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11/23/2020 December 2020Advent and the Christmas Surprise
The four Sundays of Advent feature readings that exhort us to a spirit of repentance in awareness of the imminence of Christ’s return. The season of Advent itself prepares us for the coming of Christ, as the term ‘advent’ itself signifies, but the structure and composition of the Church Year at this juncture is such that more emphasis is always placed on the return of Christ in glory at the Last Day than on his incarnation and birth at Christmas. As such, Christmas comes as something of a thematic surprise. Having provided an abundance of exhortation anticipating Christ’s return, the pleasant shift at Christmas is intended to lead us to gratitude for the mercy of God in this meek and holy incarnation for us. He did not come, as we might have expected, were we to listen only to the instant and urgent admonitions of Advent, to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him (see St. John 3:17). This somewhat jarring thematic surprise that is noticeable when Christmas follows Advent is certainly more noticeable when Easter follows Lent. In the latter case, the Church is led to and through the Passion of Our Lord finally to his miserable death on Good Friday, only to become overjoyed again on Easter Sunday in an abundance of celebration. In that case there was actually quite a bit of utter surprise and thrill in the hearts of the disciples, who had just forsaken Jesus and fled in terror and grief. The case of Advent and Christmas is less of a shift, but it also reflects a very real surprise nonetheless. For in truth the message of the prophets was mixed. Although they had repeatedly made clear the joy that would commence with the coming incarnation of our Lord, saying, for instance, “the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads” (Isaiah 35:10), they had also warned repeatedly that the coming of Christ would be as a day “that shall burn as an oven” when “all the proud, yea, and all they that do wickedly, shall be stubble” (Malachi 4:1). And although we now know that the Lord’s coming is split between his first coming, in mercy, and his second coming, in judgment, that did quite become clear until the day when Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary. Thus, it was something of a happy shock, or surprise. And so also, liturgically speaking, Christmas comes as a glad surprise at the end of Advent. Well does the Apostle then encourage us, on the Fourth Sunday in Advent, saying, “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). For we know that this surprise is but a foretaste of the abundance of surprise that shall gladden our hearts on the Day of Days, more than we can even imagine, when we shall finally enjoy the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. + Pastor Eckardt Two Christ Masses The number of Christ Masses this year is being reduced to two: the first, as usual, will be on Christmas Eve at 7:00; the Midnight mass is cancelled; and then as usual there will be a mass on Christmas morning at 10:00. Improvements in Organ Accompaniments Continue Our newly established practice of organ playing has been, as most of you are aware, to make use of my own keyboard capability for accompaniment on Sunday mornings. Here, first, is a rundown of what has been done up until now. First I play a prelude on our Casavant Organ, usually comprised of an improvisational arrangement of a hymn, usually using the opening hymn and sometimes also the hymn of the day. Then, after the bells are rung we sing the opening hymn itself with my accompaniment on the organ. Following this the bells are rung a second time as I come down from the balcony for the procession which is done in silence. This I have found to be a rather nice form of silent and sublime preparation, as I suspect most have noticed as well. As we enter the Divine Service the musical parts are sung a capella, except for the remaining hymns. For the hymn of the day I walk to the back (again in silence) to use the electronic keyboard and direct the choir for intervening stanzas. Next I return to the chancel for the rest. The organ accompaniment of the remaining (distribution and closing) hymns are played with a pre-recording. This arrangement, in my own opinion, has been working fairly well, though there have been a few occasional errors that needed to be cleared up. Going forward, I have been working on recordings of some additional accompaniments, especially the canticles. When this is complete, I hope to be able to add this element, in which case you will have accompaniment for the Kyrie, the Gloria in Excelsis, the Sanctus, the Preface, and the Nunc Dimittis. The Introit, Gradual, and Verse will still be a cappella (unaccompanied), with the leading of our choir, as we have been doing for several years. I hope to have this addition ready within a few weeks. + Pastor Eckardt First Tuesday Meetings Dec. 1 On Tuesday, December 1st, Altar Guild meets as usual at 6 pm, and Elders at 7:15 pm. Between them we will hold vespers at 6:45 pm. All members invited to vespers. Choir Rehearsals Scheduled Some choir rehearsals are scheduled in preparation for Christmas. Choir members, please put these Wednesdays in December on your calendar: December 2nd and 16th after midweek mass, and December 23rd at 7:00 p.m., as there is no mass scheduled that day. We will not rehearse on the 9th, due to the party at the Eckardts’ that day, but we will be caroling before mass. See the note nearby. Shut ins Monroe Kemerling is at home; Emmy Wear is at Williamsfield Home in Williamsfield; Emilie Ricknell is at home; Dick Melchin is at Hammond Henry Extended Care in Geneseo; Dale Baker is at home; and Bea Harris is occasionally at home. Cookie Walk Sunday Dec. 13th Bring a batch of cookies to Bible Class on the 13th, and prepare to exchange for others. Cookie walk after church! Bible class follows. Caroling and Party Dec. 9th We plan to go caroling on Wednesday, December 9th. Meet at the church at 5 p.m. We will visit some shut-ins, and end up at the church for Mass at 7. Afterwards all are invited to the Eckardts’ annual Christmas Party at their home. The Bell Tolls On the last Sunday of the year, we customarily toll the bell at prayers for each member of our parish who has died during the year. We remember this year one member who fell asleep in Christ:
Special Masses Wednesdays Our 7 p.m. Wednesday masses during Advent will be emphasizing the narratives of St. Luke 1 that are written in preparation for the nativity of our Lord reported in St. Luke 2. Come prepare for Christ’s coming at Christmas, at the End of the World, and at the Altar. Wednesday Advent masses:
There is no Wednesday mass scheduled for December 23rd, the day before Christmas Eve. On December 9th we will also have caroling and a party, as explained in a nearby article. There is also no Wednesday mass scheduled for December 30th, the day before New Year’s Eve, a Thursday, on which mass will be held at 7 p.m. December Anniversaries none December Ushers Steve Kraklow, Tom Wells, Jim Hornback. December Birthdays 12/11 Kris Harden 12/13 Michael Eckardt Decorating During Advent As is our custom, we decorate little by little during Advent, until finally all is complete for Christmas. This year we plan to put up the Advent wreath on Saturday, November 28th, for Advent I. Then on Saturday, December 5th we will put up the Christmas tree (extra volunteers are sought for this), for Advent II. On Saturday, December 12th we will put up any remaining decorations needed, for Advent III, except that the array of poinsettias will not be set out until Christmas Eve. Advent III (Sunday, December 13th) is also called “Gaudete” or Joy Sunday, set in the midst of Advent. Roses are customarily set in place if available, and the pink candle on the wreath is lit. If you can, please put Saturday December 5th on your calendar to help with the tree. It’s an opportunity for gathering with your fellow members for a little project. Church Council The council will be meeting on Wednesday, December 16th which is the usual third Wednesday. Please make a note of it. Trustees and the Building In November, a locksmith came to fix the door between the school basement and the basement under the church, which was mysteriously found locked. A key could not be found, as this door had not been locked in a very long time. The locksmith opened it and it now has no lock, being a fire door that doesn’t need one. Some heavy rainfall during November became a good opportunity to look for leaks and check if our repairs held. No leaks were found. So perhaps the efforts to plug leaks were successful after all. Also, outside windowsills were touched up with white paint. In Our Prayers Our current list of prayer intentions at mass includes the names on the lists here following. Anyone wishing to update the list by addition or subtraction, please inform the pastor. in our parish: Emilie Ricknell, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe, Emmy Wear, Sue Murphy, Don Murphy, Dick Melchin, DeAnne Anderson, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Sandra VerPlaetse, Monroe Kemerling, John Sovanski, Gail and Phil Beauprez, Tara Wagenknecht and beyond our parish: Anna Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises] Katy Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises] Jody Rutowicz [Harrises’ daughter] Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter] Elizabeth Godke [Sharon Field’s mother] Brandt and Oneida Hendrickson [Ricknells’ relatives] Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister] Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson] Dennis Hoag [Adam Shreck’s father-in-law] Rachel Smith [Emmy Wear’s cousin] Matthew and Yvette Baker [Dale’s son and wife] Warren Williams [relative of the Kemerlings] Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece] Carol Grigsby [friend of Jewneel Walker] Tim Newman [Kemerling relation] Melinda Fisa [Monroe Kemerling’s granddaughter] Kathy Boeger [re Harrises] Allison Leezer [relative of the Kraklows] Floretta Reynolds [Jim Watson’s aunt] Dana Conley [relative of the Kraklows] Roger Wear [Emmy’s father] Les Murphy [re Murphys] Bud Harfst [Sue Murphy’s brother] Everly Stoner, great grandchild of the Murphys David Ricknell Carol Watson Bill Dolislager John Molburg [re Sandra VerPlaetse] Jeff Lewis [re Eckardts] in the military: John Eckardt Donny Appleman [at request of the Ricknells] Richard Heiden [at request of the Eckardts] Luke Van Landigan [grandson of Dick Melchin] Jaclyn Alvarez [daughter of Kris Harden] Eli Wetzel [at request of Kris Harden] Traven Wetzel [at request of Kris Harden] Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson] Jake Mahaffey James Jr. and Ann Ley Armstrong in trouble: any unborn children in danger of abortion those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Uganda, Sudan, Nigeria, India, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and elsewhere Persecution details may be found at www.persecution.net. New Year’s Mass: New Year’s Eve mass is 7 pm on December 31st. We observe the Circumcision and Name of Jesus (January 1st). Saints Days in December St. Nicholas Day (December 6th) falls on a Sunday this year, and therefore is commemorated only with a second Collect. So also, St. Lucia’s Day falls on a Sunday (December 13th), and therefore likewise is commemorated only with a second Collect. December 21st is St. Thomas’ Day, and as this is a Monday we will not observe it here. The same goes for St. Stephen’s Day, December 26th, because it falls on a Saturday, the day after Christmas. St. John the Apostle and Evangelist’s Day (December 27th) falls on Sunday, and takes precedence over the Sunday after Christmas, so it is observed. Holy Innocents (December 28th) falls on a Monday, so is not observed here. Coming Up: Epiphany Seminar on Saturday, January 9th, 2021 A day of reflection is planned for Saturday, January 9th, 2021. To open the seminar we will have mass at 9:00 in the morning. A seminar will follow. Here is the schedule: 9:00 a.m. Mass: during the octave of Epiphany 10:00 a.m. - noon Seminar (day of reflection): The twentieth retreat in the Theological Reflection series is entitled, “INTERPRETING AND PRAYING THE PSALMS” The Book of Psalms is a central feature of Christian worship and life. But how are we to understand it? And, consequently, how are we to pray using its words? The Psalms were Jesus’ own prayer book. They were frequently in the minds of the Gospel and Epistle writers. And they are used in every mass, in the Introit and Gradual. Some of them are ubiquitous: on greeting cards, on social media, usually used for comfort of some kind. In what way are they Christological? How are we to pray, for instance, Psalm 22: “My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Or the imprecatory psalms which call for judgment upon one’s enemies? How are they Christological? Do we need a list of which ones are Messianic? What’s the significance of their being written primarily by David? So many question need answers if we are best to benefit from our use of the Psalter. Join us as we explore. Altar Guild Notes Advent begin the last Sunday in November. The four Advent Sundays’ color is violet. If roses are obtained, they may be placed for the Third Sunday in Advent, December 12th. For midweek masses, the color remains violet. For Christmas Eve, the first Mass is at 7 p.m., and the color is changed to white. There is no Midnight Mass scheduled this year. On Christmas Day there is a 10 am mass. Color is white for both. The Feast of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist is held on the Sunday after Christmas, December 27th. Color remains white. New Year’s Eve mass is held at 7 pm on the 31st. Color is white and remains white in January. No mass is scheduled for St. Stephen (26 December) or Holy Innocents (28 December) this year. St. Paul’s Online Our masses may be accessed online at www.facebook.com. Go to our page St. Paul’s and Friends, where you can find livestream and recordings of our masses. In addition, our church’s website is www.stpaulskewanee.org, and it is very active. Twice a week there is usually a new post in the “Sermons” section, as a synopsis of the most recent sermon is given, with a link to the audio of the Gospel and sermon that you can listen to whenever you want, or share with your friends. Our newsletter is also posted at the website. St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church 109 S. Elm Street Kewanee, IL 61443 10/22/2020 November 2020The Number One Issue for All Citizens
