Light is something we often take for granted. Light anywhere in our home whenever we want it. Just flip a switch. Sometimes you don’t even have to do that. Just walk past a motion detector switch and a light pops on. Or speak to some imaginary Siri or Alexa to turn on the lights and there they are. And even if the power goes out, we have battery lights, or lanterns, and some still might use candles. We have lights on our phones, so we have light wherever we go. We have lights inside of our refrigerators and microwaves and ovens. Headlights and taillights allow us to drive at night— and they now even turn on and off automatically. Lights on airplanes and runways allow people to travel 24/7. Lighted signs that show us the places where we shop or eat. Streetlights that keep us safe in traffic. Then, we get to this time of the year and it’s Christmas lights on trees and bushes and houses and decorations. We could go on all day (or night) about all kinds of lights. But how often are we thankful for the light?
During this month of Advent and Christmas, we are going to focus a lot on light. Reflecting light, star light, rising light, and so on. Why? Why so much talk about something so every day and common?
Isaiah 9:2 explains it: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
This month we await and then celebrate the coming of The Light of the world—Jesus Christ. He came as a baby, but He is our Savior Who illuminates our world and brights the light of life and salvation in the midst of darkness.
This Advent and Christmas may the light of Christ shine on you and give you the hope and assurance of His eternal light. In His light, Pastor Toensing
Dear fellow redeemed in Christ Jesus, Are there? Are there enough hours in the day? We have all likely heard and repeated the statement, “There just aren’t enough hours in the day.” Or “So much to do, so little time.” But Who created the time we have? Who made the days we live in?
I came across a quote in one of my resources of a pastor reflecting on this very thing and I appreciated his assessment and perspective. Here it is:
“God knows what he wants me to accomplish. After all, I am his under-rower and his servant. If he knows what needs to be done and presumably knows how long it will take, it is reasonable for me to assume he will allot the right amount of time to accomplish his purposes.” That being the case, I came to the astonishing conclusion that there are exactly the right number of hours in the day to accomplish what God wants to achieve. Not to believe this is to banish God to the ranks of the Egyptian taskmasters who demanded that the Israelites make bricks without straw. . . . The issue then became for me not so much an intense, frustrated, never-ending attempt to meet every need on the horizon, but a sensible approach to filling the hours with . . . responsible living. (CPR 1997, D. Stuart Briscoe)
God is holy and perfect, and He said about His creation, “It is good.” Therefore, His construction of time in days of 24-hour periods is a gift to be used wisely and with good stewardship. We should then consider each day a gift, each new day filled with His mercies (Lamentations 3:22-23), and by the wisdom we gain from God, us our time wisely and for good. God calls us to use all His gifts wisely, graciously, joyously, and generously.
I admit that I am not the perfect steward of time I should be. In sinfulness, you and I don’t always make the best use of our time. How thankful we are, then, for the mercy God shows in forgiving us our misuse of time. And then, He gives us another. Today is a new day. Today is another gift from God. Today is another day in which His mercies flow, His love is poured out, His gifts are given. God help us to receive time as a gift and by His grace and use it wisely and with responsible living for His glory and the benefit of those we serve. Peace to you in Jesus Christ, Pastor Toensing
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: How many voices do we hear on any given day? The answer is, “A lot.” These voices of people around us offer or give us their advice, information, or opinions on what they think we need or need to know. Then there are the voices of people we listen to on the radio, on podcasts, on TV, and through social media.
Advertising and marketing begin by stating a problem that is known or felt. A storyline is introduced as to how our problem or issue can be resolved by obtaining this or that product. And then we’re shown how our life or situation in the future will be better.
There are lots of voices and lots of things offered. Many of them are self-serving motivations and expectations. Some of the voices around us are people we do care about and who care about us. But there are others which are only trying to get us to buy into their ideas or products. So, we start to think about which voices we really should listen to for our good.
Jesus, our Good Shepherd, demonstrates that He is for us and for our benefit. What He wants for us is what caused Him to give His life lovingly for us. He gave His life in place of ours so we could have our greatest spiritual needs met. His voice is one we can trust with our life. And when we follow His voice, He will get us to our heavenly home with the Father.
