YouTube -- Martin Luther College Sunday (October 10, 2021)

Here is the service from Sunday, October 10, 2021.  Our guest preacher was Prof. David Scharf from Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota.  We gave our attention to the need for more Lutheran pastors and teachers.

Sermon -- Festival of St. Mark, Evangelist (April 25, 2021)

The service for the Festival of St. Mark, Evangelist was also in conjunction with emphasis on Martin Luther College (New Ulm, Minnesota) and the Equipping Christian Witnesses campaign.

2 TIMOTHY 4:6-11,18

THE LORD PROVIDES USEFUL MINISTERS.

M: Alleluia. Christ is risen!
C: He is risen indeed! Alleluia.

In the name + of Jesus.

     As we consider how the Lord blessed the church through the ministry of St. Mark the Evangelist, we are also considering how the Lord will bless the church through future pastors and teachers—particularly through Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota. 

     Where does the next generation of pastors and teachers come from?  They come from the same place they have always come from—from among God’s people.  John Mark came from a godly household.  His mother, Mary, opened her house up to a group of Christians who met there for Divine Services, prayer, and for fellowship.  We don’t hear of Mark’s father, but his mother’s faith—both confessed and practiced devoutly—left an impression on St. Mark.  The Christian faith also mattered to him.

     When Paul and Barnabas went on their first missionary journey, Mark accompanied them to Cyprus.  However, something went wrong.  The book of Acts noted this: “Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia.  And (Mark) left them and returned to Jerusalem” (Acts 13:13).  St. Luke does not record why Mark left.  Was he homesick?  Did he consider encountering unfamiliar people too dangerous?  Did he think the work was too hard?  Whatever the reason, Paul did not think it was a valid one. 

     When Paul and Barnabas were preparing for their second missionary journey, “Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.  But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.  And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other” (Acts 15:37-39).  In short, Paul considered Mark unreliable.  Paul’s conclusion was that Mark was not fit for this kind of ministry.

     So, who is worthy of the ministry?  No one.  No one is a pastor or teacher because he deserves it.  The respect you have for pastors and teachers is appreciated and beneficial, but pastors and teachers recognize their own faults, weaknesses, and sins.  They might think, “If you saw me in high school or college, you might not want me as your pastor anymore.”  And it’s not like a diploma or a divine call has perfected any called worker.  Pastors and teachers remember their failings much more vividly than their successes.  The devil taunts people who hold a holy office: “What gives you the right to hold the office you do with your attitude and your past?”  St. Mark’s weaknesses and failings are still shared and felt by ministers in the Church.

     Such fears are not unique to pastors and teachers.  Who can boast, “I have been a perfect parent”?  Who would claim, “I am faultless as a spouse”?  Even if you think so, what would your spouse say?  We all have sins that haunt us and plague us.  There is a good reason the Psalms teach us to pray, “Remember not the sins of my youth” (Psalm 25:7).  We might conclude that our place in God’s kingdom is suspect as we realize our lives do not line up well with our confession.  If you feel that you are useless because you have failings, you can bet that it is not the Lord Jesus Christ who is telling you that.  The devil wants to drive you to despair.  But the devil is a liar. 

    Satan may accurately track, detail, and date all your sins, but he lies when he tells you that they stand against you.  For this is what the Lord says: “The blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).  The Lord has purified you through the blood of Christ which was shed for you at the cross, which was applied to you at the font, and which continues to be given to you at this altar.  “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).  The Lord does not remember you according to your faults.  Rather, he assures you that “as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).  When the Lord looks upon you, he sees the righteousness, innocence, and blessedness of Jesus Christ.  He is pleased to call you his own.  You are chosen and precious to him.  And he will work in you to produce the very fruits of faith he seeks.  Your works may not be flawless, but they are still useful.  Even a stammering preacher like St. Paul can still get his message across.  You are beneficial to others, useful to the Church, and pleasing to Christ.  This is true for all Christians.  All of God’s people are saints.  And from all the saints, God calls some to be pastors and teachers for the benefit of his church.  The Lord provides useful ministers for his church.

