From the Desk of Pastor Ted…

Month of April, 2009 (the most recent material is on last page)

Sunday Bulletin Articles, Newsletter Information, and Report to the Council

 

Newsletter – April 2009

Communion Is Offered to ALL the Baptized

St. John’s Lutheran extends an invitation to ALL the baptized to participate in Holy Communion.  The Congregation Council affirmed this with me a few months ago.  This invitation is entirely consistent with ELCA perspectives and practices.  Elsewhere in this newsletter is information from the ELCA Worship FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions).

      The word “ALL” of the communion invitation should be regarded as just that… ALL… regardless of age or thinking capacity.  The invitation should be thought of in a way similar to the invitation to baptism.  When baptizing a child or infant, the parents, sponsors, congregation and pastor all promise to mutually assist the baptized to learn more and more over the years about what the person’s baptism means and what it is to live as one of God’s people, made so by God’s action and covenant in baptism.  We do not demand a certain level of knowledge or understanding from the person being baptized, but rather we trust in God’s action in the water and Word proclaimed within and by the body-of-Christ… the assembled people of God.

      In a similar manner, we proclaim trust in God’s action in the shared wine/bread and Word proclaimed within and by the body-of-Christ… the assembled people of God.  In this trust and faithful perspective it is appropriate to extend communion to ALL the baptized.  And, of course, with that action it is important to provide ongoing teaching about communion so that ALL those gathered have a growing and mutual understanding of the sacrament.  I’ll be focusing on Holy Communion several times during the seven weeks of Easter.

Maundy Thursday Worship – “First” Communion

The upcoming Maundy Thursday service during Holy Week provides a unique worship event focusing on Holy Communion that can be a special time for people to begin receiving the sacrament (of course, any time of year is appropriate for this).  I’ll be glad to meet with any parent who would like their child to begin receiving communion on Maundy Thursday or a Sunday service.  Again, it is appropriate for ALL the baptized to be included in this gift-of-God for the people-of-God.  The best indicator of when a child is “ready” to participate is when they show an interest… which I see happen VERY early in a child’s life… such as when they see mom and dad receiving the sacramental gifts… and they want it too.  (I can explain to parents some good options in how an infant or child might receive the bread and/or wine.)  At such a point, teaching easily can begin… “This is Jesus for you; God loves you very much.”  A similar teaching point can be made when a child touches the water in the baptism font and perhaps makes a sign of the cross… “God loves you very much; in baptism you are a child of God.)  I think that these ideas provide a great beginning understanding of our two sacraments.

Extending the Interim Contract – Interim “Tasks”

The contract I have with the Congregation Council for Intentional Interim Ministry is intentionally for only a six-month period, requiring evaluation and council decision on a regular basis.  In its most recent meeting, the council needed to decide whether to engage in another contract period… and whether to change any of the contract terms.  A decision was made to continue the contract without change for up to six more months as needed.         Although no contract details were changed, some of the interim processes and issues are quite different now from those of a year ago.  I note several of the current concerns below:

•          More clarity and specific details of possible renovation work have been identified and are being sharpened for actual congregational decision.  Three specific changes are being explored: widening the northeast doorway to the sanctuary, opening the office area between the sanctuary and gym to create a gathering space, and creation of a main floor restroom in a space now used for a closet and stage steps.  (One additional smaller idea is being explored… how to perhaps connect these spaces more effectively with the existing Naomi room… such as adding an opening from the hallway.)  All of these projects require congregational decision before entering contracts for construction along with plans to cover costs.
•          The outside steps to the sanctuary from Main Street need work… and now that the snow is leaving such work can begin.  The current plan, to construct new steps on top of existing steps, will cost around $15,000.  Some funds have been received for this purpose but only a small portion so far of the expected need.  More clarity must develop in how this project will be paid for before the construction begins… but the time for such clarity is upon us.
•          The organ console project continues and progress is being made.  Most of this work occurs before actually seeing anything happen.  A specific console must be found and modified to exactly fit St. John’s organ requirements.  That work is being done.  Actual construction in the sanctuary is much more minimal than all the “pre-work” currently being done.
•          Some committee reshaping is being done to better reflect leadership realities and congregational needs.  The Stewardship Committee is beginning to function as the ATT Committee (Ask, Thank, Tell) and would like to involve more people on each of the three “sub-committees).  I’d also like to see consideration about forming a single functioning committee to support the congregation’s Learning, Evangelizing, Growing, and Serving.
•          Some specific ideas may begin to emerge relative to how to best shape the next pastoral call.  The Congregation Mission Profile has begun but much more is needed to make it a well functioning document.

Holy Week – The “Three Days”

Holy Week begins with the “Sunday of the Passion” (or Palm Sunday) and culminates with the Three Days worship: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil.  The Three Days worship reflects the oldest liturgical celebrations in the life of the church, even that of the church’s earliest years.  The Three Days is the most intensive, powerful, and central worship event of the entire year.  It is so significant that it literally occurs over three separate days.  Plan to be a part of all of Holy Week’s worship, particularly the Three Days.

