Luther’s great insight into this verse is to see anger, fear, and threats where we see only a mild correction – by way of his linkage of it with the parable in Luke 14. May we ever be struck by this verse, carry it with us daily, and in gratitude expect to be changed in the process. Changed into what? – into an imitator of Christ.

As we continue to prepare for the great celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation in 2017, think of 2 Corinthians 6:1 as being central to the entire Reformation!

                                                                            Pastor Marshall

PRESIDENT'S REPORT....by Matthew Kahn

Council News

I want to thank everyone who attended the mid-year congressional meeting on July 29th. Thank you for taking some time out of your summer to help guide our parish. We are truly blessed by God to have so many caring members. Without the membership we would not have a functioning church. Without our membership, we would not be able to spread His word.

    I also want to thank and congratulate Pastor Marshall and his wife for sponsoring the dessert at the mid-year meeting to honor their 40th Wedding Anniversary.

    We have been blessed over the last several months with our finances. We had a minor cash flow issue in the beginning of June but this summer we have been able to stem the tide.  For the first time in two years we are actually meeting our year to date budget. So far this year we have had a Total General Budget Income of $140,928.17 as compared to a year to date budget of $140,228.00.

    As an example of how blessed we were, the month July we had $19,969.27 in Total General Budget Receipts as compared to a budged $17,619.00. That is without any Tilden rental money.  We must be thankful to God for His blessings this summer!  Let us pray that we can remain financially viable in order to spread the Gospel of our Lord here in West Seattle.

    My family is very excited to get back to school and to start up Sunday School again. We look forward to the start of the fall and the last few weeks of the church calendar.

    Have a great – and blessed a September!

Thank you

to the congregation

for the flowers in honor of our

40th Wedding Anniversary.

     Also thanks to those from the congregation who

were at the Midyear Meeting to share cake in

celebration of the day with us.

     Pastor Marshall and Dr. Jane Harty

Schedule for

Wednesday Bible Classes

with Pastor Marshall

2012-2013

Morning 10- 11:30 am

Fall: Galatians                                                              Spring: Ezekiel

1) Galatians 1.1-10            9) Galatians 4.11-20             1) Ezekiel 1-3                  9) Ezekiel 24-27

2) Galatians 1.11-24          10) Galatians 4.21-31            2) Ezekiel 4-7                 10) Ezekiel 28-29

3) Galatians 2.1-10            11) Galatians 5.1-8               3) Ezekiel 8-11                11) Ezekiel 30-32

4) Galatians 2.11-21          12) Galatians 5.9-15              4) Ezekiel 12-14              12) Ezekiel 33-35

5) Galatians 3.1-9              13) Galatians 5.16-26            5) Ezekiel 15-16              13) Ezekiel 36-37

6) Galatians 3.10-18          14) Galatians 6.1-5                6) Ezekiel 17-19              14) Ezekiel 38-41

7) Galatians 3.19-29          15) Galatians 6.6-10              7) Ezekiel 20-21              15) Ezekiel 42-45

8) Galatians 4.1-10            16) Galatians 6.11-18            8) Ezekiel 22-23              16) Ezekiel 46-50

Evening 7:30 - 9:00 pm

Fall: Genesis                                                              Spring: Mark

1) Genesis 1-3                9) Genesis 28-30                  1) Mark 1.1-45                9) Mark 9.1-50

2) Genesis 4-6                10) Genesis 31-32                2) Mark 2.1-28                10) Mark 10.1-52

3) Genesis 7-10               11) Genesis 33-36                3) Mark 3.1-35                11) Mark 11.1-33

4) Genesis 11-14             12) Genesis 37-39                4) Mark 4.1-41                12) Mark 12.1-44

5) Genesis 15-18             13) Genesis 40-42                5) Mark 5.1-43                13) Mark 13.1-37

6) Genesis 19-21             14) Genesis 43-45                6) Mark 6.1-56                14) Mark 14.1-72

7) Genesis 22-24             15) Genesis 46-48                7) Mark 7.1-37                15) Mark 15.1-47

8) Genesis 25-27             16) Genesis 49-50                8) Mark 8.1-38                16) Mark 16.1-20

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 

Fall Schedule starts on Sunday, September 9th.  Adult Bible Class, rm. D and Sunday School, rm. 4, 9:00 am.  Confirmation (6th – 8th grades) meet in the library. The Wednesday pastor’s classes start on September 12th, at 10:00 am & 7:30 pm, in rm. D.

