Let Your Light Shine
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The Lutheran Beacon Let your light shine . WWW.SELC.LCMS.ORG Published by the SELC District of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod MAY 2016 St. John (Cudahy WI) Celebrates Slovak Heritage Celebrating Our Life in Christ by Rev. Carl Krueger St. John, Cudahy WI is celebrating 110 years of Ministry! Founded in 1906 by Slovak Immigrants, St. John “kicked-off” this Anniversary observance year with English/Slovak Communion Worship Services led by the “last-remaining-100% Slovak Heritage-full-time-active- Slovak-Pastors”, and a Slovak menu dinner. At the turn of the 20th Century, Slovakia was ruled by the Hungarian Empire, and subjected to political, social, and religious oppression and persecution. The United States was seen as the land of freedom and opportunity. Slovak men made their way to the Milwaukee area Happy Mother’s Day and found work at the Patrick Cudahy Meat Packing Company May 8th slaughtering and processing beef and pork. The men worked long hours, saved money, then sent for their wives and families. Almost every Slovak adult packed their Slovak Bible and their Slovak Hymnal. First, families found homes, then they sought to establish a Church. “The Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, St. John the Baptizer” was founded October 1906, with the city of Cudahy established the same year. The Pastor of a near- by German Lutheran Church provided pastoral care and worship services, along with visiting Slovak Pastors from Chicago IL and Whiting IN. To obtain their own Pastor from the Seminary, St. John needed to join the Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELC). Some St. John members refusing to join the Synod, left St. John and formed Dr. Martin Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church. All worship services at St. John were conducted in the Slovak language, until a weekly English worship service was added to the Remember those who schedule in 1920’s. Weekly English and Slovak worship services sacrificed for our freedom May 30th were conducted through 1978 by the resident Called Pastors, who were all of Slovak heritage and familiar with the Slovak language. In 1979, a Pastor was Called who was not Slovak, with the assumption that Slovak worship services would be stopped. [continued on Page 3] The Stewardship of Teamwork by Rev. Thomas Soltis, SELC Stewardship Director Teamwork Teamwork in the Church Teamwork produces the harmony and beauty of One characteristic of growing churches is the music. Consider an opera production involving teamwork of members accomplishing the will of conductor, musicians, singers and stage hands, Christ. Compared to an orchestra, Christ is the each performing their individual duties. When composer; the pastor, the director; the members, done well according to the genius of the the musicians. Functioning together in harmony, composer, the resulting sounds delight the ear. they produce beautiful music to the glory of God. Should some performers refuse to cooperate in 1 Cor. 12:12 compares the Christian Church to fulfilling their specific tasks, the result is noise the human body with each part functioning in instead of music. In sports teamwork is essential. behalf of the others. The brain, heart, lungs, Basketball players, functioning together stomach, mouth, eyes, ears, arms. fingers, legs, harmoniously like poetry in motion, win games. etc. - amazing teamwork! St. Paul writes. Now you Without the teamwork of fellow players, Lebron are the body of Christ and each of you is a part of James of the Cleveland Cavaliers would have it. (1 Cor. 12:27) There should be no division in the difficulty maintaining his claim to fame. body ... its parts should have equal concern for Teamwork in the Family each other. (1 Cor. 12:25) Love should be the Teamwork helps produce happy families. Family binding factor. Jesus commanded, A new stability and tranquility is enhanced when family command I give you: Love one another. As I have members fulfil their specific responsibilities. In loved you, so you must love one another. By this their role as providers, parents should wisely use all men will know that you are my disciples, if you their time, talents and resources as good love one another. (John 13:34-35) The world quickly stewards. Proper money management is notices loving teamwork in action. essential. Wasted, misspent money coupled with Church Team Players Differ enormous credit card debt disrupts marital and Congregational team players individually differ family tranquility. Children should be assigned from one another. Their talents, personalities, duties to help them gain a sense of responsibility, education, interests, experiences, etc., vary. This belonging and the satisfaction of accomplishment. is an asset since the functions within a Allowances? Yes - if they are connected to the congregation are multi-faceted, involving worship, performance of family chores and duties. Money education, stewardship, evangelism, missions, from allowances or outside jobs should be