This article appeared in the Kewanee Star Courier on Friday, October 16, 2020 During this election cycle in particular, now that there’s another vacancy in the Supreme Court, one key issue that we’ll be hearing about again is the matter of abortion. This may be an uncomfortable topic for some, and for that I apologize. But it must be considered. The matter is often easily relegated to the back burner in our personal thoughts and political discussions. It doesn’t usually make news except when the news cycle calls for it during an election season or a time to appoint a judge or a justice. So outside of these times no one pays too much daily attention to the fact that there are still over 2,000 abortions every day in this country. Thankfully those numbers have come down significantly since the fateful Roe v. Wade Supreme Court horror in 1973. But it’s not enough. Over 2,000 innocent babies are willfully killed every day in America. So what is the number one issue facing us today? The economy? The pandemic? The rioting? So many matters of great import these are. But we dare never forget that still there are over 2,000 babies slaughtered every day. Your political persuasion shouldn’t matter here at all. This is not a women’s reproductive rights issue. To be pro-life is not in itself a matter which has fundamentally to do with reproductive rights. We may certainly argue about whether a woman has the right to decide to use birth control or not, and that’s a debate worth having. But it’s not this debate; for every preborn child—every one—is already the product of reproduction. As soon as a woman is pregnant, she carries a human life inside or her that is not her own. She carries a baby. Even in the first trimester, it’s a baby, and that’s a matter which is biologically proven. A fetus is alive, is human, and is distinguished from its mother. Arguments about viability are also irrelevant. “Viability” means able to survive on its own. Tell me, is a one-year-old child able to survive on its own? So many things are thrown up in the conversation which are nothing but distractions. What if the fetus is deformed? What if it’s defective? What if, heaven forbid, it’s the result of rape? Are any of these factors sufficient to justify killing it? Even when the matter of saving the life of the mother is raised, we must begin with the fact the fact that in this case we are dealing with two lives. Why not, in that rare case, seek to save both? Why couldn’t we seek to take the baby prematurely so that the mother does not die, and then try to save the baby? The point here—the only point—is that this has nothing to do with a potential life. It has to do with a living human being, a baby. And this is why our Sunday morning prayers at worship always include, in our prayer intentions for those in trouble, “any unborn children in danger of abortion.” For that’s what they all are: children. The ending of this horrific daily genocide must be first among all of our political concerns, for I can think of nothing more pressing. + Pastor Eckardt Who are we? Reprinted from the November 2006 Newsletter [a question asked in the brochure we provide to inquirers] “We are a Lutheran parish of Christian people who rejoice in our salvation, and in having the Word of God among us. “When we hear the Gospel our hearts rejoice and are glad. We sing, and our choir sings, and our liturgy expresses our unspeakable gladness in the solemn dignity that befits holy joy. “The Lord Jesus Christ here lavishes us with His eternal gifts and mercy. The Master serves the servants, and this wondrous mystery delights and humbles us in His presence. “We welcome you to share this joy with us.” This, according to our brochure, is the reason we gather, and the reason we are a parish of Christian people. There is really no other reason. We don’t have a mission statement, like many companies and associations do; we don’t state objectives for progress. That’s because we are a congregation of hearers. We come together to hear the word of God, which is preached in our midst. It’s important to remember this, especially when we consider, as virtually all congregations do, what to do about financial shortfalls and budget woes. We are not a business, and we are not incorporated. The designation “not-for-profit” truly applies, because we aren’t interested in making money. We do need to make ends meet, and we always struggle to come up with ways to do that, but of course, that’s not an end in itself. We exist as a parish for only one reason: to hear and receive the gifts of God, and to rejoice in them. For this reason, the most appropriate thing to do, in the interest of the welfare of the parish, is to pray that God in His mercy would bless us. That, admittedly, isn’t much of a “stewardship” sermon; and it would probably have stewardship advisors shaking their heads. Indeed there are many stewardship programs we could purchase (for a pretty penny) which may well give us plenty of “success” if we followed their directives. But unfortunately their directives are generally contrary to what’s at the heart of our existence. Put plainly, we do not exist in order to teach people how to give, but in order to instruct people as to what they have received. The former objective would make us a law-oriented parish, while the later is oriented toward Christ and His Gospel. It’s a tricky thing to keep straight, but critically important. So of course let’s all remember to do our part in giving (actually most of our membership does, and without even needing much encouragement by way of reminders), but let’s remember first of all that we must learn to be as Mary of Bethany was, sitting at Jesus’ feet and hearing His Word. November Ushers Otis Anderson John Ricknell, Bill Thompson, Jim Hornback November Anniversaries 11/5 Steve and Berniece Harris 11/10 Gayle and Phil Beauprez November Birthdays 11/19 Steve Kraklow 11/20 Jewneel Walker 11/30 Charlene Sovanski In Our Prayers Our current list of prayer intentions at mass includes the names on the lists here following. To update the list please inform the pastor in our parish: Emilie Ricknell, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe, Emmy Wear, Sue Murphy, Don Murphy, Dick Melchin, DeAnne Anderson, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Sandra VerPlaetse, and Monroe Kemerling and beyond our parish: Anna Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises] Katy Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises] Jody Rutowicz [Harrises’ daughter] Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter] Elizabeth Godke, Sharon Field’s mother Brandt and Oneida Hendrickson [Ricknells’ relatives] Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister] Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson] Dennis Hoag [Adam Shreck’s father-in-law] Rachel Smith [Emmy Wear’s cousin] Matthew and Yvette Baker [Dale’s son and wife] Warren Williams [relative of the Kemerlings] Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece] Carol Grigsby [friend of Jewneel Walker] Tim Newman [Kemerling relation] Melinda Fisa [Monroe Kemerling’s granddaughter] Kathy Boeger [re Harrises] Allison Leezer [relative of the Kraklows] Floretta Reynolds [Jim Watson’s aunt] Kimberly Johnson [friend of Derek Baker] Dana Conley [relative of the Kraklows] Roger Wear [Emmy’s father] Les Murphy [re Murphys] Bud Harfst [Sue Murphy’s brother] Everly Stoner, great grandchild of the Murphys David Ricknell Carol Watson in the military: John Eckardt Donny Appleman [at request of the Ricknells] Richard Heiden [at request of the Eckardts] Luke Van Landigan [grandson of Dick Melchin] Jaclyn Alvarez [daughter of Kris Harden] Eli Wetzel, Traven Wetzel, Shawn Wetzel Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson] Jake Mahaffey, Trevor Shimmin, Shad Draminski Brett Armstrong, James Armstrong Jr., and Ann Lee Armstrong in trouble: any unborn children in danger of abortion those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Syria, Sudan, Nigeria, Eritrea, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and elsewhere. For persecution details see www.persecution.net. Shut ins Monroe Kemerling, at home; Emmy Wear at Williamsfield Home in Williamsfield; Emilie Ricknell at home, Dick Melchin at Hammond-Henry Extended Care in Geneseo; Bea Harris, from time to time, at home; Dale Baker, at home. Altar Guild Notes
Church Council The council will be meeting on Wednesday, November 18th which is the usual third Wednesday. Please make a note of it. All Saints Day All Saints falls on a Sunday this year, the first day of November. Since it is a Feast of the First Class, it takes precedence over a regular Sunday and will be observed on Sunday the 1st . Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is on November 24th this year. We observe it, as usual, the night before: Wednesday, November 23rd, at 7:00 p.m. Advent The First Sunday in Advent is November 29th. We begin the decorating with the Advent wreath, lighting the first candle. Other decorations go up during the season, until Christmas Eve. Sometimes they go up bit by bit, but this depends on the availability of volunteers. This decorating during Advent is a local custom, not a liturgical rubric, since technically Advent is a season of penitential preparation for Christmas, similarly to Lent which prepares for Easter. The Gospels for the four Sundays in Advent are likewise preparations for the coming of Christ, as are the Gospels for the last three Sundays of the Church year, in November. This is a remnant of the lengthier preparatory period that used to be called “St. Martin’s Advent,” named for the day of Martin of Tours, November 11th (Martin Luther is named after him), after which the penitential preparations for the coming of Christ would begin. The coming, or advent, of Christ, is considered three ways: first, his coming again in glory at the Last Day; second, the celebration of his first coming, observed at Christmas, the Nativity of Our Lord; and third, his coming to us in the Blessed Sacrament. New Directory Most of you likely noticed a new directory that has been printed and made available on Sundays. Judy has asked that you take a look at your information, and make any additions or corrections needed and let her know. Some corrections have already been made. Also, please provide your email. Most members’ emails are not in the system, but these are a handy way to reach people. Thank you. Trustees and the Building In October, work was done on the bell tower, which was badly needed to stem the leaking that occasionally happened during heavy storms. A crew with a lift truck was brought in to fix areas needing repairs, and they expressed confidence that the work they did would solve the problem. All major cracks and holes were ground to a depth of ¾ inches with electric grinders and diamond blades. Once ground and washed, they were caulked. The north and west side had a sealer applied to the brick when completed. They also did some paint touch-ups on the church’s metal decorative front on the roof. Finally, they placed a shield on the gutter on the west side, to prevent water runoff from spilling out at the top of the downspout off the side of the building. The project is costing us about $2400 but the council determined it was necessary to protect our newly remodeled and beautiful church. The lift truck was provided at an additional value of about $450, but this was covered, thankfully, by a joint agreement with Bob Johnson, who has helped us out like this in the past. There was no cost to us. Covering the Cost Members may remember how much they would have spent on Oktoberfest materials and donations, and perhaps, since there is no Oktoberfest this year (except for Little Oktoberfest, which was held on October 25th), consider donating it directly toward offsetting the cost of the steeple work (see above) instead. We may pass a plate at the Little Oktoberfest banquet as well. Pray for your congregation meanwhile! Food Pantry The food pantry is still in use, to aid any poor folks that might come by for basic needs. A box in the hallway is placed to collect nonperishable items; when the box gets filled, the load is delivered to the Kewanee Food Pantry. But often the food available right here is offered to people who need it. So your contributions in kind are appreciated! St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church 109 S. Elm Street Kewanee, IL 61443 :30Beginning October 4th, the first Sunday in October, our Sunday morning worship time moves to 9:00.
