January 1 – The Name of Jesus

Posted on January 1, 2010 by David Nuottila

It’s January 1st, the house smells of collard greens and Hoppin’ John, The Rose Parade is on TV and the college bowl games are coming up this afternoon.  What’s not to like?

It is also a day to remember in the Church.  Today is the day Christians observe the naming of Jesus.  Remember Jesus, the baby whose birth we celebrated just a short week ago?  He is the one who came to earth in order to save many from their sins.

Leading up to Christmas, I always get a kick out those church signs that declare Jesus as “the reason for the season” yet as the 25th of December comes and goes each year, I notice that many of those signs change.  Now they are wishing passersby a Happy New Year and suggesting a good resolution would be to attend worship each Sunday. (and it world actually)

Several others have already replaced their nativity scenes with signs pointing to annual yard sales and food drives.  A few even have their Christmas trees removed and placed them curbside for the county recycling truck to pick up and process into mulch.  I wonder, what happened to the SEASON of Christmas?  Remember Christmas, the twelve day celebration of the church that begins on December 25th and ends on January 5th?

Oh… you mean THAT Jesus and THAT Christmas!

As we fondly remember the year that is past and look forward to the new, let us pause amid our New Year celebrations, traditions and pastimes to reflect upon the one who fulfilled prophecies of the old covenant, in order that humanity may have life according to God’s new covenant in Christ.

After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.  Luke 2: 21  NRSV

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2009 Top Ten

Posted on December 31, 2009 by David Nuottila

My friend Eric posted his top ten memories of 2009.  His post inspired me to do the same.  It was certainly a busy year; one filled with successes and a few disappointments mixed in.  Here are my ten highlights from 2009.

10) Campfirmation – I was invited to join a group of pastors, including a very good friend, to become a member of their Campfirmation cluster.  Campfirmation is a week long experience in the mountains at Lutheridge where we reinforce things learned by our second year confirmation students.  I’m not sure who enjoyed it more, the kids or the pastors.

9)  Seeing new people get involved at church – We have had many visitors to our church this year, and several have become members of the congregation.  It is a pleasure watching these new members become a part of the family and getting involved in existing ministries, or actually starting new ones.

8)  ELCA CWA 2009 – This has not been a pleasant experience for me personally, but it has changed the ELCA forever.  The bottom line with this vote is that we continue to strive to do the work of the gospel while remaining faithful to God’s word in Scripture.

7)  Trip to Florida – The week after Easter I drove to Florida for a week of relaxation with my parents.  It isn’t often that I am able to go there, but this trip was well worth the wait.

6)  In his 1st semester our second oldest son made a perfect 4.0 at Clemson University (Engineering) – What can I say?  He gets his smarts from his mother! 

5)  Our trip to the mountains in July – A wonderful friend of ours graciously invited us to use her mountain home for a long weekend.  We love the mountains and we love our friend.  Need I say more?

4)  Confirmation classes – Spending time with the young people in our congregation is always a good way to pass the time; especially when they are as enthusiastic as this particular group (really!).  They are focused and ask great questions which makes confirmation a great experience for pastor and student.

3)  Trip to Indy – I attended the Lutheran CORE convocation in September.  This was an eye opener in that I realized there is much work to do before making any decisions with regards to the ELCA decisions listed above.  I love the Lutheran Church and I love my synod and its pastors.  We have a wonderful community and our congregations work well together in mission and ministry.  No, I don’t agree with the 2009 CWA, but I didn’t join CORE and don’t plan to.

2)  My first Easter celebration as pastor – This experience actually began with my first Lenten season as pastor.  We had a wonderful season of Lent, followed by a very inspirational Holy Week observance.  Our Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday worship services were amazing and humbling experience.  We welcomed two fine young boys to the waters of Holy Baptism and praised God with all our might.

1)  Trip to the mountains a few days ago – My wife and I got away, just the two of us for three days in the mountains and snow of western North Carolina.  Did I mention it was just the two of us?

I hope everyone has a Happy and Wonderful New Year.  May God continue to bless you richly.

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Meeting Jesus at Christmas

Posted on December 26, 2009 by David Nuottila

As with many congregations, we had a large number of folks attend worship on Christmas Eve.  I was happy to see some familiar faces, those members who cannot attend worship regularly because of their work, and also those who simply are not in the habit.  Oh, it is easy to speculate as to why they don’t come more frequently, but on such a night there isn’t much call for speculation.  This is a celebration of the Nativity of our Lord, a jubilant time to be shared among church family and visitors alike.

