November 2009 Pastors Corner

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice….Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4.4 & 6)

I recently attended the funeral of the mother of a longtime friend of mine. His mother’s funeral was on her 95th birthday, and she was born six months before my mother. These two women shared many good times together, and I remember that Ruth called my mother from Portland as my mother’s life ebbed away in the summer of 2003. Her voice was full of concern and encouragement. I am grateful for Ruth, and I am mindful of how she and her husband and my parents led lives of thanksgiving.

All four of these lifelong Christians attended and were buried from Trinity Lutheran Church in Parkland. I’ll think of them this Sunday on All Saints Day. You will think of your loved ones on this “Memorial Day” in the church. We give thanks for their love, their charity, and their faithfulness to their Lord until death. They are indeed “the saints from whom their labors rest.”

Where would we be without such role models? I suspect most of you had Christian parents, but I also know that many did not. We are naturally called to faith through the witness of our parents, but that’s not the only way we come to faith. Some will say they’ve had enough religion when they are raised in a church-going home. Others will say they missed out, and are grateful to be establishing their own habits of faith with their children. They are determined to be “bishops” for their children, trusting that their witness will cause the seeds of faith to germinate, grow and bear fruit.

But, of course, we have no final control over matters of faith. As Jesus said to Nicodemus, “The wind blows where it chooses…So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” So who knows whether our friends and loved ones will be people of faith? What we can know is that we have been called into faith, and we are all grateful for that. “Do not worry about anything,” said Paul to the Philippians. Do not worry, because a simple faith will settle all matters in favor of “the peace of God which surpasses all understanding.”

As a congregation, we are thankful for the abundant gifts of God to us as we enter into our 128th year of serving in Christ’s name. As Americans, we are grateful for our numerous gifts and privileges. As your pastor, I am grateful to be serving in your midst. Thanks for supporting me with your prayers, words of encouragement and responses of all kinds to my teaching, preaching and worship leadership.

A blessed All Saints Day and Thanksgiving Day to you!

Pastor Philip Nesvig