Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. - Luke 17:15-16
Gratitude. That’s the theme for our upcoming Stewardship Season. Webster’s defines gratitude as a noun meaning appreciation. Synonyms include acknowledgement, appreciativeness, grace, gratefulness, honor, indebtedness, obligation, praise, recognition, requital, response, responsiveness, sense of obligation, thanks, thankfulness, thanksgiving. Take the leper in the story from Luke: He didn’t have much to be grateful for. Banished from his community because of his illness, already an outsider in Israel because he was one of those “half-breed” Samaritans, and desperate not to die; he reaches out to the one man who will acknowledge his existence, Jesus. And, knowing full well that his life is in this “Master’s” hands (not just his potential restored health, but his recovery of a full life in which other human beings can again look him in the eye), he grovels for what he can’t earn. And Jesus, who loves his Father’s world, gives the man what he needs. Here’s the catch, though. This man was only one of ten for whom Jesus accomplished this incredible restoration. And the other nine simply split from the scene: They went to their priest so that the priest could attest to there healing and declare them ritually clean. They went through the “legal” (ritual Jewish) process to be restored to their communities, and had their health and the priest’s stamp of approval to demonstrate that they were “in” again. But none of the nine said “thanks.” Only the one acted. Only this one stooped before Jesus, honoring the One who was the source of his new life, and then spoke words of gratitude. Maybe more important is what Jesus says about the healed leper’s act of gratitude: “Rise and go. Your faith has made you well.” Interesting, huh? The man was already healed—as were the other nine who never returned; the priests had already done the ritual restoration. He didn’t need Jesus to do anything for him at this point. But he knew that Jesus’ graciousness had changed his life, and he wanted Jesus to know that he knew that. So he acted: he knelt, he voiced his praise. He did gratitude. And that, Jesus said, not only meant the man was healed, but that he was faithful, and consequently “well.” Hmmm. So gratitude is an act of faith. And, even more important than being healed, is being well with God. Throughout this Stewardship Season we will explore together a variety of facets of gratitude: How are we as Christ’s people called to practice gratitude in regard to our relationships, where we are at in life, the talents, the skills, the resources that we have at our disposal? You will be invited to take stock of your own life, your life in Christian community at Calvary, and your place in the world. In all these places you are called to be a manager, a steward, of God’s gifts to you. Starting Sunday, October 13 (or before, if you’d like), I invite you to employ all your senses in entering a season of gratitude: Look around you: What do you see that makes you grateful? Reach out with your hand: Whose touch has made you feel more human? Savor the food that passes through your lips, and send up a prayer of thanksgiving. Listen, and then sing your praises for the incredible sounds that God has filled your ears with. Gratitude may be a noun, but it only finds its full meaning in action. May the God who has blessed each of us richly, give us the good sense(s) to appreciate all that has been done for us in Jesus Christ, the Master who makes us well. Amen. But the theme for this season being developed by the Stewardship Team is really less a noun and more a verb. Gratitude, in other words, is not just a “thing” we experience. Rather, gratitude is something that we do, express, live. Gratitude is a way of life. Sincerely, Lori A. Cornell
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Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. - Hebrews 13:1-2
For the past four Sundays in worship we have been encountering the wisdom of the Letter to the Hebrews. It has been a journey through our corporate faith history: a history that spans back to the beginning of God’s creation, from Abraham and his posterity, Moses, the prophets, through Jesus—the pioneer and perfecter of the faith, our high priest, king, and the only intermediary we need. The letter is thought to be the preaching of a second-generation Christian (possibly in Italy), who sees the shaky faith of his community, and seeks to give them words of warning and encouragement. The final words of this letter that we encounter have to do with hospitality. The words are a not-so-veiled reference to the story of Abraham and Sarah receiving the company of God’s angels in Genesis 18. I love that this passage is spoken in our ears on Sunday, September 1. Just when the church is gearing up to enter a new season of learning and worship, we collectively are invited to think not only about ourselves and our personal faith, but to welcome others into this legacy of grace — where Christ has built for us an unshakeable kingdom. So how can we accomplish this welcome at Calvary? I’m sure there are a thousand answers to that question, but a few occur to me that fit right in with the priorities we have established in our long-range plan.
