AUGUST
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Summer is quickly coming to a close and we wonder where it has gone! The month of August will move us into a new mode of thinking at Bethel. It will no longer be just Pastor Barb who will be giving care and leadership at Bethel, but our new Intern Pastor, Brigette Weier who will be an addition to our staff. The upstrairs will have a new office, located at the top of the stairs from the office area. Our Inter, Brigette will be setting up shop in this area and my encouragement is for you to take the time to visit her in her new space and get to know her.
You might be asking, "What is an Intern Pastor?" In the Lutheran denomination, a pastor has eight years of education before ordination into the ministry of Word and Sacrament (the pastoral office). Four years of college are typically followed by four years of seminary and one of those years is spent in a congregation. The time spent in the congregation is for learning, forming a pastoral perspective through hands on ministry and evaluation of the young pastor to be. Both the pastor of the congregation and the members become part of the teaching staff, while at the same time experiencing the ministry of the Intern through the Intern's particular gifts and talents for ministry. In other words, we minister to one another.
Our Intern Pastor's situation is a bit different from others in that we will have Brigette with us for two years, part-time. She will be in school at the same time she is our intern. This creates a wonderful experience for both Bethel and Brigette, as we have continuity in our ministry for two years as opposed to one, follow through on ministries she would like to participate in and help for your Pastor (that would be me!)
The first month or two Intern Brigette will be shadowing me in the ministry. This will give her a chance to meet and greet you, learn about the different ministries at Bethel and allow her the opportunity to discover where she would like to make a mark in the life of our congregation. She will preach, teach, visit and be creative...love her into her ministry! (I know you will!)
Mark Sunday, August 15th on your calendar and prioritize the date for this is when we will welcome Brigette, her husband Mike and two children, Kayla and Andrew into our church. (You all are great at potlucks and therefore we are going to let you loose to create the best potluck you can imagine on that day.)
As we Dive into God's Grace again this year, we will pull Brigette and family right along with us. Let's decide to make a difference and join in the ministry together.
Brigettte will have an Internship Commttee that she will work with and they are: Bob DeLapp, Rick Eriksen, Diann Feakes, Kelly Fields, Bonnie Frank, Pat French and Laina Kelley-Walker. Please recognize the role they play as one of support for both Brigette and the congregation. If you are asked to help, please step up to the plate as we are all in this ministry together.
In Christ,
Pastor Barb
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JULY
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
"For freedom christ has set us free! Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1
We are faced with both a "fact" and a "goal"! FACT, Christ has set us free! Paul doesn't tell the readers of his letter that they are to fight for their freedom, but he reminds them of Christ's action that brought freedom to them. GOAL, to live like we are free in Christ! Our desire should be, when we realize what Christ has done, to live with great joy and the knowledge we are responsible to live our lives to the fullest, precisely because of the action of Jesus.
I don't know how many of you saw or remember the movie "Saving Private Ryan", however, there was a message in the movie concerning this desire to live responsibly, making a difference. It begins with the storming of Omaha Beach. All around the men the bombs are falling...the bullets flying...people dying. Word comes to Capt. John Miller that he has orders from Washington to take his patrol into the area to find a young soldier, Private James Ryan, who is the sole surviving child in the Ryan family. During their journey death surrounds the patrol and when they finally find Private Ryan even Capt. Miller dies to save him. Capt. Miller's final words spark a life mission for Ryan, "Earn this."
At the end of the movie Ryan stands with his family in Normandy by Capt. John Miller's grave and asks his wife if he was a good man. Her answer, "Yes". Yet, he still wonders if his life was worth the lives of all the men who died for him.
Freedom does not mean that we are free to harm others...to speak in degrading ways...to cheat...to disrespect...to live in the sinful ways Paul refers to in Galatians 5, but that we are freed from those things to live joyously and respectfully. Why? Because we are thankful for the freedom we have been given. Do we think of how expensive our freedom was? Is?
Unlike Private Ryan hearing the words of Capt. Miller, "Earn this", we walk in a freedom that has already been earned and a desire to celebrate it with others. We hear the words, "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:29-30)
WOW! What a message! Doesn't it make you want to live for Christ? Doesn't it make you want to commit to him each and every day? You are free to live joyfully in the ONE. Now live!
In Christ,
Pastor Barb
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June
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We are now in the season of Pentecost, which centers on the work of the Holy Spirit in "sanctifying" us. The word "sanctify" means to make holy, or we could say, it is about the growth of our faith as Christians. It is through the gift of faithl which comes through the Holy Spirit, that we are able to trust in Christ and proclaim Him to the world around us through our acts of serving our neighbors. This is a time for us to learn more and more about what it means to walk and live in the gracious Spirit of Jesus....
1) What are each of us being called to do with our lives? VOCATION! If a teacher, by teaching as a servant of Christ. If a parent, by parenting with the love of Jesus. If a bus driver, with kindness for all who enter your bus. If a salesperson, dealing with people honestly and with integrity.
2) What are we to do to reach out to draw others in? EVANGELISM & MISSION! What steps do we make to touch the world with Christ's Love? If you are called to teach VBS or Sunday School do you respond? Are you aware of the powerful witness our school, Bethel Christian School, has in our community and in what ways can you support it? Are you willing to deliver fliers to the community? Learn about our brothers and sisters in prison or in other countries and find ways to share the good news of Jesus.
3) What does it mean to support your local congregation? STEWARDSHIP! This means learning how to budget your giving to Christ. Yes, it may be in your time and hours of service to the ministry of Bethel OR other ministries you involve yourself in, HOWEVER, that does not preclude your returning of your offerings for the ministry of Jesus. One cannot depend on others to carry the financial load at the church you have chosen to be yours and, if that is Bethel, then it is important that you support this ministry. It costs to support your home, correct? You have bills and if they go unpaid you will lose the ability to live there any longer. It is the same with a church. The importance of supporting the local congregation gives each of us the opportunity to work together for Christ's ministry... provide spiritual support and guidance...provide a place to gather in praise of God...provide opportunities for us and others to learn and grow in Jesus (Sunday School, VBS, adult education, worship, pastoral care, etc.). If we wait for others to pick up the cost, then we will all be waiting. Besides, this is OUR CALLING to return to the Lord what we first received from Him. It is not based on a particular amount, as each family is in a different place financially, HOWEVER, if you truly pray about your situation God will direct your giving even if it is a dollar more...or maybe it wil be $10 more. or maybe a $100 more..OR, if financially blessed,...$10,000 more. It is important to Christ's ministry at Bethel.
4) What does it mean to give to those in need? ALMSGIVING! This means we learn to give extra for Lutheran World Relief, Lutheran family Services, Interchurch, the CROP Walk, etc. Our eyes are opened to the world and how we as Christians do things which will help change their physical needs.
All this through Pentecost. Come! Learn! Don't come to worship because we are in the Summer mode....God doesn't stop...Don't forget your financial support when you are gone (that would be like not paying your mortgage when you are on vacation!) Worship when you are away from Aurora and send us your bulletins so we can see where our people have gone and maybe get some new ideas.
In Christ,
Pastor Barb
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P.S. Join us on Wednesday evenings for soup and salad at 6 P.M. and worship at 7 P.M. as we journey on the road to redemption.
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This year your leadership is resting in the hands of the following:
President: Tiffany Brooks
Vice President: Rich Walker
Secretary: Willi Sanow
Treasurer: Lark Eriksen
At large members: Diane Fischer, James Orth & Reggie Usher