As you prepare to celebrate the incarnation of the Son of God on Dec. 24 & 25, contemplate these profound words from Johann Gerhard:
“This is the wondrous accomplishment of divine righteousness and mercy. One man had sinned, one man should pay, but there was a total lack of capability to do so. God was able to pay, but He didn’t owe it; that’s why God became man, so that then the payment would be credited to man, since the debt was incurred by man and at the same time was fully paid because the payment was derived from God. The wrath of God was inflamed by sin. This wrath was greater than what heaven and earth would be able to endure, for it was as big as God Himself. Therefore, to endure and assuage this wrath, an almighty power was needed. Such a power resides only with God; that’s why God became man so that the wrath of God would direct itself upon the truly guilty because He was a man, and yet was able to bear this huge burden because He was God. Through sin the inborn righteousness of man was lost; if he was to be reconciled with God, he had to obtain this righteousness again. Man himself could not achieve this, for anything he might have done, such he already owed to God beforehand. Thus also no angel or any other creature was able to earn righteousness for man, for whatever they did, they were already obligated to render to God beforehand. That’s why God became man…” (Seven Christmas Sermons, p. 37 & 38)
Good people all, this Christmas time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done,
In sending His beloved Son.
“The Wexford Carol”
Glenn Obenberger
2025 Reformation Lectures
The 2025 Reformation Lectures were very well received. The topic of this year’s lectures was Luther’s Great Treatises of 1525: Not by My Own Reason or Strength. The lectures were recorded and are now posted. You can watch them via the following link: https://blc.edu/campus-life/annual-events/reformation-lectures/
Our Bethany Lutheran College
Bethany Lutheran College is thankful to share that this year’s Give to Bethany Day was a wonderful success. More than 525 gifts were received, totaling $180,604 and surpassing the college’s $150,000 goal. With additional matching gifts, the final amount reached $255,604.
These generous contributions directly support Bethany’s Christ-centered mission and the daily experience of its students. As Director of The Bethany Fund, Don Westphal, noted, “We see God’s hand at work in the way our community rallies around Bethany each year.”
Thank you to all who prayed for and supported this effort. Soli Deo Gloria!
Installation in Australia
On Sunday, November 9, Skyler Hepler was installed as the pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Pastor Hepler was commissioned by the ELS as a missionary last June and has recently moved with his wife, Erin, to Australia.
Pastor Nate Abrahamson officiated the service, shared the message and performed the rite of installation. Other pastors took part in the laying on of hands.
Harmony Among the ELS Clergy
In 2023 the ELS Planning and Coordinating Committee identified an area in the synod that needed to be addressed—improving harmony among the ELS clergy. Therefore, the goal to address it was to raise the awareness of the disharmony among the ELS clergy and encourage a self-monitoring approach as sanctified brothers in Christ to keep it in check (to be continued in January 2026 Newsletter).
Pastors and Wives Retreat: Hopeful, Cheerful, and Undaunted
Registration is open for the Pastors and Wives Retreat put on by the Pastoral Support Committee. We will be gathering in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, on February 3–5 for presentations, relaxation, and worship. Find out more and register at https://els.org/retreat/.
Lutheran Sentinel
Our sincerest apologies to all our Lutheran Sentinel subscribers. Due to unforeseen circumstances, we were unable to publish the September–October issue. Your next invoice will be credited with the cost of one issue per subscription.
2026 Lutheran Sentinel Themes
(Please consider letting Pr. Braun know your willingness to write an article on one of the following topics.)
January–February – Vocation
March–April – The Case for the Resurrection
May–June – Active Obedience of Christ
July–August – Synod Convention
September–October – Christian Education
November–December – Christmas in the OT
Upcoming Events
December 7 – Charter Sunday for mission congregation of Eagle Lake Lutheran Church, Eagle Lake, Minnesota
December 25 – Christmas Day
January 9 – Synod Review Committee
January 26 – Committee on Nominations
January 27 – Convention Planning Meeting
January 29 – Committee on Archives and History
View current vacancies and calls in the Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
Download this newsletter as a bulletin insert.