This is the result of the action taken by our Voters’ Assembly on September 6th. After some discussion the voters determined that it would be in the best interest of everyone to return the time of Sunday mass to 9:00 a.m. This is the time mass was held before we changed it several years ago. At that time the movement from 9:00 to 8:30 was to accommodate our organist, who at the time was Ryan Van Wassenhove. If we had not made the change at that time, he would have been forced by his own circumstances to resign. Since we wanted to keep his services (and he was happy to stay), we made the change. Then, as members know, he moved on a year ago, and we were left without an organist at all. In the meantime, I have made arrangements that allow me to play the opening myself, and also to provide recordings to be used. The need to have the time at 8:30 no longer existed, though many of our people do prefer the time. Yet in the end, all agreed that a move back to 9:00 would be beneficial, and there was no dissenting vote. So the change is made and is official. Time of Bible Class is also adjusted accordingly, and is still scheduled for when it reasonably follows. This means it moves to 10:45, when people have settled down to breakfast in the gym. Members are to be commended for their polite and reasonable discussions, and a willingness to do what was considered the best option without serious dissent. The kindness and compassion of people for one another is worth noting and being thankful for. + Pastor Eckardt Michaelmas to be Celebrated on Tuesday, September 29th, at 7:00 p.m. Our usual practice is to schedule Midweek mass at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, but this year a change in the schedule during the week of Michaelmas to Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. has been made for two reasons. First, Michaelmas itself is on Tuesday, September 29th, so it is fitting to hold Midweek mass on the day itself. Second, Pastor and Carol plan to travel to the Chicago area on Wednesday in preparation for her scheduled surgery on Thursday, October 1st. We anticipate a return home on Friday the 2nd. A Reformation Festival on Sunday, October 25th. (Little Oktoberfest) Some sadness accompanies our loss of Oktoberfest, a decision we made earlier this year, due to the lessened capability our members have for putting on such an event. Ironically, this year’s COVID mess intervened as well, and while it may not have prevented us, it may have complicated things. But members have been talking, our plan is to have a festival banquet for our members on Sunday afternoon, October 25th, as a further celebration of Reformation Sunday. The time of our event is set for 3:30 p.m., which is early enough to honor the wishes of people would like it to be held during the daylight hours. Sunset on that day is about 6 p.m., so 3:30 p.m. seems reasonable. In addition, if there are some visitors, this would afford them a little time to travel here. The planned event is to include a bratwurst feast similar to our Oktoberfest meal, though obviously on a smaller scale, since it is planned for the membership and possibly some friends or family members. Pastor will have some banquet remarks to make as well, also similarly to what used to transpire at Oktoberfest. This event is more on the order of a second church-picnic of the year. It is customary to hold a church picnic on the last Sunday in June, either at a local park or at the home of member. This event will simply be held in the gym. We plan to have bratwurst, potato salad, and beans, and people will be asked to volunteer for other side dishes and desserts, and to be on hand to clean up afterwards. This should be much simpler and easier than at Oktoberfest. The event is smaller and simpler than our former observances of Oktoberfest, and thus the following changes can be expected, if comparing: 1) there will be no separate worship event. We will be observing the Festival of the Reformation, as usual, at our Sunday morning mass at 9:00. October 25th is Reformation Sunday. 2) the meal is to be held in the gym, but we expect far fewer in attendance, mostly members. 3) Sunday’s activities will be finished before dark. 4) no events on Monday or Tuesday. Pastor Eckardt will be the banquet speaker, similarly to what we have done during past Oktoberfest Sunday evenings. His topic is yet to be determined. This year our church picnic was held out at the Andersons’ home, and it was another successful event. So let’s do it again, with a twist, in the gym. Let’s have some fun! Let’s call it “Little Oktoberfest” in nostalgic remembrance of our 24 prior famously successful Oktoberfest celebrations. October Ushers: Jim Hornback, Tom Wells, Steve Kraklow October Birthdays 10/1 Richard Melchin 10/1 Sue Murphy 10/2 Diana Shreck 10/24 Eric Meaker 10/28 Carmen Sovanski 10/29 Svetlana Meaker 10/30 Sharon Hartz October Anniversaries 10/4 Linda and Larry Rowe 10/23 Otis and Deanne Anderson In Our Prayers Our current list of prayer intentions at mass includes the names on the lists here following. To update the list please inform the pastor in our parish: Emilie Ricknell, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe, Emmy Wear, Sue Murphy, Don Murphy, Dick Melchin, DeAnne Anderson, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Sandra VerPlaetse, Derek Baker, Carol Eckardt, and Barb Kraklow and beyond our parish: Anna Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises] Katy Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises] Jody Rutowicz [Harrises’ daughter] Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter] Elizabeth Godke, Sharon Field’s mother Brandt and Oneda Hendrickson [Ricknells’ relatives] Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister] Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson] Dennis Hoag [Adam Shreck’s father-in-law] Rachel Smith [Emmy Wear’s cousin] Matthew and Yvette Baker [Dale’s son and wife] Warren Williams [relative of the Kemerlings] Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece] Carol Grigsby [friend of Jewneel Walker] Tim Newman [Kemerling relation] Melinda Fisa [Monroe Kemerling’s granddaughter] Kathy Boeger [re Harrises] Allison Leezer [relative of the Kraklows] Christopher Lewis [nephew of the Eckardts] Floretta Reynolds [Jim Watson’s aunt] Laura Koch {cook] [friend of the Eckardts] Kimberly Johnson [friend of Derek Baker] Dana Conley [relative of the Kraklows] Roger Wear [Emmy’s father] Les Murphy [re Murphys] Bud Harfst [Sue Murphy’s brother] Everly Stoner, great grandchild of the Murphys David Ricknell, who broke his ankle and those we name in our hearts. in the military: John Eckardt Donny Appleman [at request of the Ricknells] Richard Heiden [at request of the Eckardts] Luke Van Landigan [grandson of Dick Melchin] Jaclyn Alvarez [daughter of Kris Harden] Eli Wetzel, Traven Wetzel, Shawn Wetzel Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson] Jake Mahaffey, Trevor Shimmin, Shad Draminski Brett Armstrong, James Armstrong Jr., and Ann Lee Armstrong in trouble: any unborn children in danger of abortion those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Syria, Sudan, Nigeria, Eritrea, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and elsewhere. Some persecution details. see www.persecution.net for more. CHINA: Summer Camp Raided 17 September 2020 A church-run summer camp was raided on august 23rd, resulting in the confiscation of personal and church property, as well as the temporary detention of the pastor and his wife. The police and religious bureau officials claim that the church in Gushi was organizing religious events without authorization. According to one church leader, Wang Guangming, the students were learning music theory when the raid occurred. PAKISTAN: Zafar Bhatti Recovers from Heart Attack in Prison 17 September 2020 Zafar Bhatti has been in prison since 2012 after being charged with sending blasphemous text messages. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2017. Diagnosed with diabetes, the 56-year-old Christian had two minor heart attacks in 2019 and suffers from eyesight problems. It was recently reported that he had another heart attack on September 3rd. Though he received swift medical attention in prison, there are ongoing concerns for his physical and mental health, as well as apprehension over the medical care he is receiving outside of the hospital setting. ERITREA: 31 Christian Prisoners Released 17 September 2020 The Eritrean government has released 31 Christians from Mai Serwa prison who were detained without charge or trial for years. It is believed there were 21 men and 10 women in this group, and that none of them were church leaders. At least two of the women were minors when first imprisoned -- one was only 12 years old (age 28 today); and the other was 16 (now 30). This action follows the release of 22 Methodist Christians from another prison in July. Many Eritrean believers are compelled to pray in secret. Altar Guild Notes
Church Council The council will be meeting on Wednesday, October 14th which is the usual third Wednesday. Please make a note of it. Progress in the Music of St. Paul’s We continue to restore the place of the organ accompaniment in the Sunday morning life of the parish. We have now made regular the live organ preludes and opening hymn, with pastor playing on our fine Cassavant pipe organ in the balcony. To accommodate his descent to join the opening procession, the bells are rung a second time after the opening hymn and the procession ensues in silence. This may even be said to enhance the solemnity of the opening of the service, as people reverence the procession. The remaining hymns are played on the electric keyboard in the back, or as the playback of previously recorded hymns. Sometimes the tempo needs a bit of work, but this has been a work in progress. Your patience is appreciated. Soon we hope to try accompanying also the singing of canticles and other parts of the service, though for some of this the timing is a bit tricky. Until that can be figured out, we will continue to sing responses a capella, which we seem to be pretty good at doing. Catechism Continues, and Sunday Morning Bible Class Looks Ahead Catechism is on Tuesdays, at 5:00 in the afternoon; anyone may attend, and members sometimes do, for a lively discussion and learning opportunity. In addition to studying the catechism, we are reviewing the Old Testament. Our review of the Old Testament has been especially focused on Genesis and Exodus, and if there’s time, we’ll move ahead to later Old Testament events. The course planning of this review will also be used on Sunday mornings, as our next topic for Sunday morning Bible Class. A significant amount of time has been spent considering Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the three great patriarchs, and then the twelve sons of Israel (Jacob), and in particular his son Joseph. Joseph is a key Old Testament figure, whose history lays down the same pattern as the history of our Lord Jesus Christ as seen in the Gospels. The stories are fascinating to review, as we search the Scriptures, and see how they testify of Jesus, as he himself said they did in St. John 5. Also St. Luke 24 recounts how Jesus showed the disciples all the things concerning himself. Right now our Sunday morning study of the Gospel of St. Mark finds us in chapter 11, which means we’re getting closer to the end. Mark has 16 chapters in all. Have you been to Bible class? If so, you know how fascinating our studies are, and how full of gems the Bible is. If not, come join us, and see for yourself! Shut ins Emmy Wear at Williamsfield Home in Williamsfield; Emilie Ricknell at home, Dick Melchin at Hammond-Henry Extended Care in Geneseo, Bea Harris, from time to time, at home. Dale Baker, at home. Your Trustees at Work On a sunny Saturday in September, some trustees and other volunteers took in hand to tackle the concerns expressed at September’s Council meeting about the leaky wall in the church basement below the sanctuary. The north wall at the east end has significant leaking and leeching of water through the bricks into the basement during storms. Efforts in the past have been made to solve this problem, which was thought to be due to leaking of a pipe in an area an area where an underground pipe was used to divert the church’s runoff water into the storm sewer. At that time, the rainwater was diverted to above-ground gutters, but the leaks persisted. This has now been determined to be due not merely to the church’s rain runoff, but to a backup of the city storm sewers during heavy rainfall. Although the members of the Council are prepared to spend well over a thousand dollars to repair this, the trustees and volunteers decided to try a cheaper fix first. The downspout formerly leading from the gutters to the underground connection to the storm sewer was located, and concrete mix was poured in at the junction, in hopes of shutting off the leak area from the storm sewer system altogether, since we are no longer using it. It remains to be seen whether this will work, but we are hopeful. Pray for your congregation meanwhile! St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church 109 S. Elm Street Kewanee, IL 61443 The Impact of COVID-19 on Biblical Worship
Mr Dave Joslin is a well-read layman from Canada who recently converted to Confessional Lutheranism. Here are excerpts from his article that appeared at Gottesblog on August 24th. It is well-written and worth the read. - Pastor There is a great deal of confusion amongst Christians when it comes to the question of biblical worship. This has really come to the fore in 2020 because of the impact of the Covid-19 virus and the governments’ attempt to control virtually every aspect of life including Christian worship. Governments have not been shy about interfering in the worship of Christian congregations. Depending on where a church is located it may be forbidden to meet altogether; it is may be forced to maintain “social distancing”; communion may be banned or drastically altered; singing may be banned; parishioners may be forced to wear masks; it may be forbidden to exchange greetings, pleasantries and to engage in other social interactions within the confines of the church building. . . . After it has become painfully obvious that the [Canadian] Government’s reaction to the virus has generated more social and financial harm and more threat to life and property than the virus itself, the vast majority of Christians are still in favour of responding with meek obedience to every demand placed upon them by an obviously Christian-hating government system. Indeed, Christians who have begun to question the wisdom of submitting to the State in church matters have to face not only the wrath of the State but contempt and derision from their fellow Christians who seem to think that we should be grateful for any crumbs thrown to them by the State. Nowhere in this whole sorry business has anyone stopped to ask the question, “Is the Government-truncated worship that we are engaged in biblical worship and is God honoured by and pleased with the fact that we have put the Government’s demands before God’s demands.” . . . The theme of covenant runs right through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation: it is what ties everything in the Bible together so that it is impossible to properly understand the Bible without reference to the concept. . . . Because the Persons of the Trinity exist in covenant with Each Other, the concept of covenant is basic to the Trinity and since that concept involves personal relationship and since we are made in the image of God covenant is fundamental to understanding the nature of man. The first characteristic of covenant is that it is personal. The second is that it is intimate. Man was created in covenant with God and man was created with a helpmeet because God said it is not good for man to be alone. . . . Just as God’s relationship with himself is personal and intimate God’s relationship with man is personal and intimate and man’s relationship with man is to be personal and intimate. Man was created to live in community. . . . A close examination of Leviticus chapters 1 through 9 shows that the whole sacrificial system is intensely personal and the climax of the system is communion with God in the meal offering of which the Lord’s Supper is the New Testament anti-type. Now this is exactly why I have a problem with the “worship” that we have been engaging in since the phony Covid crisis was thrust upon us. The protocols forced upon us and accepted by a Christian Church too meek to assert its rights to serve God as required has resulted in a worship service that is depersonalized and antiseptic. We are not allowed to greet each other before or during the service or even after the service within the building. We may not sit with each other but rather must sit apart. Our minister and elders must be masked in order to serve us the Lord’s Body and Blood. We are not allowed to fellowship with each other and are not even allowed to be dismissed without maintaining “social distancing”. And as of August 17 in Northwestern Ontario we have to be masked in the service-the ultimate act of depersonalization. As if that wasn’t bad enough even the communion in one church is handed out with tweezers! This is not covenant worship-it is a horrible distortion of covenant worship. The form may be somewhat there but the heart and soul, the intimacy, has been cut out of the worship. If this is the price we have to pay to meet inside the church building, in my opinion, the cost is too great. . . . Addendum . . . I have been outraged by the statements of Christian leaders that they are going along with the Government’s pandemic protocols out of love for neighbour. To me this is the height of hypocrisy and deceit. Why? Because anybody familiar with the teaching of the Bible would know that isolating people in the lockdowns is un-biblical and bound to create serious emotional and psychological problems, especially in those whose emotional makeup is fragile to begin with. . . . You hypocrites that say that you’re going along with the protocols out of love for neighbour tell me, how is bankrupting your neighbour, possibly costing him all future livelihood and possibly his house and reducing him to a dependent of the State--how I ask you in the name of anything holy is that loving your neighbour?! Finally, within the last month or so disturbing reports have been surfacing that child sex trafficking is dramatically on the rise, especially in areas where mandatory masking is in effect. . . . You cannot see the face of the adult and you cannot see the face of the child. . . . There are more slaves today than when slavery was legal. Some are sex slaves, some are forced labor slaves, and some are harvested for organs. Most of them are women and children. It is not just something that happens in third world countries. It is well established within the United States, you know, the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave. . . . Dave Joslin For Christ’s crown and covenant August 15, 2020 For the entire article, see Gottesblog, at www.gottesdienst.org. Click on the Gottesblog link, and find the post from Revd Dr John Stephenson on August 23, 2020 Special Voters’ Assembly Sunday, September 6th A special voters’ assembly has been called for about 10:15 in the morning, at the first part of Bible Class hour on Sunday, September 6th. There is one item on the agenda: to discuss and decide whether we want to keep our Sunday morning time of service at 8:30, or to move it back to 9:00. Altar Guild Notes
