First Lutheran Church

Philip, South Dakota

May 2010

Dear People of Hope,

In the scripture last Sunday (Easter 5) Jesus tells us that His sheep know His voice and follow him. Have you noticed how some people are just in tune with the Word of God while others are never able to believe even though they are offered opportunity after opportunity? Why is that? They seem to believe that if God was real, He would give them a personal invitation. Like the people in the Gospel they say, “Tell us plainly if you are the Messiah.” But they don’t hear Jesus reply “I have already told you, shown you that the Father and I are one.” Believers go through great ordeals and remain faithful knowing that God is with them, supporting them. Non believers suffer minor set backs and point out that it proves there is no concerned, involved loving God. We as a church try so hard to bring the Good News to all but not everybody wants to hear. Of course, we must keep trying because Jesus directed us to reach out to all. The Holy Sprit will come to whoever opens their heart even the smallest crack.

Our Church continues to fight the good fight trying to discern our Shepard’s voice across the clamor of the present world. We live in a culture that is not Christ centered or even Christ friendly. Distractions are not the problem. The problem is media and leadership that would steal us from the Shepard. We must remain fixed on His Word, straining to hear his voice.
Sunday several Bear Butte churches voted out of the ELCA. During the BBB Conference Meeting three petitions were sent on to the synod meeting asking to resend the change in ministry policy put in place last August. Please read Shirley’s report. We wait and watch. Our year of discernment is three quarters gone. Lutheran Core will meet in late August to form the North American Lutheran Church. Our Parish has allocated money to send delegates there. Please pray and please study the Word. Listen to the voice of Jesus calling over the tumult so that we may know what we are to do.

Happy Mothers Day! Pray for me as I recover and give Dave a warm welcome as he come to preach to you the first and second Sunday.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Frezil

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What mother lent her son to the Lord ? I Samuel 1

What mother’s son became next to a king of a foreign land. Genesis 30:24 &41

Of whom did God say, “She will be the Mother of many nations?” Genesis 17:16

What mother saved her son by selling oil? 2 Kings 4:1-7

What mother had her daughter ask for the head of John the Baptizer? Mark 6:24

Whose wife’s mother lay sick with a fever? Mark 1:30

To whose mother did the beloved disciple give a home to. John 19:26

Who was the mother of the wisest man of the Old Testament? I kings 1:11

Who was called the mother of all living? Genesis 3:20

What mother’s curse of oil failed not? I kings 17:8-15

What mother put her child into an ark of bulrushes? Exodus 2

Who was the mother of the first twins mentioned in the Bible? Genesis 25:24-26

What man lost the power of speech before his wife became a mother? Luke 1

Whose mother attended the marriage feast and asked Jesus to perform his first miracle? John 2 

Whose mother in law was much loved by her daughter in law? Book of Ruth

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Report from the Bear Butte Conference

The Bear Butte Conference Assembly was held at South Canyon Lutheran Church in Rapid City on Saturday, April 10, 2010. There were nine people attending from our Parish. It was the largest crowd they have ever had at the conference, usually about 30-40 and they had prepared 100 packets. They ran out of the packets and had to print more ballots so every voting member had a ballot.

The business of the conference began with the adoption of the agenda, treasurer’s report, adopted a 2010 budget of $4,350.00, largest increase for Conference Seminary Scholarships, and election of officers.

Bishop Zelmer gave a talk about what is happening at the Synod level. There is to be a bike ride from the eastern side of the state to Rapid City for the Synod Assembly in June. He talked about some churches voting to leave the ELCA and some joining other groups including LCMC. He stated the Constitution of the Synod ELCA didn’t allow churches of the ELCA to belong to another group, and ministers that were advocating membership in these organizations would be disciplined. He also talked about the deficit of monies coming into the Synod because congregations were sending their money to specific mission projects. They have had to lay off staff at the Synod office and decrease one position from a 2/3 to 1/3 position. Yet he stated there had only been three churches that have voted to leave the ELCA and a few more hadn’t had their second vote yet.

New business; Resolutions for the 2010 Synod Assembly. Resolution #1 Commitment to unity within the South Dakota Synod. Passed with voice vote. Resolution #2 Underfunding of ELCA Board of Pensions. Passed with voice vote. Resolutions #3,#4 and #5 were grouped together and it was called to vote by ballot. Resolution #3 is to Rescind the Social Statement, “Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust”. Resolution #4 is to Rescind Changes in Ministry Policies. Resolution #5 is to Rescind Actions on Ministry Policies. The vote was taken and there were 92 for, 26 against and 2 abstaining. Pastor told us that the vote for this in one conference on the eastern side of the state was the complete opposite. Following other reports from LSS, Lutheran Outdoors, etc. the Assembly was adjourned.

Pastor asked on Sunday morning if anyone that attended the Assembly would like to say a few words. It was stated the Bishop’s comment on the small number of congregations that have voted to leave the ELCA, but also said both the National ELCA and the SD Synod are short in their budgets. It was noted too, that the money coming directly from the congregations to the mission projects has increased more than they would have received from the Synod.

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