Author: Julie Raffa

October 2021

The Pilgrim Herald
Pilgrim Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Brief Sketch of the Life and Martyrdom of John Huss
“Lord Jesus, it is for three that I patiently endure this cruel death, I pray thee to have mercy on my enemies.”

The young Martin Luther was rummaging through the books in the library, and happened on a volume of sermons by John Huss, the Bohemian who had been condemned as a heretic. “I was overwhelmed with astonishment,” Luther later wrote. “I could not understand for what cause they had burnt so great a man, who explained the Scriptures with so much gravity and skill.” In a 1520 letter to Georg Spalatin, Luther observed, after reading much of Huss’s work, “We are all Hussites without realizing it.”
Huss would become a huge influence to Luther and many other Reformers. Huss preached key Reformation themes (like the hostility to indulgences) a century before Luther penned his 95 Theses. Luther and the other Reformers encouraged by Huss’s life, in particular his steadfast commitment in the face of the church’s cunning brutality.
John Huss was born in 1369 to peasant parents in “Goosetown,” a Husinec village in Bohemia, which today is in the southern part of the Czech Republic. In his twenties, he shortened his name to Huss—meaning “goose,” and he and his buddies delighted in making puns on his name; it was a tradition that continued, notably with Luther, who reminded his followers of the “goose” who had been “cooked” for defying the pope.
His parents gave him the best education they could afford. And having obtained a tolerable knowledge of the classics at a private school, he was removed to the university of Prague. There he gave strong proofs of his mental agility and was very diligent in his studies. At first, it was to escape poverty that Huss studied for the priesthood: “I had thought to become a priest quicky in order to secure a good livelihood and dress and to be held in esteem by men.” Ordained as a priest in 1400, he began to study theology and was appointed as preacher in Prague’s Bethlehem Chapel in 1402 (which held 3,000), the most popular church for the preaching and catechizing of the Czech people.
By this time, Huss had been influenced by the writings of English Reformer, John Wycliffe. These writings were causing a stir in Bohemia. The University of Prague was already split between Czechs and Germans, and Wycliffe’s teachings only divided them more. Early debates focused on the finer points of philosophy, the Czechs being realists and the Germans being nominalists. Nonetheless, the Czechs, with Huss, warmed up to Wycliffe’s reforming ideas. But they had no intention of altering traditional doctrines. They wanted to place more emphasis on the Bible and expand the authority of church councils (less the power of the pope) and promote the moral reform of the clergy. Thus, Huss began to increasingly trust the Scriptures and, in his own words, “desired to hold, believe, and assert whatever is contained in them as long as I have breath in me.”
A political struggle ensued. The Germans labeled Wycliffe and his followers heretics. With the support of the King of Bohemia, the Czechs gained the upper hand, and the Germans were forced to flee to other universities. The situation became further complicated by European politics. Two popes fought to rule all of Christendom. A church council in 1409 was called to settle the matter. It deposed both popes and elected Alexander V as the legitimate pope (naturally, the other popes decried this election and continued to rule their factions). Alexander was soon “persuaded,” or more bluntly, “bribed” to side with the Bohemian church authorities against Huss, who continued to criticize them. Huss was forbidden to preach and excommunicated, but only on paper. With local Bohemians in his corner, Huss continued to preach and minister at Bethlehem Chapel.
Things began to get more tense with Alexander V’s successor, the antipope John XXIII. He authorized the selling of indulgences to raise funds for his crusade against one of his rivals. Huss was scandalized by this act. The pope was acting in mere self-interest, and Huss could no longer sit idly by or justify the pope’s moral authority. He leaned more heavily on the Bible, which he proclaimed as the final authority for the church.
Once Huss lost the support of his king, his excommunication, which has been quietly dropped, was now in full effect. An edict was put upon the city of Prague: no citizen could receive Communion or be buried on church grounds as long as Huss continued his ministry. To spare the city, Huss withdrew to the countryside toward the end of 1412. He spent the next two years in feverish writing, composing a number of treatises. The most important was “The Church,” which was sent to Prague to be read publicly. In it he argued that Christ alone is head of the church and that a pope “through ignorance and love of money” can make many mistakes and that to rebel against an erring pope is to obey Christ.”
In November of 1414, the Council of Constance assembled, and Huss was urged by the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund to come and give an account of his doctrine Because he was promised safe conduct, and because of the importance of the council, Huss went. When he arrived, however, he was immediately arrested, and he remained imprisoned for months. Instead of a hearing, Huss was eventually hauled before authorities in chains and asked merely to recant his views.
Forty articles were read against him which came from his own writings. When it became apparent to him that he wouldn’t be given a forum for explaining his writings, let alone a fair hearing, he finally said: “I appeal to Jesus Christ, the only judge who is almighty and completely just. In his hands, I plead my cause, not on the basis of false witnesses and erring councils, but on truth and justice.” These words were met with derision and inflamed his adversaries. He was taken to his cell, where many friends pleaded with him to recant.
On July 6, 1415, the bishops appointed by the Council stripped him of his priestly garments, degraded him, put a paper miter on his head, on which was painted devils, with the inscription, “A ringleader of heretics.” When Huss saw this, he said, “My Lord Jesus Christ, for my sake, did wear a crown of thorns; why should not I then, for His sake, again wear this light crown, be it ever so ignominious? Truly I will do it, and that willingly! When it was set upon his head, the bishop said, “Now we commit thy soul unto the devil.” But Huss, lifting his eyes towards heaven replied, “do commend into Thy hands, O Lord Jesus Christ! My spirit which Thou has redeemed.”
When the chain was put about him at the stake, he said, with a smiling countenance, “My Lord Jesus Christ was bound with a harder chain than this for my sake, and why then should I be ashamed of this rusty one?” When the wood was piled up around his body, the duke of Bavaria was so insistent as to desire him to simply recant. Huss replied, “No. I never preached any doctrine of an evil tendency; and what I taught with my lips I now seal with my blood.” He then prayed, "Lord Jesus, it is for thee that I patiently endure this cruel death. I pray thee to have mercy on my enemies."
Turning to the executioner Huss said, “You are now going to burn a goose (Huss signifies goose in the Bohemian language) but in a century you will have a swan which you can neither roast nor boil.” If Huss were prophetic, he must have meant Martin Luther. When the fire was applied to the wood, Huss sang a hymn so loud and with cheerful voice that he was heard through all the crackling of the fire and the noise of the onlookers. He was heard praying the Psalms as the flames engulfed him.
His executioners scooped up his ashes and tossed them in the Rhine River so that nothing would remain of the “heretic.” But some Czechs collected bits of soil from the ground where Huss had died and took them back to Bohemia as a memorial.
John Huss, faithful confessor of the gospel, martyred on Saturday July 6, 1415. We’ll meet him in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
In the bonds of Christ,
Pastor Raffa

