A Repentant Remnant Always Remains

Grace and peace to you of the repentant remnant!

If you would like to hear the sermon preached at Trinity Lutheran Church in Layton, Utah for the Feast of the Reformation, click here:
http://lcmssermons.com/images/aut52/CY2009/Reformation2009AFaithfulRemnantAlwaysRemains.mp3

Have a blessed week abiding in the Lord and His forgiveness.

REFORMATION & REPENTANCE

On October 31, 1517, the Rev. Dr. Martinus Luther nailed 95 Theses to the doors of the Wittenberg Church to initiate debate regarding the indulgences being marketed at the order of the pope by a German Dominican friar named Johann Tetzel. The selling of those indulgences distressed Luther because he saw it as misinforming lay people about crucial aspects of God’s plan for redeeming sinners and giving them eternal life.

Yet, contrary to the popular belief and practice of the Lutheran Church since coming to the shores of the Americas, the Reformation was most definitely not about jettisoning all things “Catholic.” In fact, according to Article XI of The Augsburg Confession, “Our churches teach that private Absolution should be retained in the churches, although listing all sins is not necessary for Confession. For, according to the Psalm, ‘Who can discern his errors?’ (Psalm 19:12)”

Furthermore, in his Large Catechism Exhortation to Confession, Dr. Luther goes so far as to instruct the pastors, preachers, and heads of household tasked with the teaching of the One True Faith: “When I urge you to go to Confession, I am doing nothing else than urging you to be a Christian. If I have brought you to the point of being a Christian, I have thereby also brought you to Confession.

This should really come as no surprise to Lutherans, though such is too often the case. Because the Reformation began with these words from Thesis 1 of the 95:
“Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said [‘Do penance.’], willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance.”

After all, this is what our Baptism is all about as we have learned and confessed in our Catechism training:
What does such baptizing with water signify? It signifies that the old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil lusts, and, again, a new man daily come forth and arise; who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
Where is this written? St. Paul says Romans, chapter 6: We are buried with Christ by Baptism into death, that, like as He was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Truly, “When [your pastor teaches and preaches] you to go to Confession, he is doing nothing else than urging you to be a Christian.” For in confessing your sins and receiving the absolution of our Lord, your personal relationship with Jesus is established and maintained by the power of the Holy Spirit according to the Father’s will.

And that, dear Baptized, is the kingdom of heaven come to earth for you!

God bless us as we continue the Lutheran Reformation in the 21st Century--and grant that we may ever remain not only the church of our grandfathers, but also the church of Luther and the litany of church fathers that stretches all the way back to Abraham, and even Adam; and gathers with us at the altar whenever we celebrate the Divine Service.

Reformation and All Saints at Trinity

The Lutheran Reformation marks a renewal in the Church of emphasis on God’s Word and Sacraments as means of grace by which the Holy Spirit forgive our sins, creates and sustains faith in Christ, and gives us eternal life with God the Father now and forever.

All Saints’ Day in the Lutheran Church is not only a commemoration and celebration of the lives of those officially bearing the title and who have died in the faith. It is a feast celebrating the sainthood of every baptized believer in Christ and member of His holy Christian Church past. Present, and future.

In this year of our Lord, 2009, Reformation Sunday, October 25, and All Saints’ Day, November 1 mark significant events in the life of Trinity Lutheran Church of Layton, Utah in addition to their designation as feast days in the life of all Lutheran Christians. How appropriate it is that Trinity Lutheran Church of Layton, Utah would be reforming, in a sense, as an assembly of saints at a new location in this eventful time of the church calendar.

This coming Sunday, October 25, in addition to celebrating the Reformation, the people of Trinity will be holding their final worship service at the property on Golden Avenue. And a week later on All Saints’ Day, Sunday, November 1 they will hold the first Divine Service in the new sanctuary at their new location on Fort Lane Boulevard.

Missouri Synod Lutherans first gathered for worship in Layton at the City Hall, and a little later at Community Hall in what is now Layton Commons Park, back in 1945 because of the difficulty gas rationing posed to travel to the nearest established congregation—St. Paul, Ogden. From this humble beginning, Trinity Lutheran Church was incorporated on All Saints Day, 1948 under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Harold Brauer with charter members Arthur Krueger, Victor and Lillian Frank, Conrad and Clara Loe, William and Nellie Loe, Walter Sommer, Dale and Arlene Phililips, and Fritz and Ellen Aarfor.

The people of Trinity purchased land on Golden Ave., across the street from the current location, in 1954 and dedicated a converted army barracks as its original worship facility in March of 1955. The members of Trinity completed construction of the current building at 385 W. Golden Ave. and began worship there in November of 1964.

As the families and membership of Trinity grew through the 1970s and 80s, the congregation found themselves in need of more space. They expanded the facilities in 1971 to meet their worship, and business and social meeting needs . Then in 1988 added an education wing to accommodate a growing Sunday School and desire to open a Lutheran elementary school.

Trinity Lutheran Preschool opened for students of the congregation and local community in the fall of 1980, and added Kindergarten classes in 1993.

Today, the people of Trinity Lutheran Church find themselves in a struggle to maintain their distinctive, Lutheran, Law and Gospel teaching and practice of the Christian faith. In a world of uncertainty and ambiguity, Trinity Lutheran Church exists to bring the Good News of salvation and eternal life through the suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. In our current climate of financial distress and spiritual potpourri this collection of forgiven sinners and baptized saints of God called Trinity has found it necessary to sell the property of their beloved church home in order to continue its ministry to the congregation and it surrounding communities.

Please remember us in your prayers and consider joining us on this Sunday for our Reformation worship service and disposition of the Golden Avenue property, and Sunday, November 1, for our All Saints Day worship service marking the opening of Trinity Lutheran Church’s new worship and education facility.

Trinity Lutheran Church will continue to celebrate the Divine Service every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. with Bible study prior to the service at 9. Trinity Lutheran Preschool will continue to hold classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 3 year-olds and Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for 4 year-olds from 9 a.m. to Noon. We still have openings in the 4 year-old class and would like to open a Kindergarten class in the fall of 2010. Please call 801.544.5770 and ask for Pastor Hering regarding church information, or Mrs. Hering regarding preschool and kindergarten information.

By the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, we pray this move from 385 West Golden Avenue to 74 North Fort Lane in Layton will provide a sanctuary for the gathering of God’s beloved people around the Word and Sacraments of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, for years and generations to come.

Peace Be to This House

Grace and peace to you, brothers in Christ!

If you would like to hear the sermon preached at Trinity Lutheran Church in Layton, Utah for the Feast of St. Luke, Evangelist, click here:
"Peace Be to This House"

The Peace of God that surpasses all understanding keep your hearts andminds in Christ Jesus.

You Lack One Thing

Dear brothers in Christ!

If you would like to hear the sermon preached at Trinity Lutheran Church in Layton, Utah for the 19th Sunday after Pentecost, click here:
"You Lack One Thing"

The audio includes the Hymn of the Day, "Jesus, Priceless Treasure." The sermon begins at the 5:10 mark.

God grant you and yours the One thing that you lack.

What God Has Joined Together

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

If you would like to hear the sermon preached at Trinity Lutheran Church in Layton, Utah for the 18TH Sunday after Pentecost, click here:
Pentecost18B.2009.WhatGodHasJoinedTogether.ed.mp3

Have a blessed week in the Lord.