mclclititz

Matthew 18 is the forgiveness chapter of the Bible. In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Jesus teaches how the great debt of our sins against God are completely forgiven, and how the forgiveness we receive from God is to flow forth to those who have great sins against us. If we do not forgive others their trespasses, we deny the forgiveness that God has given us.

"A prophet is not without honor except in His hometown and in His own household” (Matt. 13:58). James the Just was once offended at Jesus’ wisdom and mighty works. But He came to faith following His resurrection, when Jesus appeared to Him (1 Cor. 15:7). He then became a leader of the early Church in Jerusalem, present at the council recorded in Acts 15. There James recognized from the prophets that Jesus was the Lord known from of old and returned to rebuild David’s fallen tent and restore it, that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord and all the Gentiles who are called by My Name (Acts 15:16–18). “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2–3). Josephus and other historians record that James was martyred by stoning in the 60s AD. “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (v. 12).

This Sunday we will hear of a miracle of our Lord, the healing of the official’s son. Jesus comes to perform His miracles on us, forgiving us of all our sins, and dying on the cross so we may live. Thanks be to God!

Philip, also called the Evangelist (Acts 21:8), was one of the seven men appointed to assist in the work of the twelve Apostles and of the rapidly growing early church by overseeing the distribution of food to the poor (6:1–6). Following the martyrdom of Stephen, Philip proclaimed the Gospel in Samaria and led Simon the Sorcerer to become a believer in Christ (8:4–13). He was also instrumental in bringing about the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch (8:26–39), through whom Philip became indirectly responsible for bringing the Good News of Jesus to the people on the continent of Africa. In the town of Caesarea he was host for several days to the Apostle Paul, who stopped there on his last journey to Jerusalem (21:8–15).

This Sunday Jesus preaches to us his parable about a wedding gone terribly wrong. It’s mayhem, but what does our Lord mean to say by this feast? Read the account in Matthew 22:1-14 and come this Sunday to find out.

Moving from the Old World to the New, Muhlenberg established the shape of Lutheran parishes for America during a 45-year ministry in Pennsylvania. Born at Einbeck, Germany, in 1711, he came to the American colonies in 1742. A tireless traveler, Muhlenberg helped to found many Lutheran congregations and was the guiding force behind the first American Lutheran synod, the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, founded in 1748. He valued the role of music in Lutheran worship (often serving as his own organist) and was also the guiding force in preparing the first American Lutheran liturgy (also in 1748). Muhlenberg is remembered as a church leader, a journalist, a liturgist, and—above all—a pastor to the congregation in his charge. He died in 1787, leaving behind a large extended family and a lasting heritage: American Lutheranism.

The greatest thing we need in life is the forgiveness of sins given by Jesus. Jesus meets a paralyzed man and speaks the hopeful word of forgiveness to his heart and conscience. Our deepest need is forgiveness, from whence flows life, health, goodness, peace, and the resurrection of our bodies to life eternal.

This Sunday Jesus tangles with the Pharisees who object to Him healing on the Sabbath. Jesus is willing to face opposition from others that he might heal us. Jesus teaches us to take the lowest spot and not to seek out the places of honor. What matters that He exalts us, not that we seek exaltation from anyone else.

A singular prophet among the many in the Old Testament, Jonah the son of Amittai was born about an hour's walk from the town of Nazareth. The focus of his prophetic ministry was the call to preach at Nineveh, the capital of pagan Assyria (Jonah 1:1). His reluctance to respond and God's insistence that his call be heeded is the story of the book that bears Jonah's name. Although the swallowing and disgorging of Jonah by the great fish is the most remembered detail of his life, it is addressed in only three verses of the book (1:17; 2:1, 10). Throughout the book, the important theme is how God deals compassionately sinners. Jonah's three-day sojourn in the belly of the fish is mentioned by Jesus as a sign of his own death, burial, and resurrection (Mt. 12:39–41).

Jesus sees the tearful eyes of a mother who has lost her husband, and now has lost her son. Jesus sees death, stops death in its tracks, and returns the son to his mother. Only Jesus can turn death back. He has come to die, so as to bring about the return of life. As it is for the boy, so in Jesus it will be for us.

Cyprian of Carthage, Pastor and Martyr - Cyprian (A.D. ca. 200–258), was acclaimed bishop of the north African city in Carthage around 248. During the persecution of the roman Emperor Decius, Cyprian fled Carthage but returned two years later. He was then forced to deal with the problem of Christians who had lapsed from their faith under persecution and now wanted to return to the Church. It was decided that these lapsed Christians could be restored but that their restoration could take place only after a period of penance that demonstrated their faithfulness. During the persecution under Emperor Valerian, Cyprian at first went into hiding but later gave himself up to the authorities. He was beheaded for the faith in Carthage in the year 258.

