Daily Acts for Lent

Dear Friends,

The Lenten season is a time to focus on strengthening our relationship with God and others.  Below are a number of simple things that we all could do to notice those around us who God created in God's image and to help them to see blessing in their lives.  Hopefully, such practices begin to shape our behavior beyond the Lenten season as we are blessed to be a blessing to others.

- Let someone get in line in front of you, whether in traffic or in a store

- Buy a coffee or soda for the person in line behind you

- Smile at five people you don't know

- Send a family member or friend a note thanking them for the ways they have been a blessing to you  

- When you pray for others, let them know you are praying for them

- Take a neighbor, fellow church member, or co-worker out to lunch for the first time

- Tip more generously and treat the person who is serving you with an extra dose of kindness

- Listen more and talk less

- Worship regularly and introduce yourself to people you do not know

I felt the Spirit moving in a powerful way at Ash Wednesday Worship and look forward to seeing many of you this weekend.  Sunday worshipers:  Remember to turn your clocks ahead one hour (Spring forward) before you go to bed on Saturday night or you might find yourself arriving at church quite late!  (Please offer a cup of coffee to the poor folks who do arrive late on Sunday!)

"Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."  

Peace,

Pastor Mueller

standrewslutheran.com

enterthebible.org

pray-as-you-go.org

Our Lenten Journey Begins

Dear Friends,

 

        At the heart of the Christian faith is the death and resurrection of Christ.  On one side of this event and it's remembrance are the 40 days of Lent (not including Sundays), a time of preparation for the celebration of our Lord's passage from death to life.  On the other side are the 50 days of Easter, a time of proclaiming and rejoicing in our redemption.  Right in the middle of it all is Holy Week including Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil, days in which our attention is riveted on Christ's death and resurrection.  The entire 90 days is best seen as a whole viewed from two sides, from the cross and the empty tomb, each incomplete without the other.  Listed below is a schedule of Lenten observances in the weeks ahead: 

 

SATURDAYS (5PM) AND SUNDAYS (8:15 AND 11:00 AM) IN LENT

"CHALLENGES OF FAITH"

 

Ash Wednesday (March 5 @ noon & 7:30 PM )   "The Challenge of Dusty Places"

First Sunday in Lent (March 9)                                "The Challenge of Wilderness"

Second Sunday in Lent (March 16)                        "The Challenge of the Unknown"

Third Sunday in Lent (March 23) -                           “The Challenge of Tradition"

Fourth Sunday in Lent (March 30)  -                        "The Challenge of Vision"                                                                          

Fifth Sunday in Lent (April 6) -                                  “The Challenge of Grief" (First Communion at 11:00)

 MID WEEK LENTEN SERVICES (WEDNESDAYS AT 7:30 PM)

“ I AM”

March 12             "I Am the Gate for the Sheep"

March 19             "I Am the Good Shepherd"

March 26             "I Am the Bread of Life"

April 2                  " I Am the Vine"

April 9                   "I Am the Resurrection and the Life"

 

"Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."  See you in church.

 

Peace,

 

Pastor Mueller

                  

 

Mountaintops and Valleys

Dear Friends,

 

 This upcoming Sunday, churches throughout the world who follow the assigned readings and festivals of the Church Year will be celebrating Transfiguration Sunday, the final Sunday before the Lenten season begins.  On this day, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up  to a mountaintop to pray.   There they will experience an awesome vision they will never forget.  We need mountaintop experiences of our own, places to pray, and sources of strength for the valleys ahead.  We will also be following Jesus through the valleys during the season of Lent.  Our daily journey with Jesus will take us to:

    - quiet places of prayer

    - opportunities to feed the hungry

    - nights in lonely gardens and angry storms

    - the joy and peace of more mountaintop moments

    - instructions to care for ourselves and those around us

    - reminders that we are never alone but always in the power of the Spirit

    - assurance that Jesus meets us exactly where we are but never leaves us that way.

 

As a community of faith, we not only grow in worship but through education as well.  Please note the following Adult Education opportunities that will be offered beginning this Sunday at 9:30 AM and continuing throughout the season of Lent (Feel free to drop in any Sunday).

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs - (meeting downstairs in Jerusalem Room, first classroom on right at bottom of stairs near rest rooms)

This series, led by local author and Villanova Professor Don Joye (guest class facilitator), explores the many connections between classical music and much of the music we use in our worship setting.  This will be done through the playing of music, lecture, discussion, and Q & A.  

When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box - (meeting in Daniel's Den, parlor in office wing near narthex / lobby)

This video / discussion series, featuring Christian author and Presbyterian Pastor John Ortberg, uses storytelling and real life examples to help us reflect on the game of life and what is, from the big picture, really worth pursuing.

Join us in worship and education this weekend and throughout this Lenten season.  Join us in praise and prayer and be astounded at the ways that Jesus transfigures and transforms lives.  See you in church!

