Pastor’s Page

Volume 13 Week 28 July 15, 2007

And a Couple of Bonus Topics!

The Convention Is The Church in Action, With a Focus on Mission!

As usual, I have a dozen topics and only 1,200 words. I give you the quick version of a few of them and a little more detail about a significant event happening this week. Here we go!

New Orleans!

I read this week that mail deliveries in New Orleans Parish are at 64% of the pre-Katrina rate. That means less than two-thirds of the population is settled back in. The city is very dependant on service industry workers, people who serve in food, tourism, convention and hotel related businesses. These are people who don’t have the resources to return to the city unless housing is readily available. Of 270 childcare facilities before the storm, only 93 are back in operation.

Keep our mission team’s efforts in your prayers this week, as we try to do our part in showing Christ’s love in a significant and practical way.

VBS!

Many thanks to Laura Murphy and here extraordinary team of volunteers, many of who were here every single day of the week! The love of Christ was shared in word, in deed and in song with nearly 100 children.

I’m especially impressed by the enthusiasm, creativity and hard work of our youth, a vital part of the VBS ministry team. Thanks for your witness to Christ’s love!

LC-MS Convention!

Sunday (today) marks the beginning of the tri-ennial convention of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod in Houston Texas. Martin Luther clarified our understanding of the Church by strongly affirming the Bible’s teaching that where the people of God gather around His Word, God will guide and lead.

The convention is an important time for us to be together, seek God’s will, and conforming ourselves only to His Word, rededicate ourselves to the mission He has given. The convention is the Church in action. Fed by word and sacrament, our delegates, an equal number of clergy and laypersons, will deliberate God’s purposes for our congregations and our cooperative ministries, and pass resolutions that set our agenda in days ahead.

Let me highlight just a few of the important topics that will be addressed.

Our convention theme is “One Message,” taken from our vision for The LC-MS, “One Mission, One Message, One People.” You may have noticed a report in the news about the Pope’s statement concerning who is admitted into heaven. Thanks be to God that our church has faithfully and consistently held to the truth of the gospel, that all who put their faith and trust in the perfect, saving work of Jesus Christ will be saved.

It is our vision as a church body to stay true to the teaching of the prophets, the apostles and the Lord Jesus Himself as given us in the Word of God. “One Message” means we will never teach another gospel, another way to eternal life, than the freely given, undeserved grace of God revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Our convention will return to the theme of our gathering three years ago as we continue to emphasize “One Mission.” All over America, LC-MS congregations are reaching out vigorously and creatively with the good news of Jesus. Many, many stories of congregations reaching the lost with the saving love of Christ will be told at the convention. Churches in every setting, urban, suburban and rural, churches of every size, and churches young and old are finding ways to fulfill Christ’s mission calling to make disciples of all nations.

This is an important time for our congregation as we reflect on our ministry of outreach. God has given us every resource needed to join with other congregations in growing by bringing the gospel of Jesus to the lost of our community. We can learn from other churches that are discovering or re-discovering the joy of impacting their communities with the gospel message and welcoming new believers into the family of God.

We’ll hear stories of churches where every member begins to take the call to make disciples seriously and joins with pastors and staff in partnership of using every gift God has given every one of us to share the good news. We’ll hear of churches deeply engaged with God’s word and people just like us growing day by day in faith and love and service as God teaches them and molds them to be more and more like Jesus. We’ll hear of churches that are learning to make room for the newcomers among them, treasuring every person God sends them as a gift from the Father.

And congregations like ours can benefit from these inspiring stories and join in the fun! God has been so good to our congregation and our synod. It is so exciting to be a part of the great kingdom work that our Lord is doing in these last days before His return!

Of particular interest to us because of our close association with the Center for Hispanic Studies led by Leo Sanchez and Eloy Gonzalez are the resolutions about ministry to Hispanic populations in America. God is bringing a vast mission field to the front doors of our churches and we are learning how to respond.

We hope to affirm a partnership with a smaller Lutheran Church body in America by formalizing relationships with The American Association of Lutheran Churches. This group formed when some 79 Lutheran congregations chose not to be a part of the 1988 merger that formed the ELCA.

A report on the challenges of continued, generous funding for the mission of our churches and our synod will be thoroughly discussed. There is a call for vigorous, clear education of all of our members on the principles of biblical stewardship, and important part of our life together as God’s people.

And the ongoing nurture of every member of our churches, young and old, through Bible study, Christian schools and universities and children’s and youth ministries will be strongly affirmed, as will our pro-life stance, so clearly taught in the Scriptures.

You can keep up to date on our convention all week and in days to come by visiting www.lcms.org/convention Now a couple quick topics…

Water Drainage!

The Metropolitan Sewer District would like to begin work on the water drainage problem from our property that affects our neighbors on Parkridge. We’ll hear their proposals this week and how it will affect our property. Stay tuned as it may require action on the part of the Voter’s Assembly.

Children’s Home Society!

I hope you’ll consider the call for volunteers listed in the Mirror this week. I’d love to see our relationship with this wonderful community service agency grow stronger and stronger.

Thank You!

Carol and I want to thank you once again for the memorable celebration of 25 years in the ministry and for the very kind gift. We went barbeque grill shopping this week! Your support and encouragement make all we do possible. What a blessing it is to us to serve side by side with you. We look forward to all He has in store for us in days ahead. Thanks again to all who made it such a special day!