Newsletter – January 2010

 

“[Y]ou will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  Acts 1:8

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

      The New Year Day holiday is always a time of reflection and planning.  How many times have you sat down at the close of the year and proposed resolutions for the year that is only hours away?  How many people start out the year promising to be diligent in achieving the resolutions they have made?  How soon do you forget the resolutions or become distracted by life and the goals you set for yourself become distant memories?  You quickly lose the spirit that moved you to make the resolutions in the first place.

 

      Recently, Our Saviour congregation began a year-long process of renewal and revitalization.  We are still in the early stages of that process, still setting a direction for us to go and plan to follow in order to fulfill the will of Jesus reflected in the words from Acts 1.  We have gathered to discern a mission statement, and will finalize that statement on January 12.  From that statement we will establish goals for each member of the congregation in order to fulfill the work Jesus gives us to do.

 

      As we consider what Jesus gives us to do, it is necessary for us to look at that work from the same perspective as Jesus does.  Do you notice the very prominent forward looking direction?  “You will receive …,” “You will be ….” There is not an ounce of backward looking thought in these words.  It is all forward looking at the coming reality of God’s power in the Holy Spirit, and God’s mission accomplished through His Church.

 

      Often, we will look back at the way things were and say to ourselves, “If only …” or “Remember when …”  or “Wasn’t it better when …” and we can all put an ending to those sentences that waxes quite nostalgic. 

      Jesus does not look backward, because there is nothing to see.  The failures of the past have been covered by his blood.  There is no need to look back in wishful thinking at anything.  There is only the need to look at where we are now and plan how we will move forward in Christ.

 

      “Where we are and where we want to be” is the new paradigm given us by Jesus.  Where are we?  We are in the body of Christ, baptized in the washing of regeneration by the Holy Spirit.  Where do we want to be?  We want to be where Jesus wants us to be, placed in a community that needs to hear the love of God in Jesus Christ.  How will we accomplish that task of proclaiming God’s love in Jesus Christ?  With the power of the Holy Spirit in us, God will lead us to be more visible and active witnesses to those around us.

 

      We are truly blessed by the Lord for the year that lies ahead.  Many people have to stumble around in the dark not knowing what lays ahead for them.  However, we know what the Lord has planned for us, we will be his witnesses.  Your participation in the life and witness of Our Saviour congregation is a given.  You have been purchased for the Lord by the blood of Jesus Christ.  You have been enabled to serve the Lord by the gift of His Holy Spirit.  You have been empowered by the same Holy Spirit to fulfill the will of Jesus in giving witness to the hope we have in the only-begotten Son of God.  Whether it is a work of mercy or an opportunity to share your faith, the Lord will give you the words and actions which will reveal His great love for all sinners.

 

      In the year that is to come, may the Lord grant you the fullness of his Holy Spirit, and lead you fulfill His will for your life as a faithful witness to Jesus Christ.      

     

In Christ,

Pastor Schneider