Monday, July 29, 2019

Something from .... Luther's "The Bondage of the Will" (entry #2)


INTRODUCTORY NOTES:  During the life of Martin Luther, Dutch scholar Desiderius Erasmus, was urged by Roman Catholic Church leaders to challenge Luther’s teachings and to condemn him.  Although Erasmus would rather have kept the peace in the Church, Erasmus was finally goaded into attacking Luther.  Erasmus intended to defend the official Roman Catholic teaching that God’s grace was needed to do the works by which man could then merit additional grace.  Luther’s response to Erasmus is known as The Bondage of the Will (De Servo Arbitrio).  Although Luther had published a myriad of writings in his career, he did not consider them worth preserving.  Luther regarded The Bondage of the Will as a rare exception to that rule.  In it, Luther writes at length that “free will” in spiritual matters is a lie, and that, if man actually has free will, then God loses such attributes as grace, omnipotence, and even his right to be God.

            The quotations from Luther in this blog post come from The Bondage of the Will translated by J. I. Packer and O. R. Johnston, Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, MI. © 1957.

            The following are thoughts concerning Luther’s arguments, urging us to LET GOD BE GOD.  Something from Luther’s The Bondage of the Will.


LET GOD BE GOD: Let God be clear.

            Do all teachings of God’s word matter?  Does love allow for some of God’s word to be a matter of preference?  Are we free to agree-to-disagree? 
            For example, Lutherans hold that Holy Baptism is a means by which God bestows forgiveness of sins, clothes people with the righteousness of Christ, marks people as his redeemed children, and sets them apart for himself for good works now and for eternity in heaven.  In short, we confess that “Baptism now saves you.” (1 Peter 3:21)  Evangelicals (e.g., non-denominational) argue that baptism does no such things; rather, it is the Christian who is doing something for God in his baptism.  Lutherans insist on baptism as a means by which God saves and state that we will not budge from our teaching and practice, which results in a division among Christians.  Evangelicals will respond that we should not get hung up on little things.
            But who gets to decide if baptism is a “little thing”?  Which teachings of God are not essential?  Which are negotiable?
            Luther insisted upon letting God clearly speaking in his word from which he made assertions.  There is no way we can know what must be taught if God has not spelled it out clearly.  To be in a state of confusion—or worse, in doubt!—about what God has said is a terrifying place to be.  What confidence can anyone have if he cannot know from God’s word what God clearly states?
Luther was driven back to God’s word to see what matters and what does not, to see when we must confess and when we must remain silent.  A serious study of God’s word does not lead us to dismiss things that are difficult or questionable; it leads us to confess those things appropriately.  If God states it, it is true.  It is to be taught and confessed.  If we are to shrug our shoulders about something (e.g., if we will see our pets in heaven), it is God who leaves the question mark there because he has chosen not to answer it.
            Let God be clear, and confess what is clearly taught in his word.  If God is clearly silent on some matters, then we will say so.  But we may not negotiate amongst ourselves about it.  We will let God make himself clear on which is which.  Something from Luther on the clarity of Scripture and the certainty of God’s teachings.
            “If you are referring to essential truths—why, what more irreligious assertion could a man possibly make than that he wants to be free to assert precisely nothing about such things?  The Christian will rather say this: 'So little do I like sceptical (sic) principles, that, so far as the weakness of my flesh permits, not merely shall I make it my invariable rule steadfastly to adhere to the sacred text in all that it teaches, and to assert that teaching, but I also want to be as positive as I can about those non-essentials which Scripture does not determine; for uncertainty is the most miserable thing in the world.'” (pages 68-69)

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Sermon -- 7th Sunday after Pentecost (July 28, 2019)

