Photographs of People and Churches around the CLC

Pastoral Letter
May 2010
“But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over
them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your
servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man
came not be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28
ESV).

Fellow Servants:

While I was at ILC attending the recent Co-ordinating Council meeting, I listened to a chapel
address reminding us that the greatest quality for leadership in Jesus’ Church is service. This
is contrary to the thinking of the world. The apostles were incensed because the mother of
James and John had asked Jesus that her two sons be permitted to sit at the right and left
hands of Jesus in his kingdom. The apostles were indignant not because she had asked, but
because James and John might have gotten in the front of the line. Jesus acknowledged that
this is the way it is among the rulers of the Gentiles who lord it over you. But Jesus said, “It
shall not be so among you.” Jesus turned everything upside down, “Whoever would be first
among you must be your slave.”

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From the President

From the Mountain to the Cross

Pastoral Letter
“From the Mountain to the Cross”
July and August 2010

“Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray….And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.” (Luke 9:28, 36 ESV).

Fellow Cross Bearers:

Sharon and I recently returned from a five thousand mile trip to visit our children and  grandchildren. Along the way I spent a week in Eau Claire, WI attending the 29th Convention of  the Church of the Lutheran Confession. It was a demanding week that involved a lot of sitting,  a lot of listening, and a lot of prayer. It was good to get back home again. But guess what – the  problems that were here when I left are still here. It was back into the demanding regular work  of the pastoral ministry. Someone said that convention will help you appreciate your  congregation and your calling. Sometimes I experience a letdown when I try to turn the  excitement and possibilities of convention into the reality of my ministry.

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