Leave Taking- Part 2
07/19/09
Ministry
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Dear friends in Christ,
In today’s lesson from Mark 6, we see unique insights into the ministry Jesus did among the people while he walked on earth. Since I’m in the process of concluding my ministry among you after 20 years, this seemed like an opportunity to talk about the ministry as Jesus did it and as I’ve sought to carry it out in this place. In reading and reflecting on the text I identified 5 qualities of ministry present, and there are surely more one could name. But 5 is great plenty. You don’t want to be here all morning. And these five provide a good summary of the ministry Jesus did and the ministry we seek to carry out as well.
The first thing I noticed right away in the lesson is that ministry is about people. It starts out with the disciples returning to tell Jesus about all they had done and taught among the people they met. Then, when Jesus tries to take them away to a quiet place to rest, the crowds see them leave and know where they are going, so they get there ahead of them. At the end of the lesson, more people crowd around Jesus, bringing the sick to him to be healed.
Years ago I remember listening to a tape by John Maxwell, who is a former pastor and now a leadership expert. He used the phrase, “People matter most.” I’ve thought about that often as I’ve tried to carry out the ministry of this congregation, “people matter most.” Now I’m not claiming that I always lived up to that high ideal and that I never allowed other things to be placed above the people of the church. I did, probably more often than I should have. But, in the end, ministry is about people, as we seek to live in Christian community. As I leave, the most important thing I take with me is the memories of people, all we’ve shared together, and the way I have been blessed by others as a result.
As a pastor, I have been welcomed into your lives and the lives of others in remarkable ways. I took a little time to look back at some of that this week. What it most revealed was I’m getting old, but it’s also a reminder of the ministry with people I’ve shared over the years. 426 baptisms, the first April 2nd, 1989, Rebecca Pauline Zierke, Becky, now 20 years old entering her junior year at Luther College. My last, Lila June Rieck, June 28th of this year, great-granddaughter of long time member Vera Rieck. I taught and confirmed 265 junior high students, (now you know why I’m tired) 93 weddings, 112 funerals of some remarkable saints I had the privilege to know, the last being Rose Kasma on March 30th. I’ve shared ministry with some great staff members, your servants, including Kim in the office and Jeanne at the organ, both of whom, remarkably, were here when I came and have outlasted me. The church has allowed me to meet amazing people, including those in the far off countries of Tanzania and Kenya. How fortunate I have been to be in a position to have been a part of so many lives. As Jesus showed by his life and death on the cross, “people matter most.” May we always remember that.
The second thing I saw in this text is that ministry is about interruptions. In fact I think it can be rightly said that some of the most important ministry is done when our lives get interrupted.
In the lesson, Jesus wanted to get away with the disciples from the crowds. They were tired. They didn’t even have time to eat. But when they got to that quiet place, the people were already there. So much for their quiet time. And yet when Jesus got on shore, he did not send them away. He had compassion and continued to teach them.
Well, again, I’m not going to claim that I always handled interruptions like our Lord. I did not. But there were plenty of times when things happened that were unexpected and suddenly changed my plans. It’s the nature of ministry. I’ll never forget that October day 15 years ago, a Monday. I was up in our attic doing some insulating when I heard a banging on the front door. Mike Temte, police chief at the time, was there with some bad news. The Crist twins, Tamme and Terre, 20 years old, had died together in a car accident on their way to school. Their mother had died 7 months earlier from complications of diabetes. Their father, Keith, was now all alone with their little brother. I cleaned up as quickly as I could and was off to be with Keith.
Pastors, and I think all of us, struggle with the interruptions. We can’t be available to everyone all the time. But it’s often in those interruptions that God uses us most significantly.
A third ministry quality I see in this text is shepherding. Ministry is about shepherding the flock. Pastor, of course, means shepherd. I’m reminded of a cartoon I once saw in a Christian leadership magazine. It was of a shepherd who had one sheep slung across his shoulder, another under his arm, one was wandering off to his left, another to his right, another tangled up in the weeds some distance away. He was calling out, “Here Sheepies, Here Sheepies.” That’s often what it’s like shepherding a church. It’s like herding a bunch of independent cats, not exactly an easy thing to do.
