A Service of Hope and Remembrance

A Service of Hope and Remembrance

 I will look to the hills...

GATHERING

We gather in silence, using this time for meditation and preparation for worship, respecting those who value this time of prayer.

INTRODUCTION

We gather as a church, as a community of faith, as family, friends and neighbors, because we need to gather. We gather because our world has been changed this week and nothing is as it was before. So we will worship differently today as well. We welcome anyone who is here as a guest or visitor and hope that you will feel comfortable enough to enter into this worship service fully and to know that you are more than welcome to join us.

There have been so many words this week, so much analysis, so many questions, so much bewilderment. But we begin our worship by remembering particularly those whose lives have been taken this week in acts of violence and terror.

SCRIPTURE – Revelation 7 (selected verses)

After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from” I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal? They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

LITANY

When the world is in tumult and peace is shattered

We turn our hearts to you, O God.

When hearts are breaking and minds are confused

We turn our hearts to you, O God.

When words fail and love is frustrated

We turn our hearts to you, O God.

When anger rises and hostility surrounds us

We turn our hearts to you, O God.

When the way is unknown and the path dimly lit

We turn our hearts to you, O God.

When we turn our hearts to you, O God,

You hear the cries of your people, and answer in love.

PRAYER

Let us pray:

God of mercy,You heal the broken in heart,And bind up the wounds of the hurting.Strengthen us in our weakness,Calm our troubled spiritsAnd dispel our doubts and fears.Renew our faith; restore our joy in this life,For it is you who promises lifeAnd gives us hope for the life to come. Amen

De Profundis  (Psalm 130)

We remember

Let us pray:

Rest eternal grant unto these, O God,And let light perpetual shine upon them.May their souls, and the souls of all the departed,Through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

  

HYMN O God, our Help in Ages PastLSB #733

Text:  Isaac Watts, 1674-1748, alt.  Tune:  William Croft, 1678-1727; setting:The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941.  Text and Music:  Public domain.LSB Hymn License No.  100013721.  Used with permission..

SCRIPTURE– Selections from the Psalms

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,

Be gracious to me, and answer me.

“Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”

Your face, Lord, do I seek.

Do not hide your face from me. – Psalm 27

Be gracious unto me, O Lord, for I am in distress;

My eye wastes away from grief,

My soul and body also.

For my life is spent with sorrow,

And my years with sighing;

My strength fails because of my misery,

And my bones waste away. – Psalm 31

HYMN Jesus, Lead Thou On LSB #718

Text:  Nicolaus Ludwig von ZZinzendorg, 1700-60; tr. Jane L. Borthwick, 1813-97, alt.  Tune:  Adam Drese, 1620-1701; setting:  Joseph Herl, b. 1959.  Text and tune:  Public domain; Setting ©2006 Concordia Publishing House, LSB> Hymn License No. 10001372`1.  Used with permission.

SCRIPTURE– Selections from the Psalms

As a father has compassion for his children,

So you have compassion for those who fear you.

As a mother comforts her child,

So you comfort us, O God.

For you know how we were made.

You remember that we are dust.

As for mortals,their days are like grass;

They flourish like a flower of the field;

For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

And its place knows it no more.  – Psalm 103 with Isaiah 66:13

The sorrows of death encompassed me

And the pains of Sheol laid hold on me;

I suffered in distress and anguish.

Then I called on the name of the Lord:

“O Lord, I pray, save my life!” – Psalm 116

I lift up my eyes to the hills

From whence will my help come?

My help comes from the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;

He will keep your life.

The Lord will keep your going out

andyour coming in

from this time on and forevermore. – Psalm 121

HYMN Praise the Almighty LSB #797

Text:  Johann danieHerrnschmidt, 1675-1723; tr. Alfred E. R. Brauer, 1866-1949, alt.; Tune:  New-vermehrteChristlicheSeelenharpf, Ansbach, 1665; setting:Christian Worship, 1993.  Text and music:  Public domain.   LSB License No. 100013721.  Used with permission.

