ELCA Formerly Union Church May Unite with United Church of Christ Church - United "Lutheran" Seminary

 

September 11 is a somber day, remembered nationwide as a day of tragedy. But in New Oxford, two churches will celebrate as they recall how they have endured many ups and downs for two centuries.

First Lutheran Church and St. Paul’s UCC are both celebrating 200 years of worship.

First Lutheran will hold a celebration, with a Saturday afternoon barbeque for 100 registered members and guests and a 6 p.m. vesper service open to all.

At the Sunday 9:30 a.m. service, the Rev. Mark Vitalis Hoffman, Glatfelter Professor of Biblical Studies at United Lutheran Seminary, will be guest preacher for the anniversary.

The president of United Lutheran Seminary (ELCA) and his husband may have some insights about why seminary and congregational numbers are plummeting.

An extensive collection of First Lutheran’s history will be on display in the main floor classroom both days. It includes the parish charter and cornerstone contents from the first building, photographs of pastors and members from bygone days.

That the two congregations celebrate the same birthday signals they were born together as a “union” church representing Lutherans, Reformed, and Presbyterian traditions.

As happened with most of the union churches, after some initial decades together, the denominational groups wanted their own congregations.

First Evangelical Lutheran, chartered in 1860, soon built a church on North Peter Street in New Oxford.

In 1934, the present facility at 200 Lincolnway East (U.S. Route 30) was constructed. A major renovation in 1993 included making the building accessible to handicapped people.

As current members recall more recent history, they hold special fondness for holiday celebrations and First Lutheran’s involvement in the local community.

Jeanette Martz, who said she has been a member for about 70 years, is serving as interim organist for worship services.

“Christmas Eve has always been big here,” she said.

The retired teacher said of her childhood in the parish, “The Sunday school teachers were the greatest, from whom I learned Bible stories.”

Serving on the anniversary committee, Tom and Danielle Garber shared their excitement for the upcoming events, with the theme “Honoring our Past, Celebrating our Future.”

Tom, who recalls First Lutheran from his childhood in the parish, took the lead in scouring the premises for historical artifacts. He found the long-forgotten cornerstone contents while rummaging through some boxes in a storage area.

Danielle, a member since the pair were married in 1976, recalls especially “our fellowship, our fun socials.” Some members continue to gather monthly for special events and outings.

Another longtime member and current church council member, Linda Buffenmyer, also points to the tightknit fellowship, which enables the congregation to sustain its mission even as membership has declined.

Reflecting on her more than 50 years as a member, Buffenmyer said, “Folks just came together, and we got it done.” The retired operating room trauma manager said of more recent history, “We have become more inclusive and aware of the need to reach out.”

Danielle Garber agrees.

“When there’s a need, the church stands up,” she said.

That spirit of reaching out beyond the members has a long history at First Lutheran.

The congregation shares offerings with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s World Hunger program, serving the poor nationwide and around the world.

Support is also provided for the local fire company, United Lutheran Seminary’s food closet, and other service programs.

For years, the congregation has featured an annual Christmas giving tree that provides gifts to needy families through New Hope Ministries.

Backpacks for kids returning to school are filled with supplies and presented to children living in temporary housing provided by South Central Community Action Programs (SCCAP).

A SCCAP staff person told members who assemble the backpacks, “If it weren’t for your ministry, kids would start school with a few things thrown in a shopping bag.”

Retired elementary school teacher Betsy Gingrow is proud of the congregation’s “Laundry Love” monthly presence at a local laundromat. When members pick up the tab for local cash-strapped residents, “they are so appreciative,” Gingrow said.

Being right on the major thoroughfare in New Oxford, First Lutheran has been positioned well to welcome area residents and tourists during the borough’s annual Market on the Square events. The church makes its bathrooms available during the busy time when some are in desperate need.

Also shared beyond members, said John Stevens, a member since the mid-1980s, is the congregation’s outdoor pavilion. A local homeschool collective meets there on a regular basis to enjoy time in an outdoor environment.

The UCC is way ahead of ELCA in profaning the Nativity of Jesus Christ. But this is ELCA, Chicago.

"We have to go back!" Where? 

"Back to the Future!

A Shared Future?

Looking to the future, it appears First Lutheran may be returning to its roots in a shared ministry, but this time with another Lutheran congregation.