LUKE 10:1-12,16-20

JESUS TEACHES US ABOUT THE KINGDOM.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The Church has no secrets.  What we teach is taught publicly.  What we preach is proclaimed openly.  There are no secret hand shakes or passwords.  Secret rites are for Masons or other lodges which worship generic gods to be molded to one’s own liking.  But the Christian Church has no secrets.  Ceremonies are meant to teach, not conceal.  Our liturgical rites confess what we believe; they do not disguise it.  God has revealed plainly in his word what he wants us to know, to confess, and to teach about the kingdom of God.  Jesus teaches you about the kingdom as he reveals his mercy, forgiveness, salvation, and his instruction for godly living.  This we are to proclaim with boldness.
     The Lord Jesus had taught these things about the kingdom of God to many disciples.  He called twelve to be his apostles, but he called many others to be learners of his word and followers of his teachings.  Among these were seventy-two whom he also called to go forth and to proclaim what they had heard and what teachings they follow.  This is still what the Lord calls his disciples to do.
     (Jesus) said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.  Go your way; behold, I am sending you out...” (Luke 10:2-3)  No sooner had Jesus urged his disciples to pray for more laborers than he sent 72 laborers out into the harvest field. He did not wring his hands, wondering, “Where are we going to find people who will preach the word of the Lord?”  He had already found them.  They were the ones to whom the word had already been preached, the ones who were already disciples of Jesus, the ones who already knew and confessed the Gospel.  Jesus teaches us about the kingdom—that we are to pray for more laborers.  He lets you know that you, too, are laborers in his kingdom and confessors of his word.
     Jesus urges you to pray for more pastors who will go forth and tell others about the kingdom of God.  But you don't need to wring your hands wondering where future pastors will come from.  Future pastors typically come from the boys who grow up in Christian families.  Perhaps there are some boys you know whom you could encourage to become pastors.  The harvest field will always need laborers.  Pulpits will always need pastors to preach in them.  Jesus’ disciples will always need people to teach them.  “Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2-3)  Jesus teaches us about the kingdom—that his word is to be preached.
     Not everyone becomes a pastor, but confessing the faith is not limited to professionals.  The 72 Jesus sent out did not need years of seminary training to craft some slick, polished message.  They were sent out to say what Jesus had given them to say.  It is no different today.  We do not need to set up marketing groups to figure out what will sell.  We confess what we have been taught.  We proclaim what God has revealed.  We make sure there are no secrets.  We say what Jesus has done—that he forgives the guilty, comforts those who are fearful, and brings eternal life to those who are dying.  This is what Jesus teaches us about the kingdom of God.
     It is really quite simple, isn't it?  So, why don't we do it?  What holds us back?  The answer is fear.  We fear being mocked.  We fear being rejected.  We fear that people will disown us or despise us.  Could that happen?  Jesus acknowledges: Yes.  He told the seventy-two: “Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.” (Luke 10:3)  Then he told them, “But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you.  Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’  I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.” (Luke 10:10-12)  Yes, they may reject your confession.  They despise you for saying it.  If that happens, so be it.  It may be uncomfortable for a moment.  No one likes being despised.  But if people will not trust God for mercy and salvation and end up damned, may it not be because we were afraid to say something—even if that something was as simple as an invitation to church.
     Do not be afraid to let people know that you are a disciple of Jesus, because there is no one else who forgives sins and saves sinners.  The devil makes you afraid of your own confession.  The devil knows that his kingdom stands as long as Jesus is not preached.  His subjects remain in his firm possession as long as we are afraid to proclaim the Gospel.  If our fears result in our silence and the Gospel remains a secret to people, they cannot be freed from Satan's grasp.
     If you tell others about Jesus and his kingdom, might they despise you for it?  Sure.  But, dear Christians, you ought to recognize this: Your fears are overblown.  It is true: There will always be people who reject the Gospel, but most people are interested in who God is and what God desires.  If you confess your faith and tell people about Jesus, they may not agree or convert, but most will listen politely.  Some will rejoice in what you say.  None of us knows who will do which, therefore, we confess whenever we can.
     Jesus told the seventy-two, “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!  And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him.” (Luke 10:5-6)  The Lord has chosen people for salvation.  There are, indeed, sons of peace to be rescued.  They are brought into the kingdom only by God's promises being delivered to them.  This congregation exists for the purpose of declaring God's promises to his people.  Our prayer is that more people will come and receive those promises with us.  They will only come if we go to them first.  Jesus teaches us about the kingdom—that those in the kingdom proclaim these things so that more will be added to the kingdom.
     I don't know how much fear gripped the seventy-two as they went out, but their attitude on their return was enthusiastic.  The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”  And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.  Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:17-20)  
     Jesus tells us what happens when the Gospel is preached: Satan falls.  People are snatched out of his kingdom.  The lost are found.  Sinners are saved.  The angels rejoice, and so do God's people.  As exciting as this is, Jesus notes that your joy does not reside in how many we speak to or in how many are added to our numbers.  Your joy is found in this: God loves you and has saved you.  Jesus teaches us about the kingdom—that his disciples should rejoice that they are in it.
     You have been snatched out of Satan's grasp and have been brought into the kingdom of God.  For our silence when we had a chance to confess our faith because of fear or laziness, Jesus silently suffered and died to gain forgiveness for our sins.  To overcome our negligence to support those who study for the ministry or go in our name to mission settings, Jesus diligently upheld God's commands to preach the word to all.  Jesus' perfect life covers over our sins; Jesus' innocent death pays for our guilt.  Jesus has overthrown Satan; he has rescued us from his grasp.  This is what Jesus teaches us about the kingdom of God.
    Jesus forgives all our sins.  This is not to excuse us from confessing our faith before others.  Jesus also forgives our lies, our slander, our greed, and our anger.  We know that it would be wicked to run back to lying, slander, greed, and anger.  We do not use forgiveness as a reason to do it again.  We repent and turn from our sins.  The same is true when it comes to our silence in confessing our faith.  We do not use forgiveness as an excuse to say nothing; forgiveness is the reason we confess God's love and salvation.
     Jesus teaches you about the kingdom of God.  And the main thing he teaches you is that God loves you and has saved you.  Your names are written in heaven.  This is no secret.  God has made it known to you.  He urges you to tell others about the kingdom, too, so that Satan falls like lightning, so that the spiritually dead will be raised to life, so that saints and angels rejoice, and so that God's goodness is known.  God's goodness should be no secret.  Our mission is that it will not be; and by our confession, we will make it known.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Update from Good Shepherd (July 25, 2019)

Greetings!


SUMMER SCHEDULE
Divine Services are Sundays at 10:00 AM.

        Sunday School & Sunday's Adult Bible Class will be on hiatus throughout the summer.  They will resume on September 8.

MID-WEEK SERVICES
        In the event that you are out of town over the weekend, you can find worship services during the week in the following locations.
        Monday at 7:00 PM –  St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church(1343 Penniman Ave, Plymouth)
        Thursday at 6:30 PM – St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church(17810 Farmington Road, Livonia)

FAMILY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL IS NEXT WEEK!
The dates for our Family VBS are Monday-Wednesday (6:30 – 8:00 PM), July 29-31. 
Rather than limit the study of the Bible to our children (and guests), our VBS will include people of all ages.  There will be an adult study going on the same time as the children.
The topic of study and discussion for the adults will be The Canon of Scripture: Why These Books?  “Canon” refers to a stick or a standard (like a “cane”).  We confess the 66 canonical books to be the Holy Scriptures.  But why those books?  And why not others?  And what about the Apocrypha; why not them?  For three nights, we will consider how God gave us the Scriptures and why we regard only the 66 books in our Bible as the word of God.
We encourage you to invite friends to our VBS sessions—both children and adults.  Look for a registration form on our web page to indicate your participation.