For me the shepherd role is the leadership role. It is seeking to provide guidance. In the lesson the people are described as “sheep without a shepherd.” They were lost, wandering, not knowing quite what to think or do. So Jesus shepherds them. He brings them together, sits them down, and teaches them. He provides guidance about life and God.
As pastors we shepherd the whole church in different ways. We don’t do it alone of course, we do it with those that are serving as leaders in the church. At times we shepherd the whole organization, seeking to get everybody on the same page with a common mission and vision. In my 20 years we did that on 4 separate occasions, a major process that takes lots of hard work. Now you’ll have the chance to do that again during the interim. That, in turn, can lead to ministry goals or ideas for staffing or building improvements. I’m glad I could help shepherd the church through the building remodeling and expansion that was done 8 years ago. But what I really remember and would rather be known for is the original parking lot paving done back in 1993. Before that the church had a sand/dirt parking lot that was a real mess when it rained. As part of our 125th anniversary celebration we decided to do some building improvements, and paving the lot was one of them. It was significant because it brought us up to speed with the growth and change taking place in the community. It pushed us forward rather than being content with the past. It made the place immediately more inviting for new folks moving into the community. It was an important victory for a church that needed one. That was a huge step at the time. So, call me the “parking lot pastor.” I’m good with that and grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to shepherd this flock over the years.
The fourth ministry quality Jesus demonstrates is that of teacher. The disciples also played that role as they were sent out. Jesus taught with authority about God the Father, the Holy Spirit, the commandments, the scriptures, loving others, serving others, breaking down barriers, the kingdom of God and eternal life. He was called Rabbi, which means, teacher.
Although most pastors do not do so in formal classroom settings, we do a lot of teaching as part of our call. Most sermons that I’ve done have had some teaching as part of the message. The teaching is done to help you better understand the passage upon which the message is based. I’ve taught three year olds in preschool chapel. I’ve taught elementary age kids in children’s messages. I’ve taught the Bible to 2nd graders, first communion to 5th graders; the Lord’s prayer, the creed, the 10 commandments, and the Bible to confirmation students. I’ve done more than 20 confirmation retreats, taught men’s classes, small groups, and adult classes. I think it’s something most pastors enjoy doing and part of why they go to seminary for training. We teach the faith and pass it on to others.
But teaching is more than using the mind and the intellect. We teach the faith as we live the faith- modeling in our lives what it means to be a Christian. Again, no one does this flawlessly. We’re all imperfect. But to the extent that my life and the life of my family has been a good witness to others, I give thanks. And I also give thanks to those of you that, in your own way, have been a witness to me. We’ve taught each other, which is the way it is meant to be in the body of Christ.
And then finally we see that ministry is about healing. The lesson ends with all these people coming to Jesus, bringing the sick to the market place, asking that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. And amazingly, those that did so, were made well. Jesus came to bring healing to life.
Now I never had the gift of healing in that way. Few do. But I had many, many opportunities to visit in hospital rooms and nursing homes and member’s homes and pray for God’s healing touch. I was part of many prayer services for healing and the anointing of the sick. I was able to be there when the end of life was at hand and the prayer was not for physical healing, but for spiritual healing, comfort, forgiveness, and peace. There were times when it was hard to know just what to pray for. I know people that experienced amazing healing from life threatening diseases. I also knew people who were convinced that God would heal them from their cancer, and that did not happen. There is mystery to life. We do not see all things clearly. In the end we have to trust in God’s will and believe in the promise of eternal life. Even with all the great advances in medicine and medical technology, there is still room for prayer, understanding that all healing is ultimately from God.
