Bulletin – September 13

Faith News
Please remember Marilyn Johns and Russell Schwandt in your prayers. Marilyn has broken her ankle and must be in a wheelchair for a few weeks. If you still can help with her dialysis ride, she would need assistance in and out of a car. Preferably one that is lower to the ground. Contact Sarah from the Markesan Residents’ Home at 398-2751 ext. 256 if you are able to do so. Russell Schwandt had to undergo surgery and is in discomfort. At the same time he continues to undergo treatment for his cancer. We pray that the Lord brings relief to both Marilyn and Russell.

Information Classes
Do you have a spouse or a friend interested in knowing more about what we believe and teach? We’re looking to get a fall session of Adult Instruction Classes going. These classes will go through Genesis and other Old Testament Bible History, the Gospel of Luke, and the Book of Acts. From those lessons we will draw out the various teachings of the Bible also found in our catechism. For more information, please speak to Pastor.

Church Council Meeting Notes
∙ 7 members and the pastor were present
∙ Treasurer’s Report: General Fund: August Receipts: $18,186 Disbursements: $20,185 Balance: $16,378
∙ Missions Treasurer: Aug. Receipts: General Missions (CBP): $3589 YTD: $22,009 Project KINSHIP: $100 Nepal Earthquake Relief: $20
∙ Building Fund: Aug. Receipts: $1130 Balances: General Building Fund: $8281 Front Entrance: $494 Furnace/Windows: $372 Parsonage Windows: $100
∙ Memorial/Special Funds Treasurer: No deposits made in August. Balances: Organ: $83 Gym: $3243 Bell Tower: $110 Stained Glass: $5215 Choir Music: $23
∙ Approved: To release Makenna Richter (is now a member of St. John’s in Salemville)
∙ Approved: To release Danielle Saeger by her request
∙ Approved: To pay our interim teacher aide from the General Fund through November and agreed with the School Board proposal to use Hughesnet for the church/school internet provider. This will be an increase in cost, but our current provider Centurylink is neither reliable or able to provide enough speed for what we need.
∙ Parsonage: The carpet cleaning was not effective. Carpet has been or will be removed on the main floor, the stairwell, and the upstairs hallway. It was resolved to carpet the stairs and the upstairs hallway, and to accept the donation of Bob McElroy of oak hardwood for the dining room and living room. The consensus was to put some type of vinyl on the rest of the main floor. Samples and cost will be sought out to complete the project.
∙ The Parsonage Remodeling Committee will bring a recommendation to the October meeting. This would include a blueprint and cost to be considered.
∙ October 11 was approved for Mission Festival. Prof. Steve Sippert will be the guest speaker.
∙ Approved to reimburse Barry Hay $246 for copyright licensing. This allows us to legally print hymns and liturgy in the bulletin.

Update on CLC/WELS/ELS Talks
So far there have been three meetings between representatives of the CLC, Wisconsin Synod, and Evangelical Synod. Below is an update from the most recent pastoral letter of CLC President Michael Eichstadt reprinted here with his permission. If you have any further questions, please see Pastor.

Representatives from the CLC, WELS, and ELS had a third meeting on August 21, this time in Mankato, MN, at Bethany College. Another meeting is planned for November 13 at the WELS headquarters in Waukesha, WI. A joint “press release” is copied below:

Progress in doctrinal discussions
On August 21 representatives of the Church of the Lutheran Confession (CLC), the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS), and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) met in Mankato, Minnesota for their third round of doctrinal discussions. It is a joy to report that the nine participants agreed to a revision of the 1990 document entitled “Joint Statement Regarding the Termination of Fellowship.” This document will now be sent to the CLC Board of Doctrine, the ELS Doctrine Committee, and the WELS Commission on Inter-Church Relations for their consideration.

Agreement on this document does not imply full agreement on all the controverted matters. There still are a number of significant issues to discuss, and another meeting has been scheduled for November 13. But this agreement is a good first step in overcoming the differences between our synods.

Presumably the “Joint Statement” will be made public in the future, but at this point the appropriate committees from each synod are reviewing the document without public distribution. Prayers are welcomed that God will continue to guide this process for good.

The three synod presidents agreed to the above release. I have heard concerns that it is premature, too optimistic, and gives the impression that fellowship is imminent. Please don’t read more into the statement than what is there. There are two main points to remember.

First, after many hours of frank and careful discussion, the three committees did come to agreement on a “joint statement” regarding the termination of fellowship from heterodox bodies. As the statement indicates, it is certainly reason for joy when the Spirit works genuine agreement on the truths of the Word.

The second point, however, which needs to be kept in mind is that the joint statement is a very preliminary step. It has not been reviewed by our Bd. of Doctrine or the other corresponding doctrine committees of the WELS and ELS. Also, there are other “significant issues,” such as membership in Thrivent and similar organizations, which need to be discussed and resolved before there can be any consideration of fellowship.

Naturally, these meetings hold great interest not only for us as pastors, but for all of us in the CLC. In our own minds and in talking with our members, it is important not to jump to conclusions one way or the other. Restored fellowship is not by any means a foregone conclusion nor is a doctrinal impasse inevitable at this point. What we can be sure of is that when the Word is studied as God’s truth and used as the basis for discussion, the Spirit will bestow His blessings in the way of His choosing. “My word…will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Is. 55:11). That, I believe, is reason for optimism regardless of the final outcome.

Do you know….
What king of an empire grazed grass like an animal for a time? What was the original “handwriting on the wall?” Why were three men thrown into a fiery furnace? Why was Daniel thrown into the lion’s den? Could people have known the time of Jesus’ birth before it happened? How could one have known that Alexander the Great’s empire would be divided into four parts centuries before he came to power? Come to Bible Class and find out! We’re starting a study of the book of Daniel beginning today.