Prayers of Intercession

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Now in the words that Jesus taught us, we pray together saying:

Our Father, who art in heaven

hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come,

thy will be done,

on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil:

For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory

forever and ever. Amen.

HYMN Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise LSB #917

Text:  John Ellerton, 1826-93; Tune: Edward J. Hopkins, 1818-1901; setting:The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941.  Text and music:  Public domain.  LSB Hymn License No. 100013721.  Used with permission.

Depart in Silence

+ Soli Deo Gloria +

In Remembrance

Where is God in the midst of tragedy?

 12 November 2017

Remembering the Saints in the Sutherland Springs 1^st Baptist Church Shooting

Sutherland Springs, TX. A tiny, one-horse town. With only one stop light.  The 1^st Baptism Church. You’ve never heard of the place. You could have hardly found it on a map.  Until last Sunday. Now it’s a part of our nation’s fabric. 

Where is God in tragedy? Where He always is: in the crucified Christ, where He displays His love for all humanity. He makes our grief’s and sorrows and sins His own; and brings us through death to the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.[1]

Says the Psalmist David, “I cry aloud… that God may hear me. In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. [From Psalm 77]

Yet, we can’t be completely comforted because a very evil act was committed against innocent people. And if we, as a country, and a faith community are troubled, we can only imagine the depth of pain for those who were involved, and for those whose lives have been forever altered.

We should not be too quick to expect people including ourselves to feel “better” after a tragedy. As Christians we must also recognize that this is, at the heart of it all, a spiritual battle with what the apostle Paul calls, “principalities and powers” which suggests that we are locked in combat with a force that does not want to be controlled.  And that gives us a clue as to what; our unique contribution can be at times like this: Prayer.

There is one particular prayer that Jesus teaches and models. It is remarkable part of Christian faith and life. It’s the prayer of Stephen as he was stoned and of Jesus on the Cross: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” It is one way we obey Jesus’ command to love enemies, even murderous ones—whether they target us or those with whom we sympathize.

“Lord, we pray… for those who hate us and those who love us.” Those words might not come easy. For it is something that which does not come naturally to us: loving our enemies—and the enemies of all those we love.

But it would shape us. To become a people, to be Christ’s presence in a hateful and divided world—a world that needs to know of His presence more than ever.

While we can never explain away the unexplainable or make sense of the senseless, we need to be there for our family and especially for our children in tangible ways. Parents, remind you children again and again of your love for them and of Christ’s unfailing love for them as well. This is an opportune time, even at a time like this to express the compassion of Christ.

When tragedy strikes Christ remains. This is nowhere more clearly than in the cross of Jesus, where God was joined to the fullest human experience of loss - suffering an unjust and cruel death -- out of love for us. God is present - not causing chaos but entering into it. Not sending calamity by suffering through it. Not standing over us but holding tightly onto us and promising never to let go. Wherever there is human tragedy and pain, the incarnate and crucified God is there.  

We do not know what condition our nation and society will be tomorrow, or in the future. But we do know where Christ will be from now unto eternity.

“Stat Crux Dum Volvitur Orbis” –“ The cross stands while the world spins.” While the world appears to be breaking apart all around us, the cross of Christ stands strong.  We are not given to panic but to pray. So continue in the vocation, which God has placed you. Bloom where you are planted. Gossip the gospel. Stay focused. Be a blessing.

SGD

Words – 650

Passive Sentences – 12%

Readability – 75%

Reading Level -6.2

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[1] http://www.chadbird.com/blog/2017/11/6/out-of-the-depths-when-churches-become-crime-scenes#.WgHs5jYvLj4.facebook

Image © Higher Things

Proper 27

Proper 27 – 12 November 2017– Matthew 25:1-13

Lord, teach us wisdom

“Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people to seek more eagerly the help you offer, that, on the last day, they may enjoy the fruit of salvation.”

