The Lutheran Study Bible Pre-Orders Being Taken

Now that you have read the post below about the very "cool" things that will be included in the the new Lutheran Study Bible, I know that you are going to want to order one.

A sign-up sheet has been going around the Fellowship Hall for the past two Sundays during Bible class. If you would like to order one, please email, call, or sign-up soon. We need to get our order in as quickly as possible, because we want to make sure that we get our Bibles on the first run and not have to wait until they print more.

If you need more information on the prices, colors, large print editions, etc., visit the links that were in yesterday's post or push on the title bar of this post which is a link to CPH. We also have a price list here at the church that you can review on Sunday mornings.

In the next couple of days or so, we will be receiving from Concordia Publishing House, one-hundred copies of the Lutheran Study Bible Sampler. Everyone can pick up a copy to take with you as you leave church. They are beautifully made and very exciting to see how the layout will be. Can't wait until the Bibles are released this October 31!!

Get Your Copy of The Lutheran Study Bible Now!

April 21, 2009

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia.

Greetings and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ, from Concordia Publishing House.

I’m sending you this e-mail to give you a “heads up” about a project we have been working on here at CPH for nearly six years: The Lutheran Study Bible [TLSB]. You may have read about it, or heard about it, but you might like to have a few more details. I’m very excited about this project and hope you will be too.

We began this project first with an extensive and wide reading/research project, by which we invited lay people to read parts of the Bible assigned to them and write down every single question they had as they read the Bible. We had nearly 500 people reading the Scriptures in this very intentional way. This project produced a large data base of questions and comments which guided all we did in preparing this Bible. We asked professors from our seminaries to provide us with the most recent scholarship on all the books of the Bible, with issues identified clearly and then we turned to a team of note writers, the great majority of whom are active parish pastors, to write and help edit the notes. The result is a Bible that is scholarly, pastoral, practical, devotional and faithful to God’s Word, and clearly presented for the lay reader in view, with a keen focus on the Christ-centered nature of Scripture in the paradigm of Law/Gospel, which is that “particularly brilliant light” for proper understanding of the Bible, as our Lutheran Confessions put it. I’ll give you a list of the “priorities” we had in view as we did this Bible, as a PS at the end of this note.

Simply put, in the history of our Synod, there has not been a study Bible like this one produced for English speaking Lutherans. We have created this Bible with research, notes and commentary produced, “from the ground up” from Lutheran sources, scholars, pastors and writers. Previously we have borrowed notes from other non-Lutheran publishers and modified them for use in our church. I guess the situation is comparable to making a meal from scratch, with your own ingredients, and buying something pre-made and slightly changing it.

When describing The Lutheran Study Bible project to the CPH Board of Directors, to CPH staff, and to potential contributors, we included six goals for the work. We sought to create a study Bible that does the following:

1. Presents justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in
Christ alone, as the chief teaching of Scripture
(Lk 24:44-;47; Jn 5:39; SA II I 1-4)

2. Properly distinguishes and applies Law and Gospel (reading the Bible as a book about justification; Jn 1:17; Gal 3:21-22;
Ap XIIA 53-54)

3. Emphasizes God's work through the means of grace
(Mt 26:26-29; Jn 3:5; 20:22-23; Rm 10:17; SA III IV)

4. Functions from a "Scripture alone" point of view and presents a "Scripture interprets Scripture" approach to using the Bible
(Ps 119; 1Tm 6:3; 2Tm 3:16-17; FC Ep Sum)

5. Equips the laity for works of service, with a particular focus on evangelism in their various vocations/callings in life
(Ps 145:4--13; Eph 2; Ap XV 41-42)

6. Presents a uniquely Lutheran study Bible that features genuinely Lutheran notes and comments throughout, references to the Lutheran Confessions where appropriate, focus on the Small Catechism for helps and explanations, citations from Luther throughout, and materials to aid daily devotion and prayer

TLSB will be out by this October. I would invite you to look around the following web sites for a lot more information and samples of the Bible: http://www.cph.org/lutheranbible You will find at this web site pre-publication pricing information.

In the next couple of weeks we are mailing to every Lutheran congregation across the United States and Canada a forty-eight page “sampler” of TLSB. I hope you get a chance to see it. If you don’t, you can download a copy of it from the Internet. It is a large file (13 megabytes), so it will take a few minutes to download to your computer. When you click this link, the download will begin: http://www.cph.org/cphstore/pages/resources/tlsb/tlsb%20sampler_body.pdf Our congregations should have this mailing by the end of May, if not earlier. We will follow up this mailing later in the summer with a larger set of promotional materials for our congregations to use to gather orders. We are also featuring this Bible at our district convention displays, so be sure to stop by our booth.

Please let me know if you have any questions, or how I can be of service to you.

A blessed Eastertide to you and yours!

Cordially in Christ,
Paul T. McCain, Concordia Publishing House, Editor

Easter Hymn Festival Great Success!

