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Pastor Cliff's Notes

messages from 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

The reformation 500

9/24/2017

It was 500 years ago on, October 31, 1517 that a little know monk named Martin Luther began what we now call the Reformation of western Christendom . This reform of the Roman Catholic Church and society in general, was needed and welcomed by many. Of course it was also divisive and ultimately led to multiple protestant Christian denominations and even armed conflict. Martin Luther knew little of this when he started these reforms, he led these reforms so that the church would be centered in scripture, faith and grace.

We will join with Christians around the world in recognizing the importance of the protestant reformation that was begun 500 years ago. Below is a list of Reformation activities here in the Memphis area.

Monday, Oct 2, Reformation Music Festival, Trinity Lutheran Church, 7:30 pm
Tuesday, Oct 3, Memphis Theological Seminary Chapel, 11:00 am, Pastor Bahlinger guest preacher
Reformation Book Store, St. Luke, Sunday, Oct 1 and 8
Thursday, Oct. 12, Beer and Hymns, Meddlesome Brewery, 6-8 pm.
Reformation 5K fun run, Saturday, Oct 21, 9am Green Line
Octoberfest, St Luke, Oct 21, 6:30pm, Saturday
Community Reformation Service, Church of the Holy Communion, 5:30 pm., Sunday, Oct 29
Reformation Day Service, Oct 31, St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, 11:30 am., sponsored by Memphis Theological Seminary

As you can see from the list above, this is a full line up of activities. St. Luke is joining with area ELCA congregations, Episcopal congregations and the Memphis Theological Seminary.

For the entire month of October, we will have a Reformation 500 theme during worship at St. Luke. The sermons will focus on God’s Word, Holy Baptism, Luther’s teaching on the “two kingdoms”, vocation in Christian life, and justification.

One of the best ways you can help to celebrate is to invite a friend to participate in one or more of these activities. This is truly a historic time, 500 years and we are still sharing the good news of faith alone, grace alone and word alone.

Join with me in commemorating the birth of our Lutheran understanding of God’s abundant grace and love. Read a biography on Luther, hear the sermons, and attend one of the special services.

Join the celebration,

Pastor Cliff

A Prayer for Peace and United Transformation

8/30/2017

Please join me in A Prayer after Charlottesville, based in part on St. Francis’ “Peace Prayer.”
Lord God, we pray that you would arm us with courage and compassion sufficient to the challenges of these days and make us heralds of your grace and instruments of your peace.
Where is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is harm, let us bring healing;
where there is prejudice and intolerance, let us offer understanding;
where there is enmity, let us be agents of reconciliation;
where there is despair, let us speak hope;
where there is doubt, let us spark faith;
where there is fear, let us kindle courage;
and wherever there is darkness, let us offer the light of your mercy that enlightens the whole world.
Meet us in our fear, Lord God, and embolden us to side always with the defenseless. Protect all who put themselves in harm’s way to keep others safe. Thwart the plans of those who harbor hatred and plot violence. Grant our elected leaders the wisdom to know what it is right and the courage to do it. And bless this nation and people that we might be a blessing to the world you love so much.
This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
We all play a part in speaking out against the sins of racism and anti-Semitism. We are also called to be a healing force in our communities. I invite you to join me in serving with God’s Work Our Hands Sunday on September 10 and the fall Habitat for Humanity fall build on Saturday, Sept. 16 and Oct. 7. You are freed in Christ to serve and these are two wonderful opportunities to put your faith into action.
At the August Council meeting I shared a presentation on United: Transformational Ministry. This is a church renewal and vitality process that equips congregations to make systematic and structural changes as part of a missional and spiritual discernment journey.

United is...
*   A 2-Year transformational ministry process
*       A partnership between congregations, the Southeastern Synod and the ELCA
*       A way for congregations to discern, renew, revitalize and embrace God's
future
*       A lay-driven process: The pastor's role is to empower, not to lead
*       An exciting, challenging, hope-filled adventure

If you would like to be a part of the United: Transformational Team, please speak with me. I believe this is a wonderful opportunity for St. Luke to discern and plan for our future together. As a part of this process we will work with other ELCA congregations in Memphis and Nashville.

