Happenings

Attention, Logos Procrastinators

2010-01-29T17:07:00.004-06:00

Owners of Logos Bible Software have until the end of the weekend to take advantage of steeply discounted upgrade costs to move to Version 4. They provide a handy Upgrade Discounter tool to help with your decision. If you’re wavering — or committed and wanting a chuckle — you should read Top Ten Reasons Not to Upgrade to Logos 4 while Mac users can also peruse 9 Reasons Mac Users Should Upgrade.

If you want to speak with a person rather than order online, you have less than 2 hours from the time this is posted, so call 800-875-6467 before today (Friday 29 January) at 5:00pm Pacific Standard Time (0100 Zulu on Saturday 30 January).

Cross posted from Ask the Pastor.

“The Fetus Beat Us”

2009-12-12T21:53:00.008-06:00

Let Life Speak for Itself

Since the 1980s, many younger women, including a number who were well-indoctrinated by late 20th Century feminism, have begun to categorically reject abortion under any circumstances. Evidently, it wasn't harangues from Newt Gingrich or an inspiring call from the Gipper to win one for his team that started leading even upscale, college-educated, hard-charging women to this pinnacle of “social conservatism.” Instead, the most eloquent appeals came from those too young to talk—too young, even, to draw a breath:

[T]he concept that young college-educated women could be anti-choice is so implausible that [older women from both major parties] tend to assume the younger women will grow out of that opinion as life circumstances teach them about the moral complexities of women’s lives. Others regard the anti-abortion rhetoric as the political posturing of the young. But women like Kellyanne Fitzpatrick resolutely beg to differ. For them, the central issue is not privacy—a woman’s right to control her own body—but rather the reality of visibly moving fetuses that they believe to be fully human. “You can’t appeal to us through our wombs,” Fitzpatrick says. “We’re pro-life. The fetus beat us. We grew up with sonograms. We know life when we see it.” (Quoted from “In the Land of Conservative Women” by Elinor Burkett in The Atlantic Monthly, September 1996)

Videos such as “In the Womb” from National Geographic, give us an open window into the enormous complexity of David’s confession: “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.... (Psalm 139:14a)” Will you join me in amplifying these young voices so that they can speak clearly to those who still don’t know them as fellow human beings?

Harrison, History, and Harmony

2009-10-20T23:59:00.006-05:00

A Reflection on the LCMS and Its Past, Present, and Promise

I dislike most meetings, especially those deemed mandatory. I particularly dislike long meetings, those keeping me welded to my seat. Imagine my surprise as I look back upon a stimulating, enjoyable two days spent parking my bottom on a folding chair. Such feats of gluteal endurance only happen when I sit at the feet of informed, engaging, and impassioned speakers.

Such was my happy lot at the 2009 Western Missouri District Pastors’ Conference. And not mine only — I’ll confidently hazard a guess that a solid majority of my brothers also enjoyed the person and the presentation of the Rev. Matthew Harrison.

The current Executive Director of LCMS World Relief and Human Care led us through the highlights of the first hundred or so years in LCMS history, coupling its sound doctrine, orthodox practice, and active works of mercy into a coherent, inspiring presentation. He based much of the conference essay on his new book, At Home in the House of My Fathers (a bargain, BTW, at $20.00 for more than 800 pages).

The book bears an unwieldy subtitle: Presidential Sermons, Essays, Letters, and Addresses from the Missouri Synod’s Great Era of Unity and Growth. However, this formidable introduction opens into the heart and soul of the early LCMS, seen through the eyes of Presidents Walther, Wyneken, Schwan, Pieper, and Pfotenhauer.

This exposé unfolds as we become privy to their and passions and compassions, their struggles and celebrations, their head-butting disagreements and deep brotherly love. We see how — despite vastly contrasting personalities, bouts with clinical depression, occasions of false pride, and incredibly poor decision-making — these men demonstrated deep faith in Christ, exercised true charity, and surrendered much of themselves up in order to advance Lutheran unity, doctrinal purity, orthodox worship, and ongoing care for those impoverished in body or in mind, in finances or in faith.

As often happened in days of old, Rev. Harrison assumed the role of family historian, laying out the lives of departed ancestors. These accounts of our fathers in the faith rekindled in many of us our familial love and a longing for a return to what was truly good about the “good old days” — those times that LCMS faux “progressives” derisively dismiss as “our Grandfathers’ Synod.” Dipping his brush into the rich colors of our history, Matt painted a vast mural of a current (and future) Missouri Synod richly profiting from a return to these roots.

Matt suggests no harsh, reactionary ecclesiastical primitivism but instead calls for intentional, ongoing, and thorough integration of sound doctrine, orthodox worship, and active works of mercy within The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. He sees us embracing other confessional Lutherans here and abroad while interacting (when salutary) with other Christian bodies yet gently but firmly rebuking (when necessary) their unscriptural words and ways.

