Luke 13:24
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
26 August 2007
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Hammers are good, useful tools, aren’t they – until you hit your thumb with one.
Guns – handguns, rifles, shotguns – come in handy when you’re dealing with pesky, destructive prairie dogs on the Wyoming frontier, as I got the chance to do when I lived in Wyoming. Guns are not so good or beneficial to the health and welfare of everyone when you live in South Central Los Angeles or in Northwest Pasadena.
Rocks – well, they can be great decorations in a landscaped garden. Rocks are not always a blessing, though, as I have discovered in a couple of projects at my cabin. When one’s trying to widen a dirt driveway and level that driveway to a little lower elevation and your shovel hits a boulder, you’re not too pleased with that rock. When you’re digging holes to set a foundation for a new deck and you hit a rock right where you’re trying to set a cement pylon, you’re not too happy. Trust me.
Doors – they’re wonderful inventions. They keep light out of rooms where you’re trying to sleep. They also keep noise and dirt out of rooms. When you’re trying to fit a 48 inch wide couch through an 36 inch wide door, though, you learn what Jesus meant when He spoke about the narrow door and how many will try to enter through that narrow door but will not be able to.
That’s really the story of the entire Old Testament – people trying to enter through the narrow door. You see, you had this set or rules to follow. They were initially called “The Ten Commandments.” Remember that number – 10! Originally, the Children of Israel received those Ten Commandments from Moses and received them joyfully, shouting together with one united voice, “Everything the Lord has said we will do” [Exodus 24:3]. That didn’t last too long. Questions began to surface, questions like what is really considered work on the Sabbath Day, questions like who is my neighbor. Over time, the Ten Commandments grew to more than 600 laws as well-intentioned leaders tried to explain and make clearer the Ten Commandments. That set of rules became heavily burdensome because along with those rules came a whole bunch of penalties if you broke those rules. Those penalties were called sacrifices and they were often costly. For example, to forgive an unintentional sin, depending on your financial status in life, a sacrifice ranging in cost from a tenth of an ephah of fine flour to a young bull was mandated [Deuteronomy 4].
Think about that in the course of your own daily life. If, every time you committed a sin or broke any law, an automatic deduction was taken out of our checking or savings accounts, who among us would have any financial resources? Drive over 65 on the L.A. freeways? You lose $25. Gossip – even just a little? Well, that will cost you $35. Kill someone? That’s a big one – a million dollars.
You see where I am going with this. Laws became burdensome. They were no longer a joyful response to the overwhelming grace and mercy of God. Penalties became burdensome – not just something you’d do once in a while, but if you’re any sinner like I am, you’d be constantly running back to the temple to offer yet another sacrifice. That would become time consuming and expensive. Soon people were discovering ways to hide their sin, to creatively re-label sin as something else. Soon people were finding excuses to reduce their sacrifices, much like people find loopholes to reduce their taxes. That all sounds like a good idea until you hear the words of God Himself – “Be holy because I, the Lord, your God, am holy” [Leviticus 19:2].
As creative as the people could get in the eyes of each other, there was no avoiding the All-Seeing, All-Knowing Eye of God. While you might be able to pull one over on the priest, sooner or later you’d be standing face-to-face with God, Who would demand that you pay up. And before the Old Testament God, sacrifices were the narrow door, the only way to keep yourself out of hell and in the Kingdom of God.
You can see what a heavy burden the law and sacrifices became upon people. They were terribly awful. They were enough to make people wander away from their Creator-God and cut a deal with less restrictive, less demanding gods. And, honestly, you can’t blame them. You and I, if we lived under that same system, would probably do no less.
Then broke into the world, at just the right time [Galatians 4:4], a little Baby born in Bethlehem. We all love babies, don’t we, but this was no ordinary baby. This was the God Himself – Immanuel – God with us, God clothed in our human flesh. Being God, He had a kryptonite-type of aversion to sin. Being not born in the usual way, He had no original sin, inherited from His parents. Being God, being the Creator of the devil, He knew better than to fall for the devices of the devil. Thus He lived His life perfectly, sinlessly. Those Ten Commandments and all those 600+ explanations? He kept them all perfectly. Those mandated temple sacrifices for sin? He never had to make even one, not for Himself. Then, 33 years after His Bethlehem birth, as He hung on a Cross on a rocky mount called Calvary, He did so solely for you and for me so that the ultimate sacrifice of His perfectly sinless body would wonderfully and permanently suffice for you and for me and for all people for all time. Jesus Christ has become our “Narrow Door,” our “Rock of Ages.”
