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JANUARY 2015
VOLUME 20
ISSUE 1
THE ENLIGHTENER
Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”
Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church
629 9th Ave. Brookings, SD 57006
6 05-692-2678
www.mountcalvary1.org
Pastor Matt Wurm: 605-691-1885 (C)
E-mail: [email protected]
Vicar Zach Voss: 605-651-0699 (C)
E-mail: [email protected]
Church office: [email protected]
“Then Herod, when he saw
that he had been tricked by
the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed
all the male children in
Bethlehem and in all that
region who were two years old and under, according
to the time that had been ascertained by the wise
men,” Matthew 2:16
Holy Innocents
This is part of the Christmas narrative story but never
seems to make it into the Sunday School children’s Christmas service. It’s obvious to see why! Who wants to hear
about the senseless death of children by the command of a
crazed king at the end of the Christmas pageant? We could
hardly sing Joy to the World, the Lord is come… and now
children die as the Holy Innocents are martyred.
Since the 300’s the Christian church has observed
December 28th as a day to commemorate the murders of
the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem. For years to come,
Newton Connecticut and Sandy Hook Elementary School
will observe December 14th as a day to commemorate the
children and adults who were murdered not by a crazed
king, but by a crazed gunman. Both atrocities -- senseless
and similar in so many ways. In both places, about twenty
children were killed. In both places parents weep and wail.
In both places evil was overcome with good.
In the Christmas story, we know that Joseph took
his family and fled to Egypt for a time to escape the anger of
King Herod, and that Jesus grew up to be the man who
overcame evil, death, and the devil by His death on the
cross. In the story of Sandy Hook, the narrative is still being
written, but we do know what Scripture says and we believe in these words, “And we know that in all things, God works
for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according
to His purpose,” Romans 8:28.
These sad tragedies are a sobering reminder of the
reality of this fallen and sinful world which we cannot see
with our eyes, hear with our ears, or touch with our
hands—the reality that St. Paul tells us of in Ephesians 6,
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world
and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Our struggle is against evil. Not necessarily against the flesh
and blood of a certain person or group of people, but
against the evil that cannot always be seen or heard or
touched within that person. So what do we do? We put on
the full armor of God and take our stand against the devil’s
schemes as St. Paul says in the rest of Ephesians 6. And by
all means, we hold of the shield of faith for those who cannot protect themselves.
God only knows what 2015 will bring, but two
things you can be assured of; Senseless tragedy will befall
you or someone near to you this year and secondly, in that
tragedy you can be assured that God will be working against
evil by His word and sacrament for the ultimate good of His
purpose. He did it for Mary and Joseph. He did it for the
wise men. He will do it for you too.
In Christ,
Pastor Matt Wurm
You Are a New Creation
By Vicar Zachary Voss
Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old
has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians
5:17
Another year gone and done. Maybe resolutions that were
made in January didn’t even come close to being fulfilled. Losing weight, not to procrastinate as much, and anything we said
we would do but didn’t are put on our list for this next year’s
resolution. Was one of those being a better Christian?
Paul wrote this passage above to the Corinthians who struggled much with earthly desires and often gave in and also to
us. We know that we often struggle against our flesh in trying
to get things accomplished for the good. Too often we look in
the mirror and see our imperfections, rather than how God
sees us.
A little later on in 2 Corinthians 5:21 Paul says a verse we
know so well, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew
no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of
God.” Christ has taken away all our sin on the cross. In the
waters of baptism we are joined with Christ and receive His
Spirit. Baptism isn’t a once and done deal, it is a continual and
daily putting to death of the Old Adam with all his sins and desires. So when God looks at those of us in the faith, He sees
His perfect son Jesus Christ and not the sinful man.
We are a new creation on account of Christ who died for our
sins. We are continually being made new through Word and
Sacrament where God comes to us. So if you make a resolution that doesn’t end up being kept, don’t sweat it. God is faith
in keeping his promises. For He has sent His son Jesus to die
to take away our sins and make us a new person with our
identity found in Him. It is this new person that is joined with
Christ that stands before God. Thanks be to God!
