2 Easter 2016 - messiahwaterloo.camessiahwaterloo.ca/.../04/Clarion-1-2-Easter-2016.pdf · THE...
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VOLUME 1, NUMBER 2 EASTER 2016 IN THIS ISSUE… A Single Spluttering Candle 2 ................................................ Ebytown Brass Band Concert 2 ............................................. Vacation Bible School 3 ......................................................... From the Chairman 3 ............................................................. My Old Typewriter 4 .............................................................. Background to the Hymn 4 ................................................... Tidbits 5 .................................................................................. Reformation Countdown 5 ................................................... Messiah Youth Choir 5 ........................................................... God and His Creation are Good! 6 ........................................ Lines from Luther 6 ............................................................... The Last Word 6 ..................................................................... the seasonal newsletter of MESSIAH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 700 Glen Forrest Boulevard Waterloo, ON N2L 4K6 Pastor Jim Heinbuch 519.884.3849 www.messiahwaterloo.ca 519-498-1709 A congregation of the Lutheran Church-Canada Dear Saints of Messiah, In our conversation in the last Clarion we looked at the term “evangelical” and its various meanings. This time we will take a look at the next word in our name: Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church. Just what does ‘Lutheran’ mean? First we recognize that the word means a Christian who follows the Scripture as taught by Martin Luther. Luther was concerned with the teaching that a person gets to heaven by the love of God in Christ. A Lutheran believes that one does nothing to earn heaven: it is a free gift. Foundational for Lutheran teaching are the “three solas”. ‘Sola’ is the Latin word for ‘alone’. First, we proclaim that our salvation is by grace alone. It comes as a free gift from God. Second, we believe that we receive this free gift from God by faith alone. And third, we believe we get to know about Jesus and His free gift of salvation through His life, death, resurrection and ascension through hearing and reading the Scriptures. Lutherans also recognize that this wonderful free gift comes to them because God the Fa- ther’s only Son took on human flesh and blood to pay the price of eternal hell for our salva- tion. He channels this gift of eternal life to us through the Word of God (the Bible), Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. This is why we say that to be a Lutheran is to be a Christian. The two different words mean the same thing. We proudly bear the name ‘Lutheran’ because the word gives all glory to God. Yours in Christ, Pastor Jim Heinbuch
Transcript of 2 Easter 2016 - messiahwaterloo.camessiahwaterloo.ca/.../04/Clarion-1-2-Easter-2016.pdf · THE...
VOLUME1,NUMBER2 EASTER2016
INTHISISSUE…
ASingleSplutteringCandle 2................................................EbytownBrassBandConcert 2.............................................VacationBibleSchool 3.........................................................FromtheChairman 3.............................................................MyOldTypewriter 4..............................................................BackgroundtotheHymn 4...................................................
Tidbits 5..................................................................................ReformationCountdown 5...................................................MessiahYouthChoir 5...........................................................GodandHisCreationareGood! 6........................................LinesfromLuther 6...............................................................TheLastWord 6.....................................................................
theseasonalnewsletterof
MESSIAHEVANGELICALLUTHERANCHURCH700GlenForrestBoulevardWaterloo,ONN2L4K6PastorJimHeinbuch
519.884.3849www.messiahwaterloo.ca
519-498-1709
AcongregationoftheLutheranChurch-Canada
DearSaintsofMessiah,
InourconversationinthelastClarionwelookedattheterm“evangelical”anditsvariousmeanings.Thistimewewilltakealookatthenextwordinourname:MessiahEvangelicalLutheranChurch.Justwhatdoes‘Lutheran’mean?
FirstwerecognizethatthewordmeansaChristianwhofollowstheScriptureastaughtbyMartinLuther.LutherwasconcernedwiththeteachingthatapersongetstoheavenbytheloveofGodinChrist.ALutheranbelievesthatonedoesnothingtoearnheaven:itisafreegift.
FoundationalforLutheranteachingarethe“threesolas”.‘Sola’istheLatinwordfor‘alone’.First,weproclaimthatoursalvationisbygracealone.ItcomesasafreegiftfromGod.Second,webelievethatwereceivethisfreegiftfromGodbyfaithalone.Andthird,webelievewegettoknowaboutJesusandHisfreegiftofsalvationthroughHislife,death,resurrectionandascensionthroughhearingandreadingtheScriptures.
LutheransalsorecognizethatthiswonderfulfreegiftcomestothembecauseGodtheFa-ther’sonlySontookonhumanfleshandbloodtopaytheprice
ofeternalhellforoursalva-tion.Hechannelsthisgift
ofeternallifetousthroughtheWordofGod(theBible),Baptism,andtheLord’sSupper.
Thisiswhywesaythattobea
LutheranistobeaChristian.Thetwodifferentwordsmeanthesamething.Weproudlybearthename‘Lutheran’becausethewordgivesallglorytoGod.
YoursinChrist,
PastorJimHeinbuch
THECLARION Easter2016PAGE2
FROMTHEEDITOR…ASingleSplutteringCandle
“Thedeepestdarknessinthewholeworldcanbedri-venoutbyasinglesplutteringcandle.”
Idon’tknowwherethatquoteisfrom,butitlivesinthedistantrecessesofmymemory.
It bringsme tomindof thedaysofmy childhood.My parents had a cottage in the Muskokas, on asmall lake. The lots on our side of the lake werejoined togetherbya foot-path thatwewould takeaswevisitedbackandforthintheevenings.Some-timeswewouldstaylater,playingcardsandlaugh-ing until darkness had fallen; on those evenings Iwouldcarryasmallredkerosenelantern.Itdidn’tgive much light, but it gave enough to illumi-nate the path, and keep us from stumbling;anditgaveusasenseofsecurity.
“Asinglesplutteringcandle.”Notmuchofalightsource,really;yetitisenoughtobanishthedarkness–andhowmuchmorecouldthelight of thousands of brightly burningwicksput darkness into its proper place? To saynothingof thestars, themoon,or theblazingbrightnessofthesun?Thedarkness–sofearedfor so long by so many – is shown its rightful in-significancewhenconfrontedbyeventheweakestoflights.
Think now of the darkness of sin,which seems toblanketsomuchoflife.Itisadeep,deepdarkness,enveloping us all, immersing us in its malignantpower;sin,thetoolsoftradeofthePrinceofDark-ness,Satanhimself.
Thedarknessofsinwouldseektoconvinceusthatresistance is useless; that evil has conquered; thatthe few lingering remnants of good that can beseenare in theirfinaldeath throes;andthatGod’splan of redemption is at best a failure, atworst acrueljokeoranon-event.
Even Scripture recounts for us the power of dark-nessinitstellingofJesus’crucifixion:
When it was noon, darkness came over thewhole land until three in the afternoon. Atthreeo’clockJesuscriedoutwithaloudvoice,‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means,‘My God, my God, why have you forsakenme?’(Mark15:33-34)
Darkindeed,whentheSonofGodfeelsforsakenbyHisFather.
So, inthemidstofthatdarkness,whatisGod’sresponse?Inaword,Easter.
Easterpresentsus–notwithasinglesplutter-ing candle – butwith theblazingbrightnessof the rising Son! The glory of the resurrec-tion is that the veryworst that Satan coulddohasbeenbrought tonothingbyour Sav-iourJesusandHisvictoryonEastermorning.
ThefurthergloryofEasteristhat,throughbap-tism,wehavebeenjoinedtoJesus;thatbyfaith
weshare inJesus’victory–share in itaswestrug-gle throughthis lifenow,andshare in itasweareimmersedinitfullyinthelifetocome.
Finally,asdisciplesoftherisenLord,Eastercallsusto live as childrenof light, shining in thedarkness,pointingotherstothetrueLightoftheWorld.
PaulHartig,Editor
Band ConcertJoin Us for a Great Time!
Sunday, May 15 at 2:30 pm
Messiah Lutheran ChurchRefreshments Served Free-Will Offering
THECLARION Easter2016PAGE3
Preparationforthisyear’sVacationBibleSchoolcontinues.Theleadershavetheirguidebooks,manyofthehelpersareinplace(althoughwecanalwaysusemore!),andplansforthisyear’sgames,crafts,storiesandmusicareunderway.