Now, thinking about different voices, we will hear some in our worship settings this month. We have two young ladies that will be making confirmation of their baptismal faith one Sunday. A guest pastor will share God’s Word one Sunday. The voices of witnesses and sponsors at a baptism on another. And a former pastor, Rev. Hansen, on the last. How exciting that we have these other voices giving praise to God for the blessings we receive. They too have heard the voice of the Good Shepherd and share in His grace and love with us.
The best voice of all to listen to is Jesus’ voice, our Good Shepherd, who calls us to follow Him. In Him we have salvation, love, wisdom, and our forever home. The love of Christ Jesus be with you always as you hear His voice in His holy Word. God’s Blessings to you, Pastor Toensing
The Pascal Triduum is the three days of Jesus’ Passion ending Lent and moving us into the Easter Season.
The Triduum begins on Maundy (Holy) Thursday and ends with Day of the resurrection of our Lord. These three days incorporate three (or four if some observe the Easter Eve Vigil) separate services that are one, whole worship service. There is no benediction (final blessing) on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday since these services are not concluded, but anticipate the next worship service as part of the whole three days of worship—The Pascal Triduum.
From within the Passover setting, Jesus instituted and gave us His Holy Supper. That evening He gave final teachings on humility to His disciples and went out to pray in Gethsemane. He was betrayed and put on trial.
Good Friday carries on the Triduum with a Tenebrae service—a service of darkness. This is a day of joy as we remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. This service is not a funeral service, but we do worship with restrained joy and minimized music. It is, after all, GOOD Friday—good for us, that is, as our sins were paid for by Jesus in His crucifixion.
Easter—the resurrection of our Lord—brings the Triduum to a joyful and glorious completion. The resurrection of our Lord means nothing without His death in the sinner’s place. And His death would mean nothing without His resurrection to life and His victory over the grave, sin, and the devil. Therefore, there is a singular unity with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter.
Dear Saints in Christ, Ash Wednesday is on February 14th. February 14th is also Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day is the day we express our love to those nearest and dearest to us. What could be better than recognizing the greatest love that we receive than God’s great love for us in sending Jesus, the Son of God, to save us from our sins. John 3:16 (ESV): “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” On Ash Wednesday we recognize our sinfulness and temporal death as we came from ashes and we will return to ashes (Genesis 3:19). But, in the greatest love, Jesus became man, took on our sin, died for all our guilt, and paid our penalty. In His resurrection we find life and the hope of eternal life. All this Jesus did out of love for us – absolutely the deepest and greatest love ever! It seems very fitting to have a day in which love is celebrated on a day we are thankful for the ultimate manifestation of love that saves us and gives us true life and love – a love that will never end. Valentine's Day plus Ash Wednesday equals Jesus loves you. Peace and love to you in Jesus Christ. Love in Christ, Pastor Toensing
Dear Saints in Christ, A blessed New Year to you. May God’s grace for you be abundant, His love overflowing, and His presence known according to His Word.
This year we will be celebrating 150 years as a congregation. It’s nice when our families enjoy time together when someone in the family has a birthday. As a congregation we have the opportunity to celebrate this big anniversary together. I encourage everyone to join the celebrations we have throughout the year.
During the life span of St. John Lutheran Church there have been many who have attended, participated, and served. Many changes have been experienced in the world and in the life events of the congregation and its members. But one thing remains constant: the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God’s grace for His people in the birth, life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus to bring salvation to sinners is the same message of God to all generations. And that is what unites us together now, with all past/passed members, and with all Christians of all time.
Our celebration of St. John’s 150th Anniversary is the celebration of our common faith in Jesus Christ and our blessing to have received God’s gift of salvation. As we join in thanksgiving and praise to God for all His good gifts, we pray that He would bless our year of celebration. Let us come together in praise of our God who has blessed all our generations and united them in His Son and brought us together in one family in Christ Jesus.
To God be the glory. Amen! God’s Blessings to you, Pastor Toensing