ANNIVERSARY SERVICE
        St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church – Ann Arbor, MI. (Northfield Twp.) est. 1869 - is planning on celebrating this milestone on Sunday September 15, 2019. There will be a 10:30 a.m. Worship Service followed by a catered meal at 12 Noon and an afternoon worship service at 2:30 p.m. All those who are planning on attending the meal are asked to RSVP by sending an e-mail to: stjohnsnorthfield2015@gmail.combefore August 15, 2019. Anyone who does not have access to e-mail may call: (734)-761-1740. Please indicate how many are planning to attend the meal. To view a photo of the historic church building which was built in 1932 go to the website at: www.stjohnsannarbor.org

NOTES from Huron Valley Lutheran High School (HVL)
International Host Family Needed
We have 2 applications for international students that we need host families for.  Both are from China (a freshman and a senior).  Hosting a student is a rewarding experience and expenses are covered through a $7000 stipend to host families.  If you are interested in being a host family, please contact the school office.

Registration - If you have not yet registered for the 2019-2020 school year, please go to https://mytads.com/a/huronvalley

HVL Summer Sports Camp - All students entering grades 5-8 are eligible for HVL Volleyball & Soccer Camps on Aug 12-15 (6-8pm).  Register on our website (www.hvlhs.org) or call the school office (734) 525-0160.

Upcoming Events:
Aug 12-15 Summer Sports Camps
Aug 17         HVL Work Day
Aug 21         First Day of School
Sept 7 HVL Golf Outing
Sept 19-21 HVL Rummage Sale

OFFICE HOURS
Regular office hours at Good Shepherd will be Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM. While there may be some flexibility to this schedule, we will try to keep it as regular as possible. 

DO YOU LIKE US?
Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook.  Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings.

God bless you.

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

==============================
DIVINE SERVICES -- Sundays at 10:00 AM

SUNDAY SCHOOL & ADULT BIBLE CLASS will resume September 8.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG
www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com

Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church
41415 W. Nine Mile Road
Novi, Michigan  48375-4306
+   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
Divine Services -- Sundays at 10:00 AM

Monday, July 22, 2019

Something from .... Luther's "The Bondage of the Will" (entry #1)



INTRODUCTORY NOTES:  During the life of Martin Luther, Dutch scholar Desiderius Erasmus, was urged by Roman Catholic Church leaders to challenge Luther’s teachings and to condemn him.  Although Erasmus would rather have kept the peace in the Church, Erasmus was finally goaded into attacking Luther.  Erasmus intended to defend the official Roman Catholic teaching that God’s grace was needed to do the works by which man could then merit additional grace.  Luther’s response to Erasmus is known as The Bondage of the Will (De Servo Arbitrio).  Although Luther had published a myriad of writings in his career, he did not consider them worth preserving.  Luther regarded The Bondage of the Will as a rare exception to that rule.  In it, Luther writes at length that “free will” in spiritual matters is a lie, and that, if man actually has free will, then God loses such attributes as grace, omnipotence, and even his right to be God.

            The quotations from Luther in this blog post come from The Bondage of the Will translated by J. I. Packer and O. R. Johnston, Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, MI. © 1957.

            The following are thoughts concerning Luther’s arguments, urging us to LET GOD BE GOD.  Something from Luther’s The Bondage of the Will.



LET GOD BE GOD: Let God be clear.

            In an effort to maintain peace in the Church and to curb Martin Luther’s boldness and provocative teaching, Erasmus sought to bring the heat down in the theological debate.  He claimed that no one should be so bold as to make assertions about the word of God, especially when—in Erasmus’ view—much of God’s word was obscure and confusing.  Teaching should be left to the experts, and the average Christian should not be bothered or bother himself with striving to know the deeper teachings of God’s word.

            Erasmus’ argument sounds pretty good to many ears today.  To make assertions about God’s word so definitively strikes of arrogance.  To be so insistent upon it creates division.  But if we allow for a great deal of leeway in understanding and concede that there is so much that is difficult to understand, then the Church can rid itself of so many divisions and heated debate. 

            Luther recognized the problem with Erasmus’ plea: God’s word is not obscure.  His teachings are not to be left open to various interpretations.  God has made clear what his word is.  The Bible is straightforward on these basic teachings: God is triune.  Jesus is God.  Jesus is man.  Jesus died on a cross as the atoning sacrifice for sinners.  There is no salvation outside of Jesus.  Whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  All of these statements are bold assertions.  They are confessions of faith, but are also based on God’s clear truth.  There is nothing obscure about them, and they offer no leeway.  They are either true—and to be confessed as true, or they are not.

            The Bible makes assertions.  The Christian faith confesses them to be truth.  Something from Luther on the clarity of the Scriptures: “To take no pleasure in assertions is not the mark of a Christian heart; indeed, one must delight in assertions to be a Christian at all. … I am talking about the assertion of what has been delivered to us from above in the Sacred Scriptures.” (page 66)

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Sermon -- 6th Sunday after Pentecost (July 21, 2019)

LUKE 9:51-62

TO FOLLOW JESUS, KEEP YOUR FOCUS.

In the name + of Jesus.

