Third Sunday in Lent
March 07, 2010
Ezekiel 33:7-20 Psalm 85
1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Luke 13:1-9

Mr. and Mrs. Beaver speak about Aslan who is the Lord as a Lion in C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: "Is – is he a man?" asked Lucy. "Aslan a man?" said Mr. Beaver sternly. … "Aslan is a lion – the Lion, the great Lion." "Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion." "That you will, dearie, and no mistake," said Mrs. Beaver, "if there’s any who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly." "Then he isn’t safe?" said Lucy. "Safe?" said Mr. Beaver. "Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good."

Yahweh is not safe, but he is good, very good. He is no "Captain Kangaroo" or "Mr. Rogers." Yes, there are biblical images that say he is a caring Shepherd (Ps. 23), a nursing mother (Ps. 131), a mighty redeemer (Job 19:25). But these images do not justify removing the claws or the fangs from the Lion. This God sends fires and earthquakes. His wrath and anger are real. What could have unleashed such fury against a people whom he calls "my people" (7:15; 8:2)? This is the burden of the book of Amos.

The season of Lent began on February 17^th. We are having a pulpit rotation with some of the other Pastors in the area. The schedule for the remaining Wednesdays is found below. The theme for our Lenten series is taken from the Book of Amos, "Restore the Roar". Materials will be taken from Dr. Reed Lessing, Seminary professor at Saint Louis and the commentary he authored on the book of Amos. Christ’s Words have teeth and His voice is like a roar.

Our Lenten Series based on the Old Testament book of Amos continues

    The Youth Group is the host for the Lenten Supper on February 24.  We also still have some coupon books that we desperately want to sell, so that you can take advantage of lots of great coupons!  The profits we collect are helping to fund our trip to the National Youth Gathering this summer in New Orleans (there will be a total of 9 youth and adults attending the gathering.)  In the past, many Concordia members enjoy purchasing Butter Braids at Easter time.  We are looking into providing this fundraiser again this Lenten Season - watch the bulletin for announcements!

    Many of you may have purchased the chicken dinners the PTL sold recently.  In conjunction with Lutheran High School our Youth Group will be doing a similar fundraiser on Friday, April 23.  Any dinners our youth sell will send the profits back to Concordia's Youth Group.  We will be providing more information later, but please plan to help support our youth as they prepare for "WE BELIEVE", the 2010 National LCMS Youth Gathering, July 17-21 in New Orleans.  A reminder that all youth are also encouraged to attend the Youth Bible Study every Sunday morning at 9 am.

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    Like many of you I have been singing hymns from one of our Lutheran hymnals my entire life.  It is difficult to say which are my favorites, as I love so many of them for both their wonderful biblical texts and their melodies.  One of my favorites during the season of Lent is, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."  Another favorite we sang recently in church is, "My Faith Looks Up to Thee."  What's interesting is that I recently discovered that both of these tunes were composed by the same person, "Lowell Mason (1792-1872).  In fact Lowell Mason wrote nearly 700 hymn tunes.  If you are ever curious, note the lower lefthand portion of the pages in LSB - that's where they list both the text and tune writer for each hymn. 

    When Mason moved to Boston to publish a major hymn book he met Ray Palmer, a busy 24 year old Yale University student who was preparing for the ministry.  Mason asked if he might write a hymn for his new collection.  Palmer admitted he had little time to help but pulled out of his briefcase a poem he had written two years earlier, "My Faith Looks Up to Thee."  Palmer wrote of his poem, "It is well-remembered that when writing the last line, 'Oh, bear me safe above, a ransomed soul!' the thought that the whole work of redemption and salvation was involved in those words, and suggested the theme of eternal praises, and this brought me to a degree of emotion that brought abundant tears."  He claimed he never had the slightest thought of writing the poem for anyone to see, least of all having it turned into a hymn.  After Mason composed the perfect melody for the hymn he told Palmer, "Mr. Palmer, you may live many years and do many good things, but I think you will be best known to posterity as the author of 'My Faith Looks Up To Thee.'"

    I admit that there are times the singing of such hymns also brings me to tears as I reflect on the great love our Savior had for us, that he was willing to suffer and die on our behalf.  Those tears are also ones of great joy as (in the words of Job and another loved hymn) "I know that my Redeemer lives!"  Jesus' resurrection is the reason we can sing:                    

                   "When ends life's transient dream,
                    When death's cold, sullen stream
                    Shall o'er me roll,
                    Blest Savior, then, in love,
                    Fear and distrust remove;
                    O bear me safe above,
                    A ransomed soul!

Denise Hennig

The Ladies Aid will meet on Tuesday March 16^th at 1 pm.

Please join us and bring a friend.

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Anyone who may be interested, we now have the ability to do direct deposit transfers. We advertised at the beginning of the school year that if it would be of any help to you, we can set up your tuition payments to be directly transferred from your account to save you the time of writing out those pesky checks. In addition, we can now also do direct transfers for Church contributions as well. If anyone is interested call the church office. It is very easy to set up. All we need is the date you would like funds to transfer, the dollar amount you wish to transfer and a copy of a check or a voided check. You can stop the transfers just as easily, if it turns out that this program is not working for you. If you are interested in this or have any questions, please call the office.

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