Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!  I deeply appreciated the refreshment that my sabbatical time afforded me during the months of May and June.  It is a great blessing that First Lutheran recognizes sabbatical time as a ministry to its pastors and their families.  It allows us to “back away” from direct ministry for a time and to recharge our batteries through prayer and study and renewal time redirected toward relationships other than those in the congregation.  To that end I enjoyed a few extra cups of coffee with colleagues at the Synod Assembly in May and at the Academy of the Rockies in June.  I also had opportunity to have a cup or two with my Dad at his resort near Remer (although he keeps sneaking de-caf into the pot…hmmm.) There was a thermos or two (or four) of coffee with my former college roommate, John, while on a fishing weekend in Canada, and a bit more time for a leisurely cup with my wife while catching up on my “honey-do list” at home. So, again, my thanks to you…and certainly to Pastor Dave and the rest of the staff…for picking up the slack and making this time away possible.

That being said, it is good to be back in worship with you and sharing a cup of coffee during visits in the office or out of the office – in whatever place it is that FLC is busy – and looking toward the year ahead.  And…looking ahead…if there is one cup of coffee I am looking to have in the near future it would be with the new missionary couple sponsored by First Lutheran.  The Holmans have finished their ministry assignment in Jerusalem and we have been reassigned new missionaries.  This is rather exciting because Pastor David and Mary Kuck are parents of Ben, who with his wife, Christi and son Isaac are members of our congregation!  Ben and I have had many a chat about his parents work when he services my vehicles over at Jiffy Lube.  Pastor David Kuck is a teacher of Bible and Preaching at the United Theological College of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica and Mary Kuck teaches English for the Jamaican vocational training agency at the college.

The Kucks are two of 250 missionaries deployed over 50 countries who work hand-in-hand with churches and other ministry companions, teaching, preaching, healing, nurturing, building, and growing.  In January these included 101 long-term missionaries, 49 Young Adults in Global Mission, 47 volunteers, and 23 two-year missionaries.  These folks are directly supported by the ELCA Global Mission Budget, ELCA World Hunger, and gifts to ELCA Missionary Sponsorship.  (Our gifts get to them by way of all these means.)

The Kucks just happen to be in the US visiting family this month, and although they won’t be scheduled for an “official visit” until next year, they plan to join us for worship on August 1st.  I look forward to this opportunity and future opportunities to have a cup of coffee with the Kucks, not only because I hope to share some “Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee,” but because I am intrigued by the teaching ministry of Pastor Kuck and his recently published book, “Preaching in the Caribbean:  Building Up a People for Mission.” He and Mary have answered the call to “make disciples of all nations,” and are helping the Christian Community of Jamaica to tell the story of Jesus.  With you, I look forward to hearing their stories.

Serving with you,

Pastor Wade

“When I was leaving Bygland congregation and moving to Vining,” Pastor Carl Anderson was telling me,” Don called me up one day and said, ‘Let’s have coffee.’” He was speaking of Don Danielson, Karen Bimberg’s father, who died suddenly of a stroke last week.  “It was a bit of a surprise…Don was at Our Savior’s in East Grand Forks…but he’d been at a lot of services I had led over the years and Don just wanted to have a last cup of coffee…to encourage me.” Carl and I just happened to be having coffee last week at a Pastor’s gathering in Moorhead and were talking about Don’s funeral.  For those of you who did not know him, Don was not a pastor, but he was a minister – a minister of encouragement greatly appreciated by all those who had the privilege of sharing time with him.

I myself did not know Don Danielson all that well, except that he was Karen’s Dad and that he would show up at least once a year in worship here at First Lutheran and Karen would twist his arm to sing for us (I don’t think she had to twist very hard) and he would, through his lovely, strong voice, bring the Good news in song. I can only imagine that this gift of song brought the same encouragement to many a wedding or funeral throughout his nearly eighty years of life. 

Don’s ministry of encouragement was not only in the use of his own gifts, however.  Don also encouraged others to use their gifts – particularly their musical gifts.  We at first Lutheran experience that first-hand through his daughter, Karen.  She “caught” the love her Dad had for music and with his encouragement made music her life’s calling both in the schools and here at the church. Karen was not the only one so encouraged.  Reading Don’s life’s story last week made it apparent to me that Don must have encouraged countless others through the years, teaching music in East Grand Forks and leading the church choir at Our Savior’s for over 35 years.  During that time and even through his retirement years, Don encouraged through involvement in various Music and Education associations and through “judging” music contests and festivals.  In these contests and festivals he could stay connected to colleagues and to young people and to the music he loved.  I can tell you from experience with my own children how influential “judges” can be in not only evaluating but also “cheering on” budding artists.

