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Do the “Means of Grace” mean that you can be assured that you are going to be in Heaven? A great many people who were part of the old Protestant Churches that developed out of the 16th Century Reformation as well as many people who come out of other Christian traditions have the notion that if they were “Baptized” as a baby or as a child or even as an adult that they are automatically going to enter heaven. The people referenced here are those who were “Baptized” but no longer regularly worship in Christian Churches. These are they who do not see Church as being important or more to the point do not think that it is important to hear God’s Word read and expounded. If you ask : “Are you a Christian?” The answer is: “O yes, I was Baptized!”. If you ask: Are you Certain you will go to heaven?” The Answer is: “ O yes, I have was Baptized!” If you ask: “Do you go to Christian Worship regularly each week?” There are a variety of answers explaining why a person does not do so. “My life is too busy”, “I don’t like the negativity of the focus on Sin”, “It is too out of touch with the modern world”, “It is too boring “, etc, etc, etc. There seems to never be any mention of worshipping because of a sense of Thankfulness for what was first already done for the person. There never seems to mention of a desire to be instructed and reminded of how God desires one to live. There never seems to be mention of the need to have “Faith and Believing” created and recreated in the person. Some will boldly say regarding particular issues: “Yes, I know that is what the Scripture says But this is What I think!” Again the question: “Well then do you think you are going to go to heaven?” Answer: “Oh Yes, I have been Baptized!” For some Reason many have come to see or to think of “Baptism” as an automatic admittance ticket to heaven. Th old Latin phrase for such a notion is “Ex Opere Operato” (The work accomplishes the Work). This concept of automatic accomplishment was not taught by the Christian Church. Instead The Earliest Christians and the Reformation Christians understood that the “The means to and of God’s Grace” for people is two fold. It is instituted or established by God as the “means” by which people can have assurance of going to heaven but the means is actuated by “Faith or Believing” that is created in people by the Holy Spirit of God when people hear Holy Scripture (The Word of God) read and expounded. Faith or Believing Accuates the Means of Grace established by God for People! Faith and Believing comes through “hearing”. This is the only for sure way that we know of. Faith and Believing is not a matter of a person’s intellect, emotions, will power, or decision. Faith and believing are created in people by God when they “hear” the Word. God gives people “Free Will” but because human intellect, emotion and will power are infected by “Sin” (rebellion against God) people can choose to turn away from God (from hearing his Word). People can not based upon Their intellect, emotions, or will power choose to come to God. Only God through His Word creates “Faith and Believing” in People. Faith only is created through hearing. Faith/ Believing activates the Means (established by God) of Grace. And so at every Infant or Child Baptism the Parents and Sponsors have made Promises to regularly bring the infant/ Child to Worship in order to hear God’s Word. The promises are made to see that the infant/child is taught the basics of God’s Word. Then at Confirmation the young adult answers for self and Promises be be faithful in regularly hearing God’s Word! Those who are baptized as adults make the same promises! But here is precisely the dilemma. A Promise is no longer viewed as important and binding in the secular world. That secular attitude infiltrated and has overwhelmed the Christian Churches in the Western World. And so “Faith/ Believing” is no longer being created and re-created in many people who claim to be Christian because they were Baptized as an infant or as a child or even as an Adult precisely because they no longer hear. The Word. Through all the challenges of life Faith and Believing needs to be re-created or renewed in all people through hearing. Again it is “Faith/Believing” that Activates (And reactivates) the Means of Grace instituted for people by God. If there is No “ Faith/Believing” there is no activation of the “Means”. Dr. Martin Luther of the Reformation used the phrase “Glaubst Du, So Hast Du!” (Believe it and you have it!) and of course the converse is true as well. Don’t believe it and you don’t have it! If you don’t have “Faith/Believing” Created in you don’t have it! So, here is the truth for all who have eyes to see and ears to hear: you don’t have a true assurance of going to heaven in your future if you don’t also have “Faith/Believing” created in you by God through the hearing of His Word. Jesus himself declares in the Evangel of Mark: “He who believes and is Baptized shall be saved!” The sequence does not matter but what does matter is two fold: “Baptism” (A Means of Grace) and “Faith/Believing”. What is the first thing people who truly Believe and have Faith do? They go to Church for Worship! They go to worship to give thanks for what God has done for them through the Means of Grace and then to have God serve them by creating and renewing Faith and believing through His Word. In German “The Service” of God to us in Worship is known as the “Gottedienst” (God Serving us). All that is said here also applies to “Holy Communion”. It too is a Means of Grace AND it is activated when people have had “Faith and Believing created renewed” by God. Believe it and you have it. So again, the question: “Will a person go to heaven?” If they have the Means of Grace instituted by God and Faith and Believing created/ renewed by hearing God’s Word then that person should be confident and assured that the answer is YES! On the other hand if one has decided that God and Worship is not important and views their Baptism as having automatically given them a ticket to heaven then their eternal future is very shaky!

