The Light Brightener Newsletter

Transcription

1 ISSUE 05 JULY 2016 The Light Brightener Newsletter ST. PAUL S LUTHERAN CHURCH A CONGREGATION OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH MISSOURI SYNOD 200 BURDICK EXPRESSWAY EAST MINOT, ND WORSHIP SUNDAY MORNINGS AT 8:00 & 10:30 AM BIBLE STUDY & SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:15 AM Inside this Issue: What s This about? Pastor Bertsch LLL/LWML/Social Concerns Serving the Lord Anniversaries Weddings Baptisms Birthdays 9 Pastor: Rev. Arie Bertsch Chairman: Lyle Shappell Vice-President: Dana Larsen Secretary: Blenda Dahlien

2 Pastor! What s this about? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is a continuation of questions that are brought to my attention and I am sure others have the same questions. This month s question: How can I forgive and forget? Many people have spent a considerable amount of time trying to forget sin so that they can forgive or feel that they have forgiven others. One problem with this is the forgiving ends up in the one trying to forget. Another problem with this is that you think that sin is only forgiven if forgotten. In the Bible there are many cases of sins not forgotten. Such as: The sin of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3), the sin of King David (2 Samuel 4), and the sin of the adulterous woman (John 8:1-11), just to name a few. None of these sins have been forgotten. In fact, they have been written down for us to know what happened in the past to understand the future and guard and warn us from the present and the future. God gave you a subconscious mind to protect you. When you remember (say bad things from the past that have happened to you and they are happening again) the flags go up warning you of a danger that has happened before so that you may avoid it if possible now and in the future. Also, if you believe that forgiveness is based on your ability to forget you are doomed. Actually, when someone tells you to forget something you actually do the thing you are not to do. Try it yourself. For the next five minutes do not think about a white buffalo. The more you try to forget it the more you remember it and the more you remember it the more angry you become, the more depressed you become, the more whatever you become. The more thinking you do on negative thoughts the more you forget specific parts of the event. When that happens, not every detail of the whole event is remembered. People will add details that did not happen or they will eliminate details they did not think were important. All of this is important in understanding forgiveness. Let s say you are in conflict with Jack because Jack reported at a voter s meeting that you miscalculated the church budget. You keep thinking about the incident in your mind and you refuse to forgive Jack. There are three options available to you: (1) run from Jack, (2) attack Jack, or (3) forgive Jack. If you are unwilling to forgive Jack you will do one of the other two things: run or attack. Running: Involves not serving the Lord at all in the church, quit going to voter s meetings, going to a different time of church service, quit church completely, or go to another church even if the theology is wrong. Attacking: Involves verbally attacking Jack at the voter s meeting, or via E -mail, or face-book. You are getting your army against his army (so the war has begun). Whether you run or attack the problem is unforgiveness. ~Anniversaries ~ Ronald & Eleanore Hammer 7/1 Terry & Heidi Aannerud 7/14 William & Barbara Braun 7/3 Charissa & Jason Evenson 7/14 Brian & Brenda Lokken 7/4 Darren & Jeanine Kabanuk 7/16 Craig & Tamara Gillmore 7/6 Stephan & Sharon Wallery 7/18 Becky & Jeff Richards 7/10 Kim & Linda Filipek 7/22 Brady & Elizabeth Sorensen 7/10 Jerry & Connie Delzer 7/28 Michael & Kathy Grubb 7/11 ~Baptisms ~ Ryker Jerome Levadney 6/26/2016 Son of Jurene and Nick Levadney HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! 7/2 Terry Aannerud, Hazel Haberlock; 7/3 Kim Jeter, Krista Logelin; 7/4 William Braun; 7/6 Erin Kongelf, Jodi Nehring, Page Olson, Sadie Sauer; 7/7 Kevin Huston; 7/8 Arlene Hausauer; 7/11 Pastor Arie Bertsch, Dana Larsen; 7/13 Joyce Kaeding; 7/15 Jessica Kongelf; 7/16 Teresa Helton; 7/17 Derek Nehring; 7/18 Brett Nehring, Peggy Roberts; 7/20 Sandra Llewellyn, Jeremy Simmons; 7/21 Willard Erdman; 7/22 Emma Klabo, Blake Latendresse, Bryce Latendresse; 7/23 Paula Pruitt, Elizabeth Sorensen; 7/24 Ernest Hoelscher, Emily Kreger; 7/25 Melvin Hausauer, Lynn Hornaday Sr.; 7/26 Lyle Hudson, Dane Reing; 7/27 Samuel Pfennig; 7/28 Mariea Nelson; Chandler Braaten; 7/29 McKenna Vaughan 2.

