OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN CHURCH HERALD October 2017 NEWSLETTER
October 05 October 07 October 08 October 09 October 10 October 21 October 24 Glen Anseth Eyvonne Scheick Cathy Larson Laurie Smith Lory Hare Sue Kesick Skip Hanenkrath Karen Wilkerson October 01 October 09 October 23 Ted & Gwen Kalagian Jim & Sue Kesick Walt & Doris Luhrs
Pastor s Devotion Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. Hebrews 9:1-10 Welcome to the 10 th month October fall has fully come upon us, (well, not really, since temperatures during the day are still quite warm ), but non the less, we ve made it thus far, to the beginning of that season which is one of my favorite times of the year (again, not a stretch, since there are only four to choose from ). But this month is special, seeing as we re headed towards a very special time in our church body, the 500 th anniversary of the Reformation and our celebration of God acting through His servant, Dr. Martin Luther, to bring God s people back to where God wanted them to be focused on Him and His desire to have His people doing things the way He intended, the way He directed in His Holy Word, instead of the way certain people, believing they knew best how to do the things God have given them to do And at this time, I ve begun my devotion with a [passage from the book of Hebrews, a book which the church understands was intended, as the name suggest, to remind God s people who they were and where they came from. And this ninth chapter has a wonderful reminder of something that was lost to God s people the Ark of the Covenant that Mercy Seat of God s from where He used to rest amongst His people as He led them through their exile, towards that place He had promised their fore-fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And today, for us, the people of God who call OSLC our church home, who profess to be believers and followers of YHWH do we need a reminder as to who we are and how far have WE come??? Do we need to be reminded, not of the acts of Priests, who had to carry blood into a tent, to make atonement for the
Unintentional sins of the people, but of the actions of our father in the faith, Brother Martin, who strove against the church to bring them back into a proper relationship with the Almighty? And if you would be so kind, look at the first and last five words of Hebrews 9 Now until the time of reformation the writer of Hebrews wasn t speaking of the work of the Monk, no, but of the reformation that will occur when YHWH decides it s time to complete His plan of reforming all things back into what He designed in the first place His precious creation, those things He made in His image, that He called very good reunited with Him in paradise, where we were meant to be, in a place where we could fellowship with Him and dwell with Him in the new heavens and earth, where everything we need will be lovingly provided for us as we bask in the glow of His love for all eternity without any problems that plague us as they do now because of our inability as a people to recognize Him for who He is and what He s done for us So dear ones, may we strive to take this time we ve been given to celebrate once again the gift we ve been given, by Him and Him alone, and rejoice in our own reformation from who we were to who we are now in YHWH s gift to us His Son, Jesus, the Christ who is now in that Mercy Seat waiting to be sent by His Father to return and restore once for all reforming all creation to once again reside in the presence of YHWH, eating manna, and praising Him for all He s done for us now and forever, Amen!
Commentary from our sister, Doris Reformation or Reform? As we remember Dr. Martin Luther s shaking up of Christianity in 1517-October 31 st, and as we celebrate Reformation Day 500 years later, let s take a look at the meanings of the two words-reformation/reform-shall we? The addition of the letters ation to the word REFORM gives it a whole different meaning. REFORMATION implies action, usually applied against matters of discontent within a specific area-nation or nations-which, when given full reign, brings about destruction of some sort. REFORM usually carries with it hope; making that which appears wrong (unjust) right, and not by destructive means. Those of us who watched PBS televised movie: Dr. Martin Luther last month saw how things got way out of hand when he spoke out about the abuse of Pope Leo X s use of indulgence cash payments to-ostensibly- release loved-ones residing in purgatory (presumably before going to heaven). Dr. Luther observed of how wrong this was. Especially since Pope Leo X was taking the cash from those who could ill afford it and using it to pay for building the basilica of St. Peter s in Rome. Most disturbing for Dr. Luther was the whole idea of paying one s way to salvation via indulgences. Also, it was well known the political Medici Family-all powerful in Rome at the time-was supportive of Pope Leo x s behavior-all for this family s benefit. As Dr. Luther stood up for REFORM, because in good conscience, he could NOT accept this behavior-which was opposed to what Christ said: I am the way. Man s works or payment were NOT. The Medici family and Pope Leo X had a scam going full-time, and the people (especially the poor in spirit) had to be made aware of it. Obviously that didn t go over well with the church of the time. Did Dr. Luther fear excommunication? Not to any point of stopping to stand-up and TELL what he could not, in good conscience, let remain UNTOLD. And, in doing so, he became both the most hated and most beloved man in all of Europe. Dr. Luther s words and his work were a spirit-inspired achievement: a return to the gospel of grace that brought the believer into a relationship with Jesus. So, let us celebrate that RELATIONSHIP and the reformation/reform can rest on it alone.
