Parish Rebuilder. 95 and 499. October 2016 Monthly Newsletter Volume 16 Issue 10

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1 Parish Rebuilder ST. LUKE S LUTHERAN CHURCH WILSON ST. LA MESA, CA October 2016 Monthly Newsletter Volume 16 Issue 10 We invite you to join St. Luke's Lutheran Church Please contact Amy in the office to discuss membership or to arrange an appointment with the pastor: or office-sllc@att.net Office hours are: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Table of Contents Pastor Mark page 1 WSL page 45 Parish Potpourri page 6 Special Dates/Worship Text page 7 Prayer Calendar page 8 Worship Teams page 9 Monthly Calendar page and 499 Four hundred and ninety-nine years ago at the end of the month, Brother Martin Luther published his Ninety-five Theses against Indulgences. Obviously, that means that 31 October 2017 is the 500 th anniversary thereof, and Lutherans around the world are preparing to celebrate the occasion, even those so-called Lutherans who have apparently abandoned if not rejected even the basics of Lutheran doctrine and theology. So, to reacquaint ourselves with the heady days of the Reformation, but also to add a little suspense, below are presented 48 of Luther s 95 Theses. Please take the time to read them. There will be a quiz. The remaining 47 of the 95 Theses will follow soon. NINETY-FIVE THESES OR DISPUTATION ON THE POWER AND EFFICACY OF INDULGENCES Out of love and zeal for truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following theses will be publicly discussed at Wittenberg under the chairmanship of the reverend father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and Sacred Theology and regularly appointed Lecturer on these subjects at that place. He requests that those who cannot be present to debate orally with us will do so by letter. In the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 1. When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, Repent [Matt. 4:17], he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance. 2. This word cannot be understood as referring to the sacrament of penance, that is, confession and satisfaction, as administered by the clergy. 3. Yet it does not mean solely inner repentance; such inner repentance is worthless unless it produces various outward mortifications of the flesh. 4. The penalty of sin remains as long as the hatred of self, that is, true inner repentance, until our entrance

2 into the kingdom of heaven. 5. The pope neither desires nor is able to remit any penalties except those imposed by his own authority or that of the canons. 6. The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring and showing that it has been remitted by God; or, to be sure, by remitting guilt in cases reserved to his judgment. If his right to grant remission in these cases were disregarded, the guilt would certainly remain unforgiven. 7. God remits guilt to no one unless at the same time he humbles him in all things and makes him submissive to his vicar, the priest. 8. The penitential canons are imposed only on the living, and, according to the canons themselves, nothing should be imposed on the dying. 9. Therefore the Holy Spirit through the pope is kind to us insofar as the pope in his decrees always makes exception of the article of death and of necessity. 10. Those priests act ignorantly and wickedly who, in the case of the dying, reserve canonical penalties for purgatory. 11. Those tares of changing the canonical penalty to the penalty of purgatory were evidently sown while the bishops slept [Matt. 13:25]. 12. In former times canonical penalties were imposed, not after, but before absolution, as tests of true contrition. 13. The dying are freed by death from all penalties, are already dead as far as the canon laws are concerned, and have a right to be released from them. 14. Imperfect piety or love on the part of the dying person necessarily brings with it great fear; and the smaller the love, the greater the fear. 15. This fear or horror is sufficient in itself, to say nothing of other things, to constitute the penalty of purgatory, since it is very near the horror of despair. 16. Hell, purgatory, and heaven seem to differ the same as despair, fear, and assurance of salvation. 17. It seems as though for the souls in purgatory fear should necessarily decrease and love increase. 18. Furthermore, it does not seem proved, either by reason or Scripture, that souls in purgatory are outside the state of merit, that is, unable to grow in love. 19. Nor does it seem proved that souls in purgatory, at least not all of them, are certain and assured of their own salvation, even if we ourselves may be entirely certain of it. 20. Therefore the pope, when he uses the words plenary remission of all penalties, does not actually mean all penalties, but only those imposed by himself. 21. Thus those indulgence preachers are in error who say that a man is absolved from every penalty and saved by papal indulgences. 22. As a matter of fact, the pope remits to souls in purgatory no penalty which, according to canon law, they should have paid in this life. 23. If remission of all penalties whatsoever could be granted to anyone at all, certainly it would be granted only to the most perfect, that is, to very few. 24. For this reason most people are necessarily deceived by that indiscriminate and highsounding promise of release from penalty. 25.That power which the pope has in general over purgatory corresponds to the power which any bishop or curate has in a particular way in his own diocese or parish. satisfaction established by man. 26. The pope does very well when he grants remission to souls in purgatory, not by the power of the keys, which he does not have, but by way of intercession for them. 27. They preach only human doctrines who say that as soon as the money clinks into the money chest, the soul flies out of purgatory. 28. It is certain that when money clinks in the 2

