Volume 21 Issue 11 November 2015 Foundations of Faith Newsletter of Faith Lutheran Church, 171 Eastmont Avenue, East Wenatchee, WA 98802 http://www.faithlutheranwen.com; phone (509) 884-7623; fax (509) 888-6463 from the Pastor Bishop and Christian* Are Lutherans Catholic? Depending on what you bound either to join them or admit that we are a mean by “catholic” the answer might vary. sect (which means that we have left the true Many—maybe most—people in the United Church of Christ and have formed our own little States and around the world hear “catholic” and enclave—a dangerous position if Christ has automatically think of the Roman Catholic promised to be with His Church.) Church. And that means that the Roman Church We really have only those two options: has done an excellent job of defining themselves accept the Roman claim, and join that church; or theologically. The word itself comes from two make the claim that we are the true catholic Greek words meaning “according to the whole.” Church. The second is the claim that our We might say “universal.” When the Roman Lutheran fathers made in the Augsburg Church calls itself the “Catholic” church, it is Confession and in the other documents in the confessing that it is the universal Church, visible Book of Concord. They essentially made the case in the structure under the pope. They are that it was Rome who had departed from the making a claim which we must answer, primarily catholic Faith, and that the “Evangelicals” because the majority of Christians around the (Lutherans) had kept it. True, our ancestors in world align themselves with the papacy. The the Faith removed the things in the liturgy and claim is this: we (the Roman Church) are the the calendar which had obscured the free Gospel Catholic Church of Christ on earth, and if you do of Jesus (such as prayers to saints and, especially, not join us, you may still be saved, but you are the definition of the Mass as the priest offering outside the Church. Your “church” (Lutheran or Jesus back to the Father for the sins of the otherwise) is not really Church, but a breakaway people), but we claimed (and still claim) to be sect. the heirs of all that the catholic Church had and This is a serious charge for Christians who was. want to claim a connection with the whole Continued on page 2-> Church throughout the world going back to the Apostles, and so to Jesus. Shall we concede the *St. Augustine (354-430 AD), Bishop of Hippo in North name and the theological claim of catholic to the Africa, said, “For you I am a bishop [overseer]; with you I am a Christian.” Roman Church? I suggest that if we do, we are Volume 21 Issue 11 November 2015 - 2 The only condition was that it could not be whose one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church opposed to the Scriptures and the Gospel; in we are. other words, whatever ritual or symbol was used, --Pr. Winterstein if it was not commanded or forbidden in the www.bishopandchristian.wordpress.com Scriptures, it could not be made into a law for [email protected] salvation. Which brings us to things to which Lutherans claim the right, but which “look” Roman. I will Faith Lutheran Church is a member let our first president, C.F.W. Walther (whose congregation of the Northwest District of the 204th birthday [October 25] we just celebrated!) Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. speak to that: “It is true that of all the church bodies which Pastor Rev. Timothy Winterstein have left the papacy, it is precisely the Lutheran Pastor Emeritus Rev. Elmer Haight, Jr. Church which is accused of retaining many papal Rev. Mick Marquardt abuses and of having been the least successful in Pre-school Director Laura Rosentrater cleansing itself. It is pointed out, for example, Parish Nurse Carol Trunzo that in our church priestly clothing, church Office Secretary Hollie Olson ornamentation, pictures, altar, crucifixes, candles, Newsletter Editor Tangren family confession, the sign of the cross, and the like are still apparent. But, my friends, whoever regards these innocent things as vestiges of the papacy Congregational Officers: knows neither what the papacy is, nor what the President Mark Maydole Bible teaches. The very fact that the Lutheran Vice-president Eric Loebsack Reformation was not aimed at indifferent Treasurer Tom Oelke adiaphora, but retained those things which were Financial Secretary Charlene Stone in harmony with God's Word, shows that it was Secretary Bonny Langford not a disorderly revolution, but a Biblical Elders Carl Ericksen reformation; for whatever did not agree with Robert Brunner God's Word was unrelentingly cleansed from the Mark Maydole church by the Lutheran Reformation