Risen Savior Lutheran. Church. Your Identity Pastor. Key Events. Sept. 5 Midweek Worship; Confirmation; Handbell Choir

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1 Risen Savior Lutheran Church 2018 Key Events Sept. 5 Midweek Worship; Confirmation; Handbell Choir Sept. 7 Sunday School Gamenight/ Parent Datenight Sept. 9 New Sunday School Year, Choir begins Sept. 30 New Member class begins Church Pastor Weinkauf pastor@risensaviorlcms.org Vicar Antonetti christopher.antonetti@ ctsfw.edu Your Identity Pastor In this era of identity politics, how many want to be identified in various movements, victim status, social groups, we would do well to read what the Bible says about our identity. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:27-28) For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body Jews or Greeks, slaves or free and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13) Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 2:12, 3:11) Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Cor. 6:18-20) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21) Note the centrality of baptism in the context of these texts. Is my race my identity? Is my nationality my identity? Is my social position my identity? Is my oppression my identity? Is my sex my identity? No, not even being a Christian. Christ is my identity. Religion, as such, like being a Jew, is not my identity. Being in Christ and drinking of one Spirit establishes our identity. This is not just another identity such as the world uses to classify, sort out human beings. This is qualitatively different, a different, new creation of Christ in us! So if you have been baptized, your identity is not determined by whether you are a Jew, an Athenian, a slave, or a woman, or white American. You are baptized. You have put on Christ, who is all and is in all, including yourself. Christ is your identity. So what does this mean? If there is no male and female, does that mean that sexual difference should no longer be a criterion for marriage or even women pastors? No! Ethnicity, nationality, social position, being male or female, Jew or Greek, slave or free, American are categories still exist. Christians still have their cultural and vocational backgrounds, as well as their physical bodies. Our sexual identity is a gift of God. A baptized Scythian women is still a Scythian female. But inmost, self-defining identity that she clings, identifies to her election in Christ. Sin is also an identity: Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) Someone who steals is a thief; who gets drunk is a drunkard; who practices homosexuality is a homosexual. There s no such thing as a Gay Christian or Thieving Christian or Adulterous Christian or Drunk Christian. These are the kind of identity that Christians leave behind, repent of, turn against. There may be daily, ongoing struggle against these sins, but not what defines them, who one is as a baptized child of God, living in His grace.

2 Welcome Vicar Antonetti, Karin, Melanie Playground Completed The Playground is now ready for use. Please take a look at it, play if you wish; very few churches have a playground as nice as this; something we can all be very proud to have and for the children to enjoy. Thanks to Mary Follin for bringing this to the church from the old elementary school in downtown Tonganoxie; Mike & Sharon Blankenship for their refabricating, restoration work and oversight; 20 different volunteers who helped and Rae Ann Evans/Jim Evans Memorial for making special gifts to the project.

3 Sunday School Kim Dunn, Board of Education Our Home School Cooperative for Pre-K through High School is underway with 21 students! Operating: 8:30 am 3:25 pm; Mondays If you have questions, please see Pastor, Susan Muntzel, or Amy Maurer. Sun.Sch. Gamenight Parent Datenight Sept. 7, Friday, 5:30-8:00 pm. No cost. Food provided. As we continue Sunday School through the summer, a new year begins: Sept. 9 We will have a special opening and art items in addition to the classroom time. We commend all parents to see this critical time in your child s growth in our Lord s Word. Evie Turney not pictured. Mac Follin is hiding there. Higher Things Youth Gathering This year we had 27 youth and 5 adults attend the gathering at Kansas University, among 1000 other youth. Next year of the 5 sites, we are looking at Concordia University, Seward, NE, June Youth Group High School Youth Sept. 2, 6:00-8:00 pm Invite any friends. See you at 9:15 Sunday! Dare to be Lutheran

4 Women In Mission Chyleen Pauesick, President Next Event: September 13th, 5:30 p.m., at the church. Deb Glaum will teach us how to make felted soap. It s like having your soap and wash cloth all in one. PLEASE BRING: 2 regular bars of soap and one pair of old panty hose. We have been busy preparing approximately 22 blankets and quilts to send to Lutheran World Relief. These will be distributed world-wide, as needed, in the next year. All women of Risen Savior are invited to join us. Men s GameNight Sept. 28, 7 pm All men (and any friends), over 18, are 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. Vocal Choir Sept. 9 After late service most Sundays, starting Sept. 9, the choir will practice. (11:45-12:25) The only requirement is the desire to sing unto the Lord. Prayerfully consider joining as we sing most festival Sundays & other occasions. Also if you play an instrument, please see me as we would love to have you play a solo or accompany piano/choir. Upcoming Services Sept th Sunday aft Pentecost Deut. 4:1 2, 6 9; Ephesians 6:10 20 Mark 7:14 23 We Are Cleansed and Sustained by the Word of God Hymns: Sept th Sunday aft Pentecost Isaiah 35:4 7; James 2:1 10, Mark 7:31 37 Our Merciful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Does All Things Well Hymn: Sept th Sunday aft Pentecost Isaiah 50:4 10; James 3:1 12 Mark 9:14 29 Christ Jesus Delivers Us from Sin, Death and the Devil Hymns: Matins Sept th Sunday aft Pentecost Jeremiah 11:18 20; James 3:13 4:10 Mark 9:30 37 Our Father Cares for His Children with the Gospel of His Son Hymns: Matins Sept th Sunday aft Pentecost Numbers 11:4 6, 10 16, James 5:13 20; Mark 9:38 50 Jesus, the Son of God, Cares for Us and Serves Us with Forgiveness of Sins Hymns: Weekly Bible Classes for all Sunday 9:15 am Pastoral Epistles 1,2 Timothy; Titus Wednesday 1:00 pm Jeremiah

