Ash Wednesday - The Beginning of Lent.

Bethany Lutheran Church 

7 PM Central Time 

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Lyrics from the Bethany Hymn Blog are embedded in the hymn numbers.

The melody is linked in the hymn title.

The Hymn #154     Alas and Did My Savior Bleed                         

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

I will cry unto God Most High: unto God that performeth all things for me.

Yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge: until these calamities be overpast.

Psalm. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in Thee.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that Thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent, create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual  

Gradual

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in Thee.

V. He shall send from heaven: and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up.

Tract. O Lord, deal not with us after our sins: nor reward us according to our iniquities.

V. O Lord, remember not against us former iniquities: let Thy tender mercies speedily come to us, for we are brought very low.

V. Help us, O God of our salvation: for the glory of Thy name.

     

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #370            My Hope Is Built

Treasures in Heaven

The Hymn #311        Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior                           

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #657                 Beautiful Savior 

Prayers and Announcements

• Treatment and recovery - Pastor Jim Shrader (surgery), Randy Anderson, Lori Howell, Kermit Way, Sarah Buck.
• The Zoom computers work now, perhaps due to a mike & even more "upgrades." Zach Engleman and Glen Kotten spent hours going over the sound issue.
• 

The Epistle

KJV Joel 2:12-19

12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:

16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

18 Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

19 Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:

The Gospel

Matthew 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 

17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

              Treasures in Heaven

Matthew 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 

    This is a wonderful statement about pretending to be pious as a display for everyone else, as if such works really meant much. Everything begins with faith in Jesus Christ, not appearances. Jesus' response if funny - they have their reward.

17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

    Some people like to fast, but to do that as sanctification is bogus. One bishop said fasting was mandatory and I questioned that. People can make up new religions by going against the Savior and savoring the Law. 

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

    People have taught me that we should give to people rather than sell to people. I have written about a friend in grade school whose clothes were secretly gathered among mothers so he could have enough to ware. When I asked why my clothes were being removed from my modest pile, my mother said, "None of your business." When I pressed for a answer in situations like that, she said. "You're not old enough." That meant so much to the family that the grade school boy wrote about it and said people should mention his name to encourage others and themselves. He ended up the head of our high school class, a star athlete, and a full scholarship winner to attend Yale University. My other grade school friend said, "We don't have garage sales but give aways. No questions, no prices." That is a great way to help others and clean up the house.

    Treasures in heaven are the key statement in this passage. The true treasures in life are intangible, based on faith, generosity, helping and delighting others. We obtain those treasures through faith bearing - like the Grape Vine, John 15 - the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Or, we could say, bearing treasures through the Means of Grace - The Word of God and the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion.

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

    That is the great storehouse, Scrooge McDuck but with the tangibles. Some people are so caring that they act upon the needs of others and strengthen others by what they say. Luther commented too that the cranky, difficult people who oppose the Gospel - not all of them are clergy - are energizing the faithful to be serious about the treasures in the KJV. That has more gems that all the jewelry stores in LA. Nobody can steal the treasures in heaven. Most importantly, our hearts are with our treasures. If they are are material things, the hearts will go there, often forever. If they hearts are with the blessings of God's Word, they will keep those treasures and God's Word will keep them.

Let Not the LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) Brag They Are Not ELCA - They Are on the Same Spiral Path Downward And Share the Same Habits

 

Yes, they have worked and planned together since Eaton was elected.

Scott Barefoot with everyone but Lassie.

The Synodicals - proudly bearing the banner of Walter and his syphilitic Bishop Stephan - are going the same way as the ELCA seminaries and colleges, the congregations and managers. 

James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (NIV, so the Synodicals can understand it.)

Thrivent is clearly steering the synods and other entities down the same path. 

Does anyone gain from the Thrivent freebies?

Only the managers gain from the "called" Giving Counselors, who step into a home and have the elderly sign an Irrevocable Charity Remainder Trust. That means Granny and Grampy just signed off a big chunk of their equity and no lawyer can get it back. The counselors have to pass an insurance license, and you can bet it is guided by Thrivent, which almost went bankrupt from their previous insurance problems with Universal Life.

Point not your fingers at ELCA if you are involved with Thrivent, its shenanigans, its crafts and assaults.

Before and After - Presiding Bishop Liz Eaton - Mysterious Leave of Absence

Before - Liz was elected in 2013

After - Two photographs were published showing a singular lack of joy in her work.

The ironic caption reminds everyone - why silent about the leave of absence for up to six months?

Four months after Eaton's leave-of-absence began, the Lutheran Forum Ovaline Newsletter asked the question, what is going on? Given the Ovaltines' knowledge of all things ELCA, the author should have known. Officially, ELCA is being silent and the Ovaltines wonder why nothing is being explained. The ELCA Constitution allows for a leave-of-absence and a male pastor has filled her role. Why such a stretch, four months, six months!? That anticipated quite a serious situation. The announcement and temporary replacement came after the leave-of-absence started. That suggests a serious crisis, as the photos suggest.

ELCA released a video with Liz featured and added, "This was taped before the leave of absence began."

As I have suggest before, Eaton started a blaze that is now consuming ELCA. I recall her uppity remarks about the 2009 ELCA vote to go all out for all genders. As a local bishop in Ohio, she was publicly sarcastic about people cringing over that vote. Nothing much was going to happen. But it was more like the signs of a tsunami - quiet at first, no worries, the water is actually receding. But then - run, run, run!