It has been a great privilege to be in ministry in this place. Jesus provides the model. Ministry is about people. It is about being present in the interruptions. It is about shepherding and teaching and healing. To the extent that such ministry happened these past 20 years, the glory goes to God. To the extent that I and we fell short, we ask for God’s mercy and grace. Thanks be to God for calling us together for this season of ministry. May such ministry continue to flourish in the months and years to come. Amen
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Dear friends in Christ,
In today’s lesson from Mark 6, we see unique insights into the ministry Jesus did among the people while he walked on earth. Since I’m in the process of concluding my ministry among you after 20 years, this seemed like an opportunity to talk about the ministry as Jesus did it and as I’ve sought to carry it out in this place. In reading and reflecting on the text I identified 5 qualities of ministry present, and there are surely more one could name. But 5 is great plenty. You don’t want to be here all morning. And these five provide a good summary of the ministry Jesus did and the ministry we seek to carry out as well.
The first thing I noticed right away in the lesson is that ministry is about people. It starts out with the disciples returning to tell Jesus about all they had done and taught among the people they met. Then, when Jesus tries to take them away to a quiet place to rest, the crowds see them leave and know where they are going, so they get there ahead of them. At the end of the lesson, more people crowd around Jesus, bringing the sick to him to be healed.
Years ago I remember listening to a tape by John Maxwell, who is a former pastor and now a leadership expert. He used the phrase, “People matter most.” I’ve thought about that often as I’ve tried to carry out the ministry of this congregation, “people matter most.” Now I’m not claiming that I always lived up to that high ideal and that I never allowed other things to be placed above the people of the church. I did, probably more often than I should have. But, in the end, ministry is about people, as we seek to live in Christian community. As I leave, the most important thing I take with me is the memories of people, all we’ve shared together, and the way I have been blessed by others as a result.
As a pastor, I have been welcomed into your lives and the lives of others in remarkable ways. I took a little time to look back at some of that this week. What it most revealed was I’m getting old, but it’s also a reminder of the ministry with people I’ve shared over the years. 426 baptisms, the first April 2nd, 1989, Rebecca Pauline Zierke, Becky, now 20 years old entering her junior year at Luther College. My last, Lila June Rieck, June 28th of this year, great-granddaughter of long time member Vera Rieck. I taught and confirmed 265 junior high students, (now you know why I’m tired) 93 weddings, 112 funerals of some remarkable saints I had the privilege to know, the last being Rose Kasma on March 30th. I’ve shared ministry with some great staff members, your servants, including Kim in the office and Jeanne at the organ, both of whom, remarkably, were here when I came and have outlasted me. The church has allowed me to meet amazing people, including those in the far off countries of Tanzania and Kenya. How fortunate I have been to be in a position to have been a part of so many lives. As Jesus showed by his life and death on the cross, “people matter most.” May we always remember that.
The second thing I saw in this text is that ministry is about interruptions. In fact I think it can be rightly said that some of the most important ministry is done when our lives get interrupted.
In the lesson, Jesus wanted to get away with the disciples from the crowds. They were tired. They didn’t even have time to eat. But when they got to that quiet place, the people were already there. So much for their quiet time. And yet when Jesus got on shore, he did not send them away. He had compassion and continued to teach them.
Well, again, I’m not going to claim that I always handled interruptions like our Lord. I did not. But there were plenty of times when things happened that were unexpected and suddenly changed my plans. It’s the nature of ministry. I’ll never forget that October day 15 years ago, a Monday. I was up in our attic doing some insulating when I heard a banging on the front door. Mike Temte, police chief at the time, was there with some bad news. The Crist twins, Tamme and Terre, 20 years old, had died together in a car accident on their way to school. Their mother had died 7 months earlier from complications of diabetes. Their father, Keith, was now all alone with their little brother. I cleaned up as quickly as I could and was off to be with Keith.
Pastors, and I think all of us, struggle with the interruptions. We can’t be available to everyone all the time. But it’s often in those interruptions that God uses us most significantly.
A third ministry quality I see in this text is shepherding. Ministry is about shepherding the flock. Pastor, of course, means shepherd. I’m reminded of a cartoon I once saw in a Christian leadership magazine. It was of a shepherd who had one sheep slung across his shoulder, another under his arm, one was wandering off to his left, another to his right, another tangled up in the weeds some distance away. He was calling out, “Here Sheepies, Here Sheepies.” That’s often what it’s like shepherding a church. It’s like herding a bunch of independent cats, not exactly an easy thing to do.
