We had a birthday party on Sunday, September 11 for all of our members who were turning 80 or more this year.  It was great fun and a wonderful way to remember 9/11 with a positive message. Presented at the party was a slideshow of our folks through the years of their lives.  If you missed the party, or just want to see the slides again, click here. Be warned however, it is a large file and takes quite a while to download.

6-12-11 Strategic Plan – Vision, Principles, Mission, Long-Term Objectives, Strategies

2011-2012 Preliminary Spending Plan

This week I write to you from Delray Beach, Florida, where I am being refreshed, renewed and challenged through a week-long Continuing Education event  – the ELCA’s Leadership Seminar.

An important and eye-opening insight so far this week is the neglect of the role of the home in faith formation… a.k.a. The Great Omission. Compelling evidence reveals that families (parents and caregivers) are the primary “teachers” of the faith.  David W. Anderson (of Vibrant Faith Ministries) asserts that “We cannot be faithful to the Great Commission [loosely put, ‘Go make disciples, baptizing, teaching and remembering’, Matthew 28:11ff] as long as we continue to commit the Great Omission.”

It seems pretty simple, doesn’t it?  Home is the place where we spend the most time, have the most intimate relationships, and where stories are told, rituals and traditions practiced, and where children are greatly influenced – contradicting the notion that parents and caregivers are out-of-touch with their children.  The freedom that this revelation poses is that parents reclaim their central role of teaching the faith with their children.  Worship, DiscipleLife (Sunday School), J.A.M. Session, and Super Sunday activities are all very important, but these do not take the place of parents (and all Christian disciples… adults!…for that matter) being authentic (1 Corinthians 4:8-17), available (Matthew 25:31-46) and affirming (Philippians 1:3-11) especially with children.

It seems that we have some work to do!  As we begin to live further into our Spirit-led strategies especially around the objectives of improving our Youth and Family Ministries and Missional Outreach, awareness of the role of home in nurturing disciples has the greatest potential to be fruitful… and transforming… for the congregation and the community.

Perhaps you might ask, “What can I do now at home, with children (and each other!) to respond to The Great Omission?”  (If not, I hope you will begin to as I am!)  One response is to mature in our compassion for each other (everyone!) using “Four Keys”:

• Caring Conversations. Ask, “How do you see God at work in your life today?”
• Devotions. Ask, “What can I pray for you?”
• Service. Ask, “What do you need to fulfill your sense of call?”
• Rituals and Traditions. Start by lighting a candle (to remember the Light of Christ) and end with a prayer and possibly add a relevant Scripture for reflection.

Can you begin to imagine what the Spirit might do as we engage in these kinds of acts not only at home but when we’re gathered during any fellowship?  Try it and let’s see God at work!

Someone recently posed the question to a group, “If a newcomer to our congregation came to a meeting, what would they hear?”  That’s a powerful question.  As we reflect on our conversations during meetings and in the parking lot… even at work, school and home (The Church!)…  would someone recognize something of the faith, hope and love of Jesus gifted to us in baptism?  Let’s admit it, we’re called to a high calling and God depends on us to do something about it!  As my son’s coach encourages them, “Practice makes permanent,” our Christian responsibility and joy is to practice the faith so that it becomes a permanent foundation in the lives of our children… of all ages and relations!

Along with Pastor Joel (who will be here for the second part of the event), I thank you for your generosity of time (away) and treasure in supporting our renewal and education through the allocation of funds and special donations for transportation.  May you, too, discover places and times of refreshment, renewal  and new insights as you are precious to God.

To live and love like Jesus,

Pastor Marc+