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September 2009 LINK

In This Issue

• Pastor's Notes
• Worship Themes
• Presidents report
• Linking the People of Faith
• Birthdays and Anniversarys
• Endowment Committee
• Sharing Faith
• Choir
• Schedule
• Serving This Month

Pastor's Notes

“He ain’t heavy, He’s my brother”

That’s how the song goes. It is not a plea for mercy or for recognition, it is instead a call for understanding, an expression of hope that the singer will be allowed to carry his burden unmolested, undisturbed by the well-meaning passer-by. Because that’s how we tend to look upon those who are burdened, with pity or concern for their well-being, as if the burden was too much for them.

Paul speaks fondly of the thorn in his flesh, I’ve nattered on about choosing the burden suited to you, Simon of Cyrene picked up the cross of Christ and carried it along the Via Dolorosa but still, when we are confronted with the image of someone carrying a burden, w look upon them as if the very best thing for them would be for the burden to be lifted.

But, despite my current condition, I used to spend a fair bit of time in the gym, going there every morning (or every other morning) and lifting and carrying and I can tell you, carrying a burden, even for a short time will make you stronger.

Why would you want to take away something that could make someone stronger?

Not that all burdens make us stronger, but this, I think, is why God gave us the rather outsized brains that we’ve been given; to discern the burdens that people carry that they choose and take pleasure or pride in, and those that might crush them or rob them of the life that they could lead if only they were unburdened.

It’s not as easy as it looks, by the way.

Sometimes they are the same burden and it is only a matter of degrees between joyful embrace of the burden and piteous lament over the loss of freedom the burden entails.

In my case it’s the very calling in which I take such joy.

I have always bounded out of bed each and every morning, sometimes to Debbie’s consternation. Nowadays I love getting to work and doing the things that I have been called to do here at Faith. I love thinking about the scriptures and what they are saying to me this week. I love teaching the Bible Study classes, spreading my own enthusiasm or knowledge about the Holy Bible to those who come to listen. I love visiting the children of God and hearing about their lives and their pains and their joys.

But don’t think that there is no burden involved.

Think for a minute of what you think of the “office” of pastor and then think for a minute of how hard you might find it to live up to that image. Now think of that being your life every day, every night, all the time. As much as I love it here, as much as I am fed by the ministry and the congregation to whom I have been called, I know that there will be days when I fall short. I know that there will be days when I cannot do as much as I wish that I could, that I cannot visit all of the people; that I cannot answer all of the questions; that some days the sermon just doesn’t come. And I know the expectations are still there.

Maybe that’s why forgiveness plays such a big part in my thinking about the Christian calling. As much as I feel compelled to forgive and to spread the love of Christ in what I do, I know that when I falter I need forgiveness as well, I feel my own inadequacies all the more potently, and they are a burden to me.

They ain’t heavy, they’re my calling.

Each of us lives under some kind of burden, something that weighs us down with expectations or duties or chores and as difficult as it is for others to know when to offer aid and when to simply offer support, it is just as difficult sometimes to see the difference ourselves, to know when to forgive ourselves for feeling the weight and when to celebrate the blessed burdens of our lives.

We are looking forward to the birth of Christ, the coming of the Lord into the world in the flesh of a child, an infant in the manger. In coming to us in this way god has taken on the burden of our lives, living His life alongside of us.

In His name let us endeavor to bear one another’s burdens, supporting and loving each other as we strive to forgive as we have been forgiven. Because there are none without burdens and even when we glory and revel in the things that bear upon us, knowing that there is support and care in the body of Christ is often enough for us to go another day, to carry our weight another mile, to bring the gospel with us, to live as the children of God.

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Worship Themes

September 6, 2009
Lectionary 23

James tells us to stop showing favoritism in the assembly, treating the rich visitor with more honor than the poor one. Jesus himself seems to show partiality in his first response to the Syrophoenician woman in today’s gospel. Was he testing her faith in saying Gentiles don’t deserve the good meant for God’s children? Or was he speaking out of his human worldview, but transcended those limits when she toom him by surprise with her reply? Either way, the story tells us that God shows no partiality. Everyone who brings her or his need to Jesus is received with equal honor as a child and heir.

