Greetings to you and peace from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!

It’s been a few years since I wrote the “pastor’s letter” in the newsletter for you. I’m at it again because of the recent resignation of Rev. Schneider as pastor here in Sherman. The Board of Elders, with the blessing of District President Eddy, have asked me to fill in during the interim as the congregation moves forward. So here I am, back where my ministry began.

We have just begun the season of Lent in the church year, a time for reflection and meditation as we approach Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection. Our services the next few weeks will focus on the passion history of His journey to Jerusalem and will culminate at the little hill called Calvary. I hope and pray you will join us in worship on each Sunday in Lent and the Wednesday evening services as well.

The world seems to be in so much turmoil. Our nation no longer feels as united as it once did. Even now our Lutheran church, both in our Central Illinois District and here in our own church, is in need of healing. So, we must continue to pray for all, for the nation, the church, Rev Schneider and his family, and even this old pastor. Lent may very well be a good time to focus on the real mission of our church-to always tell the good news of Christ crucified and Him risen!

Christ came to save sinners, all of humanity was lost in sin and without the saving work of the Son of God would have been lost and condemned forever. Yet in His great love for those He created, God sent His only Son to redeem us that we might live forever in His everlasting love! Therefore, rejoice in true repentance, give God the glory, trust in true faith believing Christ died and rose for you!

You are His beloved child, saved by grace to live now and forever.
In Christ,
Pastor Stuenkel

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.”

• 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

The life of Saint Paul was not easy. In fact, it was down right difficult. Read again the way he describes what it has been like for him to trust in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He is “afflicted in every way,” “perplexed,” “persecuted,” and “struck down.” He equates all of this hardship with “always carrying in the body the death of Jesus.” In other words, he is bearing the cross.

Every Christian, not just the Apostles, are called to pick up their cross and follow Jesus. (Matthew 16:24) You might, at times, feel as though your life rivals that of Paul: afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, struck down. The devil, the world, and our own sinful nature never stop hammering away at us, day after day, while we remain in this world. The life of following Jesus is difficult, not easy.

Yet, Paul does not throw in the towel. He does not give up. In spite of the intense hardship that comes with faith in Jesus, he declares that he is not “crushed” or “despairing” or “forsaken” or “destroyed.” Just the opposite. Paul has been baptized into the death and life of Jesus, the life that is “manifested in our bodies.”

You will have hardship and pain in this life. But it will not crush you, or leave you despairing. You are not forsaken or destroyed. Just the opposite. You are safeguarded, hope-filled, befriended, and built up. Just as the death of Christ is obviously at work in our lives, it is a surefire sign that His life is at work in us. “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; [Jesus has] overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

In Christ,
Joshua W Theilen
Assistant Pastor

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” — Colossians 2:6-7

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Saint Paul teaches the Colossians how to live as Christians. His instruction, however, does not begin or end where we might think it would. He does not hash out the 10 Commandments or explain the virtues that a Christian should strive towards. There is certainly a place for this. We should learn the commands of God and seek to produce the fruits of the Spirit.

But Paul begins and ends with Jesus Christ. The Colossians are rooted in Jesus. They are built up in Him and established in Him. Their lives begin and end with Jesus, and Jesus is there every step of the way.

He helpfully applies this to the Colossians a few verses later:
“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.” — Colossians 2:16-19

Here we see that all things that pertain to living as a Christian are subservient to Jesus Christ. How and what we eat, how and when we worship, what traditions we develop and celebrate, are all placed under–and never above–Jesus Christ. When they are placed above Jesus they become idols. When they are below Him, they are helpful servants.

Remember that it is Jesus Christ who bled and died for you. It is Jesus who rose again and ascended to rule the universe for your good. You received Him in faith. May your roots go deep, that you would be built up and fully established in Christ our Lord.

In Christ,
Joshua Theilen
Assistant Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

“So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.” (Acts 12:5)

Immediately after this verse we learn that Peter is miraculously rescued from prison by an angel of God. The people of God prayed, and God answered their prayers. What is more, it seems that the people actually expected God to hear their prayer and respond. That is why their prayer is “earnest”.

How often do we pray half-heartedly? Of course we ask God for what we want, but we do not expect Him to respond. But He does.

The church prayed for Peter and expected God to take action, because they knew who God is and what Jesus Christ had done to connect them to God. Because of the sacrifice of the Son of God, we are each counted as sons of God.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11)

God is your Father. Not only does He hear your prayers and want to answer, He actually promises to answer.

Of course, God is not a cosmic vending machine. He does not simply dispense whatever we ask for. He does something far better. He gives what we need. He sends us what will lead us into life everlasting rather than away from it.

So pray, and pray earnestly. Expect that God will hear, that He will answer, that He will give all that is truly good for you.

In Christ,
Joshua Theilen
Assistant Pastor
Good Shepherd, Sherman

“And [Jesus] led [the Apostles] out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.” (Luke 24:50-53)

Imagine that your best friend and mentor was leaving and you had no idea if you were going to see them again on this side of heaven. That is the situation the Apostles found themselves in at the Ascension of Jesus. Yet, Luke records that “they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.” They are filled with joy and bless God at the “departure” of Jesus. There is not a hint of sadness on the part of Peter and the others. There is only excitement.

This is because the Ascension of Jesus is not a “goodbye”. He ascended to the right hand of the Father. (Acts 2:33) Jesus has not disappeared. He has taken His rightful place as the king of the universe. Now He rules over all things, and He rules them for our good. (Romans 8:28)

The knowledge that Jesus has been exalted to the right hand of God and the power of the Holy Spirit fill the Apostles not with sadness and fear, but with joy and boldness. And it does the same for us.

