Singing, praying, learning, fellowship, and service – these are all things that bring us together each week within our community at Lord of Life. There shouldn’t be any surprise that the same things could bring together people from other communities, too. Our first REFORM event with Roman Catholics and Lutherans from West Chester and Mason exceeded our expectations of how powerful the experience would be.

We began with a worship moment led by musicians from St. Max, Christ the King, and Lord of Life (the next event will include leadership from St. John’s as well). Through common words and common songs, we infused the evening with a joyful prayer that continued into our conversations. We heard from Lutheran and Catholic clergy from St. Susannah Catholic (Mason), Prince of Peace Lutheran (Loveland), and Zion Lutheran (Middletown) who presented different views, but we heard even more common views. We listened to a biblical message that defined us all as part of the same vine. The same body. One faith, one hope, and one baptism.

I found myself at a table made up of Catholics from various parishes. We asked questions and discussed among ourselves how we each came to the body of Christ and what that means to us. About half the table had been born into the Catholic church. But one young woman shared how she found the church through an ecumenical sports team. An older gentleman started going to Methodist Sunday school after his mother died when he was nine, and then converted to Catholicism after years of seeing the positive impact the church had on his wife. We all had stories about how we saw people’s faith overflow in their actions.

The thread that kept weaving its way to the top was: “We need to do more of this.” We need to find ways to maintain the natural bond we have through Christ and the Spirit. We need to worship together and talk together and serve together. Our connection to each other is too powerful to let ourselves be kept apart.

As the clock forced the evening to a close, we put notes on a door describing how we wanted to move forward in our relationships. More combined worship. More dialogues. More learning. More outreach opportunities together. Singing, praying, learning, fellowship, and service.

Even though the next two REFORM events are self-contained – they are three separate events rather than one continued event, I suspect we’ll see some of the same faces coming again and again because we are so inspired to move forward as one body. Come be a part of the conversation on October 19 at 7 pm at Christ the King or October 21 at 10 am at St. Max.

Flour covering the kitchen counter, white handprints all over the apron, and sneaking squirts of whip cream while my wife isn’t looking, are what I love most about October. Awaiting the ding from the oven indicating the pumpkin pie is done and smelling the sweet aroma of Fall baking in the kitchen brings so much joy to this season. Dare I say, the baking of the pumpkin pie is more enjoyable than the tasting of the pie itself. For me, baking is more about the experience in the kitchen than it is about the end result.

Pumpkin pie, stewardship, and the Reformation are the three themes stuck on replay in my mind this October. What do these things have in common? They each require a process, a journey by which they are made. The final product is made with ingredients, pieces, and layers, working together to create something new.

Stewardship is not just about the amount that you give to the mission of the church, but more importantly, it’s about what happens to your heart when you give. This year, we are diving into the theme of “God blesses the world through Lord of Life.” When we discover how we are blessed by God, the Holy Spirit moves us to give with thankful and joyful hearts. When we reach that place where we can give, not out of guilt or self-promotion, but out of pure joy for the Gospel and love for the church and its mission, amazing and transformational things can happen. Stewardship is more about the experience of giving than it is about how much we give.

As we look toward commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, we lift grace up as the core theological tenant that sparked this radical movement in history. Grace remains a staple of Lutheranism. Similar to baking and stewardship, grace is more about the experience than the result it brings. Grace is more than the gift of salvation. As we think about Martin Luther hanging the 95 theses on the Castle Church door in Wittenberg, Germany, it is helpful to reflect on what he might hang on our door today.

What are the things preventing us from living into and experiencing God’s grace? Are we competitive about our faith, believing that Lutheranism is better than the rest? Do we view ourselves as unworthy to receive grace? Understanding grace as a gift freely given is much easier said than done.

I am reminded of the parable about working in the vineyard. In this story, one group of workers begin laboring in the morning, while another group begins laboring in the afternoon. At the end of the day, the vineyard owner gives everyone equal wage. Understandably, those that had worked all day were outraged! The lesson being, “the last will be first, and the first will be last” (Matthew 20:16). Whether we are first or last, God will provide the outcome. Our faith is about the experience of being together as a community. Our life in Christ is about the journey.

