Category: From the Pastor

 Welcome to 2015!

The start of a new year brings with it the feeling of new beginnings. This year is no exception.

At Holy Spirit we begin the year with the season of Epiphany, a season where we not just hear about, but witness once again how Jesus, the Son of God, is made known to the world. Our worship allows us to give thanks to God for the gift of a savior, and also strengthens us for witness and service to our neighbors. Our schedule of Christian education brings our neighbors closer to us as we hear updates about important work being done.  There is much to learn and many places where we are able to serve.

Therefore it is important for each of us to make regular attendance at Sunday worship a priority. I know some have been thinking about this, saying, “I know it is something I need to get back to doing.” The start of this new year is the time to put that thought into practice.

The new year has also brought about the start of a new relationship with an emerging worshipping community.  On Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. until 12 noon, a prayer group of Ethiopian Christians in Lancaster County is meeting in the nave for prayer and worship. The group is being coordinated by Holy Spirit member Melese Anamo. Conversations began some time ago as the group was outgrowing the private home where they have been meeting. Following a presentation to the Congregation Council and additional meetings, the prayer group had their first worship just after Christmas.

Long time Holy Spirit members will remember that at one time, we too were a “house church” in search of a home. Knowing that and given our unity in baptism and our common desire to worship Jesus, we welcome this prayer group as they offer ministry to the Ethiopian community. And we look forward to planning a time of fellowship with them in the future.

Finally (I know…I’m getting “windy”) this newsletter covers the month of February, which is the month the season of Lent will begin. Once again we will be offering two services on Ash Wednesday and every Wednesday of Lent, at 12 noon and 7 p.n. The adult Sunday School will be a Bible study on the preaching texts used at the mid-week services. A daily devotional booklet will also be published. Take part in all of these opportunities to worship and renew yourself at your church home.

 

Clifton D. Eshbach

Pastor

 

Dear Friends in Christ,

I love the opportunities for singing that we have during the seasons of Advent and Christmas. The tunes are clear and familiar, and the texts provoke deep spiritual insights. These, to me, are the characteristics which make any hymn relevant and significant.

The hymn on the front cover, Once in Royal David’s City (ELW #269), is one such  example. Not only is it a beautiful piece of poetry written by Cecil Frances Alexander, the tune by Henry J. Gauntlett, gives us music that is easily sung and matches the words perfectly.

This is not one of those Christmas carols which makes you want to sing as loud as possible. But it is a carol which makes you pray, and think, and ponder anew what the almighty has done through the birth of Jesus, the Christ.  Each of the four verses moves us through the story of the incarnation, beginning with the location and the holy family. But unlike other carols, this hymn takes us beyond Bethlehem and into the reason the messiah came to earth. Because the child will not stay in the stable, nor will he keep sleeping in the manger. Instead he will be in heaven at God’s right hand on high, where we will all, “gather round, bright like stars, with glory crowned.”

If anyone asks you about the significance of Christmas, guide them to this hymn.

Thank you for your faithful worship and witness in the name of Jesus Christ during this year, now coming to an end.  God bless you with more meaningful ways that you may offer service and witness in the new year.

CLIFTON D. ESHBACH

Pastor

 

We are now at the end of the current church year. Following our observance of All Saints Sunday, we conclude our year with three weeks of parables and teachings from Jesus which give us much to think about going into our future.  The texts during this last month of the church year refer to the topic of last things, and how we are to wait for this last judgment.

The three texts from chapter 25 of St. Matthew’s gospel contain remarkable context for the end of the year, but they also anticipate the themes for the new church year which begins with Advent, and that seasons’ own themes of anticipation and hope and promise.

The three texts we will hear this month provide guidance on how to wait for the next coming of Christ. This question of “how” brings with it several ethical considerations.

For example, think about the things you do now while you wait for something. How do you make use of your time? Have you (to use the text from Matthew 25:31-46) recently fed, provided water, clothed, visited, or hosted someone? How have you spoken about another person? Have you been faithfully applying yourself to the principles of the 8th commandment? How have you loved your neighbor as yourself?

These are questions we ask both as individuals and corporately as a congregation. During this coming month we should be exploring this question of how we wait in anticipation of the return of Christ. It may lead us into new areas of service, or witness, or sharing, or invitation. Let’s see.

CLIFTON D. ESHBACH

Pastor

 

Hello!

There is much to read in this edition of The Courier. That is because there is much going on at Holy Spirit right now.

This month, two pages have been set aside to detail some, just some, of the outreach ministries where we have had an impact. These are primarily locally based efforts, but we have had an impact around the world with our companion congregation in Tanzania, and through our contributions of personal care kits, school kits, and quilts to Lutheran World Relief.

The children and youth ministry engages that generation with special times like the Lego Club, and the October outing to the corn maze.

October is the month we join together and make our pledges of support to this congregation for 2015. That happens when we process our pledge cards forward on Stewardship Sunday, October 5th.

And there is more. All of these good things have their start as we gather on Sunday morning for word and sacrament worship. This is our foundation, gathering as one community at the table of our Lord, receiving the means of grace, that we are called to share with the world.

There is a place for you to share your gifts and talents. But first, be part of that special time on Sunday morning. And be part of this community which extends the hand of grace here and throughout  God’s creation.

CLFTON D. ESHBACH
Pastor

I recently read an article from the Rev. Dr. David Lose, the new president of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (and who grew up in Lebanon County too). The article is entitled The church’s role in our lives? Yes with a question mark at the end of the title.

The thesis question is: Given how many other groups and movements lay claim to our allegiance today, can the church ever expect to exert the level of influence in our lives that it once did?

After some history about the influence of the church upon the culture over the centuries, the article states that civic groups, associations, clubs, sports leagues, and others have made the church less than the center of our lives. Some of the items mentioned were once part of the activity of congregations. I played church league softball in Berks County. My grandfather was a pretty good dart baseball player in a similar church league.

So what is he church to do? Dr. Lose leans toward the concept that the church should help, “bring our other activities into focus, that we might see these different enterprises in light of our faith.” In order for that to happen, the church must have as a goal, “of forming Christian faith in our people.”

He writes, “Slowly but surely [we must] learn the Christian story and, more importantly, learn how to use the story to make sense of our lives and share our faith with others.”

That’s why we offer times of education and discussion for all ages on Sunday morning. But may it also mean that we need to offer times of learning at different parts of the week. The Thursday night study group is one example. But how about on a weekday morning? Or an online discussion group working together on a question of the week? Or an early morning conversation at a local coffee shop?

As we take advantage of these times to learn together, we can make progress in our ability to have our faith make sense and to give us the ability to share that faith with other people. God knows we are a work in progress.

CLIFTON D. ESHBACH
Pastor