Thoughts from Pastor Ron…

There was a great deal of concern in the early 16th century over how much the people really understood about the Christian faith and the changes in teaching and theology that were taking place as a result of the reformation movement. The Small Catechism was not written to be used by the pastors for teaching teenagers! It was written to be used by the head of the household. The Small Catechism includes the basic teachings on the commandments, creed, Lord’s Prayer, Holy Baptism, private confession and absolution, and Communion. It also includes instruction on daily prayers, tables of duties and Christian questions to be asked by the local priest of all during private confession before they came for the Sacrament of the Altar.

The Large Catechism was written for the pastors, and was to be used by them for their own study and as an aid to their preaching. It also lays out what they were to required of the head’s of the households in their parish:  “Anyone who does not know it should not be numbered among Christians and should not be admitted to any sacraments.  For this reason young people should be thoroughly taught the parts of the catechism and diligently drilled in their practice. It is the duty of the head of the household at least once a week to examine the children and servants one after the other and ascertain what they  know or have learned if they do not know it, to keep them faithfully at it. (Preface to the Large Catechism, 1529)

Is here the same concern today over how much people really understand about the Christian faith?  Have you ever really thought about the difference between “you must do …” and “now I can do …”?

May this season of Lent be a special blessing to you and your family.

Shalom
† Pastor Ron  Read more… »

February 23, 2010

Christ Lutheran “Church Chat”

Thoughts from Pastor Ron…
I could have titled the next few Sunday s “everything you ever wanted to know about the catechism in 2 hours or less.” Dr. Timothy Wengert, one of the world’s most renown scholars on the life and writings of Martin Luther calls Luther’s Small Catechism “the heart of the Christian life. It reveals our sickness, leads us to the Great Physician, who gives us the prescription for the medicine that heals us.”  This little book was actually written to be used by the head of the house for teaching of the family and everyone who was working or living in the household.

Luther did not invent the catechism. Augustine changed the Latin verb catechizo to a noun (catechismus) in the 5th century.  The Latin verb came directly from the Greek (kataecho) which describes a form of oral instruction: to repeat over and over again. The teacher said something, and the students repeated it until they had learned it correctly – oral repetition. In the church, it came to mean the basic instruction given to all beginners in their faith.

By the late Middle Ages the catechism meant the Apostle’s Creed, followed by the 10 Commandments, then the Lord’s Prayer, other prayers such as the Ave Maria, a prayer to St. Gregory, prayers at the monastic hours, the doxology, the 5 commandments of the Holy Church, a list of 23 specific sins,  the seven good works, and how to “do” confession. Parish priests were required to preach on this four times a year and test everyone on them during confession. Not knowing the catechism resulted in even more penance – and may have been grounds for exclusion from communion.

Everything was structured towards the sacrament of penance: moving from contrition to confession to works of satisfaction required for earthly punishment. More next week….

Don’t forget the soup supper before Vespers – and invite a friend out to dinner!

Peace,
† Pastor Ron   Read more… »

February 16, 2010

Christ Lutheran “Church Chat”

Thoughts from Pastor Ron…

Some of the things Pastors think about –

Have you ever noticed that while the world goes about its holiday every year on the same date in the “common calendar”, the date for the most Holy Day of the Church year moves around? Maybe is it because the world is out of synch with God and God’s time?

Have you ever noticed that the two most important Holy Days in the Church year are preceded by 40 days of preparation?  During one of the periods, society (and we, too) seems to focus on nothing but acquiring? But during the other, which the world pretty much ignores expect for the Mardi Gras party (without really knowing the history), we focus on giving “things” up. Have we in the Church got it backwards?

Have you ever thought about why we light more and more candles leading up to Christ Mass – in the middle of winter – yet seem to focus inward and get more and more somber as we move toward Easter and Pentecost in the spring as the days are getting longer?

During the weeks between Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday you will see some new items showing up in the sanctuary. They are being made by our Sunday school children (with the help of their teachers – Beth, Dave, and Laurel - and two of our artists – Charles and Zack). These “new” items come very from a very old tradition. Do you recognize any of them? If so, what do they mean to you? If not, what do you think of them?

As we being the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday this week, may this be a time of blessing for you.

