Dear Friends,

Blessed Christmas. I pray that your celebrations of this incredible event are continuing to flood your heart and mind with images and sounds of worship and hymns. Today’s devotional is the last of the series. (You may find them all on the SED Website-click) It reminds us of the great courage it took the shepherds to listen to the angels and to respond with action to their message. It reminds us that we, too, must be people of great courage in our response to this precious gift.

Thank you for journeying with us through these days of Advent to Christmas. May the blessing of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit overflow in lives of joyful response to Him.

Sally J. Hiller

Courage Over Fear – Luke 2:1-18

¹ In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ All went to their own towns to be registered.⁴ Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. ⁵ He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. ⁸ In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see–I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹ to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the  heavenly host, praising God and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace  among those whom he favors!” ¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they saw this, they made known what had been told them  about this child; ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told  them.

In the congregation at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior there is an evangelism group that will go throughout the community and speak to strangers about Jesus Christ.  They will knock on doors, will visit malls, and will help people get their groceries out of the car and have conversations with them.  Now, many people will either question the fruitfulness of such a practice or wonder if these members are Jehovah Witnesses.  They are not.  Their pastor is a Lutheran minister who simply happens to love telling people about Jesus.  He is convinced that spreading the good news of Jesus Christ is something that absolutely should consume us as Christians.  Every encounter that we have with people is an encounter where the love of Jesus can be brought upon the situation; and what we read in Luke 2 is that evangelism is something that should immediately flow out of our love for Jesus.  Yet, interestingly enough, we also see in Luke 2 the primary reason why people often find it difficult to speak about Jesus Christ.

As you hear the text for this sermon you might be struck by the message of the angel to the shepherds that night, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.”

Have you noticed that whenever an angel appears to a person in the Bible they must begin their message with the words, “fear not!”?  Angels are celestial beings with great power – to behold an angel is a terribly frightening experience.  In Isaiah the angels are pictured with six wings.  An angel delivered Hezekiah and struck down one hundred and eighty thousand in one night.  An angel came and killed the first born of every Egyptian on the night of the Passover.  Angels are terrifying.  And yet, this message to the shepherds had nothing to do with death – it had to do with life.  It was not about fear – it was about faith.  A Savior was going to be born – Christ the Lord.  He would bring peace to all people on whom the favor of God rests.

Yet, in pondering this text it strikes us that if the shepherds did not overcome their fear of the angel they would not possibly have been able to listen to the message of the angel.  If they did not hear the message, perhaps out of their fear they would not visit the child.  If they did not visit the child, they would not have spread the word concerning Him.  Fear could have stopped them from experiencing the great joy of seeing Christ and spreading His Word.

Fear is a terribly crippling thing.  In our experience fear stops us from doing a great many things. Fear has stopped us in the past from speaking when we should have spoken.  Fear of rejection has stopped us from speaking a word in due season.  Fear of, “what am I supposed to say?” has stopped us in the past from beginning a conversation.  Fear is the antithesis of faith.

There is a commander in the Navy that is a consistent worker on an Evangelism team.  His name is Andrei.  He was a commander on a naval vessel.  He has commanded hundreds of men in the Navy.  He is now a civilian contractor.  He is very intelligent, very professional, and a very good friend to those he knows. He is also one of the better evangelists in his congregation.  Yet, the first time he joined an Evangelism team his pastor was taught a lesson in fear – and courage.

Prior to going out and evangelizing, the evangelism team spent weeks and weeks preparing for how to go about spreading the word.  They had spent weeks and weeks talking about how they were going to go out, knock on doors, hand out tracts, and tell people the good news of Jesus Christ.  They were taught what to say, how to say it, etc…

The day came when they would finally go out.  They went out two by two and began to canvass a neighborhood surrounding the church.  The pastor went with Andrei.  As they approached the driveway of the first house and this commander in the Navy’s knees were actually shaking.  He admitted at that moment that he was extremely afraid.  This intelligent, high powered, highly professional, amazingly equipped man was afraid – afraid to knock on a door and tell someone about Jesus.

But let me tell you something – he knocked on the door.  He talked to the people.  He witnessed his faith.  He continues to this day to knock on doors – and now without any fear.  He boldly speaks his love for Jesus to all of whom he meets.  At the end of every single e-mail his signature reads, “soli de Gloria” [To God be the glory] Many people ask him what this means and he will write them back about his love for Jesus.  He now teaches Bible classes at the local jail in his county.  There is no man that has a greater passion for the lost than Andrei.  He has come a very long way from the first knock on that first door.

This was a lesson both in fear and courage.  You see, many people believe that courage is the absence of fear – but it is not.  Courage is being afraid but doing it anyway.  This is the lesson of Andrei – and this is the lesson of the shepherds that night.  They were afraid.  They saw an angel.  But they listened to the message, they went to see Christ; and upon seeing Jesus they were overjoyed with His presence that they went about telling everyone what they had seen.  They overcame fear by the joy of the message.

