Many Thanks

Dear Friends,

 

    Thank you so much for your incredible generosity in this season of giving.  So many individuals and families will be blessed in the weeks ahead because of the incredible ways that you have opened your hearts and hands with the creation of quilts, gingerbread houses, and home baked cookies as well as your donations of food, blankets, clothing, and Christmas gifts for families in need.  It is a great honor and deep privilege to serve among such incredible people. I am looking forward to worship this weekend as well as the many Christmas celebrations that await us in the days to come.  

Come join us for our Christmas Cantata on Saturday evening December 21 @ 5 PM as we hear the Christmas story, enjoy special music of the season from all of our choirs, and sing beloved Christmas carols.  This is a great way to prepare for the celebrations to come, take a break from the craziness of Christmas preparations, and gather with family and friends.  This has also been an opportunity for those who are traveling or have other obligations on Christmas Eve to celebrate with the people of St. Andrew's (light reception to follow).  Be sure to mark your calendars for our annual Christmas Pageant on Sunday morning December 22 at 11 AM as well.

 Also prayerfully consider inviting a family member friend, co-worker, or neighbor to join you for worship on Christmas Eve (Family Worship 4 PM, Candlelight Communion 7 & 10 PM) 

 

Blessings to all of you in this Holy Season.  See you in church!

 

Peace,

 

Pastor Mueller

standrewslutheran.com

pray-as-you-go.org

 

 

Turn it Around

Dear Friends,

The season of Advent, at least as the church traditionally celebrates it, is a challenge for me.  There are the prayerful, watchful hymns of Advent while much of America has been listening to Christmas carols for almost a month already.  There are assigned readings in church that feel a little too far away from Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus.  And this Sunday, there's John the Baptist, whose message of repentance is not what I really need to hear as I am already painfully aware of how much there is to be done between now and Christmas and how I am getting a little tired and cranky already.  The last thing I need is a message that provokes feelings of guilt, of not doing enough, and not measuring up to God's commands or expectations.  Frankly, I don't want to be scolded by John the Baptist or anyone else for that matter.

Except that the word "repentance" does not suggest scolding, guilt, or shame but rather, at least from the original Greek, to turn around, to have a change of heart.  Are there circumstances in your life that would benefit from a change of heart?   Are there places where you feel stuck where to turn around would release energy rather than deplete it?  John the Baptist is a strange character whose message to God's people may seem challenging, but is in fact life giving, especially when the more powerful one comes, Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God with us.

Here are some other questions related to this weekend's Gospel text, Matthew 3:1-12. (which we will be looking at in Bible Study on Thursday at noon).

1. What was the longest period of time you spent in the wilderness or away from "civilization." Where were you?  What was it like?

2. Would you want to have John the Baptist as your pastor?  Would anyone?  Why or why not?

3. How might you paraphrase John's message for people today?

4. What angered John the Baptist so much about the religious leaders?

5. What are the similarities and differences between the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus?

With many of you back from Thanksgiving travels, we look forward to seeing you in worship this weekend.  We remind you to bring your poinsettia order forms or fill a form out in the narthex this week if you would like to purchase a poinsettia to adorn our altar on Christmas Eve.  We also encourage you to bring baked cookies to be delivered to our shut ins (along with gingerbread houses which our children and youth will be creating this Sunday night).

Finally, come to worship this Sunday with your questions about the Bible, worship, church history, St. Andrew's, or faith and daily living as we have an installment of "Ask the Pastor" with your anonymous questions directing our time of learning and growing together (questions can be e-mailed in advance as well).  God's blessings to all of you in this season of preparation.  

Peace,

Pastor Mueller 

Give Thanks to the Lord in Worship, Education, and Service

"For everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven."  Ecclesiastes 3:1

 

Dear Friends,

 

       Perhaps it is time to slow down, set some priorities, and spend some time enjoying and giving thanks for the many God given blessings of our lives: food, family, friends, material possessions, talents, and the gift of time itself.  Perhaps it is time for us to once again take time to really give thanks to God the giver of all good things.  Here are a few suggestions of how we can give thanks:

 

1.  In offering our time and talents to others - Who is in need as Christmas approaches?  Who is lonely?  Who is sick?  How might you share your abundance with them?  How might this be a season for them to give thanks as well?

