Confirmation Sunday - G - 2013 - What Does This Mean?

Confirmation Sunday 2013

May 5, 2013 - Pastor Adam Moline

Acts 16:9-15               Revelation 21:9-14, 21-27                  John 16:23-33

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is the Gospel lesson just read, especially these words, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”  Thus far our text.

Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia.  Amen!  Dear friends in Christ, especially dear confirmands.  It’s finally confirmation.  It’s finally here!  Years of study.  Times of frustration both by you and by your confirmations teachers!  It’s all over!  You've passed, and this morning, you receive your confirmation certificate, your verse, and this morning you take your first communion!  Finally, you’re confirmation journey is complete!

But slow down there, as we do with so many other things, we must ask that good Lutheran question, What does this mean?  What does it mean that you are confirmed now?  What does it mean that you now can take the Lord’s Supper?  What does it mean that you are now a full fledged, confirmed member of this congregation and communion?

Dear friends, and I speak to all, not just our confirmands, it is with a heavy heart that I tell you exactly what this means.  I pray that you may not take these words lightly, for they are the truth as best as I can put it.  It means that the devil, the world, and your sinful nature from here forward in your lives, will be doing everything in their power to lead you away from the true faith.  It means from here on out, your faith will be under attack.  

Satan will be in your ear at all times, trying to make you doubt God’s promises, trying to get you to despise God’s word.  He will try to get you to break the 10 commandments as you have learned them.  He’ll start simply enough, trying to get you to despise preaching and the word.  To get you to zone out during church, and to speak the words of the service without thinking about what they really mean.  He’ll find ways for you to be too busy for Bible Study, or for LYF meetings, after all there are sports events and jobs and other things that are going on.  Your sinful nature will hear these words, and try to get you to act out upon them. 

After that, Satan will use worldly influence on you.  He’ll tempt you with adultery in all of its forms, and he’ll use the world’s attitude to tell you its ok.  He’ll want you to steal even something small and seemingly innocent at first.  He’ll make you to fight with you family, to hate you parents when they tell you no, or your future spouse, or your brothers or sisters.  He’ll make you gossip, lie, slander and cheat – and you’ll do it so often that it will become a habit. 

The world will begin to tell you lies, in your school classes, in your jobs, in your college courses.  Lies like this, “There is no God.  He didn’t create the world.  It doesn’t matter what you do, so long as you make yourself happy.”  And worst of all, “Rely upon yourself to make it through the day.”  And your sinful self will hear these things and like it.  You’ll want to believe these words.  You’ll want to be self-sufficient, you’ll want to think you are the master of your life. 

And so you, like those who have gone before you will face a life time in a world that is chalk full of sin.  It’s a world that really wants you to die, and for that death to be forever.  It’s a world that does not want you to be Christian, or to be loved by Christ. A world that does not want you to serve the church, to listen to God’s word, or even to participate in anything Christian at all.  It’s a world that is dying, and wants to take you with it. 

That’s a big load to carry.  It’s a dreadful message for people so young, to hear that confirmation means that you as a young Christian are standing on the cusp of the valley of the shadow of death, about to be pushed in.  And Jesus knows exactly what you will face in this world.  He knows your coming struggles.  He knows about your sin.  He knows about Satan, and he knows about this world.  As he says, “In the world you will have tribulation.”  But Christ’s message goes on, “But take heart; I have overcome the world.”  Take heart.  Have courage dear confirmands.  Christ has overcome the world.  He has defeated sin.  He has destroyed the power of Satan.  He, as you know, has purchased and won you from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with his holy precious blood, innocent suffering and death, so that you, dear confirmands, may be His own, and live under him in his kingdom. 

That means Jesus went to the cross for you.  That means his suffering was with your lives in mind.  He knew what things you had to face, and so he came to this planet for the soul purpose of saving you, to be with you forever.  To make this world his footstool, subject not to death, but to Christ the lord of all the living. 

And now that you have been instructed in this faith, you are free to partake in all the gifts of Christ.  He today, for the first time for you three confirmands, gives you his own body to eat and blood to drink for forgiveness of your sins.  That connects you to the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Eating and Drinking Jesus feeds the faith that was born in you in the waters of holy baptism.  It gives you the Holy Spirit to continually point and direct you to Jesus as you live your life.  Dear friend, you are not a slave to sin.  You are not bound to die, instead you have been given life from your Lord Jesus, and it is a life that this world cannot take from you despite all the tricks of the destroyed Satan.

