Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ! I realized I didn't post my article I did for November Newsletter here at the church. Here it is:
“Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things!” Psalm 98:1
News Year Eve, the last night of the year, is usually spent in wild celebration! People like to get all dressed up, go out on the town, and enjoy grand food and joyous drinks with friends and family. Even the ones who just get together in the comfort of their own home with friends and snacks still consider it a special night of celebration. It is a celebration because another year has come and gone. Stories are told, memories are reminisced, and worries seem to disappear for one night. No matter how tough times may have gotten, no matter how dreadful the year actually was, this special night is a time to reflect on the fact that it is over and a new year will begin. The whole evening comes to a climax with the handing out of champagne, the shouting out of the final countdown, and then cheers and praises at the stroke of midnight. A joyous celebration indeed!
Hold on though, has the vicar lost his mind? New Years is not for another month yet. December 31st may be over a month away yet, but the church’s New Year’s Eve is this month. November is the last month of the church year, and December will be Advent season and the start of the new church year. This is why I am writing about New Year’s Eve. We may not all get together on November 30th with large parties and outrageous celebrations, but we should take at least a little time to reflect on the fact that the same thing we celebrate on December 31st is true in November too. The good and gracious Lord has brought us through another year. There may have been tough times and trials. There may have been dark moments of doubt, worry, or fear. There may have even been times that made you question your faith all together. Nonetheless, He has kept you safe and in the faith for another year. As this church year comes to a close and the new one is about to begin, we should sing to the Lord a new song, for He has certainly done marvelous things. He has been with us through good and bad, never giving us more than we could handle even if it seemed like it at the time. He has surrounded us with fellow Christians to be witnesses to us and bear our burdens as the one body of Christ. He has kept His church alive and His chosen nation in existence, even in times of persecution. More specifically, He has brought a new pastor to Mt. Calvary to continue preaching the Word in its truth and purity to all of her members. He has blessed me with the best vicarage I could have asked for from Him. Even more importantly, He has forgiven us of all our sins again and again, washing us clean through the blood of His Son and the water of our baptism, even though we certainly do not deserve it. As the psalmist goes on to say, “His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” God has indeed done marvelous things for us His people, remembering His steadfast love for us and remaining faithful to all of us. He has worked salvation by giving His only Son to die and rise again to be the salvation that has been made known to all nations. For this we should bring in the New Year with joyous celebrations and loud shouts of praise, singing Him a new song for all He has done.
In the name of our Lord who has done all marvelous things for us His children, Happy New Church Year!
Vicar Kevin Richter
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!” Psalm 98:4 and 6b
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