News Blog https://www.chapelofthecross.org Thu, 28 Mar 2024 18:52:13 -0400 http://churchplantmedia.com/ "Go With God" https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/-go-with-god- https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/-go-with-god-#comments Thu, 06 Sep 2018 19:00:00 -0400 https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/-go-with-god- In a few short days, we will be driving our oldest to Valparaiso, Indiana for his first year of college. It seems like so much will change— for us and for him. For us, there’s an empty bedroom—a void in the family. Less noise. Less laundry. Less kids. And for our son? A bedroom with a stranger in it. More noise. More laundry. More kids.

As you can imagine, a lot of thoughts and emotions are swirling around for mom and dad as that first child leaves the nest and starts to go out on his own. There’s anticipation and dread, pride and sadness, hope and worry, excitement and nervousness, happiness and even a little grieving. The experts say that this is normal — and it is— especially as I remember that this child that I love so very much and who has been close by for 18 years will now be over 300 miles away.

So what is a parent to do? Pray, for sure! And give some good parental advice. There has been a lot of advice we have shared over the last number of months with our son. Not sure that it’s all been heard or listened to, but we have given that advice anyway: Study hard. Be physically active. Go to church. Remember why you’re going to college (by the way, it’s to learn and get a degree!). Eat a well-balanced diet. Find some great friends. Enjoy learning from some wise teachers. Don’t be a stranger to the library. Get some sleep. Challenge yourself. Call home (or at least text) once in a while. Have fun — but not too much fun!

But maybe the greatest advice I can give my son is this: Go with God. It is advice that my father shared with me. It is advice that we have shared with our children in the past. And now, especially as our son heads to college, those words will be shared again. Go with God! He will lead. He will bless. He will care. He will guard and protect. Go with Him. Go with God.

Perhaps that’s good advice for all of us, wherever we are going. Whether we are going to work or to school or to the doctor’s office or to the grocery store. Go with God! Whatever we are going through — whether we are going through a joy or a sickness or a grief or a trial. Go with God! Whatever time in life we find ourselves in — whether we are retired or becoming parents or nearing life’s end or sending a kid off to college. Go with God!

His promise is that He goes with you, you know. He will lead. He will bless. He will care. He will guard and protect. Go with Him. Go with God, Teddy! Go with God, Chapel of the Cross!

“Lo, I am with you always, even to the very end of the age…”

]]>
In a few short days, we will be driving our oldest to Valparaiso, Indiana for his first year of college. It seems like so much will change— for us and for him. For us, there’s an empty bedroom—a void in the family. Less noise. Less laundry. Less kids. And for our son? A bedroom with a stranger in it. More noise. More laundry. More kids.

As you can imagine, a lot of thoughts and emotions are swirling around for mom and dad as that first child leaves the nest and starts to go out on his own. There’s anticipation and dread, pride and sadness, hope and worry, excitement and nervousness, happiness and even a little grieving. The experts say that this is normal — and it is— especially as I remember that this child that I love so very much and who has been close by for 18 years will now be over 300 miles away.

So what is a parent to do? Pray, for sure! And give some good parental advice. There has been a lot of advice we have shared over the last number of months with our son. Not sure that it’s all been heard or listened to, but we have given that advice anyway: Study hard. Be physically active. Go to church. Remember why you’re going to college (by the way, it’s to learn and get a degree!). Eat a well-balanced diet. Find some great friends. Enjoy learning from some wise teachers. Don’t be a stranger to the library. Get some sleep. Challenge yourself. Call home (or at least text) once in a while. Have fun — but not too much fun!

But maybe the greatest advice I can give my son is this: Go with God. It is advice that my father shared with me. It is advice that we have shared with our children in the past. And now, especially as our son heads to college, those words will be shared again. Go with God! He will lead. He will bless. He will care. He will guard and protect. Go with Him. Go with God.

Perhaps that’s good advice for all of us, wherever we are going. Whether we are going to work or to school or to the doctor’s office or to the grocery store. Go with God! Whatever we are going through — whether we are going through a joy or a sickness or a grief or a trial. Go with God! Whatever time in life we find ourselves in — whether we are retired or becoming parents or nearing life’s end or sending a kid off to college. Go with God!

His promise is that He goes with you, you know. He will lead. He will bless. He will care. He will guard and protect. Go with Him. Go with God, Teddy! Go with God, Chapel of the Cross!

“Lo, I am with you always, even to the very end of the age…”

]]>
Christ is Risen! https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/he-is-r https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/he-is-r#comments Wed, 17 May 2017 23:00:00 -0400 https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/he-is-r There is nothing quite like the Easter season. After walking with the Savior through the season of Lent and the events of Holy Week— His suffering and death — and then standing in the light of the empty tomb on Easter morning, my heart is just filled with joy. I’m guessing your heart is too.