Among our many visitors were family members from across the country; as far away as Texas and California.  There were also friends from other cities within our state who were once members of our church, but had moved away.  And there were also some from neighboring congregations who chose this opportunity to visit with their friends across town.  Yet there was one visitor who quickly stood out among the rest.  To the surprise of many, Jesus came to worship with us on Christmas Eve.

Readers of my former blog will recognize Jesus in this post, as I have frequently commented on my encounters with him.  Being that I have removed my former blog, I regret that I cannot point new readers to previous stories.  One day, perhaps, I will post them again.  I can assure you; however, that Jesus does show up in the most unexpected of ways, especially when you may not be prepared to meet him.  Such was the case during our Nativity service, and few recognized him.

Jesus came in and sat near the back of our sanctuary, in the second to last pew.  I don’t blame folks for not realizing it was Jesus, because he didn’t seem dressed for the occasion.  I don’t blame those who found another seat, for he was quite disheveled.  His hair was a mess; he seemed lost and disoriented.  He was quite dirty and he had even urinated in his pants somewhere prior to visiting us.  Needless to say, Jesus didn’t fit our image of him that night, but he took the time to come worship with us.

As he sat quietly, Jesus enjoyed listening to the harpist play beautiful music.  Other than his appearance and odor, he tried not to be a bother.  One of our ushers came to me and told me of his presence, though it wasn’t Jesus whom they thought was in our midst.  Again, I don’t blame them, and I’m glad they came to get me.  It is such an honor to welcome Christ in our midst, even when we are not ready to make his acquaintance.

I recognized our Lord right off; I could see in his eyes the love that calls us to care for the poor and unloved.  Kneeling at his side, I called him by name, the one he goes by, and invited him to come pray with me.  My heart sank as he stood on wobbly legs, his tired hand outstretched so that I could assist him.  We walked together, hand in hand where there was fresh air and quiet so we could talk.

Once outside Jesus and I shared a moment of quiet reflection on what this day means to people in need.  We spoke about the gift of immeasurable love that God so freely gives to his people, and we shared a prayer of thanksgiving that our Father in heaven would bless us with such a wonderful gift through the Babe of Bethlehem.  I’m not sure how long our visit lasted, but I can tell you that I was late getting back inside, the service had already started without me.

Before going back inside, I invited Jesus to rest a while in a place out of the cold until I could tend to his needs further.  He graciously accepted, but following our worship he had moved on.  I don’t know where we went, but I do hope that I will see him again soon, and I’m certain I will.  For you see, Jesus comes to us in so many unexpected ways.  He isn’t one for announcing his presence either.  Rather, Christ often comes to us quietly, through the meek and the lowly, just as he first came to this world on that dark, cold night in Bethlehem.

Thanks be to God.

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Welcoming: A Work in Process

Posted on December 22, 2009 by David Nuottila

A few nights ago, while attending a holiday function with my wife, I met two wonderful, attractive young ladies.  While my wife had met them before, I had never had the pleasure of their acquaintance.  Now, I must preface this with a statement that I was not attending this gathering in an official capacity.  In fact, I’m sure few in attendance knew that I was a pastor.  I was simple my wife’s husband in the midst of her colleagues celebrating this season of joy.  But I digress.

As I was saying, these two young ladies were very pleasant I enjoyed talking with them.  To my surprise, both seemed quite comfortable talking about matters of faith, in fact, they brought the subject up.  It seems these two have been looking for a church where they could become members, a search that has proven to be difficult.  Their desire has been to find a place of welcoming, non judgmental people.  I had to laugh when they told me this.  I have been Christian all my life, active in my congregation, and I am still looking for this very same church.  Naturally I thought we were speaking the same language.

Imagine my surprise when I realized they were looking for a congregation that would accept them as they are, two attractive young ladies in a loving relationship with one another.  They were not shy about telling me about this as well.  Whether they were comfortable telling me about their relationship, or they just didn’t care what I think isn’t really clear.  But I hope they found me receptive and non judgmental as I certainly hope this is the case (God help me).

They told me about the congregation they have been visiting; how the people don’t seem to mind that they are “together.”  It doesn’t seem to be an issue at all during their worship and people are always glad to see them.  As I listened, I hoped this to be the case at the church where I am pastor.  I pray that as we welcome strangers in our midst, we welcome them for who they are, and pay little attention to what they may be.  But there is difficulty in this, a point of struggle if you will.  I struggle with the false perception that, being one who acknowledges homosexual behavior as sin, I am therefore unwelcoming and judgmental of gays a lesbians.

