SPRING; Through Jesus' Resurrection, In Christ YOU are a New Creation

Dear Friends in Christ,

It's spring! As I have been driving through the countryside this spring I have noticed a lot of
newborn calves. Some of them are still very small and in need of a mother's constant care and
supervision. Newborn calves, baby chicks, puppies and kittens--there's a lot of new life to
celebrate in the spring!

New life is God's gift to us at Easter. Christ was raised from the dead, and that means we
are set free from sin to live as new creations in Christ. Lent in the early church was traditionally
the season of preparation for Baptism. At the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday the candidates who
had been instructed were baptized, and on Easter, they began their new lives as children of God.
No wonder St. Paul wrote, "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness oflife." (Romans 6:3-4 ESV) Easter, baptism, resurrection, new life-see
the connection?

The Introit for the Second Sunday of Easter begins with this antiphon from 1 Peter 2:2-3:
"Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual mile, that by it you may grow up into
salvation--if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good." Now that we have been reborn in
Christ, we are to "grow up" in our faith. What awaits us when we "grow up"? Salvation!
What do we need as we grow? What do babies need for growth? What are calves and kittens and puppies nourished on in the newborn stage of life? Milk! The spiritual milk Peter is describing is the Gospel, God's nourishing Word and in particular the good news of God's love for us in Jesus. All of our lives as children of God (which is every day of our lives), we are growing in faith as we are nourished on the pure Gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

In May we observe Mother's Day, and as God's children we are reminded what a blessing Christian mothers are to their families. The example of the father is certainly important, as we heard in a recent sermon, but a Christian mother is often the primary spiritual caregiver for her children. Timothy's mother Eunice and grandmother Lois were instrumental in Timothy's faith formation. (2 Timothy 1 :5) Many of us can remember our own mothers reading us Bible stories, talking about faith with us, even making sure we learned our memory work!

A Christian mother is a special gift of God. As we remember our mothers this Mother's
Day, both those who are still living and those who have gone to be with the Lord, let us take time
to give thanks to God for the care that they have given us in feeding us with the pure spiritual
milk of God's Word. Let us pray for those mothers who are raising their children today, that they
themselves may drink deeply from God's Word so they can pass that Word on to their children.
Finally, let us rejoice in being children of God, and in the new life He has given us through the
resurrection of Jesus. In Christ you are a new creation! Hallelujah!

Peace to you in Christ,

Pastor Merrill

VBS; "What can I do?"

Dear Friends in Christ,

July is a busy month for Summer activities in Western Iowa. The high school softball and baseball seasons are wrapping up. The Fourth of July is upon us, and many will probably take a four-day weekend this year. Then comes Achievement Days, followed by the Monona and Crawford County Fairs. For those going to Camp Okoboji, Cub Week and Youth Week also take place in July, It seems like we are going from one thing right to the next.

At St. John the last several years, the last Sunday in July means Vacation Bible School! Out VBS has been a huge opportunity the last few years to reach out to children and families of our community and to tell them the saving message of Jesus and His gift of eternal life. Two years ago over 100 children participated; last year we served over 90, and this year we're hoping to bring the good news of Jesus to even more!

The theme of our Vacation Bible School this year is "Mighty Fortress." It's an appropriate title for the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, but the Reformation anniversary is not really the emphasis. VBS, as always is all about Jesus. The theme statement is "In Jesus, the Victory is Won!" The key Bible verse is 1 Corinthians 15:57: "Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." The goal, according to the pastor's overview, is that , "At Mighty Fortress, children learn that God is our sure defense who strengthens us and is our refuge in trouble. Let's show kids we can joyfully celebrate Jesus, our champion, who has won the battle over our enemies, By faith, God gives us that victory in Jesus. Let the celebration begin!"

Of course, it requires a lot of work from many different people to put on a VBS, but it really is the congregation's ministry. Every member of St John has an important role to play in this outreach.