See you in the kitchen,

Lucas McSurley

You may have heard that this Reformation Sunday is an extra big deal. October 31, 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther posting his Ninety-Five Theses on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany – an act that sparked the Lutheran Reformation. For many years, Roman Catholics and Lutherans have been striving to find common ground and heal divisions in the Church.

This fall, we commemorate this anniversary and celebrate the steps toward unity in a variety of ways, both locally and regionally, including some exciting events right here in our area. REFORM: A Roman Catholic-Lutheran Conversation will bring together various voices for worship and learning. Join us as we seek to Rediscover Common Ground, Renew Relationships, and Respond to Local Needs as Jesus Christ calls us into the future. Centering ourselves in Ephesians 3:16-21, “Now to God, who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine,” we’ll explore the many ways that the Holy Spirit continues to work in our lives, congregations, and communities.

Our time together will include a prayer service for unity, panel presentation, small group discussions, and reflections on how we can continue to love and serve the people of God as we respond to local need. The following dynamic voices will invite us into engaging God’s promises and one another as we look to the future.

REFORM: A Roman Catholic-Lutheran Conversation
Tuesday, October 10, 7-9 pm
St. Susanna Church, Mason
with Father Eric Roush, Parochial Vicar at St. Susanna
& The Rev. Jonathan Eilert, Pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

REFORM: A Roman Catholic-Lutheran Conversation
Thursday, October 19, 7-9 pm
Christ the King Lutheran Church, West Chester
with Father Norm Langenbrunner, former Pastor at Sacred Heart
& The Rev. Brian Ferguson, Pastor at First Lutheran Church

REFORM: A Roman Catholic-Lutheran Conversation
Saturday, October 21, 10 am-noon
St. Maximillian Kolbe Church, Liberty Twp.
with Dr. Martin Madar, Professor at Xavier University
& The Rev. Lisa Bernheisel, Pastor at The Presbyterian Church of Wyoming

We are offering the same program three times in various locations in the hope that more people can participate.
Sign up is requested. Sign up today online today.
A freewill offering will be taken for Matthew 25:Ministries for Hurricane Relief.

In addition to the REFORM events, please be sure to explore these other events in the area:

THE REFORMATION: CATHOLIC & LUTHERAN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES
Commemorating the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation
Thursday, October 12, 7 pm
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
7770 Beechmont Avenue, Cincinnati

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati and ELCA Southern Ohio Synod are sponsoring conversations this Fall to understand the origins of the Reformation, our differences, and our growing unity in Christ. Dr. Mengel (Xavier University Dean of College of Arts and Sciences and History Professor) will highlight the historical roots of the reformation. Fr. Endres (Dean of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and the Athenaeum of Ohio) will speak about the reforming movement’s impact on the Catholic Church leading up to the Council of Trent. Both will also speak to our hopes for a future of greater reconciliation and unity.

SOUTHERN OHIO SYNOD REFORMATION SERVICE
Sunday, October 22, 4 pm
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
5475 Brand Road, Dublin

Join Bishop Dillahunt and hundreds from around Southern Ohio for a synod wide Reformation Service in observance of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The worship service will be followed by a fellowship dinner provided by the members of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. Please be in touch with the church office (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) if interested in carpooling to this once-in-a-lifetime event.

FESTIVAL CHORAL SERVICE to COMMEMORATE THE REFORMATION
Sunday, October 29, 7:30 pm
Weaver Chapel, Wittenberg University
200 W. Ward Street, Springfield

This service commemorates the Reformation on its 500th anniversary, and thanks God in word, prayer, and song for the reconciliation in the Gospel that is occurring among Lutherans, Catholics, and other Christians in the one, universal Church. The service will include the participation of both Catholic and Lutheran clergy, and laypersons of a variety of Christian traditions. Please be in touch with the church office (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) if interested in carpooling to this once-in-a-lifetime event.

500th REFORMATION ANNIVERSARY
Joint Prayer Service
October 29, 4 pm
Kumler Chapel, Miami University

Join Father Jeffery P. Silver, members, and friends of St. Mary Catholic Church along with Pastor Logan Dysart, members, and friends of Faith Lutheran Church for this service of prayer and hope in Oxford.