And not only has Christ overcome the world and its sin for you, but he gives it to you.  He promises that you will be able live with him in his kingdom, in righteousness, innocence and blessedness.  You are promised heaven, and given a picture of it in our epistle lesson today.  Twelve gates of pearl, where you will one day live as a baptized child of God.  Streets of Gold, in which you will one day walk forgiven in the blood of the lamb.  A city that has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb of God who takes away your sin. 

Dear confirmands, you face a difficult world, there is no doubt.  But take heart.  Christ has overcome the world, and promised you a world beyond imagining.  He has placed you today in the ark of his church.  He has made you a full member.  You may take refuge here within the church where the gifts of God are given.  I pray that you may long live within her walls, that you will serve this church with thanksgiving for the gifts you have received here.  I pray that you one day will be married here, have children here, and finally that you will receive Christian burial here – with the knowledge that Christ has brought you safely through this world of sin, to life everlasting. 

Today you are confirmed.  What does this mean?  It means the blessings of God on you life are just beginning, and that for many years ahead, he will continue to pour them out upon you, in the words preached in this place and in the sacraments received in this place.  God’s blessings to you, dear friends.  To him alone be all glory, in your lives, and in the lives of all.  Amen.  

Funeral - Allen Leon Coppin 1923-2013

Isaiah 54:10  

For the mountains may depart
    and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
    and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”
    says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Revelation 21:1-7

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ² And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place^[a] of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,^[b] and God himself will be with them as their God.^[c] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

⁵ And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ⁶ And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. ⁷ The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Matthew 11:25-30

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; ²⁶ yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.^[a] 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. ²⁸ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is the our Old Testament lesson, Allen’s confirmation verse, “’For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,’ says the Lord who has compassion on you.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends, especially Bev, Paul, Mark, and Carol:  It’s not very often that, as a pastor, I’ve walked into a room in a nursing home and been greeted with the words, “Good afternoon Pastor, would you like a beer?”  And yet that is exactly what happened several times with Allen after he had settled in to St. Gerard’s.  That’s the kind of guy that Allen was, very kind, very courteous, and very caring. 

And so today we gather together to mourn the loss of a very beloved member of our congregation, a Father, a grandfather, and above all to many people, a friend.  He’s a man who worked hard, who deeply cared for his children – he told me so – and who was much admired by many.  And today, he’s gone. After celebrating his 90^th birthday just a month ago, our dear friend has gone to be with his Savior.   He now lives in the New Jerusalem, prepared by Christ himself for all who trust in Him to live in forever in peace, comfort and joy.

This is a great blessing from God.  For in this world, we do not experience much peace, comfort and joy.  This world is very hard for us poor sinners who live here.  We feebly struggle with guilt and shame, with vice and error.  We must deal with pain and sorrow, and most of all we must face death. 

None of us are immune to it.  Even Allen faced the loss of loved ones.  He lost his first wife Lucille, to blood disease.  A few years ago, his much loved wife Greta passed away as well.  Throughout his 90 years he lost other friends and family members, he dealt with other pains and difficulties.  And finally, at the last, His Lord and Savior called him out of this vale of tears, along with all who are weary and heavy laden, and into his eternal rest. 

And so now it is us, you and me, who are left to hurt and mourn.  It is us who suffer and deal with pain.  It is us who will feel the sting of death, both today and in the days to come.  We will miss Allen.  We will be reminded of other loved ones who are now gone.  We will drive past the farmstead and remember Christmas and other holidays together, with Mom and Dad, Grandpa and grandma. 

And it is you and me that finally must come face to face with the reality of our own sin.  That one day we too will pass away.  That we are but mortal strangers here on this earth.  And that one day, we too will return to the dust from which God has called us. 

It’s not easy to think about.  It’s not easy to mourn and at the same time realize that our own lives have been infected by our own sin.  And yet we have a promise from God, a promise that we spoke of last night, “Let not your hearts be troubled – Christ has died for sin.”  And it’s a promise that we hear boldly proclaimed in Allen’s confirmation verse, where the God who has compassion on you, and on Allen says, “my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed.” 

This is the promise from a Lord who in his compassion entered our world of sin and death, suffered on the cross himself and even died to rescue you and me, and also our dear friend Allen.  He promised a love that would never depart.  And then he showed that love for us all, by giving up his life for us – his friends.  He promised a peace that would not be removed – a peace that surpasses all human understanding, a peace that this world could not give.  A peace that Allen now experiences in heaven, and that awaits us who are baptized and believe in his holy name. 

Dear friends, today we mourn – but we mourn with hope.  That even though the mountains give way, and the hills be ripped at the seams, that God’s love is with us.  It was with Allen his entire life, and dear friends that love is yours today.  It promises heaven to you, it promises a reunion with Allen, Greta, and all your loved ones.  It is a great gift that we cannot fathom – a God who has compassion on us, who promises us everlasting life.  In the name of Jesus Amen.  