First Lutheran and St. John’s Lutheran of Littlestown are in preliminary conversations about becoming a “two-point parish” and sharing one full-time pastor.

Both congregations have experienced the trend common in historic churches in smaller communities, with a decline in membership and increasing costs.

By partnering, as do thousands of smaller congregations nationwide, the two congregations can continue to fulfill their missions.

In First Lutheran’s case, the vision for the future is in keeping with its 200 years of faithful history.

The historic church’s members are committed to “spread the Word and knowledge of God throughout our community, helping all, believers and nonbelievers.”

A Brief History of Objective Justification, Part 3

 

Huber, Rambach, Knapp, Stephan, Walther, Preuss, Pieper, and the Preus brothers led the LCMS into the lupine jaws and claws of ELCA.

The Post-Modern Era of Objective Justification

Walther is so adored today that many imply his immaculate conception, born without sin, and clearly teach his assumption into heaven.

Pope Walther, B.A., had to have his way - so he arranged for Francis Pieper (Wisconsin Synod) to be crowned the dogmatics professor. He changed the vote from the districts to the national convention, which CFW controlled. 

Francis Pieper came from the equally Pietistic sect, the Wisconsin Synod. His brother in Wisconsin, August, also promoted Objective Justification. Francis cleverly blended efficacy and the Means of Grace, Justification by Faith and Objective Justification.

Fuerbringer was the nephew of Walther and served as the president of Concordia, St. Louis. 

Pieper (1852-1931) served in several influential posts for 33 years - seminary professor, seminary president, synod president. He locked down Objective Justification in the Brief Statement of 1932, approved post mortem. After 1932, OJ replaced the Chief Article. The Missouri apostates began to treat that particular Brief Statement as the 67th book of the Bible.

From Bishop Stephan, STD to LCMS Bishop Harrison!

A Brief History of Objective Justification, Part 2

 

Stephan the adulterer led about 700 people - and CFW Walther's circle - to America. Stephan was trained at Halle University and taught Objective Justification to Walther. Stephan made himself bishop, and Walther made himself pope.

Missouri loves to ignore this fact - Preuss, a seminary professor in Walther's era, became a Roman Catholic after seeing a "sign from God" a colorful sunset. The LCMS still praises his book on Objective Justification.

Notice the Robert Preus, Jack Cascione, Paul McCain verbatim agreement with Edward Preuss. 

Ft. Wayners, like Jay Webber and Jim Heiser, were happy to endorse and promote Objective Justification. Irony alert - being offended by Justification by Faith.

A Brief History of Objective Justification, Part 1

The modern translations are either owned by the Calvinists - like the ESV - or reliant on Calvinist paraphrasing.

Calvin pretended to be Lutheran, much like the LCMS-WELS-ELS-ELDONA today. He hated Luther's Biblical doctrine, much like the synods today. He separated the Word from the Spirit and promoted a rationalistic perspective of the Bible.

 Leyser identified the falsehood of Huber, who had been a Calvinist but was teaching as a Lutheran.

Leyser and his colleagues kicked Huber out. Thanks to Walther, the Lutheran leaders have licked Huber's boots - as they have with their joint approval of Objective Justification.

Ghost Plays Tag with Sassy

 Sassy has a white mussel now. She normally goes to the front to guard the garden and look for Ranger Bob.

Sassy wanted to go outside in the backyard, so I let her out. Soon I heard a " Wuff! Wuff! Wuff!" It was so gentle that it did not sound quite like a dog. Sassy issues orders with sharp, indignant barks.

I peaked out the backdoor, suspecting it was Ghost (her stage name, to avoid costly lawsuits). She is the beautiful white puppy who invited herself into the Rose Garden when I was sitting on the ground and working with some plants. Ghost seemed to know the coast was clear, the family would not pursue her. We had a little talk and Ghost rewarded me with kisses, licks, and a place on her dance card. The family wanted her back but did not want to trample the garden. After all, I grow real weeds. Ghost went back and everyone was happy.

Ghost is quite large and slender now, with long silky hair. She wanted to play tag with Sassy, and they both jumped around, feigning attacks, and had fun in spite of the fence. I will do some things in the backyard, and Ghost is likely to insist on some talk, petting, and perhaps tennis ball chasing.

