Friends:
It's my sad duty to inform you about the death of Abe Moore on Wednesday evening. Abe had been long suffering the effects of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases. He stopped breathing the day after Easter, was resuscitated by the nursing staff at the care facility where he had been staying, but never regained consciousness prior to his death.
Abe and his wife, Lucile, and daughter, Lynne, were converts to Historic First Lutheran in 1968 as the direct missionary activity of Mr. and Mrs. Junius Kearney. Through the years, Abe and Lucile were quite the active pair around Historic First Lutheran. Abe has held practically every elected position possible, including congregational president, Elder, and Stewardship. He was a tireless worker around the property as repair needs arose. Lucile for many years, along with Bertha Thomas, was a secretary-volunteer in the church office. Their daughter, Lynne, and son-in-law, Fred, were married during the pastoral vacancy here at Historic First Lutheran in 1993 by Pastor Roger Sonnenberg. Lynne and Fred's daughter, Jordan, was one of the first children baptized by Pastor Christopher Schaar.
Abe's funeral will be here at Historic First Lutheran on Thursday 26 April at 10:00 a.m., with viewing beginning at 9:30 a.m. The family has requested a private burial ceremony at Forest Lawn, after which they will return to the Parish Hall for a repast provided by the Joshuans Christ Care Group.
Abe, well done, thou good and faithful servant.
Revelation 5:1-14
Third Sunday of Easter
22 April 2007
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
What is your faith story?
Now I wish you could all see yourselves from the perspective that I see you right now. It is very obvious that I just asked that question to a church full of 80 Lutherans – or at least those who are comfortable among Lutherans. If I had asked that question to a church full of 80 Baptists or Evangelical Pentecostals, I would have had 60 people instantly start telling me their testimony, while the other 20 in the church who didn’t yet have a dramatic testimony would be running forward thinking I had said something about an altar call.
Peter and the other disciples had quite the faith story to tell after that early morning rendevous with Jesus [John 21:1-19]. They had quite the faith story to tell even before that early morning breakfast, but imagine being able to tell people the story that they had after that morning. Imagine being able to tell people the intimate details about spending three years with Jesus, about witnessing Him being crucified by the Roman officials, about the rumors – confirmed or unconfirmed – about His resurrection from the grave. Imagine Peter telling how he had basically given up hope and had returned to his former occupation, as he said in our Gospel today, “I’ve had enough of this. I’m going out to fish.” Imagine telling people about laboring all night, not catching even a single fish, wondering if you had indeed made the correct decision in returning to fishing. Imagine telling people about that hot-shot stranger standing on the shore giving advice to you seasoned fishermen. Imagine telling about catch of 153 fish in one net. Imagine telling people about Peter being so excited that jumped into the water, wading the last 100 yards. Imagine telling people about Jesus standing there cooking breakfast. Imagine telling people about that breakfast, made by the very hands of God Himself, the same hands that made the hands of Emeril Lagasse and Wolfgang Puck and Julia Childs. Oh, for a faith story like that!
Or how about St. Paul [Acts 9:1-22]? Now that’s quite the story to be able to tell! How would you like to be able to tell people about having been so consumed with anger and hatred against Jesus and His followers that you were willing to not only hunt them down, but also to stand there and witness them being stoned to death, as Paul did at the stoning of Stephen [Acts 8:1]. Imagine being able to tell about that bright light that knocked you off your horse, or about that booming voice that demanded an answer for your actions. Imagine sitting in darkness – blinded – helpless – until a man who had been on your own personal “10 Most Wanted List” called you by name and touched you, restoring your eyesight. Imagine being able to tell about hearing that your name was being changed and that you would become the most effective missionary Jesus Christ in the history of the world. Now that’s a story to tell.
My friends, let’s face supposed facts this morning. Few of us have a faith story that would rival that of Peter or Paul. Few of us have a faith story as dramatic as Isaac Newton, that former slave trader who would come to know the Lord Jesus and later write the powerful words of “Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me”
I, for one, know that I don’t have an exciting faith story. I was born on June 26. I was baptized into the family of God at less that 2 months old. I had no dramatic conversion in my life that inspired me to become a minister – no, that call of God has always just kind of “been there” in my life. Dramatic? Not really. Sorry. But, you know, when you stop to think about it, it may not be a dramatic story, but it MY story. It is also history – HIS STORY – in me!
