Sunday November 29, 2015

Transcription

1 Sunday November 29, 2015 First English Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1603 Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA Office (804) Fax (804) Web pages: Rev. Dr. John T. Schweitzer, Pastor: Mr. Linwood D. Lunde, Director of Music: Mr. Brian Wingfield, Parish Administrator:

2 own Facebook page!). From the Pastor Since we have just celebrated Reformation Sunday, I would like to reprint here (with minor changes) the Pastor s Post which I sent out last Saturday via Constant Contact to everyone who subscribes to our Newsletter. On Sunday, October 25, we celebrated Reformation Sunday, a uniquely Lutheran festival, which always falls on the Sunday closest to Reformation Day itself, observed on October 31. Yes, I know, that s also Halloween. I ve preached and taught many times that the reason the two holidays are on the same date is because Luther posted his 95 Theses, or propositions for debate (official title: Disputation of Doctor Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences ) on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany on All Hallow s Eve. That was what they called the evening before All Saint s Day, which is observed on November 1, a day when a large number of people would attend church and perhaps at least see if not read Luther s propositions. Church doors served as bulletin boards in that pre- Facebook and Twitter era! One can only imagine how many tweets Luther would have received in reaction to his 95 theses if he had had social media at his disposal (and I m sure he would have had his Much has been said and written about Luther, and his own writings fill a small bookcase. I ve preached at least 30 Reformation Sunday Sermons, and admit to having recycled some of the best of them, since it s important that we hear again and again the essentials of what Luther taught. I won t try to summarize here what his lasting contributions to Christianity are, but will mention two things which are sine qua non (since Luther spoke Latin much of the time, there s the obligatory Latin phrase: the German one is near the end!). First, the rediscovery of the heart of the gospel, which is salvation by grace through faith. See Romans 3, especially verse 28. Second, the rediscovery of the Bible as the final and only necessary source of knowledge of this salvation which come through Jesus Christ, and hand in hand with that the necessity of making the Bible available in whatever language its readers know best. Thus the scripture readings in our church are in English, not Hebrew and Greek (or Latin); in Denmark they re in Danish. In connection with salvation by grace through faith (which for Lutherans is the central message of the Bible), Luther stressed the solidarity of God with humanity, which otherwise has no hope. Without this solidarity, which is revealed through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the world would be nothing but death and darkness. And by that Luther means the total darkness which was present in the beginning (Genesis 1:2): and darkness was upon the face of the deep. Then God spoke: Let there be light! And the darkness was overcome by the light of God. In John 1 (which also begins with the words, in the beginning) we read: What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. This of course is referring to Jesus, the light of the world. I m sure some of us have visited one of the caverns in the Shenandoah Valley. One of the features of most tours through these caves is when the guide turns out all the lights. For about ten seconds one experiences total darkness. It s a unique and for me somewhat terrifying experience. When I was in Dixie Caverns near Roanoke a few years ago (and in Endless Caverns on October 22 this year; I m trying to do all six Shenandoah Valley caverns by

3 the end of next summer), I thought of Genesis 1 and God creating light after the original darkness in the beginning. When to my great relief the cavern lights were switched back on I had a new appreciating of what Jesus meant when he said, I am the light of the world. How terrible it would be to walk in darkness without the light of Christ it would be like trying to find one s way out of one of these caves without any light. Another side of Luther s understanding of the work of Christ is represented by his Easter hymn Christ Jesus Lay in Death s Strong Bands ( Christ lag in Todesbanden there s your German quote!) In verse 4 of the German original (for some reason our current hymnal ELW doesn t include this verse; it s verse 2 in the LBW, the old green hymnal) Luther writes: Holy Scripture plainly says that death is swallowed up by death (more German: Die Schrift hat verkündet das, wie ein Tod den andern fraß). Life and light have triumphed over death and darkness! And you find out about this great gift of salvation in scripture! So let s celebrate Reformation! Let s celebrate life! Let s read our Bibles! And let s follow Jesus, who is the light of the world, and brings us life and salvation without any merit on our part. That s what this Sunday is all about. ~ Pastor John Schweitzer Remember to set your clocks BACK 1 hour before going to bed on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31 ST!

