Risen Savior Lutheran. Church. Thoughts on Membership Pastor. Key Events

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1 Risen Savior Lutheran Church 2018 Key Events June th Anniversary Of Risen Savior Rev. Dr. Rast, Guest Preacher, Presenting; Congregation Potluck June Vacation Bible School Thurs.-Fri. 6-8 pm Sat. 9 am -Noon Church Pastor Weinkauf pastor@risensaviorlcms.org Vicar Wendorff carl.wendorff@ ctsfw.edu Thoughts on Membership Pastor O Lord, I love the habitation of Your House and the place where Your glory dwells. Psalm 26 Amazing days at Risen Savior. 10 years! Of the 168 LCMS congregation in Kansas, only 2 have consistently grown, both in the last 5 years and the last 10 years. Sadly, all the others are in membership decline or holding steady. Those 2 congregations are Christ, Overland Park and.us! Thanks be to God as He continues to enlarge His family here and all His works poured out here. And with our construction completed and all the continued housing projects in western Wyandotte, western Johnson, and southern Leavenworth, how incredible to be so poised now and in coming years for the thousands of new neighbors! I am always amazed by stories of our members who spend much time visiting other places, learning what the different church confesses and after discerning many places, decide to find a home here at Risen Savior. Thanks be to God! I wonder if most pastors don't get a little crazy when the topic of church membership comes up. On the one hand -it matters greatly. Consider the solemn words addressed by those who join. Far from suggesting that these words do not matter; membership is a solemn promise people make. Indeed, death is promised as a preference to forgetting or taking lightly the call from the Lord to be gathered for Word and Table and for participation and supporting the congregation. On the other hand, church membership does not seem to matter all that much. Some have, as Hebrews put it, gotten in the habit of neglect of the assembly that comes at the beckoning of the Spirit on the Lord's Day (His resurrection day, the eighth day). It does not seem to matter much to churches since we all routinely keep people on the membership rolls, long after they have grown cold to the congregation or left without any communication with the Pastor. All congregations have people on the membership list who no longer even live in the area and some of them, sad to say, have no active address on file. Their whereabouts are unknown and not just on Sunday mornings. It is sad, especially as a Pastor, for those who need what the Lord desires to give them here; those not here to be fed and nourished by Christ as our Lord s has great pity on those who are sheep without a Shepherd (Matthew 9). I continually keep those absent each Sunday in my prayers as I hope those present each Sunday pray as well for those not here. [next page]

2 On the other hand, we should never confuse a piece of paper in the church office with the company of the elect, the membership that does count -- the one wherein our names are written in the Book of Life in the ink of Christ's blood. Church membership matters -not because the church says so- but because our confession of faith matters. If people don t care to come to a church or are long-absent it is easy to minimize the importance of going to our Lord s House. They may still confess Jesus and believe. Yes, but why should any presume the individual confession matters more and is apart from, the public confession of the assembly? Should we not strive to be connected to an earthly community of faith that is the most faithful to the Scriptures and whose worship is a faithful reflection of that belief? Is this not precisely why church membership matters? It should be. Is this not the only formula you see throughout the Scriptures? That we hear the voice of the living Word and, as the baptized people of God, come to the place He has prepared His Table and gifts of His Kingdom. Indeed, the challenge is that every Sunday the majority of Christians tend to be absent from their family home together with the Lord in His Word and at His Table. Our Lord wants them in His House on Sunday. He pities those who are not there. The task before us is not only to reach out to those who not yet have a faithful Church home but to encourage and pray for us all who have: forgotten; or have apathy; or do not realize what it means to belong and be a member. That is the problem of church membership and why it matters. 10 th Anniversary of Risen Savior 110 th Anniversary of the congregation We welcome Rev. Dr. Larry Rast He will preach at both Services, lead our 9:15 am Bible Class. Congregation Potluck 11:30 am. Meat provided. Last name: A-M bring a side dish; N-Z bring a bread, salad, dessert At the potluck, Dr. Rast will continue his presentation and time for questions. Rev. Dr. Rast is President of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN. Dr. Rast is one of the foremost historians of Church and Lutheran history. He has authored numerous articles on a wide range of topics with special interest in the growth and expansion of Lutheranism in the United States in the mid to late 19th century. In addition to serving at the Seminary, Dr. Rast regularly presents at workshops, retreats and conferences around the US. He has represented the Seminary and Synod at numerous international conferences and by teaching throughout the world in 4 continents. When not teaching or traveling, Dr. Rast still enjoys the delving into history, especially from the Civil War era. He is a railroad enthusiast; he has an encyclopedic knowledge of locomotives, train stations and routes.