     This particular part of the Gospel of Luke is a turning point in Jesus' ministry.  Prior to this, Jesus had been going from town to town, preaching, teaching, and healing diseases.  His goal was the next town or the next territory.  But here, his goal changes.  Luke writes, “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:51)  Jesus' goal was to “suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised,” (Luke 9:22)—just as he had told them.  So, Jesus was focused on that mission.  He set his face to go to Jerusalem to win our salvation, and he would not be distracted from his goal or divert from his mission. 
     As Jesus began making his way from Galilee in the north to Jerusalem to the south, he planned to pass through Samaria.  And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him.  But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.  And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”  But he turned and rebuked them. (Luke 9:52-55)  To this day, it seems nothing can get a person angry faster than not showing him the level of respect he thinks he deserves.  James and John felt that way about Jesus.  James and John wanted to see vengeance rain down on the Samaritans.  You can imagine the conversation: “Lord, remember when wicked King Ahab sent soldiers to arrest Elijah in Samaria, and Elijah called down fire from heaven to consume them?  Don't you think a repeat is in order?”  But Jesus rebuked them.  His goal was not to lash out judgment against those who rejected him.  Judgment would come upon people at the Last Day.  But Jesus was focused on his goal.  Judgment would first fall upon Jesus when he suffered and died in Jerusalem for sinners.
     On the way to Jerusalem, there were three incidents of people who wanted to follow Jesus.  Two volunteered; one was recruited.  Someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”  And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Luke 9:57-58)  Jesus did not refuse this man's enthusiastic plea, but he didn't automatically receive him either.  Jesus answered by letting him know that following him was not going to be a life of ease.
     I suppose you can appreciate Jesus' words.  The world loves its own, but Christians often don't feel at home in the world.  The world celebrates drunkenness, promiscuity, obscenity, and taking advantage of others.  God's people repent of these things and strive to keep ourselves from them.  It can feel very lonely when you take God's word seriously.  Just as Jesus was rejected by the Samaritans, you may be rejected too.  And while we might want to see fire rain down upon those who reject us, our mission is not to seek vengeance or to demand respect.  Jesus has not called us to do that, but only to follow him.  To follow Jesus, keep your focus.
     The second man, Jesus recruited.  To another he said, “Follow me.”  But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”  And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead.  But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:59-60)  Now, it sounds cruel for Jesus to rebuke a man grieving the loss of his father.  But if this man's father had died that morning, he would already have been tending to his burial.  In other words, this man did not want to follow Jesus until later.
     It still happens that people believe in Jesus but they do not want to join the church.  They fear doing so will dishonor their parents or family.  Maybe they will join later, after their parents have died.  Our relationships influence us, too.  If our family or friends are dismissive of the Bible, if they want their Sunday mornings to be about other activities, then we are inclined to give in to their wishes.  Sadly, it rarely works the other way—that we would urge them to join us in church.  Beware.  Do you fear losing the friendship of the spiritually dead at the expense of your own spiritual life?  It is far more common than most realize.  To follow Jesus, keep your focus.
    Finally, another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.”  Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:61-62)  Once again, Jesus sounds unreasonable.  Why would walking out on one's family without a word be God-pleasing?  God has given each of us our vocations in which we serve him, and that includes serving our family as husband or wife, son or daughter, father or mother, brother or sister, and so on.  The problem was with the man's response to discipleship.  “I will follow you, Lord, but...”  Whenever we put conditions on our discipleship, our Lord is not getting our full commitment.  It doesn't matter what condition we put on it.  “I will follow you, but my family is visiting and they don't go to church.  They come first.”  “I will follow you, Lord, but it is really hard to put your word into practice when I am pressured to act differently.”  “I will follow you, Lord, but it will cost me.”  When we add conditions to our discipleship, we cannot really call him “Lord” anymore.  Something else has been raised higher.  To follow Jesus, keep your focus on Jesus.
     As St. Luke records these exchanges, he does not tell us how anyone responded.  The point is not what these men did.  The question is: Where is your focus?  Each one must assess himself.  No matter how well you think you have done, all have fallen short.  We have all found reasons that following Jesus was inconvenient, or put a strain on a relationship, or was lonely.  We have all found reasons to turn away from his word and to focus on what was more agreeable to family, friends, or our own personal agenda.
     To follow Jesus, keep your focus.  He calls you to be separate from this world because he has set you apart from it already.  He has set you apart for a better kingdom and is eager to give you better blessings.  This world is passing away.  Even the blessings of this world are passing away.  But Jesus brings you to a life that will not even be snuffed out by death.  He will bring you into a kingdom whose glory will never fade.  And he assures you that, before your heavenly Father, you are always accepted, always cherished, and always forgiven.
     This is because Jesus had set his face toward Jerusalem.  He was focused on his mission.  And you were Jesus' mission.  He went there to pay for the sins of all.  His innocent death atones for our guilt—for when we were focused on worldly gain instead of heavenly riches, when we found it more convenient to do what is forbidden than to suffer for doing what is good, when we found the praise of the world preferable to praise from God.  Jesus has taken this guilt and all other shame away from you because he set his face toward Jerusalem to die for you.  He not only willingly endured the scorn of Samaritans, scribes, and Sadducees, he also bore the wrath of God for us.  He knew what he was getting when he went to Jerusalem, but Jesus was focused on our salvation.  He did not lose that focus, because he did not want to lose us to death and hell.
     To follow Jesus, keep your focus.  Jesus has us focus on his words and promises.  His word guides us in our vocations in this life so that we turn from evil and strive to do good.  Our focus is to do the works God gives us to do.  But we are especially focused on his promises.  These remind us that we have a gracious God who works all things for our good, who pours out on us heavenly riches, and who praises us as his beloved children.
     Although following Jesus may sometimes feel lonely, you are never alone.  Jesus is with you, and his people meet together regularly for mutual encouragement.  Although following Jesus may sometimes cost you, the only things you lose are things that will perish with the world anyway.  Only Jesus gives you gifts that endure forever.  Although following Jesus may result in rejection and ridicule from the world, Jesus renders the only judgment that matters.  You are children of the Most High God and heirs of heaven.  Keep your focus on that.  Set your face toward Jesus and his word, and you will receive a blessed death, a glorious resurrection, and a kingdom that will never perish.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen. 

Thursday, July 18, 2019

Update from Good Shepherd (July 18, 2019)

Greetings!


SUMMER SCHEDULE
Divine Services are Sundays at 10:00 AM.

        Sunday School & Sunday's Adult Bible Class will be on hiatus throughout the summer.  They will resume on September 8.

