Newsletters - St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Saginaw MI

A few weeks ago, a writer named Joe Mathews wrote an opinion piece in the San Fransisco Chronicle about how to achieve true equity--by forcing parents in California to swap children (https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/Want-true-equity-California-should-force-parents-16777540.php). If all the rich kids get traded to poor parents, and the poor kids get to go live with rich parents, then equity will be achieved! No one seems to know if the piece is satire or not, but the idea of the "state" stepping in to parent our children is not a satirical idea; people sometimes rely on the state to do all the work, instead of the family.

To Christians, the idea of handing over our children to the state seems crazy. God commands children to learn from and obey their parents (4th commandment, Proverbs 23:22, Eph. 6:1), and he commands parents to raise their children, especially in the Lord.

Ephesians 6:4 says, "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."

Deuteronomy 6 tells the Israelites, "This is the body of commands... so that you may fear the LORD your God by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I am commanding to you, as well as to your children and grandchildren... Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God. The LORD is one! Love the Lord your God...Teach these words diligently to your children, and speak about them when you sit in your house... Tie them as a sign on your wrists, and they will serve as symbols on your forehead..."

Proverbs 6:20 echoes this language when it says, "My son, keep your father's commands, and do not forsake your mother's teachings. Fasten them permanently to your heart, and tie them around your neck."

Even though it seems crazy to hand our children over to the state, we still need to be careful not to hand over our children in other ways. When we don't track their gaming/viewing/phone time diligently, and fail to limit and guide it, we are potentially handing them over to be "raised" by other things. When we don't talk to them about underlying issues that drive them to lose themselves in potentially dangerous spheres--underlying issues like insecurity, social awkwardness, and withdrawal from normal activities and relationships--we are handing our children over to other things, in a sense (see the "Parent Conversations" article in the upcoming Forward in Christ). We always need to be ready to address our children and their everyday challenges and opportunities with the Word of God.

As parents and relatives and congregation members, we need forgiveness from Christ for sins of omission when it comes to our children. We receive that forgiveness as children of God, and we share that forgiveness with our children. Parents and children receive their true identity and security in this: "See the kind of love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are (1 John 3:1)."

God is our perfect Father in heaven. He loves and forgives us through Jesus, and he disciplines us and our children in that love. "My son, do not regard the Lord’s discipline lightly, and do not become weary of his correction. For the Lord disciplines the one whom he loves, and he corrects every son he accepts (Hebrews 12:5-6)."

God gives us the blessing of children, and the responsibility not to give them away, but to raise them in the LORD. We do this as parents. We assist parents as grandparents and relatives and as congregation members supporting a Christian school. We ask God our Father continue to raise us to do this through Word and Sacrament, so that we all may share in his holiness. "God disciplines us for our good, so that we may have a share in his holiness (Hebrews 12:10)."

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Midweek Worship @ 3:30 & 6:30

This week: Pastor Andy Retberg, St. John's Brockway

Sunday Worship @ 8 (Livestream) & 10:30am

Bible Class and Sunday School @ 9:15 at the School

This Sunday: Start of new class on 2 Corinthians

Wednesday Bible Classes on hold during Lent

Thursday Bible Information Class @ 6pm

Bulletins & Calendar

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Funeral for Peter Felsing

The funeral for our brother in Christ Peter Felsing will be held at Deisler funeral home, on Saturday, April 2nd, at 11:00am, with visitation from 9-11.

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."

Obituary: https://deislerfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/7813/Peter-Felsing/obituary.html

Funeral arrangements for Carol Smith are pending.

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Holy Week Services

Palm Sunday / Passion Sunday:

Normal service times on Sunday, April 10th

Maundy (Holy) Thursday: 6:30pm (NO 3:30 service as written in last email)

Good Friday: 1:30 traditional & 8pm Service of Darkness

Easter: Sunrise 7am & Festival with Communion 10:30am

Think of family and friends to invite! Pray that God gives opportunity.

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WELS International Youth Rally

This summer's International Youth Rally is in Knoxville, TN, under the theme: "Here and Now."

Royal people. Momentous Purpose. We are here and now “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).

Esther’s life was riveting. God’s love for her was amazing. God’s work through her was powerful. Esther was a royal woman who served a momentous purpose. We serve a momentous purpose too! Like Esther, our lives are riveting because of God’s amazing love and God’s powerful work. We are his royal people prepared, placed, and serving Here and Now for such a time as this.

