Thank you, Wesley Chapel

"First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you..." 

                                                                      -- Romans 1:8a

            When my wife was just a little girl, every Christmas break her family would pack up and come to Florida for a week or two.  It was her favorite place to go – a tremendous change from central Michigan in December.  They came to visit her grandma in Sarasota.  Making their way southward, coats would go in the trunk as snow disappeared from the side of I-75.  Soon they could bike around the trailer park, swim in the pool or visit the shuffleboard courts, even take an all day cruise or hang out on the beach.  

            Her love for Florida is one reason we’re here.  In 2006, finally frustrated by the paralyzing cold and ice, Susan and I and our boys George and Brian received the offer to come live and work in the Wesley Chapel area.  We couldn’t pass it up.  Even with a rough first year in a tiny rental, we felt like we’d won the lottery.  Though State Rd. 54 was only two lanes, Wesley Chapel was booming and blooming with signs of the strong community that we’re still watching take shape around us. 

            Twelve years on, we have only fallen more in love with the area.  We love the beautiful diversity here.  Not just people from “up north” but from all over are making their homes around us.  The construction gets old sometimes, but it’s great seeing the number and quality of community resources continuing to grow, including houses of worship.  We are moved by the tremendous generosity from individuals, organizations and businesses that volunteer and donate to our food pantry.  Many of the homeless people I meet have told me stories of kind help they’ve received from locals. 

            So I want to thank you, Wesley Chapel… for being a generous community.  My hope for you in 2019 is just this: “Let mutual love continue.  Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:1-2).

Peace,

Pastor Scott 

The Spirit of CHRISTMAS is the Spirit of CHRIST

“As the father has loved me, so I have loved you.  Remain in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my father’s commandments and remain in his love.  I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete”               --  John 15:9-11

  

            There’s a little holiday somewhere between Cyber Monday and New Year’s Eve we call Christmas, the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus.  Some Christians refuse to celebrate the holiday, pointing out that we don’t know the actual day he was born.  True enough, but for most of us isn’t so much a day, or even a season.  It’s really about a particular spirit.  Christmas has a right spirit, and it is the Spirit of Christ.  And if that’s so, then true Christmas spirit should have something to do with the one whose birth we celebrate. 

            We all know the other Christmas spirit – the one that’s measured by how much you spend at the stores, how early your tree’s up and how many parties you’re invited to.  Each of these Christmas spirits brings its own set of consequences.  The shopping spirit delivers the thrill of finding just the right gift, but also the hassle of long lines and credit card bills; the decorating spirit provides the chance for creativity and the pride of showing off your multicolored neon disco-flashing manger scene; and the partying spirit can bring people together to eat, drink, and merrily discuss everyone who couldn’t make it to the party. 

            But true Christmas spirit is something different and deeper, because it is the Spirit of Christ.  Mighty God in humble form; babe asleep in the manger but also awake and aware everywhere; Creator becoming Created and entering Creation; Author of Life who dies to slay Death.  That Christ.  The one who surprises us with a love that goes beyond what we expect or deserve.  What?  The Christ who healed the sick, preaching good news to the poor?  The one who ate and drank with sinners and was killed for making powerful people uncomfortable?  That Christ?  What does that Christ have to do with this holiday we’re all getting ready for?

            Well, first off, the true Christmas spirit which is the Spirit of Christ is JOYFUL.  Jesus prayed for us all that “my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete” (John 15:11).  This joy comes from knowing God, as intimately as you would know any friend or family member.  Jesus called God “father” and spoke to him as easily and naturally as you and I might talk with one another.  Plans for the holidays falling apart?  Relax!  Can’t find the perfect present for that special someone?  Rejoice!  Christmas spirit finds joy knowing we are in God’s hands, and it’s not up to us to make it all work out.  We sing “Joy to the world, the Lord is come”…but the Lord HAS come, right?  So shouldn’t the whole world be joyful already? 