REFORMATIONS OF THE 16TH CENTURY:
MARTIN LUTHER AND HIS WORLD 500 YEARS LATER
A conference on the European religious reformations of the sixteenth century
November 2-3
Miami University Art Museum
802 W. Patterson Ave. (U.S. 27), Oxford

This conference will host a variety of voices and topics, including:

Thursday, November 2
4:30 pm Martin Luther and the Reformation
The Rev. Dr. Joy A. Schroeder, Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University

Friday, November 3
9 am Martin Luther the Radical Prophet, Dr. Ronald Rittgers,
Eric Markel, Valparaiso University

10:15 am Panel Discussion: Reformation and Language
Tudor and Stuart England – Peter Williams (Comparative Religion)
Germany – John M. Jeep (German)
Scandinavia – Ruth H. Sanders (German)

11:15 am The Theology and Politics of Jewish Liturgical Change in the 16th Century
Rabbi Dr. Rachel Sabath Beit-Halachmi, Hebrew Union College

1 pm Three Surprises about Women in the Reformation and Counter-Reformation
Renee Baernstein, Miami University

1:45 pm Panel discussion: Reformations Beyond the Germanic World
France – William Brown (History)
Italy – Wietse de Boer (History)
Eastern Europe – TBA

3 pm The Shroud of Turin as Image and Relic in the Age of Reform
Andrew Casper, Miami University

This event is co-sponsored by Miami University Humanities Center, Faith Lutheran Church, and Hillel at Miami University​. Free and open to the public.

These are exciting days to be the Church of Christ! Make time in your schedule for one – or several – of these commemorative events. Who knows, God may use them to reshape and reform you!

Always being made new,

Pastor Lowell

Raise challenging questions. Speak from your core values. Surface unresolved conflicts. These are the pearls of wisdom that I gathered from my intensive course at Trinity Lutheran Seminary last week, while studying the qualities of effective leadership. Like most everything else, leadership is much easier said than done. The most important first step to take is understanding yourself as a leader. We all have God-given gifts, passions, and skills that God calls us to share with those around us. We all are leaders, capable of equipping others to have a meaningful impact at Lord of Life and in world. How are you feeling called to lead?

The courage to raise challenging questions is essential for growth. Through the process of asking these questions, we can better understand who we are as a community. By being grounded in our mission and rooted in the Gospel, we can learn to view radical and invocative ideas as opportunities for meaningful dialogue.

Knowing who we are requires the ability to speak from our core values. These values are formed by our identity as Christ-followers, and articulating them often takes practice. Take a few minutes to jot-down what you believe are your core values. Are you running out of space on your scrap paper or is your paper blank? Coming up with a list of core values can be difficult, but our values are what shape us. The values of Lord of Life, congruent with the values we find in Scripture, are what make this place come alive on Sunday morning and throughout the weeks. All the way from the 108 preschoolers playing and learning here, to the many Bible studies and recovery groups supporting and teaching here, our mission is formed by the people God serves in our space.

In the midst of ministry, not everything is as life-giving. Surfacing the unresolved conflicts in relationships and within our community is the not so fun side of being in community together. But, one cannot garden without pulling weeds. Whenever I am involved in conflict, I try and tackle the challenge head on, while staying focused on the future. Being open and honest about the current struggle is important, but we must live as Resurrection-people, by living with the assurance that God will bring restoration and healing.

This Sunday, we will experience the joys of Lord of Life’s Ministry Fair. Many of our outreach partners will be represented, along with the many ministry areas from Lord of Life. It will be a bustling morning filled with opportunities to meet inspiring people and share meaningful conversation. There is no better time to think about your own leadership roles within this community. The question is not whether God is calling you to lead, but where?

In hopefulness,
Lucas

One of the greatest gifts that God gives us, is the opportunity to love and serve one another. Even though Jesus said to do it and to do it often exhausts us, it also continues to be a deep source of joy and a blessing for all involved! “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

Each year, the ELCA has a day of service to kick off the school year, called “God’s work. Our hands. Sunday.” It is an opportunity for congregations around the United States to be the Church in the community as we serve and love our neighbors and demonstrate God’s love among us and through us. One participant declared, “We love Jesus by serving others!” This past Sunday, families and individuals, young and old, came out to serve and “Live Generously,” as our T-shirts exclaimed!

This year, we shared in three projects. One group showered the West Chester Police Department and West Chester Fire Stations with food, posters, cards, and affection, visiting a total of six stations!