Shalom
† Pastor Ron   Read more… »

February 9, 2010

Christ Lutheran “Church Chat”

Thoughts from Pastor Ron…
The season of Epiphany is drawing to a close, as is our winter Book of Faith Bible study series. We will be handing out surveys in our classes this week to those who were in the various classes to get their feedback on the material, the instructors and the schedule of the classes. My concern is to learn why you did not participate.

Was it the schedules of classes? Would another time or day of the week work better for you? Should these be part of the Sunday morning adult forum?

Was it the topics? Some ideas for the spring sessions (after Lent) are: the book of Numbers, John (this would be a continuation from January and February), Romans, Galatians, 1 John, Lectionary readings from the Book of Revelation, (in)famous people of the Hebrew scriptures (“A Gardener, 2 Travelers, and a Cheat” or “A Prostitute, 2 Prophets, & Poor Ol’ Job”)

Was it the location(s)? Would you rather have the classes organized as small group meeting in homes (would you be willing to host?), at the church(es) (and which one?), or someplace else?

We need your input!

Blessings,
† Pastor Ron   Read more… »

February 2, 2010

Christ Lutheran “Church Chat”

Thoughts from Pastor Ron…

Wow! It’s February already! The big holidays are rapidly approaching! Which ones are those? Glad you asked! Why Super Bowl Sunday and Valentines day of course! Oh, and don’t forget that Valentines day weekend is a three day weekend – since Monday the 15th is President’s day! Woo-hoo!

Those may be the world’s holidays – but there is a much, much more important Holy Day this month: Ash Wednesday is February 17th. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Easter Season in the church year, which culminates not on Easter day, but at Pentecost. The period of Lent is a time of preparation, of reflection, of self-introspection.

If you have been coming to the adult forums on Sunday, you are aware that there are a lot of questions with widely divergent feelings and interpretations of Scripture. All congregations sometimes have to wrestle with difficult questions. A significant issue came up at another congregation where I was working with the confirmation students a number of years ago. It got to the point where they were actually forced to bring in an outside facilitator! During this time, we posed a question to our confirmation students: “Where is Jesus in the midst of conflict between Christians?” One of our 7th graders responded, “He is in the solution.” This young person was not speaking like a child – this young person made a very profound statement of faith.
Shalom,
† Pastor Ron

CHOIR PRACTICE STARTS ON SUNDAY, 2/7 AT 11:30 FOR ASH WEDNESDAY COMBINED SERVICE AT TRINITY LUTHERAN

2010 Synod Assembly News No. 1
The 2010 assembly for the Southwest California Synod will be held in Burbank on June 3-5. The congregations voting representatives at the assembly are the pastor and the lay delegates. The number of lay delegates for each congregation is based on the number of active members. We elected *** and **** as our two lay delegates at the December congregational meeting. I will pass on agenda information as soon as it becomes available.

The first item that has been published is the elections, We will be electing the synod council treasurer, secretary and five at-large synod council members. (clergy or lay, male or female). We will also be electing one youth representative (male, 10th – 11th grade). We will also be electing ten voting members to the 2011 churchwide assembly, one at-large position for the endowment committee and one synod council representative from our Channel Islands conference.

Nominations are due in the  synod office no later than 15 Feb 2010. Please check with the office for the detailed job descriptions and nomination forms. If you have any questions, please contact me in the church office, or your synod delegates **** or ***.

† Pastor Ron.  (No, the names *** and **** are not misspelled. We did not have anyone volunteer at the December congregational meeting! How about YOU?)  Read more… »

January 26, 2010

Christ Lutheran “Church Chat”

Thoughts from Pastor Ron…
The last two weekends have found many of us taking time to be on planning retreats. On the 16th, John Spiess, Karen Tapphorn, Frank Renda, Gerda Knudson and I were at the SALT (Serving as Lutherans Together) board retreat, along with members from Grace and Trinity. If you were in church last Sunday, you heard Frank tell us all about the expanded food bank. We also talked about the need, and opportunities at UCSB and Isla Vista. Campus ministry has lost its funding due to cut backs at the national and synodical level. The consensus at this meeting was that SALT was not yet ready to take on responsibility for these two areas. It was also noted that we – Christ Lutheran – are the closest Lutheran congregation. What does this mean to us?

