"Free Wheeling It!"

I remember learning how to ride a bike – without the training wheels. My Dad taught me and he started by running beside me, with his hand on the back of the seat. He kept panting out “I’ve got you, I’ve got you!” Even though I knew that I could trust my Dad, I was still scared. Eventually, he either got tired of running or he got frustrated with my slow progress and he just gave a big push – and watched me go!

Maybe, he really knew when I was ready, because he changed his mantra from “I’ve got you!” to “You’ve got it!”

It seems like we’ve taken the chance, here at Abiding Love, and we are taking off the training wheels. I guess at 30 years old, it’s time. With the retirement of the founding pastor and the planned changes in leadership we are ready to free wheel it! We’ve been good at rolling along with the way that things have been done for a long time, but now we are trying to do some things differently. Worship Unplugged, Godly Play, Interim Pastors-- there is a whole list of “new”-- but there are plenty of things that remain the same. You can rest assured that ministry will continue and that in this time of transition, we will still worship, still teach, still answer the Call to Word and Sacrament, hospital and home.

I remember getting so good at riding my bike that I could throw my hands in the air and cry out, “Hey, Dad, look at me!”

“On your Mark, Get Ready, Set – GO!”

We received news this month that our well was being dug and hewn for the village people of central Ethiopia! Water to Thrive workers wanted to know what to put on the sign! Can you believe that across the world, in the remote Oromiya Region of Ethiopia there will be a sign that reads - this well is a gift from “Abiding Love Lutheran Church, Austin, Texas, USA”!!

I read a story about a great Lutheran: “Matt Berg dreamed of bringing technology to Africa to help improve people's lives. Living that dream through the Millennium Villages Project and Child Count+ earned Berg, a Lutheran and the son of missionaries, a place this year among Time magazine's 100 people who most affect our world.

Berg, 32, has spent considerable time in Africa, particularly in the past three years, perfecting the use of simple mobile phone technology to create a system to monitor the health of children in Africa. That work got the attention of the people at Time.

In an interview with the ELCA News Service, Berg said he was "shocked and humbled" to learn that he had been named to the Time list. "The community that I work with was very happy," he said. "It's been really good for our work, a big validation that the work we're doing is really important."

A select group of people made the Time list, including such notables as Kathryn Bigelow, Bill Clinton, Steve Jobs, Conan O'Brien, Elizabeth Warren and Oprah Winfrey.

How awesome to be a part of a church that gets such recognition! We have missionaries that serve in 48 countries around the world! We participate in these mission ventures through our gifts, both monetary and in kind, and our prayers. With our name on a sign half way around the world, who knows what’s next! I can’t wait to find out! Let’s go!

"Serenity Prayer"

A long time ago, I became familiar with the “Serenity Prayer” written by Reinhold Niebuhr. Did you know that it is much longer than what you usually see on posters and plaques? It has been suggested that it not be called the ‘serenity’ prayer, but instead the ‘courage’ prayer or maybe the ‘wisdom’ prayer. It speaks to me in this time of transition and I ask you to join me in offering it in prayer. I’m going to keep a copy at my desk, in my purse and by my remote! I’m going to pull it out when I need to remember to look to God for all things. When it gets real hairy around the office, or when the calls are overwhelming – I’m going to read it again. When the empty office next door starts to look really big and really empty – I’m going to read it again. When I have had to say “I don’t know” too many times – I’m going to read it again.
So, let us pray:

“God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed,

Courage to change the things which should be changed,

and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,

Enjoying one moment at a time,

Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,

Taking, as Jesus did,

This sinful world as it is,

Not as I would have it,

Trusting that You will make all things right,

If I surrender to Your will,

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,

And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.”

Seasons of Life

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1

The cycles of life swirl around us. In God’s infinite wisdom we pass through time. The time has come to celebrate the ministry and tenure of Pastor David Fetter. His leave taking will be full of tears and laughter, boxes and back slapping. Joyfully, we lift up the many years of leadership and pastoral care that David has given to the membership of Abiding Love and to the community of Austin, TX. A congregation has a life much like a person, with a time for every season. As Abiding Love looks to the future, we stand on a firm foundation that Pastor Fetter worked to form. It is with the Love of Christ that we send him into this new time of retirement.

In the Farewell and Godspeed service of our Lutheran Church, there is a prayer:
“Eternal God, we thank you for David Fetter and for our life together in this congregation and community. As he has been a blessing to us, so now send him forth to be a blessing to others; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Fun Things About Pastor Fetter...

It has now been a little over three years that I have been at Abiding Love and as we are anticipating the retirement of Pastor David Fetter, I have been thinking on the fun things about him!

1. He loves little hand written notes. On my desk, in my mailbox, in the Sacristy, you can find little notes from Pastor Fetter, “Ask Lynnae…”! On those notes, David always has a little, quickly drawn “†”. Even in his scribbles and little notes he has a cross.

2. Pastor Fetter loves the Armoire! He checks it constantly and then reminds people if they have little gifts or packages to pick up! David loves being in on the surprise!

And 3. Pastor Fetter has no use for the electric pencil sharpener! In fact, Cindy gave him an old fashioned sharpener that sits in our workroom right now!

Such are some of the fun things about Pastor Fetter that I will always remember! As this month goes by, let us be all about expressing our love and friendship to David and Mary as they celebrate their 30 years with Abiding Love. Let us lift up the many things about his ministry that have made him special and unforgettable! Let us give thanks to God!

The Mystery of the Faith

The Mystery of the Faith.

Maybe we have lost the art of mystery. Maybe, we as Christians have become way too “easy button” – “right click” – “instant access” believers. It’s not that we are conspiracy theorists nor Sally Suspects, but maybe we are too concrete, too linear, too ‘just the facts please’.

Truthfully, maybe we need a little mystery and a little mysticism in our day to day believing. It is a part of our faith. Mystery and mysticism is part of the resurrection story, the Holy Communion ritual and the eschatological (heaven stuff) future.

I don’t like to explain everything. I think you should have to work at it in order to really get it. I think Jesus, too, likes to make you think! To be Christian you have to think! You can’t just sit around and wait for someone to tell you what to believe and how to do it. You are to take responsibility for your own faith journey. It all begins with trust. Trust that you won’t know all the answers. Trust that a little mysticism will complete your belief. Trust that there is a little mystery in everything Godly.

Come.

Why do you look for the living among the dead?”

Our Lukan gospel has the two men in dazzling white ask the women this question. I believe we often try to hide among a great deal of dead stuff! When we need help, we turn to things instead of people. We probably do that out of fear of judgment or callousness. It’s just easier to avoid groups and stay home.

Jesus’ promise is that with him we are to be about the living. The ‘living’ are going through all sorts of pain, suffering and troubles. People are sick, families are splitting up and paychecks are short.

When troubles come, church is the place to be.

None of us are perfect. Instead, all of us are sinful and in need. This is where Jesus calls us to come and be strengthened. We don’t come to the altar with no need for forgiveness. We come – each of us – with a desperate need to know of the unconditional love and presence of Jesus. The worshipping community comes together, remembering that in Christ we are one.

When one suffers, we all suffer.

When one hurts, we all hurt.

We are the living body of Christ’s church. No matter what you are going through, you are invited and the mercy of Jesus comes to you through the membership of this community.

Don’t look for the living among the dead.

Abiding Love is alive and well.

Come.

Know the living Jesus Christ.