In the same way, any fear that we have concerning telling other people the good news of Jesus Christ is a fear that is unfounded.  Jesus gives a promise in Luke 12 that we absolutely cling to in all situations.  It comes from Luke 12:11 and it reads, “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

When we have come to faith in Jesus Christ God has implanted within us the promised Holy Spirit.  He is God in us.  What this means is that we have God so close to us that we do have every word that needs to be uttered when we speak to someone.  He lives in us.  We simply need to trust that at the moment we speak, the Holy Spirit will use our vocal chords and speak words of conviction, peace, law, and Gospel so that a soul may be converted to Christ.

We have been given a tremendous privilege in this life – we are children of God!  And we are children of God because someone in our life loved us enough to open their mouth and tells us the good news of Jesus.  We simply cannot wait until people come to our church or ask us about God.  That simply will not happen; or if it does happen it happens rarely.  God did not wait for us to cry out for a Savior.  He came to us, told us not to fear, and offered His Son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for sin all for one overarching purpose – to bring us back into relationship with Him.

With a holy fervor then we must approach our friends and neighbors.  The impetus is on us to engage.  The compulsion is on us who have the Spirit to engage those that do not.  We must be mindful that there is a spiritual realm and that many of our friends and neighbors are without God in the world and are on a path of destruction.  Our love for the Lord and our love for our neighbor compel us that we must tell them of Jesus.
C.S. Lewis, the famous author and apologist says something about our friends and neighbors that is compelling enough to share.  It comes from his sermon entitled, “The weight of glory.” This is what he says:

“Remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is worth the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilization-these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit-immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.”

God saw our state – we all would have been, “a horror and corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare” due to our sin.  We all would have had spiritual imps gnawing at our soul.  But God cared.  God opened His heart.  He opened His mouth.  He gave His Son.  He spoke His Word.  He died on a cross.  He rose again.  He gave us His Spirit so that, like the saints before us, we might open our mouths and tell the good news of Jesus Christ to a hurting people.  You may be afraid.  Go anyway.  He is with you, always, even unto the end of the age.

* * *
Hymn: LSB # 830 “Spread the Reign of God the Lord”
* * *

Collect: Caring and Benevolent Heavenly Father, we humbly come before you and thank you for your gracious action in Christ.  Before we cared, you cared and sent your beloved Son Jesus Christ to this earth to save us sinners.  Give us the Spirit, we pray, so that with great boldness and compassion, we may now, by Your Spirit, speak the goodness of Christ to our friends and neighbors.

The Advent Devotion Sermons that you have been receiving were written by:
Rev. Glenn Lucas
Rev. Tich Luu
Rev. Christopher Ogne
Rev. John Richert
Rev. Vernon Shultheis

December 24,  2009

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ. Colossians 4: 2-3

Dear Mission Prayer Partners,
Well, the moment is now at hand. I don’t know about you, but I have been praying for this day for all of our missions and congregations that God’s Word will ring through this land just as the angels’ song rang through the night awakening hearts with the message of God’s Good News for all people.

As you walk through these days of Christmas,
+ may your words bring hope to one who feels hopeless
+ may the touch of your hand in greeting help another feel welcomed
+ may the smile that comes to your face light the heart of someone who fears the darkness
+ and may the joy that you know in Jesus overflow in acts of kindness

Thank you for your mission prayer partnership, it is making an eternal difference. Merry Christmas.

Our Prayer Goals for 2009

Let us join our hearts and voices as we pray for:
Those who do not know Jesus Christ and the joy of His salvation for them.
1. The work of mission outreach teams, missionaries, and outreach efforts that will make a Gospel difference in our communities.
2. Boldness in each of our lives that we will regularly share the Good News of Jesus with others.
3. The continued growth in prayer partners for mission. (Our goal is 3000 pray-ers, we have 2033.)
4. New Prayer Resources
Check out the new prayer resources now available on the website.(http://se.lcms.org/prayer/prayer-ministry-resources.php)

Thank you for your mission prayers, they are making an eternal difference.
Sally J. Hiller
Executive Director for Congregational Outreach and District Operations
Southeastern  District, LCMS

Greetings,

Plan now to join Mission U on Saturday, January 9 with Lutheran Hour Ministry’s Sarah Guldalian, broadcast live at Messiah Lutheran Church, 13901 Clopper Road, Germantown, MD 20874. In this session, participants will review congregational Christmas Outreach and their follow through. In addition, Sarah will present “Brief Encounters: Recognizing the Mission Moment in Major Life Events and Everyday Activities. She will address evangelism in the workplace, among family members, with men, women, children, and friends. It promises to be a very full morning, beginning at 9 am and concluding at noon.

