Immanuel Lutheran’s Home Messenger

Volume 33, Issue 6December 2011 

Devotion from the Archives

A Christmas Hymn Is Born

It is the day before Christmas, 1534. The scene is the ancient Augustinian monastery in Wittenberg. The monastery had only recently become a Lutheran parsonage. In the kitchen of the large, massive house a faithful housewife was busy, and on the other end of the house, our “Herr Doktor” Luther was buried deep in thoughts for tomorrow’s sermon on the Christmas Gospel. Adjoining his study is the large living room, with the ceiling-high stove made of shining tile. Close by stands a cradle which just them is being shaken by the wailing of a small child who is neither interested in a Christmas dinner nor in tomorrow’s sermon. He wants someone to rock the cradle and he wants this now!

“Herr Doktor, don’t you hear the little one crying? Please, I am so very busy now.” Kate Luther had a way which never found her busy husband unwilling to give a helping hand! Still deep in thoughts upon the great mystery of the incarnation of our Lord he now sits by the cradle of the little child, gently rocking his little one to sleep.

Suddenly he becomes aware of the little child lying in a cradle, just like the Lord Jesus lying in a manger! His heart swells with emotion; he begins to hum a popular folk song: “For foreign lands I now come here.” The angel also came from far with the sweetest story ever told. Hear the angel little one?

From heaven above to earth I come
To bear good news to every home;
Glad tidings of great joy I bring,
Whereof I now will say and sing:”

And so Luther sings to his little child now fallen asleep, that “sweetest ancient cradle song!” Tiptoeing back to his study he sits at his desk, and writes line upon line, stanza upon stanza until there are fifteen in all. He sings the words of the angel proclaiming the Savior’s birth in David’s town, of the virgin mother, of the swaddling clothes and manger dark.

This is the Christ, our God and Lord,
Who in all need shall aid afford,
He will Himself your Savior be
From all your sins to set you free.

With the shepherds he goes “to see the precious gift of God, Who hath His own dear Son bestowed.” He marvels at the great mystery that surrounds this little child:

Ah, Lord, Who hast created all,
How weak art Thou, how poor and small,
That Thou dost choose Thine infant bed,
Where humble cattle lately fed.

That child is the Lord, A King so rich and great; “yet all the world’s wealth, honor, might, are naught and worthless in Thy sight.” He came not to live in palaces of kings, but in the hearts of humble folks:

Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,
Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for Thee.

The singing of this hymn became a Christmas Eve tradition in Luther’s home and in many others since. Luther would have a student from the university dress like an angel and then sing the angel’s message given in the first seven stanzas. All would join in the remaining eight. And when they came to the last two stanzas all would march around the Christmas tree singing:

My heart for very joy doth leap,
My lips no more can silence keep;
I too must sing with joyful tongue
That sweetest ancient cradle song:

Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto us His Son hath given!
While angels sing with pious mirth
A glad new year to all the earth.”

From this beautiful hymn we can sense the true spirit of Christmas in Luther’s home. He himself a very busy man, a maligned man, a troubled man,- yet nothing could rob him of the time, the joy, the peace in his home to sing glory to God, Who to us His Son hath given. Truly a great man, a believer at heart!

It was probably about this hymn that he once said: “The tenor sings the simple melody and then four or more voices accompany and literally surround this melody like joyous children singing and springing with joy, embracing as it were the simple melody as if it were Christ their Lord.”

Only in those churches and in those homes the true Christmas spirit will be found where “lips no more can silence keep,” because the “heart with very joy doth leap!” The joy is there, because the Christmas Gospel is believed. May this joy be in every home of Immanuel church. It is my prayer for you.

— Pastor G.W. Fischer
Immanuel Lutheran
November/December 1949
Hymn: TLH 85

Winter Weather Cancellations?

Winter weather cancellation...what is that? Though this winter has been uncharacteristically mild, we could still have severe weather when an Immanuel activity will need to be cancelled/postponed.

