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Pastor's Corner Monthly Letters

April 2008

Lent came early this year. An e-mail has been going around telling of how this will be the earliest we will ever see it in our lifetime. The dates are set based on the Hebrew lunar calendar. You must be 95 to have seen it this early ever before (Emilie Bean who turns 100 this year is the only person in our church who might have remembered). And it will not happen again for over a century. An early Lent is tough on us ecclesiastical types. We would like a little more time to recover from Christmas. But the good news is Easter comes earlier too.

At our church, Lent did come early. If you view Lent as an introspective time, then we have had our share of looking at ourselves. You may not know it, but your church leaders and staff have been asking themselves what is happening around here. Giving and attendance have dropped. I certainly had my share of sleepless nights. Just when I thought I had God all figured out, he reminded me of how he works well outside the box that I made for Him.

I have been looking under every nook and cranny to make sense of this shaking of the foundations. Much of what I found out wasn’t bad news; it was just THE news. Long time members had moved out of state. We were in transition. Here today and gone tomorrow. I wondered what we would do. But I wondered in the wrong direction. I looked everywhere, but the answer was right under my nose. There right in front of me God had placed a blessing, but I had overlooked it. I spent all my time depressed, wringing my hands and planning for the worst. But God would not let go. God said look here. What I saw was you.

I decided to tell the congregation. I decided to tell you of the change. I shared with you this unsettling news. I had been here before and believed we would get through it, but was coming up empty for ideas as to where this would all lead. I was your Pastor. Shouldn’t I have all the answers? I was a failure. But for all my mistakes, I made one good decision; I shared it with God’s people, the congregation.

What has happened since then is the Good News we share every Sunday. God works through God’s people. No pastor is worth his bread and butter that doesn’t know that. God may have spoken to Moses, but the message was to be told to the wandering Hebrews. God would work through them.

God has worked through you. We have seen some wonderful change. Our giving is growing and new people are stepping forward and helping with various ministries. God continues to bless us with new members, and God is helping us help them find a place. I do love this work. I just wished I could stop trying to out think God. God led the Israelites with a fire by night and clouds by day. He leads me the best way he knows how. Thank God he is patient.

I love the thought that Easter came early. We have a lot to tell our neighbors and friends. God is alive and well. We have an urgent message to get out to the world. We have a strong need to involve everyone within our ranks to help us do this work. God is equipping us everyday. Ours is to seize the moment and press forward together.

As we, as a congregation, celebrate this Easter season. Let us renew our love and devotion to God. We have so much to thank Him for. Let’s invite, and welcome and involve everyone that we can at working in God’s kingdom. Let’s tell a story to the world that is needed more today than ever. God lives and cares dearly about us. Christ has risen and is far from dead.

In His service
Pastor Mitchell

March 2008

Church is a messy activity. Lent is messy too. They are both messy because they involve people. People are messy. I don’t think this is an article to impose my framework of life upon the world. I honestly think it is a reflection of my experience with people. Messy sometimes makes me long for perfect and organized and stable. I imagine it to be better – a place of tranquility. But the more I think about it, I wouldn’t be part of it. I hate to say it, I’m not certain anybody would show up.

Lent makes me think about messy. Lent is a time and period of self-reflection. Everyday of my life is a juggling act. But I am not alone. I happen to know many of you who are in the same boat. You will be glad to know there have been some other prominent people in this same vessel. They were the twelve disciples.

I don’t think it is sacrilege to say that the twelve disciples were a half-baked dozen. If you read the Gospels closely, they were confused about what to do and where they were headed most of the time. Jesus constantly had to instruct them on what to do. Peter jumps out of a boat into high waves on a lake. James and John argue about their place in heaven and mama puts her two cents in for them. After seeing Jesus do a number of miracles, they are confused on where the food will come from for the 5,000. Don’t get me wrong; they were devoted. They dropped everything to follow him. They love him and just about gave up everything for him.

From my perspective, that group of disciples isn’t too far off the mark for today. We love and long for Jesus just as they did. We wouldn’t mind being considered on his “A” team. But sometimes we are not sure if others should make the team. We know that Jesus said that He would provide us with all that we would need to do the work of His kingdom, yet we panic as to where it will come from. We may not jump out of boats, but I have seen some strange behavior in my day. All of us are a little messed up.

One could conclude that we are in good company. We are! As long as we are able to see that all of us come broken and in need of Christ, we will continue to be a blessed messed up gathering of God’s disciples. If we can avoid thinking that we are better than the other messed up character, we are in a good place. What we have in common is that we all have discovered that God heals. He has helped us and we want to keep coming to Him.

The beauty of this mess is that when Jesus chose his disciples he wasn’t looking for people who were perfect. Tax collectors and rough-hewn, rough talking fisherman aren’t what you think of when starting a worldwide organization. Jesus didn’t want to start a business. He was in the business of healing the hurting. That’s messy business. I’m glad he found me, and I’m glad to stand beside you to praise and say “thank you” to Him on Sunday Morning.

In His service,
Pastor Mitchell

February 2008

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As I drop off my kids at their friends’ houses and look at the neighborhood, I’ve noticed that people are still putting away the final remnants of Christmas. Already you can buy Cadbury creamed-filled chocolate Easter eggs at the check-out lines of the drug stores. Epiphany will be a flash in the pan. Ash Wednesday is February 6. Lent is upon us along with a whole list of activities that are filling the calendar. The church is busy as a bee with activity and you could miss it if you blink. Let’s look at it before is passes us by.

Before I forget this, first communion classes have been scheduled for April 20 and 27. First communion Sunday will be May 4. These dates were chosen because of the early arrival of Easter and the positioning of spring break. If you have a child who is 10 years old or in the fifth grade and have not received a letter please be sure to give me a call.

Planning for the men’s retreat is under way. We could use your help. The retreat is from April 25 to 27. If you’re new to the church, this is a growing event that the men flock to. I highly recommend this weekend as a way to get away, get to know the men in the church better, to have time to express your faith in a safe environment, and just have a blast together.

The FROGS have the Easter egg hunt planned for March 22. The egg hunt is a growing event again. We are baptizing more babies lately than we have in a long time. Young families are getting together. We are working at getting e-mail addresses to send out information about events coming up. This exciting ministry is very cutting edge.

Adult Education is full of opportunities these days. Pastor Julie is creating something new and different all the time. I have heard about her Gospel according to Gilligan’s Island. It sounds delightful, and you will definitely learn something between the laughter. If you haven’t taken one of her courses, I highly recommend it.

This year’s musical performance is Smoke on the Mountain. The setting for the musical is a church. The play will be April 27 and May 2 and 3. While the cast is smaller this year, the musical will be delightful. Our own Golden and Silver Fellowship simply loved the production they saw in Gainesville. I am betting that this will get two thumbs up.

Lenten services are quickly being designed, and several people are being asked to help. I don’t usually push these services but this year is different. I truly believe they will be moving and inspiring. They will be on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. beginning February 13.

Why do I devote this column to telling you about things that you will see later in the newsletter? Simple, our congregation is growing again. This growth is happening as people are inviting their friends and family to church events. People are rediscovering the joy of being part of a congregation, a family of faith. I encourage you to tell your friends about us and bring them to church.

Time is moving rapidly this year, but the good news is that this is a leap year. We will get 24 hours catch up. And given how busy this church is becoming, we will use every minute of it.

In His Service
Pastor Bob

January 2008

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

You will receive this January newsletter in December. It’s a wonderful way to get a jump on the New Year. Every December, I find myself thinking about and making plans for the following year. This year we accomplished quite few things, but next year I have my eyes set on some exciting new ventures.

This year we did accomplish some great things. We redid the landscape, painted a majority of the church inside and outside, and completed a list (a mile long) of general repairs. We called Pastor Julie as a new associate and finally got her office in place. We had the traditional fare of outreach to Mexico and built TWO new Habitat houses. Our second annual Fall Festival grew bigger and demonstrated that we were learning what you like to see at these events. Education, youth, and music programs showed no let up in trying new things and reaching new people. It was a wonderful year to serve God.

Next year will be wonderful too. I have no idea where God will lead us, but have no doubt there be will plenty to accomplish. That is the nature of the church. We are called to serve.

