THANK YOU for giving your time to serve! Your work is appreciated!
Church Councilmen:
Elders:
Please keep these men in your prayers as they see to the business of our church!
Liturgy—Page 203
Scripture Readings
Hymns
Treat your sweetheart to lunch on Valentine’s Day at the City Hall, where the youth will be providing a Spaghetti Dinner from 11-1. Free will donation.
Monday night, February 1st at 7 pm at Whispering Willow Assisted Living. Hope to see you there!
Boys: Work at the church on Saturday afternoon around 4
Girls: Work during the dinner on Sunday morning! Check in with Tom and Karen!
Thanks for your help!
The third article of the Apostles Creed and it’s meaning.
The Third Article: Sanctification
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
What does this mean?
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.
This is most certainly true.
“I believe in . . . the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints. . .”
The Apostles’ Creed has us confessing that we believe in the Church. It is not by our knowledge, observation and reason that we come to understand and appreciate what Church is. It is by faith.
The Church is among a number of subjects that we must appreciate by faith, not by sight. We don’t see God, we believe in God. We don’t see heaven (yet), we believe that there’s a heaven. By means of our sight and touch and taste, there is only a morsel of bread and a sip of wine in communion; without faith, we have no understanding of the presence of Christ’s body and blood and our forgiveness thereby.
We and all humanity have had our eyes darkened by sin so we cannot see what is really real. “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). When the Holy Spirit calls us by the Gospel, He also enlightens us with His gifts. With His help we begin to see as God sees. We believe what God says.
God says the Church is holy, a communion of saints. God sees His people washed in the blood of Jesus (Revelation 7:14), now clean, innocent and ready for Him. (Ephesians 5:25-27).
Don’t be discouraged by what you see with your eyes and experience in this sin darkened world. Be encouraged by what the Lord tells you He sees.
What we often see is a church that is:
· Filled with sinners – arguing, gossiping, doubting, disappointing. . . in short, sinning.
· Fractured into denominations, parties and cliques.
· becoming less and less effective, more and more outdated, unpopular, disrespected and unwanted.
By faith, believe what God sees:
· He says to you and your fellow believers, “I have called you by name, you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1).
· He says to you and to your fellow believers, “Forgive as you have been forgiven.” (Ephesians 4:32).
· He says to you, “Where I am, there I want you to be” (John 14:3).
Dear good and gracious heavenly Father, You have called us out of darkness into your marvelous light. Enlighten our eyes that we may see and believe what you have taught us is real and true. Bless the ongoing work of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg that in spite of our sins, others may see you through us, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
There will be NO midweek on Wednesday, January 20! Enjoy the break from class, BUT…that means you have 2 weeks to learn your memory work!
MEMORY WORK DUE Wednesday, January 27: The second article of the Apostles Creed and it’s meaning.
The Second Article: Redemption
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
What does this mean?
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord. Who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and
with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.
The First Article of the Apostle’s Creed and its meaning.
(This is a longer one…but it is all set to music on your CD!)
The First Article: Creation
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
What does this mean?
I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily
provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. This is most
certainly true.
And they enjoy your occasional visits, too!
Luella G, Harvey H., Erma J., Glen K., Alma L., Lester M., Mabel S., Alice W., and Bob W.,
to Harold R and Kandi A on 1/3! May God bless you richly as you serve Him in your life!
Worship starts at 9 am every Sunday. Sunday school follows until 11:00 am.
Midweek classes meet on Wednesday nights from 6:00 – 7:30
next Wednesday, January 13 at 6 pm. All children in grades 1-8 are encouraged to attend!
MEMORY WORK: The second article of the Apostles Creed and it’s meaning.
The Second Article: Redemption
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
What does this mean?
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord. Who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and
with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.
coming soon! Sunday, January 31 at 10 am in the church. Please plan to attend! There will be a soup dinner hosted by the youth following the meeting! Plenty of yummy soup for all!
