See the world with Christmas eyes

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”                                                                                           --Matthew 1:20

            The angel’s words to Joseph are shocking when we hear them by themselves.  Taken in isolation, they sound like someone’s desperate attempt to excuse a young woman’s transgression, or save face after her victimization.  Joseph’s mind and heart were in conflict when he learned his beloved Mary was bearing a child, but this angel comes to bring a new perspective.  An angel is a messenger of God, and through the angel God presents an alternative possibility for the way Joseph views the situation he and Mary find themselves in.  The child is not a problem to be solved, or merely a broken social taboo.  This child is what every child should be -- a blessing.  Not only that, this child is unique beyond the ways that every child is unique – he is a blessing not just to mother and adoptive father, not just to his family and relatives, but to all the people. 

            Christmas is an alternative, a new perspective, a way of seeing the situation in which we find ourselves.  Christmas shows us our own lives in the light of Jesus.  Christmas reminds us that many of the things we see as problems are blessings in disguise, that the human beings in our lives have been put there by God, that life carries meaning that is deeper and more immediate that society’s spiderweb of expectations and demands.  The coming of the Lord Jesus, his birth in such an out-of-the way place, his cradle in a barn out back of the inn, his life wandering with fishermen, eating with outcasts, calling people wherever he went to return to God and fill their lives with love, and finally his giving of the greatest gift we could ever receive – his own life, body and blood all wrapped up in forgiveness of sins and life everlasting – this is the real Christmas we come back to every year.  This is the story that brings to the world a new perspective, new possibilities, new hope.  This is the story we love to hear and long to tell.

            Here at Atonement, we tell that story with everything we have.  The decorations in the sanctuary, the songs of the season, the tree and lights, and the scriptures we read all hearken back to the hope of the ages and recall the longing of those who waited so long for Messiah to come.  We sing the story in our annual cantata which our singers, musicians and readers will be taking on tour to local nursing homes as well as presenting in worship at the 10am service on December 13.  Later that day we’re all invited to take the story to the streets in song as Kelly Frasier leads us Christmas caroling through the neighborhood.

            We also tell the Christmas story through giving and generosity.  The essence of that story is the free gift of God to his children.  The love of Christ comes to us out of God’s grace and has nothing to do with how naughty or nice we’ve been.  Here at Atonement along with the usual food, countless toys will be given out on a Wednesday before Christmas through the Helping Hands food pantry.  We are presently taking donations. 

            In years past we have told the story to our local community through a “live nativity.”  We reconstructed the manger scene out behind our church, read verses and sang carols in a way that put the story of Christmas together from right out of the Bible.  Children and adults dressed up as Joseph and Mary, wise men and shepherds, angels and innkeepers, and we even had real babies play the starring role of the Christ child.   We haven’t done this in a couple years, but I will never forget the time a father who lived next door to the church came to me and asked when we were doing it again.  He said it was really important to his family because seeing our nativity was how his children heard that story and learned what Christmas was all about. 

            For 2016, we have money in our proposed budget to re-establish the live nativity.  There are costumes, scripts, and backgrounds in storage… we will be looking for a leader to help put it all together for next year’s Christmas celebration.  Of all the many things we do at Atonement, this is one of the most fundamental to our mission to share the love of Jesus.  If the children around us haven’t heard the story, how can they follow him?  If they think Christmas is all about Santa and Toys R Us, when will they hear of the silent night, the shining star, and the sleeping babe who is heaven’s king?

            Keep telling the story in your homes and hearts… share it with your families and neighbors… re-read the first 2 chapters of Matthew and of Luke… try to listen to at least as much “Jesus” Christmas music as “Santa” Christmas music… bring in a toy along with your food donations for the food pantry… create an Advent wreath for your home, or use an Advent calendar… come to worship each Sunday and on Christmas eve… find someone in your life who really needs to hear that story, maybe for the first time… sing it, shout it, say it however you can, but let the world know that “a child has been born for us, a son given to us…” (Isaiah 9:6) and his name is Jesus!  May he dwell close to you and your family this season and always!

