May 31, 2010
Christ Lutheran “Church Chat”
THOUGHTS FROM PASTOR RON…
I have been talking about the spiritual journey that we are all on for the last six weeks in my weekly thoughts and reflections. We come from different places with different histories, yet we are all called to be ambassadors and disciples of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. This week, women and men of different races and backgrounds and ages and personal histories will come together in response to that call at our synod assembly. The assembly will be held on June 3rd-5th at the Marriott in Burbank. I ask each of you to pray for our synod assembly every day. Pray that the Holy Spirit will be present at this assembly and that the hearts of all the delegates will be open to hear the words of Jesus. Pray that all who are there representing the churches of this synod may have the gift of discernment as we seek to understand God’s will for our synod and the church entrusted to us all.
Shalom, Pastor Ron  Read more… »

May 10, 2010
Christ Lutheran “Church Chat”
THOUGHTS FROM PASTOR RON…
Last week I talked about the different stones in the labyrinth, and how these seemed to me to represent all of us. We have our differences, and we are all part of Christ’s Church. The first time I visited this labyrinth I simply sat outside and looked at it. It was late in the day, and I didn’t have time. I just saw rocks, gravel and sand. When I actually immersed myself in the labyrinth and began to walk toward that sacred center, I saw that there it wasn’t just sterile, dry sand and rocks. There was life all along the path that had been hidden until I entered in. There were all kinds and colors of small flowers and small patches of green. It can be like that in our spiritual lives, too. If we just sit on the outside looking in, our spiritual lives seem dead. We become dry, sterile. As we seek to walk and draw closer to God on a daily basis, life springs up in the most
unexpected places. God has been planting seeds and nurturing this life with the Holy Spirit all
along, we just never noticed. Are there times in your daily life when you don’t have time to pray? When you don’t have time to read your Bible? Did you know that Luther’s morning, evening and some of his table blessings are in the back of your ELW hymnal (pp 1166-1167)? We know that Jesus spent a lot of time in prayer with His Father. I invite you to meditate on Luke 11:1-4 this week.

Peace, Pastor Ron  Read more… »

THOUGHTS FROM PASTOR RON…

The labyrinth at the retreat center is laid out on the desert floor. The path is outlined by rocks. Some of the rocks are large, some small; some smooth, some jagged; some light, some dark.  Some are heavy granite –dense compacted by a lifetime of pressure, some are lava – light, full of holes showing their lifetime of bursting forth from hidden places. Some are polished as they tumbled along the river of life; some are rough – blasted out of their comfortable bedrock and taken to a new place.

As I walked the path, I thought of our church– or is that Church? Does the word “church” mean just our congregation, the national denomination, our Lutheran heritage and theology, or Christ’s catholic (universal) Church, or something else? The members of our church (Church?) are like those stones. We have different histories, different make-ups, different understandings that are shaped by our individual histories – and yet all coming together as Christ’s church gathered around the sacred center of the cross. We are Pharisees, fishers, tax collectors, women, men, Greeks, Jews, Swedes, Germans, Finns, Koreans, Hispanic, and a whole mix of others.
The labyrinth would not be the labyrinth without all of the different stones. Our church would not be our church without each of us. You can take away stones and create a new labyrinth, just as people can leave and create a new church. You can also add stones and expand the labyrinth, just as you can add people and expand the church. The cornerstone of the church is the stone that the builders rejected – Christ the Lord. I invite you to meditate on one, or more, of four readings this week. They are Psalm 118:21-24, Luke 20:9-19, Acts 4:8-12, and 1st Peter 2:1-10). There is a common theme. Do you see it? What does it mean to you?

