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Pastors' Reformation Message |
2004-01-16 |
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Renovating the parsonage has been an ongoing project. Last month a deep trench was dug in the back yard to take out the old sewer line and replace it with a new one. After thirty-seven years the old line had collapsed in some places and was no longer doing its job. The sewer serves a useful purpose, removing waste from our homes in a safe and sanitary manner. Perhaps some of you remember the “good old days” when you depended on things like bedpans, slop pails, and the outhouse to take care of sanitation. Modern technology has given us the marvel of indoor plumbing, but over time it wears out, becomes plugged, and ceases to function properly. Then something needs to be done, and it needs to be cleaned out or replaced.
October is traditionally the month when we celebrate the Reformation and remember Martin Luther and other reformers. The Reformation was a time of “cleaning out” in the Church, a time of tearing down old orders. That needs to be done sometimes, even in the Church. The Church exists to be the Holy Spirit’s means of channeling the life giving Good News of Jesus Christ to you and me. Sometimes the Church can get filled and plugged up with human inventions, with members insisting that things be done in the same old way, with self-important clergy insisting that things be changed to suit them, and with a hundred other obstacles to God’s Word of love in Christ Jesus. In those times cleaning out is in order, perhaps even tearing down.
We recall people like Luther and the other reformers who engaged in cleaning out and tearing down. But if that is all we consider we miss the most important work of the Reformation, which was the reconstruction of the Church. If the workers in our backyard had just torn out the old sewer line, where would we be? The reason they were there was to put in a new sewer line that fulfilled its proper function! The reformers only tore down, and they did that reluctantly, to build up a place where the good news of Jesus was properly proclaimed and taught to young and old. The reformers began this task five hundred years ago, but the rebuilding is not complete. They have passed it on to us who are members of the Church today. Each of us has skills for building up a Church where the Good News is alive and free. We give thanks to God for the building you have been engaged in through all the many parts of the life of American Lutheran. In this season of remembering the Reformation we are reminded that reforming never ends, and we encourage you to do some more building. Take part: contribute your skills, your time, your encouragement, your monetary gifts, and your prayers. And do some building up by inviting friends or neighbors to church. Who knows what blessings God will send as we build and rebuild in His name?
Building Committee Update
The building committee met with architect Jeff Stromgren and Dan Hasslen from Hasslen Construction on Monday, 22 September. Plans for both a new church and remodeling of the present church were analyzed. The architect will take the input from the meeting and refine the plans, and Hasslen Construction will develop cost estimates based on those plans. The committee and architect will present the plans to the October 14th council meeting. Please continue to pray for the council as they choose the best plan, that we will be united in our final decision, and that the result will be God’s glory.
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Summer: starting Memorial Day Weekend
9:00 am Worship Service KMSD Broadcast
10:00 am Coffee and Fellowship
WOW (Worship on Wednesday) 6:30 pm
Winter: starting after Labor Day
8:30 am Worship Service KMSD Broadcast
9:35 am Educational Hour
9:35 am Coffee and Fellowship
10:45 am Worship Service
WOW (Worship on Wednesday) 6:30 pm |
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401 South Flynn Drive
Milbank SD 57252
605.432.5566 |
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