The Virus Crisis and the Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord

Our state of affairs and the whirlwind of terrible news that keeps coming to us every day has men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth (St. Luke 21:26). We hope and pray and mostly believe the worst will not come to pass, but we also recognize the pain already, as workers have been furloughed, small businesses shuttered and in some cases gone bankrupt as unemployment skyrockets. We’ll know soon enough how disastrous all this will prove to be, and chances are it will not be doomsday.

But whatever the outcome, one thing we know for certain, as I have already mentioned in my phone calls to members, this has been a period of chastening from the Lord. And the Lord is good, and knows our needs. I am reminded of the words of St. Paul: “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have receive the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (Romans 8:14-15). These comfort us because they tell us that we are bound to Christ through our Baptism and faith; we are united with him who is the only-begotten Son of God. How in the world dare we call God our Father, when God has only one Son? Only because of Jesus’ blessed work and invitation to come and live in his stead. Such a blessed estate, to be called sons of God! And since this is so, we know that as his suffering was itself a good thing, for it redeemed the world, and because it led to his resurrection, so our afflictions are themselves good for us, for they chasten us and bring us to our knees, which is exactly where we need to be, and because we, too, shall be glorified in him: “the sufferings of this present time are not worth to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

This is closely tied to the resurrection of our Lord, because he is the firstfruits of our own resurrection, and his resurrection has already occurred. In his resurrection we see already what shall happen to us, the glory that shall be revealed. Thus even in affliction let us rejoice, and daily gain comfort from this blessed Gospel. All is not lost, because “we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:37).
 
+ Pastor Eckardt
 
Our temporarily suspended services
 
At this point, as this newsletter goes to print, we are still unsure about when the resumption of our schedule will be, whether in time for Easter or not. If not, we can expect to count on a day of great celebration whenever that occurs. We will not move anything on the church calendar per se—that is, we will not be able to move the Easter propers and readings to another day—but what we may well want to do is see about scheduling our special extras for that day of return, whether lilies, music, hymns, preaching, and all the expectations that we would normally have for Easter itself. So, for example, we might find ourselves returning the second Sunday after Easter (who knows?); then that day could become our special day this year, in terms of our celebrations.
            As things develop, we will be able to make plans. Stay tuned.

NOTE: Please remember to mail in your offerings! Your fragile congregation needs them to survive! Mail them to the church at 109 South Elm Street, Kewanee, IL 61443.
 
The History of Images, and Our New Statue of St. Paul
 
In the eighth century, a burning controversy flamed over the use of icons and images. Was it idolatrous to venerate these? The Seventh Ecumenical of ad 787 settled the matter, noting the difference between veneration and worship. Images are venerated to show honor to the one they depict.
    The iconoclasts (icon destroyers) were likely influenced by Jewish and Muslim ideas, since just prior to this debate the Muslim Caliph Yezid ordered the removal of all icons within his territory.
    Within the church there were always those who objected that icons were tokens of idolatry, contrary to the extension of the first commandment: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth” (Ex. 20:6). They conveniently disregarded the very next verse that explains further: “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them” (Ex. 20:7).
    St. John of Damascus (c. 676-749) successfully defended the use of icons, saying, “Icons are not idols but symbols, therefore when an Orthodox venerates an icon, he is not guilty of idolatry. He is not worshipping the symbol, but merely venerating it. Such veneration is not directed toward wood, or paint or stone, but towards the person depicted. Therefore relative honor is shown to material objects, but worship is due to God alone.”
    A different kind of iconoclasts appeared in the days of Martin Luther, taking from the Reformation a false cue to destroy all vestiges of the Roman Church. When Luther was hidden in the Wartburg Castle under the protection of his prince, Frederick the Wise, these radicals barged into churches, ripped corpuses off crosses, and smashed statues. On hearing of this, Luther was enraged. Frederick was keeping him hidden because his own safety was at issue ever since he had been declared an outlaw by the Emperor in 1521. He likely would have been put to death had not Frederick taken this step. But now, in the following year, heedless of his own safety, he determined it was time for him to re-emerge. Disguised as a knight, he showed up at church during the first week of Lent and began to preach against the violence of the iconoclasts and the injury they were doing to the faith of the common people.
    Luther explained that images are not to be worshiped, but there is no law against creating a statue or picture of something.  If there were, God would never have commanded the making of the bronze serpent in the wilderness (Numbers 21:1-9). It was not until centuries later that people began to worship it and serve it with their hearts, and King Hezekiah had to destroy it (II Kings 18:4, cf AE 40:87). 
    There is much more at issue in the church’s various times of contention against iconoclasts, however. The real “scandal” to iconoclasts is that God himself has been manifested in the flesh, and has bound himself to his creation in the Person of Jesus Christ. There is no other God than this Man, and therefore one who looked at him was looking at God in the flesh. This is the mystery of the incarnation. God has adorned his world with his own essence, clothing himself in human flesh. This truth is not only wonderful to behold; it is also too hard for some to accept. They want to think of God as being transcendent, above all things created, a spirit and therefore untouchable by the earth and its substance. The incarnation has exposed all such thinking as false and unchristian, for the Word became flesh (St. John 1:14).
    Therefore it is right to adorn our churches with beautiful images and objects; it is good to employ fine art and sculpture to assist us in our worship, for these things help us in implicit ways to remember that God is with us, and is forever bound to his creation.
    Thus the new statue of St. Paul that has finally arrived is a welcome addition to our worship.
    The sword he is holding is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17), and his serene, settled stance reminds us of his instruction that he has learned the secret of contentment in whatever situation he finds himself (Philippians 4:12).
    The statue is also a healthy reminder of why this church was named St. Paul’s. It is, to put it in other words, “The Lutheran Church of St. Paul the Apostle.” That is, it is dedicated to his memory, for he was the great apostle to the Gentiles and writer of the great majority of New Testament epistles. His writings are the very word of God, and are therefore dear to our hearts. God used this man mightily to deliver his Gospel to us. His word did not drop down from heaven (as the Mormons falsely believe), nor was it mysteriously delivered in an extended dream to one man (as the Muslims falsely hold). Rather, “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). St. Paul, to whom Jesus first appeared in a vision on the road to Damascus, was transformed from an enemy of the church to one of its strongest leaders. God used him to proclaim the truths of the Gospel: that Jesus our Lord, “being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:6-11).
    O thanks be to God for sending his great apostle St. Paul, whom we rightly venerate and honor with a lovely new statue.
 
+ Pastor Eckardt
 
Holy Week and Easter Masses
​
All scheduling of regular services is currently suspended due to the virus necessities laid upon us and the world. While this is in place, we have scheduled online streaming Matins on Sunday mornings at 8:30, and daily Vespers Monday through Thursday at 4:00 pm.
 
Pending the return of our schedule, Mass will resume at the usual times, as well as being held daily during Holy Week: Holy Monday through Good Friday, at 7 p.m.; the Great Vigil: Saturday, April 11th, at 7 p.m.; and Easter Sunrise Mass: April 12th, at 7 a.m. (Easter breakfast following). Easter Midweek Mass: Wednesday, April 15th, at 7 p.m.
 
Easter Lilies
 
There’s a sign-up sheet in the back of the gym.  Cost. $15.00 apiece. If we are not able to return by Easter, we may possibly have in place a plan to decorate with lilies on the day we do return. Stay tuned.
 
Easter Hats
 
Ladies, remember our hats tradition! Easter is the time to wear your best, and if you are able, set it off with a handsome hat! And by all means, leave them on for the Easter breakfast.  Again, if our scheduling does not allow us back in time for Easter, we anticipate a later target date for these festivities. Stay tuned.
 
April Anniversary
4/13/2002      Steve and Sheri Kraklow
 
April Birthdays
4/3      Adam Shreck
4.14     Emmy Wear
4/19    Luke Wells
4/22    Grant Andreson
4/25    Mason Dooley
 
Oktoberfest is Moving to Detroit
 
After serious and careful thought, the difficult decision has been made to discontinue Oktoberfest, at least for this year 2020. The strain on the congregation has been heavy, and I determined that a reassessment was a prudent thing to do.
 
Meanwhile Father Braden at Lutheran Church in Detroit has expressed a willingness to take it over. Their St. Michael Conference is annually held in late September, and we have been in a discussion about merging the two events, so that this year’s St. Michael Conference will also be including an Oktoberfest element.
 
As part of this merger, I have been asked to be the keynote speaker at the St. Michael Conference. Every year I have attended that conference as a sectional speaker, so this will be a bit different.
 
Oktoberfest has been a successful and joyous event held here for 24 years, so there is a certain sadness involved in the making of the decision, and a thankful recognition of the willing support and volunteer spirit here that has contributed mightily to the success of those years.
 
While it remains possible that we could host Oktoberfest again in the years to come, there is nothing planned.
 
Thanks to all our willing volunteers!
 
-Pastor Eckardt
 
April Ushers
Grant Andresen, Jim Hornback, Steve Harris.
 
Shut ins
 
Emilie Ricknell at home
Dick Melchin at Hammond-Henry extended care in Geneseo.
Emmy Wear at Williamsfield retirement home
Dale Baker, during the winter, at home
Bea Harris, when unable to get out, at home
 
First Tuesday meetings
 
Our First Tuesday meetings are tentatively scheduled for the second Tuesday this month, April 14th.

In Our Prayers
Our list of prayer intentions at mass includes the names on the lists below.  To update the lists please inform pastor.   

in our parish:
Emilie Ricknell, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe, Emmy Wear, Sue Murphy, Don Murphy, Dick Melchin, DeAnne Anderson, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Jim Watson, Dana McReynolds, Carol McReaynolds , Sandra VerPlaetse

beyond our parish:
Anna Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises]
Katy Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises]
Jody Rutowicz [Harrises’ daughter]
Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter]
Elizabeth Godke, Sharon Field’s mother
Brandt and Oneda Hendrickson [Ricknells’ relatives]
Helen Woods [Sue Murphy’s sister]
Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister]
Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson]
Dennis Hoag [Adam Shreck’s father-in-law]
Sue Harris [Steve Harris’s sister-in-law]
Nancy Callahan [Don Murphy’s sister]
Rachel Smith [Emmy Wear’s cousin]
Yvette Baker [Dale’s daughter-in-law]
Warren Williams [relative of the Kemerlings]
Bud Harfst [Sue Murphy’s brother]
Tony Stoner [friend of the Murphys]
Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece]
Carol Grigsby [friend of Jewneel Walker]
Tim Newman [Kemerling relation]
Melinda Fisa [Kemerling relation]
Kathy Boeger [re Harrises]

in the military:
John Eckardt
Donny Appleman [at request of the Ricknells]
Richard Heiden [at request of the Eckardts]
Luke Van Landigan [grandson of Dick Melchin]
Jaclyn Alvarez [daughter of Kris Harden]
Eli Wetzel
Traven Wetzel
Shawn Wetzel
Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson]
Jake Mahaffey
Trevor Shimmin

in trouble: especially
regarding the spread of diseased
any unborn children in danger of abortion
those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Nigeria, India, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and elsewhere.
 
Altar Guild Notes
Pending the return to congregating.

• Paraments VIOLET until Maundy Thursday
• 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

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

Some Thoughts on the Lenten Fast
 
The season of Lent has become less noticeable in our day than it was in previous generations, which is unfortunate in many ways. While we admit that there are many historic customs that are not Biblically mandated, we also contend that this fact does not necessarily discount their use. There are very many customs whose absence has left us culturally poorer. More importantly, this is true of many Christian customs, whose use was beneficial for Christian faith and life. Lent is full of such customs.
            There was a time when everyone knew, to take one such custom, the importance of the Lenten fast, and people were instinctively aware it served as a kind of bodily preparation for Easter.
            Of course fasting is not commanded of us in Scripture, though it is assumed. Jesus fasted, and so did his disciples. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declared, “But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly” (St. Matthew 6:17-18). Jesus did not say if you fast, but when.
            But why? What is the benefit of voluntarily fasting?
            For one thing it helps us to become aware that the spiritual nature of our faith does not discount the fact that it is also a bodily faith. Sometimes it is falsely supposed that since the faith is a spiritual thing it cannot therefore be material. But this is to forget that our bodies have been made by Almighty God, and are therefore to be respected. So we engage in worship in many bodily ways: for example we bow our heads and fold our hands when we pray, we sometimes kneel and sometimes stand. We even confess in the Apostle’s Creed that we believe in “the resurrection of the body,” because we know that at the Last Day our bodies will be wholly renewed and reunited with our souls (this is also why, incidentally, Christians bury their dead). There are many laudable bodily customs that are ways of showing appreciation to our bodies’ Maker.
            Fasting is one such custom. It is not only a good physical discipline, as health professionals can attest; it is a subtle self-reminder that while we live in this fallen world, we are, because we have been baptized into Christ’s church, pilgrims on our way to new heavens and a new earth.
And during this pilgrimage we must be prepared to endure affliction; fasting is in fact a way of preparing.
            Perhaps best of all, when we fast during Lent and then break the fast at Easter, that great day with its glad season becomes all the more exciting, as we rejoice, in part by bodily feasting, in the bodily resurrection of our Lord from the dead.
            Our culture has drifted from its moorings, most of which were Christian customs. Now we live in a post-modern society which has largely forgotten and set aside Christianity altogether. Thus, people don’t know that we are all sinners in a sinful world; and people who don’t know this cannot possibly know the meaning of forgiveness and salvation through faith in Christ. It is important for us Christians to understand that our very lives are at odds with the trends of culture in many ways; and therefore, there are also subtle ways in which we can remind ourselves of this. One such way is the Lenten fast.
+Pastor Eckardt

A Scheduling checkerboardDuring March a number of scheduling conflicts will require a close look at the calendar, as there have been some necessary changes (for this month only). The reason for these changes is that Pastor plans to be out of the country from the 10th until the 21st, not returning to Kewanee until Sunday the 22nd. The following articles reflect these changes.
 
First Tuesday meetings on March 3rd.
 
As usual, meetings are scheduled for the first Tuesday in March, which is the 3rd: Altar Guild is at 6 pm, Vespers is at 6:45, and Elders is at 7:15.

March Anniversary
3/19/1977 Jeff and Diana Shreck
 
March Ushers
Allan Kraklow, Steve Kraklow, Tom Wells, Jim Hornback
 
To Rome with Love
 
I guess that’s the name of a movie, but in our case it’s also an opportunity. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has been offered to Pastor and Carol: a trip to Rome this month. Our son Michael is a financial advisor for Edward Jones, and sometimes he gets offered trips to various places around the world for a week’s vacation, on which he can take one guest. He’s taking his parents on this trip to Rome, and one of us has all expenses paid. To make the trip of greater benefit, Carol and I are leaving a few days ahead of the week in Rome. On March 10th we fly there, and plan to take a train to Florence for a few days ahead of Sunday the 15th when we’ll return to Rome to meet up with Michael for the week of the 15th.
 
