February 2023
“Laborers Into His Harvest”
Dear Saints in Christ,
The Lord is doing all sorts of things! This month we anticipate a Call List to come from President Sailer with names of pastors for us to consider to call to serve in our midst to serve the saints gathered here. Yet, at the same time at St. Paul’s, Pastor Bobby has received a unique Call to serve internationally. We also have a pastoral vacancy in our circuit putting strain on pastors and congregations. To add to the wider context still, our church body, the LCMS, anticipates fewer and fewer pastors to serve the congregations we have; currently there are almost 550 pastoral vacancies for nearly 6,000 congregations. This means that about 1 of every ten congregations in our synod is currently looking for a pastor. Seminary classes remain too small to replace them all. Adding to this the requests from sister churches around the world asking the LCMS to send pastors to teach their pastors is on the rise and the need is great globally for the sound truth of the Gospel.
It appears, in other words, that we have too much to do with too little to do it. But this has probably always been the case for the church.
“36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." -Matthew 9:36-38
Notice what Jesus says here, “the harvest is plentiful”. There is plenty to do! There are many people whom the Lord is calling and will call unto Himself. It is also “his harvest”. The Lord is the one who works faith through His Word and Sacraments. We can attest to the plentifulness of the harvest the Lord provides. We can see the Lord’s gathering of His people in our sanctuary every Sunday. These are the people He has called and gathered in faith. Luther and others have commented that the Gospel is on the move.
But Jesus has compassion on the crowd because they were “harassed and helpless”. This is the case for Christ’s church throughout the World. Yet is seems also that Jesus seems to see that these are the circumstances where the harvest is plentiful. This is good news for us. While we may see dismay, we see people and congregations harassed by the world around them. Instead, we should recognize that the harvest is plentiful in such situations.
We live in the last days and there is work to do and there are laborers needed! Pastors are needed to feed the lambs of God with the truth of God’s Word, to feed the lambs of God with the forgiveness of sins and comfort of the blessed sacrament! To be sure every day Christians are needed to serve and witness to Christ’s working in the world. Everyday Christians are needed to serve faithfully in the world to care for others through their work and lives lived according to God’s Word, yet we have a clear need in men prepared by the Word and prayer to serve congregations.
“Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Let us take seriously Christ’s words here! Pray for the Lord to stir up young men and older men to consider this calling of Christ to serve as a pastor in His church. Not just a lip service prayer, but actually to pray for it.
But also take the time to encourage a young man or even older man of our congregation (or another) to consider and even pursue this noble calling. Don’t put an age limit on this either! One of my classmates at the seminary was the same age as my own dad; the Lord has used him to serve and he continues to serve!
Finally, to you men, young and old, who have considered this calling, you who have been encouraged at one point or another. Please come talk to me. The Lord needs you; the church needs you, the lambs of God harassed and helpless need you here and throughout the World!
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Andreasen
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
LCMS Stewardship Ministry – lcms.org/stewardship
Newsletter Article – February 2023
Don’t Replace “And” with “Or”
We’ve all heard that stewardship means giving to the church of our time, talents and treasure. This alliterative trinity helps us see that giving is not just about money, but about our whole lives. As we confess in the Small Catechism’s explanation of the First Article of the Apostle’s Creed, God gives us everything we have and enjoy. First we confess that God gives us “our body and soul, our eyes, ears, and all our members, our reason and all our senses” (SC II). Then we confess that He gives us material things. The time, talents, and treasure trinity places before our eyes the fact that we are to give something of all three of these things toward the mission of the church in thanksgiving for what God has provided. For everything we have, and indeed, everything we are, comes from God’s fatherly, divine goodness and mercy.
The problem with this alliterative trinity comes when we replace one little word with another little word — when we replace the word and with the word or. It is always written with the and, but when we read it, we read it with the or. Thus this quite helpful trinity, which extolls that everything that we have and are is a gift from God, to be given back in service of His church, turns into a trinity that we can pick and choose from when we serve God. The giving of our time, talents and treasure turns into the giving of our time, talents or treasure.
Then the question arises: Can we give of our time and talents instead of our treasure? Or perhaps it is the other way round: Can we give of our treasure and not of our time and talents? But these are the wrong questions. The right question is, can we give of our time and talents in addition to our treasure? Yes, indeed, we are called to give of all three. The things that God gives us are not to be pitted against one another. Rather, they are given to us, and we are to press them all into God’s service for benefit of His church and our neighbors in need.
Thus, we give all three. We give our treasure in the form of a generous, first-fruits proportion of our income. We give of our time in generosity for the benefit of Christ’s holy church. We give of our talents in the same manner. Since God gave us all these things, we are called to give generously of all these things in faith toward Him and in fervent love to our neighbors.
For God has provided all these things for us. Out of His fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, He gives us each time, talents AND treasure as a means to bless those around us. We serve our neighbors with these things, blessing them with the blessings with which God has blessed us. We give of our time, talents and treasure to our families, our society, our church and our local congregations. And we do this because we know that we are not our own. Rather, we belong to God. We have been bought with a price: the holy, precious blood and innocent suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. He gave everything — His time, His talents and His treasure — to have us as His own and to live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness. We have these things as gifts and blessings from God. Let us then press them all into service for the sake of His love — time, talents and treasure together.
