MenuPartnership and Blessing
How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! …For there the LORD bestows His blessing, even life forevermore. – Psalm 133
The Eastern District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod held its 2018 Convention June 14-15. Holy Cross’ lay delegate to the convention was Bob Hamp. Ann Craig served as alternate delegate. Of all the places in New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland where it could be held, we were blessed that the convention was held close to home for us at Daemon College.
Rev. Dr. Chris Wicher was re-elected as President of the District. Rev. John Pingel (Salem Lutheran, Buffalo) was re-elected as Vice President (Buffalo Region). I was ratified as Circuit Visitor of the Buffalo-North Circuit. All are for a 3-year term, until the next District Convention.
The convention’s theme was “Always Reforming” – in reference to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation we’re observing. In his report to the District regarding our opportunities and challenges, President Wicher encouraged congregations to engage in “partnerships” and “blessings” as we seek to live out the love of Christ in our community.
In the words of President Wicher: “Partnerships and blessings may not be the answer to all our woes, but they will help break us free from focusing on our troubles and refocus us more on doing what congregations ought to be doing in the first place – showing the saving good news of Jesus Christ in our communities.”
A congregational partnership is “an intentional sharing of gifts and experience resources with other congregations for the sake of Christ’s mission and not for survival.”
A congregation blessing its community is “an intentional community engagement of activities that share the Good News while providing something physically or emotionally good for the community that do not necessarily impact directly, improve or benefit the congregation itself.”
Holy Cross’ sponsoring of the Chiavetta’s chicken dinner last month, with over $1500 in net proceeds going to benefit the Clarence Food Pantry and Wear ‘n Share, is a great example of our congregation blessing the community. We want to continue to do more of this kind of thing.
And in the case of Holy Cross, living out our vision, “Together in God’s Word and love, we boldly go to sow and grow Christ’s Kingdom,” the Holy Spirit is leading us to partner with Lutheran Church of Our Savior (in Buffalo) to strengthen both congregations “in faith toward God and fervent love toward one another.”
What exactly does this mean? It means Christians approaching life together, supporting each other, and building each other up. And so far, it looks like:
- the Treasurer of one congregation sharing his experience by assisting, training and supporting the Treasurer, President and Council of another congregation;
- the Elders of one congregation meeting with the Elders of the other to pray for their congregations and each other;
- the IT support of congregation assisting with the IT support of the other congregation;
- one congregation inviting the youth of the other congregation to participate in their fish fry fundraising for the National Youth Gathering;
- men of both congregations getting together for Christian fellowship, prayer and discussion;
- both congregations supporting each other’s fish fry and chicken dinner fundraisers in surprisingly bold fashion, and in ways which benefit the wider body of Christ and the community at large.
What will this look like in the near future?
Already, we have accepted Lutheran Church of Our Savior’s gracious invitation to join them in worship at Ellicott Creek Park on Sunday, July 22 at 11:00, and for a picnic following. Our own praise band will be playing. (Carpools will depart Holy Cross’ parking lot at 10:15 a.m.)
Then on Sunday, August 26, Holy Cross has invited the Our Savior congregation to join us as we host our 10:30 am “Service in the Park” at Clarence Town Park, to be followed by a picnic and games.
What will this look like in the distant future? God knows. But we know that through the unity won for us sinners through the blood of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, we will someday live in perfect unity with our fellow resurrected brothers and sisters in Christ – including those who have heard Christ’s forgiveness through us. May the Lord bless our “head start” on what He will bring to completion in His everlasting grace and mercy.
~Pastor Nickel