A scheduling snafu has developed since we began planning this trip. We return to Chicago on Saturday the 21st, but I didn’t notice at first that the arrival would be a bit after 10 pm, meaning that in order to make it home to celebrate Mass on the next day, I’d be driving from Chicago in the middle of the night, with jet lag, not returning to Kewanee until 3 am or so. That’s a recipe for disaster, so I have arranged for supply preaching also on Sunday the 22nd. Supply preachers are now scheduled for services here both on the 15th and the 22nd.
 
While I am gone, if you need emergency pastoral care, you may contact Pastor Barry Long in Peoria (309-369-3573) or Pastor Steven Mueller in Geneseo (989-928-6603), either of whom will be glad to assist.

+Pastor Eckardt
 
In Our Prayers
 
           The afflicted, in our parish:
Emilie Ricknell, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe,
Emmy Wear, Sue Murphy, Don Murphy, Dick Melchin, DeAnne Anderson, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Jim Watson, Dana McReynolds, Sandra VerPlaetse
            and beyond our parish:
Anna Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises]
Katy Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises]
Jody Rutowicz [Harrises’ daughter]
Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter]
Elizabeth Godke, Sharon Field’s mother
Brandt and Oneda Hendrickson [Ricknells’ relatives]
Helen Woods [Sue Murphy’s sister]
Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister]
Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson]
Dennis Hoag [Adam Shreck’s father-in-law]
Sue Harris [Steve Harris’s sister-in-law]
Nancy Callahan [Don Murphy’s sister]
Rachel Smith [Emmy Wear’s cousin]
Yvette Baker [Dale’s daughter-in-law]
Warren Williams [relative of the Kemerlings]
Bud Harfst [Sue Murphy’s brother]
Tony Stoner [friend of the Murphys]
Dylan Harden [Chris’s grandson]
Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece]
Carol Grigsby [friend of Jewneel Walker]
Tim Newman [Kemerling relation]
Pastor Brian Feicho
            in the military:
John Eckardt
Donny Appleman [at request of the Ricknells]
Richard Heiden [at request of the Eckardts]
Luke Van Landigan [grandson of Dick Melchin]
Jaclyn Alvarez [daughter of Kris Harden]
Eli Wetzel
Traven Wetzel
Shawn Wetzel
Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson]
Jake Mahaffey
Trevor Shimmin
            in trouble:
any unborn children in danger of abortion
those suffering from unrest, persecution, disease, and imprisonment in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Nigeria, India, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and elsewhere.
 
Robin Sighting
 
This year’s robin sighting contest is in the books, and the winner is Michele Keehner of Peoria, who retakes the crown she won in 2014. She reported a sighting of five robins sitting in a row at the botanical garden in Peoria. The Kraklow dynasty is broken. And the winner this year gets an all-expenses-paid trip to Hawaii! Or not.  Our list of winners:
2020 Michele Keehner
2019 Steve Kraklow
2018 Steve Kraklow
2017 Barbra Kraklow
2016 Judy Thompson
2015 Carol Eckardt
2014 Michele Keehner
 
March Birthdays:

3/1      Barbra Kraklow
3/25    Carol Eckardt
 
Church Council

March 25th, at 5:30. This is the fourth Wednesday of the month.
 
Altar Guild Notes
 
·         The paraments color for the entire month of March is VIOLET, except
·         Wednesday, March 25th the Feast of the Annunciation: WHITE
 
Next meeting is Tuesday, March 3rd.

Choir rehearsals again
 
In preparation for special music during Holy Week and Easter, choir rehearsals are starting up again, beginning Wednesday, March 4th. Check the calendar. We will skip the next two weeks, and resume Wednesday, March 25th. Tune up your voice and join in!
 
Laetare Sunday
 
March 22nd is Laetare Sunday, the Fourth Sunday in Lent. It is near the middle of the season, which is why it is customary to adorn the altar with roses, representing an oasis in the midst of a desert: in the midst of Lent the brightness of roses reminds us that in all our sorrows there is hope in the Lord.
 
Judica and Passiontide
 
March 29th is Judica Sunday, also called Passion Sunday, because it is the beginning of Passiontide, the last two weeks of Lent. The images are all veiled until Easter.
 
Catechism Schedule
 
There are only three remaining catechism hours left on the schedule for this season. They are
Saturday, March 7th, 9 am.
             (No class Saturday March 14th )
             (No class Saturday March 21st)
Saturday, March 28th, 9 am
Saturday, April 4th, 9 am
 
The Annunciation
 
The Annunciation is on March 25th, because that is nine months before Christmas: the celebration of the day which the angel announced to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus. This is the day on which he was conceived in her womb by the Holy Spirit. We will celebrate the Annunciation with Holy Mass on Wednesday, March 25th, at 7 pm. Make a special effort to come!
 
Psalm 45
Reading: St. Luke 1.26-38
 
Meditation: Nine months before Christmas we observe the annunciation, when the angel hailed Mary as highly favored and blessed among women.  Now the mystery of the Incarnation is most mysterious and hidden, for not only does God veil His godhead in flesh, but veils also His flesh within flesh.  For Christ was conceived by the Holy Ghost in the blessed Virgin's womb, where eye has not seen, nor ear heard what God has prepared for His people.  Therefore faith must rejoice this day in the unseen, in the hidden, for Christ Himself is now hidden within His mother.  But true faith knows well to find God where the eye cannot see.  Thus faith trusts His word even when there is nothing in the experience to verify it.  So did Mary trust the angel's annunciation to her, saying simply, Be it unto me according to thy word.  Let us follow the example of blessed Mary, mother of our Lord and God, and trust in His word even where we have no sight or experience; and notwithstanding such hiddenness from the eyes, believe in the true Light.
 
+ James Armstrong +
 
Our beloved brother James Armstrong has passed into the arms of the Savior. James was baptized here at the Vigil of Easter, April 4th, 2015, and was received as a communicant member the following year, also at the Vigil of Easter, March 26th, 2016. He died at the hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana, on February 17th, after suffering a series of strokes. He leaves behind his wife Michelle (nee Thompson) and six children from a prior marriage. Plans for a memorial service in Kewanee are pending.
 
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
 
R. I. P.
 
Lent Midweek Masses
 
When Pastor is away, Midweek Masses will be canceled, which is unfortunate because it is Lent. Midweek Masses are cancelled for March 11th and 18th. The only Midweek Lenten services to be held will be (following Ash Wednesday) on March 4th, March 25th (the Annunciation), April 1st, and the days of Holy Week.
 
There are no Lenten suppers scheduled this year.
 
Statue of St. Paul en Route
 
At the time of the writing of this newsletter, we were informed that our statue of St. Paul is complete and has been scheduled to be shipped via FedEx the week of February 17th. This makes it possible that the statue will have arrived by Sunday the 23rd, or by Sunday March 1st. Upon its arrival  and placement in its new location—the area where the Baptismal font used to stand, to  the right of the chancel—we will be having a rite of dedication at the opening of Sunday’s Mass.  We will now have symbols for all  the twelve Apostles in the great arch, and the statue of St. Paul, for whom this congregation is named. This is the final piece of our renovation project begun in 2016. Thanks be to God!
 
St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church
109 S. Elm Street
Kewanee, IL 61443

  St. Paul’s Evangelical-Lutheran Church
109 S. Elm, Kewanee, Illinois 61443
Newsletter
Volume 32                                   February 2020                                            No. 2
CANDLEMASA coincidence of two First Class Feasts of our Lord occurs this year on February 2nd: The Transfiguration of Our Lord and the Presentation of Our Lord for Sunday. Traditionally the Transfiguration was observed in August, and there was no possibility of a coincidence of date. This changed some time ago in the traditional Lutheran sanctoral cycle when the Feast of the Transfiguration was sensibly moved to the Epiphany season as the last Sunday after Epiphany, a great instance of manifestation (epiphany) of our Lord. But now the coincidence of date becomes an issue in years such as this 2020 when two Feasts of the First Class fall on the same day and one of the Feasts must move to a weekday following.
 
At St. Paul’s we will be observing the Presentation of Our Lord in Sunday February 2nd, and transferring The Feast of the Transfiguration on the following Wednesday, at our usual midweek mass.
 
The Presentation of Our Lord and the Purification of Mary is also traditionally called Candlemas, due to the laudable custom of providing hand-candles to the congregants. The hand-candles are lit twice during the service. The first occasion is at the opening, just after the blessing of the church’s candles. A moment is taken to allow for the hand-candles to be lit from hand to hand, beginning with the pastor, who lights his from an altar candle. When all have lit their candles, the congregation then processes by rows to reverence the altar with candles lit, while the Nunc Dimittis is sung. The people extinguish their candles when they return to their pews, just prior to the Introit. The second occasion for lighting the hand-candles is just prior to the Preface: as before, a moment is taken while the candles are again lit from hand to hand. The candles remain lit until after the consecration of the Elements, at which point they are extinguished.
 
Look forward to Candlemas on Sunday, February 2nd, and then to the Transfiguration on Wednesday, February 5th.
 
A meditation on this Feast is on the back page.
 
-Pastor
 
TRANSFIGURATION
The Transfiguration of Our Lord will be observed on Wednesday, February 5th. See page 4. A meditation on this Feast is also on the back page.
 
Central Illinois District – Mission Story
Mission Council: Rock Island Circuit

The Rock Island Circuit Mission Council, also called the Hispanic Council, began in 2002 with a project. Pastors and laypeople in the Rock Island Circuit knew that Spanish-speaking Pastor Pablo Dominguez was coming to East Moline, called as a District Missionary. They also knew he would be starting Hispanic ministry in the Quad Cities from scratch. Initially, those who gathered as the mission council thought of themselves as the church council that he did not have at the time.

Circuit churches sent one representative apiece to the mission council. Its meetings provided information about Pastor Dominguez’s work and sparked interest. The mission council also became a way to bring to bear and coordinate various skills that members of circuit churches wanted to contribute to the Hispanic mission: carpentry, bookkeeping, laying carpet, etc.

In time, the mission council also provided financial support to the mission. The council opened its own bank account. For a while it paid various expenses such as van insurance. In 2019 the council closed its account, for Cristo Rey Lutheran Church had assumed responsibility for all the expenses which the council had been paying. And several council members were instrumental in arranging fundraising projects in circuit churches to help Cristo Rey return $10,000 of subsidy money to the Central Illinois District in 2019.

Council members have enjoyed learning about Hispanic culture. Pastor Dominguez has taught them a great deal, not only about culture but also about servanthood in Christ.

The Rock Island Circuit Mission Council’s role has changed over the years. Yet its commitment to Christ and to the cause of Lutheran mission outreach to Spanish-speaking residents of the Quad Cities has remained. The Lord has used its dedicated efforts in cooperation with the Central Illinois District.  “I thank my God . . . because of your partnership in the Gospel” (Phil. 1:3-5).

February UshersOtis Anderson, John Ricknell, Bill Thompson; Jim Hornback.
 
February Birthdays
2/2      Mindie Fisher2/4      Joshua Kraklow2/5      Tom Wells2/17    Monroe Kemerling2/23    Carol McReynolds 
Shut-ins
Mary Hamilton has moved to Fort Wayne. Emilie Ricknell is at home. Emmy Wear is at Williamsfield Retirement Center; Dick Melchin is at Hammond-Henry Hospital in Geneseo.
 
Altar Guild Notes
Altar color is white throughout January and on February 2nd and 5th, on which we celebrate the Presentation of our Lord and  the  Transfiguration of Our Lord, respectively. On February 9th, Septuagesima Sunday, the color is violet, and the color remains violet throughout February.

Soup Suppers Again?
Our Lenten soup suppers would begin the Wednesday after Ash Wednesday (March 4th) if we choose to have them again. There would be five on the schedule, since there is no supper scheduled for Holy Week. Pastor will be away for March 11th and 18th, however, so the will be no midweek masses on those days. Let’s discuss this informally during February.

February Council MeetingThe February council meeting is scheduled for the second Wednesday of the month, a week earlier than usual. This is February 12th, at 5:30 pm.
 
 
 
In Our Prayers
Our current list of prayer intentions at mass includes the names on the lists here following.  Anyone wishing to update the list by addition or subtraction, please inform the pastor.in our parish:
Emilie Ricknell, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe, Emmy Wear, Sue Murphy, Don Murphy, Dick Melchin, DeAnne Anderson, Bea Harris. Allan Kraklow, Jim Watson, Dana McReynolds, Sandra VerPlaetse,
 
               and beyond our parish:
Anna Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises]
Katy Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises]
Jody Rutowicz [Harrises’ daughter]
Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter]
Elizabeth Godke, Sharon Field’s mother
Brandt and Oneda Hendrickson [Ricknells’ relatives]
Helen Woods [Sue Murphy’s sister]
Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister]
Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson]
Dennis Hoag [Adam Shreck’s father-in-law]
Sue Harris [Steve Harris’s sister-in-law]
Nancy Callahan [Don Murphy’s sister]
Rachel Smith [Emmy Wear’s cousin]
Yvette Baker [Dale’s daughter-in-law]
Warren Williams [relative of the Kemerlings]
Bud Harfst [Sue Murphy’s brother]
Tony Stoner [friend of the Murphys]
Dylan Harden [Chris’s grandson]
Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece]
Carol Grigsby [friend of Jewneel Walker]
Tim Newman [Kemerling relation]
Karla Perkowski [Monroe Kemerling’s daughter]
Louise Tharp
Melinda Fisa [Monroe Kemerling’s granddaughter]
Pastor Kenneth Wegener
Pastor Karl Fabrizius
Pastor Brian Feicho
Robert Hultman, Kewanee Care resident who has requested pastoral care
 
               in the military:
John Eckardt
Donny Appleman [at request of the Ricknells]
Richard Heiden [at request of the Eckardts]
Luke Van Landigan [grandson of Dick Melchin]
Jaclyn Alvarez [daughter of Kris Harden]
Eli Wetzel
Traven Wetzel
Shawn Wetzel
Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson]
Jake Mahaffey
Trevor Shimmin
               in trouble:
any unborn children in danger of abortion
victims of wildfires in Australia
those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Nigeria, India, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and elsewhere.

Robin Sighting Contest:Who can find the first robin of spring? Call Pastor if you see and can verify one. Can anyone break the Kraklow string? This is the seventh year of the contest. Past winners:
 
2019: Steve Kraklow
2018: Steve Kraklow
2017: Barb Kraklow
2016: Judy Thompson
2015: Carol Eckardt
2014: Michele Keehner
 
The robin, of course, is something we regard very highly because it is a sign of spring; and the approach of spring is also the approach of Easter; and the approach of Easter is enough to cause us abiding joy.  So rejoice in the robin, O Christian!
 
And know this: as sure a thing it is that the robin comes, even more sure is the Resurrection of our Lord.

