Our Advent Guest

Christmas is coming, and with Christmas comes the whole Christmas season. Trees, driving the kids or grandkids to the light show, holiday schedules, and, occasionally, long-burning family conflicts. The hopes and fears of the past year all seem to come together every December. However, there is nothing as exciting (or anxiety-inducing) as this possibility: guests.

How do you prepare for guests? I suppose it depends on the guest. Some guests demand the long-delayed deep clean. Other guests warmly want you to deck the halls. They have a keen eye for the latest lights, wreaths, and nic-nacks. Are your guests content with a fridge full of their favorite food? Eggnog? Guests can be easy-going, and I hope yours are! Others require a little work. Still, others we invite out of obligation.

The period of preparation, the season before Christmas Day, is traditionally called Advent. Advent is to Christmas what Lent is to Easter. Advent is all about preparing for the birthday boy - our guest, Jesus. Jesus is coming. How do we prepare? What sort of guest is he? Is Jesus like how my grandpa was, looking for the peppermint schnapps and pumpkin pie? Or is he looking for something more?

The thought of Jesus coming to our homes this Christmas season may generate mixed emotions. There is some part of us - even the confident, church-going part - that is uneasy. What will he think? I am not sure I am ready. What about that one thing from the past year that no one knows about? What if I am not in the mood for Christmas? I am exhausted and not sure I can put on a show for Jesus, or even a Jesus-show for my neighbors. We may drag ourselves to action with words of John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, who said, “prepare the way of the LORD, purge every heart of sin!” Or, we may simply despair. Regardless, Jesus is coming one way or another, December 25th will be here soon.

The incredible thing about Jesus is that this visit is years in the making. Thousands of years in the making. God first promised a savior for all humanity on the open pages of the Bible. This promise was passed down and preserved in one specific family - the family of Israel. Although the promise was passed down, the “house did not get any cleaner,” if you will. God was coming and humanity, instead of preparing, trashed the house and cleaned out the fridge. Yet, with each action of unpreparedness, the visit of Jesus hastened. Jesus comes not to cast judgment on sinners, but to be the host welcoming the lost family of God home.

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might live through him.” -John 3:17

Jesus does not come to you to make you get your house in order. He comes to get you off the street. How do we respond to the news? How do we prepare for the guest? One hymn writer wrote a song about this. It’s not exactly Maria Carey, but it does the trick:

O LORD how shall I meet you and welcome you aright?

Your people long to greet you, you are my hope, my heart's delight!

-Paul Gerhardt, LSB 334

Please keep in mind the following:

• We give thanks to Clara’s small group for repainting the hallway. The council will be deciding what to do with the art from the hallway. If you have any opinions, reach out.

• We owe Juan Hernandez a thank you for the job well done repainting the church.

• The church is decorated for visitors this Christmas.

• Thank you to Samantha and the women’s community group. There is a food drive going on at the church right now to restock area food banks for the holiday season. Please bring canned and non-perishable food to church.

• Candlelight Christmas Eve service is at 7pm.

• Christmas Day service is at 10am.

The Telephone Game

Perhaps you remember playing the telephone game as a child. The students sit around in a circle. The teacher says a word to the student. It could be “cat” or “dog,” “television” or “telephone,” “blue” or “green”… and the student repeats the word to the next student. As the word travels around the circle, the word becomes humorously distorted. This game hammers home the old adage, you have two ears and one mouth, for a reason. 

I am in the thick of a listening tour, visiting the members of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. I am trying to meet with each person associated with Mt. Calvary, hear why they first attended Mt. Calvary, and what their hopes and dreams are for the church. I want to hear about your gifts and passions. If I have not met with you yet, please know I will be reaching out in the coming week. If we have already met, I am certainly open to meeting again as issues come up. My role is certainly unique and demanding, but you can always reach me at 425.420.6826. To dig up another old adage, “don’t be a stranger.” I want to hear from you. I am always willing to listen to questions, comments, and concerns. 

Several pieces have emerged from the listening tour so far. I am proud to say there will be a women’s community group meeting for the first time beginning on 11/13 at 9am in VLHS classroom 203 (my classroom). The room can easily be reached by elevator.  This community group will be accompanied by the launch of a men’s group and a group for college students and young adults. If you plan to attend one of the groups, do not hesitate to invite your friends to accompany you. Folks who might not be interested in a formal church service often appreciate the chance to just belong in a safe environment. The structure, frequency of meeting and agenda for these groups is intentionally open to the vision of those involved. 

Finally, I would be remiss not to say that it is important that we listen to God’s Word. However, listening to God’s Word can be a bit like the telephone game. On Sundays, we hear about God’s unconditional love. We experience the forgiveness of sins and hear about His great and powerful actions. On Sundays God is there whispering a word in our ears — “love.” The rest of the week brings moments of “getting in”, distortion of this message, and moments of confusion. Sometimes we live the reality that we are sent by God with his love to his world. Other times the world wallops us back. Each Sunday is a chance to be refreshed in hearing those words from God again: “I love you.” See you then to hear that wonderful news.

