Athens Lutheran Church Newsletter

February 2017

Serving with Love & Commitment

To my fellow saints,

It is bitter sweet that I write this final newsletter to this great congregation of saints. I came to this church straight out of

seminary as a rookie in June of 2008 and everyone took me in and built me up to who I am today. I remember that my

first action as a pastor was to do a funeral for a family that was not members of this church and I did

it the day before I was installed. I tell that story often to people because it speaks to the character of

this church. No matter whom you are or what denomination you walk in your relationship with Jesus

Christ in, the people of this church want to share the love of Christ with you. I have been here for

8 ½ years and I have loved my time serving you more than I can ever truly put into words. We have

been a real family and that means the world to me. A real family does not get along all the time, they

disagree, argue, and get upset at one another, but in the end they always- always come back together

and work together, loving and forgiving one another.

This is our church and I could not be more proud to be a part of it because we time and time again show how much we

mean to one another by working side by side for the glory of our Savior Jesus Christ. We have been through a lot

together and have accomplished a great deal for the kingdom of Christ. I think what I am most proud of is that we are

never afraid to try something new even if it does not turn out the way we expected. I have always said that we never

know who we will have an impact on and those words are still true today. We have touched many lives together and I

know even in my departure you will continue to change the lives of the people of this community. Even though it is

very hard for me to leave everyone here, I know that whoever takes the reigns you will love and help guide him as you

did for me, and you will simply do it because it’s who you are, loving children of our Father in heaven. That man will

be a very blessed man because of you.

There is still so much to be done and I know without a shadow of a doubt that you will carry on

and be even greater than what you are now. So my last challenge for everyone is to not let up

and slack off but to use this opportunity to reinvigorate you to do even more for our community.

We have hit a stride with our PTSD meetings for our vets, and have recently partnered with

TWC in their food bank, keep on getting out into our community and the surrounding towns to find the lost, help the

poor so that they can know the love of Christ Jesus.

I have faith in every one of you that you can do the impossible with God. For me, I am looking

forward to helping out a new church that needs direction and leadership. They like you have so

much possibility yet they do not have anyone to lead them. I know I can help them as I helped you

so that is why I took the call. I want them to have what you have so that they can accomplish great

things as well for our Lord. I will miss you terribly and pray for you every week and even though I will not be here

physically I will keep in touch and you too can always reach out to me for anything. Remember we are a family bound

together in faith by Jesus and though I am going to be in a different state I will always be with you and I will do

whatever I can for you.

So until our paths cross again, simply know that I love you and thank you for all of your

kindness shown to me and my family.

In God, Pastor Jace Detrie

Our Gifts to the Lord

January 2016

January Budget: $12,107.31

Received this month: $12,742.86

January Expenses: $11,721.65

Difference: $1,021.21

February Birthdays:

1st Janis Wenzel 7th Taylar Hanley Alison Walker Donna Tischhauser 24th Bob Kappen

26th Gabriel Brakebill

February Anniversaries:

14th Bruce & Lisa Matter Mark & Laura Trentham 17th Butch & Shelia Quillen 18th Ed & Peggy Sliger

January Attendance:

8am 10:30 am SS

1-1 14 42 18

1-8 52 18

1-15 12 33

1-22 11 52 34

1-29 15 64 31

Don’t be what’s missing from

this picture!

Sisters of the Heart has taken on the ministry of

School needs and students. We are re-stocking the

teachers with necessary supplies. See the web site

for a complete list.

Megan Thomas is working on a

plan to involve youth in monthly

activities to bring new families

and young people into the church.

One of my favorites is…... ‘I Love To Tell The Story’ Author - A. Katherine Hankey 1834-1911 and Composer- William G. Fischer 1835-1912.

The Evangelical emphasis or movement really began in England during the mid-eighteenth century with the ministries

of such as leaders as George Whitefield and John and Charles Wesley. The movement in its earliest days reached

mainly the lower and middle classes of society with the upper classes remaining quite aloof from its influence. During

the nineteenth century, however, the evangelical movement began to have considerable influence on the upper class as

well. One such influential group was known as the Clapham Sect because the activities of this group centered in the

suburb of Clapham in SW London. These men were wealthy evangelical philanthropists, students of the Bible, and

men of prayer. They gave freely of their time, talents and money to spread the gospel. Though these individuals

generally maintained their membership within the Anglican Church, their emphasis was always on the necessity of

personal conversion and guidance by the Holy Spirit rather than on a mere reliance upon the sacraments and rituals of

the Church. There are numerous examples of the zealous ministries carried on by these Christian Laymen, including a

number of members of Parliament, who exercised great compassion upon the masses of impoverished people in the

UK.