No Sermon recorded for this first Sunday after Easter! April 28, 2019 as I was out of town to Officiate at the Wedding of one Of our Nieces. The Wedding was a joyous celebration and was held at a Golf Resort./ Hotel complex. it was a very beautiful setting and though the wind was strong and the temperature crisp it was a day of full Sunshine!

Lenten Devotions for Wednesdays during Lent will be a joint gathering at Faith Lutheran, Frankstown Road each Wednesday beginning March 6 at 5:00 P.M. We will have a Soup and Sandwich supper while having Lenten Devotions. All attending are asked to bring sandwiches to share. These should be cut into several segments.

A Blessed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to you All!

Basic 3rd Week in Advent (Gaudette (Rejoice/ Rose Sunday) December 16, 2018 Sermon preached at three ELCM Congregations of the Blair and Bedford County Parish by Pastor Roy A. Steward. Lessons: Isaiah 40:1-8 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 Matthew 11:2-10

Great food and great fellowship at 2nd Sunday in Advent Fellowship Dinner held at Faith Lutheran., Hollidaysburg Fellowship Hall. Our Willing Workers group provided a full course Roast Turkey and Baked Ham meal replete with Stuffing, Gravy, Green bean Casserole and Mashed Potatoes As well as a Happy Birthday Jesus Cake. And the folks attending the fellowship dinner brought additional dishes to supplement the main full course meal. A “Pot luck” supper has everyone bring a covered dish or two to share. Those a very good events but this our Advent Fellowship meal had a full course menu already prepared. It was a very relaxed and delightful family meal together by members of all three of our little congregations.

Thanksgiving has just ended here in the USA but even before the Black Friday shopping began all were in a frenzy (it seemed) to get their Christmas decorations put up. But for Western Christians we have now begun the season of Advent in which we prepare our hearts, minds and lives in hope and Joy for the celebration of the Amazing Incarnation celebration.

501st Anniversary of the Reformation.

The Willing Workers are sponsoring the coming Indoor Yard Sale at Faith Lutheran, Frankstown Road. Bring items donated for the Yard Sale on Thursday evening beginning at 5:30 P.M. to the Church, priced if possible. We will be having a Baked Goods table as well so Baked goods can be brought on Saturday Nov 3. The Event begins at 8:00 A.M. on Saturday, Nov. 3 and continues until 1:00 P.M. Homemade Chicken Noodle and Vegetable Soup as well as Sauerkraut & hot Dogs will be available and sold by the Quart. Spread the word and come and join us this Saturday and if you can donate items for the Yard Sale on Thursday that will be greatly appreciated.

Basic 3rd Week in Advent (Gaudette (Rejoice/ Rose Sunday) December 16, 2018 Sermon preached at three ELCM Congregations of the Blair and Bedford County Parish by Pastor Roy A. Steward. Lessons: Isaiah 40:1-8 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 Matthew 11:2-10

21st Sunday after Trinity The Reverend Dr. Philip Stewart STS, Associate Pastor Ephesians 6:10-17

19th Sunday after Trinity The Reverend Dr Philip Stewart STS, Associate Pastor

15th Sunday after Trinity The Reverend Dr. Philip Stewart STS, Associate Pastor

Trinity 3 The Reverend Dr Philip Stewart STS, Associate Pastor Isaiah 12:1-6 1 Peter 5:6-11 Luke 15:1-10

1st Sunday after Trinity 2018 The Reverend Dr. Philip Stewart STS, Associate Pastor Deuteronomy 6:4-13 1 John 4:16-21 Luke 16:19-31

Pentecost 2018 The Reverend Dr. Philip Stewart STS Joel 2:28-32 Acts 2:1-11 John 14:23-41

First Sunday after Easter 2018 The Reverend Dr. Philip Stewart STS, Associate Pastor Genesis 32:22-30 1 John 5:4-12 John 20:19-31

Good Friday The Passion of Our Lord The Reverend Dr. Philip Stewart, STS

Laetare 2018 The Reverend Dr. Philip Stewart STS, Associate Pastor Isaiah 55:1-7 Galatians 4:21-5:1 John 6:1-15