Over the past six weeks, we at FPC have been blessed with incredible teaching from Dr. Martin Dotterweich, who has shared with us the life, writings, and impact of Martin Luther, in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the posting of his famous 95 Theses. I am struck that when Martin Luther posted the Theses, it was a simple and common form of communication and teaching. Maybe not quite the spam or junk mail of his day, it nevertheless served a very similar purpose. (By the way, if you missed Dr. Dotterweich's teaching, you still have a chance to hear him next Wednesday, October 18, at 6:15 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, when he presents "The Heroes of the Reformation," the capstone to this fall's Wednesday programs.)

What has captured my attention from the series has been the idea that Martin Luther is a giant among theologians throughout Christendom. He is someone who changed not only the course of theological and biblical study but also, as Dr. Dotterweich cogently argued, of all history. And yet, Martin Luther was a simple monk, who served in a fairly common, some would even say, backwater location, and whose teaching and preaching influenced and transformed first his own life and then, like the stone thrown into the pond, rippled out to change the world. One man in conversation, dialogue, reflection, and yes, I am saying it, "wrestling" with God was personally transformed and then used by God to transform others. The actions of one have had profound positive and life-giving impact, just like the ripple in the pond, and now affect you and me some 500 years later.

This week I'm reminded as well that the actions of one may also transform lives negatively, actions that bring death, grief, and profound sorrow to many. The quandary is why or how does this happen, or more to the point, why does God allow this to happen? The theological word for this dilemma is theodicy. I have never found a satisfactory answer. I'm not sure there is one, and much better thinkers than I have tried to find one. The only comfort for me in theodicy continues to be that God's own son suffered and died, which means that God has experienced the same depths of despair, grief, sorrow that I, that we, do.

In the mystery of incarnation, Jesus took on human form, not like putting on a coat but becoming everything we are, experiencing everything that we do. At a simple level, Christ and God feel the simple realities of humanness, hunger, thirst, and anger, and the most profound realities of fear, grief, and even death. It is because of this truth that Paul wrote to the church in Rome, near the end of his own life, a profound statement that was meant as an encouragement for faithful living: "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). In this only do I find solace and comfort, praying that it will comfort and solace you as well. 

Next Wednesday, October 18, Dr. Martin Dotterweich will return to our Adult Learning segment to follow up on his series Martin Luther and the 95 Theses with "The Heroes of the Reformation." This talk with be the capstone to an incredible semester of lectures by a gifted communicator and teacher.

Before the evening programs for adults, youth, and children, we will share a fellowship dinner of beef stew, corn, cornbread, salad, and dessert at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The Adult Learning segment will follow at 6:20; the Middle School Gathering and Wednesday Night Kids will meet separately at 6:00; and High School Small Groups will meet at 7:00.

Lawns around town are green but flecked with fallen leaves. These next few weeks will most likely be the last hurrah for the mowing season. While there is still any kind of encouragement from the weather, however, the grass will continue to call for our attention. We are on it! When you come to church this Sunday, you will see the handiwork, or perhaps we should say the footiwork, of JB Madison. David Moore will make all presentable and correct the following week.

Join our mowing team! You can sign up in any season by contacting Team Captain Randy Cook. You can reach him by email at [email protected] or by phone at 423-956-1541. We welcome men and women, adults and teens, and even small children can move debris to the curb. If you're unfamiliar with Scag mowers, Randy will be happy to give you a lesson on our Tiger Cat. 

Sunday's music participants: Sanctuary Choir.

Sunday's music: Today's anthem, God Is My Shepherd, is an adaptation of the 23rd Psalm by the great composer Antonin Dvořák (1841-1904). This psalm is from Biblical Sings, a song cycle that originally was written for solo alto voice and piano

	Antonin Dvořák

accompaniment. The cycle is not only considered the culmination of Dvořák's song oeuvre but also is a work of great spiritual depth, in which the composer speaks to God of his anxieties, trust, and joy. It is also the most fundamental expression of Dvořák's humble faith in God, without any trace of ceremonial pathos. The songs are deliberately divested of all signs of flamboyance and are as enchanting for their absolute simplicity, humility, and sincerity as they are for their pure musical invention. With Biblical Songs, Dvořák attained an even higher level of intimacy, coupled with the minimal use of musical devices. The songs all share a rare intensity of emotion and exceptional melodic beauty. At the same time, however, while maintaining stylistic cohesion, the whole cycle conceals within it an unusual diversity of expression: from moments of painful anxiety, then tranquil meditation, to the joy of human existence.

Organist's footnotes: In October we are exploring new compositions from the Augsburg Organ Library's publication, Reformation, recently released for the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

The tune "Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier" (Prelude) was composed by Johann Rudolph Ahle (1625-1673). Ahle was organist at St. Blasius Church in Mühlhausen and was known for his sacred choral music. This setting was composed by Wayne L. Wold (b. 1954), who is Professor of Music and Department Chair, Hood College, Frederick , Maryland. Mr. Wold is also Director of Music Ministry at First Lutheran Church, Ellicott City, Maryland.

"Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele" (Offertory) is a Lutheran hymn in German, with lyrics by Johann Franck and a melody by Johann Crüger from 1649. A song for Lutheran Communion, it first appeared in 1649 in Crüger's hymnal Geistliche Kirchen-Melodien and later in the 1653 edition of his Praxis pietatis melica. The hymn was often set to music to be played or sung under communion. This setting was composed by Artur Kapp (1878-1952), who was Professor and Conductor at the Tallinn Conservatory, Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, Estonia.

"Wir glauben all an einen Gott" (Postlude) is a Lutheran hymn, a paraphrase of the creed, by Martin Luther and first published in Johann Walter's chorale hymnal, Eyn geystlich Gesangk Buchleyn. It was used in several musical settings, including Kleine Geistliche Konzerte I, SWV 303, by Heinrich Schütz, and Johann Sebastian Bach's Clavier-Übung III, BWV 680 and 681. Jacob B. Weber (b. 1988), the composer of this setting, is Kantor at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Dearborn, Michigan.

We gratefully acknowledge recent gifts to the Music Projects Fund in memory of these individuals:

Helen Dorsey: from David & Dee Ginn

Diane Flannagan: from Fred & Heidi Harkleroad

Sunday, October 15

8:30 a.m.       Worship, Fellowship Hall

9:45 a.m.       Sunday School

11:00 a.m.     Worship, Sanctuary

4:00 p.m.       Evangelism & Outreach Committee, Room 117

Monday, October 16

5:30 p.m.       Adult Handbells

Tuesday, October 17

9:00 a.m.       Staff Meeting, Room 117

10:00 a.m.     Morning Prayer Group, Conference Room

7:00 p.m.       Boy Scout Troop 3, Scout Wing

Wednesday, October 18

9:30 a.m.       Women's DVD Bible Study, Coffee Klatch Room

4:45 p.m.       Savior's Singers Children's Choir

5:15 p.m.       Baby & Toddler Care, Rooms 34-36

5:30 p.m.       Fellowship Dinner, Fellowship Hall

6:00 p.m.       Wednesday Night Kids

6:00 p.m.       Middle School Gathering

6:00 p.m.       Pastor Nominating Committee, Room 117

6:15 p.m.       Adult Learning Program, Fellowship Hall

7:00 p.m.       High School Small Groups

7:15 p.m.       Sanctuary Choir

7:30 p.m.       8:30 Worship Team, Fellowship Hall

Thursday, October 19

7:00 a.m.       Men's Bible Study, Parlor

12:00 p.m.     Noon Bible Study, Room 117