NATIVITY NEWS AUGUST 2015

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1 NATIVITY NEWS AUGUST 2015 Pastor s Ponderings A professor friend of mine who teaches theology at Xavier University in New Orleans recently removed himself from Facebook. The reason he cited for his departure was the craziness of so much that his friends were posting. I feel his pain! It is interesting what many consider authoritative and then want to share with everybody. Now I get that Facebook is often simply a platform for people to express their opinions. You can take it or leave it and even unfriend those you just can t stomach anymore! But opinions don t occur in a vacuum. They are a reflection of the thought process occurring in our society and that is what I want to speak about here. Opinions, media, common practice and a host of other things attempt to define the truth for us and even those of us in the church are not immune to this problem. Regardless, we must remember the Scriptures are the source and norm of Lutheran teaching and practice and they define the truth. Unfortunately the Scriptures are often ignored or reinterpreted to fit whatever agenda is being promoted. This has been happening since the beginning, nevertheless; the consequences are serious. The gospel has been lost by many who minimize, ignore or reinterpret the Scriptures. To make matters worse, so-called scholars have aided the process of biblical revisionism. In the early 1970s a group of revisionist biblical scholars began revising the Bible according to different criteria with the intent of discovering the truth. Most institutions of higher learning including many seminaries incorporated this revisionist approach to the Scripture and today we see the result. For many people the Bible means whatever opinion, media, common practice or social statements want it to mean. Biblical revisionism is actually an attempt to undermine the authority of Scripture and place it back in the hands of the individual to do with as he or she pleases. Isn t that interesting; humans attempting to stand over God s word. The original sin strikes again! Now that we know what is going on I d like to offer some thoughts. The Bible means what it means. A principle of biblical interpretation is called the plain sense of Scripture meaning the truth of what is being said is self-evident. Now that is not to say that some portions of Scripture are clearer than others. There are portions of the Bible that are mysterious. Nevertheless, the overall news (law/gospel) that the Bible gives is plain. Believe it or not Mark Twain, of all people, helped when he wrote, It is not the portions of the Bible that I don t understand that bother me but the parts I do understand. That is a helpful word because citing portions of the Bible that are mysterious and then claiming it is all mysterious and therefore in need of interpretation is a common tactic of those who would revise the Scriptures. This practice simply reduces the Bible to a book of opinions and paves the way for sinners to practice their sin

2 without question. The message of Scripture is really clear. As children of Adam and Eve, every person is a sinner by birth and practice. Furthermore opinion, media, common practice, court decisions, social statements and all the rest do not change this fact nor save from it. Thus, seeking justification and affirmation in these places is dangerous idolatry because one comes to trust just about everything but the one the Scriptures speak about, the one who alone justifies and that is Jesus Christ. Take for example the Supreme Court of the United States. Many look to this institution for affirmation and justification of behaviors clearly condemned by the Scriptures. They want this court to silence the law of God that stands against them. Yet, this is the same institution that has for the last forty or so years consistently defended the killing of unborn children in the womb for any reason, a practice that to date has resulted in the death of some 55 million Americans. Is SCOTUS really the place one turns for affirmation and justification? Is this really the institution that defines equality and justice? Let each of us confess as we must. The truth is the only hope any of us sinners have is the unconditional forgiveness of sin because of Jesus Christ. The Bible is really clear that nobody, neither the moral nor immoral, can stand before God justified apart from Christ. I think most of us learned that in kindergarten when we sang, Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so... Thank God the Bible means what it means and beware of those who say it doesn t. Peace Scott... FOR CVP August is one of those months with five Sundays when we collect paper goods and other supplies for the Center for Violence Prevention in Pearl. CVP is a place where abused women and children can find safety, comfort and counseling. Please look for the display in the narthex of needed items and bring your donations to the church by August 30 th.

3 CRAFT FAIR Unique crafts from Mississippi and around the world will once again be featured at the seventeenth annual Brandon Craft Fair, Saturday, October 3 rd, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Nativity Lutheran Church in Brandon. Local artists from Central Mississippi are being sought to share their works both inside and across the shady grounds. Unusual hand-crafted items might include jewelry, tatting, paintings, wreaths, doll clothes, stained glass, yard and bottle art, scarves, memo boards, wood crafts, pumpkins, home canned goods, and crochet. Your social ministry committee is currently mailing application forms to area crafts people. If you know of someone with a unique craft who might be interested, please contact Ann Starr or Ed Van Cleef. We can always use new artists and crafts. HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area (HFHMCA) is a nonprofit ecumenical Christian organization serving the tri-county area of Hinds, Rankin and Madison counties for the past 29 years. HFHMCA partners with low-income families to provide safe, affordable and environmentally responsible homes and the educational tools needed to achieve fiscal stability. HFHMCA focuses on blighted properties and low-income neighborhoods where safe, clean, affordable housing is most needed and has targeted revitalization efforts in 10 such neighborhoods. Since HFHMCA s inception in 1986, HFHMCA has constructed over 600 homes. In July using funds raised at our annual Rummage Sale and Craft Fair fundraisers Nativity made a contribution of $250 to Habitat as an indication of our continuing interest and support of Rankin County builds.