MID-WEEK SERVICES
        In the event that you are out of town over the weekend, you can find worship services during the week in the following locations.
        Monday at 7:00 PM –  St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church (1343 Penniman Ave, Plymouth)
        Thursday at 6:30 PM St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church (17810 Farmington Road, Livonia)

FAMILY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
The dates for our Family VBS are Monday-Wednesday (6:30 – 8:00 PM), July 29-31. 
Rather than limit the study of the Bible to our children (and guests), our VBS will include people of all ages.  There will be an adult study going on the same time as the children.
The topic of study and discussion for the adults will be The Canon of Scripture: Why These Books?  “Canon” refers to a stick or a standard (like a “cane”).  We confess the 66 canonical books to be the Holy Scriptures.  But why those books?  And why not others?  And what about the Apocrypha; why not them?  For three nights, we will consider how God gave us the Scriptures and why we regard only the 66 books in our Bible as the word of God.
We encourage you to invite friends to our VBS sessions—both children and adults.  Look for a registration form on our web page to indicate your participation.

ANNIVERSARY SERVICE
        St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church – Ann Arbor, MI. (Northfield Twp.) est. 1869 - is planning on celebrating this milestone on Sunday September 15, 2019. There will be a 10:30 a.m. Worship Service followed by a catered meal at 12 Noon and an afternoon worship service at 2:30 p.m. All those who are planning on attending the meal are asked to RSVP by sending an e-mail to: stjohnsnorthfield2015@gmail.combefore August 15, 2019. Anyone who does not have access to e-mail may call: (734)-761-1740. Please indicate how many are planning to attend the meal. To view a photo of the historic church building which was built in 1932 go to the website at: www.stjohnsannarbor.org

COLLEGE STUDENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS
Previously, there had been a teaser about a gathering of college students
and young adults to be held on Saturday, August 10 in Columbus, Ohio.  No details about this event have been released, even by asking for them.
It seems safe to assume that this event will not take place after all. 

NOTES from Huron Valley Lutheran High School (HVL)
International Host Family Needed
We have 2 applications for international students that we need host families for.  Both are from China (a freshman and a senior).  Hosting a student is a rewarding experience and expenses are covered through a $7000 stipend to host families.  If you are interested in being a host family, please contact the school office.

Registration - If you have not yet registered for the 2019-2020 school year, please go to https://mytads.com/a/huronvalley

HVL Summer Sports Camp - All students entering grades 5-8 are eligible for HVL Volleyball & Soccer Camps on Aug 12-15 (6-8pm).  Register on our website (www.hvlhs.org) or call the school office (734) 525-0160.

HVL Financial Position - Thank you for your support and contributions throughout the year.  During the past school year, HVL received $270,000 in individual gifts. While this was a little short of our goal of $300,000, each dollar was a tremendous blessing and enabled us to not only meet our budget, but also chip away at the previous years’ deficits.  Our goal for the 2019-2020 school year is $300,000 in individual gifts. Gifts at this level will allow us to meet our budget and eliminate previous years’ deficits. To give, go to www.hvlhs.org and click on “Support Us”, or mail your check to HVL, 33740 Cowan Rd., Westland, MI 48185. 

OFFICE HOURS
Regular office hours at Good Shepherd will be Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM. While there may be some flexibility to this schedule, we will try to keep it as regular as possible. 

DO YOU LIKE US?
Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook.  Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings.

God bless you.

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

==============================
DIVINE SERVICES -- Summer Schedule
     Sundays at 10:00 AM

SUNDAY SCHOOL & ADULT BIBLE CLASS will resume September 8.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG
www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com

Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church
41415 W. Nine Mile Road
Novi, Michigan  48375-4306
+   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
Divine Services -- Sundays at 10:00 AM

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Something from ... Martin Luther on the Spirit who sustains Christian faith

When Martin Luther wrote "The Bondage of the Will," he responded to the claim of Desiderius Erasmus who claimed that man has free will to come to God, to do the works God requires of him, and thereby to be saved.  Luther firmly rejected the whole idea of free will when it comes to spiritual matters.  We cannot make a move toward God; for we are dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1).  We do not want to come to God, because we are, by nature, hostile to him (Romans 8:7) and enemies of God (Romans 5:10).  We cannot make efforts to find God, since we are spiritually blind (2 Corinthians 4:4)

It is God who must make the move--to make us alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:4-5).  It is the Holy Spirit who must enlighten us to see the glory and goodness of God (2 Corinthians 4:6).  It is the Holy Spirit who must convert us, turning us from enemies of God to those who love his word, desire his will, and do good works (Titus 2:11-14).   It is God who must create in us a clean heart and renew in us a right spirit (Psalm 51:10)

Luther goes on to state that God does more than just grant us new life.  It is God alone who sustains that new life in us.  Just as we did not give ourselves life by our own free will, so our free will does not sustain our new life in us.  That, too, remains God's work.

Something from Luther on the Spirit who sustains Christian faith in us:

"So, too, I say that man, before he is renewed into the new creation of the Spirit's kingdom, does and endeavours nothing to prepare himself for that new creation and kingdom, and when he is re-created he does and endeavours nothing towards his perseverance in that kingdom; but the Spirit alone works both blessings in us, regenerating us, and preserving us when regenerate, without ourselves; as James says: 'Of His own will begat He us with the word of His power, that we should be the firstfruits of His creation' (Jas. 1.18).  (James is speaking of the renewed creation.)" (page 268The Bondage of the Will, translated by J. I. Packer and O. R. Johnston, Baker Academics: Grand Rapids, MI.  (c) 1957.)

The good news is in all of this is that God does not leave it up to us to do what needs to be done for our salvation.  We are weak, and we often fail.  What hope could we have!?  Therefore, God supplies us with our hope and confidence as he also works in us to strengthen and keep us in the true faith.  While we make the effort to come to God's house to hear the word and partake in the sacraments, it is God who is at work through these to preserve us in the one true faith.  And as long as we are in God's care, we are safe.