At all times, he encourages us to reach out to the lost with a united, Christ-centered message of reconciliation and peace. In practice, this would include the aforementioned reconnection of mission endeavors to church planting, all leading toward full Word and Sacrament ministry, Christian education, and the care of those in need.

During our time together, Pastor Harrison revealed to the assembled pastors a host of wholesome attributes belonging to the early Missouri Synod and its leaders. He provided ample evidence that civil discourse among disagreeing factions, holistic care of pastors by their congregations and of parishioners by their pastors, domestic and world missions leading to church planting, and a true Christian love of of pure doctrine revealed in love of one’s neighbor all existed during Missouri’s improbable formation and incredible growth. At times, many of these beneficial traits seem impossibly buried in our distant past.

Matt, however, didn't set out to instill a melancholy longing for days gone by. Through his lectures as through this new book, by related historical essays, as his other writings, in his stewardship of his current office, and throughout his personal dealings, Matt leads us to a renewed hope that our good past is not forever lost. He encourages us not to sit by, watching and waiting for a miracle to turn back the calendar. Instead, he invites our synod to join wholeheartedly to recover these treasures and then humbly present them at our Lord’s feet for the good of His Church and the glory of His name.

Pastor Harrison is certainly an orthodox, confessional Lutheran. He knows and practices the art of discerning, marking, and avoiding that which is truly harmful to the Church. He recognizes the sad truth that some who are of the church nevertheless advocate theologies and practices contrary to sound doctrine, Christian charity, or both. He also knows that many divisions grow from ill-conceived factionalism and a mindless party spirit. These woes are frequently rooted among the clergy. Knowing our weaknesses, Matt gently and carefully reached behind many of the foolish barriers that we pastors place between one another. Subtly, often indirectly, using self-depreciating humor as well as his keen mind, he invited all of us to open our gates, come out together, and get to know each other better.

I think that both instinctively and intellectually, Matt realizes that a restored collegiality is a necessary step in regaining mutual trust. It will, God willing, help us to tear down Missouri’s wrongly erected and divisive internal walls so that we might buttress our necessary outer wall against satanic and worldly assault. Then, God willing, we again truly act as “synod” — both by traveling together under one name and by sticking together on the same road with the same purposes and the same joy in Christ our Lord.

Speaking personally I’ve liked Matt since we first met. Even before that, I respected him as a theologian. Now I’m discovering more fully why so many pastors and lay people are actively working to nominate and elect him as the next president of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. Daily, more and more Missouri Synod Lutherans are discovering for themselves the threefold strengths of intellect, faith, and heart belonging to Pastor Matthew Harrison.

NPR Lauds LCMS WR-HC

2009-10-20T20:16:00.005-05:00

One doesn’t normally expect National Public Radio to laud the activities of organizations generally perceived as conservative. Imagine, then, my surprise when I discovered a glowing report on NPR, praising LCMS World Relief and Human Care for its largely successful efforts to provide affordable housing through the Nehemiah Project.

The report commends Nehemiah homes' initial affordability and the home-buyers' pride of ownership not only in their houses but also their community. However, it especially singles out the extremely small loan default rate, even in the current economy, crediting Nehemiah's "own layer of tough income guidelines and credit checks" which not only protect the project but also prospective buyers.

I thank God for those in WR-HC — including Executive Director Matt Harrison, the Atlantic District of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, and others elsewhere who have established and fostered several successful projects of this nature.

Read Low-Cost Brooklyn Housing Sees Few Foreclosures or follow the link to listen to the story.

My next post will be a fairly brief essay on these past two days I've spent learning from the Rev. Harrison. At our pastors' conference, he went beyond his accustomed Mercy Journeys in order to unwrap the history and to offer hope for the future of the LCMS.

Sermon: Trinity 21 (Epistle)

2009-10-16T17:38:00.009-05:00

Sermon Audio from 11 October AD 2009 at St. Paul’s, Saline City (Slater), Missouri

Sermon Text: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:10-17

Sermon Theme: Armed Against the Evil One

Other Readings: Psalm 119:105-112; Genesis 1:1-2:3; John 4:46-54

Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Sermon: Trinity 21 (Gospel)

2009-10-16T16:54:00.009-05:00

Sermon Audio from 11 October AD 2009 at Peace, Slater, Missouri

Sermon Text: So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.

So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”

The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.”

The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.

As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.”

The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household.

