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May, 2004 Newsletter
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Confirmation Vows
This coming Sunday a group of seven youth will stand before God and the congregation of Advent Lutheran Church and make vows in response to these words: Do you intend to continue steadfast in this confession and Church and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it? .. Do you intend faithfully to conform all your life to the divine Word, to be faithful in the use of God's Word and Sacraments, which are His means of grace, and in faith, word, and action remain true to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, even to death? They will answer: I do so intend by the grace of God. That is what each and every one of us promised to God and to each other when we became confirmed members of this Church. It seems like a good time, therefore, to reflect and ask ourselves, "Have we stayed faithful to our vows?"
Maybe it would be good to reflect on why we make vows in the first place. A vow is a promise attached to our conscience. We make vows when we get married. We make vows when we go to court. Clearly in both these cases the vows are being made, not just for us, but for someone else. In the case of the courtroom, we are making a promise to tell the truth, because if we do not tell the truth, our testimony cannot be relied upon to decide the guilt or the innocence of the accused. In the case of marriage, we vow to our spouse that we are going to live by the morals of our conscience - not by self-gratification or whimsical emotion. This gives our spouse peace and security because a solid conscience stays the course in thick and thin, in tough times and in good times. We also make vows for honor and glory. We pledge allegiance to our country, most specifically, to the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness that undergirds human dignity and freedom. We believe that by vowing to support our country, possibly even dying for our country, we will perpetuate these values for succeeding generations.
Confirmation vows touch on all of these things. Our Christian vows bind our conscience so that we do not become victims of delusion or whim. When Christianity is not "suiting" us; when believing is not "convenient"; when glitz, glitter or "tell me what I want to hear" religion woos us like mermaids to the rocks of false teachings, conscience stops us and says, "You have an obligation and I will not let you walk away without punishing you with guilt." Although this is not "gospel motivation", it is a curb, a guardrail that keeps us from straying from the truth of salvation by grace through faith in Christ.
Confirmation vows, like marriage vows, are a confession to others that they can depend upon us. We live in an era when neither marriage vows nor vows of belief mean much. It is common to find street-variety Christians just walking away from their commitments, not coming back if there is nothing in it for them, not sharing with their fellow believers what is happening in their lives. This gets passed around. The people that do it to God and His Church are very often people that have been abandoned themselves. When we say our vows, promising that we will not abandon God's Church for any reason outside of false teaching or malfeasance, we bring solidity to the world and help others to stand firm in their commitment to the Truth. A congregation filled with rock-solid people is not a common sight. We are so very grateful that we have such a congregation. But this younger generation is the next one. We hope and pray that they will remain faithful to their vows and pass spiritual fidelity on to their children.
The vows of Confirmation also glorify God. They are pledges of allegiance to a God unlike any other god in human history. Our God alone is the true God. Only the true God saves out of mercy. Only the true God provides the life of His own Son in the place of unworthy sinners. Only the true God does all the work of salvation for mankind and grants His gifts through the power of the Holy Spirit. That is why we spend two intensive confirmation years instructing our children about doctrine, the Bible and Church history. Only by seeing the unique and precious gift of the Kingdom of God are we willing to live and die for the Truth. If the previous era was an age of atheism (Marxism should be close to death now), our new age is one of agnosticism. No one believes in the existence of Truth, no one believes that God reveals Himself and makes it possible for us to speak clearly and definitely about Him. But we do and we vow to continue to speak the Truth. To God be all the glory as these youth willingly live and, if necessary, die for the glory of God and His Word. May God be glorified as we join them in reaffirming our vows as well.
Pastor John Fiene
Then they (rulers, elders and teachers of the law) called them (Peter and John) in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather then God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." Acts 4:18-20
"I am becoming my father."
"That's exactly what my mother used to say."
Once we have children, it seems that many of us find ourselves making these observations more often than we ever imagined. No matter how thoroughly and how strenuously we may have vowed not to do it the way our own parents did things, there are times when we can see their influence creeping in.
Recently, I found myself giving an example of my own imperfect parenting practices-relaying how I sometimes tend to act more out of a desire for peace and quiet than out of a desire to hear my children out and to thoroughly mediate their bickering. After it occurred to me that none of those to whom I was speaking had children of their own, it was easy to interpret their silence as "Heh, heh, heh ... I'll never do it that way."