I would like to personally thank all the members of the various choirs that participated in this year's Easter Hymn Festival "With High Delight." The music and singing was fantastic!

I would also like to take a moment to thank all of our congregation members who came out to support the music program, the children of our congregation, the choir members, and the Cantor and Pastor. Your attendance at these festivals makes all of our hearts glad and makes the hard work and preparation all the more worth it!

What a great way to celebrate God's blessings among us for the past 90 years here at St. John's. This is just one of many celebration that we will have this anniversary year. We will continue to sing the anniversary hymn texts and tune that Cantor Peters and I have written during the course of the year to become more familiar with them.

The Board of Education has discussed the idea of having a "multi-generational" Bible study and craft opportunity this summer on the Wednesday nights in July. Every family here at St. John's will get an 81/2 x 11 cloth panel to decorate for your family. You can put on this panel anything you want to recall how you became a part of the St. John's family. Then we will hopefully put all the panels together and make a large quilt to commemorate the 90 years of blessing here at St. John's. So make plans to join us this summer to participate in this fun and exciting opportunity to grow closer together as a church family.

We will also have the privilege of hosting this August 23, 2009, District President Ray Mirly, at our 90th Anniversary Divine Service at 4:00 p.m. So mark your calendars now to attend and celebrate with us. The service will be followed with a congregational dinner to be held in the basement here at St. John's.

Sharing My Faith The Way of Life: A New Beginning

Sharing My Faith
The Way of Life: A New Beginning

The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost. Luke 19:10

If you have ever wanted to hone your skills of talking about Jesus to others then this is the workshop for you! All members of St. John's, Monett, are encouraged to attend this Evangelism seminar. All members of sister congregations of the SW Circuit or the Springfield Circuit are all invited to attend. It is free of charge!

So come on out and join us on Saturday, May 16, from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. for an Evangelism training seminar called “Sharing My Faith The Way of Life: A New Beginning.” Join Dr. Ralph Geisler, our presenter that day as he shares with us his knowledge of evangelism and soul-seeking methods. Dr. Geisler is Interim Director of St. Paul Institute for Education (S.P.I.F.E.) and has extensive experience with teaching and equipping lay leaders to share their faith in Christ. He serves in his retirement as a Mission catalyst for rural and small town congregations.

Men's Group Participants Work Together

The St. John's Men's group got together on Wednesday, April 22, to put up the new road signs off of Hwy 60 coming in from the East, and on Hwy 37 coming into town from the South. I would like to thank Mike Wallace, Lee Cantrell, Paul Kaiser, Gary Bass, Mark Matthews, and Milton Johnson for taking time out of their schedules to help put the signs up. These new signs will point people to our church when they are visiting or passing through Monett. Thanks again fellas!

(Pictured in the photo from left to right: Mike Wallace, Lee Cantrell, Paul Kaiser, Gary Bass, Mark Matthews, Milton Johnson, photographer not included in photo Pastor Cody)

Hymns to Commemorate 90th Anniversary

The following hymns have been written by Rev. Richard S. Cody to commemorate the 90th anniversary of St. John's Lutheran Church, Monett, MO, of which he has served for the past 8 years. Serving St. John's has been one of his greatest joys in ministry and the writing of these hymns captures his joy and appreciation for the people of the congregation. We hope that you will enjoy them.

“LORD, GOD, THROUGH CHRIST, YOU HERE EMBRACE”
ANNIVERSARY HYMN 90TH ANNIVERSARY
ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, MONETT, MO

Lord, God, through Christ, You here embrace,
The faithful through the Means of Grace.
Your precious Sacraments and Word
And Holy Absolution heard.

God blest the saints who came before,
That we might worship and adore
The Christ our Lord, the Lamb of God
They paved the way that we have trod.

In love they gave, each one their share
To build this house of Word and prayer--
First-fruits they shared that all might see
This gate to blest eternity.

On bended knee we here receive
Christ’s gifts which help us to believe
For still to those with eyes to see
This place proclaims His mystery.

With grateful hearts, these saints before
Gave back to Him whom we adore:
The Christ who’s Word they took to heart
May we, like them, now do our part!

We honor those who by Your grace,
Built here, by faith, this sacred space.
To come and worship Father, Son,
And Holy Spirit Three-In-One.

LM
Tune: Erhalt Uns, Herr (LSB 655)
Text: Rev. Richard S. Cody, b. 1970-
Epiphany 2009
All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2009

No part of this hymn may be used or reproduced in any fashion without permission.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


“LORD CHRIST, YOU ARE THE REASON”
ANNIVERSARY HYMN 90TH ANNIVERSARY
ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, MONETT, MO


Lord Christ, You are the reason,
We offer thanks and praise,
To mark the Church's seasons,
Her high and holy days:
That share with us Your story
We would not leave untold —
Our ninety years of learning
To be Your blood-bought fold.

