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August 2010
August 2010 It is with great joy that we announce that ELC has called Pastor Robert Driver-Bishop as our new Lead Pastor!
| Pastor's Message |
| Tuesday, June 08 2010 | |
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Discerning God’s Call God calls us on many levels: God calls us as individuals and as a congregation. But how do we go about discerning God’s call in our lives? The word discernment comes from the Latin word discerne which means to distinguish, to separate apart, and to sort out. The discernment process involves sorting out our interior and exterior experiences and determining the source of our calls. How can we distinguish between God’s call and other calls? How do we determine whether a call comes from a desire for security and comfort or if it comes from God? Right now, at Evangelical Lutheran Church, we have come to a crossroads in the life of our congregation. We will soon be calling a new Lead Pastor. Perhaps, some of you have come to a crossroads in your own personal life. Maybe you are contemplating some kind of new direction – like a job shift, a transition in family life, or a change in attitude or behavior. Below are four different ways we can help each other discern God’s call in our individual life as well as our congregational life.Discerning God’s Call Through TrustFirst and foremost, we are called to trust God. So discernment involves living in a relationship of trust with our loving Creator. As we continue to trust the Lord, we can be assured that God will lead us to the places of our individual callings: “Let each of you lead the life. . . to which God called you.” (I Corinthians 7:17) Likewise in our congregational life, as we continue to live in faith rather than fear, God will guide and strengthen us in our life together. Here at ELC, as we prepare the way for a new Lead Pastor, we are called to trust in God’s Word: “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8)Discerning God’s Call Through ListeningDiscernment involves listening with an open heart. One of my favorite Old Testament stories is from I Kings when God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, “Ask what I should give you.” Most Bible translations say that Solomon asked for wisdom. However, in the original Hebrew text, the translation is “hearing heart.” In order for Solomon to make wise decisions, he asked God to give him a “hearing heart” that listened well so he could discern well. Like Solomon, we too can ask God for this same gift. As we learn to listen with a “hearing heart,” God will help us to listen with an open heart and open mind, especially to things that are hard for us to hear. This will help us to let go of preconceptions and illusions that become obstacles to our callings. As we listen with a “hearing heart,” we will also learn how to listen in times of silence. Like Elijah in I Kings 19, there will be times when we will discover God’s voice not in the wind, fire, or earthquakes of our lives, but in the still, small voice of silence.Discerning God’s Call Through Patience Discernment involves patience and then more patience. However, patience is often difficult for us to claim, especially if we live with unrealistic expectations from ourselves and others. In our society of quick fixes and instant gratification, we become frustrated and think we should know when and how our callings should be revealed to us. At times, we live under the illusion that there is something wrong with us if we do not know God’s will in our lives. However, the truth of the matter is that we never fully comprehend God’s will. We often live in ambiguity and uncertainty, not knowing what lies ahead. As we discern our callings, we certainly get a glimpse of God’s will and a glimpse of the next steps God wants us to take in our lives. It is somewhat like driving a car at night--the headlights cast only enough light for us to see the next small part of the road ahead of us. Ultimately, discernment asks for our willingness to act in faith on our sense of what God wants us to do. Discerning God’s Call Through PrayerDiscernment involves listening to God through prayer. Each one of us is called to seek the Lord’s presence in our individual prayer life. “Seek the Lord and the Lord’s strength; seek God’s presence continually.” (Psalm 105:4) In closing, I invite us to pray together the following prayer as a congregation. As our church enters into this time of new beginnings, may this prayer remind us of God’s almighty presence that will strengthen and guide us for the tasks ahead.May the strength of God pilot us,May the power of God preserve us, May the wisdom of God instruct us, May the hand of God protect us, May the way of God direct us, May the shield of God defend us, May the host of God guard us against the snares of evil and the temptations of the world. Amen --St. PatrickIn God’s Grace, Pastor Barbara Bornemann |
Worship With Us
| Downtown Frederick | |
| Saturday | 6:00pm |
| Sunday | 8:00am |
| 9:30am | |
| 11:00am | |
| Urbana Elementary | |
| Sunday | 8:00am |
| 10:00am | |
Pastor's Message
| August 2010 |
A congregation of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
A member of the
Downtown Frederick Partnership.