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NEWSLETTER - MARCH 2012
THE WONDERS OF HIS CREATION
On March 27th at the National Mall in Washington D.C., a scrappy coalition of atheists say they will make history by pulling together what they claim is the first nationwide celebration of secular values -- what one of the organizers called a “Woodstock for non-belief.” According to the Reason Rally website, “The intent is to unify, energize and embolden secular people nationwide, while dispelling the negative opinions held by so much of American society ... and having a damn good time doing it.”
Part of me wants to giggle at the irony...that people are gathering together in one place to celebrate the absence of God. These people are gathering together, glorifying the belief that there is nothing to believe in. Atheists want to find solidarity with one another in their common identity and shared conviction. The absence of God aside...it sounds a lot like the purpose of a church, doesn’t it?
I think it would be wonderful if the secularists did form a church. Then whenever some of their members are exposed as pedophiles, or an adulterers or a liars, extortionists, their whole church and belief system can be held accountable for the transgressions of the few, and Christians can call them “hypocrites” right back. Part of me wants to judge...that’s the uncharitable part. The charitable part reminds me not to mock the lost, but pity them, and pray to the Father of lights that they too might be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.
In the Bible there was a group of people that got together to celebrate the absence of God. They were the Israelites...God’s own people. And when Moses went upon the mountain and didn’t return to them in a timely manner the Bible says, “the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, ‘Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him’” (Exodus 32:1). And so Aaron, the High Priest, fashions them a golden calf; and they did celebrate and “have a damn good time” around it. And not only do they worship it, but Aaron says “This [golden calf] is your god, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”
Aaron credits this golden calf as being the true God, the God that fought Egypt with terrible plagues, parted the Red Sea and daily gave the Israelites manna to eat. It’s clear that these people feel they’ve got to find something to worship. Here they are, out in the wilderness--nothing to depend on but a God whose not there--and they become anxious. They lose faith. So they call upon another god, a god they’ve fashioned to “go forth before them,” keep them safe, and give them success.
In his Large Catechism, Martin Luther writes, “A god is that to which we look for all good and in which we find refuge in time of need.” So quickly did the Israelites run for refuge to a new god that they fashioned for their own fortune. So too, atheism, so impatient to see divine glory in the wilderness of this life, takes God’s works and instead gives the credit to new gods...the gods of evolution, and science, and human advancement. The “science-thumpers,” the high priests of this world, have become impatient in waiting for God to come and save the world, so they have found another god named “Science.” And with it, they intend to destroy heaven in the hopes of making a new earth.
Nothing is wrong with science, when it knows its place and stays there. But science is and will ever be nothing more than a speculative discipline. Science is a tool. Useful? Very much so...but not all-knowing, and much less an object of worship. Science is an imperfect science, and it is only as flawless as the men who wield it. But the Bible, which has been around a lot longer than modern science, is wielded by God. God used His Word to create the universe. He talked the stars into their places. He spoke the sun into the sky. His breath gave us life, and He declared our salvation even before we could speak. Science can’t reach God, but God baffled science when he reached down and became man. And if God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will He not also grant us faith in the way He fashioned things? He will give us hearts to celebrate the wonders of His creation.
O Lord, our Lord...when I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which YOU have set in place...how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Pastor Nathan
MIDWEEK LENTEN WORSHIP
We will be having regular Midweek Lenten services on Wednesdays. We invite you to join us for a simple meal of soup and buns at 5:45 p.m. followed by a Worship Service at 6:30 p.m. There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board if you are able to take a turn and make soup.
PARISH PLANNING COORDINATOR
The posting for Parish Planning Coordinator has closed and our committee will now be meeting to determine the next step.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Easter
(A poem)
Jesus
His Disciples
His Word
His Works
Prayer
3 Crosses
“It is finished!”
Resurrection
Grace
Love
Miracles
Jesus
(Author Unknown)
As we begin the season of Lent we are reminded of the luxuries Jesus gave up, to be our Saviour. Jesus could have had anything He wanted, after all He was God, but he gave up everything, even His own life, to die and live again for us. The March Sunday School lessons lead the students on Christ’s journey to the cross by teaching them about some of what Jesus did before Good Friday.
The students will be participating in the 11 a.m. service on Easter Sunday.
There will be a Sunday School Teacher’s meeting on Sunday, March 4th at 12:20 p.m. Please bring your ideas for a special year end event.
LITTLE LAMBS CHRISTIAN PRE-SCHOOL
Little Lambs Christian Pre-school still has some spaces available for the fall 2012. If you would like to register or would like more information, please call 403-892-6627. Registrations forms can be found online at www.littlelambspreschool.ca or in the church office.