4 First English Evangelical Lutheran Church November 2015 Consecration Sunday is November 1st. This year the faith family of First English Lutheran Church sets aside a special Sunday to thank God for his daily provision and to publically bring to the altar of our Lord our next year's offering pledge. We do not make this commitment because the church needs to pay its bills, for we know full well that God will take care of our need. Instead, we deliberately set aside a portion of our income so that we can be intentional givers rather than accidental givers. Soul Knitters will meet on Sunday, November 1st after the Stewardship luncheon. We will begin to make available items for purchase throughout the month of November. All donations will be contributed to Lutheran Family Services and/or FeedMore. If you have holiday shopping to do and like handmade gifts, please see our table in the Wagner Room during the month of November. Items will include ornaments, scarves, hats, wristlets (fingerless gloves), lap blankets, baby bibs, baby blankets, and more. We are baptized children of God, saved by His grace, freed to serve Him in daily life and called to a commitment in Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. Consecration Sunday is a Stewardship Sunday. Christian stewardship is the free and joyous activity of the child of God, and God's family the church, in managing all of life and life's blessings/resources, for God's purposes. We will be celebrating All Saints Day on Sunday, November 1st, with special music and a guest speaker. Following the service, the Stewardship Committee invites you to a celebratory brunch. More information will be sent to you in the weeks ahead. If you have questions please contact Brian Wingfield, our church administrator, the Pastor, or any of our stewardship committee members. Women of the ELCA Biblical Mysteries Explained The Women of the ELCA will meet at 6:00 pm on Friday, November 13th. Libby Riggle will show a DVD on the story of the plagues form the book of Exodus. Scientists have explored these events and submitted their findings as to how these things happened. Dinner will be covered dish. See you on the 13th.

5 The Giving Heart: FELC Fall 2015 Service Project The fall service project this year is for The Giving Heart ( This is an all volunteer organization started in 2003 that serves the greater Richmond community and focuses on providing food, fellowship and essential items to those in need. First English will be providing giftwrapped shoeboxes for children containing toothbrushes, toothpaste, socks, combs, writing pads, pencils, soap, sealed snacks and other items. A donation box with a requested items list is in the narthex. Shoeboxes are also needed. The First English youth group is supporting this project. People preferring to make cash or check donations for the purchase of additional items can include those as part of their offering with a note indicating Fall Service Project: The Giving Heart. Thrivent funds are requested for matching church funds. The Wrap-Day is Sunday, November 22 nd after the 10:30 service when the shoeboxes are wrapped (top and bottom separately) and filled with the socks and other items. Contact Jeff Nelson if you have any questions (jeff289@comcast.net). The boxes will be distributed to children at the Community Thanksgiving Feast, which is organized by The Giving Heart, held on Thanksgiving Day at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Please join us for pizza and advent activities at the Advent Event on Sunday, December 13 th during hospitality. There will be tree decorating and crafts in the Wagner Room. Please remember to help the less fortunate by donating non-perishable/non-glass canned food items to the First English food bin located in the office lobby area. All items are taken to Feed More for distribution to our neighbors in need.

6 The Social Ministry Committee has scheduled the following persons to provide a brief "temple talk" about their organization and opportunities for volunteers. At the conclusion of the service, donations will be collected for the organization. Thrivent funds will supplement the amount collected. Pamphlets and display boards, as available from the organizations, will be on display in the Wagner Room for further information. November 8 - Lynn Williams, Cross Over Health Ministries, November 15 - Susan Sekerke, Daily Planet, December 6 - Douglas Thorpe, Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care (VIPCare), To be scheduled - Circle Center Adult Day Services, First English has a strong commitment to organizations such as these serving the Richmond community. If possible, please donate to help them. In Memoriam: It is a tradition in our church that we remember in the Prayers of Intercession on All Saints Sunday those members and friends of our congregation whose funerals were held here since that Sunday last year. This year we observe All Saints Sunday, on the actual calendar All Saints Day, Sunday, November 1. Here is the list of those funerals I conducted during this time period: Arlene Oldershaw + 3/28/15 89 years Audrey Mae Schumann + 4/30/15 92 years Harry Shepard Rowland Jr. + July 30, years Doris Davis + September 26, years

7 November 1 All Saints Day November 8 24 th Sunday after Pentecost November th Sunday after Pentecost November 22 Christ the King Sunday November 29 1 st Sunday of Advent 8:15 Lector Kathy Massie Marlene James Pat McAfee Kevin Murphy Grace Gulick 10:30 Chris Hamilton Charlie Cheryl Shiembob Sheryl Finucane Polly Brickman Lector Schumann Crucifer Jake Hamilton Jim Byerly Stuart Myer Cooper Hoke Molly McCue Acolyte Nate Fenerty Ellie Fenerty Amanda Jarvis Cassidy Hoke Colin Murphy Altar Guild Polly Brickman Jim Byerly Linda Wallace Libby Riggle Lynn Heltzel Stuart Myer Billy Duke Peggy Davis Head Sheryl Finucane Rob Comet Rob Comet Rob Comet Rob Comet Counter Counters Stuart Myer John Ritz Julie Goodman Sheryl Finucane Kathy Massie Grace Gulick Joe Smith Stuart Myer Betty Cochran Joe Thisted Ushers Kirk Fenerty Bill Fenerty Rob Comet Debbie Lane Sheryl Finucane Lynn Heltzel Joyce Smith Joedy Smith Jim Byerly Mark Crumpton Roger Riggle Stuart Myer Reni Gower Jeff Nelson Bob Lane Roger Riggle Lynn Heltzel Debbie Lane Linda Smith Roger Riggle Hospitality Celebration Luncheon for Consecration Sunday Readings Isa 25:6-9 Rev 21:1-6a John 11:32-44 Karl Oldershaw 1 Kings 17:8-16 Heb 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44 Linda Wallace Billy Duke Dan 12:1-3 Heb 10:11-14,19-25 Mark 13:1-8 Dan 7:9-10,13-14 Rev 1:4b-8 John 18:33-37 Jer 33: Thess 3:9-13 Luke 21:25-36 Newsletter Deadline All submissions for the December issue need to be turned in to the church office no later than Friday November 13. Thank you for your cooperation. Church Office Staff