     It is hard to know what Paul’s and Barnabas’ argument concerning St. Mark was about.  Yes, he had left them on their first journey, but a few years had gone by.  Perhaps Barnabas recognized that Mark had matured both emotionally and spiritually.  Paul would have none of it.  “There arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other.  Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus” (Acts 15:39).  Although Paul refused Mark’s company, Barnabas insisted that Mark was useful.  They travelled on to Cyprus to serve the churches there.  The Lord provided a useful minister to his church.

     Now, St. Mark was not an apostle.  He was not chosen personally by Jesus and endowed with the gifts of an apostle.  But he was still useful to the church.  St. Mark was an Evangelist, meaning that he wrote one of the four Gospels in our New Testament.  The Church from the earliest days has credited Mark to be the author of this Gospel and St. Peter to be the source of its content.  Mark’s association with the apostles was not limited to Peter.  Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy while awaiting his execution in Rome.  He wrote, “Do your best to come to me soon.  Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry” (2 Timothy 4:9,11).  Eventually, even the apostle Paul discovered that Mark was a useful minister. 

     Either Mark had proven himself reliable over time, or Paul softened on his opinion.  After all, Paul had his own sins from the past he would just assume forget.  Peter did too.  Peter and Paul were apostles, but they were no more holy than Mark or you.  They had regrets and sins from their past, and these enabled them to have compassion on others who had also stumbled in the faith or who were ensnared in sins outside of the church.  The longer you live, the more likely you are to develop compassion on people in their sins.  You can recall your foolish choices, or moments when your judgment was shameful.  When you see others committing those same sins, rather than being judgmental, you pause and consider, “Yes, I remember doing the same thing.  I understand how you found that attractive, but I was wrong to do it, and so are you.  Repent and believe the good news.  Jesus takes away your sins and covers your shame.  You are precious to him.” 

     You and I cannot excuse sins because God doesn’t.  But when we see others commit sins, our desire is to draw them out from under them so that they will not be crushed by them.  You know what it is to be hounded by the memories of bad decisions, of using other people, or of abandoning those who were depending upon you.  You know the relief of being absolved of your guilt and the joy of being assured that the Lord does not hold your sins against you.  You know what it is to be forgiven, and you know how much this relief and joy would benefit others.  Who better than you to proclaim the mercy of God to friends and family who need it?  Whether you are a minister or not, this is most useful.

     Perhaps that is why Paul softened on his opinion of St. Mark.  Perhaps that is why Peter also welcomed Mark in his company.  They were all flawed, but they could also rejoice together in the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  The Lord provided useful ministers from flawed men whose faults have been recorded for us.  The Holy Spirit revealed their sins so that we do not get the idea that only superior saints are useful in the kingdom of God.  The Lord provides useful ministers to his church, and he gives us all opportunities to serve God’s people—whether apostles, evangelists, pastors, teachers, church council officers, parents, teens, or whoever you are.

     Since we are referring to Paul’s epistle for this sermon, we ought to consider a few words about that.  Paul knew his life was at its end, and he wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).  We might get the impression that Paul was claiming he had earned the reward which was coming to him.  But if you look at everything Paul wrote, you would know that is not true.  Paul was saved by Jesus who took up his sins, who credited him with righteousness, who conquered death, and who make Paul his own through holy baptism.  This is true for all who believe in Jesus, who have loved his appearing.  We love our Lord who appeared upon earth to gain for us the resurrection to life and to glory. 

     Paul further expressed his confidence, taking God at his word, when he wrote, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18).  Paul knew that he would face the sword soon.  He was not begging to escape that.  He was certain that he would be rescued from sin and death.  He might die by martyrdom, but he would not perish.  No curse would ever touch him.  Jesus had delivered him from his sins.  Jesus promised deliverance from the grave.  Jesus guarantees heavenly bliss to all who believe in him. This confidence is not just for Paul, but for all who believe and are baptized.

    That is why the Lord had St. Mark record for us the words and works of Jesus Christ.  And that is why the Lord sends ministers to his church—to proclaim to troubled, flawed people that Jesus Christ will rescue us from every evil deed and bring us safely into his heavenly kingdom.  Whether this message comes from pastors and teachers, from parents to their children, from friend to friend, or from one of us to another, it is most useful and most important. 