OUTREACH EVENTS
SOUP - Please sign up to help the Board of Outreach pull off a great event on March 16th! We are holding a free dinner to bless U of L students at 6 p.m.! This is an excellent way reach out to our community and we'd be glad to have you donate soup, buns, and desserts... or even if you can help set up/clean up! See sign up sheet in the Narthex. Thanks in advance!
AWESOME CONCERT - Linnea Salte will be live in concert at Immanuel on April 24th. This event is totally free! Start spreading the word to your family and friends. Check out Linnea's music at linneasalte.com.
PASTOR LOSES LOCKS AT "FUN RAZOR" LUNCHEON
On February 26, Pastor Nathan lost much of his hair at the hands our talented hair dresser, Rob Bloos. It was in January that the congregation was challenged to raise at least $10,500 for 10,000 books that tell the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Spanish which will be distributed in Nicaragua and other Spanish speaking countries. The books have a lot of pictures that are in cartoon style. At the time of this writing, we have raised about $12,000. Pastor Nathan agreed to allow his locks to be trimmed if we raised at least $10,500 which happened at the luncheon. We want to thank the congregation for their generosity of money, food and service at the luncheon. We also wanted to thank Pastor Nathan for being such a good sport and Rob Bloos for giving pastor a professional hair cut. Walter and Linda Egli
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Financial Statement - January 2012
MISSION OFFERINGS
A-BC District Mission Donations for Month...................................................................................................... $270.00
A-BC District Mission Donations to Date ............................................................................................................ 270.00
CLWR Mission Donations for Month ................................................................................................................. 195.00
CLWR Mission Donations to Date ..................................................................................................................... 195.00
BANK ACCOUNTS
Servus Credit Union Cheq. Acc.t Balance................................................................................................... $48,472.19
Dedicated Accounts Balance......................................................................................................................... 25,529.91
Church Extension Term Deposit................................................................................................................... 10,087.93
CURRENT MONTH
Budgeted Income............................................................................................................................................. 31,897.08
Actual Income ................................................................................................................................................. 29,226.55
Budgeted Disbursements.................................................................................................................................. 31,897.08
Actual Disbursements....................................................................................................................................... 26,125.15
On March 27th at the National Mall in Washington D.C., a scrappy coalition of atheists say they will make history by pulling together what they claim is the first nationwide celebration of secular values -- what one of the organizers called a “Woodstock for non-belief.” According to the Reason Rally website, “The intent is to unify, energize and embolden secular people nationwide, while dispelling the negative opinions held by so much of American society ... and having a damn good time doing it.”
Part of me wants to giggle at the irony...that people are gathering together in one place to celebrate the absence of God. These people are gathering together, glorifying the belief that there is nothing to believe in. Atheists want to find solidarity with one another in their common identity and shared conviction. The absence of God aside...it sounds a lot like the purpose of a church, doesn’t it?
I think it would be wonderful if the secularists did form a church. Then whenever some of their members are exposed as pedophiles, or an adulterers or a liars, extortionists, their whole church and belief system can be held accountable for the transgressions of the few, and Christians can call them “hypocrites” right back. Part of me wants to judge...that’s the uncharitable part. The charitable part reminds me not to mock the lost, but pity them, and pray to the Father of lights that they too might be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.
In the Bible there was a group of people that got together to celebrate the absence of God. They were the Israelites...God’s own people. And when Moses went upon the mountain and didn’t return to them in a timely manner the Bible says, “the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, ‘Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him’” (Exodus 32:1). And so Aaron, the High Priest, fashions them a golden calf; and they did celebrate and “have a damn good time” around it. And not only do they worship it, but Aaron says “This [golden calf] is your god, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”
Aaron credits this golden calf as being the true God, the God that fought Egypt with terrible plagues, parted the Red Sea and daily gave the Israelites manna to eat. It’s clear that these people feel they’ve got to find something to worship. Here they are, out in the wilderness--nothing to depend on but a God whose not there--and they become anxious. They lose faith. So they call upon another god, a god they’ve fashioned to “go forth before them,” keep them safe, and give them success.
In his Large Catechism, Martin Luther writes, “A god is that to which we look for all good and in which we find refuge in time of need.” So quickly did the Israelites run for refuge to a new god that they fashioned for their own fortune. So too, atheism, so impatient to see divine glory in the wilderness of this life, takes God’s works and instead gives the credit to new gods...the gods of evolution, and science, and human advancement. The “science-thumpers,” the high priests of this world, have become impatient in waiting for God to come and save the world, so they have found another god named “Science.” And with it, they intend to destroy heaven in the hopes of making a new earth.