even Jerry Tangren though it seemed to glow with angelic holiness.” In other words, there are differences between Rome and the Evangelical Catholic Our monetary offerings Church, but the above “indifferent” things are not the differences. Our theological claim is and has September 2015 offerings $15,798.76 always been that we are indeed the catholic Jan-Sep 2015 offerings $175,772.47 Church, teaching and confessing the truth that 2015 budget (9/12 months) $194,967.00 the Church has always confessed. That is why we keep the traditions which have been handed down to us through the centuries: not because Deadline for next newsletter is November 17 we or they are Roman, but because we and they Please place any items for the December are catholic, just as those earlier Christians were. Foundations of Faith newsletter in Lorna & Jerry As we celebrate All Saints' Day on November 1, Tangren’s church mailbox, or e-mail to rejoice in the fact that you are joined to all the [email protected]. saints of all times and places by the one Christ, Volume 21 Issue 11 November 2015 - 3 Announcements Serving the Lord with Gladness Evangelism Notes Women's Circle--LWML Greeters are needed for our worship services in A tremendous thank you to all in the November and December; we appreciate your congregation who supported all of our October kind welcome and smile as we enter the narthex. events! From the celebration of LWML Sunday, If you could participate, please sign up on the Fall Rally at Grace in Moses Lake, and the schedule beside the old narthex door or speak to Spaghetti Dinner. Diana (669-1161). The 38th Annual Advent Brunch will be on November Day of Prayer here at Faith will be Saturday, December 5th, 10 am – Noon. Tickets Thursday, November 5, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. will be on sale each Sunday, November 8th thru December Day of Prayer here will be Thursday, the 29th for $8.50 each. Ladies of the December 3, also 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. congregation are encouraged to invite un- churched friends to this festive holiday program that will focus on the true meaning of Christmas; November Tool of Evangelism our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Seating is As you share harvest/Thanksgiving meals clip limited; so, early ticket purchase is suggested. out and use the prayer card (page 11) to remind We have a tentative date set for our us of God (Creator Father, Savior, Holy Spirit Progressive Dinner for Saturday, December Counselor), our almighty abundant provider in 12th, beginning at 5 pm. Sign-up will begin in every need. mid-November. This event wasn’t attended very From the Evangelism committee. well last year, so we will be passing around a survey the first part of November to see if this is an event that the congregation is still showing interest in. Our Women’s Circle meeting in November will be on the 3rd, the first Tuesday of the month, at 7 pm in the church fellowship hall. The Christian Devotion topic, Mountaintop Journeys with Jesus will continue with LaVonne Grashuis’ presentation “Mountaintop of Victory over Temptation”. We encourage newcomers to come join us as we fellowship as sisters-in-Christ; responding to the LWML motto: “Serve the Lord with Gladness”. Psalm 100:2 Answer to Scrambled Scripture puzzle on page 10 Volume 21 Issue 11 November 2015 - 4 The evening will start promptly at five with fellowship in the Narthex. Enjoy Winterstein Brew, glühwein, and homemade pretzels for appetizers. The main menu will offer sauerbraten sausage, sweet and sour red …in style! cabbage, roasted Brussel sprouts, and kartoffel Celebrate Martin Luther’s and glace. Rivel kuchen is dessert. A children's birthday menu will be available. After the meal, Pastors Winterstein and Join us in the observation of Martin Luther's Marquardt will present on the life of Martin birthday on Saturday, November 21 at 5:00 PM. Luther. We'll all come away with a better Tickets will be available on November 10 so the understanding of the father of the Reformation menu team can get a count of participants. Tickets are free; however, a donation will be accepted at the dinner. www.lutheransforlife.org and to the widows, His wrath at the shedding of innocent blood. Just as every Lord’s Day should be Easter, with the proclamation of the Resurrection of Jesus, and Christmas, with the announcement of the Incarnation, so every Lord’s Day should highlight the worth and dignity of human life. I pray that my grandchildren and great-grandchildren will grow November 1 “Dear ones, in a culture and society up in an age when abortion is not just illegal but increasingly divided by ideas and behaviors, let unthinkable.” Dr.