A Message From
Pastor Paul



In the Adult Forum (in the sanctuary between worship services) we'll conclude our discussion on Angels this Sunday, Oct. 17th and begin our discussion on the second topic "The Bible is an old book; how does it apply today?"

On Sunday November 7th, we'll have a Fall Harvest Luncheon after the 2nd worship service.  Our 'harvest' will be the history of Christ the King.  I want to develop a time line of significant personal and congregational events.  Discussion about these events will help us to come to terms with our past so that we can better recognize our present identity and move forward into future ministry.  Between now and Nov. 7, I'm 'harvesting' half sheets on which you can write your personal significant events, such as, a baptism, wedding, funeral, and congregational significant events that stand out in your memory.  Don't fret over the month and day of the events.  The year will be sufficient.  The half sheets will be available as inserts in Sunday's worship folders. 

Thanks for your participation in this project.

Ask the Pastor
Pastor Paul answers your questions


Q)  Do you think a large part of the New Testament is anti-Semitic, especially in that it blames Jews for the crucifixion of Christ when it was very likely instigated by Roman authorities? Do you think there has been or will be an increase in the persecution of Jews by the "Religious Right" and others with extreme viewpoints because the New Testament is pro-Semitic because of various verses, like Romans 1:16 and 11:28?  
 
A)  There are several questions here and more issues behind the questions. 
  

I would not use the words anti-Semitic or pro-Semitic to label anything in the Bible, because these words carry strong emotional connotations associated with the holocaust of the 20th century.  We need to read the Bible on its own terms and not cloud its message by looking at it through a lens of events that happened centuries after the Bible was written.  For the same reason, I rarely use the words 'slavery' or 'slave' to talk about slavery in Biblical times, because for people living in the 21st century United States, 'slavery' and 'slave' carry emotional connotations from slavery in America; and slavery in Bible times was quite different from American slavery. 

I would like to restate the question in this way: Who is responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus?  And I'll give the historic Lutheran answer from some of our hymns.

"My Song Is Love Unknown" Evangelical Lutheran Worship ELW #343 stanzas 3 and 4:

     Sometimes we strew his way and his sweet praises    

     sing

     resounding all the day hosannas to our King.

     Then "Crucify!" is all our breath and for his death

     we thirst and cry

     We cry out, we will have our dear Lord made away,

     a murderer to save, the prince of life to slay.

     Yet cheerful he to suffering goes that he his foes

     from thence might free.

"Ah, Holy Jesus"  ELW #349 stanza 2

     Who was the guilty?  Who brought this upon thee?

     Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee. 

     'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee. 

     I crucified thee.

Since Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, we who are in this world can never point our fingers at somebody else and say "They crucified Jesus."

Finally, the New Testament does not support any kind of persecution of any part of God's creation.

Jesus and Friends News

Pumpkin Patch Prayers: Please come to the bulletin board in the entrance hall, write a prayer of thanksgiving on a paper pumpkin and help decorate our fall bulletin board!

Cookies for Soldiers: On November 7th, Jesus and Friends will be baking cookies for soldiers during Sunday School.  Thrivent is furnishing the funds, we will supply the labor and love. Thank you to all the adult volunteers who are helping .