Grace Lutheran Church Rev. Matthew Zickler 4101 Wolf Road, Western Springs, IL Office (708)

Transcription

1 Grace Lutheran Church Rev. Matthew Zickler 4101 Wolf Road, Western Springs, IL Office (708) Grace-lutheranws.org October 2016 Dear Saints of Grace, On October 31st of this year, we will be celebrating the 499th anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation. As I am sure you remember, on October 31st, 1517, Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. Now many of you know what that was all about, and some of you likely don t. For those who don t, a brief synopsis: at the time of Luther, the Roman Catholic Church had begun selling indulgences which were signed by the pope, and which promised eternal life and forgiveness for someone. These indulgences had to be purchased. They could be purchased for oneself, or for one s loved ones. So, I could buy one for Uncle Bob who died five years ago, and then assume that this paper that I bought would work to get him out of purgatory (a place between heaven and hell, where people would go if they weren t bad enough for hell, or to earn their way into heaven by purification if they had been good enough on earth). The funds for these indulgences went toward building St. Peter s Basilica at the Vatican in Rome. When Luther saw this happening, he was infuriated. How could the pope, whom the Church was supposed to trust, allow men to go in his name and sell salvation? Analyzing the practice, Luther wrote down 95 sentences about these indulgences and repentance in general. They included the first thesis, which said, When our Lord and master Jesus Christ said, Repent! He meant that the entire life of the Christian should be one of repentance, as well as others which questioned the practice of selling indulgences. One even questioned why the pope would sell indulgences to forgive sins, when it would be more Christian to forgive all people their sins for free if that authority truly lied with him. After Luther posted these theses, the printers got ahold of them and copied them, causing them to spread throughout Germany like wildfire. From there, the Reformation began. At its heart, the Reformation was a movement to return to the Scriptures to seek the truth of what is taught. All the more the goal was to teach people that they weren t forgiven by buying a sheet of paper, or even by doing enough good to earn their way to heaven. Ultimately, the Scriptures teach that we are saved because of what Jesus has done. Our sin deserves eternal condemnation, but Jesus has died that our sin is forgiven and we grasp hold of that promise by faith. Luther wanted all to hear this blessed promise that God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Son that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life. As we remember this world changing event, we will be looking forward in the next year to celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in In conjunction with that, at Grace and throughout the Northern Illinois District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, there will be a number of happenings helping to keep these events in our mind. At Grace, we will be doing things like reading a Luther biography for our Summer Reading next Summer, and encouraging the reading of the entire Bible in 2017, among other things. Within the district there will be events like those which Concordia University Chicago will be hosting where they will have historical artifacts such as Bach s Bible. With all of this in mind, keep your eyes out for advertising on our boards for such events. Most of all, as we prepare to celebrate the 500th anniversary, give thanks to God for His work through the Reformation, that as we have this monumental event in the past, we can see how much God has done through it. Of the utmost importance, we see the return of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to its proper place as the central teaching of the Church. Soli Deo Gloria, Pastor Zickler

2 Grace Lutheran Church October 2016 Page 2 October Birthdays!! Nancy Swanson 10/1 David Haffner 10/2 Sara Fitzgerald 10/3 Del Hermann 10/5 Gavin Claster 10/8 David Claster 10/9 Jim Blessman 10/14 Morgan Reynolds 10/14 Betty Ulrich 10/15 Bea Dahl 10/17 Jim Floyd 10/18 Chris Stetler 10/18 Rosemary Blessman 10/19 Tera Mullarkey 10/22 Ellie Zickler 10/24 Tom Josefek 10/26 Walt Bergenthal 10/28 October Anniversaries!! Samantha & Alex Schmidt 10/3/2015 Judy & Tom Josefek 10/4/1969 Carol & Erick Hassel 10/16/1971 Danielle & A.J. Hull 10/20/2007 Donna & Tom Perkowski 10/23/1977

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4 Grace Lutheran Church October 2016 Page 4 Orders taken on Sunday, October 9th after the Service. Questions? Please call Sara Fitzgerald. Brunch will be served on Saturday, October 29th at The Ronald McDonald House! 6 Breakfast casseroles are needed for this brunch If you would like to help, please contact Nancy Harris at Brunch was served on Saturday, September 29 at The Ronald Mc Donald House! Thank you to The Harris, Clausen and Latman Families for making the delicious egg casseroles! They were enjoyed by all!