Church Council The council will be meeting on Wednesday, September 16th which is the usual third Wednesday. Please make a note of it. Progress in the Music of St. Paul’s As most of you are aware, we have made great strides in restoring the place of the organ to prominence in the Sunday morning life of the parish. In the course of the summer, I decided to take more seriously the fact that I am able to play hymns on a keyboard. This is something I could easily ignore for many years here, because we always had an organist. That all changed when Ryan had to leave us a year or so ago. Suddenly our music was all a capella, no accompaniment. To the credit of our people, we handled it pretty well, but still, the organ was missing. Here's a recap of what we have done since then. Last year I determined to make some changes to work towards rectifying that lack. With the use of an electronic keyboard and some creative use of silence in the church, I was able to provide some of the organ accompaniment myself. Admittedly, it is not ideal for a pastor wearing the celebrant’s vestments to be sitting at an organ bench, when it comes to a small parish sometimes you must allow for certain things that are less than ideal. So, as most are aware, I began to play the opening hymn seated at the keyboard in the back (I do not think it would be appropriate for me to be using a keyboard in the chancel). When finished, I joined the procession to the chancel in silence and the service opened with the invocation etc. Then when it was time for the hymn of the day there would be another small silence while I retired to the back to play again. Following that hymn, silence again while I returned to the front. And then, following the benediction, a procession out in silence, after which I would play the closing hymn. Finally this summer I purchased some recording items to make it possible to pre-record hymns and have them played at the appropriate time. About then I also decided to make use of our real Casavant pipe organ in the balcony, at least for the opening; I hate to see it get no use at all. So currently I play a simple prelude and the opening hymn on the Casavant. The bells are then rung a second time while I come down the steps to join the procession. A number of hymns I have pre-recorded are now in use as well, so we normally can have accompaniment for all of the hymns. We may also be able to have accompaniment for the canticles: the Gloria in Excelsis (Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace . . .), the Sanctus (Holy, holy, holy Lord God . . .), and the Nunc Dimittis (Lord now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace . . .). Once in a while we’ll still have a real organist. On September 6th, Cantor Peter Eckardt will be here to play for the entire mass. Here and there we can expect something like that. We’ve come a long way. Our small parishes finds ways to keep on. Thanks be to God. + Pastor September Birthdays 9/1 John Ricknell 9/10 Jan Schoen 9/17 Mary Beth Jones 9/18 DeAnne Anderson 9/19 Jaclyn Kraklow 9/19 Jamie Kraklow 9/20 Derrick Baker 9/28 Allan Kraklow September Anniversaries 9/18/1976 Tom and Sue Ann Wells September Ushers: Jim Hornback, Steve Kraklow, Tom Wells. In Our Prayers Our current list of prayer intentions at mass includes the names on the lists here following. To update the list please inform the pastor in our parish: Emilie Ricknell, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe, Emmy Wear, Sue Murphy, Don Murphy, Dick Melchin, DeAnne Anderson, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Sandra VerPlaetse, Derek Baker, Carol Eckardt, and Barb Kraklow and beyond our parish: Anna Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises] Katy Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises] Jody Rutowicz [Harrises’ daughter] Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter] Elizabeth Godke, Sharon Field’s mother Brandt and Oneda Hendrickson [Ricknells’ relatives] Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister] Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson] Dennis Hoag [Adam Shreck’s father-in-law] Rachel Smith [Emmy Wear’s cousin] Matthew and Yvette Baker [Dale’s son and wife] Warren Williams [relative of the Kemerlings] Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece] Carol Grigsby [friend of Jewneel Walker] Tim Newman [Kemerling relation] Melinda Fisa [Monroe Kemerling’s granddaughter] Kathy Boeger [re Harrises] Allison Leezer [relative of the Kraklows] Christopher Lewis [nephew of the Eckardts] Floretta Reynolds [Jim Watson’s aunt] Laura Koch {cook] [friend of the Eckardts] Kimberly Johnson [friend of Derek Baker] Dana Conley [relative of the Kraklows] Roger Wear [Emmy’s father] Les Murphy [re Murphys] Bud Harfst [Sue Murphy’s brother] Everly Stoner, great grandchild of the Murphys and those we name in our hearts. in the military: John Eckardt Donny Appleman [at request of the Ricknells] Richard Heiden [at request of the Eckardts] Luke Van Landigan [grandson of Dick Melchin] Jaclyn Alvarez [daughter of Kris Harden] Eli Wetzel, Traven Wetzel, Shawn Wetzel Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson] Jake Mahaffey, Trevor Shimmin, Shad Draminski Brett Armstrong, James Armstrong Jr., and Ann Lee Armstrong in trouble: any unborn children in danger of abortion those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Nigeria, India, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and elsewhere. Some persecution details. see www.persecution.net for more. SYRIA: Christian Refuses to Turn Over Christian School. Radwan Muhammad is a Kurdish teacher and headmaster for a Christian school in the city of Afrin in northern Syria. He was ordered by the Sham Legion (Faylaq al-Sham) -- a coalition of Sunni Muslim groups -- to turn over the school building for an Islamic school. He refused, and has been arrested. ALGERIA: Court Upholds Church Closure Order. The Spring of Life Church in Makouda is the second largest Protestant church in Algeria with about 700 members. In October 2019, it was ordered to be closed, along with two other churches. The closures happened under Ordinance 06-03, which states that permission must be obtained before using a building for non-Muslim worship. Catechism Continues Catechism is on Tuesdays, at 5:00 in the afternoon; anyone may attend, and members sometimes do, for a lively discussion and learning opportunity. IN addition to studying the catechism, we are reviewing the Old Testament. On the Road? I am supposed to be the keynote speaker for the St. Michael Conference in Detroit this month, but at present it seems unlikely that they will be able to hold the event, due, sadly, to severe restrictions the Governor of Michigan has imposed on churches. If the restrictions are lifted, I would be leaving on Sunday afternoon, September 27th, and returning on Wednesday afternoon, September 30th. + Pastor Shut ins Emmy Wear at Williamsfield Home in Williamsfield; Emilie Ricknell at home, Dick Melchin at Hammond-Henry Extended Care in Geneseo, Bea Harris, from time to time, at home. Dale Baker, at home. Instead of Oktoberfest? We could talk about having a “miner” Oktoberfest if there is interest. It would be essentially like another church picnic, which we could do in the church gym. No speakers, no activities other than a gathering. Any who wants to pursue this possibility, let’s talk it up. Connect at Home Our website, www.stpaulskewanee.org, has easy-to-find sermon synopses, with links to recordings that you can access and listen to on demand. These are also sent to Facebook to make it easy to access the website from there. Have a listen, and spread the word. Our Facebook page, St. Paul’s and Friends, also regularly posts live streamed (audio and visual) services you may access at any time. Gottesdienst Makes Its Mark Gottesdienst, the Lutheran Liturgical journal of record, is owned by this congregation. We have ten editors and four additional bloggers. The web traffic is impressive, as there are usually blog posts several times a week, and a regular podcast as well. This is all in addition to our quarterly periodical of the same name, which has been publishing since 1992. We have also produced an instructional video and several books, many of them authored by your pastor. Years ago our journal was considered to be more or less on the fringe of what the Missouri Synod was known for. No longer. While there are still a great many churches who are not quite in sync with the liturgical worship we promote, there are now very many who are avidly in agreement, many of whom follow our advice. The journal has made great strides in promoting and defending the historic Lutheran liturgy. And it’s a feather in the cap of this St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kewanee, Illinois! St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church 109 S. Elm Street Kewanee, IL 61443 6/24/2020 July and August 2020Our Comfort amid Riots
It is without question the devil himself who is instigating the mayhem we have been witnessing in cities across the land in recent weeks. For the devil is always the one who entices the flesh away from God, as he did in the vey beginning, when he tempted Eve in the Garden. The works of the flesh are always the devil’s own works, and his temptations are always toward the stirring up of the flesh. Recall his failed attempts to tempt Jesus himself in the wilderness: with the satisfaction of his own hunger (“Command these stones to become bread”), or with the lure of glory (“Cast yourself down from the temple, for the angels will bear you up”), or with the promise of power (If you worship me, I will give you all the kingdoms of the world and their glory”). And so the rioting we have been seeing is all in efforts to satisfy the flesh. Consider St. Paul’s list of the works of the flesh in Galatians 5: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like.” In this list we see in particular hatred. In the rioters there is hatred on full display in all its ugliness. Then there is variance, or better, contentions, that is, discord. This is the central feature of riots. And then, wrath, or unrestrained anger, the lack of self-control. And then, strife, that is, conflict and bitter dissensions. Then, seditions, a key descriptor in this case, that is, rebellion against all authority. Envyings is in the list as well, for these rioters clearly want what others have, and are taking to violence to get it. As the days go on, it becomes clearer that there are also murders going on during this unrest, a natural part of the riotous mobs. Over half the items listed in the Apostle’s list here are directly applicable to the wild rioting on display. What we are seeing without question is the unrestrained wildfires of the flesh. This is the work of the devil. Contrast the fruit of the Spirit, which St. Paul describes next: the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. The contrast couldn’t be starker. It led me to begin to understand why Martin Luther had harsh words for rioters (see for instance his “Against the Peasants” written in 1525: www. historyguide.org/earlymod/peasants1525.html.) These people cannot be reasoned with or satisfied. What is so important to understand is that the rioters have without question hijacked what were supposed to be peaceful demonstrations that were supposed to be in support of black people. Massive support for African Americans is clearly evident in the American psyche, and that is a good thing, of course. But see how everything quickly changed! As we can all recall, the demonstrators who first came out wanted to express their long-held and laudable belief that racism is an ugly and unacceptable thing (and we all agree on that!). But little did they know that as soon as they came out in support of this cause, so did another group whose designs were entirely different (it appears to have been well coordinated). The first wave of rabble rousers infiltrated the crowds, wanting nothing other than to loot, steal, and destroy; and then, before you knew it, there followed on their heels a second wave of rioters, whose only agenda is quickly becoming painfully evident: anarchy and destruction. These are Marxist rebels whose desire is to cast off all authority and set themselves up as a new social order. They have hijacked the entire enterprise. Consider their demands: they want no government, no police, no law and order. They want to destroy statues of our founding fathers, still on the pretense of racism! And already there are calls for destroying statues and artistic depictions of Jesus! Why? Because, they say, he looks too European. This is without question a ruse. It is the devil’s lies on full display. But the blind rage of the rioters is already so out of control that they cannot be satisfied. But since it is clear that this is the devil’s work, there is also occasion for great comfort for us Christians, because we know something about the devil’s trophies. Consider the greatest of all Satan’s accomplishments. It began with the instigation of another riotous crowd, a crowd that the governor, who at the time was Pontius Pilate, could not restrain. “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified” (St. Matthew 27:24-26). See there? The devil’s aims were met. He gained his greatest trophy: Jesus himself! Satan had tried to entice Jesus at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, but failed. Now, instead of winning Jesus over, he has him put to death. And the devil, smugly satisfied to have gained this great victory, was greeted at once with a great earthquake. Before the body of Jesus was even taken down from the cross came the rumbling—literally—of the coming utter destruction of the devil’s lair. And on the third day, at its first moment, Christ descended into hell, inserted his divine hook into hell’s great doors, and, pulling up with all the infinite might of his holy resurrection from the grave, pulled off and destroyed the gates of that infernal lair. And he whom the devil though he had defeated, took his stand upon the earth, arisen from the dead. As the hymn writer has so eloquently put it: Who is this that comes from Edom, all his raiment stained with blood? To the captive speaking freedom, bringing and bestowing good, Glorious in the garb he wears, Glorious in the spoil he bears? ‘Tis the Savior, now victorious, Trav’ling onward in his might; ‘Tis the Savior; oh, how glorious To his people is the sight! Satan conquered and the grave, Jesus now is strong to save. The devil’s great trophy chest has been smashed. So now, in our day, as he seeks to gain another, what may we Christians think about all this rioting? We ought to shrug, and say, Ah! The devil’s kingdom has already been decimated! What we are seeing now is but a faint reminder of its bygone glories. It will not succeed. It cannot succeed. Even if all earthly kingdoms crumble and fall. Even if we should die. And, as it happens, the only thing that could prevent our deaths is the return of Christ in glory! So yes, in the meantime we shall all die. The good and the evil, the peaceful and the riotous. The Christians and our enemies all. But we Christians already have the promise of life and salvation. This is our trust, our hope, our assurance now, today. No looters, rioters, or murderers can keep it from us. For here is Jesus’ promise: “the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven” (St. Matthew 10:30-32). So, in short: do not let this alarm you, dear Christian. Do not let your hearts fail from fear; for in the world you will have tribulation. Be of good cheer. Christ has overcome the world. +Pastor Eckardt This article was also posted online at Gottesblog on June 23rd. Church’s Front Doors Open Again! Beginning on Sunday, June 28th, the front doors of the church will once again be open, as we continue our move back to normalcy. The door at the ramp also remains open of course, as ever, and we will continue distancing in the pews and at the altar for the time being. This should be a welcome sight, particularly if the sun is shining! July Altar Guild and Elders to meet on June 30th, with Tuesday Vespers Due to Pastor’s schedule, as we have discussed, the First Tuesday events for July have been moved to the day before July, Tuesday, June 30th. Please make a note of it. Altar Guild Notes