Sadly, to this very day, very few enter through the “Narrow Door” of Jesus Christ. That’s the most deceptive scheme of the devil. To this day, he convinces people that it’s better and even that it’s easier to do it themselves, to themselves accept the heavy burden of the law, the heavy burden of making themselves holy before God as He Himself is holy. The devil fools many people into believing that it all depends on how you live your life here on earth. He diverts the eyes of many from the sinlessly caring Christ of Calvary to the dirt of their own inner beings. And not only does the devil divert their eyes. He also clouds their minds into believing that they’ve made enough changes, that they’ve driven out enough dirt to dare to stand face-to-face with the sinless, holy God Who created them and that He will agree with their estimation of themselves, that He will agree that they have cracked the centuries old code of how to access Him and convince Him that Heaven rightfully belongs to them.
But you and I know better, don’t we?
Nothing in my hand I bring. Simply to Thy Cross I cling. Naked? I come to Thee for dress. Helpless? We all are. Look to Him for grace. Foul? Fly to the fountain. There we find a Savior Who washes us so we don’t die.
Not by design, but by choice, the “Narrow Door” of Jesus Christ keeps many out, many who want to do it themselves, many who don’t want to surrender to Jesus Christ. But for those of us who have honestly come face-to-face with our sin and start tabulating the true cost of that sin, the “Narrow Door” of Jesus Christ, our “Rock of Ages,” becomes the only Door for us to walk through.
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 Jean Norden in loving memory of her husband, Reverend Erwin Norden.
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.
DID YOU KNOW? There’s probably much about Historic First Lutheran that many of us do not know. So, 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 Reverend W. F. Seeger, our first called pastor, received a whopping salary of $104.00 per year. Those were, of course, 1892 dollars. Four years later, an increase of $56.00 annually seemed in order, bringing the annual salary of the pastor to $160.00!
LEADER TO LEADER AVAILABLE The inaugural issue of “Leader to Leader” is available from the Information Rack in the Narthex. These monthly letters are written by Pastor Schaar to the elected leadership of Historic First Lutheran. A variety of leadership issues will be studied. Interested church members (potential leaders) are also encouraged to pick up a copy as they desire.
LAST HURDLE CLEARED, WE THINK! We have finally submitted everything necessary from us to complete our congregational photo directory. We hope to have those in your hands shortly. Our apologies again for this delay!
PLEASE EXCUSE OUR MESS The light fixtures in the Narthex have been removed for rewiring. In addition a third reproduction light fixture is being made for the Buckeye Street entrance. In addition, new glass for the church fixtures is being made.
USHERS: TAKE NOTE Next week’s service will involve Usher Team # 8 – Gerald Freeny, Rudy Melinat, Michealene Melus and Carol Schlichting.
August 26 – Isaiah 17
August 27 – Isaiah 18
August 28 – Isaiah 19
August 29 – Isaiah 20
August 30 – Isaiah 21
August 31 – Isaiah 22
September 1 – Isaiah 23
Sunday 26 August – “Lord, to You eternal praise!”
Monday 27 August – Celebrate the birthdays of friends by praying for them today: Carol Schlichting (28); Carter Prescott (29); John Rosas (31).
Tuesday 28 August – Thank God for family and friends, for life and love.
Wednesday 29 August – In East Africa, Eurasia, and Southeast Asia the scourge of HIV/AIDS is devastating human communities. Pray that governments, partner churches and partner agencies will all work together with LCMS World Mission to advance the cause of the Gospel through healing touches for body, soul and spirit.
Thursday 30 August – Thank God for the gift of music. Consider joining our voice choir or handbell choir this fall.
Friday 31 August – Begin to pray today for fall ministry programs that will be starting over the next couple of weeks.
Saturday 1 September – “Lord Jesus, help me always build my faith only on Your Cross and empty grave.”
Pastor Christopher Schaar is writing a monthly letter to the elected leadership of Historic First Lutheran Church of Pasadena, each month dealing with another powerful insight about leadership. This resource is also being made available to the lay membership of Historic First Lutherans and to others via email by request to Firstpasa@aol.com. District pastors and lay leaders are invited to use this resource either for their own personal edification or for use among their own congregational leadership. Why reinvent the wheel? Make use of what someone else is already doing!