In Jesus Service,

Pastor Kurt

The Power of Potlucks

This last Sunday, Mt. Calvary welcomed about 50 folks to a Potluck. At a Potluck each person or family brings a dish. The dish can be an appetizer, bread, entree, or - most likely - desert. There is a fine line between the famous and the infamous as far as Potlucks go. Lutherans are notorious for putting anything in green jello and bringing it to a potluck.

Clara and I had a friend from college who got married last winter. While in California over Christmas Break, we helped her and her husband move into their new condo. One box contained about a dozen cookbooks from the members of the Lutheran congregation she had grown up in. The cookbooks all contained dishes once brought to Potlucks. We spent about an hour reading through the cookbooks. They were clearly full of treasured memories, inside jokes, and proud accomplishments. After reflecting for a bit, we asked ourselves, “Why don't people do this anymore?”

It is true that Americans do Potlucks less. The book Bowling Alone is a landmark work in sociology. Bowling Alone chronicles the slow rise and steep fall of neighborly life in the United States. For example, in 1975 the average American had non-family members over for dinner 16 times a year. By 2000, this number had fallen to 8. It's not hard to imagine it being much lower as we approach the year 2025. While things were not perfect 'back in the day,' Bowling Alone puts numbers to what many of us are feeling acute loneliness.

This is all surprisingly relevant to the person and ministry of Jesus. How many times do the Gospels record Jesus eating with people? Meals create conversations that create relationships, and it is through relationships that the Gospel is shared. The Gospel is the good news that Jesus has brought you graciously to the table of God despite anything you have done or not done. All we do is believe it. Sure, some will reject the Gospel, but the Gospel cannot be shared without a positive relationship and conversation. Ultimately, what is heaven besides a potluck! -- a feast in friendship with others and fellowship with God.

First, let me thank you for the wonderful dishes you brought to the potluck last Sunday. It was a joy and an honor to share food and life with you.

Second, you are invited to an open house at the parsonage on Friday, October 14th between 4pm and 7pm. Please come for the full time, or just pop in and say hi! This invitation will also be going out to our neighbors and those who helped with the remodel.

Finally, we are grateful to receive some neighborly assistance from our sister congregation Christ Church Lutheran this Sunday. A work crew will be coming to Mt. Calvary in the afternoon to address some of the plumbing and electrical issues in the kitchen (so we can have more Potlucks.) There will also be an effort to clean up and freshen up the church lounge. Please stick around and lend a hand if you are able.

See you this Sunday for worship.

In Jesus Service,

Pastor Kurt

The Power of Legacy

I am writing to you on Thursday, September 8th, 2022, a day which will be remembered for the passing of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth, taking the throne at the age of 25, reigned for 70 years as the personification of dignity and grace. Queen Elizabeth, by most accounts, left a legacy of goodness, decency, and humanity in a changing world. I might add, the British monarch is supposed to, per his or her coronation vows, defend and advance the Christian faith. Elizabeth, armed with a sincere faith, did this more than her predecessors by taking a hands-on approach to managing the Church of England, by advancing foreign missions, and through her yearly Christmas specials.

I could not help but think of our own beloved Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church was built in 1952, the same year Elizabeth became queen (although Mt. Calvary was organized in 1950). Mt. Calvary has stood with dignity, offering God's grace to masses of humanity along 7th Ave in central Phoenix for 70 years now. Our beautiful, Spanish colonial building is showing some signs of aging, too. Terracotta tiles sit in piles by doors past their prime. There is a need for a fresh coat of paint. The world has changed a lot. The world of Elizabeth's childhood is no more. Yet, we have hope for three reasons:

First, God has blessed us with the opportunity to spruce up Mt. Calvary. Over the next few months I would encourage you to be on the lookout for new pieces. If you have not been to church for a while or do not already have a church home, I would encourage you to attend and check it out. If you are unable to attend, please know we will pray for you, we will visit you, and we will bring church to you. To God be the glory!

Second, we are excited about these improvements. I recall a Sunday school song which contained the lyrics, "the church is not the building, the church is not a steeple, the church is... a people!" Simply put, God has put us in this place and this time for mission and ministry. We sit in the middle of the 5th largest city in the United States. We are within walking distance of one of the largest private universities in America. There is new construction all around us. Potential. Potential. Potential. God has already sent His Holy Spirit ahead of us to prepare hearts and minds. We pray that he would use us as His vessels. Watch for new programs and service opportunities. Most importantly, watch for new people in your life and neighborhood and just say hi.

Finally, we are more than optimistic - we are hopeful. Hope is an orientation to the future based on what God has done in the past. God sent his Son to the earth, God showed what his kingdom is like, Jesus as true God died in our place for the evil we do, God raised Jesus from the dead, God has created the church - God partners with his church. Jeremiah writes, "the steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!" We have hope in God for the future because he has been faithful in the past.

This brings me full circle. Someday, this day will be in the past. Someday, someone will comment on your life. What do you want your legacy to be? It is not too late to leave one. It is not too late to begin one. God is faithful. Rest easy knowing that He is faithful to equip you for conversations with the people around you.

In Jesus Service,

Pastor Kurt