NEWSLETTER June 2016
Peace Talk
House of Prayer on Parker and Main
From the pastor’s heart: And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. ~ Romans 5:5 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
RIGHTEOUSNESS COMES BY WORKS ( JUST NOT OURS!)
This past month we saw many beau8ful things that came from the power of God's Holy Spirit! We saw and heard the tes8mony of Rev. Jonathan Naumann and his wife Deaconess Cheryl, as they prepare to leave for missionary work in the Dominican Republic and beyond. We also were privileged to hear the profession of faith of our Confirmand Kris8an Pon. He answered the ques8on "Why I Want to be a Chris8an" this way before the congrega8on:
You, of course, as Lutherans, are incredibly familiar with all of the works of righteousness by which we are saved. It’s the reason I love being Lutheran. Here, then, is the true work of righteousness: God, the Father Almighty, works through His creaBon to give us all the blessings of this life for our enjoyment and His glory. His only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, worked in His concepBon, (for us), His birth, (for us), His bapBsm and righteous life, (for us), His suffering, crucifixion, death and burial, (for us), His victorious descent into hell, (for us), His subsequent resurrecBon from the dead, (for us), His ascension into heaven, (for us), His session at the right hand of glory, (for us), and His imminent return and judgment of both the living and the dead, (for us). The Holy Spirit works through Sacrament and Word to grant Christ’s bride forgiveness and righteous communion with the Holy Trinity both in this life and forever in the Kingdom of our God which is to come.
Why I want to be a Chris1an? I want to be a Chris8an because God helps me every day. Every liPle blessing God gives to me. Not only does he help me in this life but he helps me with and grants me eternal life. He gives me forgiveness of my sins. I’m the son of God. He is my savior; heavenly father. I am a sinner and jesus is my savior. I know I will be blessed if I live a holy life. Pentecost Sunday was also made great by the accompanying bap8sm of Kris8an's two siblings Kayden and Mya!
We as Lutherans cling to the works of God in Christ, and are thereby certain of our forgiveness and righteous standing before God. BUT NEVER CLING TO OUR WORKS. It is in emphasizing these works of Christ, which come from outside of us – and are not our own - that we find the joy of certainty in our Father’s pleasure with us, His children. May we as Lutherans always point others to these righteous works, and, praise God that our Father conBnuously works his forgiveness and salvaBon in us.
Then finally in May we had a beau8ful bap8sm of Kinsley Black's three children along with his profession of faith. Kinsley has aPended quite a few churches in his life searching for some peace in his soul. He is very knowledgeable of scripture and brings with him much humble wisdom. He has found a beau8ful home here at Peace not just because we are a nice bunch of people or that the church is beau8ful or that the music is great (all of that is true of course!), BUT he loves being a Lutheran because of In Jesus, what we teach and believe! He offers this as his further Pastor Bjornstad tes8mony to what Christ has done in his life and for him: