Its Thanksgiving Time

Pastor’s Ponderings:

November is upon us and I wonder where the year has gone. Planning ahead is not my forte; I am quite good about maintaining a weekly routine, but life in the church requires some forethought. Yearly calendars do give me a head’s up for what is coming and I think about what needs to be done by a given event or season. But there are the little details, the steps I need to take between now and then that I tend to procrastinate and ignore until the eve of the event or season. I am good at organizing material, getting Advent devotionals, candles and candle holders, bulletin covers. But when it comes to organizing people to assist or participate, I encounter a personal aversion to ask or plan with others. I am very introverted and am quite happy with the dialogue that goes on in my head; in the end everything comes out my way. The church is composed of many individuals; if we are to be a viable entity, we need to gather and offer our inputs of advice, time, talent. I need to be better at asking for your advice, time, talents and help. There are some activities I really enjoy doing in the church. I like to shovel snow; I like to make our fellowship coffee; I like to change the paraments, change the candles, edit the bulletin and create the Immanuel Herald. We have many generous and giving people here at Immanuel. I honor your offering of time, talents and ideas. I need to be better at the sharing of tasks that others like to do for the church. I need to be better at asking others to join in offering of their gifts, their time and talent. I want to provide a sense of ownership of this congregation for others.

Yes, I like changing the paraments and organizing communion, this is a sacred service and others should be invited and welcomed in providing this service to the congregation. An active Altar Guild for Immanuel Lutheran Church would be a welcome ministry, serving this congregation. I would be happy to teach and explain why we do the things the way we do. Yes, Katrin and Susan do a wonderful job with Christian Education for our young ones. They would welcome others to come join with them in teaching our young ones about the Love of God and the joy we have in Jesus Christ. Yes, we have Lori to clean our facilities every week and she does a great job, but the idea of having a Sunday Sexton or Church Warden, to come earlier on Sunday to turn on the lights, the sound system, to make sure everything is ready for Sunday services would be another welcome service for a group of people to perform. We are all capable of offering our gifts for the ministry and mission of Immanuel Lutheran Church. This is part of our offering, our returning to God what is God’s in thanksgiving for all God does for us. We gather together to worship, to form a faith community, to care for each other, to go out and proclaim God’s grace and love to others. We all have gifts to offer and share. Help me in the sharing of the gifts of ministry and mission. Do not be afraid to offer me your ideas, your time, your talents. You are offering them not to me; you are offering them to God. Thanks Be to God!

Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison

Pastor’s Ponderings

This has been a trying week for the students of Absarokee High School as they come to grips with the suicide death of one of their fellow classmates. They have had to work through grief, anger, loss and pain. The Absarokee school administration was proactive in bringing in counselors, social workers as well as area pastors to help students, staff and faculty process through this tragic event in our community. After the funeral the reminders of loss will still be evident to the students even though they are starting to move on from this event. Our care and concern cannot ebb after the funeral. We will all need to have a greater sensitivity to the emotional needs of the youth in our community. In the next three to six months statistical evidence shows others may attempt suicide. Emotions may come to the surface that an individual thought were dealt with, for no explained or apparent reason. Being an adolescent is difficult enough, but with an event such as a suicide brought into the emotional mix, the volatility of adolescent youth can become even greater. In Montana we are very vulnerable to suicide; Montana ranks first in the country in suicide deaths per capita. When do we say: enough is enough? When do we take a greater proactive approach to the care of those who are the least significant, the ones lost on the fringe and those who feel they are of little value? We are also at a disadvantage because we are geographically isolated, money for proper mental health care is scarce, and there is a stigma attached to seeking help for emotional issues. We cannot be afraid to discuss this problem with each other. We cannot ignore our neighbor in emotional distress. We are a community and God calls us to care for our neighbor and to look out for our sister and brother. Christianity is not so much a belief, but acting on our faith through action. We will be known by the fruits of our faith. We are not called to be passive Christians but active, living out our faith.

If you need to reach out for help please contact myself, or online at www.warmline.org or you can call 1-800-273-8255(TALK). With the 1-800 number, you place your request to speak with someone, leave a phone number where you can be reached and a call is placed to you. Do not be afraid to offer your concerns to the person who you think is stressed to the breaking point. Offer to go with them for help; listen to them, be present with them during their time of trial. We are all in this together, neighbor caring for neighbor.