Dear Friends Through Christ:
Our office manager, Jacqui Robinson, who keeps this place running and keeps me in line, she just informed me that I had a newsletter due. What? Already? I thought we weren’t sending one out for July? I am right in the middle of a week-long VBS with 55 little rugrats. (I call them rugrats because of the cartoon. They are adorable but come with chaos). I’ve got so much to do right now I can’t see straight; it is sort of insane. Now I must think of something somewhat important to say. Harder than you think.
It’s sort of sad, but not really, that Sundays seem to be the quietest day of the week here at Peace Lutheran Church. During the rest of the week this Lampstand is teeming with activity and come this fall, Peace will be even crazier. Plus, all the programs and activities point to God. Our Lampstand is full and keeping Christ in the center. Like I said, our quiet time seems to be Sunday morning for worship, and to tell you the truth, I’m running out of ideas of how to change that.
Perhaps there are just not enough of us who deeply appreciate being inside such a beautiful sanctuary, with symbols everywhere, all pointing us to God. Maybe there aren’t enough who relish a “concert like” prelude to clear the mind for the worship and praise of God. There must not be many who feel washed when confessions are made. Perhaps it’s the style of music, where Peace uses more classical, more musical pieces that have stood the test of time, while incorporating newer songs, which survived. Are not enough touched by the music of a choir who works hard to bring us the gospel? Do our multiple readings from the Old Testament, Psalms, an Epistle, and the Gospel turn people off? Is there something up with the preaching? I used to think one of the few gifts God blessed me with was relating Scripture to others—preaching—but now I’m starting to question whether that gift is fading. I don’t know, maybe our prayers for the church, the world and those in need, maybe they’re too long. Then we add the whole communion experience of just sitting there waiting to get in line for a taste of a little piece of stale bread and a baby cup of cheap wine. Maybe there are just not enough of us who appreciate the way we worship?
Let me ask a question… Do we start giving up, getting rid of elements of worship that make many us of whole? Do we change the way we worship to attract more people? Or do we attract more people by letting them know this is a style of worship that makes us whole? Come and See! I don’t know about you, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked out our worship experience feeling refreshed and forgiven. I can’t tell you how many times that stale piece of bread and cheap wine have gotten me through some exceedingly challenging times. Me personally, I think there are plenty of us out there who can be blessed with our style of worship. The problem is there are too many around us that just don’t know what happens inside.
That’s your task! Share with those around you all that Peace Lutheran does for this community. Share with them how we worship. And them simply invite them to, “Come and See.”
The past six years, we have filled up our campus doing work of the Lord. Plus, we are finally operating with a balanced budget. Now we need to work toward making Sunday morning the busiest day of the week. We do this by filling up our sanctuary with people who seek God. There are enough out there. We just need to invite more and more often. Because I believe if people are searching and if they come and see Peace Lutheran, God will find them.
This summer be safe and have fun, but also remember to share with others what makes you whole—Jesus Christ—and simply invite them to “Come and See.”
In Christian Love,
Pastor David Trexler
PS: I wrote the same letter to President Trump and Biden, mailed it, and silence.
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