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Pastor Cliff's Notes

messages from Pastor Cliff

Friendship at St Luke

9/11/2019

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one."-C.S. Lewis
Imagine the joy of sharing St. Luke with one of your best friends and they turn to you and say, "I was looking for a church like this!" You would be so excited. St. Luke means so much to each one us. We are connected to God and to one another because of St. Luke.
On Sunday, September 15, we will have a "Friendship Sunday." This is your chance to invite a friend to St. Luke. If you can make the effort to invite a friend, we will work to make this Sunday extra special.
The truth is, some Sunday services are just better than others. Not all Sunday services are equal, some services run long, some have a hard message (we talk about money), and some are just low energy.
On Friendship Sunday we will start with Marcin Arendt playing a violin prelude, we will have the praise team lead the opening song, and we will end with favorite hymns, choir, and an organ postlude. As pastor and preacher I will do my best to deliver an engaging message that connects the head to the heart. After the service we hope your friends will stay for fresh coffee and special treats to eat.
In other words, we want to take away the guess work on what Sunday to invite your friends, coworkers or neighbors. The best Sunday to invite someone to St. Luke is Friendship Sunday on September 15. We even have nice invitation printed up, and we created a special web site for more details (www.stlukememphis.org/friendshipsunday).
If your friend is more of a worker, you can invite them to God's Work Our Hands Sunday on September 8. On this Sunday we leave the church grounds and go serve in our community. Note the time change, we gather for a commissioning prayer at 9 am and then go and serve. After we work, you are invited back to St. Luke at noon for great food and a cook out in the pavilion.
We are blessed to have a church home. St. Luke is a special place and it means so much to each of us. Remember, St. Luke is not ours, it is God's church, and God's church is for all people. So let's share the good news, St. Luke has room for us all, come and enjoy the blessings of spiritual growth for you and your friends at St. Luke.
In Christ +

Lutheran Worship

8/4/2019

It was not that many years ago when in many Lutheran churches,
* the altar was up against the back wall

* Holy Communion was only celebrated once a month,

* the service was spoken in German, Swedish, or Danish.

The way we worship in our ELCA congregations has changed over the years. Weekly celebration of Holy Communion is now the norm, the altar is now free standing, and the language spoken changes with the needs of the people. The description of Lutheran Worship in the time of Martin Luther was simple. "The assembly of all believers among whom the gospel is purely preached and the holy sacraments are administered according to the gospel" (Augsburg Confession).

Our Lutheran order of worship is simple, we seek to copy the order of first and second century Christians as found in the Bible and in the writings of Justin Martyr who wrote in A.D. 150. The essential components are; Gathering, Word, Table and Sending.

At St. Luke this is our basic order of worship. We gather to confess our sins, sing an opening hymn, and pray. We are people gathered to talk to God together. We worship as a community of faith, as a body of believers.

Prayers and Scripture readings, sermons and testimonies, hymns and songs are each part of the Word of worship. Each Sunday we hear the words of scripture from a three year lectionary schedule that follows the liturgical calendar. We hear the words of both law and gospel. We are drawn to the grace of God, shown in words and life of Christ.

Jesus said, "do this in remembrance of me." So we gather at the table for a meal of remembrance, believing that Jesus is present with us, and in, with and under the bread and wine. The word Eucharist means thanksgiving, so it is a meal of thanks, a meal of spiritual sustenance.

The last part, the sending, reminds us to go out with Jesus to serve in word and deed. We are reminded of the words of Martin Luther, "God does not need your good works, but your neighbor does." We serve, because we live in a hurting world, a world in need of hope and healing.

It is God who gathers us, speaks to us, feeds us in grace, and sends us into the world. We are a people of God called out to serve and love. We are diverse and inclusive, we are joyful and hopeful, we are marked with the water of baptism forever.

I hope to see you soon in the worship service, we will be reviewing the 7 Marks of Ministry in the month of August. In September we will have a special Friendship Sunday on September 15, a day to invite friends and family to join us in worship and fellowship.

