Posts by Rev. Roy W. Hefti (Page 2)
KINGDOM COMFORT
The bumper sticker said: “No matter who the president is, Jesus is King.” Amid polarized opinions, that’s a comforting reminder in any generation. Jesus once said to a Roman governor: “My kingdom is not of this world.” Maybe it’s a challenge for us Americans to identify with Jesus as our King. After all, we don’t have kings. None of us have ever lived under a king. Each July 4th we celebrate and give thanks that we live in a…
WHERE WILL IT ALL END?
In these troubling times, as in many times past, we may find ourselves wondering: “Where will it all end?” St. Paul famously said this: “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 EHV). It is doubtful that you and I would believe these words if God Himself had not caused them to be written down in the Bible. As the years…
THE BACKSTORY REVISITED
An old man named John wrote it down in a little letter years later: “We have heard…we have seen…we have observed….our hands have touched.” Those days long ago scroll across the old man’s memory. He was a young man then, maybe all of nineteen. He was hanging on the words of a rugged preacher named John the Baptist on that day when Jesus came in sight of the Jordan River. “Look!” said the preacher, pointing at Jesus, “The Lamb of…
TIMELESS TRUTH
In the verses before us today, Jesus says: “If you remain in My word, you are really My disciples. You will also know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32 EHV). This includes the truth of the Holy Trinity. For a lot of folks the name Athanasius may not ring a bell. But we Christians owe the man a great deal. In the early centuries of the Church, a fellow named Arius, along with others,…
REGULAR WORSHIP SERVICES RESUME MAY 31 & JUNE 1
Following a consensus with other WELS pastors in our immediate area (circuit), and with the approval of our Church Council, we will resume regular worship services on Sunday, May 31 at 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. and on Monday, June 1 at 7:00 p.m. God-willing, this will be the regular schedule throughout the summer. Those for whom age or compromised health poses a greater risk need not feel constrained to attend until conditions indicate greater safety. Livestreaming of our…
PLANS FOR RESUMING REGULAR WORSHIP SERVICES – COVID-19 Update
Following the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling this past week, our circuit and district pastors are discussing when and how we will resume regular worship services in our own specific areas. The WELS pastors of our own immediate area will be meeting in the coming week to discuss the path forward. We ask for your patience as the WELS congregations of our own immediate area look forward to resuming our worship services in a unified, loving and responsible manner. Our Church…
“DELIVER US FROM EVIL”
In the Lord’s Prayer, our Savior has folded our hands for us, as parents do for small children, and taught us to pray: “Deliver us from evil.” God does. The very fact that you are reading this proves that you are still here, that God has rescued you a thousand times from perils and plagues that never happened. We give too little thanks for all the times we have been spared simply because those catastrophes, illnesses or accidents never happened.…
A RELIGION FOR THE WEAK?
Actor Max Von Sydow died on March 8th at the age of 90. He played a priest in The Exorcist. He played Satan in Needful Things. And…he played Jesus Christ in the 1965 movie The Greatest Story Ever Told. Von Sydow was raised in the liberal, Swedish Lutheran Church. By the 1970’s Sydow identified himself as an agnostic/atheist. Many famous folks have placed themselves in that category without apology. The late, foul-mouthed comedian George Carlin, appearing on Larry King…
“BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD!” (Psalm 46:10) – COVID-19 UPDATE
ANOTHER UPDATE AS OF MARCH 17, 2020 GOVERNOR EVERS BANS ALL GATHERINGS OF MORE THAN 10 PEOPLE AND EXTENDS SCHOOL CLOSINGS INDEFINITELY Fellow Redeemed:Shortly before school was out this afternoon, Governor Evers announced a ban on all gatherings of more than 10 people and extended school closings indefinitely. Like other WELS churches in our area, we now have no choice but to discontinue church services until further notice. Starting tomorrow, we will attempt to live stream worship services to our…
A NOTE FROM THE ST. PAUL’S CHURCH COUNCIL REGARDING WORSHIP SERVICES DURING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK
On Mon. Mar. 16, Wisconsin Governor Evers issued a mandate banning gatherings of more than 50 people in any one enclosed space. The Church Council met on Monday evening to discuss how we can follow the Scriptural principles of honoring our government, showing love to our neighbors by not endangering them, and also staying close to our Savior through the Gospel in Word and Sacrament. While the following decisions may change depending on circumstances, the Council has, for the…
WHERE IS THIS WRITTEN?
From time to time, it is helpful to list some of the main teachings of the Bible along with some of the main passages where these teachings are found: The one, true God is the Triune God – one God in three PersonsDeuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:15 The Scriptures are the verbally inspired and inerrant Word of GodJohn 10:35; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:21 The Law shows us our sin and the Gospel shows us…
A NOTE FROM YOUR PASTOR
On Friday, the Governor has ordered the closing of all schools public and private as of this coming Wednesday, March 18 with a tentative reopening on Monday, April 6 in hopes of slowing the spread of COVID-19 in our state. As for the temporary closing of our school, the faculty has begun to plan homework, worksheets and possible online ways of teaching the core subjects for our students until school starts up again. Parents, stay tuned! As for confirmation instruction, the pastor will suspend…