News

Later email this week, as Pastor Buelow was off in Wisconsin being trained to be an "Everyone Outreach" facilitator (for more info on this new Wels evangelism program, look here: https://everyoneoutreach.com/ )

One of the goals of the program is that each member of a congregation realizes that he or she can and does play a part in outraech and evangelism. In the sermon text for this weekend, Mentor Pastor Paul says to young Pastor Timothy, "As for you, continue in the things you have learned and about which you have become convinced. You know from whom you learned them... (2 Timothy 3:14).

From whom did Timothy learn to know the Scriptures? The start of the letter tells us. Paul writes, "I remember your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced that it also lives in you (2 Timothy 1:5)."

Who were the first "evangelists" in Timothy's life? His mother and grandmother! They didn't need to buy postcards and go canvassing. They didn't need to memorize complex arguments. They simply shared the faith they had in Jesus with Timothy.

Thank God for the "first evangelists" he placed in our lives, moms, dads, grandparents... Because of God using them, we could know the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

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Sunday Worship @ 8 (Livestream)

& 10:30am

Monday Night Worship @ 6:30pm

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

Wednesday Bible Classes @ 10:00am (Proverbs) and 7:00pm (Gospel of Luke)

Thursday Bible Information Class @ 7pm

Bulletins & Calendar

Men Alive! conference -- February 19th (menalivebalm.org -- more below) Registration ends January 31!

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Call News:

--Mr & Mrs. Korth deliberating calls to Atonement, WI

--Mrs. Elaine Zelenka has received calls to St. John's, Jefferson, WI & to Christ, Big Bend, WI.

Please keep all those deliberating calls in your prayers!

Ring around the rosie,

Pockets full of posies;

Ashes, ashes,

We all fall down.

The subject of this rhyme is far from cute. The rhyme is about people breaking out in boils, trying to ward off sickness with posies, and finally falling down in death and being cremated. And yet... when kids sing it in a nursery rhyme, dancing around, such a horrible thing becomes... cute.

Life in this world can be far from beautiful. We are surrounded by broken hearts, captivity, mourning, and ashes. And yet, when Jesus comes with his Word, such horrible things are changed into something... beautiful.

He sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

To proclaim freedom for the captives...

to comfort all who mourn...

to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes...

So they will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the LORD to display his beauty.

(Isaiah 61)

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Sunday Worship @ 8 (Livestream)

& 10:30am

Monday Night Worship @ 6:30pm

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

Wednesday Bible Classes @ 10:00am (Proverbs) and 7:00pm (Gospel of Luke)

Thursday Bible Information Class @ 7pm

Bulletins & Calendar

Men Alive! conference -- February 19th (menalivebalm.org -- more below)

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Call News:

At the annual voters' meeting, we extended a call to Mrs. Lisa Finkbeiner to serve as 2nd grade teacher and in the area of athletics. She is currently serving at Mt Lebanon Lutheran School in Milwaukee. Her husband, Ryan, is holding the call to serve at MLS as Vice President.

Our teachers Mr & Mrs. Korth have received calls to serve at Atonement in Milwaukee.

Please keep them in your prayers!

The weekly email is back after a couple weeks vacation as we continue our journey through the Epiphany season.

What do you expect in 2022? If you look back to 2021, there are probably many things that happened that you did not expect.

What do you expect from Jesus in 2022? If we learn anything from the Epiphany season, it is to expect the unexpected from him.

On the second Sunday after Epiphany we'll see the Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11) and how Jesus reveals his glory in all sorts of unexpected ways. But the wonderful thing about Jesus is that when he does unexpected things, they are always better than expected.

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Sunday Worship @ 8 (Livestream)

& 10:30am

Monday Night Worship @ 6:30pm

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

Wednesday Bible Classes @ 10:00am (Proverbs) and 7:00pm (Gospel of Luke)

Thursday Bible Information Class @ 7pm

Bulletins & Calendar

Annual Voters' Meeting--This Sunday at 2pm (including calling of a 2nd grade teacher for next year!)

Men Alive! conference -- February 19th (menalivebalm.org -- more below)

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Special Note about recent "noises" during worship:

You may have noticed a couple strange shouts and noises in late service recently. One of our beloved MLS students has uncontrollable "tics." She told us about this ahead of the school year, and feels badly and apologizes for them. We've assured her that there is nothing to forgive, and that we love to have her in worship and are happy to "bear with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2)." So if you hear some distracting noises in worship, say a quick prayer to God that he helps us take another opportunity to reflect the love of Christ. Thank you!

As a pastor, one of my hobbies is seeing what other churches have on their church signs. One of the "dad-joke" messages that makes me groan is: SIGN BROKEN, MESSAGE INSIDE.

