June 2025

The Subtle Lie of Works
Pastor Schopp

“We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”  (Galatians 2:16)

Natural religion, that is the religion that mankind invents when ignorant of the Triune God, is all about works righteousness.  Apart from Christianity, all religions seek to please (or appease) a diety with the works done by man.  Other religions, no matter if they are polytheistic or monotheistic, ancient or new, all do the same thing.  These appeal to us fallen sinners, because we like to prove that we are good people, while simultaneously hiding or ignoring our faults.

Checklists are helpful things in day-to-day life.  My household runs on checklists:  Grocery lists, the ever expanding and never fully complete “honey-do list”.  But this mentality is dangerous when applied to our relationship with God.  If we think that we can please God just by doing A, B and C, then we will not only think of ourselves as our own savior, we will actually minimize those sins that are the most damaging.  We tend to leave things off the list if we can’t complete them and just pretend it isn’t a problem.

As an example:  I make an oath to go to church twice a month.  As long as I go twice a month, I am fulfilling my vow to God and thus my behavior is pleasing to Him.  It doesn’t matter if I never crack open a Bible, or grow along with my brothers and sisters in Bible Study, or ever pray outside of church and share the Gospel with anyone else.  What matters is the checklist.  I can hold the list up to God and demand that He acknowledge my “hard” work.  I deserve to be blessed.  I deserve to be praised.  I deserve to go to heaven. 

In his letter to the Galatians, St. Paul was very clear about what works gain us:  Nothing.  He wrote, “by works of the law no one will be justified.” (Gal 2:16).  No matter if you are a lifelong believer or a new convert, the mercy we receive from God is apart from our works.  We are not justified because we have “committed” ourselves to God, nor because we have given up certain sins or behaviors.  None of it earns us anything.  We are justified solely by Christ Jesus.  It is our faith, or trust, in Jesus that matters.  As Paul wrote, “so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law”.

“Good works” are done in faith, not out of fear.  Our trust is never in the checklist because the checklist is a lie.  There is always more to do, both for God’s kingdom and our neighbor.  Christ Jesus has earned the righteousness we cannot and then given it to us – free of charge.  It is as if the checklist has a big handwritten note on it that says “Done”.  The handwriting is not ours.  The handwriting belongs to Jesus.  And with that list out of the way, we can focus on serving others, not ourselves.  That is what God wants for us: Unselfish love and an unselfish life.
 

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        Our Savior June Birthdays
  2  Jasa Mayer                    18  Vickie Wilson
  3  Bethany Severson         19  Joshua Rausch
  4  Cheryl Markovetz         20  Caden Gelling
  5  Maci Johnson                20  Luke Rausch
  6  Eliana Klipfel                21  Collin Haar
  7  Debora Heine                21  Fred Rauscher
  7  Justin Mayer                 25  Paul Dennert
  7  Katie Person                 25  Delores Neumann
  8  Chris McHenry             26  Andrea Christianson  
10  Taylor Johnson             26  Rachel Rausch
11  Gwen Petrich                27  Mark Navurskis
12  Vernon Korab               29  Courtney (Salfrank) Melcher
15  Sandy Nelson               29  Wilma Schnabel
16  Felix Lassanske            30  Berwyn Bain
16  Rayma Scepaniak         30  Dalton Lee 
        
                      Anniversaries
              1  Dean & Gaylene Haar
              2  Carl & Judy Bulian
              3  Zachary & Samantha (Scepaniak) Alumbaugh
              7  Todd & Sheri Severson
              7  Harlan & Barbara Wickham
            10  Daryl & Maurine Bierman                  
            13  Raymond & Joann Pomplun
            15  Levi & Kaitlyn Haar     

Our Savior Meetings in June
LWML – Mon June 2^nd at 3:45 pm
Nursery Circle – Sun June 8^th at 12:00 pm
Elders – Thur June 12^th at 5:15 pm
Council – Thur June 12^th at 6:30 pm
Board of Education – Sun June 15^th at 12:00 pm

Nursery Circle will not meet in July or August. Meetings will resume in September.

Elders for June – Glen Rausch & Douglas Klipfel

Acolyte Schedule:
June 1 – Ella Brick & Tucker Brick
         8 – Dalton Lee & Tristan Tschappat
       15 – Grace Rausch & Cassie McKown
       22 – Teigan McKown & Caleb Siebert
       29 – Rhyan Johnson & Ella Brick
 
Our Savior Greeters Needed – Help welcome people to church! Greeters stand at the entrance to the nave for about 10-15 minutes prior to the service. There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex. Choose your date, and you can sign up alone, or in pairs, or as a family, however you would like!