Saint Paul says, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31-39)

Jesus Christ, Your Savior, God, and King, rules the universe with your wellbeing and salvation on His mind. You have nothing to fear, and every reason to rejoice as you patiently await His final appearance. May we all rejoice and bless God as we live life under His blessed reign.

In Christ,
Joshua Theilen
Assistant Pastor

Alleluia, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

We have spent the season of Lent looking inward at our own sins. It is the season of repentance, and it is only right that we would examine ourselves and bring our sins to the cross.

But the resurrection of Jesus draws our attention away from ourselves and toward our Lord Jesus. If we need to know that we are sinners we look at ourselves. If we need to know that we are loved by God, forgiven of our sins, and blessed with everlasting life, we look to the crucified and risen Jesus. Easter draws our eyes off our “self” and focuses on the One who saves us.

“By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.” (First John 3:19-20)

Only the resurrected Jesus reconciles us to God, restores our fallen nature, and fills us with everlasting joy. Do not look to yourself this Easter season. Look to Jesus. Focus on Him, receive His gifts, and rejoice in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.

Alleluia, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

In Christ,
Joshua Theilen
Assistant Pastor

There were, however, some counter protesters. A dozen or so people, mostly young men, armed with obscene signs and megaphones attempted to shout down the speakers at the rally and assert a woman’s “right” to kill her own child.

Two things stood out about this group.

1. As mentioned, they were mostly young men. I would say 10 men and two women. The people participating in the March for Life were predominantly women, although a good number of men were there as well. There is something wrong when men are arguing for the “necessity” of ending pregnancy. God gave men strength that they would defend life, not exterminate it. I encourage all the men in our congregation to stand up for the unborn and for their mothers, protecting them from these awful decisions.
2. The protestors left some graffiti. Scrawled on the sidewalk in blue chalk are the words “NO GODS NO MASTERS”. This is what the fight is really about. Killing a baby is just a side effect, a horrifying side effect, of the desire to have no God and no master. If there is no God, if I truly have no master, then I can do whatever I please.

And this is a temptation for each and every one of us, to want to be our own God. Our sinful flesh desires no master but the self. Let us flee this temptation and turn to our Lord Jesus Christ for refuge and forgiveness.

Rev. Michael Mohr, President of the Central Illinois District of the LCMS took a picture of these words (NO GODS NO MASTERS) to remind all of us that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Abortion is a spiritual war, not merely a political one. It is the same of all sin. And our Lord Jesus alone gives us the victory. His blood cleanses us from sin and gives us the hope of new life in Him. He gives us the courage to confront the endorsement of sin by our government and to try and rescue others from those sins too.

Let us work and pray for a day when abortion will be unthinkable, a day when all men labor in defense of life, when all women and men value the children they have been blessed with.

It was evident on Tuesday which of the two groups was filled with love for others which was filled with hate. It is not possible to argue for the death of the innocent and come across as loving and compassionate. Those participating in the March for Life were filled with hope and joy, and it came across in everything they said and did.

Let us shine forth the blessings and hope of the Gospel. Our Savior has freed us from sin and death, so we have every reason to be joyful, every reason to hope. Let’s give this hope and blessing to the world around us.

In Christ,
Joshua Theilen
Assistant Pastor

EIGHT YEARS AGO, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod celebrated the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, dating from Luther’s posting of the Ninety-five Theses in Wittenberg. The logo above was used, which may raise questions with some people, including Christians. For here, we have the depiction of Jesus Christ’s body hanging from the cross. If we think about it for more than a passing second, we will realize: this is a horrifying picture in every mortal sense of the word. Enough ink has been spilled and film has been canned to describe the sheer torture our Savior endured for our sake that I do not need to go into detail here, other than to recall Isaiah’s description of this Suffering Servant in chapter 53: He was “one from whom men hide their faces,” because the things done to this God-man were unbearable to behold. This is not an inviting or encouraging image in any human sense. The crucifix is folly. It is a stumbling block—a scandal. Such an offensive depiction should never be on public display, let alone as the focal point of a worship space, right?
Yet this scandal is precisely why it is not only appropriate, but often necessary for the crucifix to stand boldly before us, inescapable to our sight. The sacrificial Lamb of God depicted thus on the altar fixes our eyes upon the power of God and the wisdom of God Who has thus paid for our atonement by this inestimable sacrifice. It recalls Isaiah’s description of the Suffering Servant further: “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows… upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4a, 5b). Christ’s death on the cross is the point at which “It is finished” (John 19:30).
So have no fear: the crucifix is not a “Roman Catholic thing”; it is a catholic (lower-case c) thing, that is, something for the entire, universal Christian Church. (In fact, fear of the crucifix is more in line with Karlstadt, Zwingli, Calvin, and the Reformed fear of images.) And breathe easy: the crucifix is not a breaking, or even bending, of a commandment against graven images. We do not worship the image; rather, we worship the Person and action that image calls to mind.
Rather, take heart! The crucifix is the sign of Jesus’ exaltation, as the Son of Man is “lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15). And lift up your heads! The crucifix is the sign of Jesus’ victory, as by His death He has conquered death, so that as “we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His” (Romans 6:5). And rest easy: the crucifix is the wondrous cross we survey, bringing us to boast only in the death of Christ, our God (cf. LSB 425), for in His death we have life.
So, reveling in the Love so amazing, so divine, behold Christ crucified, the power of God and the wisdom of God!

        Your fellow servant in Christ,
        Pastor Schneider