After He rose from the dead, the Bible tells us that Jesus appeared to more than 500 people before His ascension into heaven. Jesus came to Peter. Here was a man who needed to see Jesus alive if he wasn’t going to spend the rest of his life haunted by his denial of Jesus on that Good Friday. Can you imagine Peter’s excitement as his Lord appeared to him?

You’ll remember that the disciple Thomas said that he wouldn’t believe that Jesus was raised from the dead unless he himself saw Him. Seeing is believing, Thomas said. So Jesus appeared to Thomas and let him see.

Mary Magdalene was weeping in the garden when Jesus appeared to her. When she realized who it was she cried out in amazement and excitement and joy: “Rabboni!”

Remember how Jesus showed Himself to those disciples on the road to Emmaus, when He changed despair into hope? Or how He came to the ten disciples behind the locked doors, when He changed fear into courage? Or when He appeared to the 500 described in 1 Corinthians?

Jesus appeared to Paul on the Damascus Road. It was an appearance that changed Paul from one of Christianity’s greatest persecutors to one of Christianity’s greatest missionaries. Paul describes it like this: “Then last of all He was seen by me also.” (1 Corinthians 15:8 NKJV)

Jesus’ rising is real. It is fact. He appeared to Peter and Thomas and Mary and Paul and so many others. And His appearing made such a big difference in their faith and in their lives. In fact, it made all the difference.

What about you? Have you seen Him? Has He appeared to you? He has, you know. He has appeared to you over and over again in His Word. He has appeared to you through the Sacraments. He has appeared to you through others as they share His mercy and His grace and His love with you. You and I can say with Paul: He was seen by me. I know Him. He’s my Savior. He’s my Lord. He lives in me and I am His child. And because we have seen Him by faith, every day becomes a day filled with the joy of Easter. Every day is filled with “Alleluias” to the living Lord. Every day we can say by faith and with conviction: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!!

]]>
There is nothing quite like the Easter season. After walking with the Savior through the season of Lent and the events of Holy Week— His suffering and death — and then standing in the light of the empty tomb on Easter morning, my heart is just filled with joy. I’m guessing your heart is too.

After He rose from the dead, the Bible tells us that Jesus appeared to more than 500 people before His ascension into heaven. Jesus came to Peter. Here was a man who needed to see Jesus alive if he wasn’t going to spend the rest of his life haunted by his denial of Jesus on that Good Friday. Can you imagine Peter’s excitement as his Lord appeared to him?

You’ll remember that the disciple Thomas said that he wouldn’t believe that Jesus was raised from the dead unless he himself saw Him. Seeing is believing, Thomas said. So Jesus appeared to Thomas and let him see.

Mary Magdalene was weeping in the garden when Jesus appeared to her. When she realized who it was she cried out in amazement and excitement and joy: “Rabboni!”

Remember how Jesus showed Himself to those disciples on the road to Emmaus, when He changed despair into hope? Or how He came to the ten disciples behind the locked doors, when He changed fear into courage? Or when He appeared to the 500 described in 1 Corinthians?

Jesus appeared to Paul on the Damascus Road. It was an appearance that changed Paul from one of Christianity’s greatest persecutors to one of Christianity’s greatest missionaries. Paul describes it like this: “Then last of all He was seen by me also.” (1 Corinthians 15:8 NKJV)

Jesus’ rising is real. It is fact. He appeared to Peter and Thomas and Mary and Paul and so many others. And His appearing made such a big difference in their faith and in their lives. In fact, it made all the difference.

What about you? Have you seen Him? Has He appeared to you? He has, you know. He has appeared to you over and over again in His Word. He has appeared to you through the Sacraments. He has appeared to you through others as they share His mercy and His grace and His love with you. You and I can say with Paul: He was seen by me. I know Him. He’s my Savior. He’s my Lord. He lives in me and I am His child. And because we have seen Him by faith, every day becomes a day filled with the joy of Easter. Every day is filled with “Alleluias” to the living Lord. Every day we can say by faith and with conviction: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!!

]]>
We Shout for Joy! https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/we-shout-for-joy https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/we-shout-for-joy#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2015 16:00:00 -0400 https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/we-shout-for-joy

“Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth!” Psalm 100:1

“Great is Thy faithfulness!” Lamentations 3:23

When was the last time you shouted? 

Maybe your kids (or your grandkids) were about to run into the house with muddy shoes. And you shouted: “Stop! Take off those shoes!” 

Maybe you were having an argument and things got a little heated — and you really wanted to make your point and so you raised your voice and you shouted.

Maybe you were at a ball game and a home run was hit to win the game. There’s nothing like you
and 45,000 other people all shouting together. Or better yet, when there’s a World Series victory.
There’s a little shouting then, right? (Just wait ‘til the Cubs win a World Series — you’ll be hearing some shouting from the Laesch house, I tell you!)