8 First English Evangelical Lutheran Church November 2015 FELC People News Doris Davis, born on December 21, 1916, departed this life on September 26, 2015, at the age of 98 years. A memorial service was held at our church on October 9, 2015, and her remains were laid to rest at Riverview Cemetery. Doris was a cousin of the late Rev. Kenneth Crumpton. She is mourned by, among others, Mark Crumpton and Elizabeth Crumpton Shepherd. Let s Celebrate November with the Following Members of our Congregation On Saturday, October 10, 2015 Michael Patrick Golden and Grace Tulloh Flatin were united in marriage at 5:30 pm in our church. Happy Birthday to everyone celebrating a birthday in the month of November! Congratulations to all celebrating a Wedding Anniversary in November!

9 Youth Group Braves Busch Gardens Roller Coasters and Howl-O- Scream for Second Year in a Row Continuing a tradition that had been interrupted for a few years until 2014, 5 of our youth, two adults and Pastor Schweitzer (moral support) traveled to Williamsburg on Sunday afternoon, October 18 for fun and (to quote Pastor s term used in his sermon that day) pagan tomfoolery at Busch Gardens, which is transformed every October for Halloween. The day was sunny but a little cool, the crowd not nearly so large as last year (probably because we went on a Sunday and not a Saturday), and we practically walked onto the roller coasters without a wait, except for the Tempesto (slow loader, but the three boys in the group did it while Pastor and the girls enjoyed multiple rides on Apollo s Chariot) and the Verbolten (we didn t even get onto that one: the line was too long). After a relaxing meal and time to get warm in the Festhaus, we patiently waited in line for Bitten and Unearthed. It was all fun, we enjoyed being together, and the kids were on their way home by 8:30. Pastor stayed just a little longer to experience first-hand why a Lutheran celebrates Reformation and not just Halloween on October 31 (again: heathen tomfoolery: like the Germans say, man muss das mit Vorsicht genießen!

10 Sunday November 1 All Saints Sunday Daylight Savings Time Ends 8:15 am: Service of Holy Communion 9:15 am: Sunday School 9:30 am: First Communion Class 9:30 am: Chancel Choir Rehearsal 10:30 am: Service of Holy Communion 11:30 am: Hospitality Celebration Luncheon for Consecration Sunday 12:30 pm: Soul Stitchers Wednesday Nov. 4 Wednesdays Together 5:00 pm: Bell Choir Rehearsal 6:00 pm: Dinner 6:45 pm: Chancel Choir Rehearsal Sunday Nov th Sunday after Pentecost 8:15 am: Service of Holy Communion 9:15 am: Sunday School 9:30 am: Chancel Choir Rehearsal 10:30 am: Service of Holy Communion 11:30 pm: Hospitality Karl Oldershaw 12:00 pm: Congregational Life Committee Meeting Wednesday Nov. 11 Wednesdays Together 5:00 pm: Bell Choir Rehearsal 6:00 pm: Dinner 6:45 pm: Chancel Choir Rehearsal Friday November 13 6:00 pm: Women of the ELCA Sunday Nov th Sunday after Pentecost 8:15 am: Service of Holy Communion 9:15 am: Sunday School 9:30 am: Chancel Choir Rehearsal 10:30 am: Service of Holy Communion 11:30 am: Hospitality Linda Wallace/Billy Duke Tuesday November 17 7:00 pm: Congregational Council Meeting Wednesday Nov. 18 Wednesdays Together 5:00 pm: Bell Choir Rehearsal 6:00 pm: Dinner 6:45 pm: Game Night 6:45 pm: Chancel Choir Rehearsal Sunday Nov. 22 Christ the King Sunday 8:15 am: Service of Holy Communion 9:15 am: Adult Sunday School 9:30 am: Chancel Choir Rehearsal 10:30 am: Service of Holy Communion 11:30 am: Hospitality 12:00 pm: The Giving Heart Wrap Day 12:00 pm: Worship & Music Committee Meeting Wednesday November 25 No Wednesdays Together Thursday November 26 Thanksgiving Day Church Office Closed Friday November 27 Church Office Closed Sunday Nov st Sunday in Advent 8:15 am: Service of Holy Communion 9:15 am: Adult Sunday School 9:30 am: Chancel Choir Rehearsal 10:30 am: Service of Holy Communion 11:30 am: Hospitality

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