This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee. John 4:46-54

Sermon Theme: Faith Healing

Other Readings: Psalm 119:105-112; Genesis 1:1-2:3; Ephesians 6:10-17

Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Sermon: Trinity 20

2009-10-12T01:09:00.007-05:00

Sermon Audio for 4 October AD 2009

Sermon Text: “Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

“Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” Matthew 21:33-44

Sermon Theme: Listen to the One Who Is Sent

Other Readings: Psalm 145; Isaiah 55:1-9; Ephesians 5:15-21

Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Technorati Tags: The Parable of the Tenants | parable | parables | Christology | theology | Jesus | Jesus Christ | Christ | prophets | pastors | theology | pastoral ministry | the Father’s will | Law | Law and Gospel | Gospel | 4 October 2009 | October 4, 2009 | March 25, 2009 | Lutheranism | Lutheran | Church | Christian | Christianity | Christian Church | Matthew 21 | lectionary | Historic Lectionary | TLH Lectionary | Trinity 20 | Twentieth Sunday after Trinity | 20th Sunday after Trinity | sermon | preaching | text | theme | topic | Listen to the One Who Is Sent | audio | mp3 | Pastor Snyder | Pastor Walter Snyder | Walter Snyder | Ask the Pastor | Happenings

Sermon: Ernest Nottmeier Funeral

2009-10-08T23:37:00.006-05:00

MP3 Audio of the Funeral Sermon for Ernest John William “Junior” Nottmeier on 29 September AD 2009

Sermon Text: Jesus answered ..., “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.“ John 14:23

Sermon Theme: Keeping the Word

Other Readings: Isaiah 61:1-3, 10; Psalm 42:1-3, 4-11, antiphon, Psalm 30:5b; Romans 14:7-9; John 14:1-7

Asleep in Jesus,
Ernest John William Nottmeier, Jr.
31 December AD 1932 – 26 September AD 2009

Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. Let us remember with thanksgiving what God has done through His servant Ernest.

Ernest Nottmeier, Jr., 76, of Emma, MO, died Saturday, September 26, 2009 at Long Shoal Campground near Warsaw.

Born December 31, 1932 in rural Concordia, he was the son of the late Ernest Nottmeier, Sr. and Nora Langkrahr Nottmeier. On May 19, 1984, he married Barbara Arvieux Dillon who survives of the home. He was a surveyor for several years, was employed for 18 years by the Missouri Department of Transportation and was a farmer until retirement. He was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church. He enjoyed camping, fishing and taking his grandchildren on rides in the golf cart.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by three daughters: Debbie Bailey and husband Dencil of Sedalia, Janet Dillon of Sedalia and Belinda Nicholson of Sweet Springs; four grandsons: Bert Dillon of Sweet Springs, Eddie and Nick Bailey of Sedalia, Travis Pilant of Sedalia; one granddaughter, Audrey Pilant of Sedalia; nine great-granddaughters; four great-grandsons; one sister, Bonnie Bohlman and husband Roger of Concordia; one nephew, Jeremy Bohlman of Concordia.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sons, Jerry and William.

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord. We give thanks to God our Father through our Jesus Christ, our Lord, for our brother Ernest.

Friends may sign an online guestbook at Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home.

Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Out of the Mouth of Babes ... Into the Mouth of Babes?

2009-08-23T00:08:00.008-05:00

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’ (Matthew 19:14)”

Back in 1997 – 1998, from the Feast of Saint Thomas (21 December) through the Feast of the Resurrection (12 April), the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas organized and hosted a special exhibition entitled The Body of Christ in the Art of Europe and New Spain 1150 – 1800. Our family made the trip from Jasper to Houston to see the show.

This exhibition was divided into four sections, The Word Made Flesh, Suffering and Triumph, The Eucharistic Body, and The Visionary and Devotional Body. The first two were somewhat straightforward, Scripturally based renditions of scenes from our Savior’s life, suffering, and death. The third was largely figurative while the fourth included such mystical events as The Stigmatization of Saint Francis, The Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine, and Saint Catherine of Siena Drinking from the Side Wound of Christ.

Even in the first two sections, many works included “mystical” or symbolic overtones. Among these was Cristo Consolado por los Ángeles (Christ Consoled by the Angels) by Mexican artist Juan Ruiz. The museum book notes, “Christ’s torturers are not present, and the scene is thus displaced from a historical narrative for pious contemplation....” Almost three feet wide, the painting certainly invited the Snyder family “to join the grieving angels surrounding Christ.”

With us that day was our younger daughter. Laura celebrated her sixth birthday that Lenten season, less than a month before the exhibit closed. My fatherly and pastoral curiosity had the better of me. I asked her what was going on in the painting. She’d already been studying it but renewed her concentration, evidently wanting to make certain that she got her interpretation correct.

After a moment, I tried a simpler question: “Who’s in the center of the painting?”

“Jesus,” she replied.

“Who else?”

“An angel is holding Him.”

“Why”

“He got hurt too bad to stand up.”

“What happened?”

“The soldiers hit Him with whips before He died on the cross.”