Monday, July 15, 2019

Sermon -- Anniversary of Ordination (July 14, 2019)

This sermon was preached at Lola Park Evangelical Lutheran Church in Redford, Michigan.  The service was in recognition and thanksgiving for Pastor Gregory Gibbons' 40 years in the office of the holy ministry and for 25 years at Lola Park.

ROMANS 8:35-39

GOD HAS VOWED TO BE FAITHFUL TO YOU.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Four decades ago, God heard Gregory Gibbons swear in church.  You swore an oath which included these questions: “Dost thou solemnly promise that thou wilt perform the duties of thy office in accordance with these Confessions and that all thy teaching and thy administration of the Sacraments shall be in conformity with the Holy Scriptures and with the afore-mentioned Confessions?” And “Wilt thou, finally, adorn the doctrine of our Savior with a holy life and conversation?” (The Lutheran Agenda)  Invoking God's aid, you swore that you would.  It has been forty years since God heard you swear that you would be faithful to him in your preaching and practice, as one who speaks and acts in the stead and by the command of Christ Jesus.
     When we swear to God—whether for confirmation, marriage, or ordination—we are asking him to hold us accountable to our vow.  A 40 year anniversary of your ordination vow certainly gives you an opportunity to reflect on the blessings you have enjoyed, but it also is a time when memories of disappointments and failures resurface.  The devil is a good history teacher, and he likes to share lessons and stories of our past with us.  He reminds us of the ways we have sinned against others, let them down, failed to follow up like we said we would, or just plain did not do what we were tasked with—whether that was due to fear, forgetfulness, or fatigue.  Then the devil shares one more history lesson with you: You swore that you would not do that!  The devil reminds you that God holds you accountable for your shortcomings and your sins—for favoring members who showered you with compliments, for despising members who criticized you and made your ministry difficult, and for being negligent in the word of God and in prayer.
     The devil is good at history lessons, and your conscience testifies that the devil gets it right.  But the devil is a liar.  He does not lie when we replays our sins to us.  He lies that they still stand against us.  He lies that we remain under God's condemnation for them.  He lies that we are judged based on the works that we failed to do or on the works that we did wrongly.  The Apostle Paul teaches you a different history lesson which corrects everything the devil claims.  He asks: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? (Romans 8:35)
     The love of Christ is not how much you love Jesus or how well you serve Jesus.  The love of Christ is what Jesus Christ has done for you and how he has served you.  Jesus did not overlook your sins.  Instead, he acted to remove them from you.  He put himself through tribulation, distress, persecution, nakedness, danger, and sword to make himself the atoning sacrifice for your sins.  For, he was forsaken by his disciples—disciples who vowed they would never leave him.  Jesus was betrayed by his friend, condemned by religious leaders, hung naked from a cross, and pierced by the lance of the soldier in his death.  The Lord knows what it is to have people fail him, even when they swore they would not.
     Nevertheless, God has vowed to be faithful to you.  At the cross, Jesus fulfilled the vow God had made—that “the Son of Man would be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14,15)  He applied his forgiveness to you in holy baptism with another vow: “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:27)  And the Lord Jesus continues to faithfully forgive and sustain you at the Holy Supper with another vow: “For you, for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28)  God has vowed to forgive you and to save you, and the vows of God are much greater than yours.  God does not need to ask for aid or strength to fulfill his vows.  He means what he swears to you.  Jesus was faithful in fulfilling every promise, and he lives and reigns to uphold them all.  Since Jesus has faithfully completed what the Father vowed he would do for you, the sentence Jesus renders overrules any charge the devil makes.  For, God does not lie when he speaks and he will not fail when he makes a promise.  God has vowed to be faithful to you.
     While a 40 year anniversary is naturally a time to look back and give thanks to God for his faithful love, the reading for this sermon does not look back at all.  St. Paul wrote about what you possess now and what is to come.  St. Paul wrote, “We are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39)
     The Lord Jesus has been faithful to you throughout your life, just as he vowed.  He will remain faithful to you, just as he vowed.  For, when the Lord swears an oath, he is bound to it.  Paul claims that, no matter what—whether we are feasting on the fattened calf or we are the sheep to be slaughtered—“we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)  We are victors over sin, over death, and over the devil by means of Jesus Christ.  His love for us took him into death to pay for our sins, and his resurrection opens the gates of heaven and eternal life to us whom he has redeemed.  Jesus lives and reigns, and he vows that we shall live as surely as he lives (John 14:19).  He vows that if we endure, we will also reign with him. (2 Timothy 2:12)  Therefore, we are more than conquerors; for the Lord has sworn to give you a place in an everlasting kingdom for the sake of Jesus.
     St. Paul goes on and states, “I am sure that ... (nothing) in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)  There is only one thing that can make St. Paul so confident, and that is the word and promise of God.  God has vowed to be faithful to you, to strengthen and keep you in the one true faith.  What could possibly overcome God's vow?  Our strength is poor.  We cannot avoid temptations or overcome them.  Our flesh fails us.  We are afraid of pressures and personalities.  Our boasting, our resolve, and our vows stand no chance against the forces of darkness in the heavenly realms.  You are right not to be sure of yourself.  But you can be sure of the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  His promises never fail.  God has vowed to be faithful to you.
     It does not matter what you suffer now or what you will face in the future.  We have the same confidence as St. Paul: “I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)  Ten times St. Paul uses the negative.  A perfect number shows the complete impotence of anything that would stand against God's love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Neither death nor life nullifies the love of God.  Neither angels nor demons nor rulers can cancel the atoning sacrifice of Jesus.  Neither the present nor the things to come will annul the resurrection of Jesus.  Neither height nor depth—that is, nothing in heaven or in hell—nor anything else on earth can invalidate the word and sacraments which bestow God's salvation upon us.  God swears by himself that he will be our Savior.  There is no higher power God can swear by.  And he has sworn: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28) 
     Forty years ago, the Lord heard Gregory Gibbons swear in church.  God entrusted you with his word and sacraments, to administer the same mercy and grace God has shown to you.  Despite any failed efforts, faulty words, or feeble hands, the Lord has blessed his word through you and upheld his promises to his people.  After all, it is Christ's Gospel.  The ministry is his work.  The Church is his flock; and you, dear brother, are one of them.  God has vowed to be faithful to you.  He has been.  He will be.  The love of God is yours; for you are Christ's.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen. 