2. In offering of our treasures - If you are not sure of the channels to help others, or are limited by your time or ability, or frankly would like to do more, offering up your monetary gifts to God is certainly a way to give thanks, both at Thanksgiving and throughout the year.

3. In Word and Sacrament - In fact the word Eucharist (Holy Communion), from the Greek means quite literally "Thanksgiving."  The Eucharist is our meal with God, where we eat with thanksgiving for all of God's gifts and especially for the gift of Christ. 

4. Worship on Thanksgiving Eve at 7:30 PM (with Holy Communion and special music from our choir) - Take time to give thanks for the many blessings God has given us by gathering in prayer and praise on the eve of the holiday itself.  Come worship with us!

 

    "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good and His mercy endures forever."  See you in Church!

 

Peace,

 

Pastor Mueller

 

Read on - There will be no Saturday service this weekend but, in addition to Wednesday night, you are welcome to join us Sunday at 8:15 or 11:00 AM.  Also, please note that we will begin two new Adult Education offerings this Sunday at 9:30 as well.  Even if you are away this weekend, feel free to stop by in the weeks ahead at 9:30 AM for either education offering.  "How Lutherans Interpret the Bible" will gather in Daniel's Den (in office hallway alongside church lobby).  Through video and discussion, we will approach such topics as Lutherans View of the Word of God, Where the Bible Comes From, Interpreting the Bible in Context, Discerning Right from Wrong, and Multiple Meanings Of Scripture.  No prior knowledge is needed to participate, just an openness to questions and a desire to grow in faith.  Being offered downstairs in Jerusalem Room (bottom of church stairs to the right in Sunday School Wing) is "Making Sense of the Christian Faith," an overview of who we are, who God is, and our core beliefs as Christians. Included in this gathering are basic approaches to theological concepts such as Creation, Sin, Incarnation, Atonement, the Church and the Holy Spirit, and Eschatology (End Times). Come join us and be enriched in faith.    Also, we are looking forward to seeing many of you at Advent Family Night on  Sunday, December 1 as well.

 

 

 

Despair or Hope?

Dear Friends,

By now, many of you have been overwhelmed by photos and stories of destruction in the Philippines.  It's not just the images that are disturbing but the idea of so many human lives hanging in the balance.  At times like these, even as people of faith, we have far more questions than answers.  We can try to come up with explanations but they usually come off as trite, lame, insensitive, and unhelpful.  I think that the most helpful responses right now are compassion, prayer, honesty (about what we don't understand) and lament.  Perhaps the most well known story of human suffering in Scripture is found in the book of Job.  Notice in Job that the ones who think they have all the answers (Job's friends) are the ones who get it wrong.  Even when God appears to Job in a whirlwind, it is not to give answers but to honor Job's questions and to restore His relationship with Job.  We will not have all of the answers on this side of eternity.  What we do have is a God who suffers with us and continues to work through us to bring transformation, hope, healing, and, of course, a glimpse of the kingdom to come.  I encourage your donations to Lutheran World Relief and American Red Cross.

The Gospel lesson that will be studied Thursday at lunch and proclaimed this weekend in worship is Luke 21:5-19 , a text where Jesus and Luke seem to be addressing the disasters of their time.  Here are some questions to reflect upon as we engage these texts together.

1. Have you or a family member ever experienced an earthquake, hurricane, or other natural disaster?  What was that like?

2. Like the temple in biblical times, what buildings speak to power, influence, and success in our time?  How? Why?

3. While we might not be facing persecution in the U.S., do you think that the Christian faith is suffering in our nation?  How? Why?

4. Why do you think that Jesus is giving this warning and promise in this text?

5. Why do you think that it was important for Luke to capture this message for his readers?

6. What is the good news on this text? (not easy to find, I know!)

Thank you for your faithfulness, your generosity, and your prayers through the highs and lows of our lives.  I am so grateful for this faith community who serves as a beacon of hope in a sea of challenge and change.   

See you in church!

 

Peace,

 

Pastor Mueller

standrewslutheran.com

lwr.org

pray-as-you-go.org

Like Breakfast?

