The Spirit of the Lord is on me -- Luke 4:18

Praise God!

This is a month of anniversaries for me. If you read your July newsletter (you HAVE read your July newsletter, haven’t you?), you know that this month marks my 5th year at Atonement. How incredible to think that 5 years have gone by already! It seems like just months ago we were dodging Day care children and wondering when they were going to start all that construction…

But this month is also the 20th anniversary of my ordination. Yes, I became a pastor 20 years ago, when Bishop Reginald Holle, my stepmother Rev. Roberta Lindner and Rev. Bernard Philabaum laid hands on me and prayed God’s Spirit would fill me. The Bible passage that day was Luke chapter 4, where Jesus comes back home to Nazareth to guest preach in the synagogue. Everyone is silent as He reads from Isaiah:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me

because he has anointed me to preach

good news to the poor,

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,
to release the oppressed and proclaim
the year of the Lord’s favor.

That’s quite a job description for any pastor, any Christian, any congregation to contemplate. But it gives us all some important questions to think about:

1. Is the Spirit of the Lord upon ME? upon our congregation?
2. Has God anointed me for a special task or ministry?
3. Are the fruits of my life GOOD NEWS to the poor and suffering around me?
4. Do I understand, believe and trust that I am living in the LORD’s FAVOR?

As I reflect on 20 years of ordained ministry, I am painfully aware of times I neglected God’s favor and call to difficult tasks -- times I needed to change but didn’t, and times I needed to stand steadfast but caved in to popular opinion. But I also celebrate the grace that lifted me, strengthened me, stretched and renewed me, and finally carried me to Wesley Chapel, Florida to live, love and work among you all. All ministry belongs to God and anything good that comes from our human efforts are made so by His Spirit.

I am just back from a whirlwind vacation, where I had the opportunity to worship at the first congregation I served in Vassar, Michigan, and to visit the newly constructed sanctuary of the other church I served, St. Paul Lutheran in Greenville, Michigan. These are the church families I have loved, prayed and cared for. Both visits were sacred, holy moments for me, to see both congregations doing well, growing and changing under direction of the Spirit of God.

It fills me with joy as I pray for you, for your growth in Christ, for your love and discipleship, to know that the Spirit of the Lord is upon you too. We walk together, work together, live, laugh and love together in the name of Jesus, who makes all our efforts mean something. I thank God that you are part of his family, Atonement’s ministry, and my life!

from the newsletter

Would you be our nursery coordinator? Or maybe Sunday school superintendent? How about a member of the outreach or worship and music team? Or help get the senior’s group or member care team going again?


Hold on -- Summer’s the time to lay back and relax. Travel, put your feet up, take in the sun. Please Pastor, don’t make me think about all this church business.

All right, take it easy for now, but get ready! After a little R&R, it will be time to start some rebuilding. Not bricks and mortar building – not yet. But leadership and volunteers.

This month marks my 5th year here at Atonement. What a great 5 years it has been, and how far we have come -- we have grown spiritually, grown in attendance, grown in giving, and grown remarkably in service to the community. We’re off to a great start.

But we have also grown a little tired. After 5 years of pushing ahead, some groups and projects have run out of steam. Some of us who were regular attenders have found it hard to get back in the habit. Some of us who never attended much have stopped altogether. Some great ideas that never got off the ground have been forgotten or laid aside.

Spend the Summer relaxing and renewing your strength. Pray about how you will deepen your faith life and your participation in God’s mission at Atonement. Because when Fall hits, it’s time for take off.

Video of the week

Silent monks do the Hallelujah Chorus

Closer than you think

“I am certain that neither death nor life, no angel or prince,
nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power,
nor height nor depth, nor any created thing can ever come between us
and the love of God made visible in Jesus Christ our Lord."
— Romans 8:38-39

Sometimes it seems like we’re always saying goodbye. In church we make friends, falling in love with our fellow Christians, community members, and partners in ministry. And then they go away for the summer, or sometimes move away, or sometimes pass away.

Summer is upon us: time when families hit the road and head out as far as gas prices will allow. We remember those who travel and pray for their safe return. Vacations, mission trips, visits to relatives, cruises and cross-country tours. If we can manage it, we’re on the move. Our hearts go out to those serving in the military, especially those displaced to distant lands where they work in the danger zone on our behalf. But distance in miles does not mean distance in the heart. We hold them all close through the love of Jesus Christ.

We remember our graduates, heading off to a new phase of life. What a huge step from living under their parents’ roof to venturing out into this big, wild world. Sure, they face responsibilities and risks, decisions and consequences, but also the chance to spread their wings and show us what they can do. Seeing them at their baptism, treading off to Sunday school, and shedding a tear at their confirmation service, you can hardly believe that today they’ve reached adulthood. Was yesterday really so long ago? But the passing years do not mean the passing of our hopes. We will always hold them close in the love of Jesus Christ.

Lois, Jane, and Joyce — three beautiful ladies who loved their shepherd Savior, went to be with Him this month. Gone from our midst and missed, they are still with us in so many ways. The last baby blanket Lois made will be shared with a needy family just as she wanted. When members of Joyce’s family & loved ones gathered at Bushnell, her brother told of her acceptance of Christ. And for Jane who went so quickly we hardly had time to realize what happened, we will hold a celebration when Gene returns from Ohio. But life and even loss of life are no barriers for those who live in God’s promises. There are no final goodbyes, for we know that God will once again bring us all together. We hold them close, and are held ourselves forever in the love of Jesus Christ.

