Dear Christian Friends:

A new church-year is upon us.  The 27 long weeks of green have finally come to an end, and we can now pull out the beautiful blue colors as we reflect upon the season of Advent.  Because of this, it is only fitting that we take a moment to understand the way our church year is broken up.  It is rather simple, yet intentional and has been practiced for thousands of years.

Semester Domini: In Latin, “Semester” literally means 6 months.  Thus, the “Semester Domini” is 6 months of The Lord (Domini), which is the focus of the first 6 months of the church year.  It begins in Advent and ends with Christ’s Ascension.  This, of course, is not to say that the entire church year doesn’t center around Christ; however, the holidays and seasons of these 6 months focus on the life of Christ.  They begin with the Advent (anticipation), to the 12-day celebration of His birth (starting… not ending… on December 25^th).  Then we move into Epiphany and the Transfiguration. Lent is next, as we reflect upon Christ’s ministry and His path to the cross.  After this we proceed to the season of Easter which culminates in Ascension Day, which is typically celebrated on the Seventh (and last) Sunday of Easter.

Semester Ecclesia: The celebration of Pentecost begins the next 6 months of the church year, which is literally “6 months of the Church (Ecclesia)”.  During this time, our lectionary takes us through a few of the epistles from cover-to-cover and emphasizes what it looks like to live as the church.  During this time, we also get to enjoy a few breaks from the green paraments when we celebrate Reformation Day and All Saint’s Day. Compare these two holidays to those found during the Semester Domini.  Notice how they are focused on the lives of Christians (i.e. the church) rather than events from the life of Christ.

As Pastor Hartwig regularly discusses, it is essential that we know what we are doing and why we are doing it.  The Church year is a very thoroughly planned out structure that has been in place for thousands of years.  This intentionality allows us to receive the full council of Christ’s Body (that is the church) and grow and learn together as His people.

It is my prayer that, as you enter into this time of reflection, you enjoy the beauty and excitement that comes along with the Christmas season.  What a blessing it is to live in a time where we can so joyfully and publicly announce God’s greatest gift to the world, His Son, who brings with Him forgiveness of sins, salvation, and life everlasting.  Remember, although the sun may be absent for most of the month of December, the Son is certainly present with us as we celebrate His birth!  May His peace be upon you in this season.

In the love of Christ, Vicar Simmons

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ –

Jesus, speaking to His disciples, said, “A new command I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, ifyou have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).

“A new command.” Yet it is an old one. It was Moses, way back in the book of Leviticus, directed by God to speak His commands to His people, who said, “You shall not take vengeance.., but you shall love your neighbor as yourself, l am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:18).

Jesus amplified His command, however, We are to love, He said, “as I have loved you.”
We understand what Jesus is talking about for we know how He loved us.
He has loved us enough to leave the glories of Heaven.
He has loved us more than earthly power and status and honor.
He has loved us more than He loved His own life.

Jesus further said that love for one another would be the mark of members of the Family of God. Just as He gave sight to the blind, made the lame man walk, healed the sick, and preached the Gospel to eager ears, so did His followers. So should we today.

With the love of Christ in us…
Fourteen of members of the Panama Mission team traveled to Panama City, Panama to offer eyeglass clinics at the four churches of the Lutheran Church of Panama — El Redentor Lutheran Church in Balbo, Dios es Grande Lutheran Church in Loma Coba, Los Andes Mission Church, and Emanuel Lutheran Church in Sora. In five days we tested eyesight and gave out 1,120 pairs of glasses. During the clinics, we acted as the hands and feet of Jesus. We traveled to those in need and we served them.

Loving others as Christ has loved us means that we should be willing to lay down our lives for them. It means no less than laying down our lives.  This is a tall order.

Sinful beings that we are, we are not prone to love others as Christ has loved us. The apostle John tells us how it is possible: “Beloved, “he wrote in 1 John 4:7, “let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”

We are born of God, and, by His grace, we can carry out His command to love one another through all the opportunities He gives us with all the gifts He gives us.

In the love of Christ, Pastor Hartwig

Dear Christian Friends:

As we move into the wonderful season of fall, we get to see the immense beauty of this creation which, even in its fallen state, still has incredible depth of color and life.  As Psalm 19:1 reminds us, “The heavens declare the glory of God, the sky above proclaims His handiwork.”  For me, this time of year makes that even more apparent.  It is the season for leaf piles, apple cider, corn mazes, and bonfires, but it is also a season for preparation.