Isaiah 43:1-3
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
19 August 2007
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
When our Lord Jesus encouraged His followers to “pick up their crosses and follow Him” [Matthew 16:24], many of us are sometimes tempted to probably think that Jesus was directly talking to us. There is that old Negro spiritual that declares with much emotion that “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen.” Many of us would like to make that our own personal song.
Well, my friends, if that how you feel right now – or if that is how you have ever felt – consider these things for just a moment and I think maybe you’ll reconsider:
St. Peter was crucified upside down because he didn’t consider himself worthy to be crucified in the same way as Jesus.
St. Andrew was also crucified, but hung on the cross for two days, exhorting spectators all the while. Also crucified were St. Phillip, St. Jude, St. Simon, St. Luke and St. Bartholomew.
St. James was beheaded, actually converting his accuser in the process and the two of them were beheaded together. St. Paul was also beheaded.
St. Thomas was thrust through with a spear.
St. Matthew was killed with a sword.
St. James was stoned at age 90 and, when he didn’t die fast enough, his execution squad actually picked up a fuller’s club and beat his brains out. St. Stephen and St. Matthias were also stoned to death.
St. Mark was dragged to death.
St. Judas, of course, was driven to personal despair because of the role he played in the betrayal of Jesus and committed suicide.
According to reliable church tradition and written history, those are the legacies of the first 12 disciples of Jesus Christ and other notable early Christian disciples, those to whom Jesus personally said those words about picking up their crosses and following Him, those whom He warned very clearly that they would indeed drink the cup that He was about to drink and suffer the death He was about to suffer [Mark 10:38-39]. Whether or not they realized how prophetic those words of Jesus Christ would be, not one backed away from their faith or from their Savior when death came knocking at the door for them in less than desirable ways. Instead, many even used their deaths as an opportunity to boldly witness for Jesus Christ.
So, after listening to all that, would you like to re-think your own feelings that your life is tough, that nobody knows the trouble you’ve seen? Personally I know that a quick review of the deaths of those early followers of Jesus is enough for me to withdraw my claim.
Every New Year’s Eve, I remind those of us who gather in this place that “We know not what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future.”
Every year those words prove themselves to be true. Since its very inception and until the Day when Jesus comes again, this congregation and its members have seen years come and go and bring great trials and tribulations and even tragedy, things that could never be anticipated or even dreamed of in one’s worst nightmares. With the recent death of former member, Bob Lange, I was reminded again of one of those tragedies this congregation has endured, a tragedy that made the front page of the paper: what was supposed to be a fun _____ youth group event: a hay ride that was rear ended by a drunk driver, causing injury to several of the youth and even killing one. Bob, years after that hay ride, would lose a leg due to recurring circulation complications from that accident.
We know not what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future.
Those are not just cute words. They’re actually Biblical words. That’s exactly what the Lord God said to and through the Prophet Isaiah: “But now this is what the Lord says – He Who created you, O Jacob; He Who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze for I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” [Isaiah 43:1-3].
Now we see what our “Great Hymn of the Faith” today has to do with all that gory accounting of the deaths of the early disciples of Jesus. How could they go through what they went through, not only going through those horrible deaths, but not walking away from their faith in the process, not cursing God and dying, as Job’s wife encouraged him to do [Job 2:9]? How could they do all that? Because they discovered they were not alone. Jesus had promised them at the moment that He was ascending back into Heaven that He would be with them always, to the very end of the age [Matthew 28:20]. That promise held true for each of them.
We’re still not at the very end of the age, so Jesus’ promise holds true for you and for me. He continues to be with us always. In fact, that is one of Jesus’ Names: IMMANUEL – “God with us.” He continues to walk with us through the raging waters and furious fires of life. Nothing can destroy us. Nothing can scorch us. Nothing can separate us from Him [Romans 8:39]. And, even at that very last moment of death, Who better to have walk with us than Jesus Who has already been in the grave, Jesus Who rose from the dead, Jesus Who conquered the grave and defeated the finality of death?
Jesus indeed said, “Pick up your crosses and follow Me,” and there will be crosses in life as we follow Jesus, but He didn’t give us that marching order without the means to make it happen. Instead, whatever it is we are going through, Jesus now only knows about it, but He’s already got the solution worked out in His Hand . Before we even see or know about the problem, our Jesus has the solution. All we need to do, by the power of His Holy Spirit, is stay close to Him and allow Him to stay close to us.