 "What can I do?" Glad you asked! Here are some things we need:

1. PRAY. Even if you can't help with an of the activities, every member of St. John can pray for this event. Pray that God would lead many children from our community to participate. Pray for wisdom and strength for our volunteers. Pray that children who come, especially those without a church home, would be led to faith and strengthened in their faith in Jesus.
2. BRING or SEND YOUR CHILDREN. Member children are still the core of VBS. Ans what an opportunity for them to share the love of Jesus with their friends!
3. INVITE. Whom can you invite to VBS this year? Your grandchildren? Your neighbor children? The kids on your child's ball team or in their 4H club? Help us get the word out- VBS at St.John is a fun way to celebrate Jesus!
4. DONATE. We will need donations of food and supplies for each day of VBS. Check the bulletin or in the monthly newsletter for a list of items needed.
5. VOLUNTEER. We need group leaders, snack helpers, craft helpers, recreation helpers, and kitchen help. Or maybe you have a talent for publicity or set construction. Let Bethany know. We have a place for you!

Vacation Bible School is truly one of the best outreach tools we have for unchurched families in our 

community. Let's pray ans work to make this year's VBS a place where the children of Charter Oak can celebrate as they learn that God is their refuge in trouble because Jesus has won the battle over all our enemies. In Jesus, the victory is won!

Peace to you in Christ,

Pastor Merrill

Come and see, then go and tell; He is risen indeed!

Dear Friends in Christ,

I must confess that I have always been puzzled by the end of the Easter story in Marl's Gospel. (Mark 16:1-8 is the Easter Gospel for Series B, which we are following this year.) Mark's account begins with the women journeying to the tomb "very early on the first day of the week" to complete the burial of Jesus. They were worried about the stone, but when they arrived at the tomb they saw a young man, an angel, who told them "He has risen! He is not here! Go and tell His disciples and Peter."

All this is consistent with what we know from the other Gospels. But then Mark's account takes a strange turn in verse 8: "Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid."

And there the story ends. This is the Gospel of the Lord! No message for the disciples, no appearance of Jesus. The women don't say anything because they are afraid! (Yes, Mark 16:9-20 does tell us of appearances of  Jesus, but it is not clear that these verses were part of Mark's original Gospel. Some scholars think Mark's Gospel originally ended at verse 8, others think the original ending may have been lost.)

So if Mark were the only witness of Jesus' resurrection, things would be much different. Without anyone to tell us they saw Jesus alive, we could not be sure He was truly risen. Thankfully, God gave us multiple witnesses who wrote down the events of Jesus' resurrection. We have the complete picture. From Matthew we learn that the women met Jesus on their way back from the tomb. They came to Him, clasped His feet, and worshiped Him. Jesus repeated the command to go and tell His disciples. Luke tells us that they actually did go and tell the eleven disciples-- but the eleven did not believe them. Luke also mentions that Peter got up and ran to the tomb and saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and went away wondering what happened. John relates that Jesus appeared to the disciples that evening, when they were gathered in the upper room behind locked doors. He said, "Peace be with you," and showed them his hands and side. And John notes, "The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord."

We are thankful to have the whole story. We are thankful that many people saw Jesus alive, that some of them wrote down what they saw so that we may know and believe.

But there are some people that may only have one witness to Jesus' resurrection, and that witness may be you or me. We will go to the empty tomb again this Easter morning as we worship. We will hear again the good news: "Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!" But what will we do with that message? Will the "last word" about us be, "And they said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid"?

As He did to the women who fled from the tomb afraid, Jesus comes to us with ample reassurance that He is indeed risen from the dead. The eyewitness accounts of men who dies for their faith in the resurrection are strong evidence that Jesus is indeed risen. But faith also sees the risen Jesus. He has "appeared" to us! He speaks to us in His Word. He comes to us and we recognize Him in the breaking of bread at His Holy Supper. Jesus gives us everything we need to believe-- and then to go and tell.

