Dealing with Traitors: Lessons from the Donatist Controversy

This is a shortened version of a paper I prepared for a conference in Wisconsin in June. – Pastor
 
The Donatist heresy about which St. Augustine famously wrote had to do with several controversial matters, chief among them the question of the validity of sacraments administered by bishops who were found to be schismatics (heretics). What occasioned the controversy, which raged throughout the fourth century, was the matter of the traditores, or traitors. These were Christians who because of the threat of persecution had responded in ways perceived to be cowardly. Toward the end of the reign of the Emperor Diocletian, during the years a.d. 303-305, the “Great Persecution” began, during which many Christians were imprisoned and martyred. Christian leaders had been ordered to hand over their Scriptures and Sacred Books under the threat of this severe persecution. Some complied with the order and some refused. Those who complied became known as the traditores, because, as traitors, they had handed over the books the government demanded (trado, to hand over).

When the persecution ended with the ascendency of Constantine to the throne, this controversy emerged. One bishop in particular, Mensurius of Carthage, had been accused of being a traditor, but his defense was that he had actually handed over no sacred books at all, merely some heretical ones he didn’t want in his library anyhow, and evidently the ruse had worked; so, it would seem, no harm, no foul. But this failed to placate the Donatist party who insisted that anything short of an utter refusal to comply was an offense against Christ. When Mensurius died, his supportive archdeacon Caecilian was to become his successor, which further enraged his enemies.

According to Augustine’s biographer J. R. King, the primary concern of Mensurius and Caecilian against the stricter party was “the fanatical spirit in which many of the Christians courted martyrdom.” That, it would seem, was the other side of the coin.

But the Donatists insisted that any such person was not considered eligible to administer valid sacraments. Hence, the acts of Mensurius, whom they considered a traditor, were to be counted as illegitimate, and so, by extension, those of Caecilian. This included Baptisms, which, according to the Donatists, were therefore no Baptisms at all.

At length the Catholic Church declared in opposition that the validity of Baptism was seen to be independent of the worthiness of the administrator of it. This point of view was reaffirmed in our Lutheran Confessions.

But the pesky Donatists continued on their course, eventually attracting bands of Circumcelliones, violent and profane radicals, who would jump out at random before travelers on the road, shouting “Laus Deo (Praise the Lord!),” swinging large clubs called “Israels,” hoping to evoke a violent response that might even result in their own deaths, or rather, to
their own way of thinking, their own martyrdoms. This was problematic for them because the persecution of the church had already come to an end. Instead of finding ways to be martyrs, they found themselves considered clowns. People who encountered them, instead of acceding to their demands to be martyred, began to laugh at them. This drove them to change their tactics, and they began to commit acts of mass suicide instead. They would throw themselves off cliffs or into the river, or even, in some cases, they would set themselves afire.

After some years St. Augustine engaged a Donatist named Petilianus, who had charged him with malice and madness, to which the he replied, “Address that rather to your own Circumcelliones. . . .  [You Donatists insist that] innocence is on your side? Look back for a moment on your troops . . . with [their] cudgels . . . axes and lances and swords.”
The Donatists managed to survive into the 7th century, though they didn’t die out entirely until the rise of Islam.
 
What can we lean?
First, in spite of the acrimony and notoriously violent character of the Donatist controversy, there were some matters both sides consistently agreed upon. No one on either side ever believed that the true traditores had been in the right. No one argued that compliance with Diocletian’s wicked order had been the moral thing to do. No one invoked Romans 13, as far as I can tell. Neither the Donatists nor the Catholics would have thought such an argument anything less than laughable, even though it was no secret that the murderous Nero had been the emperor when Paul wrote Romans. The limitations of the meaning of Paul’s words were evident to all:

For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God . . . [and] therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
No one thought these words would apply to the emperor’s order to hand over the sacred books, even though one could argue (and nowadays someone probably would argue) that such an order was not in itself a command to sin. The emperor’s power was never assumed to be so great that “except when commanded to sin” was the only exception to it. The question, for all who called themselves Christians, was not whether a perceived traditor had a legitimate excuse for his actions, but rather what was to be done with him after the persecution had passed.   

A second thing we can learn from the controversy, which lasted well over a hundred years, was that the Donatists were intellectually and spiritually bankrupt from the start. These Circumcelliones were essentially wild and foolish. In confessing the faith against them, the church had to contend with opponents that were without sense. Augustine had no trouble making cogent and persuasive arguments against them not only because of his deft capacity as a rhetorician and brilliant theologian, but because they were easy opponents to oppose. The Donatist party was not intellectual at all, and certainly had no conception of the history of the Christian faith nor of the Sacred Scriptures.

It's always a good thing to know one’s opponent. And today, similarly to these fools, we have many versions of folly as well. It seems a good thing to remember the greater likelihood that they are deceivers than that they are serious in their assertions, and never to assume too much about them or their specious arguments. For a prime example, consider the Critical Race Theory (“woke”) madness that has infected virtually every corner of society. When the church responds to their folly in a way that assumes their concerns are genuine, nothing is gained, and indeed much can be lost. Yet that is exactly what the Northwestern District of the Missouri Synod did at their 2018 District Convention, in resolving to condemn the sin of racism and calling for the establishment of a task force on the issue of racism. Wisdom cries out, “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him” (Proverbs 26:4). But it seems that advice has not been heeded.

At length Augustine did see the need to respond, because of their rebaptisms, which he regarded as a monstrous crime. For while sacraments administered by unworthy ministers in the church are nevertheless valid, a sacrament wrongly administered, or administered outside the church, was no sacrament at all. Not all baptisms were valid; but the worthiness of the priest was not a criterion; only whether his church was legitimately church. Though this may seem a distinction without a difference, the difference is that what the Donatists had done was determine that when a priest or a bishop was found to be a traditor, his own worthiness was called into question, and therefore the validity of his acts; but what the Catholic church did, by contrast, was in some cases determine the church in which a ‘baptism’ occurred was in fact no church at all.

This difference could also be applied today. When we consider, for instance, the phenomenon of supposedly administering the Sacrament of the Altar over the internet, we are not calling into question the worthiness of the administrator, but whether there’s any administration going on at all. There is no church there, but only cyberspace.  It isn’t the worthiness of the administrator we call into question, but the legitimacy of his administration. Just as the proverbial pastor baptizing passers-by with a water hose is not truly baptizing anyone, so also the one who thinks he has the capacity to consecrate the elements in some place other than where he is standing has no such capacity at all, and these are no sacraments either. They are, to use Augustine’s term, monstrous crimes, perhaps even more so than the Donatist rebaptisms. They have no standing, no power, and no validity.

There are some other comparisons that can be made to our day. There are all kinds of crazy people about these days, as we all know. Gone are the simple, halcyon days of same-sex marriages or of mere homosexuals roaming the streets. Now there are more radical concerns: transgender madness, multi-gender madness, and the madness of thinking you can switch genders just because they figured out how remove some things from your body and paste some other things on. You might well say that today’s Circumcelliones aren’t wielding cudgels; they’re wielding scalpels. But they’re violent too: rioting in our cities and bringing civility to nothing wherever they can. And of course they’re claiming to be pious and holy in doing so. They think you are the wicked ones because you won’t support their madness. They won’t even debate you; they’ll silence you, cancel you. In their madness they have infected every corner of society, including the business world, and the schools, even down to kindergartens.

So a third lesson we might draw from the fourth century could be gleaned from a look at how Augustine finally did deal with the Circumcelliones. These bands of marauders essentially claimed that they fought as soldiers of Christ. This is quite evidently a tactic of those who do evil. They mask their evil under the guise of goodness and faithfulness. Augustine exposed the thin veneer under which their own hypocrisy lay, and the utter duplicity of their claims. “How neatly it is said under covering of the sheep’s clothing, ‘Charity beareth all things, endureth all things!’ but when you come to the test, the wolf’s teeth cannot be concealed.”

So also in our day comes the claim that we who refuse to go along, when we do not fall for the various complaints against us that we lack understanding or compassion, whether it’s because we don’t want to “understand” the plight of certain minority populations, or because we fail to show pity for someone “afflicted” with gender dysphoria, or because we “carelessly” refuse to comply with the government’s covid orders. Somehow we have supposedly become guilty of lovelessness and the charge that we don’t care, or are insensitive, because we don’t concern ourselves with the conditions or well-being of people. But how, we might well reply in good Augustinian fashion, is it not loveless to assume that racism abounds in our actions, when you have ignored the Eighth Commandment’s warning to explain everything in the kindest way? Tell us how it is uncaring to reject our society’s Circumcelliones’ eagerness to emasculate themselves or their unsuspecting and confused children. Or how is it not loveless, under the veneer of caring for the physical well-being of the sheep, to withhold from them their food, or to spew your vomited canard that the sheep’s green pastures may just as easily be found in front of a computer screen, while they sit alone at home in their pajamas? And we are somehow the loveless? Physician, heal thyself. The enemy always accuses, in one way or another; and usually when he does, he’s projecting, and guilty of the very things he charges.

There are doubtless other lessons to be gleaned from the fourth-century church’s contentions against the Donatists. These are some, tentatively offered here, with an eye toward learning either from the church’s earlier successes, that perhaps they may be of assistance today, or from her earlier errors, that we may not be doomed to repeat them.
 
+ Pastor Eckardt
 
Wednesday Evening Masses
 
There is no mass scheduled on Wednesday, July 13th. Pastor and Carol will be on family vacation.
 
On Wednesday, July 27th, mass is tentative, depending on when Pastor is able to return from a conference in Racine. To be announced.
 
Tentatively Wednesday masses are scheduled at 7 pm on all the other Wednesdays.
 
July, August Anniversaries
 
July:
7/1/1951 John and Emilie Ricknell
August:
8/1/2009 Chris and Trista Dooley
8/1/1981 Larry and Michele Campbell
 
Altar Guild Notes

• Color is GREEN for all Sundays in July and August
• No mass on Wednesday, July 13th.
• NO COMMUNION on Sunday, July 10th, when Pastor will be away, and we will hold matins that day, with no communion. After the service, altar guild may set up for communion on the following Sunday, July 17th.  
• NO COMMUNION on Sunday, August 7th, when Pastor will be away, and again we will hold matins that day, with no communion. After the service, altar guild may set up for communion on the following Wednesday, as usual.

 
Catechism Resumes in August

Junior Catechism will resume on Tuesday, August 16th, at 5:00 in the afternoon.
 
Church Council
 
The council will be meeting on Saturday, July 2nd, a Saturday, at 10 a.m. In August, the scheduled meeting is for Wednesday, August 17th, the usual time. 
 
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 Father Eckardt
7/14 Elizabeth Dooley
 
August:
8/11 Sam Fisher
8/11 Judy Thompson
8/13 Donald Murphy
8/16 Trista Dooley
8/21 John Sovanski
 
On Vacation
 
The nearby July calendar shows that I will be away for vacation from July 9th to the 16th. Matins will be held on Sunday the 10th, a service without communion. The subdeacons will lead the service which consists of psalms, hymns, canticles, readings, and the reading of a sermon by pastor. There is no mass on Wednesday  the  13th. I return on Saturday the 16th, and normal activities resume.
 
This matins service will again be offered on Sunday, August 7th, when Pastor and Carol plan to attend Pastor Fabrizius’s retirement service in the Milwaukee area.
 
+ Pastor Eckardt
 
Church Picnic Postponed
 
Our picnic has usually been scheduled for the last Sunday in June, but the council decided it best to postpone it for some time later in the summer. Date and place to be announced.
 
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, Don Murphy, Dick Melchin, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Sandra VerPlaetse, John Sovanski, Tara Wagenknecht, Grant Andreson, Dale Baker, and Jewneel Walker
            and beyond our parish:
Anna, Katy, and Jody Rutowicz [Harris relations]
Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter]
Elizabeth Godke [Sharon Field’s mother]
Oneida Hendrickson [Ricknell relative]
Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister]
Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson]
Tim Newman [Shreck relation]
Matthew and Yvette Baker [Dale’s son and wife]
Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece]
Kathy Boeger [re Harrises]
Allison Leezer [relative of the Kraklows]
Shannon Watson [Jim’s daughter]
Trevor Lindsey [Otis Anderson’s relative]
Lauren Lindstrom [Alissa’s Grandfather]
Everly Stoner, Dieter Michaelsen, Marvin Brown
             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
James and Ann Lee Armstrong
            in trouble:
unborn children in danger of abortion; Debra Reeves and her children Rae Beth and Drew Wayne, that they may be reunited; those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Nigeria, India, China, North Korea, and elsewhere.
 
Persecution Details
(from Voice of the Martyrs Canada www.vomcanada.com)
 
NIGERIA. 9 June 2022. Hundreds of Christians were gathered to celebrate Pentecost Sunday at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Nigeria, on June 5th when the service was disrupted by gunshots and explosions. As worshippers attempted to flee the building, gunmen shot them down, both inside and outside the building. When the bloodshed was complete, dozens lay dead – including children. Surviving victims were rushed to the hospital with injuries. It is believed that the number of fatalities could reach as high as 100.

Those who were unable to escape the building hid in silence while gunmen searched for remaining worshippers. The attack continued for more than 20 minutes before the assailants fled in a stolen car. The identities and motives of the perpetrators are unclear, as no group has claimed responsibility, though some reports have suggested that Fulani herdsmen may be to blame. Witnesses from outside the church building claim that four men were seen entering and leaving the facility around the time of the attack.

The violence was unexpected, since the town of Owo is in the southwestern state of Ondo – an area of Nigeria generally left free from the carnage typically experienced in other parts of the country. Politicians have widely condemned the attack. The country's vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, termed it "inconceivable wickedness," while the state governor, Rotimi Ageredolu, described it as "vile and satanic."
 
INDIA. 9 June 2022. Christians in the village of Geltua, which is located in Odisha State, are questioning the sealing of their church building after authorities issued a mandate on May 17th ordering the believers to stop gathering for worship. According to one official named Manoj Patra, complaints had been filed by Bajrang Dal members claiming that the church was involved in illegally converting others of their tribal community to Christianity.

