Dear beloved in Christ,

I remember a gum commercial from when I was a youngster.  The mom would say: “Who wants gum?”  And the kids respond: “I do!  I do!”  And they received the tiny and tasty delight with energy and smiles.

The Christian Church sounds forth the cry: “Who wants Jesus?”  And how many say, “I do! I do!”  The enthusiasm for Jesus has waned tremendously and so sadly in our day and age.  Here is the Gift of God’s Son in the flesh for our forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation, and yet people react as though that means nothing to them.  Lots of people would get more excited about gum…really!

So many people just don’t get it; they don’t understand it; and they don’t believe it.

Problem Number One:

They do not grasp how their sin is so offensive to God that He threatens eternal punishment.  They deal with this by simply dismissing that they have a “sin problem” that merits eternal condemnation.  Or, they follow the fairy tale idea of “no matter what comes, I will live happily ever after.”  Denial of sin and no worries about facing a wrathful and holy God is the number one problem–a most serious problem.  We discussed hell in our pastors’ conference this past week, and we all affirmed that it will truly be an unspeakable terror and suffering…not just for a time but for eternity.  Who would want that?

Problem Number Two:

Many people do not believe that Jesus Christ is God’s answer to their own sin problem.  They do not believe the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The growing trend in America is that more and more people are finding every excuse under heaven (or above hell) to justify their lives and their thinking.  “I’m my own person.  And I will believe what I want to believe.”  Many who have had past participation in the Christian Church (or still think they do) want to believe things differently from God’s Holy Word–the Bible.  The result is that many are content and secure in their sin.  As a confessing Christian, I myself cannot imagine living with such a Satanic lie of false security.  Many see not the need for Jesus because they trust in “almighty self.”  But Scripture warns us again and again that we do not have, nor can we ever achieve, the merits and righteousness needed to save ourselves.  There are those who believe that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins, but then they abandon Jesus to then trust in their own works for salvation.  This is nothing else but the “Galatian heresy” that the Apostle Paul condemns–which is the idea that Christ Jesus did His part, and now you must do your part to be saved.  Read through Paul’s letter to the Galatians.  Paul calls this false teaching a “different gospel” (Galatians 1:6), and if anyone should come preaching it to you, then he says quite bluntly: “let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8 ESV).  Paul sets the truth before us plainly:  “[Y]et we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ”; and also, “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law [that is by doing good works], then Christ died for no purpose” (Galatians 2:16, 21 ESV).

God lays bare our sins so that we see our personal need for Jesus as SAVIOR.  “[T]here is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12 ESV).  And knowing of our sin, with contrite hearts, in true faith we repent.  We beg God for mercy because we know that we need it.  And He delivers His mercy and forgiveness to us by His powerful Gospel in Word and Sacraments.

Here are familiar words from Divine Service, Setting Two “Confession and Absolution”:

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (1 John 1:8-9 ESV).

Who wants Jesus?  May Christians rise up and exclaim with delight and joy: “I do! I do!”  And here He is where He has promised to be–where His Gospel is preached, where His Supper is given, Holy Baptism is administered–all by His command, to give us the fullness of His cross and empty tomb–all His blessings.    

ANNOUNCMENTS:

There will be no Jr. Confirmation Class this evening due to the icy conditions expected.

Wednesday:    10:00AM  Bible Study

                          6:00PM  Lenten Supper  (sloppy Joes on the menu–hosted by the Kotilas)

                          7:00PM  Evening Prayer

Thursday:          7:00AM  Emmaus Walkers Men’s Bible Study at Immanuel Parish Center

                          6:00PM  Bible Study

                          7:00PM  Choir

Saturday:           4:00PM  Divine Service at Shepherd of the Hills – Morris (led by Pastor Kotila)

Sunday:             9:00AM  Divine Service

                        10:15AM  Bell Choir

                        10:30AM  SS/Bible Study (Revelation Bible Study resumes)

                          4:00PM  Rev. Peter Gregory Installation Service at Our Savior – Westminster, MA

Roze needs 9 bell ringers for the pieces for Easter Sunday.  We will practice right after Divine Service on March 8, 15, 22 (And maybe March 29), and on Wednesday, April 1 at 7:00PM.

We give thanks to God for the newly elected slate of officers to serve Holy Trinity for the next two years:

President – Steven Ayers

Vice-President – Gene Giblin

Treasurer – Kathy Milish

Financial Secretary – Cathy Wollenberg

Secretary – Bonnie Hendrickson

Elders (Chairman) – Jeff Sonstroem

Christian Education and Youth (Chairman) – Jennifer Ayers

Trustees (Chairman) – Donald Bard

Church officers will be installed during Divine Service this Sunday, March 8.

We express our gratitude and thanksgiving to God for the outgoing officers and board chair persons who served faithfully–some for multiple terms.

      

SERVING THE LORD THIS WEEK

Ushers:  Randy Krampitz

              Jeff Sonstroem

Elder:     Gene Giblin

Altar:      Donna Madonna

Acolyte:  Megan Hendrickson

Coffee:   T/C Wollenberg

The New England District is offering a Congregational Preparedness Workshop at the District office in Springfield, MA on Saturday, March 21 from 9:00AM til 12:30PM.  Cost is $10.00 per person.  The purpose of this workshop is to help the congregation to prepare its facility and its members should a disaster directly impact the congregation.  “What are some ways that our congregation can offer Christ’s comfort to the community after a disaster?”  The workshop will address this question and more.  God often uses disasters to open doors for His Church to do ministry to others.  If you are interested in attending, let Pastor know.  

Have a blessed week in the Lord!

Pastor Kotila