One of my worship planning resources reminds its users almost every single week that the words, “Good Morning” are not a proper liturgical greeting. Instead, this one resource encourages its users to start each Sunday morning worship with the words, “The Lord be with you.” Those “proper, liturgical words” are also the words that we should hear personally and the words that we should extend to one another as we depart and go our separate ways: “God be with you till we meet again.” As we hear those words and as we extend the peace involved with those words to others, we know with all confidence that there is nothing better we can wish each other, no one better to have with us every moment of every day than Jesus Himself.
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 loving memory of her sister, Pat Overshoun.
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.
DID YOU KNOW? There’s probably much about Historic First Lutheran that many of us do not know. So, 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 other notable active multi-generation families around Historic First Lutheran include the Bryan/Snedden/Coury families (4 generations), the Kerschner/Richards/Newhouse families (4 generations), the Parrish/Hobson/Smith families (4 generations), the Nichols/Potter families (3 generations), the Barnett/Buckman/Price families (4 generations), the Kuhnert/Franzen/Chew/Plummer families (3 generations), the Humbert/Shimer/Carmain families (3 generations), the Schaar families (3 generations), the Sipos/Koltaj families (3 generations), the Norden families (3 generations), the Oglesby families (3 generations), and the Price families (3 generations).
EXCITEMENT GROWS ABOUT OUR EVANGELISM SUNDAYS! In September, we will be honored to host Pastor Mike Ruhl, a former missionary and currently the Director of the Center for U.S. Missions in Irvine. Pastor Ruhl will preach and also lead Bible Study on 30 September. Then in December, we will host Chaplain Ralph Buchhorn of The Extra Mile Ministries. Chaplain Buchhorn and his dog, Georgie, have been on site of some of our nation’s greatest tragedies – Ground Zero, Hurricane Katrina and Virginia Tech. Chaplain Buchhorn will preach and also lead Bible class on 30 December.
RESIGNATION Due to her relocation to Bakersfield, Dana Demko has tendered her resignation as our congregation’s recording secretary. A replacement is needed. Don’t be surprised if you’re approached to fill Dana’s unexpired term of office.
LAST HURDLE CLEARED, WE THINK! We have finally submitted everything necessary from us to complete our congregational photo directory. We hope to have those in your hands shortly. Our apologies again for this delay!
PLEASE EXCUSE OUR MESS The light fixtures in the Narthex have been removed for rewiring. In addition a third reproduction light fixture is being made for the Buckeye Street entrance. In addition, new glass for the church fixtures is being made.
USHERS: TAKE NOTE Next week’s service will involve Usher Team # 7 – Nicko Avila, Daniel Hendry, Steven Hendry and James Price.
Sunday 19 August – Thank God for the daily strength He provides you.
Monday 20 August – Celebrate the birthdays and anniversaries of friends by praying for them today: Hector Guzman (19); Ella Schilling (20); Nicole & Greg Hurley (20); Phyllis Price (22); Lendia Snedden (22); Carol & Carl Verheyen (23).
Tuesday 21 August – Raymond Dubert, Heidi Greimann and Stephanie Roegner serve as long-term missionaries teaching English in Taiwan. Pray that the Lord would use them to glorify His Name and teach His Truth to their students through their words and actions.
Wednesday 22 August – Pray for the continued physical and spiritual growth of Historic First Lutheran.
Thursday 23 August – Pray by name for our shut-in members: Cleora Bryan, Jill Fenske, Gloria Melinat, Charles Newhouse, Clara Newhouse, Arline Pace, Claudia Proctor, Ruth Richards, Estelle Thaxton and Ethel Watkins.
Friday 24 August – Thank God for the growth of our Hispanic ministry.
Saturday 25 August – Read Psalm 51, using these words as your personal prayer for forgiveness in preparation for worship tomorrow.
Luke 12:30-32
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
12 August 2007
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
What is your most valuable possession?
Whenever there is a tragedy and we see people being evacuated from their homes, we often see that question answered very clearly. What do people pack into their cars as they are being evacuated? Well, often times it’s their important papers, their photographs, their family pets and their family itself?
Listen to that question again: What is your most valuable possession?
