June was an amazing month for me!   My birthday celebration was simply amazing and I have offered thanks for all who made that evening and Sunday morning happen.

At the Synod Assembly, the 25^th Anniversary of my Ordination was remembered. Now that the celebrations are ended is it time to get back to our mission and ministry.

I want to thank you for your faithful attendance at worship during these summer months. In the Tuesday Morning Lectionary Bible Study a week ago, I talked about the “acculturation of the church.” In every age, the church (actually the members of any given church) embrace certain secular issues as being “okay” for the church to practice. One of our “acculturation” issues is simply attendance at worship.

The Third Commandment tells us to “remember… to keep holy.” The “remember” means that we are to participate, to “be a part of again”, the resurrection of Jesus every Sunday morning. It is in worship that we hear the Gospel proclaimed, receive the promise of forgiveness through the confession and absolution and in the sharing of the Lord’s Supper, the Holy Communion.   It is  important to reiterate that worship is not “an elective” for Christian people. Jesus and his disciples regularly worshipped on the Sabbath day according to the Gospels.

There is no substitute in this life for three ingredients of worship. The first is to hear the Gospel proclaimed and its truths expounded upon. In the hearing of the Word we believe and teach that God meets us in that holy moment. The exposition of the Scripture for daily life, the sermon, is the responsibility of the Church to proclaim to her people.   My personal motto is: “Preach as if it matters.”   I believe that where the Word of God is related and connected to daily life, that our faith will more deeply root. There is no substitute for the hearing of the Gospel’s proclamation.

There is no substitute for the confession of our sins, and the hearing of God’s mercy in our forgiveness. There is no one among us for whom confession is unessential. Many diminish their own sinfulness by focusing upon the sins of others. Martin Luther’s discussion of confession in the Large Catechism is very pointed when it comes to the need for confession, and for the believing in God’s mercy. Although Luther railed against the daily trips to the confessional booth, the need of the Body of Christ, together, to stand in confession together strengthens the tie of the Holy Spirit among that congregation. Corporate confession cannot be substituted for by sleeping-in on Sunday, or fishing, playing golf, or going to swap meets. 

There is no substitute for receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in the Holy Communion. “Do this as often as you do it...” are the words of Jesus to the Church. If we say that “Jesus is our Lord” then obedience to His command seems to be imperative.   Martin Luther, in his discussion of the Holy Communion in the Large Catechism, says that though people ought not be coerced or forced into receiving the Lord’s Supper, one cannot abstain from receiving it either. In a very bold statement, Luther goes so far as to say “a person who absents themselves from the Lord’s Supper for long periods of time cannot be considered Christian, because it is the very command of our Lord Jesus to take and eat...and take and drink.”   True, there was a time in our history when the frequency of Communion was less frequent.    But, as we have recognized the power of grace that comes to us in the feast of forgiveness, there cannot be any substitution for that gift of mercy.

Indeed, the summer months in the desert can be oppressive with its heat. Yet, worship of God and joining in praise of the God of creation cannot be substituted simply because it is hot or cold or raining or snowing. We cannot replace the proclamation of the Gospel with internet wanderings or day trips. It is important for the people of God to maintain their relationship with Christ through the sacrament and with the Body of Christ, the church with regular worship, regular receiving of the Holy Communion, and regularly building up the Body of Christ through the use of the gifts God has given to us.     

 I want thank you for your attention to worship in these months.   I want to encourage you, then, to connect with others who you have missed to encourage them to worship and receive the sacraments as well. For we know that where the people of God gather in praise and celebration it is there that the Holy Spirit blesses and sanctifies the church for mission and ministry.

Pastor Alan