February Anniversaries
None
 
First Tuesday
The first Tuesday events (altar guild, vespers, elders) will be held, God willing, on Tuesday, February 4th. Altar Guild at 6 pm; Vespers at 6:45; Elders at 7:15. All members are always encouraged to join us for First Tuesday Vespers, as you are able.
 
THE TRANSFIGURATION
The Transfiguration of Our Lord normally comes as the last Sunday after the Epiphany, just prior to pre-Lent. This year is unusual.
 
Since February 2nd is the last Sunday after Epiphany, it presents a conflict with the Presentation of Our Lord and the Purification of Mary, which always falls on the 40th day after Christmas. The article on the first page of this newsletter explains that Feast.
 
Traditionally the Transfiguration was observed in August, and there was no possibility of a coincidence of date. This changed some time ago in the traditional Lutheran sanctoral cycle when the Feast of the Transfiguration was sensibly moved to the Epiphany season as the last Sunday after Epiphany, a great instance of manifestation (epiphany) of our Lord. But now the coincidence of date becomes an issue in years such as this 2020 when two Feasts of the First Class fall on the same day and there is a legitimate question over which should take precedence and move the other to the following calendar day. A consensus among the editors went with the Transfiguration, but it was not a strong consensus; it was more of a shoulder-shrugging, head-scratching consensus. In addition, the editors of Gottesdienst are certainly not, nor have they ever been, in any position to make authoritative ‘rulings’ on such matters. When offering liturgical directions and advice, they tend to do so from a standpoint of traditional considerations, most of which are uniform and easy to discern as to  their propriety.  In this case, however, there was no traditional basis from which to draw. Therefore we have arrived at a genuine matter of adiaphora, indifferent things. Liturgical pastors are utterly free to make up their own minds on this, without damage to what is the preferred tradition, as there is no preferred tradition: two equal First Class Feasts fall on the same day. One must be transferred to the next. Which? At St. Paul’s in Kewanee, the Presentation will be observed on Sunday the second, but the Transfiguration must also be observed, so it will move to the next midweek mass, February 5th.
 
The Transfiguration is the capstone of the observances of the Epiphany of Our Lord. Epiphany means manifestation, and the Gospels during this season all deal with various manifestations of the glory of Christ. Epiphany Day contains the coming of the wise men to Bethlehem, led by a star. The Sunday after Epiphany has the boy Jesus in Jerusalem, amazing the scholars in the temple. On the octave of Epiphany, the Baptism of our Lord recounts the opening of the heavens and the Father’s declaration that Jesus is his beloved Son, in whom he is well pleased. On the following Sunday is the wedding at Cana, at which Jesus turns water into wine, his first Galilean miracle. The following Sunday has the healing of the centurion’s servant. Other Sundays that sometimes follow during longer Epiphany seasons likewise show forth Christ’s glory. Always the last Sunday contains his glorious Transfiguration before Peter and James and John. During this unusual year this Feast will be observed the Wednesday after the 2nd of February, due to the conflict with the Presentation of our Lord and the Purification of Mary. Both are First-class Feasts of Our Lord, and worthy of extra effort on the part of the congregation to attend.
 
A meditation on this Feast is on the back page.
 
Ash Wednesday
The first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday, is on February 26th this year. Pastor and Carol are due in Florida for her father’s 90th birthday. Pastor Matthew Synott from Trinity in Peoria will be filling in for the imposition of ashes and the Ash Wednesday service at 7 pm. There will be no Ash Wednesday morning mass this year.

Meditation: The Presentation of Our Lord and the Purification of Mary, February 2
Reading: St. Luke 2.22-32
 
Today our Lord appeared in the temple, according to the word of the Prophet, Suddenly the Lord, whom ye seek, shall appear in his temple.  This is forty days after His birth. Now forty days signifies purification, as Moses and Elijah were purified by their forty days in the wilderness, and as our Lord Christ proved his purity by his own forty days in the wilderness, and as the faithful attend with diligence to the purification of the flesh through fasting in the forty days of Lententide.   So forty days are assigned for the purification of a woman who had given birth to a son, for in childbirth woman bleeds, giving a sign of death, and evidence of her need for purification.  But the Blessed Virgin brings not only the turtledoves which the law prescribed, but the very Sacrifice himself, which the law foretold.  Christ, who with divine and human nature is greater than two turtledoves, and who, having clean hands and a pure heart according to the words of David, is the most holy and pure sacrifice to cleanse and purify our Blessed Mother Mary (Is she not our mother, who is also the mother of Christ our Lord our Brother?) and all the people of God with her.
 
Meditation: The Transfiguration
Reading: St. Matthew 17.1-9
 
Consider well the transfiguration of our Lord, for there you see the true state of all flesh before God in Christ.  For all flesh is grass, as the Psalmist says, and withers and decays; yet in the Incarnation, God has joined Himself to human flesh and filled human flesh with His own Godhead as the Apostle says, in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Now since this is so, what can be said of those who have received the body of Christ?  Shall they not also be transfigured, as He was? Shall they not rise and live in glory with Moses and Elijah and all the company of heaven? Verily, Moses was assumed into heaven, as was Elijah; see therefore what has become of them: they dwell bodily where Christ is now ascended, in token of the assumption that all of our bodies shall receive at the Last Day.  Yet that Day is not yet; therefore let us hear Him, as the voice from the cloud commanded.  For He is the One of whom Moses had said, Him you shall hear, and whom Elijah portrayed with all the prophetic wonders he worked. Now the One whom Moses and the prophets foretold is come.  Yet He is come not to receive glory but to exchange it; thus, when He comes down from the mount, He will suffer, that we may be glorified in Him.
 
St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church
   109 S. Elm Street
   Kewanee, IL 61443

St. Paul’s Evangelical-Lutheran Church
109 S. Elm, Kewanee, Illinois 61443
Newsletter
Volume 32                                   January 2020                                            No. 1
 
EPIPHANY: A DAY OF WORSHIP AND REFLECTION
             
January 6th is Epiphany Day. This year we are planning a special event. It’s a Monday, but it’s a special Feast Day of Our Lord. So we’re scheduling Mass at 2:00 pm, and following with our annual Day of Reflection. This is a change in our original schedule. A day of reflection had been scheduled for Saturday, January 4th. This has been moved to Monday, January 6th, Epiphany Day. Members are encouraged, as you are able, to come out for Mass at 2:00 pm. Following this we will be having our annual seminar.

Here is the schedule:
2:00 p.m. Mass: the eleventh day of Chistmas
3:00 p.m. – noon: Seminar (day of reflection)
The nineteenth retreat in the Theological Reflection series is entitled,
“THE NATIVITY OF MOSES”
Why is the nativity of Moses reported in such great detail in Exodus 2? What is the significance of these details? Questions like this will all be discussed and addressed
.+ Pastor Eckardt
 
For home devotions, you may use matins or vespers, or the following short form and the appointed selections for the day, written below:
25 December: Christmas Day
Psalm 110
Reading: St. Luke 2.1-14 or 2.8-14
Meditation: Christ was born at night, because He who is the light of the world, which shines in the darkness.  The angels of the Lord appeared to faithful shepherds, because all faithful pastors are hearers of the angelic voice of God. But they were greatly afraid, for who can stand when He appears?  Yet the angel spoke the Gospel to them: Do not be afraid!  Why not?  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  For this is the day which the Lord hath made; therefore we will not fear, but rejoice and be glad in it.  And the selfsame Lord, who has made the day, and whose glory shone around them, He it is, and not another, who is found wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.  See, He who for ages past was wrapped in Moses and the prophets is now wrapped in swaddling clothes.  He who is the Bread of Life for us who are the sheep of His pasture lies in a manger for feed. So let all behold Him at the holy feeding place, the Christ-mass, where He will be found, and nowhere else; and so let us feed on Him, singing the Gloria like the angels from whose lips it was first heard; and hearing again their announcement of peace; for He is our Peace, who brings to all the earth the goodwill of God toward men.
Hymn: TLH 94
Collect for Christmas Day: Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that the new birth of Thine only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us free, who are held in the old bondage under the yoke of sin; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
 
26 December, St. Stephen the Martyr’s Day
Psalm 119.III (v17-24)
Reading: Acts 6.8-15 and/or 7.54-60
Meditation: St. Stephen’s Day is observed on the second day of Christmas, for the revelation of God in the flesh is shrouded in poverty. What did the shepherds see in the poor manger?  Did they not see God Himself in the flesh, and that the majesty of Christ is found hidden in His humble appearance?  So also in the humility of all Christian suffering and martyrdom is the majesty of Christ hidden.  For the holy saints of God were citizens of the kingdom of heaven, which is not of this world; therefore the world does not receive it.  Neither did it receive St. Stephen, nor see him for who he was, as it is written, They have eyes but they see not.  Rather, they gnashed at Him with their teeth.  But what did Stephen himself see?  He saw the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.  But they did not hear his Gospel, for they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord, as it is written, Ears have they but they hear not.  So they stoned him to death; but Stephen’s mind was at peace, consumed in the holy wounds of Christ, as he cried in likeness to his crucified Master, receive my spirit, and, do not charge them with this sin.   For martyrdom is the most holy of experiences of Christ our incarnate Lord.
Hymn: TLH 77
Collect for St. Stephen’s Day: Grant, O Lord, that in all our sufferings here upon earth for the testimony of  Thy truth we may steadfastly look up to heaven and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed; and, being filled with the Holy Ghost, may learn to love and bless our persecutors by the example of Thy first martyr, Saint Stephen, who prayed for his murderers to Thee, O blessed Jesus, who standest at the right hand of God to help all those that suffer for Thee, our only Mediator and Advocate; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
27 December: St. John the Apostle and Evangelist’s Day
Psalm 92
Reading: St. John 21.19-24
Meditation: Since it was the Holy Evangelist St. John who wrote that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, therefore he also calls himself the disciple whom Jesus loved. He also was the disciple who loved Jesus, for he leaned on His breast at the supper.  Now in this he provides an example for faith.  For those who believe that Jesus loves them will do well to lean on His breast at the Holy Supper.  For the breast of Jesus is known there, where He gives Himself to His people and holds nothing back.  It is most fitting to receive the Sacrament on Christmas Day, for Christmas means Christ-Mass, as the manger of Christ is surely the holy paten and chalice; and the sheep of His pasture receive the Bread of Life there.  So too, there they proclaim His death till He come, which is why Jesus says, If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?  You follow me.  For the Apostle knew that he would indeed abide eternally with Jesus if he had partaken in Him, and that his word was divinely inspired, for he testifies in the plural, saying, We know that His testimony is true.   Surely even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written, for the works of Jesus continue to the present day, most especially at the Holy Altar.
Hymn: TLH 271
Collect for St. John’s Day: Merciful Lord, we beseech Thee to cast the bright beams of Thy light upon thy Church that it, being instructed by the doctrines of Thy blessed Apostle and Evangelist Saint John, may attrain to the light of everlasting life, though Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
 
28 December, The Holy Innocents’ Day
Psalm 9
Reading: St. Matthew 2.13-18
Meditation: Behold how Christ fights against evil: by humility.  Herod seeks the young Child, so He flees to Egypt.  Herod desires to destroy Him, so He hides until Herod is destroyed by death.  And thus the word of the prophet is fulfilled: out of Egypt I called My Son.  For it was in the same feeble way that Israel had been delivered from Pharaoh.  They who had no weapons saw their mighty enemies swallowed up in the sea, for God’s power is made known in weakness.  So Herod, like Pharaoh before him, is stricken with madness and a murderous mind, so he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem. But still he loses the battle to the poor Christ Child, whose response to this terror is to rest serenely in His mother’s lap.  Yea, terror and the holy blood of the Innocents drenches the homes of the poor people, that is, of Rachel weeping for her children.  But where is Christ?  In Egypt, in token of the great Passover when the firstborn of all the Egyptians were once likewise slain.  For Christ is our Passover, and His blood marks all His faithful, who await the Day of His Just Judgment, when the destroying angel shall vindicate them all, as He demonstrated ahead of time by the death of Herod.
Hymn: TLH 273
Collect for Holy Innocents’ Day: O God, whose martyred innocents showed forth Thy praise not by speaking but by dying, mortify all vices within us that our lives may in deed confess Thy faith which our tongue uttereth; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
First Tuesday events
 
Our First Tuesday meetings (Altar Guild and Elders) are scheduled as usual. Tuesday, January 7th
6 pm Altar Guild; 6:45 pm First Tuesday Vespers;
7:15 pm Elders
 
January Anniversaries None
 
Altar Guild Notes
 
Altar color is white throughout January.
No mass on Wednesday, January 22nd.
Altar Guild Meeting is on January 7th at 6 pm.

No Council Meeting in January 
The January council meeting is unnecessary this month because of the annual voters’ assembly to be held January 5th.

Annual Voters’ MeetingOur Annual Voters’ Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 5th, 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
Grant Andresen, Jim Hornback, Larry Campbell (unless Larry is scheduled to sub-deacon, in which case Steve Harris is on the schedule)
 
Shut ins
Mary Hamilton has moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana; Emmy Wear is at Williamsfield Home in Williamsfield; Emilie Ricknell is at home; Dick Melchin is at Hammond Henry Extended Care in Geneseo; Bea Harris is occasionally at home; Dale Baker is occasionally at home.

Eckardt Christmas Greetings
 
Our fam’ly keeps growing,
It just doesn’t cease,
Its Giver bestowing
Life’s boundless increase.
 
Another was married
‘Twas Joe in July
To Emily, as we
All partied, oh my!
 
And now she is showing!
A baby is due,
But too soon for knowing
If pink or if blue.
 
Our number now, say we?
I count twenty-two,
Including that baby
Who’s still in the womb.
 
For Jesus, born for us
Thus counts us in love;
So come, join the chorus
With angels above.
God rest ye merry, this Christmas 2019
and always.

The Bell Tolls
On the last Sunday of the year we toll the bell at
prayers for each member of our parish who has died during the year. In 2019 there was one  member who fell asleep in Christ:

• Joyce Long

In Our Prayers
Our current list of prayer intentions at mass includes the names on the lists here following.  Anyone wishing to update the list by addition or subtraction, please inform the pastor.in our parish:
Emilie Ricknell, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe, Mary Hamilton, Emmy Wear, Sue Murphy, Don Murphy, Dick Melchin, DeAnne Anderson, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Jim Watson, Dana McReynolds, Mary Beth Jones, Sandra VerPlaetse
         and beyond our parish:
Anna Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises]
Katy Rutovicz [granddaughter of Harrises]
Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter]
Elizabeth Godke, Sharon Field’s mother
Brandt and Oneda Hendrickson [Ricknells’ relatives]
Helen Woods [Sue Murphy’s sister]
Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister]
Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson]
Dennis Hoag [Adam Shreck’s father-in-law]
Sue Harris [Steve Harris’s sister-in-law]
Nancy Callahan [Don Murphy’s sister]
Rachel Smith [Emmy Wear’s cousin]
Yvette Baker [Dale’s daughter-in-law]
Warren Williams [relative of the Kemerlings]
Bud Harfst [Sue Murphy’s brother]
Tony Stoner [friend of the Murphys]
Dylan Harden [Chris’s grandson]
Theresa Moore [Ricknells’ niece]
Carol Grigsby [friend of Jewneel Walker]
Tim Newman [Kemerling relation]
Karla Perkowski [Monroe Kemerling’s daughter]
Pastor Kenneth Wegener
Pastor Karl Fabrizius
Pastor Brian Feicho
         in the military:
John Eckardt
Donny Appleman [at request of the Ricknells]
Richard Heiden [at request of the Eckardts]
Luke Van Landigan [grandson of Dick Melchin]
Jaclyn Alvarez [daughter of Kris Harden]
Eli Wetzel
Traven Wetzel
Shawn Wetzel
Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson]
Jake Mahaffey
 
in trouble:
any unborn children in danger of abortion
those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Nigeria, India, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and elsewhere.
 
