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Lent Devotion for April 2

Reading: 1 John 3:1–3

Our sinful human nature tells us that we must do something to earn something else. If you buy groceries, you get discounted gas. If you buy enough coffee, we get free coffee. If you get an “A” on your exam, you will be praised by your parents. All these things are conditional. This is not the case with our heavenly Father. We try to do what we can to earn God’s love and favor: give to the poor and elderly, say the perfect prayers, or attend church.

John tells us that we can’t earn God’s love. God gives us His love unconditionally. We are dead in our sins and the dead cannot accept anything from God. However, God places His love on us and makes us alive through His Son, who took our sin to the cross. Through the blood of God’s Son and the waters of Baptism, we are God’s children. We didn’t earn this adoption; rather, it is placed on us by God’s unconditional and sacrificing love. Because we are God’s children, we will do His will for others, just as Christ has done freely: give to the poor and elderly, say the perfect prayers, and attend church.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, who’s unconditional and sacrificing love made me your child, give me a heart like that of your Son, who radiated Your love to me through the cross. Help me and guide me as I also radiate Your love to my friends and family so that they too will see Your love through me; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Hymn
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul! (LSB 543:1)

Jeremy C. Hanson (Sem I, CTSFW)

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COVID Update: The Food Co-op

The Food Co-op also continues to serve the students who remain in the Fort Wayne area, from the handful of students who remain on campus to the many married students families who live off-campus with their families in town. From Deaconess Katherine Rittner, Director of the Food & Clothing Co-op:

“Bari, Amanda and I packed 73 boxes with canned and dry goods, 73 bags with donated pork, 73 bags with fresh produce (528 lbs worth). We also provided 10 lb rolls of ground beef, 80 gallons of milk, and laundry detergent as well as diapers and wipes to our families with infants.

“In addition, we also put together boxes for our few dorm students remaining on campus also with fresh milk and fruit, meals and snacks that they can keep in their rooms as well as personal hygiene items as requested.

“With what is already a unique living situation for our families while preparing for full-time service in Christ’s harvest field, during these times of uncertainty it is even more important that the Food Co-op continue to care for our students and their family’s grocery needs during this time. Today [yesterday, March 31] was no different. It was great to see them all while maintaining distances and do just a quick check in to make sure all of them were doing ok. As I see it, this is a BIG part of the mission statement of CTSFW to care for all, and one that we take very seriously.”

Deaconess Rittner and two additional Co-op staff members (Bari Robinson and Amanda Domres) set up this drive-by station on Tuesday of this week, so that the students could drive in to receive these gifts. The ladies then loaded the boxes and bags into their cars, thus serving our students while also taking care to keep their distance.

Thanks be to God who provides for His future workers through you, of whom we are so proud to boast! Today we especially thank those who give to the Food & Clothing Co-op (which will continue to serve our students throughout these strange months) and to the staff who take every care to channel your generosity and encouragement to the students and their families.

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Lent Devotion for April 1

Reading: 1 John 2:26–29

We live in a world that is constantly trying to deceive us. What is truth and what are lies can be hard to decipher. We live in a world where “fake news” is more prevalent than “true news.” This couldn’t be truer than in the lives of believers. We constantly face the devil, who strives to deceive us and lead us astray from Christ. He works tirelessly to keep people from God and the power He gives.

Luckily, you’re baptized. You have been anointed with the Spirit. Christ now abides in you through His Spirit, the Holy Spirit who teaches you the truth. The truth that Jesus Christ died for you. The truth that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the one true God and He loves you. The truth that through your Baptism you are now God’s child and have been forgiven. The truth that you have been justified by grace through faith alone. A wonderful gift that we can take solace in. The reality is that we do not have to hide in shame when Christ comes. Rather, we can look forward to His coming with expectant joy looking forward to eternity with Him.

Prayer
Most holy God, the giver of great gifts. In this world of deception give us wisdom and strength so that we might remain focused on the truth, Your truth; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Hymn
Word of God, come down on earth,
Living rain from heaven descending;
Touch our hearts and bring to birth
Faith and hope and love unending.
Word almighty, we revere You;
Word made flesh, we long to hear You. (LSB 545:1)

Tim Barber (Sem II, CSL)

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COVID Update: Quiet in the Library

Here is a behind-the-scenes look at the library during this very unique Spring Quarter:

The stacks in the Wayne & Barbara Kroemer Library are dark and quiet sans students, but the work continues to hum along as the library staff (part of our workforce who have to be physically on campus to continue their tasks) worked long, busy days to scan all needed class materials. Since the students are unable to come to the library, staff are making it possible for the library to come to them. Here, Rev. Richard Lammert, Technical Services Librarian, mans one of the two Zeta Book Scanners that have been in constant use for the past couple of weeks. The books stacked up on the desk represent one week’s worth of class reading material. Shared surfaces get wiped down every day since the staff have to share space in order to complete their work.