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

Traveling with the Schroeders -- MLC Basketball

The Schroeders hit the road this past Friday to see Faith play basketball in Milwaukee.  This game was the closest game she would play to us by far.  We were not able to make it in time for the Friday contest against Calvin College, but we saw the MLC Knights play Finlandia on Saturday.

The first leg of the trip took us to Sheboygan where we spent the night with my parents.  We were hoping to beat a snow storm before we got there, but we hit the worst of it on the north side of Chicago.  Once we hit the Wisconsin state line, the snow lightened up quite a bit.  By the time we reached Port Washington, WI, the snow had stopped.  We got to Sheboygan late, and then woke up to snow there.  (Peter woke up at 5:30 AM CST -- of course, not on a school day).

After a nice visit with my parents, we went down to Wisconsin Lutheran College to catch the game.  The MLC Knights won, pulling away in the 2nd half, 82-65.  If memory serves, Faith tallied 6 points on the afternoon.

We got to visit with Dan & Liz Schmidt and their children, Grace and Nathan, during and after the game.  They made the trip because they had never seen Faith play before.  (Now we have to return the favor and fly to Riverside, CA to see Emily play.)  Then we got to visit with Faith for a while before she had to pack up and start to make the long trek back to New Ulm.

We headed out of Milwaukee about 4:00 PM or so and made the long drive back to Michigan.  The drive was made especially longer because of painfully slow traffic in downtown Chicago and because of very heavy lake-effect snow in southwest Michigan.  But slower also meant safer, and we got back about 12:30 AM on Sunday.  I think a nap is in order this afternoon.

Some photos from the trip.

With Grandma and Grandpa Schroeder

Some things never change -- the low dip on the free throw.

Faith, Philip, Peter, Grace, and Nathan (not in that order).

Dan & Liz Schmidt with Laura and me.

We always cheer for #40!

Highs and Lows for Basketball

It was an interesting weekend for basketball.  Philip's game got cancelled, so we drove up to Saginaw for a series of games.  At Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Caleb's freshmen team lost a tight game on Friday night against Valley Lutheran.  Andrew's varsity team played St. Charles, who really hustled hard and gave MLS a lot to handle.  MLS came out on top, but it was much closer than they had thought it would be.  Credit St. Charles for a hard-fought game--although the "hard-fought" part meant that Andrew and one other player had to leave the game with bloody mouths (no fouls on those, either).

Faith's Martin Luther College team played against Northwestern College in St, Paul and came up short.  But then we got the news that MLC came out on top against North Central College in Minneapolis, 53-51.  Faith grabbed an offensive rebound late in the game and put it back up for the go ahead points.  MLC hung on to win.  There is a nice article and a photo that you can find here.

Meanwhile, Caleb's freshmen team had a couple of games in Carrollton.  The won the first 33-31 and lost the second by 21.  The worst part of that loss can be seen in the final photo below.  Happy Birthday to you.

Sprained Ankle.  Happy Birthday, son!

Winter Getaway ... to Minnesota

The Local Tourist hit the road this weekend.

I have seen Faith play a number of games online, but not live, since she has been in college.  This weekend, I got to make the trip to see her live.  As a bonus, my parents decided to join me on the trip.

First, I had stopped in St. Joseph, Michigan to take some photos of the ice-encrusted lighthouse there.  In the past when I was traveling with other family members, I did not try the patience of other travelers.  This time, driving solo, I decided to stop.  As it turns out, I also ended up stopping in Michigan City, Indiana and grabbed some photos there.  The stop in Michigan City was a matter of taking one exit too early, but once I got that close to the lake, I had to check out their lighthouse too.  Photos below.

Although it looks like the one in St. Joseph, MI,
this lighthouse is actually in Michigan City, IN.

We got to New Ulm and got to see Faith play against Crown College.

Grandma and Grandpa Schroeder got to see Faith and Nathanael at MLC.

