Grace, Peace, and Mercy be to you, from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

These last few weeks of winter always seem to drag on and spring seems so slow in coming. I have always been curious as to the tradition of the "Groundhog" and spring coming in six weeks or winter being over in six weeks and wondered what the fuss was all about anyway??? We know the faithfulness of God and that the seasons are ordered by Him. We can not effect the seasons, we place by faith and trust these things in His hands. There are things however that He has placed into our hands to manage and keep on His behalf.

First and foremost is that of our faith. Have I been a proper steward of my faith, in Bible Class, and in attending The Divine Service of our Lord? Faith can only grow when it is fed and nourished by Word and Sacrament. In that same way we as a congregation can only grow together when we gather together around Word and Sacrament. With this understanding we need also to look to the stewardship of our confession of faith. What does it mean that we are Lutheran? What are the confessions of The Lutheran Church and what does it mean that we have promised and pledged to follow them even to death when we were confirmed? Is that an idol promise we make before God or should we take these promise before God seriously?

Secondly is our congregation. Yes God blessed us with this congregation and ask that we be proper stewards of His Church. Do we support with our time talents and treasures the work, the mission, the purpose of Concordia Lutheran Church and School? It is sinful to draw dividing lines between church and school. We are one.

It is sinful to push an agenda that separates and divides. It is sinful to withhold financial support from God’s church and purpose based on my lack of attendance, my feelings of those in one position or another at church. The gifts we give are given to God, not to meet a budget, not to pacify ones own piety, not to selfishly…, and at the same time they should not be withheld sinfully and selfishly because we do not agree with what is or is not being done. Again the gifts we give are given to God, and these gifts are given cheerfully and willingly, or else sinfully, and selfishly.

Thirdly is our witness of our faith. Do I live as a child of God in all that I say and do? Do I remember that as I do things I represent not only God but Concordia Lutheran Church and School to those around me? As we live our lives we have the privilege of living a Christ like life, because God has made us to be His. He has forgiven us and placed upon us His Name. Later in this month of March we have the joy of celebrating yet again the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In this time of Spring let us also see theologically the Springtime of our faith rising with Christ to new life in Him. Let us rededicate our selves to the stewardship of our faith, our congregation and to the witness of that faith in all that we say and do. Let us regularly attend to Word and Sacrament that we may be ready in season and out of season to give a witness to the faith we have been given that others too may see what God has done for them as well.

Peace In His Name

Pastor Jim