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Pilgrim News
Thank you: to all the volunteers, organizers and the congregation. The 2021 Church Picnic was a great success! Everyone who attended had a wonderful time!
The LWML Fall Rally will be held on Saturday, October 23, 2021 at St. John New Fane. There will be two in-gatherings for this event.
The first is for the Place of Refuge: they are looking for: Gift cards from Walmart, Gas stations, Target and Kohls.
Jiffy Mix especially cornbread; Oatmeal-all kinds; Spaghetti sauce; Alfredo sauce; Tomato juice; Apple juice boxes; Vegetable oil; Frosting
Infant sleepers; Infant socks; Infant board books; Instant Read Thermometers; Infant washcloths and bath towels.
The second is for the Department of Natural Resources: Old T-shirts; old CD/DVDS; Water bottle caps; Big Buttons; Big Marbles; Plastic Easter Eggs; Tube socks; Greeting cards with Pretty Fonts.
Thank you in advance for your help.
The Board of Trustees have set the date for the Fall Clean up for Saturday, October 23 at 8:00 a.m.
The Church Council has set the date for the Fall Voters Meeting to be on Sunday, October 31 at 12:00 p.m. One of the items on the agenda is whether or not we continue, at this time, using Divine Service Setting 2. Your feeling on this matter is very important. Please come and speak your conscience.
Dart-ball If you are interested in getting out once a week for fun and fellowship, the Pilgrim Dart ball team is looking for some new team mates. You do not need any experience in playing Dart ball, the team will show you the ropes. If you are interested in this please contact Gabe Kempf at 262-339-0252 for more information.
Annual Reformation Concert and Hog Roast at St. John Port Washington. The theme this year will be “Martin Luther, Master of Insult.” It will be held on Saturday, November 6. Concert begins at 3:00 p.m. with the hog roast to follow. Please RSVP by October 31st by calling St. John’s Church office at 262-284-2131. If no one answers please leave a message with the following information. Name, Phone Number, and Number in Party.

