NOTES FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK

To the blessed Family of Faith:

Grace to you, and peace, from God our heavenly Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

I can’t believe it’s been nearly a month serving you as your new pastor! I want to thank Pastor May for his dedicated service as your vacancy pastor, holding down the fort. I’d also like to thank Pastor Kaul and his decades of dedication, hard work, and service to you all. But I would especially like to thank all of you: for calling me to serve, for the work you’ve continued to do for one another and the people of Germantown, for the warmth and hospitality you’ve shown to Hannah and me, and for all the assistance I’ve been given as I’ve moved into this position. I am truly honored and humbled by the responsibilities you’ve entrusted me with, and as we walk together, I pray our Lord Jesus would use me as He sees fit to lead and serve here!

As this is my first newsletter devotion, I’ll keep things short and simple, and simply offer to you a word from God’s Word to consider and meditate upon. It happens to be my own confirmation verse, Revelation 2:10c, and I find these words from John’s pen to be quite apropos as we begin our walk together as the Family of Faith: “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

What does it mean to be faithful? How does that look? What does faithfulness to Christ entail? Further, how can you remain faithful through the ups-and-downs of life, even when death draws near? Think about it. Pray about it. And as I begin my walk alongside you, we will come to the answers together.
Again, thank you all for welcoming Hannah and me to the Family of Faith! I look forward to what our Lord Jesus has in store for us all! I look forward to seeing you in church!

In Christ our Lord,
Pr. Heckert

BORN TO TELL
The Apostle Peter wrote: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 1 Peter 1:3
 

We are all born into the world. It's not our choosing, doing or circumstances of who we are born to. It is out of our hands. One thing is certain though, we all are born into a sin-sick and broken world. Regardless of how we are raised, who raised us, or how we live, we cannot escape our earthly fate: sin and death.

Peter wrote to the scattered and suffering churches of his day about a new birth, a new life, and a new inheritance that was theirs solely through Christ. Well, this is ours as well. In the new birth given to us by God's means of grace, Word and Sacrament, we are no longer destined for eternal death.

No, we who have been adopted into God's family by grace through faith in God's promises are given a new destiny. Just as Jesus rose from the dead, we who have been baptized into Christ share in His resurrection. In Christ, we are born again, not to the world, but to an eternal living hope. The inheritance of the new creation is waiting for us!

That is so amazing, that we cannot keep it to ourselves. We know very well that there are countless others around us who haven't heard this Good News. In the course of a week we see these people in the store, at the workplace, at school, at games and social events. We see them. We come within arm's distance of them, we text them, talk to them, laugh with them and even weep with them.

They hunger for hope and certainty, but they don't know where it is. We know. We celebrate it. We count on it for everlasting life. Oh, how their lives can be changed if someone would just welcome them and invite them to such a place where this hope is spoken, sung, believed and bolstered.

You know, at W172N11187 Division Road Germantown at 9:00 am Sundays, and Monday nights at 6:30 pm and a number of Wednesdays during Advent and Lent! They just need someone to tell them, invite and welcome them. Their lives are riding on it! Maybe someone could give them a Faith welcome/invitation card we all have, or could even mail it. I think you are one of those people who have this info that could change their lives forever. +
 

In His Holy Name, Jesus,
Pastor

Well, it's not like we have never met. Diane and I have worshipped here off and on with the family of Faith for some time, even before we were 'officially' members. I served as Senior Pastor for 17 years at Trinity Lutheran Church in Beloit. Then South Wisconsin District's President Office invited me to serve in vacancy and interim capacities since August of 2017. Upon arrival the Lord sent us to the likes of St. John's, Mayville and as far south as Grace Lutheran Church, Oak Creek and the likes of Historic downtown Trinity Lutheran Church UAC for a year or two. I was the last one to preach there before the infamous fire (which I did not cause...it was a roofing fire).

Then the Lord led me to serve a number of congregations such as, Immanuel Brookfield, Living Word, in Jackson, St. Paul, Brown Deer and others. Most recently I served as interim pastor at Beautiful Savior, Mequon, but had to leave when my younger brother was diagnosed with a serious illness that required my attention (Elkhart, IN) over the past month.

In the beginning the Lord led me into the Holy Ministry as a Missionary AT Large in Jeffrey City, Wyo. There was no church and so I was called to start one from scratch and serve mining camps in the radius of about 75 miles. At that time I was the youngest LCMS pastor in the USA at 23 and married only two weeks. God blessed the work there and the church grew rapidly. From there we lived in Beaverton, Ore and I was the associate pastor of Pilgrim Lutheran Church and School. Then a Call was extended to St. John's White Creek, in Indiana. It was large rural congregation and school, which was formed eight years before The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod even existed! During my first seven years of service our three boys were born.

After eight years there I accepted the Call to start another mission church in northern Indiana, Prince of Peace, Goshen. Here a nucleus of 40 people grew to 200 in about eight years and put on a sizable educational addition. We served there sixteen years and then I accepted the Call to Trinity, Beloit, Wisconsin where I was the Senior Pastor for seventeen years.

