Reformation

Is there anyone who doesn’t love the month of October? Every year I say it to myself – how I love it so. It is more than the radiant colors, more than the football season going full tilt, more than Halloween costumes. Scripture occasionally refers to the Holy Spirit as the wind. In the month of October, the wind blows, and you sense your world shifting. It is a month of transition and change and harvest. Let’s get moving!

During the month of October, I have suggested we focus on Martin Luther and the Reformation. I envision brief glimpses of Lutheranism during worship, maybe a power point or two, perhaps a “Did you know” type paragraph in a Thursday thought. In reviewing fifty-two years of ministry, I have tons of presentations, lectures, lesson plans, and “what does it mean to be Lutheran” talks. The challenge will be selecting the content. Did you know, age 5, Luther began to study Latin?

Some of you might recall, that the Lutheran Church celebrated the 500th anniversary of the Reformation back in 1917. What I didn’t realize is that the official representatives of the Catholic & Lutheran churches have been holding regular conversations for 50 years. A book entitled “Declaration on the Way” outlines thirty-two (32) agreements the two have arm wrestled to the floor. It also identifies seven (7) remaining differences. Did you know Luther got married at age 42 to Kathrine von Bora, a former nun. She was 26. They had ten children, four adopted and six of their own.

Possible topics for a Sunday focus:

Theology of the Cross

Justification by Grace through Faith

The Means of Grace

Law & Gospel

Bondage of the Will

“Simul Justis et Peccator”

Augsburg Confession – 21 Articles

Marge & Small Catechism

Book of Concord

Next three Sundays/Thursdays will contain a little something about the Reformation. See you Sunday!

A Year Ago

If you live long enough, you get to celebrate any number of anniversaries. This one is unique for me! A year ago, Sheri and this retired pastor arrived in Coeur d’Alene to begin an Interim ministry. I have my 2023 calendar in front of me, so I recall people & activities.

• Moved into Apt. 110 at the Timbers. Stopped by church to pick up donated items. Met Carol K in the parking lot. She handed us a roll of toilet paper. Life saver! Started nesting – dresser from Voigt’s, couch and mattress and desk and chair from Almeida’s, pillows from Shirley, household goods from Carol and Charlie, plateware from Sue and Tom – gosh, the list goes on and on! Bought a printer, learned where the grocery and Thrift stores are.

• Met people – Kay S, Eula, David J., Valorie Z, Barry & Jeri, Rita. Took Jeff & Addie to lunch at Panera. The Albing’s hosted us for lunch.

• Attended worship at LCM 9/3. Teresa Fandel preached. Scheduled a “meet and greet” prior to worship. OK, that’s it! You indulged me with a little fun to look backwards one year.

During the month of September, our worship services will include a special focus and theme – THE SEASON OF CREATION. For five Sundays, our prayers, litanies and affirmations will celebrate God our creator and the goodness of creation. This annual celebration has a chosen theme this year: To hope and Act with Creation. As we transition from Summer to Fall, as we transition into a lease partnership with the school, I offer this prayer that we continue to hope and act with Creation:

To have hope is to believe that history continues open to the dream of God and to human creativity.

To have hope is to continue affirming that it is possible to dream a different world, without hunger, without injustice, without discrimination.

To have hope is to be a messenger of God, tearing down walls, destroying borders, building bridges,

To have hope is to believe in the revolutionary potential of faith.

To have hope is to leave the door open so that the Spirit can enter and make all things new.

To have hope is to believe that life wins over death.

To have hope is to begin again as many times as necessary.

To have hope is to believe that hope is not the last thing that dies.

To have hope is to believe that hope cannot die, that hope no longer dies.

To have hope is to live.

(Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, Honduras)

Blessings!

Tri-Lutheran

Greetings from the Interim Pastor at Lutheran Church of the Master.

It has been eleven months since my Interim assignment began. Upon arrival, I  immediately learned that a Tri-Lutheran  worship service would take place in September. I asked - What is Tri-Lutheran? One question led to another - What does Tri-Lutheran mean? What is it? How long has “it” been around? What’s the goal? And finally, where is Q’emlin Park? I have observed this thing called Tri-Lutheran for eleven months.   I am going to use this article to share my experience and some observations.

By way of introduction, shared Lutheran   ministry is not new to me. I recall a shared Campus Ministry in Marshall, MN, a shared radio devotional ministry in Fergus Falls, MN, a shared Confirmation Retreat in Phoenix, AZ, a shared Counseling Center in Idaho Falls, ID. Did you notice the key word…shared?

First, I have learned that the notion of  Tri-Lutheran is a relatively new phenomena. Yes, Pastors Bob, Dan, and Matt met regularly in text study, got along well, and supported each other, but the boundaries between the three congregations were rarely, if ever, crossed A little over a year ago 10-12 good Lutherans representing the three churches began to meet. Time has been spent  brainstorming, daydreaming and occasionally planning a “Tri-Lutheran” event or activity. The first word I would use to describe Tri-Lutheran is that it is a conversation.

Second, I have observed that the three congregations are hesitant to embrace the idea. There are some exceptions, but I sense most say, “I belong to Trinity, or my truck or car only know the way to Calvary, or I’m not particularly interested in anything beyond LCM.” The Tri-Lutheran activities or events that did take place were, hmmm, how do I say it, they were faithfully planned and executed, but for the most part were “underwhelming.” Good reasons exist for Tri-Lutheran, i.e.       efficiency (Administration), effectiveness (Ministries & Programs), but they remain in our future, the work of the Holy Spirit. I have learned there is no blueprint for being and doing Tri-Lutheran. The second word I would use to describe Tri-Lutheran is that it is an experiment.

Third, I am intrigued by what God might have in store for us Tri-Lutherans in the very near future. The word collaboration has been used in the past year to describe Tri-Lutheran. It means “to work with someone to produce or create something.” The next Tri-Lutheran event to be “produced or created” is the     outdoor worship service in Post Falls (Sept. 8). It is also God’s Work Our Hands Sunday. Plans are underway for a day of worship, a potluck, AND a GWOH service project. Over the next 4-5 weeks you will hear lots of        details. The boundaries remain but God’s Spirit is at work. The third word I would use to describe Tri-Lutheran is  opportunity.

Blessings!

Pastor Kirk