There we were, in the midst of Lent, half way through an exhibit that included many depictions of the Passion. After daring to ask her such basic questions, I was thankful that Laura hadn’t added “You dummy” to one of her replies. We took a few minutes to talk about the historical events of Good Friday versus the way these things make us think and feel. Once I knew that she understood how Ruiz had embellished the story, painting out of his own imagination, we returned to the painting. I asked what else she saw happening.

Pointing out the angels with chalices, she said, “Some of them are soaking up Jesus’ blood with towels and squeezing it into cups.”

“Ok. What about the angel kneeling behind Jesus?”

Looking closer, she said, “That one is picking up Jesus’ skin and putting it on a plate.”

“Why are they doing that?”

“They’re saving it so people can eat His skin and drink His blood in church.”

“You’re right,” I replied. “What do we call it when we eat Jesus’ body and drink His blood?”

“I forget.”

“You remember. Think for a minute. It’s Holy ...”

“Communion!”

Of course, “skin” wasn’t technically correct but how common was “flesh” to the working vocabulary of American six year olds at the end of the Second Millennium? She certainly knew what Mama and Papa and Courtney and the other big people were getting at the altar every bit as well as she knew what Ruiz’s painting depicted.

Granted, the museum book offered a more sophisticated interpretation. It says, “Ruiz ... enlarged the subject by making explicit the eucharistic significance of Christ’s body and blood; one of the angels gathers pieces of Christ’s torn flesh and places them on a paten, while others sop up the blood spilled so liberally on the floor and squeeze it into chalices.” Yet how did this scholarly commentary differ in substance from Laura’s version? She knew that “Jesus’ blood” and “Jesus’ skin” were there so we could “eat His skin and drink His blood in church.”

Already I was no fan of making children wait until the end of their 8th grade years to commune. Laura’s brief explanation and confession sealed the deal. She could confess her sins; she could confess the Faith; she could discern the body (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:29). What else did she “need” to do to gain admission to Christ’s altar? Eleven years later, her replies to my questions still make so much more sense than do the answers of much of Lutheranism to this final query: Why did her church tell Laura and many like her that they could not commune until they were older?

Cristo Consolado por los Ángeles
Juan Patricio Morlete Ruiz (1713 – 72)
Oil on copper, 25 3/8 x 33 5/8 inches (64.5 x 85.5 cm)
Pinacoteca Virreinal, Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes,
Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes, Mexico

Art commentary quoted from The Body of Christ in the Art of Europe and New Spain 1150 – 1800 by James Clifton, © 1997 by the Museum of Fine Arts and Prestel-Verlag, Berlin.

Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version™, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles.

Technorati Tags: Holy Communion | Lord’s Supper | Communion | Eucharist | wine | bread | body | blood | remainder | leftovers | take, eat | take, drink | early communion | first communion | Confirmation | art | painting | The Body of Christ | Juan Patricio Morlete Ruiz | Cristo Consolado por los Ángeles | Christ Consoled by the Angels | Juan Ruiz | Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas | Museum of Fine Arts | out of the mouth of babes | Lutheran | Lutheranism | Christian | Christianity | theology | systematic theology | dogmatics | sacramental theology | practical theology | Pastor Walter P. Snyder | Walter Snyder | Happenings

Moving Time Is Upon Us

2009-08-21T15:49:00.003-05:00

No pressure, no guilt, but ... the move imposed upon us is here and we’re ready for assistance.

Over the past couple months, several people have offered to help, if possible, when we packed, cleaned up, and left the house. We need to be out of the Emma parsonage at the end of 31 August or face suspension of severance checks until the job’s complete. Our new home, until God leads us elsewhere, is the Nierman family farm home on the north outer road between Concordia and Emma, only about 2.5 miles door-to-door.

If you were one of these volunteers, are free over the next 10 days, and are still able and willing to join in, we’d sure appreciate whatever aid and comfort you might lend. The trustees parked an 18' covered trailer on the lawn, so we can move some of the items into it and then haul a full load. I no longer own a pickup but we do have the old Pontiac Transport and our newer Jeep Compass, so we can shuttle medium-sized and smaller items relatively easy.

We would also appreciate cardboard boxes of various sizes (not too big for books, larger for lighter but bulkier items) and the loan of some tubs (Rubbermaid, Sterlite, or the like) for “fill and dump” of many smaller items.

Steph and I both have a few commitments, so check to see if your times match ours before dropping by. Facebook friends can find cell numbers for Steph and me under our “Info” tabs and email. Also, click here for a Tiny URL that loads my edress.

If you can’ t be here in body, please be here with your prayers that things go smoothly and that the weather cooperates. Most of all, please continue praying that God’ s will be done regarding my vocation in the months and years to come and that our family’ s faith would be strengthened during these times.

