Grace and gratitude belong together like heaven and earth. Grace evokes gratitude like the voice an echo. Gratitude follows grace like thunder lightening. Not by virtue of any necessity of the concepts as such. But we are speaking of the grace of God who is God for [humans], and of the gratitude of [humans] as [their] response to this grace. Here, at any rate, the two belong together, so that only gratitude can correspond to grace, and this correspondence cannot fail. Its failure, ingratitude, is sin, transgression. Radically and basically all sin is simply ingratitude—[humankind’s] refusal of the one but necessary thing which is proper to and is required of [them] with whom God has graciously entered into covenant.”
Karl Barth Church Dogmatics 4:1
So it’s November and that means a month of emphasizing Stewardship. This month starts off with All Saints’ Sunday, when we celebrate that we who make up the Church on Earth are in a communion not just with the saints that have gone before us but also with the saints that are yet to come. What an appropriate way to start off our stewardship time! How are we who worship here at St. Andrew’s actively planning for the future? How can we be faithful now with our time and our resources so that in years to come baptized children of God will be able to gather here and hear their sin forgiven, hear words of promise spoken as water is poured and as bread and wine are shared? Karl Barth answers this question so eloquently: “Grace evokes gratitude like the voice an echo.” What will our material and volunteer echoes look like?
I would like to suggest a few things to think about as we focus on stewardship this month:
We need to have a missional mentality. Good stewardship will liberate us from a ‘just keep the doors open’ attitude. Instead of focusing on financial giving in times of need, how can we change our attitudes so that regular, percentage giving, for the purpose of fulfilling Christ’s commands to work righteousness and do justice, is the core of our ethos.
We need to see both the local ad global results of our stewardship. Financial giving makes is so St. Andrew’s has a seminary trained Pastor and an academically trained Music Director. Giving also makes it possible to have this beautiful parish complex we have. Giving, however, also helps to pay our the salaries of our Bishop and our synod staff. Our giving goes to Lutheran World Relief, to Lutheran Disaster Response, to Lutheran Social Services—our wealth helps others in all corners of the globe.
We need to think about long term planning. Is there an endowment in St. Andrew’s future that could help to further liberate us from financial worry for the sake of mission?
We have talents to share other than financial gifts. What are your gifts? Have you been active but want a change of scenery? What ministry might the Spirit be calling you into?
God is abundant! We have many gifts here. Please take the next few weeks to ponder how you will share your gifts for the greater glory of God.
Pastor Josh
Monday, November 5, 2007
Thursday, October 4, 2007
October 2007
Acts of Charity
On October 28th, Reformation Sunday, walkers from St. Andrew’s will take part in the Westside Food Bank’s hunger walk. The food bank served 82,000 people last year. On November 15th and 16th, we, along with Lutheran Church of the Master and Mt. Olive Lutheran Church will prepare and serve food at the samoshel (Santa Monica Shelter, a transitional housing shelter for homeless people who are working to find permanent housing). Why do these things? Because we are called to give freely of the things that God has first given us, our time our talent and our possessions. How impoverished would our faith-life be if we, as a community, did not look outside our walls to our neighbors in the community? Thank you too all of you who are willing to give of your time and resources for the sake of our disadvantaged sisters and brothers.
A Great Bar-B-Que
Many thanks also to those among us who worked so hard to make the St. Michael’s Day bar-b-que a great success! Lots of love and care was put into the day, St. Andrew’s shone with the gift of hospitality. Thank you also to everyone who came to have a good time. It is a gift and a joy that we can share fellowship but also be aligned towards our neighbors. I look forward future events in which we can share each other’s company as well as be open our community.
Language and Worship
Our English language is a befuddled thing. Our language in worship is doubly so, as it is necessarily unlike our everyday conversation. In worship we address God, we have dialogues between the clergy and the laity, we raise our voices together in song. The words we use in worship are superlatively important, as they shape our relationship with God. It is for this reason that we are currently using the Nicene Creed found in ELW. Compare, “For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man,” (LBW) to “For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.” (ELW) The ELW text is much truer to the original Greek, which was settled upon at the Council of Constantinople in 383 AD than the LBW text, which inserts “by the power” before Holy Spirit. Certainly “incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary” is a somewhat mysterious grammatical construction. We wouldn’t say that that “Josh was incarnate of John and Barbara.” But this is the incarnation of the Christ that we’re talking about, no ordinary birth! “Became truly human” is also a somewhat better rendering of the original then “was made man,” given our culture’s shift away from using ‘man’ to mean men and women. Words are important, let us be attentive!
