Confirmation 2011

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
Friedheim
10655 N – 550 W
Decatur, IN 46733
260.547.4248
www.zionfriedheim.org
A 21st Century Parish with a 1st Century Faith
Acts 2:42
Celebrating our 173rd Year
Chartered February 25, 1838
Easter 2 – Confirmation
May 1, 2011

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? - Psalm 27:1

Today is the day of your confirmation. You are a significant class – my 25th class I have been privileged to confirm here at Friedheim. Together we have grown in our faith and I hope you have also grown in faith, hope and love. Today you confirm the faith into which you have been baptized. Today you affirm your faith in God alone while He pledges to you His commitment to you. We can be confident of this, “that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”. {Philippians 1:6}

The verse you have selected for this important day is recorded in Psalm 27:1 It reads: The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear – the Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

We need not fear –

I. Because the Lord is the light of my salvation.

Light. Throughout the Scriptures, light is often used to symbolize well-being,

contentment and peace. Proverbs 13:9 reminds us: “The light of the righteous shines brightly but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.” Solomon further explains in Proverbs 4:18: “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” Psalm 43:3 tells us –“O send out Thy light and Thy truth, let them lead me; let them bring me to Thy holy hill, and to Thy dwelling places.”

There is joy and prosperity in knowing the Lord. With Him, you will have all the guidance and protection you will ever need.

When you say, “The Lord is my light” you are expressing confidence in Him as the source of your salvation.

Psalm 3:8 reminds us: -“Salvation belongs to the LORD;” From the Lord comes deliverance. You can be confident that the Lord will continue to guide and direct you. The forgiveness of sins, life and salvation has all been given to you freely as a gift. What a joy it is to know that the Lord Jesus is the very source of your salvation.

Transition: The Lord Himself is the light of your salvation. He has promised to direct your life. We need not fear for He is near. He is your strength in every circumstance. With the Lord, you can face any situation confidently. You do not need to be afraid.

II. Because the Lord is the stronghold of my life.

Psalm 9:9 tells us –“The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble,” Notice how clearly we are told that it is the Lord who directs our life. He is the one who influences our life. He is the one who knows our future. In every circumstance, He will be there for you; in times of great joy and especially in times of trouble. He will be there for you - you can count on Him. Remember David’s words in Psalm 46: “God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear”

David reminds us in Psalm 18:2 “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” The Lord will give to you His unfailing strength, as He alone is our refuge strength. He has promised to deliver you from all harm and danger. We can be confident that we are safe and secure for He directs your life. Remember the last petition of Luther’s Morning and Evening Prayer. It sums up what David is driving at in your verse for today. “Into Thy hands I commit myself my body and soul and all things. Let Thy Holy Angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me” When you are safely in the Lord’s hands all is well.

CONCLUSION: Remember the things that we taught you cling to that which is good and remember that the Savior walks with you every day. “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear – the Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?”

Campus Dedication

National College Ft. Wayne Campus Dedication

29, April, 2011

Happy Dyngus Day

Happy Dyngus Day!

Always the Monday after Easter

Happy Birthday Lydia!

Easter 2 Time in the Word

Christ Jesus Breathes His Spirit and His Life into Us by the Ministry of the Gospel

The crucified and risen Lord Jesus establishes the Ministry of the Gospel, in order to bestow His life-giving Holy Spirit and His peace upon the Church. To those who are called and ordained to this Office, and to those whom they serve in His name, He grants the Holy Absolution of all sins. By the fruits of His Cross He replaces fear and doubt with peace and joy, and thus gives “repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31). Through the preaching of His sent ones He calls us to believe that He “is the Christ, the Son of God,” so that by such faith we “may have life in His name” (John 20:31). In His resurrection we have the “living hope” to which we have been “born again” and by which we are guarded “for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Pet. 1:3, 5). Until then, “though you have not seen Him, you love Him,” and by the mercies of God “you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory” (1 Pet. 1:8).

Collects for the Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord: Almighty God, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life. We humbly pray that we may live before You in righteousness and purity forever; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

O God, for our redemption You gave Your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross and by His glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of the enemy. Grant that all our sin may be drowned through daily repentance and that day by day we may arise to live before You in righteousness and purity forever; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives an reigns . . .

O God, in the paschal feast You restore all creation. Continue to send Your heavenly gifts upon Your people that they may walk in perfect freedom and receive eternal life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns . . .

Almighty God, through the resurrection of Your Son You have secured peace for our troubled consciences. Grant us this peace evermore that trusting in the merit of Your Son we may come at last to the perfect peace of heaven; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns . . .

Almighty God, by the glorious resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, You destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light. Grant that we who have been raised with Him may abide in His presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns . . .

Collect for Easter 2—Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the Lord’s resurrection may by Your grace confess in our life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns . . .

Monday, 25 April 2011—Psalm 105:1–5, 8; Antiphon, 1 Peter 2:2–3—The second Sunday of Easter is sometimes called Quasimodogeniti, Latin for the first words of the Introit, ‘Like newborn infants.’ Just as a baby eagerly suckles at its mother’s breast, so we, who have been given new life in Christ by His death and resurrection, also do eagerly desire the pure spiritual milk provided by our Lord for our nourishment and good growth. This He gives us through the preaching of His Word and the most blessed Sacrament of the Altar.

Tuesday, 26 April 2011—Psalm 148—In Sunday’s psalm, the psalmist calls upon all of creation—those on the earth, those under the sea, and those in the heavens—to join in a chorus of praise to the LORD. Animate and inanimate, all of creation proclaims the glory of the LORD!

Wednesday, 27 April 2011—Acts 5:29–42—The first readings for the Sundays after Easter are all taken from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. Written by St Luke as a continuation of his Gospel, it is an account of the early Church, a snapshot. Like the Book of Acts itself, the readings will show how the Gospel was first preached in Jerusalem, and then, in ever-widening circles, throughout the world and down through history unto our day. The reading for next week has Peter and the other apostles being brought before the Jewish high council and questioned by the high priest for proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. Though they were beaten and charged not to speak in the name of Jesus, they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for His name, and did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Thursday, 28 April 2011—1 Peter 1:3–9—St Peter’s first epistle is a note of encouragement to Christians being persecuted for the faith. He reminds them of the inheritance they have in Christ Jesus due to His resurrection from the dead: we who are in Christ will share in His resurrection and the blessings of everlasting life with God in heaven. Having our eyes fixed on this eternal reward gives us strength to bear with the burdens of this life, even persecution.

Friday, 29 April 2011—John 20:19–31—There are two appearances by the risen Christ in Sunday’s Gospel, each bringing us a great deal of comfort. In the first, Jesus establishes the Office of the Holy Ministry, and assures us that, in the words of the catechism, ‘when the called ministers of Christ deal with us by His divine command, in particular when they . . . absolve those who repent of their sins and want to do better, this is just as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if Christ, our dear Lord, dealt with us Himself.’ In the second appearance, our Lord appears to Thomas. Thomas wanted the certainty of seeing his risen Lord in the flesh, as the others had. When he beholds the wounds in the One who was crucified on our behalf, his faith is sure, and he confesses, ‘My Lord and My God!’ Thomas’s assurance is ours also. We need never doubt that our Lord is truly risen from the dead, ‘the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.’ (1 Cor 15:20)

Saturday, 30 April 2011—Sunday’s hymn of the day, O Sons and Daughters of the King (LSB #470), recounts the story of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances and particularly His encounter with St Thomas. His words to Thomas are meant for us, also: ‘How blest are they who have not seen / And yet whose faith has constant been, / For they eternal life shall win. / Alleluia!’ Alleluia!’ Alleluia!’

This week's Time in the Word is written by Pr. Jeffrey Keuning who serves the congregations of St John Casey, IA and Zion, Dexter, IA of the Iowa West District of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.

Lectionary summary on front page from the LCMS Commission on Worship
Woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, ©WELS
Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House

St. Thomas the Apostle found at: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cc/Caravaggio_incredulity.jpg

Day 47: Easter – John 20:19-23

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.

Did you know when Jesus rose from the dead? Jesus died to take away our sins and suffered the pain so we didn’t have to suffer for our sin. Jesus rose from the dead on Easter morning. When He rose on Easter morning it was the final step in the process of winning for us our salvation. This was something that Jesus could only do. With the power He has and uses He works only for our good. He has promised us that He will always forgive our sin even though we might not deserve it. When we ask He will forgive.
-Kayla Johnson

Almighty God, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You overcame death and opened to us the grate of everlasting life. We humbly pray that we may live before You in righteousness and purity forever; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
Sources:
Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved
Collect for Easter - Lutheran Service Book © 2008 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Easter Festival

So, who are you really? With whom do you identify? What makes your present reality?

1. The resurrection is your present reality. We are EASTER people.

A. Why seek ye the living among the dead?
1. This world is fallen – See Psalm 42
2. We are fallen.
3. All systems in this world are fallen and broken.

B. He is not here.
1. You can’t find Jesus in death.
2. You can’t find Jesus in what is broken.

C. He is risen.
1. See the place
a. An empty tomb.
b. A rolled away stone.
c. A guard who had abandoned their post.(Vs.2)

Transition: We are EASTER people because of the evidence. But there is more - we have seen Him.

2. An eye-witness encounter with Jesus Christ is what has changed this world.

A. Consider Mary.
1. Distraught over the events of the past few days.
a. She was a witness of Jesus’ arrest, trial, passion, death, burial. Who could forget such events?
b. Now an empty tomb – even more drama! The grief blinded her to the present reality. She could not see Jesus stand right before her.
2. But with one word all grief and pain was gone.
a. He spoke her name.
b. He speaks your name –
1. In baptism
2. In His Word
3. In His Supper

B. He goes before you also.
1. To order your days and direct your path.
2. To prepare a place for you.
3. To give you His new life.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed Hallelujah! Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use.