I do have a few things in mind. Much to my surprise eight or nine couples showed interest in a couples’ retreat. I think that will take shape. I have a strong feeling that the FROGS (our young families with preschool kids) will develop in a big way next year. We already know that we have another Habitat House and plans will be made for a Mexico mission trip again. We have lined up our Lutheridge Day Camp for the summer. Men’s and Women’s retreats are secure. Fall Festival is on the calendar. Laura has all but picked out the musical. It may sound far off, but it’s just around the corner

The best and most challenging thing about next year will be the unknowns. God leads; we follow. Where He takes us nobody knows. As John Lennon said, “Life is what happens while we are planning it.” These events are quite often what draw us together as a congregation. Much like Hurricane Katrina did.

This year may not be over yet, but I have my eyes on next year and next year is shaping up to be another wonderful year to serve God.

In His Service
Pastor Bob

December 2007

When my children were in kindergarten, they were all taught about “Stop, Drop and Roll.” What do you do when you are on fire? … What do you do when the Christmas rush is building up pressure in your life? Stop, Sit, and Think. What exactly do you want out of these holy days? When January rolls around, what do you want to be left with? I would like to be left with the memory of God’s unbelievable love and the joy of sharing it with others.

During the holiday season, I try not to get the cart before the horse. I ask myself what is this season about? Then I try to work with others (another thing we learn in kindergarten) at creating activities that will cause said results. It sounds a little cold but it sure does work when all the activities are swirling around, traffic at a halt, and stores filled to the brim.

What would you like to remember at the beginning of January? If you want to revisit the story of the Christ Child, I might recommend reading the story from scripture. You might like to pledge yourself to attending worship services or Bible studies as a way of getting you there. Pastor Julie will be offering a daytime and evening time Bible study during Advent. Take an evening and see the children’s Christmas program even if you don’t have small children. Attend the Advent choir program. Do any of these as a family and you can double your fun. Talk about it as a family afterwards, and you can hit the daily jackpot.

Would you like to share a gift of thanksgiving with others? I always like to give to the least of these especially during this season as a reminder to me of how God gave the Christ child to us? Take an angel from the angel tree. Drop some change into the Salvation Army pots (a favorite of mine). Bring some canned goods for the Co-Op. Participate with your child’s classroom or neighborhood or office at helping someone in need. Send a card to someone who you know could use the lift.

There are many things you can do during these holy days. But you can’t do them all. So ask yourself, how do you want to remember this season. Make the plan now. Hitch the horse to the cart and let it lead. Plan with others. You won't have all of it done by the end of the season, but you will have a wonderful memory of all that you did.

Remember, born this day in the city of David is Christ Jesus. No matter what we do. That is plenty. Everything else is extra.

In His service,
Pastor Mitchell

November 2007

All of us are asked to pledge on November 18, when we will again make some major decisions about the life and direction of our church. I hope that you will join me in continuing the strong and changing mission of Christ the Lord.

For 28 years, Christ the Lord has been perched upon this knoll along highway 120. We have been sharing the message of Jesus Christ with our community in worship and in service to the community. Over the years, our ministry has changed and grown to adapt to the world around us. We have staffed and built to meet the needs of our church.

Our most recent change has been the addition of Pastor Julie whose focus is adult education and senior youth ministry. We have also added a volunteer workroom to our facility. This is a reflection our growing number of senior youth and our growing number of volunteers who help make our ministry strong.

While we may not look as big from the street as other churches, I think that you are aware of our multiple worship services and ministries that take place in this facility. We pack a punch in a smaller package. We place a strong emphasis on ministry over the need for brick and mortar. Sure, we would all like to have a bigger facility, but if decisions have to be made, we value ministry, programming, and staffing over the floor and walls.

As a congregation, together we are touching a lot of lives within and without these walls. We are constantly caring for the shut in, the hospitalized, the hungry, the young and old, the homeless, the troubled marriage, etc. It runs at a rapid clip. God is alive and well here.

We thank God for his presence amongst us in all that we do together. We are blessed to have all that we do and fortunate to be used by God to do his work. We are God’s people.

When we pledge we are saying that this ministry is important to us. We value it. We are saying thank you to God for providing us all that we need. We are saying that we want to continue this ministry together, and we want to share what God has given to us as our thanks to keep it growing strong.

On Nov 18, I hope that you and your family will join my family and me in making our commitment to this ministry. It is good to be here in this time and place on the knoll on Highway 120 as a beacon of God’s love for the world. Let’s keep it strong.

In His service,
Pastor Mitchell

October 2007

Dear All,

I am always amazed how God helps us accomplish the work of the kingdom of God. When I pray “thy will be done,” I am awakened to the fact that God has called me to participate in helping share in His mission. His mission is that all people would come to discover his love for them and that they would welcome that love and participate in sharing that love. It seems simple and it is, but the notion of reaching out to the whole world can sometimes be overwhelming. Where do I start, where will it lead, how do I get there, and how will it all get done? Where the rubber meets the road is the day-to-day activity. That activity is called church!

The church is an interesting gathering of people. We come from all parts of the world, and various traditions. We come with baggage, preconceived ideas, political views, traditions of all types, etc. Who you meet in the local grocery store or big mall is of the same make up. God calls all of us. How it holds together at all is amazing.

As a young boy, I sang in the church choir. We sat right up front to the right of the lectern. We had a view of everything from our slightly perched position. One Sunday morning I went to the most popular hang out for the kids – the Coke machine. While there I heard a man bad mouthing another member of the church. When I went outside to drink my soda, I overheard the other man talking about the guy at the Coke machine. In church from my unique view of things, I watched the two men come down to the altar and kneel side by side to receive Holy Communion. “Ah!” I said. “That is how it works!” God forgives. God redeems. God makes new.

We are all broken but not broken. Or as one member said, “We are broken but not hopeless.” We limp around in this injured state, but God still makes use of us.

At the church, we are establishing a Lay Ministry room. The purpose of the room is to recognize and support the lay ministry of this church. It will be fully equipped with a computer, Internet access, copier, fax, file cabinets, etc. I could never tell you how much wonderful work in God’s kingdom the members of this church, the whole people of God, and the grocery store people do. You are an answer to a prayer. My prayer is, “How do I get it all done, Lord?” Moses asked the same question of God in the book of Exodus. God showed him how to share the mission with all the Hebrews.

None of us have all the answers for everything that needs to be done in God’s kingdom. But God has called all of us. None of us have a clue as to how it all works out. But we all have a place in his kingdom. How do all these people from common places like grocery stores with all their baggage and traditions work together? They come to an altar all broken and limping and God makes of them a kingdom of servants who serve Him who served us first on the cross.

And for all this, I exclaim, “Thank you, Jesus!!!!”

In His service,
Pastor Mitchell

September 2007

Thank you, Jesus. “Thank you, Jesus” was what I remembered saying when I was a teenager sitting alone in the front pew of my home church. I can’t remember what I did (honestly) but it was bad enough that I went to church during the week when no one else was there and had some time alone with God. “Thank you, Jesus” was my response. Thank you for forgiving me and accepting me and allowing me to remain in your grace.

This year’s stewardship theme is “Thank you, Jesus.” Oddly enough there is a wonderful person in our church who, after I give her the wafer at communion responds, “Thank You, Jesus.” I think we all have a great deal for which to thank Jesus. A parishioner who heard about another member of church getting into trouble said, “that is what I like about our church.” We all have our baggage. We come here hoping to find help. My hope as pastor is that you discover Jesus’ presence here and realize that He has been there all along and that you are able to say, after coming to this realization, “Thank You, Jesus, for keeping me in your care.”

In managing our lives, we are often overwhelmed, whether it is our family, our work, our neighborhood, or our friends. At these moments, we cling to Jesus and place a lot on His shoulders for we cannot bear it alone. After feeling the relief of having God help us with our lives, we can relax sometimes and say, “Thank You, Jesus.”

As we reflect on our lives this year during the stewardship emphasis, my prayer is that you will come to know and trust Jesus with more of your life. I am convinced that the more we can turn over to Him, the greater our lives become. When we are weak, He is strong. When we place our trust in Him, we find the true strength of our lives.

So keep your eyes and ears open this fall as we as a congregation say as one, “Thank You, Jesus, for all that your are.”

In His service
Pastor Bob

August 2007

Dear All,

I hope my readership is high this month even though it is an August newsletter. I have some wonderful news to share. So, if you are reading this, please do me a favor and ask other people in the church if their eye caught this article. I would have saved it for another month but as you read, you will recognize some of the info is time sensitive.

