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June 2015
Acts 4.1-7
And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the
captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,
2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people
and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3
And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next
day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had
heard the word believed, and the number of the men came
to about five thousand. 5 On the next day their rulers and
elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with
Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when
they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power
or by what name did you do this?”
Once, after a funeral service not so very long ago, a stranger
approached me and he did not look happy. He said, “I’ve
never been to a funeral where the preacher spent so much
time talking about Jesus.” He concluded, “This wasn’t HIS
funeral.” What a fascinating, telling, and sad commentary.
Why would it be a surprise to hear the name of Jesus, the
source of our salvation, at the funeral of a believer?
The name of Jesus – boy, does that get things stirred up.
Even in a Christian church where one should reasonably
expect to hear that name, and to hear about His power to
save, it still riles the tender expectations of those inclined to
avoid the stumbling block of the cross, its foolishness, its
scandal.
“By what power or by what name did you do this?” Asked the
scandalized leaders of the Jews. Luke records that they were
“greatly annoyed” because Peter and John were naming
names, well, more particularly they were naming A NAME.
That name…Jesus Christ, God with us, the Savior.
In our day the name of Jesus is being sanitized, scrubbed
and wiped down to try and remove any fingerprints of the real
content of scripture. For instance, that this Jesus of whom we
speak is both true God and true Man; that He performed
miracles; that He condemned sin and loved His enemies;
that He really died a bloody death and really rose in the flesh,
victorious over sin, and finally that He will return to judge the
living and the dead.
Sadly, it’s just another attempt to “rebrand” the name of
Jesus as something other than what it is; exclusive in the
sense that it is the only name by which anyone is saved. It is
offensive to the self-righteous and self-absorbed. It is unacceptable to those who will not bring themselves to utter the
words, “I am a poor, miserable sinner.”
Various religions have their versions of Jesus too, the
Muslim, the Mormon, the Unitarian – it’s A name but not
THE name. Various public figures and politicians and political activists all have their version of Jesus – it’s a name but
not THE name. To proclaim the name of Jesus is to speak
plainly what is confessed about Him in Holy Scripture, in the
creeds, and about the Church and sacraments that He
Himself established. To speak the name of Jesus is to push
back against the inclination towards the self that cannot
save. We learn from the text in Acts that His name was not
welcome there among the gathering of the rulers, and the
elders, and the scribes, and for the very same reasons it is
not welcomed in your day.
But greater is He who dwells in you than he who dwells in
the world. You have the Word and the Name not just upon
your lips but in your baptism it is in you and it is who you are.
And when the world asks “By what power or by what
name…” you are equipped to say, “the name of Jesus, the
Son of God, the slain Savior and Resurrected LORD. The
name by and in I believe unto salvation.”
A Christian service that preaches Christ and Him crucified
and resurrected is becoming a surprise and an offense to
the hearer who yearns for a theology of glory, a theology of
self, where the name, if it must be mentioned at all, must be
watered down and cleaned up for overly sensitive ears. No
dear friends. Because He suffered you will not suffer for
eternity; because He took you to Himself in the waters of
Holy Baptism the stain of sin is washed from you; because
he bodily, physically rose from the dead, you too will rise. By
what power and by what name do we make such claims? It
is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the living Savior of the World.
- Pastor Nelson
This is the sermon I will deliver at the Montana
District Convention.
Lending a Hand in June
Ushers: (early)
(late) Chris Avsec and Clarence Henriksen
Greeters: (early) Larry & Rose Blumer
Money Counters: Heather Wicks & Robin Erickson
Altar Guild: Vicki Avsec
Music: Joyce Baumgartner, Laura Rutherford, Rae Workman, Nancy Landell, Jack Polzin, Tammy Jordt,
Acolytes: Xavier Avsec, Vinson Jarrett, Judah Creighton, Will Wicks, Joey Peters
Mowing Schedule:
June 5: Jay Sorenson
June 12:
June 19: Dave MacNeil
June 26: Sam Ewalt
Blessings on your special day!
3 - Joyce Gneiting
4 - Carla Heintz
4 - Nancy Lemke
7 - Ruth Burke
7 - Hannah Gustin
7 - David MacNeill
8 - Linda Addington
10 - Larry Workman
11 - McKinzie Klintworth
11 - Daniel Martinsen
13 - Rose Blumer
13 - Aaron Shay
14 - Bill Werner
15 - Don Tomas
16 - Roger Swerengen
17 - Glenn Jackson
19 - Deloras Peters
21 - Katherine Pastian
22 - Kathryn Donner
24 - Vinson Jarrett
24 - Molly Moody
25 - Jathaniel Bautista
25 - Korrie DeAlvarado
25 - Sally Martinus
26 - Thomas Creighton
30 - Tina Kempff
4 - Ray & Gloria Lehmann (45 years)
5 - Orville & Joyce Baumgartner (60 years)
10 - Irv & Robin Erickson
11 - Kurt & Amanda Heinzen
11 - Bill & Inga Meyers (55 years)
12 - Darin & Emily Stone
18 - Tony & Lisa Haney
20 - Mike & Callie Merritt
26 - Josh & Lea Sorenson
28 - Bryan & Linda Donner
If you have a birthday or anniversary
that falls in this month and are not listed,
please update your information with Deb.