            Second, the Spirit of Christ is CARING.  Jesus left the comforts of heaven to come and share God’s love with us because he knew how much we all needed it.  We still do.  Though many people are surrounded by supportive friends and a loving family, there are some who feel entirely alone.  Some of our dining tables are loaded with goodies while others go hungry.  Some of us had a perfect check-up at the doctors while others received bad news.  Mary gave birth in a stable – hardly the perfect place for the King of Kings to come into the world, but then again what an ideal picture of the fragility of our lives and the brokenness of our world!  The Spirit of Christ bears the message to the world that we are all brothers and sisters, as beautiful and vulnerable as that child who was born for us.  The Spirit of Christmas cares about those in need, and spreads God’s love in hope-full words and deeds of love.

            Finally, the Spirit of Christ is GIVING.  God did not make a “naughty” and “nice” list to determine who received his grace – it comes to us unconditionally through our faith in the giving Spirit of Christ - He who gave his whole life for our salvation.  Can we recapture the wide-eyed wonder of a child on Christmas morning by remembering the greatest gift of all – that God calls us his children and blesses us daily with all we need and more?  Can we give more than just presents, but also our presence to those we care about?  Can we hear the message of the angels, that peace on earth and goodwill to all are more than a pipe-dream – they are God’s will for the world, Christ’s mission, and the daily work of our lives? 

            Christ calls us all to be disciples and messengers (“angels”) of his Good News to the world.  That work is not easy, and often forces us to change our attitudes and make more room in our hearts for others.  Offering our time to God means it is not our agenda but his in control of our schedules.  Offering our talents, we turn from our own worries and look at the needs of others.  Offering our treasures means we have Christ-centered checkbooks and budgets that reflect God’s values.  We find that in giving and caring our joy really is made complete.  As you give and serve and worship this season, may it be the Spirit of Christ which grow in you and the gift of His grace that fills you with joy and love.  Blessings to you and yours from our family, and your family of faith at Atonement.

Peace,

Pastor Scott

Annual Report 2018: Turning With the Road

“For you shall go out with joy, and be led back in peace,

the mountains and hills before you shall burst forth into song,

and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;

instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;

and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial,

for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” 

         ---Isaiah 55:12-13

             Call me an optimist.  I’ve always been a “glass half full” kind of person, trying to see every situation in terms of its best possible outcome.  I do want to know about potential problems so I’m not blindsided by them, but in the long run I try to focus on the good that could be more than the obstacles to getting there.  Going into 2018 with high hopes and great expectations, imagine my shock when I ended up in the hospital in January being checked for chest pains.

The pains had been there for a week or so.  As we often tend to do, I debated whether this was truly important enough to warrant a trip to the ER.  Finally I asked myself, “Well, what would you say to a parishioner who told you they were having chest pains.”  So there I was in the ER and though they found nothing alarming, they admitted they couldn’t be sure I was OK without an overnight stay and a battery of tests.  After 24 hours, a stress test and an ultrasound, they found a minor issue that I have to keep an eye on, but nothing of immediate concern.  Then I got the bill for that 24 hour stay – and almost had a heart attack…

            So I’m still an optimist, but an optimist with caution.  God has an invisible timetable, and we ultimately learn to order our lives by what comes from His hands.  Together we have faced many twists and turns of the road this year, after expecting a straight and steady course.  We were ready to enjoy the straight road ahead with new office staff in place and a new building to assist with our ministries.  Instead we got another year adjusting with the twists and turns in the highway.  I am thankful for the continuing patience and enthusiasm that has been shown as we face each new circumstance, and for the wonderful generosity of a congregation that loves to serve as Jesus served.

             The turns in the road have not kept us from trying new things and bringing new programs to the congregation.  We continue beefing up our caring ministry, and are now offering prayer after each service courtesy of the “God Squad.”  The caring team also sponsored sessions of Creation Health education.  Our congregation was chosen by Florida Hospital to offer these special sessions, which were led by Fran Loomis, Karen Erickson and myself.  Along with seminars on good health practices, Fran treated us to foods she prepared specially for the group based on recommended healthy recipes.  Nurses from the hospital also came and did health checks for all the attendees at the start of the series, then came back 4 weeks after the last session to do a comparison. 