Nunc Dimittis, Thansgiving, and Benediction

Anxious worry often defines our lives. We worry about tomorrow. We worry about today. We worry if we will have enough to survive. Jesus addresses our worry this Sunday with His teaching and rebuke. God cares for sparrows, He says, don’t you know He will care for you? You are worth more to Him than sparrows. Join us this Sunday as we gather to hear Jesus preach to us, Jesus address our deepest fears, and Jesus to feed us with His precious body, and the food of His life giving blood. He pours into anxious fretting hearts what we truly need, Himself. He gives to us His all.

Joshua, the son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, is first mentioned in Exodus 17 when he was chosen by Moses to fight the Amalakites, whom he defeated in a brilliant military victory. He was placed in charge of the Tent of Meeting (Ex. 33:11) and was a member of the tribal representatives sent to survey the land of Canaan (Num 13:8). Later, he was appointed by God to succeed Moses as Israel's commander-in-chief. He eventually led the Israelites across the Jordan River into the Promised Land and directed the Israelites' capture of Jericho. He is remembered especially for his final address to the Israelites, in which he challenged them to serve God faithfully (Josh 24:1–27), concluding with the memorable words, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”(24:15).

Pr. Seifferlein was asked to give the convocation speech for the first day of school at Veritas Academy in Leola. His speech was titled, “What if Jesus was in your class?”

Jesus meets ten lepers as He makes His way to Jerusalem. They cry out to him for help and are healed. Nine are cleansed, but only one returns to give thanks and walk the road with Christ. Great faith calls out to Jesus in distress, but it also remains where Jesus is for healing, for faith’s life, and for its salvation.

On Sunday (The 13th Sunday after Trinity) we will rejoice to come to church as we will hear the history of the wicked king Ahaz, Paul’s admonition to the Galatians who had forgot the Gospel and were returning to the works of the Law for their salvation, and Jesus’ words to the lawyer answering his question, “Who is my neighbor?” We will sing wonderful praises, hear the Parable of the Good Samaritan, and receive Christ’s gifts of Word AND Sacrament. And yes, Pastor Seifferlein will be back with us IN PERSON on Sunday, delivering Christ’s gifts to us once again. Thanks be to God for his healing. He thanks you for your prayers and encouragement over the course of these last two weeks!

Sometimes the most unlikely people make the best candidates for life in God’s kingdom. How could a deaf and mute man in a pagan land come to be a believer in the Lord? Jesus comes to visit and renders the impossible impossible! Join us this Sunday for our lay-led service, with audio preaching from our pastor.

This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of St. Mary, Mother of Our Lord. We remember her life of faith, as well as her devotion to her son Jesus. As we think of God’s choice of her to be the mother of His Son, we will rejoice also at His gift of grace in also choosing us lowly ones for eternal salvation, those who also carry in our bodies our Lord and God. Come join us as we sing our praises and remember what God gave us through the Virgin Mary

Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr Early in the third century A.D., Lawrence, most likely born in Spain, made his way to Rome. There he was appointed chief of the seven deacons and was given the responsibility to manage church property and finances. The emperor at the time, who thought that the church had valuable things worth confiscating, ordered Lawrence to produce the “treasures of the church.” Lawrence brought before the emperor the poor whose lives had been touched by Christian charity. He was then jailed and eventually executed in the year 258 by being roasted on a gridiron. His martyrdom left a deep impression on the young church. Almost immediately, the date of His death, August 10, became a permanent fixture on the early commemorative calendar of the Church.

Have you ever lost your job and weren’t sure what you were going to do? Jesus tells a parable this Sunday about a man who was getting fired and devised an ingenious plan to make sure he ended out ahead. We will see what this interesting parable means for us in God’s plan of salvation history.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) is acknowledged as one of the most famous and gifted of all composers past and present in the entire western world. Orphaned at the age of ten, Bach was mostly self-taught in music. His professional life as conductor, performer, composer, teacher, and organ consultant began at the age of 19 in the town of Arnstadt and ended in Leipzig, where for the last 27 years of his life he was responsible for all the music in the city's four Lutheran churches. In addition to his being a superb keyboard artist, the genius and bulk of Bach's vocal and instrumental compositions remain overwhelming. A devout and devoted Lutheran, he is especially honored in Christendom for his lifelong insistence that his music was written primarily for the liturgical life of the church to glorify God and edify his people.

Come this Sunday and hear about the Feeding of the 4,000. Jesus feeds the Gentiles.