If it is not convenient for you to attend the live session at Messiah, the following congregations will be serving as webcast host sites:

St. Stephens Lutheran Church, 2304 Springs Road, Hickory, NC 28601
Trinity Lutheran Church, 2315 Parham Rd, Richmond, VA 23229

If you want to receive the webcast at your congregation or your home on Saturday, January 9, please contact me and let me know that you want to participate because we are limited to approximately 30 computer connections. If you had a group from your own congregation who participated in the program with you last fall, please get in touch with those people and invite them to the program on the 9th.

Sarah Guldalian will provide us with her PowerPoint presentation after January 4th; we will post Sarah’s information on our website so that you can print the handouts and have them available for distribution on Saturday morning.

A lesson that we learned about the webcast is that it does not work well if you are using a wireless internet connection so have your computer connected to the internet via a cable, if possible. (The problem with a wireless connection is that the sound quality is not good.)

If you have never participated in a webcast before, I encourage you to test your connection by clicking on the following link which will automatically
run a quick test to see if your computer is ready to connect; this test should only take about a minute to complete.

http://breeze.lsportal.net/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

I look forward to hearing from each of you one way or the other; if you participated in the past but are unable to do so this time, it will be helpful for us to know your plans. I will be contacting you the week of January 4th with additional information, including the website address.

Click on this link to get the Mission U Registration Form.

Cathy Long
Southeastern District
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
6315 Grovedale Drive
Alexandria, VA 22310-2501
(703) 971-9371 ext.219
(800) 637-5723 ext.219
(703) 922-6047 (fax)
clong@se.lcms.org
Cathy Long
Database Manager, Ext. 207

23 December 2009

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:9-11

We measured 22″ of the beautiful fluff that fell around the Office last weekend. Incredible – the beauty, the silence, and the chaos that snow creates. Today it still glistens and life is becoming a bit more normal – at least as normal as life gets in the days of Christmas. Days when we celebrate the coming of God’s Word in the gift of the infant Jesus, a coming that happened so long ago and yet continues into today and throughout time. A gift that does not go forward without a very special intent: the salvation of all people. God’s purpose is that all will come to know this one who is Emmanuel – God with us.

Here at the Southeastern District Office, we are giving thanks to God for the many ways that you will share the Gospel during these days and we are praying for all those who will hear the message. May your choirs sing like angels, your cherubs radiate joy, and the words you speak be filled with the promise and hope of all that God desires for all his children: peace, love, and salvation through Jesus Christ.

We are also thanking God for the incredible support that members and congregations have given in the Ablaze! for God’s Mission funding campaign. As this goes to press, we are only $5,400 short of reaching the goal of $6,000,000 to support new mission outreach efforts. I am thanking God for the many ways he is blessing these funds. With your assistance, we have been able to contribute $1,800,000 to resource ministry across the globe, such as the construction of seminaries in Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya or medical centers across Africa. In addition, more than $600,000 has been designated for Circuit Ablaze! projects. Within the District, Circuits are using these funds to help start new mission outreach efforts such as Ladysmith Mission in VA or supporting the new Circuit 9 Spanish-speaking Missionary or working with Peace Officers in Cornelius NC. And of course, without your generous contributions we would not have been able to financially support the start-up of 23 new mission efforts which are now reaching people with the glorious news of the Gospel in places such as New Kent VA, Jordan Mission in Apex NC, Open Arms of Leesburg VA, Lamb of God in Landover Hills MD, and LINC-Baltimore.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ. Colossians 4: 2-3

Dear Mission Prayer Partners,
The moment of celebration is within grasp. The days of preparation are coming to a close and the moment of salvation: God coming to us, in a form we recognize, to save a people separated from his love through darkness and sin well, that celebration is almost here. I don’t know about you, but I am ready.

I am looking forward to it with a heart full of gratitude that God would so love us that he would -
*come to us.
*surround us with brothers and sisters in the faith to encourage us.
*embolden us to share the Gospel more than 360,000 times.
*gather more than 2000 people to be praying for the mission of his Word in this place.
*bring together teams, leaders, and mission developers to begin more than 38 new ministries.
*equip 10 mission outreach teams and more than 23 congregations through Training Lutherans for Outreach.
* move his people to the generous giving of $5,964,000 towards the $6,000,000 goal.
(Only $36,000 left to go!)

Keep praying. God’s mission is moving forward. There is much yet to do and great opportunity for it. Pray for those whose lives are being changed through the power of the Holy Spirit. Remember the new missions and their leadership teams as they prepare to share the Good News of Jesus in this season. Pray that with God’s help we will realize all of these goals and more.

The moment of celebration is within grasp. Praise God for his incredible goodness.

