Heritage Herald – February 2025 Edition
From Pastor’s Desk
The Marks of a True Christian Church on Earth
Also they (Lutherans) teach that one holy Church is to continue forever. The Church is the congregation of saints, in which the Gospel is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered. And to the true unity of the Church it is enough to agree concerning the doctrine of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments. Nor is it necessary that human traditions, that is, rites or ceremonies, instituted by men, should be everywhere alike. As Paul says: One faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, etc. Eph. 4:5-6.
– The Augsburg Confession, Article 7, 1530
How can you identify a true, authentic, scriptural church? Some would point to the mega-churches and their thousands of attendees and millions of followers. “How could millions be wrong?” “That church wouldn’t be bursting at the seams if God weren’t blessing what they’re doing!” But are big numbers, popularity, and financial success true barometers of the church? Islam is growing and flourishing. Is that of God? Mormonism, millennialism, Jehovah’s Witness are flourishing cults. Are they blessed from the hand of God?
The 16th century reformers were forced by circumstances to carefully consider and articulate the nature of the true visible church on earth. Article 7 of the historic Augsburg confession stands as the benchmark answer to the question, how do I know that a church is true and authentic? “The Church is the congregation of saints, in which the Gospel is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered.”
Consider those two marks of the church carefully. The first mark of a true church is that church where the Gospel is rightly taught. Here the word Gospel is used in the widest sense of the term, synonymous with scripture. A true church is not identified by a partial teaching of God’s Word, or an avoidance of difficult and sensitive doctrines, or the twisting and misinterpretation of scripture. Other denominations it is often said, “they teach right from the Bible.” That the pastor waves a giant leather Bible as he preaches does not prove that his content is truly scriptural. That a church and is preacher claim that they teach and profess only what is in the Bible does not suffice. Question further. Seek deeper. Does the church teach the scripture truth forbidding women from occupying the office of pastor? What about the scriptural truth about marriage and human sexuality? Does the church neglect or ignore other inconvenient truths of Scripture.
The 2nd mark of a true church is the administration of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper in accordance with Christ’s institution. What do they teach about Baptism? Do they reject that baptism offers and works the forgiveness of sins? Do they refuse to baptize children, though the scriptures call us to do so? What of the Lord’s Supper? Do they teach that the wine is only symbolic of Jesus’ blood and the bread is only symbolic of the body of Christ? The Scriptures teach that in the Lord’s Supper the bread is the body of Christ and the wine is the blood of Christ.
Christians must discipline themselves to evaluate the authenticity of churches beyond the superficial offerings of social programs, entertainment posing as worship, and imposing and beautiful edifices. If you have a church that can be identified as one that teaches the whole word of God in truth and purity, and which offers Baptism and the Lord’s supper as instituted by Christ, you have found a precious and rare treasure. Embrace it, support it, help its ministry to grow and prosper. It may not have the glitz and appeal of a popular mega-church, but it has the one thing eternally necessary. If you deeply consider your congregation and you find that it is not teaching the whole Word of God and it is not administering Baptism and the Lord’s Supper according to Christ’s institution, then look again. Focus on the criteria of judgment- the marks of a true visible church. Pray for guidance and do not be distracted from those true marks. Let them stand out above all other amenities a church may offer. You need a church home where the Word of God is taught in all its truth. You need a church home where the sacraments are administered according to Christ’s teaching. Anything less is a danger to your soul.
-Pastor Karl J. Anderson
FY25 Financial Summary
FY25 December Financial Summary (1)
Council Update
Inreach
- It is too early to say how Sunday School attendance is impacted by the schedule changes, but it’s been low the first couple weeks.
Spiritual Oversight
- Attendance on Saturday (two of them) is promising. There have been 25 people at each service. Sunday attendance is inconsistent so far.
- Exploration of online viewing tracking will occur.
- Synod delegates need to be determined. Jason has volunteered to attend part of the convention.
School Board
- The board did not meet in December due to weather and holidays
- The summer program has a 10th student pending
- Open house is 1/26 from noon-2
- Current student registration starts this week
- John will speak to the congregation next Sunday to promote open house
Outreach
- The board did not meet in January so far due to illness.
- Basketball activity has had best turnout so far for open gym
- Will attempt to run every Sunday starting this Sunday
Properties
- The front doors are being fixed next Thursday, 1/23
- The remaining window shades are hung
- Furnace repair is done (new heat exchanger)
- Jesse’s is hunting the leak in the roof over the Narthex – thinks he has found the source
Treasurer
- The giving with matching funds for the school relief fund is on target for FY2025. We need to end strong.
Chairman
- Director-level financial reports have been generated and handed out
TLC/Office
- A belated holiday gathering will be held on January 28 at Celt’s
- Lenten suppers are being planned
Adult Bible Study Opportunities
Women’s Bible Study.
Men’s Bible Study
The Men’s Thursday Morning Bible Class meets at 9:00 a.m. in the fellowship hall.
