April, 2010
Resurrection Day is upon us! The cause for our hope, for our celebration as God’s people comes to fruition because of this day. The reason we stand tall under all adversity, persevere, believe, risk and stretch ourselves as human beings all comes down to the universe altering thing that occurs on this day.
On this day, Easter Sunday, God takes the crucified one, the killed one, murdered one, treasonous one, sinful one, hopeless one, washed-up one, failed one – and performs a death altering alchemy, that leaves this one…Jesus…the Risen one.
Dead no more. Hopeless no more. Sin-filled no more. Washed-up no more. Failed no more. And because of this, the human family that God created and purposes for life becomes hopeful, vindicated, and alive!
St. Paul tells us that we should all be prepared to give the reason for our hope. This is the reason he tells us. The tomb is empty. Jesus has been raised from the dead, and we have been raised too in Him!
The way we honor God and this new life he gives us through the resurrection of Jesus, is by living lives that reflect the truth of the resurrection. In a world of death, we live lives that point to creativity and life. In a world of hopelessness, we make our decisions with the supposition that God is with us and has all outcomes well in hand. In a fearful world, we live fearlessly (even in the midst of our own fear) choosing courses of action that reflect our faith rather than our fear. You get the picture.
I am grateful for St. Stephen Lutheran Church. I think you all need to hear that. The greatest measure of a church is whether or not it lives and decides and acts as if the tomb of Christ is really empty. And increasingly, I think we do.
What’s my evidence?
You took a chance on a 32-year-old pastor when what you all had in mind was a 55-year-old one! And together we’ve been doing terrific ministry and mission!
You were open to growing a congregation in a denomination that seems only to have the capacity to shrink them. You have increasingly made your hearts and minds open to new people, new ideas, information, practices, etc., in essence welcoming and embracing change and a new and vibrant future. Wow!
You were willing to embark on a capital campaign, Raising the Roof of Faith, when the forces of fear regarding the financial situation of our nation and world told us to hold our money, act protectively, and do anything BUT extend ourselves, financially and otherwise, for the sake of the Gospel. Wow!
I want to say thank you for being a church of the Resurrection! Can we be more faithful, generous, risk oriented, missionally fit and engaged, and ready to run the race of faith? Absolutely!
But not before we take stock and look around and appreciate what is already going on. Our lights are on, our staff solid, and our physical presence in our community profound because you all are generous. Our average weekly worship attendance and life together continue to grow because you all continue to show up, bring your families, and bring your friends. Our Missional outreach both within the community of St. Stephen and beyond our doors continues to expand because so many of you continue to dream up new ways of loving God and loving neighbor.
And I’m just here to tell you that this is the way it’s supposed to be! We’re doing the right things, headed the right direction, having the right impact, and growing in the right ways. And I’m also just here to tell you, THANK YOU! What you are doing and all that you are doing absolutely matters and is a critical piece in the vital resurrection life of St. Stephen.
So the time has come. To rest? No way! To push forward, onward, and upward. To keep it up, persevere in our life, laughter, and joy! It’s a beautiful thing to be the church! It’s an even better thing to be the church of the God that raises the dead!
Onward…
Pastor Nathan
Resurrection Day is upon us! The cause for our hope, for our celebration as God’s people comes to fruition because of this day. The reason we stand tall under all adversity, persevere, believe, risk and stretch ourselves as human beings all comes down to the universe altering thing that occurs on this day.
On this day, Easter Sunday, God takes the crucified one, the killed one, murdered one, treasonous one, sinful one, hopeless one, washed-up one, failed one – and performs a death altering alchemy, that leaves this one…Jesus…the Risen one.
Dead no more. Hopeless no more. Sin-filled no more. Washed-up no more. Failed no more. And because of this, the human family that God created and purposes for life becomes hopeful, vindicated, and alive!
St. Paul tells us that we should all be prepared to give the reason for our hope. This is the reason he tells us. The tomb is empty. Jesus has been raised from the dead, and we have been raised too in Him!
The way we honor God and this new life he gives us through the resurrection of Jesus, is by living lives that reflect the truth of the resurrection. In a world of death, we live lives that point to creativity and life. In a world of hopelessness, we make our decisions with the supposition that God is with us and has all outcomes well in hand. In a fearful world, we live fearlessly (even in the midst of our own fear) choosing courses of action that reflect our faith rather than our fear. You get the picture.
I am grateful for St. Stephen Lutheran Church. I think you all need to hear that. The greatest measure of a church is whether or not it lives and decides and acts as if the tomb of Christ is really empty. And increasingly, I think we do.
What’s my evidence?
You took a chance on a 32-year-old pastor when what you all had in mind was a 55-year-old one! And together we’ve been doing terrific ministry and mission!
You were open to growing a congregation in a denomination that seems only to have the capacity to shrink them. You have increasingly made your hearts and minds open to new people, new ideas, information, practices, etc., in essence welcoming and embracing change and a new and vibrant future. Wow!
You were willing to embark on a capital campaign, Raising the Roof of Faith, when the forces of fear regarding the financial situation of our nation and world told us to hold our money, act protectively, and do anything BUT extend ourselves, financially and otherwise, for the sake of the Gospel. Wow!
I want to say thank you for being a church of the Resurrection! Can we be more faithful, generous, risk oriented, missionally fit and engaged, and ready to run the race of faith? Absolutely!
But not before we take stock and look around and appreciate what is already going on. Our lights are on, our staff solid, and our physical presence in our community profound because you all are generous. Our average weekly worship attendance and life together continue to grow because you all continue to show up, bring your families, and bring your friends. Our Missional outreach both within the community of St. Stephen and beyond our doors continues to expand because so many of you continue to dream up new ways of loving God and loving neighbor.
And I’m just here to tell you that this is the way it’s supposed to be! We’re doing the right things, headed the right direction, having the right impact, and growing in the right ways. And I’m also just here to tell you, THANK YOU! What you are doing and all that you are doing absolutely matters and is a critical piece in the vital resurrection life of St. Stephen.
So the time has come. To rest? No way! To push forward, onward, and upward. To keep it up, persevere in our life, laughter, and joy! It’s a beautiful thing to be the church! It’s an even better thing to be the church of the God that raises the dead!
Onward…
Pastor Nathan
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