YouTube -- HymnFest 2024 (October 13, 2024)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, October 13, 2024.  If you are interested in the hymns and have access to Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal (c) 2021, you can check out this link for the hymns we sung for our HymnFest.  

Adult Bible Class -- Exodus

On Sunday, October 27, we will begin a new series for Adult Bible Class.  

We will be considering the book of Exodus.  We will cover about half of the book--from slavery in Egypt to the call of Moses to the Passover and to the freedom after the crossing of the Red Sea.  The schedule is here:

Oct 27        Israel falls under oppression (Exodus 1)

Nov 3         Moses is born, raised, and escapes (Exodus 2)

Nov 10       God calls Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:1 – 4:17)

Nov 17       Moses returns to Egypt (Exodus 4:18-31)

Nov 24       Bricks without straw (Exodus 5) 

Dec 1         God promises deliverance (Exodus 6) 

Dec 8         Moses confronts Pharaoh with miracles; Plague #1 (Exodus 7)

Dec 15       The Plagues #2 - #9 (Exodus 8 – 10) 

Jan 5          Plague #10 – The Passover (Exodus 11:1 – 12:32)

Jan 12        Consecration of the first born; Unleavened bread (Ex 12:32 – 13:22)

Jan 19        Israel crosses the Red Sea (Exodus 14:1 – 15:21) 

Adult Bible Class meets on Sundays at 9:00 AM.  All are welcome to grow in God’s word.

Sermon -- HymnFest: In Days of Sorrow and Distress (October 13, 2024)

PSALM 96

SING TO THE LORD—IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.

In the name + of Jesus.

      Psalm 96 might seem out of place for a service themed, “In Days of Sorrow and Distress.”  It seems to be a Psalm for good days which give us reasons to rejoice.  It is the Psalm designated for Christmas Eve.  But the praise of God and the songs of the Church are not reserved for good days.  As we confess in the communion liturgy, “It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give you thanks, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  And so, even in days of sorrow and distress, the Church sings.

     When the Church sings her songs, they should say what is true for all Christians.  The best hymns confess like the Creed confesses.  We don’t ask people, one by one, to say, “What does Jesus mean to me?”  Together, we confess the truth, what God has revealed.  We confess, “I believe in God the Father … Maker of heaven and earth.”  Why?  Because God has told us.  We confess, “I believe in Jesus Christ … who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.  On the third day, he rose again from the dead.”  Why?  Because God has told us.  We do not confess personal creeds; the Church confesses what God has told us.  We take our stand, and we profess the common belief of all Christians.  Our hymns should do the same.  A hymn which speaks only for a handful of people, or worse is the sentiment of one person, is a woefully deficient hymn. 

     Consider, for example, a popular evangelical hymn called “In the Garden.”  It is written as if Mary Magdalene wrote it.  She swoons, “I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses, and the voice I hear falling on my ear the Son of God discloses.  And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own; and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.”  Mary Magdalene could sing this, but you and I cannot.  Nowhere in Scripture does Jesus tell us to find him in a garden.  Nowhere does Jesus say he will come to you and personally speak a message unique to you.  He comes to all only in the words of Scripture.  This hymn makes the Christian faith a personal experience, not a common confession.  This hymn is not only deficient, it promotes a false belief.

     Psalm 96 teaches the Church of all time, “Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.  Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!  For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.  For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens” (Psalm 96:2-5).  People will invent all kinds of gods which they trust to provide comfort for their sorrows and peace in the midst of distress.  They turn to drugs and alcohol, sports, fantasy, their own pride or niceness, and so on.  The gods which people turn to do not help or comfort.  And they certainly do not save.

     But you have a God who entered this world of sorrow and pain who provides relief.  Jesus Christ knows what it is to live in days of sorrow and distress.  Jesus knows the bitterness of death, the oppression of a foreign power, the persecution of schemers, the betrayal of friends, the temptations of the devil, and the immorality of the world.  He, too, is grieved and vexed by all these things.  Jesus did not come just to experience the common lot of godly people, he came to deliver you from it.

     A common challenge that people make to God is this: With the world being such an evil place, why doesn’t God do something about it?  But he has!  The world has been corrupted.  It is like a sewer which constantly flows with filth.  If you were stuck in a sewer, you would not beg for someone to clean it up so that you could live there comfortably.  You would be begging for someone to pull you out of it.  You would long to be freed from the continual flow of filth.  That is what Jesus has does.

     Sing to the Lord—in all circumstances.  For, Jesus is your Savior from all the filth of sin.  First, he cleanses you of the filth that is in you.  The blood which Jesus shed on the cross is the atoning sacrifice for you.  His innocence was given in exchange for your guilt.  His death restores you to life.  His curse was borne to bring you God’s blessing.  The blood of Jesus purifies you from all sin.  So, you are clean.

