July 2009 Newsletter

Pioneer Lutheran Church Publisher: Julie Petersen [email protected] Volume Number 11 Issue Number 30 July 2009 Pioneer Lutheran Church Council MinutesPASTOR TYLER HEPNER 601 4TH St. June, APT 12 BROOKINGS, SD 57006

Date:

2009

President Dana Crooks called the Pioneer Lutheran Church Council meeting to order on Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 7:00 pm. Present were Glen Thompson, Larry Holler, Aimee Lutz, Kevin Quail, Arlene Madsen, and Lew Weeks. Pastor Tyler Hepner and Tiffany Petersen were absent. Dana Crooks began with devotions and then led the council in prayer. Secretary’s Report: Minutes from the May, 2009 meeting were presented to the council. A typo regarding approval of the secretary’s report was brought to the attention of the secretary. Glen Thompson moved to accept the minutes with the correction. Kevin Quail seconded the motion, and the motion passed. Treasurer’s Report: Arlene Madsen presented the monthly treasurer’s report. Arlene noted that REA will charge us $35/month as a facility charge, and to maintain the security light at the old building site. Additionally, a phone charge of $0.90/month will be assessed as a maintenance charge for our account. It also was noted that payment for the piano will be made from the insurance advance. Larry Holler moved to accept the treasurer’s report. Aimee Lutz seconded the motion, and the motion passed.

OLD BUSINESS: Insurance status: Dana discussed debris removal from the building site and stated that the bid for such had been submitted. GuideOne Insurance also asked for us to submit a bid from our contractor for re-building the church building. Dana was going to check with Mike from GuideOne to determine exactly what form of a bid was required. Dana also noted that the White Fire Department had not yet received payment for services rendered during the fire. Dana was going to check to make sure payment was in progress. Dana asked for additional old business. Seeing none he proceeded to new business. NEW BUSINESS: Visioning Committee: Dana discussed having a visioning committee meeting some Sunday after church to discuss future plans for Pioneer Lutheran Church. A date of Sunday, June 28, 2009 was decided on as a date for the meeting. LCMC District Meeting: The Heartland LCMC district will be having their annual meeting June 20, 2009 beginning at 9:15 am. Early registration is $20/ attendee by June, 15 or $30/attendee at the door.

VBS: Vacation bible school will be held beginning July 5. An opening to bible school will be held at Larry & Sue Holler’s on Sunday evening July 5th and other VBS activities during the week will be held at the park in White. Pastor’s Report: Pastor Hepner was married on the Saturday prior to the council meeting and was honeymooning in Seattle, WA. A pastor’s report will be provided at the July meeting. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned and the Lord’s Prayer was said in closing. The July meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at George and Arlene Madsen’s Respectfully submitted, Aimee Lutz

This may have been it the newsletter before but I think we all need to read this often. This is about the best thing I've ever read as an explanation. We all wonder many many many times over WHY? Sometimes we wonder, 'What did I do to deserve this?' or 'Why did God have to do this to me?' Here is a wonderful explanation! A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away. Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, 'Absolutely Mom, I love your cake.' 'Here, have some cooking oil,' her Mother offers. 'Yuck' says her daughter. 'How about a couple raw eggs?' 'Gross, Mom!' 'Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?' 'Mom, those are all yucky! To which the mother replies: 'Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! ' God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful! God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.

VACATION BIBLE CAMP

Day camp will be Monday-Thursday (after the bus returns from swim lessons) Noon-5 PM at the park in White. Campers should bring a sack lunch to eat in the park and camp will start after lunch. This summer’s theme is Jesus Is. Daily themes will include: Jesus is the son of God, learning about the baptism of Jesus based on Mark 1:1-11; Jesus is our healer, learning about the man born blind based on John 9:1-38; Jesus is our Savior, learning about Jesus’ crucifixion based on Mark 15:22-39; and Jesus is our friend, learning about the believers on the road to Emmaus based on Luke 24:13-35. Day camp kickoff is Sunday the 5th with a cookout, ice cream social and hayride at 5 PM at the Holler Farm. Wednesday the 8th includes a trip to the White Care Center to share camp songs, followed that evening by a potluck at 6 PM and program for families and friends at 7 PM

ANYONE INTERESTED IN TAKING CHARGE OF THE FOOD BOOTH FOR PIONEER DAYS ON SUNDAY FROM 1-4, PLEASE CONTACT JULIE PETERSEN 6293441. ANYONE INTERESTED IN WORKING A FEW HOURS ALSO CONTACT JULIE. PLAN TO ATTEND THE COMMUNITY CHURCH SERVICE ON SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2009 AT 12:00 PM AT THE ART GRASLIE PARK WE WILL ALSO BE HAVING OUR REGULAR SERVICE AT 10:00 AM AT THE EIDNESS FUNERAL HOME.