When winter weather indicates the cancellation of Immanuel’s Bible Classes, worship services, or other activities there are three media in which that information is posted:

  1. KTOE Radio (1420 AM)
  2. www.katoinfo.com – please remember to scroll down the whole listing for the day(s). The listing is chronological by posting, not alphabetical. Our listing could be far down in the list depending on when a decision is made.
  3. KEYC-TV

Email. Since email can reach many homes with any cancellation news, we will plan to send out a cancellation email via Pastor Eichstadt’s “Immanuel News.” If you already receive the Immanuel News emails, you will receive any cancellations that are sent in this way. If you don’t receive these emails and would like to, please send an email request to: wayne.eichstadt@immanuelmankato.org Please note, this email is for church related cancellations (not school) and will be sent whenever possible.

New Years’ Worship Service Schedule

December 31st, 7:00 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Worship & Holy Communion

December 31st, 11:30 p.m.

Candlelight New Year’s Eve Worship

January 1st, 9:30 a.m.

New Year’s Day Worship

Christmas Worship Service on CCTV

CCTV - Charter Channel 13 ~ HickoryTech Channel 7

Christmas Eve

Sunday, January 1st, 1:30 p.m.
Friday, January 6th, 9:30 p.m.

Christmas Day

Sunday, January 8th, 1:30 p.m.
Friday, January 13th, 9:30 a.m.

Online

Go to the Immanuel website: www.immanuelmankato.org Scroll down the home page to the “sermon” section and click on “online videos’ page” link. Bulletins from the services are also available on the website.

January 22, 2012 is the 39th anniversary of the United States Supreme Court’s decision legalizing abortion on demand in our country. Abortion is not the only sanctity-of-life issue which society faces. Doctor-assisted suicide, euthanasia and embryonic stem cell research are a few others. The following devotion and article speak to these issues.

Confession and Revelation

“Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”

Psalm 51:5 NIV

This short verse, taken from the most famous of David’s penitential Psalms, presents us with a realistic confession of our human condition, while at the same time providing us with a very real revelation concerning that human condition. Let us consider briefly both that confession and that revelation.

Some might suggest that this verse is so very negative and should simply be ignored. “After all,” many might say, “why do you church people always have to talk about sin anyway? Such talk is so very depressing and demeaning!” As believers we talk about sin, because its presence in this world explains so very much about ourselves and about our world. The Bible says: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

There is no one who has ever lived or will ever live in this world—apart from Jesus Christ, who is not a sinner! Consequently, everyone living in our world today is a sinner, and the Bible says that our world “groans and labors” because of this and that it “eagerly waits…to be delivered from the bondage of corruption” that sin brings (cf. Romans 8:19-22). Hatred, strife, murder, rape, theft, false witness, fornication, adultery, sickness, disease, famine, war, and death are all examples of sin or consequences flowing from sin. They surround us in this world and to ignore any consideration of sin is to deny the underlying cause of so much hurt and sorrow. Denying the root cause of a problem prevents the discovery of an ultimate solution!

Together with David we must confess that we too were sinful from birth. This is not a depressing thought when considered in the context of God’s Gospel, but it is a realistic truth that we must understand! We human beings have a problem and that problem is sin. When we acknowledge those sins—repenting of them before our God, we can rest assured that we have been and will be forgiven by God for Jesus’ sake. Jesus is, the Bible says, “the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:2). Consequently, God promises that as we confess those sins, “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

How serious and long-standing is the problem? David confesses that our problem with sin began at the moment of our conception. As Jesus would later explain: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh” (cf. John 3:6a). Sinful parents, unfortunately, always produce sinful children. In spite of that, however, we can approach God with confidence, for as Jesus went on to explain: “that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (cf. John 3:6b). God the Holy Spirit can and does lead repentant sinners to faith, and by faith we then become children of God and heirs of eternal salvation. David’s words, therefore, are a realistic confession leading ultimately to eternal salvation by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

David’s words, however, are also a very real revelation. January is the month in which we acknowledge the anniversary of the Supreme Court case that legalized abortion—Roe v. Wade. Over 50 million children have been legally aborted here in the United States since that decision in 1973.