There's a story that comes from the sinking of the Titanic. A frightened woman found her place in a lifeboat that was about to be lowered into the raging North Atlantic. She suddenly thought of something she needed, so she asked permission to return to her stateroom before they cast off. She was granted three minutes or they would leave without her.

She ran across the deck that was already slanted at a dangerous angle. She raced through the gambling room with all the money that had rolled to one side, ankle deep. She came to her stateroom and quickly pushed aside her diamond rings and expensive bracelets and necklaces as she reached to the shelf above her bed and grabbed three small oranges. She quickly found her way back to the lifeboat and got in.

Now, that seems incredible - because thirty minutes earlier she would not have chosen a crate of oranges over the smallest diamond. But death had boarded the Titanic. One blast of its awful breath had transformed all values. Instantly - priceless things had become worthless. Worthless things had become priceless. And in that moment she preferred three small oranges to a crate of diamonds.

There are events in life, which have the power to transform the way we look at the world. Jesus' parable about the ten young women with their lamps offers one of these types of events, for the parable is about the Second Coming of Christ. But Jesus doesn't come right out and say this. Rather, he lets the story describe it for Him. The woman on the sinking Titanic understood, in the light of her current circumstances, that she must make preparations for living on a lifeboat.

Diamonds would not do, only the precious resources of an orange were good enough. Likewise, in this world, where Christ may return at any moment, the parable warns, we must be ready.

Outline: “To be wise like the wise women” —

1. Be prepared for Jesus’ coming — v. 4. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.

Only Matthew gives the parable of the wise and foolish maidens. It concerns the return of Christ. His coming is delayed. During the delay, foolish people go to sleep and run out of oil for their lamps. At midnight, when least expected, the Bridegroom comes. [Christ] The unprepared have the door shut in front of them. The parable teaches us to be constantly alert and prepared for the return of Jesus Christ.

2. Refuse to share your spiritual resources — vv. 8-9. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.

Christians are familiar with the three Wise Men, but how many know about the five Wise Women? According to the parable half of us are foolish when it comes to the end of days. Our foolishness is expressed in claiming to know the day and hour of Jesus’ return, in withdrawing from the world to await the return of Christ, and in ignoring the possibility of Jesus’ Second Coming in our time. In the parable we have a model for wise men and women.

“Go ... and buy for yourselves” (v. 9). On the surface this response seems heartless. The foolish five are in a crisis; there is an emergency. Shouldn’t the other five be considerate and compassionate enough to share what they have? It is an urgent matter because it is a matter of eternal life or death. There is sternness in the parable: When the foolish girls finally get to the wedding feast, the “door was shut” (v.10), and when they appealed for entry, the bridegroom unbelievably says, “I do not know you” (v. 12).

All of this happens by virtue of the nature of being prepared spiritually. No one can get to heaven on the oil of another’s faith. Without faith in Christ, the door of salvation is closed. Faith in Christ is the key to open the door which leads to eternal life... It sounds cruel but the fact is that people without faith are unknown to God, for to know is to be personally related to God.

Timing is everything. The word is based on two Greek words for "time." One refers to regular, every day, business as usual - time—what we might call chronological time. [Chronos] χρονίζοντος

On the other hand, the other type of time [Kairos,] καιρός means "special" time, as in "God's time." According to business as usual--the bridegroom is delayed. The ten virgins fall asleep.

The five foolish girls represent the "wisdom of this world”—“the live-by-what-you- can-see- wisdom" that God has turned upside down. The five wise virgins represent the "wisdom of faith," the wisdom of trusting in Christ's complete redemption of the world.

As a sign of how the five foolish virgins live by the ways of this world, they wind up going to the marketplace to try to buy some more oil. While they were participating in the established market system--the status quo of the world--the bridegroom interrupted chronological business-as-usual time by breaking in and making His dramatic arrival.