Despite my groaning about that message on a sign, that will be the message of this email. EMAIL BROKEN, MESSAGE INSIDE.

We have three wonderful days of different worship services in a row for the Christmas Holiday. What was the original point of having time off work on a HOLIDAY? It was so that that people could go to worship on that HOLY-DAY.

So, no fancy message beyond this in the email today: WORLD BROKEN, MESSAGE INSIDE. Turn off the bad news of great anxiety for a few days and join us to hear the good news of great joy which shall be for all the people: Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born for you, he is Christ the Lord.

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Christmas Eve @ 4 & 6:30pm

Christmas Day with Communion @ 9:30am

Sunday Worship, Lessons and Carols

@ 8 & 10:30am

No Sunday School/Bible Class on the 26th

New Bible Information Class starting Thursday, January 13 @ 7pm at the school

Monday Night Services Resume January 10th

Wednesday Bible Classes Resume in January

Livestream

Bulletins & Calendar

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In Revelation 12, John sees a vision of a woman about to give birth (v. 2), and there is a giant dragon ready to devour the child (v. 4). It's an apocalyptic vision that doesn't often make it on to Christmas cards--but maybe it should!

It shows that Christmas is more than a cute little baby being born in a manger.

The pictures are easy to figure out, especially when you use Scripture to interpret Scripture.

• The woman in this vision isn't Mary, but the church (Galatians 4:26). She has twelve stars around her head (v. 1, think 12 tribes, 12 disciples...) and is protected by God for 1,260 days after her son is born, Revelation's normal number for the New Testament era of the church until Jesus comes back (also known as 3 1/2 years).
• The Son is Jesus, the one "who will shepherd all the nations with an iron rod" (vs. 5, Ps 2:7-9).
• The Dragon is the Devil, the serpent who is the enemy of the church and the promised child ever since the beginning (vs. 4, Genesis 3).

This vision shows that although Satan opposes Jesus and tried to destroy him after his birth, not only is he unable to harm Jesus, but he is also unable to harm the church. That's an important message around Christmas! Jesus isn't just a cute little baby to make us feel warm and fuzzy. Jesus is the promised ruler who enters the cosmic struggle against Satan. We, the church, are also involved in this cosmic struggle. It is not easy! But the ruler who is born is unharmed, and the church is protected, and Satan is defeated.

That's a Christmas message worth sharing!

So... you're welcome for preparing your Christmas card for this year:

Revelation 12:1-6, 10-12

"A great sign appeared in the sky: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2She was pregnant, and she cried out in pain and agony as she gave birth.

3Another sign also appeared in the sky: There was a huge red dragon that had seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. 4His tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and threw them to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman, who was about to give birth, so that he could devour the child as soon as it was born.

5She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will shepherd all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. 6Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God in order that she might be fed there for 1,260 days....

10 I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying:

   Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God

     and the authority of his Christ,

   because the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down,

     the one who accuses them before our God day and night.

   11They conquered him

     because of the blood of the Lamb and

     because of the word of their testimony.

   They did not love their lives in the face of death.

   12For this reason, rejoice, you heavens and those who dwell in them.

   Woe to the earth and the sea,

     for the Devil has gone down to you.

     He is full of rage, because he knows that his time is short.

Merry Christmas!

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Final Advent Midweek Service - Wednesday @ 3:30 (Concert at 6:30!)

We Proclaim the Savior from Heaven -- with our hearts!

Not-Guest Preacher: Pastor Julius Buelow

Sunday Worship @ 8 & 10:30am

School Christmas Service Sunday @ 4pm

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

Livestream (Sunday 8:00am)

Monday Night Services Resume January 3rd

Wednesday Bible Classes Resume in January

Bulletins & Calendar

Anniversary Information (Schedule, Inserts, Bible Studies & More)

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Jolly Ol' St. Nick was a real person. Not much can be known about him with certainty, but it's clear that he was a generous man. According to the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, "His symbol is sometimes three bags of gold, the dowry he is supposed to have given to three girls to save them from degradation." But it's not his generosity that is the most important thing to know or emulate.

Jolly Ol' St. Nick was someone who believed in Jesus, and cared deeply about the truth of his Savior.

Nicholas, a bishop of a church in Myra (present-day Turkey) was imprisoned for his faith in Jesus. And sometime after he was released, attended the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. This is the council that worked so hard to refute the false teaching that Jesus was not true, eternal God, equal to the Father in glory. This council, based on a study of God's Word, produced the Nicene Creed, which we still confess today.