Christmas Shoppe: Yes it is time to start thinking about the Christmas Shoppe again. Crafters and Handy person’s the Christmas Shoppe is looking for handmade items to be sold. We will be setting up the Shoppe starting November 18, 2021. If you would please have your craft/hand made items to the Church by November 18. The Christmas Shoppe will be held November 28—December 19, 2021. If you are interested in helping out with set up, running the Shoppe and or clean up, please contact the church office.
Items that would be accepted are hand-made items, new or like new Christmas decorations, bakery items (this should be brought in during the sale so it is fresh). Christmas gift items are always a good idea. We will be accepting donations starting in the beginning of November.
Thursday Morning Bible Class Returns: On October 7th we will renew our 9:00 am to 10:30 am Bible Class. We will either return to the book of Galatians,, which was the study that was interrupted by Covid, or we will move on to a study of 1st Samuel. All are welcomed to come.
Memorials: totaling $1,210.00 has been given to Pilgrim by friends and family of Pat Horlamus, Royal & Phyllis Fraedrich, Muriel Magnus, and Dorothy Miller. Most of this was for the Roofing fund with a smaller portion going to the Flooring fund.

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Board of elders report
Pilgrim Ev. Lutheran Church Board of Elders Meeting Minutes
9/6/2021
Present were Pr. Fisher, Pr. Raffa, Bob, Dennis, Brian, Gary, Jake, Patrick, and Tanner. Absent was John.
The meeting began with prayer and devotion at 6:30.
Schedules were made through October. The next meeting will be Mon. 10/4
Pastors will be at conferences 10/18-20.
An organist schedule is in progress, though some difficulties are being addressed still owing to unfilled services. We will try to fill them as soon as possible. The elders discussed our long term hopes for our organists, given the life changes many of them are in the midst of.
There are 15 children in Sunday school this year, many of whom are younger.
We will cancel our CPH Sunday school curricula in favor of the faithful and cheaper “Bible Studies for Daily Prayer”. We aim to increase biblical literacy thereby.
The Pastors are still working on making visits as well as possible given to intermittent lockdowns at various communities they visit.
Catechesis should last 30 lessons beginning Sept. 8 and lasting until May 4 (off for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Ash Wednesday, and Holy Week), giving a tentative (and entirely subject to change if work and lessons are not finished) confirmation date of May 8th.
The sound equipment is delivered and now installed. Thanks to Staff Electric and Mr. Brad Dunigan, respectively!
The children’s program is intended to happen this year, pending enough interested families/children.
Pr. Fisher and the Elders thank Pr. Raffa for officiating Patrick Horlamus’ funeral given Pr. Fishers illness that day.
The meeting closed with prayer @ 8:10.
Respectfully submitted,
Tanner Schmidt

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Church council Report
Church Council September 13, 2021 Minutes
The Pilgrim Church Council September 13, 2021 meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by President, Bob Knuth. Other members in attendance were Pastor Fisher, Pastor Raffa, Rob Selzler, Bonnie Leffin, Mary Lehtimaki, Tanner Schmidt, and Jim Behrens.
Pastor Fisher began the meeting by reading the 19th Day (on the book of Mark) from Thirty Days in God’s Word, followed by a prayer.
A motion to accept the minutes of the June 14 meeting as published was made by Pastor Fisher, seconded by Bonnie Leffin, and passed on voice vote.
Elders Report – by Tanner Schmidt
Discussion was held on how deal with an open Elders position on the board.
Pastors will be at Conference in Lacrosse, WI October 18-20.
Looking for long-term solution to organist schedule.
Fifteen children in Sunday School, using a new curriculum located by Pastor Raffa, Bible Stories for Daily Prayer.
Trustees Report – by Rob Seltzer
Resolved several different issues with bees on church property.
Have scheduled October 23 for church cleanup day, with October 30 as backup, if needed because of weather.
Roof repair work is expected to begin soon.
Air conditioner issues in the Fellowship Room have been resolved for minimal cost by replacing three fan-motor capacitors.
Treasurers Report – by Bonnie Leffin
Year-to-date budget report was given.
$47,857 currently in the roofing fund and a member has offered a 0% 3-year loan for up to $20,000, if needed.
Budget committee will be meeting in September.
Pastor Fisher’s Report
Vacation scheduled for October 9, 10, and 11.
New LCD projector has been installed on the ceiling of the Fellowship Room and new microphone/sound system for the church services.
Pastor Raffa’s Report
Twelve or 13 children in Sunday School for the first Sunday.
Expecting at least one child to participate in a trip to the Concordia Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN for a confirmation retreat September 24-26.
Leading a group to 3-5 November Luther Hostel at the Concordia Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN.
October 31 at 12:00 noon was set as the time for the next Voter’s Meeting:
Whether to continue with the use of Divine Service Setting Two in the regular rotation of church services.
Discussion and vote on budget for 2022.
Election of officers.
A motion was made by Pastor Fisher and passed on a voice vote to adjourn the meeting.
The meeting ended with a prayer by Pastor Raffa.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Behrens