4 Kits. Okatoma Canoe Trip for Adults & Youth Please watch for the list on the bulletin board and sign up to attend. On Saturday, August 29 th - We will meet at the church parking lot at 8:45 AM and leave at 9 AM sharp. We will return to the church at 6:00 6:30 p.m. Wear old tennis shoes or water shoes due to sharp rocks. Bring sunscreen, hat, towel, disposable camera, safety strap for sunglasses with fishing cork on strap so they will float, sack lunch in waterproof baggies, drinks, small cooler, and a short rope to tie cooler to canoe. Okatoma Outdoor Post recommends making reservations for canoes or kayaks since occasionally all are rented out. Make your own reservations at Okatoma.com or call Okatoma Outdoor Post at or OKATOMA. Check with Okatoma Outdoor Post for cancellation rules. Cost: $40 for canoe with 2 life vests & paddles or $30 for a single seat kayak with life vest & paddle. Call Keith or keithanderson50@hotmail.com with questions. Nativity Prayer List Please pray for: Helen Miguel, Chuck Bentler, Butch Dennison, Tom Hall Jr., Carl Seefeld, Steven & Hannah Mulik, Signe Alice Olsen, Trey, Alyssa & baby Tex and Sylvia Garber.

5 August & September Birthdays Anniversaries Linda Terry 8/01 Garry & Ann Starr 8/09 Hannah Poole 8/03 John & Ellie Halverson 8/23 Brian Anderson 8/19 Bud & Lydia Weisser 9/05 Tyler Voong 8/19 Jim & Pat Moulds 9/07 Alexandra Tucker 8/21 John & Pat Schnell 9/16 Cheryl McCoy 8/24 Hack & Sylvia Walston 9/22 Sam Mills 8/28 Rick & Pamela Kirby 9/27 Lewis Echols 8/29 Eli Bettiga 8/30 Wesley Echols 8/30 If you wish to participate, please look for Kathy Peters 9/11 the sign-up sheet on the table in the Cameron Kirby 9/12 narthex and provide your birthday and/or Stephen Braatz 9/18 anniversary month & day only by your Meredith Burgess 9/20 name so we can wish you a Happy Day! Ellie Halverson 9/27 Haley Templeton 9/29 Happy Birthday & Anniversary to All!!!!! Wade Caldwell 9/30 Treasurer s June Report of Budget(Operating)Expenses* Planned Actual Actual Actual Expense* Paid Expense* Offerings* Difference Jun, ,315 12,465 10,930-1,535 Jun, ,837 12,437 13, YTD, ,890 77,044 70,197-6,847 YTD, ,022 75,153 75, * excluding special funds

6 AUGUST CALENDAR OF EVENTS August 2 August 5 Noon & 7PM Bible Study August 6 7:00 PM Social Ministry committee meeting August 9 August 12 1Noon & 7PM Bible Study August 16 August 19 Noon & 7PM Bible Study August 23 8 AM & 10:30 Services August 29 8:45 AM Okatoma Canoe Trip August 30 Food Pantry Collection Day August 31 7:00 PM Church Council Meeting

7 NLC August 2015 Volunteer List 10:30 Service August 2 August 9 Greeters Templeton Family Ambassador Joe Hunt Pew Buddy - Susan Landrum Ushers Hack Walston/Debbie Pruett Lector Marcia Weaver Comm. Asst. Hack Walston Nursery Marcia Weaver Counters Lynn & Haley Templeton Acolyte Matthew Templeton Greeter John Schnell Ambassador Meade Entrekin Pew Buddy Linda Tucker Ushers Keith Anderson/Tommy Templeton Lector Meade Entrekiin Comm. Asst. Meade Entrekin Nursery Haley Templeton/Cameron Kirby Counters Mitch Leavell/Boyde Bergum Acolyte Katie Kirby August 16 August 23 Greeters Pamela Kirby Greeter Debbie Pruett Ambassador Debbie Pruett Ambassador Mitch Leavell Pew Buddy - Ellen Noble Pew Buddy - Clyde Hatten Ushers Mitch Leavell/Hannah Poole Ushers John Schnell/Renate Hunt Lector Rick Schultz Lector Mitch Leavell Comm. Asst. Rick Schultz Comm. Asst. Mitch Leavell Nursery Linda & Alex Tucker Nursery Sue Caldwell/Katie Kirby Counters Keith Anderson/ Norma Swanson Counters Hack Walston/Kathy Peters Acolyte Haley Templeton Acolyte Katie Mae Rials August 30 Greeters Meade Entrekin Ambassador Joe Hunt Pew Buddy - Ann Starr Ushers Halverson Family Lector Keith Anderson Comm. Asst. Keith Anderson Nursery Lynn & Matthew Templeton Counters Sue Caldwell/Renate Hunt Acolyte Dane Stevens If you cannot serve on the dates shown, please try to swap with someone and let the office know of the change. Thanks.