504 Wallace Ave. (PO Box 64), Curtis, Nebraska • (308) 367-4238

Saint John’s Lutheran Church2017 • Vol. 4

REV. DERRICK C. BROWN 308.367.6625

pastor.dcbrown@gmail.com

Divine Service Sundays @ 9:00 a.m. followed by Adult Bible Study and Sunday School

Thanksgiving DayDivine Service — 9 a.m.

Advent ServicesWednesdays @ 6:30 p.m., December 6, 13, and 20th followed by fellowship and dessert

Christmas DayDivine Service — 9 a.m., Mon. Dec. 25

Council MeetingsSecond Sunday of the month — 7 p.m.

LWML MeetingsFirst Saturday of the month — 9 a.m.

Special Church Days

OCTOBER 18 St. Luke, Evangelist 23 St. James of Jerusalem,

Brother of Jesus and Martyr 25 C.F.W. Walther 28 St. Simon and St. Jude,

Apostles 31 Festival of the Reformation

NOVEMBER 1 All Saints Day 30 St. Andrew, Apostle

DECEMBER 3 First Sunday in Advent 21 St. Thomas, Apostle 25 The Nativity of our Lord 26 St. Stephen, Martyr 27 St. John, Apostle and Evangelist 28 The Holy Innocents, Martyrs

JANUARY 1 Circumcision and Name of Jesus 6 The Epiphany of our Lord 18 The Confession of St. Peter 24 St. Timothy, Pastor and

Confessor 25 The Conversion of St. Paul 26 St. Titus, Pastor and Confessor

Join us in the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Festivities are as follows on Tuesday, October 31, 2017:

Bring your favorite German-themed dish or dessert to share. The church will be providing bratwursts. Potluck starts at 6:00pm.

Divine Service begins at 7:00pm.

Following worship, the festivities will continue at the parsonage. Pastor and family will be hosting Gemütlichkeit — a German tradition of camaraderie and fellowship over a tasty beverage.

Keep an eye out for more details in upcoming bulletins.

Hope to see you there!

Harvest GiftsWith the harvest season soon upon us, farmers are encouraged to consider a gift to St. John’s Lutheran Church. Let Ag Valley Co-Op know that you would like to have a portion of the proceeds to be donated to St. John’s. What a great way to give of the first-fruits of the harvest!

OCTOBER 2 Dean Fichtner 3 Givanna Doyle 4 Quenton Mortensen 5 Brooklynn Gydesen 8 Oakley Stout 11 Iona Lenz 15 Del Van Der Werff 17 Kathy Prochaska 18 Harlan Grunden 20 Catherina Foster

NOVEMBER 2 Betty Schmelzer 8 Gorman Glaze 8 Shawn Standiford 9 Linda Foster 16 Louie Nutt 22 Dillon Mortensen

DECEMBER 1 Beverly Van Der Werff 3 David Nutt 6 Dale Nutt 14 Michael Meyers 14 Houston Avery Standiford 15 Marisa Foster 16 Kim Mortensen 19 Marsha Gardner 23 Acelyn Klein 23 Sue Fahrenbruch 25 Mike Foster 25 Wryleigh Doyle 26 Leslie Fahrenbruch 30 Mickey Nutt 30 Allison Brown

JANUARY 6 Colleen Sellers 6 Janet Johnston 12 Erin Pascoe 21 Louie Doyle 23 Carroll Holl 29 Jo Bek 30 David Mortensen 31 Kayla Sanderson 31 Lucas Einspahr

Birthdays

An Outlaw and International Hero Who Commended Himself and the

Church of the Reformation to Christ’s Mercy

An Outlaw and International Hero Who Commended Himself and the

Church of the Reformation to Christ’s Mercy

Martin Luther (Last Days)

Born: Nov. 10, 1483 | Eisleben, Germany

Died: Feb. 18, 1546 | Eisleben, Germany

Martin Luther (Last Days)

Born: Nov. 10, 1483 | Eisleben, Germany

Died: Feb. 18, 1546 | Eisleben, Germany

Condemned as an outlaw by the emperor following the Diet of Worms, Martin Luther returned to Wittenberg in 1522, where he remained for the duration of his life filling the role of an administrator of a new church. Due to his reforms, he became internationally known and was looked to for guidance. During this period, he developed many of his mature doctrines to respond to new ideas about the Lord’s Supper and good works. He also faced challenges posed by the Peasants’ Revolt and civil disobedience. Furthermore, he empowered the laity to be active participants in theological discussion and encouraged them to read the Scriptures themselves along with his catechisms. During these years, Luther continually defended himself both against Roman opponents and also against other reformers who did not think his reforms had gone far enough. Due to this battle on two fronts as well as his failing health, Luther became harsher in his rhetoric in his later years.