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Membership report
Baptized: None
Died in the Faith:
Muriel Magnus on September 8, 2021
Dorothy Miller on September 17, 2021
Transferred In: None
Transferred Out: None
Released from Membership: None
Sympathy, prayers, and Christ’s comfort to the Mulvey family on the death of Carrie’s Mom, Eileen Pankonin.

month volunteer schedule
Sunday, October 3: 8:00 a.m. / 10:30 a.m.
Office Volunteer: Julie R.
Altar Guild: Laurie L. /
Elder: Tanner S. / Gary J.
Usher Team: 3 / 4
Acolyte: Georgia J. / Rachel R.
Thursday, October 7: 7:00 p.m.
Altar Guild: Ginny S.
Elder: Bob K.
Usher Team: B
Acolyte:
Sunday, October 10: 8:00 a.m. / 10:30 a.m.
Office Volunteer: Nancy A.
Altar Guild: Nancy R. / Julie R.
Elder: Jake H. / Gary J.
Usher Team: 1 / 8
Acolyte: Wade J. / Matthias R.
Thursday, October 14: 7:00 p.m.
Altar Guild: Karen S.
Elder: Patrick S.
Usher Team: A
Acolyte: Dylan K.
Sunday, October 17: 8:00 a.m. / 10:30 a.m.
Office Volunteer: Linda M
Altar Guild: Norma B. / Carolyn M.
Elder: Bob K. / Gary J.
Usher Team: 3 / 2
Acolyte: Clayton K. / Josiah R.
Thursday, October 21: 7:00 p.m.
Altar Guild: Ruth K.
Elder: Brian S.
Usher Team: B
Acolyte:
Sunday, October 24: 8:00 a.m. / 10:30 a.m.
Office Volunteer: Kathryn P.
Altar Guild: Nancy R. / Rita F.
Elder: Tanner S. / Bob K.
Usher Team: 1 / 4
Acolyte: Victoria M. / Violet S.
Thursday, October 28: 7:00 p.m.
Altar Guild: Ginny S.
Elder: Dennis E.
Usher Team: A
Acolyte: Dylan K.
Sunday, October 24: 8:00 a.m. / 10:30 a.m.
Office Volunteer: Caryn L.
Altar Guild: Nancy R. / Ginny S.
Elder: Jake H. / Gary J.
Usher Team: 3 / 8
Acolyte: Rachel R. / Georgia J.

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From the ForT
I’ve Got To Be Me...or Not
By Rev. John T. Pless

