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Trusting in the Promises of God

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Lent

March 1, 2022 by Pastor Hendrix Leave a Comment

What is Lent?

Lent is a 40-day season of an intentional Christ-centered return to our baptisms, where we daily die with our sins and rise with Christ to live a new life.  Between Ash Wednesday and the Paschal Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil), the church is again called to live a life of repentance. The practice of Lent has been observed by Christians around the world since the early centuries of the church.

Lent shows how much we need Christ.

Lent is an opportunity to follow Jesus who was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit for 40 days of prayer and fasting, who became our substitute. By His fasting and temptation, He opens for us the feast of heaven.

Lent shows how much we need each other.

We often think of our faith as something personal, and while many of the practices of Lent are things that can’t be done except by each person individually, however Christian faith is never practiced in solitude, but always in communion with fellow Christians.  Together, by meeting together around the Word of God, we encourage one another and fulfill a purpose of church: to carry each other’s burdens and to encourage them with the love of Christ.  May we encourage each other this Lent in our individual participation in the death and resurrection of Jesus.



As you participate in Lent, please read our guide, and feel free to share it with your friends.

Faith Lenten Guide

Here are all of our opportunities at Faith to participate in Lent:

Ash Wednesday

March 2, 6:30pm Divine Service

In Scripture, ashes serve both as a symbol of mortality and as a sign of mourning and repentance. In the Ash Wednesday service we are reminded of our mortality, we confess our sins, and we experience forgiveness through Christ’s death and resurrection. A central practice in the Ash Wednesday service is when those gathered physically embody what is in their hearts when they receive the “imposition of ashes” on our foreheads and hear the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Praise be to God that sin and death do not have the final word! We leave the service in confidence and gratitude: Christ has conquered death, and nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.


Vespers

Wednesdays at 6:30pm

(No service on March 23rd)

Each Wednesday in Lent we gather together to be refocused around Christ’s passion. As it is customary for Vespers to be a catechetical service, this year we meditate on the Lord’s Supper, under the theme “Fasting and Feasting”


Festival of the Annunciation

Friday, March 25th at 6:30pm

Return to Wittenberg and Faith Lutheran Church, Oregon, WI will be hosting a special Festival of the Annunciation Service on March 25th at 6:30pm.  

The Feast of the Annunciation commemorates the announcement of the Messiah’s birth by the Holy Angel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  It takes place on March 25th every year, exactly 9 months (the typical length of human gestation) before Christmas Day.Before the Service, there will be a fellowship meal in the church basement beginning around 5:30pm.


Prayer

Daily

Pray the Catechism during the 40 days in Lent, using this booklet.

Pray the Catechism

Almsgiving (Charity & Acts of Mercy)

Mid-March

Spring Cleaning Drive
Target dates: March 21-26

Spring Cleaning Drive: We will collect personal health and hygiene products from our community for the local food pantry.

Faith In Action: Members who have been blessed financially by the Lord are encouraged to give to our church’s Faith In Action fund, which is set up to help families in need in our community.

Ukraine Crisis Fund: Our Christian brothers and sisters in Ukraine are in need of our support. First and foremost, they need our prayers to God for peace and security. There is also a very great need for humanitarian assistance as the war continues to destroy lives and property. The ELS Board for Christian Service has established the Ukraine Crisis Fund to aid our brothers and sisters in the Ukrainian Lutheran Church and the Gift of Life program as well as other Ukrainians in need. To contribute to this fund, go to els.org/donate. Checks may be sent to ELS Ukraine Crisis Fund, 6 Browns Ct., Mankato, MN 56001.


Fasting

Throughout Lent

Fasting, or giving something up that is a regular part of life is to remind us how completely we depend on the Lord.  It is not dieting, as the focus of dieting often becomes my will-power.  Rather, the focus of fasting is the Lord Jesus.  The point is that when we give something up, we replace it with Jesus.  For example, if a person chooses to not eat a meal, the time normally spent in preparation and eating would be spent reading and meditating on God’s Word.


Bible Study

Women’s Bible Study: Tuesdays at 7:00pm at the Parsonage

Men’s Bible Study: 6:30pm, 2nd Tuesday of the month

Young Adult Study: March 12, April 2

During Lent, our studies are perfect ways to focus on Jesus.

The men’s study is on “Christ Have Mercy: Putting Your Faith in Action.”

The women’s study is “Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up?: 12 False Christs”

The young adult study is on what it means to be a Christian in the family, in the church, and in the world.

Books are  available for purchase if you would like to own them, otherwise you may borrow from church, but please let Pastor know so we can have enough books.


Paschal Triduum

Maundy Thursday: April 14 6:30pm

Good Friday: April 15 6:30pm

Easter Vigil: April 16 7:27pm

Paschal = The Biblical word for “Easter”
Triduum = “The Three Days.”

After 40 Days of Lent, the Christian Year has now reached its climax. We have come to the celebration of the suffering, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the celebration for which we have been preparing throughout Lent. Now we see what our Savior came to do. We see Him suffer and die for our sins and for the sins of the world. And we see Him rise triumphantly on Easter morning to assure us that our salvation is complete, the victory is won.

All three services are dramatic each in their own way and intimately connected to each other. The focus as always, is Christ.


Faith Lenten Guide

Filed Under: News, Uncategorized

The Feast of Epiphany

January 6, 2022 by Pastor Hendrix 1 Comment

Epiphany, January 6, is the official end of the 12 days of Christmas. Many Christians celebrate this day by remembering the journey of the Magi who found their way to Jesus by following a bright heavenly body, usually represented by a star. 

Epiphany means “revealing” or “manifestation” and historically was one of the three great feasts of the Church (Epiphany, Easter, and Pentacost). Originally, Epiphany (Jan 6th) was what Christmas (Dec 25th) is for us today, the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Today we retain both celebrations.

In the season of Epiphany we see and hear that Jesus is revealed or manifested through His Word. Through this Word, the full nature of the Christ Child is made known to us. 

Epiphany reminds us that Christ is not just the Savior to a select people, the Jews, but the Savior of the Gentiles, and all people.

Each week of Epiphany reveals this to us with increasing clarity, from the Child worshiped by wise men, to the Boy Jesus in the temple “about His Father’s business,” to the Man Jesus who reveals His deity through miracles including His first sign at the wedding in Cana.  

2 Timothy 1:9-10, “Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,”

Epiphany is a time of great celebration and rejoicing. During Advent we spent four weeks waiting and anticipating the coming King, Christmas we celebrated his arrival and birth, and Epiphany we continue that rejoicing as we see Him manifest Himself as God and Savior.

Here are a few ways you can celebrate Epiphany with your family:

1. Attend the Epiphany service at church.

As the wise men found Jesus by reading the Word of God, so we find Jesus in the same way today.

January 6 at 6:30pm

2. Chalk your front door.

Epiphany is the traditional time to bless your home, as the wise men visited Jesus in His home.

It is a great opportunity to have pastor visit your family and bless your home.

3. Save one present for your children to open on Epiphany.

4. Have your kids make King crowns from craft paper

5. Bake a King’s Cake.

(Many bake a small figurine/toy baby into the cake to be discovered just as the magi discovered Jesus)

6. Break out the telescope for stargazing.

Be reminded of the star that brought the Wise Men to Jesus.

7. Listen to some Epiphany music

Prayer for Epiphany 
O God, by the leading of a star You made known Your only-begotten Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who O God, who by the leading of a star made manifest Your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we, who know You now by faith, may after this life joyfully behold Your glorious Godhead; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Filed Under: News, Uncategorized

Provisions for the Journey

November 5, 2021 by Pastor Hendrix Leave a Comment

Fifth Bible Study on Ars Moriendi – “The Art of Dying Well”

The-Art-of-Dying-Well-Handout-05Download

“Ars Moriendi – The Art of Dying Well”

Writing to those concerned about the plague in his day, Martin Luther said, “Everyone should prepare in time and get ready for death.”

From the moment we are born we are dying. We are brought into newness of life in Christ and the Church through the death of Holy Baptism. Much of our Lord’s teaching and the teaching of Scripture is about learning to die well, which leads to a life lived well, now and for all eternity.  Join us for a Bible Study utilizing Ars Moriendi (‘art of dying’) literature from the Reformation era.  You will learn what it means to die well, and as a result, what it means to live well.

Filed Under: News, Uncategorized

What is Death?