In Christ, Lori A. Cornell “Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.” ~ St Francis of Assisi
On September 8th Calvary will have the opportunity to put in to practice the values that we preach as Christians. On that day we will be joining the larger church body as we live out the ELCA motto: “God’s Work, Our Hands.” On the Day of Service we will strive to be the hands and feet that bring good news and light into the world of those who are under resourced. This is an opportunity for us to reach out to a group of people who may not feel comfortable darkening our door. We can be ambassadors of Christ’s love as we cheerfully and faithfully serve our neighbors. This event provides us the opportunity to come together as a congregation and interact with each other in ways that will benefit our Christian community as we benefit the community at large. Imagine all of the congregation members of all ages working together for a common purpose, with each person serving to the best of their ability and sharing their gifts. Events like this one serve as a reminder to children and youth that they are an important and vital part of the life of the congregation and they also provide the adults an opportunity to guide and mentor future leaders. Our cooperation with and inclusion of members of all ages in this activity will speak volumes to those encountering us for the first time. We will serve the community, work side by side, and have fun together in the name of the Lord. This event will also be a great way to invite those who have tenuous connections to the congregation to join us in serving a purpose larger than ourselves. Our actions will speak louder than any words we could read or proclaim from the pulpit. No long term commitment is required. We are asking for everyone to commit to one afternoon on Sunday the 8th, where each of us can share our gifts with a community in need. We will have carnival games, music, food, puppet shows, landscaping, flower potting, the library book-mobile, and a place where parents can get school uniforms for their children. Every journey always begins with a first step, and our first step will be to move from Calvary’s comfortable walls outside to a world of people who need the presence of a loving, living Christ embodied in each of those who will be serving on that day. This is a monumental task, but the rewards that will be reaped from our faithful interaction with each other and with a community in need will be well worth the investment. Joined together in the name of Christ and doing God’s work, we will be able to demonstrate to those we serve that we are more than people of faithful talk; we are people of faithful action. Matt Byrd A Service Blitz!
Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. 11Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies. 1 Peter 4:10-11 I know we’ve barely entered Summer, but I want to talk about the Fall. On September 8, we’re inviting every Calvary member to participate in a Service Blitz. What’s a Service Blitz? It’s an opportunity for our congregation to commit one afternoon to serving Christ by serving members of our community. What kind of service? Currently the Planning Team (which consists of Jean Balogh, Holly Fisher, Sue Snyder, and I) is exploring opportunities that meet the following criteria: 1. Representation of all age groups in the congregation. 2. Each member serves in a capacity that s/he is comfortable. 3. Visibility: Site for service is a public site with greatest opportunity for Community to see Calvary members serve. 4. Service does not replace the worship, but complements it. 5. Other congregations in the community are invited to join us. 6. Equity is the goal of the project: Do what the community needs—not what we want them to have. 7. Ask the congregation for buy-in. 8. Majority of service is done on site only that day, with the effect of having the greatest impact on those served in a short period of time. 9. Service exemplifies diversity of culture. 10. Service project invites community to participate in service. Why, you may ask, would we want to do a single day of service on September 8th’? Well, first, the idea of a single day of service is to make a big impact quickly. Second, we want to get as many people serving in the same place at the same time as possible, and choosing a single-day project is a great way to do that. Third, we want to invite others to join us in the service. Already, we’ve invited our partner ministry, Federal Way Chinese Fellowship to join us, and we will be inviting neighboring congregations to participate as well. And, finally, September 8, is a day that all Evangelical Lutheran Church in America congregations have been asked to celebrate the denomination’s 25th Anniversary by serving our neighbors. So, what does this have to do with you? Well, our hope is that each of you will mark September 8th on your calendar, and plan to participate in the event. The day will start with a “Coming Together” worship service at 10am, followed by a service celebration lunch for all ages, and