November

 

On November 3 our nation will head for the polls during a national election. Millions have already cast their vote either through the mail or by early voting. Following are a few pastoral thoughts as we approach the election.  

Christ was active and present in the work of creation. “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…’”-Genesis 1:26   He entered this world to live a perfect life for you. He bore your sin as His own all the way to the blessed cross to die in your place and then victoriously rise from the dead on the third day to give you eternal life. Because of His work you are free – to help and serve your neighbor in love.

Christ is still in charge of this world. He rules in two camps; through the State (God’s Left Hand Kingdom) and through the Church (God’s Right Hand Kingdom).  The aim and goal of Christ’s rule through the State is justice. The aim and goal of Christ’s work through His Church is mercy.

The State’s primary source of rule and authority is through the Law found in the conscience. The State establishes laws based on what is right motivated by the guiding principle to “do no harm.”   The State must only punish those who have broken the law. The Church’s only source of rule and authority is the Gospel.  Our guiding principle, “love covers a multitude of sins.”  

In our representative republic elected individuals represent the citizen body and exercise power according to the rule of law under the constitution. We elect people to serve in office and through their work they establish laws, and work on our behalf.

As citizens, we have the privilege to exercise our right to vote every two years. If we are in favor of the work our representatives are doing we re-elect them. If we believe they have failed we vote them out of office.  We follow the laws for a good conscience and for fear of the consequences of breaking the law. For this reason we are obligated to give respect, honor and pay our taxes. (This is all spelled out in Romans 13) 

As Christians we also pray for our leaders so that we can live in peace and be about the business of gossiping the Gospel; serving God and our neighbor in love. This is what Paul spells out in his letter to Timothy – “I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone — for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.”-1Timothy 2:1-2

The State has no business ruling the Church and the Church has no business running the State.  Asking the government to help your church is like asking Caesar for really good seats at the Coliseum – and we know how that went. For this reason; as an example, we do not receive State vouchers at Wyneken. It is the Church’s school so we pay our own way.  This is why we sing the hymn, “Praise to the Almighty my soul adore Him” at least once a month as we enter an election cycle. Stanza two simply reads:

Trust not in rulers; they are but mortal;
Earth-born they are and soon decay.
Vain are their counsels at life's last portal,
When the dark grave engulfs its prey.
Since mortals can no help afford,
Place all your trust in Christ, our Lord.
Allelujah, allelujah!

All this said, I cannot nor will I tell you how to vote. My only encouragement is for you to be as informed concerning the issues as possible and to vote your conscience. Do not be afraid to speak your mind.

The societal issues we are facing are numerous. I’m old enough to have lived through the turbulent 1960’s. These issues have not fully been resolved so they still linger.

 As Christians we are given to pray. I’ve include some below. 

 A prayer for our nation: Almighty God, You have given us this good land as our heritage. Grant that we remember Your generosity and [1]constantly do Your will. Bless our land with honest industry, truthful education, and an honorable way of life. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil course of action.

Grant that we, who came from many nations with many different languages, may become a united people. Support us in defending our liberties, and give those to whom we have entrusted the authority of government the spirit of wisdom, that there may be justice and peace in our land. When times are prosperous, may our hearts be thankful, and in troubled times do not let our trust in you fail.

For Good Government: Eternal Lord, Ruler of all, graciously regard those who have been set in positions of authority among us that they may be guided by your Spirit, be high in purpose, wise in counsel, firm in good resolution, and unwavering in duty, that under them we may be governed quietly and peaceably; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

For Responsible Citizenship: Lord, keep this nation under your care. Bless the leaders of our land that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to the other nations of the earth. Help us provide trustworthy leaders, contribute to wise decisions for the general welfare, and thus serve you faithfully in our generation to the honor of your holy name;; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

And least we forget, 26 November, we will celebrate yet another National Thanksgiving.

Collect for Thanksgiving–Almighty God, Your mercies are new every morning and Your generously provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant us Your Holy spirit that we may acknowledge Your goodness, give thanks for Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience all our days.

Collect for the Harvest – Almighty God, Your crown the fields with Your blessing and permit us to gather in the fruits of the earth. As stewards of Your creation, may we receive Your gifts in humble thankfulness and share Your bounty with those in need; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

---

Prayers are from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

 

November

The story is told that upon his death Luther’s family was going through his personal effects. In Luther’s coat pocket, his family found two small coins and a piece of paper. Written on this crumpled page were the words “We are beggars!”  

This cryptic message of his is supposedly Luther’s final words. Appropriate? Most assuredly so! As we observe yet another national Thanksgiving, enacted by President Lincoln 156 years ago, consider the words of David recorded in sacred Scripture; “I have been young and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25)

What have you learned? Life experience is such a great teacher.  A part of thanksgiving is to give back to the younger generation; teaching them that we are thankful in spite of what circumstances might dictate. 

