The Next 25 Years

The Pastor's Windshield for May 2023

I look forward to celebrating our church’s 25th anniversary with you this Sun, May 21, 2023. For more than a quarter century, the Lord has worked through so many members of His body to build up this congregation and get us to this point. In Sunday’s service, we’ll remember all the saints of St. Matthew who have faithfully departed in Christ. At the same time, we thank the Lord for the saints alongside us today as we continue to look forward in faith and anticipate the work of the Lord in this place in the years to come. 

The writer of the New Testament book of Hebrews painted a picture of the saints who have come before us as well as those running with us when he wrote these words: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” (Hebrews 12:1-4a)

Like the first century Christians to whom those words were originally addressed, we, too, are surrounded by a great cloud of Christian witnesses. We are indebted to them for passing on the faith, generation after generation. And we especially thank the Lord for the saints who established and furthered the ministry of St. Matthew from the late 1990s up to today. Because of their faithfulness, stewardship, and commitment to Christ Jesus and His Gospel, we can not only celebrate the “Silver Anniversary” of our congregation but also look forward to the years to come!

So much has changed in the past 25 years. Back in 1998, who could have predicted the world of smartphones and artificial intelligence that we have today? Or how about the challenges our world has faced? 9-11-01 and the war on terrorism, the Covid-19 pandemic, increasing hostility toward Christians and biblical truth, and so many other changes could not have even been imagined 25 years ago. 

Much will change in the next 25 years. We don’t know exactly what our congregation, community, or society will face in that time. But we do know, of course, that no matter what is to come, our Savior will be the one constant with each of us and this congregation. God will continue to be “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”(Psalm 46:1), just as He has been in ages past.

Confident in Him and in His grace and strength for us in His Word and Sacraments, we forge ahead! Encouraged by the example of brothers and sisters in the Lord who have come before us and who serve together with us, we set our sights on future ministry opportunities. 

But whether we’re living in 1998 or 2038, we continue to “[fix our eyes on] Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:2) and remember His cross and suffering for our salvation “so that [we] may not grow weary or fainthearted” (Heb. 12:4).

Because of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, St. Paul wrote a similar word of encouragement for us: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Jesus lives and He reigns over us and for the sake of His church! Because of that, we can be sure that our service to Him and to His people is not in vain. Let’s commit ourselves to keep “abounding in the work of the Lord,” praying that for the next 25 years and beyond, this congregation might continue to build upon the one, solid foundation of Jesus Christ our Lord, that the lost may be found and the found may be fed by the Word of God …

Finally, I ask you to join me for a brief Bible Study this Sunday, May 21 from 9:00-9:30am as we do a little dreaming together about the next 25 years!

Peace in Christ,

                        Pastor Kory Janneke

He Lives!

The Pastor's Windshield for April 23, 2023

Sometimes, a person’s name just seems to match their calling in life. Samuel Medley is one example. We know Medley as a Christian hymn-writer (more on that in a minute), but as a young adult, Medley rejected his faithful upbringing. 

Samuel Medley was an Englishman who lived from 1738-1799. As a teenager, he enlisted in the Royal Navy. In a battle with the French in 1759, Medley was severely wounded. The prospect of having his leg amputated drove Medley back to the Lord in repentance. After a night spent in prayer, the doctor re-examined him the next morning and announced that the condition of his wounded leg had greatly improved. 

Not only was Medley’s leg spared, but also his soul. He returned home to recuperate, and through his grandfather’s encouragement, joined a Baptist church. Medley also married and devoted himself to studying sacred and classical literature. Several years later, he began preparing for a career in ministry. He served congregations in Watford (near London) and in Liverpool.

Medley put his literary abilities to work in composing hymns. His first hymnbook was published in 1789. One of his compositions is the Easter hymn, “I Know that My Redeemer Lives.” This beloved hymn is an English paraphrase of a similar hymn by the German Lutheran hymnwriter, Paul Gerhardt. Gerhardt’s hymn also used the phrase “He lives!” multiple times, as does Medley’s hymn. The primary basis for the hymn is a passage in Job 19:25-27: 

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!”

Despite his horrendous suffering, Job looked forward by faith to the day when he would see his living Lord face-to-face in the flesh. Job’s hope is also ours. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we too can sing, “I Know that My Redeemer Lives!” and look forward to our resurrection on the Last Day.

Both Gerhardt’s German hymn and Medley’s English hymn included nine stanzas, as shown below. (The fifth stanza is not included in the Lutheran Service Book hymnal.) I encourage you to take some time to read and reflect on the words of this beloved hymn. Over and over, it declares to you the Good News that your Jesus lives! He lives to save you from your sins, and He lives to do so much more. Each line of the hymn provides a different example of Christ’s work as your personal Redeemer. Use the hymn’s words to shape your prayers of thanksgiving and supplication to your Lord …

1     I know that my Redeemer lives;
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever-living head.

2     He lives triumphant from the grave;
He lives eternally to save;
He lives all-glorious in the sky;
He lives exalted there on high.

