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September
27, 2009
Our second lesson this morning is again from the book of James.
( James 5:13-20) According to this chapter, the
marks of Christian community include praying for those who are sick
or in need, celebrating with those who are in good health, restoring
those who have strayed, confessing sin to one another and offering
forgiveness to one another.
Are we seeing those marks here in the Christian community known
as St. Paul Lutheran Church? We do…but do you see them?
Could you name them?
Obviously we pray for those who are sick and in need. Each Sunday,
your prayer concerns are requested by the pastor, and prayed on
your behalf as the “prayers of the church”. We often
also include prayers of thanks for healing, or for new birth,
or birthdays and anniversaries being celebrated.
But are we about the business of restoring those who have strayed?
I think this “mark of Christian community” needs a
little work. There are people missing from our worship. Do you
know who they are? Have you contacted them to see how they are
doing? Would you be willing to join a team of people to do that
kind of compassionate concern and follow-up? If not, why not?
And then there’s the business of confessing sin to one
another. Whoa. That’s asking for a lot of healthy conversation
and some might even feel like it is more than a little intrusive!
You might be saying to yourself “no WAY is that my job”.
Perhaps you have even decided that is the pastor’s job.
Certainly it is in her job description, to receive confession
and pronounce forgiveness. The pastor does this for the whole
congregation in a part of the worship service each Sunday.
But it is important for each of us to think about. Have we lost
the sense of community that would find such confession important
and even a sign of integrity as a Christian? If I have sinned
against you, offended you, ignored you, gossiped about you, taken
you for granted…shouldn’t I reconcile with you in
the name of Christ? It’s something to think about!
September
20, 2009
During the four weeks of September this year, the New Testament
lesson (the second lesson) read each Sunday is from the book of
James.
The adult forum will also be studying this Biblical book for a few
weeks.
Called to discipleship—the focus of this panel of our bulletin
cover—could easily be the title of the overarching theme
of James. James is one of seven letters in the Bible known as
“epistles”. These letters are not addressed to a particular
congregation but are written for a general audience. It does not
give the reader a complete picture of Christianity. The name of
Christ is only mentioned twice in this book. There is not talk
about Christ’s sufferings, death or resurrection. Doctrinal
matters are not the focus of James. He is writing to people who
are already believers and he is telling them where they must be
careful and where they are falling short. So this book is not
an evangelistic tract intended to win converts. It is a guide-book
for Christian living.
The epistle of James is one of the letters that was not immediately
included in the “canon” or accepted books of the Bible,
in the early church. (Luther really wasn’t sure it should
be included!) It was not written by nor connected to one of the
apostles. It had no local church to vouch for it. Some of the
material seems to be out of harmony with the rest of Scripture.
Yet because the letter spoke the truth about certain aspects of
Christianity, the five-chapter book of James won its way into
the Bible. It has stood the test of time.
One simple verse sums up the message of James - James 1:22,
“Be doers of the word, not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
Every Christian should know this verse. It is a good one to repeat
to yourself every Sunday after you heave heard the morning sermon.
Hearing must be followed by response if it is to mean anything.
September
13, 2009
The Churchwide Assembly resolutions, both the vote count and the resolution
details, were included in the September newsletter, along with presiding
Bishop Hanson’s remarks to us all following the assembly. Though
the assembly voted on all kinds of resolutions (combating Malaria,
full communion with the Methodists, Justice for Women, HIV initiatives,
etc, etc) the one with the most press and probably the most conversation
in local congregations concerns the possibility of gay people in committed
relationships being allowed to be pastors in the ELCA in congregations
open to considering that!
The bottom line for our congregation is that unless that would
be the wish of this congregation, it won’t happen here. In
the meantime, we will continue to preach the word, administer the
sacraments, engage in ministry to all ages (birth through death)
in classes, pastoral care, etc. We will still give our offerings
to the ministry concerns of the congregation, as voted upon at our
annual meeting each year. (Where each of us has a vote!)
So, essentially you will not experience anything different here
at St. Paul Lutheran, Sterling. We will still be called to discipleship…disciples
of Jesus, whom we preach and serve.
We still are a member of the larger church, the ELCA. As such,
we join others of our denomination, enabling us to engage in ministry
we would not be able to do as well alone…global missionaries,
educational resources for our Sunday school and other educational
classes, Lutheran Disaster Relief, colleges, social services, etc.
etc.
HOWEVER, there are still some underlying issues that are causing
some of our members to do serious soul-searching regarding their
individual and/or this congregation’s membership in the ELCA.
