“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
(Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV)
Dear Friends,
Greetings in Jesus’ name.
His name was Martin Luther. He was being educated in law when through the fright of a horrible thunderstorm he dedicated himself to God and the church. He forsook everything and became a monk. But from the monastery he started having questions when he saw that what the church said and what the Bible said were not the same. What made it more striking is that he found little peace in what the church of his time was saying and great comfort in what the Bible was saying. The verse above summarized Luther’s hope in Jesus Christ.
But the church administration labeled Luther a heretic and called on him to retract all that he had written. During his hearing Luther was asked, “I ask you, Martin – answer candidly – do you or do you not repudiate your books and the errors which they contain?”
Luther replied, “Since then Your Majesty and your lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer. Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason – I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other – my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.”
Central to Luther’s stubborn resistance was the general belief and practice of securing forgiveness and eternal life through doing good works and paying money to the church. Luther rediscovered the central biblical truth that we cannot save ourselves and that Christ’s death on the cross is our source of comfort and assurance – something we receive by simple faith in God’s proclamation of the same.
So tomorrow, when all the news is about Halloween, think about something that happened almost 500 years ago on October 31st when an obscure monk dared to challenge his generation with the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ. May we still assert before our generation, all the while clinging to Jesus, “Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.”
Coming Up this Sunday at Prince of Peace …
Don’t forget to reset your clocks Saturday night.
Clocks “fall back” one hour.
8:50 Breakfast (for all Sunday School & Adult Bible Class participants)
9:10 Sunday School Classes & Adult Bible Class
10:30 Worship Service
Sermon “God’s Supply Multiplies Our Supply” based on Matthew 15:33-38
Coming Soon …
In your mail slots this Sunday (November 2), you will receive two cards and one envelope for Consecration Sunday on November 9. It is a commitment card for 2015. Here is the way it works. The two cards are private. There is no place for your signature. One copy goes only to Helen, our financial secretary, to add up for her report at the luncheon on November 9. The other you will seal in the envelope. After it is sealed, you place your name on the envelope and it will be collected and safely stored to be returned to you this time next year. At that time it will be given you for your private evaluation of your growth in faith and Christian life.
So take your cards and envelope home, give yourself some time to pray and ponder your response to God’s love for you and bring your cards on November 9. May the Lord bless your life of faith!
“Consecration Sunday” – What is it?
“Consecrate” means to set apart, to regard as holy, or to dedicate. The priests of the Old Testament and the things they used and handled in the Temple were consecrated for special service to the Lord. Jesus was consecrated or set apart for doing the work of saving us through His life and death and resurrection. The New Testament does not use the word “consecrate” specifically of us, probably because we continue to struggle being both sinner and saint. However, through the mercy of God by way of Jesus our Saviour we are made holy (or set apart). As St. Peter says, “You are … a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9–10 ESV)
And now, what shall we do? We shall set ourselves apart from an ungodly world to be servants of the living God. Again, St. Peter wrote: “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” (1 Peter 1:14–15 ESV)
So, as we conclude Free & Joyous Response, let’s encourage one another to honour the One who was consecrated Himself to come into this world to be our Saviour by consecrating ourselves and all that we have to the Lord. He has been merciful to us and we respond with thanksgiving. Fill out your cards during the week of November 2. They will be collected on November 9.
Chilifest 2014 – Prince of Peace is holding a Chilifest on Saturday November 15 at the Waterdown Legion (79 Hamilton St. N, Waterdown). Mix & mingle at 5:30 pm (cash bar) and Chilifest beginning at 6:00 pm. Bring your best Chili for a prize (people’s choice). Live entertainment provided by IN2U, door prizes, cash auction of some amazing items and some baked goods. $15 for adults, $5 for children (under 10). Homemade Mac & Cheese with Hot Dogs for the kids. Tickets available in the lobby each Sunday. Donations of baked goods, items for auction, or pots of chili for the competition would be most welcome!
Attention All Young Adults: This is your invitation to the East District Lutheran Young Adults (EDLYA) fall retreat! If you’re between the ages of 18-35 we would love to see you at the fall retreat taking place November 7-9 at Grace Lutheran Church in St. Catharines. The topic is “Why We Worship the Way We Do.” There will be fun times and delicious food had by all! To register for the retreat, please visit http://www.edlya.ca/ and click on retreats.
Been to Nicaragua? Planning to Go? Would like to Go? The Nicaragua Group from LCC churches in the Niagara/Burlington Area is planning an informal gathering for information and idea sharing open to everyone who has a love for our Lutheran brothers and sisters in Nicaragua. We will be hosting it here at Prince of Peace on Saturday, November 22, starting at 10:30 am. See you there!
The Prince of Peace Annual Voter’s Meeting is on Sunday Nov. 23 with a light lunch served before the meeting. If you would like to become a member of the Voter’s Assembly, please speak to Dave Schutz. Members with surnames beginning with the letters L to Z are asked to bring sandwiches or salads, and those with letters A to K are asked to bring desserts. A signup sheet is posted in the foyer.
News:
Christmas items needed – As part of Prince of Peace’s Family Christmas on Sunday, December 14, the Ladies Guild will have a table of Christmas crafts, gently used ornaments, working tree lights, etc., available to purchase by donation. If you have anything ‘Christmassy’ to add to the collection it can be left by the cupboard area in the basement.
Free and Joyous Response:
The Bible Study series, “Matters of Heart” is underway. Weeks #1 and #2 were great! And you can still come aboard. Invite someone else to come along with you! The same study for the week will be offered 3 times:
- Tuesday @ 9:30am – The Tuesday Bible Study
- Tuesday @ 7:00pm – Available during the four weeks of FJR
- Sunday @ 9:00am – The Adult Bible Class
Sunday Breakfast: During the Sundays of Free & Joyous Response, breakfast will be served to Sunday School children and to adults attending the Sunday Bible Class option for the “Matters of the Heart” Bible study. We will say grace and begin eating at 8:50am. Then we’ll have a short opening downstairs before dismissing to our classes.
The Sundays October 19 through November 2 are organized around the theme, “God’s Supply – Our Trust.” Hudson Taylor spent 51 years in China as missionary during the 1800s. Being an early missionary to China, Taylor worked under the most challenging of circumstances. Yet he was able to believe and say, “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.” That is true still – for your home, for your local congregation here at Prince of Peace, and for our entire synod. It is an encouraging message!
Consecration Sunday & Luncheon is set for November 9. Sign up to attend this luncheon celebration that concludes our Free & Joyous Response emphasis. The meal will feature sausage and sauerkraut and all the fixings.
You didn’t hand in an Attendance Commitment Form? Just come to stuff! People grow in faith when they attend to God’s Word. That is what Free & Joyous Response is all about. So don’t be shy! We’ll see you in church and in Bible study!
Online …
The 9th Annual Love Life Conference is coming up on November 1 in Edmonton. While you’re probably not planning to go to Edmonton, the promo trailer is worth watching. To view it, click here.
“Fire Away!” Lutheran Hour Ministries has daily devotions you can receive and read via email. You can also listen to them online. Here is a good one entitled “Fire Away!” from last Monday, click here.
2014 Convention Proceedings Now Available: Download the proceedings from LCC’s tenth convention now. Click here for the article and a link for downloading.
In your prayers, please remember:
- Those under doctors’ care
- Christians suffering persecution in various parts of the world
- Those who struggle with mental illness
- The members of Prince of Peace congregation as we seek to grow in faith and spiritual life during Free & Joyous Response
The Lord be with you.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Pastor Kevin Walrath
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
1299 Brant St.
Burlington, ON
905-332-7671
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