 September 13, 2009
Lectionary 24

Three weeks ago we heard John’s gospel’s version of Peter’s confession of faith. This week we hear Mark’s version, when Peter says, “You are the Messiah.” In John, the stumbling block is Jesus’ invitation to eat his flesh, given for the life of the world. In Mark too the scandal has to do with Jesus’ words about his own coming death, and here Peter himself stumbles over Jesus’ words. But Jesus is anointed (the meaning of “messiah”) in Mark only on the way to the cross (14:3:; so we are anointed in baptism with the sign of the cross.

 September 20, 2009
Lectionary 25

Today we hear James warn against selfish ambition, while the disciples quarrel over which one of them is the greatest. Jesus tells them the way to be great is to serve. Then, to make it concrete, he puts in front of them an actual flesh-and-blood child. We are called to welcome the particular children God puts in front of us, to make room for them in daily interaction, and to give them a place of honor in the assembly.

 September 27, 2009
Lectionary 26

Someone is casting out demons in Jesus’ name who isn’t part of Jesus’ own circle, and the disciples want him stopped. They appeal to Jesus, as Joshua did to Moses about the elders who prophesied without official authorization. Like Moses, Jesus refuses to see this as a threat. Jesus welcomes good being done in his name, even when it is not under his control. The circle we form around Jesus’ word must be able to value good being done in ways we wouldn’t do it, by people we can’t keep tabs on.

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Presidents Report

We take turns each month giving affirmations to various members.  This we do at our monthly council meetings.  I would like to open this to the entire congregation so as to recognize more faithful servants. Please contact me via my box in the office, my home phone (707) 538-9175, or by e-mail :  mlc159@sbcglobal.net  .It's  nice to be recognized and if one good turn deserves another  this could become a long list.    It was author Thomas Wolfe who said "You can't go home again".  I have revisited some of my former residences and I swear that they have all shrunk, especially the villa in Athens, Greece.  So where is this leading ?   Back in the 70's  we had a wonderful youth group with many activities and many supportive parents.  Aye, there's the rub.  It was a different time and cannot be repeated.  This is a new century and our youth have different interests, more traveling teams, more sophisticated communication, and just more of everything ,like it or not.   My first affirmation at July's meeting went to Helen O'Donnell and Pastor Carnahan for the great job they are doing with today's youth. They are covering a span of years and that's not easy   -  unless you're Helen and Pastor. Thank you both.   Affirmations were also given to Laurie Wennes and Ruth Bell as they are often seen watering or tending to some garden need.   Please let us know if you can help . No set times - volunteer at your convenience.   Also recognized was Janice Hall and the choir for their beautiful music with Thanksgiving and Bethlehem Lutheran at our bishop''s visit.  While the choir is resting their voices this summer do we have any musical volunteers for a Sunday worship? Your talents would be most welcome and need not be of professional quality. Give us a try.     There have been recent inquiries about reviving the Book Club and Women's Group.   Here again, times have changed.  If anyone is interested in pursuing either of these interests, please take the bull by the horns and find out if there are other interested parties. The hard part is finding a meeting time agreeable to all , or at least to most ,as you can't accommodate everyone. Crashing the Men's Club isn't an option    ----- or is it?        

Mary Lou Christian

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Linking the People of Faith

**Bryanna and Ryan Lantz’s son Christopher John was born on June 26th. He has two sets of grandparents and two great grandmothers, one of which is Joanne Lantz.

**Faith Parson entered a painting at the fair and won a second place ribbon.

**Joan Barber’s daughter Jae Kremer and family were here from San Diego for a visit.

**Paul Van Zandt, who was born on June 24th was in church with his parents, Nadine and Jonah and proud grandparents, Marlyse and Johan Stocklin July 19th. He had many admirers.

**Jan Lee is at home now and when she uses the walker, Don is behind her.

**Jeff Dahlquist has been here three times for 48 hours in the last six weeks

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Birthday's and Anniversary's

Anniversary's

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Endowment Committee

Endowment Plan Luncheon Is October 18

By now, you have your calendars marked for the luncheon right after worship, about 11:30 a.m.on October 18. No need to bring food. You will be fed. You will also hear a presentation by members of the Redwood Empire Estate Planning Council on charitable estate planning.