Easter 4 - G - 2013 - Called by the Good Shepherd From a World of Chaos.

The Fourth Sunday of Easter - Good Shepherd Sunday

April 21, 2013 - Pastor Adam Moline

Acts 20:17-35             Revelation 7:9-17        John 10:22-30

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Our text today is the readings just read, especially these words from the Gospel lesson, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”  Thus far our text.

Christ is risen, he is risen indeed!  Alleluia.  Amen. 

Dear friends in Christ, so often our world is full of chaos.  It truly is the valley of the shadow of death.  We’ve seen that this last week especially.  On Monday, two bombs killed three people and wounded hundreds more in Boston.  The last few days there has been chaos and more deaths as the police attempted to apprehend the suspects in the bombing.  People were locked down in their homes while bullets flew back and forth outside their homes.  On Wednesday a fertilizer plant in Texas exploded, killing 14 people and wounding hundreds more.  Its blast could be felt 40 miles away.  Chaos ensued, as rescue personal searched for survivors and struggled to put out the fires safely without any more people at risk.  And these two events are just a microcosm of the chaos that engulfs our world.

Wars.  Earthquakes.  Floods.  Fires.  Crime.  Disease.  Hunger.  Suffering.  A world full of chaos.  A world full of hurt.  A world that seems to be falling apart at the seams.  Death surrounds us.  Darkness is everywhere. 

And dear friends, we face the same things right here.  Let’s be honest.  The safety that we presume to feel in this world is but a figment of our imagination.  There is no place where we are not in some sort of danger, be it something as common as a car accident, or something as major as a deadly storm.  Our chaotic world leaves us ever in danger of being killed and destroyed.

And the chaos that infects our own lives is often so much more than those things.  It’s there in our relationships, where fighting and bickering reigns supreme.  It’s there in our words and actions, as we gossip and lie about and to our friends and neighbors.  It’s there as we cheat and steal, or do anything in our power to get ahead of everybody else.  Chaos seems to reign supreme throughout everything we face in this world, and this life.  And there seems to be absolutely no way for us to escape it. 

We’re doomed it seems.  Doomed to eke out meaningless lives on a lonely planet with the only surety being our certain demise.  So where do we turn for help?  Where do we look for consolation?  Why are we here, and what is our purpose?

And through the midst of the chaos comes a voice.  A voice that calls to us, with forgiveness and healing in its wings.  A voice that speaks of certainty and structure in a world of confusion.  A Voice that cuts through all the chaos of this world, to call us to a reality beyond anything we can imagine. 

It’s the voice of our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.  And he is our shepherd, and we are his sheep.  Just as the voice of the shepherd rises above all the clutter of town to keep his sheep together in the flock, so too does the voice of our shepherd keep us together.  He knows his sheep, they hear his voice and follow him.  He gives them eternal life, by suffering in their place.  He gives them peace, by giving them his own blood to drink and his own body to feast upon.  He calls them out of the world with baptismal waters, cleansing them of their sin, taking away the chaos of this world. 

You, dear friends are sheep to the Good Shepherd.  You are called to be his.  You are called to forgiveness.  To leave behind this world, and to trust in the world yet to come, the everlasting life promised in the Resurrection of Jesus.  His voice cries out to you above the din of this world.  He makes you to lie down in Green pastures by still waters.  He sets a table before you.  He restores your soul and carries you through the valley of the shadow of death, and in him, and him alone, you may truly fear no evil.  For he is always with us always, even to the end of the age. 

That’s why we are here.  We have heard the voice of Jesus.  We have come here to hear it more, to hold on to its bold promises.  To receive freely the gifts of grace offered by our Lord and Savior Jesus. 

This world is truly a world of Chaos, but it is nothing that the Good Shepherd cannot over come.  Bombings, bickerings, Explosions, or emotions.  No matter what.  The Good Shepherd overcomes.  You are forgiven by him.  You are set free from sin. 

In the name of Our Good Shepherd.  Amen.  

Easter 3 - F - 2013 - The Word of the Resurrected Jesus

Acts 9:1-22                 Revelation 5:1-14                    John 21:1-19

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is the reading from Acts just read, especially these words, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”  Thus far our text.

Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!  Amen.  Dear friends in Christ, The Resurrected Word of God is powerful.  It is able to perform miracles beyond our understanding.  It is able to take the sick and make them well, to take a murderer and forgive their guilt.  It is able to make the blind to see, and the lame to walk.  There is nothing beyond the power of God’s Holy Word, not even to rescue from your own sin and guilt. 