When addressing the allegations, a local tribal Christian named Phulamani Munda stated: "We are just praying peacefully in the church. We believe in Jesus and follow the path of Jesus. I don't understand why the church was sealed." This was the only church within the community where approximately 100 people were gathering each week to pray.

The mandate was imposed under Section 144, which is an emergency provision to maintain order "in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger." Under the order, no more than three people will be allowed to assemble at the church building.
 
CHINA. 9 June 2022. On May 31st, Elder Hao Ming was finally able to visit with his lawyer, more than six months after his initial arrest. Elder Hao had been arrested on November 17th when police raided the Early Rain Qingcaodi Church. The visit took place at the Deyang City Detention Centre in China's Sichuan province.

According to Elder Hao's wife, Yang Yufeng, the retired pastor is in very poor health and, without needed medical treatment, his life may be at risk. However, because the detention centre has been locked down due to COVID-19, Elder Hao is not allowed to leave the premises to obtain treatment. In a social media post, Yang asked for prayer that God would move the authorities to release him or allow bail in order that he might receive the necessary treatment.

Elder W Jiannan, who was arrested at the same time as Elder Hao, is also awaiting trial from the Deyang City Procuratorate. Elder Wu's wife, Cui Yanqin, posted an update on social media, thanking Christians for their prayers. Cui is able to report that, though her husband has lost a lot of weight, he remains joyful.
 
Our Ushers:
Jim Hornback, Tom Wells, Steve Kraklow.
 

July and August Elders with Tuesday Vespers
 
First Tuesday events for July are to be held on Tuesday, July 5th, the usual time. Vespers at 6:45 (for anyone who wants to attend); meeting at 7:15.
 
In August this is scheduled for the 9th (second Tuesdday), since Pastor will be away on the 2nd.
 
St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church
   109 S. Elm Street
   Kewanee, IL 61443

Because the Father Himself Loves You: a Segue into Pentecost and Trinity
 

During Eastertide, I had the opportunity to preach on St. John the Gospel for Rogate, the Fifth Sunday after Easter. I was struck by a portion of that Gospel in particular, in a way I had not considered before, perhaps because I had not quite understood it. It’s these words:
 
“And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. . . . At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God” (St. John 16:23-27).
 
These words have to do, I believe, with a very special and important kind of love, and are worth pondering as we enter the Trinity Season. We know, of course, that the Father loves us. So does Jesus. And we know that his love is the reason Jesus came to redeem the world.

But the particular kind of love of which he speaks here is, I believe, of a more exalted character even than that, and it speaks of something that is, in a way, new and profound.
 
A close examination of these words reveals this. In the first place, Jesus says he is not going to pray for his disciples now, because they can do it themselves. This is not general but specific. It means they can pray now in his stead, as though they were he. No need, in other words, that Jesus should do the praying for them, because now he is inviting them to pray in unity with him to the Father, so that when the Father hears them it will be exactly the same thing as when the Father had been hearing Jesus.
 
This brings us, secondly, to the meaning of the Father’s love here. Why does the Father love you? For this reason, he says: because you have loved me; and this means, as he continues here, that you have believed that I came out from God. So then this, like the Father’s hearing of the disciples in Jesus’ stead, is now the love for the Father that he has always had for his eternal Son. Jesus is called the Beloved, because the love between him and the Father is an eternal relationship between these Persons of the Trinity. And now, the disciples (and we) are invited into this love, and are loved as though we were Jesus.
  
This is the result of our Baptism in his name, and what it means to pray in his name. When it comes to your prayers, there is no difference now, in the Father’s ears, between you and Jesus, and there is essentially, in a way, no difference between you and Jesus himself, when it comes to the love of the Father. Of course you are not Jesus; but the baptismal unity you have gained with him now provides this perspective.
 
This truth provides a marvelous segue into Pentecost and Trinity, which we observe during the month of June.
 
First, on Pentecost the Apostles begin their holy Ministry, and offer prayers in the churches as though it were Jesus himself standing at the altar. And of all the prayers, perhaps the most significant is this: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread.” Because that prayer is essentially asking for the Sacrament, the very Body and Blood of Jesus, that is, that these precious elements may become here, in this place and at this time, Jesus’ Body and Blood, to be distributed to us. And we may have full confidence that this prayer is heard, because of the promise given here: “Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” This especially applies to the priestly prayer of the celebrant at the altar.
 
And next comes Trinity Sunday, a celebration of the three Persons of the Godhead. What this passage tells us about that is that the eternal love shared between the Father and the Son now welcomes us. Indeed the ancients used to say that this Love was none other than the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Holy Trinity.  To have the Holy Spirit, then, is to be brought into the divine, eternal fellowship of the Triune Godhead.
 
That’s deep, I know. But then, does not St. Paul agree? “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and decisions and how unfathomable and untraceable are His ways” (Romans 11:33)!
 
Welcome then, O ye Christians, to the depths of God, to his abiding love. And come and be bound to it again and again, at the altar.
 
+ Pastor Eckardt
 
June Birthdays
6/5 Linda Rowe         
6/16 Berniece Harris
6/29 Jim Watson
 
Church Council
The council will be meeting on Wednesday, June 15th the usual third Wednesday. Please make a note of it.
 
June Ushers
Jim Hornback, Steve Kraklow, Tom Wells.
 
Altar Guild Notes

• Color is RED for the Pentecost octave, June 5th until June 11th.
• Color is WHITE for Trinity Sunday (June 12th ) and its octave, including the Sunday after Trinity, June 19th.
• Color is GREEN for following Wednesday and Sundays (Trinity season).
• Color is WHITE for Wednesday, June 29th, the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul the Apostles.
• No mass Wednesday, June 22nd. Pastor will be out of town.
• Always check supplies. When wine supply (when the second to the last bottle is opened) or supply of hosts gets low (when the last sleeve is opened), please inform Pastor.

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:
Bill Thompson, Emilie Ricknell, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe, Emmy Wear, Don and Sue Murphy, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Sandra VerPlaetse, John Sovanski, Grant Andreson, Dale Baker, Jewneel Walker, Judy Thompson, Sharon Hartz
            and beyond our parish:
Anna, Katy, and Jody Rutowicz [Harris relations]
Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter]
Elizabeth Godke [Sharon Field’s mother]
Oneida Hendrickson [Ricknell relative]
Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister]
Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson]
Dennis Hoag, Tim Newman [Shreck relations]
Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece]
Kathy Boeger [re Harrises]
Allison Leezer [relative of the Kraklows]
Everly Stoner
Marvin Brown
Shannon Watson [Jim’s daughter]
Debra Dawson
Maxine Bitting [Judy Thompson’s sister in law]
Yvette Baker [Dale Baker’s daughter-in-law]
Karen Parker
Richard Heiden [Carol Eckardt’s father]
Candace Gehrke
Pastor Jacob Sutton, Pastor Justin Kane
               in the military:
John Eckardt
Donny Appleman  
Richard Heiden  
Luke Van Landigan [grandson of Dick Melchin]
Jaclyn Alvarez [daughter of Kris Harden]
Wetzel, Traven Wetzel [Kris Harden’s relatives]
Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson]
Jake Mahaffey, Trevor Shimmin, Shad Draminski
James and Ann Lee Armstrong
                  in trouble:
any unborn children in danger of abortion
those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Nigeria, Algeria, Sudan, Madagascar, Iran, Iraq, Syria, India, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and elsewhere.
                     victims of warfare
                    our own church
                    our crops

Vespers and Elders June 7th
 This month’s first Monday events are to be held on Tuesday, June 7th. This includes Vespers at 6:45 pm, followed by Elders at 7:15 pm. As of now, the altar guild no longer meets regularly; notification will be given when they do meet.
 
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
 
Shut ins
Emilie Ricknell at home; Emmy Wear at Williamsfield retirement home; Dale Baker at home; Jewneel Walker at Kewanee Care, Grant Andreson, at Friendship Manor in Rock Island.
 
Pentecost and Trinity
This year Pentecost is on Sunday, June 5th, and Trinity Sunday is June 12th.
May Birthdays
5/2       Sheri Kraklow
5/6       Emilie Ricknell
5/10     Bill Thompson
5/24    Jeff Wagenknecht
 
Church Picnic Plans TBA
We still have not settled on a place for the church picnic this year, though we expect it will likely be held the last Sunday in June, which is the usual date. That will be June 26th. Announcement as to the place and details will be forthcoming.
 
Special Rules for Bibles or Books Containing Sacred Texts
 
By Ben Ball
 
Fr Ball is a Gottesdienst editor and a vice-president of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. This was posted on Gottesblog (the blog of Gottesdienst, for which see www.gottesdienst.org) on May 19th, 2022.
 
Our school principal purchased this edition of the Vulgate as a gift to our graduating Latin scholars.  What was of great interest to me was the piece of paper inside the book’s cover.  It included “Special Rules for Bibles or Books Containing Sacred Texts”.    I thought our Gottesdienst readers would find them as interesting as I did; so here they are.
 
A Bible is not a ‘coaster’.  Do not set drinks or food on a Bible.
 
Store in a clean, dry, and if possible, a prominent place so it is visible and easily accessed.
 
Avoid stacking books of lesser dignity on top of it.
 
When no longer of use to its owner, it should be given away or sold to another.
 
If it cannot be given away or sold, it should be thoroughly burned and the ashes buried in a suitable place.  This will help prevent it from falling into the hands of those who might desecrate God’s Word.  “Nolite dare sanctum canibus…Give not that which is holy to dogs…” (Matthew 7:6).
 
Do not ‘dog-ear’ or fold the pages to mark them.  Use a thin strip of paper instead.  Avoid using an excessive number of thick book marks or prayer cards.  This puts stress on the binding. 
 
Writing notes, underlining, or highlighting in a Bible is permissible if it is done discreetly and does not obscure the inspired text.  Do not cross out words or cut and paste portions of the inspired text.  If you do not like the translation of your Bible - get a different one!
 
Mr. Kennedy Goes to Washington
 
By Burnell Eckardt
 
This is another post at Gottesblog, from May 3rd, 2022.
 
A high school athletic director has been thrust into the national spotlight because he prayed in public. He took his case to court, and now, seven years later, the High Court has agreed to hear Kennedy v. Bremerton School District. 
 
This is reminiscent of the recent kerfuffle over the two Christians in Finland who went on trial for publicly confessing their faith. Readers will recall the victory in a Finnish courtroom we celebrated over the unanimous verdict in favor of Mrs. Païvi Räsänan and Bishop Juhana Pohjola, both of whom are recipients of Gottesdienst’s Sabre of Boldness, because the court determined it was not right for the government to get tangled up in the matter of Bible interpretation and the public stifling of free speech. Hopefully that victory will not be short-lived, though it has been appealed, predictably. Opponents, still fuming over the challenge that evident reality poses for their unfortunate and arguably deranged views on sexuality and marriage, have no intention of backing down.
 
And now on this side of the pond, before the Supreme Court comes the matter of publicly praying. Oral arguments were heard last Monday.
 
Joe Kennedy, the complainant, explained in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal that appeared on the day of the hearing (April 25, 2022) that he had promised God that he would “take a knee by myself in quiet prayer at the 50-yard line following every game, win or lose.” This developed over years into a motivational talk when players became interested in what he was doing, but when the administration told him to stop,  he gladly agreed to do so, and reverted to his previous practice of praying alone on the 50. But when the lawyers stepped in, the requirement changed to refraining from anything public or visible, with the suggestion that he go to a room far removed from the public eye. Mr. Kennedy determined that if he were to comply, it would send a message that prayer is bad and should be hidden, so he refused. He was suspended for that, though they admitted there was “no evidence that students have been directly coerced” to pray along. No matter. He was fired with a negative evaluation and the warning “Do Not Rehire” emblazoned on it. Mr. Kennedy, a former Marine, thus has made his plea to the Court.
 
The liberals on the Court have lined up against him of course. Justice Kagan opined that what he is doing still constitutes a form of coercion, because it “kind of puts undue press on student (sic) to participate when they may not wish to,” and Justice Sotomayor agrees, saying, “He chose to publicize his prayer, and he got down on one knee on the 50-yard line.” I frankly find this laughable. As Mr. Kennedy has said, “teachers could be fired for praying over their lunch” by that standard. And thankfully most of the other Justices seem to be on his side. Justice Alito has even indicated that religious expression should be treated no differently than the expression of political views, a protected right. The Court’s majority appears to be in agreement that Mr. Kennedy’s conduct should not be considered an endorsement of religion, and it’s widely believed that they’ll rule in his favor, come June (NBC News online April 25, 2022).
 
So here’s another example of religion, specifically Christianity, under attack in the public worldwide spotlight. First Finland, now here. For now it appears that public sentiment is coming down pretty heavily on the side of free speech, and that’s a good thing of course. But there’s no telling the future. I know I inherited my sainted mother’s perpetual optimism about things, but still I find in this an urgent need for continued prayer, not only on the 50-yard line. Martin Luther quipped that the world has no idea how much it owes the Christians for their prayers, and I, too, believe those prayers have certainly made a difference, and that Someone is listening. So let’s keep praying. And as for the future, it was once said that we don’t know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church
   109 S. Elm Street
   Kewanee, IL 61443
​

Why Four Gospels?
 
A new Bible class begins on Tuesday, April 26th, at 1:30 p.m. We will take a look at the four Gospels and consider some questions about them, chiefly these:
 
1. Why four Gospels? Why isn’t one enough? What’s the reason for this duplication? What can we deduce from it? There’s a great article nearby that deals with one aspect of this matter. 

2. What are the differences between each Gospel and the others? What is the significance, if any, about these differences?
 
3. What is the thematic statement of each Gospel writer? 

We’ll take accounts that occur in more than one of the Gospels and compare it to the other or others. What conclusions can we draw?
 
Finally, we hope to make some conclusions about the order in which these Gospels were likely written. Which came first? Which came last? Does it matter?
 
Although this first ‘kickoff’ class will be held on Tuesday, April 26th, it will be followed by a two-week hiatus, as Pastor will be gone for a few days the following week. We will resume, God willing, on the 10th of May. Join us for an invigorating study and conversation.
 