First, I wanted to tell you about our latest survey results. A survey, called Natural Development, was completed by 30 of our members. It has been used with well over 4 million people from every denomination all over the world. The survey measures eight characteristics that are found in a strong and effective church no matter what their size or flavor or part of the world. In 2004 we had a very strong score. Our latest score was four points higher. We are by no means perfect. In fact, that is why we do the survey. We want to find our weakest parts and give them attention. One of our regional church leaders saw our results and described them as “very impressive.”

I have two responses to the results. Thanks be to God. It really is my only response. God guides and leads us and as we are obedient to Him then we become more loving and gracious in our ministry. But if I were to add something, I would thank you. You are a very loving and gracious people. While we are not perfect, we are all seeking to serve God better. And working with a group of people like you is and has been a pure pleasure. All that said, we will let you know of the areas where we hope to improve in the next couple of years.

Secondly, I voted along with the Church Council in a unanimous decision to recommend to the congregation to call the Reverend Julie Ehlers-King on August 19 at 5 p.m. as our new assistant minister. Since January she has taught our Adult Education classes and worked with our middle school and senior high youth Sunday school. She has received stellar reviews. We are excited about this new phase in the life of our church.

Pastor Julie’s title will be Assistant Pastor of Adult Education and Senior Youth Ministry. These will be her two primary areas of concerns. On occasions she will preach when I am out of town. She will assist in some areas when special circumstances arise but these unique occasions will be occasional and temporary. I say this so that we all understand the parameters of her call. She will be a great addition to our wonderful staff, and I look forward to working with her.

Whether I work with her depends on you. The August 19 meeting at 5 p.m. is very important. A quorum is needed. Need I say more? I will be sending a separate letter closer to the date explaining the purpose of the meeting and encouraging your attendance. But I wanted to use this format to make the announcement earlier. Mark this on your calendar now.

We have a wonderful congregation. We are seeking to serve God better. Pastor Julie will be a great addition helping us to be better servants of God.

In His service,
Pastor Mitchell

July 2007

Dear Readers,

I have read my share of summer newsletters that talk about summer as a time of re-creation. Obviously it is a play on the word recreation, which would include fishing for anyone who cares. Those articles can be educational by helping us see that God allows time for us to do new and different things especially during the summer months when many of us have more leisure time. All that being said, I would rather talk re-birth.

Re-birth is something I can relate to as pastor of this congregation. It is not to say that I want be fishing. It is simply stating that as your pastor I am seeing a re-birth of ministry in our congregation. It is exciting and uplifting, which is to say that I love to come to work more than I used to. I have always loved my job, but now it is even more exciting.

What is happening at our church? New ministries are beginning to emerge. Some are a remake of the past. Some are just new. We have a group of families that have small preschool children that get together, and they are seeking families with small preschool children. It sounds like a personal ad in the paper. But they are interested in sharing ideas, play times, holiday gatherings, etc. You name it. They are excited about building community within our community. While we have had similar groups in the past this is a new group and I am happy for them as they come together. If a group like this excites you, let us know and we will connect you, sort of like a computer dating service.

Lutheridge Day Camp is new. It really is new. We have never had a day camp at Christ the Lord. A strong reason for this is that we have a wonderful member, Kathie Davis, who has helped us bring this to our church. Kathie grew up going to Lutheridge in Arden, North Carolina when she was a child. She loved it so much she is also helping promote Lutheranch, which is a new emerging Lutheran camp in Georgia. The day camp we will have will be July 22 through 27 for children kindergarten through 5th grade. Camp counselors from the main campus in North Carolina come here and run the camp. Our own Keith James, who is a counselor, will be coming here. We still have some openings if you would like to send your child. This is exciting.

New this year is our new Sunday school program. We have three big celebrations planned for the summer. There is one for each month. By the time you receive this, we will have already had one. The old way of doing summer Sunday school was failing. So instead of hitting our heads against the wall for another summer, we decided to go another direction. We have strong support for it, which is usually a sign that it will be successful. I am excited about this new direction.

Rev. Julie Ehlers-King’s class for middle school and high school youth on Sundays at 10 a.m. is new. She had 14 youth her first Sunday when 30 plus of our youth had just left for AFFIRM, a summer church camp. Am I excited? I am super excited about this. We are seeing ministries emerge in new and different ways that we have never seen before. Pastor Julie has some new Bible studies coming up this fall that I think people will love.

Life is changing here at the church. It is new and different and exciting. I hope you have a wonderful summer experiencing recreation. I will be fishing too. But here at the church we are experiencing rebirth and it is……………exciting.

In His Service,
Pastor Mitchell

June 2007

When I walked away from the soccer team party yesterday, I felt like a free man. No practices, games, and tournaments. I know some of you may feel the same way. And to crown this sundae with a cherry, we aren’t doing swim team this summer. But by the time I got to the car, there was Lutheridge, Boy Scout Camp, Band Camp, Summer Jobs, some vacation time and long, hot days. But no matter how busy it will be, it will be summer.

Summer for many people is a relaxing time to do things you don’t normally do during the school months. For some, it is the dreadful thought of summer heat, especially if you work outside. For some of our youth, it will be those last few months home before they venture out to college. For me, it is wonderful sunshine that keeps me from getting the blues like the short, cold days of December. For all of us, it is something different.

At Christ the Lord, we will be exploring a new hymnal at our traditional services. The youth will make their way to AFFIRM, our synod youth camp. Some of our members will make another journey to Piedras Negras, Mexico, to help erect a Lutheran church and clean up from the tornado that occurred a couple months ago. While we will not send an official group, you can call me and I can link you up to do recovery work from Katrina in Mississippi. Fred will be back to deliver our children’s sermon. If you are new to our church and do not know Fred, I will just leave it for you to discover on your own. Vacation Bible School is sure to be another blast as it always has. Come to think of it, we have a lot to do this summer.

Two things I would like to call to your attention are our Lutheridge Day Camp and voting to call the Rev. Julie Ehlers-King as our new associate pastor. This is the first time Lutheridge is offering a day camp at our church. We are pleased to announce that Keith James, our future seminarian and Newberry College student, will be one of the counselors. He is pumped. But this is not the first time for Kathie Davis who has done this twice at her previous congregation. We are very excited about this new venture. If you have a child ages kindergarten through 5th grade who would like to go to a camp closer to home, this is the ticket. Call the church (770 963-4499), and we will get you signed up. There is still space available.

The Church Council has set aside Sunday, August 19, at 5 p.m. to have a special called congregational meeting for the purpose of extending a call to the Rev. Julie Ehlers-King as our new associate. You may have met her if you have participated in our adult education programs or have had the opportunity to hear her preach here once. I am delighted at this prospect, and I have only heard glowing remarks about how well she has been doing. You will hear more about this over the summer. Until then, she will be working with our junior and senior high youth over the summer at the Sunday school hour of 10 a.m. Be sure, if you can, to say hello to her and get to know her better.

This will be a wild and crazy summer, and I look forward to it. I hope when you are not out of town you will find yourself at church celebrating the life God gave us. When you do leave, just drop your pledge in the mail and we’ll have the lights on when you return. Enjoy!!!

In His service,
Pastor Mitchell

May 2007

Easter Day has come and gone but not the power of the message. The message, as it always has been, will be preached every Sunday and lived out everyday. Christ has delivered us from our own demise and sent us to share the message with everyone else. How is that done?

Obviously sharing your faith can mean witnessing to others in simple conversations, but I would like to focus our attention on the gift of service to others. Many people have come to know God’s love in their life when a Christian has befriended them. I would even suggest that my faith has been boosted by the compassionate act of another Christian. This would lead me to conclude that witnessing is not just to the people who do not participate in the life of the church but also to those within the community of faith.

Service to others isn’t just for the recipient. It is important to the one who is serving. Jesus preached that, “Just as the Father has sent me, so I send you.” By serving in God’s name we immerse ourselves in the life work of God’s kingdom. Under His rule, we realign our desires to His ways. We become closer to the heart of God.

There are many ways in your life you can share God’s love and message in your service at home, work, and play. I would like to point to some ways that you can do it in your church. These areas could use your attention and strengthen our corporate witness to the community.

Vacation Bible School is June 4 through 8 and could use your help. I know Diane is recruiting volunteers. It may be of interest to you that every year we have welcomed a new family to the church through this program.

Habitat for Humanity is in need of 30 people from our church on May 12. Thrivent and the Lutheran Churches in this area have teamed up to build two homes this year. I have never met anyone who has participated in a Habitat House that has come away feeling bad. They always come away feeling like they have done the right thing.