Even from my vantage point it is not hard to see that Don Danielson picked up on the “tenor” of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonian church.  “Encourage one another and build each other up, even as you are doing.” My friend, Pastor Carl, certainly received that gift of encouragement from Don.

So, as you reflect over your cup of coffee this day, who has Jesus sent to encourage you?  And to whom are you being sent as an encourager?  May God bless the community as we answer our call!

Following the Risen Christ with you,

Pastor Wade

“So, Pastor, are you giving up coffee for Lent?” They usually smile when they say it.  And I can’t always tell if they are serious…but they probably know that there are few things that it would be harder for me to give up on a daily basis!  And, in case you are wondering…I am not.  I am having a cup of coffee even as I write.  (How else could I write “Over Coffee?)

But this Lent thing…some of you grew up with Lent in the cycle of the church year and you remember special services and “giving up” for Lent – an annual discipline of sacrifice and worship that acknowledges our Lord’s sacrifice for us.  We focused on our sin and need and our response to Jesus gift. If you remember, “giving up” was not intended to be self-punishment, but rather “giving up” so I might “give more” in another way.  I give up a meal or pop or chocolate, so from the savings I accrued, I might give a gift to those who do not have the same access to meal or pop or chocolate that I do.  I give up television or a noon meal, so I might have a season of devotional reading or of serving – say visiting a neighbor or helping with a service project instead of watching “Wheel of Fortune” or re-runs of “Friends.” “Giving up” was intended to aid us in “giving life,” remembering that Jesus “gave up” to “give life.”

So…you know all that…but Lent sometimes seems so “yesterday.” Does it even work today?  I mean, it is so counter to everything else that is going on in our lives.  Our culture (watch the advertising on TV) is increasingly built on thrills and entertainment, and focused on youth and health.  Spending time focusing on the brokenness and pain of life – Ash Wednesday and sin and “ashes to ashes” – is a bit out of the norm.  Indeed.  But it is also a gift that opens us to a freeing honesty about our humanness and our frailty and invites us to receive again the transforming power of Jesus that heals wounds and renews life.

My devotional reading this week led me to a piece by a friend of mine, Pastor Dave Risendal in Greenwood Village, Colorado.  He writes:

“Lent done rightly is hard work.  It is not easy to look our weaknesses and our failures square in the eye.  But ultimately, as challenging as that kind of work can be, it can also be a life-giving gift.  Because only by owning our brokenness and our frailty can we receive the gifts of forgiveness and renewal that God offers us.  Only by admitting our need for the Savior can we experience gifts of forgiveness and renewal that God offers us.  Only by admitting our need for the Savior can we experience the true joy that comes from knowing what God has done on our behalf.  Lent is designed to be the winter of our soul that leads into the springtime of God’s grace.”

No doubt some of us would rather go south to Arizona or Texas and avoid winter and just have springtime!  Some of us would rather avoid the reflection and confession and just have the grace.  But they work together, you see.  Lent is always leading us through honest reflection to a deeper reception of the wonder of Easter and the promised transformation of wounded, broken, dying lives (now) into the whole and restored and eternal lives (now and forever) given through Jesus.

From the prayer for the First Sunday in Lent:

“O Lord God, you led your people through the wilderness and brought them to the Promised Land.  Guide us now, so that, following your Son, we may walk safely through the wilderness of this world toward the life you alone can give, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, Amen.”

Lent is always leading us to Jesus.  May we make the most of the journey!

Pastor Wade

“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is he child who has been born king of the Jews, for we observed his star at its rising?”
Matthew 2:1-2

I reflected with you last month that my take on my Christmas plans as compared to Mary and Joseph’s Christmas plans. I shared with you that it is a a little hard to pick up in the story that they really had a “family reunion” when they went to Bethlehem, even though it was the town of Joseph’s ancestors.  It might in fact be that Joseph and Mary had never before been to Bethlehem and didn’t really know any of the “family” there. It may in fact have been a once in a life-time trip that they would never have taken if it had not been for Caesar Augustus and God. Certainly no one was waiting with a guest room for their arrival!

So, I wondered, “Would I risk going to a place I had never been before, meeting people I had never met before, doing things I had never done before, as they did, simply because I believed God was leading?” And then I prayed, “Where, Lord?” as perhaps you did too in your Advent preparations.