Notice carefully that I didn’t ask what is your most valuable investment. For most of us here in Southern California, that would undoubtedly be our home. For some of us, that would be our car. For some of us, that would be our retirement funds, our pension plans, our 401(k)s. But when it comes to our most valuable possession, even though they are not “personal property” in the technical sense of the word, most of us who have children would answer that our children are our most valuable possession. After all, a part of us will always live on in them. Parents pour so much of themselves into their children that they are by far our most valuable possession.
Certainly that’s the answer that Abraham – or Abram, as we heard him referenced as in our First Reading today [Genesis 15:1-6] – would have given. In fact, that’s exactly what’s behind that strange little discussion between Abraham and God. Abraham had been much blessed by God. He had family. He had possessions. He had land holdings. But despite all that, there was something missing. He had no son, no heir of his own body to someday receive all his great divine blessings.
You remember our First Reading last Sunday from the Book of Ecclesiastes where the teacher wrote: “Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” [Ecclesiastes 1:2]. That’s probably how Abraham felt. You can literally hear the frustration in his voice as he debates with God: “Yes, Lord, You might indeed be my Shield, my very great reward, but what good is it since You’ve not given me a son, the one thing I really want?” [Genesis 15:2]. All the earthly blessings and investments were meaningless to Abraham without the possession of a son.
God, our Heavenly Father, feels the same way. Take all God’s vast creation – the sun, the stars, the moon, galaxies upon galaxies; take the earth, the mountains, lakes and streams, the birds of the air, the fish of the sea, all the domesticated animals that roam our homes and yards. Of all God’s vast creation – and we’ve just scratched the surface enumerating that vast creation – it is only His human creation – you and me – with whom God has desired and created a way to spend all eternity. Think about that for a second. The Bible is very clear. The rest of God’s creation as we know it will one day be completely destroyed. God, though, desired from day one to have us human beings spend all eternity with Him. Humans are God’s crowning achievement, His true pride and joy.
That desire of God was just about shattered when sin entered the world. Notice that the devil, being one of the highest ranking Heavenly angels – a confident into the very thoughts of God Himself – knew exactly how to really hurt God. He knew God treasured Adam and Eve above all else, that into Adam and Eve God had breathed His own breath of life. How could he best hurt God and, in fact, take over all creation as his own? Get a hold of Adam and Eve. Steal God’s children away from Him. Do that and since everything had been placed under Adam and Eve [Genesis 1:28], the rest of creation would become his!
Or, so he thought. Clever and insightful as was the devil, he completely underestimated the love of a parent. Faced with the reality of losing His most valuable possession, God staked everything. He pushed all his chips to the center of the table. To keep His desire of eternity with His human creation intact, God created a radical plan, a plan to eternally destroy sin, a plan to completely conquer the devil, a plan to magnificently mark humans as His own. Ironically, that plan to buy back His own children made use of His own Son. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish [should not be the treasured possession of the devil] but have eternal life [should for once and all be the precious children of the Heavenly Father].”
If you ever have any doubt about your own self worth, just look at Bethlehem. If you ever wonder if God really loves you, just look at Calvary. That, my friends, is what Bethlehem was all about. That, my friends, is what Calvary is all about. Those 33 years of Jesus Christ on this earth were not intended to simply be a good story, the best seller of all time. No, those 33 years of Jesus Christ on this earth were God’s solution to your problem of sin and death and eternal separation from God. Those 33 years of Jesus Christ – particularly His death and resurrection – were God’s way of paying off the lien that all of us, simply through our birth into this fallen world, have allowed the devil to take out on us. When we were brought into the family of God through the waters of Holy Baptism, an indelible, incorruptible name was given to each of us – “Child of God.”
“Don’t worry about anything. Don’t chase after anything. Don’t be afraid. Your Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom.” That’s what Jesus said! Everything that is God’s, is ours! Through Jesus Christ, we have become heirs of God. Nothing is too good for us, His children. Nothing is withheld from us, His most valuable possession.
That’s exactly the message proclaimed by our “Great Hymn of the Faith” today. The real meaning of this hymn – “Children of the Heavenly Father” – is exactly the reason that it pulls at each of our hearts whenever we sing it, whenever we take the time to hear it’s message. Listen again carefully to these world – not only with your mind, but with your heart – then praise God for being His child:
Children of the Heavenly Father, safely in His bosom gather.
Nestling bird nor star in Heaven, such a refuge e'er was given.
God His own doth tend and nourish. In His holy courts they flourish.