With the recession continuing and job and housing losses hitting the community, you may wonder whether you have an estate or not with which to formulate a plan. No worries. We are providing information now as a way for you to think about planned giving and when you are ready, you will know how to do this.

Did you know that only 6% of the people who give to charities include such a gift in their estate planning? We hope we can have a higher percentage than that at Faith Lutheran for we want to have a $100,000 fund to generate interest income to use in good works. Maybe we’ll want to sponsor youth scholarships in the future or support a community project or even buy educational materials or special music for our choir. Planning the spending when the times comes will be easy. We hope planning the giving will be easy as well.

So come and learn with us.

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Sharing Faith

*SAVE THE DATE----OCTOBER 17, 2009--- OKTOBERFEST

*REMINDER---ANNUAL PICNIC IS SEPT. 13 AFTER CHURCH IN OUR PICNIC AREA. THERE WILL BE A JUMPING HOUSE FOR THE KIDS.  LOTS OF FOOD. PASTOR WILL PREPARE HIS FAMOUS PORK.  SIGN-UP SHEETS FOR OTHER FOODS ARE IN THE NARTHEX.

* WE WILL HAVE OUR ANNUAL  WINTERFEST , ALTHOUGH THE DATE HAS NOT BEEN SET YET.  HOWEVER NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO START PLANNING.  THIS YEAR WE WILL HAVE A SILENT AUCTION, BUT WE WILL ONLY BE AUCTIONING OFF HOMEMADE ITEMS.  THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN. YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO USE WHATEVER CREATIVE TALENTS YOU HAVE AND DONATE THAT CREATION TO THE AUCTION.  WHETHER YOU BAKE, SEW, MAKE JELLIES & JAMS, QUILT, CROCHET, KNIT, DO NEEDLE WORK, ETC. ETC., YOUR DONATION WILL HELP RAISE MONEY FOR A YET TO BE NAMED "CAUSE" AND ADD TO THE FUN.   OR IF YOU WOULD RATHER, YOU MIGHT WANT TO PUT TOGETHER A "THEME BASKET" TO BE AUCTIONED OFF. (FOR EXAMPLE, MOVIE NIGHT, OR A SPORT BASKET).

* A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENJOYED LUNCH OR DINNER AT CHEVY'S ON AUGUST 31. WE WILL HAVE MORE OF THESE EVENTS AT VARIOUS PLACES IN THE MONTHS TO COME.

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Choir

Hola friends,
 
I am sitting here thinking the same thing I always think this time of year.  Summers get shorter every year...It seems like yesterday that we were together singing and yet something has been missing for a while also.  How can both be true?  I have missed our gathering together in song and I look forward to another great year of making music together and I have also enjoyed the renewal that the summer activities bring to me.
 
So the question is...When will choir begin?   The answer is Thursday Sept. 10th
(I am trying to avoid the usual back-to-school night conflicts so...)
Meet at 6:00PM in the home of Janice Hall (2615 Tuscan court, Santa Rosa) 
 
I would like to invite you all back to my home for a potluck Mexican Fiesta at my house.  Although you are welcome to bring any potluck item to share, I thought I might make a theme for the meal in case that would be more fun for our planning. After dinner we will learn a lovely song in spanish called "Donde Hay" which speaks of where there is faith there is love and where there is love, there is Peace and and where there is peace and love, God is, and where God is, nothing is lacking. 
 
So please plan to join us in choir again this Fall.  We all have busy schedules and 100% attendence is not required but a great line of communication is encouraged so I can plan anthems for the success of our ensemble.  Invite others to join as well.  Please notice who this email was sent to and feel free to forward it to any members I may not have had emails for or to anyone who may have an interest in joining us. As always, if you have questions or concerns please leave me a message on my home phone and I will get back to you as timely as possible at 541-7364 or feel free to email as well.
 
Adios, Vamos a cantar!!! (Let's all sing!!!)
 
Janice Hall

Schedule

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Serving This Month

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