I invite every member of St.John to take the journey with the women to our Savior's empty tomb, whether early on Sunday morning for Sunrise worship or at the regular worship time of 10:00am. Meet your risen Lord in His Word. Eat and drink at His table. Then go and tell the good news: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Easter joy and peace in our risen Savior,

Pastor Merrill

Under (Re)Construction

Dear Friends in Christ,

As I write this article my study door is closed. Walls are being knocked down. Hammers are pounding, drills are whirring, and the lobby outside (what's left of it) is a mess. A remodeling project creates a lot of inconveniences. I have had to leave my office at times in the last couple of weeks because I couldn't concentrate with all the noise. But I am convinced that when we see the finished project, we will be happy, and the temporary inconvenience will soon be forgotten.

The same can be said of repentance, which is the Christian's focus during Lent (and, as Martin Luther said in the first of his 95 Theses, of our whole lives). Repentance, by definition, is a change of heart. We could call it God's remodeling project. It is turning away from our sins and turning toward Jesus Christ in faith for forgiveness and new life.

Repentance can create a lot of inconvenience. Change is hard. It is hard to let go of our old ways of life and embrace the new people God wants us to be. The soul-searching that often comes with repentance drags up a lot of dust and dirt as the Holy Spirit convicts us through God's Law and knocks down walls of sin that may have stood for a long time. Part of our hearts may get broken, as the mirror outside my office was broken this morning as it came off the wall. There may be friends, places, ideas we have to give up permanently in order for God to conform us to His will.

But when you see the finished project, when you see what God has done with you, I think you will like it. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come." (2 Cor. 5:17) God is transforming us into the image of His perfect Son, Jesus. The transformation began on Good Friday on Calvary, where that perfect Son, having been hammered and knocked down and torn by the hands of men, died bearing all your sins in His body on the tree. new construction began on Easter, when the Son of God rose from the dead, and in your Baptism, when you were raised to new life with Him. The transformation continues daily as you return to your baptism, in repentance and forgiveness, as Christ shapes and forms you through His Word, as He strengthens you with His body and blood in the Lord's Supper.

The intended result of the transformation is summarized in Romans 12:1-2. "Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- His good, pleasing and perfect will." Hearts that have been remodeled by God to not conform to the ways of the world, but are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit to live for Christ. Hearts that have been remodeled by God seek not themselves, but offer themselves as living sacrifices in service to others.

There's an old bumper sticker that says, "Please be patient- God isn't finished with me yet!" As we must be patient with the inconvenience of remodeling before the new addition is completed, so we must be patient with one another during God's ongoing remodeling of our hearts. The sinful nature remains, and we are still "works in progress." But the finished project will be great- all of us, holy and perfect, our robes washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb, standing with the Savior in the mansions of our Father's house when that final Easter dawns in Heaven. Then God's new creation will be complete.

Peace to you in Christ,

Pastor Merrill

2012- the Year of the Word?

2012- the Year of the Word? It could be. It would  be nice if it would be. Right now we have about 20 people involved in Adult Bible Study on Sunday mornings. Our attendance at Ladies Bible Study is about 9 and Men's Bible Study once a month is about 4. There are 6 LYF members that attend Youth Bible Study this Fall. LWML has a Bible study and it draws about 15. Considering some overlap, let's say we have about 50 communicant members who are involved in some kind of study of God's Word at least monthly. When you consider that we have over 400 communicant members, that's only about 12.5%. There's room for improvement.

Moses stressed the importance of God's words when He told the Israelites, "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:6-9 NIV)

While I'm not suggesting that you redecorate your homes or get a "Ten Commandments" tattoo, it is clear that God wants us to hear and learn His Word. The benefits are clear from Scripture. St. Paul says that the Scriptures "are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 3:15 ESV) Peter confessed to Jesus, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." (John 6:68 ESV) Jesus Himself tells us, "If you abide in my Word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32 ESV)

If these things are true, then we can ill afford to think we are done with God's Word once we are confirmed. The words of God and of Jesus the Word of God made flesh at Christmas, are nourishing spiritual food that keeps our faith strong and healthy. Who would survive if they went a year without eating? Why would we do the same with our faith?