Your partner in ministry,
Pastor Cliff

Lent 2019: Soul Keeping

3/2/2019

Soul Keeping, what does this mean to you? How do we care for our Souls?
This is the topic of our St Luke Lenten Study. You are invited to join us as we dive deep into the care of our souls. First, we may ask what is a soul? As Christians we are taught that we are a body, and our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. When we die, our body shall rise and be reformed in heaven just as Jesus rose with a new body. God created a human body at the creation story and said it is good. So, in our Christian theology, we are a divinely created body. But this body is made up of many parts. The body consists of a will, a mind and a soul. All four parts make a whole. The will is the ability to choose, for God gave us free will. The mind is a person’s thoughts and feelings. We are told in scripture to renew our minds, to use our minds, to grow in our thoughts. The body is what houses, or carries us around. Our body is fearfully and wonderfully made by God, but our body is flesh and bone. The soul is what integrates all of our different parts into a single person. It is the soul that integrates all of our different parts into a single person.
We want to spend some time learning about our Soul this lent. The first lesson of the soul is to “slow down and know that I am God.” Our soul needs time with God, in prayer, in quiet, in peace. So, my first request of you this lent is to schedule time to be with God. To stop and let God meet you where you are. God always comes to where we are. We do not need to try and reach God, let God come to you. Make some time, this is the first step. If possible join the Soul Keeping study, get the work book, and go deeper. Each Sunday and Wednesday in lent I will draw on these topics in our worship services. Make an effort to attend Sunday and Wednesday services.
Take some time this week to consider these words, “You are an unceasing spiritual being with an eternal destiny in God’s great universe” (Dallas Willard).
I look forward to growing with you, let us be keepers of our souls this lent,

Pastor Cliff

25 Years... Looking Back and Ahead

8/5/2018

Twenty five years ago, on August 1, 1993, I was blessed to be ordained a pastor in the ELCA. The ordination certificate reads, "Clifford Alan Bahlinger, who has been called to serve in the ordained ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and who acknowledges adherence to this church's confession of faith and accepts its constitutional order, was ordained a Minister of the Church of Christ in the Office of Word and Sacrament, by the laying on of hands, under the authority of the Southeastern Synod."
In our church, one is only ordained to be pastor when one has a call from a congregation. Lutherans believe ordination is to an office of pastor for a specific congregation or ministry. You first must earn a Masters of Divinity degree and be approved by your Synod's Candidacy Committee. Once you are approved for ministry you await a call to a congregation and then ordination.

I was fortunate to receive a call to St. Stephen Church in Decatur, Georgia shortly after finishing my course work and receiving my degree. Our daughter Sophia was not yet two years old when we accepted the call and began planning the ordination service at St. Stephen. Bishop Harold Skillrud was the bishop of the Southeastern Synod at that time.
I was blessed to serve nine years at St Stephen. Our family grew along with the congregation. We were blessed to do ministry together. Our first big project was to join with a local organization that was looking for a place for a nursery for children that were HIV positive. We worked hard to educate the congregation and to build a working partnership. We held a congregational meeting to vote on hosting the AIDS children's ministry and remodeling the nursery. I was relieved when the vote passed with only a few dissenting votes. When it can time to remodel, a pipe burst and flooded the church. I remember thinking, "oh no, I am going to get fired." I went to inform several office holders on the church council. I was not at all sure what response I would get. To my surprise the church members banded together to help get fans and dry out the building for Sunday Service. We went on to host the children's HIV nursery for several years. It was so important for the parents of these children to know they had nursery for them, where their children were accepted and loved.
I have learned that ministry takes many forms. Here at St Luke we continue to look for partnerships to expand our ministry. We have been busy this summer hosting the YMCA Camp, overnight church groups, Jazzercise, and the neighborhood association. This fall Shady Oaks School returns along with the Sorority groups and quilting groups.
We are now in the home stretch to paying off our mortgage on our property. We will have more freedom in our ministry priorities when the mortgage payments are done. We would be wise to look into hosting an early education center or nursery in the south end of our building. Lutherans are well known for quality childcare, and all working parents want and desire quality childcare. Today's economy forces most couples to both work full time. How can we help families seeking affordable quality Christian childcare?
I have been so blessed to serve as your pastor these past 16 years. When you are having fun, working with wonderful people and watching and leading people growing in faith, the time does indeed go by fast! I am hopeful you will have me around for a few more years. I do believe God has more plans for us to grow and reach out to our neighbors. It is wonderful to see our children's "Pray Ground" filled with little ones each Sunday. We are blessed with great lay leadership, wonderful church staff and a vibrant congregation. Let's keep a good thing going.