     Still, you experience days of sorrow and distress because of the filth and flaws of a corrupted world.  But even in days of sorrow and distress—especially in days of sorrow and distress—we sing to the Lord.  For, he has rescued us from the sin that damns, and he preserves us for a life of everlasting peace.  Jesus’ resurrection assures us of our own resurrection.  Jesus’ ascension into heaven paves the way for our own ascension into heavenly glory.  And Jesus will come again to establish a new creation—a new heaven and earth, the home of righteousness free from all the corruption, chaos, and catastrophe that sin produces.  That is why Psalm 96 summons: “Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it!  Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth” (Psalm 96:11-13).  Jesus will release creation from corruption and restore it to perfection.  And heaven and nature sing!

     Sing to the Lord—in all circumstances.  Days of sorrow and distress will come.  The depths of sorrow vary.  The intensity of distress fluctuates.  What does it prove?  Nothing in this world is reliable.  Friends may betray you.  The family may die or dissolve.  Your body may break down.  The devil will taunt you.  The world will pressure you to abandon the faith.  False teachers will seduce you.  And death will come.  I say this not to strike fear into you, but to present the realities of living as God’s people in a godless world.  Let’s acknowledge it for what it is.

     But then let’s flee to Jesus for hope and comfort.  Jesus made two statements about the life of God’s people.  One is a warning; the other is a promise.  Jesus declared, “In the world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  Despite days of sorrow and distress, we have a joy that cannot be soured.  Jesus Christ lives and reigns.  Jesus’ promises and mercy and kingdom endure.  Therefore, the Church sings to the Lord—in all circumstances.

     “Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.  Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples” (Psalm 96:2-3)!  The glory of God is not diminished when we endure days of sorrow and distress.  God even uses days of sorrow and distress as a cross upon which we put to death our attachment to this world and then flee to Jesus for comfort and hope.  If your goal is to make this world a place of comfort and ease, days of sorrow and distress will result in despair.  They may even make you suicidal.  But if your goal is to enter the heavenly kingdom, that goal cannot be thwarted by days of sorrow and distress, death or the devil.  Jesus’ marvelous works remain a firm foundation when our world crumbles.  Nothing in this life is sure, but God’s salvation is sure.  And so we proclaim his salvation day after day. 

     Sing to the Lord—in all circumstances.  If you look through the Psalms, they praise God for his marvelous works of salvation in the past and confess a confidence of God’s salvation for the future.  Rather than gush over how we feel about God, the Psalms declare what God has done and uphold what God has promised.  We want our hymns to follow that pattern.  After all, I get no comfort when I tell God what I think of him.  I receive endless comfort when I repeat the promises that God has made to me.  Even in days of sorrow and distress, I can trust God’s promises and be assured of God’s salvation.

     Sing to the Lord—in all circumstances.  And when you sing, sing with the boldness and confidence of people whose victory is sure.  For it is!  So, sing your hymns like fight songs.  Sing in defiance of the devil, the world, and your sinful flesh.  Listen to the confidence expressed in the hymn, “Jesus, Priceless Treasure”: “Satan, I defy thee; death, I now decry thee; fear, I bid thee cease.  World, thou shalt not harm me nor thy threats alarm me while I sing of peace.  God’s great power guards every hour; earth and all its depths adore him, silent bow before him” (v3).  Or consider the bold defiance of “God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It": “Sin, disturb my soul no longer: I am baptized into Christ” (v 2).  “Satan, hear this proclamation: I am baptized into Christ” (v 3).  “Death, you cannot end my gladness: I am baptized into Christ” (v 4).  We sing with boldness and confidence because Jesus’ promises remain firm.  Because of Jesus, sin cannot condemn us.  Death cannot keep us.  The devil cannot have us.  So, our songs proclaim his salvation day after day, even in days of sorrow and distress.  Especially in days of sorrow and distress.

     “Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!  Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.  Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples” (Psalm 96:1-3)!  And so, God’s people sing.

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

Update from Good Shepherd (October 10, 2024)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE 

Divine Service is Sunday at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School is on Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Adult Bible Class is on Sundays at 9:00 AM.

CALENDAR: For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

EVERYONE OUTREACH – FOLLOW-UP
             Our one-day seminar, Everyone Outreach, was completed on Saturday, September 21. But to establish an outreach culture, we will need to keep our goals present and encourage one another to pursue them.  There will be follow-up meetings (TBA) where we can encourage efforts and discuss what has been accomplished so far.  The Church Council will be taking the lead as we will dedicate a good portion of our next meeting to how we will implement our plans. 

