Confession and Absolution

Transcription

1 Glory of Christ Lutheran Church Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 4040 County Road 101 No. Plymouth, MN Office phone Pastor: Rev. Klemet Preus Asst: Jo Ellen Braun Assistant Pastor for Missions: Rev. John Fehrmann Visitation Pastor: Rev. Dean Weibel Organists: Carla Claussen, Zelda Malo, Maddie Marshall & Sarah Miller, Adult Choir Director: Carla Claussen Bell Choir Director: Brenda Richards, Music Coordinator: Zelda Malo, Children s Bell Director: Ellie Leimer October 2011 Confession and Absolution Our small catechism says: Confession has two parts. First that we confess our sins, and second that we receive absolution, that is, forgiveness from the pastor as from God Himself, not doubting, but firmly believing that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven. Of course there are all sorts of questions we tend to ask before we would actually go to the pastor, tell him the things that we are ashamed of and listen to God s word of forgiveness from him. So let s ask some of these questions. I know what they are because I ask them myself. 1. I thought I got forgiven when Jesus died on the cross. Why do you say I get forgiven in the absolution? Answer: We believe that Jesus died on the cross to earn forgiveness for all people and we believe that God gives us this forgiveness through Baptism, through the Word of Forgiveness and through the Lord s Supper. We look at forgiveness in two ways because the Bible teaches us to do so. How it is earned and how it is given. Jesus saves us all once by earning forgiveness on the cross. The gospel saves us by daily giving us the forgiveness which Christ earned. And the gospel comes in more than one form: word, Baptism, Holy Communion, Absolution. 2. So I can receive forgiveness in the sermon and in the Lord s Supper? Answer: Yes. 3. Then why should I go to the pastor and get forgiven there? Answer: Because God has provided a number of ways in which to give us the forgiveness of sins and why wouldn t we take advantage of each way? You can get the forgiveness of sins in the sermon but you don t cut out of the church service before the Sacrament because you have had enough of God s grace. So why not receive it again in Holy Absolution? Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven Church Elders: Bill Anderson Carl Hartness Dave Koosman Garry McCreary Bruce Paradis Ben Rolf Mark Swenson ******************* President of Congregation: Roger Hargreaves Treasurer: Jesse Huber Secretary: Brenda Richards Church Council: Lori Beck Travis Dorweiler Eileen Esget Marcus Olson Mike Lindh Russell McBroom Chuck McGriff ******************* Pastor Preus Cell Phone: (763) (Pastor can be reached anytime on his Cell phone) Church Office Telephone: (763) Church Fax: (763) Church joellen@gloryofchrist.org Pastor s Home Telephone: (763)

2 4. Why can t I just pray privately to God and get forgiveness that way? Answer: Forgiveness is requested in prayer but not given through prayer. It is given in absolution. God promises to forgive you through the means mentioned above word and sacrament. Of course you posses forgiveness all the time through faith in Jesus and it is pleasing to God and proper to meditate upon that forgiveness through private Bible reading and prayer. But thinking about forgiveness and actually hearing it from someone else are two different things. I know that my wife loves me all the time. I have her love. But I would rather hear her say it than merely think about it in her absence. God wants to speak His grace and forgiveness to you. 5. Can I get forgiveness from someone besides the pastor? Answer: If you would confess to someone else and that person would apply the forgiveness of sins to you by speaking the word of Christ s forgiveness, then that would be a true forgiveness. It happens all the time when we talk about Christ to each other. 6. Then why should I go to the pastor? Answer: You go to the pastor because he has been appointed by God specifically to apply the forgiveness of sins by speaking the word and administering the sacraments. It is his vocation. So others do so either in emergency or casually but the pastor does so deliberately and in response to a specific confession. If the pastor speaks God s forgiveness you can be certain it is true because God has authorized him to do so. Further, pastors have been trained not only to pronounce the forgiveness of sins but also to encourage you with the Bible s many comforting sayings. 7. Can t I just get absolution during the service on Sunday morning? Answer: Obviously you can. Sometimes it is comforting and helpful to hear that specifically your sins are absolved or that specifically a recurring sin is forgiven especially if you are really troubled by it. It s the difference between ordering a meal at a restaurant or simply being fed family style that which everyone else receives. The former is much more personal. The Catechism says, Before God we should plead guilty of all sins, even those we are not aware of, as we do in the Lord s Prayer; but before the pastor we should confess only those sins which we know and feel in our hearts. 8. Is Confession a requirement? Answer: The Gospel is never a requirement. You don t have to go to the pastor and confess your sins. Or course you don t have to go to your wife and ask if she loves you either. But it s nice. Lutherans don t tell you what to do when it comes to the gospel and the forgiveness of sins. We don t demand that you go to the Supper. The gospel is not a law. We don t demand that you read your Bible or attend services. We don t say, You have to believe, like it s some mandated requirement for heaven. We simply tell you that you will be given the forgiveness of sins from the pastor if you go to him and ask for it. One of the differences between Lutheran and Roman Catholics is that Lutheran never made private confession and absolution a requirement. Subsequently the practiced decreased in the churches dramatically. But just because people don t take advantage of God s gift that doesn t mean it is not precious and very much available. 9. What if I should confide something to the pastor and he would break confidence. Answer: Pastors have vowed in their ordination never to reveal the confidences spoken to them in private. Any pastor who would do such a thing should be defrocked and never allowed to wear the collar or stole again. 10. What if a child molester or serial murderer confessed his sins to the pastor? Would the pastor be obligated to tell the authorities? Answer: No. The pastor s vocation is not in the left hand kingdom. It is in the right. He does not answer to the government or those who protect the physical safety or peace of the land. He protects people from the condemnation of God. If, speaking for God, he loosens the sinner from his sin then there is, as far as God and the pastor are concerned,

