OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH NEWSLETTER Pastor Al Muck 751 N. Maple Grove Ave. Hudson, MI 49247 517-448-6271 OCTOBER 2017 Pillars of the faith Because Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses, or thoughts, to a church door in Wittenberg, Germany, on October 31, 1517, many Christians remember that day and the major changes, or Reformation, that resulted. Luther's theses contained three main pillars, which have stood for almost 500 years. 1. Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone) - The Bible is the sole authority in matters of faith, life and conduct. 'All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness' (2 Timothy 3:16, NRSV). 2. Sola Fide (Faith Alone) - Christians are justified, or declared righteous, only through believing in Jesus Christ as Savior. Although morality and good works are important, they alone cannot lead to salvation. 'A person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ' (Galatians 2:16, NRSV). 3. Sola Gratia (Grace Alone) - Grace is God's unmerited, or undeserved, favor. Salvation is a free gift from our gracious God. 'For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God - not the result of works, so that no one may boast' (Ephesians 2:8-9, NRSV). The Feste Burg A Mighty Fortress, the hymn written by Protestant reformer Martin Luther in 1529, is powerful in English but even better in its original German. Historian Michael Streich notes that Luther compares God not only to a fortress but to a completely secure stronghold, or Feste Burg. A burg was a fortified town, Streich says. When invaders approached, the surrounding populace fled to the safety of the walls sometimes to layers of walls within walls. Luther s hymn compares God to the most powerful of all burgs, with eternally unbreakable walls. When we need a place of refuge, God offers his Mighty Fortress, his Feste Burg. Within this refuge, with our value based on our relationship to God rather than on earthly achievements, we ll never be put to shame. Inside this fortified town, the God who desires an eternal relationship with us delivers, rescues and saves us. Homiletics Church Council Church Council meets Sunday, October 1st, following service. Ladies Guild Ladies Guild meets Thursday, October 5th, at 7:00 PM.
The Family of Karleen Marsh, sister of Dody Fowler The Family of Eva Miler Jaykob Robinson autism Kylee Claeys loss of her third child at birth Jayme Lohr the ability to sell house, find a job, a new place, and start of a new and better life John Boehk recovery from triple bypass heart surgery Mike Sanborn heart attack Grayson Rupley sensory disorder Margaret Runnells broken leg complications and cancer Allison Stickel health & anxiety issues Helen Meyer foot pain & problems Roger Sholl cancer, awaiting test results Janet Frees at home recovering from a stroke Greg Dorfmeyer heart problems Mark Stubli personal and medical problems Raelene Prothero strength and healing Shirley Klinger in remission, strength Ben Rupley unexplained body pain Eric Lewis healing of his body Tom Popejoy healing from surgery Families impacted by Hurricane Harvey Families impacted by Hurricane Irma Church Council Ladies Guild Our Saviour Lutheran Missionaries LWML Sunday LWML Sunday will be October 22nd. We will be ushering and have a special service. Women of the Reformation Although the names most often associated with the Reformation are male, women also played key roles in maintaining the integrity of the church. Most were wives and mothers, professor Justin Holcomb writes. Some were also authors, apologists, ex-nuns and queens. All were faithful servants of Jesus. Women who made notable contributions include: Katherine von Bora, the former nun who married former-priest Martin Luther Argula von Grumbach, a Bavarian noblewoman who published letters and debated with university faculty Olympia Fulvia Morata, an Italian scholar who lectured on the teachings of Luther and Calvin and was persecuted and imprisoned Jeanne d Albret, queen of Navarre and a leader in France s Huguenot movement, who tried to peacefully resolve tensions between Catholics and Protestants Marie Dentière, an aristocrat who left an Augustinian monastery to speak in public even on street corners! about church reform
On October 31, 1517, in Wittenberg, Germany, Martin Luther posted his thoughts about some theological topics and the practices of the Church. That simple action began the Reformation a movement that changed Western society. One man stood against the corruption of the establishment. Luther s fight was, of course, one of theology. But it was still one man, a monk, against the massive Holy Roman Empire. Luther was threatened, exiled, condemned and labeled a heretic. But his teaching grew in popularity throughout his life. Those who follow Luther s teachings number in the millions. Most Protestant churches today trace their lineage, in some part, to the teachings of Luther. The German language exists as it does today in large part due to Luther s translation of the New Testament. Luther s writings on the freedom of the Christian to serve the government, and the role of the government to establish justice and to protect citizens, have greatly influenced our view of authority. Though he was a theologian, Luther wrote and thought about all of life. He was concerned for the children in his town. He was involved in the politics of his day. He was an academic. He was a family man. He was a revolutionary. He was involved in the lives of the poor and the common man. Yet this Reformation anniversary is not a celebration of Luther. Even the Lutheran church does not celebrate Luther. Lutheran does not mean a follower of Luther, but of his theological teachings. Luther and the other Reformation theologians believed that all mankind is sinful, that everyone is guilty of error in God s sight. They also believed that God will punish those who do what He forbids. The problem is not only that everyone sins, but that mankind s sinful condition means there is no way to do enough good things to earn God s love. The Reformation proclaimed that the solution to the problem is not in man, but in God. Luther