Technorati Tags: Pastor Walter Snyder | Walter P. Snyder | move | moving | new home | Happenings

Sermon: SPLHS Opening Service

2009-08-17T20:31:00.005-05:00

Hymn: Father, Author of Creation

2009-08-17T20:07:00.005-05:00

As promised, here is MP3 audio for the three stanzas of the 2009 – 2010 Saint Paul Lutheran High School hymn of the year that we sang at the opening service. The melody is a hymnic setting of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. I include the text below. Note that the hymn is written in 8787 D meter — this allows the use of a number of other well-known, easily sung tunes. For more details about the hymn, please see the previous post.

Father, Author of Creation
Saint Paul Lutheran High School
2009-2010 Hymn of the Year
8 7 8 7 D
Text by Walter P. Snyder, 1957–

Father, Author of Creation;
At Your Word the world was made.
Jesus Christ, God’s Word Incarnate,
By Your death our ransom paid.
Through the Gospel Word, O Spirit,
You work faith and guide our way.
Bless us with Your Word of power,
Set it as our strength and stay.

Saint Paul wrote by inspiration
That we bear the Spirit’s sword
When we hold by faith the weapon
Of Your mighty, holy Word.
Grant its increase, Lord almighty,
Shower grace upon this year.
Bless our teaching and our learning,
Keep our words and actions pure.

Alleluia, holy Father,
Throned in pow’r and might above —
Crucified and risen Savior,
Jesus Christ, You reign in love —
Holy Spirit, faith’s Creator,
Comforter and Counselor —
For Your saving Word we offer
Alleluias evermore.

Hymn of the Year for St. Paul High School

2009-08-14T22:15:00.005-05:00

Saint Paul Lutheran High School in Concordia, Missouri has been using a specially written hymn to complement each academic year’s featured Bible passage and theological theme. The 2009 – 2010 theme, drawn from Acts 19:20, is “The Word of the Lord Grows.” Pastor Bill Heine, SPLHS Dean of Chapel, allowed me the opportunity to write this year’s hymn and also invited me to preach the opening worship service this Sunday 16 August AD 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Concordia.

I usually write hymns with a particular tune in mind. Since the Saint Paul student body includes a number of international students, many of whom are unchurched, I wanted something not overly difficult to follow. With chapel three times each week, I decided that I needed to choose a meter that offered multiple tunes. I also wanted more than four short lines, so I could have a chance to fully develop each month’s special emphasis. For these reasons, I chose 8787 D — the meter used by a number of familiar and easily sung hymns.

As for the stanzas, the first sets the tone for the entire hymn — and for the year’s Scriptures. It shows the connection between each Person of the Trinity and the Word. It concludes with a prayer that the Lord would bless and strengthen each of us through this word.

The next ten stanzas focus on the monthly emphases. The thematic development over the year follows the Word’s work in our lives and our response to it. In choosing these themes, Pastor Heine was mindful of our secular, academic, and liturgical calendars. Therefore we seen Thankfulness as November’s emphasis, December’s Advent – Christmas theme is Hope, and in March, Repentance covers much of Lent. For April and Easter, we have Conviction, in the sense of strengthened trust and May places the Word — and the students — In the World.

Stanza 12 was written for the beginning of the academic year and will be sung during the opening service. I tied the school name and some of the campus symbolism involving Ephesians 6 to our theme, encouraging students and faculty to wield the mighty weapon of God’s pure Word throughout the year.

The year closes with Stanza 13, a prayer that we would remain united in faith through the power of the Word. By this time, life-long friendships have taken root and grown. More importantly, the Word of the Lord has been increasing in each of the students and faculty. This growth will continue mightily, not only in them but also through them, as their paths lead away from campus throughout the days ahead.

God willing, many of the students will be return next year. A number of others, including some two dozen Norwegian juniors and other international students, will leave not only school but also this country, perhaps never returning to the States, let alone Concordia. Meanwhile, the graduates scatter across the country and the globe. The celebration of graduation and the sadness of not knowing if they’ll see each other again in this life lead to a prayer not only for earthly unity of hearts and minds but also an abiding unity in the Faith that leads to eternal life.

The song concludes with a simple doxology offering praise to the Triune God and eternal alleluias for His Word.

Father, Author of Creation
Saint Paul Lutheran High School
2009-2010 Hymn of the Year
8 7 8 7 D
Text by Walter P. Snyder, 1957–

Introduction: The Word of the Lord Grows

Father, Author of Creation;
At Your Word the world was made.
Jesus Christ, God’s Word Incarnate,
By Your death our ransom paid.
Through the Gospel Word, O Spirit,
You work faith and guide our way.
Bless us with Your Word of power,
Set it as our strength and stay.

