FROM THE BOARD OF ELDERS
Dear Disciples of Jesus,
As we continue to move along with our vacancy, I am encouraged to note that things are on schedule. We have successfully completed the congregation survey and self-evaluation profile which has been briefed to the district president. We have received names for potential pastor candidates from our congregation members that will be included in the total candidates we review. Thanks to all who have assisted us during this process and we look forward to continuing our efforts to provide the best for our outstanding church family.
Lent was certainly a very busy time for Vicar Horn. He served as our Pulpit Supply for 5 of the 6 Lentin Wednesday Divine Services and did an outstanding job in his preparation and conducting the services. I encourage you all to say thanks to Vicar Horn for a tremendous job!
We continue in “The Fifty Days” from Easter to Ascension this month. Faith in God the Father through his Son Jesus Christ is worked by the power of the Holy Spirit. When the Gospel was proclaimed to you and when you were baptized, you were set apart as a son of God being connected to the Son of God. Men and women, young and old are all “sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Your purpose is to have this faith nurtured constantly in the water, soil and sunshine of God’s Word.
Love for your neighbor then is the reason you are still alive. This is not about getting your needs met. It is about meeting the needs of others. In your daily vocation as husband, wife, father, mother, child, employer, and employee, you will find ways to serve others through simple acts of selfless charity. Your purpose is to love others through “witness, mercy and life together” in your family, congregation and civic community.
One of the challenges we face every day is that we are looking for purpose in what we do. We see people who obtain wealth, fame and power, yet their lives are a complete mess. We see other people who are lazy and worthless and accomplish nothing good. We look at ourselves and each of us ask, “How can I have a meaningful life that exhibits faith in God and love for my neighbor?”
Pray every day for the Lord to direct your paths to the Divine Service on Sunday morning to receive his gifts of forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. Pray every day for the Lord to direct your paths to find unique ways to show love to your neighbor. You will then find a life filled with purpose, joy and fervor!
In our Lord Jesus Christ,
Kurt Schweiger, Chairman, Board of Elders
Vicar Seth Horn
FROM THE VICAR
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer…Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. – 1 Timothy 3:1-2, 7
Hello and God’s blessings to you once again! Last month, we continued to talk about the qualifications of overseer or pastor in the Christ’s Church. This month, we continue to look at these qualifications and ponder what it means for a pastor to be well-thought of by outsiders.
A pastor is not only to be respected in his church and by his flock, but also by the world around him. Those from the “outside” means those who are non-believers and the community at large. When non-Christians think of him, they should immediately think of his integrity, honesty, fairness, and his reputation in a positive light. This doesn’t mean everyone will agree with him nor should the pastor himself go out of his way to appease the world around him by compromising his faith and what he believes, but people know that that he is free from scandal and practices what he preaches.
This image to outsiders is important as he is the public face of the church. Yes, much of a church’s reputation comes from its people interacting with their communities at large. But people ultimately will look into the pastor who presides over that church. Like it or not, who a pastor is plays a big role in deciding where to go to church.
Put simply, this verse relates to everything we have discussed these past several months. Verses 2-6 plays a big part of verse 7. If the pastor embodies all of these traits, then he will also be well-thought of by the non-believing world at large.
With that, we have covered all of the pastoral qualifications as laid out in 1 Timothy 3:1-7. I encourage you to read through it again and ponder what it is we’re looking for in a pastor. May God grant us a faithful man who meets these qualifications through Christ Jesus our Lord!
In Christ,
Vicar Horn
Vicar Horn will be on vacation from 4/12-4/19. Please contact any of our elders if there are parish concerns.