READINGS FOR OCTOBER October 01 Deut. 2:16-37, Matt. 6:16-34 October 02 Deut. 3:1-29, Matt. 7:1-12 October 03 Deut. 4:1-20, Matt. 7:13-29 October 04 Deut. 4:21-40, Matt. 8:1-17 October 05 Deut. 5:1-21, Matt. 8:18-34 October 06 Deut. 5:22-6:9, Matt. 9:1-17 October 07 Deut. 6:10-25, Matt. 9:18-38 October 08 Deut. 7:1-19, Matt. 10:1-23 October 09 Deut. 8:1-20, Matt. 10:24-42 October 10 Deut. 9:1-22, Matt. 11:1-19 October 11 Deut. 9:23-10:22, Matt. 11:20-30 October 12 Deut. 11:1-25, Matt 12:1-21 October 13 Deut. 11:26-12:12, Matt. 12:22-37 October 14 Deut. 12:13-32, Matt. 12:38-50 October 15 Deut. 13:1-18, Matt. 13:1-23 October 16 Deut. 14:1-2, 22-23, 14:28-15:15, Matt. 13:24-43 October 17 Deut. 15:19-16:22, Matt. 13:44-58 October 18 Deut. 17:1-20, Matt. 14:1-21 October 19 Deut. 18:1-22, Matt. 14:22-36 October 20 Deut. 19:1-20, Matt. 15:1-20 October 21 Deut. 20:1-20, Matt. 15:21-39 October 22 Deut. 21:1-23, Deut. 22:1-24:9, Matt. 16:1-12 October 23 Deut.24:10-25:10, Matt. 16:13-28 October 24 Deut. 25:17-26:19, Matt. 17:1-13 October 25 Deut.27:1-26, Matt. 17:14-27 October 26 Deut. 28:1-22, Matt. 18:1-20 October 27 Deut. 29:1-29, Matt. 18:21-35 October 28 Deut. 30:1-20, Matt. 19:1-15 October 29 Deut. 31:1-29, Matt. 19:16-30 October 30 Deut. 31:30-32:27, Matt.20:1-16 October 31 Deut. 32:28-52, Deut. 33:1-29, Matt. 20:17-34
LOOKING AHEAD MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY meets Wednesday at 11:00 (No Bible Study on 10/11/17) LWML will meet October 7 th at 10:00. SECOND SUNDAY ANN/BIRTHDAY is October 8 th. COLUMBUS DAY October 9 th. BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETS on Tuesday, October 10 th at 6:00. FYI Pastor will be gone October 11 th through the 13 th for the Pastors conference in Memphis. LISTENING HEARTS Saturday October 14 th (9-noon) MITE BOX will be in the Narthex October 15 th. LADIES FELLOWSHIP will be in Ruth Noren s home, October 19 th at 10:30. Lunch will be provided. ELDERS MEET Thursday, October 26 th. COUNCIL MINUTES-see attachment
ATTENTION THRIVENT MEMBERS: Thrivent has discontinued notifying members of available Choice Dollars that can be directed to charitable organizations of your choice. While these monies are still available, members must contact Thrivent by phone or on line and direct their funds before March 31 of each year, or the accumulated dollars will go into Thrivent's general fund for charitable donations. REFORMATION RECITAL, Sun. Oct. 22, 4:00 p.m., at OSLC. Commemorating the 500 th anniversary of the Reformation, Dale S. and his friend Taylor Moorefield will present a recital featuring music from the pre-renaissance, the Renaissance, and especially the hymns penned by Martin Luther during the historic period. A blend of organ, violin, guitar and vocal. The recital is free and open to the public. DVD: LUTHER AND THE REFORMATION Commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, Rick Steve s travels in the footsteps of Martin Luther. Includes the onehour public television special, along with bonus features: Germany s Luther Towns, Rick Steve s European Christmas and European Easter. About 3 hours in length. Available online at: augsburgfortress.org. Approximately $20 including S&H. Visit Our New Web Site: www.oursaviormorristown.org Find current news and announcements for OSLC. Happiness consists in giving, and in serving others. ~Henry Drummond