HURRICANE RELIEF
            Several areas of our country have been hammered hard by hurricanes in the past few weeks, specifically Hurricanes Helene (Tennessee and Carolinas) and Milton (Florida).  The destruction and devastation have been immense.  In order to provide relief, we will take a special offering this Sunday to alleviate the pain of those who are experiencing days of sorrow and distress.  You can give your offering with the regular collection (if so, please designate it "hurricane relief") or in a collection plate at the ushers' station specifically for hurricane relief.  

            Additional offerings can be made to the WELS Christian Aid and Relief at wels.net/CARgift.

HYMNFEST

          On Sunday, October 13, we will have a HymnFest in which we will feature hymns under the theme, "In Days of Sorrow and Distress."  These hymns provide great comfort to us in dark days.  Most of them were written by people who either had been or were experiencing the hardships common to this life, some hardships much more crushing than others.  For a preview of the hymns, click here.

INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
          Here is a video to introduce people to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Novi. Share it as much as you can.

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (September)

>    We are exploring an improvement to the tinting on the window above the altar.  Early research has not produced a workable solution.  The good news is that the blinding sun will cease to be a problem as we head further into Fall.  But we hope to have a solution before the blinding sun hits again next summer.

>    A request was made for some kind of pictorial directory which will be helpful for having new and old members become more familiar with each other.  Our first priority is having someone who will be willing to spearhead the effort.  We did not place a time table on its completion.

>    We reviewed our commitments for mission offerings and for Hope Christian Academy.  We will fulfill Good Shepherd’s commitment by the end of September and will determine how much additional offering we will submit as we reach the end of the year.  We will also reflect increased support when we present the proposed budget for 2025 at our Open Forum in mid-November (date TBD). 

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE
          Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the service from September 15, 2024: Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, September 15, 2024 (youtube.com)

MISSION FESTIVAL
          Our Saviour Lutheran Church and Hope Christian Academy invite all of our southeast Michigan WELS congregations to a Mission Rally on Sunday, October 13 at Hope Christian Academy (33740 Cowan Road in Westland, Michigan).
          The rally will begin at 2:00 pm and conclude at 4:30 pm. The theme of the rally is, "Me? A witness for Jesus? Yes!" The focus will be on "You don't need a diploma from the seminary or from MLC to participate in home and world Gospel outreach." Participants will get "bite-size pieces" of information about various WELS-affiliated ministries, including:
                    Friends Network (the merger of Friends of Vietnam and Friends of China)
                    Lutheran Women's Missionary Society
                    Wisconsin Lutheran College
                    Christian Life Resources/WELS Lutherans for Life/New Beginnings
                    Project Share
          We hope to make this Mission Rally an annual event. Next year's focus (God willing) will be on our synod's 175th anniversary.

REGULAR OFFICE HOURS
            The pastor will try to hold formal office hours Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon. It should be noted that some meetings are scheduled for those times. It is best to call or text to confirm any meetings with the pastor (248-719-5218).

 

DO YOU LIKE US?

          Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings. Be sure to share posts with friends.

SHARE THIS POST!
          We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess. Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

==============================

REGULAR SCHEDULE
DIVINE SERVICES are on Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Adult Bible Class -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Bible Matters will resume in January 2025.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

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

Book Review: From Egypt to Sinai

I recently completed reading through the book, From Sinai to Egypt: A Devotional Commentary on Exodus by Rev. Paul S. Meitner ($31.99).

Rev. Meitner covers the entire book of Exodus, dividing up various sections of Exodus into 25 chapters (302 pages).  Each chapter averages 12 pages, although some of the meatier portions of Exodus get treated with longer chapters which is understandable.

While it is subtitled "a devotional commentary," the emphasis is on the word "devotional."  If someone is looking for a breakdown of Hebrew words or verse-by-verse commentary, you will need to look elsewhere.  This volume assumes that you have read or are familiar with the designated chapters of Exodus and offers up insights from there.  Most often, those insights seek to connect the portions of Exodus to their New Testament fulfillment in Jesus Christ.  This is the strongest argument for the purchase of this book.  It was a pleasure to see the connections made by Rev. Meitner, and he acknowledged that even more connections could have been made.

In each chapter, Rev. Meitner shows both sin and grace.  He also connects these to us, showing that we are no better than the stiff-necked Israelites who returned to their sins again and again.  But our Lord and Savior is also the same--forgiving sins because he paid for them with his atoning sacrifice and continuing to bestow grace upon his people.  The Lord who called us to be his also works and sustains us as his own.  While readers will grow in their understanding of the book of Exodus, the devotional aspect of this book is its best attribute.

NOTE: The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author in exchange for a free copy of this book provided by Northwestern Publishing House.