Sunday, July 14, 2019

Sermon -- 5th Sunday after Pentecost (July 14, 2019)

Zechariah, by Michelangelo

ZECHARIAH 13:7-9

THE LORD WORKS TO REFINE YOUR FAITH.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The Lord called the prophet Zechariah to preach to the people of Israel during Israel's exile to Babylon.  For centuries, the nation of Israel had been rebuked by the Lord's prophets for their faithless ways.  They had prided themselves that they were God's chosen people, but then they chose to live their lives as they pleased.  They took pride in the temple that was dedicated to the Lord's offerings, but then they dedicated their time and efforts to their own wealth and businesses.  The nation had, by all appearances, a God-fearing people whose religious ceremonies did not cease.  But the Lord had no use for animals which were slaughtered for the sake of empty traditions.  And since the people did not heed the words of many prophets who had called them to repent, the Lord raised up the nation of Babylon to destroy the temple and the city of Jerusalem, to slaughter the priests, and to kill the people.  Those who were not killed by sword or famine or disease were carried off into exile.
     You might think that the one third which survived had gained for themselves a better, easier life.  But that was not the case.  The Lord declared, “In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive.  And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested.” (Zechariah 13:7-8)  The Lord was at work to refine their faith.  His plan was always to bring a remnant back to Jerusalem who would serve him faithfully and through whom the Savior would enter the world.  But to do so, the Lord would put them in the crucible.  The Lord would work to refine their faith, and make for himself a people who would be faithful to him.
     While it is true that God our Savior desires all people to be saved, it is also true that the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.” (Matthew 7:13)  Sadly, only a remnant of the world's population will be saved.  But that does not mean that life for those who are in the Church becomes easier.  The easier way is the way that leads to destruction because you never fight against your sinful flesh.  But for those whom the Lord has set apart for salvation, the Lord continues to refine and purify your faith.  Just as gold and silver must be heated up and turned into a molten state so that impurities can be removed, so the Lord does to us.  The Lord turns up the heat and puts us in the crucible in order to purify us.
     The Lord works to refine our faith.  It is not just a matter of calling us to repent of sins we have practiced.  It is also calling us to not cling to the blessings he has given us.  Christians do not usually fall away from the faith because they suddenly prefer wickedness to godliness.  Many Christians fall away because they love the good things that God gives them too much.
     The First Commandment is, “You shall have no other gods.”  What does this mean?  We should fear and love and trust in God above all things. (Luther's Small Catechism)  If you want to see how easy it is for you to make idols out of the blessings God gives you, then ask yourself, “What is precious to me?  What do I trust to get me through life?  What do I fear losing?”  Your answers will likely reveal things you fear, love, and trust above all.  Common answers:  “I need more time to get things done.  I need a strong economy to guarantee a comfortable retirement.  My life is better when my team wins.  I am only comfortable when my political party is in charge.”  “I fear losing my children.  I fear losing my job.  I am afraid of losing my health or my insurance plan.  I am afraid people will mock me or ostracize me if I take my faith seriously in my life.”  In these cases, you are not craving to do wicked things.  Instead, you are afraid of losing blessings.  Even the fear of being mocked for your faith recognizes that your reputation is a blessing.  But if you think you must maintain your blessings in order to maintain your comfort and peace, and if you fear that losing your blessings means you lose your sense of worth or purpose, then you love the blessings God gives more than the God who gave them.  Then you have turned God's blessings into idols.
     The Lord works to refine your faith, and in doing so, he teaches you the hard lesson that all his blessings are temporary.  In order to teach the Israelites that the temple, the rituals, and the city of Jerusalem were not to be trusted for their safety and prosperity, the Lord destroyed them.  The remnant which survived destruction were taken into captivity.  What was the result?  “I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested.  They will call upon my name, and I will answer them.” (Zechariah 13:9)  They called upon the Lord in their distress.  They cried to the Lord for mercy.  They sought after the Lord, recognizing that God was the only one whose word mattered.  Even though they lost all things, they still had God and his promises.  God was at work to refine their faith.
     The lesson for us is the same.  And it is really no different than what Jesus said in today's Gospel.  He said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)  The Lord Jesus calls on us to forsake our claims on all he gives us and to put to death in us our cravings for earthly praise and popularity and possessions.  This is hard because we have to crucify our sinful desires for worldly comforts, and the sinful flesh does not want to die.  Nevertheless, all earthly blessings are temporary.  We receive them with thanksgiving and make use of what God, in his grace, gives us.  But we also ought to recognize that God, in his wisdom, can withdraw them.  And he often does.
     When God does this, we regard it as an evil we are suffering; and it is.  The loss of blessings is the consequence of living in a sinful world.  It is especially grieving when we lose something precious.  But even when such evils afflict us, God remains our good and merciful Father in heaven.  God even uses the evils that come to us for our eternal good.  He teaches us not to long for this world.  He reminds us that all blessings in this world are temporary.  And he also drives us to call upon him for mercy, for justice, for relief, and for strength.  Consider this: When are you more inclined to pray to God—when things are going well, or when things are falling apart?  We usually pray when we are afflicted by evils and when we suffer loss.  So, even though we are put in the crucible, God uses these things for our good.  God is working to refine our faith.
     But no matter what you lose—and eventually, you will lose it all; for no one packs a suitcase for the grave—you have not lost anything you truly need.  Zechariah declares the word of the Lord.  “I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested.  They will call upon my name, and I will answer them.  I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’” (Zechariah 13:9)  
     When you have lost your friends, your family, your hearing, your balance, and finally your breath, you still have a Savior who lives and reigns for you.  You have a Savior who bled and died for you.  You have a Savior whose blood was poured out as the payment for your sins, was poured upon you in baptism to cleanse you of your sins, and is poured into you for the strengthening of your faith and for the forgiveness of your sins.  You still have a God who declares, “I will say, 'They are my people.'” (Zechariah 13:9)  Your worth, your purpose, and your life are all found in Jesus Christ.  Your peace, your hope, and your comfort are all received through Jesus' promises of mercy now and of eternal joys to come.  Neither Jesus' promises nor your place in his kingdom are changed by captivity or loss or pain or death.
     The Lord works to refine your faith.  And though he may withdraw his blessings, he does it all for your eternal good.  He teaches you not to love his gifts instead of him.  He teaches you not to trust in worldly goods for peace, for hope, or for joy.  He teaches you not to fear losing what he gives you for this life.  And once he leads you to realize that nothing in this world is reliable, then you have nothing left but to throw yourself completely on God for your hope, your comfort, and for your salvation.  The Lord may withdraw blessing from you, but the Lord never withdraws himself or his promises from you.  He remains your loving and merciful Redeemer.  And this is, finally, all you have ever needed.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen. 

