Dear Members and Friends of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod,
Are you entering the new year nursing a grudge, unwilling to forgive someone who has offended you? Living in “the loop of unforgiveness” is an embittering way to live and worse, it has potential of separating you from God now and in eternity. I have been reading a book entitled “Unforgivable?” and would recommend it to pastors and laity alike. Consider this excerpt:
“If someone took a chain saw and cut your arm off because she was angry with you, you would not walk around ignoring the fact that you only have one arm. When people asked you about how you lost your arm, you wouldn’t respond, “Oh, I kind of forgot I was missing an arm. I don’t really remember how I lost it.”… Trying to forget what happened will impede your ability to forgive. Ignoring sin and acting as if nothing ever occurred will cause bitterness to fester within you…. The more you try to forget about it, the more you think about it. And the more you think about it, the more you blame yourself for not being able to forgive because you can’t forget what took place… Attempting to forget so that you can forgive is an ungodly approach to forgiving that keeps us in the prison of unforgiveness. We do not forgive to forget. Neither do we wait to forgive until we forget. We forgive others because God in Christ forgives us. Connecting forgiveness with forgetting takes our focus off Jesus and what He had done and promises for us.” [“Unforgivable?” by Ted Kober and Mark Rockenbach, CPH, 2023 pp. 188–189.]
If you are struggling with being in “a loop of unforgiveness,” there is hope for you. God has chosen to remember your sin as forgiven in His Son forevermore. Continue to learn of Jesus and have a blessed new year!
Glenn Obenberger
Christmas at Bethany
The Bethany Lutheran College Bands and Choirs presented the 2024 Christmas Concerts in early December to four completely sold out audiences. As you continue to celebrate the birth of our Savior this Christmas season, please take the time to view the Christmas at Bethany Concert on the college’s YouTube page. The faculty, staff, and students of Bethany wish you a Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year! (https://youtu.be/BPg1BjIBkYI?si=mByhGX2cIkg0FJoe)
Also available on YouTube is Bethany’s original production of “What Child is This?” a nativity play written and directed by BLC Professor Peter Bloedel. (https://youtu.be/fkS1ocYGgnI?si=pkcf7PHDo5qEyPE7)
Bethany Fall Commencement
Commencement was held at Bethany Lutheran College on Friday, December 6, for the Fall 2024 graduates.
“Never Confounded” Retreat
We just observed and celebrated the anniversary of the birth of our Savior. It is a wonderful time for the Church to meditate on the gift of God’s Son, that He has done and is doing everything for our salvation. During the Christmas and (soon to come) Epiphany seasons, it is also a good time to consider giving a gift to your pastor who has preached the Gospel to you. Unlike Bethlehem, there is still “room in the inn” for him to be registered for the “Never Confounded” Retreat (February 17–21, 2025). We encourage the congregations to pick up the cost of registration and travel for this February retreat. It will be an encouragement to him as he prepares to serve you through the seasons of Lent and Easter. You can find more information at https://els.org/retreat.
Please consider supporting your pastor and helping him attend. Registration cost will increase on January 13.
Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary
Our Bethany Bookstore has these two items that may be of interest for you to purchase as a gift coming up in 2025 (birthdays, anniversaries, confirmations, etc.):
- Leather cover (not soft) and you may wish to have a name or significant date imprinted on it, $30 each.
- Spiral bound (for an organist or pianist) $32 each.
Call 507-344-7777 or 800-944-1722; email bookstore@blc.edu to place your order.
Upcoming Events
January 10 – Synod Review Committee
January 13–14 – Board for Lutheran Schools
January 13 – Committee on Nominations
January 20–21 – Board for Youth Outreach
February 7 – Planning & Coordinating Committee
February 10–11 – Board of Regents
February 13 – Board of Trustees
February 17–21 – Never Confounded Retreat
February 27–28 – Board for Home Outreach
View current vacancies and calls in the Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
Download this newsletter as a bulletin insert.