July and August Birthdays July: 7/2 Dana McReynolds 7/4 Sarah Kraklow 7/5 Sandra Verplaetse 7/7 Stephen Harris 7/9 Michelle Armstrong 7/10 Otis Anderson 7/10 Dale Baker 7/13 Gayle Beauprez 7/14 Pastor Eckardt August: 8/9 Donald Kegebein 8/11 Sam Fisher 8/11 Judy Thompson 8/13 Donald Murphy 8/16 Trista Dooley 8/21 John Sovanski 8/24 Becky Russell July Ushers: Jim Hornback, Tom Wells, Steve KraklowAugust Ushers: Otis Anderson, John Ricknell, Bill Thompson, Jim Hornback. July, August Anniversaries July: 7/1/1951 John and Emilie Ricknell August: 8/1/2009 Chris and Trista Dooley Listen at Home Our website, www.stpaulskewanee.org, has easy-to-find podcasts (recordings of studies) that you can access and listen to on demand. There are podcasts of St. Paul’s on the Air, recordings of sermons, and occasional Bible classes as well. These are also sent to Facebook to make it easy to access the website from there. Have a listen, and spread the word. Our Facebook page, St. Paul's and Friends, also regularly posts live streamed (audio and visual) services you may access at any time. There is also availability at YouTube, at the Burnell Eckardt channel. Church Council The council will be meeting on Wednesday, July 15th which is the usual third Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, August 19th, as usual. Please make a note of it. Catechism Resumes in August Junior Catechism will resume on Tuesday, August 18th, at 5:00 in the afternoon. On the Road The nearby July calendar shows that I will be away for Michael and Brittany’s wedding early in July, and then on a family vacation ending on July 13th. On July 5th, our guest pastor will be Rev. Matthew Synnott from Trinity in Peoria. Pastor Synnott has been here before. The following Sunday, July 12th, we will have Dr. Kenneth Schurb as our guest. Dr. Schurb is the District’s stewardship director. He will have a special program for us during the Bible Class hour. The only Wednesday evening I will be away will be July 8th, when midweek mass is cancelled. + Pastor Instead of Oktoberfest With some sadness and nostalgia, we are not planning an Oktoberfest for this year, as it has become overwhelming to our little parish. Instead, people are being encouraged to attend the annual St. Michael Conference at Zion in Detroit on the last Monday in September. This year Pastor is the keynote speaker, and a number of Gottesdienst editors will be on hand with presentations and preaching. It might be worth thinking about. St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church 109 S. Elm Street Kewanee, IL 61443 5/27/2020 June 2020St. Paul’s Evangelical-Lutheran Church
109 S. Elm, Kewanee, Illinois 61443 Newsletter Volume 32 June 2020 No. 6 Back to Church, with Precautions in Place Thanks be to God, we have been steadily moving toward the times we have all earnestly awaited, a return to normalcy. Real normalcy, as opposed to the term “new normal” that some people like to use. We’re not there yet, but we’re moving in that direction. I have been in contact with CID President Mark Miller. He has advised me to follow the guidance of local law enforcement. I have been in contact with the Kewanee Chief of Police, and with the Henry County Sheriff. Both of them have advised me that we may proceed carefully as we loosen restrictions, though we ought not advertise our services too freely. Hopefully that day will also come soon, when we can again openly invite visitors to join us. In the meantime, we begin loosening our restrictions beginning on May 30th, the Vigil of Pentecost, and Sunday May 31st, Pentecost Sunday. The following guidelines are in place, in accordance with the CDC:
Beginning Pentecost Sunday, May 31st, our regular schedule resumes: Sunday mass at 8:30 am, and Wednesday mass at 7:00 pm. We also plan resume Bible Class again beginning Sunday at 10:00 am, but with distancing measures throughout the gym. No breakfast will be served; you may bring your own snack if you wish. Red and Tongues for Pentecost: if you wish and are able, you are encouraged to wear red this Sunday. We will also hear several languages on Pentecost. For more on this, see the back page of this newsletter. + Pastor Eckardt Our Personal Need for Christ and One Another Burnell Eckardt From Gottesblog at www.gottesdienst.org, posted on May 18th, 2020 During these difficult days of the Coronavirus and its sad consequences, we will all do well to remember that the Lord Jesus will not leave his people in a state of isolation from one another indefinitely. He will not leave or forsake us, and has promised to help us in time of need. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. He will not leave us comfortless; of this we may be sure, for he cannot lie to us. Politicians and pundits may want to talk about a “new normal” that includes routine social distancing and awareness of the dangers of personal contact, and some people may even opine that this is somehow a good thing; but we Christians know otherwise, and we long for the day when this crisis is over. For we know that we are creatures of God, who himself entered our race in his holy incarnation. The Word became flesh; he did not despise the womb of the Virgin; and in our flesh he ransomed us from death and the grave by the shedding of his sacred blood. Not only so, but this same Jesus, in this same flesh, rose from the dead on the third day, and showed himself alive to his disciples. And he said to them, “Handle me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have.” This same Jesus is he that took little children up in his arms and blessed them; he touched the eyes of the blind to make them see; he put his fingers into the ears of the deaf to make them hear. The Good Shepherd blesses his sheep by his warm embrace. And he feeds them his own Body and Blood in the Blessed Sacrament. And since we are creatures of the Word made flesh, therefore we not only need continually to be thus receiving him, but to be with one another as well, for this is our innate need: for gathering, and togetherness, and touch, and embrace. Love bears all things, and love never ends, says the Apostle. Thus while we may have to endure a period of trouble during which we find ourselves in greater or lesser degrees of isolation from each other (pity especially the poor elderly in nursing homes!), we also know that this crisis, this dreadful state of affairs, will pass; that it must pass. And we also know, because love never ends, that one day, hopefully one day soon, we will find ourselves free again just as we once were, free to be truly together again: free to mingle with one another, free to embrace our loved ones, free to find ourselves happily among excited crowds, free to visit the sick or the lonely, free to offer a hand to the weak, or personal service to someone who may need help with groceries, or the front steps, or the opening of a door, free even to walk with friends, to shake hands with people we meet, to play, to dance, to love. That day we await with fervent hope, confidence, and prayer. For Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! Listen and Watch at Home Our website, www.stpaulskewanee.org, has easy-to-find podcasts (recordings of studies) that you can access and listen to on demand. There are podcasts of St. Paul’s on the Air, recordings of sermons, and occasional Bible classes as well. These are also sent to Facebook to make it easy to access the website from there. Have a listen, and spread the word. Our Facebook page, St. Paul's and Friends, also regularly posts live streamed (audio and visual) services you may access at any time. There is also availability at YouTube, at the Burnell Eckardt channel. June Birthdays: 6/5 Linda Rowe 6/16 Berniece Harris 6/29 Jim Watson Church Council The council will be meeting on Wednesday, June 17th the usual third Wednesday. Please make a note of it. Trinity Sunday June 7th Trinity Sunday June 7th During the early fourth century the Arian heresy was in its heyday, which denied that Jesus was the incarnate God and declared Him to be a mere creature. As Arius himself put it, “there was a time before he (Jesus) existed.” The bishops of the Church catholic saw the urgent need to confess the faith with clarity against this error, and so the Nicene Creed was crafted and modified through the course of that century. This is why the Nicene Creed says so much about the divinity of Jesus. Liturgically, there also arose a special Mass in honor of the Holy Trinity. This Mass was not originally assigned to a definite day, but was, rather a “votive Mass” the time of whose observance was open to the choice of whatever priest was celebrating it. It was not until the ninth century that various Western bishops began to promote a special feast of the Holy Trinity, usually on the Sunday after Pentecost. They used propers said to have been composed by Abbot Alcuin in 804. The popularity of this custom became especially evident in northern Europe. In 1334 if was finally received by Pope John XXII into the official calendar of the Western Church as the Feast to be held everywhere on the Sunday after Pentecost. The Preface of the Trinity which we still use today is the same one which was used by Saint Gregory the Great in the year 600: “who with Thine only begotten Son and the Holy Ghost art one God, one Lord, and in the confession of the only true God we worship the Trinity in Person and the Unity in substance, of majesty coequal. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Thy glorious name, evermore praising Thee and saying: Holy, Holy, Holy,” etc. The Feast of the Holy Trinity now belongs among the great annual festivals of Christianity. Although it is not observed with additional liturgical services outside the Mass, its celebration quickly took root in the hearts and minds of the faithful, and in all countries of Europe popular traditions are closely associated with this feast. Chief among the Trinitarian traditions is the sign of the cross, whose origin dates practically to apostolic times. In the third century, Tertullian speaks of it as an early Christian practice: In all our undertakings — when we enter a place or leave it; before we dress; before we bathe; when we take our meals; when we light the lamps in the evening; before we retire at night; when we sit down to read; before each new task — we trace the sign of the cross on our foreheads. Our observance of this Feast today is no less important than it was in the fourth century, as we find attacks on the divinity of Christ every bit as prevalent now as they did then. Resources for this article were taken from www.catholicculture.org Holy Ground and Reverence Remember the holiness of our worship space and these guidelines:
June Ushers: Allan Kraklow, Steve Kraklow, Tom Wells, Jim Hornback. Altar Guild Notes
Church Picnic Pending This year’s church picnic plans depend on the opening of parks and restrictions, as well as other considerations. As plans develop, we will advise the membership. June Anniversaries: 6/17/1967 Robert and Mary Beth Jones 6/18/1960 Sandra and John Verplaetse 6/18/1977 Fr. Burnell and Carol Eckardt 6/18/1966 Don and Sue Murphy 6/19/1977 Dana and Carol McReynolds 6/19/1966 Bill and Judy Thompson Concordia Catechetical Academy Cancelled This Year Due to Coronavirus restrictions and concerns, the annual Concordia Catechetical Academy Symposium in Sussex, Wisconsin is cancelled this year. In Our Prayers Our list of prayer intentions at mass includes the names on the lists below. To update the lists please inform pastor.in our parish: Emilie Ricknell, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe, Emmy Wear, Sue Murphy, Don Murphy, Dick Melchin,,DeAnne Anderson, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Sandra VerPlaetse and beyond our parish: Anna Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises] Katy Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises] Jody Rutowicz [Harrises’ daughter] Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter] Elizabeth Godke, Sharon Field’s mother Brandt and Oneda Hendrickson [Ricknells’ relatives] Helen Woods [Sue Murphy’s sister] Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister] Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson] Dennis Hoag [Adam Shreck’s father-in-law] Nancy Callahan [Don Murphy’s sister] Rachel Smith [Emmy Wear’s cousin] Yvette Baker [Dale’s daughter-in-law] Warren Williams [relative of the Kemerlings] Bud Harfst [Sue Murphy’s brother] Tony Stoner [friend of the Murphys] Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece] Carol Grigsby [friend of Jewneel Walker] Tim Newman [Kemerling relation] Melinda Fisa [Monroe Kemerling’s granddaughter] Kathy Boeger [re Harrises] Allison Leezer [relative of the Kraklows] Christopher Lewis [nephew of the Eckardts] Sandra Eppely [relative of the Murphys] Matthew and Timothy Graveson [re Eckardts] in the military: John Eckardt Donny Appleman [at request of the Ricknells] Richard Heiden [at request of the Eckardts] Luke Van Landigan [grandson of Dick Melchin] Jaclyn Alvarez [daughter of Kris Harden] Eli Wetzel, Traven Wetzel, Shawn Wetzel Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson] Jake Mahaffey Trevor Shimmin Brett Armstrong regarding the spread of disease in trouble: any unborn children in danger of abortion those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Nigeria, India, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and elsewhere. Red for Pentecost This year we are trying a custom which for us is new, but which many churches have employed for a long time. It has been suggested to members who attend on Pentecost Sunday, May 31st, that they wear red clothing if they have it conveniently to wear. The liturgical color for Pentecost is red, and it marks the birth of the Christian Church, when tongues of fire appeared over each of the apostles as they began to speak as the Spirit gave them utterance. This custom commemorates that event. Other Tongues for Pentecost The tradition of portraying the “other tongues” of Pentecost will be kept as the opening verse of the Gospel on Pentecost will be read in eight languages. The eight languages are Greek, Latin, Swedish, Spanish, Russian, German, French, and English, in which the entire Gospel will continue. St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church 109 S. Elm Street Kewanee, IL 61443 5/7/2020 May 2020St. Paul’s Evangelical-Lutheran Church