THE WORD OF GOD TRANSFORMS EVEN THE MOST REVOLTING SINNERS INTO BLESSED SAINTS OF GOD.

It’s exactly what happens for St. Paul.  St. Paul, originally known as Saul, was born into a wealthy Jewish family.  He received the best education a Jewish person of his day could, learning from the great Pharisee and leader of the Sanhedrin Gamaliel.  He becomes by his own account one of the premiere Pharisees of all Israel.  When the Pharisees decide something, Saul supported them 100%.  The book of Acts says that Saul stood by watching with approval as the first Christian were killed in a persecution by the Pharisees.  As St. Stephen was pummelled to death by stones, Saul watched from a distance. 

But the death of a few Christians was not enough for Saul.  He wanted all of them destroyed, all of them killed.  He sought out warrants for the arrest of any Christians from the leaders of the Sanhedrin.  He took those warrants and sought to destroy the Christian faith, beginning his travel north from Jerusalem to Damascus. 

It was a trip that would not turn out the way that Saul expected.  It was 135 miles from Jerusalem to Damascus – a several days journey.  Saul made the journey with a group of soldiers from the synagogue, the same sort of soldiers that had arrested Jesus years before.  And as Saul approached Damascus, suddenly a great light shone upon him, blinding him.  And at that moment, the Word of the Lord came to Saul with a word of law, “Saul, why are you persecuting me?”  All Saul could do is ask, “Who are you Lord?”  And the answer stuns Saul.  “I am Jesus, the resurrected Lord, the one whom you are persecuting.  Go into the city, there you will be told what to do.” 

Saul is terrified.  He can’t see.  His friends heard the voice, they saw Saul fall to the ground.  They lead him by the hand stumbling into Damascus.  What is Saul to do?  He’s been murdering the followers of the true God.  And that God has appeared to him, and spoken harshly of Saul’s intentions. 

But the Word of God comes again to Saul.  This time through a disciple of Jesus, Ananias, a pastor living and preaching in Damascus.  Jesus sends this disciple to Saul, to preach the Word of God again to him, only this time a word of Gospel.  “Saul, Jesus sent me to forgive you, to return your sight to you, to make you well in his blood, and to fill you with the Holy Spirit.”  And with these words, Saul’s sight returns, and he is baptized, and immediately begins preaching the good news of a loving and forgiving God to all who will hear. 

That’s how powerful God’s word is, dear friends.  It can take a terrible sinner like Paul, and bring his entire sinful life crashing down around him.  And when the sinner is finally killed by the truth, the Word of God comes again, to make alive, to forgive, and to connect believers to the crucified and risen forever Christ. 

It’s the same for you, isn’t it?  You too have sinned.  You too are guilty, you too have failed in thought word and deed.  There are people you have treated as Saul did, looking on with pleasure as they got what they had coming to them.  You, like Saul, have created your own understanding of God – Justifying yourselves and your actions.  Turning wrong into right and vice versa.  Sinning in all times and all ways imaginable. 

But hear God’s word !  You are full of bitterness and captive to sin.  You are guilty.  And everyone who sins (from the tiniest sin to the largest sin) is a slave to that sin.  That means you.  That means each person here.  And if you remain a slave to sin, you have but one destination awaiting you:  Hell, punishment, fire beyond belief, the place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, where the worm does not die. 

But hear also the good news, as Saul himself did.  Christ has been raised.  He lives forever.  And in his blood you are forgiven.  You, like Saul, have been baptized into his name.  You like Saul have received the Word of Good news, the Gospel, the Euaggeloj, that in Jesus your sin is gone! Forever!  Taken away!  That in those baptismal waters you have died with Jesus and raised forever with him.  And that even now you have the promise of life everlasting.  That even now you are forgiven your sins, no matter what the depth, because God’s Word has come to you, here and in baptismal waters.  God’s word has come to you.  And you are forgiven, just as the murder St. Paul was before you. 

Rejoice!  Christ is Risen!  He is Risen Indeed!  Alleluia, Amen!  

Easter 2 - G - 2013 - Confessed and Forgiven

The Second Sunday of Easter

April 7, 2013 - Pastor Adam Moline

Acts 5:12-32                           Revelation 1:4-18                    John 20:19-31

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is from the Gospel lesson just read, especially these words, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”  Thus far our text. 

He is Risen!  He is Risen Indeed!  Alleluia.  Amen.  Dear friends in Christ.  In our text today, we see Christ as he arises and talks for the first time to his disciples.  The last time his disciples had spoken with him, they told him, plain and simple that they would stand by him even to death.  But one betrays Jesus.  The disciples swore that they would always be there with their friend, but when the police arrived, the disciples scattered – one even running away naked rather than get arrested.  Peter denies ever knowing Christ 3 times.  The other disciples just hide away, not even showing their faces in public for fear.  They are hiding as Christ is beaten.  They are afraid as Christ is nailed to a cross.  They are hidden as Christ breathes his last and dies – Some friends huh? 