Jesus Christ’s Resurrection Is Probably The Best-Documented Historical Event Ever
By Scott Powell – posted online at The Federalist, April 15th, 2022

Because of their experience with the resurrected Jesus, the apostles were in a unique position, knowing with certainty that Jesus was truly the Son of God.

There are many religions with different founders, prophets, and teachers going back thousands of years. But only one of them, Christianity, has a founder who professed to be the Messiah—the son of God—who provided irrefutable proof of who he was by conquering death through resurrection. Easter is the celebration of Christ’s resurrection.

Christ is also the only person in history who was pre-announced starting a thousand years before he was born, with 18 different prophets from the Old Testament between the tenth and the fourth centuries BC predicting his coming birth, life, and death. Hundreds of years later, the details of Christ’s birth, life, betrayal, and manner of death validated those prophecies in surprisingly accurate and minute detail. One thousand years BC, David prophetically wrote about the crucifixion of Christ at a time crucifixion was unknown as a means of execution.

Every other consequential person of history came into the world to live. The death of other religious leaders—such as Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Mohammad, and Confucius—brought an anticlimactic end to their lives and their work.

But Christ came into the world as God’s son in order to die and pay the price for man’s sin. His sacrifice was the ultimate climax of his life, done for the benefit of all mankind—opening the way to eternal life in heaven for all who believe.

Of the four major world religions built on personalities, only Christianity claims its founder is still alive, having overcome death through resurrection. No Jew ever believed that, after Abraham died and was interred, his tomb ever became empty. After Buddha died, no disciple ever claimed that he or she saw or spoke to him again.

As for Mohammed and his teachings that are the basis of Islam, there is no trace of this founder appearing to his disciples or followers after he died at age 61. His occupied tomb is located in Medina and is visited by tens of thousands of devout Muslims every year.

Christ was unique in that he gave up his life as a sacrifice to fulfill why he came into the world. Christ set the highest standard of love possible, both in his teachings and in making the ultimate sacrifice—giving his life to rescue and save mankind. Then, to provide “seeing is believing” evidence, God brought Jesus back from being dead in a tomb to being alive—resurrected—so people would have living proof of who he was.

The New Testament provides accounts from multiple sources who witnessed Jesus firsthand after the resurrection. In fact, Jesus made ten separate appearances to his disciples between the resurrection and his ascension into Heaven, over a period of 40 days. Some of those appearances were to individual disciples, some were to several disciples at the same time, and once even to 500 at one time.
Particularly noteworthy is that there were no accounts of witnesses who came forth and disputed these appearances or called it a “hoax.” Not a single one. Nor do we find any historical record of any witness accounts that were contradictory.

While there are skeptics of the biblical account of Jesus, there’s actually far more reliable historical evidence for his life, teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection than for any other historical figure of ancient times. Consider, for instance, that the authenticity of Alexander the Great, who was born some 350 years before Christ, is based on two original biographical accounts of his life by Arrian and Plutarch, which were written some 400 years after Alexander died.

The manuscripts of Virgil and Horace, both of whom lived within a generation of Christ, were written more than four centuries after their deaths. The copy of works by Livy and Tacitus on Roman history and the works of Pliny Secundus on natural history were written on average some 700 years after the time of the original account.
Yet no one doubts Virgil and Horace lived and authored great poetic masterpieces. Nor do we hear questions about the authenticity and accuracy of accounts of Livy and Tacitus in chronicling the events of the Roman Emperors Augustus, Claudius, Nero, or Tiberius.

About 1,000 times more manuscripts preserve the deeds and teaching of Jesus in the New Testament (about 25,000 total) than there are preserving other classical ancient works of historic figures who lived at approximately the same time, with the exception of Homer, whose “Iliad” is backed by 1,800 manuscripts. But that is still less than one-tenth the number of ancient manuscripts that back the authenticity of the New Testament.

We know the historical Jesus mainly through four different accounts known as the gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—not written hundreds of years later, but within a generation or two of Jesus’s life. Apostles Matthew and John provide eyewitness accounts from their years of walking with Jesus as disciples. Mark also had eyewitness experience, although he was only a teenager when Jesus began his public ministry. Luke, the doctor, learned about Jesus from his friend Paul, the apostle who wrote the most letters in the New Testament.

Because of their experience with the resurrected Jesus, the apostles were in a unique position, knowing with certainty that Jesus was truly the Son of God. They had been present for the life, ministry, miracles, and death of Jesus. If the claims about Jesus were a lie, the apostles would have known it. That’s why their commitment to their testimony was so powerful and compelling.

Additionally, the apostles’ willingness to die for their claims has tremendous evidential value, also confirming the truth of the resurrection. No one will die for something he invented or believes to be false.

Seeing, talking to, and touching the risen Jesus transformed the apostles, who then committed the rest of their lives to educate and advocate for the truth about the message of salvation through Christ. With the exception of John, who died exiled on the island of Patmos for his testimony of Jesus, the other 11 apostles—including Matthias who replaced Judas, the betrayer of Jesus—died as martyrs for their beliefs in the divinity of Christ.

It turns out that Easter, which has its ultimate meaning in the resurrection, is one of ancient history’s most carefully scrutinized and best-attested events. The resurrection is real, and changes everything. Easter is the commemoration and celebration of the single event that transformed the world forever.
 
Scott S. Powell is senior fellow at Discovery Institute. This article is a vignette adapted from his acclaimed book, Rediscovering America, now Amazon’s No. 1 new release in the history genre. Reach him at scottp@discovery.org
 
Shut ins
Emilie Ricknell at home; Dick Melchin at Hammond-Henry extended care in Geneseo; Emmy Wear at Williamsfield retirement home; Dale Baker at home; Jewneel Walker at Kewanee Care, Grant Andreson, at Friendship Manor in Rock Island.

First Tuesday
Our First Tuesday events are moved to the second Tuesday this month, to accommodate
Pastor’s schedule.  This will be May 10th.
Please make a note of it. 
 
May Anniversaries
May 17, 1959     Allan and Barbra Kraklow
May 28, 1982     Chris & Garry Erickson
May 28, 1977     John and Charlene Sovanski
 
Church Council to Meet Wednesday, May 18th
 The monthly meeting of the Council is scheduled, as usual, for the third week of May, which is the 18th, at the usual 5:30
  
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:
Bill Thompson, Emilie Ricknell, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe, Emmy Wear, Don and Sue Murphy, Dick Melchin, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Sandra VerPlaetse, John Sovanski, Grant Andreson, Dale Baker, Jewneel Walker, Judy Thompson, and Otis Anderson, Sharon Hartz
            and beyond our parish:
Anna, Katy, and Jody Rutowicz [Harris relations]
Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter]
Elizabeth Godke [Sharon Field’s mother]
Oneida Hendrickson [Ricknell relative]
Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister]
Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson]
Dennis Hoag, Tim Newman [Shreck relations]
Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece]
Kathy Boeger [re Harrises]
Allison Leezer [relative of the Kraklows]
Everly Stoner
Marvin Brown
Shannon Watson [Jim’s daughter]
Debra Dawson
Maxine Bitting [Judy Thompson’s sister in law]
Loren Hartz [Sharon’s brother]
Yvette Baker [Dale Baker’s daughter-in-law]
Karen Parker
Rosemary Bloome [Don Murphy’s cousin]
Richard Heiden, Carol Eckardt’s father
Troy Kelly [friend of the Murphys]
Candace Gehrke
Nancy Callahan [Don Murphy’s sister, cancer]
Pastor Jacob Sutton, Pastor Justin Kane
in the military
John Eckardt
Donny Appleman  
Richard Heiden  
Luke Van Landigan [grandson of Dick Melchin]
Jaclyn Alvarez [daughter of Kris Harden]
Eli Wetzel, Traven Wetzel [relatives of Kris Harden]
Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson]
Jake Mahaffey, Trevor Shimmin, Shad Draminski
James and Ann Lee Armstrong
            In trouble
any unborn children in danger of abortion
those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Nigeria, Algeria, Sudan, Madagascar, Iran, Iraq, Syria, India, China, Vietnam, North Korea, Canada, and elsewhere.
Victim of warfare
 
May Ushers
Jim Hornback, Steve Kraklow, Tom Wells
 
Altar Guild Notes

• Paraments WHITE throughout May

 Always check supplies. When wine supply (when the second to the last bottle is opened) or supply of hosts gets low (when the last sleeve is opened), please inform Pastor.
 
Ascension Day May 26th
 
Ascension Day is on Thursday, May 26th. Because of this, according to our usual practice, our midweek mass will be held that day at 7:00 pm, instead of the usual day for midweek mass of Wednesday. No mass is scheduled for Wednesday, May 25th. Instead, put May 26th on your calendar and come observe the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord.

Gottesdienst Fort Wayne
 
The annual Gottesdienst Fort Wayne event is scheduled for Monday to Wednesday, May 2nd – 4th, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Details are at www.gottesdienst.org.
 
Pastor will be in attendance. Events here are  cancelled on  those days.

May Birthdays
5/2       Sheri Kraklow
5/6       Emilie Ricknell
5/10     Bill Thompson
5/24    Jeff Wagenknecht

Rogation Days Monday through Wednesday, May 23rd – May 25th
 
The rogation days are the traditional days of prayer leading up to Ascension Day, and following Rogate, the Sixth Sunday after Easter. Rogate means to pray. Every one of these days is a good day to offer special prayers, and in particular to pray the Litany, which may be found in the hymnal on page 110. You may find the sung version listed as Hymn # 661. We will do this in church on Tuesday, May 24th, at 1 pm, just prior to our Tuesday Bible Class. A good tradition; join is in the church.
 
A Special Visitor

On Wednesday April 20th, the church had a special and unusual visitor, who seemed to be auditioning for  the role of reader. But since he was the wrong species, I ushered him out the window.           - Pastor 


                       
  
St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church
   109 S. Elm Street
   Kewanee, IL 61443

St. Paul’s Evangelical-Lutheran Church
109 S. Elm, Kewanee, Illinois 61443
Newsletter
Volume 34                                   April 2022                                           No. 4
               
O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?
 
This sermon was preached by Pastor Eckardt at the Easter sunrise in 2017 and published in the Easter 2018 edition of Gottesdienst
 
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
 
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Answer me! You, O death, who have paraded yourself and boasted that you were unstoppable, whom no one could undo, for whom no one had an answer, and thus you have brought anguish and grief to the hearts of many and unassuageable tears to their eyes; you,  O death whose grim pall has been cast over all mankind, who have laughed in our faces, for we have been helpless and pitiful in your sight. Where are you now, O death? Where are you today? Or have you not yet heard that Christ is risen? But we have heard! And we know it! Christ is risen from the dead! O death, what do you say about this? Have you no reply? Have you lost your voice? Perhaps you are busy. Perhaps you are napping and must be awakened. No reply to this, O death?
 
And grave, what of you? You were supposed to be the final resting place, the end of life, you were so sure you had the last laugh. But you are wrong! For Christ is risen from the dead! And your treasury has been emptied; you, O grave, have been robbed by our victorious Thief in the night; your victory has been snatched away from you, and today you have lost everything.
 
You, O death! You, O grave! Today, you are utterly vanquished! And you are the ones who must languish while we celebrate. Today the pall is cast over you, and your power is taken away. And today, the victory we have gained is in fact eternal and impossible to undo. Just as you had made us helpless, now you are helpless and pathetic in our sight, and you have no answer; and our tears are being wiped away, and it is we who sit with our resurrected Lord in the heavens and shall laugh. We shall laugh in your face. For Christ is risen from the dead! O death, you ugly, detestable, deplorable thing: begone! Be forever gone!
 
The sting of death is sin, which is to say, sin is death’s great weapon. For all have sinned, and there is none who is righteous. Therefore all are guilty and all must die; all are mortal. That’s what death had on us, this undeniable truth, that we have sinned and are therefore not only mortal, but under the wrath of God. All of us, that is, except for one: our Lord Jesus Christ was without sin, and he, for us, not only entered our mortal state—even from the point of his conception, he not only became incarnate, but became mortal; not only mortal, but actually suffered death, even
Continued, next page
Continued from front page
death upon a cross. Death swallowed him up. Death, like a great sea monster with an insatiable appetite and mouth wide open swallowing everything in its path, also swallowed him: such a tender morsel, a delightful worm. Down the hatch he went. But in that worm was embedded and hidden a great divine hook, and the hook was set, and our Lord by his own divinity raised himself from death, and death was suddenly stopped in its path, and yanked, surprised, from its intention. And the predator had become the prey.
 
Beloved, have you lost someone? Have you been mournful? Does your heart ache in the face of death? Here is immeasurable balm and healing for the mournful, and for the sick at heart: Christ is risen from the dead. For death is vanquished not only in Jesus’ case, but also in ours. Because he is our Brother, the bearer of our own flesh. In Christ, we have gained this victory: Thanks be to God, says the Apostle, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Let these words sink into your ears. Claim this! Seize it! Believe it! Be steadfast and unmovable. You are free now to mock death, and to laugh at the grave.
 
But what if you doubt? What if you cannot bring yourself to this point? I am not calling upon you today to summon your will to believe, or to talk yourself into denying any doubts you might still harbor. Rather, here is what must be done with all such doubts and fears. Collar them and drag them to the tomb of Christ. Force them to look there. What do they see? He is not there. He is risen, as he said. Next, drag these fears to the upper room, and show them what is there. Put their nose in that scene. What do they see there? Jesus himself standing, saying, Peace be unto you, showing his hands and his side. Your doubts and fears must be taken to the evidence that demands to be seen and heard. They must hear these Gospel tidings. And in this way, let them be driven away.
 
And this is no idle talk. This is the truth: Christ is risen from the grave! He stood before his disciples and showed himself alive. He declared peace to them. He talked with them. He ate with them. He proved to them that he was alive. And since he is alive, death is dead. Since he lives, not only is his own grave empty, but the graves of all his saints must give up their victims. For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead in Christ shall rise, and we shall be changed. And all because Christ’s flesh is our flesh, his sacrifice is our sacrifice, his death is our death, and his resurrection is our resurrection.
 
So today let us feast. Let us receive Christ here at the altar. This bread is his living flesh; this cup is his life-giving blood. If you need any further evidence—and we always do—that his resurrection is your resurrection, then be partakers in it here.
 