Katherine Hankey was born in 1934, the daughter of a wealthy English Banker. Though the members of her family

were prominent members of the Anglican Church, they were always associated with its more evangelical faction. She

organized Sunday School classes for rich and poor through London. These classes had a profound influence through-

out the city with a large number of the students in turn becoming zealous Christian workers. Kate also did considerable

writing, including such works as Bible Class Teachings, a booklet on confirmation, as well as a number of books of

verse. All of the royalties from these publications were always directed to some foreign missions project. At the age

of 30, Katherine experienced a serious illness. During a long period of recovery she wrote a lengthy poem on the life

of Christ. The poem consisted of two main sections, each containing sixty verses. The first poem was entitled “The

Story Wanted”. It was from part of her poem that she later adapted the words for another of her familiar hymn tests,

“Tell Me the Old, Old Story”. This Hymn has since become another of the church’s favorite classic children’s hymn.

Later that same year, still recovering from her illness, Katherine completed the second part of her poem on the life of

Christ. This sequel to the first section was entitled “The Story Told.” From these verses came the text for “I Love to

tell the Story” (written in the same meter but with a different accent.) Being musically inclined, Kate also composed

her own tunes for these 2 texts. Her hymns received little notice until 1867 at a large YMCA convention. Major Gen-

eral William H Doane, composer of more than 2,000 gospel songs. He was greatly moved by Kate’s Hymn and

promptly composed musical settings for both texts. Later a new musical setting replaced Doane’s music by a

composer William Fischer, a Philadelphia musician and piano dealer. These hymns are still used widely today.

I love to tell the story….. Of unseen things above….. of Jesus and His glory…. Of Jesus and His love….

I love to tell the story…. Because I know ‘tis true… It satisfied my longings… As nothing else can do.

Series: 101 Hymn Stories – By: Kenneth Osbeck , 1982 from Kregel Publications

(In 1982 Kenneth Osbeck published a book called 101 Hymn Stories. This book gives us

some insight into the composition and inspiration of some of our favorite hymns.)

Favorite Hymns and Their Story

I have not decided on a title for this devotion. I just want to write to you.

This will be my last devotion for the Athens Lutheran Church Newsletter. After much prayer and thought, and

study, my wife and I have decided to move on. I have been a member of our Lutheran church for seven years,

almost eight. I was so excited when Pastor Jace asked me to be part of our fellowship. Before I was a member,

he had asked me to substitute for his class. He had also invited me to take our Men’s Bible study to the church

from our home. I was honored and grateful for the opportunity. Since that time, we have lost four regulars who

have gone home to be with the Lord. They were all blessings to us in their own way. The Lord had led me to

Athens Lutheran Church and now He is directing me away. I guess that is why I like this title to the devotion,

“Called of God.”

9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" (Genesis 3:9). I remember reading a devotion this month

called “Listening to God.” A mother was telling about her hearing her voice and how much he liked hearing it, except

when she calls his name loudly and sternly, followed by the question, “Where are you?” She goes on to say that she

wants her son to listen to her voice because she is concerned about his well-being and does not want him to get hurt.

Adam and Eve were used to hearing God’s voice in the garden. However, after they disobeyed Him by eating the

forbidden fruit, they hid from Him when they heard Him calling, “Where are you?” When God called for Adam and

Eve and found them in the garden, His words did include correction and consequence (vv. 13–19). However, God also

showed them kindness and gave them hope for mankind in the promise of the Savior (v. 15). God does not have to look

for us. He knows where we are and what we are trying to hide. However, as a loving Father, He wants to speak to our

hearts and bring us forgiveness and restoration. He longs for us to hear His voice—and to listen. I like the phrase “He

longs for us to hear His voice—and to listen.” That is exactly how I want to make decisions. When God calls we need

to answer. “He went out, not knowing whither he went” (Hebrews 11:8).

Oswald Chambers comments: “Have you been ‘out’ in this way? If so, there is no logi-

cal statement possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. One of the difficulties

in Christian work is this question—‘What do you expect to do?’ You do not know what

you are going to do; the only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Have

you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell

you what He is going to do; He reveals to you Who He is. Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you go

out in surrender to him until you are not surprised an atom at anything He does?” This is the question I ask myself,

especially when it comes to this decision. I want to surrender to Him entirely. He continues… “You have to learn to

go out of convictions, out of creeds, out of experiences, until, as far as your faith is concerned, there is nothing between

yourself and God.”

