4/3/2008
PASTORAL PONDERINGS
Matt. 28:19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Dear Friends,
This week was shall be baptizing two children. This will make 7 baptisms in a 4 month period. As I see these little ones (no adults in this round) coming to the font, I feel a special joy. What a privilege to play such an significant role in their faith journey. God has given us a great joy....and a great responsibility. How can we provide ongoing nourishment to these young Christians. This is a question I ponder this evening.
4/10/2008
PASTORAL PONDERINGS
Luke 24 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Dear Friends,
I can never read this verse without think of some pastoral visits made decades ago. An elderly member of our congregation was residing in a care facility (nursing home back then) suffering from severe dementia. As this affliction progressed, she became more and more withdrawn from the world around her. But almost to the end, when I gave her Holy Communion she would look up at me and say "Thank you Pastor." Seconds later, she would again have no idea who I was.
4/18/2008
Acts 2: 46Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
This past week I was suppose to hear the Rev. Rick Warren of The Purpose Drive Life fame speak at Ocean Grove. Unfortunately, he is fighting a severe leg infection he picked up in a recent trip to Africa and is confined to his house. He did, however, prepare his address on DVD.
One of the points he made was that we should not talk about church growth, but church health. All healthy things grow naturally. His assistant said he had never asked his teen age children to grow. He simply tried to nourish them.
He continued that the way congregations become (or stay) healthy is to have a sense of purpose. This made a lot of sense. Over the next weeks I will consider his five purposes for the church.
4/24/2008
1 Cor. 10Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose
As promised, here is the first of 5 purposes of the church as outlined by Rick Warren of A Purpose Drive Life fame. Allow me to offer a Lutheran perspective (or at least my own)
Warren: The church builds morale. As Lutherans we proclaim that the church is the people of God gathered around Word and Sacrament. When we focus on what is essential to the church, we find that we can work together. We will all have somewhat different visions of what God is calling us to do, but we realize we are all in this together and so seek to cooperate and affirm each other in our diversity.