theirs charitable endeavors community service, to personally manage. Parental suggestions, fellowship, etc. Every church member should however, regarding banking, church support and engage in a personal church activity. Studies have money management will help ensure future shown that if a new member is not incorporated financial stability. Selfishness is a killer of stability. into the framework of church activity within six Family members, caught up in a Me-Me-Me mind months, the member will lapse. New members set, upset domestic peace. Husbands, wives and should be incorporated as team players in the children, who unselfishly offer themselves in stewardship of the Church as quickly as possible. service to each other, nurture tranquility. The Help should be given to make them aware of their example of Jesus, the perfect servant, should be specific spiritual gifts and talents. a family’s inspiration for a What Can I Do for You? mind set. Jesus said, I am among you as A resource to accomplish this is Spiritual Gifts. one who serves. (Luke 22:27) The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve. (Matt. 20:28) RESOURCE TO HELP INCORPORATE The word, “stewardship”, means manager/caretaker. It is the responsibility of each MEMBERS INTO CHURCH ACTIVITIES family member to be a caretaker of the family www.selc.lcms.org through unselfish, loving teamwork. Stewardship - Pastoral Helps SPIRITUAL GIFTS 2 [St. John, Cudahy-continued from Page 1] However, Pastor Carl Krueger, “learned enough Slovak” to conduct the Communion Liturgy in Slovak once a month and on holidays; and with the dedicated assistance of Ted and Anna Sidlik (life-long members and Slovak Congregation leaders), weekly Slovak worship continued until 2007. Three Pastors led the Anniversary Worship Services on April 2 and 3. *Rev. Luther Bajus, Pastor of Zion, Norridge IL, and multi-termed Western Circuit Counselor and SELC District First Vice-president. *Rev. Andrew Dzurovcik, Pastor of Zion, Clark NJ, and the SELC District President. [Both Rev. Bajus and Rev. Dzurovcik possess a “100% Slovak heritage”.] *Rev. Matthew Vesey, Pastor of St. John, Cudahy since 2011. A Slovak-menu dinner was offered Sunday afternoon, featuring chicken paprikash, halusky/kapusta (dumplings/cabbage), polish sausage, and kolachi – plus other food and dessert items. More than 150 people enjoyed the dinner fellowship. Psalm 100:4,5 was chosen as the text for St. John’s 110th Anniversary under the theme: Celebrating Our Life in Christ. An “official” 110th Anniversary Event is planned for Sunday, October 16, 2016. 3 Rev. George Daniel Plvan Celebrates 60th Ordination Anniversary In a ceremony of thanksgiving and praise, the congregation of St. John the Baptist Lutheran Church of Emporia, VA, celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Ordination into the Office of the Holy Ministry of Rev. George Daniel Plvan. The celebration took place on Sunday, January 17, 2016 and was performed by Pastor Stephen F. Bocklage. George Daniel Plvan was ordained on Sunday, January 22, 1956 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Cleveland, OH now located in Parma, OH. The bi-lingual service was conducted by Pastors Leopold Jarosi and George Vojtko. Pastor Vojtko delivered the sermon, based on 1 Timothy, 1:12, "I thank my Lord Jesus Rev. Stephen Bocklage & Rev. George Plvan Christ for having considered me faithful, putting me into the ministry." Pastor Jarosi, who had baptized and confirmed George Plvan conducted the Rite of Ordination. A dinner was held in the church auditorium after the worship service. Those present were invited to the reception hosted and sponsored by the congregation’s Lutheran Ladies League. As a part of the celebration of the anniversary of Rev. Plvan, a number of congratulatory letters from former Vicars and from the children of Rev. and Mrs. Plvan were read. At the conclusion of the service, which was broadcast over Emporia radio station WEVA, Rev. Plvan addressed the congregation speaking on highlights of his six decade ministry. These included a year teaching at Emmanuel Lutheran College and Seminary in Greensboro, NC.; ministry from 1956 to 1970 at St. John the Baptist Lutheran Church, Emporia, VA; and ministry at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and School from 1970 to 1994. During the ministry of George Plvan in Emporia the congregation relocated and built the church, educational wing and fellowship hall on US 58 Emporia west. While a pastor at Holy Trinity in Garfield, NJ, he supervised the internship\vicarage of 17 men from the seminaries who were preparing for ministry in The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. He also served as Interim Pastor of churches without pastors in Yonkers, NY, Dickson City and Hazleton, PA and Clark, NJ. Following his retirement and return to south side Virginia he served as Interim Pastor at King of Glory LC, Williamsburg, VA; Nazareth LC, Hopewell, VA; and Grace LC, Chester, VA. Vera and George Plvan were married on January 13th at Zion Lutheran Church in Chicago, IL by Pastor John Bajus.