In older generations, the preparation of fall was essential.  Winters are dark and harsh.  Prior to the modern convenience of heaters, stocked grocery stores, and modern insulation, winters were a time where a lack of preparation could result in death.  We can praise God that winters no longer pose as serious a threat for us as they have in the past.  What about Spiritual winters, though?  Times where we feel trapped in darkness.  We feel isolated, lonely, in grief, guilt, or shame? How do we prepare for the winters when we have to constantly ask our soul “why are you downcast, oh my soul? And why are you in turmoil within me?” (Psalm 42:5).

St. Paul refers to these times as times of wrestling against this present darkness and that of the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).  The remedy? We must put on the full armor of God.  Just like a knight does not wait until the heat of battle to don his armor, we too must don our armor before the winter comes upon us.  How do we do this? Consider the armor we are to wear:

Fastening the belt of truth: God’s word is truth (John 17:17), thus we must immerse ourselves in the truth of the Gospel by regular participation in the sacraments, worship, and fellowship with other Christians.  We receive God’s truths in our fellowship around His altar every Sunday, and when we come together to study His word throughout the week.

Breastplate of Righteousness: Our righteousness is given to us by God (Romans 1:17).  This righteousness then pours through our lives as a we walk according to the calling by which we have been called.  Thus, to fasten on this breastplate is to obey the will of God for our lives, joyfully, across the vocations He has placed us in.

Shoes of the Gospel: We are called to always be prepared to give an account for the hope we have in Christ (1 Peter 3:15-17).  This comes with studying and knowing the word of God and living in the Hope He brings us.

Shield, Sword, and Helmet: These tools go hand in hand (pun intended), as our faith stems from our salvation received by Christ which comes to us through the Word and is refined through prayer.  We must develop an active prayer life and confidence in God’s work during the times of preparation, so when the fiery trials come upon us, we will already be equipped for battle with the whole armor of God.

It is my prayer that you take the time to enjoy this beautiful season both physically and spiritually.  May the changing of the leaves and the tart and sweet taste of apple cider remind you of your faithful preparation and help you fix your eyes upon the cross of Christ.

In the love of Christ, Vicar Simmons

Dear Christian Friends:

How many stars are there in the sky? Who can count them? Yet God created and knows each of them.

How many different kinds of animals in the forests and deserts and oceans?
We have not come to the end of discovering them all, but God has created each one in its unique way.

Nor has God been less meticulous with us, for, even though all humans have the same body structure, a face with nose, eyes, and mouth, and all our various parts, yet each of us is uniquely different from another.

Not only has God created each of us, He knows us intimately and cares about every facet of our lives and activities. David, the psalmist, wrote about this characteristic of God in Psalm 139:
“0 Lord, You have searched me and You know me. You know when I sit
  and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my
  going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways”
(Psalm 139:1-3).

Here is really something to be thankful for!
The Creator of the universe cares so much about you that He searches your heart and mind in order that He might know you! We talk about our need and desire to know God; have you ever thanked Him that He wants to know you?

Are you thankful that you can never get away from God?
That He knows when you sit, when you stand,when you go somewhere, and even when you lie down to go to sleep at night?

Like the three-year old who stamps her little foot in defiance when her parents make her go to bed when she needs rest and like the rebellious teen who believes his parents are out to control him, we do not always recognize that all God gives us and does for us and, yes, even demands of us, is for our good because He loves us.

Sometimes we, too, stamp our feet and shout at God in defiance, while we should be thanking Him for His presence. Sometime we, too, are like the rebellious teen who believes that God is out to control us, yet we should be thanking Him for His constant care, for His love that will not let go of us. Tenderly He forgives our waywardness, restoring us again to His presence, giving us ever more cause for gratitude.  And all of this is done through His precious Word and Sacraments.

In the love of Christ, Pastor Hartwig

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Memorial Day is not just the end of school and start of summer,
On it, we honor those who have given their lives in the line of duty.
Who have fought and died for our safety and freedom.
On it, we remember the work that our soldiers have put in,
What their duties and responsibilities are as they serve.
It’s a day to remember how and why they serve.

And this year, leading up to Memorial Day,
we had two church Holy-Days honoring the work of God.

On Trinity Sunday, we remember and honor our triune God.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Three persons with their own work,
Yet at the same time are one God, acting for our salvation.
Three in one – Tri-une. That is who our God is.