For me the shepherd role is the leadership role. It is seeking to provide guidance. In the lesson the people are described as “sheep without a shepherd.” They were lost, wandering, not knowing quite what to think or do. So Jesus shepherds them. He brings them together, sits them down, and teaches them. He provides guidance about life and God.
As pastors we shepherd the whole church in different ways. We don’t do it alone of course, we do it with those that are serving as leaders in the church. At times we shepherd the whole organization, seeking to get everybody on the same page with a common mission and vision. In my 20 years we did that on 4 separate occasions, a major process that takes lots of hard work. Now you’ll have the chance to do that again during the interim. That, in turn, can lead to ministry goals or ideas for staffing or building improvements. I’m glad I could help shepherd the church through the building remodeling and expansion that was done 8 years ago. But what I really remember and would rather be known for is the original parking lot paving done back in 1993. Before that the church had a sand/dirt parking lot that was a real mess when it rained. As part of our 125th anniversary celebration we decided to do some building improvements, and paving the lot was one of them. It was significant because it brought us up to speed with the growth and change taking place in the community. It pushed us forward rather than being content with the past. It made the place immediately more inviting for new folks moving into the community. It was an important victory for a church that needed one. That was a huge step at the time. So, call me the “parking lot pastor.” I’m good with that and grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to shepherd this flock over the years.
The fourth ministry quality Jesus demonstrates is that of teacher. The disciples also played that role as they were sent out. Jesus taught with authority about God the Father, the Holy Spirit, the commandments, the scriptures, loving others, serving others, breaking down barriers, the kingdom of God and eternal life. He was called Rabbi, which means, teacher.
Although most pastors do not do so in formal classroom settings, we do a lot of teaching as part of our call. Most sermons that I’ve done have had some teaching as part of the message. The teaching is done to help you better understand the passage upon which the message is based. I’ve taught three year olds in preschool chapel. I’ve taught elementary age kids in children’s messages. I’ve taught the Bible to 2nd graders, first communion to 5th graders; the Lord’s prayer, the creed, the 10 commandments, and the Bible to confirmation students. I’ve done more than 20 confirmation retreats, taught men’s classes, small groups, and adult classes. I think it’s something most pastors enjoy doing and part of why they go to seminary for training. We teach the faith and pass it on to others.
But teaching is more than using the mind and the intellect. We teach the faith as we live the faith- modeling in our lives what it means to be a Christian. Again, no one does this flawlessly. We’re all imperfect. But to the extent that my life and the life of my family has been a good witness to others, I give thanks. And I also give thanks to those of you that, in your own way, have been a witness to me. We’ve taught each other, which is the way it is meant to be in the body of Christ.
And then finally we see that ministry is about healing. The lesson ends with all these people coming to Jesus, bringing the sick to the market place, asking that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. And amazingly, those that did so, were made well. Jesus came to bring healing to life.
Now I never had the gift of healing in that way. Few do. But I had many, many opportunities to visit in hospital rooms and nursing homes and member’s homes and pray for God’s healing touch. I was part of many prayer services for healing and the anointing of the sick. I was able to be there when the end of life was at hand and the prayer was not for physical healing, but for spiritual healing, comfort, forgiveness, and peace. There were times when it was hard to know just what to pray for. I know people that experienced amazing healing from life threatening diseases. I also knew people who were convinced that God would heal them from their cancer, and that did not happen. There is mystery to life. We do not see all things clearly. In the end we have to trust in God’s will and believe in the promise of eternal life. Even with all the great advances in medicine and medical technology, there is still room for prayer, understanding that all healing is ultimately from God.
It has been a great privilege to be in ministry in this place. Jesus provides the model. Ministry is about people. It is about being present in the interruptions. It is about shepherding and teaching and healing. To the extent that such ministry happened these past 20 years, the glory goes to God. To the extent that I and we fell short, we ask for God’s mercy and grace. Thanks be to God for calling us together for this season of ministry. May such ministry continue to flourish in the months and years to come. Amen