From the Pastor August + In the Year of Our Lord + 2011

T H E G O O D S H E P H E R D L U T H E R A N C H U R C H

THE NEWSLETTER

Question For Pastor: “How are the hymns chosen that we sing during the Divine Service?”

This is a good question because I doubt that many people know the amount of time and thought that goes in to picking the hymno-

dy for each service of the Church year.

Let me begin with a few facts: In the new Lutheran Service Book (Hymnal) there are a total of 635 hymns. These are broken down

into a total of 42 different sections. These sections cover The Festival portion of the Church Year: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany,

Lent, Holy Week, Easter, and Pentecost, as well as the Non-Festival portion. One of the beauties of Lutheran hymnody is that

hymns are written based on Biblical texts, not based on an emotional feeling. That’s not to say that emotions can’t be felt when

singing one of the great hymns of yesterday or today, which brings up another important aspect of the LSB – the range of music it

contains. Hymn texts flow from the pens of the early Church fathers (as early as the 3rd and 4th centuries) to hymns written within

the past 10 years. The musical compositions (tunes) also range from the 1300’s to modern.

Just one more set of facts before we get to the answer to the question. Since the beginning of the Church Year, Advent 2010, a

total of 106 different hymns have been sung during worship services at TGSLC (not including funerals and the Christmas Eve

service). Thirteen hymns have been sung more than once, with the most frequent having been sung 4 times.

That finally brings us to how the hymns are selected. Every week the service has a theme. This can be determined by the season

we are in, i.e.; Advent, Holy Week, etc., or by the pericopes (portions of Scripture) that are followed during the Church Year.

There are hymns that are appropriate to be sung during different times of the year. There are also hymns that fit the text upon

which the pastor is preaching.

To be sure, everyone has their own personal favorites – but how appropriate would it be to sing Silent Night, or Christ Has Arisen,

Alleluia, on any given Sunday? Can we do it? Yes. Is it good, right, and salutary? Probably not. The same goes for singing any

song repetitively – just because we like it. After all, the reason most people like certain hymns is because they are familiar with the

tune or they like the words (or know them by heart), but I doubt any person came from their mother’s womb singing Amazing

Grace or The Old Rugged Cross – they learned them over the course of time.

Which brings us to the last reason for the picking of hymns – at The Good Shepherd we sing hymns

from LSB. Why don’t we use other song books or hymnals? The hymns in LSB have gone through doc-

trinal review by the Commission on Worship of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. That means

that the words contained in these hymns is in agreement with what we believe, teach, and confess as a

Church body. Many of the “popular” or “contemporary” songs of today speak in direct opposition to Lu-

theran doctrine.

Finally, I offer you this. On Wednesday evenings, prior to our Bible classes, we have had in the past, and

will have again beginning this month, what we call “Hymn Sing.” All members of the congregation are

invited. We learn about the hymns we will be singing the next Sunday, how they tie into the text, as

well as getting to hear them and sing a few stanzas. Also, you will find in this issue of the Newsletter, as

in every issue, all of the hymns we will be singing this month. Look ahead. Read the words of the

hymns. Purchase an LSB. If you have a computer, you can access www.lutheranmusic.com. There you

can listen to most of the hymns that are in LSB.

This is an opportunity to maybe even develop a new favorite hymn – one that not only moves you emo-

tionally, but that speaks to your heart about what Christ has done for you.

In His service,

Pastor von Hindenburg

Inside this issue:

PERICOPES AND HYMNS

2

LETTER FROM PRESI-

DENT HARRISON 3

UPCOMING BIBLE CLASSES

4

FUNERAL PACKET 5

BIRTHDAYS/HOMEBOUND

6

CALENDAR 7

WEEKLY OPPORTUNITIES

8

Page 2

This Month’s Pericopes and Hymns

Please use the following readings and hymns during the week

to prepare yourself for worship

August 7—Proper 14

Job 38:4-18

Romans 10:5-17

Matthew 14:22-33

816—From all that dwell below the skies

607—From depths of woe I cry to Thee

717—Eternal Father, strong to save

August 14—Proper 15

Isaiah 56:1, 6-8

Romans 11:1-2a, 13-15, 28-32

Matthew 15:21-28

901—Open now Thy gates of beauty

571—God loved the world so that He gave

795—Voices raised to You we offer

August 21—Proper 16

Isaiah 51:1-6

Romans 11:33-12:8

Matthew 16:13-20

614—”As surely as I live,” God said

645—Built on the Rock the Church stall stand

730—What is the world to me

August 2011

August 28—Proper 17

Jeremiah 15:15-21

Romans 12:9-21

Matthew 16:21-28

655—Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word

531—Hail, Thou once despised Jesus

861—Christ be my Leader

Page 4

August 2011

Beginning Wednesday, August 17, our evening class will resume.