3     He lives to bless me with His love;
He lives to plead for me above;
He lives my hungry soul to feed;
He lives to help in time of need.

4     He lives to grant me rich supply;
He lives to guide me with His eye;
He lives to comfort me when faint;
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.

Original 5th Stanza: 

He lives to crush the Pow’rs of Hell, He lives that He may in me dwell,

He lives to heal, and make me whole, He lives to guard my feeble Soul.

6     He lives to silence all my fears;
He lives to wipe away my tears;
He lives to calm my troubled heart;
He lives all blessings to impart.

7     He lives, my kind, wise, heav’nly friend;
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while He lives, I’ll sing;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

8     He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death;
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.

9     He lives, all glory to His name!
He lives, my Jesus, still the same;
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives:
I know that my Redeemer lives!

Is there a particular line that stands out to you at this time? Perhaps dwell on that one and let it inspire your prayers. At some point in the future, or perhaps when you sing this hymn again next Easter season, another verse or phrase might connect with you as you continue to reflect on all that you Jesus lives to do for your as your Savior!

I look forward to hearing this beautiful medley and singing the powerful words of “I Know that My Redeemer Lives” with you this Sunday, April 23, 2023.

Peace in Christ,

                        Pastor Kory Janneke

“Jesus in Focus”

Palm Sunday 2023

As we enter Holy Week, have you thought about what you will personally focus on over these coming days? As a fitting passage to focus on, I’d suggest the words of Isaiah 52:13-53:12.

Isaiah’s words in this text prophesy about Jesus as the Lord’s “Suffering Servant.” The Spirit of God inspired Isaiah’s words 700 years before Christ, and we read His descriptions of Christ’s suffering now nearly 2,000 years after the events Isaiah described, yet Isaiah’s voice is as relevant for us as ever.

Isaiah tells us that Jesus’ suffering would not only be physical, but spiritual and  relational.  “He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrow, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.” (Isaiah 53:3)

Another powerful aspect of this passage is how we are featured in it! Isaiah says that “we esteemed Him not” and “He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows” and “He was pierced for our transgressions.” These ancient words not only speak of the great suffering of God’s Chosen One, but they tell us why He went through such suffering: for you.

A helpful devotional practice as you approach Holy Week is to select a Bible verse to focus on as you remember Jesus’ final days and hours. Looking at Isaiah’s words I gravitated toward Isaiah 53:7, “He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.”

Jesus fulfills these words in His trial at the hands of the Jewish high priests along with King Herod and Governor Pilate. Caiaphas, the high priest, relied on multiple false witnesses to bring charges against Jesus, but Jesus remained silent (Matthew 26:62-63).  Pilate asks, “Are you the King of the Jews?” and Jesus quietly says, “You have said so.” (Luke 23:3).  Before Herod, who hopes to see Him put on a miraculous performance, Jesus makes no reply (Luke 23:9).

Jesus did speak a few times during His trial, but here’s what stands out to me: Jesus didn’t speak in His own defense. Jesus didn’t try to dodge what He was about to suffer. He didn’t blame anyone else – even when the whole sinful world was to blame. He didn’t change the subject or call out for witnesses to come to His defense – even though legions of angels were at His beck and call!

We see how different Jesus is from the ones He came to save. We begin honing our defensive techniques at an early age. “She started it!” “I’m telling mom!” “He made me do it!” But are things so different with adults?

We defend ourselves in our marriages, even when it harms the bond that God has established between husband and wife. We defend our workplace performance, even when we need to step it up or listen more to our supervisors. We fight tooth and nail to defend our individual opinions, both online and in-person. 

The focus of our defensiveness is ourselves. We want to come away looking like the better spouse, the better employee, or the better commentator. But Jesus didn’t take the defensive route. He wasn’t focused on Himself, but on you and your everlasting salvation.

Isaiah’s words about Jesus’ silence bring His love into focus. Out of love, Jesus took the false accusations. He bit His lip during the sham trial. He did this so He could finish what He started. Like the Lamb of God that He is, He took your sins, your guilt, and your shame, and even experienced hell in your place as He was forsaken by His Father-God on the cross.

When Jesus spoke, it was for you. When Jesus was silent, it was for you. When Jesus suffered like a despised Servant, it was for you. And when Jesus walked out of His tomb on Sunday morning, it was for you!

As you focus on Jesus this Holy Week, you might pick a verse from Psalm 22 or Isaiah 53 or from the accounts of Jesus’ suffering in the Gospel readings. Let this verse, with whatever detail it uses to describe Jesus, remind you that He did it all for you.

I look forward to sharing this Holy Week with you.  

Peace in Christ,

                        Pastor Kory Janneke