3 Vacation Bible School June Thursday, 6-8 pm Friday, 6-8 pm Saturday, 9 am-12 Ages Sign-up sheet to help or donate items in the Narthex. I AM A cookout for the children and families at noon Saturday. The children will be singing at the 10:30 Service June 24. Sunday School Kim Dunn, Board of Education Thank you to our Sunday School teachers! Sunday School continues through the summer months. Thank you for brining your children to be enriched by God s Word. The children will be singing : 10:30 Service June 24. Please consider inviting any family, friends, and neighbors. If you have other questions, please see Pastor, Susan Muntzel, or Amy Maurer. Information packets available at the church office. Classes begin: August 20. Operating: 8:30 am 3:25 pm. Mondays: Pre-K through High School. Wednesday: Middle School and High School only. Youth Group High School Youth June 3, 6:00-8:00 pm Invite any friends. Higher Things Youth Gathering July See you at 9:15 Sunday! higherthings.org Dare to be Lutheran

4 Women in Mission Chyleen Pauesick, President On June 16th, a Saturday morning, join us and weave a basket, with guidance and instructions from Julia Cordes. We did this a couple of years ago, and it is really fun. AND you get to take a basket home when you get it done. It is a wonderful way to get acquainted with other members, to serve our Lord through mission projects, and to enrich your spiritual walk, and we always have fun at our gatherings! All the women at Risen Savior are invited! We will be tying quilts on June 7th, at the church, 9:00 noon. We welcome your help. You do not need to know quilting to help us. We will show you exactly what to do. If you can tie a knot or cut thread, you can help us. Please join us. Men s GameNight June 29, 7 pm All men (and any friends), over 18, welcome to come to our monthly Men s GameNight. A collegial time for men to gather and enjoy a time of gregarious, godly behavior. Sometimes we ve gone outside, usually play cards, usually enjoy smoked meats, always have snacks and fine beverages. Usually 4 th Friday of the month. Women s GameNight June 1, 7 pm All women of the congregation (and any friends), over 18, welcome to come to our GameNights. Usually the 1 st Friday of a month. Feel free to bring a snack or favorite beverage to share. A time to relax and play and spend time with your sisters in Christ. Upcoming Services June 3 2 nd Sunday in Pentecost Deut. 5:12 15; 2 Corinthians 4:5 12 Mark 2:23 28 Jesus Is the Sabbath Rest that Remains for the People of God Forevermore; Hymns: June 10 3 rd Sunday in Pentecost 10 th Anniversary of RSLC Genesis 3:8 15; 2 Corinthians 4:13 5:1 Mark 3:20 35 Jesus Has Defeated the Devil; Released Us from the Bondage of Sin, Death Hymn: June 17 4 th Sunday in Pentecost Ezekiel 17:22 24; 2 Corinthians 5:1 10 Mark 4:26 34 The Cross of Christ Is the Tree of Life, Which Bears Abundant Fruit Hymns: June 24 5 th Sunday in Pentecost Nativity of John the Baptist Isaiah 40:1 5; Acts 13:13 26 Luke 1:57 80 St. John the Baptist Was Sent to Prepare the Way of the Lord Hymns: Weekly Bible Classes for all Sunday 9:15 am Gospel of Mark Wednesday 1:00 pm Isaiah

5 Mission Activities Next Vicar Vicar-elect Chris Antonetti, 30, from Chicago will be installed as our 5th Vicar on August 5. His wife is Karin. They will be showing up here with a 2-week-old baby! Watch for details for help needed moving in and out the Vicars, July 30, 31. As with the previous Vicars, we ll have a breakfast between Services and a gift-card shower to welcome the new Vicar and in this case, these new parents into the family of Risen Savior for the year. Outreach Susan Eubanks, Board of Outreach Diapers, Baby Stuff, Diapers In June, we are having the annual Diaper Drive for Birthright, a crisis pregnancy outreach center in Leavenworth. Please drop off diapers and other baby essentials at the display in the coat rack area. There is a great need for items and the people very much appreciate the aid. Germany Trip Sept Time to save up and get your passports! Luthertours.com has our trip posted, under Join a Tour tab. Other family and friends welcome to come! Flyers in the Church Office as we are looking to return after the great trip we had 4 years ago; this one looks to be even more amazing! We will see key Reformation and historical sites in Germany and some time in Austria. It includes our favorite places last time and also Sound of Music stops, The Silent Night Chapel, Oktoberfest in Munich, Bavarian Alps, and Lake Cheimsee. Non-RSLC members are most welcome to join us! Deposit is $350, with full payment due July 15. The tour cost about $4200/per person. While very expensive, this is an exceptional value considering all it includes: air fare; 10 nights at first class hotels, daily breakfast, 5 special dinners, a dinner theater, admission fees to various venues, tips, tour guides, motor coached around, and memories for a lifetime.

