News from he Congregation and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

MESSAGE FROM PASTOR BROPHY

Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

A few days after Easter Sunday, the residents of zip codes 17013 and 17015 received in the mail a colorful 5.5 x 8.5 inch flyer asking the question: “Flip-flops, a band, and coffee, this is church?”  The flyer answered its own question with a large bold “YES!”  An invitation was then made: “This church is for you.  Come, find out why.”

The flyer was well done: simple, targeted, and eye-catching; excellent marketing and advertising.  But is the church now defined by what we make it to be?

According to the Augsburg Confession, article VII, the church is “the assembly of saints in which the Gospel is taught purely and the sacraments are administered rightly.”  (Now, I know that the church that mailed the flyer would not give an ounce of respect or authority to this document, but to us Lutherans it is what governs our teaching and practice.)  What defines the church is what the church is called to do: to preach the Word of God as both Law and Gospel, centering on the person and work of Jesus Christ; to administer the sacrament of Holy Communion in which the living Christ comes to us in bread and wine, and to administer the sacrament of Holy Baptism by which the Holy Spirit works faith in people and brings them into the family of God.

The flyer is correct in that it says the church is “built with you in mind.”  However, the church is not built with flip-flops, a band, or coffee.  What can they do for you compared to what the incarnate Word of God can do?  The church is built with you in mind – that you may have the entire forgiveness of all your sins, that the living presence of Christ will be with you always, and that you may have the sure and certain hope of resurrection and new life through our Risen Lord Jesus Christ.  If I had a choice of receiving the body and blood of the Risen Lord or having a cup of coffee, I would receive the sacrament. 

This brings up a question, why do many of us who belong to First Lutheran Church choose flip-flops, a cup of coffee, and other activities on a Sunday morning, rather than attending worship and Sunday school?  Have we made church to be what we want, so that we can have our excuses for not worshipping?

Is there no sacredness in life any more?  “Come as you are” is the banner under which so much of life is lived today.  “Do as you please” is another one.  In our self-centeredness, are we cheating ourselves out of a time when God can make us into what He intends us to be and be the center of our lives, even if it is just and hour or two on a Sunday morning?

I cannot complete this article without quoting these priceless words from Martin Luther’s explanation to the Third Commandment in his Large Catechism, “You are to hallow the day of rest.”

“Therefore this commandment is violated not only by those who grossly misuse and desecrate the holy day, like those who in their greed or frivolity neglect the hearing of God’s Word or lie around in taverns drunk like swine.  It is also violated by that other crowd who listen to God’s Word as they would to any other entertainment, who only from force of habit go to hear the sermon and leave again with as little knowledge at the end of the year as at the beginning.” 

Come, find out why your church, First Lutheran, built on the Word of God is for you.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Brophy

 FEBRUARY COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

  Ø  Friendship committee announced a Monthly Birthday Social will be held each month
            honoring the members with birthdays in that month.  The Birthday Social will be hosted
            by a different council committee each month beginning in March.

Ø Finance report for January showed improvement in offerings for the month and recorded the expense associated with repairing the stained-glass windows.

Ø Property Committee provided a progress report on the repairs anticipated regarding the roof over the library.  Bids have been requested.

Recommendations:

Ø Sister Parish Committee recommended and Council approved $1,500 to support Alyssa Shoff’s travel expenses for the trip to our Sister Parish Divine Redeemer.

Ø Executive Committee recommended and Council approved the appointment of Roger Williams to church council for the remainder of 2008 to fill the vacancy left by Sandy Jumper.  Sandy’s resignation was accepted with regret and thanksgiving for her service.

Council continued the study of BLUEPRINT FOR CHANGE, chapter four, focusing on “the worship experience” as most important in the life of the congregation.

 MARCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

Received reports from committees that met since the last council meeting.  Highlights of these reports include:

Ø Pastor Brophy reviewed Holy Week activities for First Lutheran and the Carlisle community activities in which we are invited to participate.

Ø Attendance at worship services increased in February when compared to same month last year.

Ø Financial reports for February showed continual improvements in offerings to meet expenses.  Spending is closely monitored.

Ø Friendship committee reported on the successful celebration of the first Monthly Birthday Social.  The first Sunday of every month is the designated time for birthday celebrations.

Ø Stewardship reported on the Habitat for Humanity House “blitz build” schedule and the expected dates of First Lutheran participation.  Our work dates are June 14th and July 19th, 8 a.m. — 3 p.m.

Council continued the study of BLUEPRINT FOR CHANGE, chapter five, focusing on “I never talk about religion,” or the importance of sharing our faith as individuals and as the church.

 2008 COUNCIL OFFICERS

COMMITTEE LIAISONS TO
CHURCH COUNCIL

Christian Education - Joanne Miller and Kim Fickel
Finance - Ken Egolf and Beth Shenk
Friendship - Rayma Fraley
Property - Bob Baker and David Jones
Sister Parish - Sam Orner
Social Ministry - Lori Hogg
Stewardship - Elaine Haag
Worship and Music - Jered Hock
Youth - David Raphael

THE LUTHERAN MAGAZINE
AVAILABLE IN THE NARTHEX LATE DECEMBER

Beginning with the January issue, The Lutheran magazine will be available in the narthex. It will no longer be delivered to your door; however, you will be able to pick up a copy of the magazine each month in the narthex.

Watch your Sunday bulletin to find out when each issue of The Lutheran is available!