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On Sunday, June 8, Pastor Steve Svoboda submitted his letter of resignation as Associate Pastor to Idella Ziegler, council chair, in order to accept a call to Grace Lutheran Church in Bloomington, MN. In the letter that follows, Pastor Steve reflects on his ministry at Zion and his hopes for the future.
That’s a great question; one that is not answered quickly. We can all cite examples of church bodies who have answered that question poorly and churches who have answered well. Often times the same church can be found at both ends of the continuum! While there likely are lessons to be learned from the ‘poor’ category, I am not a pessimist (or a realist as they like to call themselves). I like to focus on the ‘well’ end of the spectrum. How shall we be a church well? Let’s check out the witnesses.
For me, the best and purest snapshot of the church Read the rest of this entry »
There has been a request for information regarding the Transition Committee. The following is a modified version of Pastor Hahn’s annual report to the congregation several weeks ago in which he described the nature of the Transition Committee which is currently gathering data to assist in the development of the Congregational Profile. This document will be used Read the rest of this entry »
Dear Friends in Christ,
A few years ago in a previous interim assignment, the chairman of the Stewardship Committee used the following piece as devotions for a meeting of the committee. I shared it with our staff as devotions and it is linked here with the hope that it will at least give you a moment of pause for thought.
In Faith and Friendship
Delwayne Hahn
Jesus came, not to make us happy, but to teach us how to be joyful. Jesus said in John 15:11 “I have come that your joy might be increased.” Or, as another translation says, “I have come that your joy might be complete.” Jesus comes to us by the way of the cross, which at first glance, is a time and a place of sorrow, darkness, gloom and death. When we look closer, it becomes our joy in Christ. He clears the way for us.
In centuries past, even decades past, and for some of us from other traditions as recently as mere years past, Lent was a time of self denial. A time of fasting; a time of prayer; a time of disciplined living that would serve the purpose of re-focusing our attention on the one in whose path we are following…Jesus.
What has gotten mixed up over the years is Read the rest of this entry »
Dear Friends in Christ,
As we begin 2008 together, I am aware of what a momentous year this will be for Zion. The change of saying farewell to Pr. John last year after 30 plus years was significant enough; but this year with the anticipation of a new senior pastor’s arrival will also be significant for Zion. As I look ahead, one of my favorite pieces of imagery comes to mind.
One of the joys of living anywhere along the Mississippi Flyway between central Canada and the Gulf of Mexico comes twice a year when we get to observe Read the rest of this entry »
“And there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary, his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
Matthew 2:9b-11
January 6th is the day set aside for Epiphany. It is the day celebrating the coming of the Magi who are identified as the representatives of the nations. They came to worship Jesus bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The day marks the beginning of the season of the manifestation of the light and glory of Christ for the whole world. It is a time for us to focus on evangelism and mission. We are to proclaim God’s presence and witness to our only true source of hope, Jesus Christ.
As we begin 2008 and journey through Epiphany here are some questions to consider:
What are the gifts you are bringing as you worship Jesus?
In this season of light and glory, where can you let your light shine?
What new and exciting focus is God calling you to?
Where will you proclaim God’s presence and witness to Jesus Christ?
This is a great time of the year to think about where you’ve been and dream about where you are going. This is a great time to give thanks to God for that steadfast love and faithfulness which has carried you through. The same is true about our community of faith. God has been steadfast in leading and guiding and promises to continue in our journey together.
Here are a couple of other odds and ends I have heard over the years that I would like you to think about:
Seven days without prayer makes one Weak.
We tithe to the waitress and tip God.
Labels belong on clothes not people.
Happy New Years – Blessed Epiphany! Let your light shine.
“The promise of God was never longevity; the promise of God is eternity.”
Pastor David Hoffman, of St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church, at the funeral of Owen Grant Christianson this morning.
11And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
Romans 13:11-14
Is this the right passage to read at this time of year? Tonight, sit down and open the family Bible and read for yourself what Paul has to say about darkness and sleep versus light and being wakefully ready.
In the northern hemisphere at least, most of creation seems to be going to sleep. Advent comes at the time of year when the world is inclined to frigid hibernation. Animals, trees, fields, all of the created order seems to ratchet down a notch or two. Even our clocks shift back to make the approach of night appear to come just that much earlier. It seems that our entire world has been given the go-ahead to embrace the early winter darkness with a shrug and a yawn.
What we observe in nature is counter to the intuition that Paul wants us to develop. Paul writes to the Romans that we are to wake from sleep because salvation is nearer to us now than when we first became believers. Because Jesus has come and will come again, we are to put aside the works and ways of darkness and put on the armor of light – even if it must be done in the dark.
The armor of light – what is that? I take Paul’s advice practically. Families, together sharing stories, games or a movie around a fireplace; that is light. Mutual support and understanding given freely between friends and neighbors in order to build a stronger community; that is light. Help offered by way of food, clothing, money and other material goods on behalf of those who live in need and expecting nothing in return; that is light. Honoring a loved one by truly listening; that is light. Taking a precious 5 minutes to sit with God’s word and then asking yourself how can I apply this to my life today? That is light.