Thursday, July 11, 2019

Update from Good Shepherd (July 11, 2019)

Greetings!


SUMMER SCHEDULE
Divine Services are Sundays at 10:00 AM.

        Sunday School & Sunday's Adult Bible Class will be on hiatus throughout the summer.  They will resume on September 8.
        There will be no more Thursday evening services offered this summer.

FAMILY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
The dates for our Family VBS are Monday-Wednesday (6:30 – 8:00 PM), July 29-31. 
Rather than limit the study of the Bible to our children (and guests), our VBS will include people of all ages.  There will be an adult study going on the same time as the children.
The topic of study and discussion for the adults will be The Canon of Scripture: Why These Books?  “Canon” refers to a stick or a standard (like a “cane”).  We confess the 66 canonical books to be the Holy Scriptures.  But why those books?  And why not others?  And what about the Apocrypha; why not them?  For three nights, we will consider how God gave us the Scriptures and why we regard only the 66 books in our Bible as the word of God.
We encourage you to invite friends to our VBS sessions—both children and adults.  Look for a registration form on our web page to indicate your participation.

ANNIVERSARY SERVICES
Lola Park Evangelical Lutheran Church of Redford will be having a special service of thanksgiving for Rev. Gregory Gibbons who has served in the office of the ministry for 40 years.  Pastor Gibbons has also been serving at Lola Park for 25 years.  A special service will be held Sunday, July 14 at 4:00 PM with a dinner to follow.  To RSVP for the dinner, contact Lola Park at (313) 532-8655 or via email at lolaparklutheran@gmail.com.  

        St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church – Ann Arbor, MI. (Northfield Twp.) est. 1869 - is planning on celebrating this milestone on Sunday September 15, 2019. There will be a 10:30 a.m. Worship Service followed by a catered meal at 12 Noon and an afternoon worship service at 2:30 p.m. All those who are planning on attending the meal are asked to RSVP by sending an e-mail to: stjohnsnorthfield2015@gmail.com before August 15, 2019. Anyone who does not have access to e-mail may call: (734)-761-1740. Please indicate how many are planning to attend the meal. To view a photo of the historic church building which was built in 1932 go to the website at: www.stjohnsannarbor.org

VBS PREPARATION MEETING
In order to get ready for the children's portion of our VBS later this July, we will need to make sure that we have people in place for teachers, assistants, providers of snacks, promotion, and others to support our efforts.  We will meet after church Sunday July 14.  Even if you do not attend the meeting, please help promote both parts of our Family VBS for both adults and children.

COLLEGE STUDENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS
The WELS is hosting a gathering for college-aged students and young adults on Saturday, August 10 in Columbus, Ohio.  As of this writing, only the dates is known.  More details will be published when they are released.

NOTES from Huron Valley Lutheran High School (HVL)
International Host Family Needed
We have 2 applications for international students that we need host families for.  Both are from China (a freshman and a senior).  Hosting a student is a rewarding experience and expenses are covered through a $7000 stipend to host families.  If you are interested in being a host family, please contact the school office.

Registration - If you have not yet registered for the 2019-2020 school year, please go to https://mytads.com/a/huronvalley

HVL Summer Sports Camp - All students entering grades 5-8 are eligible for HVL Volleyball & Soccer Camps on Aug 12-15 (6-8pm).  Register on our website (www.hvlhs.org) or call the school office (734) 525-0160.

HVL Financial Position - Thank you for your support and contributions throughout the year.  During the past school year, HVL received $270,000 in individual gifts. While this was a little short of our goal of $300,000, each dollar was a tremendous blessing and enabled us to not only meet our budget, but also chip away at the previous years’ deficits.  Our goal for the 2019-2020 school year is $300,000 in individual gifts. Gifts at this level will allow us to meet our budget and eliminate previous years’ deficits. To give, go to www.hvlhs.org and click on “Support Us”, or mail your check to HVL, 33740 Cowan Rd., Westland, MI 48185. 

OFFICE HOURS
Regular office hours at Good Shepherd will be Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM. While there may be some flexibility to this schedule, we will try to keep it as regular as possible. 

DO YOU LIKE US?
Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook.  Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings.

God bless you.

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

==============================
DIVINE SERVICES -- Summer Schedule
     Sundays at 10:00 AM

SUNDAY SCHOOL & ADULT BIBLE CLASS will resume September 8.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG
www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com

Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church
41415 W. Nine Mile Road
Novi, Michigan  48375-4306
+   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
Divine Services -- Sundays at 10:00 AM