Hearing the Word Understanding the difference between the Law and Gospel of God is deemed by Martin Luther to be of utmost importance for the Christian life. While it is often thought to be a distinctly "Lutheran" doctrine, however, it is in fact seen as an essential aspect of the faith by a variety of Christians. The following quotation, poem, and prayer illustrate the point, and serve as well to draw us closer into the grace and mercy of our heavenly Father, whose promises all have their "yes" for us in Jesus Christ. Consider the following quotation from John Bradford: Whosoever truly understandeth the division of the places of the Law and of the Gospel, gathered out of the holy scriptures, cannot by any man’s doctrine be seduced from the truth, or read the scriptures but to edify both himself and others: whereas he that is ignorant of the same cannot, though he were a great doctor of divinity, and could rehearse every text of the bible without book, but both be deceived, and deceive others; as the experience hereof (the more pity) hath taught, nay, seduced the whole world….Therefore, I say, take to thee the glass of God’s law; look therein, and thou shalt see thy just damnation, and God’s wrath for sin, which, if thou dreadest, will drive thee not only to an amendment, but also to a sorrow and hatred of thy wickedness, and even to the brim of despair, out of which nothing can bring thee but the glad tidings of Christ, that is, the

gospel: for as God’s word doth bind thee, so can nothing but God’s word unbind thee; and until thou comest to this point, thou knowest nothing of Christ.

The law brings terror to molest, The gospel gives the weary rest; The one does flags of death display, The other shows the living way.

This poem displaying the difference between God’s Word as Law and Gospel was written in 1745, by Ralph Erskine (1685-1752), a Scottish churchman.

The law’s a house of bondage sore, The gospel opens prison doors; The first me hamer’d in its net, The last at freedom kindly set.

A Poem On Law & Gospel The law supposing I have all, Does ever for perfection call; The gospel suits my total want, And all the law can seek does grant. The law could promise life to me, If my obedience perfect be; But grace does promise life upon My Lord’s obedience alone. The law says, Do, and life you’ll win; But grace says, Live, for all is done; The former cannot ease my grief, The latter yields me full relief. The law will not abate a mite, The gospel all the sum will quit; There God in thret’nings is array’d But here in promises display’d. The law excludes not boasting vain, But rather feeds it to my bane; But gospel grace allows no boasts, Save in the King, the Lord of Hosts.

An angry God the law reveal’d The gospel shows him reconciled; By that I know he was displeased, By this I see his wrath appeased. The law still shows a fiery face, The gospel shows a throne of grace; There justice rides alone in state, But here she takes the mercy-seat. Lo! in the law Jehovah dwells, But Jesus is conceal’d; Whereas the gospel’s nothing else But Jesus Christ reveal’d. And here is a prayer reflecting the distinction, written by John Calvin, theological founder of the Reformed and Presbyterian traditions of Christianity: Grant, Almighty God, that as thou hast made known thy law, and hast also added thy gospel, in which thou callest us to thy service, and also invitest us with all kindness to partake of thy grace; O grant, that we may not be deaf, either to thy command or to the promises of thy mercy, but render ourselves submissive to thee

everywhere, and so learn to devote all our faculties to thee, that we may in truth avow that the rule of a holy and religious life, has been delivered to us in thy law, and that we may firmly adhere to thy promises, lest through any of the allurements of the world, or through the flatteries and delusions of Satan, thou shouldst suffer our minds to be drawn away from that love which thou hast once for all manifested to us in thine only begotten Son, and in which thou daily confirmest us by the teaching of the gospel, until we at length shall come to the full enjoyment of this love in that celestial inheritance, which has been purchased for us by the blood of thine only Son. Amen. Pastor Tyler Hepner Pioneer Lutheran Church

Sunday after church, a Mom asked her very young daughter what the lesson was about. The daughter answered, "Don't be scared, you'll get your quilt." Needless to say, the Mom was perplexed. Later in the day, the pastor stopped by for tea and the Mom asked him what that morning's Sunday school lesson was about. He said, "Be not afraid, thy comforter is coming."

People want the front of the bus, the back of the church, and the center of attention.