3 money chest, greed and avarice can be increased; but when the church intercedes, the result is in the hands of God alone. 29. Who knows whether all souls in purgatory wish to be redeemed, since we have exceptions in St. Severinus and St. Paschal, as related in a legend. 30. No one is sure of the integrity of his own contrition, much less of having received plenary remission. 31. The man who actually buys indulgences is as rare as he who is really penitent; indeed, he is exceedingly rare. 32. Those who believe that they can be certain of their salvation because they have indulgence letters will be eternally damned, together with their teachers. 33. Men must especially be on their guard against those who say that the pope s pardons are that inestimable gift of God by which man is reconciled to him. 34. For the graces of indulgences are concerned only with the penalties of sacramental satisfaction established by man. 35. They who teach that contrition is not necessary on the part of those who intend to buy souls out of purgatory or to buy confessional privileges preach unchristian doctrine. 36. Any truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty and guilt, even without indulgence letters. 37. Any true Christian, whether living or dead, participates in all the blessings of Christ and the church; and this is granted him by God, even without indulgence letters. 38. Nevertheless, papal remission and blessing are by no means to be disregarded, for they 39. It is very difficult, even for the most learned theologians, at one and the same time to commend to the people the bounty of indulgences and the need of true contrition. 40. A Christian who is truly contrite seeks and loves to pay penalties for his sins; the bounty of indulgences, however, relaxes penalties and causes men to hate them at least it furnishes occasion for hating them. 41. Papal indulgences must be preached with caution, lest people erroneously think that they are preferable to other good works of love. 42. Christians are to be taught that the pope does not intend that the buying of indulgences should in any way be compared with works of mercy. 43. Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor or lends to the needy does a better deed than he who buys indulgences. 44. Because love grows by works of love, man thereby becomes better. Man does not, however, become better by means of indulgences but is merely freed from penalties. 45. Christians are to be taught that he who sees a needy man and passes him by, yet gives his money for indulgences, does not buy papal indulgences but God s wrath. 46. Christians are to be taught that, unless they have more than they need, they must reserve enough for their family needs and by no means squander it on indulgences. 47. Christians are to be taught that the buying of indulgences is a matter of free choice, notcommanded. 48. Christians are to be taught that the pope, in granting indulgences, needs and thus desires their devout prayer more than their money. (continued on page 4) 3 H S C G S M