Peace,

Pastor Scott

The missing Millenials

“After three days, they found [the boy Jesus] in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.  Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.  When his parents saw him, they were astonished.  His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’  ‘Why were you searching for me?’ Jesus asked.  ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’” – Luke 2:46-49

            Any parent who can’t find a child knows something of the anxiety Joseph and Mary felt when twelve year old Jesus goes missing.  “We’ve been searching all over for you – how could you do this to us?”  I can’t help thinking of the day I came out of the bathroom to a strangely quiet house.  Brian was still in diapers, but while I was predisposed he saw his opportunity to escape.  As I was frantically searching each room in the house for a second and third time, a knock came on the door.  It was the lady next door, and she had a little boy in diapers in her arms.  “I found him running down the street towards the McDonalds,” she said.  Apparently, the call of the golden arches overwhelmed any concern he had for his own personal safety. 

            History repeated itself when we moved across the state.  I had recently started at my second church and we were in the church basement enjoying a marvelous potluck after the service.  Soon, two of the church members, a mother and daughter, came down the stairs with a little boy in between.  They had found Brian running down the sidewalk (which ran along a busy street), heading towards the McDonalds two blocks away.  Again, the golden arches were calling irresistibly.

            As he joined his family on their trip to Jerusalem, Jesus must have felt like he was coming home.  Nazareth was a tiny town, barely a bump in the road.  Jerusalem was a magnificent walled city of nearly 100,000, David’s capital and site of the Jewish Temple.  The Romans considered it a hole in the wall, but to Jews it was the center of the world.  As one modern author puts it, “there was no city more unique, more holy, more venerable in all the world than Jerusalem” (Reza Aslan, Zealot, p. 11).

            And there on the Temple mount stood the amazing Temple built as a house of worship for all the Jews.  In Psalm 69:9 God’s faithful one declares that “zeal for your house shall consume me,” and we see just that happen to the boy Jesus.  He is drawn not to golden arches, but to the golden walls that towered above the city.  He goes there to be in his Father’s house, to spend time in the place which was built for the purpose of bringing human hearts into their Maker’s backyard, of connecting heaven and earth.  There in the Temple courts he talked to the religious professionals and wannabes, and amazed them with wisdom and understanding even they had never heard.  There in the house of  God, Jesus was on home turf.

            A lot has been said about the younger generations today, especially those who are now between 15 and 30 who are commonly referred to as “Millenials.”  As a whole, this generation shows great support for issues such as same-sex marriage and legalizing marijuana.  They are also the most educated and racially diverse generation America has known.  They are less likely to invest, and more likely to choose a job they love over one with a higher paycheck than previous generations, but 84% give to charity (often through Kickstarter or other crowdsourcing  websites).  One researcher calls them “digital natives” because they have grown up surrounded by digital technology and the Internet.

            The religious habits of Millenials have been studied for years.  We know they are part of a long trend in America of decreasing religious participation, going back to the 1940’s.  They are less likely to describe themselves as religious as previous generations, and when they do, there is an increasing likelihood that they believe in a “higher power” rather than a traditional idea of God.  25% of them declare themselves to have no religious affiliation, which has earned that group the label “Nones.”

            Despite concerns about the changing relationship between young people and their faith, the picture changes when looking at Millenials who do claim to be Christian.  Within that group, recent research suggests today’s young people tend to be more committed to their faith than Baby Boomers or Gen X Christians who preceded them.  November’s issue of Relevant Magazine quotes David Kinnaman, president of Barna Research Group, as saying that a “countertrend” is emerging in this generation: “…the trend toward ‘noneness’ is being ‘counterbalanced by a different one of younger Christians being as or more committed to the Bible, Christian practice, and even theology’ as Christians before them…”

            When I work with youth, I’m used to seeing a wide range of interest and participation within a youth group or confirmation class.  Some are there because their parents make them be there, and you can tell.  Some are really interested in the material -- they ask great questions and want to know more.  Some are passionate about living for Christ and doing things for others.  Others would rather sneak out and head for the golden arches. 

