Lutheran Note: October 31

This day is celebrated as the historic beginning of the Lutheran Reformation, the beginning of our religious testimony concerning the extent of God’s love, demonstrated on the cross by Christ. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther pounded his “95 Theses” on the Wittenberg, Germany church door and the Christian faith was reinvigorated!
We have remembered Luther’s witness this month with our “History Hallway” exhibit of posters related to the Reformation, then on Sunday, October 28, at 4pm, we hosted a bi-lingual (German and English) worship service!

October

This month among Lutherans contains the celebration of the beginning of the Reformation on the last Sunday or last day. We will observe and participate in several events for the Reformation with a poster exhibit, Wednesday evening classes of Reformation persons and activities led by Bishop (emeritus) Mark Herbener, two worship services (one bilingual German/English), and a special choir program.
Martin Luther and his followers stressed the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ, won on the cross, opened to us in the witness of the Bible. You may find your faith stimulated by a discussion with other adults about these critical topics. Certainly, you should hear in October again and again the message of the cross – Christ’s gift of salvation (by grace through faith!), a gift opened to us in the Scriptures.

The heat has returned!
That certainly seems to be the weather forecast for the next several weeks. We may have enjoyed the lingering Spring-like temperatures well into July, but now it is time to get serious about Summer!
The heat has returned!
That is our hope as Christians each day. The Lord’s promises and blessings refresh us like the Spring, then the Holy Spirit enlivens our experience of God – in prayer, in worship, in regular Bible reading, in witness, in service, in living as God’s called child. Deep into what can be the Summer doldrums, the proverbial “lazy days of Summer,” I encourage you to experience the heat of the faith each day. Begin with a prayer to start your morning routine.
Luther had a nice Morning Prayer:

“I give thanks to you, heavenly Father,
through Jesus you dear Son, that you
have protected me through the night
from all harm and danger. I ask that you
would also protect me today from sin
and all evil, so that my life and actions
may please you. Into your hands I commend
myself: my body, my soul, and all
that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me,
so that the wicked foe may have
no power over me. Amen.”

Then Luther encouraged us “to go to your work joyfully.”
That is the best heat, the tolerable heat, the enlivening heat, we all need this Summer and truly each day of the year! Welcome to the blessings of Summer and our Savior!
The heat has returned!

Prayer and Performance 4

This Summer our Wednesday evenings have been blessed by times of Prayer and Performance. Beginning at 7:00pm, we have a service of Evening Prayer, inviting deeper prayers for special concerns as they are shared, then we move into a celebration of God’s gift of music.
We concluded as Jamie Ovcarik shared traditional, regional guitar. (With surprise guest -- Austin Ovcarik!)

Prayer and Performance 3

This Summer our Wednesday evenings are being blessed by times of Prayer and Performance.
Beginning at 7:00pm, we have a service of Evening Prayer, inviting deeper prayers for special concerns as they are shared, then we move into a celebration of God’s gift of music.
Brian Hehn led us in songs of Justice and Peace in “A Wee Sing” modeled after the Iona Community of Scotland.

Prayer and Performance 2

This Summer our Wednesday evenings are being blessed by times of Prayer and Performance.
Beginning at 7:00pm, we have a service of Evening Prayer, inviting deeper prayers for special concerns as they are shared, then we move into a celebration of God’s gift of music. Eve Hehn offered a wonderful Soprano selections around the theme: Despair, Love, Joy tonight.

Prayer and Performance

This Summer our Wednesday evenings are being blessed by times of Prayer and Performance.
Beginning at 7:00pm, we have a service of Evening Prayer, inviting deeper prayers for special concerns as they are shared, then we move into a celebration of God’s gift of music. Laura Onsgard began the series with a portion of her European piano competition program. Such an impressive display of her God-given talent.
Thanks, Laura!

Clothing Exchange, TODAY!

We are once again hosting the great “Clothing Exchange” event in the Parish Hall with the donations received the last week of May through June 1, and the clothing exchange itself occurring Today: Saturday, June 2. Persons can bring bags of outgrown and unwanted clothing in good shape to exchange for an empty bag. Today, folks return to fill those empty bags. Members of First United are providing empty plastic bags as well as paper grocery bags, baked goods for refreshments, clothing contributions, and volunteer time.

Pastoral Acts: 5/ 19

Funeral for Margaret Anne Belle Cheatham Luttrell (May 14, 1917 - May 16, 2012)
Margaret has been a member of First United for decades since childhood and recently returned to membership after a brief absence. She was an active senior who did not recover after hitting her head in a fall. She is survived by her son, Howard, and daughter, Pam, their spouses, her two grandchildren, and one great-grandson.

Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light, O Lord. Amen

Ends and Beginnings

      May is the month for the last Spring planting, at least in Texas, as it will get just too hot to try and start a new plant. Also May can be the end of cool evenings and the continuation of warm nights and even beginning some of those hot evenings. In many households, this is the end of one school year and the start of Summer activities, as well as the beginning of plans for Fall attendance, perhaps in another school. For some this means the closing up of one house and heading for the lake or mountains.
      In church this month in 2012, we mark the end of the Easter Season and the beginning of Pentecost. One should not hastily say that it is also the end of a focus solely on Jesus and the beginning of single-minded concentration on the Holy Spirit and the Church (the Spirit’s creation). But it could be the end of a focus on the earthly Jesus and a beginning again to realize the empowerment that the risen Jesus gives his followers. In May, we are invited to end a focus on the great person Jesus was while he ministered on earth in First Century Palestine and refocus on the risen Christ who brings new beginnings – an Easter full of resurrection experiences and a Pentecost full of God’s power given into our lives. OK, and I will drag out Baptism too, an end to the impediment of sin, a beginning of new life that we can claim as we confess and receive forgiveness in church and in front of those we trespass against, as well as an end to the separation from those who have sinned against us as they confess to us and we begin a new relationship by forgiving them.
      May then is like that old camp ditty: “This is the song that never ends.” Christian have a faith life that never stops, each ending opens up a beginning, each confession frees for new life, each closure of a church season opens up an experience of another aspect of the Lord as well as an opportunity to know more about God for us!
      Here comes the end, welcome to the beginning; here comes the beginning, welcome to the end.