So, feel free to emulate Jolly Ol' St. Nick's generosity this season. As Paul wrote to Timothy, "Instruct those who are rich in this present age not to be arrogant or to put their hope in the uncertainty of riches, but rather in God, who richly supplies us with all things for our enjoyment. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share (1 Timothy 6:17-18)."

But remember, we can only emulate his generosity and good works when we first emulate his faith.

St. Nick would be appalled at the line, "do good for goodness sake!" The real Santa Claus put his hope in God who richly supplied him with salvation and all things he needed in life, and so he was good for Jesus' sake--out of gratefulness to his Savior. We, too, have been given the gift of faith in our Savior. So if you really want to be inspired by St. Nick this season, treasure that gift of faith! Treasure the truth about your Savior! And then yes, "be generous and willing to share," giving gifts that remind us of the gift our Savior.

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Special Advent Midweek Services - Wednesday @ 6:30pm

We Proclaim the Savior from Heaven -- with the Angels!

Guest Preacher: Pastor Patrick Ernst

Sunday Worship @ 8 & 10:30am

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

Livestream (Sunday 8:00am)

Monday Night Services Resume January 3rd

Wednesday Bible Classes Resume in January

Bulletins & Calendar

Anniversary Information (Schedule, Inserts, Bible Studies & More)

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A few weeks ago, we talked about how lying awake at night makes us feel like a lonely bird on a roof (Psalm 102:7). But in Psalm 84:3, our bird seems to have found a new home.

"Even the bird has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may place her young--namely, your altars, O LORD of Armies, my King and my God." (Psalm 84:3)

In Psalm 84, the Psalm writers are daydreaming about being in the Temple of the LORD. The first two verses read, "How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of Armies! My soul becomes weak and even wastes away for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God."

For some reason or another, it seems the psalmist is unable to be in God's house. He longs to be there with all his heart. He feels like he is wasting away when he can't be there.

And that's why he's very jealous of the bird. There were many nooks and crannies in Solomon's temple, so it would be no surprise that mamma birds would make nests up high for themselves and their young. The psalm writer is jealous of the birds! They get to be close to the altars of the LORD of Armies, his King and God, while he is stuck far away. He wants to be there so he can appreciate what the birds never truly could--the blessings and blessedness that come from being in proximity to God and his word.

"Blessed are those who live in your house; they are ever praising you... For better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere (Psalm 84:5, 11)."

When you feel like a lonely bird on a roof, follow the example of the birds in Solomon's temple. Be jealous of them, and don't let the lucky birds alone enjoy what is meant for your blessing. This Advent we'll have even more opportunities to worship than usual, and we can long for them, and find joy in being where God comes to us in Word and Sacrament.

Prof. Brug writes on this verse, "We are free to worship God anywhere. Nevertheless, our churches should hold a special place in our hearts. There we have been baptized, confirmed, and married. There we have witnessed these events in the lives of our loved ones. There we have heard words of comfort at the deaths of family members and friends. From the pulpits we have heard God's Word. At that altar we have received Christ's true body and blood, which was given and shed for our forgiveness. We too can say, 'How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty.' It is true that we can worship God anywhere, but may we never deprive ourselves, through our own negligence or indifference, of the joy of joining fellow believers in God's house. God does not need us to come to his house, but we need to be there."

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Special Advent Midweek Services - Wednesday @ 6:30pm

We Proclaim the Savior from Heaven -- with the Shepherds!

Guest Preacher: Pastor Jacob Kempfert

Sunday Worship @ 8 & 10:30am

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

Livestream (Sunday 8:00am)

Monday Night Services Resume January 3rd

Wednesday Bible Classes Resume in January

Bulletins & Calendar

Anniversary Information (Schedule, Inserts, Bible Studies & More)

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Sitcoms often have thanksgiving episodes that depict Thanksgiving as a stressful time that people don't enjoy because they have to be around people and opinions that they normally avoid. Maybe you personally wind up at dinner tables where there is a feast of wonderful food, but you would rather eat a bowl of Mac & Cheese alone at home. Solomon talked about this situation in a funny proverb.

"Better a meal of vegetables where there is love, than a fattened calf with hatred." (Proverbs 15:17)

What makes the best meal, at Thanksgiving or any time? Love! And the good news is, wherever you find yourself this Thanksgiving, this is a dish that is provided by your Savior. Wherever you are, and whomever you are with, the love of God in Christ will be there too.

God says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love." (Jeremiah 31:3)

This dish always has plenty to go around. So wherever you find yourself this Thanksgiving, may it be a meal where hatred is conquered with Christ's forgiveness, and all your food is seasoned with God's love.

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Special Thanksgiving Service - Wednesday @ 6:30pm

Note: After the Wednesday service, we ask for help once again to move red hymnals out and new hymnals in. Thank you! And thank you to those who helped prepare the hymnals last Thursday. Many hands made light work!

