A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR LYN

 

Jesus said it and it’s true.  “The wind blows where it pleases.  You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.  So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)  The gathering of our Metropolitan Synod’s 217 congregations and our three services on Holy Trinity Sunday are powerful examples of that truth.  The Spirit will have its way. We can be open to where the wind is blowing us and be reborn or we can lose our lives. It’s really that simple.

 

Our synod has a new bishop, Robert Rimbo, the former bishop of S.E. Michigan Synod and current pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Central Park West. He was elected with 236 votes. The current Synod Mission-Stewardship pastor, Bob Wollenberg received 232 votes. Seven people abstained. Laity outnumber clergy 2 to 1. Many believe our synod needed reorganization so it could be more sensitive to local needs. Pr. Rimbo pledged a collegial style of leadership that would deploy staff in the territories of our vast synod that reaches from Montauk to Saugerties. He also pledged to serve only one six-year term. The vote was not a mandate yet it reflected one of the most serious, spirit-filled assemblies I’ve ever attended.  As a bell tolled there was 5 minutes of intense quiet, personal prayer from the delegates who so represented the church at Pentecost:  Asian, Latino, Black, White, city, rural, suburb, young, retired. As we prayed, even the most jaded of delegates had to confess that they felt the Spirit blowing throughout this diverse family of God. There was no electioneering, no loud applause when the result was announced. I am still deeply touched by that process and urge us all to pray for our synod and our new Bishop who will take office August 1^st.

 

On a much lighter note, it truly seemed the Spirit was blowing around St. Paul’s on Holy Trinity Sunday.  I’d been forced to complete my morning and my confirmation sermons by Wednesday night. After that assembly, what I had prepared seemed totally inadequate. I “winged it” but thanks to that Spirit, many said they felt truly inspired by the messages.  I know that after 23 years of ministry, I witnessed one incredible miracle.  All 22 confirmation students were robed and lined up 10 minutes before the service!!! What a great class and what great parents this 2008 group was!

 

And now, as schedules slacken we hopefully have some leisure time to relax and let the spirit’s winds blow over us. I ask you to let yourself be open to the same Spirit that has dreams and visions for St. Paul’s. For too many years we seem to have existed from crisis to crisis, deficit to surplus to deficit.  What IS our vision for the future? Our board heard discussions of a part-time youth pastor or a vicar or an assistant pastor.  How would we make that happen?  What kind of budget processes do we have to implement in order to make any of our shared dreams a reality?  What do we need for a ministry that is in mission to our community?  Watch for an insert in our June bulletins that will give you a chance to share your vision and perhaps over the summer we can even meet to explore such dreams.  Yes, we’ve done this before, but perhaps now is the right time. “Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.”  That’s a Native American song that may be very appropriate for the St. Paul’s family at this time in our shared journey of faith.

 

 

"What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." (NRSV) Micah 6: 8