Peace, Pastor Ron  Read more… »

THOUGHTS FROM PASTOR RON…
Last week I introduced the idea of a labyrinth and said that I would be sharing my walk at the Lutheran retreat center in Carefree, Arizona. Walking a labyrinth is not only a spiritual exercise, it is a metaphor for

our walk with God. As you walk the labyrinth, you know where you will wind up, but it is hard to tell just exactly where you are. You seem to be getting closer, then all of a sudden your path takes you further away from the center. Sometimes the path of our daily life can seem like it is taking us further away from God; further away from His grace and mercy. But the Good News is that even at those times, we know that God is not just waiting for us, he is searching for us.  Are there times in your life that you wander – and wonder? Which character are you in the story that Jesus told as recorded in the Gospel according to St. Luke 15:11-32?
Peace, Pastor Ron  Read more… »

April 19, 2010
Christ Lutheran “Church Chat”
THOUGHTS FROM PASTOR RON…
April 19th anno Domini 2010

One of the things we are required to do as pastors is continuing education. Last week, all new pastors and rostered lay leaders from Region 2 of the ELCA had the opportunity to gather at the Lutheran Spirit in the Desert retreat center in Carefree, Arizona. Our topic for this retreat was spiritual disciplines. What are the practices that help us – and all Christians – stay connected with God on a daily basis and both guide and strengthen us on our spiritual journey? We had time for quiet devotional reading of scripture and other authors; practiced various types of prayer (meditative, centering, breathe, praying the hours from the Breviary), lectio divina (Holy reading), soul collage, journaling, meditation and walking the labyrinth.
A labyrinth is not a maze. Mazes are puzzles designed to trick and deceive; a maze has dead ends and is designed to confuse. The history of the labyrinth goes back thousands of years and is one of the oldest contemplative devices known. They have been used through the centuries for prayer, ritual, initiation, and personal spiritual growth. The curving path only has one way into the sacred center, and one way out. There are no tricks, blind alleys, high walls or thorny hedges. No matter where you are, you can always see the sacred center. Once you start, you are guided gently and faultlessly to the center of both the labyrinth – and where you are at that moment in time.

The first time I visited the labyrinth, I simply sat and looked. The second and third time, I
actually walked the labyrinth. I’d like to share that experience with you over the next few weeks,
if I may. At the beginning of the year, we gave our confirmation students journals. We told them
that this was for their private use, unless they chose to share their thoughts with someone else.
Kelly and I would ask them about their journals from time to time, but only to check on the
process. In a way, these next couple of weeks will be an invitation for you to look into a journal. I invite
you to keep this newsletter – at least the picture which is part of this week’s reflection – and trace the labyrinth. The picture is the plan of the labyrinth at the cathedral of Chartres in France.  If you have ever walked a labyrinth yourself, I invite you to share that experience with me, or
others, as you are comfortable. You might find that simply tracing the path through the picture of
the labyrinth is a spiritual exercise. What spiritual practices help you walk with God? What do you do on a daily basis? Is this a topic for an adult class?

Peace, Pastor Ron  Read more… »

April 12, 2010
Christ Lutheran “Church Chat”
THOUGHTS FROM PASTOR RON…
Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

I expect that if you ask your friends who are not active in a church about Easter, they might say
something about Jesus. They might also say something about the Easter bunny, Easter eggs,
school spring vacation, new spring fashions, or even the vernal equinox. To the world, Easter –
whatever it is – has come and gone. But this is the Easter season. The Easter season of the church
calendar lasts for 50 days, and extends from the first Mass of Easter of the Vigil until the Festival
of Pentecost.

Speaking of your unchurched friends, we have some special events coming up that would be a
great opportunity to invite them to join you. First, starting this week, is the Easter season Bible
studies (see below for more details). We will also be starting a new series in our Sunday morning
adult discussion group. This is the video series by Dr. Powell on How Lutheran’s interpret
Scripture. This would be a great opportunity to invite someone to see who might wonder “what
is this Lutheran church all about?”

Greg Honnold, who will be helping to lead the discussion, commented last Sunday morning that
“It is very well done; I’m excited about it.” Come and see … and share.
Other events that are coming up are Community Preparedness Day, VBS, and Lutheran Summer
Camp. Who will YOU invite?

Peace, Pastor Ron  Read more… »

April 5, 2010
Christ Lutheran “Church Chat”
THOUGHTS FROM PASTOR RON…

Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

What a glorious Holy Week and Easter! A H-U-G-E Thank you! to everyone who helped
with planning and leading worship services.