We live in a culture were the self is assumed as the center of everything. Thing of all the works in our vocabulary prefixed with self: self-esteem, self-worth, self-directed. Nothing is allowed to stand in the way of self-expression, especially when it comes to matters of gender and sex. The self is to be celebrated, not held in suspicion or suppressed and certainly not called to repentance.
It is precisely here that the voice of Martin Luther is not merely a blast from the past but a sobering call to the reality of life before God. For Luther as for the Holy Scriptures, the self is the problem. Drawing on the language that the Reformer learned from the Church Father St. Augustine, Luther confessed that all of Adam’s descendants are “curved in on themselves.” The tug of the flesh is always and ever toward self-justification. In the words of the order for individual confession, “I lived as if God did not matter and as if I mattered most.” Self-centeredness is not just socially inappropriate; it is a matter of idolatry. It is the way of the flesh to fear, love, and trust in the self above all things.
For Luther, the self is not to be fulfilled but put to death and raised to new life in Christ Jesus where He alone is Lord. In one of his foundational writings, The Freedom of the Christian (1520), Luther remarked,
We conclude, therefore, that a Christian lives not in himself, but in Christ and his neighbor. Otherwise he is not a Christian. He lives in Christ through faith, in his neighbor through love. By faith he is caught up beyond himself into God. By love he descends beneath himself into his neighbor. Yet he always remains in God and his love.” (AE 31:371)
While our culture is obsessed with the self and its never-satisfied appetites, Luther honed in on the biblical truth that life is not found within the self but only in the crucified and risen Christ. That’s why he can write so boldly of the Christian as one who is drawn outside of the self and now resides by faith in Christ. Here Luther is echoing the language of St. Paul: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I know live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” Gal 2:20.
Where the world seeks life through the fulfillment of self, Luther sees the self as something we need rescue from lest we remain enslaved by sin and destined for death. In fact, in his commentary on Galatians, Luther writes:
And this is the reason why our theology is certain: it snatches us outside ourselves, so that we do not depend on our own strength, conscience, experience, person, or works, but depend on that which is outside ourselves, that is, on the promise and truth of God, which cannot deceive” (AE 26:387).
Luther would, no doubt consider the advice of the pop psychologist, “You’ve got to forgive yourself” as not only a cruel impossibility but blasphemy. Only God can forgive sin, and the self is not God! It is one thing to say that one must learn how to live by the promise that sin is forgiven. That’s faith. It is quite another thing to say, “You must forgive yourself.” That’s idolatry because it makes the self the savior.
The self is free only in the forgiving word of Jesus who alone has carried our sin in His Body to death to reconcile us to His Father. Raised from the dead, He is our life, and the life we now live in Him is not self-enclosed. Baptism joins us to this Lord, and in this union, we are promised our own resurrection from the dead. In the meantime, we are freed from the necessity of attempting to justify our existence. Where Jesus is Lord, the self is not. Of course, the old Adam is always and forever fearful that God cannot really be trusted with something as important as life and is ever attempting to retreat back into the comfortable recesses of the self, all the while chanting piously that he is in the right, confusing his own voice with the words of Christ. That’s why we continue to assert the message of Luther’s Reformation—that there is no other Lord than the one who is cradled in Mary’s lap and hangs dead on a cross.

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In the Book of Revelation, “those who had been slain” cried out with a loud voice to the Lord, “How long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth (Rev. 6:10)?” The word used to describe the martyrs who cried out to the Lord from the altar in heaven is from the verb σφάζω (sp-hazō), the very same word used to describe Jesus as “the Lamb who had been slain.” The martyrs had been slain like their Lord, Jesus. Like the blood of Abel, the blood of the martyrs calls out to the Lord for justice and the vengeance of the Lord upon the wicked. In a similar way, the Lord’s church on earth cries out to be a witness to the world and for deliverance from all evil. Ironically, the more the church prays to be a witness to the world, the more likely the church is to experience the cross and suffering, which in itself becomes a witness.
Dr. Martin Luther, in his On the Councils and the Church, identified seven marks or notes of the church,1that is, seven items that indicate the church of God is present on earth. These marks or notes of where to find the church, the people of God, are an explanation of the Augsburg Confession, Article VII, which says the church is found where “the Gospel is purely preached and the holy sacraments are administered according to the Gospel.” In On the Councils and the Church, Luther begins with the Word of God, followed by an enumeration of the ways the Gospel is delivered to the Lord’s people — Holy Baptism, Holy Communion, Holy Absolution and Holy Ministry. Dr. Luther also adds: prayer, public praise, and thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6); and the holy cross. Prayer, public praise, and thanksgiving provide the context in which the Word of God is proclaimed and the sacraments are administered. It is a description of what goes on where church is located, where the people of God are gathered. To all of this, Dr. Luther adds a seventh mark — the holy cross, which includes suffering, persecution and martyrdom.
This theme of suffering, persecution and martyrdom has been a topic of theological reflection since the Book of Acts. At the beginning of the second decade of the 21st century, the church has passed through a century where more Christians, numerically, have been persecuted and martyred than at any other time in history. We live in a time when governments that once championed freedom of religion are turning increasingly hostile to the message of the Gospel. “Free” societies that al-low for the public expression of nearly any thought, idea or action increasingly cannot bear to hear the witness of the Church in the public square. At the same time, Islam is spreading among people and through lands where the Gospel once held sway. If the external threats of secular humanism and Islam were not enough, the Church is also under attack from within.
Once on a trip to Kazakhstan, we visited Kazakhstan’s office of the Ministry of Religion. This man had served during the communist and post-communist periods. He was a professed agnostic, who was interested in the social phenomena called religion. He said that the communists thought they needed to persecute the church to prevent its spread. Then, he noted how the mainstream Protestant church bodies had strayed from the historic message of Christianity, particularly by adopting Western society’s agenda on sexuality. He concluded by saying, “What the communists failed to do, namely destroy the Church, liberal Christianity will succeed by eliminating the teaching of historic Christianity, allowing Islam and other radical ideologies to dominate.” Indeed, as the Apostle John said, “so now many antichrists have come” (1 John 2:18).
Christ’s Church faces many enemies from within and without. She bears the mark of the holy cross, not as an identifier for its own sake, but as a consequence of bearing witness to and proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Church in every place bears the holy cross to some degree. The Church in some places bears what appears to be a smaller cross than the church in other places, yet no matter how small or big the cross, it serves the same purpose — a wit-ness (martyria) to the world and as Formula of Concordia XI confesses, to “conform every one of His elect to the im-age of His Son.” It should not surprise us that the Lord’s people, that His holy Church, takes on the appearance of the crucified Son of God. In fact, it is a great honor and joy that the Lord conforms us into his image. This is why St. Paul says in Rom. 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good.”
The Lord Jesus works the good of His Church through the holy cross. He worked the salvation of the world on the cross. He redeemed you and me on the cross. Through the crosses, that is, the sufferings in our lives, predestined for us before the foundation of the world, the Lord conforms us into the image of His Son. What sort of Lord predestines the holy cross? The sort of Lord who, in his divine foreknowl-edge, ensured that no suffering, cross or martyrdom would wrest you from His loving hand. This is the sort of Lord who has promised that the gates of Hell will not prevail against his Church. This is the sort of Lord who, in the words of the Augsburg Con-fession, said the Church, perpetual mansura, will endure forever. Be assured that suffering, persecution and martyrdom, as evil as it is, will be turned into blessing by The Lord.
——————
This article first appeared in the Journal of Lutheran Missions, September 2014. Pages 50-51