One of my favorite things to do started with the St. John's White Creek youth, when we took a 48-passenger charter bus to the very first LCMS Youth Gathering, Fort Collins. Colorado. After that I took youth groups to the next 15 Youth Gatherings (1 every 3 years) which is every youth gathering as the only pastor/youth leader to have been privileged to do so (and survived)! Just kidding.

But now, Diane and I are excited and honored to serve as your pastor at Faith Lutheran Church. We look forward to this opportunity/challenge confident of our gracious Lord's blessings! I am humbled to be your shepherd. God will bless us all!

In Jesus' holy name,
Pastor May and Diane

THE LAST NOTES
1,840. That’s the number. You are probably thinking, “This is odd. Why would Pastor begin with a number?” Since I first began in parish ministry, in August of 1985, I have written “notes” in every monthly newsletter in the congregations I have served. I did some math – 1,840. That’s how many “notes” I have written over the course of my ministry. These “notes” are the last.

To be sure, I was told a long time ago that “the ministry is a writing profession.” I concur. It is. These “notes” have not always been easy. It has been a challenge, at times, to come up with something to write about. Over the years, I have had very little feedback on this endeavor. I do know some of us have read my “notes” faithfully, monthly. The issues have varied from politics to faith; from devotional thoughts to personal; from “questions from the pew” (That was fun! It gave me some direction.) to a year of writing monthly thoughts on twelve significant Psalms (not that any of them are insignificant. They are all part of the inspired Word of God.).

What to say in these last notes? Simple. “Praise God from whom all blessings flow!”

In the rough and tumble of 34 years of being your Pastor the blessings have flowed from God.

When I accepted this call, I saw the potential to build a new church. That was always my dream. Faith
worshipped in, what is now, Grace Fellowship Hall from 1964 to 2002. Forty-two years. The original intent, when this congregation began, was to build a sanctuary. It took a long time. It happened in 2002. We have one of the most beautiful church buildings I have ever been in!

We broke ground on Sunday, September 9th , 2001. I will never forget that date. It was two days before 9/11. In the Spring of 2002 we dedicated the building. Our stain-glass windows have their own stories. The Risen Christ behind the altar was paid for by a few members who “chipped-in.” That is putting it mildly. As I recall, the cost of this initial stain-glass was around ten grand (don’t quote me on that.)

We wanted the three significant events in the life of Jesus. His birth. His crucifixion. His resurrection. His crucifixion was entirely paid for by one of my/our shut-ins who had the financial resources. His birth scene was paid for through fund-raising. Combined, I believe, our stain-glass windows cost north of $40,000. We can only imagine what their value is now. Beyond their monetary value, these windows are priceless! Every time we worship, the life of our dear Savior is visibly seen by us and all who enter into the house of the Lord. I will miss this beautiful church. But more than that I will miss this beautiful “church.” You! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Thank you for inviting me into your lives. You have entrusted to me your sorrows and joy, fears and doubts, dreams and hopes. As my pastorate has been long, our relationships have run deep. I love you. You will remain in my prayers. I will think about you often. Saying “good-by” will not be easy.
Keep the faith. Remain committed to Faith. Pray for your leaders. Pray for your new Pastor. God already knows who that is. Together -even though soon apart – we will “Praise God from whom all blessings flow!”

Love,
Pastor

Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world.’ ~ John 18:36

Early next month we will elect a new president. I don’t know about you, but to say that I have grown weary of the endless commercials, direct mailings, radio ads and everything in between, regarding the candidates, would be a gross understatement.  As my brother-in-law shared on Instagram, regarding the debate (if that’s what you want to call it), “you can figure out for yourself who might have won the debate.  However, there is no doubt that the biggest losers were the American people.” I could not agree more. How about you? As is always the case every four years, I/we will be glad when it is over.

There can be no doubt that it is a great privilege and responsibility to vote, and so we will.

It is a sad and tragic reality that we can no longer have a civil discourse, with respect for the “other side’s” opinion, regarding politics, in the American Market Place.” The discourse is inflamed, provocative, caustic and mean- spirited on both sides, in many instances. Much of this is promoted by the main-stream media, social media and any other media you want to name. Families and friends can be – have been torn asunder because of political disagreements. This is sad and very foolish.

It is easy to get drawn into this vortex. We have our personal opinions and posturing. As Christians, to be sure, we are to vote based upon our Christian values. However, it is important to remember that the government is not a Christian entity. It is at the “top of the food chain” in the Kingdom of the Left. That is to say, the Kingdoms of the world.

We have a dual citizenship as Christians. We are citizens of the Kingdom of the Left (the world) and the Kingdom of the Right (Christ’s Kingdom). So, where do you think your most important citizenship is? The answer is obvious, isn’t it? We need to temper things that go on in the Kingdom of Left through the prism of the fact that we are primarily citizens of the Kingdom of the Right. Why? Because one of them is eternal and the other isn’t.

Before Pilate Jesus says, My kingdom is not of this world. Jesus came to save all who are part of the Kingdom of the Left so that they could made a part of The Kingdom of the Right. Such is the blessing that Jesus has given you. Jesus’ primary concern is people not politics. Ours should be the same as His disciples. His Church on earth is a mediating place – a place for all who love and believe in Him, regardless of their politics. In this Kingdom our focus is on higher things, more important things, eternal things.

