• Embed Doc
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
 
 
TO GOD BE THE GLORYAugust 2010
1711 Grant StreetHopewell, VA 23860 www.nazluthchurch.com
The Hometown News isa publication of Nazareth EvangelicalLutheran Church.Member of theLutheran Church
 — 
Missouri Synod.
 
Inside this issue:
2011 and Beyond! 2Historical Theology 4 Missions/Outreach 6Christian Music Quiz 9
Pastor‟s Corner 
11
The Hometown News
 
The Natural Knowledge of God
by Pastor Voss
 
There is only one way humans can know of God
 — 
that is, by His ownself-revelation. We only observe God through the means that He chooses.To date, no bridge has been built to the heavenly realms and no computer
programmer has tapped into the mind of God. We simply can’t choose to
gather information on God He has not chosen to reveal to us. Has neverhappened
 — 
never will
 — 
we must simply rely upon God to reveal Himself tous.God reveals Himself to us in two ways: First through His Word and
another way, which we don’t often talk about, through creation. Creationbears the unmistakable stamp that says, “Made by God”.
“The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are
clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His
eternal power and Godhead.” 
- Romans 1:20
A LCMS Lutheran theologian by the name of Francis Pieper once con-
cluded, “The law of nature will never permit anyone to entertain as his delib-erate and settled conviction the conclusion that there is no God.”
 We would have to admit that is true. Have you ever noticed that even
if someone doesn’t believe in God, they still find the need to talk about Him?
Have you ever noticed that there is no peace of mind for those who have
been created by God yet don’t acknowledge that fact?
 The natural knowledge of God is not sufficient to attain salvation, butwhat it does do is arouse the conscience of man. God, out of His love, com-pels
all 
to remember Him. Regardless of what someone believes, they aredaily reminded that there is an order to this universe. At that moment, whata wonderful opportunity to tell them about the other way God reveals Him-self, through His Word, which points to Jesus Christ. It is through the revela-
tion of the Word all God’s people receive salvation and peace of mind.
 
 
 
Page 2
The Hometown NewsHappy Birthday!
August 3 McKenna Stewart August 23 Dorothy McLoedAugust 11 Lauren Engels August 23 Dustin Petik August 14 Martha Staples August 23 Annette LinemanAugust 15 Wanda Koren August 26 Karen Van WorthAugust 16 Clint Rierson August 26 Dawn Appleby LeroAugust 18 Evelyn Rayner August 30 Josh Staples
2011 and Beyond
 — 
Christ at the Center of Church Leadership
We have done a lot of mission planning in 2010 together. We have prayerfully considered what God has planned to reach
our community and how we can be a part of God’s plan. As your pastor, I cannot tell you how thankful I am that, through-
out all of our study, prayer, and discussion, we have remained united in Christ. That has been and always will be my primary
concern: that our focus remains on the Cross where we receive God’s blessings, forgiveness of sins, and everlasting life.
 We are now moving into action for Jesus, not to earn blessings, but because we have so steadily received them! We want
to share this Good News with our community! What an important year 2011 will be for God’s people in our church and
community! I ask that you do some reflecting as we approach 2011 and prayerfully consider how God is directing you. Spe-cifically, your role as a leader within this church.
Do you believe that serving on a Board for this church would be a blessing and an honor? 
Please note that I did not ask if you thought that serving on a Board would be easy. I can assure you, it promises not to be.
Where God’s people are trying to advance the Good News, there the devil will be trying to thwart their attempts. But do
you believe serving on a Board important? Is God asking for you to serve His church in a new way? If not you, then who? If not your skills, then from where will they come?Through
Abraham
we learn that we need to trust God’s push even when we don’t know where He is pushing us.
Through
Moses
we learn that we need to trust God’s vision, even if we cannot see it yet. Through
David
we learn that we
must trust God’s forgiveness, even when we know we do not deserve it.
To serve in a Board, you do not have to be perfect, you simply have to be trusting in God
 — 
a gift that comes from the faithyou have been given in Christ. 2011 is a year that will require for us to trust in Him as we, like Abraham, are going to ven-ture into new lands as we reach out to our community
 — 
and we, like Moses, are going to see things we have never seenbefore, as we implement what we have thus far only talked about
 — 
and we, like David are going to continually rely upon theforgiveness that comes through
 Jesus Christ
in everything we do. In 2011, in what role will it be an
honor 
for you toserve God?
“Lord, it is my prayer that our people do not wait to be asked to serve you, but that you move their hearts to eagerly pro-claim, „Here I am, send me, send me‟ into service and leadership at our beloved Church. Amen.” 
 
 
 
ABLAZE
 —Let’s Fill the Bucket!
 The Hometown News
EDITOR: Susan SkallebergASSISTANT EDITOR: Pastor David VossPRODUCTION EDITOR: Karen Van WorthThank you to all who submitted articles and information to thisnewsletter.SUBMISSIONSWe encourage you to submit your articles and ideas electronicallyto: sueskalleberg@yahoo.com or call 731-6959Newsletter information is due in by the third Sunday of the month.CONTRIBUTORSWe are looking for regular contributors to the Hometown News.If there is a certain article you would like to write on a regularbasis, please let us know so we can discuss it with you. Young andold are encouraged to volunteer for this very important newslet-ter.SAVE MONEY AND PAPERThe Hometown News is posted online at the same time it ismailed. Please consider reading it online so we can save on post-age and paper. It can be found on the home page of our churchwebsite: nazluthchurch.com
Page 3
August 2010
We are half way through our 5 year commitment to financially support the work of Ablaze!However, our contributions have fallen way off with only $205 received for the year against ouryearly commitment of $2170. It is time to get those contributions back on track so we are bringingback the ABLAZE! BUCKET!Perhaps we should call it the
Amazing Ablaze! Bucket
because when that bucket was outfront where we could see it, contributions were very good. Remember, our contributions are sup-
porting the district’s mission work being planned, the work being implemented and the work ongo-
ing to share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the unchurched in our district includ-ing our very own community of Hopewell. Envelopes in which to place your Ablaze! offerings are
Glory to God on the highest and praise to the lead-ers of each Committee who have provided updatesto the congregation this month. Our communica-tion with one another not only keeps us united in Mission, but engaged with each other and the op- portunities to serve in our church.
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...