Last weekend was our annual PPC planning retreat. We also invited the call committee. The retreat was based on the four key tasks specified in my letter of call from you: develop youth programs, equip the congregation for evangelism, shepherd us to know God’s will, help us grow in faith toward God and service to others. The primary activity was based on the ELCA Evangelism Assessment Survey. The survey looks at prayer life, how we share our faith, whether we are an evangelizing church, community outreach, discipleship, and communications. We evaluated how important these are, and how well we are doing. The evaluation boards will be in the fellowship hall next weekend – take a look at them.

We looked at the question “What does Evangelism mean?” invite/encourage visitors, share the good news, create opportunities to invite friends (for example,  worship services, Bible studies, camping, into small groups in our homes, community work and service projects (such as Habitat, Food Bank), being sensitive to our neighbor’s needs, improved publicity, build relationships, speak the gospel/listen/share your faith.  Everything begins with prayer, and the goal of Christian evangelism is that people come to faith in Jesus.

What does CLC mean? Christ Lutheran Church? How about Caring with the Love of   Christ?

What do you think of the following mission statement for Christ Lutheran:

Helping our neighbors and community through worship, witness, prayer and service to others in Christ’s love.

Watch the news letter for more info on exciting opportunities in the near future for you to invite others to visit us (besides our Sunday worship, of course!).
† Pastor Ron   Read more… »

January 19, 2010

Christ Lutheran “Church Chat”

Thoughts from Pastor Ron…

Today (Monday, January 18th) is the day that we as a nation have set aside in the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King. A lot of the speeches and events of today will focus on his role in our countries struggle for civil rights for our African-American brothers and sisters, as they should. Racism is still very much alive in our society. While the black face draws attention to this sad fact, they are not the only ones who are the victims of racism. Any one who is “different” can be the target. Native Americans were the “savages” to be conquered. Chinese could work as cooks, do laundry, work on the railroads as laborers. There was a time when the signs said, “Irish need not apply”. If you read the great novel of Swedish immigration to the prairies, Giants in the Earth by OE Rolvaag, the Italian Catholics were the “other” to be shunned.

Today is also the minor festival day of the Confession of St. Peter. This commemorates Peter’s confession to the question of Jesus: “Who do you say that I am, Peter?” Dr. Martin Luther King was first of all a preacher – one called by God to proclaim the Gospel to all people. Last Sunday’s Gospel was John’s story of the transformation of the water into wine, and next Sunday’s is Luke’s story of Jesus teaching on Isaiah 58 and 61. There is a time for preaching – and there is a time for acting.

Five of us from our congregation spent last Saturday at a SALT (serving as Lutheran’s together) planning retreat, and this coming Saturday the PPC and others will be at our annual planning retreat. Broad statements and goals are great, but we are called to concrete action. The bridegroom and steward of the feast in last weeks Gospel weren’t interested in a discussion of which year had the best vintage – they needed wine, and needed it right then. What is our mission? What is God calling you – and us – to accomplish in the next 6 months to 1 year?

The following blessing is from Dr. King

The cross we bear precedes the crown we wear. Jesus calls us to take up our cross as He took up his cross, with all its difficulties and agonizing and suffering, and carry it until that very cross leaves it mark upon us. We follow our Lord and Savior not to earn a crown, but out of love for Jesus the Christ, who has first loved us. We have been saved through grace in order that we may  be free to serve. May this Holy meal strengthen you as you go to do the work to which your Lord and Savior has called you.

Receive the blessing of your cross, in the name of the Father + and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost

Peace,
† Pastor Ron  Read more… »

January 12, 2010

Christ Lutheran “Church Chat”

Thoughts from Pastor Ron…

Here we are … the Christmas decorations are put away, it is the middle of winter (yes, it really is winter - even here in sunny, southern California!). The next few weeks will see the paraments and vestments changed back to green – the symbol of “ordinary time” in the liturgical year. But the season of Epiphany is hardly ordinary (common, usual).

Kelly and I asked the students at confirmation last week what Epiphany is all about. One of our students immediately said “it is about a new understanding” – and she was exactly right. An epiphany is an appearance, a manifestation, a new understanding. What is your new understanding of Jesus? How are you sharing this new understanding with someone else so that they, too, may have a new understanding of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus?