Faith is not about believing correct thoughts. Faith is about trusting in Jesus. Which, in turn, means living in the new reality He teaches—not in the status quo, business-as-usual- living of this world, but rather, living in "the way" of Jesus, in anticipation of the Father's kingdom, by affirming the absolute equality and dignity Christ has given to all people who come to Him by faith, confessing and repenting of their sins and then trusting in the merits of Jesus’ sacrifice for them on the cruel and bloody cross of Calvary - and hanging in there - even when it appears that God is far away, or that the Bridegroom has been delayed.

3. Enter the feast of the kingdom — v. 10. But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

"But at midnight a cry happened!" It's a bit awkward in English, but the word Jesus uses here γέγονεν [gegonen] literally means "it came into existence," in other words, "it happened." The word is often used to underline the significance of the event. In the middle of the night of chronological time, there is-"a cry"--and "behold! The Bridegroom showed up!" It happened!

The story is told of a little girl who had been taught about Jesus’ second coming in Sunday school. She asked her mother about the lesson. "Mommy, do you believe Jesus will come back?" "Yes." "Could He come this week?" "Yes." "Today?" "Yes." "Could He come in the next hour?" "Yes." "In a few minutes?" "Yes, dear." "Mommy, would you comb my hair?"

This girl had the right idea: we must always be ready for the return of Christ Jesus.

Matthew tells us that the day of opportunity, the chance for repentance, the season for faith in Christ, is over for those who are not ready to meet the Lord when He comes. For the five foolish virgins the door to the wedding feast was shut, locked, and bolted. There was no way they could gain entrance. The Bridegroom even went so far as to declare, "I don't know you" (Vs 12). Once the Bridegroom has showed up, once Christ has returned, it is too late to try to get ready for His coming. You must be ready before He returns.

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Words-1,325

Passive Sentences – 11%

Readability – 77.3%

Reading Level -6.4

Gone!

They will return in Spring

Time in the Word - Pentecost 23 ~ Proper 27

Time in the Word

Pentecost 23 - Proper 27

 November 6-11, 2017

"The Day of our Lord"

The Lessons for this coming week help us prepare for the coming of our Lord. In the Old Testament lesson the prophet Amos encourages us to prepare for the day of the Lord by exceeding justice. In the Epistle lesson Paul assures us that at the Judgment Day Jesus will bring with him all who died and the Christian people still living on earth will go with them to heaven. The Christians of Paul’s day believed that Christ’s return was at hand. This caused concern for those who already died. Would they miss the glorious event and the opportunity to go with Jesus to heaven? Paul assures them that the dead in Christ will come with him and then he will gather the living. Together the dead and living will go to heaven to be forever with Christ. In the Gospel lesson we find the parable of the wise and foolish maidens. Only Matthew gives the parable. It concerns the return of Christ. His coming is delayed. During the delay, foolish people go to sleep and run out of oil for their lamps. At midnight when least expected, the Bridegroom (Christ) comes. The unprepared have the door shut in front of them. The parable teaches us to be constantly alert and prepared for the sure and sudden return of Jesus Christ.

Collect for Proper 27 –Lord God, heavenly Father, send forth Your Son to lead home His bride, the Church, that with all the company of the redeemed we may finally enter into His eternal wedding feast; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.

Prayer 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.

For our Armed Services: Lord we remember those who are presently serving in the armed forces of our country. Protect them all harm or danger and guide them in each of their missions that they may serve You honorably and without reproach. Watch over them and bring them safely once their service is completed. 

For blessing on the Word – Lord God, bless Your Word wherever it is proclaimed. Make it a word of power and peace to convert those not yet Your own and to confirm those who have come to saving faith. May Your Word pass from the ear to the heart, from the heart to the lip, and from the lip to the life that, as You have promised, Your Word may achieve the purpose for which You send it; through Jesus Christ, my Lord.

A prayer before we study the Word – Almighty God, our heavenly Father, without Your help our labor is useless, and without Your light our search is in vain. Invigorate the study of Your holy Word that, by due diligence and right discernment, we may establish ourselves and others in Your holy faith.

Monday, November 6, 2017 – Psalm 84:1, 9-12 - The Antiphon for this coming Sunday is from Psalm 84:3, “Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.” 

