Pastor's Points for February 14th service
As We Gather this weekend: Jesus entered human history when He was born; He entered public ministry when He was baptized. But the reality of His divinity was not revealed to His disciples until Jesus was transfigured before Elijah and Moses. This vision revealed to the disciples and to all believers the true divine nature of Jesus the Christ. As we hear His Word and receive Him under bread and wine, Jesus enters our history, with judgment, forgiveness, grace and glory. Soon, we plunge into Lent. But for today (Sunday), we focus on the revelation of our Savior as true man and true God.
St. Valentine's Day Food Drive: Not only is Sunday Transfiguration Sunday, but it is also Valentine's Day. In other words, it's a day that is all about love. God the Father said of his Son on the mount, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!" And Jesus has commanded us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, and "we love because He first loved us." In response to Jesus’ love, we have an opportunity to love our hungry neighbor. On Sunday, we will be collecting non-perishable food items for those in need, and delivering them to the Immanuel, Perryville, food bank. Each Concordia household is encouraged to bring three items for donation. Suggested items include canned fruits and vegetables (green beans, peas, corn, carrots, pears, peaches, etc.); any kind of canned soup; peanut butter and jelly; boxed mixes, such as hamburger helper, cake mixes, pancake mix, macaroni and cheese, etc.; canned tuna, salmon or chicken. "Let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth." I John 3:18
Something to celebrate: Congratulations to Concordia’s Saxony High students who made the Honor Roll during the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year. Honor Roll with high distinction (4.0 GPA): freshman Landre Hoehne, sophomore Emma Hinze, and juniors Kaylee Proffer and Emma Voelker. Honor Roll with distinction (3.75-3.99 GPA): junior Cory Word. Honor Roll (3.50-3.74 GPA): sophomore Evan Schuessler and senior Brandon Thurm. Congratulations to all! Please keep all ofour young people in your prayers, as they study and prepare to use their talents for God’s glory.
Something to Celebrate 2.0: Ava Laine Miesner, infant daughter of Derek and Julia Miesner, will be baptized on Sunday. Ava was born on January 12. We rejoice over her and with her family as she becomes a child of God through the saving waters of holy baptism!
Stewardship thought for the week: Mark 9:6 says, “For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.” Soon enough, the disciples’ terror turned into joy. When Jesus is with us, there is no need to fear. He loves us and cares for us and will never abandon us. That assurance is the basis of our generosity; for only those who are set free from worry can learn the joy of giving.
Stewardship Thought 2.0: I saw this interesting tidbit on Facebook today, posted by a friend of mine, Rev. Keith Haney, who is the mission executive for the LCMS-Iowa District West. He says that it comes from a non-denominational survey, but I would guess that the average LCMS congregation would register similar numbers: “Currently, only 10-25% of congregant members tithe. Here is the breakdown by age:
Baby boomers (born 1946-1964) account for nearly 42% of the giving population (they make up 30% of the overall population)
Generation X (born 1965-1980) accounts for 19% of giving population (they make up 26.6% of overall population)
Generation Y (also known as millennials, born between 1981-1997) accounts for 7% of the giving population (they make up 30.4% of the overall population)
Do you see the problem? 60% of millennials do give to non-profits, but it’s very clear they are not giving to the Church.”
There were several comments made on this post, but one that stood out to me was left by an LCMS Pastor in the greater Chicago area, Rev. Ben Roberts, who said: How many of those non-profits are engaging in things that the Church could do if they were not directing their funds to the “church”? A huge percentage of a church’s budget is for staff salaries and benefits, keeping the doors open, etc. As far as I can tell, churches are engaging in partnerships with local non-profits for ministry opportunities, not creating those ministries themselves (which is not a bad thing). So...that leaves paying the professional clergy that preaches, teaches, etc. I recently had a member “join” another church because they watch their worship services online...halfway across the country. The younger the generation, the more they want change on the ground and not propping up an institution that they find irrelevant. Social entrepreneurship and co-vocational church planting are interesting pathways to create ministries that everyone, including the younger generations, could support and provide sustainable income for “clergy” who cannot rely on the tithes coming in. Of course, this changes the way ministry is done, with everyone pitching in and being everyday missionaries, fulfilling the calling and using the gifts God has given by grace. Fewer “churches” for religious consumers who sit in a building for an hour each week, as good as that can be. Things need to change, but either no one is listening or no one wants to listen. Good news? Jesus is still Lord, He is leading His church, and His grace is enough to tear down Satan’s kingdom.