Vicar Voss
Date
January 1
First Reading
Isaiah 61:1-11
Second Reading
Luke 1:57-80
January 2
Isaiah 62:1-12
Luke 2:1-20
January 3
Isaiah 63:1-14
Luke 2:21-40
January 4
Isaiah 63:15-65:2
Luke 2:41-52
January 5
Isaiah 65:8-25
Luke 3:1-20
January 6
Isaiah 66:1-20
Luke 3:21-38
January 7
Ezekiel 1:1-14, 22-28
January 8
Ezekiel 2:1-3:11
Romans 1:1-17
Romans 1:18-32
January 9
Ezekiel 3:12-27
Romans 2:1-16
January 10
Ezekiel 18:1-4, 19-32
Romans 2:17-29
January 11
Ezekiel 33:1-20
Romans 3:1-18
January 12
Ezekiel 34:1-24
Romans 3:19-31
January 13
Ezekiel 36:13-28
Romans 4:1-25
January 14
Ezekiel 36:33-37:14
Romans 5:1-21
January 15
January 16
Ezekiel 37:15-28
Ezekiel 38:1-23
Romans 6:1-23
Romans 7:1-20
January 17
Ezekiel 39:1-10, 17-29
Romans 7:21-8:17
January 18
Ezekiel 40:1-4; 43:1-12
Romans 8:18-39
January 19
Ezekiel 44:1-16, 23-29
Romans 9:1-18
January 20
Ezekiel 47:1-14, 21-23
Romans 9:19-33
January 21
Joel 1:1-20
Romans 10:1-21
January 22
Joel 2:1-17
Romans 11:1-24
January 23
Joel 2:18-32
Romans 11:25-12:13
January 24
Joel 3:1-21
Romans 12:14-13:14
January 25
Romans 14:1-23
January 26
Zechariah 1:1-21
Zechariah 2:1-3:10
Romans 15:1-13
January 27
Zechariah 4:1-5:11
Romans 15:14-33
January 28
Zechariah 6:1-7:14
January 29
Zechariah 8:1-23
Romans 16:17-27
2 Timothy 1:1-18
January 30
Zechariah 9:1-17
2 Timothy 2:1-26
January 31
Zechariah 10:1-11:3
2 Timothy 3:1-17
By following this daily lectionary, you will read nearly all of the New Testament and about one-third
of the Old Testament in one year. This lectionary, from Lutheran Service Book,
Book offers readings
throughout the Bible commonly associating seasons of the Church Year with certain books of the Bible. This lectionary can also be found in your LSB beginning on page 299.
Where We S†and
Keep saving your Hy-Vee receipts. Once we have $150,000
in receipts, our church will receive $1,000 from Hy-Vee to
use as we would like to. Drop boxes may be found on the
small table by the member mailboxes in the narthex.
As of December 14, we have
collected $73,450.21 in Hy-Vee receipts.
Reminder: we can only use
Brookings Hy-Vee receipts.
November 2014
Baptisms: Ella Morehouse & Ty Neises
Alvira Anderson
Our church family in- Darlene Carpenter
cludes a few people who Joy French
Amy Heidemann
are not able to attend Marian Heidemann
church and church ac- Barb Hines
tivities regularly. The Ramona Holzkamp
listing here is those con- Bill Huyser
Millie Kasson
sidered home bound.
Tyler Krump
We ask our active mem- Donna Lienemann
bers to please remember Jane Livock
these folks with visits, Chuck Weise
cards and/or prayers. Chris Wellnitz
Shirley Wiese
21081 1st Ave. S. Bushnell, SD 57276
693-4314
The Neighborhoods Ash #6
692-6969
The Neighborhoods Birch #9
696-7710
1326 6th St.
696-5281
The Neighborhoods Oak #11
692-2694
ULC, 405 1st Ave.
692-4423
913 Onaka Tr. #105
692-5134
The Neighborhoods Oak #7
697-7197
ULC, 405 1st Ave.
696-0821
900 S. Blaine, Sioux Falls, SD 57103
605-271-6916
ULC 405 1st Ave. #307
651-3792
PO Box 81, Lake Norden, SD 57248
605-785-2165
519 Heritage Dr. #8
692-5131
701 1st Ave. NE #202, Watertown, SD 57201 605-886-6449
Park Place Assisted Living, 104 4th St. W. #212 692-2949
January Activities at Mt. Calvary
New Member Classes will be held on Sunday evenings beginning January 4th. The class will study Luther’s Small Catechism and the basic
teachings of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Non members of
Mt. Calvary may join the church upon completion of this class. It is
also a good refresher class for our current members. Everyone is invited to attend. Class will be at 7:00pm.
Great is He, the King of Glory! An Epiphany Service will be held at
Mt. Calvary on Tuesday, January 6th. We will hear about God in man
made manifest. The service will be at 7:00pm and Holy Communion
will be celebrated.
Youth students mark your calendar for Bible Bowl! It will be held Saturday, April 11th at Faith Lutheran in Pierre. The topics this year are
the Gospel of Matthew (ESV) and the Lord’s Prayer. Visit
www.sddlcms.org to see further details and practices tests for this
year’s Bible Bowl. Bible Bowl practices will be held on Sundays at 4:00
beginning January 11th. Lorie Cuperus and Aaron Ringgenberg will
likely be your fearless leaders again. See them with questions.
An usher training will be held on Monday, January 12th at 6:00pm.
Those who usher throughout the year and any parishioner, high school
age and older, who would like to usher should come to this meeting
and learn about the techniques of ushering. There is a lot to know and
a refresher is never a bad idea. Please mark your calendar for this date.
The Annual Meeting of the Voters’ Assembly will be held on Sunday,
January 25th at 12:45pm. Along with the regular matters to discuss,
the Voters will elect officers and board members for the next year.
Our LYF will serve lunch following the 10:30 service and a free-will
offering will be taken for them. Please bring a salad or dessert to pass.
Childcare will be offered by the Youth during the meeting.
Calvary Kids Corner