And today let us rejoice. Set sorrow aside. This is the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord. This is a time for a great celebration, than which none could be greater. This is a victory celebration which shall have no end.
 
And today, let us mock. Let us laugh. Let us deride: O death, where is thy sting? Where are you now? Christ is risen! O death, what is your reply? Nothing to say? Has your mouth been stopped? Truly, you are gagged and silenced forever this day. And we confess the life everlasting. O grave, where is thy victory? Your coffins have been emptied and your coffers have been cleaned out; your victory has been turned into utter defeat, snatched away from you forever, and you have lost your prey. So get lost. You are nothing.
 
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
 
Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Passion Readings during Holy Week
​As is our usual custom, there will be readings of the Passion accounts from St. Matthew on Palm Sunday, St. Luke on Holy Wednesday, and Good Friday. These readings involve the participation of the congregation, which is reminiscent of a common choral practice during Reformation times. The subdeacon reads the narrator’s part, the pastor reads the part of Christ, and the congregation reads the parts of groups or crowds of people. These readings are found in special booklets which are handed out with the bulletins.
 
Holy Week and Easter Masses
​
Holy Monday through Good Friday, 7 p.m.
Great Vigil: Saturday, April 16th, 7 p.m.
Easter Sunrise Mass: April 17th, 7 a.m. (Easter breakfast following)
Easter Midweek Mass: Wednesday, April 20th, 7 p.m.
 
Shut ins
Emilie Ricknell at home; Dick Melchin at Hammond-Henry extended care in Geneseo; Emmy Wear at Williamsfield retirement home; Dale Baker at home; Grant Andreson, at Friendship Manor in Rock Island.

First Tuesday
Our First Tuesday events are scheduled for April 5th: First Tuesday Vespers between them, for all to attend, and Elders at 7:15 pm.
 
The Triduum Sacrum
 The Triduum Sacrum (holy three days) are the deepest point of Lent, giving way all at once to Easter. It starts on Maundy Thursday with mass at 7 p.m. There is no benediction for this service, as it is understood to continue on Good Friday and until the Great Vigil. As soon as the last part of the Maundy Thursday mass is sung (the Benedicamus: V: Bless we the Lord. R: Thanks be to God), the pastor and subdeacon remove their sacramental vestments while the choir sings a psalm. They then strip the altar, pulpit, and lectern of all their paraments, remove the reserved Sacrament, take out the torches, and leave the sanctuary bare. Following the congregational singing of another psalm, all depart in silence. On Good Friday, there is an opportunity to pray the Litany at 12 noon, the hour of crucifixion. Then at 7 pm is the Good Friday Solemn Liturgy with Holy Communion. On Holy Saturday, the third day, the Great Vigil commences at 7 p.m. with a newly lit fire outside (near the kitchen doors), from which the new paschal candle is lit. The congregation follows into the church in procession. The Vigil is in four parts, the first three of which anticipate Easter: the Service of Light, the Service of Readings, the Service of Baptismal Remembrance.  And then comes part four, when the lights go up, the pastor wears his white chasuble, and he announces, “Alleluia! Christ is Risen!” to which all robustly reply, “He is risen indeed! Alleluia!” This is an ancient versicle and response dating to the early church. It is still used around the world, in virtually all languages.
 
April Anniversary
4/13/2002      Steve and Sheri Kraklow
 
New Bible Class
 A new weekday Bible Class is tentatively to be scheduled Tuesday afternoons, beginning April 26th. The topic of this class is yet to be decided. The time of the class will probably be at 1:30 pm. Pencil it in on your calendars. Details should be coming in bulletins soon. Stay tuned!

In Our Prayers
Our list of prayer intentions at mass includes the names on the lists below.  To update the lists please inform pastor.Bill Thompson, Emilie Ricknell, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe, Emmy Wear, Don and Sue Murphy, Dick Melchin, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Sandra VerPlaetse, John Sovanski, Grant Andreson, Dale Baker, Jewneel Walker, Judy Thompson, Otis Anderson
            and beyond our parish:
Anna, Katy, and Jody Rutowicz [Harris relations]
Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter]
Elizabeth Godke [Sharon Field’s mother]
Oneida Hendrickson [Ricknell relative]
Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister]
Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson]
Dennis Hoag, Tim Newman [Shreck relations]
Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece]
Kathy Boeger [re Harrises]
Allison Leezer [relative of the Kraklows]
Everly Stoner
Marvin Brown
Shannon Watson [Jim’s daughter]
Debra Dawson
Maxine Bitting [Judy Thompson’s sister in law]
Loren Hartz [Sharon’s brother]
Yvette Baker [Dale Baker’s daughter-in-law]
Karen Parker
Rosemary Bloome [Don Murphy’s cousin]
Richard Heiden, Carol Eckardt’s father
Troy Kelly [friend of the Murphys]
Candace Gehrke
Pastor Jacob Sutton
Pastor Justin Kane [relative of Diana Shreck]
    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 [rel. of Kris Harden]
Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson]
Jake Mahaffey, Trevor Shimmin, Shad Draminski
James and Ann Lee Armstrong
    in trouble: especially
any unborn children in danger of abortion
those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Nigeria, Algeria, Sudan, Madagascar, Iran, Iraq, Syria, India, China, Vietnam, North Korea, Finland, Canada, elsewhere.
 
Easter Preparations
    1) Volunteers needed to help with Spring cleaning on Saturdays at 9 am.
   2) Extra volunteers needed to help with Easter Breakfast preparations on Holy Saturday, April 3rd, beginning at 9
 am.  First, we need volunteers to help with preparations on Holy Saturday,
   3) Items you are bringing for the breakfast. See the sign-up sheet in the gym. Everybody may bring something, but sign up for something in particular, so we don’t have everyone bringing the same thing.
   4) Easter lilies: find a sign-up sheet in the narthex or on the table in the hall. $15 each.
   5) Choir members, please make an extra effort to come to any remaining rehearsals.
   6) Ladies, remember your hats!
   7) Invite your families!
   8) Let us know you’re coming!
 
Judy, Our Volunteer Secretary
Since Judy Thompson broke her leg, she has been out of commission for several weeks, and is expected to be back in early May. The secretarial duties she performs are all  the more appreciated. During her absence, Pastor has been taking care of the mail, bills, bank balances, and other of her duties, at least the minimum of what has to be done. It’s a temporary solution, of course, and we are glad to hear she’s on the mend! Three cheers also for Michelle Armstrong her daughter who has been doing a lot of what is needed for her care.

April Birthdays
4/3      Adam Shreck
4.14     Emmy Wear
4/19    Luke Wells
4/22    Grant Andreson
4/25    Mason Dooley
 
Easter Lilies
There’s a sign-up sheet in the narthex.  Cost. $15.00 apiece
 
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.
 
Robin Sighting
The winner of this year’s robin sighting contest is Steve Kraklow, who saw one on Ash Wednesday, March 2nd. This is his third time as winner. The eligibility is limited to people in Illinois extending as far south as Peoria. As promised, as winner, he might get a check for $10,000 a month for the rest of his life. He might. Maybe.
 
2022 Steve Kraklow
2021 Andy Eckardt
2020 Michele Keehner
2019 Steve Kraklow
2018 Steve Kraklow
2017 Barbra Kraklow
2016 Judy Thompson
2015 Carol Eckardt
2014 Michele Keehner
 

April Ushers
Jim Hornback, Steve Kraklow, Tom Wells
 
Church Council to Meet Wednesday, April 20th
 
The monthly meeting of the Council is scheduled, as usual, for the third week of April, which is the 20th. at the usual 5:30

Altar Guild Notes

• The veils will be placed on images and statues on Passion Sunday, which is April 3rd. Some of them will have been placed prior to mass.
• Paraments WHITE for Maundy Thursday
• Altar stripped after Mass on Maundy Thursday, and for Good Friday
• Fair linen and corporal only, wooden candlestands, black veil on Good Friday
• Paraments WHITE for the Easter Vigil and all the rest of April

Always check supplies. When wine supply (when the second to the last bottle is opened) or supply of hosts gets low (when the last sleeve is opened), please inform Pastor.

 

St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church
   109 S. Elm Street
   Kewanee, IL 61443

St. Paul’s Evangelical-Lutheran Church
109 S. Elm, Kewanee, Illinois 61443
Newsletter
Volume 34                                   March 2022                                            No. 3

​THE LENTEN DOWNWARD TREK
 
It’s a very good thing to be in touch with the sanctoral cycle, better-known as the church year, a year superimposed on  the calendar year.
​
We generally manage our lives according to the calendar year, which counts onward year after year since our Lord’s coming and looking toward his return. This is why this year is called A D 2022. A D stands for anno domini, which is Latin for “the year of our Lord.” This is the year of our Lord 2022, counting that many years we have been waiting for our Lord’s return in glory. It’s a rough count, since the beginning of that counting was not altogether accurate, but the letters A D are a subtle reminder, all the same, that we’re still counting, and patiently waiting. Society doesn’t look at it that way, of course, but we Christians certainly do. A D is a subtle confession that Christ shall come again in glory to judge both the quick and the dead, as we confess every Sunday morning. That’s the calendar year, which, aside from that, we all understand pretty well.

Then there’s the church-year, the sanctoral cycle. Many people have little idea about this, generally paying attention only to its highlights, Christmas and Easter. But the Church does well in ordering our days around the year according to these high Feasts. Hence we count Advent as  the season leading to Christmas and Epiphany the season after Christmas.

And then there come the seasons surrounding the high feast of Easter. Eastertide itself is seven Sundays, preceded by Lent, the season of penitential preparation and fasting. Lent itself is also preceded by Septuagesima, also called pre-Lent, a season of three Sundays prior to Ash Wednesday. Those Sundays are Septuagesima (70th), Sexagesma (60th) and Quinquagesima (50th) named for the days (approximately) remaining before Easter. The emphasis during this season is on the Word of God and its power, and it is the season we begin as it were to march downward into the recesses of Lent. The somber season of Lent is itself subdivided, with the last two weeks designated as Passiontide, and the images are veiled. This two week period is itself subdivided, because the second of those two weeks is Holy Week, the most important week of the entire year. And Holy Week is then subdivided, because the period from Maundy Thursday until the Vigil of Easter is called the triddum Sacram, or the Holy Three Days of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, the very deepest part of Lent.

All this leads to the sharp and immediate contrast with Easter, which is ushered in at the Vigil itself. Moving directly from the throes of Lent’s deepest moments to the heights of Christianity’s most joyous day, we can the more easily recall the great wonder and joy experienced by  the apostles upon suddenly seeing the risen Christ, as he stood before them, alive.
All of this teaches us that the Christian faith is  rooted in real-life events, things that actually happened, and have made all the difference to us, sealing our eternal salvation.
+ Pastor Eckardt

Still No Robins? 
As it did last year, the robin sighting contest continues into March, since no robin sighting has yet been reported. Who can find the first robin of spring? Call Pastor if you see and can verify one. This is the ninth year of the contest.
Past winners:
2021 Andy Eckardt
2020 Michele Keehner
2019: Steve Kraklow
2018: Steve Kraklow
2017: Barb Kraklow
2016: Judy Thompson
2015: Carol Eckardt
2014: Michele Keehner
A sign of spring, the robin may also help us think of the approach of Easter!  
Remember, the winner of the contest might get a check for $10,000 a month for the rest of his life.
March Birthdays
3/1       Barbra Kraklow
3/25     Carol Eckardt

March Anniversary
 
3/19/1977 Jeff and Diana Shreck
 
Church Council
Council meets Wednesday, March 16th, at 5:30. This is the fourth Wednesday of the month.

March 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.  Anyone wishing to update the list by addition or subtraction, please inform the pastor.in our parish:
Bill Thompson, Emilie Ricknell, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe, Emmy Wear, Don and Sue Murphy, Dick Melchin, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Sandra VerPlaetse, John Sovanski, Grant Andreson, Dale Baker, and Jewneel Walker
and beyond our parish:
Anna, Katy, and Jody Rutowicz [Harris relations]
Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter]
Elizabeth Godke [Sharon Field’s mother]
Oneida Hendrickson [Ricknell relative]
Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister]
Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson]
Dennis Hoag, Tim Newman [Shreck relations]
Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece]
Kathy Boeger [re Harrises]
Allison Leezer [relative of the Kraklows]
Everly Stoner
Marvin Brown
Shannon Watson [Jim’s daughter]
Matt Verplaetse
Maxine Bitting [Judy Thompson’s sister in law]
Loren Hartz [Sharon’s brother]
Yvette Baker [Dale Baker’s daughter-in-law]
Karen Parker
Rosemary Bloome [Don Murphy’s cousin]
Richard Heiden, Carol Eckardt’s father
Troy Kelly [friend of the Murphys]
Pastor Jacob Sutton
Pastor Justin Kane [relative of Diana Shreck]
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 [relatives of Kris Harden]
Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson]
Jake Mahaffey, Trevor Shimmin, Shad Draminski
James and Ann Lee Armstrong
in trouble:
any unborn children in danger of abortion; those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Nigeria, Algeria, Sudan, Madagascar, Iran, Iraq, Syria, India, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and elsewhere, also Paivi Rasanen  and Bishop Juhana Pohjola  of Finland.

Trial of Räsänen and Pohjola Continues
 
The Finnish trial of Dr Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola resumed on Monday February 14th. The essence of this trial is that our Christian confession
of faith according to Scripture is itself on trial, since these stalwart Lutherans have been charged with “hate speech” because of their public confession that Scripture’s teaching on human life, sexuality, and marriage is true and correct, meaning that homosexuality is sinful, as Scripture also teaches. Dr. Räsänen was awarded the Gottesdienst Sabre of Boldness in January, and Bishop Pohjola had been awarded the Sabre in 2006.
 
The Prosecutor General of Finland had charged Dr. Räsänen and Bishop Pohjola with hate speech for openly confessing the faith, and for insisting on freedom of religion.
 