In closing, I ask for your prayers as we seek a Director of Music for St. Luke. We are so appreciative of all the music volunteers who contribute each Sunday as a part of the worship service. Service time will remain at 10 am until further notice. Sunday School each Sunday begins at 9 am, please join us.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Cliff

Summer Plans at St Luke

5/1/2017

As we celebrate the 50 Day Season of Easter here at St. Luke, we look ahead to our summer worship schedule that will be begin on May 28. As you may recall, last summer I was on sabbatical and the summer worship schedule was reduced to one 10 am worship service. We received lots of positive feedback from last year. So this year we will be going back to one summer service. The worship committee and church council have agreed to have worship at 10 am from May 28 - August 6.

It is our hope that the one summer service will help us all come together as a congregation. As we approach the summer date of May 28, please remind one another about the time change. We will not have regular Sunday School during this summer period.

During these summer months our goal is to provide weekly communion. So every service that I am able to preside and lead worship will be a communion service. We will be using a new worship setting this summer, setting eight in the Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW). This setting was written for the keyboard, and David Potter will be instructing us on the liturgical congregational singing parts. The overall style of our summer worship will be “blended worship.” By this we mean it will have hymns and praise songs each service. It is our hope that we can all worship our one Lord in a variety of expressions.

I also want to invite you to join us for Music Sunday at 11:00 am on May 7, and our Mother’s Day and First Communion celebration on May 14. May 21 is a busy day with a bible presentation for High School seniors, a congregational meeting, receiving new members and a church picnic.

I look forward to worshiping with you in May, we are grateful that God has called us to come together on the first day of the week to break bread and hear God’s word of love and grace.

See you in worship,

Pastor Cliff

Lent

3/3/2017

Dear St. Luke Saints,

The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday Services on March 1. Services of Holy Communion and imposition of Ashes will be held at 12 noon and 7:00 pm. This year is the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation and our theme will be Luther's Small Catechism. The catechism was written to communicate the basics of the Christian faith to the new evangelical congregations in Germany. We will have a theme from Luther's Catechism each Sunday and Wednesday in Lent. In addition we will have a social ministry Lenten project with Lutheran World Relief. We will ask you to bring in one item per week to be assembled into personal care kits.

  Theme   Lenten Project
Sunday, March 5   10 commandments towels
Sunday, March 12   Apostle's Creed soap
Sunday, March 1 Lord's Prayer toothbrush
Sunday, March 26   Baptism comb
Sunday, April 2   Holy Communion nail clipper

A weekly Lenten devotional, free indeed, Devotions for Lent 2017 will also be available for you to use in your home devotions. These devotions will also take you through Luther's Small Catechism. Copies of Luther's Catechism will also be available in the narthex, or a digital copy can be downloaded to your smart phone, tablet or kindle at the App Store or Google Play. (Search for Luther's Small Catechism and download to your device.)

This year we will be joining with other ELCA Lutheran Congregations in our study of Luther's Small Catechism. Your participation and re-discovery this Lent of Luther's Catechism will be a comfort to you. A careful review of the catechism will inspire, comfort and guide you on your Lenten journey. Please join me as we study Luther's Small Catechism for Lent in 2017.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Cliff

Changing through vision, intensity, and Means

1/7/2017

God does not help those who help themselves. God helps those who abide with him, those who walk with him in faith. Our efforts were never the impetus for God's transforming grace. They will not be the impetus for our changed hearts either.
Mike Ashcraft, My One Word

Do you have a desire to change in 2017? I sure hope so, changing and growing is part of living. God is a living God, who calls us to a life of change and vitality. Of course change comes in many forms and not all change is good change. Most of us resist change as the familiar becomes comfortable. Unfortunately some of the things we have become comfortable with are not Christ like habits. Some of our ways are not God's ways. So how do we change?

All change takes Vision, Intensity and Means (VIM). For any change we need a vision of the benefits of the change, we need a desire and heart to change, and of course we need the means to change.