So,what’slefttodo?Well,westillneedthehelpofeverymemberofMessiah!
Spreadthewordaboutthisyear’sVBStopar-entsandkidsyouknow!
WatchtheweeklyannouncementsandTheMessengerandofferyourhelpasneedsarise!
PrayerfullyaskyourselfhowyoucanuseyourgiftstosharetheGoodNewsofJesuswithtoday’syouth!
WhyisVacationBibleSchoolsoimportant?Thinkabouttheworldinwhichouryoungpeopleareliv-ing.ReadthenewspapersandwatchtheTVnews.Itisatough,toughworld,andGodseemstohaveanever-smallerplaceinit.Manyoftoday’skidsarenotraisedinchurch-goingfamilies;thepublicschoolsystemhasdoneitsbesttoeliminateGod;andso-cialmediahasbecomeadominant—andall-too-oftenunhealthy—influence.Today’syoungpeopleneedsomebodytoshareJesuswiththem!
HOWARETHEYTOCALLONONEINWHOMTHEYHAVENOTBELIEVED? AND HOW ARE THEY TO BELIEVE IN ONE OFWHOMTHEYHAVENEVERHEARD?ANDHOWARETHEYTOHEARWITHOUT SOMEONE TO PROCLAIMHIM?AND HOWARETHEYTOPROCLAIMHIMUNLESSTHEYARESENT?ASITIS WRITTEN, ‘HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSEWHOBRINGGOODNEWS!’(Romans10:14-15)
Ifnotyou,thenwho?Canwecountonyoutodoyourpart?
VACATIONBIBLESCHOOLUPDATE
soon…..andsoon….andsoon.
AtthepresenttimeyourchurchcounciliscarryingonwithoutaTreasurerandwithonlyoneTrustee.Thevacantpositionsarebeingdonebyothersoncouncil,buthavingonlythreevotingmembersplusthechairman,isnotinthebestinterestofthecon-gregationandcannotgoonindefinitely.
AswelltheBoardofEldersisinneedofsomenewandadditionalmembers,assomecurrentEldershaveservedinthatpositionforalengthyperiodoftime.
IstronglyurgeeachandeverymembertoconsidergivingofyourtimeandtalentstoserveourLord,andtoserveMessiahinthistimeofneed.Wearecurrentlyintheprocessofsettingaslatefortheelectionsof2016.Pleasemakeiteasierforyournominationscommitteetofilltheslatebysaying“YES”whenaskedtoletyournamestand.
HavingoutlinedMessiah’sneedsindetailabove,Imusttakethisopportunitytothankallthosevolun-teerswhodiligentlyserveonMessiah’svariousboards,committeesandworkparties,givingfreelyoftheirtimetoourLord.Youknowwhoyouare,andIthankyouforyourhardworkanddedication.
MikeEmrich,Chairman
AlthoughI’mstillreasonablynewtoMessiahandamslowlygettingtoknowitsmembersanditshistory,I’mnotnewtothechairman’spositioninacongregationofLutheranChurch-CanadahavingheldthepositionformanyyearsinRichmond,BC.
Thechallengesfacingcongregationsareprettymuchthesame,beitinWaterlooorontheWestCoastofCanada…gettingpeopletovolunteerforpositionsonboards,financialdifficultiesanddwindlingattendanceandmembership.
WeatMessiahcontinuetobefacedwiththesethreemajorchallenges,whichfeedoffeachotherandmakethingsevenmoredifficult.
