More Programmed Sanctification from WELS - But No Justification by Faith

 Scott Barefoot no longer has Facebook friends,
and he just may jump the fence to the LCMS.
"You don't own me
I'm not just one of your many toys.
You don't own me,
Don't say I can't go with other boys."

Rev. Jon Hein accepts call

2017/06/20/in Together

Rev. Jon Hein recently announced that he has accepted the divine call to serve full time as the director of the Commission on Congregational Counseling (CCC). Hein will be relocating to the Milwaukee area later this summer and will be based at the WELS Center for Mission and Ministry in Waukesha, Wis.

Hein has served as the first director of the Commission on Congregational Counseling while also serving in a part-time role at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Summerville, S.C.  In his new call he will serve full time in his position as director for the commission; he will also replace Rev. Bryan Gerlach as the coordinator for all of the commissions that comprise Congregational Services (Evangelism, Worship, Adult Discipleship, Youth and Family Ministry, Christian Schools, Special Ministries). Additionally, he will serve as an advisory member of the Synodical Council.

The CCC was formed to assist congregations in the evaluation of their ministry programs. As a part of that process, the CCC is able to direct congregations to resources that will help to address needs in their congregations and to plan future ministry efforts - apart from the Means of Grace, of course.

In addition to building a network of counselors in every district and overseeing their work, Hein also has spent two years conducting a detailed study of demographic trends and ministry issues. The study has looked at the challenges facing our synod posed by demographic changes and cultural shifts. Hein’s study, his evaluation, and the CCC’s recommendations for addressing these challenges will be highlighted at this summer’s synod convention, so bring popcorn and NoDoz.

We thank God for leading Hein to accept this new call and pray for God’s blessings on the efforts of Hein and on all of the commissions of Congregational Services as they help strengthen and equip congregations throughout the synod.

Serving in Christ,
President Mark Schroeder

Just wanted to share that no one should take it personally that I removed you as a "facebook friend" here... I've removed all 648 of you! I'm just tired of Facebook... The only reason I'm keeping my account at all, is that I need it to maintain the People of Grace page here on Facebook. If you would like to stay in contact, you can email me at: scottb@poglutherans.org. Many of you know my phone number... an even better way to stay in-touch!

Thrivent Funds WELS Worship Conference at ELCA College

Worship conference celebrates Lutheran worship

2017/06/20/in Together

The WELS Commission on Worship hosted the 2017 National Conference on Worship Music and the Arts June 13–16 at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis. More than 1,000 people attended the conference, which included a focus on Martin Luther’s contributions to worship as part of the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

Rachel Crites, the sole organist/pianist at Shepherd of the Hills, Anchorage, Alaska, is grateful that her congregation sponsored her conference registration and travel. She notes, “Being around other musicians is really a boost for me. I’ve attended the last four conferences. The last two have had a lot of sessions about the new hymnal, which have helped me understand how it will—or won’t, in some cases—work for our small congregation so far away from the epicenter of WELS.”

Rev. Bryan Gerlach, director of WELS Commission on Worship, says that the conference is planned with attendees like Crites in mind. “Attendees will gain some practical ideas and be challenged by fresh insights. But perhaps for most of us the conference is a triennial battery charge—an inspirational encouragement to return to parishes of any size and do our best.”

This particular conference included

• morning and evening worship services;
• a plenary address by Rev. Michael Schultz, the director of the WELS Hymnal Project, who offered a Reformation perspective on worship;
• more than 50 breakdown sessions;
• performances by WELS musicians in a wide variety of styles, some with talent;
• a children’s choir and high school honor choir;
• a collaborative art project that was displayed at the closing service; and
• a juried art exhibit.

For Dawn Torth, though, the highlight is always the same. “I love the worship services and to see the variety of things that can be done to praise God,” says Torth, a choir director at St. John, Mukwonago, Wis., who attended her third worship conference this year. “At this conference, I particularly liked the chanting in worship, including the lessons. It really gave me new perspective on familiar verses.”

Funding from Thrivent Financial made it possible for leadership teams from around the country to attend the conference, because we need an insurance company to fund worship. Thanks, Mark Jeske.

To view the conference’s opening festival concert or closing worship service, visit livestream.com/welslive.

 Mark Jeske works hard for joint religious projects
with WELS and ELCA and Other People's Money.

We Took Roses to the Doctor's Office - And Then...

 Creation Gardening is available in print and
Kindle e-book formats.
The garden shown in Norma Boeckler's.

We normally take roses to a doctor's office, so we did that today, with a selection of Easy Does It, Mr. Lincoln, and Queen Elizabeth roses. He was pleased to see the roses, and I gave him a copy of Creation Gardening. His nurse already had the second one I brought inside.

 Queen Elizabeth was developed by Walter Lammerts, below,
who was in contact with Pastor Herman Otten.

We already knew the doctor believed in Creation by the Word, in six days. I mentioned Lammerts, and he said, "Which Lammerts." I showed him the picture of Walter Lammerts. The doctor almost shouted "Walter Lammerts!"

 Walter Lammerts earned a PhD in plant genetics
and organized Creation scientists.
Science does not preclude the Creation.

I pointed to the Queen Elizabeth rose. "He developed this rose, which is still one of the favorites of all time - and ours too."

Next the check-out person wanted a book, after seeing the roses. I went to the car for two more, just in case. Mrs. Ichabod took the roses into the reception room, which was packed, and showed it to a woman and her young son. He had been quiet each time we saw them, but he said, "Look at those roses!" She got the fourth book and another woman asked for the fifth one.

I went outside and got the rest of the books for those who wanted them. Some were in the reception room and others waiting to come in.

 Mr. Lincoln is the fragrance king.

