Blessings in the Name of Christ,
It was really cold this morning at Swedlanda. As Mark Twain supposedly said, “Cold! If the thermometer had been an inch longer we'd all have frozen to death.” Actually, it was about -15 degrees with no wind when I arrived at church. But I think it kept some people home today.
We had an installation service for newly elected Council Members and Officers: Calvin A., Lyndon A., and Melissa W.; President-Eileen R., Vice President-Calvin A., Secretary-Kari A., and Treasurer (appointed)-Kevin A.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity continues through Thursday of this week. A Christian Unity Service for the
Jim A. was hoping to be home by now, but had some complications following the placement of a stent in the portal vein of his transplanted liver. The liver is fine, thankfully, and we pray he will be able to return home this week. Olga S. is also having a procedure on Monday, so we ask for your prayers for her.
As usual, I am making the weekly sermon available on SkyDrive (with the link on the right-hand column). I thought I would also add my annual report below.
Have a great week.
In Christ,
Pastor Stewart
Pastor’s Report for 2007
“Where there is no vision, the people perish” Proverbs 29:18, KJV
I have been thinking recently of several visions from God that are included in Scripture lessons around this time of the year. Zechariah receives an angelic visit while in the temple and is told that his wife Elizabeth will bear a son named John, who will turn the hearts of many to the Lord. Mary is also told by an angel that she will give birth to a baby conceived by the Holy Spirit who will be called the Son of the Most High. Joseph receives a visit from an angel who encourages him to take Mary as his wife and predicts the birth of Jesus as one who will save his people from their sins. The wise men from the East have a vision involving a star which reveals the birth of the King of the Jews. Then Joseph receives another vision warning him to flee to
The very ordinary people who received these visions had this in common: they were open to receiving a message from God and they believed the message once it was received. What does their experience have to teach us? How might we expect to receive a vision from God—a vision which will captivate our imaginations, motivate us, and lead us to passionate commitment? How can we be better listeners and better believers?
I have had some experiences this year that have drawn my attention to such matters. The process began with the conviction that God was calling me and the Swedlanda congregation to something more than just the maintenance of ministry. I felt led to apply for entrance in an educational program through our Seminary, which will lead to a Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Mission and Leadership. I didn’t know what to expect from this course of study, didn’t know how I would find time to pursue it, and didn’t know how I would pay for it. Some of those questions have been answered. I discovered that this course is unlike any other I have ever taken. It is not about learning a lot of information or receiving and applying some kind of program for church growth. At its heart, I think it has more to do with learning how to listen to what God is telling us and being open to the guidance of His Holy Spirit. This is something we can only do together, as God’s people. I can’t do it for the congregation and I can’t tell the members of Swedlanda what to do. This kind of growth can only come from within, as it is inspired by God. He has already called us as His people and He has already given us the gifts we need. It’s exciting to consider what new and unexpected directions God might take us in if we will only listen and trust.
The picture on the left is called “Three-winged Bird.” It is a “self-portrait drawn by a chaotic system, referred to as a “chaotic strange attractor.” [1] The pattern results from self-organization. It makes me think of the Trinity—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In human systems, the “strange attractor” which organizes us is the shared meaning or value which we hold in common. I keep wondering how God intends to shape us. What might happen if we were to claim a vision for what God wants us to do? Farmers know that only God can provide the good soil, the rains and the warmth of the sun in order that the miracle of life can take place. They participate in this miracle by preparing the soil, planting the seed, applying the necessary “inputs” and then harvesting. We do the same kind of thing in the Swedlanda congregation when we prepare the soil of faith through worship and education, plant the seed of God’s Word by reading it and studying it, apply the tools of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion as they are given us by the Holy Spirit, and reap the harvest of discipleship and devotion.
I have grown in my appreciation of our Swedlanda congregation and the vision to which God is calling us. I am grateful for the support of its members in this process, including spiritual, physical, and financial support. And I am especially grateful to God for His surprising grace and love and the promise of things to come that we can’t begin to imagine.
Your fellow missionary and pastor,
Charles Stewart
[1] Wheatley, M. J. (2006). Leadership and the new science : discovering order in a chaotic world. San Francisco, CA, Berrett-Koehler.
No comments:
Post a Comment