Pastor David Nehrenz
FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
Dear Beloved in our Lord Jesus,
Another new Christian Church year began on The First Sunday in Advent, Nov. 30. The Festival season is upon us! Advent, Christmas, New Year’s and Epiphany. Let us rejoice and be glad!
The theme for our Advent Wednesday Vespers services is “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People” from LSB Hymn 347.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but through the means of grace He comes to us. He comes to forgive our sins and to give us eternal life! Jesus comes to us as the Gospel is preached, when we are baptized, when we are absolved, and when we commune at the Lord’s Table.
God, through His Son the babe of Mary, by the Spirit who lives in our hearts, has come to us! May our daily lives revolve around the cyclical flow of the Church Year and not be tossed around by the swift tides of modern fads and fake celebrations.
That flow of the new Church Year for this festival season is:
ADVENT Season – Nov. 30 through Dec. 24 (to Christmas Eve) – “Prophecies about Christ’s Coming”
CHRISTMAS Season – Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) through Jan. 6 (the 12 Days of Christmas) – “Jesus Comes – A Babe Born for the Jews”
EPIPHANY Season – begins on Jan. 6 – Epiphany – “Jesus Comes – A Star for the Gentile Magi”
The Light for the Jews and for us Gentile nations has come. Let heaven and earth rejoice!
In our Advent King , Christmas Savior and Epiphany Light – Jesus,
Pastor Nehrenz
NOTE: 1. Plan to attend all of our festival services: The three Wednesday evening Advent Vespers Services, the two Children’s Christmas worship programs, the Christmas Eve Candlelight service, the Christmas Eve Communion service, the Christmas Day Communion service, New Year’s Eve Communion service and the Epiphany of our Lord Communion service. Have this month’s church calendar on your refrigerator and make note of the dates and times. Come also to the Divine Services every Sunday and receive God’s gracious gifts with joy and exaltation!
During Advent, use the Lutheran Hour Ministries Advent Devotional booklet with the theme: “Born to You a Savior” as we prepare our hearts and minds for the celebration of the Incarnation.
The message of Advent and Christmas is that God became a person. His given name is Jesus, which is the name Yeshua or Joshua, and means “the Lord saves.” Jesus is our only Savior from sin, death and hell. He gives us righteousness, life and heaven.
Vicar Seth Horn
FROM THE VICAR
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be…able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle… – 1 Timothy 3:1-3
Hello and God’s blessings to you once again! Last month, we continued to talk about the qualifications of overseer or pastor in the Christ’s Church. This month, we continue to look at these qualifications and ponder what it means for a pastor to be able to teach and have self-control over temptations and his own emotions.
Teaching is one of the most important aspects of the pastor’s duties in the Church. Nearly all aspects of his duties can exemplify teaching or are filled with “teaching moments”. Whether in the pulpit on a Sunday, in a Bible class, or in his own actions, a pastor is teaching at all times. Christ Himself taught numerous times in the Gospels and even commands in His charge to the Apostles before He ascended to Heaven to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” The Christian life is one of continual catechesis and the pastor must always be learning and teaching what he has learned to his people.
His life is also able to teach. One of the critical things that a Christian learns is self-control. To do the things we need to do and not do the things we shouldn’t do. A pastor is the example that his people is watching. St. Paul lists several more qualifications that involve self-control. A pastor cannot be a drunkard. A drink while off the clock is one thing, but a pastor must be ready to spring into action at all times and in order to do so, he must not be drunk. He is to exemplify self-control in this matter. In doing so, he teaches by his way of life that we must have temperance in all things.
Speaking of temperance, he must also control his emotions and actions. A pastor cannot be violent but gentle. A pastor does not abuse or harm his spouse or children, but is patient and gentle with them, just as Christ is patient with the Church. He is offering comfort and love to those who are downcast by their sins and woes of the world. This love teaches by example and radiates to others around us.
In Christ, Vicar Horn
