A Word from Pastor Lynnae

Bring Your Neighbor to Church!

2008-07-09T14:58:00.000-07:00

"Then someone came to him and said, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 19:16-19 NRSV)

This Sunday we Celebrate Bring Your Neighbor to Church, but actually EVERY Sunday is Bring Your Neighbor to Church! And, every Sunday is a Celebration. While it may be a bit uncomfortable and even down right scary to invite your neighbor – since you are Lutheran and all, it is really quite easy. The postcard invitation that we’ve handed out the last two Sundays - makes it really easy. All you really have to do is to share your excitement about the life you have and the church you belong to. Tell your story. That’s really all you have to do. Start with a sentence like…

“I love Abiding Love because….”

Or “I have learned through my life that I need Abiding Love because…”

There are many people who know God but don’t know of a church home that they can belong to. Don’t be afraid to share your story!

See you in church!

Pastor Lynnae

Cool, Clear, Water

2008-06-25T14:09:00.000-07:00

We had a nice rain yesterday. It wasn’t a great amount, but it watered the grass and cooled the temperatures. We need rain, yet we still have water at our tap, pools to jump in and sprinkler systems that work.

I had a small taste of what it might be like without water. While in Ethiopia, I journeyed through land that had no rain for over three years. Their rivers are dried up and they have never had running water or sewer systems or even seen a swimming pool. Each morning our tour group was given a big plastic bottle of water. We brushed our teeth with it, drank it, washed our eyes with it and when the bottle was empty our driver would hand it out the window to one of the children running beside the bus – who gladly took even an empty water bottle.

There is a real tension for me, as I don’t want to give up my easy access to water. I was jubilant over the bubbling water of the tap at my apartment and even over powerful flush toilets! But I do want to share, to help the poor and to see everyone live a standard life, such as I have. I know that it doesn’t make sense to send water to Ethiopia, but I could do something to help make water flow. I’m going to continue to tell of the things that I experienced on my trip and I hope that together we will find ways to live out the gospel in all lands, our own and away.

I pray that God will use me to tell the story, to share of the need and to dream of a vision of change. Pastor Fetter had this bible verse on his day calendar:
“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.” Isaiah 41:17-18

Pastor Lynnae

Pray for Rain, and Clean Water!

2008-06-12T12:24:00.000-07:00

From Pastor Lynnae’s blog—
www.triptoethiopia.blogspot.com

Friday, June 6, 2008

Dear All,

What a wonderful trip we are having. It has rained every day but one, and that is so good. The poverty that we see is overwhelming. I cannot believe how much they need clean water! We are in Gondar and have visited many different places; churches, castles, hospitals, seen the Galeda baboons!!! and so much incredible scenery! I've taken gobs of pictures!

Please continue to pray for the people of Ethiopia - for rain and for clean water. There have been many problems with electricity and even with running water in the different hotels so I am not sure when we will be able to write again!

May the blessings of God shower upon you,

Pastor Lynnae

triptoethiopia.blogspot.com

2008-05-29T14:31:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

On May 31st I take off for Ethiopia! The shots are all taken and the passports and visas secured! The scheduled itinerary is posted on my blogspot (triptoethiopia.blogspot.com) and hopefully I will be able to update you of the journey whenever there is electricity – and a computer! I have put together a devotional booklet that you can pick up in the church office if you would like to ‘pray along the way’!

In the book of Psalms there is a prophesy that the “People of Ethiopia will stretch out their hands to God”. Together we stretch out our hands in prayer and friendship.

Please pray for the group and for the people of Ethiopia, one of the poorest countries of the world, as we learn about their faith and their courage.

Pastor Lynnae

“Summer is the growing time of the light, seed, play, and wonder.” Sundays and Seasons, 2008

2008-05-15T12:32:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday we celebrated Pentecost. Pentecost is the season of green. Not, ‘green’ as in the popular sense of the word. You know, living green today means living environmentally sound and savvy. Living green in a liturgical sense is also living environmentally sound and savvy and sanctified. We are made holy as we live in ‘ordinary time’. These are the days that we learn of what it means to live out the gospel. It is about learning how to be a disciple of Jesus. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit came and touched the disciples, stirring up in them a longing for the holy and thus began the journey to our completeness. Oh, that we were all green!

