A Banner for the Nations He will raise a signal for nations far away, and whistle for them from the ends of the earth; and behold, quickly, speedily they come!  Isaiah 5:26 According to naval history, the word ensign “comes from the Latin word insignia that means emblem or banner. ...

Unity for a Purpose I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.  1 Corinthians 1:10 On April 26, 1847...

Linda Dressler January 28, 1953 – July 21, 2022 Linda Kay Dressler, 69, of Altenburg, Missouri passed away suddenly on Thursday, July 21, 2022 in Perryville, Missouri. Linda was born January 28, 1953 in Wood River, IL to Delmar A and Marcella C (Smith) Schoenleber. She and Steven L Dressler...

Martha’s Mistake Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord,...

Ordinary Time And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground.  He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.  Mark 4:26-27 Pastors love preaching the life of Christ.  From the prophecies of the...

Trust Not in Princes, But the Lord Will Reign Forever Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.  When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.  Blessed is he whose help is the...

“When the Strife is Fierce, the Warfare Long…” Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16 It used to be that Christian students might have...

Craig Busseau July 26, 1957–June 14, 2022 “Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.” Psalm 102:18 Craig Robert Busseau, age 64, of Columbia MO, left us suddenly to meet his Savior. Busseau was born on July...

Dale Fisk April 26, 1940 – June 3, 2022   Dale Fisk, age 82, died peacefully in his sleep at Southdale Hospital in Edina, Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Alvina Fisk and his younger sister, Darlene Fisk. Fisk was born in Williston, North Dakota...

Encouraged and Strengthened So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.  And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.  And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with...

Church Meetings and the Word of God  The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.  Acts 15:6 St. Luke’s record “The Acts of the Apostles” is not intended to be a prescription for the Church of every age, but does describe how God was at work...

Reverend Robert L. Kriete 9/17/1948 – 6/8/2022 Reverend Robert L. Kriete (73) of Columbia, Missouri was called Home to be with the Lord on June 8, 2022. Visitation will be held from 12:00 to 2:00 at Memorial Funeral Home in Columbia, Missouri, and a Celebration of Life will be at...

Pentecost Preaching This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.  God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. Acts 2:23-24 Even as the...

Lessons from a Liturgical Conundrum My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.    John 17:15-16 The Seventh Sunday or Week of Easter is...

The Passion of the Christ Sequel He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Luke 24:46-47 A sequel...

Now, But Not Yet Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. John 16:22 As young college student at Concordia in Seward, I remember the Biblical studies courses helping me to explore God’s Word with much...

Rev. Dr. John Schmidtke September 23rd, 1962–May 12, 2022 __________________________________   John Schmidtke was a creative leader in urban ministry, but more than that, he was a pastor who served a congregation and the community for more than 30 years.  His legacy in the Hyde Park Community will be more...

Why Jesus? I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10b Years ago I encountered a young boy who asked me why our group had come to their country in Central America.  Working through a translator, I began to explain that we were there to serve...

Ventures Bold and New After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way… He said to him, “Follow me.”  John 21:1, 19b In the resurrection accounts of Matthew and Mark, the angel tells the women that Jesus would be going ahead of...

Sent to SHINE!  “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.”  John 1:6-8 Young men and women will once again be sent out...

31,500 Steps That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem…So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening...

God’s Definite Plan When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”  Matthew 26:1-2 The events of Holy Week should not have come as a surprise to those closest...

May His Blood Be on Us! So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.”  And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our...

Rev. Dennis Schwab August 27, 1948 – March 30, 2022 Rev. Dennis Schwab was born August 27, 1948 to Henry Louis Schwab and Hazel Henroid Schwab in St. Louis, Missouri.  He was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church where he later attended grade school.  He attended Lutheran South High School...

The One Who is Mocked as King is Truly the King! And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of...