109 S. Elm, Kewanee, Illinois 61443 Newsletter Volume 32 May 2020 No. 5 New arrangement for worship at St. Paul’s to begin Sunday, April 26th AN UPDATE APPEARS IN THIS ARTICLE Beloved, most of you are now aware of our next step toward normalization of worship here. I have been in contact with the CID president and other Illinois pastors about this plan, to be assured that it is within the government’s guidelines. This is still less than ideal, but it’s a step. As of Sunday, April 26th, we begin celebrations of the Service of the Sacrament in groups of ten or less, by invitation only. Due to the small size of our parish, I do not expect this to be too taxing on my own schedule. We will practice social distancing and employ other special instructions. Beginning Sunday, April 26th, the Service of the Sacrament is scheduled for Sundays and Wednesdays: 1) Early Service: Sunday at 8:30 a.m. 2) Late Service: Sunday at 10:30 a.m. 3) Midweek Service: Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. UPDATE: Beginning the week of Sunday, May 17th, there will be four scheduled masses during the week. The schedule varies, however. The week of May 17th is the week which includes Ascension Day, a Thursday. The week of May 24th includes the Vigil of Pentecost. The schedule for the week of May 17th is as follows: 1) Early Service: Sunday May 17th at 8:30 a.m. 2) Late Service: Sunday May 17th at 10:30 a.m. 3) First Ascension Service: Wednesday May 20th at 7:00 p.m. 4) Second Ascension Service: Thursday May 21st at 7:00 p.m. The schedule for the week of May 24th is as follows: 1) Early Service: Sunday May 24th at 8:30 a.m. 2) Late Service: Sunday May 24th at 10:30 a.m. 3) Midweek Service: Wednesday May 27th at 7:00 p.m. 4) Vigil of Pentecost Service: Saturday May 30th at 5:30 p.m. All attendance must be by invitation. Most invitations have already been sent for the next two weeks. If you do no have one but would like one, please contact me by phone or email or text to request one.No member who wants to receive the Sacrament will be denied, but there will must be some shuffling of invitations and delays as weeks draw on. IMPORTANT: PLEASE DO NOT SHOW UP WITHOUT AN INVITATION! If I have not indicated to you that you have an invitation, our compliance with government recommendations may require us to turn you away, sadly. If too many want to come at any given time, some random selections are made. If you do not get your first choice, you will have a better chance of getting preference the next week, etc. If you indicate that you would like to come on Sunday and Wednesday, invitation will depend on availability. Also, I plan to continue live streaming the 8:30 am Sunday mass, and hopefully to do the same for Wednesday night. Hopefully these temporary plans will continue to give way to better options soon, until we are all back together again. We look for the mercy of Almighty God to put an end to this extraordinary situation soon. +Pastor Eckardt Instructions upon your arrival at church (these will be posted at the church as well) If you have any symptoms of illness, please do not come. If for any reason you cannot come, please let me know as soon as you can, so that someone on standby may take your place. Please enter by the ramp. The front doors of the church will remain locked. Please maintain 6-foot distancing between families. The offering plate will be on a table by the ramp. Families or individuals: Please take your seat(s) with at least a pew between others or at least six feet from someone in the same pew. THANK YOU for your willing cooperation. We will get through this together, by the grace of God. Newsletter abridgments Due to the unusual situation of state and federal recommendations during the Coronavirus outbreak, this newsletter is abridged, mostly to make it available on time. Certain formatting matters are not in place. Committee meetings are cancelled for May; ushers are not scheduled; etc. There is no calendar provided for this month, but the following things are noted: Worship will be according to the weekly schedule on page one, until further notice (hopefully soon) May 4th is the Third Sunday after Easter May 11th is the Fourth Sunday after Easter May 18th is the Fifth Sunday after Easter May 22nd is Ascension Day May 25th is the Sixth Sunday after Easter May 31st is Pentecost Sunday May Birthdays 5/2 Sheri Kraklow 5/6 Emilie Ricknell 5/10 Bill Thompson May Anniversaries 5/17/1959 Allan and Barbra Kraklow 5/28/1982 Christine and Garry Erickson 5/28/1977 John and Charlene Sovanski In Our Prayers Our list of prayer intentions at mass includes the names on the lists below. To update the lists please inform pastor. in our parish: Emilie Ricknell, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe, Emmy Wear, Sue Murphy, Don Murphy, Dick Melchin, DeAnne Anderson, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Jim Watson, Dana McReynolds, Carol McReaynolds Sandra VerPlaetse, Mary Hamilton beyond our parish: Anna Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises] Katy Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises] Jody Rutowicz [Harrises’ daughter] Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter] Elizabeth Godke, Sharon Field’s mother Brandt and Oneda Hendrickson [Ricknells’ relatives] Helen Woods [Sue Murphy’s sister] Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister] Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson] Dennis Hoag [Adam Shreck’s father-in-law] Sue Harris [Steve Harris’s sister-in-law] Nancy Callahan [Don Murphy’s sister] Rachel Smith [Emmy Wear’s cousin] Yvette Baker [Dale’s daughter-in-law] Warren Williams [relative of the Kemerlings] Bud Harfst [Sue Murphy’s brother] Tony Stoner [friend of the Murphys] Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece] Carol Grigsby [friend of Jewneel Walker] Tim Newman [Kemerling relation] Melinda Fisa [Kemerling relation] Kathy Boeger [re Harrises] Allison Leezer [relative of the Kraklows] Christopher Lewis [relative of the Eckardts] Sandra Eppely [relative of the Murhys] in the military: John Eckardt Donny Appleman [at request of the Ricknells] Richard Heiden [at request of the Eckardts] Luke Van Landigan [grandson of Dick Melchin] Jaclyn Alvarez [daughter of Kris Harden] Eli Wetzel Traven Wetzel Shawn Wetzel Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson] Jake Mahaffey Trevor Shimmin in trouble: especially regarding the spread of diseased any unborn children in danger of abortion those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Nigeria, India, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and elsewhere. St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church 109 S. Elm Street Kewanee, IL 61443 3/25/2020 April 2020The Virus Crisis and the Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord
Our state of affairs and the whirlwind of terrible news that keeps coming to us every day has men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth (St. Luke 21:26). We hope and pray and mostly believe the worst will not come to pass, but we also recognize the pain already, as workers have been furloughed, small businesses shuttered and in some cases gone bankrupt as unemployment skyrockets. We’ll know soon enough how disastrous all this will prove to be, and chances are it will not be doomsday. But whatever the outcome, one thing we know for certain, as I have already mentioned in my phone calls to members, this has been a period of chastening from the Lord. And the Lord is good, and knows our needs. I am reminded of the words of St. Paul: “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have receive the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (Romans 8:14-15). These comfort us because they tell us that we are bound to Christ through our Baptism and faith; we are united with him who is the only-begotten Son of God. How in the world dare we call God our Father, when God has only one Son? Only because of Jesus’ blessed work and invitation to come and live in his stead. Such a blessed estate, to be called sons of God! And since this is so, we know that as his suffering was itself a good thing, for it redeemed the world, and because it led to his resurrection, so our afflictions are themselves good for us, for they chasten us and bring us to our knees, which is exactly where we need to be, and because we, too, shall be glorified in him: “the sufferings of this present time are not worth to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). This is closely tied to the resurrection of our Lord, because he is the firstfruits of our own resurrection, and his resurrection has already occurred. In his resurrection we see already what shall happen to us, the glory that shall be revealed. Thus even in affliction let us rejoice, and daily gain comfort from this blessed Gospel. All is not lost, because “we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:37). + Pastor Eckardt Our temporarily suspended services At this point, as this newsletter goes to print, we are still unsure about when the resumption of our schedule will be, whether in time for Easter or not. If not, we can expect to count on a day of great celebration whenever that occurs. We will not move anything on the church calendar per se—that is, we will not be able to move the Easter propers and readings to another day—but what we may well want to do is see about scheduling our special extras for that day of return, whether lilies, music, hymns, preaching, and all the expectations that we would normally have for Easter itself. So, for example, we might find ourselves returning the second Sunday after Easter (who knows?); then that day could become our special day this year, in terms of our celebrations. As things develop, we will be able to make plans. Stay tuned. NOTE: Please remember to mail in your offerings! Your fragile congregation needs them to survive! Mail them to the church at 109 South Elm Street, Kewanee, IL 61443. The History of Images, and Our New Statue of St. Paul In the eighth century, a burning controversy flamed over the use of icons and images. Was it idolatrous to venerate these? The Seventh Ecumenical of ad 787 settled the matter, noting the difference between veneration and worship. Images are venerated to show honor to the one they depict. The iconoclasts (icon destroyers) were likely influenced by Jewish and Muslim ideas, since just prior to this debate the Muslim Caliph Yezid ordered the removal of all icons within his territory. Within the church there were always those who objected that icons were tokens of idolatry, contrary to the extension of the first commandment: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth” (Ex. 20:6). They conveniently disregarded the very next verse that explains further: “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them” (Ex. 20:7). St. John of Damascus (c. 676-749) successfully defended the use of icons, saying, “Icons are not idols but symbols, therefore when an Orthodox venerates an icon, he is not guilty of idolatry. He is not worshipping the symbol, but merely venerating it. Such veneration is not directed toward wood, or paint or stone, but towards the person depicted. Therefore relative honor is shown to material objects, but worship is due to God alone.” A different kind of iconoclasts appeared in the days of Martin Luther, taking from the Reformation a false cue to destroy all vestiges of the Roman Church. When Luther was hidden in the Wartburg Castle under the protection of his prince, Frederick the Wise, these radicals barged into churches, ripped corpuses off crosses, and smashed statues. On hearing of this, Luther was enraged. Frederick was keeping him hidden because his own safety was at issue ever since he had been declared an outlaw by the Emperor in 1521. He likely would have been put to death had not Frederick taken this step. But now, in the following year, heedless of his own safety, he determined it was time for him to re-emerge. Disguised as a knight, he showed up at church during the first week of Lent and began to preach against the violence of the iconoclasts and the injury they were doing to the faith of the common people. Luther explained that images are not to be worshiped, but there is no law against creating a statue or picture of something. If there were, God would never have commanded the making of the bronze serpent in the wilderness (Numbers 21:1-9). It was not until centuries later that people began to worship it and serve it with their hearts, and King Hezekiah had to destroy it (II Kings 18:4, cf AE 40:87). There is much more at issue in the church’s various times of contention against iconoclasts, however. The real “scandal” to iconoclasts is that God himself has been manifested in the flesh, and has bound himself to his creation in the Person of Jesus Christ. There is no other God than this Man, and therefore one who looked at him was looking at God in the flesh. This is the mystery of the incarnation. God has adorned his world with his own essence, clothing himself in human flesh. This truth is not only wonderful to behold; it is also too hard for some to accept. They want to think of God as being transcendent, above all things created, a spirit and therefore untouchable by the earth and its substance. The incarnation has exposed all such thinking as false and unchristian, for the Word became flesh (St. John 1:14). Therefore it is right to adorn our churches with beautiful images and objects; it is good to employ fine art and sculpture to assist us in our worship, for these things help us in implicit ways to remember that God is with us, and is forever bound to his creation. Thus the new statue of St. Paul that has finally arrived is a welcome addition to our worship. The sword he is holding is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17), and his serene, settled stance reminds us of his instruction that he has learned the secret of contentment in whatever situation he finds himself (Philippians 4:12). The statue is also a healthy reminder of why this church was named St. Paul’s. It is, to put it in other words, “The Lutheran Church of St. Paul the Apostle.” That is, it is dedicated to his memory, for he was the great apostle to the Gentiles and writer of the great majority of New Testament epistles. His writings are the very word of God, and are therefore dear to our hearts. God used this man mightily to deliver his Gospel to us. His word did not drop down from heaven (as the Mormons falsely believe), nor was it mysteriously delivered in an extended dream to one man (as the Muslims falsely hold). Rather, “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). St. Paul, to whom Jesus first appeared in a vision on the road to Damascus, was transformed from an enemy of the church to one of its strongest leaders. God used him to proclaim the truths of the Gospel: that Jesus our Lord, “being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:6-11). O thanks be to God for sending his great apostle St. Paul, whom we rightly venerate and honor with a lovely new statue. + Pastor Eckardt Holy Week and Easter Masses All scheduling of regular services is currently suspended due to the virus necessities laid upon us and the world. While this is in place, we have scheduled online streaming Matins on Sunday mornings at 8:30, and daily Vespers Monday through Thursday at 4:00 pm. Pending the return of our schedule, Mass will resume at the usual times, as well as being held daily during Holy Week: Holy Monday through Good Friday, at 7 p.m.; the Great Vigil: Saturday, April 11th, at 7 p.m.; and Easter Sunrise Mass: April 12th, at 7 a.m. (Easter breakfast following). Easter Midweek Mass: Wednesday, April 15th, at 7 p.m. Easter Lilies There’s a sign-up sheet in the back of the gym. Cost. $15.00 apiece. If we are not able to return by Easter, we may possibly have in place a plan to decorate with lilies on the day we do return. Stay tuned. Easter Hats Ladies, remember our hats tradition! Easter is the time to wear your best, and if you are able, set it off with a handsome hat! And by all means, leave them on for the Easter breakfast. Again, if our scheduling does not allow us back in time for Easter, we anticipate a later target date for these festivities. Stay tuned. April Anniversary 4/13/2002 Steve and Sheri Kraklow April Birthdays 4/3 Adam Shreck 4.14 Emmy Wear 4/19 Luke Wells 4/22 Grant Andreson 4/25 Mason Dooley Oktoberfest is Moving to Detroit After serious and careful thought, the difficult decision has been made to discontinue Oktoberfest, at least for this year 2020. The strain on the congregation has been heavy, and I determined that a reassessment was a prudent thing to do. Meanwhile Father Braden at Lutheran Church in Detroit has expressed a willingness to take it over. Their St. Michael Conference is annually held in late September, and we have been in a discussion about merging the two events, so that this year’s St. Michael Conference will also be including an Oktoberfest element. As part of this merger, I have been asked to be the keynote speaker at the St. Michael Conference. Every year I have attended that conference as a sectional speaker, so this will be a bit different. Oktoberfest has been a successful and joyous event held here for 24 years, so there is a certain sadness involved in the making of the decision, and a thankful recognition of the willing support and volunteer spirit here that has contributed mightily to the success of those years. While it remains possible that we could host Oktoberfest again in the years to come, there is nothing planned. Thanks to all our willing volunteers! -Pastor Eckardt April Ushers Grant Andresen, Jim Hornback, Steve Harris. Shut ins Emilie Ricknell at home Dick Melchin at Hammond-Henry extended care in Geneseo. Emmy Wear at Williamsfield retirement home Dale Baker, during the winter, at home Bea Harris, when unable to get out, at home First Tuesday meetings Our First Tuesday meetings are tentatively scheduled for the second Tuesday this month, April 14th. In Our Prayers Our list of prayer intentions at mass includes the names on the lists below. To update the lists please inform pastor. in our parish: Emilie Ricknell, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe, Emmy Wear, Sue Murphy, Don Murphy, Dick Melchin, DeAnne Anderson, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Jim Watson, Dana McReynolds, Carol McReaynolds , Sandra VerPlaetse beyond our parish: Anna Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises] Katy Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises] Jody Rutowicz [Harrises’ daughter] Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter] Elizabeth Godke, Sharon Field’s mother Brandt and Oneda Hendrickson [Ricknells’ relatives] Helen Woods [Sue Murphy’s sister] Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister] Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson] Dennis Hoag [Adam Shreck’s father-in-law] Sue Harris [Steve Harris’s sister-in-law] Nancy Callahan [Don Murphy’s sister] Rachel Smith [Emmy Wear’s cousin] Yvette Baker [Dale’s daughter-in-law] Warren Williams [relative of the Kemerlings] Bud Harfst [Sue Murphy’s brother] Tony Stoner [friend of the Murphys] Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece] Carol Grigsby [friend of Jewneel Walker] Tim Newman [Kemerling relation] Melinda Fisa [Kemerling relation] Kathy Boeger [re Harrises] in the military: John Eckardt Donny Appleman [at request of the Ricknells] Richard Heiden [at request of the Eckardts] Luke Van Landigan [grandson of Dick Melchin] Jaclyn Alvarez [daughter of Kris Harden] Eli Wetzel Traven Wetzel Shawn Wetzel Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson] Jake Mahaffey Trevor Shimmin in trouble: especially regarding the spread of diseased any unborn children in danger of abortion those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Nigeria, India, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and elsewhere. Altar Guild Notes Pending the return to congregating.
