In this past weekend's Old Testament reading about the Israelites and Moses in the wilderness, we saw once again how God provides. In this particular case, God provided what they all needed by giving his Spirit to seventy of the elders to help care for and lead the people.
For me, who now has a lot less years of ministry ahead of me than behind me, that is really a welcome and hopeful thought. To know that we as the church are a part of something that has been unfolding over the centuries, and will continue to be the living, breathing Body of Christ, at work in the world when we're gone, says that we are a part of something lasting and important. I love Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber's image of worship and the liturgy being this beautiful stream that flows through the centuries, and we get to step into it and be a part of it. (To see the video where Nadia mentions this, go to our website: www.oursaviorelca.com then move the little arrow to “Media” and click on “videos” below that. You will find several videos there. One of them is Nadia’s.)
As I look around, I see how God continues to raise up people in the church, with so many different and varied gifts, and pour His Spirit upon them, for the sake of the world. It all just makes me hopeful and grateful.
And speaking of those things: here are some ways that God is at work around Our Savior, which you ought to know about, or might want to be a part of:
This coming weekend is "Blanket Sunday" (Oct. 7), when gently used or new blankets and quilts are gathered by our Women of the ELCA to be distributed throughout our community this winter. (Yes, it will eventually get to the point where a blanket will be needed. And when that time comes, the blankets given to those who have none are much appreciated!)
Also on Sunday October 7 at 4pm in the afternoon on the Fellowship Hall, we will have our annual "Pet Blessing". It's always a great and touching event to give thanks for God's creatures, reflect on the love they bring into our lives and ask God's blessing on them.
If you'd like to get a taste of what Our Savior is doing beyond our local community, you'll have to follow Ben Smith, one of our college students who has taken the Fall semester off to work with the church in Suriname at an orphanage there. He has written a wonderful account of his first days there which he will continue to update on our website. His mother, Sara Smith, an author and writer herself, must be very proud of Ben's writing ability! It's like you are there in Suriname with Ben. Go to our new website (www.oursaviorelca.com) and click on to the correct links (hey, I did it, which means about anybody can do it!) and you can follow Ben's story, which he will be updating for us during his time there.
In a world where we hear that churches are in decline (and some aspects of the church need to be perhaps) and religion gets a bad name (and for some good reasons), the Church, the Body of Christ, is still alive and God is always at work in some new and Life-giving ways. What a privilege it is to be a part of that.
To learn more about life at Our Savior, please visit our website: www.oursaviorelca.com , where you can now click on one of the places and actually hear the recent sermons from Our Savior! Yesterday’s isn’t up yet, but will be sometime this week. This technology still amazes me. Wow.
May you have a blessed week. See you in church. Pastor A.C. 'Jack' Diehl III +
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