The Everywhereness of God

"This is my Father's world,

the birds their carols raise;

The morning light, the lily white,

Declare their Maker's praise

This is my Father's World;

He shines in all that's fair.

In the rustling grass I hear Him pass.

He speaks to me everywhere"

    
This old hymn expresses a wondrous truth.  The Bible is full of testimonies to the everywhereness of God.  Our awesome and holy God speaks through burning bushes and braying donkeys.  He sends messages through storms and rainbows and earthquakes and dreams.  Garrison Keillor, award winning writer, representative of Lutheran subculture, and host of Prairie Home Companion writes, "God speaks in ordinary things like cooking and small talk, through storytelling, making love, fishing, and tending animals, in sweet corn, flowers, sports, music, books, and raising kids - all the places where the gravy soaks in and grace shines through." 

    In the busyness of the weeks ahead ( for many in this community, the storm before the calmer months of summer), take time to breathe, look, listen, smell, and taste the goodness of God.  Give thanks for his many gifts in your life and ponder ways to share those gifts with others.  Take time for family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and maybe even a stranger along the way.  Take time to worship here at St. Andrew's and elsewhere when you are traveling.  Remind yourself in the midst of this troubled world that there are indeed signs of the kingdom in our midst, and that the best is yet to come.

"This is my Father's World;

Oh, let me not forget.

That though the wrong seems oft so strong,

God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father's World;

Why should my heart be sad?

The Lord is king, let  heaven ring;

God reigns, let the earth be glad"

    
See you in church.

    Peace,

    Pastor Mueller

Give the Gift of Life (This Friday)

Dear Friends,

 

Just a reminder that American Red Cross will be having a blood drive st St. Andrew's this Friday May 3 from 2 - 7 PM downstairs in St. Andrew's Hall.  While we will accept walk ins, to avoid long delays, try to make an appointment by calling Mae Chillano at 610-935-2368 or by signing up online at redcrossblood.org.  Our sponsor code is 0221654.  The blood supply tends to be particularly challenging during the summer months.  As you are able, please take some time out of your schedule on Friday to give this precious gift.

The Great Commandment

Dear Friends,

 

    This upcoming weekend, by popular demand, we will have an installment of "Ask the Pastor,"  where the message will be centered around your anonymous questions about the Bible, Church History, Worship, Lutheranism, St. Andrew's, Faith & Daily Life, etc.  This will happen at all three services, so begin to think about some of your questions in the days ahead.  Often people are amazed, as they listen and learn, at how the questions of others are their questions too (whether they submitted them or not).

    In case I do not have a lot of time to address this Sunday's Gospel Lesson in worship, I wanted to use this forum for a brief but important reflection:

    Jesus said, "I give you a new commandment that you love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another."  If we really reflect on this, we realize that it is a really chalenging commandment indeed.  So sometimes we need to remind ourselves that above and beyond Jesus' command to love is his actual act of love.  I would contend that Jesus did not go to the cross to make God loving or to satisfy God's justice or to take on our punishment so much as to show us in a profound way that God is love and that we, as God's children, are loved.  So whether we get a higher score or a lower score on the "love thy neighbor meter" in the days ahead, Jesus still loves us more than we can possibly imagine.  And hearing of this kind of love, over and over again, we are not overcome by guilt and anxiety but are set free daily to go out and be Christ's body in the world, acting as agents of his love and grace with others. 

    I give thanks each day for this gift of grace in my life and for the rich blessing of our faith community.  See you in church!

 

Peace,

 

Pastor Mueller 

Prayers for Boston

Lord, have mercy.  Christ have mercy.  Lord, have mercy.

