Month: August 2016

September 2016

baptismThere is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)

Dear brothers & sisters in Christ,

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. Amen.

Once again, we celebrate as some of our young people affirm their Baptisms. We listen to them profess their faith in Christ Jesus and take ownership of their relationship with the Lord. They will be asked:

Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you in holy baptism:

to live among God’s faithful people,

to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper,

to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed,

to serve all people, following the example of Jesus,

and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth?

These are the same promises made at every Baptism. These are the same promises parents make to their children at their Baptism. These are the same promises made by new members. These are the same promises adults make when they are baptized. These promises are a vow to God and to the whole Body of Christ to continue in the covenant God has made with us.

It is not all about us though. We also hear God’s promise: At the onset of the rite, we begin our prayer: “Merciful God, we thank you that you have made us your own by water and the Word in baptism. You have called us to yourself, enlightened us with the gifts of your Spirit, and nourished us in the community of faith.” We give thanks to the Lord for blessing us and making us His own. At the conclusion of the rite, we pray: “We give you thanks, O God, that through water and the Holy Spirit you give us new birth, cleanse us from sin, and raise us to eternal life. Stir up in your people the gift of your Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence both now and forever.” We recognize again what God does in Holy Baptism and give Him thanks.

Martin Luther found it helpful to remind himself every morning that he was a baptized child of God. Sometimes we can get caught up in the busyness of life and need that same reminder. In a world full of temptation and craziness, we do need to be reminded who we are and whose we are. The Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnal includes an option for the entire congregation to reaffirm their Baptisms to give us a way to remember.

You are a child of God. You have been claimed by the Father, forgiven and accepted through Christ, and anointed with the power of the Holy Spirit. The grace and peace of God which surpass all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the crucified and risen Christ Jesus. Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Carla

Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:27)

 

August 2016

 The Lord will guide you continually,     and satisfy your needs in parched places,     and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden,     like a spring of water,     whose waters never fail. (Isaiah 58:11)

Dear brothers & sisters in Christ,

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. Amen.

Compared to other months of the year, August is often relatively hot and dry. (Of course, this year, the dry at least might be a nice change.) We also all have times in our lives when we can feel ‘dry’ spiritually. Whether it comes from busyness, turmoil, illness, grief, boredom, or exhaustion, there are times when we feel isolated from the Lord and/or the people of God. These episodes are inevitable. Life has ups and downs and a myriad of different cycles and experiences. Our faith also runs the gamut as outside forces work upon us day to day.

It is vital to hear the promise in Christ in those times. In fact, it is precisely in those ‘dry’ periods that we need to hear God’s promise the most. Even when we feel alone, He does not leave us. God made a new covenant in Christ and He is true to His promise. God has shown us that He is willing to go to extremes to stay with us. He is willing to die in order to give us life.

You have been given this promise. The words Paul wrote to the Romans are also a reminder for you. “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39) During the beginnings of persecution, those words renewed the hope of the Christians in Rome. During your times of doubt, fear, or isolation, they give you hope as well. This promise surpasses not only all understanding, but also time and space. The promise of life in Christ is granted for this life and the next. There are no conditions nor termination dates.

Jesus coupled the commissioning of His disciples with the promise of His abiding presence: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Jesus also sends you out into the world. He sends you with His everlasting promise of abiding love, strength, guidance, and authority. God grants you not only your needs and His kingdom that cannot be shaken. The grace and peace of God which surpass all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the crucified and risen Christ Jesus through all the seasons of the year and your life. Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Carla

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; (Hebrews 12:28)