then all of us will be off to serve! In the meantime, look for details about how you can participate. Think, as Peter suggests in the quote above, about the gifts that God has given you, and the strength with which you have been supplied. Are you good at planting, moving bark, singing, providing hospitality? Can you think of a young adult (a child, grandchild, neighbor, or friend) that you could invite to serve with us? Inviting young adults to serve alongside of us is one way for us to include newcomers in our ministry in a way that is nonthreatening, and enables those young adults to accomplish good alongside others who share their commitment to service. Look for more exciting details in the coming weeks. Until then, enjoy these Summer days. In Christ, Pastor Lori Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 20:19)
Go and make disciples? Let’s face it, evangelism is scary. Most people would rather visit the dentist for a root canal rather than ask their neighbor to visit their church. It is frightening to think about exposing ourselves to ridicule and derision if we should happen to invite someone to join us at church and they are offended. With the negative (and sometimes deservedly so) press that Christians receive, it is no wonder that we can feel stereotyped as judgmental, close-minded, and a group of people who frown at any fun. We are viewed as a place with lots of rules and lots of things we tell people not to do. With these kinds of perceptions about Christians why then should we even try? Should we just be content with the numbers of people who worship with us on Sunday morning and hope that people are desperate enough for a relationship with Christ that they will wander through our doors? This is clearly not a biblical position to take since we are commissioned by Jesus to go in to the world and make disciples. We don’t need to stand on the street corner with a bible and a bullhorn shouting at passersby. But we do need to feel the urgency of sharing the good news. The Great Commission to go and make disciples is much more effective when the Great Commandment is also included with it. Love of God and love of neighbor should always be included in any evangelism we do. Evangelism is about relationship. God wanted renewed relationship with the whole world, and He sent His son Jesus so that we could experience true relationship and true love. Think about what first drew you to Calvary. It may have been the preaching and the music that attracted you, but it was the relationships that made you stick around. Our congregation is by no means an exclusive club. As a matter of fact we have no limits on the number of members we would like to have join us in relationship with God and one another. We have an obligation to our friends and family to be sure that they hear the message of life contained in the gospel. But we have to invite them first. Imagine if you had a birthday party but didn’t send out any invitations. No one would show up. This summer we have an opportunity to invite some friends and family members to events at Calvary that are a great “non-invasive” way to evangelize. The first will be our Interactive Film Series beginning on June 15th at 6:00 p.m. We will provide pizza, popcorn, and interactive props along with a guide for their use during the movie. On the back of the guide we will also provide some talking points that will help to explore the faith messages that are present in each of the movies. We will be watching The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Wizard of Oz, and The Incredibles this summer. Each of these movies are family friendly, appropriate for all ages, and will be made even more fun by the audience participation and interaction. These movies provide us with a great opportunity to show others how much fun we can have together as a group and can provide a way to share the gospel in a less frightening way. Vacation Bible School is another great evangelism tool. Do you have a friend or a neighbor who has a passion for crafts, or for preparing snacks, or who has some children who need to be entertained for a week? We need puppeteers, registration helpers, singers, bible study teachers, group leaders and more. Do you have friends with these skills? Invite them to join us. Registration forms for VBS are in the narthex and on our church website. Helper signups are in the narthex or you can e-mail me at [email protected] to ask about helping. These are great opportunities to dispel the stereotypes of who we are, and to show people all of the things we get to do. We get to have fun. We get to experience Godly play. We get to build relationships. We get to experience the unconditional love of God. We get to come together in a safe and secure environment where we can celebrate the many ways that God has created His people. Go ahead. Invite a friend to experience Calvary this summer. They have everything to gain and nothing to lose. In Christ, Matt Byrd |
Rev. Lori A. Cornell
Calvary's Pastor Jake Schumacher
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