TH ANNUAL TRUNK OR TREAT! This year, the event will be on Saturday, October 29th at 3:00pm. From now until the event, we will be collecting candy donations in the Narthex. We would love for you to come park your vehicle in the parking lot, with trunks open (some festively decorated) and pass out candy to the hundreds of children who come "Trunk- Or-Treating" from car to car. This event is free and open to the community, and has been loads of fun the past 3 years! Dear St. James Congregation, I would like to sincerely thank you all for the thoughts and prayers, I have always enjoyed the times I have been able to attend service and look forward to more times in the future. Blessings, Pete Ritsema 10/17 Chris & Deanna Bitner (17th) 10/19 Jerry & Claire Campbell (58th) Page: 4

5 Servant List October & November 2016 October 2 October 9 October 16 October 23 October 30 Greeter(s) Bill & Joyce Anderson Nancy DeGryse Tom & JoAnne Gaffney Roy & Lois Kelly DeAnna McMillin Ushers John Reynolds & Roy Kelly Ken Zebarah & Chuck Thor John Reynolds & Roy Kelly Acolyte Help Needed Help Needed Help Needed Help Needed Help Needed Assisting Minister Susan Thornton DeAnna McMillin Laura Trombley Pat Reynolds Laura Trombley Reader Chris Zebarah Mary Pallesen Becky Stevick Jack Noren Laura Trombley Projectionist Chloe Laird & Kristi Laird Pam Thomas & Chuck Thor Susan Thornton & Karen Dale Pam Thomas & Kristi Laird Chloe Laird & Kristi Laird Fellowship Time Valerie Zebarah Mike & Sara Tackett Pam Thomas Roy & Lois Kelly Bill & Joyce Anderson Counters Mike King & Pat Reynolds Jim Souder & Mike King Kristi Laird & Sarah Tackett Matt Schroder & Karen Dale Jim Souder & Mike King Altar Care Pam Thomas Andrea Niehaus Andrea Niehaus Pat Reynolds Pat Reynolds November 6 November 13 November 20 November 27 Greeter(s) Matt & Deb Schroeder John & Andrea Niehaus Becky Stevick Ushers John Reynolds & Roy Kelly Jim Souder & Joyce Anderson Ken Zebarah & Chuck Thor Acolyte Help Needed Help Needed Help Needed Help Needed Assisting Minister Susan Thornton DeAnna McMillin John Niehaus Laura Trombley Reader Chris Zebarah JoAnne Gaffney Becky Stevick Laura Trombley Projectionist Fellowship Time John & Andrea Niehaus Edna Souder Jim Mure & Joan Wiegman Counters Mike King & Pat Reynolds Jim Souder & Mike King Kristi Laird & Sarah Tackett Matt Schroeder & Karen Dale Altar Care Pam Thomas Pam Thomas Pam Thomas Pam Thomas Page: 5

6 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday :00 PM Blessing of the Pets 3 4 Pastor at Continuing Education Hickory Hills 7:00 PM Pub Theology 2:00 PM Bridge Club 5 10 AM Little Dressing for Africa :00 AM Immanuel Food Pantry 9 11:15 AM Cornwell's Turkeyville Outing 2:00 PM CROP Walk (Confirmation Class included!) 10 9:00 AM Prayer Shawl/Knitting Group 6:00 PM - Outreach Committee Meeting 7:00 PM Church Council Meeting 11 Burr Oak 6:00 PM Bible Study 12 1:30 PM Book Study Noisy Offering 1:00 PM Life Changes Concord Hills 7:00 PM Pub Theology 5:00 PM /Music Committee Meeting 19 Newsletter Deadline 20 6:30 PM Dinning Out at The Hunt Club :00 PM Summit Park Service 3:30 PM Confirmation Class at St. James Cascades 6:00 PM Bible Study :00 PM Trunk-or-Treat 30 9:00 AM Women's Breakfast at Denny's 31 Autumn the year s last, loveliest smile. William Cullen Bryant Page: 6

7 We are a grace-centered family of faith that seeks to know Christ and make Him known. with us: Sundays at 10:00 a.m. Service with Holy Communion, Childcare Provided Staff Listing: Pastor Martha Porter-Reid Tonia Zanger Parish Administrator Jim Skrocki Organist JoAnne Gaffney Choir Director Tim Ernst Technology Supervisor Kathy Krafft Nursery Attendant Jan Lehman and Robin Vogel Custodians Pam Thomas Newsletter St. James Lutheran Church 4425 South Jackson Rd. Jackson, MI We re on the Web! Visit us at:\ Page: 7