The latest news comes from a report that emerged on February 16th from the resumption of the trial on the 14th. It was announced that the verdict  would be reached and announced on March 30th. Bishop Pohjola, using a megaphone to address a large crowd of supporters after the session on the 14th, also spoke to reporters, and his remarks were published in English two days later. by the Diocese News of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of Finland. Here is what he said: “The prosecutor’s primary idea seems to be that, in public, one’s own understanding of the Bible may not be taught, and that freedom of religion does not give one permission to voice aloud a teaching if it is considered to discriminate against a minority group. Therefore, in line with this view, the biblical teachings on marriage, sexuality, sin and grace could not, according to the prosecution, be preached in public. This is an attack on religious freedom.” The demonstrators had gathered outside the courtroom to show their support for the defendants, as this trial has quickly gained international interest.

Catechism Schedule and Confirmation
 
The schedule for catechesis this season are as follows:
Adult catechesis Mondays at 1:30 pm
Junior catechesis on Tuesdays at 5:00 pm.
 
A New Study in Sunday Bible Class
 
Beginning sometime in March, depending on when our study of Hebrews ends, we will begin in our Sunday morning Bible Class to consider  the book of I Samuel. We began this study at our Day of Reflection, held on Saturday, February 5th, when we looked at the first two chapters. A brief review will be followed by a study of the remaining chapters of I Samuel. Join us for breakfast and an invigorating study hour that always begins after  Sunday mass, in the parish hall.
 
Choir rehearsals again!
 
In preparation for special music during Holy Week and Easter, choir rehearsals have started up again. The first Wednesday in March will have  to be skipped, as Pastor and Carol plan to be visiting her father in Florida for a few days that week, so we plan  to resume rehearsals on Wednesday, March 9th at 5:30 pm. That is a relatively new time, as the choir members seem to find it easier to attend at the earlier hour. Check the calendar and make a special note of it: March 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th, and April 6th. We will not rehearse after that unless we decide we need it.
 
Midweek Lenten Services
 
Following an old Lutheran custom, we suggest people to make a little more effort to come out for midweek masses during Lent, as another laudable way of observing the season. It’s a good part of the Lenten season. 7:00 Wednesday evenings.

 
 
  
St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church
   109 S. Elm Street
   Kewanee, IL 61443

St. Paul’s Evangelical-Lutheran Church
109 S. Elm, Kewanee, Illinois 61443
Newsletter
Volume 34                                   February 2022                                            No. 2

Candlemas

The Feast of Candlemas is upon us again, so-called because of the custom of distributing, blessing, and lighting of candles  during the service.  It is one of the more beautiful occasions we celebrate at St. Paul’s.

Set on February 2nd, this year it falls on the first Wednesday of February.  February 2nd is the fortieth day from Christmas. A woman who gave birth to a son was required by Levitical law to come for the rite of purification.  Thus the Blessed Virgin Mary came, and when she came she presented her first born Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, as she was also required to do by the law.

When Jesus was presented in the temple, the priest Simeon also came in and declared, in the words of the Nunc Dimittis, “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.”

This declaration of the Christ Child as a Light is the reason for the ceremonial use of candles at this Mass.  The use of these lights in connection with the Blessed Sacrament emphasizes the analogy of Simeon’s jubilation on receiving the Child with our own reception of Christ at the altar.  This connection is made at every Mass, of course, in our own recitation of the Nunc Dimittis.  At Candlemas, the connection is highlighted because the Gospel appointed for the day is this very Gospel.

The name of this Feast, Candlemas, also subtly provides a link to the Feast from which it springs, that great feast of forty days earlier, namely Christmas. 

Hand-candles are used twice in this service. First, at the opening, in a procession toward the altar and back to the pews, all the while singing the Nunc Dimittis (the song of Simeon). Second, the hand-candles are re-lit, when the Sacrament is consecrated.
+ Pastor Eckardt

Also called Groundhog’s Day
The reason for the legend of the groundhog who comes out, sees his shadow, and goes back into hiding for another six weeks off winter, is probably the fact that we are nearing the season of Lent, which is also (roughly) six weeks long.  But that’s just trivia.             More seriously, this year we begin pre-Lent on Septuagesima, February 13th.  So Ash Wednesday will fall on March 2nd.Easter comes on April 17th.
 
Septuagesima February 13st.

On Septuagesima Sunday we turn our gaze toward Easter, though liturgically it is still off in the distance. This Sunday marks the first day of pre-Lent (also called the Septuagesima season), a period of preparing our minds for the coming of Lent. A few liturgical matters are noted: we bid the Alleluias farewell, for we will not sing them again until Easter. The choir sings The Depositio, which is a “farewell to the alleluia” at the opening of the service.  In addition, and we have changed the color to violet, also the color for Lent. The Septuagesima season is observed in three Sundays: Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima. These Latin terms mean 70th, 60th, and 50th, for we pass, roughly, the 70th, 60th, and 50th days before Easter. Following Quinquagesima comes Ash Wednesday, the first day of the 40 days of Lent. Lent itself was once called Quadragesima, which means 40th.

In the middle ages Septuagesima Sunday was also seen as New Year’s Day, because of this shift in our focus: we had been living, as it were, in the wake of Christmas, since the Epiphany season is an extension of the Christmas season.

On Septuagesima Sunday we live in the first stages of preparation for the coming of Easter.

 Shrove Tuesday March 1st

A good opportunity to make confession privately in preparation for Lent. Pastor is available Tuesday afternoon until 5 pm and, as always, by appointment.
 
Ash Wednesday March 2nd

On Ash Wednesday, February 17th, we will congregate at 7:00 pm to mark the beginning of Lent. The rite of imposition of ashes precedes the Mass.
 
Lent

The season of Lent emphasizes penitence, in preparation for Easter.  Its span is forty days, like the forty days in which Jesus fasted in the wilderness, in fulfillment of the fast of Moses and Elijah on Mount Horeb.

The Apostles themselves left the specific manner of observance to Christian liberty, saying, Let each be convinced in his own mind.  Leaving aside the question of what things one should fast from (whether sweets, or meats, or milk products, etc.), what is clear is that the custom of fasting itself is quite biblical.  If Moses, Elijah, and Jesus himself fasted, certainly it must be a good practice.  Indeed, on Ash Wednesday we hear Jesus saying, “When ye fast, be not as the hypocrites,” etc.  Luther’s Small Catechism also declares, “Fasting and other bodily preparation is indeed a fine outward training.”  Therefore we conclude two things: first, that fasting is a good thing, and second, that it is a matter left to Christian liberty.

Liturgically the Church fasts during Lent (as Israel fasted forty years in the wilderness). The color is penitential violet.  Alleluias are not sung, and there is less music; flowers are absent, and weddings are not to be scheduled.

Then, the last two weeks of Lent are designated as “passiontide,” when statutes, images, and crosses in the churches are veiled, and no Glorias are sung at all, except in the Gloria in Excelsis on Maundy Thursday.

But in the midst of this penitential mood there is joy, especially at Laetare, the fourth Sunday in Lent (Laetare means ‘rejoice’). The entire penitential season is not to be sad, but joyful.  For true joy of heart, born of the suffering and resurrection of Christ, transcends all parts of Christian life, even the deepest of sorrows, as we confess with David that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.  Thus the forty days of Lent is followed by a contrastingly festive forty-day season from Easter until Ascension Day.
 
Annual Voters’ Assembly Set for February 6th

After several weeks of unforeseen delays, we finally have a scheduled date for the annual voters’ assembly, namely the first Sunday of February, which is February 6th. As usual, this meeting will take the place of Bible Class during the hour from 10:30 to 11:30 am.
 
A Day of Theological Reflection February 12th
             
Our annual Day of Reflection had a hiatus last year. We haven’t had one for two years, but now at last we are scheduling another. On Saturday afternoon, February 12th we will be having a seminar. This marks the 22nd year we have done this. This year’s theme is “THE NATIVITY, EARLY YEARS, AND CALL OF SAMUEL”
 
We will open with midday prayers and continue into the afternoon with the seminar.
 
Here is the schedule:
12:30 pm: Midday prayers
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.: Seminar (day of reflection)
The nineteenth retreat in the Theological Reflection series is entitled,
“THE NATIVITY, EARLY YEARS, AND CALL OF SAMUEL”
 
Samuel is a pivotal figure in the history of Israel, being both the last of the judges and the one to anoint the first king. What is the significance of his nativity and childhood, and what do the details of his call signify? Questions like this will all be discussed and addressed.
.+ Pastor Eckardt

Choir Rehearsals

Choir rehearsals will be starting again this month, beginning on Wednesday, February 2nd. Since the 5:30 hour seemed to work well late last year, we’ll schedule it that way again. We will only be able to meet three times in February, since Pastor will be gone the fourth week. Then we will resume in March. But let’s get started; see you there! 
February Birthdays
2/2      Mindie Fisher2/4      Joshua Kraklow2/5      Tom Wells2/23    Carol McReynolds 
February Anniversaries None

First Tuesday
The first Tuesday events (altar guild, vespers, elders) will be held, God willing, on Tuesday, February 2nd. 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.

No February Council Meeting 
As is customary, the church council does not meet in the month of our annual voters’ assembly. Since voters will meet on February 6th this year, there is no need for the council also to meet.

Ushers

Jim Hornback, Steve Kraklow, Tom Wells 

The Bible on Trial in Finland

The case of Païvi Räsänan and Bishop Juhana Pohjola is being tried in a Finnish Court. Dr. Räsänan, who is a physician, is on trial for hate speech because she, who is a sitting member of the Finnish Parliament, wrote a pamphlet in 2004 about the Biblical view of marriage between a man and a woman, and has since then been criticized for insensitivity toward the LBGTQ community for nothing other than her view that the Biblical view is correct. She received the Sabre of Boldness from the Gottesdienst editorial board last week and has communicated with us her gratitude for our support, which joins a widespread international voicing of dismay over the persecution she and her compatriot, Bishop Juhana Pohjola, who also received Gottesdienst’s Sabre award in 2009, have suffered. The trial goes on throughout February and may be decided by early March.

Dr. “Räsänen has claimed that the Finnish church has  ‘elevat[ed] shame and sin to a point of pride’, according to the indictment. According to Euronews.com, “Prosecutors say that her remarks are an ‘affront to the equality and dignity of homosexuals’ and have called for the MP to be fined up to €13,000. . . .

“The landmark case on hate speech and religious freedoms has been described as ‘shocking’ by Finland's Christian community. The former minister has denied the charges and says she acted in the name of ‘freedom of expression and religion’.

She remarked on the first day of the trial, “I hope it will be clear today that I do not wish to offend any group of people, but that it is about saving people for eternal life.”

We will keep her and Bp. Pohjola in our prayers.
 
 
Robin Sighting Contest 
Who can find the first robin of spring? Call Pastor if you see and can verify one. This is the ninth year of the contest. The eligibility is limited to people in Illinois extending as far south as Peoria.

The winner of the contest gets a check for $10,000 a month for the rest of his life. Maybe.

Past winners:
2021 Andy Eckardt
2020 Michele Keehner
2019 Steve Kraklow
2018 Steve Kraklow
2017 Barbra Kraklow
2016 Judy Thompson
2015 Carol Eckardt
2014 Michele Keehner
2020 Michele Keehner
2019: Steve Kraklow
2018: Steve Kraklow
2017: Barb Kraklow
2016: Judy Thompson
2015: Carol Eckardt
2014: Michele Keehner
 
A sign of spring, the robin may also help us think of the approach of Easter!  

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:
Bill Thompson, Emilie Ricknell, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe, Emmy Wear, Don and Sue Murphy, Dick Melchin, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Sandra VerPlaetse, John Sovanski, Grant Andreson, Dale Baker, and Jewneel Walker

and beyond our parish:
Anna, Katy, and Jody Rutowicz [Harris relations]
Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter]
Elizabeth Godke [Sharon Field’s mother]
Oneida Hendrickson [Ricknell relative]
Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister]
Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson]
Dennis Hoag, Tim Newman [Shreck relations]
Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece]
Kathy Boeger [re Harrises]
Allison Leezer [relative of the Kraklows]
Everly Stoner
Marvin Brown
Shannon Watson [Jim’s daughter]
Matt Verplaetse
Maxine Bitting [Judy Thompson’s sister in law]
Loren Hartz [Sharon’s brother]
Yvette Baker [Dale Baker’s daughter-in-law]
Karen Parker
Rosemary Bloome [Don Murphy’s cousin]
Richard Heiden, Carol Eckardt’s father
Troy Kelly [friend of the Murphys]
Pastor Jacob Sutton
Pastor Justin Kane [relative of Diana Shreck]

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 [relatives of Kris Harden]
Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson]
Jake Mahaffey, Trevor Shimmin, Shad Draminski
James and Ann Lee Armstrong

in trouble:
any unborn children in danger of abortion
those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Nigeria, Algeria, Sudan, Madagascar, Iran, Iraq, Syria, India, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and elsewhere, also Paivi Rasanen  and Bishop Juhana Pohjola  of Finland, who are on trial and face possible conviction and imprisonment for their confession of faith. 

St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church
   109 S. Elm Street
   Kewanee, IL 61443
 
 
 

​God rest ye merry, this Christmas 2021 and always!
– the Eckardts

St. Paul’s Evangelical-Lutheran Church
109 S. Elm, Kewanee, Illinois 61443
Newsletter
Volume 34                                   January 2022                                            No. 1
 
Master of Disguise
(Excerpts from an article in the Christmas 2021 issue of Gottesdienst by Pastor Eckardt)
 
Christmas is a great time to consider the humility of Christ and then to apply what we know about it to everything else in life.