Pastor Lynnae

♥ ♥ ♥

"Notes for My Family"

2008-05-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

Last year I attended a retreat for new pastors. It was one of those mandatory things that I drag my feet and or arrive kicking and screaming to! Anyway, it was an entire three day event on ‘Stewardship’. I was pretty sure that I had ‘been there and done that’! Anyway, what do they know about my personal financial situation? As always, I ended up learning A LOT!

One of the best gifts of the weekend was a little handout, booklet-style, called: Notes for My Family. It was a document that included; funeral plans, important documents, insurance policies, assets lists and a host of other important information. It took me a while to complete, but I finished it and told my parents and my sister of the booklet. If something unexpected should happen to me, my family now knows that contained within this booklet is all the information of where to find everything and just exactly what I would like done at a funeral or memorial service. I keep the booklet in the same place and they know where to look. The booklet can be downloaded from the World Wide Web at:
http://www.elca.org/FO/notes.pdf

If you would like to have even more detailed information for a funeral or memorial service, you can always give the church your ideas/instructions for us to maintain in your family file.

I expect to keep kicking, screaming and dragging to things that are good for me, and I expect to keep learning for a long time, but just in case…..I have Notes for My Family.

Pastor Lynnae

The Beloved Disciple

2008-04-16T12:47:00.000-07:00

This Easter season, we continue to read from the Gospel of John, despite the fact that we are in the year of Matthew. Each Sunday we read the poetic pre-cross/resurrection accounts of Jesus life. John seemed to see ‘telling’ accounts of Jesus’ glory and intent in everything he said and did.

The community for which the Gospel of John was written was a very special group of believers. They were among the first to actually understand theologically that Jesus was God. They worked out the presence of God in man or what we would later call ‘incarnation’. Because of their free thoughts of Christ, they were expelled from the synagogues and may have been a bit bitter about their treatment. The gospel is harsh on Jews and in fact can be read as anti-Jewish IF you are not careful. Most probably, the Johannine Community was arguing with their relatives! It was a family squabble.

I believe that the best way to read the gospel is to read yourself into it.

Throughout the book there are references made to the ‘beloved disciple’. The disciple is never named. This disciple could have been any one of the members of the Johannine community – or it could be you! And in just the same manner, we are the ones that shut out the radical, liberal gospel message of a God and man that walks among us. As the season of Easter comes to a close and we move into the ongoing mission and ministry presented to us in the Pentecost, may you be beloved and may you seek to open the doors of your faith to new and ‘resurrecting’ ideas.

Pastor Lynnae

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Beautiful Churches

2008-04-16T12:39:00.000-07:00

When I was in seminary I read a book called “Re-pitching the Tent”. It was all about the building of church ‘buildings’. Faith community worship began on a mountain with a stone altar and has developed into the church structures of today. Some of the most beautiful churches that I have ever seen (other than the FULL ones) are churches that are built in a simple style and that have a story to tell.

Some of the most unusual, are “the wooden churches – the majority of which were built in accordance with laws that discriminated against non-Catholics. No other European country has as high a density and great a diversity of wooden churches as Slovakia, so of course, I am partial to them!

Slovakia has the highest density of wooden churches anywhere in Europe. In 1681, the Roman Catholic Austro-Hungarian Emperor dictated that only Roman Catholic churches could use hard materials (stone, metal). Protestant and Ruthenian/Rusyn Greek Catholic churches could only be made of wood and were not allowed to use nails in their construction. They had to be
erected within one year, start to finish, and were not permitted in the center of town.

Builders used ingenious carpentry techniques for joining together pieces of wood to create these lovely churches. Weathered, dark wooden shingles seem to ripple and flow, like snakeskin, over these organic-looking structures.” (from the CometoSlovakia.com web page)

Within the inner sanctuaries of these churches I first encountered ‘painted churches’. I found on the ceilings beautiful scenes of clouds and blue skies, depicted it seemed to be like looking into the heavens. One church had each of their organs wind pipes painted to look like a singing choir of openmouthed angels. Unknown artists worked painfully to grace the simple woodwork with images of the holy.

Upon returning to Texas, I was astonished to find the painted churches of our own areas had Czechoslovak and German immigrant heritage. In the Mid-19th century the immigrants
banded together in small communities on the rolling plains of Texas and churches were among the first structures that they built. Join us on April 17th as we take a tour of the painted churches of Texas and learn a little about our heritage. Call the church office to reserve your
place in the van!

