Pastor's Message
June 2013
We (the people of Emmanuel) are called to be:
Worshiping, Welcoming, Growing, Relating and Serving
To the Children of God,
At the top of this letter I have printed our mission statement. It is a phrase that we, I hope, all know quite well at this point. It is also the statement on which I focus as we begin a new chapter in our relationship. On June 30th, I have been blessed and called to be installed as the pastor of this congregation once again. As I look at where we are and where we are going, I ask myself what it means to be installed as the “regularly-called” pastor here at Emmanuel.
I know how to install an appliance in my house. Well, as my wife might note, at least I think I do. The problem with installation is, though we have added something new, we have only upgraded one piece, the house as a whole does not change.
When talking about installation services, the Rev. Dr. Mark W. Oldenburg writes, “It’s now not only church workers and home appliances that are installed, but computer software. And that installation is a more complicated procedure than installing an appliance, mostly because installing software on a system requires changes not only in the software, but in the system. The two are not only connected, but adapted to one another.” As we prepare for this installation service, my goal is that we are upgrading both our software and our system. The two must be compatible and they must be working toward the same goals in order for this to be successful. We have to upgrade in the deepest sense of the word.
The last Synod Assembly heard from a variety of congregations all trying new ministries. I was told that when folks in the assembly were asked to stand to signify which congregations had 40 or fewer members attending worship services, nearly one third of the people stood. When that average was raised to a worship of 60 or fewer, two thirds of the assembly stood. Clearly, something needs to change.
We need an installation service that allows us to upgrade our software and our system. The change would mean more than getting a new dishwasher or ceiling fan installed. It would mean more than just changing a few hymns or adding some technology. It would mean allowing God to install the Holy Spirit in our systems fully, and would mean going where the Holy Spirit will lead us.
The problem with God’s leadership is that God does not always take us where we think we should be and often it is to places we are not comfortable. But in the end, our goal is to worship, welcome, grow, relate, and serve. Our goal is to listen to and spread God’s message and allow God to work in us and through us.
I certainly hope you view my installation as an upgrade. Most importantly, what I hope we can all get, is an overhaul that changes us all on a deeper, spiritual level, and allows us to fulfill our mission and do God’s will.
One of Christ’s servants,
Pastor Dave - Child of God