4 4 Welcome Renée Calvo We wish to welcome Renée Calvo as St. Luke s Interim Director of Music. Ms. Calvo has an impressive CV, comes highly recommended, is involved in the opera, and teaches piano and voice. Her Bachelors of Music is from Point Loma Nazarene University and her Masters of Music is from San Diego State University. Interspersed therein she has a wealth of opera and music theatre training and experience to share. St. Luke s is grateful for your service to the congregation. The Challenge of Islam Presentation Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (1087 West Country Club Land, Escondido) is hosting a presentation entitled The Challenge of Islam - An Introduction to the Islamic People Beliefs, and How to Talk to Your Neighbour. The speaker is Dr. Adam Francisco who is currently Provess of History and Political Thought at Concordia University-Irvine. The presentation is scheduled for Saturday, 22 October 2016, 9:00 am - 12:00 noon. Dr. Francisco has written a variety of works, including Martin Luther and Islam and Making the Case for Christianity: Responding to Modern Objections. A light continental breakfast begins at 8:30 am. Please RSVP at gloriadei.rsvpify.com or telephone Lands of Luther Trip Are you interested in a trip to the sites of the Reformation to mark its 500 th anniversary? Pastor Richard Orman, a retired Lutheran pastor living in Escondido, is leading just such a tour for 12 days from September Places to be visited include Berlin, Wittenberg, Eisleben, Leipzig, Eisenach, Erfurt, Prague, Vienna, Salzburg, and Munich. The all inclusive price is $3899 (which includes 4700 in taxes and airline surcharges). If you wish further details about the tour, please contact Pastor Mark who can provide a brochure. (Neither Pastor Mark nor St. Luke s has any affiliation with or receives any benefit from notifying the congregation of this opportunity.) Time and Talent Survey - Help! In case you have not already noticed, enclosed in this edition of the parish newsletter is a Time and Talents Survey sheet. Such sheets are nothing new, but we have new members who would like to be involved in their new parish, and we have existing members who would like to be involved in new ways or would like to remind the church council that they want to be involved in the same old way(s). Either way, please take time to complete a Time and Talent Survey sheet and return it to the church office by either placing it in the offering plate, sending it via the post, scanning and ing it, or delivering it in person. We have found that returning the sheets via smoke signals is deleterious to the paper, pollutes the environment, and gets people volunteered for the wrong activities on windy days. Pastor Mark Quarterly Congregational Meeting October 23rd, 2016 following worship service

5 5 Women of St. Luke s The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, selfcontrol. Galatians 5:22-23 Happy Fall! Well, being in here in Southern California the weather doesn't quite fit the greeting, it is still hot, still humid, still summer weather, or so it seems. September brought us a wonderful craft show. Quite a few St. Luke s members attended along with a number of Warren Walker School staff and families. The craft show was spectacular, with over 35 vendors, everyone seemed to be able to find something they just had to have! Thanks goes to the WSL board for selling tickets for the raffle of gift baskets and beautiful Fall quilt made for the occasion by Mary Ann Boullain. We appreciate Judy Kirk and her vendors for donating all the basket items. The proceeds from the ticket sales for the baskets came directly to WSL enabling us to continue our support of ministries throughout San Diego. October brings us our annual Thank Offering. Every Sunday beginning October 2nd, WSL board members will be speaking about each of the ministries we support. The Thank Offering will go through the middle of November. Envelopes will be provided in the bulletin for your donation as well as on the Usher s desk in the Narthex. WSL will be collecting donations of hygiene products and school supplies during November and into early December for Lutheran Border Concerns. We will have a list of specific donations coming soon, so keep your eyes open. We thank you in advance for your generosity. Christmas is right around the corner and WSL has taken on a new ministry to support. SD MOM, San Diego Military Outreach Ministries. This Christmas we will support the Christmas Store which provides military families extra shopping opportunities for the holiday. We will also be asking for new toys for ages newborn to 12 years old. No old toys, please. Check out their website for more information sandiegomom.org On Saturday, October 8th a number of us will be attending the San Diego Quilters' Rally from 9AM to noon. St. Luke s attends every year. If anyone is interested in attending this luncheon, let us know right away so that we may include you in our RSVP. It is free. After service any Sunday many of our board members are sitting among you, if they haven't met you introduce yourself, we all need to get to know each other, it's more fun that way. The new evening Circle will be meeting at my home on Sunday, October 9 for brunch 11-1PM Please RSVP at God's love is great! Marge Hersom WSL is collecting Thank Offering envelopes throughout October and November. Your generosity allows us to support many worthy causes throughout the year as well as respond to emergency situations worldwide through Lutheran World Relief.