On Sunday, our Lutheran Youth Fellowship (LYF) is "Showing the Love" by blessing five families in our community with a special meal for Valentine’s Day. The youth decided the following items should be included in this special meal: lasagne, bread sticks, corn, milk, cheesecake, Fun-Dip treats for the kids, and chocolate for the parents. They have also included a Valentine card (thank you LWML card closet), with best wishes for a fun day and reassurance that they are special to God and to us!
A special voter's meeting has been called for Sunday, February 21, right after service, to make a decision on moving ahead with developing a mission, vision and strategy for our congregation. Dale Kreienkamp of "Thriving Thru Solutions" was here for our voter's meeting January 31, and he presented the details of the process. Now, we must decide whether we want to hire him to lead us through that process.
Offering options—Each week, there is an offering plate at the door of the sanctuary in which you can leave your envelope as you come and go for worship. Concordia also offers online giving through our website (click on the “Give” tab) or there is a mobile app you may download (“GivePlus Church”). You can choose to donate as a guest or set up an account which can be used for recurring offerings. Contact the Concordia treasurer, Derek Miesner, or the financial secretary, Jenny France, if you have questions or need more information.
Did you know…if you are 70½ years old, or older, and have an IRA, you can instruct your IRA trustee to make a distribution directly from your IRA to Concordia Lutheran Church. This distribution is called Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). It counts toward satisfying any required minimum distributions (RMDs) and is excluded from your income for tax purposes. If you have questions, or want to know more, please contact Carol Duggan at 573-824-6060.
Lutherans for Life “Life Quote” for February 14: “For the Christian, the crucifixion is the center of the whole, the event that gives voice to a broken, dark, and dying world, and the paradoxical suggestion of life somehow within it. This is whythe Church calendar sets apart 40 days to prepare for the cross. This is why the Church marks steeples and graves in memory of the crucifixion. The death of Christ is the occasion that makes way for the last to be first, the guilty to be pardoned, the creature united again to its creator.” Jill Carattini, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries – A Life Quote from Lutherans For Life • lutheransforlife.org
St. Valentine's Day Food Drive: Not only is Sunday Transfiguration Sunday, but it is also Valentine's Day. In other words, it's a day that is all about love. God the Father said of his Son on the mount, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!" And Jesus has commanded us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, and "we love because He first loved us." In response to Jesus’ love, we have an opportunity to love our hungry neighbor. On Sunday, we will be collecting non-perishable food items for those in need, and delivering them to the Immanuel, Perryville, food bank. Each Concordia household is encouraged to bring three items for donation. Suggested items include canned fruits and vegetables (green beans, peas, corn, carrots, pears, peaches, etc.); any kind of canned soup; peanut butter and jelly; boxed mixes, such as hamburger helper, cake mixes, pancake mix, macaroni and cheese, etc.; canned tuna, salmon or chicken. "Let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth." I John 3:18
Something to celebrate: Congratulations to Concordia’s Saxony High students who made the Honor Roll during the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year. Honor Roll with high distinction (4.0 GPA): freshman Landre Hoehne, sophomore Emma Hinze, and juniors Kaylee Proffer and Emma Voelker. Honor Roll with distinction (3.75-3.99 GPA): junior Cory Word. Honor Roll (3.50-3.74 GPA): sophomore Evan Schuessler and senior Brandon Thurm. Congratulations to all! Please keep all ofour young people in your prayers, as they study and prepare to use their talents for God’s glory.
Something to Celebrate 2.0: Ava Laine Miesner, infant daughter of Derek and Julia Miesner, will be baptized on Sunday. Ava was born on January 12. We rejoice over her and with her family as she becomes a child of God through the saving waters of holy baptism!
Stewardship thought for the week: Mark 9:6 says, “For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.” Soon enough, the disciples’ terror turned into joy. When Jesus is with us, there is no need to fear. He loves us and cares for us and will never abandon us. That assurance is the basis of our generosity; for only those who are set free from worry can learn the joy of giving.