When was the last time you shouted?

Isn’t it true that we usually save our biggest voice for those big moments in life? Moments when
things take place that are important or exciting or significant? 

This is a big moment in the life of this beautiful family called Chapel of the Cross - Lutheran. We have so much for which to give thanks in this anniversary year. We have so much for which to praise our God. So what do we do at this big and exciting and important and significant milestone as we celebrate 50 years of mission and ministry? Listen to the Psalmist: 

“Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth!”

We shout for joy. We worship Him with happy hearts. We sing His praise and His glory. And why do we do it? Because our great God has chosen to work His wonders in and among us for half a century. God has pronounced His love and His grace and His forgiveness. God has worked through hundreds of baptisms. God has blessed and forgiven through the sip of wine and piece of bread, Christ’s body and blood, at the altar. God has made His presence known at funerals and weddings, in hospital
rooms and cemeteries, at picnics and softball games, in meetings and at gatherings.

In other words — because our God has been so very faithful to His church — to you and to me. Great is Thy faithfulness! It’s the theme of our anniversary year. It’s the reason we worship and sing and praise and thank — and shout.

Shout for joy to the Lord, Chapel of the Cross — for great is God’s faithfulness!

]]>

“Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth!” Psalm 100:1

“Great is Thy faithfulness!” Lamentations 3:23

When was the last time you shouted? 

Maybe your kids (or your grandkids) were about to run into the house with muddy shoes. And you shouted: “Stop! Take off those shoes!” 

Maybe you were having an argument and things got a little heated — and you really wanted to make your point and so you raised your voice and you shouted.

Maybe you were at a ball game and a home run was hit to win the game. There’s nothing like you
and 45,000 other people all shouting together. Or better yet, when there’s a World Series victory.
There’s a little shouting then, right? (Just wait ‘til the Cubs win a World Series — you’ll be hearing some shouting from the Laesch house, I tell you!)

When was the last time you shouted?

Isn’t it true that we usually save our biggest voice for those big moments in life? Moments when
things take place that are important or exciting or significant? 

This is a big moment in the life of this beautiful family called Chapel of the Cross - Lutheran. We have so much for which to give thanks in this anniversary year. We have so much for which to praise our God. So what do we do at this big and exciting and important and significant milestone as we celebrate 50 years of mission and ministry? Listen to the Psalmist: 

“Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth!”

We shout for joy. We worship Him with happy hearts. We sing His praise and His glory. And why do we do it? Because our great God has chosen to work His wonders in and among us for half a century. God has pronounced His love and His grace and His forgiveness. God has worked through hundreds of baptisms. God has blessed and forgiven through the sip of wine and piece of bread, Christ’s body and blood, at the altar. God has made His presence known at funerals and weddings, in hospital
rooms and cemeteries, at picnics and softball games, in meetings and at gatherings.

In other words — because our God has been so very faithful to His church — to you and to me. Great is Thy faithfulness! It’s the theme of our anniversary year. It’s the reason we worship and sing and praise and thank — and shout.

Shout for joy to the Lord, Chapel of the Cross — for great is God’s faithfulness!

]]>
Great is Thy Faithfulness: A Message from Chapel's President https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/great-is-thy-faithfulness:-a-message-from-chapels-president https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/great-is-thy-faithfulness:-a-message-from-chapels-president#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2015 16:00:00 -0400 https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/great-is-thy-faithfulness:-a-message-from-chapels-president Fifty years. A long time, but yet just a blink of an eye.

In 1965 gas was about one-tenth of today’s prices. The Great Society was announced and the first combat troops were sent to Vietnam. The average new house cost only $14,000 (think about that for a minute). And the Gateway Arch was completed.

Many of us remember those events plus others of that era.

Chapel’s story actually began in 1961 when the Voters Assembly at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in north St. Louis voted to start a mission congregation in North County. A site was identified and the land was purchased. Two years later, the first worship service at what is now Hazelwood East Middle School was held.

As a charter member I remember that farm land and some of those early services.

In September, 1965 the first meeting as a separate congregation was held and the name Chapel of the Cross – Lutheran was chosen. What a beautiful name to constantly keep our focus on Christ crucified. And already in November of that year ground was broken for the original Educational Building, which is now “enveloped” in our expanded facility.

I remember the first Thanksgiving service of the new congregation at Lutheran North. I was surprised — actually stunned — at the number of people in attendance. That is when as a 15-year-old I realized that this new church was real.

Fifty years is an impressive record for anything. We admire fifty years of marriage. We respect fifty years for a company. We should especially treat fifty years for a church in the highest regard. And with thanksgiving to God.

Chapel has been blessed with our three senior pastors. Fifty years and only three pastors — that in itself is a blessing. We have been shepherded by faithful preachers of the Gospel - Pastors Nauss, Stein and Laesch. And we are thankful for the time we had with Pastor Koschmann.