3 Communion Preparation: Colleen Fitchner Communion Cleaning: 8:00 Sharon Aannerud Joanne Anhorn 10:30 Peggy Roberts ACOLYTES GREETERS July /3 Kim Filipek Brian Lokken 7/10 Duane Faydo Gordon Johnson 7/17 7/24 USHERS Kim Filipek Duane Faydo ELDERS Don Ladner John Bishop 7/3 Rodger P Brian L 7/10 Wally D Ray Schwarz 7/17 Darren K Michael G 7/24 Rodger P Brian L 7/3 Bree P & Jim Jenson Steve & Bonnie Beaudoin 7/10 Kim & Linda Filipek Don & Diane Ladner Unforgiveness takes place when the sinful act is replayed over and over again in one s mind. You might be encouraged to forget or stop thinking about it. The thought is that by forgetting it you will have forgiven it. But when you tell someone to stop thinking about a sinful act against them they will remember it all that much more and the unforgiveness grows deeper. But remember the white buffalo? Unforgiveness needs to be interrupted. Forgiveness is always in the hands of our Lord: By His wounds you have been healed (1 Perter 2:24). The thinking that we must forget in order to forgive is not helpful. For the forgiving gets put in the hands of the one trying to forget. But forgiveness comes from the One who sacrificed Himself upon the cross, Jesus Christ. It is through His blood that you are justified and redeemed. By the water of baptism, by the body and blood of Jesus that you eat and drink in the Lord s Supper, by the Word, and by the words of absolution you are forgiven. When God forgives He looks at us differently, He remembers us differently. God no longer sees our sin condemning us to the eternal death of hell. God sees Jesus justifying and redeeming you as resurrected children of God who have life. You can run from Jack, you can attack Jack, or you can forgive Jack. By the gracious work of Jesus you can forgive Jack. The goal is not to forget but to forgive and we forgive because of how Christ Jesus has forgiven us. You will remember what Jack did. But if you have forgiven him you will remember it differently. Forgiveness ends the endless emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual turmoil. Forgiveness says that by the work of Christ I will not bring this up again or use this against them. You will probably remember your own sins and the sins of others against you, but there is great joy and peace knowing that the Savior has forgiven your sin and you are able to forgive others. When you struggle with forgiveness ask the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive you where you cannot forgive perfectly (which you will never be able to do). Therefore, we remember sins of others against us differently; we remember them as being forgiven by the wounds of Jesus Christ. Your servant in Christ, Pastor Arie D. Bertsch 7/17 Dave & Sandy Llewellyn Katelyn & Kimberly Shappell 7/24 Melvin & Arlene Hausauer John & JoAnn Bishop 8. 3.

4 LIFE QUOTES from LUTHERANS FOR LIFE June 26th: Christianity isn t decorative. God is for real life, modeling in Jesus what perfect forgiveness looks like. As long as your relationship doesn t risk your safety or your sanity, it s probably better to dig in right where you are. Some waste of lifetime hunting for contentment, running with resentment from this person to that, searching for the human equivalent of a pot of gold; but quick hitches aren t fixes. Rainbows come after storms. So, build up your partner, laugh together, be vulnerable, and let the Spirit sculpt you into a better self for that someone. Rev. John Nunes commenting on marriage--a Life Quote from Lutherans for Life July 3rd: We cannot read the history of our rise and development a nation, without reckoning with the place the Bible has occupied in shaping the advances of the Republic...Where we have been the truest and most consistent in obeying its precepts, we have attained the greatest measure of contentment and prosperity. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, October 6, 1935 A Life Quote from Lutherans for Life~ July 10: For all the millions of walking wounded in our society, for those who have had an abortion or have been affected by an abortion decision, there is a Word of Hope Lutheran s for Life s healing ministry. Word of Hope ( ; connects men and women soul wounded through the act of abortion to the forgiveness and healing that comes only through knowing that God loves you and sent His Son to free you from the guilt of all sin including abortion. Diane E Schroeder, former president of Lutherans for Life A Life Quote from Lutherans for Life ~ July 2 Edgewood Vista Bible Verse: Psalm 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect, the word of the Lord is flawless. Devotions: Barb Braun Bible Study: Edgewood Vista Birthday Month Hostess: Executive Board Mission Project: LCMS Mission Thought for the Day: Psalm 94:22 But the Lord is my fortress; my God is the mighty rock where I hide. Vacation Bible School Thank You to all the people who helped with Vacation Bible School.and all those who donated supplies and served and provided snacks; and to all the parents who brought their children to share the experience of Vacation Bible School. God Bless Our Children! 4. 7.

5 ~LWML~ LWML met on June 12 noon for Potluck. There were 7 ladies present. Devotions were given by Barb Braun. Reports given and approved. Twenty cards will be sent to shut-ins this month. By-laws will be reviewed in August. Discussed July meeting: We will be hostess for Edgewood Vistas monthly birthday party. Mission Project for June was Orphan Grain Train-we will donate $ Mission Project for July will be LCMS Missions-we will donate $ Convention discussed. Elaine Irey and Connie Delzer will be delegates. LWML will pay expenses. Donations for convention offerings will be sent with delegates for total of $ We will encourage donations for Layette Kits, Hygiene Kits and School Kits from the congregation, to be taken to convention of the in-gathering. Barb Braun led Bible Study: He Adores you. Thought for the Day: Psalm 94:22 But the Lord is my fortress; my God is the mighty rock where I hide.. DON T FORGET.. Wednesday Night Church 7 pm when you miss Sunday services. (It s the previous Sunday Sermon) 5.