6 Parish Potpourri Some St. Luke s members are stretching vacations into the fall season. Betty Wiedmer spent a week up at Big Bear and had a great time. Martha Applegate has been in Ostfriesland, Germany, visiting family, accompanied by one of her daughters, Jan Applegate Duffy. The Denton s are visiting Illinois and North Dakota. Marge and Chuck Hersom welcomed their umpteenth great grandchild, a sweet baby girl named Etta Jo with another boy coming in October which will make it 12 great-grandchildren! There is also a marriage in the works for another grandson of the Hersom s and the Bitter s set for June of Great news from the Utley Family, Richard will arriving home this month from Afghanistan; greatly welcomed by Whitney, Audrey, Charlotte and growing fast Charlie! This month will also be Charlie s baptism here at St. Luke s. We welcome him into the St. Luke s family. BOOK CLUB Book club will be starting again this month after the summer hiatus. At the end of September, members came together to watch the film adaptation of A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail, a 1998 book by travel writer Bill Bryson, describing his attempt to walk the Appalachian Trail with his friend "Stephen Katz". The 2015 film stars Robert Redford, Nick Nolte and Emma Thompson. October s read will be Travels with Charley, a travelogue written by American author John Steinbeck. It depicts a 1960 road trip around the United States made by Steinbeck, in the company of his standard poodle, Charley. The book club meets the last Wednesday of the month in the church library to discuss the selection and fellowship. Anyone is welcome to join. Please contact Amy in the office for more information. 6 Martha Applegate Looking for a new or used car? PENSKE FORD OF LA MESA Tracy Tapia can help, / ttapia@socalpenske.com Each month our newsletter is published for free due to the advertisements of local businesses. Please take a moment each month and see if the services they provide could help you

7 Happy Birthday Louis Alfeld Disa Campbell Victoria Hauk Jack Hendrickson Gail Knippelmeyer Matthew Mylerberg Happy Anniversary Dallas & Betty Murray Thank you Thank you for all your prayers and cards during my surgery and recovery. You are very special, God bless you all. - JoAnn Hendrickson Thank you to our St. Luke s family, prayers gives one strength to go forward. - Darcy WORSHIP TEXT October 2nd Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost First Lesson Habakkuk 1: 1-4 ; 2: 1-14 Second Lesson 2 Timothy 1: 1-4 Gospel Lesson Luke 17: 5-10 October 9th Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost First Lesson 2 Kings 5: 1-3, 7-15c Second Lesson 2 Timothy 2: 8-15 Gospel Lesson Luke 17: October 16th Twenty second Sunday after Pentecost First Lesson Genesis 32: Second Lesson 2 Timothy 3: 14-4:5 Gospel Lesson Luke 18: 1-8 October 23rd Twenty-third Sunday After Pentecost First Lesson Jeremiah 14: 7-10, Second Lesson 2 Timothy 4: 6-8, Gospel Lesson Luke 18: 9-14 October 30th Reformation Sunday First Lesson Jeremiah 31: Second Lesson Romans 3: Gospel Lesson John 8:

8 OCTOBER PRAYER CALENDAR 8 GIVE THANKS! 1 Colossians 3: Psalm 100: Corinthians 15: Now thank we thank all our God 4 Jonah 2: 1 10 With hearts and hands and voices, 5 1 Chronicles 16: 8 13 Who wondrous things as doe, rejoices; 6 Psalm 147: 1 11 In whom his world 7 Psalm 107: 1 9 Who, from our mothers arms, 8 Romans 1: 7 10 Has blest us on our way 9 Psalm 69: With countless gifts of love, 10 Philippians 4: 4 9 And still is ours today. 11 Psalm 118: Corinthians 2: Oh, may this bounteous God 13 Colossians 1: 3 8 Through all our life be near us, 14 2 Thessalonians 2: With ever joyful hearts 15 Psalm 121: 1 8 And blessed peace to cheer us, 16 Philippians 1: 3 11 And keep us in his grace, 17 Psalm 145: And guide us when perplexed, 18 Ephesians 1: And free us from all harm 19 Psalm 8: 1 9 In this world and the next Corinthians 9: Psalm 98: 1 9 All praise and thanks to God 22 1 Peter 1: 3 9 The Father now be given, 23 Ephesians 5: The Son, and him who reigns 24 Psalm 68: With them in highest heaven, 25 1 Thessalonians 4: The one eternal God, 26 1 Thessalonians 5: Whom earth and heav n adore; 27 Hebrews 4: For thus it was, is now, 28 1 Timothy 4: 1 5 And shall be evermore. 29 Hebrews 9: Jude Lutheran Book of Worship 31 Revelations 7: 9-12 Hymn #533 vss. 1 3

