The Holy Sacrament of Baptism of Rafe Mathis Jaegersen took place on March 29, 2020 at Messiah Lutheran Church, Madison, AL at 11:00 a.m. Rafe is the son of Jon-Erik and Lauren Jaegersen. Rafe’s Baptismal Sponsors (who were there via video conferencing) are Megan Herman, Kristen Jaegersen, Tony Moniz & Cayden Herman.
Below is Pastor Scott Peterson’s April 2020 Newsletter Message referenced in the Welcome and Introduction of the service.
______________
For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus.
–Philippians 1:8
Dear Friends of the Crucified and Risen Messiah,
ARE YOU HUNGRY YET?
ONE OF THE JOYS OF FIRST COMMUNION INSTRUCTION is that those young disciples are hungry. Not only because the class is at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, but also because they are hungry to join us at the table where our Lord fills us with Himself. Some adults have told me that the hardest thing about this time of ‘social distancing’ is not receiving the Lord’s Supper.
WHAT ARE WE MISSING WHEN WE DO NOT RECEIVE THE LORD’S SUPPER? In his Small Catechism Martin Luther answers the question: What benefits do we receive from this Sacrament? “The benefits of this Sacrament are pointed out by the words, ‘given and shed for you for the remission of sins’. These words assure us that in the Sacrament we receive forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.” Forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation!: No wonder disciples get hungry for these gifts from God.
THIS IS ABOUT ‘THE MEANS OF GRACE’. The means of grace are the tools God uses to graciously give us the faith that saves us. In addition to the Lord’s Supper, what are the other means of grace?: God’s Word (the Bible and proper preaching), Baptism (water put together with God’s Word and God’s name), The Office of the Keys (that is Confession and Absolution, for example: The Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness, LBW p. 56), and the Mutual Conversation and Consolation of the Saints (the words we speak as we care for each other as disciples). Actually…
GOD’S WORD AS GOSPEL IS THE FIRST MEANS OF GRACE, because God’s Word is foundational to all the other means. In other words: God’s Word is there in Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, Confession and Absolution, and the Mutual Conversation… (If you wish to learn more about this see the Smalkald Articles, Part 3, Article 4, in The Book of Concord.)
NOTICE! OUR HUNGER FOR THE FORGIVENESS, LIFE, AND SALVATION given in the Lord’s Supper and our hunger for the gifts of the faith community, make our isolation a great time to learn the basics of our Christian faith. The better we know our faith the easier it is to share our faith.
THE SMALL CATECHISM WAS WRITTEN TO BE A TOOL for parents to teach their children the Christian faith. As an adult only the Bible is more precious to me than the Small Catechism. We have lots of copies! If you would like one mailed to you please contact the MLC Office 256-721-0041 or office@mlutheran.org.
GOD BLESS YOU IN THESE TRYING TIMES. Let’s use the communication tools we have to bless each other with ‘the mutual conversation and consolation of the Saints’. Please contact me (256 682 5568) or the office if you have health or prayer concerns.
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Pastor Scott Peterson