Tuesday, November 7, 2017– Amos 5:18-24 - Through Amos God is speaking, “I hate, I despise....” Can God hate? Is He not love? Since God is a personality, He has, like us, the capacity to hate as well as to love. In fact, if one cannot hate, one cannot love. But what or whom does God hate? It is not “whom” but “what.” Always He loves the sinner but not the sin. God hates our wickedness, our insincere worship, and our religiosity: “feasts,” “solemn assemblies,” “noises of your songs.” God hates your hypocrisy. If God hates sin, should Christians not also do the same?

Wednesday, November 8, 2017–1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 –Paul uses “sleep” to describe the dead in Christ. They are asleep in Jesus. “Sleep” is a comforting concept of the Christian dead. When we sleep, we are at rest. Our labors are over and we rest at peace. When we sleep, we are not dead but alive. We shall awaken out of sleep. We fall asleep on earth to awaken in heaven for a fuller, better life with Christ.

We grieve over the loss of loved ones, but not as those who have no hope of heaven. In Paul’s day, people were grieving because they were worried lest the departed miss out on the return of Christ. They wanted the dead to share in His victory, to see the destruction of Satanic powers, and to rejoice in the spectacular glory of Christ. For Christians, the end time will be a glorious time and we want our loved ones to share it.

When Christ returns at the end of time, the living and the dead in Christ will be together. When Christ leaves heaven for earth, He will bring with Him those who died in faith. There is going to be one great, colossal reunion of heaven and earth! Since this is the case according to Paul, we know where our departed loved ones are now. They are with Christ in heaven. To be with Christ is to have life, love, joy, and peace. What more could we want for ourselves or our dearest?

Thursday, November 9, 2017– Matthew 25:1-13 – Five girls are wise and five are foolish. Could there be that many foolish people? According to this, five go to heaven and five to hell; five have life and five have death; five have joy and five are miserable. We fall into one of these two categories. There is no in-between state. When it comes to being prepared for Christ’s return, we are either wise in being prepared or foolish in not being ready to receive him.

Christ’s return is delayed, because the first Christians expected his return in their lifetimes. Since this time, there were Christians in each century who expected the last great day to happen within a short time. Here it is the beginning of the twenty-first century and He still has not come. We humans tend to get weary in waiting to the point that we conclude He is not coming in our time. This results in carelessness expressed in “sleep” (v. 5) and not having an adequate supply of “oil” (v. 3). The delay is fraught with danger for us.

Friday, November 10, 2017 – Psalm 50 - This Psalm is the appointed one for this Sunday.  Verse 1 is the key verse, “O Lord, make haste to help me.” This is the prayer of faith. When we reach out to the Savior with our burdens, joys, sorrows, and cares, He answers every petition. Our only request, “Thy will be done Lord, Thy will be done.” 

Saturday, November 11, 2017 – Matthew 25:1-13 –- Our reading is the inspiration for the hymn, “Wake Awake, for Night is flying.” The bridegroom comes at midnight. Surprise! Who would imagine a bridegroom coming for his bride at the ungodly hour when the world is asleep? It is the least expected time. Those who stay up late are surely in bed by midnight, and even the early risers would not get up at midnight.

Jesus said His return would be like this. No one would know the day and hour — so be ready! Moreover, the signs of His coming are associated with the midnight of day, which becomes the noonday of hell: wars, earthquakes, catastrophes, fear, and so on. When times are at their worst and when people are at their lowest and darkest moments, Christ will come.

Sources 

LUTHERAN SEVICE BOOK © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO

LECTIONALRY PREACHING WORKBOOK SERIES A © 1980 John Brokhoff CSS Publishing Lima, OH

Schnorr von Carolsfeld, woodcuts © WELS Permission to use these copyrighted items is limited to personal and congregational use. 