What is your new understanding of who we are called to be as Christ Lutheran Church – Christ’s church to this community? What is your new understanding of what defines our community? Is it the neighborhood across the street? Within a 1 mile radius? Within the greater “Goleta metropolitan area”?

We are having a SALT (serving as Lutheran’s together) planning retreat on January 16th, followed by our annual PPC planning retreat on the 23rd. What is our mission? Where do you see our congregation in 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, 10 years? What are your thoughts? Ideas?  How are we being called to make Jesus manifest?

Peace,
† Pastor Ron   Read more… »

January 4, 2010

Christ Lutheran “Church Chat”

Thoughts from Pastor Ron…
A new year, a new child of God, two new babies, a new life eternal, new classes. The cycle of the year and of life in our congregation continues. In a few weeks, we will be welcoming new members. Our church family celebrated the sacrament of baptism of Alexander Jones, and a few short days later gave thanks for the baptism of Henry and celebrated the promise of eternal life which we all received in our own baptisms.
Once again, you all demonstrated your love and commitment to the life and needs of our congregation. Thank you to all who helped with setting up the extra seating in the sanctuary for Henry’s funeral – we were “standing room only”. …and then thank you again, for putting everything away in time for worship on Sunday. Please keep all Henry and Natalie’s children and grandchildren in your prayers. Grief is a not a nice, straight forward series of events, it is a complex process. It is often harder for the family in the weeks and months after the funeral than it is in the immediate time of the death of our loved ones.
Check the calendar in this newsletter for the new adult classes. There are classes Tuesday evening, Wednesday evening and Wednesday during the day. The Sunday morning adult forum will continue its study of the ELCA social statement for the next couple of weeks. Our next planned topic for the Sunday morning forum is the Apocrypha and Pseudopigrapha. The what? Come, join us – and find out! I will give you a hint – there are some books of history, some books with teachings and instructions on living in the community, and even some funny stories!

Peace,
† Pastor Ron

An Invitation
Henry Penner’s committal service will be at the Santa Barabara Cemetery tomorrow, January 5, at 1:00 p.m.  All are invited to join the family. Read more… »

December 28, 2009

Christ Lutheran “Church Chat”

Thoughts from Pastor Ron…
Thank you to everyone for your most generous gift. Helen and I were very surprised at your gift – and even more surprised when we opened the envelope! This is a wonderful, caring congregation that repeatedly demonstrates God’s love in everything you do – both within the congregation and in the community. We are very happy to be part of the family of Christ Lutheran Church.

A huge Thank You! and standing ovation to Laverne for all her work with the choir – and to the choir for their gift of music. Another special Thank You! and standing ovation to Michael, Sarah, and Rebecca Shasberger for their gift of music and leadership of our worship services and carol singing before the services during advent.

Thank you to all who came out for the advent services, the soup cooks, and Beth for her crafts with the youngsters.

Thank you to Greg for taking charge of the caroling, all the drivers and the chili cooks! It was hard to tell who was having more fun – the ones for whom we sang, or the kids of all ages who were singing.

It was a joy to see a full house on Christ Mass eve. Thank you to Kelly and our children for their Christmas pageant (and to the mom’s and dad’s who practiced with them!) Thank you to all who came to worship on Christ Mass morning, and to all who once again provided bountiful munchies for the luncheon. It was fun to see the families – and we did have visitors from the community for all of the services. One visitor told me that he came because we were the only church in Goleta that had a service on Christmas day – and that he would be back! And then, to top off the week, we had the opportunity to celebrate the sacrament of Holy Baptism on the first Sunday of Christmas. Some argue against infant baptism. Some would say that Alexander didn’t understand what happened to him, but I think he did through the mystery of the work of the Holy Spirit. Scripture tells that that John knew Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit and leapt in Elizabeth’s womb.

In the midst of the laughter and joy of the holidays and the sacrament of baptism, we also share that mixture of grief and celebration at the death of one of our family. I was called from the smiles and wishes of Merry Christmas! on the patio Sunday morning to go to the hospital to be with Henry Penner, Sr. and his family. Henry went home to be with the Lord Sunday the 27th. There is sadness at his death, and yet we celebrate his eternal life. His service will be on Saturday, January 2 at 11:00 a.m., committal at Santa Barbara Cemetery will be next week.. I know that you will hold the entire family in your prayers.

Peace,
† Pastor Ron  Read more… »