5 Grace Lutheran Church October 2016 Page 5 Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers. Marsh Antonio, relative of the Blessman Family Jean Ann Axelson, friend of the Clausen Family Emily Beck, granddaughter of Vi Beck Vi Beck Mariel Bradley, niece of Dorothy Naegel Ann Cannon, friend of Doris Svec Jennifer Cinelli, niece of John Huebner Bruce Coulter, cousin of Mark Rehn Blake Donegan, grandson of John & Lois Flood Peter Doherty, uncle of Meg Krohe Richard Flatley, Vietnam Veteran - WS Post Jim Floyd Phyllis Floyd Liz Freiburger Bill Gohdes Rob Harrison, friend of Paul Sulak Carrie Hearl, friend of the Cloninger Family Carol Hoffman, relative of the Schlueter Family Patricia Krass, mother of Sheryl Dzoga Eleanor Kulaga Vern Launspach Charlene Link, friend of Linda McGuire Gail Loos, friend of Karen Hayes Bob McHugh, brother of Cheryl Dore Lorraine Moller Theresa Nallon, relative of Samantha and Alex Schmidt Lois Newberry, sister of Rita Kleppinger Col. Carol Ann O Donnell, Ret. VFW Joni O'Halloran, friend of Linda McGuire Terry Pekny, cousin of Tim Eggert Lena Perry, niece of Linda McGuire Jürgen Pietzsch, cousin of Jennifer Claster Lill Ploetz Sandra Reed Bob Reddersdorf, uncle of Paul Sulak Randy Reid, son of Jim & Ruth José Rivera, friend of Bill & Liz Gohdes Tom Russell, friend of the Kolar Family Don & Gayle Steele Lois Steffen, cousin of Nancy Kolar Noah (Picek) Tovar, great-granddaughter of the Floods Chris Vocke, friend of Pastor Zickler Jodi Weigand, daughter-in-law of Alma Weigand Johanna Weigand, daughter-in-law of Alma Weigand Nancy Wolff, sister of Tyna Eggert Please remember our shut-ins in your prayers Karla Bergenthal - Walter Blessman John Huebner - Harry Johnson - Rita Kleppinger Marty Ivik - Vern Launspach - Lorraine Moller Dorothy Naegel - Suzette Olszewski

6 Grace Lutheran Church October 2016 Page 6 Sunday, October 9th at 4:30 pm. The Oompah Band will be there!!! Let us know if you will be there by Signing up! Sign up sheets located in the Parish Hall ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From the Women's Club Women s Club Meeting 1:00 p.m. October 24, 2016 Please join us for an afternoon of fellowship! This year our club has chosen The Lutheran Home for our charity focus. We re asking the congregation to help us as we hold a couple of donation drives during the year. Through October and November, we will be collecting boxes of facial tissue. The Home is rather specific about their needs so please bring only rectangular boxes of count tissues. Thank you for your generosity. Ladies please remember that dues will be collected!

7 Grace Lutheran Church October 2016 Page 7 Report of Receipts September 2016 Actual Receipts Budget to Actual Comparisons Month YTD Month YTD

8 Grace Lutheran Church October 2016 Page 8 Sunday Adult Bible Class Join Pastor Zickler after the Divine Service for Adult Bible Class at 10:15 am in the Parish Hall. Wednesday morning Adult Bible Class Join Pastor Zickler at 9:00 am in the Parish Hall. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Trustee s are looking for a volunteer landscaping crew to work on the Church and Parsonage. Friday & Saturday, October 21 & 22 rain date 10/ Please contact Linda McGuire if you can help out!