            We kicked off a Saturday worship service in January – the 5pm “godify” service.  Many people came to check it out, with a few people becoming regulars.  Most of all, however, this service is meant to attract those outside our present membership.  Deacons and deacons in training including Detlev Aeppel, Jim Turner, Rebecca Parker and Esthel Kane are in the regular monthly rotation as speakers. The focus is on our spiritual journeys, the setting is casual, and interaction between the speaker and attendees is encouraged.  The music choice is a refreshing mix of contemporary Christian (and occasional secular) songs, many of which I’ve heard for the first time at this service.  The music flows smoothly between Bible readings, prayers and the spoken message in a way that feels very welcoming and worshipful.

I attend regularly, but only lead once a month and preside at communion on the last Saturday each month.  It is a wonderful opportunity for your pastor to have a place to come and worship, without having to be up front and in charge.  I really appreciate that, and am very proud of the lay leadership.  Rebecca Parker has helped greatly in choosing music and leading the singing, and has been sharing the vocal spotlight with Kristin Styles, Thaddeus Kostialik, and sometimes youth members Giada Styles and Griffin Frost.  Ian Frost has played along on bass, Cassidy Kostialik often plays drums (and sometimes Tyler Hanks), and band leader Brian Lindner often brings in other musicians as guests.  It’s a dynamic group, and the music alone makes this service worth checking out.  

In September, the godify services were the venue we used to explore ELCA social statements.  We took a close look at the statements on creation, abortion, human sexuality, and the death penalty.  We had the best attendance yet for the services, with many people showing up interested to hear where the church stands on these particular social issues.  The godify services are still developing in format as we strive to reach a new audience.  It provides an alternate worship time for members, but the main intention is to welcome non-members.  In an effort to provide a Lutheran service for non-Lutherans, we have communion once a month and messages that focus on Scripture and the spiritual journey rather than particular concerns or traditions of the institutional church.  Going forward, we will be trying to spark more interest in the service through a format of monthly themes which we will be publicizing ahead of time.  December’s theme is HOPE.

 

            Speaking of new worship services, plans are coming together for our Sunday family service which we are calling the “Child of God” service.  Thanks to Jan Gerle and the Christian education team, we are making a bold move next year replacing Sunday school with a worship-centered program of faith formation.  These plans have developed from conversations with families and considerations of how to help parents be an active part of their child’s faith development.  The service is open to all children of God (that includes you), but will be specifically designed to help children, young adults, and their parents learn, celebrate, and practice their faith in Jesus.  Instead of lectionary readings, the service will center on one Bible story.  Instead of a “sermon” there will be an interactive time of storytelling, sort of an extension of the children’s moments we used to have at the 10am services.  To better accommodate families, the service will begin at 11:30pm and last an hour.  The last 15 minutes, children will work on a craft while adults will stay for a short open discussion on how to bring the story of the day into the rest of the week.  We’ll discuss how to find the story in your own Bible, share some questions to discuss with family members, and ways to pray and serve based on that day’s lesson.

 

This year also saw our first Beer and Hymns night at O’Brien’s pub.  We have been thinking about doing one of these for a couple years after attending one put on by one of our Tampa conference congregations.  Then, Su and I experienced Beer and Hymns at a church festival we attended in North Carolina.  The idea was simple – reach out to the community by getting out of your church building and sharing some of the treasures of our faith – the wonderful hymns we sing every Sunday…only don’t sing them like we do on those sleepy mornings when we haven’t had our coffee yet!  Sing them with heart and joy and a sense of fun. 

When we approached the folks at O’Brien’s, they loved the idea.  Monday nights are their slow nights, so they are delighted to have our business and make a place for us at their establishment.  So far we’ve done two – one in August and another in October, before Reformation Sunday.  We are planning another for December where we will be singing (naturally) Christmas carols.

