Pastor’s Corner

Be anxious for nothing,

but in everything by prayer and supplication,

with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

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Unfortunately fear can be a great motivator, because it works. Fear of losing the championship after a long hard season, fear of not getting the promotion, fear of not pleasing parents, fear of losing one’s reputation and position - all these fears are fully capable of driving us on. But the Lord keeps telling us to “fear not” and not to be anxious about anything.  Why is that? It’s because He’s keeping us from evil.

Fear may seem to be a great motivator, but it only prompts our scheming and manipulative side that will do anything to be what the world considers to be successful. It’s the juice behind the old saying “The ends justifies the means.” Out of fear we often choose a path that is only looking out for ourselves. Imagine a world that ran only according to that philosophy.

                Instead we have been given the grace of God in Jesus Christ. The fears go away as Jesus Himself speaks to us: “Fear not.”  There’s really no need to fear for He is the Lord of our salvation.  And if our eternity is already secured, then things of this world have no power to make us afraid. Fears will come, but we will throw them where they belong, on the cross.

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Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?

But even if you should suffer for what is right,

you are blessed.

“Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

But do this with gentleness and respect,

keeping a clear conscience,

so that those who speak maliciously

against your good behavior in Christ

may be ashamed of their slander.

For it is better, if it is God’s will,

to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

For Christ also suffered once for sins,

the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.

He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

1 Peter 3:13-18 (NIV)

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Williamstown Lutheran Church Turns Twenty!

                It was October 2^nd and outside it was chilly, dark and very wet; but inside the Williamstown Lutheran Church there was a warm glow as Pastor Kemp and his congregation praised God for the many blessings bestowed on them over the past 20 years.  Rev. James Keurulainen and other representatives from the New England District were in attendance, as well as Pastor Jefrey Jensen and several members from Community Lutheran Church.  Pastor Larry Rabon and his wife, Margo, flew up from North Carolina to also join in the celebration of the congregation that they had helped to plant in 1991.

                Aside from the anniversary, there was another reason to celebrate.  The mortgage for the current church building, which was constructed in 1997, has been PAID IN FULL!  What a blessing!

                Following the service, everyone joined together for a delicious catered meal and fellowship in a large tent on the church property.  No one even seemed to mind the rain outside as they dined in the warm glow of candlelight and then watched a creatively compiled slideshow of photos from the early days of the church up to the present.

                Without mentioning names, we would like to thank the many people who dedicated long hours to making our anniversary celebration such a great success.  (You know who you are.)  From service preparations to slideshow presentation, from invitations and decorations to church cleanup and catering arrangements, from service music to set-up and tear-down of the tent – everything came together like clockwork!  We are very blessed to have a congregation that pulls together to get things done – and very quickly!

In, and for, all of this, we PRAISE THE LORD!

Luther's Halloween Bombshell

(from Lutherans Online)

Martin Luther's nailing of his 95 theses on the church door is often noted as a pivotal point in the Reformation. The timing and place of Luther's posting was significant - Halloween, October 31, 1517, on the Castle Church in Wittenberg.

Like the Pantheon centuries earlier, the Castle Church held a large collection of supposed relics (the largest outside of Rome). Pieces of bones from saints, locks of hairs from martyrs, a piece of the true cross, a twig from Moses' burning bush, bread from the Last Supper, a veil sprinkled with the blood of Christ - all were venerated and held in holy awe. The relics were kept in special reliquaries, ornamented with gold, silver, and precious stones. They were exhibited on All Saints Day.

By 1518, 17,443 pieces were on display in twelve aisles! The church taught that paying the special fee and viewing the relics would shorten a soul's stay in purgatory by 1,902,202 years and 270 days!

This was one teaching Luther challenged in his 95 theses. On Halloween, the day before All Saints Day when the relics would be specially exhibited, Luther nailed his theses on the church door, challenging scholars to debate the virtue of indulgences, the church's teaching that by certain works a person could hasten his entrance into heaven. Luther publicly professed the free and gratuitous remission of sin, not by relics, papal pardons, or indulgences, but by faith in Jesus Christ.

Operation Christmas Child Reminder

The final day for our

shoe box collection will be

Sunday, NOVEMBER 13^{th .}

So plan ahead

and start packing up your shoe boxes now!

Look for instructions on the table in the narthex.

*** Please Note ***

If you do not wish to pack up a whole

Shoe Box Gift,

you may supply as many items as you wish,

and Ellie will take all of the items

and complete as many gifts as possible.

Just leave your items in the box provided

in the narthex through October 30^th . 

An Invitation for the Ladies ~

by Sandy Dienst

            Ladies, how does a Thanksgiving dinner, for which you have nothing to prepare, sound to you?  Well, if you think that you would enjoy being served a Thanksgiving turkey with all of the trimmings while sitting at a lovely table set with beautiful china and having meaningful conversations with other women of faith, this event is for you!

            The women of WLC are cordially invited to join the women of CLC for this festive annual event on Tuesday, November 1, at 6:30 PM at Community Lutheran Church in South Burlington.  The Women’s Guild Board members will prepare and serve the meal, so all you have to do is to make your reservation by Friday, October 28^th by contacting me in person, by phone at or by email . 

            The evening’s program will also include a presentation from Hunter Colvin of CLC who will tell us all about her recent trip to Australia.  Don’t miss out on this special evening!

"They Really Do"

By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

And we know that for those who love God

all things work together for good,

for those who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

                There are times when I wish my vision of the future was as clear as it is looking backward.

                Let me explain. Years ago there was a Scottish family named Clark. They shared a dream of coming to the United States. To do so they struggled, scrimped and saved. Finally they had enough saved up and reservations were made.

                Then, with a week to go ... tragedy. Their youngest, a little boy, was bitten -- bitten by a dog. The bite wasn't serious, the possibility of rabies was. The doctor hung a yellow quarantine sign on the family's front door. The sign would stay up for two weeks ... their ship sailed in one.

                The father, outraged at his sacrifices which had come to naught, was furious. He went down to the dock to see his ship set sail. After the departure, in a most foul mood, he stomped home. He stayed out of sorts until April 15th.

                On April 15th they found that their ship, the Titanic, had gone down with 1,500 lives. Instantly, Mr. Clark's attitude was transformed. The boy's bite had become a blessing and no longer a curse.

                Now I have seen that kind of story repeated again and again.

                Goodness, you and I have lived that story again and again. Things about which we were angry, things over which we felt God had let us down -- all of a sudden are transformed. Looking back we see His guiding hand and His loving heart most clearly.

                You know, that sort of thing has happened so often you would think we should know that the Lord can bring good out of any bad situation. "God has brought good out of your bad intentions" (see Genesis 50:20); that's what Joseph said to his brothers. It's what Paul wrote to the church at Rome.

                It's what we should know will happen. After all, if God took care of us by sacrificing His Son, won't He continue to do so in other, smaller matters?

                Of course He will.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. Help me know and believe that You are in control and as a loving Father You will, ultimately, do what is best for us. Please grant me the Holy Spirit so I may accept without always understanding. This I ask in the Name of my Savior. Amen. 

Next Newsletter Deadline ~Tuesday, Nov. 15th