Join me in starting and ending each day in prayer. Pray for your individual ministry, your family and your church. God is calling each of us to a deeper walk. Let us be mindful of God's presence with us each day.
One final thought, please pray for those entering seminary and seeking a call to ministry. The ELCA is experiencing a shortage of clergy. Pray for all who may be led to follow Christ on the path to ordained ministry in the ELCA.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Cliff

caring for God's creation

4/24/2018

Rev. Cliff Bahlinger, Rev. John Barton

As a former Park Ranger with the National Park Service and having served with A Christian Ministry in the National Parks, it was an honor to have Shantha Ready Alonso, Executive Director, Creation Justice Ministries call and ask if I would be available to travel to Washington, DC to meet with elected officials and advocated for public lands and parks. Creation Justice is the environmental office for the National Council of Churches. They partner with the National Religious Partnership for the Environment. The National Religious Partnership for the Environment represents mainline Christians, Evangelical Christians, Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Jews and Muslims. This is a powerful coalition of all the major faith groups in the world. Together we all seek to care for creation and work to stop global warming.

I was part of a team comprised of Bishop Carroll Baltimore of the Global United Fellowship, Rev. John Barton of the Virginia Council of Churches, Rev. Peter Cook of the New York Council of Churches, Rabbi Daniel Swartz of the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life. We were led by Cassandra Carmichael, Executive Director, National Religious Partnership for the Environment and Shantha Ready Alonso Executive Director, Creation Justice Ministries.

We met with the offices of Senator Corker (TN), Senator Alexander (TN), Senator Schumer (NY), Rep. Taylor (VA), Rep. Faso (NY), Rep. Donovan (NY), and Rep. Garrett (VA). Our goal was to speak and advocate for the protection of national monuments and the Antiquities Act, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, concerns of coastal drilling and funding our National Park System.

It gives me great confidence to know that our faith community is represented in the halls of congress. As people of faith we are called to be stewards of God's good creation. The voices of people of faith need to heard. God has given us this one planet, this one, wonderful planet we call earth. Let us care for it, love it, and protect it for the good of our neighbor.

Pastor Cliff Bahlinger

St. Luke Lutheran Church
2000 Germantown Parkway N.
Cordova, TN 38016

Rabbi Daniel Swartz, Rev. Cliff Bahlinger, Rev. John Barton, Rev. Peter Cook, Shantha Ready Alonso, Bishop Carroll Baltimore at the U.S. Senate dinning hall

Seasons of Grief

3/4/2018

To our sisters in faith, we entrust you to God who created you.
May you return to the one who formed us out of the dust of the earth.
Surrounded by the angels and triumphant saints,
may Christ come to meet you as you go forth from this life.

On Sunday, March 4, we will have two white roses on the altar at St. Luke. It has been our tradition to place a rose on the altar for deaths and for births of our members. The roses on the altar this month remind us of the lives of service that were given by
Bonnye Sampson and Nancy Roman.
I remember back to my early years serving at St. Luke. I would park my car in the parking lot and out in the back of the lot I would see Bonnye's car. I would right away know that Bonnye was weeding the two back parking lot islands. She had explained to me that she and her sons Eric and Mike were custodians of these parking lot gardens. She weeded them, added bird houses and garden art, and kept them looking good for the church.
That was how Bonnye liked to work, behind the scenes. Bonnye would weed gardens, give out flu shots, attend Sunday School and offer a smile to all she encountered. She was not one to take center stage, but she loved and supported her church.
Nancy and Ben Roman joined St. Luke in 2014. They were relocating from Mobile and had purchased a home in Cordova. Both Ben and Nancy had been active at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Mobile. They both got involved at St. Luke and were active in many areas of church life. It was such a shock when Ben received news of cancer in 2016. While Nancy dedicated herself to assisting Ben with his cancer fight, she became sick herself. In a matter of months both Ben and Nancy were fighting aggressive cancer with surgery and chemotherapy treatments. We said goodbye to Ben in September, and Nancy died
just this past week.

When we think of the season of lent, we often think about death coming before the new birth of spring. It seems in life we have seasons of grief when the loss of loved ones is real. As people of faith, we turn to our God for strength and hope. We know in our heart that God will never leave us or forsake up. We trust in the one who formed us to be with us through each stage of life on earth and bring us with all your saints in everlasting glory.
This year Holy Week will have special meaning. Join us for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Services. Let us grieve as a community for the sacrifices Jesus made for us, and grieve our St. Luke friends, and then come Easter Sunday, let us trust in the hope given to us by Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

In Christ,

Pastor Cliff

February at St Luke

2/5/2018

February at St. Luke offers us opportunities to grow and mature in our faith. We will have an in-depth discussion on Race, begin the Transformational Ministry process and start our Lenten journey.
What is this thing called race? Race -- The Power of an Illusion is based on aprovocative three-hour video series that questions the very idea of race as biology. If race is a biological myth, where did the idea come from? Are we open to challenge many long and deeply held assumptions? Is it safe to talk about race? Can we end racism? Join us as we, a people of faith, examine these important questions in our society.