The point I am making, here, is that we do tend to do it that way-namely, the same way as our parents. To be sure, most parents are successful in changing practices about which they feel strongly and are therefore addressing in a very conscious, deliberate fashion. Yet, in the vast majority of ways that we think and act and speak, the everyday mannerisms and decisions and values, we tend to reflect our parents much more than we ever thought we would.
And for most of us, we can readily say, "Thank God for that." I, for one, am able to thank God that my parents and grandparents did all that they could to instill strong Christian values in our day-to-day family life. I, for one, am thankful that, for the most part, when I am not consciously aware of my parenting practices and they slip into the "what-my-parents-always-did-things" mode, that is a good thing.
As we look toward the days when we honor our mothers and, later, also our fathers, we can thank them--and God--for the many ways in which we are "just like" them. Even more, we can thank them and God for the many ways in which they have reflected the love of our heavenly Father to us. To be sure, we all do this only imperfectly. Yet, even non-Christian parents are a means of God's providing physical care and support to children for the daily needs of this life. Our parents love us simply because they are our parents and we are their children. In a far greater way, our God has also loved us simply because we are His children and He is our Father. He has chosen us, He has adopted us, and He cannot and will not abandon that bond of perfect parental love for us bestowed in baptism.
To be sure, sin has made its way into all human relationships. Yet, in spite of that, we can see in the relationship between parent and child a reflection-however imperfect-of the relationship between our heavenly Father and us. We can see a relationship of love. We can see a relationship of grace. We can see a relationship of sacrifice. We can see a relationship that is unlike any other on this earth.
Even more, we are occasionally blessed to see a reflection of God's love also in our children. When they come up to you on a particularly stressful day during which you have not always reflected God's love back to them, and say simply, "Mom, Dad, I love you"-that also is a glimpse of God's thoroughly undeserved, yet thoroughly forgiving love in Jesus Christ.
With that in mind, I encourage you-on this Mother's Day, on Father's Day, on any day-to say simply, "Mom, Dad, I love you. Thank you."
Pastor Wurdeman
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48
There are still a few openings for afternoon classes at the 3 year-old (preschool) and 5 year old (Pre-K Plus) levels for next fall. Call the church/school office (873-6318) to enroll a student. We also have a few classes that will need a teacher's aide next year. If you are interested in a rewarding part time position working with young children, please contact me.
Deb Trewartha
Those students going to Germany this summer will be meeting in the music (commons) area downstairs at 10:10 a.m. every Sunday throughout May and June with the exception of May 2 (Confirmation), May 16 (Singing for the "Bach and Beyond" presentation during Bible Study), and May 30 (Memorial Day) to learn the music for the trip. It is very important to be present at the remaining rehearsals, as time is growing short. We will be leaving for Germany in two months!
Deb Trewartha
Advent continues to grow via a population explosion. New additions and baptisms include: Haley Noel DeWitt, daughter of Kim, who was baptized on April 4; Trevor Andrew King, son of Jimmy & Jill, baptized on April 11; Isaac Thomas O'Neal, son of Claire & Mike and grandson of Walt & Jane Ross, born on April 6; Jamie Marie and Joelle Elizabeth Klavon, daughters of Jeff & Joanna, baptized on April 18; and Dominic Joe Chesney, son of Kris & Krista and grandson of David & Denise Mullins, born on April 20; Noah James Gier, son of Rev. Jim & Anne born on April 26.
A HUGE thank you to Bob Moeller, Will Stein, Ralph Lemcke and Wayne Kroemer who come every week to count the money from the collection plate.
Every Sunday the nursery is manned by David & Denise Mullins. Thank you for your continued faithful service on Sunday mornings. The numbers in the nursery have been increasing (12 new babies have been born so far in 2004!) and more are due soon.