One of the questions that arises when debating the issue of abortion is: When does human life begin? Some argue that a fetus should not be considered a child until it is born, or at least until it is viable outside the womb. Some even argue that actual personhood should not be conferred on a child until some months after birth [cf. Dr. Peter Singer of Yale University — Singer argues that newborns lack the essential characteristics of personhood—“rationality, autonomy, and self-consciousness”—and therefore “killing a newborn baby is never equivalent to killing a person, that is, a being who wants to go on living.” [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Singer] While “rationality, autonomy, and self-consciousness” are elements of our personhood, that personhood is established by God’s creative hand, not by man’s attempts at definition!].

David’s words, written under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, provide us with an insight into God’s mind and His view of this issue. David speaks in the first person with reference to himself as a specific being at the time of his conception within his mother’s womb. He speaks of his moral accountability to God from that same moment of conception. Therefore, in God’s eyes, life begins at conception. Life is a gift of our Creator God which we ought to treasure and to respect.

May we always do so as God’s children and heirs!

— Pastor Paul D. Nolting

Marriage Enrichment

Plans are underway at Immanuel to host a Marriage Enrichment Retreat in Rochester, MN, February 10-12.

The retreat would feature two nights at a Rochester hotel, a Friday evening social gathering, Saturday sessions/activities, and Sunday session and worship service.

Details and cost will be announced soon via the Sunday bulletin and Pastor Eichstadt’s email news.

Suggestions for the retreat (content, activities, etc.) are welcome. If you have ideas please pass them along to Pastor Eichstadt. Ideas are welcomed from non-participants as well as from those who may participate.

Life Issues

Life or Death in Our Hands

Embryonic or Adult Stem Cell Research?

Matthew Uram’s face, neck, shoulder and right arm were covered in second degree burns. At an Independence Day celebration a number of years ago, the Pennsylvania police officer was standing next to a bonfire when someone threw a cup of gasoline on it, not realizing how close Uram was to the blaze.

Four days after the incident, burn specialists declared Uram healed. According to his story, which was highlighted by National Geographic in 2008, his miracle cure came in the form of a gun that looked like it came from Star Wars.

Uram’s treatment was an experimental “skin gun” that takes a burn victim’s stem cells, mixes them with a chemical liquid and shoots the concoction directly onto the burn. The total time from skin cell biopsy to application is around 90 minutes. What would have left much scarring and taken weeks to heal by traditional treatment took four days with no noticeable difference between his old skin and new.

For years, scientists have heralded the potential of stem cell research. They have promised cures for cancer, Parkinson’s, heart disease, diabetes and other ailments. However, the potential has been marred by ever-present controversy. The following Questions and Answers will help to understand the issue and the controversy surrounding it.

The answers were provided by Dr. David Prentice who serves as senior fellow for life sciences with the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C. He has done laboratory research for 20 years at Indiana State University of Medicine where he taught as an adjunct professor of medical and electrical genetics.

What is a stem cell?

Stem cells have two major characteristics: when given the right signals, they can form many different tissues and they continually grow and multiply. As they multiply, they also specialize. So, if you need heart tissue, a stem cell will begin to multiply and specialize into heart tissue. If you need cells that produce insulin, you can take just a few stem cells, give them the proper signal and watch them multiply into the cells that make insulin.

What is the difference between adult stem cell research and embryonic stem cell research?

Embryonic stem cells rely on the destruction of young human life, and they have not helped a single human being. Extracting adult stem cells does not harm the donor at all, and they have already helped thousands of people, from sufferers of heart disease to those who need new windpipes to children with juvenile diabetes.

Recently, a judge made a decision about the federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. What was so important about his decision?

To understand the situation, we have to go back to 1996 when Congress passed an amendment called the Dickey-Wicker Amendment. Basically, it said that federal taxpayer funds can’t be used for research in which an embryo is destroyed or harmed. It has been passed again by every Congress since. But in 2009, President Obama threw out the restriction. What ended up happening is that federal dollars were not used for the destruction of embryos, but they were used in the research after the embryos were destroyed using private funds.