GOLDEN FELLOWSHIP will meet for a luncheon on Tuesday, September 25th, at noon.  The signup sheet will be posted in the lounge. 

SCRAPPERS will meet this September, on Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th.  Bring a sack lunch and a friend.  Coffee and tea are provided.

FOOD BANK DONATION for September is canned, boxed or instant soup.

DEO GLORIA CANTORES will start their practice sessions at 7:30 pm on Thursday, September 20th, in the gallery. 

Sunday Education

with Pastor Marshall

2012-2013

9:00 to 10:00 am, Room D

FALL SESSION I, September 9 – October 28

A Challenging Life: Luther’s Biography

            This eight week class will study Luther’s life. Our text will be the award winning biography by Heiko Oberman, Luther: Man Between God and the Devil (1989). Used copies of this out of print paperback are available for purchase through the office ($15).

This class is in our series on studies in the Reformation leading up to the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation of the Church in Germany in 2017.

FALL SESSION II, November 4 – December 23

Philippian Peace: A Study of Saint Paul’s Letter to the Philippians

            In this eight week class we will study the book of Philippians. Each class session will be based on a worksheet of questions handed out the week before.

WINTER SESSION, January 9-30

Exotic Religious Freedom – Defending Liturgical Animal Sacrifices

            In this short, four week class, we will study a peculiar 1993 US Supreme Court decision on the freedom of religion, known as the Santeria case (Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye , Inc., et al v. City of Hialeah). In this case the court defended a church’s right to sacrifice animals.

            This strange case is worth studying because it may well have a bearing on cases coming before the court soon on freedom of religion regarding quite different matters. Copies of this case will be handed out in class.

SPRING SESSION I, February 6 – March 27

Once Is Enough: Against Rebaptism

            In this eight week class we will study Luther’s 1528 treatise against rebaptism. This treatise is an important part of Luther’s understanding of the cherished Christian sacrament of Holy Baptism.

            This class is in our series on studies in the Reformation leading up to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation of the Church in Germany in 2017.

SPRING SESSION II, April 3 – May 22

Suffering With Jonah: Studying the Book of Jonah

            This eight week class will study the little book of Jonah – which is important for the Church because Jesus compared himself to Jonah in the New Testament.

            Each class will have a worksheet with questions on selected portion of Jonah.

The book for September is Cogito Ergo Sum: The Life of Rene Descartes (2002) by Richard Watson, professor of philosophy at Washington University in St. Louis. Descartes (1596-1650) is famous for being the father of modern philosophy – like Plato (427-347 BC) is the father of ancient philosophy. He is famous for arguing that we cannot know anything for sure that we have not verified by what we have seen or perceived or carefully thought through. He argued that we can always be deceived – so we must be very cautious. Even so, he wasn’t a cynic. He knew we wouldn’t ever have much certain knowledge about the world around us, but “neither did he worry about it” (p. 9). He believed in God and was Roman Catholic. However, “he could not stand most priests… and he thought most Protestant preachers stupid” (p. 150).

     A copy of this important book on the beginnings of our modern world is in the church library. If you would like to purchase one for yourself, contact Pastor Marshall. Feel free to attend our meeting when we discuss the impact of Descartes on faith and life.

That Little Word “As”

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Expanding the Lord’s Prayer

By Pastor Marshall

Twice in the Lord’s Prayer the little word “as” [ως, hos] muddies the waters (Matthew 6:10, 12). The most difficult case is when it says God forgives us as we forgive others. Luther says this makes God’s forgiveness “bitter” (Luther’s Works 42:64) because it requires us to be merciful to others before God will forgive us! And that’s bitter because it’s so difficult for us to be nice to those who hurt us. And the other case is when it says that God’s will is to be done on earth as it is in heaven! Now that petition surely sets the bar very high – saying that we on earth should be as obedient to God as are the angels in heaven!

