“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”
(1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV)
Dear Friends,
Epiphany greetings!
You and I belong to what we members of Lutheran Church-Canada call a “confessional church.” That means that we believe, teach and confess the same things. We are unified. That’s how we function as a synod (by the way, the word “synod” means “walking together.”) People in a confessional church believe and speak the same way about the same faith.
The people in the pew and the people in the pulpit should be of one mind and know what to expect of one another in regards to what we believe, teach and confess. In our confession of faith, the Book of Concord, the Reformation era record of our standard of teaching based on the Bible, it says,
“We believe, teach, and confess that the only rule and guiding principle according to which all teachings and teachers are to be evaluated and judged are the prophetic and apostolic writings of the Old and New Testaments alone, as it is written, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119) (Epitome of the Formula of Concord)
Well, that’s nice. So what?
That means that we are to be of one mind and faith. We are not to be all over the place with our beliefs but unified under the Word of God. The Scriptures have to be our foundation, to which we cannot add, and from which we cannot subtract. That’s because the Bible is the only way we can know God and eternal life through His Son. John, a disciple who was eyewitness to Jesus’ teaching, suffering, death, and resurrection, said in his Gospel narrative, “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31 ESV)
Jesus wants you to “have life in his name.”
So like St. Paul writing to the congregation in Corinth, I too, as your pastor, “I appeal to you by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” As put to music in one of our hymns,
How firm a foundation, O saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He has said
Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?
(LSB 728, verse 1)
The Lord be with you!
Coming Up at Prince of Peace this weekend…
Sunday, January 22
9:00 Sunday School & Adult Bible Class (Begin together in the sanctuary)
9:00 Matins
10:30 Matins with contemporary accompaniment
Sermon: “Following Him and Bringing Others” based on Matthew 4:12-23
11:30 Coffee Hour and Chat After Church
PoP News …
This Saturday, January 21, is the next Ladies Bible Study Breakfast. Let’s start off the new year committed to studying God’s Word together. Breakfast will be served at 9 o’clock.
Chat after Church! This Sunday you are invited downstairs for coffee and refreshments to welcome Gina, our newest member, and to hear some exciting news that I will be sharing.
Service note: A week from this Sunday, January 28, there will be one service only at 10:30. Pastor and Carol will be away that day.
Joyful Seniors’: For the February Meeting (February 4th) we will be attending the Sauerkraut Supper at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fisherville, Ontario. It is a buffet style continuous meal from 4:30 to 7:00 pm. Ticket prices: Adults $15; Children 5-10 years $5. Please indicate on the sign-up sheet if you would like to attend and if you would like to car pool from the church. Remember this is for everyone interested in eating a fantastic sauerkraut supper. Enjoy a really good meal with the bonus of being with your Christian friends! Come and dine together!
Haiti Lutheran Mission Society will hold its Annual General Meeting on February 5, 2017 @ 3:00 pm at Christ Lutheran Church, St. Catharines. A soup supper will follow.
Also, HLMS has produced a PowerPoint Presentation outlining their activities in Haiti. You can download it – click here.
VBS 2017 “Mighty Fortress: In Jesus the Victory is Won”: This theme will tie into 500th anniversary year of the Reformation. Let’s have an initial VBS meeting on February 6 for all those who are interested with this ministry to children and their families. We are looking at August 12 for an all-day Saturday VBS with a Sunday BBQ for everyone.
Urban Outreach — Let’s Work Together: Christ Our King (Mississauga) is planning a one day conference on February 11th to bring urban churches together to share ideas on how to reach big-city populations where we seldom really know our neighbor. We speak different languages, we have different cultures, and we are busy with so many distractions. Come and share ideas, discuss successes (and failures that you’ve learned from), and help form a network of people to develop effective programs together. Interested? Let us know before the end of January – there is a signup sheet in the foyer.