The Lawrenceville Co-Op could always use some extra hands. Maybe you can’t do it all the time, but maybe you could give a day stocking shelves or learning how to help people with the intention of coming back and helping more later. You can e-mail Sandra Gustavson at sgustavson@terry.uga.edu for more information.

The property committee is always looking for some people to help mow the lawn this time of year. It doesn’t seem like a service to others but you might be amazed at how people view the church by how the church grounds are kept.

You might see things that need your help that I do not see. That would not be new. And if you do, I invite you to take up your cross and be about your work. If I have learned anything in life it is that God is far ahead of me directing people into the places where He needs their service. Go in peace. Serve the Lord.

In His Service
Pastor Mitchell

April 2007

How do you know that God lives? Easter is upon us and we will celebrate and proclaim the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We will proudly proclaim that because Jesus has died and risen, we too will die and rise to Christ. While we live in a country that defends our rights to hold to these beliefs, this same country defends everyone’s right to believe as they choose. While you may not know it, there are fewer and fewer people in America who are members of a church. They believe in God in a general sense but find the institution to be only in the business of collecting money or simply inconvenient. So how does one live out their faith in a world that isn’t against us, for the most part, or for us?

Every so often someone tells me a story about having an argument with a brother or sister, or friend who believes differently from how they believe. On occasions that other person is not affiliated with any type of church. I, myself, have friends and family who have little or no interest in religion and sometimes go as far as making smart remarks about what I do believe. What am you or I to do in these situations?

Alleluia, He is Risen; He is Risen, Indeed. The long journey of Lent holds some of that answer. During Lent we learned the self-sacrificing life of Jesus Christ. We read and observed how Jesus spent his life living for others. The devil tempted Him in the desert with all sorts of possibilities. But Jesus remained true to His father in heaven. Jesus did not allow the distractions that went on around him to keep him from his calling.

Just as Jesus focused on serving his father in Heaven, he called us to do the same. Where is God calling you? In Luther’s small catechism, which we studied during Lent, we learned in Luther’s teachings of the Ten Commandments that we not hold hard feelings toward our neighbor or friends but assist them in any way that we can. We are called to serve others.

What I have learned is that you can’t make anyone agree with how we believe. You can share what you believe and leave the rest to God. True, people may reject your thinking. Relatives and friends may have strong feelings about how you believe, but arguing about it seldom, if ever, resolves the situation. But serving others, lifting up others, and caring for others is our calling and we do this because God is risen; his is risen indeed.

As God’s people at Christ the Lord, we have seen the risen Christ. How do we know Christ has risen? I along with you see it in each other’s actions and attitudes. Soon you will have opportunity to demonstrate your faith through the congregation by helping to build a Habitat House April 14 and 21 and May 12. You can still attend the Mexico Mission trip – let us know soon. You can help with Vacation Bible School. You can continue helping us fix up and repair the church. You can be a caregiver to a shut-in. You can love someone in a caring and loving way just as He loved us in a caring and self-sacrificing way. What a wonderful way to spend our lives.

In His service,

Pastor Mitchell

March 2007

Is observing the season of Lent a part of your life? Do even know what it is? Some of you will flinch at that question. While others of you will say no. Some might even say yes. For those of you who do, this may not be of interest to you. For those of you who forgot Lent or you who chose not to do it this year, or you who have no clue as to what it is, give me a couple of minutes.

To make a long story short, Lent is 40 days of intentional observance of Jesus’ sacrificial life. It is not mandatory. The church created Lent years ago for new converts. After forty days of education and reflection, converts were baptized into the faith on Easter.

Today, it is used as period of intentional or intense, for some, refection upon our lives in Christ. Accompanying this planned reflection, some have chosen to fast or deny themselves something of strong desire like sweets, television, fill in the blank. It is a small way of trying to connect with what Jesus did when he denied himself things for the sake of the world.

Another option that some have chosen is doing something for someone else. It kills two birds with one stone. You deny yourself and help another.

Finally, you may choose to do these -- read scripture, reflect, and serve others. As you can see the possibilities are numerous.

Why would you want to do this? I would like to suggest to you that God could be lost or forgotten in the shuffle of life or daily routine. Have you ever felt like you and your significant other have wandered apart? Do you sometimes wish that you had more time to share with the kids? Have you had friends that you have lost contact with and wanted to reconnect? Lent is a time to reconnect with God.

I think that the connection is extremely important. I need to know that God cares. Do you ever feel like you don’t know where your life is leading? Do the demands of life exceed your where-with-all? Do you wonder what God has in stall for your life? These are questions that I have asked and many, many, others have too. Knowing that God is living alongside me, sometimes toting me on his back, is the reason that I get out of bed some days. God carries me until I can walk again. Lent is a time to discover that God cares. Lent is a time to care for others in a Godly fashion.

So how does one go about this? Here are some ideas you might consider? Memorize and recite the 23rd Psalm everyday. Read one of the Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. Be a secret servant to someone. Turn off the excess noise for 13 minutes a day. List your blessings for 40 days. Talk to someone who is dying. Look up at the sky. Look in the mirror and LOL. Hug somebody. Take someone to lunch who is down on their luck. Send a note to an old friend. Pray for someone.

The big picture of life is not always clear. What is certain is that God longs to be near you, to walk beside you, or lift you upon his back. When we let that happen, one day at a time, we can rediscover our purpose through his love. Forty days of Lent might just turn into a lifetime of love. Not a bad plan.

In His service,
Pastor Mitchell

February 2007

Dear All,

There are so many things happening at Christ the Lord that have my head spinning. I want to take this space to share some information about some of them.

Who is our new assistant? Officially we do not have a new assistant minister. We have hired the Rev. Julie Ehlers-King to teach one of our adult Sunday school classes. This summer she will be meeting with our Jr. and Sr. Youth during the Sunday school hour. We will be speaking with her during this time. Until then, she is great to have with us and as things change we will keep you informed.

What is Lutheridge day camp? Lutheridge is a 160-acre Lutheran camp located in Arden, NC. It has been around as long as I can remember, and that’s a long time. In the last few years, Lutheridge has been sending camp counselors out to local congregations to have camp at church sites. Christ the Lord will be offering this camp this summer at our church in July. We will have room for 25 to 30 kids kindergarten through 5th grade. The cost will be approximately $125. As more details are finalized, we will let you know.

Why more Handbells? If you have heard our handbell choir, you know why. They are wonderful and more people want to be part of it. We do not have enough bells. We have raised $2,400 so far and need $3,400 for the next octave. Your donations are appreciated, and I can’t wait to hear the new bells. (As of print time, we have raised all necessary funds!)

Tell me more about the Landscape project? Ruth Olson, a landscape architect has drawn up a plan for our property. Karl Lee with the help of Tim Thomas are gathering the troops to implement the plan in four stages. The cost is roughly $2,000. We will gather funds in stages. In our location, drive-by traffic is so important to how people meet us. We want to look our best.

What about Habitat for Humanity? Last year Lutheran churches in Gwinnett along with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised a home in Norcross. This year we have plans for two houses in (Lilburn and Sugar Hill). Already a $5,000 gift has been given to this project. As details of building take shape, we will be in touch.

The Mexico Trip set for July 15 -- The Council approved the trip for our congregation to participate with McKendree United Methodist in mission work in Piedras Negras, Mexico. We are in preliminary discussions with the National Lutheran Church to possibly build a Lutheran church with the help of Hands and Feet Ministries.

What about Lent? This year for Lent we will be exploring Luther’s small catechism. On Wednesday evenings, we will brush up on the Ten Commandments and on Sunday mornings we will introduce parts of the Small Catechism during worship. I think you will find it very interesting.

There is more, but I am running out of space. If you are not involved in the church, let me know. We have many things to offer.

In His Service,
Pastor Bob

January 2007

By the time you receive this, Christmas will be over or very close to over; and we will be in that lull (for most folks) just before the New Year. As we look forward to 2007, there will be some obvious changes at Christ the Lord, but one thing will not have changed, we will still have a calling by God to go and serve. And that I believe will prove to be as exciting as it always has since Old Testament times.

If you have not heard by now (I assume you all have read your mail or heard in the church or through the grapevine) that Pastor Terri will be taking a pastoral call to a Lutheran church in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. She will certainly be missed, but I wish her the best as she takes on her first role as a solo pastor. I have no doubt about her abilities and skills. She will perform superbly in her new role.

