The Eagle November 2017

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1 St. John Lutheran Church & Preschool 122 Cheyenne Mesa Hamilton, TX Phone: (254) Preschool (254) Fax: (254) Pastor Secretary Preschool Youth Coordinator Website: May we continue to be used by God and share the Gospel with A Heart for Hamilton County and the World!! It s Still All About Jesus! This is the theme for the 500 th Anniversary of the Reformation. Martin Luther probably had no idea what he would start when he nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle church. These 95 Theses were statements made by Luther to advance his position of the abusive practice of the Roman Catholic Church of selling plenary indulgences. The indulgences were simply certificates that an individual could buy that were believed to reduce the temporal punishment for the sins committed by the purchaser themselves or a loved one in purgatory. These statements were never meant to split the church or cause the disruption that would ensue. Luther was simply proposing these theses as a means to address the corrupt practices and in turn reform the errors that were being promoted. One of the main reasons for Luther s theses was the fact that the Church had lost sight of the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. Jesus was no longer the only source of one s righteousness before God. It became Jesus plus other things (buying an indulgence, viewing a collection of relics, making a pilgrimage to Rome, etc.). In Luther s reading through the Book of Romans, he rediscovers the Gospel message about Jesus Christ. It s All About Jesus! Jesus lived the perfect life that we are not able to live. Jesus took the punishment for our sins so we would not have suffer the punishment that we deserve. Jesus died on the cross so that we would not have to die spiritually for eternity. Jesus was raised on the third day so that we could have the promise of a bodily resurrection and live for eternity with Jesus in a new glorious body like His. As we have celebrated the 500 th Anniversary of Luther s posting of the 95 Theses on October 31, 1517, we can look around and see that some of the errors still exist today. There are a lot of church bodies that are always wanting to add something to what Jesus did. However, we are reminded that It s Still All About Jesus! There is nothing we can do to earn the forgiveness and life that God has for us through His Son, Jesus. There is nothing that we can do to make God love us more or less. God loves because He chose to love us while we were still sinners. Noting will ever change His love for us. The Gospel message that is for us today is the same that it has always been. The Gospel message that God wants us to share with the world is the same for us today as it has always been. It s Still All About Jesus! May we continue to go with Jesus and to share the message of our risen Savior with A Heart for Hamilton County and the World!

2 Birthdays, Baptisms & Anniversaries The Eagle November 2017 Birthdays 1 st Julie Watson 2 nd Dawn Johnson, Ima Roberts 3 rd Carlos Olalde Jr., Paige Stanford 4 th Dickie Coleman, Judy Whitt 6 th James Smith 7 th Jennifer Finstad, Daniel Olalde, Kim Tyson 9 th Emma Johnson, Carlos Olalde Sr. 12 th Ted Jahns, Martin Wenzel, Addley Yates 13 th James Zschiesche 14 th Sandy Olsen 16 th Brad Martin 17 th Jack Watson 19 th Shirley DeLoach 20 th Marlee Clark, Don Tyson 21 st Faye Senger, Justin Stanford, Robert Stanley 22 nd Michele Cathey, Danna Hurst, Emmey Turner 23 rd Chris Bottlinger, Geraldine Kauitzsch 24 th Connie Nolte, Emily Wagner, Steve Young 27 th Linda Moore, Dayle Squires 28 th Joseph Polster 29 th Myron Kauitzsch, Sharolyn Lawson 30 th Lawson Yates St John Ruth Guild- We are asking that members please donate soap (hotel size and regular bar soap) for the upcoming Texas district LWML District Convention that will be in Waco TX in the summer of We are also inviting all ladies and teens to join us for our November meeting on the 26th following the morning worship service. Thank you to everyone that helped with the Fall Zone Rally in October. Thank you also to everyone has and continues to bring soap. The soap will be used for LWR health kits. Baptisms 1 st Reagan Reich 2 nd Denis Geter 7 th Daniel Olalde, Alan Watson 10 th Jim Schrank 11 th Jaydon Watson 13 th Erik Christensen, Anna Gaydos, Max Lowrey 14 th Doug Wagner 16 th Braden Armstrong, Jill Muxworthy, John Polster, Kalon Snowden 17 th Lucy Lowrey, Jody Tyson 18 th Albert Peters, Connie White, Kyle Zschiesche 19 th Clark Taylor 20 th Wilma Gaydos, Delores Stanford 21 st Greg Arnet, 22 nd Jonathan Hurst, Emery McElroy, Colt Weiser, Maggie Wenzel 23 rd Ricky Brown 24 th Roger Bushee, Keaton Muxworthy 26 th Sydney English, Edward Looney, Michael Looney 27 th Hunter Tyson, LeeRoy Tyson 28 th Juilie Watson, Tracy Wenzel 30 th Calvin Friedrich, Darrell Wagner Anniversaries 6 th H.C. & Wyvonne Wnezel 63yrs 7 th Paul & Kathy Christensen 36yrs 15 th Albert & Artie Peters 70yrs 22 nd Chris & Jennier Niemann 20yrs 24 th Forest & Cecelia Jenson 53yrs 2