Everyone knows about and loves the lowly stable (most likely it was a cave), the ox and ass, the manger, and the simple shepherds at the simple birth of Christ. It’s worth pondering not only for its simplicity but also for the realization that these were the most dreadful of conditions. It was most likely in the middle of winter and, therefore, cold. British poet Christina Rosetti, one of the Victorian age’s finest, had it right: In the bleak midwinter / Frosty wind made moan / Earth stood hard as iron / Water like a stone / Snow had fallen, snow on snow / Snow on snow / In the bleak midwinter / Long ago. Gustav Holst famously and marvelously set this to music to make it a most beloved carol. Added to this cold winter night was the frantic situation in which Joseph found himself with a pregnant wife soon to give birth and nowhere to turn in. Roman law required them to go to Bethlehem at once, at the worst of possible times for them. Though the lineages of both Joseph and Mary were the line of David, there were evidently no family members or relatives for them to count on when they arrived, already at the last minute. Mary’s cousin Elizabeth lived in the hill country, not near enough by. The Child was ready to be born, but they were clearly not ready for it to happen. There was no room for them in the inn, as we are all aware. We are told of no friendly innkeeper to offer them his barn. I’ve always been amazed at the suggestion that such an innkeeper could be called friendly, but none is mentioned anyhow. The only innkeeper mentioned in the Bible is in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Popular belief that there was an innkeeper likely arises from children’s Christmas plays. In reality, however, there was nowhere to go, and lest she give birth in the street, they seem to have had no choice but to turn in at the nearest shelter they could find. It was cold, it was dreary, they were alone, it was night, and there was no room anywhere. Those were the desperate circumstances of Jesus’ birth.

Meanwhile, the glory of the Lord shone round about the shepherds in a nearby field, though it did not shine round about the creche. The shepherds had quite a sight to see that night, but not this poor fledgling family. And speaking of those shepherds, they were already lowly men, in a sense themselves possibly the emblem of the despised caste that all Jews were in the eyes of the other nations, dating back to the days of the Egyptian farmers who, in spite of anything they respected about Joseph, would not have wanted shepherds anywhere near them (“every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians,” Gen 46:34). If the legend that shepherds were universally despised isn’t true, we can at least say this much, that they were essentially peasants. They weren’t aristocracy or nobility. But on Christmas Eve they became the most privileged of all men, for they saw a countryside filled with angels singing the premiere of the opening words of the Greater Gloria. Yet what is startling is that the sign given to them by which they would find the newborn Christ the Lord was no such glorious sight, but its virtual opposite: a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Consider the sign: it betokens dearth, not majesty. It is meager, not mighty.

It is all disguise, marvelous disguise.

The marvel of the disguise is magnified when we consider who is disguised here, namely the Almighty God in the flesh. This reality is commonly missed by the general public who, while they know and love the simplicity of the lowly birth, do not quite know whose birth this is. Even many brands of Christians do not quite know. For although they will readily confess that Jesus is God, they are not so swift to confess that this humility is not merely the humility of Jesus but the humility, therefore, of God.. . . He, and no other, is the Master of Disguise here. That this Child is the Almighty Creator of all certainly magnifies the marvel of His nativity.

And therefore, it is appropriate and helpful to apply this truth to everything in Christian life. The balm and comfort of the Gospel is not only to know the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation—though, to be sure, that is the heart of the matter—but, in addition, to see this disguise for what it is. For to see that this is God’s way of revealing Himself to us, is to begin to understand why Christian faith is never the way of despair. The circumstances in which Mary and Joseph found themselves were certainly desperate, but they were not an occasion to despair. They were ordained of God; they were His manner of working with us. They are His manner of working with us. This is what Luther would call the theology of the cross.

In his Heidelberg Disputation of 1517, Luther spelled out four important things that comprise this theology of the cross:

  19. That person does not deserve to be called a theologian who looks upon the invisible things of God as though they        were clearly perceptible in those things which have actually happened [Rom. 1:20].
  20. He deserves to be called a theologian, however, who comprehends the visible and manifest things of God seen       through suffering and the cross.
   21. A theologian of glory calls evil good and good evil. A theologian of the cross calls the thing what it actually is.
  22. That wisdom which sees the invisible things of God in works as perceived by man is completely puffed up,     blinded,   and hardened. (AE 31:40).

. . . Simply put, since the cross of Jesus is not evil but good, as every Christian knows, therefore the suffering of the Christian is also not evil but good since it is the means by which God brings him to the humility of seeing his worth only in Christ and not in himself. . .  .

And so the theology of the cross, of the manger, is a most comforting thing to learn, especially when shameful, difficult, or dreadful circumstances in life arise, whether they be personally difficult, liturgically difficult, societally difficult, difficult in any way at all. Dreadful circumstances tend to elicit sorrow and despair, as they suggest that God is not here, and there is no help. But all such suggestions vanish with a reminder that the Almighty God is the Author of the theology of the manger and the Master of Disguise.
 
First Tuesday events
Our First Tuesday Elders meeting is scheduled as usual. Tuesday, January 4th
after First Tuesday Vespers which is at 6:45 pm

January Anniversaries 
None
 
Altar Guild Notes
Altar color is white through January until the 31st, which is Septuagesima Sunday, when the color changes to violet. 

No Council Meeting in January 
The January council meeting is unnecessary this month because of the annual voters’ assembly to be held January 2nd.

Annual Voters’ Meeting
Our Annual Voters’ Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 2nd, at 10:00 a.m. (in the time slot normally reserved for Bible Class).
 
January Birthdays
1/1      Chris Erickson
1/13    James Hornback
1/15    Breann Dooley
 
January Ushers
Jim Hornback, Tom Wells, Steve Kraklow 

Shut ins
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; Jewneel Walker is at Kewanee Care; Bea Harris is occasionally at home.
 
The Bell Does Not Toll
On the last Sunday of the year (next Sunday) we would remember the members who fell asleep in Christ during the year, but this year there were none, for which we thank God.
 
 Annual Voters’ Assembly
 Our Annual Voters’ assembly is on January 2nd at 10:30.

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:
Bill Thompson, Emilie Ricknell, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe, Emmy Wear, Don and Sue Murphy, Dick Melchin, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Sandra VerPlaetse, John Sovanski, Grant Andreson, Dale Baker, and Jewneel Walker
            and beyond our parish:
Anna, Katy, and Jody Rutowicz [Harris relations], Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter], Elizabeth Godke [Sharon Field’s mother], Oneida Hendrickson [Ricknell relative], Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister], Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson], Dennis Hoag, Tim Newman [Shreck relations], Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece], Kathy Boeger [re Harrises], Allison Leezer [relative of the Kraklows], Everly Stoner, Marvin Brown, Shannon Watson [Jim’s daughter], Matt Verplaetse, Maxine Bitting [Judy Thompson’s sister in law], Loren Hartz [Sharon’s brother], Yvette Baker [Dale Baker’s daughter-in-law], Karen Parker [Dale Baker’s sister], Rosemary Bloome [Don Murphy’s cousin], Richard Heiden [Carol Eckardt’s father], Troy Kelly [friend of the Murphys], Pastor Jacob Sutton, Pastor Justin Kane [relative of Diana Shreck]
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 [relatives of Kris Harden], Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson], Jake Mahaffey, Trevor Shimmin, Shad Draminski
James and Ann Lee Armstrong
            In trouble
any unborn children in danger of abortion
those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Nigeria, Algeria, Sudan, Madagascar, Iran, Iraq, Syria, India, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and elsewhere.
 
Christmas Program Includes Music from a Play Written and Composed by Pastor in 1988
Under the direction of Cantor Peter Eckardt, the first-to-third-graders at St. John Lutheran School in Mattoon, Illinois, presented a Christmas program on December 14th that was first sung in 1988 by the grade schoolers at St. John Lutheran Church in Berlin, Wisconsin, as part of a musical play “The Christmas Nobody Noticed,” entirely written, composed, and directed by Pastor in 1988 in Berlin, Wisconsin, where he served as Associate Pastor at St. John Lutheran Church and School. The play was performed there also in 1990 under his direction, when his son Peter participated as a preschooler, and again at Our Father Lutheran School in Greenfield, Wisconsin a few years after that. After a 31-year dormancy, this year the music from that play was discovered in the Eckardt basement and dusted off for use in the program. Pastor and Carol were present at the performance, which may be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/stjohnslutheranmattoon/videos/398277582082667
  
St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church
   109 S. Elm Street
   Kewanee, IL 61443

St. Paul’s Evangelical-Lutheran Church
109 S. Elm, Kewanee, Illinois 61443
Newsletter
Volume 31                                   December 2021                                       No. 12
 
Preparations, Secular and Spiritual

December is always a time of preparing. Most people have extra to do. Shopping, cooking, Christmas cards, parties, etc. For some it is a time of greater stress, largely on account of this. Some recall tragedies or sorrows that have descended upon them during these days, and hence find them dark and depressing. And that, while certainly understandable, is truly a shame. What can be done? Here’s a suggestion.
 
Advent, of course, ought to be a time of anticipation and of penitential preparation in particular. The older traditional understanding of the season of Advent was that it was a time of fasting, similar to the time of Lent, if a bit less pronounced. The seasons surrounding Christmas have less longevity than the seasons surrounding Easter, for the simple reason that while Easter goes back to the time of Jesus’ resurrection itself, Christmas. There is even some evidence to suggest that the first two centuries of Christianity were times of strong opposition to the recognition of the birthdays of saints and martyrs in general, since their dates of martyrdom were considered the time of their birth in the Church Triumphant. How much more then, the reasoning went, should the date of Jesus’ birth not be observed. Of course, this reasoning is weak, and soon replaced with the greater importance of having a time to emphasize and rejoice in the incarnation of our Lord.
 
But it was not until the third century that the date of December 25th began to be recognized and observed as the date of Jesus’ birth, held then in conjunction with the winter solstice, under the view that it was fitting that the birth of the Son of God in the flesh be observed when the ‘birth’ of the sun occurred, the date when the days began to get longer again. In this way the Church could also supplant the pagan festivals that occurred on the solstice with a better one of her own. There is a second view that the date of Jesus’ conception in the womb was a fitting feast to observe on March 25th because it was the time of the spring equinox, which of course also puts his nativity at December 25th, nine months from that date (For details, see Britannica.com under “Christmas”).
 
As the celebration of the Nativity grew popular, so also did the preparation by fasting and penitence also accompany it, appropriately.
 
Hence arises this recommendation: if we can recover in some respects the need of spiritual preparation for the great Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord, we might at least consider the strains added to our schedules, the stresses added to our lives, and the sorrows added to our minds as being in themselves another type of fasting, in a way. We do these things because we must, or because we have no choice, according to the time of year; but we can perhaps learn to do or endure them cheerfully if we consider the goal: a fitting celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord. How do we celebrate that? First, by attending the Christ Mass, certainly, and in preparation for that by attending Advent Masses and learning again of the importance of penitence, much as we do during Lent. Second, by preparing to make that day of Christmas a noble time of great joy and gladness. This we do by exchanging gifts, having festive meals, and joining
with family to do these things. And to this, of course, we must enter into all of our other preparatory arrangements of all kinds, in advance of Christmas. In short, it might be helpful to put our secular preparations into a spiritual perspective. Consider them additional preparations to make the appropriate joy of Christmas all the greater.
 
But some of use cannot do any of this. For those who, say, are alone at Christmas, it can mean that we simply have less of the trappings of Christmas, but not that Christmas itself should be lost on us, as to its meaning. It is still, for all of us, a time to rejoice in the incarnation of our Lord. And since he came for all, therefore none of us need feel left out, or unable to rejoice. Since his incarnation is a permanent coming of our Lord in the flesh, prerequisite to his death and resurrection in the flesh, and since it means that he has bound himself to us poor Christians forever, therefore there is always reason to rejoice, no matter how many or how few the accompanying frills.
 
Remember first of all, to come to Mass, both on Christmas and during Advent. During Advent, find some ways to fast. And remember also, in your private devotion, your need of penitence. Come to confession during Advent; it’s a most fitting time to do so. And pull out your hymnal. Read and sing the Advent hymns and the Christmas carols.
 
The secular need not be wholly separated from the sacred, in your preparations. Think of the secular preparations as being in some way preparations for the sacred day.
+ Pastor Eckardt
 
Two Christ Masses
There are two Christ Masses at St. Paul’s. The first is on Christmas Eve at 7:00, and  the second is on Christmas morning at 10:00. Since Christmas Day is on a Saturday, the very next day will also have Mass. This year, that day being December 26th, will be the Feast of St. Stephen the Protomartyr. Then on Wednesday night the 29th we will observe Holy Innocents’ Day.

First Tuesday Dec. 7
 
On Tuesday, December 7th, First Tuesday Vespers will be held at 6:45 pm, and Elders will follow at 7:15 pm. All members invited and encouraged to come 0to vespers. The Sunday Epistle is normally read and preached on.
 
Choir Rehearsal Time Change
 
Choir rehearsals are scheduled in preparation for Christmas, and by mutual agreement, the time of rehearsals has changed on Wednesdays. Rehearsals ae now scheduled for 5:30 pm except on December 15th, when we intend to go caroling (see below). Choir members, please put these Wednesdays in December on your calendar: December 1st , 8th, and 22nd before rather than after midweek mass. This should make traveling easier for out-of-towners
 
Caroling and Party Dec. 15th
We plan to go caroling on Wednesday, December 15th. 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.
 
 
Shut ins
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 Jewneel Walker is at Kewanee Care.
 
Cookie Walk Sunday Dec. 12th
Bring a batch of cookies to Bible Class on the 12th of  December, and prepare to exchange for others.  Cookie walk after church! Bible class follows.
 
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. This year there were no deaths at St. Paul’s, so the bell will not toll, unless there are any deaths between the time of this newsletter’s printing and the end of the year. Last year  this newsletter had mentioned just one one member who fell asleep in Christ, Mary Hamilton, but since two members died after the December newsletter was printed: Monroe Kemerling and DeAnne Anderson. We therefore tolled the bell three times last year.

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, except for Mass on the 22rd . on which we will observe St. Thomas the Apostle’s Day. Come prepare for Christ’s coming at Christmas, at the End of the World, and at the Altar.
 
Wednesday Advent masses:

• December 1st
• December 8th
• December 15th
• December 22nd (St. Thomas, Apostle)

 
On December 15th we will also have caroling and a party, as explained in a nearby article.
 
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 27th, for Advent I. Then on Saturday, December 4th we will put up the Christmas tree (extra volunteers are sought for this), for Advent II. On Saturday, December 11th 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 4th on your calendar to help with the tree. It’s an opportunity for gathering with your fellow members for a little project.
 
Church Council by Email
 
A number of conflicts have brought on an attempt to deal with Church Council matters by email for the month of December. If we find that this will not suffice, especially in advance of the annual voters’ assembly in January, a special date and time will be chosen.
 