At Christ the Lord, we still have a strong mission and calling to continue. The Church Council has done an excellent job at responding to the adjustments. I have met with key leaders especially with those who reported to Pastor Terri. I have reassured them that we will draw on support from ministers in the area to help us, as we take the time to determine our new staffing arrangements. At the congregational meeting on January 28, the Church Council hopes to present their ideas for your approval.

To address some of the changes now, we have contacted The Rev. Julie Ehlers-King who now lives in Braselton. She has agreed to assist us in our adult education ministry. She graduated from seminary five years ago. Her husband’s name is Joshua, and they have two small children, Ethan and Eli. So if you are one of our members who enjoy the pastor’s class on Sunday morning, I am sure you will find Pastor Ehlers-King a stimulating teacher with much enthusiasm.

In the area of outreach, we were delighted to receive a gift of $5,000 at Thanksgiving to be used for a Habitat House. Thrivent will match that money, and we will be seeking your support sometime during the New Year. We have been told that one of the two houses, being built by the Lutheran Churches of Gwinnett and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, will be in Lawrenceville. We hope to have strong support for this project.

We will be introducing the new worship book for traditional services during the summer months. It is burgundy, has ten worship settings, and a number of new hymns. While we will be collecting money to buy these new books, we are delighted to announce that over $3,000 has already been given towards their purchase.

This is a sampling of some of the new and exciting things we will do next year. As God’s people we will be blessed as we submit ourselves to his leadership. I look forward to working with you.

In His service,
Pastor Mitchell

December 2006

Would someone tell me which end is up? That might be a fair question this time of year. One could ask it just because they are overwhelmed with things to do. Trying to live out an Advent season during a Christmas rush might confuse others of us, who give attention to the church calendar. I am certain that Joseph and Mary had a few concerns of their own before and after the birth of the child. As our congregation ends one year and tries to make plans for the new fiscal year we can feel pulled in all sorts of directions too. So what did Joseph and Mary do from which we could learn?

Listen! That is what they taught us. They taught us to listen. The young couple at the beginning of a new relationship, all giddy at getting to know one another, gets slapped with the news that Mary is pregnant. Joseph is told what to call this child that he has no idea from where he came. Pick up and move says the government. Get yourself to your birthplace to be counted. Everyone has something to tell them. But Mary’s ears are attuned to God.

We have had a strong ministry this year. We have reached out and served in ways that we could have never dreamed. All the planning in the world, and there was plenty of it, could not have forewarned us of all that we would do. Listening to God was the plumb line for our affairs. It helped us keep a clear eye on what to do and how to proceed. God called, provided for our needs and sent us into service, which is exactly what God did for Joseph and Mary.

What will 2007 look like? It is hard to say. I know that the Church Council, church staff, and church leaders are beginning to lay out a game plan. But life is what happens when you are making your plans according to John Lennon. That may not be biblical but it sure smacks of the truth. Just when we think we have everything in order, God invites us to take another direction.

The people of the Old Testament, particularly the Israelites, tugged and fought with God. God called them in one direction but they went in another. But God would tame them, and they would return to his voice like a sheep listens to the call of the shepherd. Home they would go in the direction that God had first called them to go. They would rejoice in the newfound relationship.

Joseph and Mary teach us the importance of listening. There are many and varied voices that want our attention. They call us in all directions. But where is our plumb line? The compass of our life is soon to be celebrated. He will grow up and call us to places we could never have imagined. But if we are smart, faithful, and trusting, we will lend our ears in His direction, for the shepherd cares for His sheep.

Which end is up? Where are we? What do we do in this Advent waiting/Christmas rush that pulls us in all directions? We listen. Now is the time to listen. We listen and trust that God knows our needs and will lead us as well as provide for us on our journey.

As you and your family prepare for and celebrate the Christmas season, I hope you and your loved ones will make the time to pause and to listen to the beautiful voice of God and discover where He is leading you.

In His service
Pastor Bob

November 2006

The time has come to make our pledge for 2007. By the time you receive this newsletter, many of you may have already done so. But if you have not, let me take this time to encourage you to do so.

At our last Church Council meeting, I discussed with the group the need to give some attention to our facilities during the coming year. This will be an important emphasis for 2007. Already, we have a master plan for our landscape, which was done by Ruth Olson, a member and landscape architect. She has been very careful to design something that is low maintenance and uses the plants and trees that we already have in place. I know you will enjoy the change.

Concerning the facilities, I have asked Victoria Leech to do an assessment of our church building. She used to oversee the entire building and grounds of Turner Field. With her eyes and the experience of Ron King, our Property chairperson, we hope to do some upgrades around the church and keep our church functioning and welcoming. The painting of the narthex is one of the top items. Did I hear cheers in the background?

At that same Council meeting, we approved the installation of a new heat pump for the staff offices. For the last two years, we have been using space heaters and felt that it was time to make the change. Thanks to Roland Couillard, we were able to save $3,000 because of his resourcefulness at finding a scratch and dent model and volunteering all his time and talent for its installation.

Our copy machine is due to be upgraded after running it into the ground. Technology has changed so much over the last seven years. But Julie Gulley has done thorough research and has a machine to meet our needs. That will be a part of the new budget.

Carl Ceneskie has become a hero around the office by building shelves and storage space. He is a great mister fix-it man. Let me not forget the many fix-it jobs done by Ron King. And do you remember the piles of mulch that lay alongside our property parallel to McKendree Church Road? It was spread by Glen Cormier earlier this summer and most recently the job was finished by Jim Randhan.

I guess all my ramblings can be shortened to this – Your gifts to God help keep the church facilities up and running. And without a facility, it is hard to minister to the world.

If you have not pledged, please do so soon so that we can make our plans for 2007. All your gifts are greatly appreciated, and we look forward to serving God together for another year.

In His service,
Pastor Mitchell

October 2006

I have sat with many people this year in their homes and hospital rooms. I have spoken to people on the phone and answered their e-mails. The people that I am talking about are everyday people who go to work, raise a family, and seek to find joy in their existence. The one characteristic that most of them share is that they are part of this congregation. At some particular time in their lives, they have had a set-back of one kind or another. They have had to reach out for advice, assistance, or just a caring ear. Most of them, if not all, found in due time what they needed for that particular hurtle. And after living through that faith-challenging moment, they concluded, how could anyone live without a caring community like our church.

One strength of our congregation is its desire to reach out and help both within and beyond our walls. I have discovered that our members love to assist in any way that they can. Assisting others should not be imagined as some simple formula as discovering a need and giving a response. If it were, we probably would have less interest in God. But as it is, caring for one another is a faith walk, which means we pull our minds together and bow our heads in prayer and wait as patiently as we can for God to lead us in the right direction. Discerning God’s guidance and remaining patient is messier than we would want to believe. Be that as it may, we press on.

Pressing on is a form of faith. It is waking up each morning, putting one foot in front of another, wondering if this will be the day that whatever is heavy on our minds for that day will come to some conclusion and the muscles in our neck can relax again. Then we sing again that joyous song from the Broadway hit, Oklahoma, “O What a Beautiful Morning.” Afterwards, we can relate to our many friends and neighbors why we are singing such a song with our dreadful voices. We can say to them, “God has been good to me and I am so grateful.”

This year the stewardship committee of two has decided unanimously, at our over-the-phone meeting, to use as our theme for stewardship celebrating and being thankful for what God has done for us. We will not be singing “O What a Beautiful Morning” from the Broadway hit Oklahoma. However, before we do hear from the many witnesses at worship telling of how God has been good to them, we will sing “Praise God from Whom Blessing Flow,” no matter how we sound.

Whether by mail, phone call, e-mail, fax, or during worship, we will present our pledge for the year 2007. The money we contribute is important. When we make that pledge, we are stating how valuable this community of faith is to us. We will give our all so that the church’s work can be continued. And because of the inflationary index we will seek to give more to help to keep up with inflation as well as expand the ministries that we have.

On a deeper more, serious level we will be giving thanks to God. While there is no way we can ever drop him a note big enough for creating us and helping us find our way around this sphere called Earth, we want God to know what a pleasure it is. And because we have listened intently to all of Pastor Bob’s sermons, we will remember that Jesus asked us to follow his example of giving totally of ourselves to the caring of others. And while our minds may have unknowingly wandered during one of pastor’s greatest sermons, we can surely never forget the more profound words of Jesus of giving even to the least of these.

I would agree with those of you who have said, “What would I have done without this community of faith?” I do love this church. And because I love this church and because I know how fortunate I am, and because God clearly directs me to give to the community of faith, I will be making and increasing my pledge for 2007. I hope and pray you will join with me in doing the same and sing with me, no matter how we sound, Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow.