Our Sympathies
Derrick Baker’s brother Kenneth, who lived in the Chicago area, fell asleep in Jesus on December 9th. We mourn with him and his family, and find comfort in the nativity, life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus
 
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 2019                                       No. 12
 
Preparations
 
This time of year everyone knows that preparations are in order. For this reason we find that there is a nice comparison that can be made between the ordinary kinds of preparations people make for Christmas and the season of Advent.
 
For in Advent, too, we prepare.  Christ is coming, we know, and not merely do we think of the annual celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord; we think of the return of our Lord in glory. Advent prepares us for both, which is a traditional junction of the way that leads to Christmas and the way that leads to Christ’s return. The readings for Advent Sundays reflect this junction, though they tend by and large to emphasize the preparations that are in order for Christ’s return.
 
St. Peter says this about that:
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (II Peter 3:10-13).
 
The heart of that admonition is this: the Apostle asks what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness, which is a rhetorical question. It means, of course, that we ought to be careful to walk according to holiness of conduct (the KJV term “conversation” means conduct), that is, simply, in decency, kindness, brotherly love, forgiving one another in meekness. This is what is meant by godliness. It is the life of faith, which first trusts Christ’s holy promise and mercy, and then, because of this trust, bears oneself properly toward everyone on earth. And this, too, is what is meant by preparation for the coming of Christ: living this life of faith, by which we look for and hasten toward the coming of the day of God
 
So we conduct ourselves meekly: in penitence for our sins, desiring to receive Holy Absolution, to hear the Holy Gospel, and to partake in the Holy Sacrament, and in love toward our neighbor, desiring by holiness of conduct, good things for him.
 
Advent thus seamlessly continues the theme which had already been established toward the end of the church year.
 
+ Pastor Eckardt
 
Christ Masses
 
As usual, we will hold three different Christ Masses this year: the first will be on Christmas Eve at 7:00; the second will follow at Midnight; and the third will be Christmas morning at 10:00.
 
Special Note for Altar Guild; First Tuesday Meetings Dec. 3
 
On Tuesday, December 3rd, Altar Guild meets as usual at 6 pm, and Elders at 7:15 pm.  Between them we will hold vespers at 6:45 pm.  All members invited.
 
Altar Guild members: please make an extra effort to attend this meeting, at which we are going to review the instructions for Altar Guild duty; it is good to do this periodically.
 
Shut ins
 
Mary Hamilton has moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana; Emmy Wear is at Williamsfield Home in Williamsfield; Emilie Ricknell is at home; Dick Melchin is at Hammond Henry Extended Care in Geneseo; Bea Harris is occasionally at home; Dale Baker is occasionally at home.
 
Special Masses Wednesdays 
Our 7 p.m. masses during Advent will be emphasizing the narratives of St. Luke 1 that are written in preparation for the nativity of our Lord reported in St. Luke 2. Come prepare for Christ’s coming at Christmas, at the End of the World, and at the Altar.
 
On December 11th we will also have caroling and a party, as explained in a nearby article.
 
Caroling and Party Dec. 11

We plan to go caroling on Wednesday, December 11th. 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.
 
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 tree Saturday, November 30th!

Our Website
 
Our church’s website is www.stpaulskewanee.org, and it is very active. Twice a week there is usually a new post in the “Sermons” section, as a synopsis of the most recent sermon is given, with a link to the audio of the Gospel and sermon that you can listen to whenever you want, or share with your friends.
 
December Anniversaries
12/13 Jim and Carol Watson
 
December Ushers
Allan Kraklow, Steve Kraklow, Tom Wells, Jim Hornback.
                       
December Birthdays
12/11 Kris Harden
12/13 Michael Eckardt
12/23 James Armstrong
 
The Bell Tolls
On the last Sunday of the year, we customarily toll the bell at prayers for each member of our parish who has died during the year. We remember this year one member who fell asleep in Christ:

• Joyce Long

 
Coming Up: Epiphany Seminar and Celebration, Saturday, January 4th, 2020
A day of reflection is planned for Saturday, January 6th, 2020.  To open the seminar we will have mass at 9:00 in the morning. A seminar will follow. Here is the schedule:
9:00 a.m. Mass: the eleventh day of Chistmas
10:00 a.m. - noon Seminar (day of reflection):
            The nineteenth retreat in the Theological Reflection series is entitled,
“THE NATIVITY OF MOSES”
Why is the nativity of Moses reported in such great detail in Exodus 2? What is the significance of these details? Questions like this will all be discussed and addressed.

Lutheranism is the Truth
from Gottesblog (at the Gottesdienst website,  www.gottesdienst.org) November 11, 2019. Posted by blogger Rev. Sean Daenzer.
 
“. . . to be Lutheran and to be Christian are not in any way matters in tension. [I am] one who is a Lutheran because he is a Christian—who, if he were not a Lutheran, would not be a believer of any kind—one who sees the only logical alternative to his commitment to the Christian Lutheran faith to be Epicurianism in its most popular form: ‘Let us eat and drink and be merry, for tomorrow we are dead.’ I do not mean to say that it is more important to be a Lutheran than to be a Christian. If a Christian is properly described as one who is united with Christ by true faith in Him, then no church affiliation of any kind can be placed on a level with it, let alone on a level above it. To be a Christian, in the sense of accepting the Christian faith, is to be in the only condition in which salvation is possible.

“. . . One often hears the idea, variously expressed, that it is more important to be a Christian than to be a Lutheran. . . .”  The sentence, I am a Lutheran because I am a Christian, [rather,] asserts (1) that the Christian faith is clearly revealed, (2) that it can be grasped and understood, (3) that it can be accurately stated, taught, and confessed, and (4) that this has been done in traditional Lutheranism. It is a further consequence of this conviction to hold that convinced members of other denominations would think exactly the same way about their view of the Christian message—and, thinking that way, would reject my views which are specifically Lutheran. It is only for such persons—those who take seriously their own view of Christianity and that of Christians who disagree with them—that I have any real respect. The big enemy of the true Christian faith is compromise, toleration, the spirit that we all are right—as if the important thing is not to be Lutheran but to be Christian without any denominational confession whatever.

“In my first paragraph I also voiced my view that Epicureanism is the only logical alternative to my Christian Lutheran faith. You may well wonder why . . . it is no idle comment; it is seriously meant. It is related between two contrasts: The one is the contrast between the Lutheran church and other churches, and the other is that between the Christian faith and all other religions.

“The first contrast implies that if I believe, as I do, that the gospel or the Word of God is witnessed to purely and truly in the Lutheran Confessions, then there is no point in thinking of forsaking the Lutheran church to seek membership somewhere else. On the one hand, what is true and good in other churches can always be acknowledged as such and made use of (like the excellent Anglican prayers and other liturgical material). On the other hand, what makes any of the other churches distinctively what they are (such as papal authority in the Church of Rome) simply has to be rejected by the Lutheran—and membership in that church must likewise be rejected. For me as a convinced Lutheran, there is no acceptable alternative to Lutheranism in the various other denominations; therefore, the only logical alternative seems to be abandonment of the faith in favor of Epicureanism.

“The second implies that there can be no rival of any kind to the Christian faith. God became a human being in Jesus Christ once and for all. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Christianity is simply in a class by itself among the ‘religions’.

. . . “A careful reader will probably pick up another signal from these pages [of Hamann’s book.] There is in them an undercurrent of disappointment concerning the present state of Lutheranism in the world. As the late Dr. Sasse said very often, the ecumenical movement has destroyed dogma throughout the church. World Lutheranism is in a state of disintegration, and enthusiasm for the old faith seems to be disappearing, even in those parts of Lutheranism that used to make a great deal of their loyalty to the Confessions. Much is still said in those quarters about confessional Lutheranism, but a great deal of that talk is mere talk, pious conventionalism.”

• Henry Hamann, “On Being a Christian: A Personal Confession” (1996)

 
New Year’s Mass:New Year’s Eve mass is 7 pm on December 31st.

In Our Prayers
Our current list of prayer intentions at mass includes the names on the lists here following.  Anyone wishing to update the list by addition or subtraction, please inform the pastor.
in our parish:
Emilie Ricknell
John Ricknell
Linda Rowe
Mary Hamilton
Emmy Wear
Sue Murphy
Don Murphy
Dick Melchin
DeAnne Anderson
Bea Harris
Allan Kraklow
Jim Watson
Dana McReynolds
Mary Beth Jones

and beyond our parish:
Anna Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises]
Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter]
Elizabeth Godke, Sharon Field’s mother
Brandt and Oneda Hendrickson [Ricknells’ relatives]
Linda Anderson
Helen Woods [Sue Murphy’s sister]
Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister]
Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson]
Dennis Hoag [Adam Shreck’s father-in-law]
Sue Harris [Steve Harris’s sister-in-law]
Nancy Callahan [Don Murphy’s sister]
Rachel Smith [Emmy Wear’s cousin]
Yvette Baker [Dale’s daughter-in-law]
Warren Williams [relative of the Kemerlings]
Kenneth Baker [Derrick’s brother]
Bud Harfst [Sue Murphy’s brother]
Tony Stoner [friend of the Murphys]
Theresa Moore
Carol Grigsby [Jewneel Walker’s friend]
Pastor Kenneth Wegener
Pastor Kenneth Wegener
Pastor Karl Fabrizius

in the military:
John Eckardt
Donny Appleman [at request of the Ricknells]
Richard Heiden [at request of the Eckardts]
Luke Van Landigan [grandson of Dick Melchin]
Jaclyn Alvarez [daughter of Kris Harden]
Eli Wetzel [at request of Kris Harden]
Traven Wetzel [at request of Kris Harden]
Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson]
Jake Mahaffey

in trouble:
any unborn children in danger of abortion
those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Nigeria, India, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and elsewhere
 
Persecution details [from www.persecution.net]:
 
SYRIA: Christians At Risk
Source(s): AINA, Middle East Concern, CBN
Date: 14 November 2019
When American troops pulled out of Syria, and Turkish troops moved in to establish a "safe zone" in northeast Syria, there were understandable concerns about the safety of the people living in this area. Turkish authorities gave assurances that their forces would not persecute religious minorities, including a significant number of Christians. However, recent reports have indicated otherwise.
Troops were reportedly told to not physically harm any Christians. However, that has not stopped them from driving civilians who practice Christianity out of their homes and land. Armenians and Syriac Christians in the region have been intimidated and forbidden access to their land, keeping them from harvesting their crops. As a result of the takeover, combined with bombings of towns and villages in the area, many Christians have been forced to flee. Witnesses describe it as a "soft ethnic cleansing."
Along with the danger posed by invading Turkish troops, Islamic extremist groups -- including self-proclaimed ISIS terrorists -- have been emboldened. On November 11th, an Armenian Catholic priest, Hovsep Bedoyan was murdered by gunmen, along with his father. Two others in the vehicle were also injured. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack. The terrorist group has also been responsible for some bombings that took place on the same day near a Chaldean church in Qamishli, leaving six dead.
 
IRAN: Recent Prisoner Updates
 
Christians in Iran face constant danger when living out their faith. This is particularly true for those who convert from Islam. For many, faith in Christ leads to torture and imprisonment. More information, including various reports, can be reviewed at our country report.

Ismaeil Maghrebinejad, 65, was taken into custody on January 25th of this year on charges of propaganda against the state (note previous report). In a hearing on October 22nd, charges of apostasy were added by the judge, even though Ismaeil had been a Christian for nearly 40 years. The next court hearing is expected in two months' time.
On October 31st, it was reported that Ebrahim Firouzi had been released from prison and would be facing two years of exile after a temporary leave (see this report). Ebrahim has now been sent to Sarbaz, a city that is located hundreds of kilometers south of his home and nears the border with Pakistan. Ebrahim was scheduled to arrive on November 12th to the city, where he will be learning of the conditions and restrictions enforced on him for the next two years.

Five other Iranian Christians are facing sentences between five and fifteen years for "acting against national security."
 
INDIA: House Churches Under Surveillance to Prevent Worship
Police in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu have put several house churches under surveillance in an effort to prevent their use for Christian worship. House church congregations in several villages were warned to stop meeting altogether. Pastors of these small gatherings have been harassed and ordered to get permission from district officials in order to conduct prayer services.
 
CHINA: New Regulations Bring Added Restrictions
Authorities in Zhejiang province have instituted a series of new restrictions on churches, including regulations forbidding the practice of baptismal services and the use of offering collection boxes. The monitoring of attendees, types of activities, service times and locations has been given to appointed government officials to ensure all the restrictions are followed.
 
Altar Guild Notes

Altar Guild members: please make an extra effort to attend our December meeting, at which we are going to review the instructions for Altar Guild duty; it is good to do this periodically.
 
Advent does not begin until the first weekend in December. The four Advent Sundays’ color is violet.  If roses are obtained, they may be placed on the Third Sunday in Advent, December 15th.
For midweek masses, the color remains violet.

For Christmas Eve, the first Mass is at 7 p.m., and the color is changed to white. The three Christ Masses will be held as usual, 7 pm Christmas Eve, 12 midnight, and 10 am Christmas Day.  Color is white for all three.

The Sunday after Christmas is observed on Sunday morning the 29th. Color remains white.

New Year’s Eve mass is held at 7 pm on the 31st. Color is white and remains white in January.
​
No mass is scheduled for St. Stephen, St. John, of Holy Innocents (26-28 December) this year.
 

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

Volume 29                                   November 2019                                       No. 11

The Vitality of the Church

It’s always tempting to assess things by their outward appearance. The old saying that you can’t judge a book by its cover arises from just such an awareness of that temptation. The temptation becomes all the clearer when outward appearances tell a very different story than the reality.

And that’s especially the case when one considers the vitality of a church, or of a congregation, on the basis of external appearances; specifically, the number of people attending on a typical Sunday, the amount of offerings, the congregation’s debts, or even the condition of the building.

While such things are sometimes necessary to consider, we ought not to think they are the way to assess the vitality of a congregation.  