Our Prayer Goals for 2009

Let us join our hearts and voices as we pray for:
Those who do not know Jesus Christ and the joy of His salvation for them.
1. The work of mission outreach teams, missionaries, and outreach efforts that will make a Gospel difference in our communities.
2. Boldness in each of our lives that we will regularly share the Good News of Jesus with others.
3. The continued growth in prayer partners for mission. (Our goal is 3000 pray-ers, we have 2033.)
4. New Prayer Resources

Check out the new prayer resources now available on the website.(http://se.lcms.org/prayer/prayer-ministry-resources.php)

Thank you for your mission prayers, they are making an eternal difference.
Sally J. Hiller
Executive Director for Congregational Outreach and District Operations
Southeastern District, LCMS

10:02 am Prayers for the Harvest and Workers

Don’t forget to set your cell phones alarm/alert to 10:02 a.m. and pray for the Harvest and Workers. Luke 10:2 Jesus told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

December 21, 2009

Dear Friends,

Greetings on these Advent days to Christmas. These days call us to quiet reflection in the midst of very full lives so that we may remember the precious gift of Jesus whom God gives to us. And in our remembering, to turn again our lives to him. The devotional you will read today reminds us that God who sent his Son to us, now sends us out with the power of the Holy Spirit to share the Good News of Jesus to all people.

May the power of the Holy Spirit embolden you to invite, share, and welcome all of God’s children this season.

Sally J. Hiller

It’s Not About Us – Luke 1:67-79

⁶⁷ Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy: ⁶⁸ “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. ⁶⁹ He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, ⁷⁰ as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, ⁷¹ that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. ⁷² Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, ⁷³ the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us ⁷⁴ that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, ⁷⁵ in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. ⁷⁶ And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, ⁷⁷ to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. ⁷⁸ By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, ⁷⁹ to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

When Steve and his family joined the church, he was at the age to be instructed and prepared to receive his First Holy Communion. Then he was invited to become an acolyte. Steve was very shy and he worried about everything. Lacking in any self-confidence, it was surprising when he agreed to serve at the altar. He was not very good at this work, but what was remarkable was how he sang. He seldom hit the right note and he seemed oblivious to the fact that he sang in a different key than everyone else. But, he sang – with gusto!

Over time, Steve’s love of singing songs of praise to God actually began to change him. He started hitting the right notes! This gave him confidence and he began to open up and join in conversation. He became a Reader of the Holy Scriptures during worship and eventually a Communion Assistant. Now, a young man of 22 years, Steve speaks easily in public about many things, especially his faith, and he is becoming a leader in the congregation.

There is no doubt that singing helped Steve to grow – in confidence, in ability, and in faith. It wasn’t the talent of the singer – yes, he gets the melody right most of the time now, but he’s not choir quality by any measure. No, singing helped him, not because of his talent, but because of the songs he sang.

In the Gospel According to St. Luke, the first two chapters are filled with songs. There is the Song of Mary (before that a case could be made that Elizabeth proclaims a “song”), the Song of Zechariah, the Song of the Angels, and the Song of Simeon. It’s as though Luke were urging Theophilus – and us – to arrive at a “certainty concerning the things (we) have been taught” by joining in the songs that testify to the good news of God’s loving work. The song of particular interest to us now is the Song of Zechariah.

An interesting fellow, Zechariah. He was a person of confidence, ability, and faith and so was his wife. “They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord” (1:6). He served as priest before God and the people confidently offered their prayers as he burned the incense in the temple. One day an intruder appeared standing on the right side of the altar of incense. It was Gabriel, an angel of God sent from the presence of God to speak good news to Zechariah. “Your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord” (1:13-15). Now if news like that doesn’t move a man to break out in song, what will?

But, the “singer” was thinking only of himself instead of the song that could be sung. “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years” (1:18). Sounds like the person who sits in church staring at the hymnal with lips glued shut. “I can’t sing, never could carry a tune, I don’t read music.”

“You don’t want to sing? Then, you won’t sing,” said Gabriel. And, for the next nine months Zechariah didn’t sing a song – or speak a word! Whether it’s a song, a message, an idea, or a dream, when it’s all about us, then, there is nothing.

We are entering a most wonderful and a most dangerous time of the year for Christians. We are preparing to celebrate the advent of our God into human history in the person of Jesus. How wonderful to celebrate that moment in time when “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Gabriel drove it home six months later when speaking to Mary, a more ready recipient of his message, he said, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy – the Son of God” (1:35).

It is a most dangerous time for Christians because it is so easy – and so tempting – to make it all about us – decorations here, there, and everywhere; choirs practicing anthems and cantatas; children memorizing parts and dressing in costumes; preachers working to make this the best sermon ever. Beware. If it is all about us, then come January the pews will once again be gathering dust, we’ll go for weeks without ever seeing a visitor darken the door of our church and “Ablaze” will be something for which we raised money so it can happen someplace else.