In His Service
Pastor Bob

September 2006

It’s that time of year when I make contact with our stewardship chairperson and talk about setting up our stewardship drive for the fall. We discuss schedules and the best methodology of communicating the story of God’s message, the needs of the church, and collecting the pledges. We review what the purpose of stewardship is and discuss the broader understanding beyond just money and remind ourselves that all of our life is a gift of God. Then the calendars are pulled out and a plan is put in place. This year my ponderings have taken me somewhere else.

I was talking to a woman in the parking lot. What I picked up in our conversation was more than just the information we were sharing. I realized, as this person told me about the task she was doing for the church, that it was more than just a good deed for the week. It was as natural to her as walking to her car. It was part of her. She lived and breathed her faith or her relationship with God just like she ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Not to think about God and her relationship with Him would have been more than wrong. It would have been like being ill.

What is it about some people who simply convey God’s presence by standing around and talking about their lives? What is it in their body language or speech that makes you feel at ease as they discuss God and their life? And to be sure, these people are not clergy or church professionals.

I have observed that they are often gentle in nature. Their thoughts are seldom upon them, but revolve more around caring in some way for others. Their time and energy is spent thinking about or caring for others. They reference God’s love or presence in all that they do, but are not threatening or overbearing to the listener. Most of all, they are at peace with themselves and their life. They are content with what they have, but not accepting of less for others. Their quietness, honesty, and unassuming nature is refreshing and uplifting and leave you thinking better of the human race. They simply inspire.

I wouldn’t want everyone to be the same. I wouldn’t want everyone to be like the person I described. No, I would hope and pray that everyone could be just what God made him or her to be. They could be loud or athletic or musical or technical or whatever. But let us all be humble before God. Help us, Lord, to see our place in the world in relationship to You and to one another. To me that is a big part of stewardship.

What is stewardship? It is a lot of things, but for me it is as simple as seeing myself in relationship to God and the world around me. I am connected to the rest of the world, and what I do matters. And as overwhelming as it may sound, it all matters. Whatever happens to anyone else matters to me. Too overwhelming? Yes. Can I solve the world’s problems? No. But they still matter and because they matter and are greater than myself, I am humbled before God and seek His grace in everything that I do hoping it will make some difference and throwing myself at His feet seeking His mercy for all the rest that fall so short of God’s glory.

God’s promise given to us by Jesus Christ is that He does have mercy. He is and will be forgiving. And living in that promise, I can find peace by letting go of attempting to work out my own salvation, the inspiration to focus my attention on others, and the assurance of God’s almighty providence that he will give me all that I need so that I can share a portion of what I have with others.

In short, it’s turning our lives over to God and letting Him lead. Not easy? No. I resist like everyone else. The story of scripture repeats that theme over and over and over. God leads and we run in the other direction. But this is that time of year to attempt again to let go a little more of ourselves and to trust in the mercy of Almighty God. May God bless you, really bless you, this year as you think and ponder about how you will surrender yourself to God’s care and share a portion of what you have for the work of God’s kingdom.

In His service,
Pastor Mitchell

August 2006

I’ve been cleaning and organizing my house lately. Today I took a few minutes to throw away a few things from my desk. You would never know it. What is happening to this pack rat? I am nesting. No, Melanie is not pregnant, but school is soon to start. When school starts, summer ends, church is back to full throttle and my hair (Ha, Ha) is blowing in the wind. When that happens, I have to be ready or else. I feel the need to have things in order. Here is a little of what is coming our way.

On August 12, our sixth graders will go on their annual tubing trip in Helen, Ga. That event marks the beginning on my calendar. On August 14, school begins. On August 16, the church choirs start up. Last year Laura lost a dozen or more singers to job transfers and youth starting college. If you like music, you will love our choirs. Make this your year to get on board. There is an empty chair and a new friend to welcome you. Soccer Practice for Dacula Soccer starts up the week of August 21. On August 23, Friends of Faith starts. If you have grade school kids, I highly recommend you check out this Wednesday after-school, fun-filled program for your kids. The middle school youth have their weekend church retreat from August 26 to 27. And to end the month, Discovery Fair will be August 27.

As a side note, the Discovery Fair is an opportunity for both long time and new members to look over what is happening at Christ the Lord. It is a living example of what I am explaining in this article. It is held Sunday morning and I strongly encourage you to take a few minutes and browse through the fellowship hall and discover all the many ministries this church supports.

Back to the calendar. On September 9, we will have a Fall Festival. The details of the events are written up in this newsletter. But let me add a personal note. Some of the best barbecue and Brunswick stew will be served up by our own “award winning” Chuck Reeve also known to his friends as Che’ Chuck. It is mouth watering!!! In addition, an Appalachian storyteller and comedian will be there that is out of this world. We have invited everyone we know and hope you will bring your friends and neighbors.

On with the show, September 10, we shift into high gear with Sunday school for all ages, including adults, at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. and youth group for Junior High (5:30 p.m.) and Senior High(4 p.m) Youth. Oops! Did I fail to tell you, “What do Lutheran’s Believe” will be offered for three Wednesday nights beginning September 6. This is a great refresher course for anyone.

This isn’t everything we do. We have fellowship groups, Bible studies, work-days, outreach events, and more. But it shows you what happens in a few short weeks as people return from vacations and go back to more scheduled lives.

If you step back from all the things I listed above, you will see a community of over 1,400 people who live out their faith as members of Christ the Lord. The majority come from a radius of roughly 25 miles, and gather together at various times and places during each week to worship, learn, and serve. During the course of the year, they touch people literally around the world, either face to face or by gifts and donations. We are God’s people, and I am glad to be part of you and look forward to being in full swing again. See you at church!!

In His service,
Pastor Bob

July 2006

Summer for me is less structured than the rest of the year. I look forward to it. I have since I was a child. I enjoy the freedom of doing something different and less routine. It appeals to the creative side of my mind. It’s my “out-of-box” season. What happens during these long days of summer is so refreshing to my soul. It clears my mind and helps me see life differently. Here’s what I have noticed lately.

During this summer season, I take time to reflect upon the life of the church. I look for trends and ponder where God is leading us. Below are some observations. You may have some of your own.

Our congregation has been changing. Members of Christ the Lord have always leaned towards doing hands-on projects, whether it was around the church or in the greater community. But recently our desires have taken a step up. We used to schedule one service project in the summer. We would put our all into doing this one thing well. Now we have multiple options, of which some go year round. Some are close by and some are far away. And everyone seems to have a particular one they enjoy. Serving God with our hands and feet is growing. Where or how far it will go is hard to know. But what a joy it has been to be a part of.

Secondly, lay leaders are growing in numbers and responsibilities. Since I began my ministry at Christ the Lord, my heart’s desire has been to work alongside God’s people. One of the first staffing positions at the church was the Director of Lay Ministry. I have always been happy about that decision. It has cultivated an environment of teamwork and discipleship. Today, lay people are leading large projects, using some of the same skills that they use in their occupations.

Thirdly, we are becoming more diverse. We come from all over the world. But when we gather together we are all one in Jesus Christ. It is as if the barriers that separate people in the world are dissolved when we seek to serve God together. It’s a Pentecostal experience to see people of different means, origins, and language worship and work together in peace and harmony. In a broken and divided world, it’s wonderful to see us discover Christ in each other.

Finally (we’re not there yet), kids always want to know on vacation if we are there yet. I am coming to discover in the life of the church we are never there. We are there but not complete. We have experienced God’s love, but we have not reached the day when it is all in all. So life is in the journey. Being the people of God is always wondering where God will lead us next. The joy of life is watching him disclose himself to us and to surprise us everyday with a new experience. The joy for me is watching and being part of God’s wonderful work.

I know summer will come to an end, but I am peddling harder everyday hoping to get one more experience in before the sun goes down. I enjoy every morsel of unstructured time with no school or extracurricular activity. My mind is wide open, and what I am observing during this reflective time is pure joy.

In His service,
Pastor Mitchell

June 2006

Recently I went to Bob and Myrna Kysar’s house on Lake Lanier. I went there to fish, but the winds were strong and temperatures were below average and so was my fishing. So, I wandered back up to Bob and Myrna’s and ended up having a wonderful conversation with Dr. Kysar. Bob is an authority on the Book of John, but that wasn’t the topic of the day. But we did get to talk about Post Modernism.

