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GLORY BE TOGOD WHOSE POWER, WORKING IN US, CAN DO INFINITELY MORE THAN WE CAN ASK OR IMAGINE.
"Rex Knowles relates in a collection of stories of Christmas that he had shut himself in his study when there was a knock on his door. His children had a play to perform, and he could tell it was a Christmas play because of the lighted flashlight wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a shoe box. The classic story culminated when his eight-year-old entered, undulating like she was riding a camel, bedecked with all available jewelry .She carried a pillow with three items. After bowing to the holy family she announced. "1 am all three wise men. I bring precious gifts: gold, circumstance, and mud." Mr. Knowles says that instead of laughing at this mistake, he prayed. And I have to agree that his daughter's list seems accurate of the things I bring to the altar this year. At any given moment, circumstance and mud might be pretty good descriptors of my experience. But I'm also reminded that the first Christmas story was itself the product of circumstance beyond the control of the characters. It's pretty stunning what can happen to mud when faith, hope, and love have the day." -Stephen Bauman, SIMPLE TRUTHS
I. Circumstance And Mud
I like Stephen Bauman's Christmas-Epiphany image derived from what Rex Knowles beheld in his children acting out the Holy Family visited by three Wisemen rolled into one 8-year-old daughter. I'm also inclined to agree with Bauman that circumstance and mud are probably good descriptors of my experience, too. Dare I say of our HTLC experience right now? From my vantage point, we have been contending in recent weeks with both circumstance and mud, with circumstances that have been hurtful to many we love, and it has felt rather like slogging through the mud. The going has been tough. You feel as though you could slip and get mired down. Each step takes extra effort.
But, here's where faith, hope and love have the day, because, somehow, we maintain our balance, put one muddy foot in front of the other and face hurtful circumstances conscious of healing and help from Above. I am reminded of the words we spoke in prayer on a dark night in November: "When grief is a reality and healing is a journey, your grace will make a difference." I believe with all my heart that circumstances and mud are transfigured (to use an end of Epiphany image) by the energies of faith, hope and love that will have the day.
II. Forward In Mission
We also dared to pray these words on that dark November night: "When the Spirit beckons us forward in your mission, your grace will make a difference." There is no short cut through mud and circumstance except to move forward. By the grace of God, through God's own gifts of faith, hope and love, we are moving forward. May I suggest that we continue to do so by bathing each step in prayer?
A few weeks ago, the Spirit prompted me to gather brothers and sisters in a prayer partnership for HTLC. For one-half hour every Wednesday, we have been praying our way into God's future. We are listening for direction, paying attention to the Spirit's prompting and letting God have his perfect way in us and with us. Your heart should be beating a little faster now because what I'm relating is exciting, powerful stuff. A congregation that dares to just sit before God in expectant prayer is a people on a launching pad. Prayer is an action that expects a reaction, as in chain-reaction.
Last fall I read Martha Grace Reese's wonderful book on evangelism called UNBINDING THE GOSPEL. Reese says some insightful and energizing things about how the so-called "Mainline", churches not only can, but are rebounding after .decades of decline. But, even more then being an exciting primer on relational evangelism, which grows out of her directorship of the Lilly funded "Mainline Evangelism Project," this book makes a compelling case for congregational prayer being at the very heart of all renewal, including a renewed emphasis on evangelism and outreach.
Reese writes, "Prayer is the way to stay in love with God. Prayer is the way individuals, small groups and congregations grow and become vivid. It is a habit, a discipline, but not discipline with a clenched jaw. Prayer is more about receiving from God than it is about asking God for things or working hard at intercession. Prayer involves effort, habit and focus; but it results in lightness and energy."
As we move forward through difficult emotions, uncertain outcomes, and into the unknown future, I covet the lightness and energy that come from prayer. Prayer also reminds us that the unknown future is always God's future and, therefore, filled not only with challenges, but with gifts and opportunities. Let's pray passionately through the present and embrace God' s future filled with possibility and power.
III. Because Your Spirit Is Among Us. , .
Not only were the above words part of our congregational prayer last November, but they keep reminding me to look for the Spirit in our midst. And, I have not been disappointed. From the perspective of almost twenty years at HTLC, I can honestly say I have never seen us richer in the Spirit than in some of these trying days. Into the pain of this time, God has brought the gospel offorgiveness, the ability to speak the truth in love and the hope and confidence that come from believing that God always births the new creation in the midst of brokenness.