3 nothing left to report to anyone. If you have any questions about this then you should attend the Bible class on Sunday morning at 10:20 entitled Left hand Kingdom Right Hand Kingdom. 11. But I would be embarrassed to tell someone else my sins. Answer: That s because your sins are embarrassing. You should be embarrassed. At the same time, pastors really do not let the confessions of the people in their congregations effect they way they feel about them or the way they act toward them. Pastors learn to forget what people have said to them. I would never allow anyone s confession to shape my opinion of them. If the sins are gone removed as far as the east is from the west then there is nothing to remember or to be influenced by. 12. Would the pastor ever scold me for my sins? Answer: Absolutely not. No never. Not under any circumstances. God does not scold the penitent sinner. Pastors speak for God. 13. When would I confess my sins privately to the pastor? Answer: Just call him up for an appointment. Better and easier, stop by the church most Saturday afternoons at 4:00. From 4:00-4:45 pastor Preus will listen to anyone in the congregation who wishes to confess their sins and he will absolve them with Christ s forgiveness. A list of those Saturdays when the pastor is available is below and will also be posted on the office door. Private Confession and Absolution: Saturdays at 4:00-4:45. October 22, 29, November 5, 12, 19, December 17 or by appointment. Klemet Preus Don't FALL behind, now is the time to start thinking about your donation for the Silent Auction. Also, mark your calendars, clear your schedules, and plan to attend the Silent Auction on April 28, 2012.

4 Services in the month of October October 2, 2011, The 15 th Sunday after Trinity: The Gospel Lesson for this Sunday (Matthew 6:24-34) warns all of the dangers of worry and anxiety. There is only one antidote for worry. Come and find out what that might be. October 9, 2011, The 16 th Sunday after Trinity: The raising of the widow s son (Luke 7:11-17) is one of the most dramatic and compassionate miracles in the Bible. It teaches us that the Lord wants to and can conquer death in our lives as well. We will have a chance to sing some Easter hymns as we celebrate eternal life in Christ. Rev. Lynn Hanson, chaplain at the Veterans hospital will be the guest preacher since both pastor Preus and Pastor Fehrmann will be in Guatemala. October 16, 2011, the 17 th Sunday after Trinity: Ever heard of a dilemma? It s when you can t decide between to terrible options. Jesus places a dilemma in front of the Pharisees and they are silenced again as he teaches us the lesson of compassion and the manner in which to identify the Christ (Luke 14:1-11). October 23, 2011, the 18 th Sunday after Trinity: Matthew 22:34-46 is the passage which shows that Jesus fulfills the prediction of him in Psalm 110, The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet. This passage teaches both the humbling sacrifice of Jesus and his honor and glory. If you love Jesus you will love this gospel lesson. October 30, 2011, Reformation Sunday. The celebration of Reformation is not the celebration of a heroic churchman who defied the established church with courage and brass. Rather it is the story of Christ who forgives freely through his word and is received through faith. The heroic churchman merely was in the right place at the right time to learn this wonderful truth and tell others of it. Matthew 11:12-15 teaches this truth clearly. A modified version of Divine Service 5 will be used. October 30th - 5:30 pm Chili will be judged for Taste, Hottest Chili and Presentation. Cornbread and Pie will be judged for Taste and Presentation. Look for a sign up in the Narthex.

5 9-Oct 16-Oct 23-Oct 30-Oct COFFEE SERVERS: M. Scharlau L. Esget P. Hemingway E. Walter C. Scharlau E. Esget K. Stieg A. Walter ACOLYTES: 9:00 AM M. Swenson S. Olson A. Corey CRUCIFER 9:00 AM ELDERS: G. McCreary G. McCreary G. McCreary G. McCreary 9:00 AM C. Hartness C. Hartness B. Paradis B. Paradis USHERS: K. Diemand R. Hargreaves M. Swenson T. Beach 9:00 AM J. Schultz T. Hargreaves H,. Braun ALTAR GUILD; J. Koosman C. Kuenzel S. Karius J. Diemand K. Swenson D. Kuenzel K. Skau B. Schoolman OFFERING B. Strom C. Smith C. Kuenzel J. Eickhoff COUNTERS: A. Strom C. Smith D. Kuenzel J. Eickhoff BREAD BAKER B. Guenhagen E. Esget E. McBroom C. McCreary BREAD DELIVERER B. Gruenhagen E. Esget R. Decker C. Hartness OUR MUSIC STAFF: Church Organists: Carla Claussen, Zelda Malo, Maddie Marshall, & Sarah Miller Music Coordinator: Zelda Malo Adult Choir Director: Carla Claussen (practice Wednesday s at 7:30) Bell Choir Director: Brenda Richards (practice Wednesday s at 6:30) Children s Bell Choir Director: Ellie Leimer (practice Wednesday s at 4:30)

