Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.                                                             Proverbs 1:8

In these months of May and June we celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. I’ve often thought of them as just made up holidays that give us a chance to buy more cards and gifts. But whether we buy gifts for our parents or not, God’s Word does direct us to give attention to the words of our parents, for they will adorn us and shape us in an outward manner in our lives.

We all know the story of how the young man who told his father, “You know Dad, the older you get, the smarter you get.” He had not realized that it was then that he finally was beginning to listen to the wisdom that his father had been sharing all along. God has given us parents to raise us and train us. While all possess different abilities, they have done their best. I encourage you thank your parents or perhaps one of your wiser friends (of age or youth) for

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7

+Pastor

As of April 18, 2010

The Third Sunday of Easter

This Week’s Calendar

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

6:30 pm: Service of the Word

7:30 pm: Table Talk

Friday, April 23, 2010

10:00 am: Worship Committee meeting

Sunday, April 25, 2010

9:30 am: Divine Service

11:00 am: Voters’ Assembly

12:00 pm: Potluck Dinner

Announcements

Voters’ Assembly – Our spring Voters’ Assembly is scheduled for April 25. We will meet after the Divine Service and then enjoy a potluck dinner.

Thank You – to all that participated in our February 28 gathering in Continuing the Dream. Norm Larson is organizing follow-on meetings to keep this process moving forward and establishing defined, measurable, and achievable goals. Please let Norm know of your desire to be a part of this continuing process. The next meeting will be early in April.

Hymns for April 25 – Alleluia! Sing to Jesus (821); The King of Love My Shepherd Is (709); I Am Jesus’ Little Lamb (740); Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing (475); Make Songs of Joy (484); Alleluia, Alleluia! Hearts to Heaven (477).

Thrivent Builds – Our local chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has won a grant for the third year in a row to build a Habitat for Humanity home. His year’s build will be in Mt. Pleasant and will begin in February. Please see Herb Smith for additional information.

Introduction to the Christian Faith – May 1 is the next scheduled meeting at 9:00am at Grace Lutheran Church in Summerville. This three hour class provides an introduction to the Christian Faith for those interested and a refresher for those Lutherans wishing to become

Circuit Convocation – Our circuit, Circuit 18 of the Southeastern District of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod will hold a convocation on May 8, 2010 at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, Irmo, SC. All members of the circuit are invited to attend. We will discuss the latest mission endeavors of our circuit and plan for the future.

The Lutheran Lecture Series is presenting a day focusing on Medical Ethics. The theme for this year is Come Let Us Play God. Four outstanding Lutheran scholars who have contributed to the bioethics discussions taking place in our beloved Synod will each make a presentation on their expertise. This event will take place on October 30, 2010 at Augustana Lutheran Church in Hickory, NC. If you wish to go, please plan to join the carpool from Good Shepherd.

Lutheran Ethics Today – A Continuing Education opportunity for pastors and laity will be on June 7-9 at Grace Lutheran Church, Summerville. Prof. John Pless, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Mission, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN will teach this class. This class will examine the writings of a variety of contemporary Lutheran ethicists. Special attention will be given to the relationship of justification and sanctification in contemporary Lutheran ethical reflection, the place of the third use of the Law, the orders of creation, the doctrine of the two governments and issues in bio-ethics from the perspective of the Lutheran doctrine of creation. A special evening lecture open to the public will be offered on Wednesday, June 9 as a summary of this course for those that are interested but unable to attend during the day.

Please email your announcements to Pastor by Wednesday to be included in the following Sunday bulletin at pastor@goodshepherdcharleston.org

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will have extra worship services during Holy Week. Experience traditional, liturgical worship during this most sacred of times in the Church Year.

• Wednesday, March 31 – 6:30 p.m.
  Evening Prayer Service at Ashley River Plantation, 2333 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC (Building 2)
  7:30 p.m. Join us for Table Talk/Fellowship at the Bear E Patch Cafe West
• Thursday, April 1 – 6:30 p.m.
  Maundy Thursday Divine Service at Ashley River Plantation, 2333 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC (Building 2)
• Friday, April 2 – 6:30 p.m.
  Good Friday Tenebrae Vespers at Ashley River Plantation, 2333 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC (Building 2)
• Sunday, April 4 – 9:30 a.m.
  Easter Sunday, Divine Service, Setting 1, with Holy Communion

I must admit; I’ve never been much of a basketball fan. March Madness has never been anything but a sideline event. It is probably because I was a wrestler in high school and did not ever go to a basketball game. But this year is a little different. Today, I’m into the March Madness. Today, that is, March 17, I celebrate the madness of St. Patrick, missionary to Ireland.

St. Patrick must have been mad. Why else would he have ventured back to the land that held him captive in slavery for roughly six years of his youth? But his madness was not craziness. His madness was love. St. Patrick, in the love of Christ crucified for the sinner, sought the salvation of his former captors. As St. Patrick had learned what it really meant to be free, he wanted his former slave owners to know real freedom as well.

We might say that St. Patrick was infected with the madness of the Gospel, because it sure doesn’t make sense to the enlightened mind. It was a certain madness that caused Jesus to seek the freedom from sin, death, and devil for His persecutors. St. Patrick was following the calling of a disciple in bringing freedom to the captive; freedom from the Law, because it has been fulfilled in Christ; freedom from slavery to sin, because it has been conquered in Christ; freedom from the devil, because he has been vanquished; freedom from death, because it has been swallowed up in victory.

March 17 will always mark March Madness for me because of the “madness” that is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Psalm 23:5a).

+ Pastor Sandeno

Today, much of the Western Church (including the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod) commemorates St. Polycarp of Smyrna, bishop and martyr.

St. Polycarp was perhaps the last living link to the last of the living apostles, being a disciple of St. John the beloved apostle. St. Polycarp (whose name means “much fruit”) was martyred about 155 or 156 AD, in the ninth decade of his life on this side of the grave, for his refusal to worship Caesar. While waiting for the flames that would blaze around him at the stake, Father Polycarp was promised his freedom if he would only renounce Christ and just burn a pinch of incense in acknowledgment of the emperor’s divinity.

The grizzled warrior of the cross replied: “Eighty and six years I have served him, how then can I blaspheme my King and Savior? Bring forth what you will.” Instead of offering a pagan sacrifice to the imperial false deity, he defied the emperor by offering his life as a thank offering to the True God.

St. Polycarp’s heroic witness for the Gospel was a powerful testimony of Christ and His Church, serving to fortify the thousands of Christians who were persecuted and martyred by the Roman government. Even today, St. Polycarp continues to give courage to our brothers and sisters around the world who are still being put to the sword for the sake of our Blessed Lord and as a consequence of their good confession.

St. Polycarp’s letter to the Philippians (c. 110-140 AD) is here: (http://networkedblogs.com/zgmj). It is the only surviving written work of Bishop Polycarp, and it is chock full of quotations from Holy Scripture – showing the reverence and submission the apostolic fathers had for the Word of God. St. Polycarp was the teacher and pastor of St. Irenaeus, one of the greatest theologians and defenders of orthodoxy against the attacks of the numerous heretics and heresies of his day – whose heirs continue to this very day to do Satan’s work in attacking the two natures of our Blessed Lord Christ and the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity.

We give thanks to God for the testimony of the apostolic fathers, those who learned at the beautiful feet of the holy apostles of Jesus; men who served humbly and faithfully in perilous times and places, even unto death: doctors and presbyters of the Church whose preaching was backed by their works – even the work of following Jesus by taking up the cross of suffering and martyrdom. In this, they bore “much fruit” and offered their lives as a fragrant offering to the Lord, the “Savior of our souls, the Governor of our bodies, and the Shepherd of the catholic church throughout the world” (Martyrdom of Polycarp 1:43).

May we be graced with their courage, faith, devotion to pure doctrine, and most of all, love.

