The Pastor’s Pen – August 2009
August 20th, 2009“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Mt 11:29
How do you learn best – from observation? by experience?, from seeking the advice of an expert, a guru or other wise and learned person? Do you learn by reading, or searching for answers hidden deep within the “stacks” of the world wide web’s library? All of us have our own styles of how we learn best. Some years ago when I had begun dabbling in genealogy, trying to systematize my family’s history, I investigated many sources for information. I wrote letters to offices of vital records, explored libraries, toured cemeteries, consulted archives – all in an attempt to understand my ancestral roots. I would scour over documents, newspapers, and records as if on a quest of life or death. Eventually I learned that by sitting down with others, those with much life experience, those who were most familiar with some of the name and places, I got not only facts but often the stories that went with them.
One day Jesus had just finished teaching his disciples when some students of John the Baptist approached asking if he was the one who was to come or should they wait for yet another. His answers appeals to what they have seen and heard, that indeed “the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.” Then he turns his attention to the crowds who had gathered – the ones who were hungering and thirsting for God. He addresses them with the invitation to learn from him; to come near and rest in the assurance that the kingdom of heaven had now come near.
We live inundated with information. I’ve just spent several hours learning from a good friend about blogs and comments and tweets and pokes and the like. Did you ever wonder why we find all of this knowledge appealing? I find it interesting that with all the information we send out about ourselves or gather about others we remain utterly fragmented from one another. The Bible is clear that we were created by and for God and for life together in community. Richard Rohr speaks of conversion as being that process through which we become disenchanted with our small, separate selves and we realize our ultimate identity when our hearts find their rest in God.
God Talk. It’s the invitation of Sunday morning. Come away and gather with others who are thirsty for meaning and the abundant life that is ours through faith. Come away and explore the deeper questions of life and faith in Sunday School. The Learning Ministry Committee has expressed a desire to involve everyone, young and old alike, in nurturing faith and building relationships. One of the five guiding principles of The Youth and Family Institute are that, “Faith is formed by the power of the Holy Spirit through personal, trusted relationships – often in our own homes.” As the church commits itself to mutuality in the promises made at holy baptism, it behooves us not to take advantage of the resource fo the faith community into which we have been baptized.
Mark August 30 on your calendars and come see what may be in store for you at Rally Day. Pre-school and elementary youth will explore bible stories and song through arts, crafts, and multimedia presentations. Kids in 5th and 6th grades will continue in the Living Lutheran text while 7th and 8th grade (Confirmation age youth) will explore life and faith issues through a current, topical, activity-based resource. In a similar way, faith guides of high school age youth will delve into cutting edge issues that impact their daily lives exploring ways that their faith applies to them. Among the many ideas on the wish list are: Book of Faith Bible Studies, The Lutheran Course on Marriage, Adult Study of Luther’s Catechism, Benedictine Spirituality, a course on the Stewardship of Life, book discussions on “The Source” by James Michener and “The Shack” by William Young, as well as many other topics of current interest. E-mail Jenny Norris (norrisja@att.net) with your ideas. Of course, with great ideas come the need for great leaders, so take a turn offering to lead a course for a few weeks. It will be a great journey together – I hope to see you there!
Pastor Alan