Pastor Josh
On October 28th, Reformation Sunday, walkers from St. Andrew’s will take part in the Westside Food Bank’s hunger walk. The food bank served 82,000 people last year. On November 15th and 16th, we, along with Lutheran Church of the Master and Mt. Olive Lutheran Church will prepare and serve food at the samoshel (Santa Monica Shelter, a transitional housing shelter for homeless people who are working to find permanent housing). Why do these things? Because we are called to give freely of the things that God has first given us, our time our talent and our possessions. How impoverished would our faith-life be if we, as a community, did not look outside our walls to our neighbors in the community? Thank you too all of you who are willing to give of your time and resources for the sake of our disadvantaged sisters and brothers.
A Great Bar-B-Que
Many thanks also to those among us who worked so hard to make the St. Michael’s Day bar-b-que a great success! Lots of love and care was put into the day, St. Andrew’s shone with the gift of hospitality. Thank you also to everyone who came to have a good time. It is a gift and a joy that we can share fellowship but also be aligned towards our neighbors. I look forward future events in which we can share each other’s company as well as be open our community.
Language and Worship
Our English language is a befuddled thing. Our language in worship is doubly so, as it is necessarily unlike our everyday conversation. In worship we address God, we have dialogues between the clergy and the laity, we raise our voices together in song. The words we use in worship are superlatively important, as they shape our relationship with God. It is for this reason that we are currently using the Nicene Creed found in ELW. Compare, “For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man,” (LBW) to “For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.” (ELW) The ELW text is much truer to the original Greek, which was settled upon at the Council of Constantinople in 383 AD than the LBW text, which inserts “by the power” before Holy Spirit. Certainly “incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary” is a somewhat mysterious grammatical construction. We wouldn’t say that that “Josh was incarnate of John and Barbara.” But this is the incarnation of the Christ that we’re talking about, no ordinary birth! “Became truly human” is also a somewhat better rendering of the original then “was made man,” given our culture’s shift away from using ‘man’ to mean men and women. Words are important, let us be attentive!
Pastor Josh
September 2007
Sisters and brothers,
I’d like to start off this month by saying, “Thank you!” The installation service and reception were fantastic. I give many thanks to those of you who worked many hours planning for the afternoon. Special thanks are due to everyone who helped and sang in the service and to everyone who worked to put the meal, which was both esthetically pleasing and tasty, together. This was a wonderful example of us being a community, a body, working together to glorify God.
Well, we’re looking Fall square in the face now. There are many things on our horizon. For starters, we will begin having Children’s education on 16th. The kids will leave the Divine Liturgy during the Sermon, Hymn of the Day and the Prayers, coming back to share the peace. This will be a time for them to hear Scripture, play and learn. Thanks to those who are helping with this important ministry. If you are interested in helping, please speak with me.
We also have Parish Fair planned for the 29th, which is the Feast Day of St. Michael and All the Angels (Michaelmas in Europe). I am looking forward to working with the council and with anyone interested so that we can have an afternoon devoted to community building and fun.
As we move into Autumn we are also moving into Choir season. Thanks to you who sing for us, helping us worship God as a community. Thanks especially to Yatidi, who wonderfully fulfills the call to lead our singing.
Autumn will also bring adult education for us. I think that our study on Sunday after the Divine Service will have to do with reflecting on our life as a parish community, focusing on worship.
Typing this all out, it seems like there is so much to be done. On the one hand there is. On the other hand, we have been given so many gifts here at St. Andrew’s. It is an amazing thing to be a community of prayer, learning and service. Let us not hide our gifts under a bushel! Rather let’s learn from each other and reach out to serve our community.
One final note. Minnesota is taking Etta Alexander back from us. We will miss her and her gift of loving attentiveness to this community. Godspeed Etta, we’ll keep you in our prayers!
Peace to you, as our days grow shorter and we draw nearer to the Advent of our Lord.
Pastor Josh
I’d like to start off this month by saying, “Thank you!” The installation service and reception were fantastic. I give many thanks to those of you who worked many hours planning for the afternoon. Special thanks are due to everyone who helped and sang in the service and to everyone who worked to put the meal, which was both esthetically pleasing and tasty, together. This was a wonderful example of us being a community, a body, working together to glorify God.
Well, we’re looking Fall square in the face now. There are many things on our horizon. For starters, we will begin having Children’s education on 16th. The kids will leave the Divine Liturgy during the Sermon, Hymn of the Day and the Prayers, coming back to share the peace. This will be a time for them to hear Scripture, play and learn. Thanks to those who are helping with this important ministry. If you are interested in helping, please speak with me.
We also have Parish Fair planned for the 29th, which is the Feast Day of St. Michael and All the Angels (Michaelmas in Europe). I am looking forward to working with the council and with anyone interested so that we can have an afternoon devoted to community building and fun.
As we move into Autumn we are also moving into Choir season. Thanks to you who sing for us, helping us worship God as a community. Thanks especially to Yatidi, who wonderfully fulfills the call to lead our singing.