They recently completed this project to scan all class reading materials for the rest of the Spring Quarter, and are now busy putting together instructions and other helps for students to find resources while off campus. They also just began offering something called “Hangout with a Librarian”—essentially, students can make an appointment to meet with a Kroemer librarian via Google Hangouts if they need remote help with their research. During this time, our librarians are serving as the channel through which students can still access the library to find the materials they need.

Our thanks to all the library staff for their hard work. Special thanks to Renée Wiley, Access Services Coordinator at the library (and organizer for the weekly Word for the Wee Ones, which is also currently on hold), for the behind-the-scenes pictures and descriptions, and to Rev. Roger Peters, Assistant to the Director of Library and Information Services, for answering my questions about their current projects.

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Lent Devotion for March 31

Reading: 1 John 2:18–25

Our modern world makes a big deal about the antichrist. Many people think that the antichrist will come at the end of the world before Christ comes. If only they would read these verses from the first Epistle of John. Here we learn that not just an antichrist will come, but that many antichrists have already come. We also know who they are. An antichrist is a liar. An antichrist is someone who denies the Father and the Son.

These verses also tell us that we are living in the last days, in the days when antichrists will try to seduce us with their lies. Do not give in to these lies. Do not follow the antichrists with their emphasis on the law and their denial of Christ’s work. Rather, rejoice because you know the truth. The Holy Spirit who abides in you allows you to confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The Holy Spirit who abides in you gives you certainty that Christ’s death reconciled you to His Father, giving you forgiveness of sins and eternal life. In this season of Lent, it is a certain truth and not a lie that Christ suffered and died for you.

Prayer
O Great Defender, You gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us in the way of truth. Give to us faithful pastors who proclaim the true Word of God that we may remain in the true faith; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Hymn
Though devils all the world should fill,
All eager to devour us,
We tremble not, we fear no ill;
They shall not overpow’r us.
This world’s prince may still
Scowl fierce as he will,
He can harm us none.
He’s judged; the deed is done;
One little word can fell him. (LSB 656:3)

Brennan DeForest (Sem I, CTSFW)

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The Rev. Dr. Herbert Mueller Jr.

The Rev. Dr. Herbert Mueller Jr. (former first vice-president of the LCMS) died two Saturdays ago, on March 21. He received his Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 1979, and we honored him with a Doctor of Divinity degree (honoris causa) from CTSFW in 2012. “Herb has been known and respected for many things, but especially for his clear faith and pastoral heart,” President Rast said of Dr. Mueller. You can read the full obituary from the Reporter at https://blogs.lcms.org/2020/obituary-rev-dr-herbert-c-mueller-jr-former-lcms-first-vice-president. 

You can listen to Dr. Mueller address the graduates at that 2012 commencement here: http://media.ctsfw.edu/Video/ViewDetails/3813. He begins speaking at the 3:20 mark. He speaks of both confession and outreach, pointing always to Christ who gives comfort to sinners. Near the very end of his 20 minute address, Dr. Mueller said this:

“One hot summer day, years ago, brought for me the fourth terrible funeral in the space of a week. I was tired of death, and I was tired of dealing with death. And it hit me as I looked in the anxious faces of the mourners around the grave, you know, Herb, these folks don’t care what you think. They want to hear what God is thinking. Your opinion, Pastor Mueller, counts for absolutely nothing right now. But this is what counts—and through my tears I began to read Jesus’ promise—’I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.'”

Thanks be to God. Amen.

 
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Lent Devotion for March 30

Reading: 1 John 2:15–17

One does not need to look far to see that the world cannot get enough of itself. Increasingly, the world desires to gain more for itself by pushing the boundaries of what is considered “right” and convincing those within it to “outdo” themselves by accumulating more and more fame, fortune, and power.

We too are daily confronted by the lucrative and deceptive temptations of the world. Like a ravenous beast thirsty for blood, we soon find out that our sinful cravings can never be quenched.

In our reading, St. John exhorts us to flee such temptations of the world. These words recall what Christ spoke in Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.”