            I have to say, it is a continual pleasure to work with the young people here at Atonement.  Brenda Lenz is an exceptional youth leader, and I have great helpers in Marcia Weil and Jim Turner to assist with confirmation classes.  The confirmation students show a genuine desire to grow in faith.  Our youth, as busy as they are, value the time they are together.  This year we have a small batch of senior high youth, while I have 8 in confirmation.  Brenda suggested that we bring the groups together once a month for youth group.  I’m excited about the possibilities this will bring to both our youth and confirmation programs.  We’ll be starting this on Nov. 21 – after the regular confirmation class from 10:30am-noon, we’ll have pizza and spend an hour or so together as the youth group.

            I see many large churches around us investing lots of time and money in flashy, high-energy programs for young people.  A small church like Atonement, however, can do an excellent job bringing young people together through a youth and family ministry that focuses on relationships and spiritual growth.    It is important to make sure our young people remain included as we look toward the future, as we plan our worship services, as we think about the fellowship and service that we do. How are we reaching out to, listening to, and making room for Millenials and younger people among us?  How can make sure they don’t go missing, or if they do it’s because they’re in their Father’s house…?

Peace,

Pastor Scott

Blessings physical and spiritual

“May the Lord bless his land with the precious dew from heaven above and with the deep waters that lie below; with the best the sun brings forth and the finest the moon can yield; with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills; with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwells in the burning bush…”
                             -                   Deuteronomy 33:13-16

Friends of Atonement,

            A man came to our church yesterday looking for help.  He looked tired, both physically and spiritually. This is not at all unusual, especially since we are so close to the I-75 exit.  I asked him what brought him to us, and he said, “First of all, I needed to use your bathroom…”  Then he said he was new to the area, and was worried about how he would make it through till next week when his place to stay would become available.  He told his story, about how he had done construction work all across the country until a botched operation left him unable to work and some poor financial decisions let his parents’ house slip into the hands of the bank.  He came seeking help both physically and spiritually – some relief for his material needs and a chance to put down the great burden he was carrying, if just for a moment.  He found both of these at Atonement.

              When Moses blesses each of the Twelve Tribes just before he dies, he lavishes wishes and prayers for great abundance upon the house of Joseph.  He asks God to provide the best from all over creation to come to Joseph’s descendants, and with those great gifts something greater still: God’s favor.  It is humbling to meet people who struggle to get by physically and spiritually.  In fact, it’s almost embarrassing.  When I eat a nice warm meal that Su has cooked, when I fill my tank all the way up with gas, when I put on some clothes that are newly washed or turn the AC down a notch – I do these things knowing that God has blessed me like Joseph – fully, deeply, and richly.  Not everyone experiences such fullness of blessing, and how easy it is for them to think that such few physical blessings must mean God thinks little of them too.

            But this is not so.  Throughout Scripture, we see God’s beloved servants from Elijah to Saint Paul struggling with hardship, famine, nakedness and persecution.  Jesus said his disciples would face these things as well.  And of course, Jesus himself lost all things in order that we might know how much God loves us.  As the author of Hebrews tells us:  “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood…” (Hebrews 12:3-4)

            He’s got a point there.  In my struggles against sin, I don’t get all that uncomfortable; in my struggles against poverty, I don’t deny myself much; in my struggles against homelessness, I haven’t made room in my own bedroom for those who have nowhere to lay their heads.  God often stretches us, but we are also given the benefit to enjoy His gifts.  Though we all have room to grow in the generosity department, with God’s grace and the Spirit’s guidance we are led into new avenues of love for others, into new depths of appreciation for the ways God has blessed us.

            I thank you for the many ways you give to God.  Through your offerings you are providing help to needy people, through your prayers you are strengthening the ministries of Atonement, through your worship attendance and works of service you are being a part of Christ’s body – His heart, hands and feet reaching out to bless the world.  It is our Lord’s hope that “…those who trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.  These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.” (Titus 2:8)  God bless now and always for giving to Atonement and to all God’s people your generous support, both physically and spiritually.

Peace,

Pastor Scott 
 
 

Progress

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith…”                                       – Romans 1:16

            As I write this, the pope is making his historic visit to the US.  It’s the first time he’s been here, and only the fourth time any pope has every visited our country.  As people cheer from the streets, his every word is being scrutinized, his every action examined by the media.  He looks a little bored and unimpressed standing among officials and walking through halls lined with marble statues, but as he steps out into the daylight and sees the crowds of adults and children waiting to catch a glimpse of him, he smiles.  He lifts his head and his hand goes up in a gesture of blessing.

            This month we will be celebrating Reformation Sunday.  Two years from now it will be the 500^th anniversary of the Reformation, the 500^th birthday of the Lutheran church.  If you don’t mind me saying, we’re looking pretty good for our age.  500 years ago, who could have imagined a “people’s pope?”  Instead, we had a people’s reformer – a man who tried to get the church to turn back to Scripture, back to the spirit of Christ, and back to the mission he gave us.  Luther saw a contradiction between the way Jesus lived and the words and works coming from the church of his day.

            One wonders what would have happened five centuries ago if a pope like Francis had been around.  Perhaps he and Luther would have made an alliance to work together to bring change.  As feisty a guy as Martin Luther was, I’m not sure even a sympathetic pope could have put him at ease and held the church together.  Despite divisions that remain, Protestants can appreciate someone like Pope Francis who holds the Gospel of Jesus as a model for the Church’s practice.  And Roman Catholics make ample use today of gifts that were brought by the Reformation, like access to the Bible in the language of the people.  It should be interesting to see what the Vatican will have to say in two years when the anniversary of the Reformation rolls around.

            The gift of Scripture will be our focus this month as we continue the “How to Use Your Bible” series.  Bring your Bibles on Sundays and prepare for a fast paced sprint through the story of salvation.  We’ll have Post-It notes available to help you mark out 100 important passages as signposts in our Biblical journey.  On the way, the great scope of the Gospel, of God’s design and destiny for humanity will become clearer as we watch the powerful message of God’s love emerge from the words of Scripture.  Come get more familiar with your Bible, and as you do draw closer to God.

Peace,

Pastor Scott

  

Talent scouts for Jesus

“The gifts [Christ] gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ."          -- Ephesians 4:11-12

            I vividly remember one of those “a-ha” moments I had during my training for the ministry. It was in a class on leadership.  We were talking about what makes for a strong congregation, and the professor was telling us that the healthiest congregations are the ones that know how to give ministry away.  In the middle of that discussion, the professor said, “You will find that one of the most important roles we play in the church is that of talent scout.”  That’s when the light bulb went on in my head. 

            Giving ministry away is about finding something meaningful for people to do so everyone can use their God-given gifts for God’s work.  This is partly what the church was made for.  Jesus had 12 disciples whom he sent out to teach, preach, to help and pray for those in need.  He didn’t keep all the ministry to himself, but shared it with others.  When he washed the feet of the disciples, it was with the understanding that they would wash one another’s feet (John 13:14-15).  When Paul says in Ephesians that Christ’s gifts are meant “to equip the saints for the work of ministry,” the expectation is that every Christian is actively taking part in some kind of ministry.

            That doesn’t mean everyone has to sing in the choir…or lead a Bible study…or bake cookies for the bake sale…  The point is, everyone has been given different gifts and talents, strengths and weaknesses, and different personalities.  The many and various ministries of Christ’s Church fit the many and various passions and abilities of Christ’s people.  By helping people discover their gifts and finding ways they can work on a ministry, we become talent scouts for the Lord! 

            This is why at the end of each year of our confirmation program, I have each student present their own unique project.  I ask them to look at their talents and skills and find a way to express their faith in God using those gifts.  Over the years they’ve done powerpoint presentations, songs, dances, drawings, sculptures… each a one-of-a-kind showcase of God’s gifts.