Your story might be just as undramatic, but it is YOUR story and it’s history – HIS STORY – in you!
Yesterday in the Pasadena Star-News was the story of our own Abe Moore, that simple Texas native who became a Tuskegee Airman and who, fifty years later, would find his face included on the memorial wall honoring the Tuskegee Airmen on permanent display at the Palm Springs Air Museum. It’s a great story. It’s a great story that I never heard Abe tell in life. He was truly a Lutheran in that way.
We’ve got some other great stories here. We’ve got the story of Helga Muder surviving night after night of bombing raids in Berlin during World War 2, waking up one morning to discover that her beautiful church across the street from her home had been destroyed by a bomb. We’ve got the story of Mark McCormick, learning to read music as a child by looking at hymns in the hymnal. Today he works for one of the top names in the music industry. We’ve got the story of Ocilda Files and how she went looking for a church where she could raise their youngest son while, at the same time, deep down hoping one day that church would be a place where her husband would follow her back to church.
Each one of us has a story. In the end, each one of our stories is not our story but it is history – HIS STORY – in us. And, in the end, our stories should not just be about us, but they should reflect the question that St. John heard asked in Heaven [Revelation 5:1-14], “Who is worthy?” Our stories should also reflect the answer to that question, “Worthy is Christ, the Lamb, Who was slain, to receive power and wealth and strength and honor and glory and praise.”
You see, we often don’t tell our stories because we believe they should be about us and that they should be dramatic, as if we’re in some kind of competition with each other. However, our faith stories should always point to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because I, honestly, as good a pastor as I might be, will never die on a cross for the sins of the world. Neither will any of you. But Jesus Christ already has. And Jesus Christ did that so that He could make that breakfast for those disciples at daybreak. Jesus Christ died and rose again so that He could give St. Paul a story to tell to the nations. Jesus Christ died and rose again so that I – and each of you – could be born and reborn through baptism and live our daily lives telling our stories and pointing to Him, “Worthy is Christ, the Lamb Who slain.”
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Pastor Christopher Schaar
Historic First Lutheran Church of Pasadena
ALTAR FLOWERS are given to the glory of God by Ann Price in loving memory of her husband, Wilford Price, and in celebration of the birthday of her sister, Jerutha Garrett, on 8 April.
CELEBRATING GOD’S LOVE The additional arrangement of roses on the altar are from some of the more than 140 roses on the campus of Historic First Lutheran. They are a reminder of God’s continuing love for us.
GET FED THIS SATURDAY! Our monthly “Bible/Prayer Breakfast” is scheduled for this Saturday at 8:00 a.m. in the Green Room. Our study is about “Expected Surprises.” A suggested $5.00 free-will donation covers food cost. The Bible Study is free.
DID YOU KNOW? There’s probably much about Historic First Lutheran that many of us do not know. Watch weekly bulletins for “I DIDN’T KNOW,” a weekly historical or interesting tidbit of information about Historic First Lutheran.
I DIDN’T KNOW! Perhaps you didn’t know that the Sanctuary, Koch Hall and Parish Hall received their official Historic Landmark Designation by the Pasadena City Council six years ago on 23 April 2001!
CHURCH ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER ON THE MOVE! Due to our electrical upgrades project, the Church Administrative Center will be operating out of the Green Room for the next two to three weeks. So, if you come to the campus and are looking for office staff, check out the Green Room.
“THE VOICE IN THE CITY” The latest edition of the monthly newsletter of The Los Angeles Nehemiah Project is available from the Information Rack in the Narthex.
INVITE! INVITE! INVITE! You won’t want to miss next Sunday’s exciting Mission Awareness Sunday with guest preacher, Reverend Dr. Arthur Porter. You also won’t want your friends to miss out. Invite everyone you know! A luncheon will follow the service.