This month I am wondering, where has the Lord led you?  What new people and situations have you found yourself in where you could be God’s “incarnational presence?”

One new place I found myself was through my son, Bryce.  (Kind of like Caesar Augustus directing Joseph and Mary.) After many years of being a basketball player, Bryce “heard the call” to join the wrestling team this year.  He is having a great time and learning a lot.  So am I!  One thing I have learned is that I know very few of the parents and members of this community who attend Wrestling Meets.  I have always been a basketball parent, you understand, so at basketball games I knew people and where to sit.  Now, I walk into the gym and I know very few if any.  Where do I sit?  Who can I talk to?  I think it is the experience of many who come to worship in our church – or any church – and wonder, “Where do I fit?” But I am finding my way and meeting some very nice people and finding my way into conversations about life and faith with people that I have never talked to before.  (I have also discovered that because there are no half-times at wrestling meets and every match flows into the next it is hard to know when to go for coffee.)

God has been showing me a new community and blessing me as I get to know it.  I pray that I might be a light in some new way in my interactions.  And that you might be a light, too, wherever you are being led. 

Shining with you,

Pastor Wade

P.S.  Thanks, too for shining your lights into the life of my family during our Advent and Christmas celebrations – your cards and goodies and gifts have been most appreciated.  We are blessed to be a part of the Church that is First Lutheran!

I’m on my way to Nebraska this week.  I’m going to do a little hunting and drink a little coffee with the farmers of my first congregation.  We’ll ride around in pick-ups and tell a lot of stories, most of them true.  And we’ll laugh and renew friendships and drink more coffee.  It’s an annual get-together I look forward to, kind of like many of you look forward to “Deer Camp” or the way many of us are already beginning to look forward to Thanksgiving or Christmas – a time to get the family together and eat and laugh and reconnect with people we love.  Thanksgiving and Christmas is about thanking God and celebrating the birth of Jesus, but it’s also a lot about spending some extra time with people we love and care about.

That being said, I was looking ahead at the Christmas story as we enter into December, and I was thinking about Joseph and Mary’s “Christmas Journey” to see family.  Except, as I read the story, it’s a little hard to pick up that they really had a “family reunion” with people that they hadn’t seen lately, but who were anxiously awaiting their arrival.  It might in fact be that Joseph and Mary had never before been to Bethlehem and didn’t really know any of the “family” there.  Travel in those days was certainly not so easy as it is for us and this may have been a once in a life-time trip that they would never have taken if it had not been for Caesar Augustus and God.

It would be a little like me going back to Valley City, ND where my mother’s mother grew up, or even further, back to Norway, where they emigrated from.  I wouldn’t know anyone there and they wouldn’t know me.  I would be a stranger in a strange land.  But, if I was sent by God…well?  Would I go?  Would I risk going to a place I had never been before, meeting people I had never met before, doing things I had never done before?  Would I have the sense of purpose and direction that Joseph and Mary had in leaving that which they knew to venture into something they knew nothing of except that God was leading? I’m not sure…but I’d like to think so…

During the Advent Season – the “season of preparation” for our Lord’s coming and the Christmas season, and in honor of Joseph and Mary’s journey into the unknown, I am going to be praying about and looking to do something I have never done before, to meet someone that I have never met before, to serve in a way that I have never served before…

I invite you to consider doing the same…in celebration of Mary and Joseph’s daring faithfulness…and…in recognition that our God seems to like doing things that have never been done before…in places we have never visited before…with people we have never met before…as God did so long ago with a young couple who followed God’s lead to Bethlehem.  Let me know where God leads you and what you learn…I’ll be doing the same.

Following with you,

Pastor Wade

“It was a dark and stormy night”…”the cardboard boxes were placed in the parking lot with care”…”the rain came down and the snow piled up…” So, it went with the Youth Sleep Out for the Homeless.  Shall we say it wasn’t the best of nights for a youth outing?  It certainly took more than one pot of coffee to keep the adult sponsors happy!  But then again, maybe it was the best of nights.  It certainly accomplished the purpose of raising awareness of the challenges of those who are homeless in these United States – even in Minnesota – even in Detroit Lakes.