And now the truth is out.  Early in the morning the women came running.  Jesus is alive!  He’s on his way to see you disciples!  He is Risen!  He’s risen indeed!  Peter runs and sees the empty tomb.  It must be true!  Jesus is no longer dead!  He has conquered death. 

So what are the disciples to do?  They have betrayed Jesus, but he’s alive again.  They have ran away from the Son of God, but now he’s on his way to find them.  The only conclusion they can come to is that Jesus is coming to pay them back for their betrayals, their lack of concern for one who was suffering, and their own desire for self-preservation. 

And so they lock the door.  They hide in the room where just a few days earlier Jesus told them “This is my body, this is my blood.”  They try to wait out the storm that has brewed against Jesus, and now against them who abandoned Jesus.  All but Thomas.  He’s so afraid he splits from the rest hiding away on his own. 

And as they are sitting there afraid and alone, Christ appears.  He enters the room, because the worthless human locks can’t stop the Risen Son of God.  You can imagine that the disciples fall down on their faces knowing that Jesus is God incarnate.  You can imagine their fear and trepidation.  What’s going to happen? 

But Christ speaks before any of them can beg.  And Christ’s words are not words of condemnation, but words of forgiveness, of hope, and of Gospel.  “Peace be with you.”  And this is no worldly peace but a godly peace, a peace that surpasses all human understanding.  A peace that can only come about because of forgiveness of sins.  Christ’s first words to his disciples are words of absolution.  Words that say “Don’t worry about your sin, for Christ has taken care of it.” 

Even those sinful disciples who turned their back on God are forgiven by the Resurrected Christ.  Even Doubting Thomas, who had run off to hide by himself is forgiven the next week.  All sins are gone in Jesus.  All sins are forgiven by Christ.  And dear friends, the same goes for you as well. 

Lets be honest.  We aren’t any better than those disciples in reality are we?  We too try to hide away our Christian Faith.  We don’t advertise it at work during the week.  We shirk from conversation about religion.  We happily skip church if we can manage to come up with anything else to do.  Because our faith is not that important to us, except for an hour a week. 

And we avoid looking to the cross, because its offensive, its gory, its too much for us to stomach in this our civilized world and time.  And yet our civilized world can stomach abortion, babies torn limb from limb in the place that should be safest for them.  Our civilized world can stomach war and bloodshed at a rate beyond anything the ancient world could fathom.  And our sin, yes our own sin, is behind all this suffering and death in the world.

So we do avoid church, yes, but often because we are embarrassed by what we have done.  We, like the disciples are ashamed of our sin, and guilt.  We are embarrassed by what we have done in our thought word and deed.  We hide our sin from each other, keeping it to ourselves hoping that it will take care of itself. 

But Jesus comes to us the same as he comes to his disciples.  He comes with words of forgiveness for all your sin.  “Peace be with you.”  Peace be with you for I have died for your sin, I have taken it away, I have made you my child forever.  And Jesus, in our text today sends his forgiven disciples to speak these words to you.  “I am sending you as the Father has sent me.”  In other words, Jesus is sending the disciples to give the same forgiveness to others that he has now given to them.  Jesus sends them to forgive sins in his stead and by his command. 

Jesus breathed on his disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit, if you forgive anyone their sins they are forgiven, and if you don’t forgive them, they are not forgiven.”  It’s the same forgiveness that you received here just a few minutes ago.  Together we confessed our sins, all of them, all their guilt, all their shame.  We stood together guilty before the Lord, in thought word and deed.  We said we were heartily sorry for them.  And through the words of your pastor, your sins were forgiven by Christ.  Its not that you pastor is holy, not that he is better than you, but he stood in the stead and by the command of Christ, and announced the grace earned by the cross for forgiveness of your sin.

Your sin is gone, because Christ has risen.  Christ has sent men to proclaim that message the world around.  To proclaim it to you.  That your sin is gone.  Forever.  As far as the east is from the west.  It’s the truth.  It’s the absolution spoken by Christ, and delivered by a pastor.  It’s a fact for you.  Your sins are truly forgiven.  In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  

Easter Greetings from President Harrison

The Resurrection of our Lord - G - 2013 - Christus Resurrexit

The Resurrection of our Lord

March 31 , 2013 - Pastor Adam Moline

Isaiah 65:17-25           1 Corinthians 15:19-26           Luke 24:1-12

He is Risen, He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!  Amen!  Our text today are the readings just read, especially these words, “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ, He is Risen!  He is risen indeed.  And with his rising, we have hope in our own eternal life.  We know that the sin of our life is defeated.  We know that the vast chasm that had separated us from God no longer can keep us from our Lord and Savior.  O death where is thy victory?  O death where is thy sting?  In Christ’s glorious death and resurrection, we are victors. 

It has been a hard fought battle.  We have all been involved in the war between God and sin.  We know firsthand the casualties.  For sin has always been knocking at our door.  And yes, dear friends, we have been the ones who have been steeped in sin, stinking of death.  We have sinned, as we just confessed, in thought word and deed.  We’ve been hateful.  We’ve been robbers.  We’ve been murderers and adulterers.  We’ve coveted, lied and gossiped.  Our families have fallen apart, and our relationships with neighbors have been in shambles.  And these things are only in our relationships with others.

In our relationship with God we have despised preaching, despised church, we’ve cursed and sworn wrongly using God’s name, often pairing it together with words that would make milk curdle.  And above all else, we have relegated our relationship with God to the back burner, we haven’t made God number one, instead trusting in any number of false Gods. 

We’ve sinned – no doubt about it.  We continue to sin – it’s true.  And we’ve seen firsthand time and again the consequences for that sin – sickness and suffering.  Hurt and pain.  Death and loss.  It is a sting of pain that we have all known too well.  And when we deal with death there is a certain permanent feeling to it.  Our loved one seems to be gone forever.

But in fact that is not the truth.  But, in fact, sin is destroyed, and along with it death.  Its right there in our text, that’s what St. Paul says.  “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead.”  And not only that, but Christ is the first fruits of those risen from the dead.  That means that there will be more that just Jesus who will rise.  There are more than just Jesus who have defeated sin and its sting of death.  Jesus is the first and we shall follow. 

That’s what we see in our Gospel lesson.  The women go to the tomb sure to find a body, a dead man, and instead they find angels who declare “He is Risen – he is not here!”  Peter than goes to the tomb, running, sure again to find the sting of death but instead finds an empty tomb with only Christ’s burial clothes. 

Its an indisputable historical fact.  It was independently verified.  In fact Jesus was raised from the dead.  And in fact, you too will be.  Your sins are forgiven by his Good Friday death.  You have already died with Jesus in the waters of Baptism, or do you not know that all who have been baptized in to Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  You died with him, you were buried with him, and in fact you also have already been risen from the dead with him. 

You see Jesus death was to forgive your sins.  And his rising from the dead means that in fact your sins are forgiven.  And then to top it all off, he invites you to partake in the sacrifice of his own body and blood here today.  He gives to you hidden in bread his very real crucified and risen body to eat, he gives to you in with and under wine his very real blood to drink – both for forgiveness of your sins.  To take them away for ever.

Dear friends its Easter.  The day we celebrate the fact – the historical truth – the reality – that Jesus has been raised from the dead, and that we too will one day rise again, sins forgiven, and live forever in heave.  And the proof for it all is this, Christ is Risen!  He is Risen indeed.  Alleluia.  Amen!  

Maundy Thursday 2013

Edited from a Sermon by Pastor Brent Kuhlman

St. Luke 22:7-20

“This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me  .  . . . This cup is the new covenant (testament) in my blood which is poured out for you.” 

Whose Words are these?  They are not mine.  They are not yours.  They are the Lord’s!  The Words of the Lord who created everything by means of His Word!  Through His speaking!  His speaking that does and gives precisely what He says.   Like at the beginning when He spoke “Let there be . . .” and there was light and everything in creation!  This is the same Lord who speaks to the dead.  ‘Talitha koum (Little girl get up!)’” and, “‘Lazarus, come out!’” 

Was His speaking a nothing?  Were His Words just the words of a man?  No!  They are divine – Holy Spirit filled – words of power!  His words do exactly what they say! 

Now on the night before He dies the Lord Jesus draws up His last will and testament.  He is of sound mind.  He is quite sober.  He knows what He is doing.  Everything is very deliberate and in order.  From the directions about all the preparations of the room to what He does and says regarding the Passover meal’s bread and wine. 

Will you let the Lord Jesus have His say?  Or will you dare to interrupt Him?  Adjust His Words to what you think He should have said?  Would you presume to appoint yourself as a preacher with better words than Jesus?  Preach your own sermon as an upgrade to Jesus’ Words?  A Lord’s Supper Version 2.1? 

It goes like this, “The bread only symbolizes Jesus’ body!  The cup of wine is simply a symbol of His blood.  In other words, all that’s there on the altar and in my mouth are bread and wine   The body and blood of Jesus aren’t there!  Can’t be because it just doesn’t make sense to me.!”