So we had an informal discussion about roses.

"Roses are the most difficult to grow."

I said, "No they are the easiest."

"How do you get such beautiful roses? It must take a lot of work." The doctor thought the same thing. He was astonished I worked on them only thirty minutes each day.

I said, "All we have to do is stop doing stupid things." Everyone laughed. I added, "We use chemical fertilizers, which hurt the soil. We kill all the insects and spiders with poisons, and we spray more poisons on the roses to kill fungus. We kill the microbes that give us good roses."

My purpose was only to give the book and roses to the doctor. I figured that someone on the staff might want one, so I took two books inside.

Mrs. I lit up the reception room by showing off the roses, which are adequate proof that no-toxin Creation Gardening really does work. Se we gave away 10 books at one time.

They wanted to know more so I suggested Google searching and using the Creation Gardening page I established on Facebook.

No one can separate Creation by the Word from the Gospel, so a book on Creation is necessarily going to include believers as new creations by the Word.

Planned for 2018, a similar book based on the Creation Parables of Jesus.

 Paradise is a rose I got as an extra - $5.

Coffee Grounds for the Garden

I did some searching about coffee grounds and found I posted about them before. They are considered a long-term nitrogen bonus for the soil. Many writers dither and worry about the acid contribution, which can vary. Washed grounds are neutral. Others may add some acidic content, which would be good for blueberries and azaleas.

Coffee grounds are rich in:

• Nitrogen
• Magnesium
• Potassium

I began tossing coffee grounds bundles onto the new Crepe Myrtle twig, which is trying to bloom a little now. No CM twig has received more attention, coffee grounds, and rainwater than this one, near the kitchen window. The sunflowers have benefited as well.

Mrs. Ichabod said, "My Aunt, the one who talked to animals, used rainwater on her plants too. She could predict the weather." I countered, "She was in touch with Creation."

I had one sunflower bloom, from the hundreds of seeds I planted last year, so I did not plant any sunflowers this year. I can only guess the squirrels are planting them now, because I see sunflowers all around the yard, sometimes in clusters.

Bargain Plants - Fast Bloomers - Roses
I thought our roses were pruned well on Sunday. The altar flowers went to a neighbor. We had one inch of rain during the day and now about 18 roses are blooming.

 Double Delight must be ordered early
to have some for planting.

Most plants ordered through the mail will not perform the same year. They take all summer to get established. But bare root roses are two-year plants and ready to bloom in about a month. Those patient enough to wait for the bargain plants, the largely un-named plants offered in late May and June will bloom beautifully in a month. These overstock roses cost $6 rather than $24 each. So one bloom pays off the cost and shows the gardener how many new, interesting plants can be grown.

The bargain offers promote various colors without naming the roses. That way they can push the last of the roses out the door, fast.

The leftover roses will never be - Peace, Queen Elizabeth, Double Delight, Mr. Lincoln, or other standard favorites. But they are fun to see bloom. In spite of the names on the plants and the flowers portrayed on the Net, they are quite a surprise.

This $5 rose turned out to own the title
for largest hybrid tea bloom - OK no bride jokes.
Brides's Dream is the name.

Sweet Aroma of Gardening Success
We have so many plants blooming in the backyard now that the air is filled with sweet aromas, from the flowers of:

• Elderberries
• Chaste Tree
• Clover
• Buckwheat
• Blackberries
• Butterfly Bushes
• Roses and 
• Many more.

The plants are purpose-driven to attract insects that will pollinate them. They also use extra nectar to attract beneficial insects once they are attacked.

 I would call California Dreamin' one of the
new style of Double Delight like roses.

» Saxon Lutheran Memorial

» Saxon Lutheran Memorial:





"Saxon Lutheran Memorial
Explore the Life and Faith of the original Saxon Lutherans of Perry County

Nestled away in Frohna, Missouri, the Saxon Lutheran Memorial is dedicated to preserving and proclaiming the life and faith of the Saxon Lutheran immigrants. Featuring authentic log cabin homes, buildings and furnishings from the early 1800s, the Saxon Lutheran Memorial enjoys a fifty year history of sharing with the public the pioneer culture and historic Lutheran faith of the original Perry County settlers.

Known across Missouri for craft demonstrations and traditional foods at its annual Fall Festival (the second Saturday in October), the Saxon Lutheran Memorial was designated in 1964 as a historical treasure by the National Park Service and continues to be the destination for school field trips, bus tours and families wanting to re-discover their Lutheran or Perry County roots. Guided tours of the buildings and the courageous settlers who built them are available from SLM’s resident curator. Please call Mrs. Audrey Kennedy to schedule your tour (Tuesdays through Saturdays and Sunday afternoons) at 573-824-5404. Group tours are required to make reservations in advance. (The Saxon Lutheran Memorial is closed December through February.)

The thirty acre site features the log-cabin frame house building that was the home of brothers Wilhelm and Christian Adolf Bergt. Now restored, the Bergt cabin is furnished with household utensils and furniture from the 19th century.

Other buildings around the Bergt cabin include a log barn, two log buildings (thought to have served as slave quarters for settlers prior to the arrival of the Saxons), a wooden granary, the SLM Visitors’ Center, and an outdoor museum for farm equipment.

A machine shed was added to the site in 1990 and is filled with period machinery. Several buildings with connections to the descendants of the Saxons living in the area have been brought on the SLM site and restored. These include the Fenwick Cabin, the Hamilton-Goehring Cabin, the Schuppan Haus and the newest addition, the 1904 Confirmation Room from Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna.

Other buildings have been constructed on the site to depict the customs and way of life of the 19th century settlers: a bake oven, a blacksmith shop and a woodworking shop."

'via Blog this'