Left Unsaid - The Cause of the LCMS-ELCA-WELS-ELS Meltdown

From the Ovaltine Discussion Club for Cranky Elderly Pastors

In 1970.......The LCMS had 2,788,536 Baptized Members

In 2000.......The LCMS had 2,554,088 Baptized Members

In 2021.......The LCMS had 1,807,408 Baptized Members

In the past 50 years the LCMS has lost about 1 million Baptized Members and about 700,000 of those losses came in the past 20 years.  The last 20 years have seen
a significant decline as an aging membership is accelerating their death rate.  In
addition to that fact our congregations have not added new young members in any
significant way.  With a shrinking membership the LCMS has a real challenge to survive.

ELCA (LCA-ALC), WELS, LCMS, and others jumped on Fuller Seminary's Church Growth like hobos on a hotdog, accelerating their decline while unleashing their closeted wokeness.

The Hummingbird Effect

I was sitting in the shade of our spacious patio when I saw a large bug hovering on the port side. It moved in front of me, an arm's length away - a hummingbird. He did an up/down left/right exam and went back to feeding. A bit later, I got the same scan from the smaller one - they have separate feeders.

Sassy watches the neighborhood for me. Her attention changes with the audience. Children playing get her 100% attention, and she has a happy look the whole time. Dogs - even on a leash - greatly offend her, and she trots over to ID them. Delivery people are sometimes timid. One left his package halfway up the driveway because Sassy rose slowly from her resting position and assumed her attack dog look. Dog lovers ask about Sassy's nature and bend down to lavish praise (which I suggest). Sassy turns into a lovable puppy with her body wagging in delight.

In front of me, over in the Butterfly Garden, and behind the house, a wide variety of God's creatures charm people. I have had young squirrels look into the kitchen from the outside ledge, as if to say, "Where's our food? Mama told us to lay off the milk and eat at Jackson's." A variety of water sources give them shallow pools for bathing. 

I bought a bag of kettle corn - don't start on me.

"This is the nutrient content of a 100-gram (3.5-oz) serving of air-popped popcorn (5):

• Vitamin B1 (Thiamin): 7% of the RDI.
• Vitamin B3 (Niacin): 12% of the RDI.
• Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): 8% of the RDI.
• Iron: 18% of the RDI.
• Magnesium: 36% of the RDI.
• Phosphorus: 36% of the RDI.
• Potassium: 9% of the RDI.
• Zinc: 21% of the RDI.
• Copper: 13% of the RDI.
• Manganese: 56% of the RDI."

I ate a small amount - no really - and left the rest on the lids of the two barrels. Soon after, a female cardinal landed and began eating. There was no competition, so she kept looking around and eating. What did the bag cost? Nothing - it was borrowed from the entertainment budget.

 Veterans Honor roses are often on the altar, and they are placed on a veteran's grave afterwards.

The Clash of Prescriptions - The Harmony of Plants as Medicine

I want to point out that I eat meat and recently had a bacon cheeseburger at a family-owned stop - wow! I have had Schwan ice cream cones too. 

However, I am sticking to the Fuhrman plan of greens, beans, fresh fruit, and nuts. As I wrote before, this has lowered my BP to normal after I stopped using Benadryl daily. Arthritis in my hands is mostly gone and I have a lot more energy.

Since I am sensitive to salt, I can feel the BP go up with saltier meals. That has made me look at the food labels. The variations in salt are shocking. 

I also look at the nutritional values of everything I eat - very enlightening. That is where plants harmonize while prescription cures clash. Magnesium is found at various levels in plants, chocolate, and some fish. That is important because of the way magnesium enhances other minerals in fresh food. 

In contrast, prescriptions are so complicated that they are run through a computer program to make sure the patient is not harmed by the combinations. For example, two blood pressure medicines at once can help more, but also cause sudden, extreme dizziness. Magnesium boosts its effects without harm, if people are allowing the nutritional values of plants to dominate over highly processed foods, grease, sugar and sweeteners, and salt. 

We have two sets of complications. One is our body's needs and the other is the miraculous combinations of nutrients in foods. 

God created us with a need for variety in food, which directs us to those many different combinations we get when we eat selectively. The least in calories - like raw spinach - can also be the greatest in nutrition and satisfying hunger. 

