Vol 5 No 41 - Even Bigger

While last week's observance of the end of worship portion of our Offer Them Christ season was truly a great time of celebration and recommitment in the life of our congregation, this week's service is an even bigger celebration of what God has initiated through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.  For, you see, this Sunday will see us observe not one but two great days of the Christian year.  

First, this Sunday is Christ the King Sunday.  As we have talked about in years past, the Christian year is constructed in such a way that as we journey through the year, we journey through the life of Christ.  On this Sunday, we anticipate the final act of Christ in creation, the total restoration of the world in complete communion with God; we anticipate a world where a new heaven and a new earth will come; we anticipate a world where every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  Our worship this week, through the singing, praying, proclamation, response, and every other component of the liturgy, will lift up our hope in the better day to come - the day promised to us by our Lord when he promised to return.

One of the ways in which we point to the hope of the better day is found in the second emphasis of this week's liturgy - the joy of participating in the Service of Confirmation as three of our younger members accept and profess the faith that was expressed on their behalf at their baptism.  It is most fitting that we celebrate this holy time in the lives of our youth on Christ the King Sunday, for we are called to live out, by faith and trust in God through Christ, life in such a way that points not to the contemporariness of today's world but the unbridled joy that comes from seeing God's perfect will being perfected when He comes again in glory to judge the living and the dead.  These three delightful youth will fully participate in our service, and I pray you will come and be a part of the celebration of the absolute, without a doubt most important, decision of their life - to put their whole trust in the Divine grace.

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 40 - Not Not Having Time

Yesterday, I had the high honor and privilege of attending a colleague's funeral in Lafayette.  As is the usual custom at times like these in the life of the clergy, many of my brothers and sisters from around the connection gathered to say farewell to a good man (Ira Robinson) and to be with one another in a time of grieving and celebration.

When I got word of Ira's passing on to glory Sunday, I took a moment to think about whether or not my schedule would allow me to attend the service for this servant of the church.  This being a big week in the life of our congregation, preparing for the conclusion of our Offer them Christ season, and finalizing preparations for the Advent season, I could very easily have made the case that I did not have time to attend.  It could be rationalized by saying that I did not know Ira very well, having served with him just briefly on our District CF&A and sharing casual conversation at a couple of clergy gatherings each year.

Thinking through it further, however, I realized the question is not, "Do I have time to go?"  No, the statement is, "I have nothing better to do than to go."  There are always going to be a pile of things to be done on my desk and in my calendar.  There are always going to be pressing matters that demand immediate attention.

However, what could be more important than taking the time to gather with my connectional family to celebrate the life of, and give thanks to God for, the life of a man who served the church for over 50 years?  Why would I not take the opportunity to (hopefully) hear once again the Good News?  Why would I not take the time to be reminded that through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ our Lord that death is not the final chapter of life for the Christian?

So, in the time that you are spending with this e-mail, let me encourage you to take a moment to say a prayer of thanksgiving for the life of someone who has influenced your faith journey.  Take a moment to say a prayer of thanksgiving that, solely because of God's grace in Jesus Christ, death has no victory, no sting.  And, take a moment to resolve that next time the opportunity presents itself, make time to attend someone's funeral.  Not because of what that person did, but as a testimony to God's grace as shown through the life of the deceased.

For, after all, funerals, like everything else in life, are not about us or those around us, but about GOD.

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 39 - Time to Get to Work

Time after time as last night wore on, we were given images of people gathering at events around the country to watch and wait for the results of what was sure to be, as is ANY national election, an historic occasion.  Some were jubilant as the results they worked so passionately for over a long time finally came to fruition.  Some were inconsolable as it became obvious that their beloved candidate was not going to realize (or would lose an already-attained) lifetime goal of a certain office.  Still others were, and still are, waiting for final counts or re-counts to be completed, which will have potentially far-reaching effects personally and for the nation as a whole.

Around 10:00 last night, as Erin and I watched the coverage of the national elections, my mind wondered to the next two months of our congregation's life, and to the Christian scene as a whole.  To wit:

1) We will be pledging in writing our commitments to uphold our membership vows, asking how committed are we to praying for, being present within, providing a specific percentage of our income (as we work towards or even surpass the 10% biblical tithe) to enable, and serve to fulfill, the ministries of our congregation;

2) We will be serving the needy of our community with a Thanksgiving Dinner;

3) We will be honored to celebrate as some of our young people make a public confession of their faith on Confirmation Sunday;

4) We will engage in the activities of the Advent season.

Considering these, and all the other things that God does in and through our lives, I wondered last night:

Do we as eagerly and with as much emotional investment seek to participate in and await the results of what God is attempting to do in and through us, the people of God called to ministry through the waters of baptism?

Americans have no higher responsibility than to actively participate in the machinations of the political process by being informed of the candidates and the issues before them, and voting as they best see fit.

However, as Christians, you and I have a much higher calling and responsibility - to actively participate in the work of the Kingdom of God, eagerly anticipating the privilege to see the results of how God works in and through Christ and His Church.

As more than one politician said last night, "It's time to get to work!"  And so it is for us, the Church.  Can't wait to see you as we continue the great work God has initiated through Jesus Christ and continues through us to this day.

See You Soon!

Lamar