and his followers taught that the Bible teaches salvation by God s grace, through faith, because of Jesus. The message of the Reformation is that the Scriptures teach that God has grace on sinners. He gives forgiveness freely to all who believe in Him. This forgiveness is given through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. All who believe in Jesus as their Savior receive forgiveness and eternal life. All of this is a free gift from a loving God. Luther s teaching, and that of the Reformation, is often summarized in three solas. Sola gratia, sola fide and sola scriptura by faith alone, by grace alone and by Scripture alone. The key to Reformation theology is found in God s love for people. By grace alone means that God gives His love freely. People can t earn God s love. People can t earn forgiveness. God s love is not gained by human efforts, but given freely by God s grace. By faith alone means that those who believe in Jesus as God s Savior for all of mankind receive forgiveness and eternal life. Faith is something God gives to people through His Holy Spirit, working in the Word of God and the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord s Supper. People do nothing to earn God s love, but receive it by grace through faith. By Scripture alone means that God has revealed His truth through the Holy Bible. Scripture is the one trustworthy source for the truth about God. The Scriptures are properly read in light of Jesus as the Son of God in the flesh. The Bible teaches that His death and resurrection is the key event in all of history, because there, Jesus died to gain the forgiveness of everyone s sins. This does not mean that Christians should only read the Bible. Sola scriptura means that the Bible is the only trustworthy source for doctrine and life. The three solas, by grace alone, by faith alone and by Scripture alone, are all summarized in one more phrase from the Reformation, solus Christus through Christ alone. This is really the focus of the Reformation. God s grace, our faith and the Scriptures are all focused on Jesus Christ. The Reformation moved the focus from the Church to Jesus. Luther and the reformers taught that Jesus is how God relates to us and how we relate to Him. The reformers taught that Jesus is our salvation, that Jesus is the way that God loves. When Martin Luther understood Jesus as the center of all of Scripture and man s relationship to God, he saw everything in light of this relationship between God and man. This moved him to teach about the Christian s role in society, the role of the government, and how individual Christians live out their faith. Luther cared for the people in his town and worked to provide materials for them, writing the Small Catechism to teach the basics of the faith, and translating the Bible into German so that everyone could read the Word of God. Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses in Wittenberg, Germany, 500 years ago. Much has changed since then. Many things we encounter daily were influenced by the Reformation. The heart of the Reformation was theology. It was a return to God as the source of mankind s salvation. It was a focus on God s love. 500 years later, Lutherans still teach this theology, and rejoice in God s love. Pastor Al
Our Saviour Lutheran Ladies' Guild Meeting Sept. 7, 2017 Attending: Betty C. Linda F., Diann M., Mary B., Janice B., Linda R., Gloria S., Sharon K. Devotions: Betty C.- readings: Fingers for God Meeting called to order: Secretaries' report and Treasurers' report approved as given. Old Business: Compassion Child is Sangmorkie. She is 10 years old. Her birthday is in January. Diann will be writing a letter to her for the Guild. We received a letter and a picture she drew. Personal Care Kits: we will be collecting thru Sept. with an Oct. 1 cutoff date. New Business: LWML Sunday is Oct. 22 nd. We will have a special coffee hour with cake and ice cream. LWML board meeting is at Our Saviour, Sept. 23 rd. A light breakfast and lunch will be served. Cupcakes for dessert by Linda F., and Diann to pick up supplies and groceries at Sam's. November 18 th Women's Conference in Warren Mi. Up-coming: We will be collecting for Thanksgiving Baskets again in November. Our next meeting will be October 5 th. We will be meeting at 7pm. Motion to adjourn by Betty, seconded. Adjourned Secretary: Janice B.
3 Watson Clark 5 Ryan Bush Jim Gutierrez Adam Messersmith 6 Bill Klinger Harold Messersmith 9 Malia Grayer 10 Bryce Gutierrez 11 Samantha Rieger 14 Sarah Mohr 17 Jesse Heistan Brandon Murphy Ruth Smith 20 Daniel Church 24 Lucas Gutierrez Sarah Manders 25 Gracen Lucas 26 Iris Church 28 John Mattison 31 Mike Grimm 4 Watson & JoAnn Clark 22 Gary & Julie Perkins 23 Ted & Sue Minton 27 Doug & Sharon Shields GOD S RICHEST BLESSINGS TO ALL A prayer for neighborliness O God, we pray for a broader vision of the needs of humanity, and a deeper compassion to fill those needs; for a planting of the seeds of concern for all humanity in our hearts; for a tapping of the wells of generosity. May we live together as people who have been forgiven a great debt. May we be gentle, walking softly with one another. May we be understanding, lest we shall add to the world s sorrow or cause to flow needless tears. May we be as anxious for the rights of others as we are for our own. May we be as eager to forgive as we are to seek forgiveness. May we know no barriers of creed or race or sex, that our love may be like Yours a love that sees all people as Your children and our kin. May we be ministers of humanity. Peter Marshall
1 October 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2 3 4 5 6 7 17th Sunday after Pentecost 10:15 AM Worship Service Church Council meets Ladies Guild meets 7:00 PM 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 18th Sunday after Pentecost 10:15 AM Holy Communion 15 19th Sunday after Pentecost 10:15 AM Worship Service 1:00 PM 500 th Anniversary Reformation celebration 22 20th Sunday after Pentecost 10:15 AM Holy Communion 29 LWML Sunday Special One Offering Newsletter deadline Reformation (observed) 10:15 AM Worship Service 16 17 18 19 20 21 23 24 25 26 27 28 30 31 Reformation Day