July/August Intercom/E-News

Minnesota North District - LCMS

At the 2022 MN North Convention, we approved resolution 4-1, “To Confess the doctrine of Closed Communion and encourage its practice.” The MN North Board of Directors desires to fulfill this resolution through a few monthly newsletter articles written by our Regional Vice Presidents. We commend these articles for the edification of our beloved MN North District churches, schools, and workers. To Him be all the Glory! ~ Rev. Brady Finnern, District President

Dear Friends in Christ,

Last month, I presented you with these two statements, arguing that the second statement is true, while the first is false.

Closed communion is an unloving practice that hinders the Church’s outreach.

Closed communion is a loving practice that proclaims the Gospel.

I may have convinced you that closed communion is loving in last month’s article, but how could closed communion be considered proclaiming the Gospel? Isn’t it exactly the opposite? Isn’t it a bold scolding of the law when you tell someone he cannot commune?

No, closed communion is a confession of the Gospel because it is a confession of Christ. Christ’s risen Body and Blood are present under the bread and wine. The same Body and Blood born of Mary, that walked the earth, that hung on the cross, rose from the dead, and sits enthroned at the right hand of God – that same Body and Blood of our Savior is in, with, and under the bread and wine. The Body and Blood is powerful to save but when taken apart from faith brings judgment. We practice closed communion because we believe the Lord’s Supper is the Gospel. Many churches who practice open communion don’t believe the Lord’s Supper is or does anything. It is simply a reminder of Christ’s death with His Body and Blood symbolized by the bread and wine.

If you read the historic writings of Martin Luther and Martin Chemnitz, they will teach you of the inseparable link between the person of Christ, fully God and fully man in one person, and the Lord’s Supper, His real bodily presence under the bread and wine. Not surprisingly those who deny Christ’s Body and Blood in the Supper also hold to false beliefs about the person of Christ. If you want to read more about this look at Luther’s “That These Words of Christ ‘This is My Body,’ etc., Still Stand Firm Against the Fanatics” (1527, found in the American Edition of Luther’s Works, vol. 37)

The Lord’s Supper delivers Christ’s Body and Blood to us Christians for the forgiveness of sins. As Luther taught us, with the forgiveness of sins comes life and salvation. It should not surprise us that so great a gift is accompanied by great responsibility and also great conflict. The Devil has his arrows aimed against this precious gift. May God grant us faithfulness to His Word because with faithful teaching and practice, we demonstrate true love for all people by preaching the Good News of Jesus’ death for sinners.

In Christ,

Rev. Bruce Timm

Third Vice President

MN North District - LCMS

Rev. James Ritter was installed at Joy Lutheran Church in Cambridge on June 17th. Pictured are: Rev. Jacob Gillard, Rev. James Ritter, Rev. Brady Finnern and Rev. Terry Grzybowski.

Rev. Keith Ratcliffe was installed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls on June 11th. Pictured are: (back) Rev. Chris Lieske, Rev. Gary Rehborg, Rev. Andrew Ratcliffe; (middle) Rev. Eric Souer, Rev. Roger Lange; (front) Rev. Craig Palach, Rev. Keith Ratcliffe and Rev. Ross Fritz.

The 68th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod will be held from July 29 to Aug. 3, 2023, at the Baird Center in downtown Milwaukee.

The Synod will gather under the convention theme, “We Preach Christ Crucified,” based on 1 Cor. 1:18–25. In a world of uncertainty, the church’s proclamation, mission, and identity remain the same. We preach Christ crucified.

LEARN MORE>>

Over the next few weeks, congregations and church workers will be getting an email reminder to update their contact information for the Lutheran Annual and the LCMS locator. The deadline is September 1, 2023 for updates to be included in the 2024 Lutheran Annual. After the deadline, you will still be able to make updates, which will be reflected on the LCMS Locator. The Rosters and Statistics team is available to support you with any questions you have by emailing their shared email at [email protected].

Remember to share your updated contact information with District Office, too! [email protected].

The MN North District Lutheran Laymen's League has established a website for their September 23, 2023 Fall Conference featuring Lutheran Hour Speaker Rev. Michael Ziegler. Find it HERE.

On September 23rd, Trinity in New York Mills will host the Each 1 Reach 1: Generation to Generation evangelism workshop presented by Rev. Roger Paavola.

Rev. Paavola serves as the Mid-South District President and has deep roots in Northern Minnesota.

For more information contact Trinity at [email protected] or 218-385-2450

The church’s place and voice are often disregarded in today’s society. Political disagreements, social ills and moral decay challenge the church to speak and act — but how can it do so effectively? That’s the focus of Concordia Seminary’s 33rd Annual Theological Symposium “Church and Society: Living by Hope in a Secular Age,” slated for Sept. 19-20 on campus. Registration is now open.

This year’s 24^th annual Christ Academy High School at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana took place from June 18^th through July 1^st. Fifty-seven young men participated in Christ Academy: Timothy School, while thirty-five young women participated in Christ Academy: Phoebe School. This two-week discernment program serves to aid high-school-aged men and women who are interested in theology in considering pastoral and diaconal work.

At the Seminary, they were immersed in the daily life of Christ-centered worship, confessional catechesis, and fun time together with their peers. They worshipped with the seminary community in Kramer Chapel four times a day, learned from seventeen professors from the Seminary and abroad, and welcomed one guest lecturer and a panel of local pastors and deaconesses. They had opportunities to form lasting friendships through group activities like bowling, various team sports throughout the Academy, and a formal banquet dinner followed by English country dancing! Lastly, the Christ Academy students participated in service projects on campus and around Fort Wayne.

MN North District participants were: Ellie and Eva Anderson; Isabelle and Gregory McCarty; and Magdalena Ulschmid.

This month's blog includes a list of accurate, timely resources.

Does your congregation have news to share? Send your photos and stories to our Lutheran Witness Editor, Rev. Travis Lauterbach at: [email protected]

The Minnesota South District office is seeking a full-time Business Manager. This individual is responsible for managing the resources of the Minnesota South District, LCMS, to their full potential in support of the district’s mission, cultivating leaders intentionally engaged in the mission of God.

Headquartered in Burnsville, Minnesota, a southern suburb of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, the district serves The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod churches and schools located in the southern one-third of the state.

Please share this opportunity with someone who may be interested!

Click here for the job description. To be considered, send a completed application and resume to [email protected] by July 21, 2023.

MN North District | PO Box 604, Brainerd, MN 56401 | 218-829-1781 | [email protected] | www.mnnlcms.org