And we recognize the various pastoral assistants who have served over the years. Several from the Seminary and in more recent years those who retired and continued to serve their Lord and us. How many calls on sick and shut-in have been made in fifty years? Many, many by those assistants and Bob Barthel. All of them have been dedicated servants and became good friends.

We have been served by very faithful staff members who have assisted our pastors and led worship, Bible classes, music, youth programs and outreach. We are thankful for the educational leadership of Dave Funke for almost thirty years. And we are thankful to all of our administrative and building
staff who have served so loyally for so many years.

Chapel of the Cross has been blessed to have an outstanding music program all of these years. From Harold Jagels to Milo Lombard to Ryan Meyer. Wonderful Easter, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve services. Moving concerts and beautiful music. Dedicated choir members and soloists, who have given their time and talents. 

We have been blessed to have so many who have given their time as teachers and volunteers - Sunday school, bible class and VBS teachers; nursery assistants, broadcast personnel and helpers for numerous events; business-oriented committees and property-minded volunteers who give
of their specialized talents so we can have a better church. 

We are thankful for lay leaders who have served these fifty years. Officers, especially presidents and treasurers, who volunteer their time. We thank the Boards of Directors and Elders who care for the spiritual and business affairs of the congregation.

We are especially thankful for our ministries and outreach programs. Our radio broadcast was a blessing to many in our area who could not attend church. Friend of Moms was a blessing to many young women in the area. GriefShare has supported those who lost loved ones. The Mission Committee and former St. Andrews Society and, more recently, Sidewalk Sunday School have reached into our neighborhood to share Jesus’ love and invite others to our church. Foreign mission support was a special emphasis in our early years when we supported up to fifty missionaries a year and held annual Mission Weeks. Chapel has always been mission-minded. 

And we have been blessed with beautiful facilities. In 1967 ground was broken for our unique sanctuary. My father was one of the speakers at the laying of its cornerstone later that year. I have been in many churches but few compare to the beauty and meaning of our sanctuary.

As we look to the future I see a caring and sharing congregation. We need to continue to look outside our walls and not just focus within. We face challenges but we should charge ahead and not fear. To get to where we need to be we must trust Him.

God truly has been good to us as individuals and as a church. He has been forgiving when we have not. He has been faithful to us and that is why we chose the theme Great is Thy Faithfulness for our anniversary theme. Not because of what we have done, but what He has done toward us.

And so we say the words of the third verse of the hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness: “Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside!” Yes, God has been good to us and to Chapel of the Cross for fifty years. May His blessings continue and may we always be faithful to Him. God bless Chapel of the Cross for the next fifty years.

]]>
Fifty years. A long time, but yet just a blink of an eye.

In 1965 gas was about one-tenth of today’s prices. The Great Society was announced and the first combat troops were sent to Vietnam. The average new house cost only $14,000 (think about that for a minute). And the Gateway Arch was completed.

Many of us remember those events plus others of that era.

Chapel’s story actually began in 1961 when the Voters Assembly at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in north St. Louis voted to start a mission congregation in North County. A site was identified and the land was purchased. Two years later, the first worship service at what is now Hazelwood East Middle School was held.

As a charter member I remember that farm land and some of those early services.

In September, 1965 the first meeting as a separate congregation was held and the name Chapel of the Cross – Lutheran was chosen. What a beautiful name to constantly keep our focus on Christ crucified. And already in November of that year ground was broken for the original Educational Building, which is now “enveloped” in our expanded facility.

I remember the first Thanksgiving service of the new congregation at Lutheran North. I was surprised — actually stunned — at the number of people in attendance. That is when as a 15-year-old I realized that this new church was real.

Fifty years is an impressive record for anything. We admire fifty years of marriage. We respect fifty years for a company. We should especially treat fifty years for a church in the highest regard. And with thanksgiving to God.

Chapel has been blessed with our three senior pastors. Fifty years and only three pastors — that in itself is a blessing. We have been shepherded by faithful preachers of the Gospel - Pastors Nauss, Stein and Laesch. And we are thankful for the time we had with Pastor Koschmann.

And we recognize the various pastoral assistants who have served over the years. Several from the Seminary and in more recent years those who retired and continued to serve their Lord and us. How many calls on sick and shut-in have been made in fifty years? Many, many by those assistants and Bob Barthel. All of them have been dedicated servants and became good friends.

We have been served by very faithful staff members who have assisted our pastors and led worship, Bible classes, music, youth programs and outreach. We are thankful for the educational leadership of Dave Funke for almost thirty years. And we are thankful to all of our administrative and building
staff who have served so loyally for so many years.