Acts 19:20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
August: In Us

In Christ’s Church we hear the message
Of salvation from above;
Into ears the Spirit opens,
Flows Christ’s mighty Word of love.
In our hearts and minds it prospers,
From sin’s bondage grants release.
In its increase we find healing
Of the guilt that robs our peace.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
September: Faith

Abram heard Your Word and answered,
Sojourned in a far-off land.
Firm in faith, he offered Isaac;
In response You stayed his hand.
Princes, peasants, priests, and prophets,
All the myriad saints of old —
Lord, their witness may we follow,
And Your Word with like faith hold.

Romans 4:16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring — not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.
October: Wisdom

Fear of You, O Lord, brings wisdom
As we heed Your Word of might.
Keen perception increase in us,
Turn our paths from wrong to right.
Knowledge, wisdom, and discernment —
For this wealth lead us to yearn,
That, while on this earth we wander,
Evermore Your will we learn.

Romans 7:24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
November: Thankfulness

Thankful e’en while chained in prison,
Your apostles sang and prayed.
Strengthened by Your Word of power,
They were not by death dismayed.
Give us increase of Your Spirit
As we hear Your Word proclaimed,
That for all things we would thank You,
Praise You, and adore Your name.

Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
December: Hope

Oft since mankind fell in darkness
Into sinning foul, perverse,
Through the prophets’ words You promised
Hope of ending sin’s dread curse.
Hope’s fulfillment, born of Mary —
Your own Son, the King of Kings —
To us wretched heirs of Adam
Light and life eternal brings.

2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
January: Humility

Lord, our pride of self bears fruits of
Wicked thoughts and words and deeds;
Too oft on ourselves we focus
And ignore each other’s needs.
Send Your Word to cleanse vainglory
From our hearts, that we may be
Servants of the poor and helpless,
Free from shameful vanity.

2 Corinthians 4:5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
February: Compassion

Openhearted, Jesus pitied
Sheep who wandered shepherd-less:
Healed, forgave them, fed the hungry,
And their children did He bless.
His compassion grow within us —
Hearts of mercy, lives of love —
That the needy whom we comfort
Know through us their God above.

2 Corinthians 6:11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open.
March: Repentance

Holy God, our sins oft grieve us,
Guilt and consequence bring strife;
Yet no earthly sorrow leads to
Change of heart, forgiveness, life.
Lord, Your Word brings true repentance,
Hearts renewed, and straightened path.
Grant us faith in Christ’s forgiving
Sacrifice that stills Your wrath.

2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
April: Conviction

“Did God truly ban your eating?”
Satan asked in Eden fair.
Mourning Jesus’ crucifixion,
Faithless Thomas learned despair.
Oft, like Adam, Eve, and Thomas,
We forsake and doubt Your Word.
When conviction wanes and wavers,
Lord of life, grant faith restored.

2 Corinthians 10:5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.
May: In the World

As into the world You send us,
Set Your Word as our sure guide.
Through its might increase and strengthen
Faith in Christ the Crucified.
Lord, You prosper earthly learning;
Even more our spirits bless.
Grant that we, Your Word possessing,
In all things Your name confess.

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Beginning of School Year: Sword of the Spirit

Saint Paul wrote by inspiration
That we bear the Spirit’s sword
When we hold by faith the weapon
Of Your mighty, holy Word.
Grant its increase, Lord almighty,
Shower grace upon this year.
Bless our teaching and our learning,
Keep our words and actions pure.

Ephesians 6:17 Take ... the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Baccalaureate and Graduation: The Guiding Word

In Your name the school year closes,
Hear the prayers we offer You.
In Your Word may we be guided
Throughout all we say and do.
As, with joy and sorrow mingled,
We, Your children part our ways,
Let our path remain united
By Your Word throughout our days.
Doxology: Praise and Thanks for the Word

Alleluia, holy Father,
Throned in pow’r and might above —
Crucified and risen Savior,
Jesus Christ, You reign in love —
Holy Spirit, faith’s Creator,
Comforter and Counselor —
For Your saving Word we offer
Alleluias evermore.

Sermon: Erna Klussman Funeral

2009-07-24T12:31:00.005-05:00

MP3 Audio of the Funeral Sermon for Erna Klussman on 24 July AD 2009

Sermon Text: He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 2 Corinthians 5:15

Sermon Theme: He for All, We for Him

Other Readings: Psalm 46; Ecclesiastes 12:1-7; Hebrews 4:6-11; Matthew 11:25-30

Asleep in Jesus,
Erna Frena Ida Hill Klussman
26 January AD 1923 – 19 July AD 2009

Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. Let us remember with thanksgiving what God has done through His servant Erna.

Erna Klussman, 86, of rural Sweet Springs, MO, died Sunday 19 July 2009 at Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall, Missouri. Pastor Walter Snyder conducted her funeral service at 10:00 a.m. Friday 24 July 24 2009 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Emma. Burial was in Zion Cemetery, Blackburn, Missouri.

