From the Pastor's Desk

"How my mind has changed" is the title of an occasional article in a bi-weekly theological journal. I thought of that title as I reflected myself on how my mind has changed on some-thing. As Christians, and Lutherans especially perhaps, we don't like to "blow our own horn." When giving a gift to the church, we prefer to do that anonymously.

But several years ago when we were visiting Savannah, Georgia and touring the old churches there, I noticed the names of people (most who have long since been gone) under some of the stained glass windows. As I looked at those names I didn't see those people as "bragging" or "blowing their own horn". Instead what I saw were some of God's people who left a bit of their legacy to the glory of God for the benefit of genera-tions to come. These were real people, living real lives, with all the joys and sorrows of life, but who left a part of themselves which would point to a greater Life, to God's ongoing presence in our lives.

Then I thought of the brick at Beachland Elementary with the Diehl Family name on it, as a way of giving thanks for our 15 years there (4 kids, 3 years apart!); and the Diehl Family name on the Rotary Fountain at Pocahontas Park, as a way of giving thanks for being a part of this community for all of these years. And I think of the names we have here at Our Savior in our Memorial Book of those who gave the pews or the windows in our existing church some 28 years ago, and how when I see those names, many of whom have gone on to glory, I rememberthem and give thanks for them and am reminded that we are a part of that "great cloud of witnesses" mentioned in the letter to the Hebrews.


For that reason, my mind has changed about names being out where they can be seen, as a witness to our faith and gratitude to God for how our lives have been blessed, and how we can be a witness to God's love even after we are gone.

That is the thought behind our "Tree of Life" which will be "growing" out of "Living Stones" in our new narthex/lobby area. This "tree" will be formed out of copper and the leaves on it will be of gold, silver and bronze colors. On each leaf will be names of families, children, parents, in honor of, or in memory of, or simply to the glory of God. To claim a leaf the gold leaves are $5,000, silver $2500 and bronze $1000. The payment for these can be spread over 5 years if necessary. The "Living Stones" at the base of the tree will be for other gifts. But when the tree is up, there will be no "key" saying how much any of the leaves or stones "cost". It will just be a beautiful legacy to the real people who have been and/or are a part of the life and ministry of Our Savior on this 50th Anniversary year. And for anyone who prefers to claim a leaf or part of a leaf or stone anonymously there will be plenty of un-named leaves and stones.

So no matter how you'd like to be a part of this 50th anniversary project, it will be a witness each of us can make to God's love and care both to those around us now and to future generations. For when all is said and done, isn't that what God's call to us is in our Baptism? "Let your light so shine before others that people may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven!"

Letting our light shine, for 50 years and counting!

Pastor Jack Diehl +