Pastor Lynnae

The Book of Faith

2008-03-19T19:51:00.000-07:00

From Pastor Lynnae—
I remember when people used to say that Lutherans were pompous because they knew scripture so well. They could find anything and everything in their well worn bibles and they had well informed opinions on the matters of life. Lutherans were famous for their schools of secondary and post secondary education. Lutherans were founded upon a solid base of God’s holy and living Word. I’m not sure that is so true anymore. What with the right-wing non-denominational churches spouting their manipulation of biblical politics and the so called bible-based churches quoting out of context… we are losing a bit of our own informed biblical heritage. I’m sick of televangelists telling us how to be ‘successful’ or how my dollars will bring about the second coming.

It is time to put our lives back on track. Get out your bibles – Lutherans, because here we GO! Bishop Mark Hanson has launched an initiative to get Lutherans back into Scripture. The Book of Faith initiative of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America invites the whole church to become more fluent in the first language of faith, the language of Scripture, in order that we might live into our calling as a people — renewed, enlivened, and empowered by the Word.

We can’t take it all on at once, so we are taking the first step by getting back to our Lutheran heritage and basics. Starting April 13th I will begin teaching an Adult Confirmation Class at the 9:45 a.m. Adult Sunday School hour in the Activity Center. This will be a chance to review your catechism studies as well as a chance to examine some of the documents of our faith such as the Augsburg Confession, the Large Catechism and the Babylonian Captivity!

Never heard of them? Well, come to the class whether you are a life-long or a new Lutheran. Get started on your personal journey with the Book of Faith.

Pastor Lynnae

♥ ♥ ♥

Jesus Christ - Our Playing Coach

2008-03-06T19:26:00.000-08:00

We have a ‘playing coach’ in Jesus Christ. I guess it’s no secret that I love basketball. Well, actually not so much any basketball, but NBA – OK really, I just love the Spurs!

It's getting down to play off time so I have been thinking about basketball a lot! I have learned a few things from being a Spurs fan. One thing that I learned is that those coaches who once played in the NBA themselves seem to make better coaches. They know the ropes (or at least the hoops!). They know the pressure and they certainly know the feeling of defeat. Coach Larry Brown is a ‘playing coach’. He can relate to his players. He can understand their fears, their egos and maybe even their fouls, because he experienced them himself when he played in the NBA!

Jesus came to walk on this earth and to experience life as we know it. He knew sorrow and joy, success and defeat. Forgive the comparison, but Jesus is really like a ‘playing coach’. Incarnational theology is the faith understanding that Jesus lives in and among each of us. I thank God that Jesus knows what I am going through. This season of Lent we have a chance to
get to know a ‘playing savior’. Take a time out – listen to the One who really knows.

Pastor Lynnae

I once heard a story...

2008-02-21T17:12:00.000-08:00

There was a gentleman that stopped going to church. Many people speculated as to why. Some thought that he was too busy to attend. Some thought that he was angry with God and others knew that he was really just angry with the pastor!

One member did talk with him but the approach was not very comforting. “Why aren’t you coming to church?” Finally, the pastor made a call.

The gentlemen opened the door and the pastor stepped into the sparse yet friendly home. Without speaking, they sat by the fire. For many hours they watched the fire burn. Then the pastor made a bold move, taking a stick and separating one log from the burning fire. It didn’t take much time for the separated log to turn from bright red to black and almost cold. Just before the log went totally out, the pastor pushed the log back into the roaring fire and it quickly reignited. They sat there quietly for quite some time.

Then the gentleman said, “Pastor, you’ve made your point, I’ll see you Sunday.”

Wherever you’ve been, we’ve missed you. I hope you’re OK and if you need a call (or a push), just let Pastor Fetter or I know!

Pastor Lynnae

♥ ♥ ♥

Fasting and Prayer

2008-02-07T08:23:00.000-08:00

“Blow the trumpet in Zion;
Sound the alarm on my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
For the day of the LORD is coming, it is near –
A day of darkness and gloom,
A day of clouds and thick darkness!
Like blackness spread upon the mountains
A great and powerful army comes;
Their like has never been from of old,
Nor will be again after them in ages to come.” —Joel 2:1-2

The Old Testament lesson assigned to Ash Wednesday has Joel calling the people by the blowing of a trumpet to a fast. The Prophet Joel sees the recent ‘bad luck’ of the people as being a direct reflection upon their refusing to follow God, most especially in their worship practices.

