Pastor's Newsletter

Holy Communion Lutheran Church

Second Quarter Newsletter

April ➔ June

From the Pastor’s Desk

I have been at Holy Communion for a little over three and a half years. This is my first newsletter. With the Council’s encouragement, I’m going to try to provide general information about what the services will focus on during the church season of Easter going into the season of Pentecost. I will include some calendar dates and list some other events that, with your input, the council will be working to set dates on the church’s calendar.

Each quarter newsletter will also include a list of topics on the council work docket. There is always room for more, so if you have something you would like to see published to the newsletter email it to me at: rothsra0.p@outlook.com.

Focus of worship for the Easter Season

April 5, Easter, through May 24, Pentecost.

This season of Easter is a time to prepare for Pentecost. Pentecost is when we celebrate the sending of the Holy Spirit to all those gathered with the disciples. The Holy Spirit, the author of the Bible, wrote through the author we normally name. They wrote as they were inspired to write. It is no mystery though; that we understand what we read and hear in so many different ways. We have such different life experiences and life situations. I think there is much to learn from listening to what each other understands. The more we listen to understand each other’s views, the more balanced our understanding of how God works among his people in this world.

The common theme of worship services during this season is how we interpret what we hear and read. It comes as no surprise that how we understand the Bible is influenced by many factors. All people look at life through the lenses of things like our age, gender, family background, and life experience.

Authors Jim Wilhoit and Evan Howard highlight how our experiences and contexts shape how we read and interpret the Bible:

When we open the Bible, we read it in light of the way we look at things.... Christians living in less developed regions notice different things in Scripture than Christians from more developed regions do. A Christian from a richer country might read the parable of the good Samaritan and notice the value of a random act of kindness shown to someone in need (seeing “neighbor” as the one helped). A Christian from a poorer country might read the same story and notice Jesus’ affirmation of a style of life that intentionally acts compassionately toward the needy (seeing “neighbor” as the one helping). We come to Scripture with a heart and mind shaped by our global culture and local history.

Many time in my life I have wished I had a chance to talk to an author of something I read, or perhaps have time to talk directly to a pastor who gave a complicated sermon or said something that conflicted with my own experience or understanding. (You are always welcome to talk to me) With a book as old as the Bible, it would be interesting to talk directly to one of the writers. Wow, what would it be like to talk to Moses, or Abraham, or David, or Paul?

My hope is that we continually grow together in our understanding of how the Holy Spirit calls us by the Gospel, enlightens us with his gifts, and keeps us ‘sealed’ in our relationship with God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The Church Council Executive Board

President - Ralph Daughtry

Vice President - Laura Fox

Secretary -  Judy Townsend

Financial Secretary - Erica Hodges

Items on the Council’s attention

• Saturday retreat to gain a common understanding of how the Church Constitution enables us to work efficiently, effectively, and in an orderly manner.

• Reviewing Voting Membership ListEstablishing a church calendar of coming congregational events and activities.

• Improving the worship life of the congregation

• Providing necessary services to members and friends of the church

• Completing the planning and allocating funding for the construction of the Accessible Addition

• Scheduling and hopefully hosting Training for the AED/defibrillators through the Foscoe Volunteer Fire Department.

Important Dates:

May 24 - The Day of Pentecost

June 14 - Homecoming Lunch in the Morgan Building

August 2 - Decoration Day Lunch in the Morgan Building