For information about the rally, go to https://wels.net/serving-you/christian-life/discipleship/youth-rally/. To sign up, please contact or email Allen or Ginny Ash (alginash at yahoo.com), who are planning on going and willing to chaperone. Our deadline to sign up will be April 20th so we can get the early bird discount.

This year's Easter Breakfast free-will offering will help defray the costs of registration and travel for participants. There are also funds available for financial aid for those interested but concerned about cost. Contact either of the pastors if you're interested.

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Easter Breakfast

The men of St. Paul's are once again planning to make breakfast burritos the day before Easter to serve between services on Easter Sunday. Any men who are interested are invited to meet at 8am on April 16th in the kitchen at school to prepare burritos!

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Prayers:

-For the Felsing and Smith family as they mourn our fellow members Peter Felsing and Carol Smith, who have entered their eternal rest.

-For Mr. Needham and Mr. & Mrs. Korth as they deliberate calls

Bring prayers of thanksgiving and intercession to God!

5th Sunday in Lent

Theme this Sunday: Jesus is the Cornerstone of our Father

Jesus makes clear that he is the cornerstone of our faith. Those who believe in him will receive the blessings of which St. Paul speaks in the second lesson, telling us to put away the “former things” of this world. Sadly, those who continue to cling tightly to the rubbish of their own righteousness will be broken into pieces or have this “stone of Christ” fall on them and crush them. Let us instead look to the “new thing” of God, the deliverance won by our Savior Jesus, the cornerstone of our faith.

First Reading: Isaiah 43:16-21

What famous event is God talking about when he says he made a way through the sea, drew out the chariots and army, and extinguished them?

God is referring to Israel’s miraculous escape through the sea from slavery in Egypt. God’s rescue through Moses was ancient history by Isaiah’s day, yet was the most vivid example to that point in history that the LORD saves!

What “new thing” is God foretelling that will make the people forget what their favorite story of rescue, the Exodus was?

God says he will make a way in the desert, leading his people back from their coming captivity in Babylon. Then God will trump that rescue. He will send the Messiah, who will bring the water of life. Today as we tell people how great a deliverer God is, we tell the story of Jesus delivering from sin, death, and the devil. The once-famous Exodus goes to the “back burner.”

People talk about finding purpose in their lives. For what purpose(s) does the LORD say he formed us? (v. 21)

The LORD formed his chosen people for himself. Our nature rebels at the thought that we do not exist to seek our own goals and interests. Also, we were formed to proclaim the LORD’s praise. Since we have a pardon in Christ, our new self gladly adores God and tells others how marvelous he is.

Second Reading: Philippians 3:8-14

How many great things did Paul gain in Christ that made him ready to consider his past honors as a Pharisee rubbish?

He gained righteousness from God by faith, knowing Christ and the power of his resurrection, and fellowship with Christ through suffering. Paul gained his own resurrection from the dead on the Last Day and the prize of eternal life!

Compare Lot’s wife as she left Sodom with Paul leaving behind his comforts and status to follow God’s call.

Both were called to leave behind earthly things that had filled their lives. Lot’s wife kept thinking about what was behind and looked back to her loss. Paul made a point to forget what he gave up and focused on his heavenly goal.

Gospel Reading: Luke 20:9-19

What does this parable teach us about Christ?

Jesus is the son sent as the last opportunity for the evil tenants. He is the heir and holds a unique place as the son. The other messengers came as servants. Christ identifies himself in this parable as the unique Son of God.

What does this parable teach us about men?

God’s chosen people were given a good land, but they mistreated his messengers (prophets) and were about to kill his own Son! God rightfully expects “fruit” from the people he puts in his vineyard, also today!

What does this parable teach us about God?

God is patient and merciful, like the owner giving the tenants many chances. But God’s patience can be exhausted; in his wrath, God treats hard-hearted rebels severely.

Hymns: 914, 571 (861, 663), 430:4

Setting 3

Order of Service Note: If you'd like to find recordings of the organ accompaniment for the Gloria, the Sanctus, and the Agnus Dei, you can find them here: https://welscongregationalservices.net/hymnal-introduction-resources/#toggle-id-4

Notes from: https://wels.net/worship-help/

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St. Paul's Weekly Update

Don't give away your children!