Heritage Choir
Choir rehearsal is on Wednesdays starting at 7 pm. New members are always welcome! Please contact Julie Wright or Klaudia Calhoun with any questions.
Volunteer Opportunities Around the Church
Once again the Property Board is requesting Heritage members to volunteer to clean the Narthex, Sanctuary and gym on a weekly basis. Please consider helping to keep our church looking nice by signing up on the volunteer board. The Sanctuary takes about 1 1/4 hours, the Narthex 1 1/4 hours, and the gym 20 minutes. Questions: contact Ruth B. for details and instructions.
Members Helping Members
3rd Annual Brad Oachs Memorial Ice Fishing Event
TLC – The Ladies Connection
The Ladies Connection will meet on Saturday, February 8th at 10:30 a.m. All women of the congregation are invited!
Companions in Prayer
My Prayer Story
February is often referred to as Heart Month. The American Heart Association often has events and does fund raising especially during February. Then there is Valentine’s Day where more cards and flowers are sent than almost any other day of the year. So, how is your heart? I am not referring to the internal organ that pumps blood that sustains our earthly life, but to the spiritual heart that sustains our faith which gives us our everlasting life. Are you taking as good of care of that heart as you do your internal organ heart? I know I go to the doctor, take my meds, etc. to help my internal heart to work its best. I started to think about what am I doing for my spiritual heart to make sure it is kept strong? To have a strong faith we need to nourish it and “feed” it every way we can – through prayer, reading and hearing God’s Word, participating in the sacraments, and sharing the Good News of Jesus as our Savior. When our internal heart no longer gives us earthly life, our faith will give us life eternal.
“O for a Faith That Will Not Shrink” (Hymn #354 ELH vs1,3,5,6)
O for a faith that will not shrink, Though pressed by many a foe, That will not tremble on the brink Of any earthly woe.
A faith that shines more bright and clear When tempests rage without, That, when in danger knows no fear, In darkness feels no doubt.
A faith that keeps the narrow way Till life’s last hour is fled And with a pure and heavenly ray Lights up a dying bed.
Lord, give us such a faith as this, And then, what’er may come, We’ll taste e’en here the hallowed bliss Of an eternal home.
Congregation Prayer Suggestions:
Intercessory prayer – prayers on the behalf of others – is a part of a Christian’s life. If you have a request for Companions in Prayer at Heritage to pray for you or someone you know, please contact Alice Schmidt, Pastor Anderson or the Office.
Each of you have a list of those you pray for, but consider adding these to it.
- Some of our countrymen are still suffering the after effects of natural disaster. Pray for those who are suffering loss of property, loss of life and face a lengthy period of recovery.
- Ask God to bless and keep the older generation in our congregation who are facing life changes of health, memory, mobility and living arrangements.
- Give thanks for the progress toward peace in the Middle East and pray that it continues to – that hostages continue to be released and that the relief of food, water and medicine continues to be allowed.
Serving in February
Click the link –> Greeter Calendar
Greeter Guidelines
To provide a consistent, friendly, and sincere greeting every Sunday to all members and visitors to Heritage Lutheran Church, guidelines have been developed to help accomplish that goal. Following are some of those guidelines:
- Please mark your calendar for the date you are assigned. The date assigned will be published in the Heritage Newsletter for a two-month period.
- Please be ready to greet no less than 20 minutes before each service for which you have been assigned.
- As you greet visitors, please encourage them to sign our guest book. If there are two people greeting, one of you could escort them to the guest book while the other continues to greet. Ideally you should try to introduce them to another member standing nearby. Sometimes this is difficult to do as the service is starting. In that case, try to chat with them after the service and introduce them to other members after the service.
- Stay at the door until the service is underway; visitors quite often show up late and really need extra help in getting bulletins and a place to sit. Feel free to involve the ushers as needed.
- If you have a chance, get their contact information from the guest book or by asking them for it, and then follow up with a thank you text, email, or note sent to them thanking them for visiting our church. If you inform the church office, they could help with this task.
- If you are unable to greet at both services, please ask someone to fill in for you. If you find out at the last minute, text the following who are willing to help – Remus 651-800-5827, Braun 612-237-1064, Fahning 952-200-2870, Eisenbeis 651-230-4423, Barb Oachs 952-465-5272
- If you have a conflict with the date you were assigned, please contact someone from your month or the next month and trade with them. This helps those doing the scheduling with juggling all the rescheduling. Thank You!
February Ushers & Acolytes
Click the link –> Usher Acolyte Calendar
February Recording
2/2 – Stan Miller
2/9 – Libby Paulsen
2/16 – Stan Miller
2/23 – Martin Paulsen
February Altar Guild
Hannah Anderson/Bonnie Kooy
February Fellowship
2/2 – Kooy
2/9 – Open
2/16 – Braun
2/23 – Rynders
February Birthdays
1 Jodi Nikoley
5 Jesse Chapman
7 Brenda Oachs
9 Alison Paulsen
10 David Robb
16 Penny Kammer
17 Kevin Henricks
20 Dianne Boldt
21 Ryan Blom
26 Keaton Arehart