With estimates of nearly 40% of the homeless being children, a snowy, wet, cold night was particularly poignant for the youth of First Lutheran and Trinity who came together for this experience.  Yet the youth remained in good spirits in spite of the conditions.  Perhaps part of that was that most of us have never experienced homelessness and it was an “adventure” and part of it was knowing that the warm church building was always there for back-up if the conditions deteriorated and the boxes collapsed (which they did).  But probably most of the good spirit came from knowing that after this one night we would be back in our warm homes with warm beds and plenty of food.  Which…of course…was part of the purpose of the event…to not only raise awareness of those who are homeless…but also of the blessings of home and food and family that we may take for granted…to remember…

And so we gathered for worship in the sanctuary that night and remembered. We saw a video and remembered the homeless.  We read the Scripture and remembered the love of Jesus for us and the love of Jesus for those with little of the necessities of life.  We gave thanks for our blessings and determined to be a blessing to others.  We received the body and blood of Jesus and heard the call of Jesus to be the “body of Christ” to the world.  This is, of course, the rhythm of discipleship.  We receive the love and grace of God by faith, not by our effort, but then we respond to that love and grace with lives of “thanks-living.” It is the way that Martin Luther helped us to understand our response to the goodness of God in his reflection on the First Article of the Apostles’ Creed (Do you remember all that memory work from our youth?):

“God provides me with food and clothing, home and family, daily work, and all I need from day to day…all this he does out of fatherly and divine goodness and mercy, though I do not deserve it.  Therefore I surely ought to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.”

So, the youth thanked and praised and served and obeyed…they gathered over 300 dollars in change to share with the ELCA world Hunger Appeal’s “Change for Change,” brought 120 items to the Food Pantry, and made five fleece blankets to give to the Crisis Center.  Thanks be to God!  And thanks to Grant (our Youth Director) and to Suzie Porter from Trinity for making it happen and to the other adventurous adults who joined the youth.

“The rains came down and the snow piled up,
And the Body of Christ stood firm.”

Serving with you,

Pastor Wade

It probably goes without saying that the happenings of the Churchwide Assembly in August have dominated our conversations here at First Lutheran in the past weeks.  So there are a few things I would share with you regarding my experience there and what happens.  You may need more than one cup of coffee to get through this…

First, let me try to give you a context from which to consider what is going on.  If your impressions of the Churchwide Assembly are based solely on the media’s coverage it would be very easy to think that the only topic of conversation was human sexuality, homosexuality in particular. That’s just not so. Here are some of the outcomes that made up the majority of the Assembly’s agenda.

 The Assembly voted (958-51) to establish what is called “Full Communion” with the United Methodist Church based on our common confession of faith in Christ, and common understanding of the sacraments. This action moves us to greater Christian unity for which Jesus prayed in John 17, and means that our congregations will be able to share clergy leadership, especially in smaller congregations may not be able to have full-time pastoral leadership.  A shared pastor (either Lutheran or Methodist) will now be able to serve both congregations.  No other church body has done the groundwork for establishing this kind of ecumenical linkage with so many other church bodies as has the ELCA.

 HIV/AIDS Strategy: The Assembly approved a three-year, $10 million fundraising campaign to help fight the battle against the HIV and AIDS pandemic.  In 2007 our assembly committed itself to a strategy of partnering with our companions around the world to join them in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

 Lutheran Malaria Initiative: the Assembly voted to extend our partnership with the United Nations Foundation, Lutheran World Relief and the Missouri-Synod Lutheran Church to combat Malaria globally.  (Malaria is the largest cause of death among children worldwide).

 And the Assembly approved the formation of a team of people who will craft a social statement and action plan to combat global injustices against girls and women.

I offer these to you because I think they are all issues worth celebrating.  We didn’t hear much about these issues because they were not as “newsworthy.” We do not all agree on certain decisions made at the Assembly I think it’s important to note that there is much going on in the ELCA with which we can agree and celebrate.

Speaking now to those issues on which we may not agree, let me say a few things about the votes regarding human sexuality.  The social statement entitled “Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust” passed by a 2/3rds majority vote (676-338).  The statement seeks to make a strong case for trust and responsibility, care of children, and opposition to abuse, exploitation, and promiscuity. It opposes cohabitation before marriage and understands marriage as between a man and woman. The part of the statement receiving most attention and the most negative response was of the section on homosexuality.  It described a continuum of views (four) held across the church – from “sin” to “orientation,” based on differing interpretations of God’s Word - and concluded that ELCA Lutherans are not agreed on this matter.