Trust me, I know just enough about Post Modernism to get me in deep trouble, but as we chatted I was able to pick up a morsel or two that I found helpful. The morsel that satisfied my hunger most was that church is different today from when I started 22 years ago. Obviously, I knew that. But Bob confirmed for me what I had been experiencing for some time.

When I graduated from seminary most of the study of theology focused on some major and well known theologians from Germany. My systematics teacher did introduce us to some new and emerging theologians from Latin America and North America, which included women and emerging ethic groups. We also spent some time studying new and emerging Catholic theologians who were radical for their day. All in all, it was pretty basic.

During this same time of my schooling, the church culture was changing. I grew up knowing Catholic and mainline Protestant denominations. They dominated the landscape of America. But something new was happening. Non-denominational churches were popping up everywhere and experiencing explosive growth. New ideas about organizing a congregation were in big flux. I refused to read the books about church organization written in the 50s that our professor had assigned us our senior year and instead chose books just published in the early 80s. I got a letter grade cut but came out way ahead when I became a pastor.

The one nugget of post modernism that I grasp is this. Information and organization and authority are all over the map. When I asked a class of confirmands recently where do you learn about God, one kid answered, ASK.COM. The Internet plays a large role in these changes.

Where does this all lead? In this age of many choices, it has made me reaffirm whom I am and whom we are as a congregation without discrediting where everybody else is. Given all the choices today, I have concluded, I am a Lutheran. That isn’t the only option on the charts by a long shot, but it is where I feel most comfortable. Being Lutheran, I look to scripture for direction, but more importantly I pray directly to Christ for strength, hope and guidance and find assurance of His love especially in the sacrament of Holy Communion. I think there is a balance of authority in the local, synodical, and national church. But most of my passion and interest are on the local level.

There are a lot of places in this Post Modern Age where people seek spiritual guidance. The self-help books and popular novels have filled this void for some people and caused other a great deal of discomfort. I read the Da Vinci Code and found it entertaining, but my daughter saw the movie and said that it was a bomb compared to the book. The book wasn’t a threat to me, because I never looked to it as a spiritual authority. I looked to it for entertainment. I didn’t like the Left Behind series because it wasn’t entertaining and I do not consider it even the least bit theologically correct. But I never read it for theological education. I never saw the movie. Now, Walking the Bible by Bruce Feiler is educational and I enjoyed it, but it isn’t the Bible. And what about Harry Potter? My son loved it. He knows the difference between fiction and faith.

There are millions of options in this world. This is what I have chosen. Christ the Lord Lutheran Church is a gathering of Christians who are called by the Holy Spirit. We gather to study God’s word, worship Him, and serve the world around us. We nurture and care for one another as well as challenge each other. We don’t have all the answers, and we are far from perfect. But “In Christ” we are able to accomplish some beautiful deeds to His glory. We don’t know what the future holds, but we believe that the future is in God’s hands. And in this Post Modern Age of many choices, I am glad to be part of you. Everyday, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I am learning more about God, the world around me, and about myself.

In His Service,
Pastor Mitchell

May 2006

He is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed!

No, that wasn’t a grammatical error in the last sentence. He IS risen. What does “Is” mean? It means that in each of us, he rises daily, redeeming us from ourselves.

Easter was a wonderful Sunday. There were large crowds, beautiful hymns of celebration, and a long line of people coming to his altar. It was a grand day.

But as I reported the results to the Church Council, I told them that what impressed me most is changed hearts and lives. For all the grandness of the day, my heart leaps even higher for those ordinary Sundays and ordinary days when the light of God shines through and transforms God’s faithful. There are no glorious choirs or packed parking lots at those times, but the angels in heaven sing, Alleluia.

My attention is drawn past the Easter moment to what is to follow in the next few months. How has the Lenten season helped us draw closer to God? How has God changed our old habits into new ones? How has God’s word become more in our everyday? How will we respond to the message of the resurrection? Better yet, how will we carry the news of the resurrection to our community and neighborhoods? In particular, what will you be doing out of gratitude to God? Or, was it just a fun day?

There are people who come to church on occasions, two occasions, Christmas and Easter and enjoy the celebration of the church calendar. They avoid the dark, self-reflecting days of Lent and opt for the less challenging and transforming days of Easter. I am glad that they come to hear the Good News. Every church has the responsibility and privilege of announcing the Good News to the world. But I also invite them to receive that light and allow it to touch the darker parts of their souls and be transformed.

They miss the richness of the faith that makes my heart and other’s hearts leap everyday. They partake in the dessert but miss the main course of the faith. Living in the faith is not always fun, exciting or full of merry-making because God makes us look at a deeper, sometimes, darker part of our soul. The light enters our darkness where we are moved to new ways of life and more reflective ways of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the down and dirty of the faith journey.

In the next few months, there will be ample opportunities to hear again and again the Good News of Jesus Christ and welcome His light into our hearts that they may be changed. We are here every Sunday. But to enjoy the sharing of this great news, there will be ample opportunities to be God’s arms and legs to the world. We will not just sit in the light of God, but God’s light will actually work in and through us as we walk intimately with God.

Here are just a few of the activities our congregation will be doing out of thankfulness to God. We will be planning to work at a Habitat House, rebuild the Gulf Coast, and serve orphans in Mexico. You can attend faith education classes such as Men’s Bible Study, Life Keys, Lutheran Worship, and Sunday school. Be part of a care team to shut-ins, volunteer for Relay for Life, or support Ed Head in Iraq. You can teach at Vacation Bible School, teach at Summer Sunday School, or donate to help our youth to go to San Antonio. You can support our Co-Op, mow the church lawn, help at worship. You can share your faith with a friend or read the scripture daily. This is just the tip of the faith.

The greatest things that will happen to you is that will come to know deeper the God we showed so much love on Easter. He is an awesome God who is worth knowing everyday. I invite to get to know Him better.

In His Service,
Pastor Mitchell

April 2006

“Once I was a slave to sin, now I am free in Jesus Christ to serve God.” That was the thought that ran through my mind during the Lenten season. That thought is best expressed in Romans 6 and similar thoughts are expressed throughout the New Testament. It is a remake of the Passover meal put in place after the Hebrews were taken out of Egypt by Moses. Once we were slaves but now we are free people.

The season of Lent was exceptionally good this year as we focused our attention on the marks of discipleship. As we reflected on prayer, study, service, giving, and inviting, I was reminded of all the things in my life that enslave me from being obedient to God. At times it made me feel entrapped, but what the scriptures reminded me of is that in Christ Jesus we can be set free from the things that bound us.

Easter will soon be celebrated. What makes Easter so powerful for me is celebrating with Christ the breaking of these shackles that keep me from being in full communion with Him. During Lent I have been released from some of them with the help of the Holy Spirit. I am no longer enslaved to these sins, now I am free.

A lady in a check-out lane asked me when Easter was. I told her it was the third Sunday in April. She said that made her feel better. She thought it was earlier, and she was not ready. “What do you need to get done?” I asked. “I need to prepare meals and buy clothes and dye eggs or my family will be greatly disappointed.” I hate that she missed the point of Easter. There is so much more to be had.

Sitting at a meeting of the Lawrenceville Co-Op Vision Team, a woman told her story of coming to the Co-Op every Tuesday night in our effort to offer worship, or prayer, or Bible study. Nobody came one Tuesday. She, and another woman who was there to lead the gathering, knelt down on their knees and asked God if this is where God wanted them. After praying together, the women decided to come back the next Tuesday out of “obedience to God.” “I had to come back, even though I have two small kids. I had to be obedient to the calling that God was placing upon my heart.” I listened to her story in total awe. She was driven totally by a desire to serve and please God and God alone.

I have had the great pleasure of observing you as you have taken steps to be more obedient to God. It was not always pleasant as we sought to change our old habits that enslaved us; but with our focus upon God and his word of hope and promise, you found strength in Jesus Christ to be free from old ways and free to serve God in new ways.

Our lives go on. This is but a small portion of our days upon this earth. They were good days. Maybe they were days that will make the rest of our days even better as we deepen our relationship with God.

There is much to be done. But as we have learned during our Lenten experience, all things are possible in Christ Jesus. I hope for you this Easter season, you will continue your walk with God. That God will make you into the beautiful children, which he envisioned. That you will come to know and experience more and more what it means to be free from sin and a servant of Jesus Christ.

