First Evangelical Lutheran Church

Pastor’s blog 7/19/10 The times they are a changing

Pastor1st — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:06:19 +0000

Time passes quickly doesn’t it? It seems like yesterday that we had 2 kids at home doing all the the things teenagers do as they are growing up. I remember the sheer busyness of family life with Liz in so many things that we had to drive her to and often attend. I remember the concerns we had about what would happen when the kids grew up and left home. Would they be able to get a good education, find jobs and make enough money to make ends meet? Would they find a good person to marry? We had lots of would they questions. All of a sudden our son John is 28 years old. He has gotten a good education, he makes really good money, he is happily married and has lots of exciting dreams for his life. Liz is living in New Mexico. she has a caring boyfriend, she is working and growing rapidly as a person. Oh we still have concerns and the journey’s of our kids are sometimes a little rough but they are growing and changing as they live in this world. When I reflect on all of this I am reminded of the scripture from Revelation Chapter 4 which speaks of a God who is always with us. A God who knows our needs and will stay the course with us. There have been many times in my kids lives when I wondered how things would work out. I wondered where I would get the strength to see things through. Yet somehow God in Jesus Christ has walked this walk of life with me and given me strength when I most needed it. I am so grateful for his gracious presence and it is good to just stop once in awhile and see just how powerful and lifegiving his presence has been. Thank you Jesus for your guiding hand and compassionate love.

Pastor’s blog 7/12/10 The two shall become one

Pastor1st — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:54:59 +0000

This Friday in Chippewa Falls Wisconsin our Youth and Family Ministries Director Amy Lein and her fiance Chris Loker will be joined in marriage. Amy has been our director here at First for over 4 years now. I remember when she was hired that there was concern about a young woman far away from family and friends being able to make a life for herself in a new community. That concern seems like a distant memory now. Amy and Chris are making their home here now and seem to enjoy this community. It has been fun to see her grow and change as a person as our director and in her personal life. Love is grand isn’t it? When two people find each other and begin to build a loving relationship everything else in their lives benefits.

I recently saw our former youth director Matt Pearson. Matt and Sara got married about 5 years ago while he was serving as our Youth and Family Ministries Director. The loving relationship that they share has changed many things in their lives. They have a 2 year old son Josiah who is a busy and happy little guy. They now have a lovely home in the Omaha NE area. When I visited with them I was moved by the tender love they share with one another.

Jesus talks alot about love and says that it is the most important thing we can share with one another. When I am around people who love and care about each other the way Matt, Sarah, Amy and Chris do, joy fills my heart. Maybe that’s what Jesus had in mind when he said that he came so that we could have life abundantly. As I get older I treasure the opportunities I have to experience love in relationships in as many ways as I can. Love really does make the world go round doesn’t it?

Pastor’s blog 7/6/10 4th of July reflection

Pastor1st — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:36:06 +0000

The 4th of July has always been a special day for me as I am sure it is for many others. Growing up in Maine the 4th was a day when our family would get together with my cousins the Gayton’s to go to Sebego Lake for the day. We would play at the lake, eat at the lake and have a great time together. It wasn’t until I got much older that I thought about what an important day it is for our country. You see like many others I have taken my freedom for granted. I have never been without freedom it is part of me. As I have grown older I have taken and interest in revolutionary war history. The story of this country’s beginning has helped me to realize what a struggle it was for those early settlers to separate from England. I am humbled by their sacrifice.

This past Sunday morning the prayers of the people was a video showing the graves of soldiers at Arlington National Cemetary. Thousands upon thousands of soldiers graves were shown as Taps was played. The sacrifices those soldiers have made for freedom is for each one of us. Those men and women gave their time and in many cases lives for you and I in belief of the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independance. It is something beyond words isn’t it that a life is given for us in the name of freedom. Long ago in a land far away a man named Jesus gave his life for us to free us from sin, death and the power of the devil. Our freedom has been hard won for us hasn’t it.

