Dear Friends in Christ:
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there… so Moses went up into the mountain of God… and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of Lord settled on Mount Sinai… and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses out of the cloud… and Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.” (Exodus 24:12-13, 15-16, 18)
For ten days, Mary and I were privileged to be in the beautiful mountains and clouds of the Rocky Mountains (elevation 8,400 feet) where we attended the “Luther Academy of the Rockies” continuing education retreat. We wish we could have brought back so me of the cool, refreshing air for you to enjoy. But, we did bring back another blessing. God once again “spoke” to us in our “mountaintop experience” through the three spiritually gifted teachers:
Dr. David Lull, Professor of New Testament at Wartburg Theological Seminary, Our Lutheran School in Dubuque, Iowa;
Dr. John Rottman, Professor of Preaching at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan (associated with the Christian Reformed Church in North America): and,
Dr. Kristine Stache, Professor of Youth and Young Adults Ministries at Wartburg Seminary.
What follows are some highlights from thirty-six pages of my written notes, and numerous hand-outs from the lecturers. Each of these statements need further comment, but I believe that each one has a profound inherent truth:
** The Bible is full of stories about what God is doing in the world, and in the lives of people. God is really active!
** The Church today has a great challenge to tell stories of what God is still doing in the world, and in people’s lives.
** Are we being faithful in showing what God is doing with the resources that has been given us to do God’s work?
** The “gods” of our culture are certainly active and visible. Does the God we know in Jesus have a message that fills needs that the culture does not?
** “Christian Practices” are acts of grace, and love that Christian people do together to address human needs in response to God’s active presence of peace, hope, justice, and mercy in the life of the world.
** In our Congregation it is vital that relationships among all people are nurtured across the generations, and that intentional listening and discussion is practiced in order to determine what we believe God wants to do in and through our community of faith (not just among leaders).
** Our task as a congregation is to help children, youth, and adults be Christian together. This is what defines a “missional church”.
** We are all created for relationships with others, and to crave a relationship with a Transcendent Being (God).
** Entering into the Divine Life is impossible unless we enter into the life of love with others.
** This is God’s Mission for the church where all are welceome, and all voices are heard.
** The grace and power of God are distributed to all in the church, where every member is becoming Jesus Christ for the other.
** God created every person, and God has a purpose for every person. This is what FAITH is.
** Our youth (younger persons) need 4 things:
#1 - A Creed to believe in.
#2 - A Call to live into (something to live for).
#3 - A Community to belong to.
#4 - A Hope to hold onto.
(Note: We all need these things, too!)
** Youth Ministry is about the whole church.
** God is so great! Who can ever capture all that God is doing, and how God does it?
** Whenever we are in despair and wonder “Where is God?”, prayer is our expression of faith in God. God answers us: “Trust me now. I will not let you down!”
** The future of the church doesn’t depend on us. It depends on Jesus Christ!
—Pastor David Fetter