As we/you move through this month – as you watch the polls, listen to the candidates, talking-heads, pundits and anyone else, move along the middle path. Remember the greater citizenship. Jesus shed His blood, gave His life on the cross, defeated death that you can made a part of this Kingdom. He said it all to Pilate: My Kingdom is not of this world.

Until next time (the last time),
PTK

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and to prayer. ~Second chapter of Acts

I have written hundreds of these “notes.” My notes will soon be coming to an end.  In these September “notes” I have chosen a significant text from the book of Acts.  This is what happened after Peter’s first sermon. It follows the Pentecost event.  Three thousand souls were converted through the proclamation the Gospel. They were baptized. They were added to the Church and then they did this: They devoted themselves to the study of God’s Word (the apostles’ teaching), to the fellowship (church), to the breaking of bread (this included the celebration The Lord’s Supper), and to prayer (the fruit of faith).

What are you devoted to? What does your church membership and participation look like? In my 34 years as Pastor here, many of our adults have never attended a Bible class. Way too many of our “members” have taken a capricious, indifferent posture regarding their connection to our church. Some are never in worship more than one- time in a row. The Elders lament monthly over how to reach them – how to reach out to them – how to move them to a greater devotion to Jesus and His Church – our church. I often wonder what it means to be a member of a church -our church.

To be sure, the other side of that is that God has raised up leaders and the faithful among us. They bear the burden and carry the weight of ministry here at Faith.

This is an example of what devotion to the apostles’ teaching looks like. We have an elderly member who worships on Monday nights. Do you know how she gets to church? She takes the Germantown elderly trans-portation bus – just about every Monday. What does your commitment and devotion look like? The baseline is worship. It is foundational. Everything else that happens begins here. Here is the fellowship. Here are The Sacraments. Here is where the Word is taught and preached.

As your Pastor, in the remains of the days I am with you, I encourage you to move from one-time in -a-row to four-in-row. In worship our faith is enriched and enflamed. The beautiful message of God’s favor and absolu-tion is pronounced. When we worship the third commandment is kept. God has created us to worship Him. This is what we will be doing for all- of eternity.

As is typical during a vacancy, some members tend to look elsewhere for a different church. I strongly en-courage you not to do that. This congregation needs your presence. Stay committed, connected, engaged. Continue to faithfully worship, give, participate.

They gave themselves to prayer. Pray for our leaders, The Call Committee, our vacancy Pastor, me and my family as I transition to a new season. Demonstrate to the Lord what you are made of – for He has never, nor ever will walk away from you.

May a new zeal rise-up at Faith Lutheran!

Until next time,
PTK

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their
hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. ~ Psalm 91:12
In these notes, I want to write about something that we, perhaps, give little thought: Angels
.
In the verse above God gives us the great promise that “he commands his angels concerning
you.” Angelic activity is God’s answer to the petition in The Lord’s Prayer: Deliver us from evil. One of the foremost ways in which He answers this petition is that He sends angels to guard and protect us. They are sent to keep us out of harm. Who is the foremost individual that wants to inflict harm upon us – especially those of us who are Christians? The devil. The one who is the author of evil. To be sure, such was the case for David, who wrote this Psalm, as his enemies want to destroy him.

Both the Philistines and King Saul (King of Israel) want David’s head on a platter. Saul is profoundly jealous of David. Remember now, David has just dumped the Philistine nuclear warhead known as Goliath. Because the Philistines had this warhead, they were perpetually “putting a stick” in the eye of Israel. The Philistines weren't bully’s on the block because they had the biggest bully on the block, quite literally. Goliath stood nine feet tall. But, as we know, the bigger they are the harder they fall. Nothing could be more true of the story of Goliath. Little David, with nothing more than a sling shot and deadly aim, fells the mighty Goliath. Let’s just say the Philistines were not happy! They want David dead.

We’re familiar with the expression, “No good deed goes unpunished.” Welcome to the world of David.  Because he kills Goliath, the Israelites make him a “rock star.” Pardon the pun. Rock star – one rock kills Goliath – ok – you get it! This turns King Saul into a lunatic. The popularity shifts from him to David. He too wants David dead.

David finds refuge in the caves of Philistia. “In the shadow of thy wings I will shelter until these calamities have passed,” David writes in that cave. He also writes the verse above. The angels would be sent, David would be spared. He would ascend to the throne of Israel.

I remember one of our former members – he now lives in Tennessee – sharing in a Bible class about how one time he was in Miami on business. He told the class he remembers crossing this busy street. He didn’t look both ways. As he was about to cross- the- street he felt something keep him on the curb. If he had stepped out into the street, he would have been hit by an oncoming car. He was convinced – as am I – that an angel saved him.

“For he will command his angels concerning you.” We don’t see them, although sometimes we do. I have heard personal stories about this. But they surround us, protect us, present to rescue us in service to their creator. Today, give God thanks for the foremost of His invisible creatures – angels!

Until September,
PTK