For nine months Zechariah could speak not a word – he could sing no song. It was a time of quiet reflection, of remembering and wrestling with the words that Gabriel had spoken to him. He watched as Elizabeth grew larger and larger with child. He watched – and listened to the conversation – when Mary came for a three month visit. And he discovered. He discovered that even though Gabriel had said that God had heard his prayer, the answer to that prayer was not about Zechariah, it was about God and what he was doing. God was taking the blessing to Zechariah and Elizabeth and turning it into a blessing for all of Israel! “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people…” (1:68). Finally! He could sing because the Holy Spirit had filled his heart with joy at what God was doing. He no longer was consumed with worry about the “singer’s” role and ability. He caught the vision; he saw the purpose in God’s gift of a son. His joy would not simply be in having a boy-child, but in seeing that boy serve the plan of God to come and save his people. “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways…” (1:76).

Zechariah’s Song was not complete. We do not know whether he lived long enough to hear John say, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (not just Israel). No doubt he would have been as shocked and surprised as were Peter and the other disciples when, after Pentecost, they began to experience how inclusive was the reach of God’s love and mercy (even to the Gentiles). But, what he saw and believed, he “sang.” And, God used it for good. “And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, ‘What then will this child be?’ For the hand of the Lord was with him” (1:65, 66).

We who live on this side of the story know so much more than Zechariah ever did. We know that the Lord for whom John prepared the way – the “sunrise” – HAS visited us. His name is Jesus. By his death and resurrection he has redeemed the world from sin and death. He is the “light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death” and he is the way and the truth and the life “to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

We have experienced the forgiveness of sins in the waters of Holy Baptism; we have seen and tasted the steadfast love and mercy of the Lord in Holy Communion. “For by his grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast… remember that you were at one time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace…” (Ephesians 2:8-9, 12-14).

So, Sisters and Brothers, sing your song. You may not yet know all the words; perhaps you sing off key. Zechariah has good news for you: It’s not about you! Your song is about what God has done and is doing through Jesus for all the world. Your song is part of his plan to bring his message of love to those who still “sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.”

May the Holy Spirit who once filled Zechariah fill us and our churches so that we sing “The Song” that our neighbors are longing to hear.

* * *
Hymn: LSB #831 “How Shall They Hear,” Who Have Not Heard
* * *

A Collect: Stir up your power, O Lord, and come to your Church today as you once came to your servant Zechariah. Fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may have the courage to boldly testify of your love that caused you to send your only-begotten Son to be the Savior of the world. Open our mouths and teach us to sing out your good news until every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord. We ask this in the strong name of the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and forever. Amen.

December 17, 2009

Dear Friends,

Greetings on these Advent days to Christmas. These days call us to quiet reflection in the midst of very full lives so that we may remember the precious gift of Jesus whom God gives to us. And in our remembering, to turn again our lives to him. The devotional you will read today reminds us that God who sent his Son to us, now sends us out with the power of the Holy Spirit to share the Good News of Jesus to all people.

May the power of the Holy Spirit embolden you to invite, share, and welcome all of God’s children this season.

Sally J. Hiller

The Call of Abram – Genesis 12:1-4

¹ The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. ² I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. ³ I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” ⁴ So Abram left, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. (Genesis 12:1-4)

Dear Friends in Christ,

The call of Abram reminds us that God did not wait for us to come to him (something we would never do) but came to us with grace and forgiveness, bringing us new life in Christ. As we are conformed into the image of Christ we too do not wait for the lost to come to us (something they will never do) but we come to them with grace and forgiveness, bringing them new life in Christ.

As people, leaders and pastors in the 21st century, we know first hand the joy and privilege of being a part of God’s mission and ministry to go and share with all people God’s blessings and new life in Jesus Christ. That is why we in the Southeastern District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod are excited that God has provided the resources of time, talent, and treasure to reach out to all peoples through Ablaze! For God’s Mission. With God’s help, one of the goals set by the Southeastern District is to be a blessing and share the Gospel with 2.5 million people by 2017. It has been reported that in 2009, “Already, 305,875 faith-sharing moments have been recorded by individuals across the District.”

An example of what God is doing through your mission dollars is reaching out to new Chinese immigrants in Montgomery County, Maryland.

The Chinese Outreach Ministry at Lutheran Church of the Cross in Rockville, Maryland, was started in April 2005. Currently, the Chinese speaking congregation includes about 30 families (including 12 children ages 1 to 18 years) from mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Four families of 8 Chinese from mainland China (5 adults, I teenager, and 2 younger children) have been baptized in to the Christian faith at Lutheran Church of the Cross.

Eighty percent of the Chinese people in Lutheran Church of the Cross’s Chinese-speaking congregation come from mainland China and speak Mandarin Chinese, which is the official language. The other 20% come from Taiwan and Hong Kong. Some also speak Cantonese Chinese, which is another common Chinese dialect.