And this is the work of our triune God –
that we receive forgiveness of sins, salvation, and life everlasting.
The Father begins our salvation and sets all in motion.
The Son earns for us salvation and pays the price of sin.
The Holy Spirit gives us the gifts earned by the Son through faith.

And on Pentecost, we honor and remember the work of the Holy Spirit,
Both on that day:
How the tongues of flame appeared on the apostle’s heads,
How they spoke, and all could understand in their own language,
How faith was stirred up in 3000 people that day.
And in our lives today:
How faith is stirred up and created in us,
How we are comforted in our distress,
How we are given the words to spread the Gospel.

Throughout this season of Pentecost,
Let us remember and honor the work of the Holy Spirit,
Who creates faith in us and gives us the great gifts –
of forgiveness of sins, salvation, and life everlasting. Amen.

In Christ,
Vicar Boester

Dear Christian Friends:

Jesus’ task was completed. He said so: “It is finished,” and “He bowed His head and gave up His spirit” (John 19:30). The body was taken down from the cross and buried.

Didn’t everyone think it was all over? The Master was dead and buried. What else could they think?

Then came that unbelievable morning at the tomb when the body was nowhere to be found and the slow realization that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead, “just as He said” (Matthew 28:6).
He is risen! He has risen, indeed! Alleluia!

Disbelief turned to joy when Jesus came to them, and “He showed them His hands and feet…and ate [a piece of broiled fish] in their presence” (Luke 24:40-43). Just as before, He taught them. He told them again what He had told them before, but now “He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45). The disciples must have listened with new ears as they took in all Jesus told them in those days following His miraculous Resurrection.
He is risen! He has risen, indeed! Alleluia!

Then Jesus took them out to a remote area, blessed them, and “was taken up into Heaven” (Luke 24:51) before their eyes. Joyfully they went back home and waited – waited for the gift Jesus had promised would come to them.

One day with wind and fire the Holy Spirit came, bringing power and authority to those men Jesus had commissioned to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything [He had] commanded [them] ” And He added His promise, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age “ (Matthew 28:19-20).

The book of Acts tells the story of what happened as those disciples, armed with Jesus’ promise to be with them, started in their own community and then branched out into all nations, preaching and teaching, baptizing and discipling others, performing miracles in Jesus’ name, facing persecution and death for the sake of the Gospel.

The book of Acts ends after 28 chapters, but the work is not over. The story goes on through the lives and witness of the thousands of Christians who have picked up the task where the first disciples left off.

Your story may never be written down for other Christians to read, but those around you are seeing it unfold. They are hearing you speak the Gospel message; they are recipients of the good deeds you do in the Lord’s name; other workers for the Gospel are equipped by your financial and prayer support; they take notice of the stand you take in defense of Truth over the lies with which Satan would blind the world.

No, it’s not over. We have the privilege of carrying on Jesus’ work till He comes again to take us to Himself, saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21) After all, we are living in the STORY OF EVERYTHING — from Genesis to the Last Day!

In the love of Christ, Pastor Hartwig

CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! ALLELUIA!

Easter – The Most Important Day of the Church Year.
The Most Important Day in the Bible.
The Most Important Day in God’s Story of Everything.

Because at Easter,
Our God took our sins upon Himself,
Was crucified, died, and was buried,
And on the third day – On Easter – He rose again!

CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! ALLELUIA!

On the third day, Sunday morning, that Easter Sunday so long ago –
Our Lord and Savior rose from the dead,
Declaring victory of sin, death, and the devil,
Promising us forgiveness of sins, salvation, and life everlasting!

Easter is the single most important event in all of history – and His Story!
It is when our God entered human history to save us.
And we celebrate this season in remembrance of what our God has done for us in His death and resurrection.
We celebrate by shouting out:

CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! ALLELUIA!

But Easter is not a one-and-done celebration.
While it only fills one day on the church calendar,
It is a whole season in the church year.
In fact, we celebrate Easter regularly –
EVERY SUNDAY!

Every Sunday is a mini-Easter,
Where we remember and celebrate our Savior’s death and resurrection,
Where we receive forgiveness of sins, salvation, and life everlasting,
Where we worship our God by shouting out:

CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! ALLELUIA!

In Christ,
Vicar Boester

Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you!

As I write this letter, I am attending the LCMS conference called Best Practices for Ministry in Phoenix, Arizona. This conference gathers pastors, DCEs, teachers, and lay people to share best practices from their ministry with each other.