St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church 109 S. Elm Street Kewanee, IL 61443 2/20/2020 March 2020Some Thoughts on the Lenten Fast
The season of Lent has become less noticeable in our day than it was in previous generations, which is unfortunate in many ways. While we admit that there are many historic customs that are not Biblically mandated, we also contend that this fact does not necessarily discount their use. There are very many customs whose absence has left us culturally poorer. More importantly, this is true of many Christian customs, whose use was beneficial for Christian faith and life. Lent is full of such customs. There was a time when everyone knew, to take one such custom, the importance of the Lenten fast, and people were instinctively aware it served as a kind of bodily preparation for Easter. Of course fasting is not commanded of us in Scripture, though it is assumed. Jesus fasted, and so did his disciples. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declared, “But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly” (St. Matthew 6:17-18). Jesus did not say if you fast, but when. But why? What is the benefit of voluntarily fasting? For one thing it helps us to become aware that the spiritual nature of our faith does not discount the fact that it is also a bodily faith. Sometimes it is falsely supposed that since the faith is a spiritual thing it cannot therefore be material. But this is to forget that our bodies have been made by Almighty God, and are therefore to be respected. So we engage in worship in many bodily ways: for example we bow our heads and fold our hands when we pray, we sometimes kneel and sometimes stand. We even confess in the Apostle’s Creed that we believe in “the resurrection of the body,” because we know that at the Last Day our bodies will be wholly renewed and reunited with our souls (this is also why, incidentally, Christians bury their dead). There are many laudable bodily customs that are ways of showing appreciation to our bodies’ Maker. Fasting is one such custom. It is not only a good physical discipline, as health professionals can attest; it is a subtle self-reminder that while we live in this fallen world, we are, because we have been baptized into Christ’s church, pilgrims on our way to new heavens and a new earth. And during this pilgrimage we must be prepared to endure affliction; fasting is in fact a way of preparing. Perhaps best of all, when we fast during Lent and then break the fast at Easter, that great day with its glad season becomes all the more exciting, as we rejoice, in part by bodily feasting, in the bodily resurrection of our Lord from the dead. Our culture has drifted from its moorings, most of which were Christian customs. Now we live in a post-modern society which has largely forgotten and set aside Christianity altogether. Thus, people don’t know that we are all sinners in a sinful world; and people who don’t know this cannot possibly know the meaning of forgiveness and salvation through faith in Christ. It is important for us Christians to understand that our very lives are at odds with the trends of culture in many ways; and therefore, there are also subtle ways in which we can remind ourselves of this. One such way is the Lenten fast. +Pastor Eckardt A Scheduling checkerboardDuring March a number of scheduling conflicts will require a close look at the calendar, as there have been some necessary changes (for this month only). The reason for these changes is that Pastor plans to be out of the country from the 10th until the 21st, not returning to Kewanee until Sunday the 22nd. The following articles reflect these changes. First Tuesday meetings on March 3rd. As usual, meetings are scheduled for the first Tuesday in March, which is the 3rd: Altar Guild is at 6 pm, Vespers is at 6:45, and Elders is at 7:15. March Anniversary 3/19/1977 Jeff and Diana Shreck March Ushers Allan Kraklow, Steve Kraklow, Tom Wells, Jim Hornback To Rome with Love I guess that’s the name of a movie, but in our case it’s also an opportunity. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has been offered to Pastor and Carol: a trip to Rome this month. Our son Michael is a financial advisor for Edward Jones, and sometimes he gets offered trips to various places around the world for a week’s vacation, on which he can take one guest. He’s taking his parents on this trip to Rome, and one of us has all expenses paid. To make the trip of greater benefit, Carol and I are leaving a few days ahead of the week in Rome. On March 10th we fly there, and plan to take a train to Florence for a few days ahead of Sunday the 15th when we’ll return to Rome to meet up with Michael for the week of the 15th. A scheduling snafu has developed since we began planning this trip. We return to Chicago on Saturday the 21st, but I didn’t notice at first that the arrival would be a bit after 10 pm, meaning that in order to make it home to celebrate Mass on the next day, I’d be driving from Chicago in the middle of the night, with jet lag, not returning to Kewanee until 3 am or so. That’s a recipe for disaster, so I have arranged for supply preaching also on Sunday the 22nd. Supply preachers are now scheduled for services here both on the 15th and the 22nd. While I am gone, if you need emergency pastoral care, you may contact Pastor Barry Long in Peoria (309-369-3573) or Pastor Steven Mueller in Geneseo (989-928-6603), either of whom will be glad to assist. +Pastor Eckardt In Our Prayers The afflicted, in our parish: Emilie Ricknell, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe, Emmy Wear, Sue Murphy, Don Murphy, Dick Melchin, DeAnne Anderson, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Jim Watson, Dana McReynolds, Sandra VerPlaetse and beyond our parish: Anna Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises] Katy Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises] Jody Rutowicz [Harrises’ daughter] Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter] Elizabeth Godke, Sharon Field’s mother Brandt and Oneda Hendrickson [Ricknells’ relatives] Helen Woods [Sue Murphy’s sister] Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister] Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson] Dennis Hoag [Adam Shreck’s father-in-law] Sue Harris [Steve Harris’s sister-in-law] Nancy Callahan [Don Murphy’s sister] Rachel Smith [Emmy Wear’s cousin] Yvette Baker [Dale’s daughter-in-law] Warren Williams [relative of the Kemerlings] Bud Harfst [Sue Murphy’s brother] Tony Stoner [friend of the Murphys] Dylan Harden [Chris’s grandson] Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece] Carol Grigsby [friend of Jewneel Walker] Tim Newman [Kemerling relation] Pastor Brian Feicho in the military: John Eckardt Donny Appleman [at request of the Ricknells] Richard Heiden [at request of the Eckardts] Luke Van Landigan [grandson of Dick Melchin] Jaclyn Alvarez [daughter of Kris Harden] Eli Wetzel Traven Wetzel Shawn Wetzel Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson] Jake Mahaffey Trevor Shimmin in trouble: any unborn children in danger of abortion those suffering from unrest, persecution, disease, and imprisonment in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Nigeria, India, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and elsewhere. Robin Sighting This year’s robin sighting contest is in the books, and the winner is Michele Keehner of Peoria, who retakes the crown she won in 2014. She reported a sighting of five robins sitting in a row at the botanical garden in Peoria. The Kraklow dynasty is broken. And the winner this year gets an all-expenses-paid trip to Hawaii! Or not. Our list of winners: 2020 Michele Keehner 2019 Steve Kraklow 2018 Steve Kraklow 2017 Barbra Kraklow 2016 Judy Thompson 2015 Carol Eckardt 2014 Michele Keehner March Birthdays: 3/1 Barbra Kraklow 3/25 Carol Eckardt Church Council March 25th, at 5:30. This is the fourth Wednesday of the month. Altar Guild Notes · The paraments color for the entire month of March is VIOLET, except · Wednesday, March 25th the Feast of the Annunciation: WHITE Next meeting is Tuesday, March 3rd. Choir rehearsals again In preparation for special music during Holy Week and Easter, choir rehearsals are starting up again, beginning Wednesday, March 4th. Check the calendar. We will skip the next two weeks, and resume Wednesday, March 25th. Tune up your voice and join in! Laetare Sunday March 22nd is Laetare Sunday, the Fourth Sunday in Lent. It is near the middle of the season, which is why it is customary to adorn the altar with roses, representing an oasis in the midst of a desert: in the midst of Lent the brightness of roses reminds us that in all our sorrows there is hope in the Lord. Judica and Passiontide March 29th is Judica Sunday, also called Passion Sunday, because it is the beginning of Passiontide, the last two weeks of Lent. The images are all veiled until Easter. Catechism Schedule There are only three remaining catechism hours left on the schedule for this season. They are Saturday, March 7th, 9 am. (No class Saturday March 14th ) (No class Saturday March 21st) Saturday, March 28th, 9 am Saturday, April 4th, 9 am The Annunciation The Annunciation is on March 25th, because that is nine months before Christmas: the celebration of the day which the angel announced to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus. This is the day on which he was conceived in her womb by the Holy Spirit. We will celebrate the Annunciation with Holy Mass on Wednesday, March 25th, at 7 pm. Make a special effort to come! Psalm 45 Reading: St. Luke 1.26-38 Meditation: Nine months before Christmas we observe the annunciation, when the angel hailed Mary as highly favored and blessed among women. Now the mystery of the Incarnation is most mysterious and hidden, for not only does God veil His godhead in flesh, but veils also His flesh within flesh. For Christ was conceived by the Holy Ghost in the blessed Virgin's womb, where eye has not seen, nor ear heard what God has prepared for His people. Therefore faith must rejoice this day in the unseen, in the hidden, for Christ Himself is now hidden within His mother. But true faith knows well to find God where the eye cannot see. Thus faith trusts His word even when there is nothing in the experience to verify it. So did Mary trust the angel's annunciation to her, saying simply, Be it unto me according to thy word. Let us follow the example of blessed Mary, mother of our Lord and God, and trust in His word even where we have no sight or experience; and notwithstanding such hiddenness from the eyes, believe in the true Light. + James Armstrong + Our beloved brother James Armstrong has passed into the arms of the Savior. James was baptized here at the Vigil of Easter, April 4th, 2015, and was received as a communicant member the following year, also at the Vigil of Easter, March 26th, 2016. He died at the hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana, on February 17th, after suffering a series of strokes. He leaves behind his wife Michelle (nee Thompson) and six children from a prior marriage. Plans for a memorial service in Kewanee are pending. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. R. I. P. Lent Midweek Masses When Pastor is away, Midweek Masses will be canceled, which is unfortunate because it is Lent. Midweek Masses are cancelled for March 11th and 18th. The only Midweek Lenten services to be held will be (following Ash Wednesday) on March 4th, March 25th (the Annunciation), April 1st, and the days of Holy Week. There are no Lenten suppers scheduled this year. Statue of St. Paul en Route At the time of the writing of this newsletter, we were informed that our statue of St. Paul is complete and has been scheduled to be shipped via FedEx the week of February 17th. This makes it possible that the statue will have arrived by Sunday the 23rd, or by Sunday March 1st. Upon its arrival and placement in its new location—the area where the Baptismal font used to stand, to the right of the chancel—we will be having a rite of dedication at the opening of Sunday’s Mass. We will now have symbols for all the twelve Apostles in the great arch, and the statue of St. Paul, for whom this congregation is named. This is the final piece of our renovation project begun in 2016. Thanks be to God! St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church 109 S. Elm Street Kewanee, IL 61443 1/16/2020 February 2020 St. Paul’s Evangelical-Lutheran Church
109 S. Elm, Kewanee, Illinois 61443 Newsletter Volume 32 February 2020 No. 2 CANDLEMASA coincidence of two First Class Feasts of our Lord occurs this year on February 2nd: The Transfiguration of Our Lord and the Presentation of Our Lord for Sunday. Traditionally the Transfiguration was observed in August, and there was no possibility of a coincidence of date. This changed some time ago in the traditional Lutheran sanctoral cycle when the Feast of the Transfiguration was sensibly moved to the Epiphany season as the last Sunday after Epiphany, a great instance of manifestation (epiphany) of our Lord. But now the coincidence of date becomes an issue in years such as this 2020 when two Feasts of the First Class fall on the same day and one of the Feasts must move to a weekday following. At St. Paul’s we will be observing the Presentation of Our Lord in Sunday February 2nd, and transferring The Feast of the Transfiguration on the following Wednesday, at our usual midweek mass. The Presentation of Our Lord and the Purification of Mary is also traditionally called Candlemas, due to the laudable custom of providing hand-candles to the congregants. The hand-candles are lit twice during the service. The first occasion is at the opening, just after the blessing of the church’s candles. A moment is taken to allow for the hand-candles to be lit from hand to hand, beginning with the pastor, who lights his from an altar candle. When all have lit their candles, the congregation then processes by rows to reverence the altar with candles lit, while the Nunc Dimittis is sung. The people extinguish their candles when they return to their pews, just prior to the Introit. The second occasion for lighting the hand-candles is just prior to the Preface: as before, a moment is taken while the candles are again lit from hand to hand. The candles remain lit until after the consecration of the Elements, at which point they are extinguished. Look forward to Candlemas on Sunday, February 2nd, and then to the Transfiguration on Wednesday, February 5th. A meditation on this Feast is on the back page. -Pastor TRANSFIGURATION The Transfiguration of Our Lord will be observed on Wednesday, February 5th. See page 4. A meditation on this Feast is also on the back page. Central Illinois District – Mission Story Mission Council: Rock Island Circuit The Rock Island Circuit Mission Council, also called the Hispanic Council, began in 2002 with a project. Pastors and laypeople in the Rock Island Circuit knew that Spanish-speaking Pastor Pablo Dominguez was coming to East Moline, called as a District Missionary. They also knew he would be starting Hispanic ministry in the Quad Cities from scratch. Initially, those who gathered as the mission council thought of themselves as the church council that he did not have at the time. Circuit churches sent one representative apiece to the mission council. Its meetings provided information about Pastor Dominguez’s work and sparked interest. The mission council also became a way to bring to bear and coordinate various skills that members of circuit churches wanted to contribute to the Hispanic mission: carpentry, bookkeeping, laying carpet, etc. In time, the mission council also provided financial support to the mission. The council opened its own bank account. For a while it paid various expenses such as van insurance. In 2019 the council closed its account, for Cristo Rey Lutheran Church had assumed responsibility for all the expenses which the council had been paying. And several council members were instrumental in arranging fundraising projects in circuit churches to help Cristo Rey return $10,000 of subsidy money to the Central Illinois District in 2019. Council members have enjoyed learning about Hispanic culture. Pastor Dominguez has taught them a great deal, not only about culture but also about servanthood in Christ. The Rock Island Circuit Mission Council’s role has changed over the years. Yet its commitment to Christ and to the cause of Lutheran mission outreach to Spanish-speaking residents of the Quad Cities has remained. The Lord has used its dedicated efforts in cooperation with the Central Illinois District. “I thank my God . . . because of your partnership in the Gospel” (Phil. 1:3-5). February UshersOtis Anderson, John Ricknell, Bill Thompson; Jim Hornback. February Birthdays 2/2 Mindie Fisher2/4 Joshua Kraklow2/5 Tom Wells2/17 Monroe Kemerling2/23 Carol McReynolds Shut-ins Mary Hamilton has moved to Fort Wayne. Emilie Ricknell is at home. Emmy Wear is at Williamsfield Retirement Center; Dick Melchin is at Hammond-Henry Hospital in Geneseo. Altar Guild Notes Altar color is white throughout January and on February 2nd and 5th, on which we celebrate the Presentation of our Lord and the Transfiguration of Our Lord, respectively. On February 9th, Septuagesima Sunday, the color is violet, and the color remains violet throughout February. Soup Suppers Again? Our Lenten soup suppers would begin the Wednesday after Ash Wednesday (March 4th) if we choose to have them again. There would be five on the schedule, since there is no supper scheduled for Holy Week. Pastor will be away for March 11th and 18th, however, so the will be no midweek masses on those days. Let’s discuss this informally during February. February Council MeetingThe February council meeting is scheduled for the second Wednesday of the month, a week earlier than usual. This is February 12th, at 5:30 pm. In Our Prayers Our current list of prayer intentions at mass includes the names on the lists here following. Anyone wishing to update the list by addition or subtraction, please inform the pastor.in our parish: Emilie Ricknell, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe, Emmy Wear, Sue Murphy, Don Murphy, Dick Melchin, DeAnne Anderson, Bea Harris. Allan Kraklow, Jim Watson, Dana McReynolds, Sandra VerPlaetse, and beyond our parish: Anna Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises] Katy Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises] Jody Rutowicz [Harrises’ daughter] Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter] Elizabeth Godke, Sharon Field’s mother Brandt and Oneda Hendrickson [Ricknells’ relatives] Helen Woods [Sue Murphy’s sister] Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister] Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson] Dennis Hoag [Adam Shreck’s father-in-law] Sue Harris [Steve Harris’s sister-in-law] Nancy Callahan [Don Murphy’s sister] Rachel Smith [Emmy Wear’s cousin] Yvette Baker [Dale’s daughter-in-law] Warren Williams [relative of the Kemerlings] Bud Harfst [Sue Murphy’s brother] Tony Stoner [friend of the Murphys] Dylan Harden [Chris’s grandson] Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece] Carol Grigsby [friend of Jewneel Walker] Tim Newman [Kemerling relation] Karla Perkowski [Monroe Kemerling’s daughter] Louise Tharp Melinda Fisa [Monroe Kemerling’s granddaughter] Pastor Kenneth Wegener Pastor Karl Fabrizius Pastor Brian Feicho Robert Hultman, Kewanee Care resident who has requested pastoral care in the military: John Eckardt Donny Appleman [at request of the Ricknells] Richard Heiden [at request of the Eckardts] Luke Van Landigan [grandson of Dick Melchin] Jaclyn Alvarez [daughter of Kris Harden] Eli Wetzel Traven Wetzel Shawn Wetzel Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson] Jake Mahaffey Trevor Shimmin in trouble: any unborn children in danger of abortion victims of wildfires in Australia those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Nigeria, India, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and elsewhere. Robin Sighting Contest:Who can find the first robin of spring? Call Pastor if you see and can verify one. Can anyone break the Kraklow string? This is the seventh year of the contest. Past winners: 2019: Steve Kraklow 2018: Steve Kraklow 2017: Barb Kraklow 2016: Judy Thompson 2015: Carol Eckardt 2014: Michele Keehner The robin, of course, is something we regard very highly because it is a sign of spring; and the approach of spring is also the approach of Easter; and the approach of Easter is enough to cause us abiding joy. So rejoice in the robin, O Christian! And know this: as sure a thing it is that the robin comes, even more sure is the Resurrection of our Lord. February Anniversaries None First Tuesday The first Tuesday events (altar guild, vespers, elders) will be held, God willing, on Tuesday, February 4th. Altar Guild at 6 pm; Vespers at 6:45; Elders at 7:15. All members are always encouraged to join us for First Tuesday Vespers, as you are able. THE TRANSFIGURATION The Transfiguration of Our Lord normally comes as the last Sunday after the Epiphany, just prior to pre-Lent. This year is unusual. Since February 2nd is the last Sunday after Epiphany, it presents a conflict with the Presentation of Our Lord and the Purification of Mary, which always falls on the 40th day after Christmas. The article on the first page of this newsletter explains that Feast. Traditionally the Transfiguration was observed in August, and there was no possibility of a coincidence of date. This changed some time ago in the traditional Lutheran sanctoral cycle when the Feast of the Transfiguration was sensibly moved to the Epiphany season as the last Sunday after Epiphany, a great instance of manifestation (epiphany) of our Lord. But now the coincidence of date becomes an issue in years such as this 2020 when two Feasts of the First Class fall on the same day and there is a legitimate question over which should take precedence and move the other to the following calendar day. A consensus among the editors went with the Transfiguration, but it was not a strong consensus; it was more of a shoulder-shrugging, head-scratching consensus. In addition, the editors of Gottesdienst are certainly not, nor have they ever been, in any position to make authoritative ‘rulings’ on such matters. When offering liturgical directions and advice, they tend to do so from a standpoint of traditional considerations, most of which are uniform and easy to discern as to their propriety. In this case, however, there was no traditional basis from which to draw. Therefore we have arrived at a genuine matter of adiaphora, indifferent things. Liturgical pastors are utterly free to make up their own minds on this, without damage to what is the preferred tradition, as there is no preferred tradition: two equal First Class Feasts fall on the same day. One must be transferred to the next. Which? At St. Paul’s in Kewanee, the Presentation will be observed on Sunday the second, but the Transfiguration must also be observed, so it will move to the next midweek mass, February 5th. The Transfiguration is the capstone of the observances of the Epiphany of Our Lord. Epiphany means manifestation, and the Gospels during this season all deal with various manifestations of the glory of Christ. Epiphany Day contains the coming of the wise men to Bethlehem, led by a star. The Sunday after Epiphany has the boy Jesus in Jerusalem, amazing the scholars in the temple. On the octave of Epiphany, the Baptism of our Lord recounts the opening of the heavens and the Father’s declaration that Jesus is his beloved Son, in whom he is well pleased. On the following Sunday is the wedding at Cana, at which Jesus turns water into wine, his first Galilean miracle. The following Sunday has the healing of the centurion’s servant. Other Sundays that sometimes follow during longer Epiphany seasons likewise show forth Christ’s glory. Always the last Sunday contains his glorious Transfiguration before Peter and James and John. During this unusual year this Feast will be observed the Wednesday after the 2nd of February, due to the conflict with the Presentation of our Lord and the Purification of Mary. Both are First-class Feasts of Our Lord, and worthy of extra effort on the part of the congregation to attend. A meditation on this Feast is on the back page. Ash Wednesday The first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday, is on February 26th this year. Pastor and Carol are due in Florida for her father’s 90th birthday. Pastor Matthew Synott from Trinity in Peoria will be filling in for the imposition of ashes and the Ash Wednesday service at 7 pm. There will be no Ash Wednesday morning mass this year. Meditation: The Presentation of Our Lord and the Purification of Mary, February 2 Reading: St. Luke 2.22-32 Today our Lord appeared in the temple, according to the word of the Prophet, Suddenly the Lord, whom ye seek, shall appear in his temple. This is forty days after His birth. Now forty days signifies purification, as Moses and Elijah were purified by their forty days in the wilderness, and as our Lord Christ proved his purity by his own forty days in the wilderness, and as the faithful attend with diligence to the purification of the flesh through fasting in the forty days of Lententide. So forty days are assigned for the purification of a woman who had given birth to a son, for in childbirth woman bleeds, giving a sign of death, and evidence of her need for purification. But the Blessed Virgin brings not only the turtledoves which the law prescribed, but the very Sacrifice himself, which the law foretold. Christ, who with divine and human nature is greater than two turtledoves, and who, having clean hands and a pure heart according to the words of David, is the most holy and pure sacrifice to cleanse and purify our Blessed Mother Mary (Is she not our mother, who is also the mother of Christ our Lord our Brother?) and all the people of God with her. Meditation: The Transfiguration Reading: St. Matthew 17.1-9 Consider well the transfiguration of our Lord, for there you see the true state of all flesh before God in Christ. For all flesh is grass, as the Psalmist says, and withers and decays; yet in the Incarnation, God has joined Himself to human flesh and filled human flesh with His own Godhead as the Apostle says, in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Now since this is so, what can be said of those who have received the body of Christ? Shall they not also be transfigured, as He was? Shall they not rise and live in glory with Moses and Elijah and all the company of heaven? Verily, Moses was assumed into heaven, as was Elijah; see therefore what has become of them: they dwell bodily where Christ is now ascended, in token of the assumption that all of our bodies shall receive at the Last Day. Yet that Day is not yet; therefore let us hear Him, as the voice from the cloud commanded. For He is the One of whom Moses had said, Him you shall hear, and whom Elijah portrayed with all the prophetic wonders he worked. Now the One whom Moses and the prophets foretold is come. Yet He is come not to receive glory but to exchange it; thus, when He comes down from the mount, He will suffer, that we may be glorified in Him. St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church 109 S. Elm Street Kewanee, IL 61443 |
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