Pastor's Message

“Joyfully Doing God’s Work”

Have you seen the news lately? Does any of it cause you to wonder, where is Jesus in all of this? There are growing protests and political unrest in the Middle East. There are natural disasters striking around the world, the most recent being the earthquake in Christ Church, New Zealand.  Even our own state has reached a point where civil discourse and good old fashioned, compromise appears impossible. If you watch news coverage long enough, it can begin to feel as if Jesus has abandoned us, despite his promise to always be with us.

Following Jesus’ death and resurrection a couple of disciples were walking, heartbroken to Emmaus when a “stranger” showed up. After explaining their long faces the “stranger” led them in an intensive Bible study as they walked along to their final destination. After spending some quality time in scripture these disciples realized that Jesus had been with them all along.  Jesus was the “stranger” walking with them. 

We could take a clue from this story. As we watch the world unfold around us and begin to wonder where Jesus has gone, perhaps we ought to spend a little more time in scripture. Perhaps Jesus is walking with us, but we’re too distracted to notice.  Looking to God’s word just might be the focus we need in times like this.

During the season of Lent, beginning with Ash Wednesday on March 9, we will offer the 40 Day Bible Challenge. Many of us are familiar with the tradition of giving something up for Lent. It is a tradition that grew out of the recognition of all of the distractions that we have in life.  It was decided to “fast” from those distractions so that we might spend more time with God. Consequently, especially in Lutheran circles, a lesser known tradition of taking on spiritual disciplines has developed over the years as well. I want to invite you to take on the 40 Day Bible Challenge this Lent. We’ll be doing it together and learning how God is walking with us along the way.  So grab your Bible (dust it off if needed), and join us for the 40 Day Bible Challenge.  Who knows, it might even help you catch a glimpse of Jesus in the midst of this crazy world.

Here is how the 40 Day Bible Challenge will work. We ask that you sign the purple commitment card to help hold you accountable.  Return it in the offering plate or to the church office.  Then be sure to pick up a bookmark with the prescribed reading plan for Lent.  Please note that we have worked in “catch up days” in case your schedule causes you to fall behind. Take this home and start reading.   Our goal is for 50 people to take up the 40 Day Bible Challenge, but wouldn’t it be awesome if we had more?  Include your whole family by reading the stories together before dinner or bedtime.  We want children, youth and adults to join in this challenge.  Let’s see if we can’t get more than 50 people involved!

I hope you consider this challenge to read the Word of God.  In the craziness of this world, focusing on God’s Word can make all the difference.  You never know, you might just meet Jesus along the way.

Joyfully doing God’s Work,

Pastor Dawn

  

Then (Jesus) started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him. … At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared. Back and forth they talked. "Didn't we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?" -Luke 24:27-32 (The Message)