Another crew prepared our fellowship hall for our Family Promise guests by putting up the mobile walls, loading in beds, nightstands, lamps, and then cozied up the rooms by making beds, creating welcome signs, and assembling care bags for each person. After they were done, they also prepared a delicious lunch for the entire crew.

Our third team helped with several outdoors projects at Union Elementary School, including playground clean up, trimming and mulching the back side of the building, and unearthing an outdoor classroom that had been overgrown for some time.

It was fun and empowering to see how our one congregation, one body of Christ, motivated by the invitation to serve could make such an impact on our community in the name of Jesus. This was certainly God’s work, through our hands, feet, words, kindness, and generosity.

So often, when we seek to be a blessing, we are also blessed. That’s how the Spirit of God works in our lives. We are simultaneously loving and being loved, serving and being served, encouraging and being encouraged.

One of the songs from worship last Sunday morning spoke to this reality of gratitude for all God’s good gifts.

For the beauty of the earth,

for the beauty of the skies,

for the love which from our birth

over and around us lies:

Christ, our God, to thee we raise

this our sacrifice of praise.

For the joy of human love,

brother, sister, parent, child,

friends on earth and friends above;

for all gentle thoughts and mild:

Christ, our God, to thee we raise

this our sacrifice of praise.

Folliott S. Pierpoint, 1835-1917

As you step into the rest of your week, continue to live generously, following the example of our loving Creator!

Peace.

Pastor Lowell

Last week, I wrote about the devastation of Hurricane Harvey as it took aim at the Gulf Coast, not once, but twice. Now, as I write, Hurricane Irma is bearing down on Haiti, following a demolishing blow to islands in the Caribbean. Irma is projected to lash Florida, this weekend, and then possibly crawl up the coast with more relentless destruction. Residents on islands and the mainland are scurrying for higher ground – or at least property that is at a safer distance from the shore – unsure of what this category 5 storm is going to do. They are bracing for the worst.

On the other coast, massive wildfires are burning from California to Montana, now consuming over 1.5 million acres of precious forestland. 800,000 immigrants, who came here as undocumented children, are trying to figure out what the recently rescinded “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals” (DACA) protections means for their future.

Across the globe, massive floods have impacted 16 million in South Asia, not to mention escalating wars, food insecurity, and the plethora of other natural and man-made disasters that bring daily despair.

So often, we are overwhelmed by the need. We want to help. We want to give. We want to share. We want to make a difference, but we feel ill-equipped for the struggle and destruction around us.

Romans reminds us that we can make a difference. Filled with the power of the living God, we step forward trusting that the Holy Spirit will empower and guide us for loving and serving our neighbor. “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers” (Romans 12:9-13).

You may have heard of Jim McIngvale, known as Mattress Mack to many in the Houston area. He wanted to make a difference for those suffering in his community, so he did the only thing that made sense to him. As the owner of a large furniture store, he opened his doors to anyone in need. Warm beds, hot meals, and compassionate conversations brought hope to hurting people in his corner of the world. Watch his story here: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/houston-businessman-jim-mcingvale-opens-furniture-stores-to-evacuees/.

This weekend, God calls us to serve, too. After refueling and reconnecting in worship, we’ll head out into our communities to serve. We’ll be showering the West Chester Police Department and West Chester Fire Stations with food, posters, cards, and affection, helping with outdoors projects at Union Elementary, and setting up for the Family Promise homeless shelter and preparing a delicious lunch for the entire crew. Pick a project and sign-up if you want or just show up ready to serve on Sunday. We are collecting restaurant gift cards, snacks, and drinks to fill the baskets for the police and fire departments of West Chester.

There is much destruction and sorrow in the world, but there is also one Jesus Christ who brings hope to the hopeless, light into the dark, and life from death.

Called to serve!

Pastor Lowell

If you are looking for a way to contribute to the relief efforts for Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, or other natural disasters around the world, Lutheran Disaster Response is one of the best organizations around. “Lutheran Disaster Response brings God’s hope, healing and renewal to people whose lives have been disrupted by disasters in the United States and around the world. When the dust settles and the headlines change, we stay to provide ongoing assistance to those in need.” You can find donation and volunteer opportunities here:

www.elca.org/Our-Work/Relief-and-Development/Lutheran-Disaster-Response

Thrivent will match up to $3 million in personal donations made online through Thrivent.com to specific disaster relief organizations (including Lutheran Disaster Response) responding to Hurricane Harvey.