The question placed before us by these two cases is why all the parts of the Lord’s Prayer aren’t split into two like these – with that little word “as” being added in all of the other petitions as well? Luther seems to think that it’s because the splitting into two is implied in the rest. So when, for instance, he considers the request – Thy kingdom come – he turns it into a double petition for all to see – famously writing in the Small Catechism (1529): “The kingdom of God comes of itself,… but we pray… that it may also come to us” [The Book of Concord (1959) p. 346, italics added]. On this score, God’s kingdom comes into the world twice – once on its own, to the world in general, and secondly, when each of us appropriates it individually by being obedient.

That being the case, how then would the rest of the Lord’s Prayer look if all of its petitions were explicitly split into two? Maybe

it would look something like this: Hallowed be your name? – as we  each honor and respect it in our speech. Give us our daily bread? – as we daily give some of what we have to others. Lead us not into temptation? – as we help others resist sin. Deliver us from evil? – as we help others through tough times.

    Now if these implied additions are the way to go, what then do they tell us about the Lord’s Prayer? They tell us, I would say, that its motto should be James 4:8 – “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” So when you pray the Lord’s Prayer, be sure to keep in mind what God is doing for you, and what he expects of you to do in return.

A Forgotten But Powerful Voice:

Dr. Kent S. Knutson, 1924-1973

By Pastor Marshall

The next passage that I want to share from Dr. Knutson’s The Shape of the Question: The Mission of the Church in a Secular Age (1972) also has to do with the nature of the church, as in our last couple of installments. Regarding the church of the Reformation, he writes:

The Reformation seeks a certain simplicity in its language. The most profound commitment can sometimes be said simply. Its simplicity should not be interpreted as lacking sophistication or showing philosophical naïveté. Philosophical commitments can then to a large degree be avoided while at the same time the gospel and spirit accomplish their work. The message of the Word of God is emphasized rather than its dogmatic definition. The role of the laymen in theological reflection becomes possible and entanglements with the subtleties of psychologizing minimized (p. 104).

This point about simplicity works to keep the church from being tied to any prevailing political or philosophical point of view. And the reason for this is not to become silly and simple-minded, but to be free to proclaim the Gospel of Christ without being burdened down by any distracting commitments, foreign to our theological heritage.

Kierkegaard Bronze Statue

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Bicentennial Celebration 1813-2013

By Pastor Marshall

The bronze Kierkegaard statue is now finished. It will be installed in the church lounge this fall. Next year, on November 17, 2013, we will dedicate it at the annual Kierkegaard commemoration. The sculptor, Rita Marie Kepner, has been working on this project

since 2008. She will be here for the dedication next year, so you can meet her. She is now working on her memoirs – to tell us what it has been like to work on this project over the last five years. You may still make donations to help defray the cost of this project. To do so, make out your check to the church, designate your tax deductible gift to the Kierkegaard Statue project, and then mail it in to the church. Kathrine Young, Ken Hovde and Dale Korsmo will be helping with the installation. Thanks so much!

WEST SEATTLE HELPLINE

Extended Ministries Project

For the month of September, the Extended Ministries Committee will focus on supporting the West Seattle Helpline.  Not as much is known about their organization here in our community, but their need for assistance is even greater as they work to help local people by providing them with money to pay their bills, especially their rent and utility bills, new and gently used clothing from their “Clothesline,” and referrals and assistance in finding jobs to support themselves and their families. 

    The organization was founded in 1989 and has grown considerably since that time as has the need for their services.  Staffed by a small number of volunteers, this is truly a committed group of neighborhood individuals who care about the families in our midst.  With a budget of around $120,000 to provide these important services, they are always in need of additional support from members of the community. 

    For the next month, we are asking that everyone in the congregation contribute something to help the West Seattle Helpline.  This could be a monetary donation given through the church offering (clearly mark your check for the Helpline), or donations of new or gently used clothing for the “Clothesline.” (Please give clothing that is clean and in good condition.)  Keep in mind that this organization is in regular need of assistance and financial support from the community.  They are one of our “extended ministries” commitments.  As we are able to help them with our contributions, they are able to more fully help our neighbors who have needs.  Thank you for caring about the needs of others.   

