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The POP Press

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

Volume 9, Issue 1 September 2020

We Are All Just So Tired

Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. We are all so very tired in this day and age. It seems that the more modern conveniences we have the less time there seems to be as we strive to do more. We want to make everything perfect, as we rely upon ourselves to make the changes necessary (in our own way of thinking) that makes the world a better place. In this season of politics, we each have our issues we champion and we have been given the intelligence by our Creator to make choices in our country, and the direction we want to go, that are the envy of the world. It would seem that this isn’t all that hard, to love our neighbor as ourselves; to love God with all our soul and all our strength; to serve God by serving our neighbor. Why is this such a hard concept when dealing with the issues of the day? The answer is fairly simple, sin. It is so easy today to get so involved in worldly events that we lose focus on what is most important. No matter what your ideological bent is, it will never be perfect, we will never have a utopian society. We get so divided that we can’t even have a civil conversation without people getting mad and the hard feelings spilling over into anger, and even civil unrest. We grow weary of the negative news, the political hatred, the racial hatred feeling the heaviness weighing us down. Among all of this, we also feel the weight of spiritual heaviness as we are tired of dealing with this pandemic. We long for the return of the way things were, the good old days we might even say, as we long to live our life in a more comfortable fashion. Why can’t things just be ok again. The answer is fairly simple, sin. When we are discouraged, when we just can’t seem to figure things out, when we need encouragement to just get up another day, we turn to the Word of God to ease our anxiety both worldly and spiritually. Jesus invitation, “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, is an invita-tion for Christian to live each day, the work you are given by God to carry out, and anything that be-comes so burdensome in our life, under the grace that He provides through Jesus Christ. It is Jesus who is the One who gives us true rest. We who have labored and attempted to be faithful to our callings but continue to be wearied and worried by our sin are those to whom Jesus gives us rest in the promise of the Gospel.

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Jesus promises to give rest to those who work and are heavy laden, and he’s not just talking about those who are physically or emotionally exhausted because they’ve been working too hard. No, when Jesus promises to give rest to those who’ve been working and are heavy laden, he’s promising to give rest to those whose work has caused them to be burdened. And not just burdened by a mountain of debt, pile of regret, or failure to achieve all your personal/political goals. The rest Jesus promises to give, he promises to those whose work has caused them to be burdened in conscience. Burdened by the weight of how to live our Christian lives in a God pleasing way that shows we are Christian by our love for humanity, as imperfectly as we so this each day.

We receive this rest, this refreshment of our souls, through the means of grace. It is through Word and Sacrament that we have opportunity to commune with Christ for the forgiveness of sins and once again being assured of eternal life. We trust in Him to guide us and to help us make responsible decisions in our life that will be pleasing to our heavenly Father. Because He has shown us grace and loved us unconditionally, how much more can we then do the same for our neighbor, family and friends.

The Pharisees looked down on those who they thought were less than they were, and prayed they were so glad to no be like they are. The sad fact is that we are all the same, we are sinners in need of a Savior. We make imperfect choices, constantly making mistakes and we don’t treat others as we would want to be treated. Satan then uses our sin to suggest that God could never love someone like you and that you should just give up. But then we are reminded of these words of comfort, “Come to me all who labor and are heaven laden, and I will give you rest.”

To you who’ve been working, to you whose consciences are heavy, Jesus keeps his promise. Jesus gives you rest. When the Law shows you your sin, Jesus gives you rest with the Absolution that forgives your sin. When the Law of God shows you that you haven’t lived as you ought, Jesus gives you rest because he united himself to you in Holy Baptism and gives you his life as your own. When you are burdened by sins you continue to battle, Jesus gives you rest in his very body and blood, showing you that he died for those sins. Thus, he gives you strength to live each day as you rest in him.

That, you see, is the rest Jesus promises to give. He promises to give peace to you who know the Law of God and who know you haven’t kept it. He kept the Law in your place, and the rewards he earned by keeping it he wishes for you to have. So even while you work, you always rest in him.