Vitality has to do with how alive something or someone is. How alive are we? That’s really a spiritual question, and so the manner of arriving at an answer must be made in a different way. For, as the Apostle Paul says, “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Spiritual vitality has to do with what the Lutheran Confessions consider the marks of the church: “The Church is the congregation of saints, in which the Gospel is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered” (Augsburg Confession, VII).
 
And where these things happen, there is the life of the church. There is the vitality of the church.

And without question, by the grace of God the Gospel is rightly taught here, and the Sacraments are rightly administered here. Therefore the church is present here and its vitality is vibrant and unquestionably in evidence. The people of God are receiving the gifts of God.
 
Rejoice in that fact, dear members. Our Lord Jesus, who has given himself into death for us and risen from the dead as the first fruits of them that sleep, has also seen fit to plant his church in this very place; and because of this, we have heard and believed the Gospel, to the saving of our souls and the greater glory of God.
 
This is a good thing to remember when Thanksgiving is observed and celebrated. This year, Thanksgiving is on November 28th, and we will observe Thanksgiving Mass, as usual, the night before: Wednesday evening November 27th at 7 p.m.

+ Pastor Eckardt
 
Oktoberfest Totals
 Attendance estimates:
            94 Sunday night
            44 Monday
            9 Tuesday
 
Income:
$1170 early registrations
$1337 regular registrations
$ 809 Sunday night donations
$ 100 Monday donations
$3416 total received.
 
Expenses:
$350 speaker/preacher
$104.34 room
$137.82 food
$104.41 paper products
$732.57 total expenses
(many items, including the beer, were donated)
 
Net Oktoberfest proceeds: $2683.43
 
Thanks be to God for another successful festival, and thanks to all who have been working tirelessly  to help our congregation, volunteering time, donations, and effort.
 
November Ushers
Otis Anderson John Ricknell, Bill Thompson, Jim Hornback

November Anniversaries
11/5 Steve and Berniece Harris
11/10 Gayle and Phil Beauprez
 
November Birthdays
11/19 Steve Kraklow
11/20 Jewneel Walker
11/30 Charlene Sovanski
 
Shut ins
 
Mary Hamilton has moved to Fort Wayne to live with her son John; Emmy Wear is at Williamsfield Home in Williamsfield; Emilie Ricknell is at home; Dick Melchin is at Hammond Henry extended care in Geneseo; Bea Harris is often homebound; Dale Baker is sometimes homebound.

First Tuesday moved to Second Week

November’s First Tuesday events are to be postponed until the second Tuesday, November 12th, because Pastor and Carol will be in Florida to visit her father the first week. Altar Guild at 6 p.m. Vespers is at 6:45, and Elders meet at 7:15.

Daily Prayer

As a minimum, when you rise in the morning and go to bed at night, repeat the invocation (In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen), say the Apostles’ Creed, and Say the Our Father.  If you wish, you may add Luther’s morning or evening prayer.

It’s a good practice to set aside some time to read your Bible every day as well, at least a chapter.

You are encouraged to use your hymnal for a richer daily prayer.  The order of matins (morning) or vespers (evening) is easily adoptable for personal use.

The hymnal is also a good resource for a schedule of daily readings.  See page 161.  These readings correspond with the material in Every Day Will I Bless Thee: Meditations for the Daily Office, my book of meditations for daily use); to purchase a copy, see me. – Pastor

All Saints
 
November 1st, All Saints Day, will be observed on Wednesday, October 30th, at 7 pm.
 
Altar Guild News

The last Wednesday in October is red, to observe All Saints (which is November 1st). Then it turns to green for the all of November except for Thanksgiving, which we observe on Wednesday night, November 27th (color for Thanksgiving is white). The following Sunday (December 1st) is the first Sunday in Advent, for which the color is violet. The advent wreath must be prepared in anticipation of that.

November meeting is moved to the Second Tuesday, November 12th, at 6 pm.

In Our Prayers
To update the list please inform the pastor.
in our parish:
Emilie Ricknell
John Ricknell
Linda Rowe
Mary Hamilton
Emmy Wear
Sue Murphy
Don Murphy
Dick Melchin
DeAnne Anderson
Bea Harris
Allan Kraklow
Jim Watson
Dana McReynolds
Mary Beth Jones

and beyond our parish:
Anna Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises]
Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter]
Pastor Kenneth Wegener
Elizabeth Godke, Sharon Field’s mother
Brandt and Oneda Hendrickson [Ricknells’ relatives]
Linda Anderson
Helen Woods [Sue Murphy’s sister]
Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister]
Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson]
Dennis Hoag [Adam Shreck’s father-in-law]
Sue Harris [Steve Harris’s sister-in-law]
Nancy Callahan [Don Murphy’s sister]
Rachel Smith [Emmy Wear’s cousin]
Yvette Baker [Dale’s daughter-in-law]
Warren Williams [relative of the Kemerlings]
Kenneth Baker [Derrick’s brother]
Bud Harfst [Sue Murphy’s brother]
Tony Stoner [friend of the Murphys]
Dylan Harden, Chris’s grandson, bad migraines

in the military:
John Eckardt
Donny Appleman [at request of the Ricknells]
Richard Heiden [at request of the Eckardts]
Luke Van Landigan [grandson of Dick Melchin]
Jaclyn Alvarez [daughter of Kris Harden]
Eli Wetzel [at request of Kris Harden]
Traven Wetzel [at request of Kris Harden]
Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson]
Jake Mahaffey

in trouble:
any unborn children in danger of abortion
those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Eritrea, Sudan, Nigeria, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and elsewhere

Council Meeting Date
 
The Council meeting is set for Wednesday, November 20th, at 5:30.
 
Pastor and Carol to Visit Her Father
 
Current plans are for Pastor and Carol to spend part of the first week in November in Florida to visit her father who is in a skilled care home. This will mean there will be no activities scheduled between November 5th and 9th: no Tuesday class, no Wednesday mass, and no choir practice. Also, first Tuesday meetings are postponed until the second Tuesday, November 12th.
 
Thanksgiving Worship

As usual, our Thanksgiving Mass will be held on Wednesday evening prior, which this year is November 27th, at 7:00. All come!
 
Choir!
 
The choir begins rehearsing again: Wednesdays after mass, about 8 p.m. All singers come!
 
Leave It Alone, You’ll Break It.
A review
This review of Pastor’s book (available here for $20.00) was published earlier this year in the newsletter of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bayside, New York. A lengthier version of it is soon to be published in The American Organist.
 
This pithy title belongs to a recently published book by one of our great Missouri Synod pastors, Rev. Dr. Burnell F. Eckardt, Jr. As clarified by the subtitle, “Liturgical Observations,” the 500+ pages therein comment on the present state of liturgy in the American church. Coming from the Lutheran perspective, Eckardt’s thoughts could well apply to many liturgical churches and Christian worship practices in general. Briefly stated, things are not good. Keeping in mind that his analysis does not apply to every congregation (definitely not to Redeemer, for example), the problems are nevertheless widespread and deep rooted.

Underlying the matter are several basic principles. One is the inseparable connection of liturgy to theology. As the saying goes, lex orandi, lex credendi (the law of prayer is the law of belief). That is, as we pray, so we believe, or, further, we need to do liturgically what we say theologically. Thus, changes in the words or actions of liturgy, however small, may impact belief and faith. On current liturgical practice, Eckardt concludes that “we have arrived at liturgical chaos,” characterizing contemporary worship as “liturgical shipwreck.” How is “liturgical chaos” manifested? Pandering to the culture figures largely here: “praise teams” offering pop/rock, complete with drums, sound mixers, and amplifiers occupying the chancel; or the commercially slick “Christian rock.” (One should ask here how “praise teams” improve on the ample stock of hymns of praise found in standard Lutheran hymnals.)

Closely related is the dumbing down of worship content: trading in hymnals or prayer books for user-friendly service folders, insertion of spoken directions into the liturgy (which Eckardt likens to a stewardess giving seatbelt instructions), and a living-room or coffeehouse atmosphere. For the gurus of “contemporary worship,” everything must be basic: keep it simple, remove big words, shun serious hymns, use only “upbeat” tunes. Changes enter the Christian lexicon incrementally, such as the switch from the specific term “hymn” to the generic word “song,” intended, perhaps, to sound more “relevant” to modern youth. Today, compilers of hymnals must count “singability” (read: five-note tune, third-grade English) as a criterion; by such standards, “A Mighty Fortress” would not make the cut. Given the unbreakable link between liturgy and theology, it is folly to think that worship style doesn’t matter. Liturgy cannot be a matter of taste or personal preference.

Importantly, liturgy functions to create a sense of awe and the sublime, as well as to foster the dignity attached to the Gospel and the Sacrament. The church is a Holy Place where we encounter God. How to do this? Moses took off his shoes (Exodus 3:5), Peter, James, and John fell on their faces, and Isaiah’s vision of God (right, Isaiah 6:1–8, in which the seraphim cry: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory”) was not a “Kum Ba Yah” moment. Thus, the rituals of the Mass convey that something important is taking place, something that demands respect and reverence. The Anglican Breviary defines reverence as “not primarily a matter of feeling pious, but rather of taking pains.” In this regard, liturgy also tends to make people behave by banishing the pride of self-expression. Behind the Mass lie centuries of history. The Western rite goes back to A.D. 600, much of it derived from the Gregorian liturgy; the (Lutheran) Mass represents the accumulated wisdom of history. Celebrated throughout Christendom for hundreds of years, it has inspired thousands of musical settings. “Contemporary Worship,” on the other hand, seeks to change all this for the sake of freedom of worship: “[O]ut with reverence, solemnity, and formality; in with casual, comfort, and familiar. Out with majesty; in with warmth. Out with vestments; in with jeans,” etc.

Not to be discounted, liturgy serves as the glue that holds the church body together. That is, the historic liturgy, more than organizational structures or official authorities, identifies a Christian community. Eckardt shows that, from as early as the first century, a uniform liturgy, carried out at stated times and in proper order, was considered necessary. The search for variety, novelty, and “relevance” has no place there. Indeed, variety and “diversity” (to use the current lingo) is already richly present in the Mass by the combination of the constant (the Ordinary) with the changing (the Proper, such as the Introit). The historic liturgy, the author says, is the key to the church’s survival, rather than “church growth” and other such programs.

Fearlessly, Eckardt takes on the “language police,” who have been busy for decades enforcing bad grammar for the sake of social engineering. Unfortunately, liturgical language has not escaped the ravages of such linguistic crimes. The feminist movement launched a “full frontal assault” on the word “man,” meaning “mankind,” with collateral damage on the masculine pronouns (he, him, etc.), not to mention nouns like “father” and “son.” This is a slippery slope: not long after the “fixing” of numerous hymns and liturgical texts, “femspeak” began to infect the creeds, even in Lutheranism. So, there are Lutheran hymnals that quietly omit the word “men” in the phrase “who for us men and our salvation.” Hardly a harmless edit—for dropping the word “men” transforms the entire meaning. By itself, the phrase “who for us” could denote nothing more than “for us in this room.” Going down the path of gender neutrality has even led to God being a female (goddess?). Thankfully the LCMS resisted the temptation to give in to such wanton tinkering, although the clinical “for us humans” was apparently once proposed to replace “men” in the Nicene Creed.

Noting that ecclesiastical authorities were “hellbent” on removing, once and for all, the English of the King James Bible from our liturgical vocabulary, Eckardt characterizes the achievement of this goal as a tragic loss. The argument that the language of the KJV and related liturgical texts was “outdated” for modern use does not hold up, for, in fact, this language has been archaic for over 300 years. It long provided, in beautiful poetic form, a unique idiom reserved for addressing and speaking of God.

Interestingly, it remains the best-selling version of the English Bible. (I would add that without the once-universal English-language Bible, people brought up on a “diversity” of translations are much less likely to memorize Scripture, as study and public readings no longer reinforce a single version.)

So, how did we get to the state of “liturgical chaos”? Pastor Eckardt says it happened through abuse of “adiaphora” (things neither commanded nor forbidden), a concept mentioned in several places in the Lutheran Confessions. Article X of the Formula of Concord explains that “adiaphora” refers to ceremonies or usages introduced into the church in the interest of good order and general welfare. Such usages may be changed according to circumstances and what may be edifying to the church. In making changes, however, all frivolity and offenses are to be avoided. For the contemporary-worship crowd, “adiaphora” provided a loophole that quickly progressed to total freedom. Style of worship, then, became utterly indifferent. Finally gained was “freedom from liturgy.” From there it was a short leap to “liturgical chaos.”
 
Jane Schatkin Hettrick
Director of Parish Music
Redeemer Lutheran Church, Bayside, New York
 
St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church
   109 S. Elm Street
   Kewanee, IL 61443

Volume 31                                   October 2019                                      No. 10

Twenty-Fourth Oktoberfest!
The Twenty-fourth Annual Oktoberfest! and Gottesdienst Central is set for October 13th – 15th, and this year’s special choral vespers will be celebrating the rededication of our completed chancel. Vespers will be held Sunday evening the 13th, to kick off the annual Oktoberfest event.

Oktoberfest will also be hosting the Rev. Dr. James Bushur, who is the Carl and Erna Weinrich Associate Professor of New Testament and Early Church Studies. at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He specializes in Patristics and is a member of the North American Patristics Society.

His topic will be
“The Sermon in the Early Church”

The event begins Sunday the 13th with Choral Vespers at 5 p.m. Following the service is our annual bratwurst banquet. At which Dr. Bushur will give a synopsis of his Monday seminar. Following the banquet is the after-the-party party, at Father Eckardt’s home, where a gaggle of the editors of Gottesdienst is milling about.

On Monday, October 14th, the day begins with Mass at 9 a.m. Following Mass and a continental breakfast, Dr. Bushur will hold forth for the rest of the day, in two sessions running until about 2:45, followed by Vespers.

On Tuesday, October 15th, the conference will continue in the same format, with Father Eckardt holding forth on the theme, ““Preaching: the Voice of the Holy Spirit.” The Tuesday session will be shorter, framed by morning low Mass (spoken Divine Service) and Mid-day prayers.

REGISTRATION: MEMBERS OF ST. PAUL’S AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN KEWANEE GO FREE. For others, $50 per person, $70 per couple, students $25 — includes Sunday banquet and Monday brunch; no charge for children with parents. Register here.

Renovation News 
Most members are aware that we have virtually completed our three year project of renovating our church, and that we are rededicating the chancel on Sunday evening October 13th at 5:00 pm with choral vespers, as Oktoberfest begins.
 
The tally of our planning phases now look like this:
 
Phase One: the Nave. COMPLETED
Phase Two: the Balcony. COMPLETED
Phase Three: air conditioning. COMPLETED
Phase Four: the Chancel. COMPLETED
Phase Five: the floor. COMPLETED
            The only outstanding item here is the completion of the trim between the chancel floor and the carpeting, and we may have it also completed in time for the rededication.
Phase Six: extras
           We have a new baptismal font
           We are still hoping to get a statue of St. Paul.
 