Dr. James Sherley and Dr. Theresa Deisher, two adult stem cell researchers, sued the federal government saying it was unfair competition because more money was going to embryonic stem cell research while adult stem cell research was actually helping more patients.

At first, U.S. District Chief Judge Royce Lamberth threw out the case saying the doctors had no standing. They took it to the appeals court who said they did. In August 2010, Justice Lamberth issued an injunction that stopped the federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. After two weeks with no funding, the Justice Department got the appeals court to put the injunction on hold so the funds could continue to flow. In a split decision, the appeals court said it would side with the government and allow the funds to continue being used for embryonic stem cell research.

At the end of July, Justice Lamberth heard their case and agreed with the appeals court and the government. He said you can separate the research and use private funds for one part and federal funds for the other, basically that federal funds can’t be used for the destruction of the embryo but can be used for anything after the embryo is destroyed.

Is there any controversy surrounding embryonic stem cell research that is not related to the fact it destroys an unborn child?

Yes. One of the problems is that the cells are immature. They are like a young kid running around saying he doesn’t know what he wants to be when he grows up. Embryonic stem cells are simply hard to control and [they] like to grow. That is great for a scientist in a lab because it makes it easier to do many experiments, but you do not want to put those cells in a person.

The reason it is so dangerous is that they tend to do a lot of damage. Embryonic stem cells like to make tumors. If they aren’t making a tumor they may make the wrong kind of tissue or make too much of the right tissue. An experiment was done a few years ago trying to fix heart damage in mice. They got the cells to make the correct tissue, but they made five times as much tissue as the mice needed. Then they thought they fixed the problem and put the cells into the brains of rats who had Parkinson’s. A few rats got better. There is no denying that, even though it was a small percentage. But after 10 weeks they did the autopsies. They found all those cells had started to grow again.

With so many problems surrounding embryonic stem cell research why are so many people still pushing so hard for it?

I think there are several different reasons. Unfortunately, I think the biggest two reasons are money and ideology. If a scientist doesn’t believe this young human life really counts as a human being, he has no qualms about destroying it. But it is very expensive research whether I intend to ever treat a patient or not. Many of these people, despite their public statements, are not really after cures. They’re just after keeping the money flowing so they can keep doing experiments in the lab.

Do you think it is fiscally responsible to spend money on embryonic stem cell research?

Let me say this, I do not think we will ever see a return on our investment. It’s not only unethical, it is also fiscally irresponsible and scientifically unworthy. We ought to be going after the best and most promising science, especially when thinking about putting the patients first.

We know right off the bat that these cells are hard to control compared to adult stem cells. There is ample scientific research that adult stem cells are much more promising when it comes to treating spinal cord injuries, heart damage, diabetes and other diseases.

When you look at private investors who are investing in order to get a return, their money is mostly going toward adult stem cell research that is working. That is why the embryonic stem cell folks are coming to the taxpayer at the federal and state levels and asking them to foot the bill.

While the research and treatment may seem like science fiction or something out of the Star Wars movies, as a nation, the U.S. must decide on the cost it is willing to pay. Are we willing to sacrifice the most vulnerable for the potential cure? How many lives will we destroy attempting to prolong our own?

Learn more

stemcellresearchfacts.org

The Web site contains videos of patients who have been treated with adult stem cells and speaks to the advantages of adult stem cells over embryonic. It also contains background information about stem cell research.

stemcellresearch.org

This site has current news focusing on stem cell research. It also has a scoreboard showing treatments of adult vs. embryonic stem cells. The current score is 73 for adult stem cell, 0 for embryonic.

frcblog.com/author/David-Prentice

Here Dr. Prentice closely follows the stem cell news. He has a very down-to-earth method of discussing complex issues so that any lay person can understand what is going on.

cmda.org

The Christian Medical and Dental Association covers all issues of life. Much information can be found from beginning of life to end of life. Everything is examined from the Christian worldview. They seek to practice medicine and advance biblical principles of healthcare within the church and the culture.