God formerly has spoken
Through prophet and through priest
With comfort for the broken,
With joy for sins released.
Called pastors preach before us
of God’s own substitute
His Word, His Christ, His Jesus,
Our Way, our Life, our Truth.

God raised up for His glory
the founders of this place
That we might tell the story
Of God’s eternal grace.
His Word, His gifts we cherish
His Truth we now retain,
Though bricks and mortar perish
His Church on earth remains.

Who can foretell the future,
What trials may come our way.
Through words of holy Scripture
Give peace, Lord, day by day.
Lord God, revealed in Jesus
Your holy Church endow
With wisdom, love, and courage
To serve your Kingdom now.

This church of Christ united
By Water and by Word,
Is blessed with love requited
To serve your, gracious Lord.
Lord, may this church's vision,
To go where You shall lead,
Fulfill the Great Commission
To serve Your world in need.

We thank you God the Father
Through Jesus Christ Your Son
With Holy Spirit gather
Your Church, Lord, make us one.
We ask You for Your blessing
Dear Lord, this day, we pray
With praise and adoration
Till dawns the glorious day!

76 76 D
Tune: King’s Lynn (LSB 518)
Text: Rev. Richard S. Cody, b. 1970-
Epiphany 2009
All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2009


No part of this hymn may be used or reproduced in any fashion without permission.

St. John's To Celebrate 90th Anniversary

St. John's will be celebrating our 90th anniversary this year. There will be many "mini" celebrations that will help us usher in God's blessings this year. It all begins with the Easter Hymn Festival "With High Delight" and will culminate with Concordia, Chicago's, Kapella coming to Monett, Missouri, on March 5, 2010.

There have been new anniversary hymns written by Rev. Richard S. Cody to commemorate the 90 years of God's grace. Cantor Mark Peters has written a new hymn tune to accompany one of the hymns Rev. Cody has written.

A special gift of money has been donated to commission a religious artist to design a new Processional Cross for use in the church's sanctuary. This cross will adorn our sanctuary and bring glory to God as it will continually point us to the sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The cross will be made mostly of raw materials, wood, iron, etc. We look forward to see what the design will look like.

We invite you to participate with us on the many occasions that we will have to give thanks and praise to God and all His blessings to us over the past 90 years. There will be more information included on this blog as events draw near.

Hymn Written for Easter Hymn Festival

St. John's is hosting on Sunday, April 26, at 4:00 p.m., an Easter Hymn Festival. We are honored also to be hosting that afternoon, Dr. Scott M. Hyslop, Director of Parish Music at St. Lorenz Lutheran Church in Frankenmuth, MI. The hymn festival entitled "With High Delight" will be featuring many newly written pieces of music by Dr. Scott Hyslop, Cantor Mark Peters, and Rev. Richard S. Cody. This hymn below was written by Rev. Cody especially for this hymn festival and for the congregation to enjoy.

“LORD, JESUS CHRIST, THE FATHER’S SON”

WRITTEN FOR EASTER HYMN FESTIVAL 2009

Lord, Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son,
You have for us the vic’try won,
O’er sin and death which would destroy
Our Easter hope, our Paschal joy!
Refrain:
To Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest,
We celebrate this Easter feast!

“Come, see the place where Jesus lay,
He is not here!,” the angels say,
“Risen is He the mighty King,
Who has destroyed death’s awful sting!” Refrain:

No longer is He crucified,
No more does He in death abide.
For us exalted evermore,
We thank you Christ, whom we adore. Refrain:

Where is Death’s dread, his victory?
In Christ, by grace, we are set free.
We praise you, Christ, true God, true Man,
For us You did what God demands! Refrain:

Praise to the Lamb of God who died,
With nail-pierced hands, and feet and side.
Who pleads before the Father’s throne,
“My blood for them now does atone!” Refrain:

Christ would not see the sinner die,
He gives us peace this Eastertide.
When death assails, Lord, grant that we
May share Thy Paschal victory. Refrain:

God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
We worship You with heavn’ly host!
Fulfill in us Your joy today,
Maker of all, this day we pray. Refrain:

Refrain:
To Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest,
We celebrate this Easter feast!

LM with refrain
Tune: MAGDALENE (LSB 575) “My Hope is Built..”
Text: Rev. Richard S. Cody, b.1970-
Lent 2009
All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2009

No part of this hymn may be used or reproduced without permission.

Welcome to the Minor Prophet Blog

This blog has been created to help the members of St. John's, and any in our community, stay up on the events going on at St. John's Lutheran Church, Monett, Missouri. We hope that you will use this resource. We will be making various things available to you from this site. We will post various announcements, hymns, sermons, and perhaps other writings that may be of interest to you.

Please post any questions or comments you might have about the blog. We are always interested in knowing what information might be of help to you. If you have a theological question you would like to have answered, don't hesitate to ask and we will try to respond as quickly as possible. Hope you enjoy The Minor Prophet Blog! The Lord be with you!