Pastor

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July, 2010
Dear Friends and Family in Christ,

We’ve just returned from three days at synod assembly. Whew! It was hot, humid and that was not only the weather outside, but also the atmosphere inside the assembly. There were several proposals concerning homosexuality. At least 2/3 of the assembly delegates voted these resolutions down. The one that was passed was one affirming that marriage is indeed between one woman and one man (which has always been the teaching of the church).

I want to give you my perspective on all the voting and contentiousness within the ELCA these days. When we voted down resolutions, I don’t believe we were saying that we all agree with all the decisions that were made in the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. But what we were affirming is that we can disagree and still be one body – that we can move on to mission and ministry efforts together.

It is the same with the congregation – no matter what congregation it is. We will not always agree on certain policies, but we will all admit to our oneness in Jesus Christ! There are more things that bind us together than those that divide us. We must always remember that our reason for being church or Christian is always ONLY ONE – JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUDIFIED AND RISEN.

Nothing was decided at the Synod Assembly that changes anything from last year. But what we did say loud and clear is that Christ’s Mission in the World is more important than any one issue. My hope is that we too can cling to that one truth – Jesus Christ - as we walk this path of faith together.

The VBS theme this year seems so appropriate; Jesus is Perfect – We’re Not. We will discover together that Jesus didn’t call perfect people to follow – but made them disciples anyway. It was never what they had previously done (for good or ill) that made them worthy of Jesus’ love – but only the grace, love and forgiveness offered by God through his most Precious Son that mattered.

Support for this important ministry is our duty and delight. If we cannot be physically present during the week of July 26 – 30, our prayers will seek God’s guidance and strength for the wonderful children and adults who will attend. Please include our VBS in your daily prayers this year.

Another ministry that seeks your support and prayers is the Calling and Caring Outreach. Several of us will be going two by two to visit members and nonmembers, active, and inactive to invite them to come and hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. It is a scary and exciting effort! Most of us feel very inadequate when asked to visit people. But we are all trusting that God will give us the words to say and the ears to hear as we extend our hands in welcome.

Our new Spiritual Formation group now has 12 participants. What an enriching time we have each week – hearing stories of how God has been active in our lives. If you would like to hear more about the Spiritual Formation effort, please don’t hesitate to ask any of the following people: Chuck & Grace Diehm, Angie Genovesi, Bill Thomas, Mary Ann Dougherty, Kim Charlton, Terri Bricker, Cindy King, Paula Turek, Bob Fleet, Martha Wiedenheft or Pastor Pat.

Have a safe and restful summer. Don’t forget to take along your spiritual life while enjoying your time of refreshment and recreation. God is good – all the time.

Blessings,
Pastor Pat

My thanks to Pastor Bruce Nordeen, St. John, Carnegie for permission to reprint this article. Living In The Body Of Christ

“We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us—we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. • I John 1:1-4

If there is any true model of community in the world, it has to be the church, or at least the church as it was meant to be. But the church is a human reality as well as a divine one, so in many ways, it has failed to be the kind of community that God had in mind and many of us wish it could be.

Yet still, the church more that any other institution in our society, still contains the potential for true community life. The church contains a more typical cross-section of people than any other institution around, a human diversity that is held together (at least in theory) by a common commitment to a truth which is greater than our differences.

In practice, the church often tries to suppress its diversity, and when that fails, fragmentation and disunity is the result. But if the church learns to deals with its unimportant differences in the name of real unity, then it would be the best example of community going. The ministry we do here is vital. Jesus imperative to share the Gospel is still before us. People are hurting both inside and outside this congregation, and they need the love and compassion we have to share. These are the things I think about when I think of St. John, not some decision made at the Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis that frankly, I don’t think will ever affect what we do here.

What needs to happen is for individuals to give up their ‘selfish’ religious life—merely seeking his or her own sacred space and personal fulfillment. Instead, we need, as the Body of Christ, to together seek a place where we can all stand together. In worship we need to know that God wants to bring us together as a gathered people; that for worship to be genuine, we must listen to each other...the words as well as the silences between them, testing our own truth against the truth others have received. This means worship must be a priority for us. We must trust that God will work a greater truth in all of us that can be worked in any one of us standing alone.

But ideas are only the beginning of community. True community can only come from faithful living. If Christians can lead such lives in the midst of their families and neighborhoods, in their schools and workplaces, in their joy and in their sorrow, in their politics as well as their religion, then there will be community among us—a true community— both human and divine.

To live this way is the witness God has called us to give to the world...perhaps the most important task He asks of us.

Blessings,

Pastor Bruce

Pastor Pat Video on WPASynodLA — April 09, 2010 — Cooperative Ministry and Deacon Rich Slide Show