            A big change for us and the whole synod was last year’s election of our new bishop, Pedro Suarez.  When I introduced myself to Pedro on the morning of the second day of the assembly, congratulating him on his new role as assistant to our interim bishop, who could have guessed that two days later he would be our new bishop-elect?  We attended his inspiring installation service at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in New Tampa this January, where Esthel served as crucifer and Nicholas Trejo carried the pulpit Bible.  Bishop Suarez is the first Hispanic bishop we’ve had in our Florida-Bahamas synod, and has moved up from Pompano Beach to become a neighbor in Lutz.  He first joined us for our “God’s Work, Our Hands” worship and service project on September 9, for which he brought his wife, kids and grandkids along.  His family has been worshiping with us regularly since then, and Bishop Suarez himself showed up at our latest Beer & Hymns night. 

            Atonement is blessed to be the supportive home congregation for Esthel Kane as she studies and works towards ordained ministry in the ELCA.  Esthel’s program of ministry and theological education was linked to her role as lay developer of our Hispanic mission, Todos Unidos en Cristo.  However, this year we discovered that this program, which was being funded through the national church’s mission budget, was intended for people with considerable experience in parish leadership.  Esthel had no such experience when she entered the program, so the course of studies and training were not appropriate for her level of development.  We also were not able to gather a stable base of people serving and being served as part of the Hispanic mission.  After review of the situation by synod staff, they decided not to renew funding for the mission, which will require that Esthel find an alternative route to seminary and ordination.  However, they affirmed her desire to continue pursuing ordained ministry and finish her pastoral training.

            This means that Esthel will be looking for an alternative way to finish her seminary studies.  She is committed to continuing, and can still get help with the funding through scholarships, and of course we will support her as we can at Atonement.  This also means that our Hispanic outreach here at Atonement will go back to simply being our Hispanic outreach, and we will continue efforts to reach our Spanish speaking neighbors and possibly begin a Lutheran service in Spanish.  Because of this situation, we are discontinuing “seminarian Sunday” offerings until Esthel finds and is accepted to a new program of studies.  What’s the best way to help Esthel in the meantime?  Talk to her, encourage her, and most of all, keep her in your prayers.

            Our building is another project which hasn’t gone as expected this year.  After breaking ground last December believing that we would be starting construction within a month or two, we have been in an uphill climb ever since.  We had heard stories, some of them horror stories, about the slow progress others had made in getting their permits approved by Pasco County.  Knowing that ours was not a big money project, we also realized that we were not a high priority for them.  Still, we never thought our simple little fellowship annex would take 10 months to get through the permitting.  Our contractors kept tabs on the process, with various changes to regulations requiring updated drafts of our plans, but there was still little forward progress until the last month or so.  Our contractors have also promised to keep to our original price of $90/square foot for the project, although some less expensive materials may have to be substituted where we can still maintain quality.  The biggest hurdle this has all caused is simply not being able to use the extra space we were counting on this year.  The extra storage and meeting space we thought we’d be able to offer various ministries in early 2018 will have to wait until early 2019.

            One ministry that has been moving along nicely is our Stephen Ministry program.  We have four Stephen Ministers  - Kathy Alvare, Vanessa Frost, Chris Rymer and Bill Slippy – working regularly with care receivers, as well as Stephen Leaders Jan Buland and Chris Rymer working with me on training and supervision.  Detlev Aeppel, Kirstin Westbrook and Laurie Chiaramonte are also currently in training and should be ready to begin as Stephen Ministers in early 2019.  Pamela Pientka, who is a licensed therapist, is also helping provide continuing education and working as a consultant.  As we expand the number of Stephen Ministers, we are also considering opening up the ministry to serve care receivers who are not Atonement members.

             We also reactivated our stewardship ministry this year, reforming the committee under the name “Love-in-Action” team.  We are planning workshops about spiritual gifts for early next year, as well as a financial response program that will focus on giving as a response to God’s gracious love for us.  With the theme “My King and I,” we will be making giving covenants which, instead of turning in to the church, we will burn as a spiritual offering to the Lord.  The Love-in-Action team is also assembling ministry “wish lists,” items that our individual ministries can use to further their mission, but which are beyond their normal budget.