The first class in entitled, “Who Am I, and What Am I Doing Here?”

This is a six-week class with a very provocative and entertaining video presentation featuring Dr. Joel Biermann. He

graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in 1987 and served as a parish pastor for 11 years, the majority of those

at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Hold, Michigan. In the parish, Rev. Biermann enjoyed leading a ministry focused on

evangelism and Christian growth in sanctification and discipleship. In 1998, he returned to Concordia Seminary to pur-

sue a doctoral degree in systematic theology. Since completing that degree in 2002, he has served on the faculty of the

seminary as associate professor of systematic theology.

After viewing each video, the class will participate in open discussion and questions based on the presentations. The

topics covered in these sessions are:

1. In the Beginning

2. Coming to Terns with the Law

3. Worldviews Collide

4. In the Groove

5. Two Taboo Topics—with a Twist

6. Living in the End

On October 5, we will begin at eight-week study, “Revelation: A Testament of Hope,” featuring Dr. Mark

Brighton, associate professor of Biblical Languages at Concordia, Irvine. Members of TGSLC as well as members of other

LCMS congregations in our area have requested this study.

In this eight session DVD series, Dr. Brighton helps viewers see that the primary purpose of this book is to reveal Christ.

It is a Gospel message of hope that Christ controls all things for His good and gracious purpose.

Dr. Brighton starts with chapter one to show the viewers how the content of Revelation applies to their lives. Sessions

include:

1. How to Read and Understand Revelation (Chapter 1)

2. Christ's Letters to the Church and the Inaugural Vision (Chapters 2-5)

3. The Seals: Christ's People Preserved (Chapters 6-8:1)

4. The Trumpets: Christ's People Witness (Chapters 8-11)

5. The Book Interlude: Christ's People Victorious Over Evil (Chapters 12-14)

6. The Bowls and Last Judgments: The Cosmic Exodus (Chapters 15-19)

7. The Kingdom of Christ and Satan's Doom (Chapter 20)

8. The New Heaven and Earth (Chapters 21-22)

Come! And invite a friend to join you for both of these studies!

Wednesday Night Bible Class News

Page 5

August 2011

On July 14, Vanguard teamed up once again with Oh, Those Brown Bag Days

to feed more homeless and hurting than they did in April! Vanguard provid-

ed the 120 sandwiches, over 300 bottles of water were donated by the case

from individual members, and 120 pounds of red and green seedless grapes

were generously donated by Marina Farms, from whom we hope to have

continued support.

This is a great outreach project, showing compassion and love to those less fortunate than ourselves. We are

also working on new locations to expand our reach. Every bag lunch includes a brochure about Jesus, letting

recipients know that these gifts of food come from the hand of Christ Himself.

For our future efforts, please save your plastic grocery bags and bring them to church on an on-going basis.

We will use these to pack up the lunches, and then those served will also have a more protective bag to store

their belongings, instead of a paper lunch sack. Reuse, reduce, recycle! We can all be good stewards in this

way.

(If you are interested further in Marina Farms, they are at 5454 S. Centinela Ave, LA, 90066. Phone number is

310-827-3049.)

Also, please remember the Vanguard “Swap Meet and Food Fair” on August 13. Check your weekly bulletins

for further info!

Works of Mercy in our Community

News from Vanguard

Funeral Packets Death is not natural. Death is not normal. Death is not pleasant. In fact, death stinks! But death is a fact

of life. Regardless of what some may hope for, death comes to every man. I suppose the “good news”

about death—at least for a believer—is that one’s soul is in heaven awaiting the Last Day. For loved ones

left behind however, there is grieving to be done, and arrangements to be made. Last minute planning is

never something we look forward to, and when our hearts are heavy, it is even more of a burden.

