The Monthly Epistle VOLUME 62, ISSUE 2 FEBRUARY 2018 ABOUT LENT... In our church the color for Lent is always purple or violet, the color of repentance. If the Lenten period of 40 days can be said to have a dominating mood, it is that of repentance, of sorrow for one's sins and for the sins of all human beings. Of course, repentance isn't a seasonal thing. No one has to wait until Lent to repent. Martin Luther declares: "Our sinful self, with all its evil deeds and desires, should be drowned through daily repentance." The Christian never forgets the cry of the publican "God be merciful to me, a sinner." Lent is a special time for thinking about our shortcomings that helps us to zero in on our checkered relationship with God. We cannot repent unless we know where we stand before God. First, we must all realize that we are part of a broken, sinful world. Sin is woven into the fabric of our society, and we cannot escape it. In other words, we are caught in a net of sin and all we can do is cry for forgiveness. And there is no way we can escape all this. Jesus told his disciples they were in the world though not of the world, but as long as we live in this imperfect world, we participate in its sin. In addition, we must realize we are weak. Even with the best of intentions, we fall short. Simon Peter is the patron saint of most of us, for he swore he would not betray Jesus and yet did it. Paul knew this feeling when he wrote: "I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate" (Rom. 7:15). So we all need a time for repentance. BUT WHY LENT? Shouldn't our eyes be turned to the cross? Shouldn't our thoughts be centered on the One who died for us, instead of on our sins? Of course Jesus should dominate the Lenten scene, but it is precisely because of Him that we should be moved to repentance. True repentance comes most readily when we see what God has done for us. The image of Jesus on the cross, suffering pain and agony, moves us to sorrow for our shortcomings. The more we look to the cross, the more we are aware of how we fall far short of deserving God's love. And it is this realization that causes us to repent of our sins. Human hearts are more quickly moved to cry, "Forgive me, Lord," by God's love coming down to them than by threats of hell. LENT IS A TIME FOR REPENTANCE, FOR EXAMINING OUR LIVES AND SEEING OUR SHORTCOMINGS. IT IS A TIME TO THINK ABOUT OUR NEED FOR THE LOVE GOD SHOWED US IN CHRIST.
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The Monthly Epistle VOLUME 62, ISSUE 2
FEBRUARY 2018
ABOUT LENT...
In our church the color for Lent is always purple or violet, the color of repentance.
If the Lenten period of 40 days can be said to have a dominating mood, it is that of
repentance, of sorrow for one's sins and for the sins of all human beings.
Of course, repentance isn't a seasonal thing. No one has to wait until Lent to repent. Martin Luther
declares: "Our sinful self, with all its evil deeds and desires, should be drowned through daily
repentance." The Christian never forgets the cry of the publican "God be merciful to me, a sinner."
Lent is a special time for thinking about our shortcomings that helps us to zero in on our checkered
relationship with God.
We cannot repent unless we know where we stand before God. First, we must all realize that we are
part of a broken, sinful world. Sin is woven into the fabric of our society, and we cannot escape it. In
other words, we are caught in a net of sin and all we can do is cry for forgiveness. And there is no
way we can escape all this. Jesus told his disciples they were in the world though not of the world, but
as long as we live in this imperfect world, we participate in its sin.
In addition, we must realize we are weak. Even with the best of intentions, we fall short. Simon Peter
is the patron saint of most of us, for he swore he would not betray Jesus and yet did it. Paul knew this
feeling when he wrote: "I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the
very thing I hate" (Rom. 7:15).
So we all need a time for repentance. BUT WHY LENT? Shouldn't our eyes be turned to the cross?
Shouldn't our thoughts be centered on the One who died for us, instead of on our sins? Of course
Jesus should dominate the Lenten scene, but it is precisely because of Him that we should be moved to
repentance.
True repentance comes most readily when we see what God has done for us. The image of Jesus on
the cross, suffering pain and agony, moves us to sorrow for our shortcomings. The more we look to
the cross, the more we are aware of how we fall far short of deserving God's love. And it is this
realization that causes us to repent of our sins. Human hearts are more quickly moved to cry, "Forgive
me, Lord," by God's love coming down to them than by threats of hell.
LENT IS A TIME FOR REPENTANCE, FOR EXAMINING OUR LIVES AND SEEING OUR SHORTCOMINGS. IT IS
A TIME TO THINK ABOUT OUR NEED FOR THE LOVE GOD SHOWED US IN CHRIST.