9 OCTOBER WORSHIP TEAMS Reader Marge Hersom Altar Guild Joann Hendrickson Sound Technician John Busker 2nd Communion Assistant Bread Ted Olsen Prayers of the People Pastor Mark Menacher Projectionist Gail Knippelmeyer Communion Assistants Wine Liz Dunnigan and Terry East Greeters Ellis Petersen & Loraine Wininger Usher Team Randy Engel Acolytes Stuart Olsen 9th Communion Assistant Bread Liz Dunnigan Prayers of the People Martha Applegate Projectionist Terry East Communion Assistants Wine Marilyn Burns and Thelma Pace Greeter JoAnn Hendrickson Usher Team Randy Engel Acolytes Paige Yerger and Ryan Yerger 16th Communion Assistant Bread Ted Olsen Prayers of the People Laurie Floren Projectionist Tania Salas Communion Assistants Wine Judi Dunnigan and Thelma Pace Greeters Marilyn Burns and Marie Handley Usher Team George Hauk Acolytes Jayden Miles and Stuart Olsen 23rd Communion Assistant Bread Judi Dunnigan Prayers of the People Mary Ann Boullain Projectionist Gail Knippelmeyer Communion Assistant Wine Liz Dunnigan and Terry East Greeters TBD Usher Team Chuck Hersom Acolytes Paige Yerger and Ryan Yerger 30th Communion Assistant Bread Judi Dunnigan Prayers of the People Mary Ann Boullain Projectionist Tania Salas Communion Assistant Wine Liz Dunnigan and Marilyn Burns Usher Team Randy Engel Acolytes Jayden Miles 9

10 2 9:00 am Worship Sun 10:30 am Sunday School 4:00 pm SLTA 9 9:00 am Worship 10:30 am Sunday School 4:00 pm SLTA 16 9:00 am Worship 10:30 am Sunday School 4:00 pm SLTA 23 9:00 am Worship Congregational Quarterly Meeting 4:00 pm SLTA 30 9:00 am Worship 10:30 am Sunday School 4:00 pm SLTA 3 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 9:00 am Counters OFFICE/CAMPUS CLOSED 9:00 am Counters 24 9:00 am Counters 31 1:00pm WSL 7:00 pm SLTA 18 9:00 am Counters 9:30 am Project Day 12:30 pm Rebekah Circle 7:00 pm SLTA 25 9:30 am Project Day 7:00 pm SLTA OCTOBER :00 am Staff 6:00 pm Catechism 7:00 pm Choir 12 11:00 am Staff 6:00 pm Catechism 7:00 pm Choir 19 11:00 am Staff 6:00 pm Catechism 7:00 pm Choir 26 11:00 am Staff Noon Book Club 6:00 pm Catechism 7:00 pm Choir am Altar Guild 9-10 am Altar Guild 9-10 am Altar Guild 9-10 am Altar Guild 9-10 am Altar Guild Youth Outing Scream Zone

11 S T. L U K E S L U T H E R A N C H U R C H W I L S O N S T. L A M E S A, C A Phone: Webpage: office-sllc@att.net NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID EL CAJON,CA PERMIT NO 262 Dated Material October 2016 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED A WARM WELCOME TO ALL Worship Service: Sundays, 9:00 am During service childcare is available for ages 5 and under in Lower Level. Sunday School for all ages after worship service in Lower Level classrooms. St. Luke s Theological Academy Sundays and Tuesdays. Office/Campus Closed October 10th. Quarterly Congregational Meeting October 23th after worship service. WSL Thank Offering collection for the month of October. St. Luke s Mission Statement: We are called as a community of Christians saved by grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ to spread the Holy Gospel in word, sacrament, and action soli deo gloria.