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The Epistle 45227 271-4147 - Church Confirmation 271-4152 - Fax Www Year 149, Vol. 8 August 2017 Robert D. Mercer, Editor 5433 Madison Road Cincinnati, OH The Epistle 45227 271-4147 - Church Confirmation 271-4152 - Fax www . stpaulcinci . org Arielle Gladish June 24, 2017 Sunday Worship 9:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Rev. Timothy Beck Pastor Deaconess Sara Smith Human Care Stephanie Harrison Church Secretary Winston Vaughn Organist 1963-1965 Grace Beck Voice Choir Leah Bromen Bell Choir Nathan Bromen President Al Pleasant Vice President Bobbie Conour Secretary John Miller Financial Secretary Harold Smith Financial Treasurer Ken Wichman Board of Elders - Chair Emily Wichman Board Of Education - Chair Emily Wichman Sunday School Super. Rich Baumgart Trustee - Chair Dave Luppert Dates to Remember Mission Board - Chair th pm Denise Brown Saturday, August 5 Madisonville Street Fest 2 - 5:00 Women’s Ministries - Chair Saturday, August 19th Men’s Group (We the People) 9 - 10:30am th am Kris Beck Sunday, September 17 Church Picnic (Oktoberfest) 11:30 College Outreach Sunday, October 15th LHF Sunday (a return, thank-you visit) from Pastor Beck from Pastor Beck received the life of Christ. It In receiving the eternal word, we meet the same Transformed Minds happens because we were God that transformed Saul into Paul. We join forgiven. It happens because Luther’s grasping what it meant to be justified by Ever hear, “We no longer think like that and it’s The Church is called to something much bigger. the Holy Spirit brought us God. And we go forward to receive all that our impossible to go back.” Sociologists, philosophers Despite living in this world we are commanded to faith hearing that good Lord shall do until His return. Oh Christian, you and theologians say it. It refers to the current rules to not be of a thought-culture opposed to God. news. It happens as we hear have already entered the life of Christ. You were of the mind game, how society thinks. Long ago Oh Christian, you have been united to someone the Word and receive the forgiven through Jesus’ death in your stead. The the game masters were Plato and Aristotle. Then who transcends the moment. Although we grew Sacrament. Receiving the word and sacraments Holy Spirit worked faith in you, Descartes, Kant, and Nietzsche won Monopoly. up in a way thinking is done, we are not chained is how we present our bodies not to the world, and you entered the restoration Their rules can determine what you believe without to our age. We have the ultimate rule book (and but to the Lord (think about that!). Strengthened of righteousness that will be even knowing how you got there. For example, if the book is not just law). by our Lord’s gifts of renewal, He also sends complete when Christ returns in you’re under 50 you grew up hearing, “There is no testing that drives us to prayer and meditation on glory. Therefore, you endure the absolute truth.” That’s a conclusion drawn from the We, the Church, entered the Word that results in a faith which transcends testing of your faith, receiving philosophers rules about what people can know. eternity when baptized into every transient era. the Word that transforms your And if you object, the idea masters say you can’t the one who has all authority mind by the mind of Christ. return to an earlier rule-book. “The new edition is in heaven and earth, the one So when you hear, “you can’t go back,” remember how we understanding each other, the world, and… who will never leave us nor that you are united to the eternal. So you can The Church plays a different mind-game than the and God.” forsake us (Matthew 28:16- go to Christ’s 1st century teaching, or Martin world. We see all things through Christ’s eyes. We 20). We belong to Him. And Luther’s return to those teachings. You can go see things with the vision of God. That vision will be It’s true that we can’t go back in time look what is already yours to the promises of our Lord including His future despised by the world. And because sin still dwells to ancient Rome; although, if you (by faith). Scripture says believers have been return and say, “Here I stand. So help me God.” in us, we will not have 20-20 heaven-vision in this wish, you can listen to Mozart seated with Christ in heavenly places (Eph Jesus Christ remains. Therefore it remains for life. Yet we are being transformed. We are being wearing a powdered wig. You 2:6, Col 3:1). That has some significance for the Church to make disciples by baptizing and renewed through Christ’s gifts. We receive the can’t travel back to the old rugged this passing moment. For example, the Apostle teaching all that our Lord commanded. For in word and sacraments and are seated with Christ in cross, but you can see it on its says, I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by receiving His word we participate in the eternal. heavenly places. That’s more than reason enough own terms. But you can remove the mercies of God, to present your bodies In receiving His body and blood we rejoice with to gather in worship, receiving the Divine Service. the latest fashion in spectacles as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable angels, archangels, and all the host of heaven. It’s reason to rejoice in the study of God’s word that changes the focus of far off to God, which is your spiritual worship. We participate in what transcends time as we are where we share holy things, even Sabbath Rest. things – not that it’s easy. Do not be conformed to this world, but be being transformed by the renewal of our mind, a transformed by the renewal of your mind, restoration to the image of God. In Christ, On one hand, “you can’t go back” has a point, that by testing you may discern what is the Pastor Beck because today’s rules for thinking, behaving, will of God, what is good and acceptable What a glorious reason to run to the Divine communicating, sinning, living and dying have and perfect (Romans 11). Service, a place that transcends time and space. marked us. On the other hand, oh Christian, God Hearing Christ’s word, receiving His body and has made a far more profound mark on you, a holy We are born into a way of thinking opposed to blood, we receive forgiveness, life and salvation! mark of water with the word, a mark that united you God. But the Father sent His Son to restore us We worship with the saints above, angels, and to Christ. That mark transcends today’s mind-game through the forgiveness of our sins, seating us archangels in timeless and unchanging glory. rules. with Him in heavenly places. Then He began a This is where the Church dwells while we transformation called renewal. Read Titus 3:5 simultaneously live in this passing world. United The Church is called to be in the world but not of the and see how God our Savior, because of Christ’s to Christ, we’re freed from the mind-games that world. While we travel around the latest game-board justification, sends the Holy Spirit in baptism would bind us and keep us from receiving God’s we don’t conform to all the rules, we simply can’t. to work regeneration and daily renewal. You kingdom. Congregation President continued CongregationNathan Bromen President Madisonville Street Fest St. Paul will have a booth again at the Madisonville A Visit From The President! Street Fest on Saturday August 5 from 2:00 – 5:00 tried several types of marketing in the past, and at the corner of Madison Rd and Whetzel. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, some approaches have worked a bit, and others Jesus the Christ! strategic planning session. President Cripe said not so much. A widespread mailing seems less congregations often think, “if we just do this, or personal than a “face-to-face” invitation, and we This is always a great time and a wonderful No, President Trump is not coming to St. Paul, and if we change that, or if we try this”… What is it want to give a more personal, neighborly-minded opportunity to engage in our community. no I, as congregational president, am not coming within that sentence that stands out? The word approach. Visiting our neighbors and giving a to your house (unless it is for a Dinner for 8 – I’m “WE”. It is not what we do, but what God does personal invitation is consistent with the loving, Please see Deaconess Sara for more information. always in for food… ), but yes, we had a visit from through our collective faith within the Church. caring character of the members at St. Paul, Attachment is the poster for Street Fest. Ohio District President Terry Cripe on Tuesday, That made me reflect back on the guidance and as well as with Jesus. Events at the church July 18th! He has a goal to visit all 147 (or so) wisdom shared from and with the church council have also been successful in the past, as well Ohio District congregations during his current not too many months ago. We could easily be (and thanks once again to those on each of the 3-year term. Actually, it is a requirement in the too reactionary and try to change things in an outreach groups).
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