Without a core group of Chinese members, how did the Chinese Outreach Ministry at Lutheran Church of the Cross begin? With the help of God, six months of analysis and studies were done by visiting the Chinese people and churches in the community. After it was learned that English as a Second Language classes would be the most helpful and effective way to introduce new Chinese immigrants to Lutheran Church of the Cross a year-round ESL class was opened during the week to provide a friendly environment for new Chinese immigrants and American teachers to build friendship while learning English. Classes are divided into Beginning Level I, Beginning Level II, Conversational Level, and U.S. Citizenship Exam Preparation.

The Lord has blessed many Lutheran Church of the Cross members who volunteer as teachers for the classes that provide a wonderful opportunity for faith- and Gospel-sharing moments, as more than 600 Chinese immigrants, who had not heard about God’s love in Jesus, have attended the classes.

After a year, a Chinese Bible study group with about 10 Chinese people was started on Sunday. After another six months, a Chinese worship service was begun at 11:30 a.m. with about 15 Chinese people. By July of 2009, average attendance on Sunday at the Chinese worship service was 42 people. Eighty percent of the worshippers at the Chinese worship service on Sunday are non-Christians who are learning more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

The Lord also opened door to be a blessing to all peoples, including children. The Lord brought a total of 105 children ages 4 to 11 to Camp China for six weeks this summer at Lutheran Church of the Cross. The camp allowed children to learn Chinese culture through language, dance and singing. The church’s prayer is that the seeds of God’s word that have been taught and sown through Bible stories, songs, and chapel messages may grow in the years to come.

Many other blessings of God come through special events that are held for Lutheran Church of the Cross’s Chinese-speaking and English-speaking congregations as they gather together during the year, including a celebration of the Chinese New Year, a Chinese dumpling making event, church picnics, and a Thanksgiving Dinner. The congregation also combines in a joint worship service four times a year, whenever there is a 5th Sunday in a month. The service is conducted in both English and Chinese. The joint services remind the members that even through they usually worship separately because of language difference, they are blessed to be one church and one body in Jesus Christ.

A committee of 7 Chinese Christians coordinates people to serve during worship as ushers, Bible readers, Sunday school teachers, interpreters, and pianist. They also coordinate lunch preparation for a fellowship time after the worship service on Sundays.

Chinese Bible studies are offered on Sunday morning from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and once a month on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., followed by a potluck dinner. Sunday morning Bible studies focus on the basics of Christianity, (a “Christianity 101″ course) for new Chinese immigrants. The monthly gathering on Saturday is more fellowship-oriented.

Why did God call Abram to be a blessing to all nations and peoples? Why did Jesus call the church to preach the Gospel to all nations and peoples? The answer is that “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” There you have it. God’s target of love is not a person or one nation, but ALL nations and peoples in the world.

So the questions for us, as people, leaders and pastors in the 21st century are, “Is our church preaching to all nations and peoples or just one group of people Sunday after Sunday?” “Does our church challenge the members to reach out to the new immigrants who move into our community?” “What happens if our church is not involved in or supporting the Ablaze movement?”

We invite you to keep our mission starts and ethnic ministries in your prayers. We also encourage financial gifts from individuals and congregations.

* * *
Hymn: LSB #349 “Hark the Glad Sound”
* * *
Collect: Stir up, we implore you, your power, O Lord, and come that by your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and be saved by your mighty deliverance; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

This article was in the York Dispatch Business Section.
(Submitted by Gloria Bose, Posted here with permission)

Workshop gives strength to the unemployed
Transition: The group brings jobless and underemployed people together to help each other
EYANA ADAH MCMILLAN The York Dispatch
Updated: 12/03/2009 10:46:43 AM EST

Vicar Jim Driskell said he understands the financial, emotional and spiritual challenges that come with unemployment.  With his past work experiences in mind, Driskell has organized a job transition workshop to help people learn how to remain positive as the local unemployment rate climbs close to 9 percent.  The workshop will run from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday at First St. John’s Lutheran Church at 140 W. King St. in York City.  Workshop presenters are Richard Weidner and John Spadafora, local financial consultants with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, which has headquarters in Minneapolis and Wisconsin.  Driskell said he organized the workshop so that unemployed and underemployed people will know that they are not alone in their struggles.



“I’ve been in the corporate world and I’ve been through buyouts, layoffs and closings,” he said. “After a while, you kind of huddle in a room and you start to isolate yourself.”



The Goals:

During the workshop, attendees can identify the areas of their lives in which they need help and encouragement, Driskell said.  “There may be some people who really want spiritual help, while others might need help with budgeting,” he said.  The goal is to have people with similar needs get together in their own groups for fellowship activities, including prayer or going out for coffee, Driskell said.
“You’ve got a lot of people out there who are really hurting,” he said. “They get their identities from their jobs. It affects their self-esteem. So, we just want to show them, ‘Hey, look, you’re not alone; we have other people that are going through the same experience.’”
The workshop also will show attendees the importance of staying connected with a church where they can meet people of faith who will encourage them.