I once was at an Ethiopian meal with a group of immigrants. One woman was ‘fasting’ and so she was eating only bread and fruit, maybe some vegetable greens. Being confused by her definition of a ‘fast’ I questioned her. “What does a fast mean to you?” This pious and faithful Christian woman from Ethiopia, who had struggled greatly to come to America and try to start a new life answered, “A fast is when you refuse to eat that which the rich people eat.” I loved that.

My idea of a fast was when you denied yourself. It was a physical fast that, hopefully ends up being a lesson to yourself about your reliance upon God. There are many different understandings of a fast in the Bible. Many times it meant a different diet, but not wholly
denying any sustenance. Always, always, always ‘fasting’ goes hand in hand with prayer. I believe prayer is an active communication. I believe that prayer or communicating with God leads to great and humble acts of faith. This Ethiopian woman gave me a new understanding of fasting. Her fasting was not showy or self centered. It was a statement that aligned her with Jesus, the champion of the poor.

Lent is a time to blow the trumpet. It is a time to sound the alarm about the ways in which we are not covenantal people. It is a time to reflect upon the ways of Jesus and the ways of society. It is a time to fast. Whatever fast you may take on, may it reflect your choice to follow Jesus, for the day of the Lord is coming near!

♥ ♥ ♥

Don’t Give Up Anything for Lent…

2008-01-24T17:50:00.000-08:00

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 6th, and lasts for 40 days before Easter. Lent is typically a time of soul searching and repentance, but the origins of Lent are found in BAPTISM. The early church used these 40 days to prepare new candidates for baptism. Lent is a time to remember our baptism and to remind ourselves daily of God’s mission in the world.

Many people see Lent as a time of self denial and solemn and stark asceticism. I see Lent as a time of ‘rich simplicity’ (well that’s what Sundays and Seasons Worship Planning suggests— and I agree). Our symbols and rituals should be striking and rich in contemplation. Our theme for this Lenten Season is YOUR NAIL, and will be based on a devotional booklet to be used every day in Lent. You will get your booklet at the Ash Wednesday Worship Service.

Many people ‘give something up’ for Lent. Some give up sweets, sodas, or just chocolate alone, which I’ve heard is really hard to do! I’ve never really been into ‘giving up’ for Lent. Somehow, I think that makes the sacrifice about me and not about God. If baptism is a gift from God, then the only thing we can do as participants in Baptism is RESPOND. We can DO something for Lent – not give something up.

This Lent DO something like: volunteer at the Food Pantry, or on Property Work Day, or at the SAMM Shelter. I don’t know how giving up sweets does anything for Jesus? Instead, Do something that lifts up the sacrifice of Jesus. This year, don’t give up anything for Lent. DO something.

♥ ♥ ♥

Epiphany - The Season of Light!

2008-01-10T09:22:00.000-08:00

“Shepherds and Kings

Following Hopes and Stars

That take them deep into the night.
How far have they come?
We should really know for certainly
Everyone is a Shepherd and King”.

The Sundays of Epiphany are full of wonder and light! Epiphany is the revealing of the light – Jesus Christ to the world.

The journey of the shepherds and kings is truly our journey. Like those so long ago, we are
searching for Jesus and for the way of our very own lives. Who is Jesus to me? What does Jesus ask of me? How shall I go forward? Who shall I trust? Who shall I rely upon? How will I shine?

In our baptismal service we repeat the phrase, “Let your light so shine before others that they see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” How shall we shine? One candle can pierce the darkness, yes, however if there are many lights, well then we light the sky. You can shine alone, but joining your light with those of your family, community and church is an even greater illumination.

Don’t let the cold and dreariness of January keep you away from gathering with us in worship, study and fellowship. Be here. Let your light shine brightly!

♥ ♥ ♥

We are the reason for the season!

2007-12-19T16:54:00.000-08:00

There is a popular jingle that I see this time of year. It reads “Jesus is the reason for the season”. While I know this is true and that the intent is to keep people in perspective, I also know that a greater truth is that “We are the reason for the season”.

You see, it is because of our sin, and violence and thoughtlessness that Jesus had to come to that little stable in Bethlehem. God came to us because we so desperately need saving. If we could remember this and hold Jesus in our hearts not only at this time but all through the year, well, then maybe we wouldn’t have to work at keeping our perspective. It would be natural! Knowing that WE are the reason for the season might keep us humble and thankful. For unto US a child is born! May the love of the Christ Child fill your heart with all goodness and believing. We are the reason for the season.

