ELCA NEWS SERVICE
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Celebrating 25 years as a church that rolls up its sleeves and gets to work, members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will participate in “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday, Sept. 8 -- a dedicated day of service in which this church’s 4 million members can observe the anniversary by playing a critical part in addressing the needs of their neighborhoods and communities….
...At Advent Lutheran Church in Mentor, Ohio, members created service projects for all ages to participate in the day of service. The congregation plans to bake and distribute cookies to police and firefighters, build and repair picnic tables for a local homeless shelter, write letters to military personnel and veterans and perform random acts of kindness around the community.
…In Palatine, Ill., three ELCA congregations will combine efforts to help make a difference in their community. [They] will take part in many activities which include visiting shut-ins, preparing a Habitat for Humanity house for rehab, quilting prayer shawls, assembling and stocking shelves at the local food pantry, and helping with house chores and yard work for seniors in the area.
“This is a way for our congregation to intentionally show our corner of the world who we are and what we do. But it’s not just here; there’s this great spirit around the country. It’s great to be part of a church that celebrates its anniversary by sharing God’s love with the world by going out into the world,” said the Rev. Seth Moland-Kovash, pastor of All Saints Lutheran Church.
Additional service projects include:
…In Palatine, Ill., three ELCA congregations will combine efforts to help make a difference in their community. [They] will take part in many activities which include visiting shut-ins, preparing a Habitat for Humanity house for rehab, quilting prayer shawls, assembling and stocking shelves at the local food pantry, and helping with house chores and yard work for seniors in the area.
“This is a way for our congregation to intentionally show our corner of the world who we are and what we do. But it’s not just here; there’s this great spirit around the country. It’s great to be part of a church that celebrates its anniversary by sharing God’s love with the world by going out into the world,” said the Rev. Seth Moland-Kovash, pastor of All Saints Lutheran Church.
Additional service projects include:
+ Redeemer Lutheran Church in Penndel, Pa., plans to create 100 care packets for a local hospital to distribute to families who have loved ones in intensive-care or cardiac-care units.
+ Ballard First Lutheran Church in Seattle will kick-off a year of learning and service, helping educate members about the many opportunities to serve in the community.
+ Kihei Lutheran Church in Kihei, Hawaii, has collected more than 1,500 pounds of canned goods for the community food pantry and for low-income school children who may not have weekend meals.
+ Lord of Light Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor, Mich., will collect non-perishable food items for low-income students who may not have regular meals during extended breaks from school.
“We are working very hard to help our congregation members see the need in our community, as well as (in) the world. Our congregation also pushes us as leaders to find ways to put our faith into action,” said Leslie Fort, council president at Lord of Light Lutheran Church.
+ Ballard First Lutheran Church in Seattle will kick-off a year of learning and service, helping educate members about the many opportunities to serve in the community.
+ Kihei Lutheran Church in Kihei, Hawaii, has collected more than 1,500 pounds of canned goods for the community food pantry and for low-income school children who may not have weekend meals.
+ Lord of Light Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor, Mich., will collect non-perishable food items for low-income students who may not have regular meals during extended breaks from school.
“We are working very hard to help our congregation members see the need in our community, as well as (in) the world. Our congregation also pushes us as leaders to find ways to put our faith into action,” said Leslie Fort, council president at Lord of Light Lutheran Church.
Fort says her congregation embraces this calling within their community and beyond. “We are not afraid to be Christ's hands in our community. We aren't afraid to face the realities of brokenness, loss and poverty in our world. We aren't afraid to sweat or end up covered in dirt or exhaust ourselves with tough work. We aren't afraid to look a hurting person in the eyes, to hold their hand, to see their soul as a reflection of ours, to help them through in Jesus' name.”
Add all of this to our list of 10+ churches here in San Diego, with whom we’re invited to connect with today. It’s wonderful to think of all the service that is being offered around the nation in celebration of God’s goodness to our church body.
Jesus talks today, in no unclear terms, about discipleship, about taking up our crosses and following. About rejecting our own families if they stand in the way of the path of discipleship. Once again, this is a harsh word. The church overall is getting smaller — we know this from reports and statistics. Frankly sometimes I’m surprised when we have lessons like this that it’s as large as it is. Jesus is looking for serious followers. Courageous and loyal followers. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in his famous book called The Cost of Discipleship about cheap grace:
“We have gathered like eagles around the carcass of cheap grace, and there we have drunk of the poison that has killed the life of following Christ…We poured forth unending streams of grace. But the call to follow Jesus was hardly ever heard.”
I hope we hear the call to follow Jesus today. Pastor George Johnson, in his book Beyond Guilt, discusses a movement “from belief to following” (p. 18).
Jesus calls us, that’s the Good News. Jesus snaps us out of our funks and puts us on a clear path, that’s the Good News. There’s never the right time to give up everything and follow, so that makes now the right time. What is Jesus asking of you this week? [pause]
Jesus tells us to give up our stuff...Do we own our things or do our things own us? Jesus frees us from all that by calling us, being honest with us — the road will be rocky and hard — and clearing a way for us to serve.
You are God’s most beloved child. Now God continues to mold you and shape you. God continues to call you and need you. It’s never too late. And we don’t go about this alone. With each other here at SVLC, with other churches around the country, and with the whole body of Christ, we serve together. This is grace too. AMEN.
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Prayers:
For the protection of people “affected by the fighting in Syria” and for “all who are working for peace: international leaders, politicians, religious leaders and ordinary citizens” and that “all of us be strengthened by the hope of a future built on love and justice for all.”
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