Thanks be to God for his mercy to this small parish, enabling us to complete this three-year project!

Oktoberfest Desserts Needed
Can you provide a dessert for Oktoberfest? Please bring your dessert on Sunday afternoon, October 13th, in the morning or between 3 pm and 4:30. 

Oktoberfest help wanted
We need volunteers. Please help! Oktoberfest is October 13th – 15th.  Especially on Saturday morning October 13th, but also for cleanup crews on Sunday after the banquet, Monday the 14th after the afternoon session (about 3:30), and Tuesday the 15th when it is over (about 12:30).

October Ushers
Grant Andresen, Larry Campbell (Steve Harris if Larry is subdeacon), Jim Hornback 

October Birthdays
10/1 Richard Melchin
 10/1 Sue Murphy
10/2 Diana Shreck
10/3 Matthew Fisher
10/9 Mary Hamilton
10/24 Eric Meaker
10/28 Carmen Sovanski
10/29 Svetlana Meaker
10/30 Sharon Hartz
 
October Anniversaries
 10/4 Linda and Larry Rowe
10/23 Otis and Deanne Anderson
 
Invite a friend!
NOTICE, for the elders and anyone interested: in  the narthex are some general “Dear friend of St. Paul’s” letters to take, if you know of anyone who might be interested in visiting, whether a former member, a visitor, a family member, etc. Instructions: 1) take one of the plastic bags; 2) include in it one of the letters, a newsletter, and a bulletin. You’ll have a ready-made packet to give to a friend.
 
Altar Guild News
Notes for October:
           
The first three Sundays of October are green, and the fourth (Oct. 27th) is Reformation Sunday, so the color is red.
Oktoberfest has mass on Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th.  Color remains green. Vespers Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th. Midday prayers Monday and Tuesday the 14th and 15th.
Wednesdays are green except the the 30th,  (observing All Saints), which is red.
 
Shut ins
Mary Hamilton at home; Emmy Wear at Williamsfield Home in Williamsfield; Emilie Ricknell at home; Bea Harris, often homebound.

On Stewardship
This letter also went out separately to the membership in late September.
 
Dear members of St. Paul’s,
 
The matter of giving and stewardship is easily mishandled. People sometimes say they no longer attend their churches because “all they ever talk about is money,” and their churches seem more interested in fleecing than in feeding Jesus’ sheep.  That’s probably unfair, since delinquent members can hardly know what’s going on if they’re not attending; but there may be some truth there as well. Leaders get frustrated when the offerings don’t match the needs.
 
We, too, get frustrated sometimes; your council members routinely struggle with shrinking bank balances and deficit spending; but we remain thankful and humbled by the fact that you, our members, tend to be exemplary in your dedication to volunteering yourselves and your offerings. 
 
Our renovation is mostly complete, and the chancel rededication is set for Sunday, October 13th, at Oktoberfest choral vespers. Meanwhile you continue to give sacrificially; and that, I am convinced, is both because you understand that this is something you should do, and that you love your parish and want to see it prosper. Both reasons are legitimate:
 
First, yes, of course sacrificial giving is something you should do. For as Christ sacrificed himself for us and held nothing back from us that he has not given us, it is right that we should follow him in heart and mind, and so appreciate the importance of sacrifice. Dedication to Christ is really the first commandment: you shall have no other Gods. And I am glad that you already know that.
 
Second, you do love your parish and want to see it prosper. This is a fruit of faith, which knows that it is only the grace of God that keeps this congregation in the first place. But sometimes you worry about it, too. But your worry ought not become despair; indeed you may aside with a confidence that in all things your Lord will never forsake you, as the hymnist reminds us: O little flock, fear not the Foe Who madly seeks your overthrow; Dread not his rage and power. What tho’ your courage sometimes faiths, His seeming triumph o’er God’s saints Lasts but a little hour.
 
Sincerely in Christ,
 
+ Pastor Eckardt
“We thank God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God . . . you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually works also in you that believe” (I Thess. 2:13).
 
St. Paul’s on the Air Going Off WKEI This Month
Our radio program which has been running well over ten years will be airing its final radio broadcast on Sunday, September 29th. We still have many podcasts available at our website. You are encouraged to check  them out: on-demand listening to a great number of programs at www.stpaulskewanee.org
 
THE BREAKING OF THE NETS
This article appeared in this newsletter 24 years ago, in September of 1995
 
When Simon Peter at Jesus' command launched out into the deep, and let down the nets for a draught, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes, and their net brake (Luke 5.6).  This account has been used by St. Augustine and other early church fathers to illustrate the condition of the Church on earth.  She struggles amid turmoil as she continues Christ's mission command to his disciples to be fishers of men.  The breaking of the nets illustrates the strife and turmoil she experiences in this life, as the hymnist puts it:

   Tho’ with a scornful wonder men see her sore oppressed;
   By schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed;
   Yet saints their watch are keeping,
   Their cry goes up, "how long?"
   And soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song.

So the Church experiences and endures strife and conflict in the course of her earthly life, until the Lord shall return in glory for His beloved Bride.

Among the struggles in our day there is an alarming trend seen in our midst, which shows up in various places and ways throughout the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.  The trend, simply put, is to disregard the Word of God and its power and grace.  At every turn one sees evidence of a desire on the part of some to dismiss the power of the Word and the Holy Sacraments and instead to turn to earthly marketing techniques, sales strategies, and advertising gimmicks and ploys, in hopes of increasing the numbers and revenues of the churches.  At the Great Commission Convocation in Minneapolis last fall, for instance, participants were urged to adopt new and contemporary worship forms, forms clearly designed to entertain rather than to edify; while the traditional, liturgical ingredients in Lutheran worship were practically ignored.  It is easy to find worship services whose design and intent is aimed at appealing to the unbeliever who might be visiting.  This may sound laudable on the surface, until one considers the logic at work here: in order to be appealing to the unbeliever, one must in fact offer the ingredients of unbelief!  On the contrary, only the Word of God can convert the unbeliever to the faith.  We must, therefore, simply believe the power of the Word to do that, and get our own earthly machinations out of the way.
 
As the Church struggles with all her controversies and trials, one can always see the wringing of hands.  Especially in these times one can see this, with all the turmoil at the Fort Wayne seminary, the alarming intensification Synod-wide of attempts to eradicate traditional, liturgical, sacramental worship, and grievous efforts everywhere to remove all the elements of traditional, liturgical Lutheranism and replace them with the trappings of an entertainment mentality.
 
So now we, who struggle to maintain an insistence upon the power of the Word, now begin ourselves to wonder at the power of the Word, or to think that the health of the Church depends on our plans and strategy.  Thus in a bitter twist of irony, we ourselves begin to forget that the Church lives only by the Holy Gospel and the precious Sacraments. 
 
Not surprisingly, though, for if even the holy Sarah laughed at the promise of Isaac, should we expect ourselves to be above such folly?  What we need above all in these perilous and dark times is, simply, to remember the promise. Indeed Sarah, for her advanced age, deemed performance of God's promise impossible, but God in his mercy performed it all the same.  For her, the promise was ultimately a Christological one of course, as the line came through Isaac the son of promise; and for us as well it is Christological, since it is Christ's own Church against whom He has promised that the gates of hell shall not prevail.
 
So let us not grow weary over the breaking of the nets, though at all levels the nets are indeed breaking, and we can easily find disruption and strife.  Recall that the draught of fish was taken to shore, to the astonishment of all (Luke 5.9); so likewise the Church through all her struggles shall, according to the promise, finally reach the shores of eternal beatitude and blessing in the heavenly mansions.  As Luther said it, "You may trust the Scriptures; they will not lie to you."
 
Pastor Eckardt +
 
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
Mary Hamilton
Emmy Wear
Sue Murphy
Don Murphy
Dick Melchin
DeAnne Anderson
Bea Harris
Allan Kraklow
Jim Watson
Dana McReynolds
Mary Beth Jones
Jim Hornback
   and beyond our parish:
Anna Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises]
Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter]
Pastor Kenneth Wegener
Elizabeth Godke, Sharon Field’s mother
Brandt and Oneda Hendrickson [Ricknells’ relatives]
Linda Anderson
Helen Woods [Sue Murphy’s sister]
Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister]
Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson]
Dennis Hoag [Adam Shreck’s father-in-law]
Sue Harris [Steve Harris’s sister-in-law]
Nancy Callahan [Don Murphy’s sister]
Mark Helmkamp
Rachel Smith [Emmy Wear’s cousin]
Yvette Baker [Dale’s daughter-in-law]
Warren Williams [relative of the Kemerlings]
Kenneth Baker [Derrick’s brother]
Bud Harfst [Sue Murphy’s brother]
Tony Stoner [friend of the Murphys]
Dylan Harden, Chris’s grandson, bad migraines

   in the military:
John Eckardt
Donny Appleman [at request of the Ricknells]
Richard Heiden [at request of the Eckardts]
Luke Van Landigan [grandson of Dick Melchin]
Jaclyn Alvarez [daughter of Kris Harden]
Eli Wetzel [at request of Kris Harden]
Shawn Wetzel
Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson]
Jake Mahaffey

   in trouble:
any unborn children in danger of abortion
those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Eritrea, Sudan, Nigeria, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and elsewhere
 
Pastor to Preach at Reformation Festival in Racine
The Racine, Wisconsin circuit has asked pastor to be their guest preacher for their annual Reformation Festival this year, at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 27th. He will be returning the next day.
 
Council to Meet One Week Later than Usual: October 23rd
Due to Oktoberfest and the cleanup schedule afterwards, we are moving the monthly council meeting to the fourth Wednesday in October, which is October 23rd, at 5:30 the usual time.
 
Special volunteers sought for Saturday mornings September 28th and October 6th
We’re looking to make the church extra clean and prepared for our Oktoberfest and chancel dedication. Anyone who has extra time please help!
 
St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church
   109 S. Elm Street
   Kewanee, IL 61443

Volume 31                                   September 2019                                      No. 9

Who Knows the Future?

Predicting the future is a tricky business in many respects. For starters, our predictions are often proven wrong. Even weather predictions are notorious. And if what we predict comes to pass, we often don’t know if it was a matter of having known or just having made the right guess.
 
Secondly, predicting the future is sometimes scary. People get all worked up over what might be, or what current trends suggest, or simply because of a pessimistic nature. And then what they were worried about doesn’t happen after all, and all that energy was wasted.
 
Thirdly, Jesus himself has advised us not to worry about the future: “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (St. Matthew 6:34). Although planning ahead is certainly prudent, fretting ahead is not. Fretting is actually fearing, and fearing runs contrary to Scripture’s repeated admonition: Fear not! The Bethlehem angels said it, and Jesus himself said it many times.
 
What’s  the worst case scenario? You die, or your loved ones die. What then? In Christ we live, and through faith in him in whose name we have been baptized, we have already gained everlasting life.
 
St. Paul admonished, right after nearly having been stoned to death, that through much tribulation we enter the kingdom of heaven (Acts 14:22). The bad news there is the promise of much tribulation; but the good news outweighs it a hundredfold: we enter the kingdom of heaven.
 
So be of good cheer, whatever your outlook, however dark the storm clouds on the horizon appear. You don’t really know what’s ahead, but you do know this much: for Christ’s sake, and by his blood and sacrifice, and because that is what you receive at the altar every week, the kingdom of heaven is there. As the Psalmist says: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
 
An old sainted friend of mine, the senior pastor with whom I served for ten years, often put it like this: we don’t know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.
 
Let us live with confidence and joy, then, holding fast our confession and faith, come what may. The kingdom ours  remaineth.
 
+ Pastor Eckardt
 
Dick Melchin Selected for Honor Flight This Month
 
In my recent conversation with Dick Melchin, I was informed that he is expecting to be honored as a Korean Conflict Veteran with an honor flight to Washington, D.C. this month. He advised me as I ws making my routine shut-in visit with him at the Hammond-Henry Hospital’s Long Term Care wing. His son Wesley is going with him. According to the current plan it all happens on one day: September 12th. They’ll come for him early in the morning and return him home the same evening. That looks like an exciting day. Congratulations, Dick!
-Pastor
 
Choir Rehearsals
Regular choir rehearsals resume this month: Wednesday evenings after mass. Calling all singers, to prepare for Oktoberfest.  We’ll have lots of fun.

Our Web Site
Have you checked out our web site recently? We updated it: surf around. Audio recordings of Pastor’s sermons and of St. Paul’s on the Air can be found there.

September Birthdays
9/1 John Ricknell
9/10 Jan Schoen         
9/15 Chuck Russell
9/17 Mary Beth Jones
9/18 DeAnne Anderson
9/19 Jaclyn Kraklow
9/19 Jamie Kraklow
9/20 Derrick Baker    
9/28 Allan Kraklow

September Anniversaries
9/18/1976 Tom and Sue Ann Wells
 
September Ushers: Allan Kraklow, Steve Kraklow, Tom Wells, Jim Hornback in reserve.

Oktoberfest!
October 13-15, 2019 (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday)
 
The Twenty-fourth Annual Oktoberfest! and Gottesdienst Central will be hosting the Rev. Dr. James Bushur, who is the Carl and Erna Weinrich Associate Professor of New Testament and Early Church Studies. at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He specializes in Patristics and is a member of the North American Patristics Society.
 
His topic will be
 
“The Sermon in the Early Church”
 
The event begins Sunday the 13th with Vespers at 5 p.m. at which the newly renovated chancel at St. Paul’s will be dedicated. Following the service is our annual bratwurst banquet. When everyone has had their fill of brats and beer, Dr. Bushur will give a synopsis of his Monday seminar.
 
On Monday, October 14th, the day begins with Mass at 9 a.m. Following Mass and a continental breakfast, Dr. Bushur will hold forth for the rest of the day, in two sessions running until about 2:45, followed by Vespers.
 
On Tuesday, October 15th, the conference will continue until noon, with a continued focus on preaching, under the theme:
 
“Preaching: the Voice of the Holy Spirit”
 
Father Eckardt, pastor at St. Paul’s, will hold forth. The Tuesday session will be shorter, framed by morning low Mass (spoken Divine Service) and
 
REGISTRATION:
 
St. Paul’s members go free! (NOTE: Kewanee residents are also invited to come for free).
 
All others: $50 per person, $70 per couple, students $25 — includes Sunday banquet and Monday continental and lunch; no charge for children with parents.
 
Tuesday Catechesis to Emphasize Genesis this Year:
Join Us If You Wish!
 
Our junior catechumens are few, and our custom is to keep teaching them from their first communion until their confirmation. First communion has always been offered, regardless of age, whenever a child is ready. Readiness consists, first, in regular church attendance, second, in being able to say the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Lord’s word on Baptism and the Sacrament of the Altar. This usually happens after the first term in catechism class (September through Lent). If then the child also satisfies the pastor that he knows that the Sacrament is Christ’s true Body and Blood and has his parents’ permission, first communion is offered at the Vigil of Easter. Sometimes this happens at a very early age. A child may begin catechetical instruction whenever the parents bring him to class, regardless of age (a parent or designated adult must accompany the child).
 