  -Larraine King for the Extended Ministries Committee

ST. NICHOLAS FAIRE

Sunday, December 2, 2012, from 4pm

We’re at it again.  Thank you to all who have already begun helping prepare for this annual fund raising event.  So many of you have stepped up to the plate, or in this case the “Christmas in July and August” tree, and taken ornaments.  Many of you have already made your purchases/donations and they have been catalogued and are waiting to be made into baskets for purchasing at the Faire.  At this writing, there are still a handful of ornaments left on the “Christmas in July and August” tree…..so feel free to take a few and purchase the items for gift baskets.  And most important, always remember that all our efforts are to support, in a fun and enjoyable way, two very important extended ministries – the West Seattle Food Bank and the West Seattle Helpline.

    We are looking forward to having a super evening of wine tasting, a new twist on the wine toss game (for prizes!), munchies, conversation and fellowship,  and “shopping” for Christmas gifts for friends and family.   Where else can you go so close to home to such a party for two great organizations!  So plan to come and invite your neighbors and family and friends. 

    Sign-up sheets for helpers for the event will be posted in October and more details about the event will appear in future Messengers and bulletin announcements.  Most importantly, MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!! If you don’t come there will be no party and no fund raising.

       -Larraine King

James 5.13

Monthly Home Bible Study, September 2012, Number 235

The Reverend Ronald F. Marshall

Along with our other regular study of Scripture, let us join as a congregation in this home study. We will study alone then talk informally about the assigned verses together as we have opportunity. In this way we can "gather together around the Word" even though physically we will not be getting together (Acts 13.44).

We need to support each other in this difficult project. In 1851 Kierkegaard wrote that the Bible is "an extremely dangerous book.... [because] it is an imperious book... – it takes the whole man and may suddenly and radically change... life on a prodigious scale" (For Self-Examination). And in 1967 Thomas Merton wrote that "we all instinctively know that it is dangerous to become involved in the Bible" (Opening the Bible). Indeed this word "kills" us (Hosea 6.5) because we are "a rebellious people" (Isaiah 30.9)! As Lutherans, however, we are still to "abide in the womb of the Word" (Luther's Works 17.93) by constantly "ruminating on the Word" (LW 30.219) so that we may "become like the Word" (LW 29.155) by thinking "in the way Scripture does" (LW 25.261). Before you study, then, pray: "Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in Our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen" (quoted in R. F. Marshall, Making A New World: How Lutherans Read the Bible, 2003, p. 12).

Week I. Read James 5.13 noting the words suffering and pray. Why is it that we should pray for those who are suffering? On this read John 11.33 noting the words weeping and moved. Why do we have empathy for people who are in pain from their sufferings? On this read 1 Corinthians 12.12-26 noting the words one, body, one, member, all and together. So we are not separate individuals, but people who are all linked together – sharing in the feelings of one another, for good or ill. Why then do we pray for people who are in pain? On this read Luke 10.37 noting the words go and do. So we see here that we are also to help physically relieve people’s pain. But what about prayer? On this read James 5.15 noting the words sick and save. How does prayer do what surgery and medicine cannot do? On this read James 1.17 noting the line every perfect gift is from above. What gifts do prayer release that nothing else can give us? On this read Romans 5.5 noting the word hope. Read also Romans 8.24 noting the words hope and saved. How powerful is the positive attitude that hope brings? Powerful enough to heal the sick? To heal all illnesses? What do you think?

Week II. Read again James 5.13 noting this time the word cheerful. What is this experience like? On this read Ephesians 5.4 noting the words silly and levity. If these are cases of bad cheer, what are the good ones like? On this read Philippians 4.4 noting the words rejoice and Lord. Why is this cheer better? On this read Galatians 5.16 noting the contest between the words Spirit and flesh. On this score, a cheerful spirit would be better than cheerful flesh. Why is that? On this read Mathew 26.41 noting the words flesh and weak. What weakens the flesh? On this read 2 Corinthians 4.16 noting the word wasting. Because of this lack of durability the cheer based on it isn’t as good. But read also Galatians 5.19-21 noting the words works, impurity and selfishness. So our flesh is also diminished because of its inherent impurity lodged in its desires and passions, like selfishness. This realization leads to the crucifixion advised in Galatians 5.24. Check out that advice. Do you agree with it, and if so, why? And how is this crucifixion done?