VBS is June 1 –5, with the theme “Epic Australian Adventure.” Life is an adventure, filled with wonderful things to see, do, learn, and explore! But as we trek through life, we know we will also encounter troubles and dangers along the way. Jesus is our Savior and faithful guide, who shows us the right way to go and guides us on the path of truth that leads to eternal life.
Hours are from 6:00 to 8:30 pm, with time for a sack lunch from 5:30 to 6:00. Friends, neighbors, and relatives are welcome also!
Everyone is invited to the closing service on Thursday, June 5^th at 8:00 pm, with cake and ice cream afterward.

Man Up! – Men from the Aberdeen circuit meet the 2^nd Tuesday of each month at 6pm. This month it will be at Our Savior on June 10^th. Food is provided. All men welcome. Please let Bob Rausch know if you're coming so we can plan for food. Nothing to prep. Just show up and share wisdom while going over the book Man Up! by Rev. Jeffrey Hemmer. If you need a book, let Bob know. We have extra. 605-380-9720

Saturday Bible Study – Join us for Bible study at Our Savior on June 14^th from 9:00-11:00 am: A Brief History of Israel and the Prophets. We often read or hear parts of the Old Testament without really understanding how those parts fit into the whole. This study will summarize Israel’s history along a time line, showing where the writing prophets (Amos, Isaiah, Malachi, etc.) fit into that history.

Wednesday Activities will be on hiatus for this summer, and will resume in September.

Diaper Derby – Lutherans for Life is collecting diapers and wipes from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day. There is a container in the narthex at Our Savior where you can place donations. Thank you for helping to care for new life!
 
Church League Softball – Come out to cheer on our team on Monday evenings in June & July! Players Fields are the new fields north of 8^th Avenue NE. The old north field is to the east of the Players Fields. Here is the schedule:
June 9^th – 8:30 pm – vs Assembly – Players field D
June 16^th – 6:30 pm – vs Arise 2 – Old north field
June 23^rd – 6:30 pm – vs New Life 3 – Old north field
June 30^th – 8:30 pm – vs Aldersgate 2 – Players field B
July 7^th – 7:30 pm – vs St. Paul – Old north field
July 14^th – 7:30 pm – vs Assembly – Players field B
July 21^st – 8:30 pm – vs Arise 2 – Players field B
July 28^th – 6:30 pm – vs New Life 3 – Old north field  

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  Get equipped to deal with life issues with Gospel-motivated speakers at the Great Wolf Lodge in Colorado Springs for this three-day national event! The sweeping views of Pike's Peak in the conference center will inspire us as we hear testimonials from courageous For Life speakers.
This family-friendly venue offers the largest indoor water park in Colorado, along with dozens of engaging activities for children of all ages.
Registration includes access to all conference sessions and breakfast and dinners at the conference hotel. Note: Lunches and afternoons will be on your own to explore the area!

Registration Fees:
Early Bird – Adult (through June 30, 2025): $100

• Adult (July 1, 2025, and after): $150
• Students & Youth, 13 years old thru college-age: $25
• Children, 12 years old and under: FREE

Reservations must be made prior to Wed., Aug. 20, 2025.
Use the Block Code 2509LIFE and call 1-844-554-9653 to book your stay. For dates before Sept 23, or after Sept 25, please reserve the available nights, then email your confirmation number and extra night request to Esther White at ehedberg@greatwolf.com.

Keynote Speakers

• Jim Daly | Focus on the Family
• Jack Phillips | Masterpiece Cakeshop
• Judge Ruth Neely
• Joy Pullman
• Rev. Dr. Aric Fenske | Lutherans For Life

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St. John’s – Columbia
Birthdays
        2  Micah Christianson       13  Doris Larson
        2  Troy Podoll                    24  Paxton Eichler
        5  Trevor Podoll                 26  Stephanie Fehn
        7  Logan Ringgenberg       27  Arthur Eichler
      10  Braelynn Chaston          30  Keith Underberg

                                Anniversaries
                      3  Roger & Sharon Zastrow
                      9  Jack & Jennifer Hieb
                    17  David & Amy Patton
                    19  Michael & Molly Ringgenberg
                    20  Dean & Lorie Ringgenberg  
         
 
Traveling? Enjoy the Unity of the Faith!  Our actions speak, teach, and confess our faith in Christ and His work among us! When you are out of town or away for the weekend don't let that stop you from gathering to receive Christ's gifts in Word and Sacrament! Download the LCMS app to help you locate a sister church when you travel. You can also go to www.lcms.org to find a sister congregation via the "locator" in the upper right. We share a unity of faith which means that when we travel we are always home in our sister congregations where the Gospel is preached and the Sacraments are administered.

Happy Father's Day!