3 Opening/Breakfast Sundays 8:30am Sunday School Sundays 9:00am Church Worship Sundays 10:00am Quilting Tuesdays 9:00am Pre Conf/Confirmation Wednesdays 3:45pm Men s Bible Study Thursday 6:30am Our Military & Families: Please lift up the following in prayer Travis Beach, Austin Beckner, Nick Cantara, Josh Chorenziak, Anthony French, Charles Gonce, Matthew Medina, Ernie Mendez, Payden Nolen, John Park, Jordan Ratliff, Logan Selman, Richard Sepolio, John Slough, Warren Stanley, Micah Stork, Keith Voges, Garrett White, Scott Williams Our Homebound & Nursing Facilities: Dove Hill: Kendra Code, Jean Ranney, Lillye Sanders, Larry Stamberger, Raymond & Maxine Wenzel Hamilton Health Care: Nelda Hlavati, Mildred Kauitzsch, Melinda Rogers, Leamon & Lydia Wagner, Wyvonne Wenzel Sr. Care Center, Stephenville: Ruth Young The Meadows, Gatesville: Faye Senger Homebound: Frances Donahoo, Norma Marwitz, Albert Peters, Mae Pietzsch, Ruth Reneau, Frances Schrank Ricky Brown - dealing with neck, breathing & other health issues Frances Donahoo - dealing with heart & other health issues Louis Donahoo - dealing with heart & other health issues Gary Gromatzky - dealing with nerve damage in back Kimberly Maddox - dealing with heart issues Jerome Pietzsch - has the shingles Pastor Reich & Family - As he considers a call to stay at St. John or to go to Grace Lutheran Church in Victoria, TX Brenda Schrank - suffered a mild stroke and is now at ho me recovering with no side effects. tal for their quick aide. Would like to thank the wonderful staff at Hamilton hospi John Schoedel - has the shingles H.C. Wenzel - dealing with neck & inner ear issues Theresa Williams - dealing with seizures and various health issues $ 230,000 $ 200,000 $ 150,000 $ 100,000 $ 50,000 Joe Gaston - brother of Barbara Cook, internal bleeding & breathing issues Molly Beach - niece of Darryl & Michelle Beach suffering from an auto-immune disease & other health issues Paisley Blackwell - daughter of Devin and Breana Blackwell born prematurely and is having medical issues Carmalee Boyd - Marliessa Clarks mother Brisen Fullbright - diagnosed with cancer -6yr old son of Brian & Veronica Fullright from Evant Parker Greer - dealing with eye pressure Jo Lawson - aunt of Billy Lawson recovering from back surgery; still having some issues with one leg Henrietta Medina - will be seeing a specialist (possible liver transplant) Lydia Craig McGhee - going through treatments for brain tumor Bonnie Nelson - daughter of Geraldine Kauitzsch dealing with heart and other health issues Jim Shafer - dealing with eye pressure issues Mike Young - Mary Jeffers brother who has complications from diabetes $ 9,949 Current Prayers for safety and recovery efforts: for Hurricane victims & workers, Las Vegas Victims & California wild fire victims as they rebuild. Please contact the church office with updates on prayer requests for friends and loved ones. 3