David learned the hard way. He had everything and proceeded to throw it all away because of greed.  Through a series of calculated acts, he proceeded to destroy two families; the family of Uriah and his own as we are reminded that a sword would not leave his family.

Luther learned that we truly are beggars. We are sinners saved by grace – for by nature we are blind, dead, and enemies of God. Yet by God’s free grace and favor, we are restored, redeemed and forgiven.

Think back to this past year. Are we only thankful when things have gone “our way”? Yet what has Scripture and experience taught us? He cannot abandon us past the point of no hope/help. When things appear to be going against us, when all seems lost and so far beyond our grasp. God will provide our spiritual needs. “I have not seen the righteous forsaken!”

This has certainly been a challenging year. When we recall the year of our Lord 2019 – a year in which crops were seriously affected. Even those not affected by farming know the effects of rising prices, falling interest rates. A flat economy? Circumstances may cause some to say our situation is bleak yet David gives us a different picture – God’s children won’t beg for bread.

Jesus puts it more succinctly; “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow, reap, or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable then they?” [Mathew 6:25-27]

In just three little words Luther summed up our entire life – we are beggars – yet God has not given up on us nor will He ever abandon His own. He has promised to provide for us. Lord in Your mercy – hear our prayer: Heavenly Father, God of all grace, govern our hearts that we may never forget Your blessings but steadfastly thank and praise You for all Your goodness in this life until, with all Your saints, we praise You eternally in Your heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.     

November

The harvest season is soon coming to a close.  We praise God for the harvest and the favorable weather to complete it.   We are fortunate to live in a community where we can see with our own eyes that the Father "provides me with all that I need to support (my) body and life." 

Whatever we face in the future, it will have to be the Lord Himself who must direct us.  With His guidance in our lives, we are blessed.  With the Lord sustaining, guiding, and directing us, we can face the future with courage no matter what might come our way.

One of the blessings we experience every year is to witness God's providence in the production of another crop and His influence in our lives. Just opening our eyes and experiencing His power in nature, and then recalling His influence in our lives, and listening to all of His many promises found in His Word is ample proof of His existence and His influence in our world.  To that end, may we see the influence of God in our life each day and then trust in Him to see us through.  When we do that, we will be witnesses of the Lord's providence in our lives.  As we enter a very special time of the year, may we count the many blessings which the Lord has given to us, and then in faith, hope, and love, trust in Him with our very lives as we live our lives for Him.

This time of the year is also an excellent time for us to share our faith. The Lord has blessed us in so many ways. As we live our lives in thanksgiving and praise, we share with others the good things the Lord has done for us. Not only has He blessed us spiritually, He has blessed us with every temporal blessing. All that we need to support our life, the Lord has given us. Everything we need to exist, the Lord has provided.

We have a message to share with the world. Seek opportunities to let somebody in on the greatest story ever told. At no other time than this are people more attuned to the message of Christ. Like Andrew in the Scriptures, invite someone to simply come and see.

November

November is the month of Thanksgiving. As we have been observing the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation much of our focus has centered on the chief article of the Christian faith – justification. At the center of this Christian faith is the understanding that a sinner is justified by grace alone sola gratia through faith alone sola fide for the sake of Christ alone solus Christus, a truth revealed to us in Scripture alone sola Scriptura.  God gets the credit. To God alone be the glory. Sola Deo Gloria This month, we focus on the centrality of Christ. In other words, at the center of all that we do is Jesus! Our focus is on Christ and Christ alone. 

God has given the ultimate revelation of himself to us by sending Jesus Christ. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Colossians 1:15. Only through God’s gracious self-revelation in Jesus do we come to a saving and transforming knowledge of God. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.-1 Timothy 1:5. 

Because God is holy and all humans are sinful and sinners, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- 1 John 1:1; 

“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” -Hebrews 7:25; “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” - Romans 8:34. 

Neither religious rituals nor good works mediate between God and us. ”And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." -Acts 4:12 by which a person can be saved other than the name of Jesus. “The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,” -Hebrews 7:23. Only Jesus’ sacrificial death alone can atone for sin. Christ is the center of our faith. - SOLUS CHRISTUS we are redeemed by Christ alone!

In recent weeks we have witnessed Hurricanes, a mass-shooting and devastating fires. The Lord calls for us to pray without ceasing. May we continue to remember in our daily prayers those who suffer the result of living in a broken world. The philosopher Os Guinness 1  reminds us, “Christianity is the only religion whose God bears the scars of evil.” 

Amidst the brokenness of our lives. Amidst the power structures and manipulation. The violence. Racism. The hurt. Comes the Christ.  Who breaks in. Who shares our flesh. Who carries our burdens. Who bears our sins. Who will suffer the scars of evil. Who exchanges our shame for His glory. And calls us to be the very light of the world.-A light that is not ours but His.  Gifted to us. For us to undermine the darkness. Which cannot stand against it.