5 Outreach Susan Eubanks, Board of Outreach New Member Class, September 30 INVITE, INVITE, INVITE people to come and see what happens in this place. Evangelism that is, the Good News, this Scriptural truth shows us is -preaching, teaching, study of God's Word, liturgical worship, the use of the Sacraments. This is the daily living out of our faith in Jesus Christ, in the fellowship of the body of Christ, and in love toward others. This is the appropriate, effective program for sharing the faith, confessing Christ, and "growing the Church." That is why we should consider it a joy to share with others -what we have at Risen Savior that they are missing. Invite family and friends to visit worship, Bible classes, activities at the church. Share with them about Risen Savior. Don t assume they are not interest and certainly don t think if they already have a church and there is no need. Now is the time to think of some people to invite/encourage to look into Risen Savior, perhaps bring them to the new member class starting Sept. 30. Midweek Resumes Sept. 5 6:30 pm Vespers The worship service is an Order from our hymnal, we sing a Hymn, have a Psalm, Readings, and Prayers. A brief sermon is given, that may come from Luther, pastor or another theologian. The Service usually lasts about 25 minutes. 7:00 pm Handbell Choir NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED. Everyone is encouraged to give prayerful consideration, invited to join our Bell Choir. Bell Choir practices on Wednesdays from 7-8:15 pm. 7:00 pm Youth Confirmation If any parents/grandparents have any questions please see pastor. We are planning about 20 youth in Confirmation class.

6 Great Works of God Vicar Antonetti The Great Works of God, or, Jesus, the Heart and Center of Scripture 1 by Lutheran Pastor Valerius Herberger (written in 1601, translated by Matthew Carver in 2010) is a Lutheran orthodox devotional text of immense value. The work consists of 12 parts, covering the Bible from Genesis to Ruth. As Carver writes, Herberger was popular in his day for his ability to draw on a wide swath of history and anecdotes, popular and heartfelt style, and emphasis on Jesus as the center of all scripture. 1 I would also add other themes based on the dedication of the second part of Great Works of God. After dedicating his first book (firstfruits) to God (Proverbs 3:9), Herberger dedicates the second part to his homeland and teachers in Fraustadt, the place where he also preached for many years. He tells the people of Fraustadt to remember the city seal two crosses with two wreaths. The two crosses are first the cross of Christ and second the cross we must bear in our daily lives. The cross of Christ is above because it overcomes all our woes. The two wreaths are the seal of the crown of life (Revelation 2:10) for those who believe in the cross of Christ. In this explanation, we get the main themes by which Herberger does his exegetical work. First, he finds the cross of Christ in the passage, then how the passage applies to our suffering in this world. He applies Christ s work to our suffering, not promising freedom from suffering, but greater things in eternal life when we shall receive our crowns in glory. This is Christ-centered devotion to Herberger cross of Christ, cross in life, hope of glory. In the 1800s, Herberger was still so popular that Lutheran church leaders complained about too many pastors trying to copy his style of preaching. Every seminary student has his favorite pastor, professor, or historical figure, like Luther or Herberger, who he looks up to and may unconsciously imitate. Yet it is not the goal of those of us who are aspiring to the office of pastor to only imitate those who have come before. I m sure I have different attributes, strengths, and weaknesses than the four other Risen Savior vicars who came before me, but we are all united in the same work. I have already found we all just go by Vicar. I m sure after five years the memories of vicars are starting to blend together, but there is a greater idea there that we are all interchangeable because we all work to proclaim the same message. That message is the one Herberger talks about, which faithful pastors proclaimed before him; what St. John wrote, Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. (1 John 2:7-8) City Seal of Fraustadt This word we have heard is the message of the cross of Christ, which has overcome the cross of affliction we bear in this world in the hope of life eternal. It is the same old good news passed down for centuries, but also new in that the great works of God continue through his Word given to us even to this day and beyond. 1 Available in English from CPH (two volumes on Genesis) and Emmanuel Press (one volume on Exodus) 2 Matthew Carver, Valerius Herberger: Jesus- Preacher, in Lives and Writings of the Great Fathers of the Lutheran Church, ed. Timothy Schmeling (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2016), 85

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8 Book of Concord Study Sunday, August 26, 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. TrailLifeUSA Erick Bohndorf A American special thank you! Heritage Girls [Sidebars are great for calling out important points from your text or adding additional info for quick reference, such as a schedule. They are typically placed on the left, right, top or bottom of the page. Lelya Reinhard But you can easily drag them to any position you prefer. When you re ready to add your content, just click here and start typing.] 2 nd & 4 th Thursday, 6:30 pm LutheransForLife.org Whom can you encourage today? Think of lonely hearts that need the encouragement of their Savior. Tell those who are worried about the future that you are praying for them and that God has good plans for them. And don t forget the simple fact that just listening to others and letting them know you care may be all they need. Listen to your Savior encouraging you in His Word and you will be well prepared to encourage others. We are a sponsoring congregation issuesetc.org 24/7 internet radio Special thanks! To those cleaning in July! To the Board of Elders for their work on the Vicar Welcome Breakfast. To those who show welcome to the new members and new families of Risen Savior! To all who helped work on the Playground and the Blankenships for this wonderful project. To those who prepare the deposit each week! Finances Through July Full report posted in office. Offerings: $140,210 Less special gifts Expenses: $150,893 Risen Savior Lutheran Church Leavenworth Rd. Basehor, KS risensaviorlcms.org