All are invited to attend this seminar. We will meet at St. Luke on Saturday, February 10, start at 9am and end by 4pm. Lunch will be provided for all in attendance. Cathy Crimi and I will be the presenters and facilitate the discussions. Please join us and invite a friend to attend.
Transformational Ministry is a program designed by the ELCA and Southeastern Synod to lead Lutheran congregations to growth and vitality. St. Luke is a healthy congregation, but we are not all that God is calling us to be. We have lost some of the vitality of a new congregation. We risk becoming disconnected from the communities around us. In February we begin a two year process of discernment. We will be asking you for guidance, ideas and prayers as begin this process. Our first team meeting will be held on Saturday, February 3, 8am - 4pm. We will join with Living Word, Epiphany and Peace Lutheran churches in this discussion. The St. Luke Church Council has designated resources for this process. Our congregation voted at our last congregational meeting to engage in this process. Your participation will be needed in the coming months.
The season of Epiphany is quickly coming to an end. Ash Wednesday will soon be upon us. This year Ash Wednesday falls on February 14. What a cruel joke to have Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day on the same day. Chocolates and Ashes do not go together. Maybe this can be reminder that death and love are both part of our lives. We need to pause and acknowledge both. Both are part of who we are as humans. A life is not fully lived without love, as we consider our death, let us recommit to love God, love ourselves and love our neighbor.

Our Lenten devotional books are available in the narthex. "LIVING WELL through Lent 2018 --Loving With All Your Heart, Soul, Strength and Mind"includes daily readings and journal entries. Lent is a time for introspection and self- reflection, a time to reflect on the core of what it means to live a Christian life. For people of faith, love is not an abstract or feel-good concept, but an urgent call to radically incarnate love in how we relate to God, our neighbor and ourselves. Please join in the study and reflection this season of lent. A small group leader's guide is available for Lenten small groups using this resource.

As we continue the journey before us, consider this prayer by Chaplain Mychal Judge who died on 9/11/2011,

Lord, take me where You want me to go,
Let me meet who You want me to meet,
Tell me what You want me to say,
And, keep me out of Your way.

In Christ,
Pastor Cliff

SLOW DOWN AND WAIT

12/5/2017

Dear Friends in Christ:
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe.
You call all nations to walk in your light
And to seek your ways of justice and peace,
For the night is past, and the dawn of your coming is near.
Bless us as we light the first candle of this wreath.
Rouse us from sleep,
That we may be ready to greet our Lord when he comes
And welcome him into our hearts and homes,
For he is our light and our salvation.
Amen.

Advent is a season of waiting. We mark the passage of time as we light the Advent wreath, open the Advent calendar, and wait for Christmas and the light to appear.
Our society urges us to hurry and spend, while scripture and tradition beckons us to slow down and wait. We are tempted to rush and hurry, but in our church calendar Advent reminds us to slow down and to lean together. The darkness is all around us in the short days and long nights. In ancient times, people spent more time in doors, waiting for the return of the light. Advent reminds us of the rhythms of life. Advent invites us to open scripture and read of Mary and the promise of God to continue the reign of David. Mary was an unlikely heroine, yet God invites her into the salvation story. Just as God invites you into a deeper faith journey.

Below you will find Daily Bible readings for Advent and Christmas (pg 24 Sundays and Seasons), slow down, open your bible and read the stories of Advent and waiting. You may experience a more sacred season, as you slow down, read scripture and enter God's salvation story.

Pastor Cliff

Week 1
Sun. Dec. 3 Isaiah 64:1-9
Mon. Dec. 4 Psalm 80:1-7
Tues. Dec. 5 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Wed. Dec. 6 Mark 13:24-37

Thur. Dec. 7 Psalm 85:8-13
Fri. Dec. 8 Jeremiah 1:4-10
Sat. Dec. 9 Ezekiel 36:24-28

Week 2
Sun. Dec. 10 Mark 1:1-8
Mon. Dec. 11 Isaiah 40:1-11
Tues. Dec. 12 Psalm 27
Wed. Dec. 13 Luke 1:5-17
Thur. Dec. 14 Habakkuk 2:1-4
Fri. Dec. 15 Philippians 3:12-16
Sat. Dec. 16 John 1:6-8, 19-28