Lutheran Missions
The Holy Cross: Suffering, Persecution and Martyrdom
A Mark of the Church in the Modern Age
By Rev. Albert B. Collver III

October 2021 — Page #

Lutheran Catechesis
Door To the Bible
Michael Frese

Luther knew how important teaching the faith was to the Church’s little ones, and he left you a resource to do the same!
During his Reformation of the Christian Church, Martin Luther realized early on that the instruction of the young was vital. He wrote to his colleagues on more than one occasion, asking them to put together as simple instruction that could be used in every Christian home. His requests appear to have gone unheeded as he and his colleagues were pulled into other churchly disputes and duties. However, by 1528, when his prince called upon him to conduct church visitations, the work could not be put off any longer. Luther writes in the preface to the Small Catechism, “The deplorable, miserable conditions which I recently observed when visiting the parishes have constrained and pressed me to put this catechism of Christian doctrine into this brief, plain, and simple form. How pitiable, so help me God, were the things I saw: the common man, especially in the villages, knows practically nothing of Christian doctrine.” Luther exhorts his fellow pastors to inculcate this catechism in the people, especially the young.
Pastors were to teach the texts of the catechism to their parishioners, just as parents, in particular the “head of the family,” were to instruct all who were under their roof. That’s why each chief part begins with the exhortation: “As the head of the family should teach it in a simple way to his household.” In this way, Luther hoped that people would be properly instructed and kept in the Christian faith.
A TOOL FOR MOMS AND DADS
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The Small Catechism is still the resource of choice for Lutheran parents. It is the laymen’s Bible, as the Formula of Concord says, because it is drawn from the Holy Scriptures and leads back to the Holy Scriptures. The catechism is a door or an entrance into the whole Bible. The Bible is a huge book and can be overwhelming to understand if you don’t have an entrance or guide. The Small Catechism has at its heart the saving faith of Jesus Christ. Its goal is not to increase knowledge as much as it is to increase faith. It’s instructional—yes, it increases Christian knowledge—but it’s also developmental for faith, contains the Word of God and teaches us how to respond in faith, love, and prayer. That’s why the Catechism is also called a prayer book.
HOW TO USE IT
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First, repetition is the key to teaching younger children. Going over these texts at a set time of the day, a parents can recite the pieces with the children or have the older children lead the younger. Usually the first thing in the morning or last thing in the evening is best, but meal times also provide a good opportunity. Each family has to determine the best time within their particular daily rhythm.
Second, as the children are able, start applying the primary texts to contemporary events or conversations that happen around the home, in school or among friends, and the child can begin applying the Small Catechism to real world events in his life. Add to this repetition and instructions a short reading from Holy Scripture, and pretty soon, the head of the family can start making connections between certain biblical accounts and pieces of the catechism. This allows the child to see how the doctrines of the Small Catechism as drawn from the Bible are applied are applied to the great saints and events of Holy Scripture. In time, the child will begin to see how the Christian faith is a matter of her daily life and applicable to her growth within the body of the Church. She will see herself in the light of Christians who have come before her and in the light of people that she interacts with weekly.
Luther envisioned a simple book of Christian doctrine so that all Christians, no matter the age or maturity level, could know and express their faith. The Small Catechism is a wonderful tool that the head of the family can use to teach and deepen the faith of their children in a way that only a parent can do best!