Chapel of the Cross has been blessed to have an outstanding music program all of these years. From Harold Jagels to Milo Lombard to Ryan Meyer. Wonderful Easter, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve services. Moving concerts and beautiful music. Dedicated choir members and soloists, who have given their time and talents. 

We have been blessed to have so many who have given their time as teachers and volunteers - Sunday school, bible class and VBS teachers; nursery assistants, broadcast personnel and helpers for numerous events; business-oriented committees and property-minded volunteers who give
of their specialized talents so we can have a better church. 

We are thankful for lay leaders who have served these fifty years. Officers, especially presidents and treasurers, who volunteer their time. We thank the Boards of Directors and Elders who care for the spiritual and business affairs of the congregation.

We are especially thankful for our ministries and outreach programs. Our radio broadcast was a blessing to many in our area who could not attend church. Friend of Moms was a blessing to many young women in the area. GriefShare has supported those who lost loved ones. The Mission Committee and former St. Andrews Society and, more recently, Sidewalk Sunday School have reached into our neighborhood to share Jesus’ love and invite others to our church. Foreign mission support was a special emphasis in our early years when we supported up to fifty missionaries a year and held annual Mission Weeks. Chapel has always been mission-minded. 

And we have been blessed with beautiful facilities. In 1967 ground was broken for our unique sanctuary. My father was one of the speakers at the laying of its cornerstone later that year. I have been in many churches but few compare to the beauty and meaning of our sanctuary.

As we look to the future I see a caring and sharing congregation. We need to continue to look outside our walls and not just focus within. We face challenges but we should charge ahead and not fear. To get to where we need to be we must trust Him.

God truly has been good to us as individuals and as a church. He has been forgiving when we have not. He has been faithful to us and that is why we chose the theme Great is Thy Faithfulness for our anniversary theme. Not because of what we have done, but what He has done toward us.

And so we say the words of the third verse of the hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness: “Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside!” Yes, God has been good to us and to Chapel of the Cross for fifty years. May His blessings continue and may we always be faithful to Him. God bless Chapel of the Cross for the next fifty years.

]]>
A Response of Love https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/a-response-of-love https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/a-response-of-love#comments Fri, 05 Dec 2014 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/a-response-of-love ferg-IN-C-216x300Pastors visit Ferguson to bring peace, offer solutions

Article by Paula Schlueter Ross

FERGUSON, Mo. — It was a little tense when the Lutheran pastors arrived here on Tuesday, Nov. 25 — the day after the decision of the St. Louis grand jury in the Michael Brown Jr. case was announced and some protesters had turned angry and violent, setting more than 20 fires, trashing 10 police cars and damaging or looting more than a dozen local businesses...Read more

]]>
ferg-IN-C-216x300Pastors visit Ferguson to bring peace, offer solutions

Article by Paula Schlueter Ross

FERGUSON, Mo. — It was a little tense when the Lutheran pastors arrived here on Tuesday, Nov. 25 — the day after the decision of the St. Louis grand jury in the Michael Brown Jr. case was announced and some protesters had turned angry and violent, setting more than 20 fires, trashing 10 police cars and damaging or looting more than a dozen local businesses...Read more

]]>
The Sign of the Cross https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/the-sign-of-the-cross https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/the-sign-of-the-cross#comments Wed, 26 Feb 2014 01:00:00 -0500 https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/the-sign-of-the-cross I recently read this wonderful story: A girl saw the minister make the sign of the cross on the people. So she made the sign on her playmates and then on her toys. She made the sign of the cross on her mother and father and on the people who rode on buses. She made the sign over her bed and on her favorite storybooks. Sometimes she made the sign of the cross over her food, and the bread tasted better to her.

When she was much older, she made the same sign over the body of her dying friend, who smiled and said, “We Christians do have this sign to see by.” The sign of the cross reminded the woman and her dying friend of important things. The sign was what they needed to look ahead and not be afraid. It gave perspective to the pilgrimage…

You and I have this sign to see by too. It reminds us of important things too. It gives perspective to our pilgrimage too. Especially during this season of Lent, we see so very clearly the sign of the cross. Week after week as we draw ever nearer to Calvary we are reminded of the forgiveness of sins won for us on that cross. We are reminded that on that cross God forsook His own Son so that we might never be forsaken. We are reminded that the cross gives way to the tomb—a tomb which is open and empty and which proclaims with joy and praise: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

As we once again make our pilgrimage from Ash Wednesday to Good Friday to Easter, may the cross of Christ be the sign by which we see His love, His grace, His mercy—and may it be for you and me the sign by which He leads us to look ahead and not be afraid. God bless you on your Lenten pilgrimage.

]]>
I recently read this wonderful story: A girl saw the minister make the sign of the cross on the people. So she made the sign on her playmates and then on her toys. She made the sign of the cross on her mother and father and on the people who rode on buses. She made the sign over her bed and on her favorite storybooks. Sometimes she made the sign of the cross over her food, and the bread tasted better to her.