4 The Eagle November 2017 The Reformation The Reformation provides a richly illustrated and engagingly written overview of this amazing time of change and renewal in the Christian Church. In this beautifully designed coffee table-style book, you will learn about famous leaders and lesser-known players who took part in the complex chain of events that shook church and state to their very foundations. Order yours today $29.99 plus shipping 4

5 Upcoming November Events 1 st - 1:30p - Nursing Home Devotion 3 rd- 5 th - Pre-confirmation Camp Lone Star 5 th - Nursing Home Devotions 12 th - 11:15a - Bd of Trustees 13 th - 5:00p - Bd of Ed & Youth 6:30p - Bd of Elders 14 th - 1:00p - Glory Gamesters 5:30p P/S Board 5:30p - Bd of Finance 18 th - 7:15a - Men s Club 19 th 6:00p- Community Thanksgiving Service 19 h -21 st - Youth Pie Fundraiser 22 nd - 6:30p - Thanksgiving Service 26 th - Ruth Guild Meeting 27 th - NEWSLETTER DEADLINE Cecil Kauitzsch Building Fund: Ms. Evelyn Samp Have you considered joining the choir lately? It would be great way to worship our Lord and Savior this year. Please consider it, we have plenty of room up in the choir loft. Music Notes by Gary Gromatzky A Mighty Fortress is Our God 1529 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, Psalm 46:1 We think of Martin Luther as a great reformer, Bible translator, political leader, fiery preacher, and theologian. But he was also a musician, having been born in an area of Germany known for its music. There in his little Thuringian village, young Martin grew up listening to his mother sing. He joined a boys choir that sang at weddings and funerals. He became proficient with the flute (recorder), and his volcanic emotions often erupted in song. When the Protestant Reformation began, Luther was determined to restore worship to the German Church. He worked with skilled musicians to create new music for Christians, to be sing in the vernacular. He helped revive congregational singing and wrote a number of hymns. Often he borrowed popular secular melodies for his hymns, though occasionally a tune brought criticism and he was compelled to let the devil have it back again because it was too closely associated with bars and taverns. In the forward of a book, Luther once wrote, Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world. It controls our thoughts, minds, hearts, and sprits A person who. does not regard music as a marvelous creation of God...does not deserve to be called a human being; he should be permitted to hear nothing but the braying of asses and the grunting of hogs. Luther s most famous hymn is Ein Feste Burg ist uner Gott, -A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. Based on Psalm 46, it reflects Luther s awareness of our intense struggle with Satan. In difficulty and danger, Luther would often resort to this song, saying to his associate, Come, Philipp, let us sing the 46th Psalm. This is a difficult hymn to translate because the original German is so vivid. At least eighty English versions are available. The most popular in America was done by Frederic Henry Hodge. But an older version appeared in the Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Book of 1868: 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. Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing. Were no the right man on our side, The man of God s own choosing. Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, It is He- Lord Sabaoth His name, From age to age the same, And He must win the battle. And though this world with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us. We will not fear, for God hath willed, His truth to triumph through us. The prince of darkness grim, We tremble not for him- His rage we can endure, For lo, his doom is sure: One little word shall fell him. That word above all earthly powers, No thanks to them, abideth; The Spirit and the gifts are ours Through Him who with us sideth. Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also- The body they may kill; God s truth abideth still: His kingdom is forever. 5

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8 November 3-5 Pre-Confirmation Retreat for grades 3-5 in La Grange, Camp Lone Star. Be on the look out for the Jr. Youth Pie Fundraiser order form. Pies will be ready the week of Thanksgiving. St. John Lutheran Church & Preschool 122 Cheyenne Mesa Hamilton, Texas