NEWSLETTER March 2019
Peace Talk
House of Prayer on Parker and Main
PASTOR’S MESSAGE Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God, Our Father, and Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. “And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” Revelation 5:7-8 English Standard Version (ESV) In Revelation, there are seven scrolls. Jesus, the Lamb, here is presented with a scroll. The message of the scroll will be revealed to John as a message of encouragement for the church as it faces it’s trials to remain faithful. Remaining faithful means that it must carry out it’s mission to reach everyone with the Good News of the Gospel. That every person will know that Christ died once for all to rescue us from our sin. Death is not the end. Included in the image presented in these verses is the prayers of the saints (that’s you and me) rising before the throne of God like incense. The prayers we pray portrayed as a sweet smelling fragrance before God’s throne. This is how God describes our prayers, a beautiful addition of worship borne to Him by the angels. Jewish tradition viewed the angels as the ones who offered our prayers before the throne. On Saturday night when we conduct the Evening prayer service we chant Psalm 141 as part of our worship. In the second verse David asks God “Let my prayer rise before you as incense,” even as we ask the same of our prayers. So Christ, through John, calls us to faithful service and prayer. and encourages us in our trials! In keeping with Our Lord’s desire for His church we will have a prayer vigil on March 17th, - St. Patrick’s day. To honor the memory of God’s servant Patrick in this way is in keeping with our Lutheran Confessions which state: “Our Confession approves honors to the saints. For here a threefold honor is to be approved. The first is thanksgiving. For we ought to give thanks to God because He has shown examples of mercy; because He has shown that He wishes to save men; because He has given teachers or other gifts to the Church. And these gifts, as they are the greatest, should be amplified, and the saints themselves should be praised, who have faithfully used these gifts, just as Christ praises faithful business-men, Matt. 25:21, 23. The second service is the strengthening of our faith; when we see the denial forgiven Peter, we also are encouraged to believe the more that grace truly superabounds over sin, Rom. 5:20. The third honor is the imitation, first, of faith, then of the other virtues, which every one should imitate according to his calling. These true honors the adversaries do not require. They dispute only concerning invocation, which, even though it would have no danger, nevertheless is not necessary.” Patrick is known for his faithfulness to the mission of the church, for his prayer, and for his knowledge of the scriptures. He converted the Irish people. His prayer or Lorica (Breastplate), that he spoke before entering the mission field, is famous and has been set to music at least twice. He also attested to praying 100 times every day and another 100 times every night while as a slave tending sheep. Finally, His confession is full of references to the scriptures. So please sign up for a time that you can be in prayer at Peace Church during the 24 hours of St. Patrick’s Day! We will have our regular worship services and yes, of course, you can pray at home, but this is a time as a congregation when we can show that we are one body by having God’s house filled with prayers rising before the throne as incense. SDG, Pastor John
If you find yourself unable to attend worship on Sunday, head over to Facebook and during the readings and sermon portion of the service we will go LIVE on “God’s Peace at Parker and Main”Facebook page. Now you can stay connected to God’s word and and Pastor message each and every Sunday. Past Sundays are available now on the “Video” section of the page.