Born January 26, 1923, in rural Saline County, MO, Erna was the daughter of the late George Hill and Amanda Schmidt Hill. On 4 December 1940 she married Karl W. Klussman who preceded her in death on 2 April 2003. She lived in Saline County her entire life, with most of those years being spent in the rural Sweet Springs area, as wife, mother, gardener, and homemaker. She was a longtime active member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Emma and a member of V.F.W. Post 5649 Auxiliary in Concordia.

Survivors include one son, Gary Klussman of Gulf Shores, AL; 10 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; 7 great-great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law: Olitha Klussman of Concordia, Louise Haase of the state of Illinois and Ruth Leimkuehler of Independence, MO; along with several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Deanna Klussman; one brother and two sisters.

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord. We give thanks to God our Father through our Jesus Christ, our Lord, for our sister Erna.

Friends may sign an online guestbook at Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home.

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A Friend in Need ...

2009-07-15T04:31:00.005-05:00

... Is a Friend Indeed (and In Deed)

When a pastor is forced to empty his study before a deadline set by his (ex-) congregation expires, a friendly person wishes him well. A friend volunteers his truck. A good friend helps to carry things out to his truck and to unload them at the new destination. An outstanding friend calls for another reason, finds out what the pastor is doing, and helps pack all his books and periodicals, tote them, filing cabinets, bookcases, bust of Martin Luther, works of art, and various knickknacks, doodads, and fixtures to his truck, and then helps to unload it all at its new location.

My deadline was today, 15 July.

My outstanding friend was (and is and, God willing, will remain) the Rev. William Heine, religion instructor and Dean of Chapel for Saint Paul Lutheran High School in Concordia. He called to ask me about writing a hymn and wondered how things were going since the church forced me to resign. When he heard what I was up against, he finished a couple things at his place, then came over here and put in about 7 hours of heavy, dusty work.

Thank you again, Bill.

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Ponderings Prior to Preaching on Trinity Sunday

2009-06-06T23:37:00.002-05:00

Classical and Lutheran Education

2009-05-01T23:59:00.002-05:00

Please link to, repost, or otherwise disseminate

The Classical Classroom:
Theory and Praxis

Presented at the Ninth Conference of the
Consortium for Classical and Lutheran Education

THE BASICS

When: June 30 – July 2
Where: Saint Paul Lutheran High School in Concordia, Missouri
Theme: The Classical Classroom: Theory and Praxis
Cost: $100 registration fee (meals and lodging are extra)
To Register: Download the Registration Form (PDF)

PRESENTERS

Plenary Speakers: Dr. Gene Edward Veith, Mr. Andrew Kern, and Timothy Goeglein
Sectional Speakers: Dr. Steven Hein, Dr. James Tallmon, the Rev. Paul Williams, the Rev. Alexander Ring, Jackquelyn Veith and others
Banquet Speaker: Dr. E. Christian Kopff
Chaplain: The Rev. William Heine

HOUSING

On Campus: To stay on the St. Paul campus, call Rosalie at (888) 463-5127

Biltz Hall: $50 per day per room (very nice motel-style rooms)
Heilman Hall: $30 for the first night, $15 for each succeeding night (dormitory rooms)

In Town:

Best Value Inn (660) 463-2114
Days Inn (660) 463-7987
Golden Award Motel (660) 463-2135

Other hotels in nearby Sweet Springs and Higginsville

DINING

On Campus: The $40 on-campus dining package — registration deadline June 22 — includes Tuesday PM Snack, Evening Banquet; Wednesday Breakfast, AM Snack, Lunch, PM Snack, Dinner; Thursday Breakfast, AM Snack.
In Town: Restaurants include Biffle’s Smokehouse (BBQ), El Espolon (Mexican Restaurant), Topsy’s Café (Family Dining), and Country Pride, plus several fast food chain stores.

AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION

Kansas City International
   Pick-up: KCI Tuesday @ 11 am
   Drop-off: KCI Thursday @t 3 pm

CONTACT PERSON

The Rev. William C. Heine
   316 College Drive
   PO Box 514
   Concordia, MO 64020-0514
   (660) 463-0250

* Important Links for Registrants *

PDF Registration Brochure
Consortium for Classical and Lutheran Education
Saint Paul Lutheran High School
E-mail the Rev. William Heine

Please link to, repost, or otherwise disseminate

In Loving Memory

2009-04-24T14:40:00.004-05:00

May Holy Cross Newsletter Article

Near the end of May, many of us will gather flags and flowers, head out to various cemeteries, and decorate the graves of our loved ones. We’ve become participants in an observance that started as a tribute to the Union war dead. From there, we began memorializing other veterans and then extended the remembrance to all our departed family and friends.