From all evil things He spares them. In His mighty Arms He bears them.
Neither life nor death shall ever, from the Lord His children sever.
Unto them His grace He showeth, and their sorrows all He knoweth.
Though He giveth or He taketh, God His children ne'er forsaketh.
His the loving purpose solely, to preserve them pure and holy.
That is our inheritance. That is our identity, thanks to our loving Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, His dear Son.
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
August 12 – Isaiah 3
August 13 – Isaiah 4
August 14 – Isaiah 5
August 15 – Isaiah 6
August 16 – Isaiah 7
August 17 – Isaiah 8
August 18 – Isaiah 9
Sunday 12 August – Pray by name for those absent from worship today.
Monday 13 August – Celebrate the birthdays and anniversaries of friends by praying for them today: Julie Schmutzer (8/12); Belen Castro (8/14); Sean Golding (8/14); Zoralynn Oglesby (8/14); Nicholas Noles (8/14); Chad Schmutzer (8/14); Sonnie Faga (8/15); Peggy & Luther Renfroe (8/15); Pat Rouse (8/16); Mike Widdoss (8/16); Dana & Gary Demko (8/16); Elizabeth Larson (8/18).
Tuesday 14 August – Pray for the continued vitality and growth of the mission and ministry of Historic First Lutheran.
Wednesday 15 August – Thank God for all who serve as volunteer workers around Historic First Lutheran.
Thursday 16 August – Carry to God your deepest cares and concerns. Lay yourself bare before Him.
Friday 17 August – Thank God that you are His dearly loved child!
Saturday 18 August – Ask God to bless Pastor Schaar and Pastor Gómez as they prepare to lead worship tomorrow.
ALTAR FLOWERS are given to the glory of God by Dana and Gary Demko in celebration of the 3rd birthday of their precious Hayden Ryder (8/7) and the new lease on life that grandchildren bring.
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.
DID YOU KNOW? There’s probably much about Historic First Lutheran that many of us do not know. So, 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 Virginia Martens is part of a four-generation family at Historic First Lutheran. Howard, her late husband’s parents and grandparents had been long-time members of Historic First Lutheran prior to their deaths. In fact, the “Crucifixion” stained glass window is dedicated in memory of Howard’s grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Martens. Here at Historic First Lutheran, Howard and Ginny raised their children, Harlan and Daphne. Harlan now lives in Houston, Texas. Daphne now lives in Pennsylvania.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: PLEASE NOTE Our meeting scheduled for today has been postponed to next Sunday after worship. Advance packets are now available.
FAITH AND BUSINESS FORUM You’re invited to hear Dr. John Maxwell, a Christian minister and a foremost recognized authority on leadership, at Concordia University’s 5th Annual Faith and Business Forum on Friday 24 August. The Church will pay the $65.00 registration cost for any current leaders or prospective future leaders. Please check out the publicity ads on the table in the Narthex and speak to Pastor Schaar who will make all the reservations.
EXCITEMENT GROWS ABOUT OUR EVANGELISM SUNDAYS! In September, we will be honored to host Pastor Mike Ruhl, a former missionary and currently the Director of the Center for U.S. Missions in Irvine. Pastor Ruhl will preach and also lead Bible Study on 30 September. Then in December, we will host Chaplain Ralph Buchhorn of The Extra Mile Ministries. Chaplain Buchhorn and his dog, Georgie, have been on site of some of our nation’s greatest tragedies – Ground Zero, Hurricane Katrina and Virginia Tech. Chaplain Buchhorn will preach and also lead Bible class on 30 December.
RESIGNATION Due to her relocation to Bakersfield, Dana Demko has tendered her resignation as our congregation’s recording secretary. A replacement is needed. Don’t be surprised if you’re approached to fill Dana’s unexpired term of office.
BRING THOSE MIGHTY MITES NEXT SUNDAY Please remember to bring your “Mite Boxes” filled with coins and bills next Sunday. Every single penny will be forwarded to The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League to support mission work. If you need a “Mite Box” you may pick one up off the table in the Narthex.
USHERS: TAKE NOTE Next week’s service will involve Usher Team # 6 – Rogelio Douglas, Henry Hubert, Rudy Melinat and Marlene Ochetti.
Colossians 3:1
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
5 August 2007
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
“Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” [Ecclesiastes 1:2]
Have you ever felt that way? I know I have at times.