Is that what Jesus said?  Of course not!  Not even close!  You’ve subtracted!  You’ve taken away what He clearly proclaims!  “Is” means “is”!  The Lord Jesus, in His last will and testament categorically proclaims that the bread IS His body and that the cup of wine IS the new testament in His blood!   

He tells you what it is.  He preaches what He gives.  What He says He gives!  What He gives is what He says!  Lord Jesus gets the first and last word!  Not you!  He has His say-so!  Not you!   It is the Lord’s Supper!  Not your Supper!  He emphatically says that the Bread IS His Body.  He definitively declares that the cup of Wine is His Blood.  To be eaten and to be drunk with your mouth!

Or if you don’t like Lord’s Supper 2.1, perhaps you know Lord’s Supper Version 2.2? 

Or maybe it’s about sacrifice, the Lord’s Supper is me giving back to Jesus, me earning something from him.  Look how holy I am – see how many great things I’ve done!  I come to the Lord’s Supper, look at this great work I do as I come up to the altar rail.  Look at my work, at my life, and how by coming I’m doing such a great thing for Jesus – lessening his work by my holy life.  The Lord’s supper is only good because of my work, my belief, and my thought!

Wow!  That’s quite a Lord’s Supper 2.2!  I have to ask you again.  Where did you get all that from the Lord’s Words?  Is that what the Lord Jesus says?  Of course He doesn’t!  You’ve added to what He said!  Like Eve did in her conversation with Satan in Eden about eating from the forbidden middle Tree!  And you know how all that ended!  In total disaster for Adam and Eve!  And for all their descendants!  So why in the world would you want to pull another Adam and Eve and add to the Lord’s Words?   

It’s time that you die to all this thinking and practicing that the Lord’s Supper is something that you do for God!  Good grief!  That’s getting the Sacrament totally backwards!  Jesus is very clear that His Supper is “for you” and not for His Father!  It is pure gift from Jesus to you! 

When He institutes this Sacrament as His last will and testament He is talking – proclaiming – preaching TO HIS DISCIPLES!  “Take this bread and eat it.  This is my body GIVEN FOR YOU.  Take this cup and drink from it.  It is the new testament in my blood poured out FOR YOU.”   “For you” talk is gift talk!  His Body and His Blood are for you!

THE LORD’S SUPPER IS NOT WHAT WE DO, GIVE OR SACRIFICE TO GOD!  IT IS THE LORD’S GIVING – HIS PREACHING – HIS HANDING OVER AND GIVING OF THE GOSPEL TO YOU!

Finally, when Jesus asserts that the cup of wine is the New Testament in His blood, His point is that God’s prophecy through Jeremiah is at hand!  Right before your very eyes every time you go to the Sacrament!  “‘The time is coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah . . .  This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel . . .  I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.  I will be their God and they will be my people . . . For I WILL FORGIVE THEIR WICKEDNESS AND WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.’”   

 “I will make a new covenant . . .  I will be their God . . .  I will forgive their sins!”  Jesus does and gives these promises in the Lord’s Supper.  For you!  In Matthew’s account of the Lord’s Supper Jesus says about the cup of wine:  “ ‘Drink from it, all of you.  This my blood of the new testament which is poured out for many FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS,” (Matthew 26:27-28)! 

This is how Jesus is God for you!  His Body and His Blood He gives you to eat and drink with the promise that all your sin is forgiven. Those are the Words of the Lord Jesus who died for you! He says so!  He does not lie!  It is most certainly true!

Happy eating and drinking tonight according to the Lord’s Words! 

In the name of Jesus.

Holy Week Greetings from President Harrison

Please note the following Holy Week Schedule:

Thursday - Maundy Thursday service at St. John 7:15 p.m.
Friday - Cross Processional meeting at Convent at 12:00 p.m.
Friday - Tre Ore Service at Immanuel 12:15 (following processional)
Friday - Tenebrae Vespers at Immanuel 7:15 p.m.
Saturday - Easter Vigil Service at Immaneul 7:15 p.m.
Sunday - Easter Sunrise Service at St. John's 6:30 a.m.
Sunday - Easter Breakfast at St. John's 7:15 a.m.
Regular Service times at the churches for Easter Services as well.