Memory is powerful as it motivates and guides all manner of thoughts and deeds. It saddens us to remember better times yet encourages us when we recall how bad things used to be. It emboldens those seeking justice or revenge: “Remember the Alamo!” It tempers the actions of those who recollect the mistakes of bygone years: “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. (George Santayana)”

Memory is also selective, even fickle. We don’t remember all things equally. We remember our first dog’s name but forget where we lay phone, glasses, or keys. After 40 or more years we can picture one grade school teacher clearly while not even remembering the name of another. Most terrifying: We can lose our memories, never to gain them again! (See Remembering and Forgetting: Christians with Alzheimer’s Disease.)

So much of what we remember about people depends upon our relationships with them. Also, time usually erases the bad memories more quickly than the good. Of course, if we choose to continue a grudge, the opposite holds true — we forget the good and emphasize the bad.

Because our memories depend so much on fickle emotion and distracted minds, we may not appreciate God’s perfect memory. We pray, “Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. (Psalm 25:6)” This doesn’t mean that God could ever forget us. Whenever God “remembers,” He does so with intent to act.

Every day is God’s “Memorial Day.” He daily “remembers” that Jesus died to save us and forgives our sins on His behalf. Because He can never forget Christ’s all availing sacrifice, He hears and answers when you pray: “Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me ... O Lord! (Psalm 25:7)”

Yet even as He chooses to remember His children in mercy, God also chooses to forget. He says of those who believe in Him, “I will remember their sin no more. (Jeremiah 31:34)”

In response, should we not also make every day Memorial Day? Because He remembers you, shouldn’t you then “remember the deeds of the Lord (Psalm 77:11)” and thank Him for His love?

In Christ,
Pastor Snyder

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Closed Communion Note for Palm Sunday

2009-04-04T11:08:00.001-05:00

Occasionally, when time and space allow, I write a seasonal note on our communion practices for the bulletin. Here is the one for Palm Sunday at Holy Cross:

The Lord’s Supper: The untrained eye thinks that it witnesses a triumph on Palm Sunday that becomes a tragedy on Good Friday. The eye of faith, however, sees that Palm Sunday’s “triumph” would have been a tragedy if Jesus had entered Jerusalem only to become an earthly king. Faith’s eye also recognizes the apparent “tragedy” of Golgotha as Jesus’ complete triumph over sin and devil.

Likewise, many eyes do not see the fulness of the gift received in Holy Communion, often denying the true presence of Jesus’ body and blood or doubting the very real forgiveness of sins that is ours in this meal. We desire no communicants to eat and drink to their own condemnation. Therefore, we commune only those who have been instructed in the Faith and who confess an evangelical Lutheran understanding of the Sacrament and all of Holy Scripture.

Visitors from churches not in full fellowship with us are asked to respect this Biblical teaching and refrain from partaking of the Holy Sacrament. Those desiring to join this fellowship are encouraged to talk to the pastor about instruction class.

November Fog

2009-04-04T00:01:00.000-05:00

Here’s a shot from last Fall. I took it while standing on my front walk.

Who’d have thought that a flat panel sodium vapor lamp could illuminate such a pretty picture?

Sermon: Lent 5

2009-03-29T20:58:00.006-05:00

Sermon Audio for 29 March AD 2009

Sermon Text: And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”

And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”

And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”

Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”

And they said to him, “We are able.”

And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:32-45

Sermon Theme: The Greatest Service

Other Readings: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 119:9-16, Hebrews 5:1-10

+  Why were the disciples “amazed” and the people “afraid”?
+  What did Jesus say in response?
+  Does the disciples’ reaction indicate that they were listening?
+  How are we like James and John?
+  How did Jesus remake us to be like Him?

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Sermon: The Annunciation

2009-03-25T22:00:00.008-05:00

Sermon: Epiphany 4

2009-02-01T21:20:00.005-06:00

Sermon Audio for 1 February AD 2009

Sermon Text: And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.

And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. Mark 1:21-28

Sermon Theme: The Amazing Jesus

Other Readings: Psalm 111; Deuteronomy 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

† How did Jesus astonish His hearers?

† How do our opinions get in the way of God’s facts?

† Why is it good to be “astonished” by Jesus?

† Do we have a proper sense of astonishment today? Why or why not?

† How can ongoing astonishment be restored and retained?

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Jeopardizing My Evening

2009-01-28T13:48:00.004-06:00

Homily: Grade School Chapel

2009-01-28T12:16:00.003-06:00

MP3 Audio of the Chapel Homily for 28 January AD 2009

Preached to the Pre-K through 8th Grade students and the faculty of St. Paul’s Lutheran School, Concordia, Missouri.

Text: To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. Psalm 51

Theme: A Clean Heart and a Right Spirit

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