Thursday, October 28, 2021

Devotion- Profound Mercy

 


Romans 3:19-28
Epistle Lesson for the Sunday October 31st

In this week’s epistle lesson
Paul uses the word law nine times
Defining what is right or set
In our relationship with God
 
He underscores the distance
Between God’s heart and ours
We are turned in on ourselves
Far away from God’s intended purpose
 
Encouraged by cunning lies
Created by our heart within
And society around us
We keep God at a safe distance
 
Out of a profound mercy
God moved beyond what was
Determined to create
A stunning new reality
 
Through the intentional gift
Of incarnated love
Jesus stretched across the chasm
Uniting our heart with God’s again
 
So it is that now God calls us beloved
Not because of our presumed goodness
But through a transcendent grace
That leaves us forever redeemed+

A Devotion By Rev. Donald Schaefer,
Southeastern District - LCMS
Northern Region Facilitator
for Mission Engagement


Saturday, October 16, 2021

Installation of Rev. Jeffrey Marquardt

 

The Installation of Rev. Jeffrey Marquardt
was held on Sunday, October 10, 2021 
at Grace Lutheran Church, La Plata, Maryland.
Pastor Marquardt was installed by 
Southeastern District President John Denninger.


There are important promises
 to make at an installation.
Blessings over Pastor Jeff and his wife Nancy.
Presenting the ministry couple
 to their new congregation.
Pastor Jeff and Nancy.
The Circuit Pastors gathered
 to support the new pastor.
It is 2021- during a pandemic.
Pastor Jeff and Nancy 
with daughter Elizabeth Margaret Johanson
 and granddaughter Lydia.
Extended family gathered 
to be a part of the very special day.
 Included here is also Marie Dow- Nancy's mom 
and Sue Marks- Nancy's sister.
We pray very special blessings over 
Pastor Jeff and Nancy in their new 
ministry setting at Grace Lutheran Church.



Thursday, October 07, 2021

Living a Legacy


                      The legacy continues as the baton of ministry is passed

A “church” may have finished its season in a particular location, 

though the Lord’s ministry lives 

on as a legacy of this faithful congregation.  


Behold, I am doing a new thing;

    now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

    and rivers in the desert.

         Isaiah 43:19 


On Saturday, October 2, 2021 

First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Towson, Maryland

 held its final Celebration of Life worship service

 in the sanctuary at 40 E. Burke Avenue, Towson, Maryland. 

First Lutheran Church made a faith-filled,

 legacy decision to “move on and plant,”

 directly blessing two gospel-focused ministries. 


Like many congregations, First Lutheran had been experiencing

 waning energy for many years. 

In 2018, their pastor accepted a call 

 and they began the process of discerning

 how the Lord was leading them forward. 

Upon reading the book “Legacy Churches” 

by Stephen Gray and Franklin Dumond, 

they actively pursued a ministry opportunity 

with Concordia Preparatory School in Towson.  


What used to be a majority Lutheran student body

 is now a mission field. Concordia Preparatory School, 

formerly known as Baltimore Lutheran Middle and High School, 

has also made adjustments to meet the challenges

 and needs of our changing culture.  

In 2014, the school adopted a new name to communicate

 more effectively to prospective students 

who were not already attending Lutheran elementary schools, 

as the robust network that used to exist in Baltimore has also declined. 


Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

John 12:24-26


Baton passed to Rev. Peter Couser


Betty Kansler, president of First Lutheran 

led the congregation through a year-long discernment 

and visioning process facilitated by 

Director of Christian Outreach 

and Ministry Development Coach Tina Jasion

and her coaching practice of Faithful Innovation

A unified vision developed between First Lutheran 

and Concordia Preparatory School

 to call a Mission Developer who would also serve as a Campus Pastor

 to serve a student body and their families, 

the majority of whom are not connected to any Christian church.

 A joint call was issued to Rev. Peter Couser, 

who being so moved by the willingness of a church to “die” 

for the sake of the Gospel accepted the call and the vision

 for what has become “New Thing” began to take shape. 

 First Lutheran has hosted another ministry on their campus since 2011,

 Horizon Church. The church property and an adjoining house

 has been purchased by Horizon, 

who will continue the Gospel ministry in that location. 


First Lutheran prayed the words from Psalm 71 

as they discerned what God was doing among them with open hands.



O God, from my youth you have taught me,

    and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

So even to old age and gray hairs,

    O God, do not forsake me,

until I proclaim your might to another generation,

    your power to all those to come.

Psalm 71:17-18 


Through their faithful response, 

First Lutheran has provided for two ministries:

New Thing on the campus of Concordia Preparatory School

 with baton received by  Headmaster Brent Johnson. 


Horizon Church will continue worship and discipleship

ministry on the campus at E. Burke Avenue. 


Well done, good and faithful servants!  

It has been my joy and privilege to walk with you this season of joy

 as we experienced the Lord painting a new ministry vision,

 also mixed with the sorrow of letting go. 

Through your faithfulness, may these ministries

 bear much fruit for years to come and provide an example

 for others finding themselves in a similar season of ministry. 


In Christ alone + 

Tina Jasion


This story provided by Contributing Writer- Tina Jasion

 for Journeys of Faith



Monday, October 04, 2021

Devotion- Imprint of the Divine

 

 
Hebrews 1:1-4
Epistle Lesson for the Sunday October 3rd
Sometimes we muddle along in life
Not seeing much progress or change
When we reflect on what was in our past however
We can better appreciate how far we have come
 
The writer of Hebrews calls us
To see how we understood God ages ago
A picture painted in prophetic words of a God
Distant from us and our lives
 
With joy the author describes what we now know
The one who came among us
As an heir and co-creator
Reflects the very imprint of the Divine
 
To fully confess the broken self we were before
And what it has now become in Christ
Leads to amazing transformation of grace
Renewing and reconnecting us with God
 
It forever changes our attitudinal perspective
By a totally undeserved and unconditional  favor
We are imprinted by a scandalously rich love
Which will never end
 
Through Jesus we are now called
To be an imprint of grace in the world
So that others imprisoned by a suffocating past
Might be refreshed by a new and ever living hope+

A Devotion By Rev. Donald Schaefer,
Northern Region Facilitator
for Mission Engagement
for the Southeastern District- LCMS