They had the keen idea to recruit a new set of male pastors -

Heterosexual men were not going to rush to spend large amounts of money where they would not feel welcome among the feminine males and the masculine females. Seminary enrollments declined anyway and those institutions have caved in, moved to smaller headquarters, and even sold the property, as the Lutheran School of Theology.

There were a few women bishops at first, but now they dominate ELCA's bishop roster. The male bishops list their wives and children, but the female bishops are silent about their domestic relationships. I might have missed that detail. I hope someone fills me in. 

Guy Erwin became the first acknowledged homosexual ELCA bishop - also an Osage Indian. Just as quickly, he became the president of the United (but divided) Seminary in Philadelphia. The previous seminary president was a woman, which was heartening to many, but she had a serious hetero past, which defenestrated her. Megan was there when Guy was promoted to pastor to bishop in California. Megan is suing ELCA for forcing her to resign as bishop. She was stricken from the role of pastors and is now working at Glide Memorial "Church" - as anti-Christian as it can be, but that is ELCA's natural role now.

My conclusion is - the upheaval in California and Eaton's reaction combined to create an ongoing crisis among various political groups in ELCA. Yanking Rohrer from her position - and the pastoral role - made it that much easier to focus on Eaton. Nobody seems to be "Reconciling in Christ," their strange slogan, given what they promote.

"In 1867, Krauth and his schoolmate Rev. William Passavant founded the General Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The General Council had seven regional bodies which had withdrawn from the General Synod.

During Krauth's lifetime, the LTSP was at Franklin Square.^[4] In 1889 it moved to Mount Airy.^[4] In 1908 its new library there was dedicated as the Krauth Memorial Library in memory of Krauth.^[4]"

^{Yes, Erwin is now the president of the Philadelphia/Gettysburg Seminary.} 

^{I was interviewed for a job at the Philadelphia Seminary and happily dodged that bullet.}

Schmauk was president of the Philadelphia Seminary and a superb author. Augustana College in Rock Island gave him an honorary degree. I refuse to accept Augustana's mail.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Lent 1 - "That means to be led into the desert and to be left alone. There I am in the true school, and I learn what I am, how weak my faith is, how great and rare true faith is, and how deeply unbelief is entrenched in the hearts of all men."

Complete Sermon -> Matthew 4:1-11.
Invocavit. First Sunday in Lent

INVOCAVIT. FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT

God, who was able to nourish Christ forty days without any food, can nourish also his Christians.

6. Secondly, this is written for our admonition, that we may in the light of this example also cheerfully suffer want and temptation for the service of God and the good of our neighbor, like Christ did for us, as often as necessity requires it; which is surely accomplished if we learn and confess God’s Word. Therefore this Gospel is sweet consolation and power against the unbelief and infamy of the stomach, to awaken and strengthen the conscience, that we may not be anxious about the nourishment of our bodies, but be assured that he can and will give us our daily bread.

II. THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST.

7. But as to how temptation takes place and how it is overcome, is all very beautifully pictured to us here in Christ. First, that he is led up into the wilderness, that is, he is left solitary and alone by God, angels and men, by all creatures. What kind of a temptation would it be, if we were not forsaken and stood not alone? It is, however, painful when we do not feel anything that presents its back to us; as for example, that I should support myself and have not a nickel, not a thread, not a twig, and I experience no help from others, and no advice is offered. That means to be led into the desert and to be left alone. There I am in the true school, and I learn what I am, how weak my faith is, how great and rare true faith is, and how deeply unbelief is entrenched in the hearts of all men. But whoever has his purse, cellar and fields full, is not yet led into the desert, neither is he left alone; therefore he is not conscious of temptation.

8. Secondly, the tempter came forward and attacked Christ with these very same cares of food for the body and with the unbelief in the goodness of God, and said: “If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread,” as if he should say: Yes, trust thou in God and bake and cook nothing; only wait patiently until a roasted fowl flies into your mouth; do you now say that you have a God who cares for you; where is now your heavenly Father, who has charge of you? Yea, it seems to me he lets you in a fine condition; eat now and drink from your faith, let us see how you will satisfy your hunger; yea, when you have stones for bread. What a fine Son of God you are! How fatherly he is disposed toward you in that he fails to send you a slice of bread and permits you to be so poor and needy; do you now continue to believe that you are his son and he is your father? With like thoughts he truly attacks all the children of God. And Christ surely felt this temptation, for he was no stock nor stone; although he was and remained pure and without sin, as we cannot do.

9. That Satan attacked Christ with the cares for daily food or with unbelief and avarice, Christ’s answer proves, in that he says: “Man shall not live by bread alone;” that sounds as if he said: thou wilt direct me to bread alone and dost treat me as though I thought of nothing but the sustenance of my body. This temptation is very common also among pious people, and they especially feel it keenly who have children and a family, and have nothing to eat. Therefore St. Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:10 that avarice is a root of all kind of evil; for it is a fruit of unbelief. Do you not think that unbelief, care and avarice are the reasons people are afraid to enter married life?

Why do people avoid it and live in unchastity, unless it be the fear that they must die of hunger and suffer want? But here we should consider Christ’s work and example, who suffered want forty days and nights, and finally was not forsaken, but was ministered to even by angels.

10. Thirdly, behold how Christ resists this temptation of bread, and overcomes; he sees nothing but stones and what is uneatable, then he approaches and clings to the Word of God, strengthens himself by it and strikes the devil to the ground with it. This saying all Christians should lay hold of when they see that there is lack and want and everything has become stones, so that courage trembles, and they should say: What were it if the whole world were full of bread, still man does not live by bread alone, but more belongs to life, namely, the Word of God. The words, however, are so beautiful and powerful that we must not pass over them lightly, but carefully explain them.