Trustees and the Building
 
In November, some lights were replaced in the school, and the roofer came to fix some areas in the school ceiling that had begun to leak.
  
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:
Bill Thompson, Emilie Ricknell, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe, Emmy Wear, Don and Sue Murphy, Dick Melchin, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Sandra VerPlaetse, John Sovanski, Grant Andreson, Dale Baker, Jewneel Walker
            and beyond our parish:
Anna, Katy, and Jody Rutowicz [Harris relations]
Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter]
Elizabeth Godke [Sharon Field’s mother]
Oneida Hendrickson [Ricknell relative]
Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister]
Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson]
Dennis Hoag, Tim Newman [Shreck relations]
Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece]
Kathy Boeger [re Harrises]
Allison Leezer [relative of the Kraklows]
Everly Stoner
Marvin Brown
Shannon Watson [Jim’s daughter]
Matt Verplaetse
Maxine Bitting [Judy Thompson’s sister in law]
Loren Hartz [Sharon’s brother]
Yvette Baker [Dale Baker’s daughter-in-law]
Karen Parker
Rosemary Bloome [Don Murphy’s cousin]
Richard Heiden, Carol Eckardt’s father
Troy Kelly [friend of the Murphys]
Pastor Jacob Sutton
Pastor Justin Kane [relative of Diana Shreck]
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
James and Ann Lee 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.   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) and St. Lucia’s Day (December 13th) fall on Mondays this year, and therefore will not be observed with masses. Below are devotional guides. St. Stephen’s Day will be celebrated on Sunday, December 26th,  the day after Christmas, and Holy Innocents’ Day will be observed on Wednesday, December 29th. St. John the Apostle and Evangelist’s Day (December 27th) falls on Monday, and therefore will not be observed with mass. A devotional guide is on the back page.
 
Altar Guild Notes 
Advent begins 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, except for December 22nd, when the color is red for St. Thomas, and December 29th, also red, for the Holy Innocents.
For Christmas Eve, the first Mass is at 7 p.m., and the color is changed to white. There is no Midnight Mass. On Christmas Day there is a 10 am mass.  Color is white for both.
The Feast of St. Stephen is held on the Sunday after Christmas, December 26th. Color is red (which remains for the following Wednesday, Holy Innocents).
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. John (27 December) this year.
 
 

Some Saints’ Days for which We Are Not Having Masses This Year
 
 
Saint Nicholas, December 6th
Psalm 92 with Gloria Patri
Reading: Hebrews 13:7-17
Hymn and meditation, see nearby.
 
Saint Lucy, December 13th
Psalm 45 with Gloria Patri
Reading: II Corinthians 10:17 – 11:2
Hymn and meditation, see nearby.
 
Saint John, December 27th
Psalm 92 with Gloria Patri
Reading: I John 1:1 – 2:2
Hymn and meditation, see nearby.
 
 
Saint Stephen is Sunday, December 26th; Holy Innocents is to be observed on Wednesday, December 29th. We will be holding masses at the usual times on those days.
 

Hymn:  From All Thy Saints in Warfare (TLP 350)
From all Thy saints in warfare for all Thy saints at rest
To Thee, O Blessed Jesus, all praises be addressed
For Thou hast won the battle that they might conq’ers be
Their crowns od living glory are lit with rays from Thee
 
[insert appropriate stanza]
 
Then praise to God the Father and praise to God the Son
And to the Holy Spirit Eternal Three in One
Till all the ransomed number fall down before the throne
And honor, praise, and glory ascribe to God alone.
 
 
St. Nicholas, Bishop and Confessor
A bishop for the children, and sailors on the sea:
Who made the good confession of Thy divinity
O Lord, may we be steadfast as Nicholas, we pray,
In kindness and in mercy and faithfulness alway.

St. Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
Saint Lucy, chaste in body, this honor her renown;
Was faithful unto death and received her glorious crown
For she refused her torturers by faith’s virginity,
So lighten Thou our darkness, in faithfulness to Thee.
 
St. Thomas, Apostle
All praise for Thine apostle, whose short-lived doubtings prove
Thy perfect twofold nature, the fullness of Thy love.
On all who wait Thy coming shed forth Thy peace, O Lord,
And grant us faith to know Thee, true Man, true God, adored.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church
   109 S. Elm Street
   Kewanee, IL 61443

St. Paul’s  Evangelical-Lutheran Church
109 S. Elm, Kewanee, Illinois 61443
Newsletter
Volume 33                                   November 2021                                      No. 11
               

The End of the Church Year

In November we always come to the end of the church year. This is reflected in the readings and propers for the Sundays approaching the last one, which is the Sunday before Advent. The church year marks its new beginning on the first Sunday in Advent. However, thematically it’s difficult to distinguish the thematic emphases for the last Sundays and the emphases for the Sundays in Advent. Both seasons have a heavy emphasis on the coming of the very last day, the day when Christ shall return in glory, according to his own words.
            This is probably because in the Middle Ages there was one unbroken season of preparation for Christmas that was about seven weeks long. This is borne out by the fact that in the Middle Ages St. Martin’s Day, November 11th, was the day of a great carnival, called “Martinmas” just prior to “St. Martin’s Advent,” a period of 43 days of fasting prior to Christmas. St. Martin’s Advent was the pre-Christmas season similar to Lent, which is of course the pre-Christmas fast prior to Easter. (Incidentally, the reason the reformer Martin Luther was so named is that he was born on November 10th and baptized the next day, St. Martin’s Day.)
This explains the thematic connections that can be seen in the propers themselves. Not only do the Gospels seem to have a rather unbroken emphasis on the last things, the collects also do. The “Stir Up” prayers are peppered throughout. The collect for the First Sunday in Advent begins with the words “Stir up, we beseech Thee, Thy power, O Lord, and come.” The Fourth Sunday in Advent begins in virtually the same way: “Stir up, O Lord, we beseech Thee, Thy power, and come.” And the collect for the 24th Sunday after Trinity, the fourth from the last, also begins with “Stir up, we beseech Thee, O Lord.” It continues, “the wills of Thy faithful people,” but the first seven words are identical.
Further, the Gradual for the Third Sunday in Advent also includes the words, “Stir up Thy strength: and come and save us,” which is from Psalm 80, a prominent Psalm during Advent, used also in the Introit for the Second Sunday in Advent: “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel: Thou that leadest Joseph like a flock.”
The Fourth Sunday in Advent contains the words of Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament showeth His handiwork,” which is thematically similar to Psalm 50:4-6: “He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people . . . and the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself, ” seen in the Gradual for the 26th Sunday after Trinity.
In short, the November Sundays, which use the propers for the 24th through the 27th Sunday after Trinity were once joined to the four Sundays in Advent as a unified preparation for Christmas. A great part of that preparation is the recollection that the coming, or Advent, of Christ was first celebrated when he was born, and will again be celebrated, eternally, at his return in glory. It is now the time to ponder that truth.
 
+ Pastor Eckardt
 
What Is a Confessional Lutheran?
       by Pastor Karl Fabrizius
 
       Most of us are familiar with the numerous Lutheran denominations in the United States, but since the 1980’s there has also been the rise of “Confessional Lutheranism” within the Missouri Synod, Wisconsin Synod, and the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (“Little Norwegians”). Before then, the divisions were between “liberal” and “conservative.” Liberals, such as the ELCA, were those who rejected the Scriptures as the inspired Word of God and only followed the Lutheran Confessions in so far as they agreed with them which led to all manner of departures from the faith. Conservatives had been those who defended the Scriptures as God’s Word and desired to uphold them because they agreed with the Lutheran Confessions. But the conservative side became divided over faithfulness to the Lutheran Confessions on the issues of Liturgy (worship) and the Sacrament of the Altar in particular. Confessional Lutherans argued that true conservatism would preserve the good things of the historic Church while always being faithful to Scripture and the Confessions. The time of COVID has drawn a sharp line between the two factions, even as it points to a growing need for us to work together in the externals against the rising tide of persecution of the Church of Christ. So how should we identify Confessional Lutherans, that is, the real Lutherans?
       A good place to begin is with these words from the Preface to the Book of Concord:
        In these matters (as we have mentioned earlier), this has always been our purpose: in our lands, dominions, schools, and churches no other doctrine should be proclaimed and accurately set forth except that which is founded upon God’s Word and contained in the Augsburg Confession and the Apology (when properly understood in its genuine sense). Opinions conflicting with these are not allowed. … But we wished indeed to lead our churches and schools, first of all, to the fountains of Holy Scripture, and to the Creeds, and then to the Augsburg Confession (which we have mentioned before). We most earnestly encourage that the young men be instructed in this faithfully and diligently, especially those who are being educated for the holy ministry of the churches and schools. Then the pure doctrine and profession of our faith may, by the Holy Spirit’s help, be preserved and spread also to our future generations, until the glorious advent of Jesus Christ [Titus 2:13], our only Redeemer and Savior.
           Confessional Lutherans rely on the fountains of Holy Scripture and will not accept opinions that conflict with the Lutheran Confessions because the Confessions are a true exposition of the Word of God. While conservatives have been influenced by so-called evangelical churches in America, Confessional pastors seek to be faithful to the Lutheran Confessions. For example, we confess that:
Our churches are falsely accused of abolishing the Mass. The Mass is held among us and celebrated with the highest reverence. 2 Nearly all the usual ceremonies are also preserved, except that the parts sung in Latin are interspersed here and there with German hymns. These have been added to teach the people. 3 For ceremonies are needed for this reason alone, that the uneducated be taught ‹what they need to know about Christ›. AC XXIV:1-3
        To be faithful to our Confessions, it is necessary to conduct the service reverently and we confess that the Lord’s Supper is celebrated every Lord’s Day and on the festivals (Apol. XXIV:1). The ceremonies (genuflecting, bowing, chanting, kneeling, etc.) associated with this are also maintained to teach the people what we believe about Christ and His holy Sacrament. The Liturgy of the Church provides the framework for confessing the truth of God’s Word and teaching us each time we gather as His people. Lutherans do not seek to reinvent the wheel, but desire to learn from the faithful who have gone before us in the Church. Along with the Liturgy, we see the hymnody of the Church as being an essential means of confessing the Truth. We believe that there is a difference between so-called “contemporary” songs and historic Lutheran hymnody. You are what you eat. If your diet is the fluff of lyrics that focus on feelings, you will soon become fat and flabby in your confession. In particular, contemporary American Christianity rejects the truth that Baptism saves and that the Lord’s Supper is the true Body and Blood of Christ for the forgiveness of sins. The modern American Christian is not taught these things in their hymns and their rejection of the liturgy also destroys these truths.
       In [the] month of the Reformation, it is good that we once again realize that the key points of confession in Luther’s day and after his death are still important today. In some ways, nothing has changed for the devil is always attacking the truth of God’s Word. The attack on the true Confession of the Lutheran faith is still centered on the Sacrament of the Altar and the ceremonies. Of course, this is because men reject the Scriptures which so clearly present this doctrine. Confessional Lutherans can never tire of fighting for this truth against the dangerous false teachings that surround us.

Many thanks and kudos
Jeff Wagenknecht painted the church doors with painstaking care and diligence, just in time for the big wedding on October 16th. What great work. Thank you!
                       
Choir Rehearsal Again!
Calling all choir members! We’re going to start meeting for rehearsal again on Wednesday nights, in preparation for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s a great time, as members will remember. Want to join us? Please feel free. Wednesday nights after Mass, usually around 8 pm, and finished by 9 at the latest.
 
Altar Guild Notes

• Color is GREEN for the first three Sundays and the first three Wednesdays in November
• Color is WHITE for Wednesday, November 24th, when on the eve of Thanksgiving we observe Thanksgiving
• Color is VIOLET for Sunday, November 28th, the first Sunday in Advent. The Advent Wreath is also set out that day.

 
Shut ins
Emmy Wear at Williamsfield Home in Williamsfield; Emilie Ricknell at home, Dick Melchin at Hammond-Henry Extended Care in Geneseo, Dale Baker at home, Jewneel Walker at Kewanee Care, John Sovanski at home.

November Ushers
Jim Hornback, Steve Kraklow, Tom Wells.
 
November Anniversary
11/5 Steve and Berniece Harris
 
November Birthdays
11/11 Tara Wagenknecht
11/19 Steve Kraklow
11/20 Jewneel Walker
11/30 Charlene Sovanski
 
Novemberfest and a Gottesdienst Conference
St. John’s Lutheran Church, Mattoon, Illinois
Sunday evening and Monday, November 14-15, 2021
Conference theme:      Reactions to Persecution
     In an age of mounting animosity toward the Christian Church in our society, this conference aims to get pastors and laypeople thinking about how we might respond appropriately to such things.
For the seminar we are pleased to welcome the Rev. Dr. Adam Koontz, Assistant Professor at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana as our keynote speaker. Dr. Koontz was recently added to our ranks as a Gottedienst blogger. He’ll be speaking on “Reactions to Persecution in the Early Church.”
     We’ll also hear from Rev. Jason Braaten, our editor known for producing The Gottesdienst Crowd, our weekly podcast. Pastor Braaten will speak on “Temptations amid Persecution: Distraction and Indifference"
The day-long seminar on Monday will open with Divine Service at 9:00 a.m. at St. John’s.
     BONUS: This Conference will be sandwiched between two evenings of Novemberfest: starting Sunday night, when Gottesdienst will be hosting a Picnic, Biergarten, and Gemütlichkeit under a heated tent at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tuscola, a half hour up the road from St.  John’s, beginning at 5ish. And  then on Monday after Vespers we’ll have a pizza party followed by more of the Biergarten and Gemütlichkeit. Registration is $50 per person — includes picnic, lunch, pizza dinner, and Gemütlichkeit. Log on at www.gottesdienst.org.
 