 

We pray to you, merciful God, at this confusing and difficult time following the explosions in Boston.  You are our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble.  Uphold us with your love and give us the strength we need.  Help us in our confusion and guide our actions.  Heal the hurt, console the bereaved and afflicted, protect the innocent and helpless, and deliver any who are still in peril, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

"The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it."  - John 1:5

Living in Hope

Dear Friends,

 

    Whe  life is challenging or painful, it is easy to feel like the future has been narrowed or, in some cases, closed off. ("Who will roll away the stone?")  However, the empty tomb reminds us  that what seems impossible for us is not impossible for God.  So if you find yourself frustrated right now by your personal or professional life, I challenge you to trust that God may be preparing new directions and new possibilities that we have not even thought of or imagined as we go through the busyness of our daily lives.  This past Sunday, our assigned Gospel reading reminded us of God's tendency to barge into our lives unexpectedly and uninvited to challenge our doubts and fears.  This upcoming Sunday in worship, we will be reminded that God is often a catalyst for change in some pretty unpredictable and unexpected ways.  Continue to pray for each other, the mission of St. Andrew's, and the communities we serve.  May we discover new blessings in our lives and the opportunities to extend those blessings to others.  Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!  See you in church.

 

Peace,

 

Pastor

   

An Easter Prayer

Holy and Living God,

 

You continue to confound  our expectations and surprise us with your redeeming power in our lives.  Come among us, risen Lord.  Reveal yourself to us that we may know with confidence that nothing in all creation, not even death, can separate us from your love.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

 

A word of thanks to all of you who offered your hearts and hands and voices to a deeply moving Holy Week and a joy filled celebration of the Resurrection. Many hearts were touched and lives were lifted up through the celebrations of this past week. We are truly blessed. Continue to pray for those who were unable to be with us on Sunday, the sick, the struggling, the hospitalized, the homebound, and the dying.  Pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world, especially those who are persecuted for the faith.  Pray for our faith community, that empowered by the risen Christ, we would continue to grow in faith toward you and love toward others.  This Sunday in worship, we will be reminded of the ways that risen Christ meets us right where we are with his promises and his peace.  See you in church!

 

Peace,

 

Pastor Mueller

Holy Week Is Upon Us

Dear Friends,

    If you were not able to join us for worship this past Sunday, you missed a truly moving , breathtaking, deeply dramatic presentation of  the Passion of our Lord.  We want to thank our music director, John Rea, who wrote and produced the play (with some pretty good material from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) as well composed some of the music. We certainly want to thank all of our choirs for their hard work and dedication.  Your support of this performance and your confidence in carrying out your varied tasks is  the glue that brings all of it together in such a profound way. Each year many people are blessed by this profound proclamation of the Gospel.  Thank you!

   

    This Thursday at 7:30 we begin our three day journey from despair to hope, from darkness to light, from death to life.  Here is our worship schedule for Holy Week:

Maundy Thursday – 7:30 PM   

Tonight we are reminded that our life of discipleship is a life of forgiveness and servanthood.  We are commanded by Jesus to love one another and we are united with Christ, with the saints, and with one another at the Lord's Supper.  This brings us great strength in our own life of discipleship.

            Good Friday Service of Tenebrae (Darkness and Light) at 7:30 PM

In this deeply moving service that begins in light and ends in darkness, we gather around the word, prayer, and the cross,  the central sign of our salvation.

            Easter Vigil – Liturgy of Light, Word, Baptismal Remembrance, and Holy Communion at 5:00 PM

In this historic, deeply symbolic service, we are reminded of the great acts of God from Creation to Exodus to Resurrection.  God's saving grace is proclaimed, then light fills the church as that grace fills us.  Come and experience profound readings, wonderful music, and a first glimpse of the resurrection.

            Easter Sunday – 8:15 and 11:00 AM:

We rejoice at the empty tomb. Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed! 

    Participating in the upcoming evening services can only heighten your sense of joy when we celebrate the resurrection.  Think about family members, friends, co-workers, neighbors etc who could join you for one of these special services. 

   

As we approach the cross and the empty tomb in worship, consider the following questions: 

   

    - Christ humbled himself out of love.  Where might we need to be humbled for the sake of our brothers and sisters in Christ?

     - What needs resurrecting in our lives? 

    - What makes it hard to turn this over to God and trust that God will bring us, too, through darkness to light, through death to new life?

    Holy God, remind us of your presence with us when we stumble, suffer, or are afraid in any way.  Give us strength, courage, and peace.  Help us to be an encouragement and a sign of life to others.  Amen

    See you in church!

    Peace,

    Pastor Mueller