Please keep these members in your prayers as they discern their
call to be disciples. On both sides of this soul-searching are good,
faithful Christians taking a stand on their understanding of scripture’s
directives for life.
Before anyone leaves this church and/or denomination, we need to
allow ourselves time for discernment and to do this in conversation
with one another.
I will meet personally with anyone wishing more conversation regarding
this.
Pastor Judi
September 6, 2009
This panel of our bulletin is dedicated to providing some direction
regarding what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Discipleship is
not just a decision on our part, but rather a response to a decision
on God’s part, the decision to come in human form, to teach
and lead and model what it means to be a child of God, to be one with
God. And then to state and prove his love and power to love us even
past the thing we call death. The resurrection is perhaps the most
distinct call to discipleship. What began with a call to common fishermen
to follow Jesus along the pathways of a certain part of the world
for a defined period of time became with the resurrection a call to
follow to the ends of the earth, both literally and figuratively,
our Lord…for all our lifetime.
There are many ways in which we follow our Lord. If we listen very
carefully, God will reveal the gifts we have been given to build up
the body of Christ in this time and place.
God will call you and what God will make known to you will be your
“vocation”.
Vocation is different than your job. Your vocation might be reflected
in your job as well, but not all jobs are your vocation. Your vocation
is what GOD calls you to do, for the glory of God and the building
up of the kingdom of God.
If you have the gift of teaching, your vocation is teaching: maybe
as a mentor, as a parent, as an administrator or as a public school
teacher.
If you have the gift of compassion, your vocation is compassion. It
might be reflected in your job as a social worker, a parent, a teacher,
a nurse, a funeral home director, a hospice care worker, a doctor,
a veterinarian, a coach, a friend.
Tomorrow is a national holiday known as Labor Day. It is an opportunity
to give thanks for meaningful work, which may not mean something for
which you are paid. It can be an opportunity to give God thanks for
our vocation as disciples.
September 6, 2009
I have been asked to clearly state how the actions of the Churchwide
Assembly will directly affect our congregation. Apparently there are
some questions among us. The newsletter had already gone to print
when I was asked to do this, and so I will begin here. Please share
this with others who may not be present this morning, and if you believe
we should send a 'special mailing' so every member of the congregation
gets this info, let me know!
The Assembly resolutions, both the vote count and the resolution details,
were included in the newsletter, along with presiding Bishop Hanson's
remarks to us all following the assembly. Though the assembly voted
on all kinds of resolutions (full communion with the Methodists, Justice
for Women, HIV initiatives, etc, etc) the one with the most press
and probably the most conversation in local congregations concerns
the possibility of gay people in committed relationships being allowed
to be pastors in the ELCA in congregations open to considering that!
The bottom line for our congregation is that unless that would be
the wish of this congregation, it won't happen here. In the meantime,
we will continue to preach the word, administer the sacraments, engage
in ministry to all ages (birth through death) in classes, pastoral
care, etc. We will still give our offerings to the ministry concerns
of the congregation, as voted upon at our annual meeting each year.
(where each of us has a vote!)
So, essentially you will not experience anything different here at
St. Paul Lutheran, Sterling. We will still be called to discipleship…disciples
of Jesus, whom we preach and serve.
We still are a member of the larger church, the ELCA. As such, we
join others of our denomination, enabling us to engage in ministry
we would not be able to do as well alone…global missionaries, educational
resources for our Sunday school and other educational classes, Lutheran
Disaster Relief, colleges, social services, etc. etc.
I will meet personally with anyone wishing more conversation regarding
this.
Pastor Judi
August 23, 2009
Aug. 8-12, Terry and I "vacationed" to North Dakota to visit his family.
Our hearts were captured in awe over the vastness of God's gifts in
the variety of landscapes we saw. (A convertible experience of it
was awesome, too!). God called us to compassion for our sisters/ brothers
across the horizons, as we saw crops in various stages of health,
land overly saturated with water for some decades now, small towns--
some thriving, many not. Our hearts led our conversation about the
effects of the changing economy and how God might speak through it
all…through the anxiety of change God's comfort and unending care
for all creation exudes a stability we long for.
Those kinds of conversations are examples of being called to discipleship
in the midst of ordinary lives of work and vacations! Not necessarily
long conversations, but the presence of God being recognized and discussed
is discipleship-in-process. Thanks be to God!
We traveled further to enjoy the beauty of a friend's home on a small
gorgeous lake in Minnesota, joining in memories with old friends.
Again, God was in our conversation as reflections upon our different
congregations and the faith lives of our children filtered in and
out. Thanks be to God!
As we joined the four-lane traffic of the city of Minneapolis our
anxiety heightened (we are used to rural roads and small town traffic
patterns!). The fact that our churchwide assembly would be held in
a matter of days in this city crossed my mind. A sign greeted our
anxiety from a bluff above the highway. It read "Psalm 46:10".
Neither of us remembered what that particular scripture was (though
somehow I knew I should). I looked it up within minutes of getting
into our hotel room. (That in itself felt like a call). I laughed
out loud. In the midst of weary traveling, remembering, and bittersweet
connections, I smiled as God spoke to us through this well-known favorite
verse. It was exactly what I needed. Look it up----this is YOUR call
to discipleship as well.
August 16, 2009
Beginning tomorrow the ELCA will gather for our biennial churchwide
assembly. They will gather August 17-23, to conduct the business of
the larger church. If you are interested, you can watch the sessions
live at www.elca.org.
Each of the 65 synods of the ELCA provides a delegation of voting
members who were selected at their own Synod Assemblies. Those voting
members include bishops, pastors and lay leaders.
Business to be acted upon at Churchwide Assembly this year include
Full Communion with the United Methodist Church; a proposed Social
Statement on Justice for Women; Funding of the HIV and AIDS Strategy;
the Lutheran Malaria Initiative; the 2010-2011 Budget Proposal and
the Proposed Social Statement, “Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust.”
But the action that will receive the most attention is the “Report
and Recommendation on Ministry Policies from the Task Force for ELCA
Studies on Sexuality.” This is the recommendation that suggests
that individual congregations should be empowered to decide for themselves
whether or not they are open to calling a pastor who is in a mutually
chaste homosexual relationship.
Our synod and much of our denomination is not of one mind on this;
(recorded votes show that 60% agree while 40% disagree with this issue.)
Both sides have Biblical and theological points that are faithful
and measured.
No matter how the vote comes out, there will be a variety of voices
that will speak out…one of which will be the press. The press
will run a story that includes words like sex, religion, and pastors.
(Don’t forget such articles are designed to sell papers.) One
of the voices will be angry clergy. Depending on how the vote comes
out, the far right or the far left will be denouncing the ELCA. One
of those voices will be other Christian traditions, some of whom will
announce the ELCA has gone too far or not far enough.
While I believe there is much to learn from these voices, I urge all
of us to keep these opinions in perspective.
Permit me to share my voice on this vote. After the vote is taken,
regardless of the outcome, I will remain at my post. Perhaps writing
a sermon, visiting a member in the hospital or teaching a class. While
I don’t know what ministry task will demand my attention that
day, rest assured, I will be found serving God in my call to St. Paul
Lutheran Church to the best of my ability. Our worship service will
not change. Our youth ministry will continue alive and faithful. Bible
studies and fellowship will go on.
Please don’t misunderstand me. It is not that I don’t
believe this vote is important. Not at all; this is a historical moment
with far reaching implications no matter the outcome. And the division
and hurt that are being felt by those with a variety of deeply held
beliefs and the diversity of feelings held by members even of our
own congregation are profoundly upsetting for me.
But in my opinion, this vote is not about what is the center of the
Church. What we believe about God, God’s mission, salvation
through Jesus, and grace…these are not at stake. This is a vote
about church organization and individual conscience. The Church’s
unity, identity and confession of faith are never found within individual
issues, but in Jesus who is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Pastor Judi
“Jesus is the same yesterday, and today
and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
August
9, 2009
Our particular discipleship journey as St. Paul Lutheran Congregation
involves being part of a larger church body called the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America.(ELCA) Joining together as disciples of
Jesus, we recognize the variety of gifts God has given, but also that
we are a BODY, working together with one HEAD, Jesus Christ. (See
Paul’s reflection on this image in 1 Corinthians, chapter
12.) Meeting together in assembly helps us remain accountable
to one another and to Christ.
The ELCA meets in assembly every other year, and will meet this month
starting August 17, in Minneapolis, MN. Where representatives from
congregations all over the country will attend. This is a way of discipleship
that not all denominations have. Lutherans believe that the members
of congregations, not just an elite few, should have a say in the
direction the church takes in daily living. We assemble with sixty
percent lay people and forty percent clergy. We strive for 50/50 male
and female representation among lay voting members. All items to be
discussed are distributed to all congregations in advance of the assembly,
so that any member of any congregation can have input to the representatives
from their geographical area.
We are a church, founded in a time period known as the Reformation.
It is a distinguishing mark for us, committed to allowing God to reform
(as in correcting our acknowledged errors/sins) and re-form (as in
forgiveness and renewal) us through the processes we establish in
faithful discussion. We insist our pastoral leadership, both clergy
and lay professionals, go through a process of education, tests, checks
and balances to discern their call to ministries. We review the stewardship
of the offerings given by the congregations to the ELCA, that Christ’s
mission given to us is first and foremost in our decision making.
We are a work in process, with Christ as our guide, our companion
and our savior. As individual disciples as well as member of the Lutheran
Church, may we be committed to reformation to the glory of God forever.
August
2, 2009
Our adult forum is listening to a series of presentations by Trinity
Seminary Bible Professor Mark Allen Powell, entitled “How Lutherans
Interpret Scripture”. The latest presentation explained how
Lutherans interpret scripture to discern right from wrong. Some might
thing this is a no-brainer, that the Bible is very clear about right
and wrong. In fact the questions being encountered by our national
church at assembly this August are basically couched in “right
and wrong” language, which has led to heated debate.
The basic principle underlying discerning right from wrong, for Lutherans,
is to understand our responsibility of binding and loosing, a command
from Jesus: “what is bound on
earth will be bound in heaven; what is loosed on earth will be loosed
in heaven”.
This phrase acknowledges that there are some laws, deemed “right”,
that need discernment as to whether they would be “binding”
or not. A Biblical example of this discernment was noted in the law
against picking grain on the Sabbath, for which Jesus and his disciples
got chastised; another one about people giving money to the temple
rather than taking care of their family. (And getting in trouble for
choosing family over this right “law” of giving to the
temple.)
In discerning right from wrong, Lutherans understand we give precedence
to weightier matters, as Jesus did. (That is, it is more important
to feed someone than to leave them hungry because of a man-made law
regarding work on the Sabbath.) The “law” is loosed in
order to do the more godly thing of feeding the hungry. Justice is
another criteria for determining right from wrong. Jesus said, “I
desire mercy not sacrifice.” So, though giving
to the temple was important, even a “right” law, it would
be unjust to totally neglect one’s family, if that is the only
option. Once again, the law would not be binding in that case…one
should choose what is just.
The presentation was interesting and enlightening as a call to our
own discipleship, regarding the choices we make daily.
(NOTE: ALL “DISCIPLESHIP” PANELS ARE NOW BEING WRITTEN
BY PASTOR JUDI. JIM BLACK HAS RETIRED FROM THIS POSITION. THANKS,
JIM FOR YOUR FORMER CONTRIBUTIONS!)
July 26, 2009
John 3: 16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life".
We continue from last week, with a particular form of Bible study:
Bible reflection on one verse at a time, specifically here John
3:16. This verse is well known by church members and exhibited
on signs and placards at sporting events to many people who may have
no idea at all to what it is referring! As we church members reflect
on it, we might find out there is a lot here we didn’t know
about as well.
“…whoever believes in
him should not perish…” well, we say this and
we read this, and we believe it. But what does it mean that those
who believe should not perish. Literally, not perishing means you
don’t die! If that is true, what do we make of these things
we call “funerals”? Surely we have known hundreds of ‘believers’
whose funerals have been attended by other believers. So have they
perished or have they not? Obviously they have. So then what do we
make of the biblical passage? Does this mean the people didn’t
believe? No, of course not.
These are questions of Bible study/reflection. And as people of faith,
who claim we believe the Bible as the divine word of God, the authoritative
guide and norm for our life, we really should be able to grapple with
these questions.
So what do YOU make of it? How can perishing not be perishing? For
me, the rest of the sentence helped me come to a specific understanding
of this verse. For me, the fact that we believe in Christ, means we
are already in eternal life with Him. This part of eternal life with
God, our mortal life on earth, is merely a part of eternal life--and
this thing we call “death” is a step along the way, a
birthing actually into the rest of eternal life with God. It is a
life passage, not a life-ending.
(NOTE: ALL “DISCIPLESHIP” PANELS ARE NOW BEING WRITTEN
BY PASTOR JUDI. JIM_BLACK HAS RETIRED FROM THIS POSITION. THANKS,
JIM FOR YOUR FORMER CONTRIBUTIONS!)
July 19, 2009
John 3: 16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life".
Last week I invited you to consider doing a "bible study" by asking
questions of yourself regarding this well-known Bible verse. That
is one way of doing bible "study". Relatively easy, not too intrusive,
it allows you to receive the word of God by spending time with it!
Bible study can be that easy! Of course it can more intense, more
difficult, more lengthy…but the good news is that God works in many
and various ways to seep into our hearts, minds and souls.
So: "For God so loved the world…" When you read or
hear the word "world" here, what do you think of? Who do you think
of? Do you recognize the enormity of word? In the original language
the world was "cosmos"…does that change how you might read or hear
this? I used to think only of people with this verse. Now I hear it
much more expansively. God choosing to love the "cosmos" includes
the plants, animals, and all of creation including the expanse of
the universe. If that is indeed God's meaning through this text, and
to the original hearers, what does Christ's death and resurrection
(the second part of this verse) and our belief in that truth have
to do with it? Knowing what God did in Jesus Christ, do we look at
the cosmos and our responsibility to it differently? Should we? If
God sent Jesus to reconcile (that is, make us in right relationship
with God) the whole world, how might Jesus' directives and modeling
for our lives be seen? If God in Jesus has reconciled the whole cosmos,
do we even need to be concerned about the extinction of some species?
Or is it possible, that extinction is part of being one with the eternal
ongoing life of God and this universe? That what we call "extinct"
is now in a different way "one with God"...just as we are at our death?
"Whoever believes in him should not perish"…What
does it mean to "believe"? Is it an understanding of the facts? Is
it understanding only one fact (that Christ's death and resurrection
is for my life?)
This verse says nothing about our actions. Does "belief" automatically
mean a change of how a person conducts his/her life? How is God speaking
to you through this verse now? And why do we have signs at sporting
events with this verse? Would you be holding one up?
July
12, 2009
Although we offer a number of opportunities in which people of our
congregation might engage in Bible study, many of our members find
it difficult to attend a class, given the various other obligations
and time constraints they have.
Some, perhaps even many, just aren't interested. There are those people
who have told me the idea of Bible "study" just feels too much like
being in school, which lots of folks are not too keen about. Even
reading the Bible is not always attractive, even if reading is
a hobby-this is just not the book which gets chosen!
And that is too bad, actually. The Bible is, or can be, fascinating!
Intrigue, drama, inspiration, poetry, action, violence, sex…it's all
there! Same as things you see on television, read about or go to movies
to "enjoy".
More importantly however, the Bible is not just a book. It is the
divine revelation of God to God's people. It is the book we turn to
as our guide and norm for life. Or so we say.
If it s our guide and norm for life, how can we NOT study it, read
it, reflect upon it, and share both our understanding and our occasional
confusion about what it says?
These are the questions which were the basis for this panel of the
bulletin here at St. Paul. If folks don't want to or are unable to
come to Bible Discovery class, let's bring the Bible study to them.
A member recently asked me about this bulletin format of ours. Why
have this? Isn't it a lot of work, a waste of paper and basically
no one reads it anyway? I figured if one person had that question,
a few more might also.
As you pastor, it is my responsibility to lead the "call to discipleship".
One way to do that calling is through scripture study.
So: read John 3:16…and tell me what "world", "believe"
and "eternal life" mean to you. NEXT week's panel will be a Bible
study/reflection about it!
July 5, 2009
Acts
2:1-2
"When the day of Pentecost had come…."
The coming of the Spirit for the first disciples came with the sound
of a rushing, violent wind. A total surprise, this mysterious movement
of God had life-changing effects on them. Once terrified in an upper
room, this gushing of God's presence gave these disciples a sense
of freedom and courage, of strength and energy beyond their boldest
imagination. It changed their attitudes from fear to enthusiasm and
hope, moved them from feeling weak and discouraged to being people
with inner vitality. They discovered a dynamic power of love and a
new determination to live what Jesus had proclaimed to them. Do we
have this freedom and courage???
On Thursday mornings some of us are studying the book of Acts. The
book's full name is "The Acts of the Apostles" , and is a continuation
of the gospel of Luke. The author is conveying what exactly the apostles
did after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Faced with many
obstacles, questions, concerns about truth and history, confusion
on behalf of the hearers over the difference of what had been taught
for generations and this new thing (the gospel of Jesus!), the apostles
remembered the most important thing…that God's will would be done
no matter how chaotic it might appear. They counted on the strength
of the Holy Spirit. They remembered that God had foretold this confusion,
doubt, sin and struggle in the birthing of His kingdom. The job of
the apostles, and our job, is to spread the news of Jesus Christ and
his salvation for the whole world. Nothing is more important than
that job. WE speak it, we live it. In the midst of it all, God is
present and the church (the assembly of believers) is born.
Today we face many of the same obstacles as the first apostles. Let
us not be overcome by the issues of this world, but rather move from
fear to enthusiasm and hope embracing the dynamic power of love and
a determination to live what Jesus has proclaimed to us!
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