Nothing is wrong with science, when it knows its place and stays there. But science is and will ever be nothing more than a speculative discipline. Science is a tool. Useful? Very much so...but not all-knowing, and much less an object of worship. Science is an imperfect science, and it is only as flawless as the men who wield it. But the Bible, which has been around a lot longer than modern science, is wielded by God. God used His Word to create the universe. He talked the stars into their places. He spoke the sun into the sky. His breath gave us life, and He declared our salvation even before we could speak. Science can’t reach God, but God baffled science when he reached down and became man. And if God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will He not also grant us faith in the way He fashioned things? He will give us hearts to celebrate the wonders of His creation.
O Lord, our Lord...when I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which YOU have set in place...how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Pastor Nathan
MIDWEEK LENTEN WORSHIP
We will be having regular Midweek Lenten services on Wednesdays. We invite you to join us for a simple meal of soup and buns at 5:45 p.m. followed by a Worship Service at 6:30 p.m. There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board if you are able to take a turn and make soup.
PARISH PLANNING COORDINATOR
The posting for Parish Planning Coordinator has closed and our committee will now be meeting to determine the next step.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Easter
(A poem)
Jesus
His Disciples
His Word
His Works
Prayer
3 Crosses
“It is finished!”
Resurrection
Grace
Love
Miracles
Jesus
(Author Unknown)
As we begin the season of Lent we are reminded of the luxuries Jesus gave up, to be our Saviour. Jesus could have had anything He wanted, after all He was God, but he gave up everything, even His own life, to die and live again for us. The March Sunday School lessons lead the students on Christ’s journey to the cross by teaching them about some of what Jesus did before Good Friday.
The students will be participating in the 11 a.m. service on Easter Sunday.
There will be a Sunday School Teacher’s meeting on Sunday, March 4th at 12:20 p.m. Please bring your ideas for a special year end event.
LITTLE LAMBS CHRISTIAN PRE-SCHOOL
Little Lambs Christian Pre-school still has some spaces available for the fall 2012. If you would like to register or would like more information, please call 403-892-6627. Registrations forms can be found online at www.littlelambspreschool.ca or in the church office.
OUTREACH EVENTS
SOUP - Please sign up to help the Board of Outreach pull off a great event on March 16th! We are holding a free dinner to bless U of L students at 6 p.m.! This is an excellent way reach out to our community and we'd be glad to have you donate soup, buns, and desserts... or even if you can help set up/clean up! See sign up sheet in the Narthex. Thanks in advance!
AWESOME CONCERT - Linnea Salte will be live in concert at Immanuel on April 24th. This event is totally free! Start spreading the word to your family and friends. Check out Linnea's music at linneasalte.com.
PASTOR LOSES LOCKS AT "FUN RAZOR" LUNCHEON
On February 26, Pastor Nathan lost much of his hair at the hands our talented hair dresser, Rob Bloos. It was in January that the congregation was challenged to raise at least $10,500 for 10,000 books that tell the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Spanish which will be distributed in Nicaragua and other Spanish speaking countries. The books have a lot of pictures that are in cartoon style. At the time of this writing, we have raised about $12,000. Pastor Nathan agreed to allow his locks to be trimmed if we raised at least $10,500 which happened at the luncheon. We want to thank the congregation for their generosity of money, food and service at the luncheon. We also wanted to thank Pastor Nathan for being such a good sport and Rob Bloos for giving pastor a professional hair cut. Walter and Linda Egli
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Financial Statement - January 2012
MISSION OFFERINGS
A-BC District Mission Donations for Month...................................................................................................... $270.00
A-BC District Mission Donations to Date ............................................................................................................ 270.00
CLWR Mission Donations for Month ................................................................................................................. 195.00
CLWR Mission Donations to Date ..................................................................................................................... 195.00
BANK ACCOUNTS
Servus Credit Union Cheq. Acc.t Balance................................................................................................... $48,472.19
Dedicated Accounts Balance......................................................................................................................... 25,529.91
Church Extension Term Deposit................................................................................................................... 10,087.93
CURRENT MONTH
Budgeted Income............................................................................................................................................. 31,897.08
Actual Income ................................................................................................................................................. 29,226.55
Budgeted Disbursements.................................................................................................................................. 31,897.08
Actual Disbursements....................................................................................................................................... 26,125.15
