 |
 |
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
The Gospel of Matthew Bible Studies
The Gospel of Mark Bible Studies
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007 Ordination of Louise Christensen
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
|
Ordination of Louise Christensen and
Cal Oraw Grace and peace be with you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen! As St. Luke writes in the 13th chapter of the book of Acts: “Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts 13:1-3) “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” That is what we are doing today at this service of ordination for Louise Dore Christensen and Calvin Jay Oraw. With prayer and great joy we are acknowledging that God has called and chosen them to serve in the holy Ministry of Word and Sacrament. Cal and Louise, I have a feeling that this is not an office that you originally saw yourselves as serving in! You probably did not grow up thinking that some day you would become pastors! And yet, I know that God has had this in mind for you from the beginning of time. As the LORD said to the prophet Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jer. 1:5) And in the same way, God has consecrated and appointed you. Your spiritual journey, especially during the past ten years, has been one of discerning God’s call for you and growing in your faith, knowledge, and skills. I understand that it was in 1997 that you both enrolled in the Montana Synod’s Lay Pastoral Associate program and that you were part of the first “class” of LPAs to be commissioned at the Synod’s Assembly in 1999. And as you served as LPAs at First Lutheran Church in Lambert and in other congregations as needed, you both gained confidence in serving in pastoral situations. And then, four years ago, you both became a part of the TEEM program at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary – with the understanding that this could prepare you for further service to the Church as ordained pastors. Throughout the process you have been encouraged by friends, colleagues, and mentors (of which I am honored to have served as one of them), and you have been guided and molded by that “still, small voice” of the Holy Spirit speaking to you in the depths of your hearts. And now today, the Church will be doing for you what it did for Barnabas and Saul. In a few moments from now, we will be repeating that ancient rite of laying our hands upon you and ordaining you into the holy Ministry of Word and Sacrament. We will be doing this not because you are better or holier than other people, but because we believe that God has chosen and called you to this office. But what exactly are you called to “do” in this office of ordained ministry? Some people may focus on all of the “details” of what we are supposed to do as pastors – such as leading worship in your congregations, preaching sermons, baptizing people and presiding at the Lord’s Supper, officiating at weddings and funerals, teaching the faith (such as at confirmation classes), visiting the sick and being available for pastoral care in all kinds of situations, being an evangelist, participating in the ministry of the wider church…(wow, just listing all of these things can make me feel exhausted!) and I could go on and on and on. This list that I have just given just barely begins to scratch the surface of all of the things that you are supposed to “do” as a pastor. But to me, the true significance of this office to which you are being ordained does not so much consist in what you “do” as it derives from what you are to BE. Christ has called you to be “SERVANT-LEADERS” in his Church. On one hand, you are to be servants of your people. Jesus told his disciples that “whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.” (Mk 10:43-44) This is true for all Christians, but it must be especially so for those of us who are in the office of ordained ministry. We are to be models of this in all that we say and do. As pastors, we must constantly remember that the ministry is not about us. It is not about receiving recognition and praise for what we do. It is not about getting our own way in things. But it IS about serving our brothers and sisters in Christ and helping them in their needs without any thought as to what we may ever get may get from doing that. We do this because we love our people in the same way that Jesus loves us. Jesus loves us so much that never considered any task to be too menial – as he showed when he washed the feet of his disciples. Jesus loves us so much that he even gave his life for us. In the same way, we as pastors are being called to model Jesus’ love by loving and serving our people in the same way that he does. We are called to be their servants. Louise and Cal, I pray that servant-hood may always be a foundational part of who and what you are – so that people may always see that part of Christ in you. But as pastors we are also called to be leaders in Christ’s church. Cal and Louise, Jesus is charging you – as he did with Peter in today’s gospel – to “feed his lambs” – to “tend his sheep”. Jesus is charging you to lead them in the paths of righteousness by your preaching and teaching – and by your example of holy living. Jesus is calling you to be a shepherd (or actually, his under-shepherd) to those sheep – your people – whom he has placed in your care. Louise and Cal, the people in the congregations that you will be installed in tomorrow are looking to you to lead them. They are not calling you to be their “boss”, but they need you to be their guide so that they can grow in their faith, and hope and love. And Jesus has appointed you – yes, YOU – to be those leaders through how you teach and by how you live. I pray that you will always remember this, so that you may always be prepared to give a good account of your shepherding to our chief shepherd – Jesus Christ our Lord. How can we possibly be the “Servant – Leaders” that Christ has charged us to be? Cal and Louise, if you are like me, you must certainly know that you cannot do this on your own. We are not worthy of this holy calling. We are just human beings in bondage to sin just like everyone else. When we consider the magnitude of what our calling is about, we can be driven to despair like Isaiah was in today’s first reading when he said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” (Is. 6:5) But despite our unworthiness, God gives us the inner strength and faith and love that we need. Cal and Louise, God will give this to you also – for God himself has chosen you. As God has been with you until now, so he will be with you and continue to bless your ministry in the future. Louise and Cal, as you receive the laying on of hands in a few moments from now, may you know that you are being surrounded by the love and prayers of us and of the entire Church. We are praying that the Holy Spirit will fill you with power, with faith, with hope, with peace, with joy, and with love on this your Ordination Day – and always as you go forth to serve and to lead – to MINISTER – in Jesus’ name. Thanks be to God! Amen! -------------------- George R. Karres, Pella Lutheran Church 418 W. Main Street Sidney, MT 59270
|
||||