“This is the time … you have a chance to reassess what’s really important in your life and build that faith up again,” he said. “You can get back on track, not only in your job situation, but in your relationship with Jesus Christ.”



– Reach Eyana Adah McMillan at 505-5438 or emcmillan@yorkdis patch.com.



WORKSHOP
A job transition workshop will be offered from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday at First St. John’s Lutheran Church, 140 W. King St., York City. For information, call Vicar Jim Driskell at 843-8597 or 386-3698.

Dear Friends,

Greetings on these Advent days to Christmas. These days call us to quiet reflection in the midst of very full lives so that we may remember the precious gift of Jesus whom God gives to us. And in our remembering, to turn again our lives to him. The devotional you will read today reminds us that God who sent his Son to us, now sends us out with the power of the Holy Spirit to share the Good News of Jesus to all people.

May the power of the Holy Spirit embolden you to invite, share, and welcome all of God’s children this season.

Sally J. Hiller

Being Where – Genesis 3: 8-15

Have you ever watched young children play hide-and-seek? There is a glee about those running to hide from the seeker. Each seeks to find the absolute best place to hide. Usually, in the house it is behind a couch, in a closet, or behind drapes. Some of the hiding places are quite clever and others make no sense at all. If adults are nearby they and the children form a silent conspiracy to keep the hiding places secret. The younger the children the harder it is for them to remain hidden, usually, because the giggles or boredom set in if the spot is too good. They are quickly found and the game starts over with new hiders and a new seeker counting to the prescribed number. It is simple fun. Today, however, we want to talk about hiding that isn’t simple fun. It is deadly serious in fact. Hear how it is recorded in …

Genesis 3:8-15 (ESV)
⁸ And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. ⁹ But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” ¹⁰ And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” ¹¹ He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” ¹² The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” ¹³ Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” ¹⁴ The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.

^15, I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”

In today’s text, God comes walking in the cool of the day. Adam and Eve know of His coming and hide but it is no game. They are hiding from God because they have done exactly what God forbade them to do. They ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In an attempt to be like God they traded that very likeness for far less. They became naked in sin before each other and God. The relationship they enjoyed with God and each other was broken. Now they hide themselves from each other with coverings that will not last and cannot truly cover their nakedness. They hide from God in a garden He created, knowing they dare not approach Him in their nakedness. There is no glee in the hiding and no excitement about being found. There is fear.

God knows their state and instead of pure, right, and just wrath He comes in love seeking them, “Where are you?” In His coming and His question God makes the first move toward fallen humanity because humanity can no longer move toward God. The perfect relationship is broken by sin. Adam and Eve have turned away and hidden themselves.

“Where are you?” It is God’s invitation to come out of hiding and into His presence. The response, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” It is the nature of broken relationships that we turn away from each other and hide. In our brokenness we hide not so much physically but emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. The ultimate hiding place of humanity is in the denial of God. In hiding we once again demonstrate that we are afraid. In hiding we keep secrets. In hiding we lie. In hiding we blame. Oh yes, we blame.

“Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” An invitation to confession and repentance. But, the depth of the fall is quickly realized as the blaming begins. Adam blames God and the woman. Eve blames the serpent.

Interestingly, God does not quibble with their excuses and blaming. His movement is direct. He curses the serpent and Satan who has used the serpent in his scheme to deceive and destroy relationships of the man and woman. In the curse He speaks what is often called the first gospel as He addresses both the downfall of Satan and sacrifice of Jesus. Here is God’s way of framing that gospel.

¹⁵ I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”

One only needs to read a little farther in Genesis to see that Adam and Eve took this promise of one who would “bruise” the head of Satan seriously. When Eve gives birth to Cain she believes he is the one. How wrong she was. The offspring for whom she waited was a long way off. His birth (greatly anticipated for generations and missed by most when it finally came in a stable in Bethlehem) as a virgin girl brought forth the child who would and did indeed bruise the head of Satan and accomplished so much more. She gave him the name that is above all names, Jesus. A name and a destiny because it means “God saves” because he was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. He was both God and human and through him God saved the world.

In Jesus is the fulfillment of the word spoken by God before Adam and Eve to the serpent. He lived in perfect harmony with God. He lived the life that God intended for humanity from the beginning. He fulfilled perfectly the law, the requirements of God, that no man or woman could have fulfilled apart from God. In love for God, the Father, and all of humanity he gave himself as the perfect sacrifice to pay the price of Adam and Eve’s original sin and all the sin of humanity that followed because of their fall. He died to restore all of humanity to God. While his death is of utmost importance, his resurrection from the dead brings the greater promise of life. In fact, Jesus said of himself, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

In accepting Jesus’ sacrifice, God could once again fully embrace all of us and give to us the fullness of life both in this present age and in eternity. We live the life won for us by Jesus here and now and we join with the Church in praying, “Come, Lord Jesus, come,” as we await his triumphant return at the end of time.