I encourage every communicant member of St. John who lives in the area to participate in at least one Bible study in 2012. For those of you who are away at school, I encourage you to look into Bible studies available on campus or at a nearby LCMS congregation. In January I will be placing a survey in the bulletin to help me plan Bible studies for the year. Let's make 2012 the Year of the Word at St. John, and "Stay Healthy" by feeding on Jesus and His words of eternal life!

Peace to you in Christ,
Pastor Merrill

Pastor's Letter; April 2011

Dear Friends in Christ,
      Easter Sunrise services are always joyful.  For some of our younger members, however, it can be a bit much to ask them to show that joy at 6:30 in the morning.  I remember my first Easter Sunrise service as a pastor, in Humboldt, Iowa.  Much like Easter here, the Sunrise service and Easter Breakfast were the duties of the LYF.  Service time was 6:30, just as it is here.  That particular year the LYF kids were participating in a drama during the service, and the youth leader had told them to be there by 5:30 a.m. so they could practice one more time before the service.  It may have also been the week Daylight Savings Time began—that happened more than once when I was in Humboldt.
      Anyway, the bleary-eyed high school students began trudging in, their hair wet from a quick shower.  I, on the other hand, was wide awake, having been up for an hour already.  I greeted one freshman boy with the traditional cheery Easter greeting, “He is risen!”
      Without skipping a beat the tired teenager replied, “Barely.”
      It’s just hard to get some people excited about anything at 5:30 in the morning—even the resurrection!  But even if we aren’t altogether risen at that hour of the morning, Jesus is!  Matthew reports the facts.  “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb…The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here;  He has risen, just as He said.’”  (Matthew 28:1, 5-6a)
      My folks, too, were a little leery of getting three kids up for a 6 a.m. service, which is probably why we didn’t go to sunrise service when I was younger.  But the Easter Sunrise service has become one of my favorites.  There is just something about coming to church early on Easter morning, after the sadness of Good Friday, and seeing the processional with the redecorating of the altar, the Easter lilies being set out, singing the joyful strains of “Jesus Christ is Risen Today!  Alleluia!” and getting to shout that joyful news again:  “He is risen!”  We get to live that joy that the women had that first Easter morning when the truth finally dawned on them—Jesus was indeed risen, just as He had said.  That is exciting!
      He is risen!—sin did not defeat Him.  Our sins nailed Jesus to the cross.  They had Him dead and buried.  But not any more.  He is risen!  Our sins are gone.  We are free from them.  They are fully and forever—forgiven!
      He is risen!—death could not hold Him.  Death had been the great enemy of the human race ever since the Fall.  But death is no match for the Son of God!  Our victorious Savior is stronger than death.  In the struggle between life and death, life wins!
      He is risen!—the grave is not our final resting place.  For all of you who have stood at the graveside of a loved one, for all of you who have placed flowers on the grave of a loved one at the cemetery, the good news is that your loved ones are not there!  Their souls are already with Jesus, and you will see them again—alive!  “Because I live,” Jesus says, “you also will live.”  (John 14:19)
      I want to personally invite all members of St. John to get up early on Easter morning for Sunrise service and journey with us to the tomb—you will find it empty!  I extend a special invitation to those of you who haven’t been to church in a while, maybe for too long.  Come and hear the joy of those words again:  “He is risen!  He is risen indeed!”  If you can’t get up that early, that’s okay—come join us for worship and Holy Communion at 10 a.m.  The risen Christ comes to meet you in Word and Sacrament.
      And that’s something worth getting up for, even if it’s 5:30 a.m.!

                                    Easter joy and peace in our risen Savior,
                                                         Pastor Merrill