            This year we celebrated the life of Fred Agnir before his death, with a special service on his and Ruby’s anniversary.  He exceeded all expectations by continuing to come to church and sing, and even officiate at a wedding well into his battle with cancer.  Many remarked at his positive demeanor and even joy as he sang with the choir (and even solos), and continued worshiping with us.  I was his backup at the wedding of Kim Arnold and Fabian Soto, but he gave me more of a part than he needed to as we enjoyed an evening cruise in Tampa Bay on the Starship yacht as Kim and Fabian tied the knot.  When it came time for Fred’s funeral, the service was of truly epic proportions, with moving musical offerings from 2 choirs and personal tributes from family. 

            Ann Davis will also be greatly missed by Atonement.  Her long history as the founder and backbone of our Social Ministry team (with daughter Jean Jakes) helped create our partnerships with Christian Social Services of Land O’Lakes and Resurrection House in Dade City.  She and Jean began the regular baby showers that Jean and our WELCA team are continuing for migrant worker mothers at Resurrection House.  She was also our resident gardener, who could regularly be seen tending the flower beds out in front of the church (before the portico was built). 

            Newly budding ministries like the prayer garden, Bartell Memorial Garden and Carole Hendry’s Creation ministry continue that dedication to keeping Atonement beautiful and nature-friendly.  The Caring team will be looking at designing a walking trail around the perimeter of our property, which can be used for exercise and/or enjoying the natural beauty of our site.   Carole Hendry’s ministry will be bringing that natural beauty to areas around the church through planting and caring for flowers and plants.  Our first official worship service at the outdoor sanctuary took place this last Easter Sunday at sunrise.  Neighbors from the community joined us as we sang, prayed and shared communion in that beautiful space.  This fall, Alex Rivera chose beautifying the area around the Sean Bartell memorial tree in the far front corner of our property as his Eagle Scout project this year.  Take a moment and stop by, sit and reflect on the bench, remember Sean and his family, and consider God’s gracious love that reaches beyond all earthly life into life eternal.

            Perhaps the most significant advance this year has been hiring an Office Administrator who will be with us working each weekday.  We have been getting by for years now with different people in charge of the office each day, volunteers who were being coordinated by Kay Edwards (in a position with minimal pay).  They have each brought their unique gifts into our office environment, but as we’ve grown we saw the need for a more consistent presence.  We have also been looking for someone with the skills and know-how to help manage a new updated website which Cara Chiaramonte has designed and we are waiting to bring online. 

            To that end, we hired Lynn McCurdy this April, but she soon informed us that family issues were forcing her to find full-time work.  Now, after another round of resumes (156 this time!) and interviews, we are pleased to introduce Marybeth Gandiosi to our Atonement family.  She comes to us with years of office administration experience, and as someone who ran her own business.  She worked in Tampa for the Yacht Starship, and in Las Vegas as a wedding photographer, coordinator, and officiant.  If you are in the neighborhood during office hours (Monday through Friday 10am-5pm), please stop in to meet Marybeth and welcome her to Atonement. 

            The road before us will surely continue to twist and turn, but the Lord goes with us always.  He lights our way and shows us where to turn.  In the meantime, God points out new opportunities to worship him and to serve his people.  Susan and I thank you for all your prayers and support, and most of all for your willingness to join us on this surprising journey of discipleship.  We love you all and pray that God continue to grow your faith and love and generosity and hope along the way.  The spiritual path is more joyful when we go together, and every step of the way you have brought us great joy by being a part of this amazing congregation of Atonement!