6 10/01/000 Ashley Larson Birthday 10/01/000 Ocie Olson Birthday 10/02/000 Susan Torkelson Birthday 10/05/000 Olivia Schaumburg Birthday 10/06/000 Kevin & Rhonda Berry Anniversary 10/07/000 Jan & Kim Diemand Anniversary 10/08/000 Mike and Carol Swenson Anniversary 10/11/000 Benjamin & Jennifer Schaumburg Anniversary 10/13/000 Garry & Cheryl McCreary Anniversary 10/13/000 John Edson Birthday 10/16/000 Jo Ellen Braun Birthday 10/20/000 Leonard Albers Birthday 10/21/000 Cheryl McCreary Birthday 10/25/000 Craig Smith Birthday 10/30/000 Carol Swenson Birthday 10/31/000 Mike Connealy Birthday Upcoming Event Dates Event Date Time Chili Cook off October 30 th 5:30 PM Bible Class on Movies November 6,13 th and 20 th 7:00 8:30 PM Christmas Program December 11 th 10:30 AM Bake Sale (Bible Class hour) Preus Christmas Party December 11 th 5:00 PM Pasta Dinner January 22nd 6:00 PM Liturgy Workshop March 3rd 9:00AM 3:00 PM Silent Auction April 28 th 5:00PM-10:00PM Vacation Bible School June 18-21, :00AM 5:00PM

7 Hollywood and Christianity Three weeks of Movie Clips And Bible Verses November 6, 13, 20, 2011 Glory of Christ Lutheran Church 4040 County Rd 101 North 7:00-8:30 PM November 6: How Hollywood teaches Melodrama Winners have the right values Losers have bad values Movies are never gray November 13: The values of Hollywood Anything intolerant is really bad All freedom is good especially sexual freedom The organized church is pretty bad November 20: How do we respond? Maybe we ought to listen to the criticism Are Lutherans next? Disengagement or engagement Don t mess with Jesus Plan on Popcorn, Hotdogs, Soda-pop and lots of opportunity for discussion and opinion sharing with Christ at the center. Please Invite your Friends and Neighbors! Christ's Church: Her Biblical Roots, Her Dramatic History, Her Saving Presence, Her Glorious Future Bo Giertz (Author), Hans Andr (Translator) Meeting: November 5th, 8:00 am Dunn Brothers, On Vicksburg Ln just south of Highway 55 near Lowe's. In a day when there is so much confusion concerning the church and her purpose in the world, "Christ's Church" written by Bo Giertz and translated by Hans Andrae is a particularly great gift to God's people. Bo Giertz explores the Biblical roots of the church, briefly surveys her history, talks about Her Saving Presence, and offers a Vision for Her future. This is the third Giertz book we have been privileged to read and discuss. Don t miss this gem. On the Narthex Table for $23.00

8 Right Kingdom Left Kingdom Hanson and Harrison to address the Sunday Bible class. Ever wonder about any of the following questions? How does the church determine when it should take a stand on a social or moral issue? Is it OK to say Under God in the pledge of Allegiance? Would the church support conscientious objection? Should the pastor be compelled to reveal confidences even if it would save a life? Who defines marriage for society? Should homosexual behavior be illegal? Is no fault divorce a good thing for society? Is support for the sovereign state of Israel biblically mandated? Should we support prayer in public schools? How about teaching creation in the public schools? These questions and many more will be addressed at the Bible study which starts this Sunday morning at 1:20 and continues during the fall. It will look at what the Bible and our Lutheran Confessions say about the relationship between the rule of Christ through the gospel and the rule of Christ in the secular world. Lutheran have a unique view which balances between the extremes of a state run church and a church run state. Please note that on October 9 Pastor Lynn Hanson will lead the class. Pastor Hanson is a military chaplain. As such he answers to God who rules the US government by a constitution and laws. Yet he also answers to God who rules his church by the Scriptures. Does this force some ambiguity upon Pastor Hanson and place him into situations which are difficult to navigate ethically. Yes it does. So come and listen to him. On October 16 there is a good chance that the president of the synod, Matt Harrison, will lead the class on how the LCMS lives under the laws of the land but at the same time under the rule of Christ in the gospel. He might have something interesting to say as well. Lawyers from glory of Christ will also lead the class at times. So get your lawyer jokes ready. You will learn a lot and have a lot to discuss at your after church lunches.

9 Glory of Christ Lutheran Church Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 4040 State Hwy. 101 No. Plymouth, MN Office: (763) Rev. Klemet Preus Pastor Jo Ellen Braun Admin Asst. Service Schedule Sunday Service 9:00 am Adult Bible Class 10:20 am Sunday School 10:20 am Saturday Service 5:00 pm