Week III. Reread James 5.13 noting the same word cheerful. Following up on last week, what makes this spiritual cheerfulness so advantageous? On this read John 16.22 noting the line no one will take your joy from you. What makes this joy so long-lasting? On this read Romans 14.17 noting the line peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. How is this joy generated out of the Holy Spirit? On this read Luke 15.7 noting the phrase more joy and the words heaven and repent. If the Holy Spirit inspires repentance, what is so great about it? On this read Acts 17.30-31 noting the words repent and judge. Read as well Mark 1.15 noting the words repent and believe. Repentance therefore is essential for salvation. And why is salvation advantageous? On this read Romans 5.9 noting the line saved by him from the wrath of God. So without a penitent heart, one will be stuck with the horrors of the God’s wrath. Does this then clearly tie repentance in with spiritual cheerfulness? If so, has repentance then been mischaracterized by gloom and doom?

Week IV. Read James 5.13 one last time noting again the word cheerful. Are there any earthly benefits in this spiritual joy? On this read Proverbs 17.22 noting the connection between the merry heart and good medicine. How does this work? On this read Colossians 3.23-24 noting the words whatever, task, work, heartily, inheritance, reward and serving. Stressing this word, heartily, are we to believe that joy comes from hard and fulfilling work? Are we also to believe that without such cheerfulness we wouldn’t be able to work so heartily? Are we all then to sing, “Whistle While You Work” (from the 1937 movie, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)? What are the counter-balancing aversions to work? Meaninglessness and boredom? Do they ruin this correlation between cheerfulness and work? On this read 2 Thessalonians 3.10 noting the words work and eat. Does that reestablish the correlation? If so how?

X  PARISH PRAYERS  X

Remember in prayer before God those whom He has made your

brothers and sisters through baptism.

Louis Koser, Carmen Malmanger, Jeannine Lingle, Luke Douglass, Connor Bisticas, Richard Hard, Agnes Arkle, Clara Anderson, Bob Baker, Peggy Wright, Bob & Barbara Schorn, Rolf & Paul Sponheim, Rosita & Jim Moe, Jim Cunningham, Tabitha Anderson, Linda Anderson, Susan Lyon, Lee Neuman, Amy Tabor, Louisa Eden, Annie Crutchfield, Kelsey Ensey, Cameron Lim, Maureen Baris, Bertil Hansson, Connie Pinter, Joyce Baker, Chris & Margeen Bowyer, Steven & Donna Coy, John Wallace, Pastor Albin Fogelquist. 

     Pray for the shut-ins that the light of Christ may give them joy:  Clara Anderson, Pat Hansen, Donna Apman, Agnes Arkle, C. J. Christian, Vera Gunnarson, Anelma Meeks, Olive Morrison, Dorothy Ryder, Lillian Schneider, Crystal Tudor, Vivian Wheeler, Peggy Wright.

     Pray for the newly confirmed members that God may inspire their discipleship: Soren Sagmoen and Kyra Stromberg.

     Pray for those who have suffered the death of a loved one:  Pray that God will bear their grief and lift their hearts:  Pray for the family and friends of Lorraine Jarvimaki on her death.  Pray for Carmen Malmanger on the death of her husband, Frank Rowland.  Also our sympathy to the family and friends of Marjorie Kasperson who died just days after her 101st birthday.  We pray for Cary and Cynthia Natiello on the death of Cary’s sister, Jill Jeffry; and to Aspasia Vassilatos on the death of her father, Harry Vassilatos.  And our sympathy to the Hard family and friends on the death of Margaret Hard who died at the age of 96.

     Pray for our bishops Mark Hanson and Chris Boerger, our pastor Ronald Marshall, our deacon Dean Hard and our cantor Andrew King, that they may be strengthened in faith, love and the holy office to which they have been called.

     Pray that God would give us hearts which find joy in service and in celebration of Stewardship.  Pray that God would work within you to become a good steward of your time, your talents and finances.  Pray to strengthen the Stewardship of our congregation in these same ways.

     Pray for the hungry, ignored, abused, and homeless this September.  Pray for the mercy of God for these people, and for all in Christ's church to see and help those who are in distress.

     Pray for our sister congregation:  El Camino de Emmaus in the Skagit Valley that God may bless and strengthen their ministry.  Also, pray for our parish and it's ministry.

     Pray that God will bless you through the lives of the saints:  Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist; and Saint Michael and All Angels.