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Communal Prayers
Prayer for the commemoration of John Huss: Faithful God, you gave John Huss the courage to confess your truth and recall your Church to the image of Christ: Enable us, inspired by his example, to bear witness against corruption and never cease to pray for our enemies, that we may prove faithful followers of our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer for Reformational Festival: Lord God, who after long ages of darkness delivered the Church from the bondage of error, we thank You for those faithful witnesses through whom You restored the Gospel of Christ to men, and we praise You that this blessed light has been preserved for us to this present age. We thank you for making known among us the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, our only Mediator. Defend Your Church against all her foes. Seek and save the lost and all who have gone astray. Preserve among us the pure Word and the holy Sacraments; turn our hearts from false pernicious doctrine. Direct and strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit that we may abide in the confession of Your Word all the days of our lies and in the end, by Your grace, obtain everlasting life. This I pray in the name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayer for the Holy Christian Church: Lord Jesus, it is Your will that those who believe in You are not to remain isolated, but that they shall gather together about Your Word, foster intimate fellowship, serve one another with their gifts, and not only teach, admonish, warn, and comfort, but also reprove one another. O grant us grace to serve one another in this way, so that none of us will say as did wicked Cain: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” but that every one will be concerned about his brother’s soul as much as about his own. Grant, too, that we may always be willing not only to be instructed, admonished, warned, and comforted, but also to be reproved by our brethren. Hear us, Lord Jesus, You Heavenly Good Samaritan, for the sake of Your saving love. Amen.
Prayer of thankfulness for Unmerited Grace: I thank you, my dear God, that I have learned not to begin faith by my own efforts, nor attempt to destroy my sin with my own repentance. I might do this before men and be accepted by the world and its judges. But with You, O God, there is an eternal wrath, which I cannot satisfy, and before it I must despair. Therefore, I thank you that Another has seized and carried my sins and has made atonement for them. With joy I wish to believe this. It seems so very right and comforting to me. But I cannot persuade myself to believe it, and I find no power in me to convince myself. I cannot comprehend it as I ought. Lord, lead me. Help me. Amen.
Family and friends requesting our prayers: Austin Meier, President Rev. John Wille, Linda Mejchar, Carl Pritzlaff, Naisa Gohr, Carolyn Bren, Ron & Joyce Virchow Sr., Judy Clark, Inez Schwoch, Mark Selzler, Keith Gierach, Deb Sumner, Jan Meyle, Sue Zell, Mark Soat, Carl & Lois Pritzlaff, Nancy Rosenthal, Jim Lathrop, Richard & Chloe Fisher, Ruth Mertz, Jerry & Gert Sullivan, Donna Sommer, Kandie Darmody, June Fry, David & Olivemae Olson, Eric Johanen, Diane Behrens, Marge Legate, Suzanne Stadelmayer, Elaine Kuenzel, Ray & Frances Neerhoff, Donald Teske, Jeanette Guillaume, Linda Lukas, Linda Borneman, Nancy Nicholas, Rachel Davis, Marissa Flanders, Linda Schmidt, Vanessa Kuehne, Travis Winkler, Brian Vonlender, Scot Meisenheimer, Thomas Kramlik, and Jody Meisenheimer