Walking in the Light of Life… (John 8:12)

Pastor Klawonn

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A Manual for Discipleship

Luther’s Small Catechism

The Fifth Commandment You shall not murder What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need. It might make you uncomfortable to hear this, but when we examine the Fifth Commandment, we are reminded that disciples of Jesus Christ have a responsibility given to us by God Himself, to be responsible not only for our own bodily life, but also the bodily life of our neighbor. When Luther was researching and examining this Fifth Commandment, he came to the realization that it not only prohibited the wanton destruction of our neighbor’s life, it also in a positive light, directs us to “help and support him in every physical need.” When we fear and love God above all things, we have the firm foundation for both the prohibition of murder and the positive obligation to love our neighbor by providing bodily help and support. Our love of God is demonstrated by the love for our neighbor and this love is anything but a reflective sentimentality; it is a love turned outward to the real needs of the neighbor in this life. In the Large Catechism, Luther writes, This commandment is violated not only when we do evil, but also when we have the opportunity to do good to our neighbor and to prevent, protect, and save them from suffering bodily harm or injury, but fail to do so. If you send a naked person away when you could clothe him, you have let him freeze to death. If you see anyone who is suffering from hunger and do not feed her, you have let her starve. Likewise, if you see anyone who is condemned to death or in similar peril and do not save him although you have means and ways to do so, you have killed him. It will be of no help for you to use the excuse that you did not assist their deaths by word or deed, for you have withheld your love from them and robbed them of the kindness by means of which their lives might have been saved. (LCI 189-90) God has established this commandment in a world that is evil and in the midst of a life that is full of misery. The commandment stands as a protective wall around human life, as it acts as a curb to those who would out of malice of a renegade heart, attack and destroy life God has given. As with the other commandments, the Fifth Commandment is a concrete expression of the First Commandment, “He always wants to remind us to recall the First Commandment, that He is our God; that is, he wishes to help, comfort, and protect us, so that we may restrain our desire for revenge” (LCI 195). When we look at this Fifth Commandment through the lens of the First Commandment, our hearts and hands are turned to the neediness of the neighbor’s body. Because the body is the place of the neighbor’s life, it is not killed, not directly by assault or indirectly by withholding that which is necessary to sustain life. Instead, it is the way of discipleship to care for the body of the neighbor, providing food to the hungry, medical aid to the sick, hospitality to the homeless, and protection to those whose physical life is threatened by violence. Here again, the positive aspect of the commandment is open ended and not restricted by the boundaries of ethical limitation implied in the lawyer’s question to Jesus in Luke 10:29; “Who is my neighbor?” I pray that God softens our hearts and guides us in our daily walk to live this commandment and show God’s love through our faith and life.

Soli Deo Gloria

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August 13, 2020 Council Meeting Highlights

Treasury: Lisa reports that we have been maintaining an even keel throughout this time due to generous giving. We will be working on the 2021 budget in the coming months. Education: No report, as Jody is absent. Evangelism(EV): Stephanie reports that they are planning to hold a meeting soon, but not much to report at this time. Schools are looking for donations of wipes, which we may try to source. Fellowship(FS): No report, as Jeanne is absent. Property: Richard reports there is nothing new to report at this time. Stewardship: Andy reports that there’s nothing new to report at this time. He suggests that we may wish to take up a collection in support of Love, INC due to the necessary cancellation of some of our events which normally raise funds for them. Consensus is that this is a good idea. Worship: Kristie reports she’s helping to make arrangements for an upcoming vacation Sunday for Pastor. Youth: Lisa reports that they had discussed trying to plan an activity for September. They will discuss dates in the coming weeks. Agenda Items: Old Business: 1) 2019 Audit Fred has reported back on the Audit of the 2019 books. He said that everything came back correct down to the exact cent. New Business: 1) Resuming Communion After watching COVID-19 numbers for the past few months, we observe that numbers in Black Hawk County seem to have leveled out. Pastor proposes that we carefully resume communion with safeguards in place. After discussion, 2) Government PPP Assistance There has been discussion about whether to submit an application for assistance for the church under the government PPP guidelines. Lisa will do some further research and report in September on her findings.