The Saints: Your Spiritual Support Group

“For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels in heaven.  And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’ He is God not of the dead, but of the living…”  --- Mark 12:25-27

            She was looking for help.  She suffered from physical pain, emotional trauma from the suicides of both her husband and son, spiritual distress at being abandoned by other family members, and social anxiety at being judged by people who couldn’t understand her.  After multiple suicide attempts of her own, she was reaching out in search of someone to listen, understand, and encourage her.  “How is it you’ve gotten through all that?” I asked.  “How have you made it this far without a support system?”  “I believe in Jesus.  He’s my support system,” she told me.  “Without Him in my life, I wouldn’t be here.”

            When people wonder why they should pay attention to a 2000 year old religion, or what difference the teachings of an ancient rabbi make in this modern world, here is an answer.  Jesus makes all the difference.  Not just the difference between getting up and going to church on Sunday or sleeping in – no, we’re talking ALL the difference – the difference between life and death.  All the arguments about the failures of churches and the hypocrisies of Christians fall away in the light of the fact that Jesus came to love the world from death to life.  Jesus is Lord and he loves you, and that makes all the difference. 

            It is said that when the Turkish hordes were threatening Constantinople, their armies beating at the gates about to take that great city, the Christians inside were holding debates about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.  Even today we are guilty of squabbling and complaining about inconveniences and arguing over insubstantial issues in the midst of people’s life and death struggles with doubt and sin.  Somehow, despite the ways we distort his message and incompletely imitate his service to the world, in spite of our warped witnessing and inadequate ambassadorship to the Lord, Jesus still makes all the difference.  Those who know him know the one who “came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).  For this above all, we are thankful.

            Being the month of the Thanksgiving holiday, we are highlighting the theme of Thanksgiving during our 5pm Saturday Godify services in November.  We will start off with our thankfulness for God’s creation on Nov. 3 and explore different reasons and opportunities for responding in thankfulness for what God gives us.  On Thanksgiving weekend, I’ll be talking about thankfulness for one of my favorite things – food! – on Nov. 24.  Please remember also that our annual “Home for Thanksgiving” service is Sunday, Nov. 25 – and we will be taking our 2018 “Family Photo” of everybody who joins us after worship that day.  The following Sunday, December 2, is the first Sunday of Advent and start of a new church calendar year.  We begin the 8:30am “Rise and Shine” services that day, and hold our annual congregational meeting at 11:30am.

            November is also the month of All Saints’ – a holiday we celebrate on the first Sunday of each November, but it actually falls on November 1.  All Saints ’ Day is when we remember that “great cloud of witnesses” who are the spiritual support group for all Christians, the communion of all people of faith alive or dead.  As Jesus points out, even those who are dead are alive in Christ, for God is the God of the living.  The Pharisees’ question to him about a picky technical point (in heaven, who will be the spouse of a woman married 7 times?) gives him the chance to cut to the heart of the matter – the dead will rise again in a new creation.  We can count on eternal life with God through our faith in Jesus Christ.  All Saints’ Day is our reminder of this – that all our loved ones who have died in Christ are not lost to us, but they surround us as an invisible community of encouragement and love. 

            This All Saints’ Day, Thursday Nov. 1 at 2:30pm, you are invited to join us in a special worship service as we remember all the saints, particularly the loved ones in our own lives who have gone on to heaven.  You are encouraged to bring pictures or mementos that remind you of those special saints in your life.  We will sing together, light candles and pray together, remember their life on earth and celebrate their eternal life with Jesus.  All are welcome.

            I encourage you to make use of these special November worship opportunities we are offering this month.  Bring your thankfulness for the One who made you, blesses and keeps you now and in the world to come!

 

Peace,

Pastor Scott

We Love to Tell the Story!

 “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.  But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.”       -- John 20:30-31

            Ever seen a movie re-make that should never have been made?  Why does Hollywood take classic movies and redo them, minus the magic that made them classic in the first place?  I guess the answer is money, as usual – they figure people will go see it.  But why tell a story over and over again when it has been told so well in the first place.  I’ve seen it with movies from my childhood – Willy Wonka, Clash of Titans, Karate Kid – and my pet peeve, Planet of the Apes—have all been made into far less wonderful imitations.  And then there are those great books that are made into movies time and time again, proving again and again that great books don’t always translate well to the silver screen.  The immense power of Melville’s Moby Dick just can’t be squeezed into a movie, so why do filmmakers keep trying? 