Teddy James
American Family Association Journal
October 2011
Reprinted by Permission
(Abridged)

Upcoming Events in 2012

Christian Women’s Retreat

April 13-15, 2012

Best Western Hotel—La Crosse, WI

Theme: This is what the LORD says to you: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15b

Cost: $135.00—$245.00 depending on room arrangements (scholarships available). Fee includes Friday and Saturday lodging, Friday snacks, Saturday meals, Sunday breakfast.

Registration forms, agenda, and additional information are available at church.

Contact

General Sessions/Worship

To whom is the Lord talking and why? - Pastor Paul D. Nolting

Trust in the Lord in all danger - Presenter TBA

God’s honor is at stake, He will take steps to defend His honor - Presenter TBA

Stand firm and hold your position, even when you are discouraged. - Presenter TBA

The Battle is God’s—His Victory is Ours! - Pastor Paul D. Nolting

Mini-Sessions

(from which participants choose 4)

  1. Turn the Whining into Willing
  2. Card Making
  3. Learn to Embroider
  4. Thorn in My Side
  5. Beaded Wire Crocheted Bracelets
  6. Devotions Go Better with Chocolate
  7. Pilates
  8. Leaving a Legacy
  9. Homemade Lip Balm and Soap Making
  10. Learn Pysanky

Immanuel Ambassadors

WHITEWATER WINTER CAMP

Dates: January 27-29

Watch for cost, details, and sign-up in the bulletin!

Family “Movie” Afternoons

Body of Evidence

Explore the amazing evidence for design in human anatomy and physiology via DVD presentation!

Dr. David Menton (son of Immanuel congregation and currently lecturer for Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum) uses anatomical props, models, and microscopic images, to instruct and to give testimony to the wonderful works of God. Dr. Menton’s humorous and insightful talks will take “students” through the major systems of the body.

These lessons are designed for teens through adults.

During this winter’s Family Movie Afternoons we will cover four of the eight major body systems included in this series. The presentation for each system includes two sections—40-45 minutes each—with a brief intermission between sessions.

These presentations give glory to our Creator-God, are informative to all, but would perhaps be of special benefit to those who are studying biology from an evolutionist instructor—learning the same scientific information from a scriptural perspective.

If You Come...

Time: 1:30 p.m.

Location: Church Sanctuary

Duration: Approx. 90 minutes

Schedule

January 15: Cardiovascular System

January 22: Digestive System

February 5: Respiratory System

February 12: TBD

Stewardship of God’s Gifts

Immanuel Steward

But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you--see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:7

What is it?

In an effort to revitalize our building, Immanuel is beginning a program called Immanuel Steward. The goals of Immanuel Steward are to:

  1. highlight improvement projects at Immanuel.
  2. chart the progress of those projects.
  3. provide direction to those interested in contributing (in any way) to a featured project.
  4. provide a network by which members invite fellow members to join the effort(s).

A website has been created in order provide organization for the above goals. The website is immanuelsteward.org

Please find opportunity to visit the site in order to familiarize yourself with what we hope will be an ongoing drive toward an improved facility.

How can I contribute?

  1. Donate your time and effort. You may find a project (from the list) that you want to work on. If you don’t have a preference, you can simply ask how you can best serve. Contact Dan Roehl at 507-381-2042 / danroehl@hotmail.com in order to volunteer.
  2. Donate money. If you would like to donate toward a specific project, simply make a notation identifying that project on your check that you place in the Sunday plate. If you donate the money, Immanuel Steward, through its volunteers, will do the work. If you have any questions regarding your monetary donations, contact Dan Roehl.

Current Featured Projects

Questions

If you have any questions about the details of these projects please check out the immanuelsteward.org website, or contact Dan Roehl.

Another project idea?

If you see a need not identified on the project list, contact Dan Roehl with your idea. The Church Council has approved this program and the existing list of projects and must approve all new projects. A list of current projects is listed on the back of this sheet.

Immanuel Steward organization

Each project has a pre-organized committee assigned to it. Those committees are identified on the website. It is the task of the committee to see the project through to completion. Each committee is organized as illustrated below. Any individual not listed on the committee is very welcome to join the effort for that project. Just call a committee member in order to volunteer.

Steward Organization