|
 Dear
Saints:
Since
my arrival back in March 2003, I have been prayerfully considering
where God may be leading us as a congregation. I have been impressed
by many of you at St. Matthew who regularly share your spiritual
gifts, your time, and your money to see that ministry gets done.
When
I look back at the seasons of Advent and Christmas, for instance, I
feel so blessed to have talent in our midst like that of Del Jackson
who so ably portrayed to us the Innkeeper, a Shepherd, and Joseph
during our Wednesday evening Advent services. I am grateful, too, for
Pat Bonaker, Sandra Nearhoof, and all who make up our choir, and who
provide Sunday after Sunday beautiful music for our services. How
privileged, too, we are to have someone as gifted and dedicated as
Peggy Loney and those who work with her to bring the gospel to our
children on Sundays in worship.
There
are also the many women, men, girls, and boys who work silently, yet
steadily, behind the scenes to make sure our congregation's
ministries are carried out. There is Council, which provides the
needed leadership our congregation requires. Just as important
however, is the large number of folks who serve on the various
committees and who offer their services on an as-needed basis. Where
would we be without those of you who step in to fill the gaps or
apply your special gifts when the need arises? Each and every one of
you is important to what we do as the body of Christ in this
community as we proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in thought,
word, and deed. Yet, even with the great diversity these contributors
bring to St. Matt's we are not immune to getting into a rut—of
becoming so comfortable with the manner in which we worship and
carry out our ministry that we lose touch with the needs of those we
seek to reach with the gospel.
How
do we value those ministries and traditions that have become so
meaningful to us as a church that to change them or to let them go
would seriously challenge our unity as a congregation and, at the
same time, make ourselves available to the fresh leadings of the Holy
Spirit? This is the question that has been on my mind. To put it
another way: How may we venture into new ways of being the church
without discarding those things that are essential to who we are? To
put it yet one other way: Granted that we have certain practices and
traditions that serve as core elements of our corporate identity, how
do we remain faithful to these things and still change as the need arises?
The
season of Epiphany is characterized by "light." My hope is
that over the coming year we will be able to answer these questions
(to have an epiphany) as we search jointly, through study and prayer,
to know God's will for us. I invite you to join with me in this
exciting time in our journey together.
I
would like to suggest two ways that you can do this: The first
way is the way of corporate discernment. I am thinking
specifically of the Academy for Transformational Leadership (ATL)
affiliated with the Southeastern Synod. The ATL also has a close
working relationship with the Catch the Spirit leadership
conferences initiated by Pastor Mike Foss of Prince of Peace Lutheran
Church. As members of local congregations participate in these
conferences, their vision for what the church can become is expanded.
New ideas for and methods of carrying out congregational ministry are
brought back to the church for discussion and to be prayed over by
its leaders. Out of the process may arise new possibilities for
ministry and approaches for implementing them. Already, I am pleased
to say, we have several people going to the February 6-7 Catch the Spirit conference.
 The
second way is the way of personal discernment. It will not be
long before the season of Lent is upon us. As most of you are aware,
Lent is 40 days in length (not counting Sundays). Rick Warren, the
founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, has
published a book entitled The Purpose Driven Life. It is
designed to be a 40 day spiritual journey that will in his words,
"transform your answer to life's most important question:
What on earth am I here for?" The idea is not to read the book
like you normally would a novel or a textbook, but to meditate on it
and discuss it along with another individual in the congregation.
Done faithfully, Warren is convinced a deeper personal relationship
with God will occur and, out of that, personal transformation.
I
want to take this opportunity as we begin this new calendar year to
say how much I have enjoyed serving with all of you over these last
several months. It's never a dull moment! And I look forward to
serving with you in the future. I will be mentioning both the ATL and The
Purpose Driven Life again in the coming weeks. In the meantime,
will you pray about your own involvement—especially
in regard to Warren's book?
Grace
and peace,
Pastor
Larry
|