Nothavingenoughvolunteerstofillpositionsthusmakingitdifficultforthoseonboardstodotheworknecessary,resultinginfewerprogramsbeingoffered.Fewerprogramsbeingofferedleadstolessincentivefornewpeopletojoinusforworshipandmoremem-bersfallingbythewaysidebecauseoflackofinterest.Fewerpeopleworshippingwithusleadstofewervol-unteersandfewerofferingstofundprograms…and
From theChairman
THECLARION Easter2016PAGE4
MYOLDTYPEWRITER…THEFOLLOWINGWASPRINTEDINACHURCH
MAGAZINEINYORKSHIRE,ENGLAND:
Xvxn though my typxwritxr is an old modxl, it works wxll xnough xxcxpt for onx of thx kxys. I havx wishxd many timxs that it workxd pxrfxctly. It is trux thxrx arx forty-fivx kxys that
function wxll xnough, but just onx kxy not working makxs all thx diffxrxncx. So, thx nxxt timx you think that you arx
only onx pxrson and that your xffort is not nxxdxd, rxmxmbxr my typxwritxr, and say to yoursxlf, “I am a kxy pxrson. Thx Lord nxxds mx.” Indeed, we
do all count!
TWOQUESTIONS:WHATGIFTSHASGODGIVENYOU?HOWAREYOUUSINGTHEMTOSERVEHIM?
stanzas,whichappearedinhiscollectionHymnsandSacredLyrics.Thehymn’spresentformin-cludesstanzaspennedbyeachman.Thetune,‘Di-ademata’(whichistheGreekwordfor‘crown’)wascomposedespeciallyforthistextbyGeorgeElvey,anotedorganistatSt.George’sChapelinWindsor,England,whereBritishroyaltyoftenworship.
Letyoursoulrejoiceinthetruththatyouarerelat-edtotheOne“whodiedeternallifetobring,andlivesthatdeathmaydie.”WorshipandpraiseJesuswiththesewonderfulwordsandthispowerfultune!
PleasereadRomans14:9,Hebrews2:7-10,andReve-lation1:5-6,5:11-14&19:1.
“Hiseyesarelikeblazingfire,andonHisheadaremanycrowns...Heisdressedinarobedippedinblood,andHisnameistheWordofGod.”(Revelation19:12-13)
“JesusChrist:thecondescensionofdivinityandtheexaltationofhumanity.”(PhillipsBrooks)
TheOnewhoborethecrownofthornswhileonthecrossisnowcrownedwith“manycrowns”asthereigningmonarchofheaven.EachcrowninthishymntextexaltsChristforsomespecificaspectofHispersonorministry:stanzaoneforHiseternalkingship;stanzatwoforHislowlybirthinBethle-hem;stanzathreeforHislovedemonstratedinre-demptivesuffering;stanzafourforHisvictoriousresurrectionandascension;stanzafiveforHiscom-ingreignofpeaceinalltheworld;andstanzasixasamemberoftheTriuneGodheadeverworthyofwor-shipandpraise.
ThisworshipfultextisthecombinedeffortoftwodistinguishedAnglicanclergy,eachofwhomdesiredtowriteahymnofexaltationtooursufferingbutnowvictoriousLord.MatthewBridges’versionfirstappearedin1851withsixstanzas.Twenty-threeyearslaterGodfreyThringwrotesixadditional
Backgroundto the Hymn
Crown Himwith Many Crowns
CrownHimwithmanycrowns,theLambuponthethrone;Hark,howtheheavenlyanthemdrownsallmusicbutitsown.Awake,mysoul,andsingofHimwhodiedforthee,AndhailHimasthymatchlesskingthroughalleternity.
CrownHimthevirgin’sSon,theGodincarnateborn,WhosearmthosecrimsontrophieswonwhichnowHisbrowadorn;Fruitofthemysticrose,yetofthatrosethestem,TheRootwhencemercyeverflows,theBabeofBethlehem.
CrownHimtheLordoflove–beholdHishandsandside,Richwounds,yetvisibleabove,inbeautyglorified.Noangelsintheskycanfullybearthatsight,Butdownwardbendtheirburningeyesatmysteriessobright.
CrownHimtheLordoflife,whotriumphedo’erthegraveAndrosevictoriousinthestrifeforthoseHecametosave.Hisgloriesnowwesing,whodiedandriseonhigh,Whodied,eternallifetobring,andlivesthatdeathmaydie.
CrownhimtheLordofpeace,whosepow’rasceptreswaysFrompoletopole,thatwarsmaycease,absorbedinprayerandpraise.Hisreignshallknownoend,androundHispiercèdfeetFairflowersofparadiseextendtheirfragranceeversweet.