(Thank you to the Rev.  Larry Beane for allowing this post of his writing. If you wish to read St. Polycarp’s epistle, it is located http://networkedblogs.com/zgmj here.)

We had our initial Youth Day for 2010 and kept it simple with pizza and board games. We also planned our events for the remainder of the year:

Feb 14 – Confirmation class and make Valentine’s Day cards for the residents of the Ronald McDonald House

Mar 14 – Confirmation class and rollerskating at Hot Wheels

Apr 11 – Confirmation Sunday

May 9 – Mother’s Day Dinner

Jun 11 – Volunteer at Tricounty Family Ministries then the beach

Jun 13 – Bowling

Jun 25 – Volunteer at Tricounty Family Ministries then the beach

Jul 23 – Volunteer at Tricounty Family Ministries then the beach

Jul 31 – Carwash

Aug 8 – Beach

Aug 13 – Volunteer at Tricounty Family Ministries then the beach

Sep 12 – Confirmation class then Roller Skating

Oct 10 – Confirmation class then pumpkin carving

Nov 14 – Confirmation class then a movie (hopefully a good 3D IMAX)

Dec 12 – Confirmation class then make Christmas cards for the residents at the Ronald McDonald House

The Rev. David Andrus, executive director of Lutheran Blind Mission, will be guest preacher at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Sunday, Jan. 17.

Andrus, blind himself since he was 11 years old, served as a parish pastor in Missouri for more than a decade. Since 1998, he has been associated with blind missions for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), the second-largest Lutheran church body in North America.

In addition to preaching the sermon, Andrus will conduct a Sunday School class after the service, during which he will offer tips for sighted people on how to help the blind see Christ. He also will explain the services and outreach offered by Lutheran Blind Mission.

Update: Here is a link to the sermon by Pastor Andrus.

Christmas time is a great time of anticipation. Children look forward to a couple of weeks off from school. Parents look forward to the break ending and children returning to school. But, I think there is a great bit of anticipation for all of us as we wait to see what our children or parents have bought us for Christmas.

Sometimes there is a plain square package placed under the tree. It is not too big; not to small; not heavy and not light. It doesn’t rattle and doesn’t move around inside the box. It is one of those presents that the recipient just can’t wait to open. I know you have had one. We all have. It seems that Christmas morning can’t come soon enough in order to find out what that gift can be. Will you like it? Is it something that you’ve really wanted? Sometimes the anticipation can be unbearable.

Oh, but I guess I forget to whom it is that I am writing. You are mature adults. You don’t get giddy with anticipation over a gift under the tree at Christmas. Or, at least, you’ve learned to control your emotions enough to not get carried away. In a way, it is a shame that the anticipation lessens with maturity, because there is still a nondescript package yet wrapped and waiting to be opened by you.

Christmas and its central part as a feast day within the Church Year has not always been the same. Before Christmas was recognized, Epiphany reigned as the most recognized feast day, behind Easter. It is upon Epiphany that the season of Advent was originally based as well as the twelve days of Christmas that fall between December 25 and January 6. While we celebrate the birth of the King on Christmas Day, it is the unwrapping of that child that we celebrate in the Savior of all nations on Epiphany.

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

Matthew 2:10, 11 (ESV)

The Epiphany Season, which lasts for only six Sundays this year, begins with the manifestation or revealing of the incarnate God in the child Jesus. The Wise Men worship him and give him gifts. They, representing the nations other than Israel, recognize and receive this child of Mary as God come to save them.

We will receive the same unwrapping of our God and Savior this season from the humble abodes of a manger in a stable to the house of a carpenter in Bethlehem, until we shall see him fulfill all righteousness in a baptism with water administered by John, perform the works of God in miracles, and be transfigured in glory upon a mountain as he speaks with prophets of old.

While God did humble himself and take the form of a servant, He did not keep His creation suspended in undue anticipation. He unwrapped His present for us and all the world to see. And as is the case with most gifts; some are excited, some disgruntled, and some just apathetic. May God, who has saved us from our sins by the sending of His Son, also by the power of the Holy Spirit, save us from being disgruntled and apathetic. May he grant us a joy, in the gift that he has given, that reflects from us as much as it did from Moses after he descended from Mt. Sinai. Only let us not be so mature that we feel we must veil that joy from the sight of others.

