OCT2013 REFLECTIONS - OCTOBER, 2017 EVENTS IN OCTOBER 1 - LWML Sunday 1,8,15,22,29 - Regency Worship 4,18 - HHR Outreach 11,25 - Regency Outreach 14 - LWML 21 - Men’s Prayer Breakfast 28 - Renaissance Festival 29 - Reformation Sunday IN THIS ISSUE PAGE 1 - UPDATES PAGE 2 - FROM THE SW CORNER PAGE 4 - LWML PAGE 5 - THIS ‘N THAT PAGE 6 - FROM THE LOFT PAGE 7 - ON STEWARDSHIP PAGE 8 - KID’S CORNER PAGE 9 - FROM THE DCM PAGE 11 - FROM THE HEART PAGE 12– FROM THE ELDER PAGE 13 - BIRTHDAYS, FLOWERS PAGE 13 - MISSIONAL OUTREACH PAGE 14 - NEWCOMERS PAGE 15 - FROM THE ARCHIVES PAGE 16 - CALENDAR (256) 536-9987 www.ascensionhsv.org 2 REFLECTIONS - OCTOBER, 2017 FROM THE SW CORNER As a lifelong Lutheran, I am interested in all things Lutheran, especially now that we are celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. So, I was an eager attendee at last week’s showing of the newest Luther movie, “Martin Luther - the Idea that Changed the World.” I believe we did it right. The movie was shown in a commercial theatre before a satisfying number of fellow members and friends. Especially pleasing was the “documentary style” in which the movie was As Lutherans, we are first subjects beyond just the Lutheran presented, interested in his teachings of the faith. featuring both live doctrine and practices of the a c t i o n , church. We want to learn about As I watched the Luther movie interspersed with the Small Catechism, the last week, I remembered the first comments by students of Luther Augsburg Confession, Luther’s two Luther films I saw, one and church historians of various contribution to the liturgy and twenty plus years ago, and the backgrounds. Were they all LCMS the many hymns he composed, first one in 1953, that was shown or even Lutheran? I was asked. No, his marriage and how he in the movie theater of my home is the answer. A prominent established the Lutheran town in Illinois. Times have commentator was a Roman parsonage. But also in his many changed along with cinematic Catholic Cardinal. There were writings, Luther quality, but the others whom I did not know. made great person of Martin Together they made the case of contributions in Luther remains and Martin Luther’s contributions to the other fields. When also the nature of world. he translated the humanity. No matter Sacred Scriptures where or when we Pastor Ansorge into German, he were born, we b a s i c a l l y inherited the same formulated and corrupt sinful nature standardized the German that is shared by all people. We, language. He regularly submitted therefore, need the same pure his opinions on many other Gospel that Luther fought for subjects to princes and other with his life. This Gospel is the leaders of the small, scattered reason why, 500 years after German communities of northern Luther published his 95 Theses, Europe. This resulted in Luther’s we still devote our time and imprint on politics and other energy to celebrate the ASCENSION LUTHERAN REFLECTIONS - OCTOBER, 2017 3 Reformation as we are doing this year. This excites me even now. It makes me wonder…and even speculate…on how life was like during Luther’s time. Would it be fun to imitate the every-day behaviors and life-styles of medieval Germany? That’s exactly what the planning committee for our Renaissance-Reformation Festival on October 28 is planning for you. From the festival menu to the wearing The family of Martin Luther and of that era’s clothing styles to the Katherine von Bora included the activities of families for their education children: and entertainment, the committee wants to take you back into the 16th Century to sample life as Martin Luther lived it. You will find tasty and nourishing food served in a rather primitive way. There will be meat and potatoes to eat, beer and wine for adults to drink, apple cider and water for the kids - but you will not be burdened with 21st Century expectations. Your clothing will not be the latest stylistic creation, but it will serve you well. The word “modern’ was not yet coined. Most of the lighting will be provided by candles. That was the way of the 1520’s. Family groupings will be paramount. Hans Luther (June 7, 1526) Interested? Save the date of October 28 beginning at 4:00 PM. Elisabeth Luther (December 10, 1527) Don’t forget to prepare your Family Crest. Many medieval families Magdalena Luther (May 4, 1529) identified themselves with a crest or Martin Luther (November 9, coat of arms, usually an artistic 1531) display of various talents or Paul Luther (January 29, 1530) characteristics, illustrated in Margarete Luther (December 17, traditional heraldic colors. 