God's Promises For You For You Mourning Your Husband Killed in Combat
Dear Neighbor,
Grace and comfort from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Having heard about the death of
your husband during combat, I write to share some promises with you from God’s Word in order to help
you bear the burden of such a loss. When death comes near (even to the best of us like your husband),
God brings promises of comfort and cheer through his Word to those who believe in him, as you do,
that the world does not understand. Death does not have the final word where Jesus is concerned, for he
is risen from the dead, and all who believe in him, even though they die, will live.
In such a time of sorrow, as your husband valiantly gave his life to protect and defend his brothers -in-arms, and all of us back
home, there are no human words that can change the reality of things. Everything has changed. Tomorrow will not be like
yesterday. While the world continues to surge on, bringing war, suffering, and all kinds of distress, your world has come to a
sudden, immediate halt. Where can we find peace, hope, and love at such a time as this? Our hope rests in Jesus Christ alon e
and his promises through his Word.
Turn to God’s Word and be comforted with a peace that passes all understanding, which the world and those who do not believe
in Jesus cannot comprehend; that even in the face of such tragedy, we can have joy, peace, and comfort because your beloved i s
risen in Christ. This is what you find in God’s Word, a promise at your fingertips, as St. Paul says, “For what was written in
former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we
might have hope.” (Romans 15:4) Open your Bible and go to the Psalms, where you will find the words to express what you
are feeling in your heart, as well as God’s promises to never forsake you in your need. In the Psalms you find words that
express all of the cries of our hearts to God, pouring out all of our cares and worries, and God answering with his mercies. Even
in this misfortune that has been laid upon you, God is not punishing you, but gathers near you, wrapping you in his arms that he
may show his love and mercies as your true Father in heaven; and that you may be comforted by Jesus Christ alone, “Can the
wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.” (Mark 2:19 -20)
Even though you must say goodbye to your bridegroom for a season (for you will see him again in the resurrection), Christ
gives himself to you as your comfort in the midst of this loss. He is your bridegroom, indeed your very flesh and blood in o rder
that you may find joy and peace in his Word and the assurance of his constant love and care for you.
We do not see this with our eyes at this time, but receive this promise only by faith alone in this life. In the life to com e, we will
see, just as your husband now sees his great reward on account of Jesus Christ. He served his country with honor and valor a nd
gave the ultimate sacrifice. This is a debt that we cannot repay, and can only receive in gratitude. So it is with the good Lord.
With his Sacrifice on the Cross, our Lord Jesus gives you and your husband a debt that is not repaid to him, but only receive d
gratefully in faith.
No such calamity has overtaken any human being as the Father suffered through the death of his Son for our sake. With all of
Jesus’ miracles and gifts, he was rewarded with slander, ridicule, curses, and finally the most shameful of deaths on the Cro ss.
We all believe that our own crosses are the heaviest and too much to bear, rather than the Cross of Christ, even if he had to bear
Ten Crosses for our sake. This is because we are not so patient as God is, and focus more on our own sufferings than what
Christ suffered for us, which is taking all of the world’s suffering upon himself. Even now, Jesus Christ is suffering for y ou in
your sorrow. Give it to him, and receive his joy and peace.
Finally, receive this promise: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all
comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the
comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) I pray you will receive these words in faith
and trust that the Holy Spirit has sent this letter to you through me, so that the words you are reading are not my words, bu t
God’s own promises for you. May the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort console you in his Son Jesus Christ and
with his Holy Spirit so that you may soon rejoice that death has been swallowed up in victory, and able to bear your burdens
bravely and with hope. Amen.
Peace in Christ, Your Friend 2
From the Pastor
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SOUPER BOWL OF
CARING
Sunday, February 4, the
Middle and High School
Youth will be collecting,
counting and loading do-
nated items after worship. These items will be
delivered Monday during Rowan Helping
Ministries (RHM) operating hours.
The Finance Committee will meet Sunday,
February 4, at 3:00 p.m. in the Counting Room.
WOMEN OF FAITH will meet on Thursday,
February 8, at 11:00 a.m. in the Conference
Room. Following the Bible Study the group will
go out to lunch at a local restaurant.
On Thursday, February 8, the Lutheran Men
will meet for their regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in
the Fellowship Hall for fun, food, and fellowship.
Next Blood Drive is Monday, February 12 2:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall