October 31, Still A Day
For Celebration!
Reformation Day, Stewardship Month And An Important Announcement!
On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther called for a debate on the Gospel by nailing 95 theses in opposition to indulgences and started the Reformation. We remember and celebrate that day each year not as an historical commemoration, but because we remember the most important lesson of the Reformation: the Church is constantly on guard.
As Twenty-first century Lutherans and Christians, we are the spiritual heirs of all the faithful who have gone before. We do not want to be known as the generation that let the Gospel slip away! Jesus described God's kingdom as a living thing, like a bush growing from a small seed. Living things can grow wild, even when grown by the power and love of God. Because the Church is comprised of sinful humans, we make mistakes.
One mistake we can't ever make is to compromise the good news of the saving love of Christ! So we water and feed this growing plant by steadfastly remaining in word and sacrament, and we prune this growing plant by correcting error when we see it, especially the error of legalism, self-righteousness and neglect of the word and sacraments, the treasured means by which God delivers his saving grace to us. Mount Calvary has a role to play in the faithful and clear proclamation of that Gospel Good News.
It's been said that the Reformation produced a heritage for the people of God in two great ways: the word of God was placed where it belongs, back in the hands of the people, and the ministry of God was also placed into the hands of the people. You are a part of the ongoing work of renewal in the Church when you are constant and dedicated in your growth in God's word through personal and corporate study, and when you faithfully pursue you calling as an extraordinary servant of the Lord.
God bless your continued renewal by God's grace, through faith, as shaped and guided by the scriptures!
A couple of other quick topics.
Stewardship Month!
I need your help because we all need the help of the Lord.
God has designs for the ministry of our congregation. There are people in our community that God wants to be saved and he's called us to share Christ's saving love with them. There are children and families in our congregation who need to nurturing ministry of God's word. There are those among us in need of comfort and caring ministry. And there are mission agencies in our community and across the nation and the world that rely on our faithful and generous support.
God does the ministry, but he's chosen to use us as his humble instruments, his extraordinary servants. God will provide, but his chosen method of providing the financial resources needed is by entrusting them to us.
Today I invite you to begin a month of fervent prayer for our special stewardship emphasis during the month of November. As I mentioned in the Reformation discussion, we're always tempted to a legalistic, guilt approach to Christian living. Pray that the love of Christ would guide and direct our worship and study this month, and especially that the love of Christ would be our sole motivation for growing in the grace of sacrificial giving.
And join me in praying that Christ who seeks to transform our hearts from ordinary to extraordinary would use the instruction and meditation of the month ahead to lead us all into spiritual growth, growth that results in the fruit that is a blessing to all in need.
I'm always extra excited about our stewardship emphasis month because I know personally and as a spiritual mentor the difference that growth in giving makes in a Christian's life of faith. God is indeed able to do far more than we ask or imagine. Pray that God would lead us all to humbly offer ourselves to the him and to present all that we have into his use!
Special
Ingathering!
Later in November we'll all declare our intentions for our financial support of the Lord's work next year. As an offering of Thanksgiving and a declaration of faith and joy at all the Lord has done for us, you will also be invited to support two important ministries with your extra gifts.
First of all, we'll collect food, house wares and personal items in support of one of our local mission agencies, the Good Samaritan Service Center for the Homeless. The Good Samaritan Center is a transitional housing program with a tremendous track record that is Christ centered in it's approach to service of families in need and provides a dynamic service of transition back to economic stability for those who have suffered great setbacks. It's an outstanding, model ministry which we are proud to support through our regular weekly offerings as a mission agency of the congregation, and also glad to support through your generous extra gifts this Thanksgiving.
Second, our own congregational Good Samaritan Fund has been depleted. During the month, you'll have a chance to give a cash gift toward this fund to help members and friends of the congregation who find themselves in severe, temporary financial need. This fund has traditionally been monitored by the Pastor, but I am pursuing the creation of a Good Samaritan Committee that would receive requests for aid and make confidential decisions about the use of this fund.
Watch for more details in worship.
Call to Minnesota!
Last Monday evening the Voter's Assembly of Zion Lutheran Church in Hopkins, (Minneapolis area) Minnesota voted to extend to me the Call to serve as their Pastor. Zion is a congregation with a rich history of service to God that has been without a Senior Pastor for 16 months.
At the request of another congregation in Minneapolis, I had earlier consented to a day long visit as they interview Pastors to fill their vacancy. That visit will now become a two day trip later this week as I also meet with the people at Zion, Hopkins to gain more information as I deliberate this call.
As you know, I already hold a call from Mount Calvary to serve as your Pastor. When contacted by other congregations, I am very frank about my commitment to stay and serve with you here and about the strong bond my family and I feel to you and to this community. I also, however, as a Pastor in the Church, have a responsibility to cooperate with calling congregations. This is a responsibility I do not take lightly, and as the Lord directs, and with your helpful guidance, I will seek to make a decision about which congregation he would have me serve.
I believe that God is always at work in this process, and I pray that you will join me and my family in prayer that his will would be done!
I'd also like to invite you to join me following the late service on November 2 where I'll be able to share more about the Call. I'm anxious for you to be informed and to receive your input and guidance. God is a great God, who always amazes! Let's seek his will together!