We need the light to shake off sleep. That is the function of the dawn; to bring warmth, light, and hope to the gift of a new day. Advent takes place in the darkest time of the year to remind us of the challenge Paul speaks of: to be ready to recognize and greet Jesus when he arrives. Sleep and the darkness of night are necessary, even welcome at the end of a long day. But while even creation gives in to the inexorable darkness that is part of the cycle of seasons, a Christian knows that it is just a temporary state of affairs. Light is coming.
Our eyes are trained to see the difference between darkness and light. Could you use this season of Advent to train your heart to see that difference as well? Come Lord Jesus. We wait for your light.
Pastor Steve Svoboda
When my niece and nephews where young they would often come and stay with me for long weekends. We enjoyed doing lots of “stuff”. We played games, went on walks, ate at the local café and simply enjoyed small town life together. When my nephew Luke was 2, he came for one of those visits along with my Aunt Ellen. It was a great weekend and fun to have them in church with me. A few weeks after their visit, I was in the back of the sanctuary of Trinity Lutheran and pulled a hymnal from the back pew to join in singing the opening hymn. When I opened the hymnal a quarter dropped to the floor. I chuckled as I remembered how Luke lost his quarter Read the rest of this entry »
The Reverend Delwayne Hahn will begin as interim pastor of Zion Lutheran Church on October 1.
Pastor Hahn is a native of Nebraska. He is a graduate of Midland Lutheran College, Fremont, NE and Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul, MN. He also holds a M.S., degree in Human Development and Family Life/Educational Psychology– Counseling from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He and his wife Marilyn celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary this past summer.
He was ordained in 1968 and has served congregations in Wisconsin, Nebraska and Minnesota before joining the stewardship staff of the former American Lutheran Church in 1985 For nine years he was a part of the stewardship ministry of the ALC and the ELCA as a deployed staff Read the rest of this entry »
So who likes change? Change brings strong emotions: anger, relief, fear, joy, a mixed bag of ups and downs. Change in church only intensifies these feelings because a house of worship is supposed to be a place of tranquil peace; an oasis of calm in the swirling sandstorm of life. While, truth be told, change in many areas of my life is OK, even welcome, change in the place where I know God is often not OK.
Dear Zion Friends,
As I write this last Pastor’s Page I am filled with mixed emotions. I am looking forward with excitement to this next chapter in our family life and the opportunity to do some new and different things. It will be wonderful to be able to spend more time with family and to do some traveling to which we have been looking forward. It will also be good to take life at a little slower pace, although I know the days will be full. Read the rest of this entry »
“The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8
Nicodemus was in a tough situation. He was caught between a rock and a hard place. He was drawn toward Jesus. He was intrigued by what Jesus taught, by what Jesus did and by who Jesus was. But, Nicodemus was a Pharisee. It was his responsibility to make sure that the religious laws and practices were followed without exception and with no changes. So, knowing that it would not be wise or safe, Nicodemus went to talk to Jesus at night when he would not be easily seen.
Read the rest of this entry »
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord our God is the everlasting God, Creator of the ends of the earth…”
(Isaiah 40:28 and following)
Many times in my life these words and the ones that follow have brought me peace. There is nothing magical about them – nothing magical about my saying them. But there is a deep and enduring truth that Isaiah proclaims: if God is such as this, why should I worry? Why should I fear?
Dear Friends,
I want to use this opportunity in the Pastor’s Page to tell you about an exciting congregational growth opportunity that will happen early in 2008 but for which the planning has already begun. Read the rest of this entry »
Dear Friends in Christ,
It has been my privilege to serve as one of Zion’s pastors since 1974. In these thirty-three years the congregation has grown and changed in a variety of ways and has been a strong witness of Jesus Christ in the Buffalo area and beyond. It has been a joy to be a pastor in this faith community and I am grateful for all who have shared in Zion’s outreach during these years. I have always felt the love, support and encouragement of the congregation for my ministry and for our family.
In September of this year I will be 62 years old. After a great deal of prayer and thought and conversation with my wife, Judy, I have made the decision to retire as Zion’s Senior Pastor on September 1, 2007. Read the rest of this entry »
“Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means teacher).
John 20:15-16, NIV
I would imagine that Mary would be like any of us. Memories of time spent and conversations shared with Jesus carried her through that quiet, holy Saturday. It would be too overwhelming to remember the horror of watching Jesus die on the cross. It would be better to remember her gentle and holy friend with all of his wonderful words and deeds. That holy Saturday was a necessary day of rest, but early the next morning she went to the tomb to take care of the tasks of proper burial. Read the rest of this entry »
“But if we are the body, why aren’t His arms reaching? Why aren’t His hands healing? Why aren’t his words teaching? And if we are the body, why aren’t His feet going? Why is His love not showing them there is a way?” (Mark Hall © 2003 Club Zoo Music / SWECS Music)
These words from the song “If We are the Body” by the popular Christian music group “Casting Crowns” ask some pointed questions of those of us who call ourselves ‘the body of Christ’. What exactly does it mean to be ‘the body of Christ’? Read the rest of this entry »