But confirmation is always delayed for these young people until they have completed 8th grade. So in the meantime, any young catechumens who have already begun to receive communion will keep coming to learn the faith better, and each year’s class has a little different emphasis, all the while with the catechism itself as an overarching theme.
 
This year, in that spirit, we’re going to be looking carefully at the Book of Genesis.
 
And anyone may join us. This is not an exclusive club; adults of all ages are encouraged to sit in; in fact this generally has the effect of making the class more lively, and is good for the children too.
 
Class meets on Tuesdays, and its first class is Tuesday, August 27th, at 5:00 p.m. (Summer Bible Study was at 4:00; the time now shifts back to 5:00).

Sunday Blble Class Continues to Study Ephesians
 
Most of the people who attend mass on Sunday morning tend to stick around for breakfast and Bible Class. It has been this way for over 20 years. It’s always a good time to spend together, to enjoy one another’s company, and to study the Word of God. Every class begins with a brief recitation of the catechism, a discussion of a hymn, and sometimes an occasional question about  this or  that. Then we launch into Bible class. Lately we’ve been looking at St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians, which continues into September. Roughly, class begins about 10:15, when people are finishing up their breakfast, and ends around 11.
 
Pastor Speaks in Detroit
 
Every year Zion Church in Detroit holds its St. Michael conference on the last Monday of September, and Pastor Eckardt is always one of the speakers at the conference. This year, Fr. Roy Coats is the Keynote Speaker. He is the Pastor of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Baltimore, Maryland.  His topic will be “Adiaphora and Modernity”.  The question of adiaphora (indifferent things) has troubled the Church throughout her history. Fr. Coats will focus on one place and time, Leipzig around 1700, and explore the debate regarding adiaphora between the orthodox Valentin Alberti, the pietist Philipp Spener, and the modernist Christian Thomasius. He will show how this debate has shaped the modern world and the Liturgy of the Church up to our present day. For more information consult Pastor.
 
Shut ins
Mary Hamilton at home; Emmy Wear at Williamsfield Home in Williamsfield; Emilie Ricknell at home, Dick Melchin at Hammond-Henry Extended Care in Geneseo, Bea Harris, from time to time, at home.
 
 
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:
in our parish:
Emilie Ricknell, John Ricknell, Linda Rowe, Mary Hamilton, Emmy Wear, Sue Murphy, Don Murphy, Dick Melchin, DeAnne Anderson, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Jim Watson, Dana McReynolds, Mary Beth Jones , Jim Hornback

and beyond our parish:
Anna Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises]
Katy Rutovicz [granddaughter of Harrises]
Jodi Rutowicz [daughter of Harrises]
Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter]
Pastor Kenneth Wegener
Elizabeth Godke, Sharon Field’s mother
Brandt and Oneda Hendrickson [Ricknells’ relatives]
Linda Anderson
Helen Woods [Sue Murphy’s sister]
Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister]
Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson]
Dennis Hoag [Adam Shreck’s father-in-law]
Sue Harris [Steve Harris’s sister-in-law]
Nancy Callahan [Don Murphy’s sister]
Mark Helmkamp
Rachel Smith [Emmy Wear’s cousin]
Yvette Baker [Dale’s daughter-in-law]
Warren Williams [relative of the Kemerlings]

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]
Traven Wetzel [at request of Kris Harden]
Shawn Wetzel
Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson]
Jake Mahaffey

in trouble:
any unborn children in danger of abortion
those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Eritrea, Algeria, Nigeria, China, North Korea, and elsewhere

Details on Persecution:
ALGERIA: Another Officially Mandated Church Closure. Source(s): VOMC Sources, Liberté, Votre News
On August 6th, a church in Bouidjima was officially closed by the National Gendarmerie for failing to have a permit. A government mandate, requiring permits for all churches, was issued in 2006. Yet, even though applications have been properly submitted, the requested permits were not issued. One Algerian church leader refers to the officials' implementation of such authorization as only a pretext, further surmising that "their goal is to end the church in Algeria."
ERITREA: Patriarch Excommunicated
Source(S): World Watch Monitor, Bbc

Date: 08 August 2019
While the eritrean government officially recognizes four religious groups, even members of those groups remain under heavy oppression. in 2005, the government forcibly removed the head of the Eritrean Orthodox Church, Patriarch Abuna Antonios, replacing him with a government-appointed lay administrator (read more). The patriarch has remained under house arrest ever since, stripped of all administrative duties.
 
Altar Guild News
 
Sundays during September, the color is green, except for the last Sunday (September 29th) which is the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, for which the color is white. Wednesdays are all green. Although Holy Cross Day (14th) and St. Matthew’s Day (21st) are in September, they fall on Fridays, and therefore we will not observe them.
 
Gottesdienst News
 
As you know, St. Paul’s is the host congregation for Gottesdienst: the Journal of Lutheran Liturgy, of which I have been editor-in-chief for some 25 years, The finances of the journal are not mingled at all with  those of the congregation, but the members here should be aware that this journal and its corresponding  website  and blog and podcast all operate as enterprises arising from this humble congregation, though of course  there are over a dozen faithful Lutheran pastors who actively participate in the work. So the activities of Gottesdienst ought to be of interest to you. It is right to think of it, in part, as some of the missionary activity of our congregation.  
 
This summer there have been some tremendously successful and beneficial things going on, in which Gottesdienst has been of great benefit to the entire Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. The national LCMS convention in Tampa, Florida was held in July, and Gottesdiesnt was well-represented, and appreciated by many. I was there with several of our editors and bloggers, most of whom were delegates. But my purpose there, with that of Fr. Jason Braaten, an associate editor from Tuscola, Illinois, was to man the booth at the exhibit hall. The traffic was phenomenal. We sent five boxes of books to sell, with some copies of the journal to give away, and everything sold out within a few days. The Gottesdienst booth was a roaring success, as an unbelievable number of people signed up for more information.  We also had an overflowing crowd at our Gottesdienst Get-Together held at a nearby Irish pub.  The entire room was wall-to-wall Gottesdiensters.  It truly was a Gottesdienst Crowd, and great fellowship continued for hours!
 
In mid-August I spent a day in Fort Wayne at a planning meeting, at which further organizational details for the blog, the podcast, and the journal were discussed. We are very optimistic about the future of the journal, aware of the tremendous positive feedback we have received. The next issue of the quarterly journal is due to go to the printer any day, and it should be distributed within a few weeks. Copies are always available in the narthex.
 
Council Meetings
 
The August Council meeting was postponed to Wednesday, August 28th at 5:30.  The September meeting is scheduled to go back to the usual time of 5:30 on the third Wednesday, that is, September 18th.
 
Jazz on the Side at Hog Days
 
Jazz on the Side is scheduled to play on Saturday afternoon August 31st, somewhere on Tremont Street outside Union Federal. The street is blocked off for Hog Days.
 
St. Paul’s on the Air Going off the Air
 
We have decided to discontinue the Sunday morning broadcast of St. Paul’s on the Air on WKEI radio. September will be our last months. Members may listen to a great number of recordings of the program, which are always available.
 
​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                                   July - August 2019                                      No. 7-8
               
Bodily Worship

It is helpful and edifying to learn bodily reverence when we are at worship. Not only does it help us focus, but it also is a subtle reminder that God became flesh and has bound himself to us in his holy incarnation.

The fact that we genuflect on both knees when we receive the Sacrament is a bodily way of confessing that we believe it to be Christ’s true Body and Blood. Making the sign of the cross at various times during worship is likewise a silent way of confessing that we have been redeemed by Jesus’ atonement and baptized in his name. The practice of dipping your thumb or forefinger in the waters of the font as you pass is another way of confessing your blessed Baptism.

The very fact that we participate actively in the liturgy, not only by hearing, but also by singing and confessing, standing and kneeling, is a way of showing forth the fact that we have been redeemed bodily as well as in spirit. Remember: the liturgy includes your active participation.

There are also some very helpful, more subtle practices that add to our reverence and attentiveness at worship. There is a slight and brief bow of the head whenever the name of Jesus is heard, whether in a reading, or in a hymn or confession or prayer, or even in the sermon. This is a subtle way of remembering the words of the Apostle about every knee bowing at the name of Jesus (Phil 2:10-11).

A fuller expression of this very thing is to genuflect at the words “and was made man” during the Nicene Creed. You can see the celebrant and his assistants doing this at the altar, and you may do it yourself while in your pew. I like to recall the colorful words of Blessed Martin Luther about this practice:

“The following tale is told about a coarse and brutal lout. While the words ‘And was made man’ were being sung in church, he remained standing, neither genuflecting nor removing his hat. He showed no reverence, but just stood there like a clod. All the others dropped to their knees when the Nicene Creed was prayed and chanted devoutly. Then the devil stepped up to him and hit him so hard it made his head spin. He cursed him gruesomely and said: ‘May hell consume you! If God had become an angel like me and the congregation sang: “‘God was made an angel,” I would bend not only to my knees but my whole body to the ground! And you vile human creature, you stand there like a stick or a stone. You hear that God did not become an angel but a man like you, and you just stand there like a stick of wood!’
“Whether this story is true or not, it is nevertheless in accordance with the faith. With this instructive story the holy fathers wished to admonish the youth the revere the indescribably great miracle of the incarnation; they wanted us to open our eyes wide and ponder these words well” (AE 22:105-106).
 
-Pastor Eckardt

Words of wisdom for the young
 
The following letter was written a month ago by Pastor Andrew Preus for his parishioners at St. John’s in Guttenberg, Iowa. It is well worthy of your careful consideration. – Pastor
 
Dear fellow Christians especially my parishioners,

Here is some advice. Seek a pious spouse and pray for many pious children, those who go to church with you and confess with you the saving doctrine of Christ crucified for our sins, raised for our justification, delivered by the Spirit through baptism, preserved by the body and blood of Jesus given in bread and wine, received by faith created and nurtured by the Word of God. For you who are already married with children, teach your children to seek such things.
God gives and takes away. This includes spouse and children. But above all, he promises to remain with those who love his Son and keep his Word. So don't consider any of the gifts of God to be in your control. If you receive from God these gifts of spouse and children, then you will be rich and happy. If you lose these things or are deprived of them while still clinging to the Word of Christ, then you will be blessed. I am more wealthy than I could ever have imagined, because I have a wife who has borne me five children, and she teaches them to love and trust in their Savior. And I am especially blessed, because my wife reminds me that even more than that she belongs to me and I belong to her, we belong to God who has given us so many blessings. Our children belong to him, which means that even if we lose them they are in his care.

You don't need a lot of money. But if God gives it to you, use it to promote the gospel and to support other Christian families. There is no greater wealth than hearing your children confess the truth. Nothing is greater. Nothing is of greater priority. To my young parishioners: I don't care how successful you are in this life. And no one will care in the end. I care that you seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness. This means desiring to live a Christian life in everything you do, making every decision in life with the fervent prayer and priority that you and your offspring will be nurtured in the truth of Christ and his Word. Girls, unless you have been given the gift of celibacy, make it your priority to seek out a pious man who will confess the truth you have been taught to confess. Of course, God blesses single women who live in chastity, but don't be fooled. If a man wants to move in with you, telling you that he loves you, then don't believe him. If he loved you then he would love your Savior, and he would desire to be chaste against the grain of this unchaste world. Boys, unless you have been given the gift of celibacy, make it your priority to seek out a pious woman who will teach your children to confess the truth you teach to your household. Don't simply date for the sake of dating. Date a potential spouse. If you seek the kingdom of God in everything you do, then you will be happy, truly happy, not as the world gives happiness, but as God does. You will rejoice even though you mourn, be rich even though you are poor, and inherit all things from God as you receive with meekness the implanted Word that is able to save your souls.

Pray for chastity and purity, not because you are shackled to some form of etiquette and decorum, not because you are under the law, but because you are free under the grace of the Spirit of Christ. He is pure. He is chaste. He loves his bride, the church, with everything he has. Pray for this truth to permeate your entire life. And you will be content. You won't strive after the wind. But you will run toward what is certain, sealed in the blood of Christ, and guaranteed by the Spirit who raised him from the dead and will give life to your mortal bodies, according to the promise of your baptism.

In Christ,
Pastor Preus
 
Bible Class Tuesdays
 
Our Tuesday Bible Class is at 4:00 p.m., in Pastor’s Study, looking at I Samuel. Always a lively discussion. Join us!
 
Our schedule in the summer is a bit spotty as usual, since Pastor will be away some of the time. We meet the first two Tuesdays in July and August: July 2nd and July 9th, then no class on July 16th, 23rd, or 30th. Class resumes August 7th, and concludes August 14th, after which catechism resumes on Tuesdays at 5 pm.
Booklet Is Now Available
 
The booklet explaining the chancel and the symbols of the apostles is now available to those who come to worship. Each of the twelve apostles has his own shield and symbol in the Arch. They are ordered according to their ranking given in St. Matthew’s Gospel (10:2-4). The symbols are each explained in the booklet. Take one!
 
UPDATE: July Council LAST Wednesday
 
Due to Pastor’s schedule, the council will be meeting on Wednesday, July 31st this month, instead of the usual third Wednesday. Please make a note of it. THIS IS AN UPDATE FROM THE PRINT NEWSLETTER.

Altar Guild Notes

• Preparations are underway to alter the superfrontals, fair linens, and other linens to fit the new dimensions of the altar.
• Color is GREEN for all Sundays in July and August
• Color is WHITE for Wednesday, July 24th (St.. Mary Magdalene observed)
• Color is WHITE for Wednesday, August 14th (Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, observed)
• Color is RED for Wednesday, August 28th (Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist observed)
• No mass on Wedneesday, July 17th

 
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, Mary Hamilton, Emmy Wear, Sue Murphy, Don Murphy, Dick Melchin, DeAnne Anderson, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Father Eckardt, Jim Watson

and beyond our parish:
Anna Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises]
Katy Rutovicz [granddaughter of Harrises]
Jodi Rutowicz [daughter of Harrises]
Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter]
Pastor Kenneth Wegener
Elizabeth Godke, Sharon Field’s mother
Brandt and Oneda Hendrickson [Ricknells’ relatives]
Linda Anderson
Helen Woods [Sue Murphy’s sister]
Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister]
Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson]
Dennis Hoag [Adam Shreck’s father-in-law]
Sue Harris [Steve Harris’s sister-in-law]
Nancy Callahan [Don Murphy’s sister]
LeRoy Tuthill [Kevin Thompson’s father-in-law]
Mark Helmkamp, who has cancer

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]
Traven Wetzel [at request of Kris Harden]
Eli Wetzel
Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson]
Jake Mahaffey
Trevor Shimmin

in trouble
any unborn children in danger of abortion
those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Sri Lanka, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Kenya, Sudan, Nigeria, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and elsewhere
 
Additional areas considered places of persecution may be found at www.vomcanada.com (Voice of the Martyrs).