When she was much older, she made the same sign over the body of her dying friend, who smiled and said, “We Christians do have this sign to see by.” The sign of the cross reminded the woman and her dying friend of important things. The sign was what they needed to look ahead and not be afraid. It gave perspective to the pilgrimage…

You and I have this sign to see by too. It reminds us of important things too. It gives perspective to our pilgrimage too. Especially during this season of Lent, we see so very clearly the sign of the cross. Week after week as we draw ever nearer to Calvary we are reminded of the forgiveness of sins won for us on that cross. We are reminded that on that cross God forsook His own Son so that we might never be forsaken. We are reminded that the cross gives way to the tomb—a tomb which is open and empty and which proclaims with joy and praise: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

As we once again make our pilgrimage from Ash Wednesday to Good Friday to Easter, may the cross of Christ be the sign by which we see His love, His grace, His mercy—and may it be for you and me the sign by which He leads us to look ahead and not be afraid. God bless you on your Lenten pilgrimage.

]]>
Time Marches On https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/time-marches-on https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/time-marches-on#comments Tue, 07 Jan 2014 23:00:00 -0500 https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/time-marches-on Time is marching on! As I write this, 2013 is rapidly coming to a close. As you read this 2014 has already begun. Whether we want it to or not, time is marching on.

Time can be so elusive: Whoops! There goes a whole week! Where did the time go?! But then there are other periods of time that just seem so sluggish. And have you noticed how uncooperative time is? When you want time to go fast, it drags. When you want it to slow down, it flies by.

And not only is time uncooperative, it’s terribly relative. Two weeks on a vacation is never the same as two weeks on a diet, is it? And have you noticed how quickly deadlines come—but how slowly habits are broken? Yet each hour has exactly the same 60 minutes—no more, no less.

I can’t seem to get a handle on time. I can’t control it. It just marches on. But I know what I can do with my time. King David gives me a reminder in Psalm 31: “But I trust in You, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in Your hands.” (Ps. 31:14-15)

That makes good sense! God is the creator of time. He is the controller of time. Ecclesiastes even says that He has an appointed time for everything… for every activity under heaven (Ecc. 3:1). So I can trust in Him. I can entrust my time into His hands. And I can hand over to Him the things He alone can master.

As time marches ever onward, perhaps it would be a good idea to start off this new year with a prayer lifted from David’s inspired words:

Heavenly Father, You are my God. Every minute of every hour of every day of every month of this new year is a gift from You. We do not know what these coming days and months will bring, but You do. Since you are the God of time, we gladly place our times in Your hands, for we trust You to be with us, to watch over us and to care for us. Enable us to live each day fully trusting in Your love and promises. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

]]>
Time is marching on! As I write this, 2013 is rapidly coming to a close. As you read this 2014 has already begun. Whether we want it to or not, time is marching on.

Time can be so elusive: Whoops! There goes a whole week! Where did the time go?! But then there are other periods of time that just seem so sluggish. And have you noticed how uncooperative time is? When you want time to go fast, it drags. When you want it to slow down, it flies by.

And not only is time uncooperative, it’s terribly relative. Two weeks on a vacation is never the same as two weeks on a diet, is it? And have you noticed how quickly deadlines come—but how slowly habits are broken? Yet each hour has exactly the same 60 minutes—no more, no less.

I can’t seem to get a handle on time. I can’t control it. It just marches on. But I know what I can do with my time. King David gives me a reminder in Psalm 31: “But I trust in You, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in Your hands.” (Ps. 31:14-15)

That makes good sense! God is the creator of time. He is the controller of time. Ecclesiastes even says that He has an appointed time for everything… for every activity under heaven (Ecc. 3:1). So I can trust in Him. I can entrust my time into His hands. And I can hand over to Him the things He alone can master.

As time marches ever onward, perhaps it would be a good idea to start off this new year with a prayer lifted from David’s inspired words:

Heavenly Father, You are my God. Every minute of every hour of every day of every month of this new year is a gift from You. We do not know what these coming days and months will bring, but You do. Since you are the God of time, we gladly place our times in Your hands, for we trust You to be with us, to watch over us and to care for us. Enable us to live each day fully trusting in Your love and promises. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

]]>
Neighbor to Neighbor https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/neighbor-to-neighbor https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/neighbor-to-neighbor#comments Thu, 31 Oct 2013 10:00:00 -0400 https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/neighbor-to-neighbor In the last Crossroads issue, Pastor Laesch shared Chapel’s stewardship goal: One Plus One. Now in this CrossRoads issue, we extend One Plus One to include an emphasis on reaching our neighbors. We call it Neighbor to Neighbor. Here is how it works:

This coming November, Chapel’s mission and outreach committee will have Neighbor to Neighbor packets for each family in the congregation to use in their neighborhood. Each packet contains brief instructions, 5 Chapel postcards, and 5 Christmas postcards to share with 5 neighbors near your home. Of course, you can invite more than 5 neighbors to Chapel. For that matter, you can invite your friends and co-workers too. But we want to especially emphasize the importance of Christians reaching out to their next-door neighbors (Mark 16:15, Luke 10:37, Heb. 13:1).

