Are You Unworthy to Pray?
Dear saints at Trinity: the time of Lent fast approaches; Ash
Wednesday is February 14th this year (St. Valentine’s Day!).
Whenever these “penitential” seasons of the Church year come upon us, we
reflect on our sins; sins which drove our Lord Christ to Calvary’s tree.
Perhaps we feel as though we’re inadequate to the task of
praying, once we take
an
honest look at our sin and wretchedness. “Who am I to address the sovereign
Creator of all things, the One who created me?” To be blunt, you and I are not
worthy to enter into the presence of the Lord. Consider Isaiah, when he saw the
Lord: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in
the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord
of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:5). If that’s the case, why pray at all?
Dr. Martin Luther wrote “Some say, ‘I would feel better about
God hearing my prayer if I were more worthy and lived a better life.’ I simply
answer: If you don’t want to pray before you feel that you are worthy or
qualified, then you will never pray again. Prayer must not be based on or
depend on your personal worthiness or the quality of the prayer itself; rather,
it must be based on the unchanging truth of God’s promise. If the prayer is
based on itself or on anything else besides God’s promise, then it’s a false
prayer that deceives you—even if your heart is breaking with intense devotion
and you are weeping drops of blood. We pray because we are unworthy to pray.
Our prayers are heard precisely because we believe that we are unworthy. We
become worthy to pray when we risk everything on God’s faithfulness alone. So
go ahead and feel unworthy. But know in your heart that it’s a thousand times
more important to honor God’s truthfulness. Yes, everything depends on this
alone. Don’t turn his faithful promise into a lie by your doubts. For your
worthiness doesn’t help you, and neither does your unworthiness hinder you. A
lack of faith is what condemns you, but confidence in God is what makes you
worthy.”
Remember the parable Jesus told of the Pharisee and the tax
collector: Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the
other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I
thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or
even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all
that
I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his
eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a
sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the
other” (Luke 18:10-14). May our Lord bless us this Lententide and keep us
strong in a humble faith that knows God hears the prayers of sinners.
In
Christ –
Pastor
Humphrey
The Sacrament of the Altar
Rev. Paul McCain writes in his commentary on this section
of the Large Catechism: “In this Sacrament, we cling to and trust God’s Word
alone. Jesus does not lie to us or deceive us. Therefore, when He tells us the
bread and wine are His body and blood, they are what He says. The key to
understanding the benefit of the Sacrament is Christ’s words ‘for you.’ What we
receive in this Sacrament is a great ‘treasure’: the forgiveness of sins. The
whole Gospel is comprehended in this Sacrament and is offered to us through the
Word, which promises that in and under the bread and wine we receive the body
and blood that was sacrificed on the cross for our salvation. Those who believe
the Words of promise receive the forgiveness this Sacrament promises. Luther
urges Christians to receive the Sacrament frequently. Those who realize the
enormity of their sin, how many dangers abound, and how great Christ’s gifts
are that are given in the Sacrament will receive the Lord’s Supper as often as
possible. This is precisely why the early Lutheran congregations began to offer
the Lord’s Supper every Lord’s Day and on other festival days to those wishing
to receive it.”
The Large Catechism, V.1-12: 1 Just as
we have heard about Holy Baptism, so we must also speak about the other
Sacrament, in these same three points: What is it? What are its benefits? and
Who is to receive it? And all these points are established through the words by
which Christ has instituted this Sacrament. 2 Everyone who
desires to be a Christian and go to this Sacrament should know them. For it is
not our intention to let people come to the Sacrament and administer it to them
if they do not know what they seek or why they come. The words, however, are
these:
3 Our Lord
Jesus Christ, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given
thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is
My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of me.”
In the same way also, He took the cup after supper, and
when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you;
this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for you for the
forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
4 Here also
we do not wish to enter into controversy and fight with the defamers and
blasphemers of this Sacrament, but to learn first (as we did with Baptism) what
is of the greatest importance. The chief point is God’s Word and ordinance or
command. For the Sacrament has not been invented nor introduced by any man.
Without anyone’s counsel and deliberation it has been instituted by Christ. 5
The Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Creed keep their nature and
worth, even if you never keep, pray, or believe them. So also this honorable
Sacrament remains undisturbed. Nothing is withdrawn or taken from it, even
though we use and administer it unworthily. 6 Do you think
God cares about what we do or believe, as though on that account He should
allow His ordinance to be changed? Why, in all worldly matters everything stays
the way God has created and ordered it, no matter how we employ or use it. 7
This point must always be taught, for by it the chatter of nearly all the
fanatical spirits can be repelled. For they regard the Sacraments, unlike God’s
Word, as something that we do.
8 “Now, what
is the Sacrament of the Altar?”
Answer, “It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus
Christ, in and under the bread and wine, which we Christians are commanded by
Christ’s Word to eat and to drink.” 9 Just as we have said
that Baptism is not simple water, so here also we say that though the Sacrament
is bread and wine, it is not mere bread and wine, such as are ordinarily served
at the table [1 Corinthians 10:16–17]. But this is bread and wine included in,
and connected with, God’s Word.
10 It is the
Word, I say, that makes and sets this Sacrament apart. So it is not mere bread
and wine, but is, and is called, Christ’s body and blood [1 Corinthians
11:23–27]. For it is said, “When the Word is joined to the element or natural
substance, it becomes a Sacrament.” This saying of St. Augustine is so properly
and so well put that he has scarcely said anything better. The Word must make a
Sacrament out of the element, or else it remains a mere element. 11
Now, it is not the word or ordinance of a prince or emperor. But it is the Word
of the grand Majesty, at whose feet all creatures should fall and affirm it is
as He says, and accept it with all reverence, fear, and humility [Isaiah 45:23;
Philippians 2:10].