St. Paul would remind us,” So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” –Galatians 6:10

Our prayers of intercession include those affected by terrorist acts of violence in our own country and scattered throughout the world. We pray for those who were lost and injured, for their families, for those who were traumatized by all reckless behaviors, and for all those who oppose evil in all its forms.

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, whose heart is glad when all Your children live together in unity; we lift to You the grief of our hearts, hoping that You will not only comfort those hearts, but change them; that we may be the people You have created, and called us to be;

We pray too for those who consider bigoted and racially prejudiced ideologies acceptable - that they will see through their sin to the deeper truth of Christ’s love for all and our need of one another.

Holy Father, God of mercy, God of comfort, as the darkness grows and hatred and violence seem to triumph in this world, embrace in Your tender compassion all who suffer from this latest terror attack. Remember all who have lost loved ones, and the many who are injured and dying. Grant to them Your mercy, Your healing, Your peace. 

We remember that in Your Son You have given to us the Love that no hatred can overcome, the Life that no death can destroy, the Forgiveness that exceeds all the violence that fallen humanity inflicts upon itself. Make Your Church a firm witness to this unfailing hope. We pray these things in the saving name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Most merciful Father, with compassion You hear the cries of Your people in great distress. Be with all who now endure affliction and calamity as these wildfires burn in California. Bless the work of those who bring rescue and relief, and enable our pastors and congregations to bring comfort to those who are suffering that they may find renewed hope; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to You even if, in this moment, that may be colored with anger, weariness, and questions about Your presence during the storm.

O Christ Thou Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Grant us Thy peace…

Did you know that Time magazine once declared Henry Ford “the soybean’s best friend”? In the midst of the Great Depression when grain crops were failing, animal feeders discovered that livestock fed on an oil-rich soybean diet bulked up quickly. To Ford, it made perfect sense to subsidize research into the uses of farm products. Numerous auto parts were made from petroleum-based plastic, and of course, all of Ford’s engines ran on diesel and gasoline refined from petroleum crude. “If we want the farmer to be our customer,” he said, “we must find a way to be his customer.”

Ford authorized dramatically expanding the agricultural laboratory in Greenfield Village at Ford’s headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. To encourage production, he made 400 Fordson tractors available for free use to Michigan farmers and offered gas and diesel at a penny per gallon – less than a quarter of what it cost at the pump. He bragged, “There is a bushel of soya beans in every Ford car,” in Fortune magazine.  Farmers put more than 35,000 acres of land into growing soybeans, and Ford bought their entire output as promised.

Ford even switched the company commissary over to baked goods made with soy flour and ice cream made with soy milk. In the spring of 1935, farmers planted soybeans in record numbers. In preparation for the coming harvest, Ford spent $5 million to construct his own soybean mill with solvent extraction at the Flagship River Rouge plant in Dearborn – and boasted that he had jumpstarted demand for soybeans nationwide. 

That year roughly 70 million bushels of would be harvested. In the absolute depths of the Great Depression, soybeans were hailed as a godsend. Cargill, which specialized in milling grains as feed for livestock producers eagerly built new soybean-producing plants, along the rivers and the Great Lakes from Minneapolis to Chicago, where the great stockyards were buying unprecedented quantities of soybean meal as animal feed.

 –Read this fascinating book, “This Blessed Earth” by Ted Genoways 

“A universal story of family farmers and all they’re up against.” – Willie Nelson

1 His great- great grandson Arthur Guinness became the brewer of Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of at St. James's Gate brewery in the capital city of Dublin, Ireland

November

November 6                       Pentecost 25 - Proper 27 - Divine Service Setting 1

                                                Luke 20:27–82 “After death, is there anything?”

November 11                    Pentecost 26 – Proper 28 - Matins

                                                Luke 21:5-19 “Doing Your Best when things are at their worst”

November 20                    Christ the King – Missions

                                                Luke 23:35-43 “Jesus Lord at Thy Death”

November 23                    Thanksgiving Eve Service with Holy Communion

                                                1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “How do we have Thanksgiving?”

November 24                    Thanksgiving Day Service with Holy Communion

                                                Luke 17:11-19 “Who bothers to thank God?”

November 27                    Advent 1 Matins

                                                Matthew 24:36–44 “The Lord Comes in Meekness and Humility to Save Us Now”

November 30                    Mid-week Advent 1

                                                Matthew 1:18-25 - Characters of the Nativity-Joseph

As we approach the coming election, we remember that we have been given many freedoms and with such freedoms come the responsibility of exercising our right to vote. As we think about our elected leaders, we recall from Scripture St. Paul’s instruction in Romans 13 that God works through our elected leaders, that we should pray for them; specifically that a time of tranquility and peace be granted unto us so that we can be about the work of mission. To that end, we pray for our nation and our elected leaders that responsible leadership might be demonstrated and established on every level of government. Pray and work – that’s the definition of the Christian’s life calling. 