Autumn will also bring adult education for us. I think that our study on Sunday after the Divine Service will have to do with reflecting on our life as a parish community, focusing on worship.
Typing this all out, it seems like there is so much to be done. On the one hand there is. On the other hand, we have been given so many gifts here at St. Andrew’s. It is an amazing thing to be a community of prayer, learning and service. Let us not hide our gifts under a bushel! Rather let’s learn from each other and reach out to serve our community.
One final note. Minnesota is taking Etta Alexander back from us. We will miss her and her gift of loving attentiveness to this community. Godspeed Etta, we’ll keep you in our prayers!
Peace to you, as our days grow shorter and we draw nearer to the Advent of our Lord.
Pastor Josh
August 2007
Sisters and brothers,
As I sit here at a new desk in a new office at a new parish, I’m struck by many things, too many to fit in a few columns in a newsletter. Most of all though, I’m overwhelmed by two feelings. Being overwhelmed is generally considered bad in our over-worked, over-stimulated society. Yet I’ve found this overwhelming time a blessing. First, I’m overwhelmed by the graciousness of the community here at St. Andrew’s. Thank you all for receiving Nicole and me with open arms. Thank you for continuing the work of the Church that you have been doing here and for inviting me into that work as your pastor. I am amazed by the richness of your life together here and it is a joy to be a part of it, even in the few ways I’ve been able to so far.
The second thing by which I’m overwhelmed is possibility. Possibility for the future. We are starting a walk together and we don’t know exactly where this walk is leading. The path we are on is not altogether new, St. Andrew’s has been in a time of transition since Pastor Carol’s retirement and death. Transition time is good, especially when changes and losses are great. There is no way to ‘get over’ Pastor Carol’s death. We carry losses with us. However, even as we carry losses, we carry the remembrance of ones lost, along with the gifts they gave us. These gifts, no doubt, predispose us to walk in certain ways. It is up to us now to find the paths to which we are being called.
So, I ask you to dream with me as we begin this journey together. I am looking forward to meeting with the council for the first time this month so that we can spend time together talking about and honing the vision for ministry here at St. Andrew’s. This means looking at the big picture as well as looking at the little things that constitute our life together. I am excited by the possibilities for:
1. A mid-week book discussion or learning time, during the day.
2. Education time on Sundays, including activities for children.
3. Deepening fellowship around the midweek meditation service
4. Expanded worship life with St. Bede’s Episcopal parish.
5. Expanded community involvement.
The sky is the limit in terms of things we can try out in order to deepen and expand our community life here at St. Andrews. But we need to talk as we dream. I look forward, therefore, to the Autumn, as we will have time to think, pray, discuss, and take concrete steps down our path together.
Pastor Joshua Elliot_McGuffie
Aug. 2007
As I sit here at a new desk in a new office at a new parish, I’m struck by many things, too many to fit in a few columns in a newsletter. Most of all though, I’m overwhelmed by two feelings. Being overwhelmed is generally considered bad in our over-worked, over-stimulated society. Yet I’ve found this overwhelming time a blessing. First, I’m overwhelmed by the graciousness of the community here at St. Andrew’s. Thank you all for receiving Nicole and me with open arms. Thank you for continuing the work of the Church that you have been doing here and for inviting me into that work as your pastor. I am amazed by the richness of your life together here and it is a joy to be a part of it, even in the few ways I’ve been able to so far.
The second thing by which I’m overwhelmed is possibility. Possibility for the future. We are starting a walk together and we don’t know exactly where this walk is leading. The path we are on is not altogether new, St. Andrew’s has been in a time of transition since Pastor Carol’s retirement and death. Transition time is good, especially when changes and losses are great. There is no way to ‘get over’ Pastor Carol’s death. We carry losses with us. However, even as we carry losses, we carry the remembrance of ones lost, along with the gifts they gave us. These gifts, no doubt, predispose us to walk in certain ways. It is up to us now to find the paths to which we are being called.
So, I ask you to dream with me as we begin this journey together. I am looking forward to meeting with the council for the first time this month so that we can spend time together talking about and honing the vision for ministry here at St. Andrew’s. This means looking at the big picture as well as looking at the little things that constitute our life together. I am excited by the possibilities for:
1. A mid-week book discussion or learning time, during the day.
2. Education time on Sundays, including activities for children.
3. Deepening fellowship around the midweek meditation service
4. Expanded worship life with St. Bede’s Episcopal parish.
5. Expanded community involvement.
The sky is the limit in terms of things we can try out in order to deepen and expand our community life here at St. Andrews. But we need to talk as we dream. I look forward, therefore, to the Autumn, as we will have time to think, pray, discuss, and take concrete steps down our path together.
Pastor Joshua Elliot_McGuffie
Aug. 2007
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