I’m not sure where to start – so I will start with the children – for their wonderful Stations of the
Cross artwork. We will leave these up for a few weeks so that everyone can have a chance to see
them, maybe even walk the stations and meditate on them. Look closely at the gift our children
have given us. Look closely at some of the details they have included as they have come to a
deeper understanding – there are some things in their pictures that at first surprised me – but as I
thought about it, my response became – Of course – why hadn’t I thought of that! Thank you to
their Sunday school teachers and their art mentors – Zach and Charles.

Thank you to Laverne and everyone in the choir for their music during the entire Lenten season,
Holy Week and Easter. Thank you to Dave and Laurel for playing their guitars on the beach – it
was a little nippy, but their fingers were nimble. Thank you for everyone who brought in flowers
for the cross and to decorate the sanctuary. Thank you to the altar guild for setting up the beach
& reconfiguring the sanctuary so many times. Every color, every banner, every piece of art and
furniture is there not only so that we have a beautiful, welcoming place to worship but is also
making a theological statement. A special thank you to Kathy for all of her help and leadership.

Thank you to all of our assisting ministers, acolytes, readers, and a big hug to Beth Lee for
designing the Easter Vigil service. Thank you to Michael, Sarah and Rebecca for sharing their
gifts of music and leading us with the sound of “drums, horn, cymbals” – and cello and violin.

Thank you to Kelly and our youth for the wonderful Easter breakfast again this year – and to the
cooks (Julie, Arleen, Tori, Laurel, Kathy, Karen W., Norma, Jan, Lucy & Lynette).

If you happen to see Tracey (our new secretary) around, please also thank her. She started the
first of March – and had a real baptism of fire with 6 bulletins and 2 song books just for last
week. Oh, yeah – plus the leaders books for all 6 services, and the “usual stuff” of the office.

I probably forgot someone – my apologies! One of the special joys for me as your pastor is how
active everyone in our congregation is. I should really just list all of the names in the directory!
Peace, Pastor Ron  Read more… »

Thoughts from Pastor Ron…
Have you noticed something new in the sanctuary? (hint – look at the walls). Two months ago
when we were talking about the worship plans for Lent and Holy Week, I threw out an idea to do
something around the Stations of the Cross for Good Friday. I feel very strongly that our worship
time should be an active event, and that this must include our children. I really did not know
what to expect when I suggested that the preparation for the Good Friday service could include
our children through artwork.

The results are amazing! Thank you to our children (and their teachers and art mentors – Zach
and Charles) for their Stations of the Cross pictures in the sanctuary. The main idea behind the
Stations of the Cross is that it is a means by which we can each meditate on the passion of Christ.
As with all paintings, sometimes you want to be up close and look at the artists technique and
details, at other times you might want to sit back and just take in the whole picture. I would
invite you to not just glance around on a Sunday morning during worship, but to actually walk
the stations; meditate on them. Look closely at the gift our children have given us. Look closely
at some of the details they have included as they have come to a deeper understanding – there are
some things in their pictures that at first surprised me – but as I thought about it, my response
became – Of course – why hadn’t I thought of that!

I pray that the children’s gift would lead each of you to a deeper understanding. Invite a friend –
or better yet, a stranger.

Peace, Pastor Ron  Read more… »

Thoughts from Pastor Ron…

We have been taking a brief look at the Catechism on Sunday mornings. There is much, much more depth to these basic teachings of the Lutheran church than I can even begin to list in a short sermon. What questions do you have? Have you heard anything new – or has your memory been refreshed from your own catechism class y-e-a-r-s ago? Have you heard something that was disturbing or challenging?

This coming Sunday we will be focusing on the Sacrament of the Altar. What do the different names we use – Holy Communion, Eucharist, Sacrament of the Altar – mean to you?  What is the third sacrament of the Lutheran church? (hint – it is not coffee hour, potluck or jello in the proper liturgical color of the church year!)

The adult forum for the next few weeks will be talking about these questions. Come join us!

Paz,

Pastor Ron  Read more… »

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… »