CHRIST LUTHERAN NEWSLETTER

Official Newsletter of Christ Lutheran Church, Augusta, MO 63332

June 2010

Bible Study/Sunday School:  9:00 a.m.                                                                                                             Church Phone:  (636)228-4642

Worship Service:  10:00 a.m.                                                                                                                                Pastor's Phone: (636)228-4773

Website:  http://clcaugustamo.org

 

 

From the Pastor's Desk......

 

It may be a little difficult to think of winter during these hot, "summer" days, but there is a story which took place during the winter of 1952 which has a lesson worth our consideration.  In South Dakota winters can be very severe, but that year a blizzard came which was the "granddaddy" of them all.  On January 21st people turned on their radios to listen to the weather forecast and were advised to do hurriedly whatever needed to be done because there was a terrible storm on the way.  It struck about noon.  It was a terrible manifestation of power.  Driving, forceful, biting, mighty wind accompanied a severely heavy snowstorm that raged for two days.  One of the farmers in that area was caught up in the blizzard.  He had taken the advice of the weather forecaster and had gone in his jeep to the one-room country school to get his children and the schoolteacher, who lived at their house.  He got within a short distance of home when the storm struck. 

 

You literally could not see your hand in front of your face.  The blowing snow caused the motor of the jeep to stall, leaving walking as the only way to get home.  The farmer told his children and the schoolteacher to stay in the jeep; he would go to the farmhouse, get help, and come back.  He got out of the jeep and grabbed the fence line that was beside the road.  He went hand over hand along that fence line seeking help.  The storm roared throughout the afternoon and all night and all the next day before finally subsiding at sunset.  On the morning of the third day the man's wife found him in his own barnyard frozen to death.  In the harshness of the storm he had let go of the fence.  He was inside his own yard and didn't realize help was that close.  He started wandering in circles because he let go of the fence.  It was not only he who perished but all of his children and the schoolteacher who had been left in the jeep. 

 

A sad story.  What can we learn from it...not to go out in blizzards?  Perhaps.  But consider the tragedy that the farmer died in his own yard.  He was so close to help but didn't know it.  He was unable to grasp any help for himself and those in the jeep even though help was well within his reach. 

 

So many people are dying like this today.  They are within reach of the saving Gospel of Jesus, but do not know it.  They live close to churches where Christ is proclaimed, or drive by them on a regular basis, but are not able to grasp that what is given inside is for them. 

 

And there are also people dying within their own churches.  They are on the rolls but have let go of the fence.  They are wandering around in circles through life but not hearing or applying the saving words of Jesus to themselves. 

 

That blizzard in South Dakota does not come close to the powerful winds of temptation which wreak havoc with people's souls today.  If you and I are to be saved, we cannot let go of Christ.  Faith grasps Jesus.  It lays hold of His promises.  It latches on to His Word and Sacraments and refuses to let go. 

 

What is of great comfort to us is that Jesus is not like a fence that just sits there for us to grasp.  He is our living Savior.  He once reached out and grasped the cross in order to die there for you, and now through His gracious words He reaches out to you.  We are weak and sinful and easily pulled away by temptation.  Instead of grasping Christ, our flesh desires to grasp everything else but Christ -- everything around us in this sinful world.  Friend, Jesus grasps you.  In your baptism He laid hold of you.  As His words enter your ears and His Sacrament comes into your mouth, He continues to pull you closer to Him.  He is your place of refuge.  He brings you home.

 

The blizzard of 1952 was truly a tragedy, and one that did not have to occur had the farmer held on to the fence.  Let no tragedy take place in your life, and within your family.  Lay hold of Jesus and cling to Him.  Do not let go of Him who, in love, has laid hold of you.

 

                                                                                                                                                              In His service,

                                                                                                                                                              Pastor Bell

 

A Different Drug Problem

(The following letter has appeared on the internet and a member thought it was worth printing.)

 

            The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question, "Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?"

            I replied, I had a drug problem when I was young:  I was drug to church on Sunday morning.  I was drug to church for weddings and funerals.  I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.

            I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults.  I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.

            I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profanity.  I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flower beds and cockleburs out of dad's fields.  I was drug to the homes of family, friends and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood, and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

            Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, or think.  They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and , if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place.

            God bless the parents who drugged us.

                                                                                    Submitted by a concerned citizen

 

 

 

Church Council Meeting   May 11, 2010

Nine members attending.

Items of interest - -

No Vacation Bible School this year

Lay Activities -- Food drive until May 23

Flea Market with booth space, possibly in August. Possible Chicken Fry.  Maybe more Fish Fries next year.

County Health Dept certificate has been renewed.

Computer system has been installed.

Trees to the south of the parsonage will be cut, and bushed around parsonage will be taken out.

Work day on May 22 to work on parking lot.

Motions made:

To renew Sam's Club membership.

Check into cost of pamphlets containing information about Christ Lutheran Church to be put in town's Visitor's Center.

Give old computer to Dennis Nadler.

                                                                                    Ruth Stelzer, Secretary  

 

150th ANNIVERSARY DISPLAY ITEMS:  All displays have been disassembled and placed in notebooks for safe keeping and quick reference. There are five white notebooks in  classroom #1 in the education hall.  You are invited to view these notebooks at any time. If you have anything  to add to this collection, feel free to do so. Help our congregation to keep a record of church activities for the next 25 years.  

 

Congratulations to the following Graduates:

Geoffrey Ballmann - Washington High School

Ryan Toedebusch - University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Science Degree

Caitlin Eva Toedebusch - St. Louis University Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree

Sarah Bell - Truman State University Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree

(If you know of a graduate and would like their name included in the next newsletter, please get the information to Pastor.)

 

Church Attendance:  May 9 - 75    May 16 - 74    May 23 - 91   May 30 - 58

 

On the Lighter Side

 

Wisdom from the Peanuts gallery

 

"I worry about getting old....who wants to be nine?"  - Sally

"My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet I'm happy.  I can't figure it out.  What am I doing right?"   - Snoopy

"I'm worried about a little boy who sits in front of me at school.  He cries every day.  This afternoon I tried to help him.  I whacked him one on the arm.  There's nothing like a little physical pain to take your mind off emotional problems."   - Lucy

"My grandfather says that once you're over the hill, you begin to pick up speed."   - Franklin