“They laid hold upon one Simon . . . and on him, they laid the cross” (Luke 23:26). Oswald Chambers comments

again: If we obey God, it is going to cost other people more than it costs us, and that is where the sting comes in. If we

are in love with our Lord, obedience does not cost us anything, it is a delight, but it costs those who do not love Him a

good deal. If we obey God it will mean that other people’s plans are upset. We can prevent the suffering; but if we are

going to obey God, we must not prevent it, we must let the cost be paid. We can disobey God if we choose, and it will

bring immediate relief to the situation, but we shall be a grief to our Lord. Whereas if we obey God, He will look after

those who have been pressed into the consequences of our obedience. We have simply to obey and to

leave all consequences with Him.” I realize some will be disappointed at this decision, but if we

obey, He will take care of the consequences. hom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I,

Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8). Jesus said, 19 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,

teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the

very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20). My desire is to fulfill this mission to the best of my ability.

The call of God is not for the special few, it is for everyone. Whether or not I hear God’s call depends upon the state of

my ears; and what I hear depends upon my disposition. When Our Lord called His disciples there was no irresistible

compulsion from outside. The quiet, passionate insistence of His “Follow Me”

Devotions With Bob…. February 2017

Final Devotion—Called of God

was spoken to men with every power wide-awake. If we let the Spirit of God bring us face to

face with God, we too will hear something akin to what Isaiah heard, the still small voice of God;

and in perfect freedom will say —“Here am I; send me.”

Oswald Chambers comments: “When we speak of the call of God, we are apt to forget the most

important feature, viz. [namely], the nature of the One Who calls. There is the call of the sea, the

call of the mountains, the call of the great ice barriers; but these calls are only heard by the few.

The call is the expression of the nature from which it comes, and we can only record the call if

the same nature is in use. The call of God is the expression of God’s nature, not of our nature. There are strands of

the call of God providentially at work for us, which we recognize, and no one else does. It is the threading of God’s

voice to us in some particular matter, and it is no use consulting anyone else about it. We have to keep that profound

relationship between our souls and God. The call of God is not the echo of my nature; my affinities and personal

temperament are not considered. The call of God is not the echo of my nature; my affinities and personal

temperament are not considered. As long as I consider my personal temperament and think about what I am fitted

for, I shall never hear the call of God. However, when I am brought into relationship with God, I am in the condition

Isaiah was in. Isaiah’s soul was so attuned to God. The majority of us have no ear for

anything but ourselves, we cannot hear a thing God says. To be brought into the zone of

the call of God is to be profoundly altered.” When God calls, will you also say, "Send

me"? Matthew Henry comments: “It is great comfort to those whom God sends, that they

go for God, and may therefore speak in his name, assured that he will bear them out.”

Conclusion: “Separated unto the Gospel” (Romans 1:1). Do you see your calling? Our calling is not primarily to be holy men

and women, but to be proclaimers of the Gospel of God. The one thing that is all-important is that the Gospel of God

should be realized as the abiding Reality. Reality is not human goodness, nor holiness, nor heaven, nor hell, but

Redemption; and the need to perceive this is the most vital need of the Christian worker to-day. As workers, we have

to get used to the revelation that Redemption is the only Reality. Personal holiness is an effect, not a cause, and if we

place our faith in human goodness, in the effect of Redemption, we shall go under when the test comes. Paul chose

to be completely dependent on and obedient to his beloved Master. What is your attitude toward Christ, your Master?

Our willingness to serve and obey Jesus Christ enables us to be useful and usable servants to

do work for him—work that really matters. Obedience begins as we renounce other

masters, identify ourselves with Jesus, discover his will and live according to it, and

consciously turn away from conflicting interests, even if these interests have been important

to us in the past. I have chosen to be completely dependent and obedient to the Lord. I want

to listen to Him as He speaks to me in His Word. I want to hear His Spirit speak to me and

be obedient.

“I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you . . .” (Romans 1:8). It has been an experience

coming back to my roots, growing up in the Lutheran Church in Wisconsin. I have great admiration

for the Lutheran faith. I enjoyed the freedom of worshiping in our praise and worship service,

reading from God’s Word in the Old Testament and Epistle readings, and especially our friendship

with Pastor Detrie. I am grateful for the opportunity to teach the Men’s Community Bible Study,

and the substituting I have done for the Pastor’s Sunday Bible study.

My prayer is that you will always be faithful to the Lord and His work. Listen to Him when He

speaks to you, and do not be afraid to step out in faith when You hear His voice calling. I have

learned that His way is always the best way, even when we do not understand why.

May God richly bless you, Bob Halvorson