Hello,
I am now one of
you, at least for a while. June 11th
was my last day of being the pastor at 1st Lutheran Church in
Greensburg, making me one of you….someone who is not obligated to be in church
on Sunday morning.
But I went. I slept in past the 6:00 that I have spent my
life waking up on Sunday mornings, took care of my dogs, cats and my wife’s
chickens (she is off riding her bike for a week in Ohio), had a relaxing cup of
coffee with my cinnamon swirl bagel, and went to Lutheran church closest to my
home (a 10 minute car ride replacing the 30 minute one that I have been making)
for the 9:00 service, the only service.
An older woman with who was with her grandson arrived at the same time as I
did. She greeted me with a “Good
morning,” and likewise I greeted her. I
could tell that she could not place my face, and so I introduced myself saying that
I had been the pastor of 1st Greensburg and since I lived just over
the ridge, I would be spending my Sunday mornings with the folks of Bethel
Lutheran Church for a while. A smile
came across her face as she told me her name, and she said, “Glad to have you
with us.”
I walked into the
church where maybe 40 people had gathered and took my seat about half way up
the aisle. The church was buzzing with
conversation that did not include me.
So, I relaxed in the pew awaiting worship to begin, something I haven’t
been able to do as a pastor who is preparing to lead worship. Lutherans have the worship practice of following
the liturgy which is an order of worship that has been carried down for
centuries, around the world, and across many denominations. So, although Lutheran churches tend to do
things a bit uniquely, this worship practice allowed me to feel somewhat at
home among people who I had never met before.
I joined in the singing, the praying, the listening to scripture and the
sermon, the participation in Holy Communion, and receiving a departing
blessing.
I was one of you
this past Sunday, someone who was not obligated to go to church.....or was
I? Was I someone who was not obligated
to go to church....are you? I don't mean
obligated because some church rule dictates my attendance like the Rotary club
does. I don’t mean obligated because the
degree of God’s love for me is determined by my commitment to God. After all, God sent his Son to die and rise
for me. How much more could God possibly
love me? I don’t mean obligated because
the church has a budget that it is counting on me being part of.
But if I want to
be a person who is shaped by the grace and mercy of God instead of the
pressures and judgments of the world…if I want to be a person who lives each
day with deep thankfulness rather than imprisoning greed….if I want to be a
person who sees hope in tomorrow when the world keeps on opening my eyes to
things that raise up fear in me….if I want to be a person who sees in another a
connection that inspires me to treat them with care that creates a world-wide
blanket of peace….if I want to be this kind of person, and I do, maybe I am
obligated to go to church. As the
disciples said to Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go. You have the words of eternal life.”
Jesus said that
he had come to bring life, abundant life….an abundance of hope, an abundance of
peace, an abundance of love, and abundance of joy, an abundance of purpose, an
abundance of courage….sounds like the life that would be wonderful to have. It is the life that I experienced being
shaped in me as I sat in the pew this past Sunday….so when next Sunday comes…and
every Sunday after that….even though I am not obligated to be in church to lead
worship, I know that I am obligated to be there in order for my life to be
shaped and changed.
Have a great week.
God’s grace and peace, (ggap)
Pastor Jerry Nuernberger
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