            A congregation I visited years ago had a monthly Saturday men’s group.  The guys who attended this group discovered they all loved working on cars, and started asking how they could put their passion and mechanical know-how to work for God.  They wound up developing a new ministry by offering free labor to help fix the cars of elderly church members and other low-income people.  Imagine what unique kinds of ministries would sprout up if we all had that kind of “talent scout” mentality!
            Here at Atonement, we have many ministry teams, from Worship and music to Fellowship to Social concerns, Christian education, and so on…  Each team has a leader and each leader is entrusted with helping the pastor and council manage the ministries in that particular area.  Some of these teams meet together regularly, and some are pretty much just one or two people.  As our congregation grows and changes year by year, so does the shape of our ministries.  For example, our council just approved a brand new ministry – a Hispanic outreach team.  Our caring team began a year when we discovered there were many people interested in ministry to the sick and homebound.  Over the summer, five new people were trained to be “Eucharistic ministers” who bring communion to the homebound.  People with gifts and talents are taking on new roles as they are “equipped for the work of ministry.”
            New ministries come and sometimes old ones go.  Sometimes ministries get dropped altogether when people get overwhelmed or lose interest.  Sometimes ministry leaders struggle to keep up with the expectations for that ministry, wishing they had more direction or more people on their team.  Keeping up with all this is a challenge, and the need for communication between the ministry teams and the council and pastor is greater than ever.  Below* I’ve listed some resources and tips that might be helpful for ministry leaders.

            But here’s the light bulb that went on in my head: if Jesus made a habit of giving ministry away, so should we.  God’s work involves involving others.  We’re not just focused on getting certain tasks done – we’re also talent scouts looking to connect people.  There’s something spiritually fulfilling about doing God’s work, and someone out there is just waiting for an invitation to help with a ministry.  Having more people working side by side builds relationships and makes the work easier in the end.            
            We expect to have lots of visitors this Fall, many of whom will be considering Atonement as a new church home.  One of the questions people will be asking as they come check us out is: “Is there a place for me here?  Is this a church that can make use of my talents and abilities?  Is this somewhere I can serve God in a meaningful way?”  As we greet them warmly and offer them a new church home, let’s also make room for them to serve in ways that fit their gifts.  The Holy Spirit loves turning spectators into players and it’s a beautiful thing to watch -- so let’s open the doors as wide as we can and be talent scouts for Jesus!

Peace,

Pastor Scott

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*Here are some tips and resources to help our teams “equip the saints for the work of ministry” at Atonement:

 ·         Council liaisons: each team leader is paired up with one of the council members who will bring news about what that ministry is doing to the council.  The liaison can bring requests for minor funding or other needs before the council on behalf of that ministry.  If you are a team leader and do not know who your liaison is, contact the church office.

·         Time and talent: Yearly surveys are given out to worship attendees, asking which ministries people might be willing to volunteer for.   The results are collated and shared with the ministry leaders.  The team leaders are the talent scouts for their ministry area, and this gives them a place to start.  They are expected to contact those people and help them get plugged into their areas of interest.

·         Temple talks: Ministry teams are welcome to give a special presentation during worship informing members of the congregation as to what is happening and how they can join in.  We want to be great at giving ministry away, and should always be inviting new people to use their gifts.
·         A written plan: It’s amazing how much it helps to have a simple to do list.  Does your ministry have a timeline?  What is your ministry’s goal for the year?  What needs to be put on the church calendar?  What kind of support is needed from the council and pastor?  How much of the church budget should be set aside for this ministry? Each ministry could benefit from a detailed plan that looks at the year ahead and answers these questions.

·         “Glows and grows” meetings: The church council schedules quarterly fellowship times after the 10am service, and invites questions and input on congregational issues.  Any ministry team may request to do a presentation at the next Grows and glows meeting in October.  All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
·         Publications and media: Do you have information about a ministry you’d like to get out?  We have a newsletter, weekly email announcements, and a web site we’re working on.  Cherie Hatlem has been working on the design for the upcoming picture directory – and this year it will come with a separate ministry directory.  Special projects and events might also warrant a verbal announcement from the pulpit on a Sunday morning. 

·         Training: Workshops, classes, books and other resources are available to help with just about any ministry.  Sometimes our synod or conference offers training opportunities, and sometimes we can offer it right here at Atonement.  This month, every ministry team is being asked to send at least one person to be trained to use our new AED.  This is a device to help someone undergoing a cardiac emergency.  This training will take place at Atonement on Saturday September 26 from 10am-11am.