A Collect For Good Government

Eternal Lord, Ruler of all, graciously regard those who have been set in positions of authority among us that they may be guided by your Spirit, be high in purpose, wise in counsel, firm in good resolution, and unwavering in duty, that under them we may be governed quietly and peaceably, through Jesus Christ, our Lord

A Collect For Responsible Citizenship

Lord, keep this nation under your care.  Bless the leaders of our land that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to the other nations of the earth.  Help us provide trustworthy leaders, contribute to wise decisions for the general welfare, and thus serve you faithfully in our generation to the honor of your holy name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

A Prayer For Our Country

Almighty God, you have given us this good land as our heritage.  Grant that we remember your generosity and constantly do your will.  Bless our land with honest industry, truthful education, and an honorable way of life.  Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil course of action.  Make us who came from many nations with many different languages a united people.  Defend our liberties, and give those whom we have entrusted with the authority of government the spirit of wisdom that there may be justice and peace in our land.  When times are prosperous, let our hearts be thankfully; and in troubled times do not let our trust in you fail; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

A Collect For Agriculture

As our farmers work on bringing in the harvest, please remember them in your prayers.

Almighty God, you blessed the earth to make it fruitful, bringing forth in abundance whatever is needed for the support of our lives.  Prosper, we implore you, the work of farmers, and grant us seasonable weather that we may gather in the fruits of the earth and proclaim your goodness with thanksgiving; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Reason to Be Thankful

 “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.”  So writes the psalmist in Psalm 107:1, and he goes on to list specific acts of God for which he gives thanks.  David, in Psalm 103, writes, “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name . . . and forget not all His benefits . . .” and he, too, recounts the wonders of the Lord.  It is a common occurrence in the psalms of David that, although he may express anguish and despair, he always ends his psalms on a note of confidence, for he knows his life is in God’s almighty hands.

It’s Thanksgiving time.  Perhaps you’re not feeling so thankful. Maybe you’ve suffered the loss of someone you held dear.  Maybe your health has deteriorated.  Read what the prophet Habakkuk had to say about feelings and circumstances:  “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).  If we received none of God’s good gifts on this Earth, we have reason to rejoice in our Savior Who waits for us in Heaven!  He is the source of our joy and the object of our gratitude.  “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy” (Psalm 126:3).

Therefore, with hearts filled with thanksgiving, we can respond in words and acts of compassion and encouragement to those around us.  We are blessed to be a blessing.  We share our financial resources as God gives us the ability, finding that He blesses and multiplies them just as He did the fish and bread the boy offered for the feeding of the 5000 (John 6:5-13).  Let us not be like the disciples who didn’t believe that Jesus had the power to feed the large crowd of people that had gathered.  In Christ, we know that all things are possible.  He empowers our giving that expresses our gratitude to Him for Who He is and what He has done for us.  Just as Jesus magnified the boy’s small gifts, enabling them to nourish 5,000 plus people, so He multiplies our small gifts, brought forth willingly and joyfully.

In the midst of a Civil War, as our country was dealing with any number of issues where the outcome was uncertain, on 3 October 1863 President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for the observance of the fourth Thursday of November as a national day of Thanksgiving.  Truly, God was with His people then. He remains with us even now.  At the time, our congregation was in its infancy, having celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary.

As much as things change, often times they remain the same. Soon our country will hold a national election. As our country was facing numerous issues back then, so our citizens will go to the ballot box to elect those candidates they feel will best lead our country, state, and community.  We live under a representative democratic republic, which means the sovereign power resides in a certain body of the people (the electorate) and is exercised by representatives elected by, and responsible to them.  We choose representatives and they make the rules that we live by until it is time to choose again.  If we are satisfied with their work, they are re-elected; if not, another will take their place.

As Christians, we have an understanding that those who have been elected are placed in office as God’s representative for us. They are God’s agent for a certain period of time, whether they realize this or not. As a result, we pray for our leaders for they are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. St. Paul would remind us in Romans 13, “Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”  It is not my place as pastor to tell you for whom to vote. Each must vote their conscience. It is, however, necessary for each of us to exercise our right as citizens to vote, to pray for our representatives, and to work within our system of government to make our community, state, and nation as strong as it can be.

Despite the challenges facing our country, we have been blessed. For one hundred-seventy-eight years the members of our Friedheim family have gathered together to thank the Lord for the blessings He has bestowed upon us. This will be the thirtieth Thanksgiving I have been permitted to celebrate with you!  During this significant and important month of November, may each of us pause and take the time to reflect on the many ways in which the Lord has blessed us, sustained us through His Word, and continues to order and direct our lives. People of God, we have been blessed!  Be a blessing to those around you.