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:
Bill Thompson, Emilie Ricknell, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe, Emmy Wear, Don and Sue Murphy, Dick Melchin, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Sandra VerPlaetse, John Sovanski, Grant Andreson, Dale Baker, Jewneel Walker
            and beyond our parish:
Anna, Katy, and Jody Rutowicz [Harris relations]
Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter]
Elizabeth Godke [Sharon Field’s mother]
Oneida Hendrickson [Ricknell relative]
Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister]
Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson]
Dennis Hoag, Tim Newman [Shreck relations]
Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece]
Kathy Boeger [re Harrises]
Allison Leezer [relative of the Kraklows]
Everly Stoner
Marvin Brown
Shannon Watson [Jim’s daughter]
Matt Verplaetse
Maxine Bitting [Judy Thompson’s sister in law]
Loren Hartz [Sharon’s brother]
Yvette Baker [Dale Baker’s daughter-in-law]
Karen Parker
Rosemary Bloome [Don Murphy’s cousin]
Richard Heiden, Carol Eckardt’s father
Troy Kelly [friend of the Murphys]
Pastor Jacob Sutton
Pastor Justin Kane [relative of Diana Shreck]
                 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
James and Ann Lee Armstrong
                      in trouble
any unborn children in danger of abortion
those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, India, North Korea, China, and elsewhere.
  
Persecution Details
INDIA: Pastors Charged Due To Anti-conversion Laws 21 October 2021
Seven pastors were arrested on October 10th in the Mau district of Uttar Pradesh, India. They were accused of violating the state's anti-conversion legislation, and subsequently charged with "illegal assembly."
The pastors had gathered together for a prayer meeting when they were detained. Fifty other Christians were also detained at the time but later released, including two Catholic nuns who were merely waiting at a nearby bus stop and had no connection with the gathering. At last report, the pastors remained in custody, but their lawyer was working on obtaining bail.
            Anti-conversion laws have been widely abused throughout India. Hindu nationalists frequently accuse Christians to justify harassment. In the words of one pastor: "Police officials often don't bother to record our complaints. This further emboldens our attackers and we have to bear the brunt." 
 
CHINA: Evangelist released for the sixth time this year 2 Octrober 2021
Chen Wensheng has gained a reputation as a "Gospel Warrior" for his evangelistic work. After this former drug addict came to faith in Christ, he zealously desired to spread the wonderful news of the miraculous freedom he had experienced. Following examples of the disciples in the Bible, he travelled to many towns and cities preaching the Gospel and holding crosses with thought-provoking slogans such as "Glorious Saviour," "Repent," "Believe" and "Saved."
So far, throughout 2021, Chen has been detained six times. On September 26th, officers took him to the police station to prevent him from attending a Sunday service. They hoped he would give up spreading the Gospel, but instead he shared the message with the officers. As a result, he was detained for a duration of 15 days. Upon his release on October 11th, he posted the following social media message: "Hallelujah! Thank You, God, for Your grace and presence. Thank you (friends) for your prayers.... Now I can go out to spread the Gospel again."
From www.persecution.net. 

Gottesdienst Gets a Business Manager
     A few changes have come to Gottesdienst: The Journal of Lutheran Liturgy. As you probably know by now, this journal has been headquartered right here in Kewanee, with your pastor as the chief editor, since 1995, just three years after its inception.
     A few changes have been implemented recently, to the benefit of the membership here. The primary change is the addition of a Business Manager, Mrs. Grace Beane, who lives in Gretna, Louisiana. Mrs. Beane will be taking care of subscription and book order matters, enabling your pastor to be free from those things to handle editorial matters more easily.
     In addition, beginning with our Easter issue, the first of 2022, we have implemented some new ideas. The font for the name (Gottesdienst) will be undergoing a slight change, barely noticeable. The new font will add to the stylish look of the cover. The cover is already undergoing some improvements, under the capable artistic hands of Mrs. Meghan Schultz, who lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Some other changes are in the works too, all toward the betterment of this fine journal.

 St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church
   109 S. Elm Street
   Kewanee, IL 61443

Why Sunday is So Important
           
Because the French Revolution of the late 18th century had taken over France, and the blood of the rulers and priests was being shed unabated, it was alternatively called the Reign of Terror. The Goddess Reason was enthroned in Paris and the nation had taken a horrifying turn.

What the revolutionaries were bent on doing was erasing all vestiges of Christianity from the memory of the collective population, on the belief that Christianity was oppressive and evil. Christianity was not merely disregarded; it was attacked, and its history deemed ugly and an impediment to true freedom.

So the revolutionaries set about this task by tending to such things as changing the names of places which had been named to honor Christian saints or martyrs. No traces of Christianity could remain. (How familiar this is to us who have seen in our own land the cancel culture’s attempts to remove historical figures deemed impediments to true progress.) Thankfully the experiment failed, when ultimately the revolutionary fervor landed in the hands of Napoleon Bonaparte who ended up at least as great a tyrant as the former rulers had been deemed to be, and in the end Napoleon met his demise famously at Waterloo.

Among the changes the revolutionaries tried to enact was also this: to change the number of days in a week, aware that the seven-day week came from the Bible and ultimately nowhere else. While the origins of months and years can be found in nature, by looking to revolutions of the moon around the earth and of the earth around the sun, no corresponding natural phenomenon can be detected regarding weeks. And so, the wild radicals determined, weeks had to go.

This was too much for the peasants, the masses, the people. And so it failed.

But the revolutionaries were right about something: weeks do come only from Scripture. And they used to be called sabbaths, since the seventh day of the week was the day of rest, the Sabbath Day. And the people of God learned to set that day aside for worship and rest, remembering the first Sabbath when God rested from his work of creation. And still to this day calendars count Saturday as the seventh day, a silent testimony to the Creator.

And that brings us also to the importance of Sunday, since it is obvious that our special day of worship is no longer Saturday but Sunday. Why? What happened? Simply, the Lord of the Sabbath arrived. Christ Jesus fulfilled the Sabbath Rest in himself, and therefore freed his people from the strict observance of Saturday, precursor that it was to his coming. But why Sunday, then? The answer is easy. Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday, Easter Sunday. And he made his second appearance on the following Sunday, and he led his church to think of every Sunday as an easy reminder of his resurrection from the dead. There is no other reason for the importance of Sunday, to this very day. And so, as Saturdays are a silent testimony to the Creator, so now Sunday are themselves a silent testimony to the resurrection of our Redeemer from the dead. There is no other explanation for why the early Christians, most of whom were Jews, began to see Sunday and not Saturday as the greatest day of the week.

So let us think this way about Sunday. Sunday is a day of great celebration, for the reality that no one can erase is this: Jesus rose from the grave on Sunday. So let us put on our Sunday best, and set aside our Sunday mornings, and do whatever it takes to make Sunday, every Sunday, another celebration of Easter. For Christ is risen from the dead.

+ Pastor Eckardt

Michaelmas is Wednesday, September 29th. Mass at 7:00 p.m.
Let’s make a special effort to observe Michaelmas, September 29th, which falls on a Wednesday night. It is called The Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, and is a day on which we thank God for the protection and help of his holy angels. Come to mass!

October Ushers:Jim Hornback, Otis Anderson, Bill Thompson 
October Anniversary
 
10/4 Linda and Larry Rowe
 
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

Clapper – Brandt Wedding at St. Paul’s

All the members of St. Paul’s are cordially invited to the wedding of Drew Clapper to Lauren Brandt on Saturday, October 16th, at 2:00 p.m., followed by a cocktail hour at Best Western in Annawan at 4:30 with dinner following at 5:30.

Your reply is requested. You may RSVP, as soon as possible, by calling or texting 309-525-2997 or by email to clapperdrew12@gmail.com

Most of our members are aware that Drew and his family were faithful members here for many years until they moved to Springfield. Drews fiancée Lauren is from Michigan and is currently a member at Zion in Detroit where Fr. Mark Braden is the pastor. Fr. Braden, a longtime friend of St. Paul’s, will be participating with Fr. Eckardt in officiating at the wedding.

We look forward with great joy and anticipation to this grand event, and hope many of our members can be part of the celebration.

Novemberfest and a Gottesdienst Conference

St. John’s Lutheran Church, Mattoon, Illinois
Sunday evening and Monday, November 14-15, 2021
Conference theme:      Reactions to Persecution

In an age of mounting animosity toward the Christian Church in our society, this conference aims to get pastors and laypeople thinking about how we might respond appropriately to such things.

For the seminar we are pleased to welcome the Rev. Dr. Adam Koontz, Assistant Professor at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana as our keynote speaker. Dr. Koontz was recently added to our ranks as a Gottedienst blogger. He’ll be speaking on “Reactions to Persecution in the Early Church.”

We’ll also hear from Rev. Jason Braaten, our editor known for producing The Gottesdienst Crowd, our weekly podcast. Pastor Braaten will speak on “Temptations amid Persecution: Distraction and Indifference"
The day-long seminar on Monday will open with Divine Service at 9:00 a.m. at St. John’s.

BONUS: This Conference will be sandwiched between two evenings of Novemberfest: starting Sunday night, when Gottesdienst will be hosting a Picnic, Biergarten, and Gemütlichkeit under a heated tent at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tuscola, a half hour up the road from St.  John’s, beginning at 5ish. And  then on Monday after Vespers we’ll have a pizza party followed by more of the Biergarten and Gemütlichkeit.

Here’s a chance to spend some quality time with fellow Lutherans and pastors who have been missing District Conferences for up to two years. So join us for some good times! 

REGISTRATION: $50 per person — includes picnic, lunch, pizza dinner, and Gemütlichkeit. 
 
Additional information and registration through www.Gottesdienst.org.
 
Altar Guild Notes

• Color is GREEN for all Sundays and Wednesdays except:
• Color is WHITE for Wednesday, September 29th, Michaelmas, the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels.
• Color is RED for Wednesday, October 27th, to observe SS Simon and Jude.
• Color remains RED for Sunday, October 31st, which is Reformation Day.
• Color remains WHITE for Wednesday, November 3rd, to observe the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed.

 
Shut ins
 
Emmy Wear at Williamsfield Home in Williamsfield; Emilie Ricknell at home, Dick Melchin at Hammond-Henry Extended Care in Geneseo, Dale Baker at home, Jewneel Walker at Kewanee Care, John Sovanski at home.

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, Don and Sue Murphy, Dick Melchin, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Sandra VerPlaetse, John Sovanski, Tara Wagenknecht, Grant Andreson, Dale Baker, and Jewneel Walker
            and beyond our parish:
Anna, Katy, and Jody Rutowicz [Harris relations]
Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter]
Elizabeth Godke [Sharon Field’s mother]
Oneida Hendrickson [Ricknell relative]
Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister]
Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson]
Dennis Hoag, Tim Newman [Shreck relations]
Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece]
Kathy Boeger [re Harrises]
Allison Leezer [relative of the Kraklows]
Everly Stoner
Marvin Brown
Shannon Watson [Jim’s daughter]
Loren Lindstrom [Alissa’s Grandfather]
Matt Verplaetse
Maxine Bitting [Judy Thompson’s sister in law]
Loren Hartz [Sharon’s brother]
Yvette Baker [Dale Baker’s daughter-in-law]
Karen Parker
Rosemary Bloome [Don Murphy’s cousin]
Pastor Jacob Sutton
Pastor Justin Kane
          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
James and Ann Lee Armstrong
                 in trouble
any unborn children in danger of abortion
those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, India, North Korea, China, and elsewhere.
 
Persecution Details
 
NIGERIA: Pastor and Other Christians Killed
16 September 2021
On Saturday, September 11th, Rev. Silas Yakubu Ali left his home in the Zangon Kataf area of Kaduna, Nigeria, and set off for the town of Kafanchan, but was not heard from again. Early the next morning, a search party found his body, which was inflicted with bullet and machete wounds, less than a kilometre from his home.While the assailants and motives for Rev. Ali's murder have not yet been identified, thousands of Christians have been killed in Nigeria by Islamist militants. At least 11 other Christians were killed on September 12th in a separate attack on the village of Apyizhime Jim, including two pregnant women. According to one witness, the total number of victims from the subsequent attack has not been determined to date, since many others from the village remain missing. Of those identified, ten belonged to another church overseen by Rev. Ali, along with one member of a local Catholic church. It has been verified that the second attack was carried out by Fulani herdsmen.

In response to Rev. Ali's murder, the governor of Kaduna State publicly expressed his condolences to the family and church members, then made an appeal for calm. He also called for intensified security efforts to apprehend the “perpetrators of the heinous killing.”
 
CHINA: Christian High School Raided
16 September 2021
On the morning of September 4th, the Maizi Christian Music High School in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, was raided by police, religious affairs officials and local school district administrators. All staff and students present were arrested.

Principal Xu had received a warning through his landlord the previous day, informing him that "a test" was coming. During the raid, the authorities confiscated various school possessions – including pianos, computers and documents. After 24 hours' detainment, the students and most of the staff were all released from custody. At last report, the whereabouts of Principal Xu were unknown. According to a friend of the principal, his home had been raided six months prior and his phone was tapped.

Christians from various churches are working to obtain a lawyer to represent both the principal and the school. Potential accusations against the school may include financial charges of “illegal education” because tuition fees were charged to the students. Furthermore, since the students are under 18, there may also be charges of “enticing minors to religion.”
 
SAUDI ARABIA: Christian Escapes the Country
16 September 2021
Over the past several months, Christians around the world have been following reports about a Saudi Arabian Christian referred to as “A” or “Adam.” For more information, see our previously published reports, which are available at our country report.

In early July, it was reported that the immediate family members of the accused were able to relocate to a safe country where they are being protected. However, at the time, “Adam” had to remain in Saudi Arabia while appealing a conviction for allegedly attempting to convert Muslims to Christianity. A recently received report confirms that he has been able to join his family.

According to Christian friends, even though “Adam” had become disheartened, he was determined to stay in Saudi Arabia in order to set a good example and demonstrate his willingness to suffer for his faith. However, these friends convinced him that taking care of his wife and sons was also a priority. According to one friend, “‘Adam’ felt that Saudi Arabia was his home, and it was there that he wanted to serve the Lord.” She added, “But if his departure appears to be a loss for the Christians of Muslim background in the country, he will continue to serve the Lord in his new country.”
 
Source(s): Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Christian Post, The Guardian, Christianity Today, ChinaAid, International Christian Concern, Open Doors
see www.persecution.net for more.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church
   109 S. Elm Street