August 9, 2023
Dear Friends and Members of Messiah Lutheran Church,
Thank you for a wonderful summer, and all the prayers, work and involvement you have offered for VBS and Wild Wednesdays, as well as the ongoing work of our quilters, study groups, Stephens Ministries, etc. Worship attendance has also been strong and energetic through the summer. It's all so great!
Our Call Committee has been meeting regularly and working hard since May. There is, however, a shortage of pastoral candidates at present and so the work is slow. I had hoped we would have our new pastor here by September as I feel you are all ready to rock 'n roll into the next chapter of Messiah's life. I want that for you. However, the process is just going to take a little longer than anticipated. As the Lord wills!
Please know that Pr. Tom and I will be honored to continue our service with you as we move into the fall. We're not going anywhere. I do, however, want to encourage us to think in terms of "seasons" of our work together. Something like this:
- Our work as interim pastors to date has been to walk with you as you've dealt with the retirement of your prior pastors. This has involved actually being your pastors, working with you on your Ministry Site Profile, seeing that a strong Call Committee is in place, dealing with a variety of needed administrative/leadership tweaks, and getting the red carpet cleaned up and ready to unroll. I consider this "regular season play." We have all done this well together and I know we're ready.
- As we move into the fall, I invite you to think of this as a second season. Pr. Tom and I will continue on. That doesn't change. We will all re-engage with Bible Studies, confirmation, preschool, choir, bell choir and other fall programming as seems right to us. Our Call Committee, CLT and staff will continue to be diligent in their work and you, I know, will continue to be good stewards of your time, prayer, praise, abundance, trust and anticipation. Thank you!
- What does change in this second season is this. We must live lightly with our future. We wait for a new chapter to begin, but we do not just wait. To say that a different way, we will keep our eyes focused forward, "Unto the hills from whence cometh our help." but we will not forget to keep our feet grounded in the now. Now counts! As the Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6:2, "God says, 'At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.' See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation." Or again, in 2 Corinthians 4, "Since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart … for this momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure."
Pr. Tom and I are so thankful for your welcome and trust. We look forward to pushing new boundaries and asking different questions with you in the coming season. Together we will wait actively, live lightly, continue to kindle anticipation, and expect change.
(Sydney Carter © 1963, 2001 Stainer & Bell)
Pr. Dave Brauer-Rieke
Messiah Lutheran Church
