Pastor’s Perch
Daniel 12:3 3 Those who have insight will shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who bring many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.
“These are dark days we are living in! How much more of this can we take!?” How often do you come across people who say these types of things? How often do you say these types of things? There is no denying the fact that the last few years have been very difficult for most people, and it does not seem like things will improve. Then the dark reality of our personal lives and the struggles we are dealing with seem to be the final nail in the coffin. Depression and anxiety flood our hearts more and more every day!
But you see it right!? There is light in the darkness. “Those who have insight will shine like the brightness of the sky.” What insight makes people shine in the darkness? John chapter 1 makes it very clear that the light is Jesus. Jesus has banished the darkness of sin and death. There is no sin that he failed to pay for with his life. This is the insight that shines in you! Not only did Jesus do away with the darkness of sin and death, but he also gives you the brightness of his righteousness, his holiness. In the Father’s eyes, you look like his perfect Son. This insight makes you shine as the brightness of the sky. Even in the middle of the depression and anxiety, Jesus shines brightly in you! Even the darkness of death cannot dimmish the light of Christ!
Now that you shine with the brightness of Christ, a miracle happens! You become the beacon of light for others who dwell in darkness. They will see the brightness of Christ righteousness shining though you. You have the privilege to give the insight of sins forgiven. You have opportunities to bring Jesus’ righteousness to people living in a world full of depression and anxiety. You will shine like stars forever in the kingdom of our God!
Dear Lord, thank you for giving us insight into your Son’s sacrifice to bring us forgiveness and eternal life. Help us to see the light of your Son in these dark days and let us help others see his light! In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
A Servant of Christ,
Rev. Patrick Feldhus
Grace’s News
We are offering a Family bible study on familiar Sunday school stories, after worship on Sundays.
Please note that Pastor is offering an online topical bible study on Tuesday nights at 7:30 pm. If you are interested, please let Pastor know. He is also looking for topics that are interesting to you.
Our next Jesus Cares program will be Thursday, November 14th at 6:30 pm.
The Women of Grace will next meet on November 20th at 10:30 am. All women are welcome to join us.
Our Thanksgiving Eve Worship will be on Wednesday, November 27th at 7 pm.
Synod News
Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene updates
This weekend, Oct. 12 and 13, the WELS Christian Aid and Relief assessment team traveled to Florida and spent two intensive days viewing the damage and talking to pastors, members, and church leaders. The team visited WELS congregations in Sarasota, Tampa, and Seminole. Northdale Lutheran in Tampa had a large tree on its school that needed to be removed as well as water damage to its sound system. Ascension in Sarasota had soffit damage. Thankfully damage to church buildings is light and should be repaired quickly.
The team also visited several members of WELS churches with varying levels of damage to their personal properties. Some have extensive damage from storm surge entering their homes. There is also quite a bit of tree damage and debris that needs to be cleaned up in the area of impact. Christian Aid and Relief is thankful to report that all members of our churches are safe with no reports of injury or loss of life.
Currently, Christian Aid and Relief is working to set up a deployment to help with the work that needs to be done. Local volunteers will be utilized as much as possible, but volunteers with special skills will be brought in as needed. To sign up as a disaster relief volunteer, please visit welsdisasterrelief.org. Christian Aid and Relief will keep you updated on its deployment plans.
In addition to the work in Florida, Christian Aid and Relief is in touch with WELS pastors in North Carolina and is working to help several families in need.
We couldn’t do any of this without your support. We are grateful for God’s people in WELS who have offered many prayers and abundant financial gifts to help those in need. Thank you so much!
Rev. Dan Sims, director, WELS Christian Aid and Relief
Visit wels.net/relief to learn more about the work of WELS Christian Aid and Relief.
New director joins WELS Communication Services
Mr. Dan Nommensen started as the new director of WELS Communication Services on Oct. 1, following the retirement of previous director Mr. Lee Hitter.
For the past year, Nommensen had been serving the synod as operations manager for WELS Congregational Services, working closely with Communication Services as new programs and services were launched. Previously he spent 25 years with Christian Family Solutions, working not only as a Christian counselor but also in an operations capacity with roles in marketing, communications, donor development, information technology, and leadership development.
“I thoroughly enjoy getting to know everything that our synod provides to our congregations and schools,” he says. “The resources we offer through our synod are timely and help the members of our church body move forward with the gospel to impact people in our homes, neighborhoods, and throughout the world. I am looking forward to helping our audiences receive information about these great resources.”
Nommensen notes that he has seen in a personal way how these resources can make a difference after a family member received a cancer diagnosis. “Later that day she read her daily devotion. It was called ‘It is all under control.’ It helped her set her focus on her Savior as she prepares for the many things that she will face that are indeed out of her control,” he says. “Our synod cares and brings resources like Daily Devotions right in front of people, and the Lord uses the Word to bring comfort at just the right time. I’m privileged to have the opportunity to be part of a synod that puts Christ first.”
As director of communications, Nommensen serves under the Conference of Presidents and reports directly to the synod president. He is responsible for coordinating all internal and external communications for WELS, including assisting areas of ministry, synod schools, and district leaders in planning and developing communication strategies and tools.
Nommensen, a member at Christ Alone, Thiensville, Wis., is married and has two children.
Encouragement and guidance regarding “Scriptural Principles of Man and Woman Roles”
In 1993, the WELS synod convention adopted a doctrinal statement entitled “Scriptural Principles of Man and Woman Roles.” The statement is a faithful and comprehensive summary of what Scripture teaches about the God-given roles of men and women.
By 2019, it became apparent that there was a need to provide clarification and additional context regarding the meaning and application of the statement. For that reason, the WELS Conference of Presidents (COP) initially determined that a restatement of the doctrine should be composed, not as a replacement for the 1993 statement, but as a supplement to it. The COP believed that additional clarification and context would help to answer questions and resolve possible misunderstandings and misapplications.
As the COP worked to craft a restatement, it became clear that a better approach would be to compose a pastoral letter rather than an official restatement. Such a letter would be “pastoral” not because it was intended only for pastors, but because it is pastoral in nature by providing evangelical guidance. It is intended for all called workers and laypeople as they seek to understand fully and correctly this biblical doctrine and its principles as they apply the doctrine in their lives.
With a full commitment to the truth of God’s Word, the COP shared this pastoral letter with pastors about two weeks ago to give them an opportunity to become familiar with it. Now the COP is making the letter available to all members of the synod. We do this with the prayer that God would use it to foster widespread discussion and a clear and faithful understanding of the beautiful principles of God’s design for man and woman as we live our lives in service to him and to one another.
Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder