This July delegates (including your pastor) and visitors from across the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and from around the world will travel to St. Louis for its 65th Regular Convention. The theme of the Convention is “Baptized for this Moment.” Delegates will gather to elect men and women to fill important positions of leadership and to discuss and vote on issues important to our “walking together” as a Church body. The Convention is very much about taking care of the business of the Church so that she can be well prepared to take care of the Mission of the Church to make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching (Mt 28:19-20).
This month Atonement will gather on June 9 to discuss the business of our parish at our annual voters meeting. We will elect men and women to important positions of leadership and we will vote on next year’s budget and other issues important to our “walking together” as a local congregation. It is a business meeting that serves the higher purpose of Atonement Lutheran, to carry out the Great Commission (Mt 28:19-20). What a reminder also for us that we are “Baptized for this Moment.”
This month Atonement will gather on June 9 to discuss the business of our parish at our annual voters meeting. We will elect men and women to important positions of leadership and we will vote on next year’s budget and other issues important to our “walking together” as a local congregation. It is a business meeting that serves the higher purpose of Atonement Lutheran, to carry out the Great Commission (Mt 28:19-20). What a reminder also for us that we are “Baptized for this Moment.”
There are three specific ways in the next couple of months for which we as a congregation will prepare and support both the business of our Synod and for the business of Atonement Lutheran. First and foremost we will gather around the Word of God. Beginning the first Sunday in June we will begin a five-part Bible Study after the Divine Service entitled “Baptized for this Moment.” The Study explores what it means to be baptized. In short, we are baptized for witness to God and his work of salvation in the world, for acts of mercy and compassion toward others, and for life together as the people of God. All are invited and encouraged to attend the Bible Study!
The second way is by devoting ourselves to prayer. The president of the LCMS has asked all congregations to keep the delegates of our Synod’s Convention in prayer as they gather together this July. He has asked that congregations pray for the Synod “to be faithful and zealous in confessing Christ.” He has also asked that we pray that “through witness, mercy, and life together God’s name would be made holy, that his kingdom come to us and expand, and his good and gracious will be done among us.” I encourage all of you to also keep our congregation in prayer at all times and especially as we gather together for our annual voters meeting. “What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer” (Lutheran Service Book 770, “What A Friend We Have in Jesus,” stanza 1).
The third way is through financial support. Not only will we have an opportunity consider how we can contribute financially to help support the mission and ministry of Atonement Lutheran, but we will also have an opportunity to support the work of our Synod in Convention. On Sunday, June 2 you will receive a bulletin that discusses the work of the Synod and gives information regarding the Convention. Inside is an envelope that you can use in order to financially support the work that we’ve been given. Financial gifts that are given to spread the Gospel are “a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God” (Phil 4:18). What a joy to come together in partnership for the Gospel.
As we move forward as a parish and as part of a Synod may we remember that we are “Baptized for this Moment.” We are born into the family of God by means of Holy Baptism and we daily live in our Baptism. We are sustained by God’s Holy Word in the Bible and in the proclamation of the Gospel. We continue to receive and rejoice in God’s sure and certain promise of forgiveness, life and salvation in the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. As the people of God we are set free to do good works of witness, mercy, and life together. May God enable us by his grace to carry out such service.
In Christ,
Pastor Josh
The second way is by devoting ourselves to prayer. The president of the LCMS has asked all congregations to keep the delegates of our Synod’s Convention in prayer as they gather together this July. He has asked that congregations pray for the Synod “to be faithful and zealous in confessing Christ.” He has also asked that we pray that “through witness, mercy, and life together God’s name would be made holy, that his kingdom come to us and expand, and his good and gracious will be done among us.” I encourage all of you to also keep our congregation in prayer at all times and especially as we gather together for our annual voters meeting. “What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer” (Lutheran Service Book 770, “What A Friend We Have in Jesus,” stanza 1).
The third way is through financial support. Not only will we have an opportunity consider how we can contribute financially to help support the mission and ministry of Atonement Lutheran, but we will also have an opportunity to support the work of our Synod in Convention. On Sunday, June 2 you will receive a bulletin that discusses the work of the Synod and gives information regarding the Convention. Inside is an envelope that you can use in order to financially support the work that we’ve been given. Financial gifts that are given to spread the Gospel are “a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God” (Phil 4:18). What a joy to come together in partnership for the Gospel.
As we move forward as a parish and as part of a Synod may we remember that we are “Baptized for this Moment.” We are born into the family of God by means of Holy Baptism and we daily live in our Baptism. We are sustained by God’s Holy Word in the Bible and in the proclamation of the Gospel. We continue to receive and rejoice in God’s sure and certain promise of forgiveness, life and salvation in the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. As the people of God we are set free to do good works of witness, mercy, and life together. May God enable us by his grace to carry out such service.
In Christ,
Pastor Josh
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