October 9, 2021 by Pastor Hendrix Leave a Comment

Second Bible Study on Ars Moriendi – “The Art of Dying Well”

The-Art-of-Dying-Well-Handout-02Download

“Ars Moriendi – The Art of Dying Well”

Writing to those concerned about the plague in his day, Martin Luther said, “Everyone should prepare in time and get ready for death.”

From the moment we are born we are dying. We are brought into newness of life in Christ and the Church through the death of Holy Baptism. Much of our Lord’s teaching and the teaching of Scripture is about learning to die well, which leads to a life lived well, now and for all eternity.  Join us for a Bible Study utilizing Ars Moriendi (‘art of dying’) literature from the Reformation era.  You will learn what it means to die well, and as a result, what it means to live well.

Filed Under: News, Uncategorized

Did Moses Really Write the Pentateuch?

September 24, 2021 by Pastor Hendrix Leave a Comment

This article comes from The Center of Apologetics and Worldviews at Bethany Lutheran College. It is from a series entitled “Q&A Leading to Christ.”

Liberal theologians and secular professors foster doubts that Moses (or any singular person) wrote the first five books of the Bible. But, consider:

1. The word “Pentateuch” describes a singular work. You can probably name the first five books of the Bible without any trouble. Jews have always referred to these five books as the “Torah”: a singular noun, typically translated as “law.” Another name for these books is “Pentateuch,” which is Greek. Like “Torah,” it is a singular noun; “penta-“ recognizes that there are five parts making up the whole.

“Pentateuch” means “the five-volume book.” The first five books of the Bible are not a crazy quilt, stitched together from scraps. While that has become the “scholarly” way of looking at them, they are, in fact, one complete, seamless work.

2. This singular work was written by a single person: one real, flesh-and-blood human being—with a name. No one today would deny that one person is capable of writing a series of books. No one would deny the author’s name or existence, either. Why shouldn’t this same courtesy apply to Moses?

This question shows that the tradition of Moses writing the first five books of the Bible is still alive despite the “crazy quilt theory.” Around the world, several Bible translations still list “First Moses” through “Fifth Moses” instead of “Genesis–Deuteronomy” in their tables of contents.

More important than what tradition says about who wrote these books is what the Bible itself says. The Bible consistently calls its first five books the “Law of Moses.” The Bible also makes it clear that “Moses” is not just a title, or an “it,” but a person:

For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues. (Acts 15:21)

In the New Testament, those who worked for the Church and those who worked against the Church agreed that Moses personally wrote the Pentateuch. St. Paul referred to the “Law of Moses” in his sermons and epistles (Acts 28:23; Romans 10:5; 1 Corinthians 9:9). St. Stephen was accused of speaking “blasphemous words against Moses and God”; specifically, that “Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us” (Acts 6:11,14; see also: John 8:5, 9:28–29).

Compare that “bad news” with the good news St. Philip brought to his friend:

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (John 1:45)

Philip’s words and actions reveal the most important reason why you should be thankful for this question.

3. This question leads to Christ, who answers, “Yes.” Jesus is the final authority on the authorship of the Pentateuch. Through Him “we have the word of the prophets made more certain” (2 Peter 1:19).

As Teacher, Jesus refers to the “Law of Moses” and even the “Book of Moses” (John 7:23; Mark 12:26). To those who work against Him, He speaks of Moses personally:

There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. (John 5:45b–6; cf. Mark 10:3, Luke 20:37)

The Lord’s message to you is clear: inspired by the Holy Spirit and recorded by Moses, the Pentateuch leads not only to knowledge of Christ, but faith in Christ as your Savior.

The person and work of Moses is fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the greater Prophet, who personally redeemed and delivered God’s people from the bondage of sin.

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)

Rev. Christian Eisenbeis is pastor at First Trinity Lutheran Church, Marinette, Wisconsin.

Learn More:
www.els.org/apologetics

Filed Under: News, Uncategorized

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Contact

143 Washington St.
Oregon, WI 53575
Email us
Pastor’s cell: 608-405-9522

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Service Times

Divine Service | 9:00 am Sundays
& Most Thursdays in the Summer at 6:30pm
Bible Study | 10:15am Sundays
Vespers | 6:30pm Wednesdays in Advent & Lent

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