This led to four related resolutions that comprised ministry policy decisions growing out of this statement. They, as other ministry policies in the past, required a majority to pass: 
1) The first committed us to a posture of bearing one another’s burdens, love of neighbor, and respecting the bound conscience of all. It passed (771-230 – 77%)
2) Next the assembly voted (619-402) to approve the ELCA to allow “congregations that choose to do so to recognize, support, and hold publicly accountable lifelong, monogamous, same gender relationships.”
3) In the most pivotal and difficult decision, the assembly voted (559-451)slightly more than 55%’ that the ELCA commit itself to finding a way” for persons in these relationships “to serve as rostered leaders of this church.” (Pastors and commissioned leaders)
4) The fourth was a long resolution outlining the process of moving into a policy of “structured flexibility” that would allow for implementing these decisions in a way that respects the varying convictions held around the church. A significant section was added to this resolution making clear a commitment that the policy revisions will provide for those who do not believe ministers in same-gender relationships should be rostered. This resolution passed (667-307) a 68 percent majority.

I think it critical for us to understand that these recommendations will not make any immediate changes in the ELCA.  They call for a process to be established that would allow congregations who want to call gay and lesbian clergy to do so, while continuing to allow other congregations to not do so.
So what does that mean for First?  From a purely pragmatic standpoint it means nothing has changed here at First.  Even when the denomination develops a plan, no congregation would be asked to do anything against conscience.

On a deeper level, however, much has changed.  We’ve been forced to grapple with a difficult issue and in so doing we’ve discovered that we, like our denomination, are divided on this.  We’re being challenged to decide exactly what it means to live in unity and not uniformity.  And, because as St. Paul reminds us, when one of us suffers all of us suffer, we’re feeling one another’s pain.

At the Assembly and as I have visited believers here at home, I have found people representing the different perspectives on this issue uniformly passionate about following Jesus and living out what God is saying to us through the Bible.  They choose different scriptures in making their arguments and sometimes interpret them differently according to how they understand the Bible speaking in its time and our time.  And both sides struggle to understand how the other can come to their conclusions. The seminary word for this is “biblical hermeneutics”, and refers to the lenses that we use to read and interpret what God is saying through the Bible.  There is probably more that should be said about our ways of reading scripture as Lutheran Christians, but should be done in study together.  The point for me is that both positions hold the Bible in highest regard. Finally, how will we move forward?  I wish I could say I have a clear word on this, but I do not.  I hurt, and struggle and wrestle with what our options may be.  So instead I simply share a few thoughts.

First, pray.  Pray for one another.  Pray for our unity.  Pray for the protection of this body and of the larger Body of Christ.  Pray alone and pray together.  Commit to pray.

Second, let’s keep the main thing the main thing.  We can’t control the distractions that come our way, but we can choose to stay focused on the larger mission of the Church to make disciples, proclaim the Gospel, act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God.

Third, remember that God is the one in charge and not us.  Since its very beginnings the Church has wrestled through issues every bit as contentious as this, from circumcision and eating meat sacrificed to idols to slavery and ordaining women into ministry.  Ultimately God has always won the day.  Do you know the story of Gamaliel in Acts 5?  Addressing a group of riled up Pharisees who wanted to extinguish the Apostles’ ministry Gamaliel wisely said, “I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them – in that case you may even be found fighting against God!”

Finally, I’m aware that some members at First are seriously considering leaving our church because of our affiliation with the ELCA.  While I encourage all Christians to follow their conscience and the leading of the Holy Spirit, I’d remind you that in terms of our mission here nothing has changed.  We are still committed to worshiping God, “opening doors to new life in Christ, studying Scripture, nurturing children in the faith, and making disciples who impact the world for Christ.  By leaving First, this body loses your gifts and passions, your perspective, and your voice in the conversation. It is a loss we would hate to suffer.

Friends, I have faith in our church and our future, because of the faith we hold in the One who loves us, forgives us, guides us, and refuses to let go of us even in the storms of life.

Grace to you and peace in Christ Jesus,

Pastor Wade

Then the still, small voice of the Spirit whispered a question that pierced my soul:  ‘Greg, if you were to die today, what would your children hold in their hands tomorrow that would let them know that they were the treasures of your life?’ Well…I guess nothing.  Just like my father left me—nothing.”

Well…its been a couple years now since I sent you this little excerpt from Greg Vaughn’s book, “Letters from Dad.” I send it again as an invitation to join me in making a journey through some materials by the same name whereby author Greg has led thousands of fathers to bless their children (and their wives) with words of love and encouragement through the lost art of letter writing.  When I heard of this program that Greg initiated because of his own need to hear a word of love from his Dad, I thought, “I want to do that, too…for my family.” So, I did and in two previous sessions, about 50 of our men have joined me for four meetings (and a little home work) that not only helped us in leaving a legacy of our love for that time when we will no longer walk this earth, but also carried the potential of beginning a change in our family life while we are yet here!  Greg Vaughn and this tool called “Letters from Dad” guided us where many of us had never gone before!