Week 3
Sun. Dec. 17 Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Mon. Dec. 18 Psalm 126
Tues. Dec. 19 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Wed. Dec. 20 Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26
Thur. Dec. 21 Luke 1:26-38
Fri. Dec. 22 Luke 1:39-45
Sat. Dec. 23 Luke 1:46-55

Week 4
Sun. Dec. 24 Luke 2:1-20
Mon. Dec. 25 John 1:1-14
Tues. Dec. 26 Psalm 148
Wed. Dec. 27 1 John 1:1-9
Thur. Dec. 28 Jeremiah 31:15-17
Fri. Dec. 29 Isaiah 49:5-15
Sat. Dec. 30 Psalm 148

Week 5
Sun. Dec. 31 Isaiah 61:1-10-62:3
Mon. Jan. 1 Galatians 4:4-7
Tues. Jan. 2 Luke 2:22-40
Wed. Jan. 3 Psalm 110
Thur. Jan. 4 Isaiah 60:1-6
Fri. Jan. 5 Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14
Sat. Jan. 6 Matthew 2:1-12

My Reformation Story

10/30/2017

October 2017
Rev. Clifford A. Bahlinger

Hve you ever had an awkward conversation with your father?
You know, one of those conversations about how you accidently wrecked his car, your subpar grades in school, or how you need more money?
For Martin Luther a conversation occurred like this while he was in law school. You can imagine how proud Martin’s father must have been to have a son graduate from college, and be accepted into and enter law school. Martin’s father had never been to college. He was a copper miner, who had only recently moved up the social ladder to become a smelting supervisor of copper ore. He had invested heavily in his son’s education, a son who was bright and well regarded. Now this son with so much promise had come home to talk with his father. Martin wanted to tell his father that he was dropping out of law school, and not only that, he was entering monastic life, and he was joining the Augustinian Order.
When I was a senior at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, I took a short trip home to visit my parents. My dad and I were up watching the late local news on television. When the news ended, I turned off the tv, said good night and began to go to my room. As I walked through the kitchen my dad asked me to have a seat. Dad said he had something important he wanted to share with me. My radar went up, why this late night one on one conversation with dad? My father was not a man of surprises or midnight confessions. Both my parents were devout Roman Catholics. I was one of seven children baptized and confirmed in the Roman Catholic Church. We all attended Roman Catholic schools from kindergarten through High School. I was born into a family rich with religious vocation. Nine relatives were in Roman Catholic religious orders. My father’s brother Donald was a Jesuit priest, and two of his sisters had taken vows of service. My mother’s sister was also a nun and had been my high school guidance counselor.
Years before I had an awkward conversation of my own with my parents about attending seminary in the Lutheran Church in order to seek ordination as a Pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. But that was four years ago, I was about to graduate now. I had been living on my own for over ten years, I was married and had a child. What could my father want to say to me at this odd hour?
My dad started by saying Son, there is something I think you should know about our family. The Bahlinger family in Germany is not Roman Catholic as you have thought, but Lutheran. I just looked at him and no words came from my mouth. I was shocked and hurt that this had been hidden from me; yes, I was excited that I was not the only Lutheran in the family, but confused as to why I never knew the truth of my family’s history. Dad went on to say that Frederic Bahlinger, my great, great grandfather had been born and raised Lutheran in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. He fell in love and married Barbara Schmuger who was Roman Catholic. This mixed marriage must have been very difficult for them. They immigrated to Baton Rouge, Louisiana in the 1850’s only to have Frederic die of yellow fever in 1867. Barbara, now widowed and desperate with five children, went to a Roman Catholic priest for help. The children were re-baptized Roman Catholic and all Lutheran connections were lost. Here I was 135 years later, just months away from being ordained as a Lutheran pastor and hearing this family history, as news for the first time.
I share this personal history to show how deep the divisions have been for 500 years between Lutherans and Roman Catholics. In many places in Germany after the reformation, the children of mixed marriages were considered illegitimate depending on the religious authorities people lived under at the time. Deep and bitter divisions existed throughout Europe due to one’s religious affiliation. We have come a long way in 500 years. Thankfully now Roman Catholics and Lutherans recognize baptism in one another’s tradition. In 2016 Pope Francis visited the Lutheran Cathedral in Lund, Sweden and prayed with Lutheran clergy for unity in the body of Christ.
In 1517 Martin Luther did not begin his protest with any grand visions of dividing the church of Christ. Luther took a stand for pastoral reasons. While Luther held a Doctorate degree in Holy Scriptures at the small university of Wittenberg, he also had duties at the Castle Church in the town. It is was here, as a parish priest, that Martin Luther became concerned by the sale of papal indulgences. His own parishioners were purchasing these certificates of forgiveness. It is this real life situation that caused Luther to take up his pen and question by what authority the pope can sell Christ’s forgiveness through indulgences.
Years earlier, Martin Luther was called upon to travel to Rome. He walked three months to deliver papers and see the holy city. He saw with his own eyes the great wealth of the church and he left the city with deep concerns for his church. He knew that the sale of indulgences was more about money than concern for the souls of the faithful.
I can remember a trip to visit the local bishop of our diocese when I was a boy. My grandfather was a generous supporter of the bishop and the entire family was invited to a special reception at the bishop’s residence. My mother called it the Bishop’s Penthouse, as it sat high above a high complex called the Catholic Life Center. I also remember my grandfather and grandmother returning from a pilgrimage to Rome. They were proudly showing all the family a framed certificate signed by the pope. I learned years later it was in fact an indulgence letter signed by the pope! I can remember the family in the car ride home, the topic of conversation was all about “how much did they pay for that?”
Years later when I was a college student and taking a class on Europe History, the assigned reading included works by Martin Luther. When I read Luther for the first time I was so excited! Here was someone speaking truth. Here was a man of deep faith, conviction, and courage. I went on to join the Lutheran Church in 1983, which coincidentally was the 500th Anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther. Now here I am 34 years later at the 500th Anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation and I am serving as a Lutheran pastor. I still admire Luther’s faith, passion and courage, but now I also see his flaws; his sharp attacks on his critics, his inability to compromise and his horrible attack on the Jews.
Martin Luther was indeed a Saint and a Sinner and maybe this is what he would want for us to remember on this 500 anniversary. We are all saints and sinners. We all depend on God’s grace. We all seek a savior, because we cannot save ourselves. At his death in 1546, it is reported that in Luther’s pocket was a hand written note that read, “we are beggars, this is true.” When we understand our need for God and God’s unfailing love for us, then we can trust God all the more. We are not popes, princes or lords. We are beggars at the feet of a loving and merciful God. A God that is abounding in steadfast love. A God who loved us so much that he sent his son to us, not to condemn us, but to set us free. Free to worship God, free to serve our neighbor, free to forgive past divisions and free to make a future together in Christ.