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Treasurer’s Report

Through July 31, 2020

Respectfully submitted,

Lisa Anderson, Treasurer

Profit & Loss Income versus Expenses

Comments

Note:

Paid $7,690 annual property insurance/work comp insurance in May. We’re doing ok, all things considered. It was nice to be back in

church worshipping in

July ☺

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New Women’s Bible Study A new bible study will begin on September 23rd. It will be from a book by Jan Wilkin, “Sermon on the Mount”. It is a study from Matthew, chapters 5-7. This will be offered on the second and fourth Wednesday’s at 9:30 am and the same lesson will be offered ukthe following Saturday morning at 9:30 am. The cost is $15.00. A sign up sheet is on the table. Please see Mary Seavey with questions

$10,000 to Celebrate 10 Years! Love INC. is asking you to help celebrate 10 years in the Cedar Valley. Their network of churches has met over 23,00 needs for over 5000 households in the last 10 years. They have long term goals to ex-pand their reach and God’s tangible care into other counties and communities. During the week of September 21-25, local sponsors are matching do-nations up to $10,000! If you could help us meet that mark during that week with your donation we can usher in the next 10 years of partnership and ministry.

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POP Disciples and Confirmation

POP’s Disciples is open to 4 year olds through 5th grade. They will meet on

Wednesday’s, starting September 9th, from 6:30 –7:30.This is a rotation based program and the material follows the Sunday School program. Please bring the kids and check it

out! Sunday School will begin on September 13th,

at 10:00 Masks will be required!

Confirmation classes will receive a

letter .Pastor has sent letters with the schedules. If you did not

receive one, please see Pastor or Marlys.

Alternatives Baby Bottles There are still 13 baby bottles out from our alternatives fundraiser. If you have one please bring them to church so I can return them. So far we have collected $523.56 towards their ministry! Thank you!!!

POP’S MISSION SEWING The sewing group has donated 100 children’s masks and 20 adult masks to Poyner school. They also gave school supplies and Clorox wipes for the teachers to use.

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Information

Prayer List

Ila Drewes, Cyndi Cavalier, Tim Rosauer, Ron Warnke,

Rick Day, Debbie Breecher, Martha Edler, Bonnie and Elden Happel, Kristie Rysdam,

Howard and Ronda Fraser, Barbara Thomas, Richard Duhl, Regina and Melissa Morrow, Jolene Slater, Fonda Anderson, Jace Hicok,

Aly Becker, Gene Edler, Marsha Allen, Barb Schroeder, Marion Odom, Lexy Kelley

Our Sympathy to Jean and Glen Huffman at the loss of Glen’s brother, Wendell Lampson.

Our Sympathy to Mary Pietan and Bobbi Menke at the loss of their mother Ardith Pates.

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1 6:00 Band

2 10:00 POP’s Mission Sewing

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6 8:45 Comm. 11:15 Comm.

7 Office Closed Labor Day

8 6:00 Band

9 6:30 POP’s Disciples

10 7:00 Council

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15 6:00 Band

16 10:00 POP’s Mission Sewing 6:30 POP’s Disciples

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PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN

CHURCH

4031 Lafayette Road

Phone: 319-233-1452 Fax: 319-233-0799

E-mail: office@popevansdale.org

Sunday Worship Service 8:45 am – Traditional 11:15 am - Contemporary Sunday School/Bible Study 10:00 am Confirmation / POP’s Disciples Wednesday at 6:30 pm Pastor : Steven Klawonn 641-680-1073 poppastorklawonn@gmail.com

Office Administrator: Marlys Tharp Office 233-1452 Home 234-9284

Custodians : Bill and Cathy Olson 319-476-3463 President : Sandy Clements 319-232-8152 Vice President : Lou Ann Ketterer 319-234-3421 Treasurer: Lisa Anderson 319-827-3567 Education : Jody Hicok 319-415-3340 Evangelism: Stephanie Rahlf 319-833-7319 Fellowship: Jeanne Larsen 319-559-0215 Property: Richard Snider 319-235-6133 Secretary: Justin Morris 319-226-3393 Stewardship: Andy Schaffer 319-236-1925 Worship: Kristie Rysdom 641-680-3109