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.”
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