Voice of Faith

October 2021 — Page #

Birthdays
1– Linda Mejchar
Suzy Schober
Rob Selzler
2- Jamie Mulvey
3- Tom Benz
Shaun Olson
Michael Schwittau
Jenny Vickerman
Dan Virchow
5- Robert Baerenwald
Victoria Mulvey
Jamison Mulvey Jr.
Jim Stadelmayer
Sophia Voge
6- Dave Fellenz
Becky Ruppier
Jeremiah Sullivan
8- Kevin Hoffman
Michael Loomans
Carolyn McAfee
Megan Ringgenberg
9- Nicole Kabitzke
Marge Legate
Andrew Tinlin
10- Maggie Rockrohr
11- Barb Jennrich
12- Jayden Guillaume
15- Kaitlyn Loomans
17- Sophie Hand
18- Becky Woelfel
19- Eileen Mueller
20- Daniel Rockrohr
21- Ruth Kohler
Roger Kossert
22- Joseph Heger
Mark Schauland
Cara Schmidt
23- Laura Kreuser
Elaine Kuenzel
Barbara Soat
24- Beth Gatzow
25– Dorothy Kroll
Tiffany Wollner
26- Jami Held
27- Landon Kirkland
28- Joshua Rockrohr

Anniversaries
1- Glenn & Vicki Schnabel Sr.
2- Neal & Evelyn Schleif
5- Phill & Jane Gohr
8- Bill & Beverly Schepp
Dick & Karen Spiering
10- Jolene & Joseph Gundrum
13- Rich & Caryn Lewandowski
17- John & Carol Heger
23– Mark & Mary Schauland
28- Corey & Abby Janssen
Terry & Bonnie Mowery
29- Ed & Nancy Kleinke
30– David & Beth Brehm

The Pilgrim Herald — Page #

October 2021					1 / Office Closed	2 / 7a Men’s Breakfast & Bible Study
3 / 8a Divine Service / 9:15a Sunday School: Enduring Faith / 9:30a Adult Class: Life of Christ / 10:30a Divine Service / 12:30 p.m. Bible Class: 1st Samuel	4 / 6:30p Board of Elders Meeting	5 / 2p Auxiliary Court Chapel	6 / 4p Youth Catechesis / 6:30p Adult Class: / Lutheran Difference	7 / 9a. Bible Study / 7p Divine Service	8 / Office Closed	9
10 / 8a Divine Service / 9:15a Sunday School: Enduring Faith / 9:30a Adult Class: Life of Christ / 10:30a Divine Service / 12:30 p.m. Bible Class: 1st Samuel	11 / 5:30p Board of Trustees Meeting / 7p Church Council Meeting	12 / 2p Auxiliary Court Chapel	13 / 9a. Pilgrim Quilters / 4p Youth Catechesis / 6:30p Adult Class: / Lutheran Difference	14 / 9a. Bible Study / 7p Divine Service	15 / Office Closed	16 / 7a Men’s Breakfast & Bible Study
17 / 8a Divine Service / 9:15a Sunday School: Enduring Faith / 9:30a Adult Class: / 10:30a Divine Service / 12:30 p.m. Bible Class: 1st Samuel	18	19 / 2p Auxiliary Court Chapel / 12p LWML / Ladies Guild Meeting	20 / 4p Youth Catechesis / 6:30p Adult Class: / Lutheran Difference	21 / 9a. Bible Study / 7p Divine Service	22 / Office Closed	23 / 8a. Fall Cleanup
24 / 8a Divine Service 31 / 9:15a Sunday School: 8a. / 9:30a Adult Class: Divine Ser. / 10:30a Divine 9:15 a. S.S / Service 9:30 a. B.C. / 12:30 p. 10:30a. Divine Ser. / Class 12p. Voters Meeting	25	26 / 2p Auxiliary Court Chapel	27 / 9a. Pilgrim Quilters / 4p Youth Catechesis / 6:30p Adult Class: / Lutheran Difference	28 / 9a. Bible Study / 7p Divine Service	29 / Office Closed	30 / 7a Men’s Breakfast & Bible Study

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Pilgrim Evangelical Lutheran Church
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
462 Meadowbrook Drive
West Bend, WI 53090

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Phone: 262-334-0375
Email: office@pilgrimlutheranwb.org
Website: www.pilgrimlutheran-westbend.org

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Inside this Issue:
Pilgrim News & Reports
3-6
From the Fort
7
Lutheran Missions
8
Lutheran Education
9
Communal Prayers
10
Birthdays & Anniversaries
11
Calendar
12

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“At the beginning of the second decade of the 21st century, the church has passed through a century where more Christians, numerically, have been persecuted and martyred than at any other time in history.”

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