12 With this
Word you can strengthen your conscience and say, “If a hundred thousand devils,
together with all fanatics, should rush forward, crying, ‘How can bread and
wine be Christ’s body and blood?’ and such, I know that all spirits and
scholars together are not as wise as is the Divine Majesty in His little
finger” [see 1 Corinthians 1:25]. 13 Now here stands Christ’s
Word, “Take, eat; this is My body.… Drink of it, all of you; this is My blood
of the new testament,” and so on. Here we stop to watch those who will call
themselves His masters and make the matter different from what He has spoken.
It is true, indeed, that if you take away the Word or regard the Sacrament
without the words, you have nothing but mere bread and wine. 14
But if the words remain with them, as they shall and must, then, by virtue of
the words, it is truly Christ’s body and blood. What Christ’s lips say and
speak, so it is. He can never lie or deceive [Titus 1:2].
Voters Assembly Minutes
The January Quarterly Voter’s
meeting was called to order by Chairman Don Bowlin, with 14 members present.
Pastor Humphrey gave the opening devotion.
The minutes for the October Quarterly meeting
were read and corrected,
Treasurer’s Report was read and approved showing the current
balances as of December 31,2017.
General Fund: $6,679.01
Maintenance and repair fund:
$7453.78
LCEF CD: $3,524.22.
Pastors Report: Pastor
stated there is still some water seepage in the parsonage basement. Also,
himself, Julie and a trustee (Gary) will get together to dispose of old and
unused materials in the office. Julie is
also compiling information for the annual report to Synod. He stated St James and Mount Calvary have had
three meetings so far. Ash Wednesday is
on February 14th. The
District convention will be held in
Casper May 3-5 and we need to elect a lay delegate. There will be a spring Pastors Conference
April 16-17, also in Casper.
Elders Report: Wes Bowlin reported the elders have been studying
the book “Why am I a Lutheran”.
Trustees Report: Virgil Ritz reported that there is a water leak
above the Fellowship Room that needs attention, along with the leak in the
parsonage. He stated the water softener
had run out of salt and that he would stock up on towels for the restrooms.
Old Business: Virgil Ritz stated a day to trim trees and bushes
will be put off until spring.
New Business: It was moved by Roxane Humphrey and seconded by Karen
Ritz to nominate Levi Bowlin as our delegate to the District Convention..
Motion carried. Motion by Levi Bowlin seconded by Virgil Ritz to nominate Wes
Bowlin as the alternate. Carried.
Pastor stated he was approached by the Voice newspaper about running some ads for Christmas, so he
purchased some ads on his own. A motion
was made by Virgil Ritz and seconded by Susan Williams that we pay for these ads. Carried.
Motion was made by Roxane Humphrey and seconded by
Karen Ritz that we authorize Pastor to do some advertising on special
occasions. Carried.
It was moved by Gary Williams and seconded by Levi Bowlin that we
divide up membership roll so as to
reduce the cost of assessments. Carried.
There being no other business to
conduct, the meeting was adjourned with
the Lord’s Prayer.
Gerald Ritz
Secretary
It is with heavy hearts we carry on as Trinity Congregation without our
devoted, Christian brother, Jerry Dillman
Gerald Ritz
LWML NEWS
Trinity
Lutheran Women’s Society LWML Minutes
Wednesday,
January 17, 2018
Trinity Women’s Society
met Wednesday January 17, 2018. Pastor led the group in a bible study titled,
“The Baptism of Jesus” from Mark 1:4-11.
The meeting was called to
order by President Sandy Heine in the name of our Triune God with 8 members
present. Minutes from the November 8,
2017 meeting were read and approved as presented. Karen Ritz read the Treasurer’s Report with a
society balance of $802.23 and Morrill Elementary Backpack Program
$3719.87. The Treasurers report was
filed for audit. No bills or correspondence were brought to the group.
Committee
Report:
Julie Alkire was added to
Funeral Dinner Group l.
Unfinished
Business:
No one had the opportunity
to check on tablecloths. Members were
reminded to check on pricing and types of tablecloths available if they
happened to be shopping.
It was also noted that the
base to one of the society’s drink dispensers is missing. If everyone would
keep an eye out for it, it would be greatly appreciated.
New
Business:
Nancy Wohl suggested that
we ask the congregation to participate in a gathering of canned soup for the
area food pantry on Super Bowl Sunday. A
notice would be put in the bulletin.
A motion was made by Nancy
Wohl and seconded by Joanne Kurtz to purchase $15.00 gift cards for our college
students. Motion carried. Jean Strauch said she would pick up the gift
cards and Valentine’s card for each. There are three college students: Megan
Fish, Amanda Kaufman, Taylor Peters.
It was noted that a
donation in memory of Jerry Dillman needed to be sent to District LWML. Karen Ritz would look to see what amount had
been given in the past.
Per our LWML By-Laws the
By-Laws were read.
Closing Devotions:
Susan Williams provided
closing devotions, “Trust Me” from the winter quarterly.
The meeting was adjourned
with the League Pledge and common table Prayer.
Hostesses: Sandy
Heine and Becky McIntosh served dessert.
The next LWML meeting will
be Tuesday, February 13. 2018.
Hostesses will be Karen
Ritz and Susan Williams. Sandy Heine will lead Closing Devotions.
Yours in Christ,
Susan Williams, Secretary
An Update on St. James
Committee members from St. James in Scottsbluff and Mount Calvary
in Bayard have met several times now to discuss matters concerning their dual
parish arrangement. At their last meeting they discussed how to handle service
times and the like. They are still anticipating that this will be completed
sometime around Easter (April 1, 2018). Please keep your brothers and sisters
in Christ in your prayers as they move forward.