Here are the five steps involved with Neighbor to Neighbor:

1. Receive Neighbor to Neighbor packet at Chapel in November
2. Visit 5 neighbors near your home
3. Hand-deliver the Chapel Postcard with information and directions to Chapel
4. Hand-deliver the Christmas Postcard with information about Chapel’s Christmas Concert and Advent and Christmas service times
5. Share your stories at Chapel, and keep your neighbors in your prayers.

We think our wonderful Christmas Choir Concert and Advent and Christmas Services will be a welcome addition to everyone as they celebrate Christmas this year. And, strange as it may at first appear, many people are very lonely around the Christmas holidays. So we want to be sure to open our church to as many guests and visitors this holiday season because we know that God will fill them with the peace, hope, and joy of our Savior Jesus. You may even consider baking Christmas cookies to share with your neighbors to give with the postcards. But no matter what you do to make it special, we hope that you are able to foster meaningful relationships with your neighbors and to invite them to our church this Christmas season.

Pastor Bischoff and Ellory Glenn have been leading a very timely bible study these last several Sundays preparing our members to intentionally invite, greet, and welcome guests into our congregation. While it may seem difficult, God will certainly go with you as you share His message and as you extend a warm, genuine invitation to your neighbors to our church. So we ask you to please be a part of Neighbor to Neighbor this November. Not only will you get to know your neighbors better, but your invitation and prayers will show the love of Jesus this Christmas season to neighbors all across North County and beyond.

]]>
In the last Crossroads issue, Pastor Laesch shared Chapel’s stewardship goal: One Plus One. Now in this CrossRoads issue, we extend One Plus One to include an emphasis on reaching our neighbors. We call it Neighbor to Neighbor. Here is how it works:

This coming November, Chapel’s mission and outreach committee will have Neighbor to Neighbor packets for each family in the congregation to use in their neighborhood. Each packet contains brief instructions, 5 Chapel postcards, and 5 Christmas postcards to share with 5 neighbors near your home. Of course, you can invite more than 5 neighbors to Chapel. For that matter, you can invite your friends and co-workers too. But we want to especially emphasize the importance of Christians reaching out to their next-door neighbors (Mark 16:15, Luke 10:37, Heb. 13:1).

Here are the five steps involved with Neighbor to Neighbor:

1. Receive Neighbor to Neighbor packet at Chapel in November
2. Visit 5 neighbors near your home
3. Hand-deliver the Chapel Postcard with information and directions to Chapel
4. Hand-deliver the Christmas Postcard with information about Chapel’s Christmas Concert and Advent and Christmas service times
5. Share your stories at Chapel, and keep your neighbors in your prayers.

We think our wonderful Christmas Choir Concert and Advent and Christmas Services will be a welcome addition to everyone as they celebrate Christmas this year. And, strange as it may at first appear, many people are very lonely around the Christmas holidays. So we want to be sure to open our church to as many guests and visitors this holiday season because we know that God will fill them with the peace, hope, and joy of our Savior Jesus. You may even consider baking Christmas cookies to share with your neighbors to give with the postcards. But no matter what you do to make it special, we hope that you are able to foster meaningful relationships with your neighbors and to invite them to our church this Christmas season.

Pastor Bischoff and Ellory Glenn have been leading a very timely bible study these last several Sundays preparing our members to intentionally invite, greet, and welcome guests into our congregation. While it may seem difficult, God will certainly go with you as you share His message and as you extend a warm, genuine invitation to your neighbors to our church. So we ask you to please be a part of Neighbor to Neighbor this November. Not only will you get to know your neighbors better, but your invitation and prayers will show the love of Jesus this Christmas season to neighbors all across North County and beyond.

]]>
One Year in Tanzania! https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/one-year-in-tanzania https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/one-year-in-tanzania#comments Sun, 06 Oct 2013 22:00:00 -0400 https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/one-year-in-tanzania Chapel members Eric and Linda Funke have had an incredible first year of ministry in Tanzania! Check out this video they put together showing what they've been doing and what their goals are for the coming year. Thank you also for your prayers and financial support for the Funkes. To learn more about their ministry, visit their website at www.globallutheranoutreach.com/Funke and follow their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AFunkeTimeInTanzania.
 

