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CALVARY COMMENT August 2016

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CALVARY COMMENT August 2016 CALVARY COMMENT August 2016 from the Pastor Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church Lord Jesus is Above Al Tings The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Many of the Church’s hymns rightly focus on the acts that the LORD performs for His people. Those acts provide a rationale for praising English District Him, as Christians offer worship for what the LORD has done for 208 Woods Drive, PO Box 374 them. That is not only seen in the Church’s hymnody, but in the Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 psalms and canticles of the Scriptures. But other hymns are focused on the LORD’s attributes. They laud the LORD’s uniqueness, how The Rev. Luke T. Zimmerman, Pastor He differs from humanity and other parts of His creation. Lyrics testify about the LORD’s holiness and greatness, His power and The Rev. Dr. Thomas D. Kraus, might. Such hymns are often listed in the “Praise and Adoration” Pastor Emeritus section of the hymnal; those specifically written about Jesus might be Church Office: 717.697.9771 grouped in the “Redeemer” section. Preschool: 717.796.1369 Email: One of the hymns in the category is “Beautiful Savior.” An [email protected] anonymous hymn from Germany, it was translated by Joseph Seiss Parish Web Site: [1823–1904], a Lutheran clergyman and academic who served in www.calvarylutheranmechanicsburg.org Philadelphia during most of his career. The hymn has appeared in most English Lutheran hymnals since the early 20th Century, becoming part of the standard American Lutheran repertoire. Its text worships Jesus, noting how He surpasses the grandeur of all things in creation. Stewardship Corner It’s Our Response to a Gift! Beautiful Savior, King of creation, Luke 10:25 “And behold, a lawyer stood Son of God and Son of Man! up to put him to the test, saying, Truly I’d love Thee, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit Truly I’d serve Thee, Light of my soul, my joy, my crown. eternal life?’” Talk about the wrong [Lutheran Service Book 537:1] question! You can’t do anything to inherit something – it’s either yours by The hymn opens with several titles that denote Jesus’ identity. The birth or you are not in the family and following stanzas develop the ideas that those titles convey. Stanza 1 there’s nothing you can do to inherit it. also includes vows of love and service. These are declarations of a We are part of the family through true disciple of Jesus. The vows echo the Psalter: “Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your Baptism. We don’t have to buy our way holy hill and to your dwelling! Then I will go to the altar of God, to into the Kingdom – we are brought in by God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, the precious Blood of Christ. Our good my God.”(Ps 43:3-4) They also allude to the prophesied end for all the works are not the purchase price of the LORD’s people: “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and Kingdom – they are simply what the come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; children of the Father want to do in they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee thanksgiving to Him. away.”(Is 35:10) continued on page 2 1 Fair are the meadows, Beautiful Savior, Fair are the woodlands, Lord of the nations, Robed in flowers of blooming spring; Son of God and Son of Man! Jesus is fairer, Glory and honor, Jesus is purer, Praise, adoration He makes our sorrowing spirit sing. Now and forevermore be Thine! [Lutheran Service Book 537:2] [Lutheran Service Book 537:4] Stanza 2 compares Jesus to the meadows and woodlands. Stanza 4 provides a doxology for Jesus. His title “Beautiful The meadows and woodlands are rightly described as Savior” is repeated. So is the testimony about His divine “fair.” Jesus Himself spoke of the beauty of flowers: and human natures: “Son of God and Son of Man.” Because “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they of His attributes, Jesus is truly worthy of praise, while neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all adoration of the creation is not. That is important to his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”(Mt 6:28b-29) But remember: the Creator is to be worshiped, not the the glory that Jesus possesses is greater than both creatures. Speaking about pagan humanity, Paul notes the Solomon and the lilies of the field. For Jesus doesn’t grave error when that is reversed: “For although they possess a temporal beauty nor does He have a majesty knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks simply to show off. Instead, Jesus’ superiority is in both to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their having a greater glory than creation and using that glory foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they to raise up fallen humanity: “The LORD is high above all became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal nations, and his glory above the heavens! Who is like the God for images resembling mortal man and birds and LORD our God, who is seated on high, who looks far animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up down on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to of their bodies among themselves, because they make them sit with princes, with the princes of his exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped people.”(Ps 113:4-8) and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”(Ro 1:21-25) In our day, such Fair is the sunshine, adoration of the creation continues to be seen, too often to Fair is the moonlight, the ignoring or denigrating of God. Bright the sparkling stars on high; Jesus shines brighter, But we have come to know that our Lord Jesus is above Jesus shines purer all things. Not only is Jesus superior, He uses that Than all the angels in the sky. superiority for our benefit: “He is the image of the [Lutheran Service Book 537:3] invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and Stanza 3 continues the comparison of Jesus to the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or creation. This time, the point of comparison is in the light authorities—all things were created through him and for that shines from the sun, moon, and stars. That light him. And he is before all things, and in him all things provides guidance and direction, so that humanity may hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. work in this world. But Jesus has a greater radiance than He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all the celestial beings because of His nature: “He is the everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”(Col 1:15-20) the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as Our “Beautiful Savior” gives us the grandeur of His much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is righteousness for us to possess. For that, there is nothing more excellent than theirs.”(Heb 1:3-4) The superior glory better to do than to make the hymn’s lyrics about Jesus that Jesus possesses guides mankind to true life: “And the our own: “Truly I’d love Thee, / Truly I’d serve Thee, / Light city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the of my soul, my joy, my crown.” glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be (This is the final article in a series of twelve articles on hymns that define our (Rv 21:23-25) shut by day—and there will be no night there.” journey in the Christian Life.) !2 Church Council Report: July 2016 ✦ The Stewardship Board is working on the Time & Talents survey. ✦ The Youth Board thanked Carolyn Stoner for her help with the Operation Barnabas Veteran Service Fair. The Board is also planning fall events as well as fund-raising projects so Calvary youth can attend the 2019 Youth Gathering. The goal is $14,000—$20,000. Upcoming Dates ✦ The Council followed through on Voters Assembly approval of two Monday-Wednesday, August 1–3 committees. Staffing Steering Committee will be Bruce Yerger Continuing Ed Class for Pastors (corporate officer), Bob Ardner (Deacon), and Brian Strickler (at-large). Sunday, September 11 Two additional at-large members are to be appointed at the August Rally Day for Sunday School Council meeting. Auditory Communication Committee will be Bonnie Schulte (corporate officer), John Getty (Deacon), and Jim Blockus (at- Tuesday, September 6 large).
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