Inspirational Post from Pastor

www.stewadshipoflife.org

It’s Not Up to Us

By Rev. Larry Iverson

The council had gone over the figures a half dozen times, and now two
hours into this discussion they were no closer to an answer than when
they started. “I think it’s time to table this conversation and move
on,” the pastor said. “It’s pretty obvious we aren’t going to come to a
solution here tonight. We each seem to have our own ideas of whether we
want our congregation to grow and move forward.”

The council president nodded in agreement and was about to make a
motion to adjourn when Fred Larson spoke up.

Fred hadn’t said anything during the meeting. He was a quiet man who
always went out of his way to avoid confrontation. Fred said, “The
pastor just made the point that I believe we have all been missing
during this long discussion about our ability to expand our sanctuary.
Let me say it in a different way. The pastor said we couldn’t agree on
whether WE want to grow and move forward, but I submit to you that it’s
not up to us.”

John, the council curmudgeon, shot back, “Well, who else is going to
make that decision? We’re the church council and it’s up to us.” “No,”
said Fred, “the decision whether to build an addition is not up to us.
It doesn’t make any difference what WE want. It’s what God wants that
matters here! We are just the custodian’s of this house of God and I
don’t ever recall reading where he wanted it to cease growing.
Everywhere you look in the Good News, Jesus is asking you and me to
reach out and spread the gospel. You can’t do that if you are going to
stop growing and using the argument that it’s not in the budget. We
have to plan to grow. That’s what God wants us to do!”

“Thank you for saying that Fred,” said the pastor, “Growth is a part of
the Great Commission for us to each personally grow through our love for God and
then pass that love on to our family, neighbors and friends. We can’t
decide to stop growth – that only leads to decline.”

“In view of what you just said, pastor, I want to hear a motion to have
a planning committee look into the costs for the addition,” said the president.
“I’ll move that,” said the old curmudgeon, John. “Second,” said Fred.

“I move we adjourn”, he added. “Now that’s the way I like to have
meetings go.” “And that’s the kind of witness I love to hear,” said the
pastor. “Let’s close with the Lord’s Prayer.”

The Rev.
Larry Iverson serves as Synod Minister for the South
Minnesota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This essay is
reprinted from "Stewardship
Now," a free online newsletter available through ELCA
Stewardship Resources.

Pastor suggests this Table Prayer for Thanksgiving

Gracious God, we give you thanks for the gift of family, friends, and loved ones gathered around this table.

We give you thanks for all your abundant blessings to us and for the bounty of the earth's resources made available to us.

Help us to exercise care in the use of all natural resources and to share our plenty with those in need.

Guide our nation and all our leaders, that together we may use our freedom and power to make our world a place of peace and prosperity for all people. Bless our own gatherings in the days and weeks to come, that our homes might be places of peace and joy in a world filled with conflict and stress.

We ask this all in the name of Christ our King. Amen.

Hendrick Hudson Program - December 13, 2009 - Join in!

Here's the program for the HHMC concert. The first half is  a mix of traditional old favorites, folk songs, Broadway, sacred, classical, and seasonal. The second half is Christmas and holiday music. There is also a possibility that a group from Chatham HS may sing a few numbers.
1. Festival Piece on "Sine Nomine" (For All the Saints)
2. Let me Call you Sweetheart
3. The Bells of St.Mary's
4. Finlandia, Sibelius
5. Down in the Valley
6. Camelot
7. At the River (Shall we Gather at the River), Copeland
8. De Gospel Train
9. The Boar's Head Carol
10. Coventry Carol
11. Who's that Baby?
12. Wassail Song
13. Hark the Herald Angels Sing
14. White Christmas
15. Ding Dong Merrily on High

It's That Time - Marion Stegman Fund is Collecting

Ken Wilber announced in church yesterday that the Ghent VFW and Kinderhook Elks are joining forces again this year to put together toy/food baskets. Last year over 150 families were served. (Is that correct, Ken?) This is such  good local support for those in need. If you know of a family who would benefit, Ken has a form you can fill out.

The VFW and Elks are looking for monetary donations. $50 will buy a basket that includes toys and food for a family; $30 will fund a food basket. Won't you consider joining the effort?

Beginning December 13 (the evening of the fabulous concert that will be filling our church with wonderful male voices - who can resist?), help is needed every evening to help put the baskets together at St. Luke's in Valatie. (758.9461 - Why is this number different than the one I have on the website?)

Getting to church

"80% of life is showing up."
Woody Allen
Quoted by Pastor Isaksen in his sermon yesterday. Ain't it the truth?

Hendrick Hudson Male Chorus to Perform

Come hear the joyful voices of the Hendrick Hudson Male Chorus, of which Pastor Isaksen is a member. The performance will be on Sunday, December 13, 2009 at 2pm. Tickets will be available at the door for $6. Refreshments will be served afterward. To find out more about the group, check out http://www.hendrickhudson.org/.

Excerpt from All Saints' Day sermon

When the people we know die, they take with them the experiences of the First World War, the Great Depression, and the Second World War. They take with them the sounds and smells of the machine shop, the barn or the kitchen in a house that has long been torn down. Their faces look back at us from the photos in an album, their expressions coming from a time that is now out of reach. When the people who are closest to us pass away, a part of our world passes away.

Attributed to Dr. Craig Koester