]]>
Chapel members Eric and Linda Funke have had an incredible first year of ministry in Tanzania! Check out this video they put together showing what they've been doing and what their goals are for the coming year. Thank you also for your prayers and financial support for the Funkes. To learn more about their ministry, visit their website at www.globallutheranoutreach.com/Funke and follow their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AFunkeTimeInTanzania.
 

]]>
Live Love[d] https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/live-love-d- https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/live-love-d-#comments Fri, 23 Aug 2013 15:00:00 -0400 https://www.chapelofthecross.org/news-blog/post/live-love-d- What is love? Take 30 seconds to write down as much as you can to describe love. Ready? Go! What did you write? How did your Christian faith shape your response to that question? 

Over the past several weeks, Chapel’s senior youth have been discussing what it means to love in today’s world. One piece of advice from the movie Moulin Rouge! stresses how vital love is to life: “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.” Based on the numbers of movies and songs and stories that focus on love in our society, it would appear that most people believe this statement to be true. But love, the youth have found, can be difficult to describe. It is even more difficult to describe love apart from God. Notice too that the quote from Moulin Rouge! says love is important but it does not define what love actually is.

Looking at this quote from Moulin Rouge! and comparing it with the scripture’s teaching on love, Bill Rusnak, Director of Family Ministries, and Julie Meyer, NYG adult chaperon, have led our youth in several discussions about what it means to love in today’s world. Most especially, the youth have shared for themselves what it means for God to love them in Jesus. As youth who are very attune to the culture, they are equally adept at discerning the difference between God’s radical, unconditional love and the false loves that the world offers. 

Live Love(d) was the theme of the National Youth Gathering (NYG) in San Antonio, Texas. This Gathering redefined in biblical terms what it means to love and be loved. What is crucial to recognize is that in the theme “Live Love(d),” the “(d)” makes all the difference. We cannot even begin to know what it means to love others in the biblical sense of the term until and unless we know and trust God’s love for us in Jesus Christ. “We love,” says John,” “because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). By the same token, once we know God’s love in Christ we cannot help but love God and others; “whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:21).

Earlier we considered this quote: “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.” How might this revision be an improvement? “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is that you are loved and that you are able to love in return.” Martin Luther provides his own Christian insight when he describes our Christian identity as shaped purely and completely by God’s love in Christ. He writes, “Rather than seeking its own good, the love of God flows forth and bestows good. Therefore sinners are attractive because they are loved; they are not loved because they are attractive.... This is the love of the cross.” Chapel’s youth demonstrate a great maturity, faithfulness, and love for Christ and for others. Thus, it is exciting for all of us at Chapel to hear not just about their experiences at the NYG, but to also learn from our youth what it means to be loved by God and how to love others in return.

]]>
What is love? Take 30 seconds to write down as much as you can to describe love. Ready? Go! What did you write? How did your Christian faith shape your response to that question? 

Over the past several weeks, Chapel’s senior youth have been discussing what it means to love in today’s world. One piece of advice from the movie Moulin Rouge! stresses how vital love is to life: “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.” Based on the numbers of movies and songs and stories that focus on love in our society, it would appear that most people believe this statement to be true. But love, the youth have found, can be difficult to describe. It is even more difficult to describe love apart from God. Notice too that the quote from Moulin Rouge! says love is important but it does not define what love actually is.

Looking at this quote from Moulin Rouge! and comparing it with the scripture’s teaching on love, Bill Rusnak, Director of Family Ministries, and Julie Meyer, NYG adult chaperon, have led our youth in several discussions about what it means to love in today’s world. Most especially, the youth have shared for themselves what it means for God to love them in Jesus. As youth who are very attune to the culture, they are equally adept at discerning the difference between God’s radical, unconditional love and the false loves that the world offers. 

Live Love(d) was the theme of the National Youth Gathering (NYG) in San Antonio, Texas. This Gathering redefined in biblical terms what it means to love and be loved. What is crucial to recognize is that in the theme “Live Love(d),” the “(d)” makes all the difference. We cannot even begin to know what it means to love others in the biblical sense of the term until and unless we know and trust God’s love for us in Jesus Christ. “We love,” says John,” “because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). By the same token, once we know God’s love in Christ we cannot help but love God and others; “whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:21).

Earlier we considered this quote: “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.” How might this revision be an improvement? “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is that you are loved and that you are able to love in return.” Martin Luther provides his own Christian insight when he describes our Christian identity as shaped purely and completely by God’s love in Christ. He writes, “Rather than seeking its own good, the love of God flows forth and bestows good. Therefore sinners are attractive because they are loved; they are not loved because they are attractive.... This is the love of the cross.” Chapel’s youth demonstrate a great maturity, faithfulness, and love for Christ and for others. Thus, it is exciting for all of us at Chapel to hear not just about their experiences at the NYG, but to also learn from our youth what it means to be loved by God and how to love others in return.

]]>