"fuel the mission" of St. Luke

10/25/2017

Dear Friends in Christ:

I once heard the story of a young boy that was thrilled when his grandmother gave him a crisp fresh $100 bill. It was Christmas Eve and he was overjoyed. He had never received a gift that big.

Later that evening the entire family went to church for Christmas Eve. It was a small Lutheran Church and he had never been there before. When it came time for the offering, he reached into his pocket and made sure that he grabbed a $1 bill to put in the offering plate.

As he dropped the dollar bill in and watched the plate move down the pew, he realized he accidentally put in the $100 bill! He watched in terror as the $100 bill was passed down the pews and disappeared. He wanted to cry and felt awful.

For this young boy, giving was not something he wanted to do at all. Money was so scarce for him, this was not his home church, and he had no plans to give so much. Needless to say, we can identify with his mistake in giving away his Christmas money. This is not what Christian Stewardship is about.

St. Paul writes, “Each of you must give as you have made up you mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:7-8

We are called to give as a part of the wonderful things God is doing at St. Luke. We give as a fuel for mission. We give because God has already given us so much. As we see God as the one who gives first, our giving becomes a reflection of God at work in us.

The young boy did not give with a joyful heart, no he felt something was taken from him, and he wanted it back. We on the other hand, are to give freely, we give out of our baptismal identity, we belong to God, and God has invited us to join in ministry, and giving is a way to join in that ministry of God

Over the years giving for me has changed. These days I'm so enthralled with the mission of St. Luke Lutheran Church that when I give my tithe to this place, I often have joy in my heart as I give. The boy was saddened by watching his money disappear -- I have joy during the offering because I have seen firsthand how lives will be saved and changed by fueling the mission of this great place.

Our attitude of giving is often dependent on our connection with our faith. This season I invite you to examine your faith and examine your giving. If you can't give or don't want to give, know that you're loved and cared for just as you are. But I invite you into joyful giving. I invite you into a spirit of generosity that reflects all of the ways in which you have been blessed.

I invite you to worship and make an estimate of giving for 2018 on Consecration Sunday, Nov. 19 as together we "fuel the mission" of St. Luke.

May this season of Thanksgiving and graciousness truly fill you.

Pastor Cliff Bahlinger
St Luke Lutheran

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