<![CDATA[Victory in Christ Lutheran Church - November 2021 newsletter blog]]>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:44:27 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[Lutheran Worship Part 5: The Hymn of Praise (Gloria in Excelsis or This is the Feast)]]>Sun, 31 Oct 2021 20:39:18 GMThttps://www.viclutheranchurch.org/november-2021-newsletter-blog/lutheran-worship-part-5-the-hymn-of-praise-gloria-in-excelsis-or-this-is-the-feastPicture
In the Kyrie, we pray, “Lord, have mercy upon us.” We know that, in Christ, God has shown His mercy to us. Thus, in the next section of the service we rejoice with the angels in singing to the triune God with special emphasis on the Son. On the night of Jesus’ birth, the angels offered their song of praise: “Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”
On that occasion, they proclaimed the good news that God the Son had come in the flesh. Heaven had come down to earth! The infinite, timeless God had entered time contained in the flesh of a baby.
The hymn we know as the Gloria in Excelsis originated as a hymn sung to God the Father, and the lines praising the Son and Holy Spirit were added later. There are versions of this hymn in all the Divine Services found in our hymnal utilizing different music
and slightly different texts. This hymn is a true hymn of praise. First, it praises God according to the mystery of his nature, namely the Trinity, His almighty power, and “great glory.” More importantly, the hymn praises God for what He has done. We praise the Lamb of God who “takest away the sin of the world.” That is what is at the heart of praising God, proclaiming what He has done for us especially in the death and resurrection of Jesus, who was born of Mary for our salvation. In Christ, we have not only forgiveness but also fullness of life.
In Settings 1 and 2 of the Divine Service, an alternate Hymn of Praise is offered, “This is the Feast of Victory.” In the LC– MS, this hymn first appeared in the hymnal Lutheran Worship, published in 1982. “Drawing directly from the description of heaven in the Revelation to St. John, our voices are joined to that heavenly throng as we sing
with them: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’ (Rev. 5:12)” (https:// www.lcms.org/worship/liturgy- parts) Many Lutheran congregations will use this hymn during the season of Easter.
During Lent, the Hymn of Praise is omitted. Lent is a time of fasting, repentance, and expectation as we await the celebration of our salvation on Good Friday and Easter. In a sense, the liturgy enters a time of fasting, when we refrain from certain parts of the service, including the Hymn of Praise. Our highest praises await the time of Easter as we celebrate our Lord’s victory over sin, death, and Satan. Next month, we consider the Salutation and Collect of the Day.
]]><![CDATA[The Augsburg Confession - Article XX continued]]>Sat, 30 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.viclutheranchurch.org/november-2021-newsletter-blog/the-augsburg-confession-article-xx-continuedArticle XX - Of Good Works - Part 3
For devils and the ungodly are not able to believe this article: the forgiveness of sins. Hence, they hate God as an enemy, call not upon Him,
26 and expect no good from Him. Augustine also admonishes his readers concerning the word “faith,” and teaches that the term “faith” is accepted in the Scriptures not for knowledge such as is in the ungodly but for confidence which consoles and encourages the terrified mind.
27 Furthermore, it is taught on our part that it is necessary to do good works, not that we should trust to merit grace by them, but because it is the will of God.
28 It is only by faith that forgiveness of sins is apprehended, and that, for nothing.
29 And because through faith the Holy Ghost is received, hearts are renewed and endowed with new affections, so as to be able to bring forth good works.
30 For Ambrose says: Faith is the mother of a good will and right doing.
31 For man’s powers without the Holy Ghost are full of ungodly affections, and are too weak to do works which are good in God’s sight.
32 Besides, they are in the power of the devil who impels men to divers sins,
33 to ungodly opinions, to open crimes. This we may see in the philosophers, who, although they endeavored to live an honest life could not succeed,
34 but were defiled with many open crimes. Such is the feebleness of man when he is without faith and without the Holy Ghost, and governs himself only by human strength.
35 Hence it may be readily seen that this doctrine is not to be charged with prohibiting good works, but rather the more to be commended, because it shows how we are enabled to do good works.
36 For without faith human nature can in no wise do the works of the First or of the Second Commandment.
36 Without faith it does not call upon God, nor expect anything from God, nor bear the cross, but seeks, and trusts in, man’s help.
37 And thus, when there is no faith and trust in God all manner of lusts and human devices rule in the heart.
38 Wherefore Christ said, John 15:5: Without Me ye can do nothing;
39 and the Church sings:
Lacking Thy divine favor,
There is nothing found in man,
Naught in him is harmless.