God's Blessings on your Holy Week

Lent 5 - G - 2013 - The Heir

The Fifth Sunday of Lent

March 17, 2013 - Pastor Adam Moline

Isaiah 43:16-21                       Philippians 3:4b-14                 Luke 20:9-20

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God the Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is the Gospel lesson just read, especially these words, “This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ.  A man built a vineyard, and rented it to some renters with the promise to receive some payment for the rental when the harvest of fruit finally came in.  The vines were planted by the renter.  They were cultivated by the renter.  The vines were pruned by the renter.  The renter raised his family at the vineyard, and they worked along side one another as if it was their own land.  They took pride in their work, and began to call the vineyard their own.  The vines began to produce fruit, because the renter cared for the vines and the harvest began.  The harvest was plentiful, the crop was good, and finally after much hard work, the vineyard was in the black, running a profit.  

And it is at this time, that the owner sends his messenger from another country.  Rent was due.  There were terms set up originally after all.  The owner had set the agreement, and now the time had come to pay.  But the renter gets greedy – he’d been running the vineyard as his own.  The owner was far away, so far away it was almost as if he didn’t exist at all.  “Why should I pay?” the renter said. “I’ll just keep it for myself.  I’ll pad my bank account – the owner can’t do anything about it anyways.”  And with this pride and sin, he beat the messenger, and sent him back to where he came. 

The pride of the renter increased.  “Look how powerful I am, he said, I told the owner’s messenger where to go, I told him what’s what.  I see what I want and I take it.”  But the owner sent another messenger, again beaten and turned away.  And a third.  The renter really desires to send a message this time, and wounds the messenger before sending him back with a messenger.  And then the messenger is sent back with these words, “Back off Owner.  I’m the master of this vineyard.  I’ve raised my family here, I’ve done what I’ve wanted.  I’ve planted, cultivated and harvested.  And what I’ve earned is mine. 

The owner finally sends his beloved son to collect the rent that is his.  When the evil renter sees the son coming, he smiles to himself.  It’s the heir.  I’ll kill him.  Then I will be the master of the vineyard.  Then it will be mine for good.  Then I’ll be the all powerful one here.  I’ll be my own master – with no owner telling me what to do, or demanding what he wants in my life.  So the son is dragged out of town, and killed – all because of the renters greed, hate, and malice. 

Jesus tells us this parable, not because it’s a nice story, or because he has some interest in the running of ancient Israelite vineyards, but rather because it’s a story that isn’t even about vineyards at all.  Its about himself.  A story about how he himself, the beloved son, would be received by his own people. 

The people of this world, you and me included, were given this world to care for by our Heavenly Father.  Its true.  God gave Adam and Eve the world and said “be caretakers for my beautiful creation.  But do not eat of the tree in the center of the garden.”  As soon as God turned his back, Adam and Eve immediately disobeyed, just as you do when you think God’s not looking.  They ate, and sin and death entered our world. 

Throughout the ages, In many times and in various ways, God spoke to our forefather through the prophets.  “Repent.”  They said, “God will fix sin, so trust in him.”  And throughout the ages, time and time again, these prophets were beaten and killed, some even in the “Holy temple” God’s own house.  We stood by complicitly as these terrible things happened.  God’s word was abandoned, and our own words, our own wants and our own desires were proclaimed instead. 

And finally, God sent his Son.  And we know what happens to him, for it is Lent.  The season we look ahead to Good Friday, to Golgotha, to the cross, and to the death of the Son at the hands of sinners, like you and like me.  We kill Jesus, rather than listen to his words.  We kill the Son of God, because we have no place for him in our lives.  We cause him to suffer, and we smile and we laugh as we do so, because we think that with him gone, we will finally be our own masters.  And so the Son of God is crucified, and we are at fault. 

But our plan backfires.  Because the Son doesn’t stay dead.  He rises again, he is glorified, and all authority on heaven and earth is given to him because of his glorious resurrection.  That means authority over you, over your sin, over you guilt, over your shame.  And using that authority that Son offers you forgiveness, forgiveness given in his word and in his sacraments. 

He speaks and says, I forgive you for despising the preaching done by my messengers through the year.  I forgive you for turning your back on me.  I forgive you for every sin you have committed.  Search your heart, your life, your soul, each of those sins that plague and guilt you, I take away!

How, by my death, yes the death at your hands.  In that death, I killed your sins, O baptized ones, I died your death, I suffered your punishment, and you do become an heir, a heir along with me, and now all that is mine is yours, including heaven, forgiveness, life and salvation.  All that I have is yours now.  My body?  Take it and eat it.  My blood, take it and drink it, they are yours for forgiveness.  My eternal home in heaven?  Live it in it always.  My righteousness and holiness, be dressed in it through baptismal waters.  My life now is your life.  My father is now your father.  All that belongs to me, belongs to you. 

Dear friends, its lent.  Turn from your sin.  Trust in the one you killed, but now is raised.  Be forgiven of your sins, in the blood of Jesus.  In his name, Amen.