Pastor’s blog 6/29/10 unexpected connections

Pastor1st — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:30:19 +0000

We truly live in an amazing time in this world. Yesterday I was on my facebook page and completely out of the blue I received a friend request on my facebook page from my uncle Bud. Bud isn’t actually my uncle he is my cousin. Bud is my father brother’s son. I have always called him uncle Bud because he is much older than I am. I haven’t communicated with Bud for years and here he is showing up on facebook. After accepting Bud’s request to be a friend on facebook I connected with his daughter Barbara through facebook. There is much critizism and discussion about facebook and its effect on communication. I guess that is only natural when 500 million people are using a technology like this. I certainly would love to see Bud and Barbara in person but that hasn’t happened for many years. Facebook gave me an easy way to reconnect with them and that is a blessing. Chatting with him yesterday dusted off many great memories and I am grateful for that.

Pastor’s blog 6/21/10 Joyful reunions

Pastor1st — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:50:00 +0000

This past Saturday I was reunited unexpectedly with Matt and Sarah Pearson. Matt was our Youth and Family Ministries Director before Amy. He was here for the wedding of Ashley Feller and Derek Hellstrom. When they were kids at the church they were active in the youth program. Matt and Sarah now have a little 3 year old boy named Josiah. It was fun to connect with Matt again. We talked quite awhile as he watched his very active son climb up and down on chairs exploring everything he could reach. While we were talking, Josiah got more comfortable with me and let me hold him for a couple of minutes. I haven’t held an active 3 year old in a long while and I found out that he was a very solid, wirey little guy. I made friends with him by offering him some candy from the little tins of candy that were on the table. When the tin was empty he was playing around with it and managed to ding me in the head with it. His parents said Josiah say your sorry and he made the saddest little face. I felt bad for him so I said oh how about a kiss. He smiled and gave me a wonderful hug and kiss. Seeing Matt, Sarah and Josiah reminded me of the importance of relationship and God’s abundant love for us. Many memories came to mind of Matt building our youth program and the beautiful way it continues to grow under the leadership of Amy Lein. You know God isn’t only good sometimes he is extravagent.

Pastor’s blog 6/14/10 The joy of 1st weddings

Pastor1st — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:09:14 +0000

I can’t believe that I am now presiding at the weddings of confirmation students. Wow! That must mean that I have been here awhile. This past Saturday I conducted the wedding of Ashley Bents (a former confirmation student) and Josh Hein. What a great day it was for them and for me. I remember Ashley being a very active member at First. She sang in the youth choir that her mother lead. She was active in our youth program and always seemed to be around the church. I am amazed at how quickly her college years went. It doesn’t seem like nearly five years have past since she graduated from high school. She asked her grandfather John to sing the Lord’s Prayer at the wedding which was a moving experience for many. John’s voice has an intimate quality that really reached our hearts when he sang. At the reception instead of tinkling or bells to make the couple kiss we were invited to sing a verse or two of any song with the word love in it. This lead to many spirited renditions of love songs. Once again grandpa John charmed us all with his singing of the alphabet song. Yes Saturday was a memorable day. May God richly bless the marriage of Josh and Ashley!

Pastor’s Blog 5/31/10 Living the Great Commission

Pastor1st — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:10:07 +0000

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… these are the words of the great commission Matthew 28. They are words that we all know yet we struggle to live them out. We your staff at First are working to express this commission using the powerful communication tools that are available today. We have a web page and have just created Facebook and Twitter accounts. Some of you will know immediately what these are and some of you will be a little confused. We want to use the technology that is available to reach all people with the Good News of Jesus. We encourage you to sign up as a friend of ours on Facebook and/or to follow us on Twitter. Join us in this new adventure as we see to be the hands, heart, feet and voice of Jesus in this world. God’s peace Pastor Richard

Unity oh unity

Pastor1st — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:17:39 +0000

I am reflecting on the challenges that “unity in Christ” presents for each of us. I received many comments on this past Sunday’s sermon. Unity is difficult because we often want agreement with us and our point of view to be part of that unity. The question I think that the Apostle Paul poses in Ephesians is can we have unity: one faith – one baptism – one Lord and savior and still have many areas that we don’t see eye to eye on? A good question to ponder this week as we seek to follow Jesus in daily living.