]]><![CDATA[November Calendar]]>Fri, 29 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.viclutheranchurch.org/november-2021-newsletter-blog/november-calendar2: Birthday - LeAnn Safford
6: Men's Breakfast/Bible Study, 8:30am
7: All Saints Sunday.  Divine Service 10am, Bible Study/Sunday School 11am, Lunch 12pm, Sarah King Memorial 2pm
9: Women's Bible Study 1pm,  Anniversary - Tim and Theresa Rohloff
14: Divine Service 10am, Bible Study/Sunday School 11am, Lunch 12pm,
16:Women's Bible Study 1pm
20: Men's Breakfast/Bible Study, 8:30am
21: Divine Service 10am, Bible Study/Sunday School 11am, Lunch 12pm,
23: Women's Bible Study 1pm
24: Pie Social 6pm, Thanksgiving Eve Service 7pm
28: Divine Service 10am, Bible Study/Sunday School 11am, Lunch 12pm, Anniversary - Pastor and Kerri Schielke
]]><![CDATA[November Bible Readings]]>Thu, 28 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.viclutheranchurch.org/november-2021-newsletter-blog/november-bible-readings
Nov. 1: Luke 19-20
Nov. 2: Luke 21-22
Nov. 3: Luke 23-24
Nov. 4: John 1-2
Nov. 5: John 3-4
Nov. 6: John 5-6
Nov. 7: John 7-8
Nov. 8: John 9-10
Nov. 9: John 11-12
Nov. 10: John 13-15
Nov. 11: John 16-18
Nov. 12: John 19-21
Nov. 13: Acts 1-3
Nov. 14: Acts 4-6
Nov. 15: Acts 7-8
Nov. 16: Acts 9-10
Nov. 17: Acts 11-13
Nov. 18: Acts 14-15
Nov. 19: Acts 16-17
Nov. 20: Acts 18-20
Nov. 21: Acts 21-23
Nov. 22: Acts 24-26
Nov. 23: Acts 27-28
Nov. 24: Romans 1-3
Nov. 25: Romans 4-7
Nov. 26: Romans 8-10
Nov. 27: Romans 11-13
Nov. 28: Romans 14-16
Nov. 29: 1 Corinthians 1-4
​Nov. 30: 1 Corinthians 5-8
  1. Where does the Emmaus Road appear?
  2. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says “I am....” List the things Jesus claims to be.
  3. What is Ananias told to do?
  4. At the end of Paul’s first journey through Greece, he spends a year and six months in this city.
  5. Where is Paul let down in a basket?
  6. Where does Paul say that singles with the gift of
    celibacy ought to remain unmarried?
  7. Where is it recorded the thief on the cross is pardoned?
  8. Paul writes, “I am not ashamed of the gospel.”
    Where is this located?
  9. Where does Paul talk about the church as “one
    body with many members?”
  10. Where is the city of Corinth located?
  11. Where is it written that all “are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ​ Jesus?”
  12. How long is Lazarus buried before Jesus raises
    him?
  13. Whose house is Peter at when he receives the
    vision about unclean foods?
  14. Where is the Apostle Philip from?
  15. Who baptizes the Ethiopian eunach?
  16. What happens at the city of Sychar?
]]><![CDATA[VIC Happenings]]>Wed, 27 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.viclutheranchurch.org/november-2021-newsletter-blog/vic-happenings
Fall Festival - Our Fall Festival was a success. Thank you to everyone who donated items or time to bring this event to the Newark community. We’re hoping it helped to make our presence more well known in the community!
All Saints Day 11/7 - The annual festival of All Saints Day is on Sunday, November 7. In the Missouri Synod, it is not a day to remember martyrs and heroes of faith since they already have their special days. Rather, it is a day to remember instead all of those who have passed on with the sign of faith whose lives and deaths were mostly ordinary but who are nonetheless important to us.
Thanksgiving Eve Annual Pie Social 11/24 - The annual Thanksgiving Eve Pie Social is Wednesday, November 24, at 6:00 p.m. Please either bake or buy your favorite pie and bring it to share with others.
Thanksgiving Eve Service 11/24 - After our pie social on Wednesday, November 24, we will have our annual Thanksgiving Eve Service.
]]><![CDATA[Answers to October Bible questions]]>Tue, 26 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.viclutheranchurch.org/november-2021-newsletter-blog/answers-to-october-bible-questions
  1. Malachi 3:1
  2. Matthew 2
  3. Jerusalem, Matthew 4:5 and Luke 4:9
  4. Caesarea Philippi, Mark 8:27
  5. Three: the son of the widow, the 12-year old daughter, and Lazarus, Luke 7:11-15, 8:41-56, Matthew 9:18-25, Mark 5:21-42
  6. Matthew 5-7
  7. Capernaum, Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10
  8. At the end of the Lord’s Supper, before going to the Mount of Olives, Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26
  9. Peter, James, and John, Matthew 17:1, Mark 9:2, and Luke 9:28
  10. Jericho, Mark 10:46-52
  11. Healing a man with a withered hand, Matthew 12:10-14, Mark 3:1-6, and Luke 6:6-11
  12. Matthew 13:3-9, Mark 4:3-9, and Luke 8:5-8
  13. John the Baptist, Matthew 3:4 and Mark 1:6
  14. Simon Peter, Luke 5:3-9
  15. Matthew 15:32-39 and Mark 8:1-10
  16. Nine: the poor, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted, and you when you are reviled, Matthew 5:3-11
  17. Caesar Augustus, Luke 2:1-3
  18. A coin, Matthew 17:27
]]><![CDATA[Is "the church" a building?]]>Mon, 25 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.viclutheranchurch.org/november-2021-newsletter-blog/is-the-church-a-buildingThe church may not be a building, but it is at a particular place at a particular time. It is is physical. If you're worshipping on Facebook only are you actually worshipping?  Read more on this from Pastor Mark Surburg by clicking the link below.
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https://surburg.blogspot.com/2020/06/marks-thoughts-church-is-not-building.html?spref=fb&fbclid=IwAR1n8xtvy5BIXRWYo9tkIbcPIzD7WE-TZv7HloLSpAyuuxjP3eF-k8TJy4w
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