Well, we step into a new year on Saturday. I know, I know, dates are a human creation, but this is the way we mark time, and a new year is upon us. 

I don’t know what the new year holds for us as individuals or as a church, but I am sure of one thing. I am sure of the promises of God.

Isaiah the prophet spoke the words of God during a time of great conflict and even unfaithfulness. God’s grace didn’t depend upon how good the people were back then, and it doesn’t now. 

This is what God said to the people of Israel back then and to us today…

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? 
I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19

Whatever the new year holds, I will look to God who is the giver of all good things, and I will do my best to cling to Jesus in all situations. 

God will make a way in the most desperate of situations and will present new opportunities as we step into 2022. 

Let us not dwell on the past as God reminds us in Isaiah. Instead, let us learn from the past so that it informs our decisions as we step into our future. 

I pray the struggles we have faced in the past two years will subside but even if they don’t, we trust God will watch over us and make a way.

May we all have a blessed New Year as we draw closer to Jesus.

Pr. Ben

A week from today (Friday) it will be Christmas Eve. What will you be doing that day?

All the planning of the worship staff and pastors will be complete and we will be ready to celebrate Christmas together as a church family.

For some, there is a danger of being too busy. Rushing to finish this and that in order to achieve the perfect Christmas. 

For others, it will be quiet. Too quiet. The loneliness is deafening and a pining for Christmases past. 

Or maybe you are somewhere in between?

Whatever you may or may not be doing, remember “the reason for the season.” Take some time to connect with God. 

Make time for Jesus. Whether you come to church or worship online, carve out a moment for God.

I am reminded of what Paul wrote to the church in Corinth…

As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 

For Isaiah says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” 

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. 2Corinthians 6:1-2

Let’s not take God’s love for granted. Christmas is the reminder that salvation has arrived in the person of Jesus.

God’s favor rests upon his children. We should celebrate that.

Make the time.

Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:8a

Merry Christmas!

Pr. Ben

Advent is a time of waiting. Waiting for Christmas and waiting for Christ’s return.

I am really good at waiting… because I have no choice in the matter! Honestly, I am not a patient wait-er. 

Over the past two years, I’ve ordered a lot more stuff online than I ever did in the past. I find it easier to have stuff delivered to the front door than going out and hunting it down in a store. 

Once the order is complete, I often get a shopping confirmation with a tracking number. I proceed to track that order several times a day until the package ends up on my welcome mat. Like I said, I am not patient when waiting- but I am good at it! 

Life doesn’t stop when we wait for stuff, nor should we sit around waiting for Jesus to return. There is too much that needs fixing or help! The best way to wait is to show our love for God by loving our neighbor.

The love and kindness we receive from Jesus should overflow to the community around us.

Remember what King David wrote in the 23^rd Psalm, “You prepare a table before me 
in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

King David reminds us that there will be times in our lives that will be less than ideal, if not unpleasant. (Who wants to eat at a table full of your enemies?!?) Even when bad things happen, we are reminded in Psalm 23:5 that we are still chosen children of God (you anoint my head with oil) AND we have more than enough (my cup overflows). 

Let us not waste that which overflows our cup! Love is not a finite quantity! There is always enough love to go around.

While we wait for Christmas and Christ’s return… let’s not wait impatiently, we have too much loving to do.

Love often looks like:

• Peanut Butter for Lutheran Social Services
• Turkey or mashed potatoes for our senior food program
• Wrapped children’s gifts for Angel Tree
• Free quilts given to veterans at the VA hospital
• A Christmas Card to someone who lives alone.

God bless you,
Pr. Ben

For the past two weeks I have been sharing our core values at Community Lutheran Church.

Some might think, “Big deal. More words for the website.”

Others might be wondering, “What about those other words we use? Words like: Real People, Inclusive God, Radical Grace and Inspired Growth.” Are those going away?

Yet a few more might be thinking, “What do we even need core values for?”

What I have been sharing with you is way more than words on a website! And no, what we believe about ourselves, and God has not changed. We still believe that we are REAL PEOPLE who follow an INCLUSIVE GOD who gives RADICAL GRACE and puts us on a path of INSPIRED GROWTH. 

We literally spent time defining ourselves. We can now state who we are without ambiguity. 

We are and we strive to be:

Loving
Caring
Compassionate
Joyful
Friendly
Fun

These are benchmarks for us! We can do a heart check at any time! Just ask yourself the question, “Am I being…” and fill in the blank with any or all of those words above. 

We all need self-evaluation occasionally… even me.

However, the most exciting thing for me in all the data the congregation provided me was that you told me very specifically what INSPIRED GROWTH looks like at Community Lutheran Church. I didn’t ask for that, but you offered it up anyway! 

So far we have talked about the importance of:

Embracing WELCOME

Community in WORSHIP

Seek to LEARN

And there are two more we will cover in worship this weekend! (I don’t want to let the proverbial cat out of the bag!)

Each one of these practices will help us mature as Christians which in turn will help us grow as a church. 

Soon, our staff will gather to talk about each of these practices and define them even more. 

We now have a roadmap that tells us where (and who) we are and we have clear directions towards our destination! 

A person may plot out their course, but it is the Lord who directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

It is an exciting time to be at CLC!

Show up this weekend and discover our last two practices that will complete our pathway of growth!

God bless,
Pr. Ben