Holiday Stress

2007-11-29T18:42:00.000-08:00

From Pastor Lynnae—

I love this time of year. I love the music and the fudge and the shopping! I love the colors and the jingles and the cheer. But, I know that for some the holidays are not happy. For some this is a time of greater grief and separation. Holiday stress can lead to extreme sadness, addictive behaviors and isolation. As we live in this world we continually face loss and grief. Wounds can become all the more raw in the season from Thanksgiving to Christmas. When so much focus is on family and friends those we have lost seem all the more distant. The loss can seem new and fresh in the middle of merriment and celebration. The long held traditions take on new meaning when the seats at the table are not full. At Abiding Love, we are aware of the many losses that people are dealing with every day.

Grieving can come from many different losses -loss of spouse, child, friends or loss of employment, self-esteem or home. Grieving is an attack of the heart as it waits to heal or learns to go on despite the change.

Join us, next Sunday afternoon, Dec. 2, at 3:00 p.m. in the Library, as we learn about the stages of grief and are offered some practical advice for surviving the holidays. Our leaders will be George Glaser and Pat Koch. The expression of our salvation is often joy, but it is also solemn and sometimes convicting. Loss touches everyone – I
pray that this season you may know the presence of God in your pain, and that your church family may be allowed to respond to your need.

♥ ♥ ♥

Reformation

2007-10-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

This Reformation I offer the following scripture verses and recognition to Martin Luther, Reformer!

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation
to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the
Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith
for faith; as it is written, ‘The one who is righteous will live by faith.’”
Romans 1:16-17

This key verse of the book of Romans was what spurred Martin Luther on to his reform of the church. We are saved by faith and grace and not by any work of our own. Thank you Luther, for reminding us that we are free to live out the gospel as a response to God’s gift of love.

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with
gladness; come into his presence with singing.” Psalm 100:1-2

"I, Doctor Martin Luther, wish all lovers of the unshackled art of music grace and peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ! I truly desire that all Christians would love and regard as worthy the lovely gift of music, which is a precious, worthy, and costly treasure given to mankind by God.” Luther helped to bring music back into the halls of worship.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105

One of Luther’s gifts to the church was his translation of the Bible into the German language. Not only did this bless the German people but it set a pattern for translating scripture into the common language for all people.

This Reformation may you read God’s word and hold it dear. May you remember our heritage and apply it’s lessons to your life. May you be constantly reforming.

Modern Cultural Idols

2007-06-10T11:16:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,
I was asked to include the list of modern cultural idols from the June 3rd, Trinity Sunday sermon. That is so cool, 'cuz then I don't have to write a newsletter article!
Directly from the sermon:

"On this day when we celebrate the One God, maybe we ought to take a little time to get rid of all the other things, and people that we seem to worship. Like the early church we too are fighting polytheism. While it is not Aphrodite and Zeus that we are refuting, we are still confronted with idolatry - the idolatry of our culture. So let's name a few of our idols and try to remove them.

Let us remove the god of efficiency! No more may we be characterized by the need to do everything faster and more effectively! Instead let us waste time with God and for each other.

Let us remove the god of the almighty dollar! No more may the market economy dictate our habits, desires and fears. Instead let us be about genuine and truthful and giving lives. Lives that are lived in response to love.

Let us remove the god of traditionalism. No more may we say, "but we've always done it this way!" Instead let us dance to a new melody and engage new ideas!

Let us remove the god of vicarious performance. No more may we revel in the famous and newsworthy personalities. Instead let us recognize our own values and our own daily experiences that make us Godly people.

Let us remove the god of competition and success. No more may we measure our successes. No more may we need to be better before others. Instead let us be genuine disciples attracted to a life of deep spirituality.

Let us remove the god of power. No more may we seek personal agendas, demanding rights no matter how heretical they may be. Instead let us love one another seeking joy and grace. Let us know the only real power is the power of God.

Let us remove all the false gods that lead us into idolatry and seek the one true God. It is in right relationship with God and one another that we come to recognize the true personas of the Holy Trinity. Martin Luther said, "To try to deny the Trinity endangers your salvation, to try to comprehend the Trinity endangers your sanity."

The doctrine of the Trinity - the belief in the One true God is indeed a mystery. Maybe we will always be trying to figure out the mystery, but this much I know for sure. God has come to me as creator, savior and spirit of truth. This I must confess."

Pastor Lynnae