Author: Church Office

There are occasions when I need to spend some time thinking about how to begin these little epistles. Other times the words just seem to jump off the keyboard. And then there is a third category; how to arrange different items to share with you. It is this third category that is testing me this month.

There are many topics which emerged from my recent trip to the Konde Diocese in Tanzania to share with you.  The little article on page nine is just the beginning.

In thinking about my experiences during the trip, two topics  have bubbled up to the top of my thinking that I will be sharing with you over the course of the next year. They are fairly simple concepts, but sometimes hard to implement. They both revolve around the topic of how people speak to each other.

As I traveled around the Konde Diocese and listened to, or participated in conversations, it became obvious that the level of intelligent discussion, careful use of language and respectful treatment of your conversation partner is very high.

During the trip we had a couple of sensitive issues to raise, and I was struck by the care with which these conversations were held, and how following the end of the discussion, there remained our authentic friendship and affection for each other. This is because of what holds our partnership together: the fact that God has called us together in covenant, and to quote St. Paul, “nothing separates us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.”

That is an example for us to follow as we work through any topic that comes before us. In fact I think there is an adult Sunday School class brewing here. Stay tuned.

Related to this is what I learned about how our Tanzanian friends are so easily able to speak about their faith to other people. They have a comfortable, friendly style in sharing their faith that is impressive. One reason this is so is because they know what to talk about and how to talk about it. On this topic we can learn a lot from them. I was told that our companion congregation has grown mainly because of this person-to-person interaction. Yes, there is more than one Sunday School class here, perhaps a series of classes.

CLIFTON D. ESHBACH

Pastor

 

Welcome to the beginning of this combined newsletter for the months of June and July. My former journalism colleagues would call this a “double issue.”  Please remember to keep the calendars for both months, as well as the schedules of worship leaders.

This time of the year gives us opportunities to think about, to worship, and to put into action our call from God to serve our neighbors both here and around the world. Early in June we will have a team of members taking part in the “Loaves and Fishes” food packing event at our synod assembly. Later in June, I will accompany Bishop James Dunlop on his first visit to our companions in the Konde Diocese of Tanzania. Vacation Bible School will be another wonderful experience for the children and for us too. In July we have a special trip planned for children to learn about stories of faith thanks to our friends at the Lutheran Camping Corporation.

And, of course, each Sunday we will gather for word and sacrament, where Christ sustains and commissions us to go out and offer ministry in his name.

Wherever you travel during these two months, be that beacon of the peace of Christ.  Share your life of faith. And remember the work of this congregation never stops. Return for worship and continually offer the gifts of your skills and your treasurers during this time. Both are needed so that our mission stays strong, and faithful, in the name of Jesus.

Clifton D. Eshbach

Pastor