Stewardship Thought 2.0: I saw this interesting tidbit on Facebook today, posted by a friend of mine, Rev. Keith Haney, who is the mission executive for the LCMS-Iowa District West. He says that it comes from a non-denominational survey, but I would guess that the average LCMS congregation would register similar numbers: “Currently, only 10-25% of congregant members tithe. Here is the breakdown by age:
Baby boomers (born 1946-1964) account for nearly 42% of the giving population (they make up 30% of the overall population)
Generation X (born 1965-1980) accounts for 19% of giving population (they make up 26.6% of overall population)
Generation Y (also known as millennials, born between 1981-1997) accounts for 7% of the giving population (they make up 30.4% of the overall population)
Do you see the problem? 60% of millennials do give to non-profits, but it’s very clear they are not giving to the Church.”
There were several comments made on this post, but one that stood out to me was left by an LCMS Pastor in the greater Chicago area, Rev. Ben Roberts, who said: How many of those non-profits are engaging in things that the Church could do if they were not directing their funds to the “church”? A huge percentage of a church’s budget is for staff salaries and benefits, keeping the doors open, etc. As far as I can tell, churches are engaging in partnerships with local non-profits for ministry opportunities, not creating those ministries themselves (which is not a bad thing). So...that leaves paying the professional clergy that preaches, teaches, etc. I recently had a member “join” another church because they watch their worship services online...halfway across the country. The younger the generation, the more they want change on the ground and not propping up an institution that they find irrelevant. Social entrepreneurship and co-vocational church planting are interesting pathways to create ministries that everyone, including the younger generations, could support and provide sustainable income for “clergy” who cannot rely on the tithes coming in. Of course, this changes the way ministry is done, with everyone pitching in and being everyday missionaries, fulfilling the calling and using the gifts God has given by grace. Fewer “churches” for religious consumers who sit in a building for an hour each week, as good as that can be. Things need to change, but either no one is listening or no one wants to listen. Good news? Jesus is still Lord, He is leading His church, and His grace is enough to tear down Satan’s kingdom.
On Sunday, our Lutheran Youth Fellowship (LYF) is "Showing the Love" by blessing five families in our community with a special meal for Valentine’s Day. The youth decided the following items should be included in this special meal: lasagne, bread sticks, corn, milk, cheesecake, Fun-Dip treats for the kids, and chocolate for the parents. They have also included a Valentine card (thank you LWML card closet), with best wishes for a fun day and reassurance that they are special to God and to us!
A special voter's meeting has been called for Sunday, February 21, right after service, to make a decision on moving ahead with developing a mission, vision and strategy for our congregation. Dale Kreienkamp of "Thriving Thru Solutions" was here for our voter's meeting January 31, and he presented the details of the process. Now, we must decide whether we want to hire him to lead us through that process.
Offering options—Each week, there is an offering plate at the door of the sanctuary in which you can leave your envelope as you come and go for worship. Concordia also offers online giving through our website (click on the “Give” tab) or there is a mobile app you may download (“GivePlus Church”). You can choose to donate as a guest or set up an account which can be used for recurring offerings. Contact the Concordia treasurer, Derek Miesner, or the financial secretary, Jenny France, if you have questions or need more information.
Did you know…if you are 70½ years old, or older, and have an IRA, you can instruct your IRA trustee to make a distribution directly from your IRA to Concordia Lutheran Church. This distribution is called Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). It counts toward satisfying any required minimum distributions (RMDs) and is excluded from your income for tax purposes. If you have questions, or want to know more, please contact Carol Duggan at 573-824-6060.
Lutherans for Life “Life Quote” for February 14: “For the Christian, the crucifixion is the center of the whole, the event that gives voice to a broken, dark, and dying world, and the paradoxical suggestion of life somehow within it. This is whythe Church calendar sets apart 40 days to prepare for the cross. This is why the Church marks steeples and graves in memory of the crucifixion. The death of Christ is the occasion that makes way for the last to be first, the guilty to be pardoned, the creature united again to its creator.” Jill Carattini, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries – A Life Quote from Lutherans For Life • lutheransforlife.org