Peace,

Pastor Scott

The Deacons are coming! The Deacons are coming!

"[Deacons] must hold on to the deep truths of the faith. Even their own minds tell them to do that. First they must be tested. Then let them serve as deacons if there is nothing against them."

— 1 Timothy 3:9-10 (NIrV)

You’re in for a treat! I can’t wait until May, because we’re going to have some tremendous guest speakers preaching at the 10am service. They are not movie stars, past presidents, or motivational speakers. They are not retired sports figures or pastors. But they do have some great things to share with you about how God’s love has worked in their lives. Best of all, you know these people!


These are the deacon candidates being trained for lay ministry here at Atonement. They have been reading, studying, bringing communion to shut-ins, and attending classes with me every other week. They have committed to a two-year training period before being eligible to be consecrated as Atonement’s very first “synodical deacons.” Since we began last fall, we have covered classes in Communion, Old Testament, Preaching, and are now studying the Lutheran Confessions. And in May they will be preaching in worship.

This is more than just a training exercise. In our class, they’ve each had an opportunity to practice preaching. I am very proud of each one of them, because each brings a special gift to bear on their unique presentation of God’s Word. Some of them are nervous, some excited to be speaking in church. I know you will listen and receive their messages graciously and enthusiastically, and have encouraging feedback to give them. What’s more, I believe you will leave each service blessed with new insights at God’s amazing love and a whole new wonder at the gifts God gives his people!

Peace,

Pastor Scott

On Earthquakes and Easter

"He has been raised from the dead, and is going ahead…
there you will see him..."
— Matthew 28:7

The man stood looking over the concrete sea wall down into the harbor. It was low tide and water pooled in small puddles on the muddy floor of the inlet. Suddenly out to sea, the large level wave could be seen bearing down silently upon the shore. The man saw the wave crash and the water pour into the harbor, the boats bobbing up and down like toys in the bathtub, with a second wave on its way. This time, the wave’s impact on the shore shot vertical sprays of dark water forty feet into the air. The man decides to move to higher ground. As soon as he has climbed up a nearby observation platform, he glances back to where he stood a second ago. A veritable Niagara Falls of muddy water is now pouring over the sea wall and the sidewalk has disappeared. “Oh my God,” he says, in Japanese.


After seeing the vast devastation caused by earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear emergencies across the ocean, we ought to give a second thought to our own lives. Today is a gift from God — tomorrow no more than a hope. The only certainty we have for tomorrow comes from Jesus Christ. His death on the cross was a tidal wave, smashing through our sins and drowning death itself. His Easter life is a new chance He’s given us here on earth and a place with Him in glory to come. Experience it all close up this Holy week & Easter!

Peace,
Pastor Scott

Praise God!

April 4, 2011

 “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord…’”

-- Isaiah 61:10
 
Praise God!
Once again, thanks to your faithful giving and careful stewardship, we have been able to meet all our financial obligations. Not only that, we are growing in worship with the addition of Ruby Agnir as our new choir director. I want to fill you in on a few more things that are going on in and around Atonement as we move towards Easter and the celebration of God’s promises fulfilled in the Risen Christ! –

• This is our third year without the extra income that Little Pioneers Daycare brought in, but income from offerings has grown almost to the point of replacing it. We are now heading into the summer months when our offering income takes a dip, but we still hope the offerings will take care of most of our regular expenditures.
• By Easter, you should see results of our next phase in improving audiovisual technology in the sanctuary. We will be installing screens that should result in better flow in worship and less expense printing bulletins.
• We have now established a building fund for the new construction that we have planned. This includes work redoing our parking and landscaping as a result of the road construction. It also includes putting up a new building, which will serve as multi-purpose gathering space (with full kitchen) along with much-needed additional food pantry storage. Special gifts may be directed to this fund at any time. 
• Our national church body has been hit much harder than expected by reductions in giving. Mission congregations throughout the country have seen their pastors’ salaries reduced by 30%. This includes our own mission partner, Peace Lutheran Church in Tampa and their pastor, Michael Birra. At our meeting yesterday, Tampa area churches voted to use some of our conference dollars to support Pastor Birra’s salary and another $1000 to develop a support team that would assist that church in reaching out and growing.
• Thanks to the local papers, tv stations and word-of-mouth, our Helping Hands food pantry has gotten great exposure lately. More people are calling the church and asking about it – both people needing help and people wanting to donate food.
• We will be hosting a short seminar with luncheon on Sunday, May 1 after the 10am service called Charitable Giving: How to Make a Difference by Giving Back. Deb Kretchman, our local Thrivent representative will be sharing information and leading discussion. You can sign up at church, or call the church office at 813-973-2211.

Take a moment and think of some of the blessings in your life. Thanks to our faith and awareness of God’s presence and love for us, we know who we are and what life is about. As we prepare to bring our Easter worship to God, we remember that He gave his Son Jesus for us and we want to give Him back our very best. As Atonement member Lilja Taylor reminds us in her poem “Easter Parable,” “He did what we could not”! Bring Him your best this Easter, your thanks, your praise, your heart!

Peace,
Pastor Scott