Pancake Breakfast this Saturday from 7-11AM in downstairs in St. Andrew's Hall with proceeds to benefit Bear Creek Camp Scholarship Fund

 

2 - 4 years old            free

5 - 11 years old           $1.00

12 - 64 years old           $ 6.00

65 years and older        $5.00

 

Invite family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers to this great annual event.

 

Also coming up...

 

All Saints Celebrations in Worship this weekend - Saturday at 5PM and Sunday at 8:15 and 11AM

 

See you in church!

 

Peace,

 

Pastor Mueller

Luther's Legacy

Dear Friends,

This weekend when we gather in worship, we celebrate Reformation Sunday, giving thanks for Martin Luther and fellow reformers who refocused the Church's attention on the Word and the saving power of Jesus Christ.  While Luther had little or no idea during his lifetime what a profound effect he would have on the world, we recognize today that he left quite a legacy including:

- justification by grace through faith

- word and worship for the people

- priesthood of all believers

- marriage and family as high calling

- educational reform

What do all of these things have in common?  They represent a shift in authority giving believers a far greater voice.  They demonstrate a shift in understanding as the church more and more embraces the language of the people.  They acknowledge a shift in technology as the printing press gives people far greater access to resources of faith.

So what might this say to us 500 years later as the church seems to be going through yet another Reformation (of which we also cannot predict the results in our own lifetime). It seems to me that the rapid changes that we are presently experiencing inside and outside the church are resulting the following shifts in our own understanding.

- Pastors serving more as spiritual coaches and resource providers and less as experts and dispensers of religious goods and services

- Almost everyone having a voice or platform as a believer because of technology and social media

- A need to embrace digital technology as bearers of the Gospel

- The necessity of becoming more comfortable with metaphors and communication patterns of today's culture (sermons designed for the radio generation don't preach effectively anymore)

- Urgent need for a strong commitment to Christian Education and Youth and Family Ministry (especially given the multitude of choices many families have as to how to use their time)

- Ability to discern what traditions are worth keeping and be willing to embrace the idea that sometimes less is more

Most importantly, in the midst of so many voices competing for our attention and energy, we need to keep Christ and his saving Gospel at the center of what we do as we lift up Jesus to the community in worship, education, and service.  We look forward to celebrating with you this weekend.  See you in church!

Peace,

Pastor Mueller

Opportunities for Growth

Dear Friends,

 

    There are several learning opportunities coming up in week ahead that I wanted keep on your radar.

 

- "Aslan on the Move" :  This Sunday (downstairs in Jerusalem Room)  at 9:30 AM we gather together for a presentation / discussion based on Christian themes found in the C.S. Lewis classic, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe."   This gathering will continue through November 24.  Anyone from high school students to senior citizens are welcome to attend.  Join us and be enriched in faith. 

 

- "Lunch Bunch Bible Study" - We gather each Thursday at noontime in St. Andrew's Hall to look a little deeper at the assigned bible texts that will be proclaimed the upcoming Sunday.  We provide coffee and printed out texts.  You are free to bring Bibles and a bagged lunch if you wish.  People who rarely take part in Bible Study have become a part of this group and have found it very helpful in their walk of faith.

- On Line Resources - Again for those of you who find yourself traveling or whose lives are filled with calendar conflicts, I want to lift up some valuable resources for your growth in scripture and prayer.

enterthebible.org - an initiative of Luther Seminary that provides some great background on books of the Bible and key texts of our faith.

sacredspace.ie and pray-as-you-go.org - two Jesuit sites that are very helpful for daily prayer and devotion

 

- Medicare 101: What is Medicare Part A?  How about Part B?  What is Medicare Supplement Insurance?  What about Medicare Advantage and other plans?  What about prescription drug plans?  These and other medicare mysteries will be unpacked by Mr. John Kochel, a Financial Advisor with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and active member of Augustus Lutheran Church in Trappe.  Informational meetings will be held here at St. Andrew's on Monday October 28  at 10 AM or 7PM.  No financial products will be offered at this event and there will be plenty of time for your questions and concerns.  If you are interested in attending, please contact John Kochel at 484-945-0100.

 

    We have had some exciting and challenging weeks of worship and learning this fall.  This weekend will be no exception.  See you in church!

 

Peace,

 

Pastor Mueller