While there, I reflected upon the teaching that there are five aspects of congregational life, and I remember it by the acronym WIFE’S.
Worship (receiving forgiveness of sins and, in response, singing praises)
Instruction (studying the Word of God privately and with others in small and large groups)
Fellowship (sharing time and your faith with one another)
Evangelism (serving others in love and telling others the good news of salvation)
Stewardship (understanding that all you have is owned by God to be used in God-pleasing ways)

We must be faithful stewards. When you mention stewardship, most think of money, our treasure, but we need to be good stewards of our time and talents, too! As stewards, we acknowledge who we are, and what we have are gifts from God. God’s Word tells us that nothing belongs to us. “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof the world and those who dwell therein…” _{(Ps 24:1)}

It is difficult to remember that God owns everything because we work hard for our incomes. We have sweated and toiled in our jobs and focused energy on our careers, allowing many of us to increase our net worth.

But the truth is that we came into the world with nothing and will leave with nothing. Only for a short time that God gives us on this earth will we possess a few things. These possessions belonged to somebody before us and will belong to others after us.

The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land we live on are gifts we enjoy from the overflow of God’s love. The love of God, the gift of God’s Son, Jesus, the forgiveness of sins, the comfort of the Holy Spirit, and life eternal are gifts to us from God.

This understanding that all of life is a gift and that God owns everything prompts a shift in our understanding of stewardship. We no longer see stewardship as just acts of giving. Through faith, we see stewardship as faithfully receiving and caring for all God entrusts to us. It is a privilege to enjoy, use, and manage what belongs to God.

Everything ultimately belongs to God. It isn’t the other way around at all. We only think it is. So be a good steward and fulfill the WIFE’S responsibilities!

God be with you!
Pastor Hartwig

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

What is love?

I know there are some of you that read that and immediately responded “Baby don’t hurt me,” but the question remains: What is love?

The world says there is love for your family, love for your friends, love for your spouse, love for aesthetics. All different types of love based on who or what it is pointed at. Some languages even have multiple words for “different” types of love.

But this way of thinking looks at the bond more than at what love involves. Love is more than the person it is directed at; love takes form in the action. Love is not just the feeling towards another, but the actual serving you are doing towards another. Love forms when the person you love becomes more important than yourself and you act in response to that. Their needs outweigh yours, their struggles are yours, their success is yours. Love is acting in the best interests of another.

How fitting that during this “month of love,” on Valentine’s Day no less, when the world tries to paint love as transactional, or as simply emotional, or as something earthly and apart from God, that Ash Wednesday occurs. The start of Lent.

Lent is a season of repentance, of reflection. We reflect on the earthly pain that Jesus took on Himself. We reflect on true love. Not a love that requires something, that needs to be earned, but love that seeks out and serves the other, even at the expense of the self. Jesus gave everything – He became human, He went through temptations, He was punished, beaten, and killed – not for any of His own benefit, but solely for another, for the world, for you, all because He loved you.

We have one image of a true and perfect love – the love of God. There is no other type of love than this. Selfish love? Love that comes at a cost? Love
There is one type of love – the love of God. And that love is seen on the cross. That love puts others before yourself. That is the love that we should seek to uphold during February, and during every month. Love one another as God has loved you.

In Christ,
Vicar Boester

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

So have you made up your mind?
Are you going to set a New Year’s resolution?
Have you spent time sitting and pondering?

Excellent ideas can come to people as they sit, think, and dream – what kind of house to buy or build, what kind of car, where to go for vacation, what improvements to make on our house, what improvements to make to our careers, what improvements to make to our lives, to our church – but these remain idle daydreams unless they are acted upon.

We need to think, to meditate, to plan, to learn, to listen in order to raise our sights and deeds above the routines of daily living.

Often when we stop long enough to reflect, we realize much that we have insisted on or pursued has been our own selfish desires or will.  However, when our goal is for the good of others, great and wonderful things occur.

The book of James encourages action:
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22)

Jesus, too, spoke often of doing the will of God:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

Jesus performed many deeds of love as He went about doing good, healing, and teaching.  What is more, He fulfilled the Father’s will by offering Himself on the cross for the salvation of all.

May we continue to model our lives after Jesus, who not only spoke the words of life but did the works of life.

Believe, and be busy.  Get to work!
Happy New Year!

Pastor Hartwig