6 Children are a Heritage from the Lord Vicar Wendorff 1. Children are a Gift from the Lord. God is our Creator who has fashioned each of us in His own image. It s a miracle how He creates and sustains life. The Psalmist says, For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:13). That s about you! It s incomprehensible how anyone can make the argument that an unborn child is not a human being. Sadly, that deadly position is held by many in our society. We live in a culture that devalues life and instead values the death of someone who is deemed an inconvenience to parent and society. But every life is precious to the Lord, and so it is for us. Having a baby is scary and hard, filled with obstacles and unknowns, but every single baby is worth it. And we have a duty to defend the life and reputation of neighbors in the womb who cannot speak or defend themselves. 2. The Joy and Dread of Mother s and Father s Day. For many, these days are opportunities to say thanks, Mom thanks, Dad. These Sundays in May and June are special days to acknowledge and thank God for the two people responsible for you being here. But for others, it s not always a great day. Some have mothers and fathers that failed in their duty. For husbands and wives who haven t or can t have children, or mothers who have had complications or miscarriages, Mother s Day can be disheartening and depressing. Sometimes news about kids and grandkids can leave single people feeling out of the loop. Father s Day can be difficult for those whose father is absent and neglecting. When the reality of this sinful fallen world hits hard in our own home, it makes these days especially lonesome for some. We would do well to bear this in mind as Christian brothers and sisters and value one another on the basis of our identity in Christ in our Baptism. We have much to rejoice over in the spiritual life and variety of good gifts and experience God has given each of us out of His love and mercy, and we can bear with one another without judgment, and with friendly compassion and understanding. We have Our Father who loves us perfectly and gave His only Son to die for us, revealing the true love of the Bridegroom for His whole Church, the Bride. And we belong to Christ s body, the Church, which supports each individual member with compassion, love, and mercy. 3. The Future of the Church is in Our Children. We see in our Synod what is happening across much of Christendom: the Church is shrinking. Many congregations are aging and growing smaller. We aren t surprised by this; it s in keeping with the trends of later marriage and lower birth-rates in the society. But don t worry. God is in control of His own Church Growth, and He will decide when to grow or shrink His Church. Our task is to keep His Word and teach its pure doctrine to the children. Whether we have kids or not, we have a task to train a child in the way he should go. We can speak in a godly way about family and marriage, defend the estate of the nuclear family, and demonstrate to family and friends what it looks like. We do this by faithful catechesis in every home. This means nurturing habits of prayer and study of God s Word (which is structured for us in the Small Catechism) and faithful Church attendance led by the head of the household. As you may know, my wife and I are expecting the birth of our first child in early June. In fact, by the time you read this article, the baby will likely already be born! In reflecting on the journey of the past months, here are some reflections I d like to share with you. Whether we be friend, mother, father, or grandparent, in encouraging this in our homes we will be nurturing the next generation of our Good Shepherd s flock.

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8 Book of Concord Study Sunday, June 24, 6 pm All welcome to join in any time for an evening of enrichment in our Lutheran doctrine and Scriptural truth, and fine beverages and foods. Child care provided. Usually every 4 th Sunday of the month. Trail Life USA Traillifeusa.org Troop KS-1517 meets the A 2 special thank you! nd & 4 th Tuesdays, [Sidebars 6:30-7:30 are great pm. for calling out important points from your text or adding Open additional to all boys, info for ages quick reference, such as a schedule. They Contact are typically Pat Budy placed on the left, right, or top or bottom of the page. But Erick you can Bohndorf easily drag them to any position you prefer. When you re ready to add your content, just click here and start typing.] LutheransForLife.org Children, vulnerable and dependent, desperately need security, and it has ever been a duty and a joy of fatherhood to offer it. Being a father requires strength and more than a little courage to persevere, to fight discouragement, and to keep working for the family With God s grace, fathers find the patience to teach, the fortitude to provide, the compassion to comfort, and the mercy to forgive. All of this is to say that they find the strength to love their wives and children selflessly Let us express our thanks and affection to our fathers, whether we can do so in person or in prayer. President Ronald Reagan, Father s Day 1988 We are a sponsoring congregation issuesetc.org 24/7 internet radio Special thanks! To those cleaning in April: the Maurer s; the Dunn s; the Walker s; the Follin s; the Cordes To Tim Selbe for spraying the weeds To Tyler Dowdall at Platte Rental in Parkville, MO for donating the sod cutter for our workday and To all who helped at the outdoor workday To Steve Woelk for recent woodwork in the Chancel area. Finances Through April Full report posted in office. Offerings: $100,718 less special gifts Expenses: $109,196 Building Fund as of 5/20 $56,780 given since 10/31/2016; special giving campaign to reduce mortgage of new buildings, through 7/20/2018. Risen Savior Lutheran Church Leavenworth Rd. Basehor, KS risensaviorlcms.org