Condemned as an outlaw by the emperor following the Diet of Worms, Martin Luther returned to Wittenberg in 1522, where he remained for the duration of his life filling the role of an administrator of a new church. Due to his reforms, he became internationally known and was looked to for guidance. During this period, he developed many of his mature doctrines to respond to new ideas about the Lord’s Supper and good works. He also faced challenges posed by the Peasants’ Revolt and civil disobedience. Furthermore, he empowered the laity to be active participants in theological discussion and encouraged them to read the Scriptures themselves along with his catechisms. During these years, Luther continually defended himself both against Roman opponents and also against other reformers who did not think his reforms had gone far enough. Due to this battle on two fronts as well as his failing health, Luther became harsher in his rhetoric in his later years.

T H E L U T H E R A N C H U R C H — M I S S O U R I S Y N O DConco rd i aHi s t o r i c a l In s t i t u t e . o r g

T H E L U T H E R A N C H U R C H — M I S S O U R I S Y N O DConco rd i aHi s t o r i c a l In s t i t u t e . o r g

LutheranReformation.org LutheranReformation.org

F A C E S O F T H E R E F O R M A T I O N F A C E S O F T H E R E F O R M A T I O N

© 2017 LCMS © 2017 LCMS

Please check the bulletin board for a posted copy of the

Congregational Minutes, Council Minutes, Treasurer’s

Report, and the LWML Minutes. You are welcome to make

a photocopy of them if so desired.

OCTOBER 11 Lisa Carol Ehlers 13 Quenton Allan Mortensen 13 Garrett Lee Foster 21 Donita Werkmeister 24 Kaylee Rae Stewart 26 Troy Werkmeister

NOVEMBER 1 Oakley Stout 3 Johanna Esther Nutt 4 Lane Welch 12 Casey Anderson 15 Kathy Ann (Ehlers) Prochaska 23 Randi Lee (Anderson) Houghtelling 23 Hudson Brenner Stout 27 Rodney Anderson 27 Sienna Lee Houghtelling 27 Javen Michael Houghtelling

DECEMBER 22 Kessy Ann (Hansen)Heinzle 23 Clarence Lamont Brown 23 Dillon John Mortensen 25 Booker Stout 29 Jaylee Dack 30 Faith Louise Brown

JANUARY 15 Houston Avery Standiford 28 Vernon Hansen

OCTOBER 6 Shawn & Melanie Standiford 18 Del & Bev Van Der Werff 18 Roger & Carolyn Petersen 29 Lester & Mickey Nutt

NOVEMBER 1 Troy & Jessica Einspahr 16 Troy & Kessy Heinzle 18 Pastor & Kris Brown 25 Michael & Carla Meyers

DECEMBER 23 Louie & Linda Nutt 29 Chad & Tina Stewart

JANUARY 2 Harlon & Tammy Grunden 6 Wayne & Colleen Sellers 10 Paul & Kathy Prochaska

Remembering Our Baptism

AnniversariesCharitable OrganizationsPrayerfully consider one (or more) of these charitable organizations to be a recipient of a mission donation. Voting will take place at the November Congregational Meeting. Please let one of the elders know if you would like to add a charitable organization to the list below.

Mission Central 40718 County Highway E 16 Mapleton, IA 57034

Sponsor a missionary family.

Adopt A Seminarian Sponsor a seminarian.

Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN and/or Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO

Lutheran Bible Translators P.O. Box 789 Concordia, MO 64020

They make God’s Word accessible to those who do not yet have it in the language of their hearts.

Lutherans in Africa 7500 State Road Parma, OH 44134

They form African Christians to be Teachers of the Faith

Lutheran World Relief P.O. Box 17061 Baltimore, MD 21298-9832

They help families in the world’s poorest communities build the resilience they need to thrive.

