Here at First Lutheran
Church, we have just held our Annual Meeting, like many other congregations
across the USA. We joined in prayer and scripture reading. A budget was
discussed and passed. A review of the year through presentations were given and
received. We elected new council members. We adopted constitutional changes. We
even pledged our participation in a new way with our neighbor Lutheran churches
by adopting the “Cascadia Parish Charter.” All of this showed that we have
striven and will continue to strive to be God’s hands as we live out our
spiritual callings as God’s servants.
For me, personally, it
was a bit of an overwhelming day. As I reflected back on the past year I was
struck by just how much ministry we do here at FLC. There were episodes shared
in reports that I had forgotten about or thought happen over a year ago! I was
reminded of the passage towards the end of the Gospel According to John when he
writes: Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which
are not written in this book (John 20:30).
What will we be about
this year?
Again, I go back to
scripture. This time to that familiar passage in Ecclesiastes: For everything
there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. When I hear this passage
read aloud I always feel a sense of comfort. I am able to breathe easier. It is
good to know that everything under heaven there is a season.
I also take something
else away from these words: The Church is called again to do what it has always
been called to do: To been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their
distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat (Isa 25:4).
This does not change, no matter the circumstances, no matter the cultural
realities, no matter the political climate. We are the Church. This does not
change.
Thank you for being a
part of this great congregation, this great denomination, this great Church.
May we, in our small ways, change our world through the work given us.