Spinach Health Benefits -

Verbatim Below

Of all the leafy greens, spinach is one of the most versatile. I whip it into smoothies, enjoy chilled spinach salads, steam and sauté fresh spinach, add it to stir frys, and even blend it into baked goods like brownies. Spinach also has many health benefits, and you can easily build it into your meals. Here are six perks of eating more of this powerfully protective plant, and simple ways to incorporate it into meals and snacks.

Spinach is nutrient-rich

Three cups of raw spinach provides just 20 calories, no fat, 2 grams of protein, and 3 grams of carbohydrate with 2 grams as fiber (so 1 gram of net carbs). Though it has so few calories, spinach is packed with nutrients. A three cup portion provides over 300% of the daily need for bone-supporting vitamin K. Spinach also provides over 160% of the daily goal for vitamin A, and about 40% for vitamin C, which both support immune function and promote healthy skin.

Spinach also contains 45% of the daily need of folate, a B vitamin that helps form red blood cells and DNA. And spinach supplies 15% of the daily goal for both iron and magnesium, 10% for potassium, and 6% for calcium, along with smaller amounts of other B vitamins.

Spinach is high in antioxidants

In addition to its many vitamins and minerals, spinach provides antioxidants tied to anti-inflammation and disease protection. These include kaempferol, a flavonoid shown to reduce the risk of cancer, as well as slow its growth and spread. Another, called quercetin, has been linked to possible protective effects on memory as well as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Spinach is a functional food

In a study published in the journal Food & Function, researchers summarize the protective effects of spinach, based on the activity of its naturally occurring phytochemicals and bioactive compounds. They state that these spinach-derived substances can reduce oxidative stress, DNA damage, and disease. They're also able to positively influence the expression of genes involved in metabolism and inflammation. In addition, they trigger the release of satiety hormones, which can make you feel more full and satisfied.

For these reasons, the researchers conclude that eating more spinach may help fend off heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.

 5 Health Benefits of Blueberries, According to a Nutritionist

Spinach supports brain health

The anti-inflammatory effects of spinach make it a key contender for protecting the brain, particularly with aging. In one study, researchers tracked the eating patterns and cognitive abilities of more than 950 older adults for about five years. They saw a significant decrease in the rate of cognitive decline among those who consumed larger amounts of green leafy vegetables. The data indicated that people who ate one to two servings of leafy greens daily had the same cognitive abilities of a person 11 years younger than those who consumed no leafy greens.

Spinach may help manage blood pressure

Spinach is a source of naturally occurring nitrates, compounds that open up blood vessels to improve blood flow and ease the workload on the heart. In one small study, published in The Journal of Nutrition, 11 men and seven women consumed four different nitrate-rich drinks, including a spinach beverage.

Researchers found that blood nitrate levels increased after downing all four drinks. The spinach drink, in addition to those made from beetroot juice and rocket salad (another leafy green), also lowered blood pressure. Diastolic blood pressure remained lower five hours after ingesting the spinach and rocket drinks. (Diastolic is the lower number on the blood pressure reading, which indicates the amount of pressure in your arteries between beats.)

 The Health Benefits of Strawberries

Spinach protects eye health

One of the antioxidants in spinach, called lutein, has been shown to reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye disease that can blur the sharp, central vision required for activities like reading and driving. AMD is a leading cause of vision loss for people age 50 and older. There is currently no cure or treatment to reverse the condition, so prevention is key.

In one Japanese study, researchers examined the eyes of 11 healthy nonsmokers who consumed 75 grams of frozen spinach containing 10 mg of lutein daily for two months. The intake of lutein-rich spinach increased blood lutein levels, and it also increased measures of macular pigment optical density (MPOD). That’s important, because macular pigment acts like internal sunglasses to protect the eyes, and low or decreased MPOD is a risk factor for AMD. This research indicates that spinach may help curb AMD risk.

 7 Health Benefits of Cherries

How cooking spinach affects its nutrients

While I recommend incorporating spinach into both raw and cooked dishes, some research shows that not cooking the greens is the best way to preserve its lutein content.

In a Swedish study, spinach was purchased at a supermarket and then cooked using various methods for up to 90 minutes. The longer the spinach was boiled, the lower the remaining lutein level. When fried at a high temperature, a large percentage of the lutein degraded within just two minutes.