The choir sounded heavenly as they sang for the additional services throughout Lent, Holy Week and Easter. They meet weekly on Tuesdays at 6:45 p.m. and are always looking for additional voices. Members of the choir are: Steven Bammann, Ron Besel, Jan Boettcher, Sarah Bohl, Gloria & Woody Bredehoeft, Sherry Cascione, Diane Colson, Don Eckhoff, Debra Eicher, Tiffany Ellis, Solveig Fiene, Doug Franke, Shirley & Bob Gasper, Susan Gentry, Steve Groth, Mona Hand, Pat & Sam Hunter, Toni Jordan, Pipchient Kardee, Fritz Levenhagen, Janie McDonald, Laura McMaster, Laura Schescke, Linda & Jon Silverberg, Mary Beth Starrett, Deb, Kevin & Ben Trewartha, Rhoda Warren, Gary Winter and Cathy & John Yamashita. Instrumentalists include: Woody Bredehoeft, Jon Silverberg, Sam Hunter, Sarah Bohl, Kevin Trewartha, Keith Brauer, Rusty Briel, Katy Briel, Steve Groth, Debra Eicher and Mary Beth Starrett. Of course the choir wouldn't be complete without the fabulous but ever humble director, Bonnie Brauer.
Thank you Kyle Bredehoeft, Katie McLeaish and Kimberly Bredehoeft for recording the Sunday services and putting them on the web site where so many people visit our church.
Thanks to all the people who housed the seminarians from the Kantorei: Keith & Bonnie Brauer, Mike & Amanda Cannon, Doug Franke, Gary & Kristin Geipel, Don & Tammy Hahn, Fritz & Joyce Levenhagen, Steve & Susan Wilson, John & Cathy Yamashita and Matt & Jessica Zickler. Over $700 was collected at the concert and Hamilton County Thrivent Branch matched $200 for the Kantorei. Thank you all who attended this event.
Every year during Lent Sam & Pat Hunter drape the cross in front of the church and change the colors as needed. Pat also made beautiful, comforting books for the families of the slain soldiers from Christopher Cannon's platoon. These books include beautiful artwork, prayers, poems and Bible verses. Additional pages with messages from Advent members were included. All Sunday School classes made cards for the soldiers' families with words of comfort and prayerful thoughts to be sent with the books.
Our Sunday School teachers give so much of themselves throughout the year including missing Pastor Fiene's adult Bible Study on Sunday mornings. Thank you for all you do teachers.
The LWML cooked and served delicious dinners during Lent, provided yet another service to our church and more opportunities for fellowship. Thank you LWML members - Ramona Schescke, Teri Butz, Joyce Levenhagen, Lois Bullerman, Gloria Bredehoeft, Shirley Gasper and Laura Schescke who organized the dinners and all other Advent members who cooked, baked, cleaned-up and donated food.
Charla Cain
To be a good steward of God's gifts, we need to look for ways to use them to help others who are less fortunate than we are. The opportunities to do this are all around us, but sometimes they are very hard to see - often because we are not looking very hard. Have you ever thought to yourself, "I know I have an ability to do _______ (you fill in the blank) and I will go looking for an opportunity to put my talents to use? Most of us don't do that, we wait for an opportunity to come along and we react to it.
If we view life from a 'helping heart' standpoint, we are constantly looking for ways to use our talents that God has given us.
As our theme for this year says, "Freely you have received - freely give" and this applies to being proactive in using our talents and resources to help others who are less fortunate than us and who need the help that we can provide. The book of James speaks of "faith without works is dead" and certainly the analogy with stewardship of our God-given abilities and resources falls under this thought.
Fred Mundt
We need many volunteers to keep things running smoothly throughout the week so the children will benefit from this experience.
A committee has been formed but is short just one member who could help with curriculum development, registration and recruiting volunteers. We also need assistants willing to help as story tellers, tribe leaders, games, snack leaders, crafts and babysitters in the nursery. This has been a positive experience for those people (Moms, Dads and older students) who have helped in the past. Please call Stacy Alldredge at 733-0992, Kathy Blackburn at 873-0959 or Catherine Casciani at 733-3553.
Also, check in the office for registration forms!
Experience has taught us much.
We've lived through troubled days.
We've seen some good as well as bad.
"That's life" to coin a phrase.
And when I see the things God gave -
The sun, moon, stars and rain,
Flowers, food, a home that's warm -
I really can't complain.
We've been so blessed throughout our lives
By God's sweet gifts and Grace.
We've seen His sacrifice and love
Almost everyplace.
And now our lives are nearly done,
A few more years, at best,
Until our old and weary bones
Are laid to final rest.
We cannot measure out our time,
For only God knows when
We'll take our final breath on earth
To never speak again.
Toni Jordan 4/24/2004