Those words, most likely penned by wise King Solomon some 3,000 years ago, seem to connect with us even today.
If you need proof of that, just look to an event of this past week. A clogged freeway – clogged with people heading home after a day of work and equally clogged with people heading to a baseball game – suddenly collapsed, dropping dozens and dozens of cars into the Mississippi River some 60 feet below. Many are hurt, emotionally and physically. Some are killed – that number is still being tabulated as I speak. In a literal split second, lives were forever changed – lives of those who were sitting on that clogged freeway bridge, lives of those connected to those sitting on that clogged freeway bridge, and lives of totally unrelated countless millions spread over thousands and thousands of miles who are even now left to wonder about the safety of places we travel daily.
I saw an interview following that tragedy. Maybe you did also. It was an interview with a husband and two daughters of a woman who died in that bridge collapse. She was painted by her husband and daughters in glowing words. She was a good, faithful wife and mother. She was a dedicated employee, who like most daily commuters, knew a number of alternate routes to get from here to there. For some reason, she decided to take the bridge route that fateful day, a route which she often avoided, because it seemed like traffic was moving better that day on the bridge. Within an hour previous to her death, she had spoken to both her husband and one daughter, ending those phone calls like most of us do, telling them that she loved them and would see them soon. Minutes later, she was dead. The comfort offered up by her husband and daughters was that at least she died driving her dream car – a Mercedes convertible.
Think about that for a second, then think again about King Solomon’s words: “Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” Have you ever felt that way? I know I have at times, but hang with me for a few moments. I have an answer for that feeling that we all need to hear.
Jesus told a parable [Luke 12:13-21] that seems extremely appropriate given the events of this past week. The parable was about a man who had been extremely blessed by God. A farmer by trade, he had seen bumper crop after bumper crop. Instead of rejoicing, h e was faced with a real dilemma, at least in his own mind. Instead of asking himself why God had blessed him so richly and what might God want him to do with those blessings he had received, he instead asked himself, “What in the world am I to do? My barns aren’t big enough for all these blessings.” His God-given blessings became for him a curse as he decided that the only rational thing to do in that circumstance was that he’d have to meet with his banker and take out a loan, then work with an architect to design bigger barns, then work with a demolition crew to get rid of his old barns, then work with a contractor to build those new bigger and better barns, then work with the city permit department to make sure that the bigger barns met all current codes, then work with the city code enforcement officers who had received multiple complaints from his obviously jealous neighbors about the height and color and location of those barns, how his new bigger and better barns blocked what used to be their beautiful views of sunrises and sunsets. “Oy!,” the man must have surely thought, “It’s maybe better not to be blessed by God!” Then comes the real kicker! Jesus’ parable concludes with a sad statement of fact: “That very night his life was demanded of him.” You can write the rest of the parable yourself. His heirs came in, emptied out those barns, selling those bumper crops to the highest bidder. A “For Sale” sign was posted at the entrance to his property and, because of those new bigger and better barns, an extremely handsome profit was realized. “Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless!”
No offense intended anyone, but hearing again that parable of Jesus and knowing how true to life that parable is, I must again say that I have the best job in the entire world. My job is so much better than any bank loan officer, so much better than any architect or contractor, so much better than any city official. All those people have important jobs, jobs that require much education and skill and talent and experience, but most jobs deal with tangible things, with things that are here today and possibly gone tomorrow. I get to deal with the souls of people, souls that are sometimes broken by circumstances of life in this world, but souls that will live for all time and all eternity. That’s what I get to work with on a daily basis, knowing that what I do every day as a pastor is not necessarily building for life in this world, but building life for all eternity.
St. Paul knew that heavy burden of life in this world. He knew that many people would face many trials and tribulations. He knew that most people would have occasion to view the events and things in this world, as enjoyable as they might be, as fleeting and tangible and maybe even useless and meaningless. That’s why St. Paul points our eyes Heavenward, encouraging us to “set your hearts on things above, not on earthly things” [Colossians 3:1].
Perhaps that’s the verse that was on Thomas Taylor’s mind as he fought the final battle of tuberculosis, dying at age 28. For Thomas Taylor, life on earth wasn’t meaningless. I’m sure he had many questions about life in this world, about why things happen the way they sometimes happen, but, in the end, he set his heart on things above: “I’m but a stranger here. Heaven is my home. Earth is a desert drear. Heaven is my home. Danger and sorrow stand, round me on every hand. Heaven is my fatherland. Heaven is my home.”