Bethesda Lutheran Communities, Inc. 600 Hoffmann Dr. Watertown, WI 53094

They provide homes and other services for people with developmental disabilities to help them live the lives they want.

Doxology 3415 Tall Oaks Dr. Brookfield, WI 53045

The Lutheran Center for Spiritual Care and Counsel

Lutherans For Life 1101 5th St. Nevada, IA 50201-1816

Equipping Lutherans to be Gospel-motivated voices For Life

Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Campaigns and Special Initiatives 1333 S. Kirkwood Road St. Louis, MO 63122

Our mission is to ignite and fuel a uniquely Lutheran response to increasing intrusions, limitations and challenges by the government in the life of the Church, while educating, encouraging and equipping LCMS members and organizations to take informed action in support of marriage, life and religious freedom.

Lutheran Braille Workers 13471 California St. P.O. Box 500 Yucaipa, CA 92399

They provide Braille and specialized Large Print Bibles free of charge for the visually impaired.

Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska Lexington, Gothenburg, North Platte

They provide foster care and adoption services, as well as family counseling, addiction services and other community services.

Orphan Grain Train 601 W. Phillip Ave. P.O. Box 1466 Norfolk, NE 68702

A Christian volunteer network that shares personal and material resources with needy people in America and around the world.

Lutheran Heritage Foundation 51474 Romeo Plank Macomb, MI 48402

A Christian mission organization dedicated to translating, publishing, distributing and introducing Lutheran materials for the Church around the world.

Mercy Meals of Southwest Nebraska P.O. Box 474 Wauneta, NE 69045

A non-profit organization that allows volunteers to package nourishing food that will be delivered by the Orphan Grain Train to children in need throughout the world.

KNGN — Real Christian Radio 1360 AM 38005 Rd. 717, McCook, NE 69001 www.facebook.com/stjohncurtis

We are nearing the 500th Anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation, All Saints’ Eve, 1517, when Martin Luther posted the Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. So, let’s hear from Luther himself on the topic of giving and stewardship.

In the Small Catechism under the Table of Duties, Martin Luther gives specific Bible passages to help Christians know their duty in their various vocations as members of their family, society at large, and in God’s family, the Church. Under the heading “What Hearers Owe Their Pastors,” Luther lists five passages from the Bible, three of which have to do with giving to your local congregation. They are these:

“The Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14).

“Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:6–7).

“The elders [presbyters, i.e., pastors] who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, ‘Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,’ and ‘The worker deserves his wages’” (1 Timothy 5:17–18).

Luther comments on these passages in his 1535 Lectures on Galatians. He wrote:

When Paul says “all good things,” this is not to be taken to mean that everyone should share all his possessions with his preacher. No, it means that he should provide for him liberally, giving him as much as is needed to support his life in comfort… The apostle is so serious in advocating this topic of support for preachers that

he adds a threat to his denunciation and exhortation, saying: “God is not mocked.”… All this pertains to the topic of support for ministers. I do not like to interpret such passages; for they seem to commend us, as in fact they do. In addition, it gives the appearance of greed if one emphasizes these things diligently to one’s hearers. Nevertheless, people should be taught also about this matter, in order that they may know that they owe both respect and support to their preachers. Christ teaches the same thing in Luke 10:7: “Eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages”; and Paul says else-where (1 Cor. 9:13–14): “Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the Gospel should get their living by the Gospel.” It is important for us who are in the ministry to know this, so that we do not have a bad conscience about accepting for our work wages…it happens when those who proclaim the glory of God and faithfully instruct the youth derive their livelihood from them. It is impossible that one man should be devoted to household duties day and night for his support and at the same time pay attention to the study of Sacred Scripture, as the teaching ministry requires. Since God has commanded and instituted this, we should know that we may with a good con-science enjoy what is provided for the comfortable support of our lives from church properties to enable us to devote ourselves to our office. (LW 27:125–126).

In other words, pastors are not to suffer from low wages just because they are servants of Christ and the Word. They are to share in the livelihoods of all to whom they preach the gospel and instruct in the faith, so that the Word can be proclaimed and the faith carried from one generation to the next.

Provided by www.lcms.org. Reprinted with permission.