Proper 26

Proper 26 –5 November, 2017 – Matthew 23:1-12

“Lord, when the day of wrath comes, we have no hope except in your grace. Make us so to watch for the last days that the consummation of our hope may be the joy of marriage feast of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Our Gospel lesson is for both clergy and laity. Jesus spoke about the scribes and the Pharisees. The scribes were the professional, ordained clergy who were scholars, teachers, and rabbis. The Pharisees were not theologically educated; they were lay people who were leaders dedicated and zealous in keeping the Law.

The people assembled for worship can be classified today as Pharisees. They are the thirty to forty percent of the congregation present for worship Sunday after Sunday. They are the cream of the crop, the most active, and leaders of the congregation. This message is for both pastor and people today.

Jesus urges His disciples to follow what the Pharisees taught but not what they practiced. Jesus exhorts both people and disciples not to follow the Pharisees who do not practice what they preach, but to attain greatness through humility and service.

In contrast to self and title-seeking, Jesus urged His followers to renounce pride and titles in favor of service to God.

Outline: Lord, use me.

1. Our strength: teaching and preaching the Word — vv. 2-3. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat .So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

The Words…Preach ... practice (v. 3). These two belong together, but often they are not. The preaching may be all right, but the practice has not the same quality.

Jesus urges His listeners to practice what the scribes and Pharisees preach, but not to follow their practice. Can we do this? Can we separate preaching from practice? Most of us repudiate the preaching that is not practiced. Yet, what preacher can perfectly practice his own preaching? Can you?

2. Our weaknesses: do not do as the Pharisees — vv. 3-7. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries.[1]  wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.

Religious leaders are prone to be proud of themselves, their positions, and their piety.

They want to be “seen.” “Look at me” — they say - see how good I am! They want their gifts publicized and want due credit. They like to wear large crosses and put religious slogans on bumpers. They want to be seated up front and they love their titles. All these add up to pride. They want to be “seen.”

But this morality, my friends will not and cannot save you. A Law that demands anything less than perfection - demands less than Jesus’ perfect obedience. A Law that sinners can keep doesn’t require Jesus’ dead on the Cross…soft peddling the Law just won’t do – not if we want sinners to trust Jesus alone to be saved. Excuses, generalities, house rules, principle for living and all of the moralist of today ultimately rob sinners of their only comfort and hope.

God gave His Law to hunt us down, find us out, corner us and kill us. The Law is powerful, but it is a deadly power because of our sin. In the end, the Law exposes us as the enemies of God we really are…In the end, the Law leaves the sinner utterly sinful, utterly condemned, utterly dead. The Law leaves the sinner without hope in himself or the Law. There is no hope – except one. His name is Jesus Christ. [2] It is only through His merits on the cross of Calvary that you and I find salvation and life.

3. Our goal: humbler service — vv. 11-12. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

The world does not agree with Jesus on this question, “Who is the greatest?” In the world the greatest is a star like Julia Roberts or Brad Pitt. The greatest is a champion like Tiger Woods. The greatest is a billionaire like Bill Gates. The greatest is a monarch of a nation like the Queen of England.

This kind of greatness is for a few people. For Jesus’ greatness, every person can be the greatest. It takes only humble service. The greatest can be poor, uneducated, unknown — just a humble person living for others as the Savior shapes their lives. As Dr. King as said, “Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” - _{M L King “Anyone can be Great”}

We must take the attitude of John the Baptist who said of our Savior – He must increase I must decrease. In humility we pray – Lord I am an instrument use me as You see fit. I am Your servant. You are the potter I am the clay. Shape and use me as You deem the best, for Your kingdom – Your glory and my good.

Words-1,006 -
Passive Sentences – 9%

Readability – 76.6%

Reading Level –5.6

Luther’s Seal © Ed Riojas Higher Things

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[1] Matthew 23:5 That is, boxes containing Scripture verses, worn on forehead and arm

[2] Issues, Etc. Journal Vol. 6, No. 1 “The Law’s Accusations: God’s Perfect, Specific and Unavoidable Demands” by Todd Wilken pp. 9-10

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