Advent Lutheran Church - Mentor, OH - Pastor's Corner

Dear Members and Friends of Advent Lutheran

At the end of April my nine-month plus Interim Ministry comes to an end.

I wish to express my sincere and heartfelt thanks to the Staff of Advent--- Gail, Liz, Doreen, Chris, Cheryl and Tim (I have considered Tim staff, as he graciously volunteers a considerable amount of time).   I have appreciated the ministry of the staff.   I have especially been thankful to Gail for her going above and beyond the call of duty.   I have greatly appreciated her ministry and have given her some comp time (however not as much as she is entitled to).

I wish to express my sincere thanks for the Executive Council (especially, Sandy and Dave) during the interim period, as well as the members of the Congregational Council and the various standing Teams of the Congregation.    A word of affirmation and appreciation to the Healing Touch and Friends of Daniel ministries and a special word of thanks to Chris for her leadership and ministry at Advent.   She too gives beyond the call of duty.

I would be amiss not to express my deepest appreciation to the team members of Crosswalk!   In my almost 25 years of ordained ministry, they are THE best contemporary group I have worked with and heard in the worship life of a congregation and its ministry.

There have been joys and challenges during this interim period.   All of which are normal, and the beginning stages for the next step in the transitions under the pastoral leadership of Pastor Steve Bond.   There were some areas that were not completed nor addressed.   However, I am very confident that the current leadership is fully aware of the growth areas within the life and ministry of the congregation.   I am confident over time and under the leadership of Pastor Bond these will be addressed as well as to enhance and continue the congregation’s areas of strength.

Our theme since last September that began on Holy Cross Sunday has been --- Christ the Center of our Times, Lives and Mission!   The fundamental question during the interim period and frankly, an ongoing question for any community of faith made up of brothers and sisters in Christ is, "What is God calling us to do in this place and in this time?"   I encourage you to challenge yourselves and each other to ask, answer and live out the ministry that God will be calling you to do!

It is my sincere hope and prayer that when you, the faithful and committed members of Advent Lutheran Church, gather to celebrate the installation of Pastor Steve Bond as your next regularly called pastor, you will pay close attention to the questions that he is asked and those that are asked of you.   They are not "liturgical" questions, they are questions and responses mutually lived out in a healthy and independent manner (vs. a co-dependant manner).

At the very beginning of the interim ministry, I shared repeatedly (as I have always done during my pastoral ministry) that there is no perfect congregation!   There is no perfect pastor!   This seems to be an ever growing challenge for the church today.   Regretfully, this pattern is becoming more the norm than the exception.   This is pastorally troubling since it takes everyone away from what God HAS called us to be and do in the world today!!

We live in challenging times, yet as people of faith we are to RISE to the opportunities and challenges that are set before us.   We are an Easter people (well almost - as of the writing of this article).   We have hope!   And as the gathered and sent people of God we have a choice to see the glass half full or half empty…the results are dependent upon how each individual views, understands and faithfully daily lives out the prime directive to GO and MAKE DISCIPLES and to have an unwavering faith and commitment to be a part of a truly Christian community of faith.

The people of God have a great opportunity to make a difference in peoples lives.   What would happen if the church responded in a way that answers the question of "What IS God calling us to be and do as a Christian community of faith!?"   Wow...the possibilities are endless and are indeed reachable... all we need to do is take advantage of being nurtured ourselves as disciples of our Lord in order to GO and MAKE more disciples!

May God continue to abundantly bless you.

Shalom!

In Christ,
Pastor Phil Kunder
(April/May 2010)

LENT

Beloved People of God…

I pray that you are finding your Lenten Disciplines rewarding and challenging.   Over 100 copies of "A Handbook for the Discipline of Lent" have been picked by you; and about the same amount of copies of the brief discourse on the Triduum (The Three Days).   More are available in the narthex.

It is my sincere hope that many of the members of the congregation will afford themselves this spiritual experience, in an effort to enrich your faith/life journey.   In doing so, these experiences address two of the Natural Church Development growth areas for Advent Lutheran Church (Lutheran Identity and Passionate Spirituality).

I hope the inclusion in last month’s Candle of feedback from other lay people from previous congregations that I have served, move you to attend... and at least be open and try it.   The resources were provided to assist you as much as possible to have a meaningful experience, especially if you have never experienced it before.   If you have any questions about anything related to Lent, Holy Week, and the Triduum, please do not hesitate to ask.

Due to scheduling conflicts, the previously announced class Triduum 101, is cancelled.   However, I will attempt to have a "Triduum Moment" during Adult Ed class (Our study of the Gospel of St. Luke on Sunday mornings).

On March 21st at the 9am Liturgy, three young people of our congregation will Affirm their Baptismal Faith (Confirmation).   This rite of the church usually does not happen during the season of Lent (the color of the season remains purple on this day).   Due to a variety of reasons, one of which is the current state of the Call Process, the date of Affirmation/Confirmation was moved up.   The basic bottom line of Affirmation/Confirmation is for young people (and adults) to Affirm their Baptismal Covenant and to become more responsible and active in the mission of the church and of Advent Lutheran Church.   It is NOT a "graduation" from or even into church, (a word and some local practices perpetuate).   It is ALL related to the Sacrament of Baptism and the living out of our faith 24/7/365.

As is my pastoral practice, I involve the parents, siblings, Godparents, Grandparents in the Rite of Affirmation/Confirmation.   We look forward to this day!

In Christ,
Pastor Phil
(March 2010)

From the Pastor

By now, I have had the opportunity to meet many of you face to face.   I may not be able to remember your name, yet, I feel I am already getting a sense for who you are as a community and I can sum it up in one word: gifted.   I have witnessed your use of some of these gifts in your hospitality to Linda and me as we continue to adjust to our new home, in your care for one another through your grief, in worship, in leadership and in visioning.    We have within this community many gifted in music and other artistic expressions.   We have others gifted with the ability to teach and others gifted in areas of administration.   I have experienced the fruit of love, joy, enthusiasm and others to name but some of God’s gifts given through the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost is a time to celebrate the gifts that God has given and to remember that they have been given to build up the Body of Christ for ministry to the World.   It is a time to continue to discover untapped gifts of which we might be yet unaware.

I heard of one congregation where a man started to ask himself "what is my gift?" because he didn’t feel he "fit" in any of the traditional ministries of the Church (e.g. – choirs, education, youth ministry, council, etc.).   Instead, he knew he was a skilled auto-mechanic.    He started a group that met on Saturdays to fix cars in the Church parking lot—teaching his skill to teens and adults.   Eventually, they found a cheap car in need of a lot of work and were able to make the necessary repairs to turn it into a safe and reliable mode of transportation.   And... then, they gave the car to a family in need of transportation.   Ministry took place on a variety of levels as older members mentored their congregation’s and neighborhood youth.   Valuable skills were taught.   People in need were served.   And joy was experience by many who saw that they were making a difference in one another’s lives.

What is or are your gift/s? I look forward to joining with you as we seek the answer to this question and share in the joy of developing and using those gifts in our future together.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Steve

(June/July 2010)