Ask me where I see the Spirit in our midst and I will point to prospective members scheduling baptisms, to a full sanctuary the day I had to walk down our long aisle as a solo pastor again, to a seminary intern in our midst with her wonderful family. Ask me where I've experienced the Spirit recently and I'll tell you about a Pre-Christmas communion with Pastor Frank Stevenson and receiving his blessing as I knelt beside him. I'll tell you about letters and phone calls I've received, not to mention your Christmas cards and gifts. I've been encouraged in my ministry by the Spirit's presence in so many HTLC souls from little children to aged shut-ins.
Because the Spirit is among us, I would like to suggest that we open ourselves to the Spirit's direction in a series of "Listening Post" conversations, perhaps hosted by our Council, where we come together to discuss visions ofHTLC's life and mission. From this perspective, this time of transition is a kairos moment, to borrow a word from the New Testament. Kairos is translated "time," but not simply clock time or calendar time. Kairos means "seize the moment time." Be alive to God's timing, to discern the direction God is leading us. Indeed, as I share these words with you, I am also mindful that it is kairos time for two other ministries in our midst. Two long tenured leaders will be leaving both Lutheran
Church of the Cross and The Lutheran Center at BSU. The Spirit will be mightily at work among us! So, let's work with the Spirit.
I ask you in this kairos time at HTLC to step boldly into the ever- flowing stream (an Epiphany baptismal image!) which is this congregation's amazing life. Make a strong and sincere commitment to yourself and your Lord to be at worship every Lord's Day you possibly can. A kairos time also demands koinonia, to borrow another New Testament word, which means community. We need to be together as a congregation around the Lord's Table and every other fellowship and learning table as often as we can be. In addition, be a cheerful and generous giver of the resources God has blessed you with. Open yourself as never before to the Lord's call to serve and through HTLC. Let me suggest that the Ministry of Support conduct its annual Time and Talent commitment during the first weeks of Lent with as much innovation and encouragement that they can dream up. And, that each of us respOnds with as much faith, commitment and boldness as we can.
Right now, for example, the Lord is knocking at the door of someone's heart to become the next convener and partner for the Ministry of Hospitality or Nurture or Media. God needs a bunch of his most blessed children to say what we sang during the hymn of day, "Here I am, Lord." God needs still another blessed child of his to partner with our Project Stepping Stone board as its next president. I am not lifting up these roles merely as a recruiting gimmick, but in the faith that God is, even now, calling someone as these words are heard.
Some in our midst have already answered the Spirit's call to step forward in service during this kairos interim at HTLC. One of these is, of course, Vicar Tracy Paschke-Johanlles. As a fourth year seminary intern involved in a residency at St. Vincent's Hospice in Indy, she already had a "Learning Contract" established with us through Luther Seminary. We were going to provide Tracy with some opportunities to share and grow her gifts in some pastoral roles she would not likely have experienced at St. Vincent's. Prompted by the Spirit's call to Tracy and our many needs during this interim, we will be enhancing our already established learning contract as described elsewhere in this Bulletin of Reports. As I see it, this arrangement is surely the Spirit's work in our midst! Praise God and thank you, Tracy!
IV. Praise God And Thank You, HTLC !
I cannot let this annual opportunity pass without, once again, thanking you for the grace of my twelve week sabbatical. I dare say I would not be able to face this time with whatever energy and inspiration that I have were it not for the rich experiences of those weeks. Elaine and I got a lot more than "Kicks on Route 66." We felt the very spirit of God and saw the Lord Jesus in his people. And, that goes on!
Beyond this, I would not be able to rise to the challenge and opportunity of this time without all of you, my partners in ministry, in every aspect of this congregation's life and witness. Thank you is not enough, but it is heartfelt. And, as always, I thank my wife, life-partner and lover of God and me, Elaine. Ruth 1:16-17
V Because the Peace of God Surrounds Us.
As real as our human struggle and sin, our hurts and heartaches, our banes and brokenness is the Peace of God. I pray this peace upon each of you, and especially upon every hurting individual and family at HTLC, including our friends Joe and Nancy. I pray God's peace upon God's church in every place of trial and turmoil. I pray God's peace upon God's beautiful, but broken, world especially where our sons and daughters serve and sacrifice, and in all those places where the innocents suffer. I pray God's peace upon all victims and all victimizers, upon the strong and the weak, the doubters and the disciples, which is me and you. I pray the peace of God upon us all until the Prince of Peace shall come again, and Easter shall be forever .
Peace and love to you all,
Pastor John D. Malzahn | 
