The Rev. Ryan Aarestad and his wife, Mary, moved into our community and into the Bigfork and Effie Fredheim Lutheran Parish in August, 2005.
A Word from Pastor Ryan:
The summer has once again been rushing past us.
The August newsletter not only talks about August happenings, we start planning for all the events that start in September!
August 24th is a big day in our community. We will have another special Sunday outside worship service on the land just north of town on the east side of Highway 38 (you can look across the field at the parsonage). God has blessed us with really great weather for our outside times this summer, we pray for one more Sunday.
You are also receiving a special invitation to the labyrinth?see the article on page 8 in our August 2008 Voice (newsletter).
I close with a devotion Zona gave at the last council meeting. She paraphrased material that was written by Pastor Kerry Nelson. We all agreed that she spoke to each of us?we share it with you.
"The five keys to a flourishing congregational life, health and mission:
Clarity in our proclamation that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus.
Worship as celebration in the verbal and musical languages of those gathered.
The power of the 'priesthood of all believers.'
The Bible in the languages and the hands and the lives of the people.
Shared willingness to take risks and make incredible personal sacrifices.
Taking special interest in number five we consider the following: Risk-taking and sacrifice have always been at the heart of Christian cross-bearing.
In the early immigrant years in the United States, it wasn't pastors who jumped on the first boats but hard-working laborers and others who left behind a life with few prospects for an unknown life here. That hasn't changed. And it wasn't long before settlers were gathering together for worship, working to construct church buildings, schools and hospitals.
All of this continues today, including the tension.
In every congregation, there is the tension between playing it safe and taking risks. There is the tension between "attending" the church and "being" the church. Every other key invites a response - it takes personal courage and willingness to invite others to come and see, to reach out to the world with compassion. It costs time, talents and money to invigorate worship. It takes time to fellowship with other people of faith, to truly serve as the priesthood of all believers. It takes time to engage in Christian learning and Bible study. It costs money to do the work of the church. It takes courage and willingness to work for justice, to address poverty, to speak up on behalf of those with no voice.
And, in every congregation, there was some who are willing to take risks, to make incredible personal sacrifices, and therefore to move the mission of the church forward. And there are others who seem to be just along for the ride, and still others who ride with both feet firmly on the brakes.
When storms gather in the wilder culture, there is always a desire to make sure that no one rocks the boat on Sundays.
But wherever there are congregations who take big risks for the sake of serving others and growing the kingdom, who make deep and lasting personal sacrifices, who will pick up their cross and follow?' - those congregations flourish!"
Let us pray: Dear Lord, you gift each of us as your children and you gift every congregation with particular opportunities and abilities to serve. Yet we feel the inner tension to hold on rather than let go, to seek our lives rather than losing our lives, to leave our crosses on the ground. Don't let us rest contentedly. Inspire and motivate us to do all that we can do as we each do our part in seeing that your will is done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus' name. Amen."