At the Voter’s Assembly meeting held in June Pastor made available a Funeral Packet for every member of

the congregation. This is an all inclusive planning guide for your, or a loved one’s, funeral. There are Funer-

al Service Guidelines for members of the congregation, suggested Scripture texts (Funeral Propers), suggest-

ed hymns, a sample obituary (one for your keeping and one for the Pastor) and a simple sheet which gives

your request for a Church Funeral Service (again, a copy for you and one for the Pastor).

Please take the time to read, pray about, and complete a packet for yourself and others in your family. Re-

turn the completed forms to the Church office where they will be kept in a confidential file. If you did not

receive a copy, please call the church office and we will make one available. Feel free to make as many cop-

ies as you may need.

Page 6

A birthday prayer when you remember your fel-

low congregants: Watch over your child, ___,

O Lord, as his/her days increase; bless and

guide him/her, wherevers/he may be.

Strengthen him/her when s/he stands; comfort

him/her when discouraged or sorrowful; raise

him/her up if s/he falls. Lead him/her always

to the Cross, where forgiveness may be found,

and the peace which passes all understanding

abide all the days of his/her life. Through Je-

sus Christ our Lord, Amen.

August 2011

Birthdays 7 Ralph Prey

29 Royce Morton

Art Dawson - 949-493-5385

Mickey Dwyer— 310-671-5517

Marjorie Haener— 310-891-3348

Jeanette Hedrick— 310-675-5198

Ken Lange— 310-324-2160

Jean Peterson— 310-670-2859

Evelyn Sibbing— 310-973-7590

Adena Yeates—310-643-6546

Those as Home

Summer Handbell Concert at Immanuel, Redondo Beach

On August 28 at 4 PM, all are invited to the patio at Immanuel Lutheran Church,

Redondo Beach to enjoy a handbell concert featuring the music of Joyful Music

Kreations. Feel free to bring hors d’oeuvres, snacks, blankets and lawn chairs, as

you’ll be chilling in the ocean breeze as the sun goes down.

Hymn Sing is Returning

Beginning Wednesday, August 17, we will resume Hymn Sing. This special class led by Karina

Lindsey (Pastor’s wife) is a wonderful addition to our Wednesday evening Bible study. During

the half hour preceding the class, you will have the opportunity to learn some of the history

of the hymns we will be singing the following Sunday—how they correspond to the texts ap-

pointed for that day. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to sing a few stanzas of the

hymns. If they are familiar, it will be great practice—if not—it will be a learning experience.

Come and join us at 6:30 on Wednesday nights. Our organist, Jay Rogers, will be accompany-

ing us for the hymn sing.

Remember in Prayer

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310-6

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902 S Maple St.

Inglewood, CA 90301

310-671-7644

Royce Morton, Administrative

Assistant

Jay Rogers, Organist

thegoodshepherdinglewood.org

+ Join Us for Liturgical Worship +

Reverend Bruce J. von Hindenburg, Pastor

Sunday morning Adult Bible Class—8:30 a.m.

Sunday Divine Service—10:00 a.m.

Tuesday morning Bible class—10:00 a.m.

Wednesday Bible Class/Midweek Service—7:00 p.m.

Private Confession and Absolution—By Appointment

+ + +

Preaching God’s Word to Inglewood and beyond since 1935

T H E G O O D S H E P H E R D L U T H E R A N C H U R C H

President—Norm Morton

Vice President—Franklin Tilley

Secretary—Mary Flett

Treasurer—Clinton Galloway

Financial Secretary—Dick Huhn

Board of Elders—Leon Tarr, Chair; Franklin Tilley; Jim Weishaar

Board of Trustees—Jim Weishaar, Chair; Leon Tarr

Board of Evangelism—Karina Lindsey, Chair; Royce Morton

+

Altar Guild—Gayle Tarr, Chair

LWML—Royce Morton, Gayle Tarr, Co-Presidents

Ushers—Norm Morton, Chair

Future Needs—Susie Fritts, Royce Morton, Gayle Tarr

Special Services—Mary Flett, Karina Lind-sey

Council and Committee Members