            Maybe because there is something in the story that bears repeating, rethinking, reworking.  The beloved well-known versions of the Maltese Falcon, The Ten Commandments, Wizard of Oz and Ben Hur were all remakes.  Barbara Streisand remade A Star is Born from a classic Judy Garland version that itself was a successful re-make.  And now, get ready for Lady Gaga’s version!  The original 1933 King Kong was a technical masterpiece of its day, but modern special effects have made more recent versions if not better, at least impressive in new ways. 

            So when you’ve got a good story, it bears repeating.  Besides movies, we get stories in many forms: e-books, graphic novels, musicals, Netflix serials, audiobooks, plays, websites, and once in a while a plain, regular, old-fashioned book with words and pictures that don’t move.  Back in elementary school, our teacher used to read to us.  We were allowed to sit on the square carpeted space on the classroom floor and didn’t have to answer questions or do math problems for once…we could just listen and use our imaginations to give life to the story.  It was relaxing and fun.  Those stories took us to other places, other lands, sometimes other planets.  They got us using another piece of our brains for a while, and got us to slow down and think.  Story time made school seem a whole lot friendlier.  It’s amazing what stories can do.

The gospel writers were no dummies.  They wanted to present the Good News of Jesus in the most inspiring and powerful way possible.  They could have just made a list of ways to follow Jesus – dos and don’ts, good ways to live and evil things to avoid.  They could have given step-by-step instructions on how to evangelize and start churches.  They could have made complicated arguments for different doctrinal positions and ways to defend Christian beliefs against pagan doubters.  There were lots of ways the gospel writers could have gone about presenting Christianity to encourage those early generations of believers.  But what they chose to do was tell stories.

Those stories had probably been told before.  In fact, even after Mark had given a pretty good overview of the ministry of Jesus in his gospel, Matthew and Luke had things they wanted to add.  So we have multiple gospels – each of them a collection of stories about what Jesus said and did…and two of the first three were re-makes.  Then John comes along and gives a whole new perspective on Jesus with a bunch of new stories, teachings, and a more divine take on the Son of Man.  So now we have four gospels, all of them showing us Christianity through the lens of the Jesus story.  But the creation of story-collections about God wasn’t totally new and unheard of.  The Old Testament itself takes many stories and weaves them into one great, continuous story stretching from the dawn of creation through the rise and downfall of Israel.  I’ve heard it said that, page-for-page and word-for-word, over ¾ of the Bible consists of stories. 

It’s not always easy to follow the storyline, but God is trying to tell us something very important, not just in what he says but in how he says it.  That long, continuous story which God started at the beginning bears repeating.  We tell it again and again and are still telling it.  We tell it again and again because it is also our story, yours and mine.  Maybe sometimes we tell it better than others.  Maybe sometimes we get the story wrong.  Maybe sometimes we tell it at just the right moment that hearts are open to receive it in a way that they see exactly how the story is theirs, and they respond by praising God.

When you tell your story, how do you connect it to God’s?  Where does your life history intersect with the history told in the Bible?  One point of contact is through baptism – through that water and those promises, God reached out and touched you and brought you into his story.  What stories about God have been particularly meaningful to you?  Maybe there are parts of that story that caused you to change the direction of your life.  Maybe you’re still figuring out that story and what it means to you.  Maybe you’re well aware that the life you are living right now, at this very moment, is also part of God’s ongoing story.

As we prepare for our new 11:30am Child of God service, we celebrate storytelling in its many forms.  We will be going back to the basic stories in Scripture and tracing how that one continuous story of God’s love has unfolded through the vast ages of time and continues in the very living and storytelling that we do right now.  Because it is God’s story, it is ageless and endless.  Because it is our story, it is personal and poignant.  Although it is told over and over again down through the years, it is never exactly the same.  That’s why it bears repeating.

Peace,

Pastor Scott