Martin Luther College won, 69-48.  (At least I'm pretty sure that was the final; they took the score off REALLY fast.)  Tomorrow, MLC plays U of Minn--Morris.  I was told that should be a tougher game.  Finally, the world of texting allowed me to find out Philip's St. Peter's team won and that MLS beat rival Ithaca.  Photos of some of Faith's game below.

2014 Family Christmas Letter (belated)

SCHROEDER CHRISTMAS LETTER -- 2014

The last hours of 2014 are past

And we are writing to you at last

Our annual letter, our year in review

For us to reflect and inform all of you.

The year began with a medical concern,

The diagnosis taking quite some time to learn—

Laura’s legs and arms were getting badly bruised.

We need to know why she’d blacked and she’d blued.

Some medical questions were less than inspired—

Ask a mother of six, “Do you often feel tired?”

After many-a test and ruling things out,

The doc said, “It’s ITP; there is no doubt.”

Laura’s blood platelet count dropped excessively low.

“How do we fix this?” we wanted to know.

Injection, infusions, and hospital stays

Brought no lasting cure – not much, anyways.

So in early November, surgery was set

Removing Laura’s spleen was our last and best bet.

We are grateful to say that all went well.

Laura’s ITP is better from what we can tell.

She went back to teaching before December ended,

Which suggests that she has pretty well mended.

Despite ITP, she has managed our abode,

Getting rest as needed but was not often slowed.

Tom continues to serve all the while

Where Meadowbrook Road crosses Nine Mile—

The only Lutheran church in the city,

Good Shepherd, which is small but it is pretty.

He has tried to take on additional studies

With online classes and meetings with buddies.

He reads for his Octoberfest Luther Lecture

So it’s based on facts and not on conjecture.

Faith is a sophomore for the MLC Knights.

She has class in her days and basketball nights.

She likes the education track she has chosen

But notes that Minnesota is usually frozen.

In the summer, Faith doesn’t sit on her fanny—

She watches two boys when she works as a nanny.

In off hours she works out with all kinds of drills

So she can improve on her basketball skills.

Nathanael had a big year in 2014,

His birthday was his last one as a teen.

We marked his high school graduation day

From Michigan Lutheran Seminary in May.

Basketball, track, and a concert choir tenor

Are how Nathanael finished his year as a senior.

Summer days meant weed-whacking and lawn mowing.

For years he and Charli Sayles are steadily going.

For college those two have tried to stay calm

With she in Milwaukee and he in New Ulm.

Nathanael tried football for the MLC Knights

Who rarely pass the ball.  Said Nathanael, “That bites!”

Andrew enjoyed quite a great football season,

Going deep into the playoffs was one special reason.

The semi-finals were in Marquette’s Superior Dome

But a few points short meant a long, long trip home.

Andrew plays basketball for the Cardinal squad.

So far his games have been far from flawed.

He played JV baseball in the last, chilly Spring.

It kept him busy, but he said, “It’s not my thing.”

He’s in concert choir this year as a junior.

He goofs around with friends and seems to be loonier.

He loves to drive and always asks for the keys.

He also works lawn care in summer heat or breeze.

Caleb also had a big year in the past twelve months.

He graduated, proving that he’s no dunce.

His years at St. Peter, from K to Grade 8

Are now all complete and he thinks that’s great.

In May, Caleb took his confirmation vow.

He comes to the altar for Holy Communion now.

At home, he’ll put on head phones to listen to a tune.

He likes to spend quiet time in his room.

Caleb is at MLS.  Like his sis and each brother,

From Eagle to Cardinal, one bird to another.

He played JV football, as a defensive safety,

And now Freshmen hoops, and wins don’t come easy.

Philip entered the teen years in November.

He had hoped to get to a Packer game in December.

Laura’s surgery meant the trip would be postponed.

“I will patiently wait for next season,” he groaned.

Meanwhile, Philip is in seventh grade.

The basketball court is where he’s usually played.

Last year, he played with Caleb; nothing was greater.

This year’s Eagles team has only one Schroeder.

 

Philip plays trumpet and has picked up trombone.

He has an I-pod, but also longs for a phone.

If you want to play Madden, then Philip’s your man.

He’s also become a Detroit Tigers’ fan.

This past December, Peter turned six.