CrownHimtheLordofyears,thepotentateoftime,Creatoroftherollingspheres,ineffablysublime.Allhail,Redeemer,hail!Forthouhastdiedforme;Thypraiseandgloryshallnotfailthroughouteternity.
DearestLordJesus,Youaloneareworthytowearthemanycrownsofwhichthishymnspeaks.Maywe,Yourfollowers,everhailYouasourLordandKing,andliveourlivesbearingwitnesstoYou,theAuthoroflife.WeprayinYourname.Amen✜
THECLARION Easter2016PAGE5
Tidbits(creditAnnLanders) Actualanswersgivenbychildrenonatestofbiblicalknowledge:
• Noah’swifewasJoanofArk
• Lot’swifewasapillarofsaltbydayandaballoffirebynight
• MosesclimbedtothetopofMountCyanide
• Thesixthcommandmentis“Thoushaltnotadmitadultery”
• JoshualedtheBattleofGeritol
• JesuswasbornbecauseMaryhadanimmacu-latecontraption
• ThepeoplewhofollowedJesuswerecalledthe12Decibels
• Theepistleswerethewivesoftheapostles
• OneoftheopossumswasSt.Matthew
• Paulpreachedacrimony,whichisanothernameformarriage
• DavidfoughtagainsttheFinkelsteins
• TheJewishpeoplewerealwaysstrugglingagainsttheGenitals
• AChristianshouldonlyhaveonewife(thisiscalled‘monotony’)
Heythere,youthofMessiah!Sofarwe’vehadthreeofyouexpressaninterestinjoiningourYouthChoir,andoneotherwhomight!That’sastart!
Sohowaboutyou?Wouldyoubeinterestedinjoin-ingtoo?Ifyou’reoldenoughtoread,you’reoldenoughtojoin!BasedontheawesomesingingIheareveryyearatVacationBibleSchool,Iknowthatthere’salotoftalentoutthere;andgettingtogetherwithotherswhoenjoysingingisalwaysfun.WewillhaveafirstpracticeafterEasteronaSundaymorningat9:30(watchtheannouncementsfortheexactdate).
Whataboutit?Canwecountyouintoo?Singingisalwaysfun,andthemoresingersthemorefun.
Jointhefun!JointheYouthChoir!
MESSIAHYOUTHCHOIR
Weareinthemiddleofthecountdowntocelebratethe500thAnniversaryofthebirthoftheReforma-tion.OnOctober31,1517MartinLutherissupposedtohavenailedthe95The-sestotheChurchDoorinWittenberg.Thisdoorwas
thelocalbulletinboardandLuther’sstatementsweremeantfordiscussionforthelocaltheologians,andnotthefirebranditwasdestinedtobecome.
AshortTimeLine:• 1483—MartinLutherwasborn• 1505—TroubledMartinLutherentersthe
monastery• 1512—MartinLutherbecomesaDoctorof
TheologypromisingtoteachtheScriptures• 1517—Thenailingofthe95Theses• 1520—MartinLutherdeclaredahereticand
excommunicated• 1521—MartinLutherdeclaredanoutlaw• 1522—LuthertranslatestheNewTestament
(1536,theOldTestament)• 1525—Luthermarriesaformernun,Katharine
vonBora• 1529—AMightyFortressisourGodiswritten• 1529—ThepublishingoftheSmallandLarge
Catechisms• 1537—Wrotethelastwillandtestamentof
hisfaith—theSmalcaldArticles• 1546—Lutherdiedinthetowninwhichhe
wasborn.
TheCountdown:TherewillbespecialarticlesintheCanadianLutheran.WehopetobeginplanningaspecialrallyhereintheTri-Cities.Therewillbemonthlyspecialsaswegetclosertothe500thnextyear.AtimelineoftheReformationwillbepostedsooninthenarthex.ReadinglistswillbeavailableforthosewhowishtolearnmoreabouttheRef-ormation.TherewillbeaReformationCornerinthenarthexwithvariousReformationpamphlets,videosandbooksforyoungandoldalike.Therewillbespecialservicesinthenext18months.TheRef-ormationisspecialinmanydifferentways.ItchangedthewaypeoplethinkandlivebothintheChurchandtheworldatlarge.ForusthemaineventistheemphasisontheGospeloffreegraceinJesusChristourLord.