Our Savior
February Birthdays
1 David Hales 21 Troy Tschappat
3 Jackson Dahme 22 Caleb Siebert
3 Brian Dockter 22 Michelle Wendt
10 Addison Person 23 Marianne Klipfel
13 Leroy Neuhardt 23 Jasper Nehlich
14 Anna Hofer 24 Brenden Salfrank
19 Evelyn Grieben 27 Steve Grieben
Anniversary
14 Larry & Sandra Grieben
Meetings in February
Board of Elders – Thur Feb 9th at 5:15 pm
Church Council – Thur Feb 9th at 6:30 pm
Nursery Circle – Sun Feb 12th after the service
Board of Education – Sun Feb 19th after the service
Elders for February – Douglas Klipfel & Don Hoops
Acolyte Schedule –
Feb. 5 – Jayda Siebert & Briella Klipfel
Feb. 12 – Ally Johnson & Bethany Andreasen
Feb. 19 – Tristan Tschappat & Tucker Brick
Feb. 26 – Rhylan Tschappat & Dalton Lee
Annual Reports – A reminder to the chair persons of all boards and circles: please turn in your group’s annual report for 2022 to the office or email it to
oursaviorlutheran@nvc.net as soon as possible. Thank you!
Circuit Bible Study – A circuit Bible study will be offered at Our Savior on Fridays from January 27 through February 17 at 10:30 am. Classes will be led by Rev. Kevin Moore of Messiah and Redeemer Lutheran Churches in Redfield and Doland. The topic is “Trust the WORD,” a study of 2
nd Timothy.
Super Bowl Subs – The youth group will be making Super Bowl subs again this year as a fundraiser. They will be 6-inch meat and cheese subs, with veggies on the side, for free-will donation. If you would like one (or more!) please sign up in the fellowship hall by Wednesday, February 8
th, and the subs can be picked up after the service on Sunday, February 12
th. If you have any questions, call Eric Johnson at 605-216-6701.
The Senior Potluck will be Tuesday, February 14
th at noon. Join us for good food and fellowship!
Bible Bowl – The youth 6
th grade and up have begun studying for Bible Bowl after Sunday services, until about 1:30. If you’d like to provide them with a lunch, there is a sign-up sheet on the kitchen window counter. Bible Bowl will be at Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre on Saturday, March 25
th. Topics will be Genesis 37-50, Exodus 1-20 (both English Standard Version), and the 10 Commandments from Luther’s Small Catechism pp. 52-127 in the 2017 edition
(note this is a change from past years).
In-House Congregational Bible Bowl – We plan to have an “In-House” Bible Bowl again this year. Gather a team of 3 or 4 individuals and sign-up with a "team name". Even if you can't get a team together, plan to come and enjoy the fellowship on Sunday, March 19
th at Our Savior after the service. If you have any questions about Bible Bowl, contact Eric Johnson at 605-216-6701.
Greeters Needed! The Board of Public Relations would like to return to having greeters at the entrance of the sanctuary for about 10 minutes before Sunday services. There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex.
Midweek Lenten Services for both congregations will be combined at Our Savior beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 22
nd, at 6:30 pm, preceded by a light meal beginning at 5:30 pm. There will be Communion on Ash Wednesday only. Catechism class will continue to meet at 5:00 pm, and will have time for supper between class and the service.
Tuesday Bible Study – Everyone is welcome on Tuesday mornings at Our Savior at 6:30 am. We are reading the Formula of Concord.
Vespers – A short service of Vespers is offered on Wednesdays at 6:00 pm at Our Savior.
Wednesday Bible Study – We will be studying the book of James on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm at Our Savior.
Vocatio
Explore God’s Direction for You
Register for Vocatio, June 24 – July 1
For high school students considering
a church work career
Vocatio is a free, faith-filled and fun opportunity for high school students entering grades ninth through 12
th to explore God’s calling and direction for them. During this week-long retreat at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, students will be encouraged in their faith and the calling for their lives through many Seminary experiences including worship and devotions, sessions with professors, and some fun and recreation!
Share this with a student you know who might be considering becoming a pastor or deaconess!
The deadline to register is May 27
th. Interested participants can learn more and sign up at
https://www.csl.edu/admissions/visit/vocatio/
For more information, email admit@csl.edu or call 1-800-822-9545.
Check Out Our Library and See What’s New!
If you haven’t browsed through the church library lately, you should do so! There are many of Concordia Publishing House’s latest titles about a variety of topics. There is a clipboard on the bookshelf where you can sign out a book, and return it when you are done. Make use of this wonderful resource that is free for you!
Lighthouse Preschool
Registration is now open for the 2023-2024 school year! Please call 605-725-1855 for more information or grab a registration packet in the narthex for yourself, a friend, or a family member!
The Lighthouse Preschool – Teaching God’s children about their Creator, Savior, and Friend while preparing them for a lifetime of wonder, learning, and service.
(215 7th Ave SW, across the street from St. Paul’s Lutheran in Aberdeen)
St. John’s Columbia
February Birthdays
2 Doris Dennert
4 Ray Larson
12 Lloyd Dennert
17 Heidi Bandt
19 Tyler Kampa
26 Isabelle Podoll
27 Briggs Eichler
Usher List
Feb. 5 Mike & Molly Ringgenberg
Feb. 12 Tony & Amanda Bisbee
Feb. 19 Mic & Jen Daggett
Feb. 26 Dean & Lorie Ringgenberg
Mar. 5 Cole Bisbee & Logan Ringgenberg
Mar. 12 Brent & Barb Miller
Mar. 19 Ray & Cyndy Larson
Mar. 26 Karl & Val Eichler
Apr. 2 Collin Eichler & Josh Larson