Upcoming dates to plan for:
● Preschool Rummage Sale - June 19 & 20.
There will be volunteer sign-up in the Fellowship Hall. Items can be dropped off in the
Narthex beginning June 14.
● North American Indian Days - July 9-11
Join us in Browning. We have great crafts to
do with the kids.
● Vacation Bible School - July 20 - 25
If you have not experienced ORLC’s vacation
Bible school you are missing out. Let Diane
Nelson know if you are available to help out.
Communion Schedule
June
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7 - Neither service
14 - Both services
21 - Neither service
28 - Both services
July
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5 - 8:30 am
12 - 11:00 am
19 - 8:30 am
26 - 11:00 am
May 31 - Peg Hoppe/Kristen
June 7 - Kathy Wing
June 14 - Heather Morrell & Leslie
Moody
June 21 - Jamie & Jessica MacNeill
June 28 - Jamison Wing
These dates are open, sign up
sheet is in the Fellowship Hall. No
preparation is needed - everything
is ready.
July 5 - Peg Hoppe
July 12
July 19 - Linda & Alice Addington
July 26
August 2
August 9
August 16
August 23
August 30
Bring your baby bottles back on
June 21 - Father’s Day. Thank you
for supporting Hope Pregnancy
Center. Please return bottles even
if they were not filled.
Watch for Paintball
details in the bulletin.
Take time this summer
to heart God’s Word
and receive Holy
Communion
The Breakfast Club
Hey Kids - - If you are confirmed (8th - 12th Grader). Join us as we walk to the Nite
Owl for breakfast and devotion on Sunday mornings at 9:45 am (during the Sunday school hour).
Meet in the fellowship hall immediately following first service.
National - Ride your motorcycle to work day
PUSH, PULL, DRAG or Ride your motorcycle to church on
June 15 at 7:00 am.
We will gather for some breakfast, fellowship and a
few words about Christian vocation.
Roger and Brad are cooking!!!
No Wednesday Evening
Services in June.
Join us on July 1st when
services begin again.
No Men’s Bible Study
In June
Begins again July 1st
Council Meeting ~ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church ~ May 11, 2015
Attendance: Ben Moody, Pat Wicks, Don Martinus, Pastor Nelson, Brad Peters, Larry Workman, Peg Hoppe, Deb Sorenson,
Kathy Stamm, Dwyght Lindberg
Confirm Agenda: Motion by Pat Wicks, seconded by Brad Peters to accept agenda as presented. Motion carried.
Minutes: April 13, 2015 – a motion to accept minutes by Larry Workman, seconded by Peg Hoppe. Motion carried.
Reports:
Treasurer (Ben Moody)
·
Offerings on schedule, expenses slightly up due to maintenance costs. Motion by Pat Wicks, seconded by Larry Workman
to accept the Treasurer’s Report – motion carried.
·
A copy of the Treasurer’s report is attached to the minutes.
Elders (Brad Peters/ Larry Workman/Pat Wicks)
·
No report
Evangelism (Peg Hoppe)
·
No report
Education (Carla Heintz)
No report
Welfare (Kathy Stamm)
·
Garage Sale – June 19 & 20. This is the second Preschool Scholarship fundraiser. Items can be brought to the church
starting June 14. Set up and pricing will be in the mornings during the week. If you are able to help see Kathy Stamm.
Property (Dwyght Lindberg)
Concrete curb stoppers – will be delivered soon. Working on getting a crew and equipment together for installation.
Kitchen – in progress
Lights – have been delivered by Platt Electric. Will schedule a work day. If you are available to help see Dwyght.
Fire Extinguishers, emergency lighting and exit lights – have been checked out by Mahugh Fire & Safety
Windows – have been cleaned by Color Me Clean. Discussion about having this done twice a year. Sprinklers are
hitting the north west windows in the sanctuary.
Backflow Prevention test – technician that provided this service last year has been contacted.
Air Conditioning – Received a bid from General Sheet Metal with a cost between $14,000 and $17,500. It was
decided to get another bid and also contact Flathead Electric for information on the product they have.
Sprinkler System – there are a few heads that need replacing. This will be done next week.
Pastor Nelson
Voters Assembly Meeting – May 17 (next Sunday) after second service.
LCMS Presentation – “The Failure of Sex Education in the Church: Mistaken Identity, Compromised Purity” at Trinity
Lutheran Church in Kalispell at 7:00 pm on May 19.
Schedule for June – Pastor will be on vacation June 2-9. Joel Kempff will conduct worship services on June 7.
Vacation June 17 – 20. Montana District LCMS Convention June 21 – 25. Larry Workman will conduct services on
June 21.
North American Indian Days – July 9 – 11
Vacation Bible School – July 20 - 42
President’s Report (Don Martinus)
No report
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
·
No unfinished business
NEW BUSINESS
·
Council meetings in June, July and August. The consensus from the Council is to meet when needed. Don Martinus will
decide each month whether or not a meeting is needed. The Treasurer’s Report will be sent out monthly via email. If any
council member sees a need for a meeting, please contact Don.
Motion to adjourn by Pat Wicks, seconded by Kathy Stamm, motion carried.
Minutes submitted by Deb Sorenson