True, I do believe in traditional and orthodox teaching of the Church.  I believe that God gives us the gift of sexuality as an expression for humans to show deep affection for one another, and that this expression is to be lived out in marriage between one man and one woman.  On this issue there can be no compromise for it is God’s intention, not of human design.  Yet, I do not condemn persons such as these two women because they are in a same gendered relationship.  I do not believe they are excluded from God’s grace because of their sexual orientation, nor do I believe their relationship to be a barrier standing between them and a welcoming congregation.

No, I would not bless such a relationship, nor would I lift up such a relationship to be a model for Christians to follow.  Yet, I cannot deny that their feelings for one another at this time are real.  Herein lies the rub.  This is  a point where the ELCA has given in to emotional pleas for social justice with regards to same gendered relationships.  This is where the ELCA’s decisions of August 2009 skew God’s commandment to love one’s neighbor.

Loving our neighbor begins with loving God with all our heart, soul and mind.  This means striving to live according to God’s intentions first, while forsaking the ways of our sinful world.  Loving our neighbor, at its most basic level, means helping them strive toward this same goal.  Making normative any relationship that is contrary to scripture does not show love for our neighbor.  So what do we do?

It is not my job to beat those in same gendered relationships over the head with the hammer of scripture; I am not their judge.  It is not my intention to “convert” anyone to a life of heterosexuality, mine is not their standard.  It is; however, my duty and my joy to give thanks to God for his love and grace through Christ Jesus.  It is my responsibility and calling to proclaim the salvation of God in Christ for all who know Jesus as Lord and Savior.  And it is my pleasure to welcome the strangers in our midst, nurturing them in faith and love, and helping them strive to live a faithful and godly life.

This, my friends, is a work in process.

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Keepers of the Story

Posted on December 20, 2009 by David Nuottila

An interesting day to say the least.  Interesting in that the phone call I received before heading off to worship was from one of our long time parishioners; she called to tell me her aunt had died.  Before I could say that I was sorry to hear this news, my friend on the other end of the line told me that this was good news.  You see, her aunt was 94 years old.  I told her that I would stop by following church for a chat and we could share some stories about her aunt.

When I arrived, Evelyn and I sat down with her husband and we had a very nice conversation.  We talked about the loved ones whom we’ve known for so long, and how we miss them when they are no longer with us.   We shared stories of holiday celebrations, Christmases past, and how this time of year always brings the memory of loved one so close to us that we can feel their presence.  She mentioned that this particular aunt was the last of her remaining blood relatives.  “Now I’m the matriarch.” She said, “and I have many to care for, I am the keeper of the family story.”

As our talk continued, suddenly something seemed to change.  I had this strange feeling that I wasn’t entirely sure who was ministering to whom.  Even though I was there to assist Evelyn in her grief, I had this nagging feeling that she was beginning to attend to mine.  The thing is, I couldn’t understand why, and I wondered where my sudden emptiness was coming from.  As we continued to share family stories, I remembered all of those relatives whom I have not seen in so long.  Aunts, Uncles, who cared for me when I was young; and cousins, many of whom I grew up with a closely as my own brothers and sisters.

For whatever reason, many families drift farther and farther apart.  Every now and again there is a reunion or some other get together.  Weddings and funerals are the two that come quickly to mind.  It’s a shame that as we grow older, we grow more distant, but such is often the case.  Regardless, I was thankful for Evelyn, and the company of her husband, just as they were thankful for my presence.  We shared a time of prayer, celebrated the Lord’s Supper together, and the peace of Christ came to the three of us.  Finally it was time for me to leave.  Still, I wondered about the strange empty feeling I had.

Well, about an hour ago I learned that my own aunt had passed away.  My mom called to tell me that her sister died.  This particular aunt was my mother’s last surviving sibling.  Suddenly, I heard Evelyn’s words, “I’m the matriarch now.”  Now, I’m not up on what does or does not constitute one’s being matriarch, but I do understand that my mom is feeling a little different today.  Suddenly, she has many to care for; suddenly, she is the keeper of the family story.

As each loved one passes, our own mortality becomes a little more evident.  Our time on earth is limited, we can’t stay forever.  When we are young, we feel as though we have nothing but time on our side.  Yet, as we grow older, we come to the understanding that our time here is a precious gift, one to be cherished, yet one that will one day pass.  The story; however, lives on.

As familiar faces one day become only familiar names, the story still passes from one generation to the next.  Pictures fade and albums become worn, but the love never dies.  One day we will all gather again at God’s table and share the stories of our lives with those whom we’ve missed.  But until such time, we gather as Evelyn, her husband and I did today; around God’s table of grace where the peace that passes all understanding fills our hearts and minds.  Thanks be to God.

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