During this time of new life in Jesus and waiting for his return we have a mission given to us by Jesus himself.

¹⁸ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

We are compelled by Jesus to share the peace, the wonder, the joy we have with God with others and invite them into this same faith relationship with Him through Jesus. It is a mission grounded in Jesus’ own mission. He said of himself in Luke 19:10, “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

There are millions of people beyond the doors of our ministry who are lost. They are stuck in the broken relationship with God that came about in the fall of Adam and Eve. They do not know that Jesus restored that relationship through his life, death, and resurrection. They do not have the hope we share. Many are seeking for something or someone to fill the emptiness created by the fall. All sorts of things are dumped into this empty hole in peoples’ souls. But it is an emptiness that only God can fill. But God cannot fill it with the saving faith we know and live unless someone shares the message of hope with them. You and I are the “someone” God compels to share the message.

Those “lost” whom Jesus came to seek and save will not wander into our church. Those days are gone. We are compelled by the gospel to take the message out to them. Like God walking in the garden we must ask the question, “Where are you?” Knowing that the “where” is beyond our doors. It is our calling as Advent People who await the return of Jesus to go where those who do not know him are and share the faith we have with them in a way that makes a difference in their lives. It is not enough to simply tell this good news. We must live it in a way that gives proof to the message we proclaim. Our testimony must be one of action. It is a testimony that requires that our hands and knees get dirty. It is a witness that requires that we exhaust ourselves physically, emotionally, and intellectually that others may know the love of Jesus through our presence. We are compelled by this wondrous gospel to be Jesus incarnate in the midst of people who are lost.

After Adam and Eve fell into sin God proved Himself to be a seeking God, one who made the first move toward fallen humanity because we could not move toward him. He invited Adam and Eve back into relationship with Him and assured them that He would redeem their sin. Through Jesus he fulfilled the promise of the first gospel. Jesus in turn has given this gospel into our lives that we may share it with those who do not yet know the love and grace of God. The gospel compels those of us who have it to go where those who need are and share it in a way that is winsome by both word and deed. Amen.

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Hymn: “In Adam We Have All Been One” LSB 569
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Collect: Loving Lord God, all humanity, like Adam and Eve, seek to hide from You, but out of Your gracious love for us You seek with the Gospel of grace all who hide by means of those You have found. Grant that we may gladly carry Your search for those who hide into our communities and beyond to the end that the ones hiding from You may obtain eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ. Colossians 4: 2-3

Dear Mission Prayer Partners,

How are your Advent reflections going? We are moving into week three of Advent, the Light is coming closer. Are you ready? I am enjoying these days of preparing: making time for quiet reflection and prayer. As I read the reports of Mission Planters and teams, I am amazed at the incredible things that are happening and all the many ways that people are sharing the Word. In my devotions this morning, I read these words: “You serve a big God. You don’t need to become intimidated by the grand scope of the things you pray about. They may be bigger than you are, but they are never bigger than God is.” When I think of the world that God desires to be one with him, it can be intimidating. When I think about one child whose life has been changed because they attended one of our schools, I give thanks. Rev. Lopez shared this week that he was at the hospital and prayed for the son of a woman he had met earlier. This young boy was in intensive care and the family had been called in because he was not given long for life on this earth. Pastor Lopez was asked to pray for him and as he was praying, he noticed a changed taking place in the young boy. There was a medical turn-around and the young boy was healed. His mother knew that it was because of the prayers to God that made a difference. Later when she saw Pastor Lopez she asked if she could turn her life over to him and the church. He gently helped her to see that she needed to turn her life over to God – the healer and author of life. And she did.

Sharing with one person may seem huge, sharing with an entire community may seem insurmountable, but never with God. For him, the celebration of one who was lost and who is now found fills the heavens and the task of changing the world with the Gospel is joy. Our tasks may seem big – but they are never bigger than God is.

As you continue your journey to Christmas, continue to commit the task of reaching people with the Good News of Salvation to God. We desire your prayer support and we are watching it make a difference.

Our Prayer Goals for 2009

Let us join our hearts and voices as we pray for:

1. Those who do not know Jesus Christ and the joy of His salvation for them.
2. The work of mission outreach teams, missionaries, and outreach efforts that will make a Gospel difference in our communities.
3. Boldness in each of our lives that we will regularly share the Good News of Jesus with others.
4. The continued growth in prayer partners for mission. (Our goal is 3000 pray-ers, we have 2033.)

New Prayer Resources:
Check out the new prayer resources now available on the SED website.

Thank you for your mission prayers, they are making an eternal difference.
Sally J. Hiller
Executive Director for Congregational Outreach and District Operations
Southeastern District, LCMS