1534) Need ideas? Here are some web Hans became a lawyer sites to help you. Mytribe101.com, Elisabeth died at 8 months of age allfamilycrests.com, Magdalena died at 13 years makeyoucoatofarms.com Martin studied theology, but died One final thought: why are we before becoming a minister at age doing this? For the reason of 33 celebrating the 500th anniversary of Paul became a famous doctor the Reformation, that is really, the Margarete married a nobelman 500th anniversary of the return of Holy Gospel of our Lord from its http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-39/martin-luthers- captivity under the medieval church later-years-gallery--family-album.html Love, Pastor Bernie (256) 536-9987 www.ascensionhsv.org ASCENSION LUTHERAN REFLECTIONS - OCTOBER, 2017 4 LWML permission to have a free day to kill as many Jews as he could, enlisting the entire counties of the kingdom to “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as partake in the killing spree. elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of Again, Mordecai found out about that plot, got word to Esther – who, by a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” this time, had been Queen for a few 1 Peter 3:3-4 years – and told her she needed to go to the king and protest this decree. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” – or so the saying goes. Supposedly, it was originally found in the Greek in 3 BC, credit Well, can you picture that? After given to Plato, and became the saying it is, today, by an author, some vacillating, humming and Margaret Wolfe Hungerford (née Hamilton), in 1878. Benjamin hawing around, stating that unless the Franklin had the same thought, which he wrote in Poor Richard’s king called anyone into his presence Almanack in 1741: “Beauty, like supreme dominion, is but (and she hadn’t been called for the supported by opinion.” past 30 days), no one could enter his door without being put to death, However it became known, the saying brings to mind one of the unless he held out his scepter and most beautiful women noted in the Bible, allowed them to enter, Mordecai said, Esther. Remember her story? An orphan, “Do not think that because you are in “adopted” by Mordecai (her Jewish uncle), the king’s house, you alone of all the and through the drama of palace life that Jews will escape. For if you remain happened between Queen Vashti and King silent at this time, relief and Xerxes, Esther was crowned queen because of deliverance for the Jews will arise her beauty - and the King falling in love with from another place, but you and your her. Did she have secrets, this Beauty? Well, father’s family will perish. And who she didn’t tell the king she was a Jew, for one, knows but that you have come to nor that Mordecai was her uncle. And when your royal position for such a time as Mordecai overheard a plot by two of the this?” (Esther 4:13-14) king’s own men to kill the king, Mordecai informed Esther, who informed the king We do know that Esther stepped up (giving credit to Mordecai), who then had the men impaled. Ugh. and did the right thing, although one can imagine Enter another bad guy – Haman. Elevated to the highest position how hard her under the king, himself, heart must Haman plotted to destroy the have been Jews – all of them in the beating as she kingdom – because he stood outside couldn’t stand the sight of the king’s Mordecai being outside the closed door, palace gates all the time and wondering if refusing to bow down to she’d live or Haman. Being a Jew made it die in the next even worse, so Haman got few minutes. (256) 536-9987 www.ascensionhsv.org ASCENSION LUTHERAN REFLECTIONS - OCTOBER, 2017 5 Was it her beauty, alone, that saved her? Or was it her heart and her spirit of compassion and love for her own This ‘n people – her courage - that might have decided King Xerxes’ response? That The women of the L W M L a r e Please Join Us! beautiful. They are examples of what God wants them to Please join us at this Action be – compassionate, courageous, mindful Team Fair event, hosted by your of whose they are local Thrivent Community a n d of the mission to which they have been called. Date: Saturday, October 21, 2017 They are daring, always Time: 9:30 —11:30 AM ready to witness, in spite of any fear of Place: Grace Lutheran Church retribution; they are 3321 South Memorial Parkway women of faith, women Huntsville, AL 35801 of “unfading beauty, of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth Learn how Thrivent Action Teams can help you benefit your favorite in God’s sight.” charitable organizations.