“Have you thought about coming to church here? We have a service in English.” That was all I said during a light hearted conversation with a man who told me he hadn’t yet found a new church after his had closed a few years before. He hadn’t been very eager to visit churches, feeling the loss of years of life spent at the now-gone congregation. Hearing my suggestion, he thought about it for a second, and then his eyes lit up and he replied, “You know, I think I will.” He and his wife came to visit the next Sunday and soon joined as members. Their final years of life were joyful at San Pablo Lutheran Church and their presence was a blessing to others. Some of you may know them: Bob and Mary Charske. I wasn’t a pastor at the time. I was just a twenty-something year old member of the church, working for YLM.
It was beautiful to worship with the Charskes, and know them, and accompany them as a church during what ended up being the final few years of their life. Jesus soon called them home to heaven, but first gave us some years together. Only God knew that the timing of the simple conversation and the simple invitation would lead us to enjoy sweet communion in His Grace. Only God knew what help and healing was needed and received and shared among us all. God be praised. He knows us, and as we are, He chooses to include us in His mission of Grace to the world. Everyone of us are His witnesses. We believe in Jesus and We proclaim Him among the nations.
“[God] was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. (1 Timothy 3:16).” When we wake up each new day, it is a reawakening to thoughts about at least these three miracles: 1) We exist (creation is the first miracle revealed in scripture)
2) We aren’t in heaven yet (a miracle of God’s restraint, His patient love that sustains all of us, in spite of creation’s brokenness, as He brings new generations of His beloved people to birth and new birth in Christ)
3) We are alive in the gracious mission of Jesus (a miracle of stewardship and Grace that Jesus would commission us and equip us to be His witnesses)
We enter this new year with wonder about what miracles of faith newly kindled and reignited in family members we might see. We wonder who we will meet, who God has always known who now will become near and dear to us in the Church.
All of 2024 is a new year of life in Christ’s mission that will present us with His comforting Gospel and also with challenging tests, with stretching of comfort zones, with healing, and with growing together through learning, working, and communing.
Beginning on January 7th, I will lead the weekly Sunday Adult Bible Study. We will examine Jesus Himself and people’s moments of witness in response to His unique words and actions. We’ll examine Christ’s promises surrounding the sharing of the Good News. This study will lead us at the end of the month into the six-week “Every One His Witness: Lutheran Evangelism ” lessons/videos/discussions created by Mark Wood of LCMS National Missions. The insights we’ll learn will help guide our understanding of “every day witness”, (anywhere, as you live your life, witness) and I pray remove any nervousness you may have about the prospect of sharing the Good News. Make a New Year resolution to grow in Christian Witness with us on Sundays at 9:15.
In Christ’s peace,
Pastor Stephen
This article, news, and information is found in our January 2024 newsletter, available by mail, email, of pickup in the church entryway and office. Let us know if you wish to subscribe to receive this monthly publication.
This post is also available in: Español (Spanish)