newsletter for September

From the Pastor,
It is amazing when I think that summer is almost past and fall with all of its colors, fresh crisp air, harvest celebrations, school beginnings and the church resuming its full and vibrant self is right here in front of us. Amazing when I stop and consider all that has gone into the summer and all that is about to go into the programming of fall and winter. The amazement is how everyone begins to move together, regroup, and set on the journey of education and serious learning about God and his son Jesus.
Almost as amazing as the effort that everyone puts into the church is the vast amount of opportunities that present themselves for our enjoyment and our growing in Christ. I have been searching for these chances for all of us to participate in and you will find many of them listed in the rest of this newsletter. As I looked at them it would seem there is something that almost everyone would be interested in and would benefit from attending.
For the lasts several years I have attended “Beyond Survival” hosted by Sheridan Lutheran Church in Lincoln. It is amazing how relevant it is to working in ministry and the new thoughts and transformations that can come to those who attend just in the worship provided.
In the past I have attended “Wee Kirk Conferences” in various locations. You can read about it as well in on the places to go page. Dean Seger has been attending regularly and can describe it far better than words on paper. It is designed for churches just like this one, small and committed.
Other opportunities are out there and I hope as many as can, will go and get energized so you can come back filled up and get the rest of us going. If you would like to attend and there is not enough money for you let me know and I am sure it can be worked out.
Along with the opportunities to get out and learn new things is a chance to think about stewardship. The stewardship team at the Atkinson Presbyterian church has come up with some interesting ideas and challenges for all of you. It is along the lines of a life change or maybe it is recognizing that we have much of this in our life already. I want to encourage you to read what they have and consider how you might make your life more effective in your community.
Lastly I want to speak a bit about being missional. It is often that I find scripture to address something right in the lectionary I use each Sunday. If you would take a moment and read all of Romans chapter 12 it would be great. However if special attention is paid to verses 9 to the end you will find an apt description for missional living.
It is precisely that we enter each others lives to the point we know who weeps and laughs. That we know who in and out of the church needs attention and help. That we are careful about what we say to one another and about one another. It is the need we each have to live in community remembering that being a Christian is individual but that it is not done alone. Remember that God is the one dishing out the punishment and we are simply called to care for one another.
If we put it all together living a life focused on a stewardship lifestyle, participating with other believers for learning and support, caring for “the least of these” we will strengthen the kingdom for Christ. That is the work for this season, “Strengthening the Kingdom for Christ.” Keep in the game and lets make this a winter to remember for all that we do.
In Christ’s grace, WaynO

Unbelievable

I can't believe that it has been so long since I lasted posted. I seem to get busy and just let this go which is likely a good thing to neglect.
At any rate I have made the decision to call the churches I serve to task on missional. I am not sure that is the best word but it is the one in use at the moment. I am not sure how this is to happen or what it will look like but it is the focus and discovery is the excitement. I pray this works or at least we end up someplace that is closer to a calling of the Body of Christ into action.
Not a lot to post but will have new letter up for newsletter next week.
Grace and Peace WaynO

Just thinking

I have been contemplating what the world thinks of us rich americans. We were blessed with the SIFA choir which is a group of young people (ages 7-17) from Uganda who are traveling the US singing and spreading the word about the plight of children there and in all of Africa.
They sing and take up a collection to build a school so they can have a better life and then pass that on to future generations.
As I sat listening to them I bagan to wonder what they think of us. I mean not what they say of how lucky we are and how generous we are. How they want to be like us in many ways. What struck me was, as I sat there in my posh pew, with a full stomach, clothes to wear and a beautiful family in my own home was; it is almost humurous how we sat there watching, enamored with the cute little black kids dancing and singing. How we sat so smuggly thinking how we are such heroes helping them get things better. We were so blessed.
It at first made me chuckle at the arrogance, for lack of a better word, of helping them out. We sat there and gave from our blessings so these little ones might have a better life. I know I keep saying a better life for them and that is what is projected to open our pockets. But then I offered up a prayer for them and the reality of it all overwhelmed me.
These are so like many little people in our society and we who are so rich look down on them and offer help. We look down from our ivory towers, well mine is lap sided and needs paint but it is mine and it is warm iin the winter and cool in the summer. What stuck my heart and nearly caused it to bleed all over the place, what took me to tears was we want to make them like us. We condescendingly look down and offer a pitance of what we could have and pat ourselves on the back and feel real good and say how we are walking like Jesus and and and!!!
I am not sure what this is about but I have been preaching to the congregation that we need to take those people by the hand and walk with them. Not just give a hand out to them but really extend a hand out to them. Like Jesus with his disciples and Peter getting out of the boat and sinking, give them a hand up and help them into the boat and help to calm the storm of life that is battering them.
I don't live in a big city with lots of homeless people but where I live there are many in need of much. I really need to get out and be with them more and along with that need to encourage the people I serve in the church to do the same. They are a caring people and do lots for the community so I need to give them a pat on the back for all they do.
But is it enough???? Is there something we are missing???? How can we begin to tell the story of love and forgiveness that we all claim????
Oh well I suppose the song is right --- Hello little starving Asian child, I would love to help you but right now I must finish this thesis on the devine right of kings!!! (from the 70's and at the moment can't get who)
WaynO

Still Wandering

So here I am, still lost and confused but seeming to find a direction. I remember someone saying that Sunday worship or any worship for that matter needs a bit of chaos to keep it from being boring. Well I am absolutely adept at chaos. I left the stuff off the stage (whatever you call the raised part of the church that seperates the people from the leaders) and got a bit of questioning. Put back the "Table" (I felt lost without it) and that only brought up, "Where is the pulpit?"
I wonder what we really need to have worship? The issue is that the people are only comfortable with what is traditional. This weeks Gospel (Matt. 15.10-28) is great for talking about tradition. Is the question about the womans heritage the real question or is there an underlying lesson or some other info about Jesus we miss?
Oh well that is only a small part of the mess I live in. Have daughter living at home sometimes but others not home and no info as to what is happening. Did have fair and the youngest did well but not as well as previous years. Problem with fair is the projects begin so late. I mean not only late in the year (begin week before due) but late at night. After work and until morning so everyone is on short fuse and projects not quite as good as ought to be. Funny thing is I grew up this way and this is the 3rd child in 4-H. You would think something would begin to sink in!!!
Oh, well on to a new week trying to get sidewalk put in this being the 3rd year of working at it. Have a great week all, remember we are all washed in His grace and filled with his Peace.
WaynO

It is begun

I posted my newsletter last post and have since begun a journey with a couple of congregations to open them up to a new way of living life. Preaching and encouraging a change in not only what the people do in their own lives but what they do with the resources the world has entrusted to them as the church gathered.
I will not leave unless asked to, I believe the church is alive and well in many different ways and in many places. If I continue to preach without actively calling the people to a higher level of commitment and action I will only perpetuate the past.
There are those who leave and do nothing, there are those who stay and do nothing but even the ones who are doing nothing need to be ministered to.
Living out ones faith is very personal and happens in a variety of ways. I find many in the traditional church that are living very missional lives that are seemingly seperate from the rest of the body.
In thinking about all this I find myself staddling a great chasm -- on the one side is the missional life of person and church, on the other is the faith and worship of a great number of people that may not resemble missional but is still a life filled with faith and commitment.
Will continue to walk the journey and see where I get.
WaynO