Greetings siblings in Christ,
We are now entering into the month of August. It feels like it was just yesterday when summer started. However, we now find ourselves in the latter half of the season. Before we know it, Labor Day will be here. School will start. The congregation’s program will begin. The fall will be here. Then, before we know it, we will be heading into the holiday season. There is a lot to look forward to going forward. However, it is a busy time.
So, in preparation for the program/ school year, I try to spend some intentional time in the summer months doing some planning. I look through the calendar. I see where the holidays are. I compare my schedule with Eileen’s schedule. Eileen and I get a general idea of where Luca is going to be on any given Sunday. Then, I map out my plans. This is a helpful exercise for me to do because it helps me to visualize my year. However, it is also kind of overwhelming. When you lay everything out, it feels like there is so much to do. When I see the late nights and the long days, I begin to already feel tired. I think about the missed dinners and bedtimes. Then, I ask myself “Why do I do this?” I wonder why I do not just have a 9-5 job. I ponder how my life would be if I had a more conventional job. However, then God reminds me why I do this job.
At Bear Creek Camp, I spent my week as the volunteer chaplain leading Bible studies and participating in camp activities. My main responsibility for the week was to help lead and to give a message at the closing bonfire on Thursday night and to give a departing blessing on Friday afternoon. When Thursday night came, I went to the bonfire. We sang some songs. The counselors did a skit, and then I gave my message. It was nothing fancy. It was not long. It was a simple message about my own time as a camper and counselor when I was younger. A message about my own insecurities and my fear of the unknown, and about how I overcame that fear by remembering that God was always with me, by remembering in those moments to take a breath and receive the Holy Spirit. I did not think much about my message. It is one I have given a thousand times. However, when I went back to my seat, a group of teenage boys tapped me on my shoulders. They told me that they really enjoyed it and that they resonated with it. Then, later on as we were all praying together and giving our petitions to God, one of those teenage boys prayed for me. He thanked God for me and for my message. At this moment, I was reminded why I do this! It’s more than just a job. It's a calling. One that we are all called into. One that leads us into a relationship with God and with each other. A calling that brings us together to dwell in God’s word and to live in our baptismal promises. These promises being: “to live among God’s faithful people; to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s Supper; to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed; to serve all people following the example of Jesus; and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.” And, all of these promises are grounded in one great commission from Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20; “19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (NRSVue).
Thus, I do what I do because of this commission from Jesus. I walk with people in their faith by teaching God’s word and by being present with them. I do this because it is part of my baptismal promises. I do this because I want to be in relationship with people. I want to dwell in God’s word with them. I want to share in the Lord's supper and to share in the good news of Christ Jesus. This is how one makes disciples. This is how one baptizes in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We baptize with water, but we also baptize with God’s word, and that word gives us faith. A faith that connects us all together into the one body of Christ. And so, I was reminded of all of this when that boy prayed for me. I was reminded that I am a part of something bigger. I was reminded that I am part of a community of believers who care for each other and for the world. A community that prays with and for each other. A community that worships and praises God together. A community that walks in faith with each other. A community that is connected in baptism and thus united in one mission as followers and disciples of Christ. And so, Church, yes sometimes what we do as Christians does not make sense. However, the things that Christ did didn't make sense. Sometimes, the things that we do are tiring. Sometimes, it is all overwhelming. However, we do it all together united by the Holy Spirit; one in mission, one in call, and one in Christ Jesus. We do it because we are a part of something bigger and that is the Church. We are here to love and to serve the world, and that is the greatest commission that we have ever been given. And so, Church, this is why we do what we do! So, let us go out! And, let us do so in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.
Peace and Blessings, Pastor Ethan Doan
We are now entering into the month of August. It feels like it was just yesterday when summer started. However, we now find ourselves in the latter half of the season. Before we know it, Labor Day will be here. School will start. The congregation’s program will begin. The fall will be here. Then, before we know it, we will be heading into the holiday season. There is a lot to look forward to going forward. However, it is a busy time.
So, in preparation for the program/ school year, I try to spend some intentional time in the summer months doing some planning. I look through the calendar. I see where the holidays are. I compare my schedule with Eileen’s schedule. Eileen and I get a general idea of where Luca is going to be on any given Sunday. Then, I map out my plans. This is a helpful exercise for me to do because it helps me to visualize my year. However, it is also kind of overwhelming. When you lay everything out, it feels like there is so much to do. When I see the late nights and the long days, I begin to already feel tired. I think about the missed dinners and bedtimes. Then, I ask myself “Why do I do this?” I wonder why I do not just have a 9-5 job. I ponder how my life would be if I had a more conventional job. However, then God reminds me why I do this job.
At Bear Creek Camp, I spent my week as the volunteer chaplain leading Bible studies and participating in camp activities. My main responsibility for the week was to help lead and to give a message at the closing bonfire on Thursday night and to give a departing blessing on Friday afternoon. When Thursday night came, I went to the bonfire. We sang some songs. The counselors did a skit, and then I gave my message. It was nothing fancy. It was not long. It was a simple message about my own time as a camper and counselor when I was younger. A message about my own insecurities and my fear of the unknown, and about how I overcame that fear by remembering that God was always with me, by remembering in those moments to take a breath and receive the Holy Spirit. I did not think much about my message. It is one I have given a thousand times. However, when I went back to my seat, a group of teenage boys tapped me on my shoulders. They told me that they really enjoyed it and that they resonated with it. Then, later on as we were all praying together and giving our petitions to God, one of those teenage boys prayed for me. He thanked God for me and for my message. At this moment, I was reminded why I do this! It’s more than just a job. It's a calling. One that we are all called into. One that leads us into a relationship with God and with each other. A calling that brings us together to dwell in God’s word and to live in our baptismal promises. These promises being: “to live among God’s faithful people; to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s Supper; to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed; to serve all people following the example of Jesus; and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.” And, all of these promises are grounded in one great commission from Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20; “19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (NRSVue).
Thus, I do what I do because of this commission from Jesus. I walk with people in their faith by teaching God’s word and by being present with them. I do this because it is part of my baptismal promises. I do this because I want to be in relationship with people. I want to dwell in God’s word with them. I want to share in the Lord's supper and to share in the good news of Christ Jesus. This is how one makes disciples. This is how one baptizes in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We baptize with water, but we also baptize with God’s word, and that word gives us faith. A faith that connects us all together into the one body of Christ. And so, I was reminded of all of this when that boy prayed for me. I was reminded that I am a part of something bigger. I was reminded that I am part of a community of believers who care for each other and for the world. A community that prays with and for each other. A community that worships and praises God together. A community that walks in faith with each other. A community that is connected in baptism and thus united in one mission as followers and disciples of Christ. And so, Church, yes sometimes what we do as Christians does not make sense. However, the things that Christ did didn't make sense. Sometimes, the things that we do are tiring. Sometimes, it is all overwhelming. However, we do it all together united by the Holy Spirit; one in mission, one in call, and one in Christ Jesus. We do it because we are a part of something bigger and that is the Church. We are here to love and to serve the world, and that is the greatest commission that we have ever been given. And so, Church, this is why we do what we do! So, let us go out! And, let us do so in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.
Peace and Blessings, Pastor Ethan Doan
