Title: Christ’s mercy from generation to generation!
Text: Psalm 78:1-4
Readings: 1Kings 8:22-30, Rev. 21:1-5, Luke 19:1-10
Facebook live: Christ’s mercy from generation to generation!
78 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
3 things that we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.
Listen up! Give ear my friends! We are here to celebrate!
Peace Lutheran church is 60 years old!
Hard to believe for some. Seems like an eternity for others!
It is a joy for me today to celebrate this good news with you.
Not that you need to be told - some of you - Judy Harroun and Arlene Benson, have been here from the beginning.
Others, have been here for a long time and a few have only been here for a year or two.
Some of you were baptized here, others confirmed here, some married here and some, like me, have attended all too many funerals for dear loved ones here.
Pastors called to serve this congregation have come and gone and some have gone to be with the Lord, having rested from their labors. And yet, the Lord is not finished with us.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
The Lord, through the mouth of servants and the ears of his children, has sustained those brought to faith - by the working of the Holy Spirit. He has used the hands of those called and ordained servants, to baptize and wash away the sins of those brought to the font in the stead and by the command of Christ. And he continues to do that as is his good pleasure.
The Old Testament reading for today:
27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!
I Kings 8:27
Pastor Merrell told me a story about the old church on M-59 and this building. The old building had a rite of Disposition - was closed and sold - and now was being torn down.
Pastor Merrell said:
“Then the people learned very quickly that the church was not the building, as they watched their church go down M-59 in dump trucks!”
But they also, as they came together to dedicate this property and the building that was to be constructed here on Elizabeth Lake Road, found very quickly that those gathered together in dedication here, were the church;
the walking, talking, breathing and praying body of Christ gathered by God’s Holy Spirit to be the church here at Peace.
As Pastor Merrell said, “They saw the reality that they were the church - not the building!” It’s good for us to remember that today!
But a building is nice and it is good to have a place to come, to hear, and to worship together. And while we don’t know the future, we thank the Lord for the past and present as he guides and directs us in the future that he knows and has prepared for his people.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Rev. 21:3-4
In the last 10 years the former things have indeed passed away!
So many faithful departed who have been active and joy filled members have gone to their rest and reward in Jesus. While I appreciate all the Lord has given me in the ministry here over the last 10 years, the sorrow of saying good bye to so many dear friends have been hard. Especially for me as we all said goodbye, in this life to Pastor Merrell who for me was not only my pastor, but mentor, and dear friend as well.
As pastor here for 32 years and another 9 years as Emeritus, he faithfully made Christ Jesus known to many Peace members.
3 things that we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us.
As I wrote in my newsletter article in May of 2021 – While we await the joys of Spring and Summer we mourn.
It seemed hard then and remains hard to believe for us all now. Pastor Merrell was with us daily and such an important part of our lives that it still weighs heavy.
The disciples wrestled with the loss of their spiritual head - the Lord Jesus Christ who was taken from them in a most violent way. Loss brings tears, uncertainty and doubt but for the disciples of Jesus an encounter with the risen Christ just three days later gave them hope and peace.
We too who remain, rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus.
We trust his words in John 14 that …
“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also “
and, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father, except through me.”
Dear, Pastor Merrell preached this joy and eternal hope in Jesus to many over his 40 plus years in ministry at Peace [as well as our 50th anniversary some 10 years ago.] It was his comfort and joy as well. Though we still grieve, it is my hope that we remember Pastor Merrell as our faithful and peaceful shepherd he was, called by God to be his under shepherd here for so many years and to use all that he taught us about Jesus to bear good fruit to a world in need.
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), The epistle to the Ephesians reminds us. Eph. 5:8-9
It remains hard to imagine Peace without him among us, but it is now incumbent upon us all as we enter into our 60th year to shine that light of Christ a little brighter in this dark world – whether here or at other churches - so that God may continue to use his word, church, and ministry by the Holy Spirit to reach those that need to hear about Jesus.
For all those who have died in the faith our Lord promises these words:
‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ Matt. 25:23
I saw a wonderful meme on Facebook that spoke of the signs of a healthy church and it read:
Two signs of a healthy church - men singing and baby’s crying!
Thankfully over the last few years we’ve had both!
But as we all know heath isn’t guaranteed forever. We’ve been blessed by the Lord of the church for 60 years but the future remain an open book.
How will the Lord build our future?
How can we prepare ourselves for what he has in mind?
A few weeks back we heard Jesus’ call those in the boat:
19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
The work of Christ through the Holy Spirit is to know him and to make him known. It’s the growing in Christ that we’ve been doing here for 60 years!
Through pastor’s and members – disciples of Christ over the generations - have made Jesus know to a word that needs to here. Parents tell their children; friends tell friends; those who come to faith have an obligation to do so too. The working of God is active through his word and gifts and the Spirit works and builds followers of Christ making them fishers of men.
Let us continue to do the work of God together here at Peace. What is the work of God? To believe on him whom he has sent – and to tell others the good news that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and that in him we have forgiveness on sins and peace in his name!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
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