Pastor David Nehrenz
tlcnormanpastor@gmail.com
FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
Greetings in our Lord Jesus dear fellow saints in Christ!
Why does the Christian Church normally have Divine Services on the first day of the week – Sunday? Recall in the Bible how all three Persons of the Holy Trinity did mighty and awesome deeds on the first day of the week.
God the Father began his mighty creation on the first day of the week when “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1-6) God the Son was raised from the dead on the first day of the week and came forth from the tomb. (Matthew 28:1-8) God the Holy Spirit was poured out on the first day of the week upon the church at Pentecost. (Acts 2:1-21)
The early church, as described in the New Testament, began to worship and gather on the first day of the week – the Lord’s Day. (1 Corinthians 16:1,2; Revelation 1:9,10) There are good reasons that for more than 2000 years the universal church has held to this practice. So, we continue to do the same.
We come to church for God to divinely serve us with his Gospel gifts. These personally come into our lives through preaching, teaching, baptism, absolution and Holy Communion. Then we respond with our prayers, thanksgivings and praises to the only true God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
So read the words of this hymn and prayerfully make a plan to participate in the Divine Services each weekend:
LSB HYMN 906
“O Day of Rest and Gladness”
- O day of rest and gladness, O day of joy and light,
O balm of care and sadness, Most beautiful, most bright;
This day the high and lowly, Through ages joined to bless,
Sing, “Holy, holy, holy,” The triune God confess.
Since 1901 (for 123 years!) we are Trinity Lutheran Church. We are “One Family in our Church, Early Childhood Center and Campus Ministry.” We have much work to do in the mission field around us here in Norman, in Oklahoma, in the U.S.A. and in the world. I look forward to seeing you soon at the Divine Services, Bible classes and Sunday School.
In our Lord Jesus,
Pastor Nehrenz
NOTES for this month:
In September there are three special days in the church year:
HOLY CROSS DAY is Sept. 14th and the lessons are: Ps. 99:1-5; Lam. 3:25-33; 1 Cor. 1:18-24; Luke 20:9-18. On that day we pray that, “…O God, you did not spare your only Son but delivered him up for us all that he might bear our sins on the cross…”
MATTHEW, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST day is Sept. 21st and the lessons are Ps. 119:33-40; Prov. 3:1-6; Eph. 4:7-16; Matt. 9:9-13. On that day we pray that, “…even as God called St. Matthew the tax collector, grant that we also may forsake all sin, all covetous desires and inordinate love of riches and cast every care upon Him…”
MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS day is Sept. 29th and the lessons are Ps. 103:19-22; Josh. 5:13-15; Rev. 12:7-12; Matt. 18:1-11. On that day we pray that, “…O God, grant that as your holy angels always serve you in heaven, so by your appointment they may also help and defend us here on earth…”
Vicar Tanner Sawall
tlcnormanvicar@gmail.com
FROM THE VICAR
Wisdom has built a house, has hewn seven pillars, slaughtered the beasts and mixed the wine. Wisdom calls out “whoever is simple, let him turn here!… Leave your simple ways, and live.” But who is this Wisdom? In 1 Corinthians 1:24, Saint Paul calls Christ “the wisdom of God.” This is the same Wisdom spoken of in Proverbs 9. Wisdom, who is Christ, has built a house, the Church on earth. Wisdom has also hewn pillars. Pillars, naturally, make the house steadfast and sturdy. This house that Wisdom has built has constructed for it seven of these pillars. As you may already know, seven is the number of perfection. The Church’s foundation is built upon, by, and through, the perfect work, sacrifice, and guarantee of Christ. In fact, not only are the pillars the work of Christ and His sacrifice, which won for us His guarantee that is the Gospel, even the feast Wisdom brings together is the product of that sacrifice some two thousand years ago.
The feast in Proverbs 9 is a foreshadow of the marriage feast of the Lamb – the same feast we still participate in today in Holy Communion where Jesus true body and true blood are offered for sinners to eat and to drink for the strengthening of their faith. It is when we Christians come to the house that Wisdom has built to eat and drink the feast that Wisdom has prepared that we learn to “walk in the way of insight” and live. It is through the Lord’s Supper that we take in Wisdom and are thus given wisdom.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” To take Christ at His Word that His sacrifice is for you, to be bold enough to approach the Throne of Grace by the altar rails, knowing Christ comes as your Physician, is to fear the Lord. This is the knowledge that God has revealed to us through His Word, and truly, “the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”
In September, we will be holding bible study over the book of Romans every Tuesday at 6:30, including the free homecooked meal. I am planning to spend time on Fridays working at the Student Union building, increasing visibility and to create new connections with more students. Depending on attendance and interest, I will take the students to do other events, like rock climbing, hiking, or even visiting an art museum. According to the good Lord’s will, September will prove to be a fruitful month. Success and growth belong to the Lord, along with all glory, honor, and praise.
In Christ,
Vicar Sawall