 

Peace,

 

Pastor Mueller  

Building Closed Tomorrow (Thursday)

"God gives snow like wool, scattering frost like ashes.  God scatters hail like bread crumbs.  Who can stand against God's cold?" - Psalm 147:16

I know I can't!  (at least not for much longer).  As yet another storm bears down on the region, we want to encourage people to stay off of the roads and stay safe.  Therefore, we are planning to close the building tomorrow with hopes that the next time Bible Study, Blanket Tying, and our Choirs meet, the weather will be far more favorable.  Connect with family and friends, check in with neighbors, and if you don't have to work, take time to slow down.  The church is not a building.  It's a people.  And that's a good thing.  Because the building will be closed! Looking forward to being with many of you this weekend.

Peace,

Pastor Mueller

standrewslutheran.com

pray-as-you-go.org

The Powerless

Dear Friends,

As nearly 500,000 Pennsylvanians are without power and, in some cases, heat, please keep in your prayers those who are suffering.  Also, pray for the electrical, shelter, and emergency personnel who are working to restore power and keep them safe.  I have been deeply moved as I have heard of the many ways that you are reaching out to one another, neighbors, co-workers, and friends.  The e-mails, phone calls, and facebook messages continue, making sure that people are warm and safe.  This is what community does in times of need and a great way that we can shine our light (physical light and / or spiritual light!) in the community.

Hoping that the snow we get Saturday and Sunday is the pretty kind that covers the ground but not our lives.  Also, look forward to feeling the light and the warmth of the Spirit as we gather together in worship this weekend.  Hopefully, by then we can celebrate power in your homes and, of course, the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives  Stay safe.  See you in church!

Peace,

Pastor Mueller

standrewslutheran.com

pray-as-you-go.org

lutherancongregationalservices.org

Blessed Are You

Dear Friends,

I want to extend a word of thanks for the opportunity to be away with our confirmation students on retreat last weekend.  No, the snow did not change our plans and in fact it made the weekend even more special.  Speaking of special, what an incredible group of junior highs we have, and I mean group in every sense.  Whether they were playing, learning, working, serving, or worshiping, they were almost always together as one group.  We are truly blessed to have this group here and now and I am certainly looking forward to many adventures with them as Senior Highs as well.  Our youth are not just the future of the church but a very important part of our present.

As we prepare for Bible Study tomorrow (Thursday) at noontime and worship this weekend, I wanted to give you a heads up on our assigned Gospel, Matthew 5:1-12, the Beatitudes and the beginning of the most famous sermon ever preached (The Sermon on the Mount).  Here are some questions to consider:

1. Who is the audience of this sermon?  Why is this important?  What difference does it make?

2. Why does Matthew report that the sermon takes place on a mountain?  What significance might this have?  Can you think of other mountain stories in Matthew?  How about in the Old Testament?

3. What is the difference between being blessed and being happy?

4. How do you see yourself as blessed?

5. Ho do let others around you know that they are blessed?

Looking ahead to the weekend:

- A reminder that Scout Troop # 313, an important mission partner of ours, is hosting a breakfast at Chadwick's (across the street from church) this Saturday from 8 - 10 AM.  Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children under 10.

- We have started a new Sunday Adult Education series on World Religions that meets at 9:30 AM in Jerusalem Room (at bottom of stairs near office corridor)

 - If you ordered Hoagies for our youth to assemble, do not forget to pick them up following worship on Sunday.

- Enjoy the game!

See you in church!

Peace,

Pasto

The Least Likely Are Called

Dear Friends,

Most of you, by the time you read this message will be dug out but still enduring the snow and deep freeze that will be with us for quite some time.  We plan to be at St. A's tomorrow (Thursday) for our weekly noontime Bible Study as we look at the texts for this upcoming Sunday and worship rarely if ever is stopped by the elements (come to think of it, since we don't really need a church building for worship, one could say it is never stopped!) so the Gospel will be proclaimed on Sunday as well.  This Sunday's Gospel reading is Matthew 4:12-23 and here are a few questions to think about as we approach this text:

1. Do you think that the fishermen are meeting Jesus for the first time?  Why or why not?

2. What do you think changes for the fishermen as a result of accepting Jesus' invitation and challenge?

3. What do you think Jesus means when he says, "Repent?"

4. What does it mean to fish for people?  Most of us are not fishermen.  Is there an image that can help you understand your calling as a Christian in daily life?  

5. Are we sometimes called to mend nets?  What might this mean for your life?

When reflecting on this text, it astounds me that Jesus calls fishermen, not the highly educated, not advanced students of Torah, not the wealthy, but essentially those who would not be called by the religious professionals, those who would be considered as not worthy of the rabbi's yoke.  

How often we are hesitant to do things outside of our comfort zones, afraid to be embarrassed or to appear incompetent, or worried about failure.  And yet God chooses us to serve Him and the kingdom, to use our gifts to bless others, and to trust that we have everything we need.  May God bless us as we face the joys and the challenges of following our Lord in the year ahead.

Peace,

Pastor Mueller

standrewslutheran.com 

pray-as-you-go.org

enterthebible.org