My friends in Christ, though it may sometimes seem like it to these human eyes, everything is not meaningless. If you can’t say it about anything else in this entire world, you can be sure that you have eternal meaning and purpose and value with God. I can say that confidently with no hesitation because your singular life compelled Jesus to leave His Home and His Throne and come to earth, to take off His beautifully perfect Heavenly garments and to clothe Himself in your flesh and blood, to experience first-hand your full range of joys and sorrows in life, then, when pushed to the ultimate limit of frustration and humiliation and hopelessness, to re-focus His eyes above, re-entering Heaven only after suffering death and conquering the grave. All that He did so that you could set your hearts on things above, so that you don’t have to run yourself into the grave chasing after things that are here today and gone tomorrow, but instead that you can rest in the sweet knowledge of what is yours in Jesus Christ, that great treasure prepared for each of us, where moth and rust do not destroy, where there are no disappointments, no unfulfilled dreams, no shattered hopes. That is your inheritance – and mine – thanks be to Jesus.
Meaningless? It indeed might seem that way at times, but allow the Holy Spirit to move you to set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the Right Hand of God and say along with Thomas Taylor and with me, “And I shall surely stand, there at my Lord’s Right Hand. Heaven is my fatherland. Heaven is my home.”
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
Sunday 5 August – Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!
Monday 6 August – Celebrate the birthdays and anniversaries of friends by praying for them today: Alexander Cañela (7); Clara Gaabo (7); Hayden Inglis (7); Kim Dabbadie (8); Rhonda Schroeder (8); Michael Campbell (9); Davin Andersen (10); David Headrick (10); Zora Oglesby (11).
Tuesday 7 August – Thank God for meeting all your needs in and through Jesus Christ.
Wednesday 8 August – Pray for one person today whom you don’t know.
Thursday 9 August – Slowly today say The Lord’s Prayer, carefully considering each petition and making each petition heart felt.
Friday 10 August – Ask God’s continued blessing on our “Good Friday” Youth Outreach.
Saturday 11 August – Pray by name today for all you know who are sick or walking through a time of grief.
August 5 – Song of Songs 4
August 6 – Song of Songs 5
August 7 – Song of Songs 6
August 8 – Song of Songs 7
August 9 – Song of Songs 8
August 10 – Isaiah 1
August 11 – Isaiah 2
ALTAR FLOWERS are given to the glory of God by Doris Barnes in thankfulness to God for the memories of her mother and in celebration of the birthday of Ann Price. Flowers are also given to the glory of God by Bill and Ocilda Files in thankfulness to God for His abundant blessings and in celebration and gratitude for 57 years of marriage on August 3.
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.
DID YOU KNOW? There’s probably much about Historic First Lutheran that many of us do not know. So, 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 pew cushions on which you are sitting were a gift of Virginia Young, in loving memory of her husband, Cecil, a long time, active leader of Historic First Lutheran.
KNOTT’S DISCOUNT COUPONS Discounted admission to Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City is available using coupons available from the Church Administrative Center.
CHECK YOUR POCKETS PLEASE Please check your pockets and purses to see if you have inadvertently taken home a Greeters Badge. We only have one left. If you should find one, please return it to the Church Administrative Center. Thank you.
A TRUE COMEDY OF ERRORS Our deep apologies for the extreme tardiness of the publication of our church photo directory. There has literally been a constant comedy of errors that has hopelessly delayed printing. Olan Mills is not to blame. We are not to blame. It just is what it is. We think we’ve jumped the final hurdle and hope to have the directories in hand soon. Thanks for your understanding.
FAITH AND BUSINESS FORUM You’re invited to hear Dr. John Maxwell, a Christian minister and a foremost recognized authority on leadership, at Concordia University’s 5th Annual Faith and Business Forum on Friday 24 August. The Church will pay the $65.00 registration cost for any current leaders or prospective future leaders. Please check out the publicity ads on the table in the Narthex and speak to Pastor Schaar who will make all the reservations.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: PLEASE NOTE Our meeting scheduled for next Sunday has been postponed to Sunday 19 August after worship. Advance packets will be available next Sunday.
USHERS: TAKE NOTE Next week’s service will involve Usher Team # 5 – Ocilda Files, Rudy Melinat, Lisa Morita and Scott Vila.