He loves to play with his Lego bricks.

He’s in Kindergarten where he’s taught by his Mom.

He plays with many friends and rarely sits calm.

When his siblings are home, that is Peter’s delight.

He grabs them to play from the day into night—

Light saber battles, PlayStation, Nerf guns,

With boundless energy his little body runs.

Besides school, sports, and work, our family spent

Time mainly in Detroit.  At least, that’s where we went

To see the Motown Museum and a Ford Field tour.

For us, Greenfield Village always has its allure.

 

In June we went took a trip to Wisconsin

To celebrate an anniversary that was golden.

The Schroeder grandparents rejoiced all that day

For the marriage God wrought and blessed all the way.

Time to wrap up.  We’re near the end of the page.

It’s hard to write verses when you’re not a sage.

God’s grace be upon you though the love of his Son.

We’ll write you again when this new year is done.

Love,

Tom, Laura, Faith, Nathanael, Andrew,

Caleb, Philip, and Peter Schroeder

Football photos

Now that I have figured out a few things with my computer and the photos that I have uploaded, I can finally post some overdue photos of football from this season.  Here is a small sample from Martin Luther College's football game vs. Maranatha Baptist (Watertown, WI) and from Michigan Lutheran Seminary vs. Merrill, Ithaca, and Valley Lutheran (Saginaw).  Enjoy!

 This was a post-interception celebration vs. Merrill.

 Family photo after MLC defeated Maranatha handily.  Faith had stayed in New Ulm.

Nathanael, as a freshman, will not see the field too often this year.  Here, with MLC holding an insurmountable lead, Nathanael got to play quite a bit of the 2nd half.  He would rather play wide receiver, but with a strong preference for running, Nathanael has to play wingback if he is going to see playing time.  I think he had 2 carries and 1 catch this game.

Caleb (#42) makes the tackle vs. Ithaca. 

 Guess who was one of the ball boys at the JV game vs. Valley Lutheran!

Andrew played QB for the first quarter against Valley Lutheran.  He had a long run on which he scored this TD.  He admitted that he did not have to dive for this TD.  Since he was going for a glory moment, I thought I would post this photo for the world to see it.  Despite the showmanship, the TD still only counted for 6 points.

Vacation review

We are back, about 1,800 miles later.  Okay, we took the long way back.  We went to New Ulm, Minnesota via Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, La Crosse, and Rochester, MN.  We returned via the Twin Cities, Duluth, Marquette, MI, the Mackinac straits, and down I-75.  The northern route was to avoid the blistering heat and humidity.  We managed to avoid the heat (80's, not 90's, and much cooler for sleeping), but not the humidity.  Technically, rain is really high humidity, right?

Highlights of the trip included...
...Great River Bluffs State Park on the shore of the Mississippi River, just south of Winona, MN
...Martin Luther College, New Ulm, MN (got Faith moved in and she is now a college student!)
...Martin Luther College Book Store (books, shirts, car stickers, choir CD's, etc....)
...Hermann the German monument on the bluff overlooking New Ulm
...a tour of the Schells Brewery Company in New Ulm, MN
...contact with Nathanael and Andrew to make sure that they successfully registered themselves at Michigan Lutheran Seminary (they did)
...a failed attempt at getting to the Maritime Museum in Duluth, MN
...Palms Book State Park and a little raft trip over the Kitch-iti-kipi spring and some really, really big brook trout
...Seul Choix Lighthouse, a bit south of Manistique, MI
...Mackinac Bridge (but no fudge)
...Swimming in Lake Michigan at Petoskey State Park

Some pictures follow.....

 

Looking south toward La Crosse, WI from the bluffs in Minnesota.

 

Hermann the German overlooks New Ulm, MN.

Old Main (1884), Martin Luther College.

Faith is officially an MLC Knight!

 Looking down from a raft into crystal clear water, 45 feet to the bottom, and full of enormous trout.  No fishing allowed.  Palms Book State Park, near Manistique, MI in the U.P.

Seul Choix Lighthouse on the northern tip of Lake Michigan.

The most beautiful bridge in the world.

Sunset over Petoskey Bay.