From Diane Bates and family: Thank you for your many prayers, phone calls, hugs, cards, and other expressions of sympathy in response to my father’s passing. An especially big thank-you to those who were able to attend his memorial service; it was uplifting to hear such strong renditions of some of his favourite hymns as we celebrated his life in Christ. soli deo Gloria
The Epiphany Season 2017 …
Sermon Series for Epiphany 2017, Following Jesus
Our Epiphany series is on discipleship. A disciple is one who follows. Christians follow Christ who said, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” This is our Epiphany theme verse for January and February.
“Following Jesus and Bringing Others” 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany
“Following Jesus and Getting Hurt Along the Way” 4th Sunday after the Epiphany
“Following Jesus into the Spotlight” 5th Sunday after the Epiphany
“Following Jesus into Reconciliation” 6th Sunday after the Epiphany
“Following Jesus into Perfection” 7th Sunday after the Epiphany
“Following Him into Humble Service” Transfiguration of Our Lord
Our Lord Jesus is saying, “Come follow Me!” See you on Sunday.
Reformation 500 News …
This new section of my email to you will have information on the year-long celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on the Wittenberg church doors inviting scholars to debate the practice of selling indulgences which ultimately led to a more clearly proclaimed Gospel of forgiveness through the grace of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.
A Fun Reformation: Celebrating with Lego, Playmobile, Plushies and More: With 2017 well underway, Lutherans across the world are preparing to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. That can be a lot of work. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun doing it! READ MORE
Reading the Book of Concord: As we enter 2017 and the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, now is the perfect time to read the Book of Concord if you haven’t before. The Book of Concord is a collection of confessions written in the sixteenth century. They define what it means to be a Lutheran to this day. Grounded in the Scriptures and faithful to the ancient creeds of the Church, this book is a treasure for all Christians. Click here to access a plan for reading the Book of Concord.
Reformation 2017: It’s still all about Jesus!
Online News …
She’s lived in a wheelchair as a quadriplegic for over 50 years. Listen to her presentation, “The Value of A Life Worth Living” by clicking here. It is a great follow up to the Life Sunday emphasis we observed last Sunday.
LCC creating new website: Lutheran Church–Canada is redesigning its national website and needs your input. READ MORE
Rogue One: A New Force in the Star Wars Franchise: Rev. Ted Giese reflects on depictions of faith in the latest Star Wars film. READ MORE
Restructuring Update: Circuit Convocation summaries released: Circuit convocations on restructuring were held all across the country in October and November, and now reports from those gatherings are available to download. READ MORE
RSVP Revisited: Lutheran Church–Canada continues to need servants who will boldly confess that Jesus is the Christ. On Sunday, January 22, our congregations will once again ask their members to make a bold invitation to nominate individuals who should consider becoming a full time worker in the Lord’s kingdom. We ask God’s blessings on our continuing efforts to recruit workers for His harvest fields. READ MORE
Upcoming Mission U Webinar: Lutheran Hour Ministries is hosting a Mission U Webinar on Saturday, January 21 @ 10:00 am CST. The theme, “Loved and Sent,” will be addressed by speaker Rev. Jeff Cloeter. So many people are starving for identity and meaning today. Cloeter’s new book, Loved and Sent, describes how God took extraordinary action to address those two fundamental human needs. In this interactive live webinar Cloeter will walk you through his own quest for meaning and share highlights from his book. Join us for this exciting opportunity and learn how two words define who you are and why you matter. Click here to participate, then create a user name and click “enter as guest.”
Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken. This week’s topics include: Martin Luther’s Last Year, The 95 Theses, Lutheran Higher Education, The Conversion of Paul, Companions of Paul: Timothy & Titus, Late 4th Century/Early 5th Century Bishop John Chrysostom and more. You can listen on-demand at www.issuesetc.org and on the Lutheran Public Radio mobile app.
In your prayers, please remember:
- Those recovering in Hospital
- Those undergoing chemotherapy
The Lord be with you.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Pastor Kevin Walrath