MayGodblessourcelebrationwithHisWordandgrace.PastorJimHeinbuch
THECLARION Easter2016PAGE6
1John4:4:"You,dearchildren,arefromGodandhaveovercomethem[thefalseprophetsandspiritsofthisworld],becausetheOnewhoisinyouisgreaterthantheonewhoisintheworld."
Hebrews13.6:"Sowecanconfi-dentlysay,'TheLordismyhelper;Iwillnotfear;whatcanmandotome?'"
Ephesians4.31-32:"Letallbitternessandwrathandangerandclamourandslanderbeputawayfromyou,alongwithallmalice.Bekindtooneanother,tender-hearted,forgivingoneanother,asGodinChristfor-gaveyou."
1Peter3.9:"Donotrepayevilwithevilorinsultwithinsult.Onthecontrary,repayevilwithblessing,be-causetothisyouwerecalledsothatyoumayinher-itablessing."
Proverbs17.22:"Ajoyfulheartisgoodmedicine,butacrushedspiritdriesupthebones."
10BIBLEPASSAGESTOREMINDYOUTHAT GODANDHISCREATIONAREGOOD!
Psalm139.14:"IpraiseYoubecauseIamfearfullyandwonderfullymade;Yourworksarewonderful,I
knowthatfullwell."
Philippians4.8:"Finally,brothers,whateveristrue,whateverishonourable,whateverisjust,whateverispure,whateverislovely,whateveriscommendable,ifthereisanyexcellence,ifthereisanythingworthyofpraise,thinkaboutthesethings."
2Peter3.9:"TheLordisnotslowinkeepingHispromise,assomeunderstandslowness.InsteadHeispatientwithyou,notwantinganyonetoperish,buteveryonetocometorepentance."
Romans8.28:"AndweknowthatinallthingsGodworksforthegoodofthosewholoveHim,whohavebeencalledaccordingtohispurpose."
Ephesians3.20-21:"NowtoHimwhoisabletodoimmeasurablymorethanallweaskorimagine,ac-cordingtoHispowerthatisatworkwithinus,toHimbegloryinthechurchandinChristJesusthroughoutallgenerations,foreverandever!Amen."
✤ “OurLordhaswrittenthepromiseofresurrection,notinbooksalone,butineveryleafinspringtime.”
✤“Knowyethen—sin,death,devil,andeverythingthatassailsme—thatyouaremissingthemark.Iamnotoneofthosewhoareafraidofyou.ForChrist,mydearLord,haspresent-edtomethattriumphandvictoryofhisbywhichyouwerelaidlow.Andfromthisverygiftof
HisIderivemynameandamcalledaChristian.Thereisnootherreason.MysinanddeathhungaboutHisneckonGoodFriday,butonthedayofEastertheyhadcompletelydisappeared.ThisvictoryHehasbestowedonme.ThisiswhyIdonotworryaboutyou.”
✤ “Whenthedevilthrowsyoursinsinyourfaceanddeclaresthatyoudeservedeathandhell,tellhimthis:‘IadmitthatIdeservedeathandhell,whatofit?ForIknowOnewhosufferedandmadesatisfac-tiononmybehalf.HisnameisJesusChrist,SonofGod,andwhereHeisthereIshallbealso!’”
LINESFROMLUTHER A few words to ponder from Martin Luther
Thisbringsustotheendofthesecond
issueofTheClarion.WiththecelebrationofEaster,anditspromiseofnewlife,coupledwiththereturnofthebudsandwarmthofSpring,thereissomuchforwhichtogivethanks,andsomuchreasontobehopeful!OpenyourhearttotheglorywhichGodhasshowereduponyou,andrejoiceintheRisenLord!Seeyouinchurch!
THELASTWORD
