Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

WHAT A REVELATION

Every so often one is blessed to see visions of beauty in a sunset or mountain majesty here on this earth.  I am sure everyone one of you can recall a moment when you were so amazed that you could hardly breathe.  It may have been in nature, it may have been a grandchild’s playing, it may have been some breathtaking artwork.  For some it might even be listening to Bach or Motzart.  It could have even been a horseshoe at Darcy’s.  There are times when whatever the view or the inspiration, we may have thought: we’re in heaven.

The past several weeks the Epistle readings have come from the Revelation to St. John (and they continue through the Easter season).  Since Easter Sunday our hopelessness has been turned to amazement and joy.  The anger of a holy God has changed to grace and favor.  The Lamb who was slain is back!  You don’t have to imagine heaven, this is heaven!

These post-Easters readings have given a very real glimpse of glory.  In John’s revelation we see what he sees.  God is in the midst of a multitude of angels who are encircling the throne and the four living creatures and the elders are singing in a loud voice:  “Worthy is the Lamb!”

John’s vision is of the majesty of the Lord, in heaven.  This is a vision of the kind that would give you goose bumps or make your hair stand up straight.  But as awesome as the view is, and as majestic a sight of worship of the Lord seated in power and might, the real message is what God has done and what God promises to do—for you and for me.

The revelation that God wants you to see is not just the power and might and majesty of heaven; it’s not just that Christ is victorious and worthy.  The revelation is that this is yours.

God has made you His own in the waters of Holy Baptism.  You sins have been washed away because the Lamb’s blood cleanses.  Christ has redeemed you to be His own.  God has placed His name on you.  He continues to strengthen you and give you the assurance of forgiveness and eternal life through the Word and the Holy Supper of Christ’s body and blood.  The glory and the beauty and majesty of the Good News in Christ is that we have hope in this world—and always—because of Jesus.

from the Pastor…

SEPTEMBER 2012

Whenever I am told that I “need” to get a newsletter article in to the secretary, I ponder, trying to not say the same thing again and again.  But every September we do repeat some things.  For instance, it’s back to school time, and we will be having a Rally Day—back to Sunday School and Bible Class (if you took the summer off!). Confirmation classes resume for the 5^th, 6^th and 7^th graders on Sundays in September.

This is great time to invite others to “come back to church” as well.  The Gospel is the good news that we have a gracious God who loves us in Christ.  God loves the world so much He gave up His only Son, His dearest treasure, for the sake of saving the world from sin and offering life forever.  You and I know of the cross and the empty tomb, and while people are dying in their sin all around us, shouldn’t we reach out with this blessed assurance and tell them?  Of course!

Sometimes people are uncomfortable talking about “church” with relatives and friends.  What if someone you knew was drowning?  Would you wait until Michael Phelps was in town to swim the best time to save them?  As ridiculous as that sounds, some people think only certain people are called to share the Gospel.

You have been called out of the darkness in His marvelous light, you are a royal priest, that you might take this faith and share it with others.  You have the Word.  Just tell others.  It’s that simple.  You don’t to be the most eloquent or polished speaker.  We do need properly trained pastors, teachers and DCEs, but you, too, are already equipped with everything necessary to proclaim the Gospel where it is needed.

Maybe I have told you this before…people (friends, relatives, neighbors) come to church because others (friends, relatives, neighbors) have invited them.   Be a good neighbor…tell them Christ is here!

Blessings,

Pastor Stuenkel

P.S.  Rally Day is September 9!

from the Pastor…

THE FEAST OF THE ASCENSION

Presently we are in the midst of the Easter season, in the early days of the church the Sundays were called “Rogation” days.  Festival prayer processions were held for blessing the time of planting.  The people would ask for the Lord to bless their crops and also to protect them from famine.  The primary purpose was to “implore the mercy of God, so that through Jesus Christ, He may keep us from all evils of soul and body, and give to the plants of the field growth and increase…the processions are a reminder to feeble man to turn with humility and confidence to the giver of all good.”

The Sundays of Rogate, Jubilate, and Cantate included services full of joy; on these days the people were to begin to concentrate on the Ascension of the Lord and know they, as believers, have an Advocate who sits at the right hand of God the Father. Rogate was the last Sunday after Easter, and in the midst of that week came the Feast of the Ascension, which came to be regarded as the summation of all the feast days in the church calendar.

Since the Ascension of our Lord occurred forty days after Easter, the festival falls on a Thursday, hardly a day on which people today think they ought to be in church.  Yet, still even in Lutheran circles today the readings paint a beautiful picture for us:  “Men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.”  (Acts 1:11)  The Epistle and the Gospel speak specifically about the Ascension of Christ when He gave the eleven His final commission and we are told that the disciples “went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following.” (Mark 16:20)

We will celebrate Christ’s return to heaven with an Ascension Vigil service on Wednesday, May 16, and will ask that Jesus come again, and that He come quickly. We will contemplate our Lord’s own words from John 14:2-3:

In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told

            you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you,

            I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye

            may be also.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!

In Christ’s love,

Pastor Stuenkel