In His service,

Pastor Bob

February 2006

Dear All,

WOW! I’m not sure if that is the correct term for how I feel, but with this writer’s block I have, it’s the best I can muster. I looked in the thesaurus for another option, and it wasn’t helpful. Here I am at the beginning of 2006 and am already overwhelmed at the ministry that is happening at our church. I thought if I closed my eyes for a while my head would stop spinning and I would have a clearer understanding of everything going on. But I am still in a fog. This is Epiphany, and a fog would be a good description of following Christ.

We will soon celebrate the transfiguration of Jesus at the height of the season of Epiphany. You will recall that Jesus takes Peter, James, and John to the top of the mountain. While they are there, Jesus turns bright white, and the disciples are in a daze. Then Moses and Elijah appear. Peter suggested that the disciples make three booths for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, but instead Jesus leads them back down the mountain and continues with His ministry.

I sit here behind my computer surrounded by an enormous group of people who are growing deeper in their faith and ministering more than ever. It would be great to stop the clock and just stay here and wallow in our past achievements, but I am quite sure that God is not done with us and is calling us to follow.

I did say that this was the season of Epiphany didn’t I? How will God reveal Himself to us this year? We do know that we will be helping a Seminarian, Jackie Utley, along this year. I believe that this will be a good experience for us to see what a student of our seminary does. Our eyes will be opened to how God is at work calling new leaders of the church. And because we have two college students leaning in this direction, we will be prepared for the day they enter seminary.

Did I say it was Epiphany? Yes, it is also the beginning of a new year. As our church grows we will be exploring new ways to organize our caring ministry. It’s not that we are not caring but we are aware that the needs will increase. Last year we topped 1,400 members. We want to remain caring to each other. To do so, we will need to be even more intentional to be sure no one gets overlooked.

Sometime during the year, the National Church will prepare us for the introduction of a new worship hymnal. It will be Burgundy. I’m color blind to reds. I’ll let you know what I see. But never the less, we will move forward as a church at large in new directions.

We will have mission trips to Mexico and Mississippi this year. We will send our youth to the National Youth Gathering in July. There will be men’s and women’s retreats. We will give support to the new mission in Braselton. WOW! That may seem like plenty, but if history repeats itself, I bet God will give us more.

Following Jesus takes faith, trusting that He will provide for us our needs all along the way. And if history repeats itself, God will provide us with all that we will need.

Yea, it would be great to sit here and wallow in our past achievements. But God is calling us. There is more to do. I doubt there will ever be a day that there will not be something to do, if history repeats itself. So I can be assured that every day of life will be a joyous day. It will be a day to serve God. God bless us in this adventure this year.

In His Service,
Pastor Mitchell

January 2006

Welcome to the New Year 2006. I’m more sensitive now to the marching of time. Time seems more like a commodity than when I was younger. My high school and college days are as fresh in my memory as ever, but when telling them to my children, I feel like I am giving a history lesson. But with each passing year, I am starting to see a pattern to life, if there is such a thing. I would not categorize these thoughts as wisdom but more along the lines of observations.

In the Greek, what little I remember, there are two words for time. There is time, with which you and I are more familiar. It is called Kronos. It is where we get our English words like chronology. It refers to time as marked by a calendar or watch.

The other term is Kairos. This is God’s approach to time. There is no beginning or ending. Time belongs to God, and He will act in his own due time. What he does with His time is clearer to Him than us.

After celebrating my 48th birthday, I relate more to the first definition. I am old crony. This is the type of time that eats at us. The people that I knew as adults when I was a child are starting to die just about the right expected time. But there are others who have passed on “before their time” as we say. There is a time and place for everything and an early death just doesn’t seem to fit the logic of life.

Time and time again, I wonder about this life. I ask questions. I ponder my existence. When I think about God and all the time He has had to watch this world spin on it's axis, I find comfort. I relax knowing that time as I think of it is only man-made, artificial. It makes for a good football or basketball game at the buzzer but not for the game of life.

If you really want to have the time of your life, embrace the time of God as your measuring stick. Using God’s time as your way of looking at time helps you see things as endless. True, this will not eliminate the deadlines and commitments of your life, but you won’t have to think of your overall life as one chance and one chance only. Life will be more like a moment in time – a long time.

As I have watched our church change over the years, with people coming and going, my perspective has changed also. I once worked under the notion that everything had to happen now or never. I thought that people would remain around forever for our sake. But Rome wasn’t built in a day and using the Lord’s understanding of time, things are changing day to day.

I guess I am beginning to enjoy life as I let go and let God guide my life day by day. As I rest more comfortably in the grace of God, I am less anxious about tomorrow and more excited about what tomorrow will offer. I wonder in the morning on the way into work where will God use me. And with the understanding that this life is not limited by a final endnote, but is part of a greater piece of music, I see endless days of joy and singing to come.

So what will we do this year at Christ the Lord? We will do as we have always done. We will look at our present situation and ask ourselves how can we better serve God this year. We will put together a list of ideas. Some will be implemented immediately, some will take a whole year, and some will take longer than we can imagine. Then there will be the unplanned events like Katrina and war and disease, and whatever. We will respond as we are able and as God so chooses. We will seek to serve and please God every day as we have for years. We will count each day as a blessing and worship each Sunday the great giver of life and time. And when the year is over we will do it again.

Time marches on. And if we see ourselves as God sees us, today is just another day to live in His endless grace. So I invite you this year to have the time of your life living in Christ.

In His service,
Pastor Mitchell

December 2005

The temperature today is predicted to reach 75 degrees. On Wednesday Bill Christensen and I will be trout fishing in the Chattahoochee River. My son mowed the yard this last weekend and I sealed the deck and cleaned windowsills. You might think it is summer, but the truth is turkey day is only a couple of weeks away. And because this is for the December newsletter, the theme should reflect something about Christmas.

I have not seen the holiday decorations and Christmas ads as early this year as I have in the past. Did I miss something? Maybe I need to get out more. From where I sit, I am hearing more about people in need. It’s not at all unusual that I hear about people in need from my office, but usually there is a little more anticipation of the Holy Days in the air by this time.

It seems that our eyes and attention are not as focused this year. While we make plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas, somewhere alongside these thoughts are soldiers in Iraq, Katrina recovery, rising or lowering gas prices and whatever else happens to occur.

Back in the 30’s Macy’s changed our way of thinking about Christmas. They discovered in New York City if they had Christmas displays in their windows, holiday sales increased. It was so successful that pictures by Currier and Ives became the standard of what type of holiday experience we wanted. Later, Bing Crosby would give words to our expectations with “White Christmas.” I actually bought the CD along with the Chipmunks last year to play in the car.

That marketing worked so well that now we have Black Friday. Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving when many companies move out of the red and into the black.

It’s a long cry from the days as told about on Walton’s Mountain when John Boy got a writing tablet and pencil for Christmas. He was overjoyed. It is light years, to use a modern term, from the days when Christmas was birth in a barn.

The joy that baby brought was hope of forgiveness. To be certain, not everyone liked his style of spreading the Good News. They would have warmed up better to something more along the ideas of what Macy’s might have conjured up. Where was Madison Avenue when you needed them?

But fortunately the Savior’s style won out and rose up to bring new life to the world. This year we might find it a little more welcoming. I know that Katrina, war, gas prices and whatever else happens in your life can be a drain. This year’s Elmo can’t fix it. But there is something that can really change things. He won’t be found on aisle 9. He is closer and more convenient. He is in your heart.

God comes to you this Christmas just as he has done everyday of your life. He comes bearing gifts. He comes to help you out of your mess and assist you to be at peace with yourself and the world where He always wanted you to be. And, yes, He also calls you to join hands with Him and assist others in their efforts to find this same peace.

Surely this year we will have lots of opportunity to experience God’s peace and hope for us as we link arms together and bring peace to the hurting all around us. And if it snows, it will just be icing on the cake. May you know God’s peace this season at His altar and in service along side Him.

In His Service
Pastor Mitchell

November 2005

Yesterday Pastor Terri and I received e-mail from a staff person at the ELCA-Southeastern Synod office. Our synod and four others had been chosen by the national church to be studied for their interpretation of the church’s vision. Within our synod, Pastor Terri and I had been asked to participate because we had been thought of as a congregation that did this well. I have had some time to think about this and here are my thoughts.

In the past few years “vision” has been a hot word. A few years ago I received all sorts of mailings wanting to help me develop a vision for my congregation. The invitations were printed on paper that I could never afford. The speakers were all renowned preachers. Some I didn’t know, but