July Ushers: Larry Campbell, Jim Hornback 
August Ushers: Otis Anderson, John Ricknell, Bill Thompson (Jim Hornback in reserve)
 
July, August Anniversaries
July:
7/1/1951 John and Emilie Ricknell
 
August:
8/1/2009 Chris and Trista Dooley

July and August Birthdays
July:
7/2 Dana McReynolds
7/4 Sarah Kraklow
7/5 Sandra Verplaetse
7/7 Stephen Harris
7/9 Michelle Armstrong
7/10 Otis Anderson   
7/10 Dale Baker         
7/13 Gayle Beauprez  
7/14 Pastor Eckardt
 
August:
8/9   Donald Kegebein
8/11 Sam Fisher
8/11 Judy Thompson
8/13 Donald Murphy
8/16 Trista Dooley
8/21 John Sovanski
8/24 Becky Russell
 
Catechesis to Resume in August
Junior catechesis is set to resume on Tuesday, August 20th, at 5 pm.
 
Matthew Harrison Re-elected to Fourth Term
The election results came in on June 26th: LCMS President Matthew Harrison, whom we nominated, was re-elected for another triennium, with just over 51.76% of the vote. The rest of the elections and business will take place at the LCMS convention in Tampa, Florida, from July 20-25.

Shut ins
Mary Hamilton at home; Emmy Wear at Williamsfield Home in Williamsfield; Emilie Ricknell at home; Dick Melchin at Hammond-Henry extended care in Geneseo; others are occasionally confined to home. If you need a home visit, call pastor: 309-852-2460.
 
Listen at Home
Our website, www.stpaulskewanee.org, has easy-to-find podcasts (recordings of studies) that you can access and listen to on demand. There are podcasts of St. Paul’s on the Air, recordings of sermons, and occasional Bible classes as well. These are also sent to Facebook to make it easy to access the website from there. Have a listen, and spread the word.
 
On the Road
I will be away three times during July. First, to Indiana for Joey and Emily’s wedding and a family reunion from the 12th to the 17th; next, for the LCMS national convention from the 18th to the 23rd; and finally to speak at the Bugenhagen Conference (a free conference for pastors) in Racine, Wisconsin from the 29th to  the 31st. This includes Sunday the 14th , when Pastor Mike Bahr from Good Shepherd in Sherman will again be here to fill in, and Sunday the 21st, when Pastor Mattheew Synott from Trinity in Peoria will be here. The only Wednesday evening I will be away is the 17th, when midweek mass is cancelled.
+ 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 31                                    June 2019                                           No. 6
           
New Font Coming, and a Traditional Custom Introduced
       
As reported in a May bulletin, the trustees of Zion Lutheran Church in Peoria, which closed in January of this year, chose to donate their Baptismal font, some linens, and their eternal flame stand to us. The linens and the eternal flame stand are already in use.

We expect the font to be delivered soon, as we are currently making arrangements to get it here. Pictured nearby, it’s solid marble and weighs at least 250 lbs. We certainly wouldn’t want to damage it in transport. The timing is appropriate, since we are entering the month of June and our annual observance of Pentecost. The birth of the Holy Christian Church is bound to the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, which is why the vigil of Pentecost contains prayers pertaining to the font and the waters of Baptism. We will be observing the vigil of Pentecost on Saturday, June 8th, at 7:00 pm.

It is also fitting that a laudable and traditional Christian custom be introduced here at this time, as an option for our members to use as a fitting baptismal remembrance. The practice of dipping one’s fingertips into the waters of the font and making the sign of the cross with the wetted fingers is a very helpful bodily gesture by which we recall that, as St. Paul reminds us, we are washed, we are sanctified, we are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (I Corinthians 6:11). 

Sometimes the font is placed at the entrance to a church, as is the case at the Fort Wayne seminary, and people entering for worship or exiting can take advantage of this custom as they pass the font. In our case, the font is placed near the altar rail. This will enable communicants to dip their fingers and make the sign on their foreheads as they approach for Holy Communion. This is in fact the way in which the people of Zion in Peoria would approach the altar. 

Ushers or altar guild members will be needing to ensure that the font is supplied with fresh water prior to mass, and the water should be drained afterwards. 

We recall that the practice of making the sign of the cross is in the catechism, as we are there instructed to do it in the morning, in the evening, and before eating.

The right hand is used. The index and tall fingers are customarily raised to the forehead, then to the right shoulder, and then to the left, as the invocation is said: “In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit,” although of course, the sign of the cross is made silently as one approaches the altar.

Do not be afraid of somehow doing it wrong, however; do not be afraid of doing it at all. Be pleased to remember hereby that you have been redeemed and washed by Christ the Crucified.

+ Pastor Eckardt
 
Pentecost Sunday June 9th
 
On Pentecost Sunday, which this year falls on June 9th, we will again hear the opening verse of the Gospel read, in accordance with the tradition of portraying the “other tongues” of Pentecost, in eight languages.  The eight languages, in order, are Latin, Greek, Swedish, Spanish, Russian, German, French, and English, in which the entire Gospel will continue.
 
This annual Pentecost custom, whose origins can be found in Acts 2 (where the Gospel was proclaimed in all the languages of the people who had made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the feast), does two things.   First, it reminds us that this is meant for all the world to hear.  “All nations” are to be baptized, according to Jesus’ command (St. Matthew 28), and therefore Christian missionary activity has sought to bring the Gospel to all peoples ever since.  Secondly, this multilingual reading gives us a sense of what it would have been like to be present on that Pentecost day in the room where the Apostles were assembled.  You would have heard preaching in many different languages, most of them unknown to you, until your own language was spoken.  This in turn provides a reminder that we ourselves have been brought to this Christian faith by the Holy Spirit’s activity of preaching the Gospel around the world.

The Gospel is words, God’s words to us about His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  Its proclamation is by the grace of God, our hearing is by the grace of God, and our confessing of it is also by the grace of God.

The Church of Jesus Christ exists by the grace of God alone.  Her activity consists—by grace—in the preaching, hearing, and confessing of this grace.  So the Apostle St. Paul declares, “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19).  The “us” in that sentence is the bearers of the apostolic ministry, for he goes on to say, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).  The “you” in that sentence is the hearers of the apostolic preaching.  How else, then, are the hearers to be reconciled, except by believing the word of preaching which they hear?  And in believing, they learn to confess this faith: “For He says, ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you’” (2 Corinthians 6:2).  That is, God heard them pray, sing, and speak the faith: he heard them confess what they believe.

Therefore in the spirit of Pentecost, let us make bold to assert our faith together, that we too may gain confidence and strength needed for the evil day.  This happens when we in our day steadfastly attend to the preaching, hearing, and confessing of the Gospel, in worship.  Here at St. Paul’s, by grace the Gospel is preached, heard, and confessed.  Here the Holy Spirit is actively building His Church.  Here Pentecost continues. Here is where we all need to be.
 
The Resurrection of Christ
 
Evidently there is still plenty of nonsense being preached in unsuspecting churches these days, mimicking the horrendous lies and propaganda from the “History” Channel of late. I refer to the notion that Jesus’ bones may have been found somewhere, and that even if it were true it would not affect our faith. This is utterly demonic. The shout from Christian people during Eastertide that Christ “is risen indeed! Alleluia!” cannot be dismissed as idle chatter. Nor do we mean to say that  the resurrection of Jesus is somehow only a glow of warmth or love in our hearts. No, dear Christians, it is a proclamation and confession that Jesus bodily rose from the dead, and was seen standing on earth by more than 500 brethren, as St. Paul declared to the church in Corinth. Let no one deceive you on this. When we say he is risen, we mean it, and our faith depends on it, and therefore it is not possible that someone might find his bones somewhere.

Trinity Sunday June 16th
 
During the early fourth century the Arian heresy was in its heyday, which denied that Jesus was the incarnate God and declared Him to be a mere creature.  As Arius himself put it, “there was a time before he (Jesus) existed.”  The bishops of the Church catholic saw the urgent need to confess the faith with clarity against this error, and so the Nicene Creed was crafted and modified through the course that century.  This is why the Nicene Creed says so much about the divinity of Jesus.  Liturgically, there also arose a special Mass in honor of the Holy Trinity.  This Mass was not originally assigned to a definite day, but was, rather a “votive Mass” the time of whose observance was open to the choice of whatever priest was celebrating it.  It was not until the ninth century on that various Western bishops began to promote a special feast of the Holy Trinity, usually on the Sunday after Pentecost. They used propers said to have been composed by Abbot Alcuin in 804.  The popularity of this custom became especially evident in northern Europe.  In 1334 if was finally received by Pope John XXII into the official calendar of the Western Church as the Feast to be held everywhere on the Sunday after Pentecost.
 
The Preface of the Trinity which we still use today is the same one which was used by Saint Gregory the Great in the year 600: “who with Thine only begotten Son and the Holy Ghost art one God, one Lord, and in the confession of the only true God we worship the Trinity in Person and the Unity in substance, of majesty coequal. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Thy glorious name, evermore praising Thee and saying: Holy, Holy, Holy,” etc.
 
The Feast of the Holy Trinity now belongs among the great annual festivals of Christianity. Although it is not observed with additional liturgical services outside the Mass, its celebration quickly took root in the hearts and minds of the faithful, and in all countries of Europe popular traditions are closely associated with this feast.
 
Chief among the Trinitarian traditions is the sign of the cross, whose origin dates practically to apostolic times.  In the third century, Tertullian speaks of it as an early Christian practice: In all our undertakings — when we enter a place or leave it; before we dress; before we bathe; when we take our meals; when we light the lamps in the evening; before we retire at night; when we sit down to read; before each new task — we trace the sign of the cross on our foreheads.
 
Our observance of this Feast today is no less important than it was in the fourth century, as we find attacks on the divinity of Christ every bit as prevalent now as they did then. 
 
Resources for this article were taken from www.catholicculture.org
 
Bible Class Tuesdays
 
Our Tuesday Bible Class at 5:00 p.m. in Pastor’s Study, looking at I Samuel. Always a lively discussion. Join us!
 
Booklet Nearly Ready
 
A booklet explaining the chancel and the symbols of the apostles is almost complete, to be available to those who come to worship. Each of the twelve apostles has his own shield and symbol in the Arch. They are ordered according to their ranking given in St. Matthew’s Gospel (10:2-4). The symbols are each each explained in the booklet.
 
June Birthdays:

6/5 Linda Rowe         
6/15 Jill Powers
6/16 Berniece Harris
6/29 Jim Watson
 
Council SECOND Wednesday
 
Due to Pastor’s schedule, the council will be meeting on Wednesday, June 12th this month, instead of the usual third Wednesday. Please make a note of it.
 
June Ushers: Allan Kraklow, Steve Kraklow, Tom Wells, Jim Hornback as needed

Holy Ground and Reverence
 
Remember the holiness of our worship space and these guidelines:

• When you come to worship, remember that the most appropriate attitude is one of prayerful reflection.
• Remember too to be considerate of others around you who are also preparing for worship. Conversations can wait until later.
• There are helpful short prayers conveniently placed on page 4 in the front of the hymnal.
• At the close of worship, any conversations should be muted, or carried outside the worship space.
• Preparation for the Sacrament:
  • Make use of the font as detailed in the lead article of this newsletter
  • It is laudable to reverence the Sacrament on entering and on leaving.
  • Ladies should wipe off lipstick if necessary.
  • The host is best received on the tongue.
  • The cup is most conveniently received by touching the bottom (not the cup at the top) when offered, to help the celebrant know when a sip has been taken.

 
Altar Guild Notes

• Preparations are underway to alter the superfrontals, fair linens, and other linens to fit the new dimensions of the altar.
• Color is WHITE through Wednesday June 5th
• Color is RED at the Vigil of Pentecost (June 8th) and for the octave (week) following:
• Color is WHITE for Trinity Sunday (June 16th) and its octave, including the Sunday after Trinity, June 23rd.
• Color is RED for Wednesday, June 26th, on which we will observe SS Peter and Paul the Apostles (at our congregation, a Feast of Title, which is a Feast of the First Class)
• Color is GREEN for following Sundays (Trinity season).
• Next meeting is Tuesday, June 4th.

 
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, Mary Hamilton, Emmy Wear, Sue Murphy, Don Murphy, Dick Melchin, DeAnne Anderson, Bea Harris, Allan Kraklow, Father Eckardt, Jim Watson

and also:
Anna Rutowicz [granddaughter of Harrises]
Katy Rutovicz [granddaughter of Harrises]
Jodi Rutowicz [daughter of Harrises]
Julie Ross [Svetlana Meaker’s daughter]
Pastor Kenneth Wegener
Elizabeth Godke, Sharon Field’s mother
Brandt and Oneda Hendrickson [Ricknells’ relatives]
Linda Anderson
Helen Woods [Sue Murphy’s sister]
Janice Hart [Judy Thompson’s sister]
Caleb Cleaver [Ricknells’ grandson]
Dennis Hoag [Adam Shreck’s father-in-law]
Sue Harris [Steve Harris’s sister-in-law]
Nancy Callahan [Don Murphy’s sister]
LeRoy Tuthill [Kevin Thompson’s father-in-law]

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]
Traven Wetzel [at request of Kris Harden]
Eli Wetzel
Eric Verplaetse [Sandra’s grandson]
Jake Mahaffey
Trevor Shimmin

in trouble:
any unborn children in danger of abortion
those suffering from unrest, persecution, and imprisonment in Sri Lanka, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Kenya, Sudan, Nigeria, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and elsewhere
 
Additional areas considered places of persecution may be found at www.vomcanada.com (Voice of the Martyrs).
 
Church Picnic June 30th
 
We are planning to hold this year’s church picnic at Northeast Park in Kewanee this year, as we have done in years past. Sunday afternoon, as soon as you can after church, head over to the park where we will be planning a cookout, a time for fun and conversation, and a good summer day in the sun. Join your church family.
 
June Anniversaries:

6/17/1967 Robert and Mary Beth Jones
6/18/1960 Sandra and John Verplaetse
6/18/1977 Fr. Burnell and Carol Eckardt
6/18/1966 Don and Sue Murphy
6/19/1977 Dana and Carol McReynolds
6/19/1966 Bill and Judy Thompson
 
Concordia Catechetical Academy June 19-21
 
Pastor and Carol plan to be in Wisconsin as usual for the CCA in the Milwaukee area from June 19-21. No Wednesday activities that week.
 
Listen at Home
 
Our website, www.stpaulskewanee.org, has easy-to-find podcasts (recordings of studies) that you can access and listen to on demand. There are podcasts of St. Paul’s on the Air, recordings of sermons, and occasional Bible classes as well. These are also sent to Facebook to make it easy to access the website from there. Have a listen, and spread the word.