Sunday Worship @ 8 & 10:30am

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

Livestream (Sunday 8:00am)

Monday Night Services Resume January 3rd

Wednesday Bible Classes Resume in January

Bulletins & Calendar

Anniversary Information (Schedule, Inserts, Bible Studies & More)

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Prayer requests:

-- Continued prayers for those hospitalized and recovering, including Marilyn Roekle and Tom Boyd

-- Prayers of thanksgiving to God for all his good gifts to his Church and to us personally

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Our dear sister in Christ, Mary Elisa Pingel, was called to her eternal home yesterday. Even as we mourn, we rejoice in the promises God made to Mary in her baptism, promises she firmly believed. Her body, sanctified by the Holy Spirit, now rests until the last day. Her soul, purchased by the blood of Christ, rejoices in the loving presence of her Father.

The funeral will take place at St. Paul's this Friday, November 19th, at 2pm, with visitation from 1pm. All are welcome to gather around Christ's promises, receive comfort from God's Word, and to comfort the family. Please keep them all in your prayers.

Mary's obituary can be found here: https://www.casefuneralhome.com/obituaries/Mary-Elisa-Pingel?obId=23102124

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul:

he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:

thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Psalm 23

This weekend we celebrate “Christ the King” Sunday, when we remember that Christ is in control of everything! The one who “laid aside his crown for my soul” as he died on the cross is the one who took it up again, rising and ascending to rule all from the right hand of God.

Christ’s rule gets even more impressive when we think of all the things we can’t control.

This week in our Wednesday evening Bible class we’re talking about the 8th commandment, and how difficult it is to control the tongue. As James 3:8 says, “No one is able to tame the human tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” Jesus controls the universe—I can’t even control my tongue! Instead of being quick to listen, and slow to speak (James 1:19), I let my tongue get out of control:

• Proverbs 18:2 says, “A fool finds no pleasure in understanding, but only in revealing his opinions.” My tongue is out of control when I would rather hear my own opinions instead of understanding others first.
• Proverbs 18:13 says, “If a person answers before he listens, that is foolishness that brings disgrace.” My tongue is out of control when I already have my answers ready before I even listen.
• Proverbs 11:9 says, “With his mouth, the godless person destroys his neighbor.” My tongue is out of control when I use my words for harm, and not for good.
• Proverbs 26:20 says, “When there is no more wood, a fire goes out, and without gossip, a quarrel dies down.” My tongue is out of control when instead of letting gossip die out, I add fuel to the fire.

And James says that when I can’t get something as small as my tongue under control, it’s as if my whole life is set on fire. “Consider how a little flame can set a large forest on fire! And the tongue is a fire. It is set among the parts of our body as a world of unrighteousness that stains the whole body, sets the whole course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell (James 3:5, 6).”

In other words, if things were left to my control, even something as small as my own tongue would ignite my life into an uncontrollable hell.

But that’s the comfort of Christ the King Sunday. Christ isn’t just king of the gigantic universe; he is king of every tiny tongue too.

Christ laid aside his heavenly crown to drink the deadly poison of every lying tongue in our place. He allowed himself to be burned with the fires of hell, ignited by false accusations and foolish talk and harmful words. Even as he burned, he controlled his tongue perfectly, using his mouth to bless us and not to curse us, to forgive us and not to condemn us, to have his love cover over a multitude of our sins. And when he rose from the dead as king of sin, death, the devil and hell, he also rose as king of our hearts and mouths. With hearts changed by our king, and mouths confessing him as Lord, we are given not uncontrollable mouths, but the mouths of those who are righteous through faith in Christ. Instead of igniting the fires of hell, these mouths share the life-giving waters of God’s Word. As Proverbs 10:11 says, “The mouth of a righteous person is a fountain of life.”

Christ is King! And he is in control! Even over my uncontrollable tongue.

“God also highly exalted Jesus and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 4:9-11).”

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Sunday Worship @ 8 & 10:30am

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

Livestream (Sunday 8:00am)

Wednesday Bible Class @ 10am & 7pm

Monday Night Services Resume January 3rd

Bulletins & Calendar

Anniversary Information (Schedule, Inserts, Bible Studies & More)

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Special request for help: We need to break in the binding of our new hymnals. We are asking whoever is available and willing to meet at the church at 9:30am on Thursday the 18th. If you can open a book and press down 10 pages at a time, you're able to help! Thank you!

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Prayer requests:

-- Continued prayers for those hospitalized and recovering, including Gerald Jahn, Marilyn Roekle, and Tom Boyd, and for Steve Trapp, son-in-law of Eunice Peterson who is hospitalized as well.

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