Trends come and go, desires balloon and deflate, idols are built up only to crash down. But the will of God, revealed in the Son of God who took on flesh and was crucified upon the cross in our place, never fades away. God and His promises are sure and endure to the end of the age. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Abiding and unchanging God, the sinful world around us is enticing and fleeting. Guard us from the temptations of this age and our sinful cravings, and guide us by Your enduring will and promises, revealed in Christ, which never fade away; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Hymn
What is the world to me
With all its vaunted pleasure
When You, and You alone,
Lord Jesus, are my treasure!
You only, dearest Lord,
My soul’s delight shall be;
You are my peace, my rest.
What is the world to me! (LSB 730:1)

Ryan Maser (Sem III, CSL)

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Lent Devotion for March 29

Reading: 1 John 2:7–14

Through our Baptism we have been adopted into the family of God. We became beloved little children for His name’s sake. God’s commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” was old because it had been around since the beginning (Leviticus 19:18). In Christ, it was made new when He said, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). He showed us His love by His bloody sacrifice on the cross, and His true light shown through the darkness when he was raised from the dead. This new commandment is rooted in Christ’s love, and only through His atoning sacrifice are we able to love our brother and abide in the light.

We start out in this Christian faith as little children, knowing the Father through the water and Word of Christ. We become young men and women with time and perseverance in the faith, through the strengthening of our faith in His Word and Sacrament, which has the power to overcome the evil one. The eternal Word, which was from the beginning, has called us out of darkness into the light, and we become fathers and mothers when we have matured in the faith and start to teach it to others.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, You have called us out of darkness and into the light through the death and resurrection of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ. Strengthen us in the one true faith which you began in our Baptism and sustain through your Holy Word and Sacrament, that we may abide in the light; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Hymn
God has called you out of darkness
Into His most marv’lous light;
Brought His truth to life within you,
Turned your blindness into sight.
Let your light so shine around you
That God’s name is glorified
And all find fresh hope and purpose
In Christ Jesus crucified. (LSB 646:2)

Bryan Payne (Sem I, CTSFW)

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Lent Devotion for March 28

Reading: 1 John 2:7–14

Our society is obsessed with all things new. New is always better. As soon as a new phone comes out the old one’s value decreases. New and old are always put up against each other as opposites or antonyms. Today, however, John gives us a command that is old but also new, “which it is true in him and in you” (v. 8): the command to love your neighbor. This is not a request or an option but a command. An old command. One God gave Moses on Mount Sinai through the Second Table of the Law. God has commanded us to love our neighbors from the start.

However, it is a new command because it is fulfilled. It’s not fulfilled through you. No, it is fulfilled through Christ and what He has done for you. It is fulfilled by the Spirit working through you. In fact, you have failed at keeping this command. But your failures have been forgiven! Simply because you have known the Father and received His name at your Baptism.

At your Baptism you became one of His beloved, little children. God made you promises, a promise to strengthen you, a promise to forgive you, and a promise to let His light shine upon you and to keep you from darkness.

Prayer
Most holy God, the everlasting light of the universe, we pray that You might strengthen us so that we may stay in Your light and reflect Your love onto our neighbors; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Hymn
The Lord is my light and my salvation,
The Lord is the stronghold of my life.
Since the Lord is my life, my strength, and my all,
Whom then shall I fear?
There is one thing I ask of the Lord:
To dwell in His house forever,
To gaze on the beauty of the Lord
All the days of my life. (LSB 723:1)

Tim Barber (Sem II, CSL)

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Worship Resources: Easter

With the Easter season fast approaching and many churches suspending activities and rehearsals due to the challenges of the coronavirus, CTSFW Associate Kantor Matthew Machemer has created some free musical resources for the Easter season. He created them with a very specific goal in mind: that they can be done well with only a few musicians and are quickly learned. They are:

1. At the Lamb’s High Feast – stanzas 2 and 6 (two equal voices)

2. O Sons and Daughters of the King – stanzas 3 and 7 (two-part voices)

3. O Sons and Daughters of the King – stanza 5 (two-part voices and organ)

4. Gradual for Easter (unison voice or choir and keyboard)

You can find pdf copies for easy download and printing at www.ctsfw.edu/Worship. Look for the Easter Gradual under the “Graduals” tab and the three hymn settings under the “Hymn Settings” tab. As always, you will find at the bottom of each document that permission is granted to use, reprint, and distribute these resources.