      Sunday of the Passion is on April 5.  We’ll start the service in the gym with some special music and a liturgy that begins a procession into the sanctuary.  The Word section will include a dramatic narration of the passion story as told in Mark, chapters 14-15.  This experience prepares us for the dramatic Three Days that occurs in the latter part of Holy Week.

      Maundy Thursday begins the Three Days worship (Thursday, April 9 at 12 & 6 PM).  “Maundy” comes from the Latin word behind our English word, mandate.  Jesus gave his disciples a mandate… to love in the ways Jesus demonstrated within his own life.  Holy Communion is a central part of the service and will feature home-baked bread and use of a pouring chalice for the wine.  Individual olive-wood cups made in Bethlehem will be used, as has occurred each Wednesday in Lent.  I’ll invite people to keep their communion cup as a reminder of this particular time in the life and ministry of St. John’s.

      Good Friday continues the Three Days worship with a focus on the cross of Christ.  (The liturgies for the Three Days worship are part of the new ELW hymnal.)  The Good Friday liturgy begins at 12:30 PM on Friday, April 10.  Time for personal reflection will begin at noon; I’ll provide personal devotional material for this meditative time preceding the service.

      Easter Vigil is the singular “high-holy” worship event of the church year, culminating the Holy Week experience.  It historically occurs on the eve of Easter (Saturday evening) but will instead shape the earlier Easter morning service (7 AM on Sunday, April 12).  The service begins with the somber, reflective mood of Good Friday and is transformed partway through the worship time into the beauty and joy of Easter’s celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.  The service includes Affirmation of Baptism (and “confirmation”) along with Holy Communion.  The Word section will be the 16^th chapter of Mark concerning the resurrection, thus concluding the dramatic reading of the entire gospel of Mark which has occurred on Sundays throughout Lent.

Bishop Jim Justman Visits St. John’s – Wednesday, April 1

Bishop Jim Justman has been deeply connected with St. John’s for a very long time, having actually been baptized in St. John’s baptismal font.  He continues to work with the current call process.  As such, he will visit St. John’s on Wednesday, April 1… beginning with the Lenten meal at 11 AM, presiding at the Lenten worship service at 12 PM, and providing an open meeting to the Call Committee, Council, and ALL members immediately following worship (about 12:45 PM.)  Join us for the special visit.  It is a great opportunity to ask questions and hear Bishop Justman’s perspectives about the congregation relative to the current call process.

A Goal: Twenty Extra Gifts of at Least $500

Wow!  The Congregation Council raised a challenging appeal for twenty gifts of at least $500 above regular giving.  By the middle of March, nine people made such gifts… accruing $9,000.  Wow!  Thank you!  And, thank you to all who continue to faithfully support the life and ministry of St. John’s Lutheran Church through your regular and extra effort giving.

      The appeal and the financial needs continue.  The council leaders continue to place the challenge to themselves and to the congregation for eleven more gifts of at least $500 above regular giving to help ease the current deficit.  Be a part of this challenging appeal.

From the ELCA Website – Worship FAQs:
At what age do ELCA congregations allow members their first Communion?

First communion can and does happen at many different ages throughout congregations of the ELCA. The Use of the Means of Grace: A Statement on the Practice of Word and Sacrament of 1997 says, “There is no command from our Lord regarding the age at which people should be…first communed.” As a result, the age at which baptized members of our congregations receive their first communion reflects a variety of practices and understandings.

      Some congregations follow a pattern familiar to older generations of Lutherans: first communion is received at the time of confirmation. A generation ago, many of our congregations began preparing catechetical material for children to receive their first communion when they reached fifth grade. Today there is a growing awareness that focus on one particular age group may not be the primary factor to determine when first communion is received. In fact, historical studies of the early church and the witness of other denominations in our day have led both congregations and members to ask about the possibility of communing of infants, a practice precluded by an earlier communion practices statement.

      Although no particular age is prescribed by The Use of the Means of Grace, one guideline is offered. Because admission to the Sacrament is by invitation of the Lord to the baptized, “baptized children begin to commune on a regular basis at a time determined through mutual conversation that includes the pastor, the child, and the parents or sponsors involved, within the accepted practices of the congregation.” Each congregation is encouraged to ask the question of readiness for first communion, establish their own policies regarding age and practice, and accompany that practice with catechesis appropriate to the age of the communicant.

      When congregations receive children as members from another congregation where those children have been accepted as communing members, they should welcome and receive such children as communing members, perhaps as an exception to the congregation’s own policy. This may result in diversity of ages regularly receiving the sacrament even within a congregation itself.

      The present differences of practice among parishes within the ELCA will continue to hold the question of age for first communion before congregations and members. Addressing that question will involve reviewing particular practices against biblical and confessional norms and will continue to encourage ongoing theological reflection and pastoral wisdom.