January 17, 2024
If you still need to read it, you can find January’s issue of our St. Cloud Circuit Newsletter here: https://www.lcmscloud.org/newsletter!
Dear Friends,
“Catechism study is a most effective help against the devil, the world, the flesh, and all evil thoughts” (Martin Luther, Large Catechism, Longer Preface, 10).
Luther calls the Catechism a devil-repellant. He’s making fun of the superstitions of folks who believe that burning incense will scare away the devil. (That was in the 1500s. Such superstitions are still around today. For $18.95 on Amazon, you can buy a package of “Go Away Evil” incense sticks.)
No, the devil is not bothered by aromas. But he cannot stand God’s Word. See how he had to flee when he tried to tempt Jesus in the wilderness! The only weapon Jesus had was God’s Word.
When you hear “Catechism study,” you may think immediately of memorizing every “What does this mean?” in your Confirmation class. That’s a good and wholesome thing to do – having those explanations in your memory is helpful.
But, when we talk about Catechism study, we’re just talking about knowing and understanding the basics from God’s Word: the 10 Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, Baptism, Confession, and the Lord’s Supper. (See the texts at the bottom.)
This is one of the things we’re working on in the Small Catechism Bible Study on Wednesday evenings. We recite all those texts, planting them like seeds in our minds. It takes about 3 minutes to read them all through. It’s worth doing again and again. It’s worth it because the Gospel is the power of God for salvation, and the devil cannot bear being around God’s Word. Recite these words, meditate on them, discuss them, and let them lead you further and further into Bible Study!
Join us Wednesday evenings at 6pm for Catechism Study, and keep the devil at bay!
The Sanctuary floor is under renovation! I can’t get you a before-and-after quite yet, but here’s a before-during-during collage. Many thanks to the generous donors and the volunteer labor that have been essential for this project!
Catechism Texts
I. 10 Commandments
You shall have no other gods.
You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God.
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maid servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
What does God say about all these commandments?
He says, “I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.” (Ex. 20:5-6)
II. Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Christian Church,
the communion of Saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
III. The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven;
give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
IV. Holy Baptism
Jesus said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
Jesus said, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).
V. Confession
Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven” (John 20:22-23).
VI. Sacrament of the Altar
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.” In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
God bless and keep you,
Pr. Buchs
COMING EVENTS:
Wednesday, January 17
9:30am – Matins
10:00am – Wednesday Morning Bible Study
6:00pm – Small Catechism Bible Study
7:00pm – Midweek Vespers
Saturday, January 20
Catechism Retreat @ St. John’s, Kimball
Wednesday, January 24
9:30am – Matins
10:00am – Wednesday Morning Bible Study
6:00pm – Small Catechism Bible Study
7:00pm – Midweek Vespers
Sunday, January 28
11:30am – Annual Meeting