Scientists say the best way to consume spinach for maximum lutein intake may be in a smoothie combined with a healthful fat, such as avocado or almond butter. That’s because when spinach is chopped into small pieces, more lutein is released from the leaves, and fat increases the ability to absorb the antioxidant.

Older research found that cooking also impacts the folate content of spinach; boiling slashed this B vitamin level by nearly half. Steaming, however, resulted in no significant loss of folate, even after four and a half minutes.

A recent study looked at the effect of different cooking methods on the vitamin content in selected vegetables, included spinach. Researchers found that microwaving resulted in the lowest loss of vitamin K. Blanching significantly reduced the vitamin C content, which was best retained by steaming. Cooking also diminished the vitamin E levels in spinach, but increased the vitamin A content. This occurs when the plant walls soften, which helps to release and absorb the nutrient.

Again, for the best results, mix up how you consume spinach—some raw, some cooked—but try not to overcook it.

Simple ways to eat more spinach

Doctrinal History - How the "Conservative" Lutherans and Mainlines Destroyed Themselves

 The King James Version: The Apostolic Text versus Fraudulent Texts and Heretical Translations.

 Tischendorf, you devil you, the Fauci of Biblical scholarship.

 "If we call this codex F, everyone will see it as last on the list and ignore Count Tischy. Let's call it Aleph, so it is always first, the fake first in line, Ja?"

 A Latin title page gives me goosebumps. The history of Sinaiticus is easy to discern - blatant fraud and snookering. 

A recent article claimed that independent congregations were more Biblical than those in various denominations. That claim easily fits the Lutherans, because ELCA lost the equivalent of the ALC in the years since 1987 and 2009 - about 2 million people.

The LCMS is very much an ELCA clone now, the latest display being Matt the Fatt in his glorious, costly, papal robes. He would love to have Jim Heiser's entire outfit.

The ELS and WELS sects follow Missouri rather closely, especially at the top, where the leaders are enticed through Thrivent insurance grants and Thrivent selling irrevocable charitable trusts. 

Some people like to go back to the 1960s or the Great Depression to explain how this happened. KJV history showed me that the turning point was really 1870, because that change involved all English-speaking people at once in the so-called Revision (of the KJV). 

From a Biblical perspective the background of the Revision is quite unsavory. Tischendorf's triple fake of codices (bound volumes) got the scholars hotter than Georgia asphalt for "text criticism." The Majority Text, with more than 5,000 examples (also called witnesses) was set aside for roughly five witnesses with variant readings.

Westcott and Hort were clergy but unbelievers. Their text criticism, hidden from the public in the Revision, remains the standard today, in the equally loathsome Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament.

Tischendorf gloried in his monopoly of Ephraim Rescriptus (written over), Sinaiticus (leather sheets ready to be tossed into the fire! - the stink!), and Vaticanus from the Antichrist Hisself. Given Tischendorf's habit of self-praise, it is difficult to claim that any of those three had any merit. However, Westcott-Hort grabbed the opportunity and crafted their own imaginary text, secretly pressed it upon the Revision "scholars" of England and America, and won - or lost.

The Revision was a world-wide, costly disaster, because very few readers accepted the miserable pile of claims foisted upon them. They could not sell the Bibles, which piled up in storage.

This winsome graphic, published by WELS, is exactly what the NIV, RSV, and ESV offer. And it smells like team spirit, with one diabolical coach.

However, the spirit of rationalistic Calvinism and the joy of modernism turned doubt in the text into rejection of the divine and miraculous. Once the text was sliced and diced, the same approach to the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, and miracles prevailed. 

The Lutheran pastors of today are enchanted by the glories of their sect, all of them very papal in trusting and coveting the powerful. The pastors do not give genuine sermons because they do not believe. One convert to ELDONA wrote me (unsolicted) that he never thought the Chief Article was that important.

WELS, ELCA, and ELDONA are comedies without any laughs. They glory in themselves alone. Holy Mother Missouri and the fading ELS/CLC factions are no different. They are what their seminaries teach - unstable about the Scriptures when the majority of Americans favor the KJV. That is quite a gap between the nation and the bankrupt divinity schools. 

 

Why do they love the NIV so much at church headquarters? Could it be the financial incentives? Rupert Murdoch used to own the NIV.