God bless you in the New Year and bring to completion the joy that He has worked in you to your everlasting salvation.

Soli Deo Gloria, Pastor

For all the saints who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

All Saints’ Day is one of those special days of the church year that we celebrate every year on November 1. It is a feast day, when we change the paraments to white from the green that we have seen for so many weeks during the long season after Pentecost. It is a day that we celebrate the glorious mystery of the church that is Christ’s body. White represents the righteousness of Christ that each of us has been clothed with in our baptism through faith.

“And behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes. These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9, 14

Maybe you don’t think of yourself as being in the great tribulation. After all, you haven’t been asked to give your life for the sake of faith in Christ. Or have you. Aren’t you the one that gives freely of your time and your money and your talent all that Christ may be glorified? Sure you do it so that the church may continue here; so that all the things that this congregation does may continue to flourish and prosper. Maybe that doesn’t make you a martyr in the strictest sense, but it does mean that you are sacrificing yourself in one way or another for the sake Christ and the spread of the Gospel.

The tribulation involves temptation by the devil, persecution by individuals and governments, but it also includes the turmoil you suffer within as your own sinful nature tries to steal your joy in giving and caring and sacrificing what you want so that others may have the chance to know that Jesus died so that they may live. That is what a saint is; one who dies so that others may live. You have died to self so that Christ may live in you.

The church is truly found in that place where God’s Word is preached and the sacraments are administered. It is also where the saints and martyrs gather to receive blessing and give praise and honor to God and the Lamb. It is where all the saints, you, me and all those that have gone before us, gather around the throne. You are a saint and I give thanks to God for you who bear that title, for as such, you also strive to live a sacrificial life that gives testimony to your faith in Christ as the only way to salvation.

God continue to strengthen and bless you in your support of the church and the spread of the Gospel, for it is in this communion of the saints that we will be able to persevere through this time of tribulation.

Oh, blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia! Alleluia!                           (LSB 677)

In Christ, Pastor

Delegates to the national convention of the nation’s largest Lutheran denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, on Friday voted to bless same-sex unions and to allow practicing homosexuals to serve as clergy.

In this story from Saturday’s edition of The Post and Courier, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod’s position on the issue, which is quite contrary to the ELCA position, is not clearly stated. But in this Aug. 16 article, an advance story about issues up for debate at the ELCA convention, reporter Adam Parker acknowledged that not all Lutherans agree with the ELCA and quoted from statements issued by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

On Saturday, a day after the ELCA’s vote, LCMS Synodical president Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick addressed the ELCA Assembly in Minneapolis. Here is an excerpt:

“I speak these next words in deep humility, with a heavy heart and no desire whatsoever to offend. The decisions by this assembly to grant non-celibate homosexual ministers the privilege of serving as rostered leaders in the ELCA and the affirmation of same gender unions as pleasing to God will undoubtedly cause additional stress and disharmony within the ELCA. It will also negatively affect the relationships between our two church bodies. The current division between our churches threatens to become a chasm. This grieves my heart and the hearts of all in the ELCA, the LCMS, and other Christian church bodies throughout the world who do not see these decisions as compatible with the Word of God, or in agreement with the consensus of 2000 years of Christian theological affirmation regarding what Scripture teaches about human sexuality. Simply stated, this matter is fundamentally related to significant differences in how we understand the authority of Holy Scripture and the interpretation of God’s revealed and infallible Word.”

The text of his message is here.

In February, Dr. Kieschnick clearly explained the LCMS’s objections to the direction ELCA was contemplating. His statement is available here.

If you have any questions about what the Bible has to say about these issues, or what the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod teaches, contact Pastor Sandeno via e-mail at pastor@goodshepherdcharleston.org, or by phone at 843-814-7221.