WORKMEN FOR CHRIST MEN’S MINISTRY All men of Historic First Lutheran: Please plan now to attend our next Breakfast/Bible Study/Work Day on Saturday 19 May. This will be an important work day as we’ll be doing many tasks in advance of our 115th Anniversary.
ABE MOORE FUNERAL Abe’s funeral will be this Thursday at 10:00 a.m. Public viewing will begin at 9:30 a.m. The family has requested a private burial following the service, after which they will return to the Parish Hall for a repast.
VOTERS’ ASSEMBLY Plan now to attend our next Voters’ Assembly on Sunday 20 May after worship as a call will be extended by us to Pastor Marcello Gómez!
DOOR REFINISHING UNDERWAY If you’ve not noticed, all the wooden doors in the Church are in the process of being stripped and refinished. This project will be completed this week.
EVERYONE WELCOME! Today after worship, Pastor will convene a meeting to begin planning our 115th Anniversary. All interested persons are invited to attend.
USHERS: TAKE NOTE Next week’s service will involve Usher Team #6 – Rogelio Douglas, Henry Hubert, Rudy Melinat and Marlene Ochetti.
April 22 – Psalm 92
April 23– Psalm 93
April 24 – Psalm 94
April 25 – Psalm 95
April 26 – Psalm 96
April 27 – Psalm 97
April 28– Psalm 98
Sunday 22 April – “Lord Jesus, thank You for removing my spiritual blindness and enabling me by the power of Your Spirit to see Your love and forgiveness.”
Monday 23 April – Pray for friends celebrating birthdays and anniversaries this week: Yashar Kafi (22); Bill Sievers (22); Hilda Reed (23); Wayne Schmus (23); Clara Newhouse (24); Teri Higby (26); Priscilla Marion (26); Daniel Hendry (27); Denise & Greg Norden (28).
Tuesday 24 April – “Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh upon Your world.”
Wednesday 25 April – Pray, then invite one person to our special “Mission Awareness Sunday” this weekend.
Thursday 26 April – Pray, then invite one person to our special “Mission Awareness Sunday” this weekend.
Friday 27 April – “Go into all the world,” “starting in Jerusalem.” That’s exactly what our “Good Friday” Youth Outreach does every week, reaching out to our immediate neighborhood with the love and forgiveness of Jesus. Pray for this important mission outreach!
Saturday 28 April – Pray for Dr. Arthur Porter as he prepares to deliver our first “Mission Awareness Sunday” sermon tomorrow.
SUNDAY 29 APRIL 2007
Bible Class & Sunday School – 9:00 a.m.
Communion Celebration – 10:00 a.m.
Luncheon Following Worship
Misa en Español – 1:00 p.m.
Who’s job is it to spread the Message about Jesus?
How does the Church of God GROW?
How can I share my Personal Faith?
What do I need to say?
Why should I share my Faith?
Discover the answer to these and other important mission questions on MISSION AWARENESS SUNDAY.
Our Guest Preacher is The Reverend Dr. Arthur Porter, Executive Director of The Los Angeles Nehemiah Project. He was previously an attorney in Los Angeles and the pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in New Orleans, prior to Hurricane Katrina. A PASSIONATE preacher, you are GUARANTEED to be inspired!
This event is designed for all MEMBERS of Historic First Lutheran, for all REGULAR VISITORS, for all FORMER MEMBERS, for all MINISTRY FRIENDS and for EVERYONE WHO CARES ABOUT THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH!
Come and be inspired! We’ll be watching for YOU!
John 20:19-31
Second Sunday of Easter
15 April 2007
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
You might remember a series of popular movies a few years ago. They were called “Home Alone.” If you’re not familiar with the series, the entire premise was that in the hustle and bustle of a large, extended family getting ready to go on vacation at Christmas time, a young boy, played by Macaulay Calkin, gets lets behind at home while the rest of the family boards an airplane. When it’s finally realized that this young boy is nowhere to be found, the “12-year-old Jesus in the Temple” conversation takes place: “Well, we thought he was with you.” “Well, we thought he was with you.” Meanwhile, the young lead character, figuring that he would be on his own for the two week period of vacation, fends off would-be home robbers by creating a whole bunch of very creative deterrents.
While there are many potential jumping-off points for sermon starters in that series of movies, the one that best applies to our three Scripture lessons this morning is the title itself: “Home Alone,” except we must add a question mark behind the title, “Home Alone?”
That’s where we find the early disciples of Jesus on the night of that first Resurrection Day. After a long, emotionally draining, confusing day, they were hidden out in someone’s home, doors locked, windows barred, figuring that after the death of Jesus and after His mysterious disappearance that very morning, they were “Home Alone.” Jesus wouldn’t let them think that for long. He walked right through those locked doors and barred windows and said, “Peace be with you.” They were not “Home Alone.” If, as Jesus had told them, the “gates of hell” could not prevail against His Church, how could some locked doors and barred windows and internal fears prevail? His peace was with them, His peace that knows no boundaries.
You will remember good old Peter, good old impulsive Peter, in the days before Jesus’ death. As Jesus tried to prepare His disciples for what was ahead for Him and for them, Peter would hear nothing of it. “Lord, I will even go to prison with You” [Luke 22:33]. Peter really had no concept at the time of what was truly ahead for Jesus, yet our first reading [Acts 5:12-32] today finds Peter’s pledge of fidelity fulfilled. He’s in jail, imprisoned this time not behind self-locked doors and windows, but this time in the slammer by explicit order of the Jewish High Priest and his cronies who were downright sick and tired of Peter and his fellow disciples always talking about Jesus. Remember what I said earlier? If, as Jesus had told them, the “gates of hell” could not prevail against His Church , how could some earthly bars of steel? One minute Peter was in jail. The next he walking around as a free man, led out of jail by an angel of the Lord. Sounds once again like the peace of Jesus was with him.
And, speaking of a time when the peace of Jesus would be necessary, imagine for a moment being St. John, leisurely enjoying a beautiful afternoon, minding his own business on the Island of Patmos, when suddenly he’s caught up into Heaven [Revelation 1:4-18] where he is shown a whole series of scary scenes involving golden lampstands and giant men with glowing feet and blazing eyes and seals being opened and bowls of wrath being poured out upon the earth. What St. John saw first hand that day continues to frighten and worry and confuse and dismay people to this very day. Yet in the midst of all that turmoil and confusion, St. John found the peace of Jesus, the same peace of Jesus that he had found many years earlier in that room behind locked doors and barred windows, the peace of Jesus that again said to him, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One. I was dead and behold I am alive for ever and ever. And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Remember again what Jesus had earlier said – the gates of hell cannot prevail against His Church.
Now I have given you three distinct scenes where the peace of Jesus was discovered, three distinct scenes where the early followers of Jesus discovered without a doubt that, while things had changed from the time of Jesus’ three year earthly ministry, they were still not “Home Alone.” No, their problems were also His problems. Their worries were also His worries. Their cares and their concerns were also His cares and concerns. Their burdens were His to bear. “Home Alone?” Never!
I mean no disrespect when I say this, but your problems – and my problems – are so very small to Jesus. He has battled and conquered so much more. He’s been there with and for His people through so much more than any of us are going through, more than any of us will ever go through. Even though Tuesday is tax day, I don’t think any of us have government officials tracking us down, threatening to throw us into jail or to kill us. None of us sees visions of Heaven – and, when we do, we simply pop a Tums and hope it passes quickly.
When we are in the midst of turmoil in our lives, it can admittedly seem as if we have it worse than anyone else. As the old spiritual says, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen.” When we are in the midst of turmoil in our lives, it can seem as if we are totally “Home Alone,” forgotten by those who are supposed to care about us, forgotten by those who are supposed to care for us. So often we lock ourselves into our own homes of our lives because we’re afraid. So often we allow others to imprison us because they don’t like what we’re doing or what we’re saying. So often we see those scary scenes of life, but fail to see Jesus there with us, like the three men in the fiery furnace.
So, today, my friends, I encourage you to learn a lesson from the early followers of Jesus. If you’re right now living behind locked doors, know that you are not “Home Alone.” See Jesus there with you. If you’re right now locked up by others, know that you are not “Home Alone.” See Jesus there with you. If you’re facing scary scenes of life, know that you are not “Home Alone.” Instead, hear Jesus say to you, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One. I was dead and behold I am alive for ever and ever. And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
When you hear those words of Jesus, spoken to you personally in The Lord’s Supper – “This is My Body; this is My Blood given for you – be like Thomas and fall at His feet, proclaiming Him to have proved His deity through His death and Resurrection, proclaiming Him to be your Lord and your God, knowing with Him on your side, you will never be “Home Alone.”
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Pastor Christopher Schaar
Historic First Lutheran Church of Pasadena
ALTAR FLOWERS are given to the glory of God by Charlie Freeny in thanksgiving to God for His many blessings and in honor of her son, Gerald Freeny and granddaughter, Erica McDaniel.
NEXT SUNDAY! Our worship will follow the favorite, familiar “Blue Book” order of worship.
DID YOU KNOW? There’s probably much about Historic First Lutheran that many of us do not know. Watch weekly bulletins for “I DIDN’T KNOW,” a weekly historical or interesting tidbit of information about Historic First Lutheran.
I DIDN’T KNOW! Perhaps you didn’t know that Historic First Lutheran has the dubious honor of being listed as the destroyer of a “Greene and Greene” mansion. That’s right! The Plumbley House used to be located at 858 N. Los Robles, the site of our present field. The church acquired the property following the death of Mrs. Plumbley. Prior to the present days of preservation, the large house had fallen into major disrepair and was demolished to make way for the expansion of our school.
CHRISTIAN SYMPATHIES Our sympathies extend to George and Paul Reich at the death of their mother, Dorothy.
DIGGING A HOLE TO CHINA? This past week, that’s exactly how our property appeared, but don’t fear! The deep trenches were dug as part of our electrical upgrade project, bringing new underground power to the Church Administrative Center, Koch Hall and the Parish Hall. All trenching has been approved by the City of Pasadena and is in the process of being re-filled.
“THE VOICE IN THE CITY” The latest edition of the monthly newsletter of The Los Angeles Nehemiah Project is available from the Information Rack in the Narthex.
DOOR REFINISHING UNDERWAY If you’ve not noticed, all the wooden doors in the Church are in the process of being stripped and refinished. This project will be done shortly in advance of our 115th Anniversary.
EVERYONE WELCOME! Next Sunday after worship, Pastor will convene a meeting to begin planning our 115th Anniversary. All interested persons are invited to attend.
USHERS: TAKE NOTE Next week’s service will involve Usher Team #5 – Ocilda Files, Rudy Melinat, Lisa Morita and Scott Vila.
April 15 – Psalm 85
April 16– Psalm 86
April 17 – Psalm 87
April 18 – Psalm 88
April 19 – Psalm 89
April 20 – Psalm 90
April 21– Psalm 91
Sunday 15 April – Think of one person struggling with a weak or non-existant faith and pray for that person today.
Monday 16 April – Pray for friends celebrating birthdays this week: Rev. Marcelo Gómez (15); Lawrence Price (15); Helga Hooper (16); Astrid Anelis Salinas (17); Rev. Aaron Smith (18); Geoffrey Verheyen (19).
Tuesday 17 April – Please ask God to send His holy angels to guard and protect the footsteps, ground-travel, flights and other transit of new missionaries as they prepare to leave North America and journey abroad.
Wednesday 18 April – Pray for Pastor Aaron Smith on this, his birthday and ask God to continue to bless his ministry at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Mountain View, CA.
Thursday 19 April – Thank God for everything that brings joy and beauty to your life.
Friday 20 April – Continue to ask God to bless and multiply the outreach of our neighborhood “Good Friday” Youth Outreach.
Saturday 21 April – Pray for Pastor Schaar and Pastor Gómez as they prepare sermons for tomorrow.