May 2013

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  ~Hebrews 10:25~

In these, my first “notes” back from my Sabbatical, I want to thank, again, all the good folks here at Faith who understood my reasons why…and supported my time away.  It was a great blessing to me!  In many ways, it is good segue to the passage above.  This passage speaks about the import of the weekly “Sabbath.”  That is to say, it speaks about the necessity to set aside time, every week, for the worship of God and to receive “the Sabbath rest.”  To be sure, I was able to do  that, from the other side, in the months that I was gone.  It was great to experience how other Christians worship.  I also heard some good and not so good sermons. 

When I came back, I was reminded, so poignantly, about the import of this passage.  As the President of our congregation shared with us in April, in the first quarter of the year, our giving was down about 9%.  To be sure, so often ones giving is in direct portion to their worship attendance.  It too has been down.  There is no other way to put it.  This is and has been a tremendous disappointment and cause for great concern. 

At the center of our Christian life is our need for communal worship.  Some people often say, “I can worship God” at home…or on vacation…or when I am in nature…or wherever.”  I have heard this from people many times.  To be sure, this is true.  However it is a complete misunderstanding or convolution of what it means to be a Christian and what true worship is.  The Bible passage above is tremendously clear about this.  “Let us not give up meeting together, as is the habit of some.”  You see, our Christian life and faith are  not lived in a vacuum.  In the waters of our baptism we were converted, not only to Christ, but also into a community of believers.  The New Testament calls this community “The Church.” 

We need the Churches fellowship.  We need, most of all, Word and Sacrament ministry which has been given as the means of God’s real presence to us and among us, in the context of Church.  And, to be more specific, worship!  In fact, God has given us a commandment that deals with this very issue.  It is the third commandment.  “Remember the Sabbath Day.”  He gives this commandment, not for His sake, but for ours.  He knows what we need.  We need the absolution given us to every week through the proclamation of His Word and the administration of the Eucharist. We need time for prayer; for praise; for the filling up of our soul!  All these important and wonderful things God provides for us, through the church.

I truly pray that the Holy Spirit will empower and enable us to “turn the tide,” as it were.  Toward that end, like our President, Don, encouraged, I am asking that you prayerfully consider submitting a one time financial gift to help offset our deficit.  As we celebrate fifty years of God’s grace here at Faith (more information on this will be coming), rendering a gift that is divisible by fifty would be wonderful. You are invited to  simply ear-mark your money/check.  You can send it in the mail, put in the offering plate or bring it to the office. 

Now, more than the sacrificial giving of your money, I encourage the sacrificial giving of your time.  As we move into the Spring and Summer months, strive to remain faithful to your worship attendance.  If you know that you are going to be gone on a particular weekend, remember that Word and Sacrament ministry are also offered every Wednesday night!  God patiently waits for you to reconnect with Him every week – Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall!

Please, take His Word to heart!  “The Sabbath was made for man; not man for the Sabbath.”  It is a great, great gift that God has given you.  Don’t abuse it by not using it!  Bring a friend, a family member, a neighbor! “Let us not give up meeting together as, as is the habit of some…” 

See you in worship this week!

Until next month,

Pastor Thomas Kaul