Hymn Notes for HymnFest (October 13, 2024)

There will be many hymns we will enjoy for our HymnFest, but a few are newer and may not be familiar to everyone.  In order to be a little better prepared for some of these newer hymns, you can preview two of them below.

His Robes for Mine (Hymn 568) was written by Christ Anderson and music is by Greg Habegger.  This hymn highlights God's Great Exchange--that Jesus takes our sin and gives us his righteousness.

I Run to Christ (Hymn 833) was written by Christ Anderson and music is by Greg Habegger.  This hymn encourages us--in the face of fear, tears, strife, or temptation--to run to Christ for refuge and comfort.

Afflicted Saint, to Christ Draw Near (867) was written by John Fawcett (1740 - 1817) and the music was written by Constance Dever.  This hymn reminds us that, no matter what affliction we endure, we find refuge and peace in Christ alone.  No affliction can destroy this peace.

Update from Good Shepherd (October 3, 2024)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE 

Divine Service is Sunday at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School is on Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Adult Bible Class is on Sundays at 9:00 AM.

CALENDAR: For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

EVERYONE OUTREACH – FOLLOW-UP
             Our one-day seminar, Everyone Outreach, was completed on Saturday, September 21. But to establish an outreach culture, we will need to keep our goals present and encourage one another to pursue them.  There will be follow-up meetings (TBA) where we can encourage efforts and discuss what has been accomplished so far.  The Church Council will be taking the lead as we will dedicate a good portion of our next meeting to how we will implement our plans. 

LADIES OF GOOD SHEPHERD
            The Ladies of Good Shepherd will meet after church on October 6 to discuss plans for the remainder of 2024 and into 2025. The following activities will be discussed and planned. Collegiate care kits: End of October; Come to the Table Friendsgiving: November 10th at 4PM; Veterans Stocking for Christmas: assembled in November, Jeannete will provide details; Christmas bake sale/cookie exchange (date TBD); LOGS Funding for new/update Christmas decorations, Advent dinners (two dinners in December, dates TBD); Ladies Tea (Spring 2025); and a potential brunch or dinner get-together. All ladies from Good Shepherd are welcome to attend the meeting and any future gatherings. Friends are always welcome, too!

EUCHRE NIGHT AND GAME NIGHT
             On Sunday, October 6, we will open the doors at 6:30 PM for an evening of games. Our main feature will be euchre, but other games will be available. You are welcome to bring snacks and beverages to share. And by all means, invite friends to join us!

HYMNFEST

          On Sunday, October 13, we will have a HymnFest in which we will feature hymns under the theme, "In Days of Sorrow and Distress."  These hymns provide great comfort to us in dark days.  Most of them were written by people who either had been or were experiencing the hardships common to this life, some hardships much more crushing than others.  For a preview of the hymns, click here.

INTRODUCTION VIDEO FOR GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
          Here is a video to introduce people to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Novi. Share it as much as you can.

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS (September)

>    The LED sign is now installed and working.  There is still some work to be done on it to complete the project.  A training session was presented to the pastor, the secretary, and our properties committee chairman, allowing us to control the sign’s content.

>    We are exploring an improvement to the tinting on the window above the altar.  Early research has not produced a workable solution.  The good news is that the blinding sun will cease to be a problem as we head further into Fall.  But we hope to have a solution before the blinding sun hits again next summer.

>    A request was made for some kind of pictorial directory which will be helpful for having new and old members become more familiar with each other.  Our first priority is having someone who will be willing to spearhead the effort.  We did not place a time table on its completion.

>    We reviewed our commitments for mission offerings and for Hope Christian Academy.  We will fulfill Good Shepherd’s commitment by the end of September and will determine how much additional offering we will submit as we reach the end of the year.  We will also reflect increased support when we present the proposed budget for 2025 at our Open Forum in mid-November (date TBD). 

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE
          Services are uploaded to YouTube each week. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the service from September 15, 2024: Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, September 15, 2024 (youtube.com)

REGULAR OFFICE HOURS
            The pastor will try to hold formal office hours Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon. It should be noted that some meetings are scheduled for those times. It is best to call or text to confirm any meetings with the pastor (248-719-5218).

 

DO YOU LIKE US?

          Look for Good Shepherd on Facebook. Then “LIKE” us for updates and other postings. Be sure to share posts with friends.

SHARE THIS POST!
          We desire as many as possible to rejoice in the Gospel which we proclaim and confess. Share the information from our weekly email blast, links to our web page, and even to the pastor's blog to let others know that we have a space in our congregation for them!

In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

==============================

REGULAR SCHEDULE
DIVINE SERVICES are on Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Adult Bible Class -- Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Bible Matters will resume in January 2025.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

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