The format will again be four Sunday evenings spent with other men, sharing food (and coffee), teaching, and inspiration.  The cost will be a couple of hours a week, a few dollars for food, and an initial investment in the materials that will guide us and help us get where we want to go.  The reward will be priceless.

Again, we’re going to try to make it possible for some of our “snow birds” to join us, by beginning in mid-September and finishing up by late November.  We need to leave a little time between meetings to do our homework!  The kick off dinner and informational meeting will be on Sunday evening, August 30th at 6:00 p.m. in the First Lutheran dining room.  No commitment for the first informational get-together.  Just come, share a meal, listen to the plan and decide if you want to join us…and bring a friend with you!

If the informational meeting has already happened by the time you get this newsletter, you are still welcome to join.  Call me and I will fill you in on the details!

Learning and growing with you,

Pastor Wade

“’Letters from Dad’ is a turbo-charged communication tool that races at the speed of sound to the hearts of those you love.”
Tommy Miller, Vice-Chairman, Interstate Batteries/NASCAR sponsor

Steve Olson and I have been in search of an authentic cup of coffee.  Steve is one of the youth leaders at Trinity Lutheran in Detroit Lakes and one of my coffee drinking buddies since the last time First and Trinity did a National Youth Gathering Trip to San Antonio. Steve is a good guy (our own Tom Olson’s brother) who loves his Lord, loves taking kids on trips, and loves coffee.  I like him.  And that’s good because we sit next to each other on the bus…hour after hour after hour…and chat and drink coffee. Unfortunately, since leaving Detroit Lakes the quality of that coffee has been a bit lacking.  Motel and convenience store coffee just doesn’t quite cut it.  But we are in hopes of a better experience once we get to New Orleans.  Authentic, “full-of-life” coffee is what we are hoping for.

Authentic, “full-of-life” Christianity is also what we are hoping for – wherever we are.  It is certainly available to us in our home town.  But trips like this expose us to a unique experience of such “full-of-life” Christianity, an experience that many of these young people (and those of us a bit older) may never experience quite the same again.  It begins with the bus ride and 50 some people spending many hours in close quarters…getting to know each other, praying with each other, occasionally worshipping with each other, laughing a lot with each other, making sure everyone is present and accounted for…and appreciating the uniqueness of each, the various members of the body of Christ.

Today we will arrive at the gathering – 37,000 young Lutheran Christians and their friends – and we will celebrate our oneness in Christ Jesus.  We will be reminded that we have been chosen and gifted by our God and that God has a hope and a plan for our life in God’s world.  We will hear teaching from God’s Word and reminders of God’s love and purpose.  We will be encouraged by others on the journey with us as we hear stories of their lives – the struggles they may have had and the ways in which the Lord Jesus has helped them or directed them. We will laugh some more and we will sing loud and strong.  Dynamic musicians from around the country and around the world will share God’s love and call through music that pushes and pulls at our hearts.  And the Holy Spirit will move among the 37,000 and we will experience “full of life” Christian community in ways we may have never experienced it before. The first time I attended a National Gathering and experienced these thousands of young people around me singing and giving thanks to the Lord I was overwhelmed. (Remember, my confirmation class was a class of three.  I thought Christians were the “faithful few.”) To experience worship in the body of Christ in such a way is an encouragement hard to explain.  Trust me when I say it is powerful and life-changing.

And then we will serve.  Authentic, “full-of-life” Christianity serves as Christ has served us.  At 6:30 a.m. on Friday morning (it has to be a work of the Holy Spirit to get 50 young people up and on the road by 6:30), we will move into the community of New Orleans to take the love of Christ with our hands and feet.  Most of the 37,000 will be doing work project on one of the days of the Gathering to further the recovery of New Orleans from the devastation of recent hurricanes.  And the Spirit will move among us and we will experience what it is to be the body of Christ that cares for those we don’t know, but that are known to our Lord.  And…we will have found what we are looking for:  life lived in Christ, lived in love, full and rich.

And along the way, Steve and I will find some coffee, too.  Hopefully it will also be full and rich!  Thanks for sending us on this journey, friends!  Thanks for being a blessing to so many young people through your gifts and your prayers.

Serving with you,

Pastor Wade