I encourage you to seek one area of change for 2017. Choose one word, one trait God is seeking to instill in you. Create a vision of how your life would benefit from this change. See the change in you, see the benefits, pray about how this one attribute would positively affect your life. Next, get serious about this one word change. Pray about it, set your heart to following through, and create reminders so the word is before you each and every day.

The means of change for people of faith is in fact God. We use the vision and intensity to put us in a position to change, but God does the actual changing. As we ask God to change us, God gives us the grace to change what we cannot change on our own. God gives us the means of grace. For Lutherans we see the means of grace revealed in God's word and in the holy sacraments. As our faith life grows and is nourished by God's word and sacraments, we experience grace and change.

God seeks to transform us, to make us more Christ like, to invite us to live in the bountiful Kingdom of God; today, tomorrow and for eternity. Start with one word. Lose the long list of resolutions, and do something about one thing this year instead of nothing about everything.

My one word for 2017 is drink. Folks tend to laugh when they hear this, but I am drawn to the image of Jesus as the living water. Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink (John 7:37). I choose this one word because it reminds me to receive what God is already offering to me, the living water. God provides what I need, I just need to slow down and drink.

I invite you to share your One Word with me for 2017, we will have a large One Word bulletin board in the Narthex. Take a moment and add your One Word for 2017 to the board. It will be inspiring to see all the ways God is leading and guiding us here at St. Luke.

On a personal note, I want to add my heartfelt thanks for the very generous Christmas gift that was given to me on Christmas Eve. I am very blessed to serve as your pastor and I look forward to working with you in the coming year. Thank you for your generosity to me and my family.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Cliff

Advent at St Luke

12/5/2016

As a child Advent was a special time in the church. Advent meant that Christmas was coming soon. Advent Wreaths and Calendars were visual reminders to count the days until Christmas. My favorite Advent Calendars had a door to open each day with a gift or chocolate inside.

This year at St. Luke, we will be providing every person or family with an Advent Calendar. The Advent Calendar will consist of a card for each day numbered one to twenty-eight, for the full twenty-eight days of Advent, ending on Christmas Eve. Each card will have a Bible verse or activity for you to complete for that day. Some of the activities are fun and light and others more serious, but all point us towards Emmanuel, God with us.

After reading and completing the day's activity, you can display the cards around a home Advent Wreath or pin them to a fabric-covered canvas for all to see. The art on each card for each day is unique and inviting. We will have extra Advent Calendars for you to give to friends as you invite them to Advent activities at St. Luke. You may also share the new Advent Video made for St. Luke on Facebook, or invite your friends to watch it on our website, www.StLukeMemphis.org.

It is our hope that this unique and beautiful Advent Calendar can inspire your family to take a deeper walk of faith this Advent Season. The season need not be just shopping and traffic; spend a moment each day meditating on the Advent Calendar and give thanks for your blessings and prepare your hearts for Christ.

Blessings,
Pastor Cliff

Faith is personal, but it is never private, nor is it lived apart from other Christians.

10/3/2016

This quote is a one of the many reasons it is good to be back with you at St. Luke. I was blessed to have time away during my sabbatical, but faith is lived with other Christians and St. Luke is where I live my faith with each of you. The first three Sundays I have been back have reinforced the importance of this. We fellow-shipped for Jersey Day/Labor Day, then we worked together for God's Work, Our Hands Sunday and dedicated the new pavilion. This past Sunday we shared in the Affirmation of Faith service as six young adults were confirmed. This service was a time for all of us to respond to God's great love to us.

In October we will celebrate an Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 15. We will gather under the new pavilion for food, games and libations. The feast day of St. Luke the Evangelist follows on Sunday, October 16 with a healing service. Luke was a physician, and it is customary to have a healing service on this feast day. These two events are opportunities to invite friends. We all have friends who would be willing to join in ourOktoberfest festivities if they were invited. Likewise, we know otherswho may be struggling with health issues and would be comforted by a healing service. Be a friend and invite them to join you at St. Luke.

Faith is personal, but faith is not private. Invite others to join us at St. Luke. God is active here, and God is working in and with us, as we worship, serve and fellowship.

Your partner in ministry,
Pastor Cliff

Here is a link to an article I feel you might appreciate:
Fall Equinox

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