First off, a note for the sticklers and attention-to-detail-ers: these aren’t minutes from the May 4 congregational meeting, just my reflections and summary. We’ll link to the draft minutes in the June newsletter and officially adopt them at our next meeting.

For the seventy-ish of you who were in attendance in person or online: it was good to be with you! What a blessing to have so many people engaged in decision-making for our congregation. For those who were out of town, or out for breakfast, or out sick, or just don’t like to go to meetings: we missed you, and I hope however you spent your time that morning was a blessing to you just the same.

From a business perspective, our work was fairly straightforward: we adopted a budget, elected leaders, and received reports from committees and boards. We also voted to adopt a congregational welcome statement and designate ourselves as a Reconciling in Christ congregation, which you can now find within our “About Us” page on our website, www.resurrectionlutheran.org

One thing I have been reflecting on with gratitude is the time spent both in the meeting on May 4 and the weekend before at our “Pre-Meeting Meeting,” where so many people expressed their faithful questions, concerns, and hopes. In particular, I am grateful that those questions, concerns, and hopes were different from each of us. 

Some, deeply focused on mission, addressed the shift in the budget that reduced synod mission support from 10% to 7%. Others, also focused on mission, advocated for the ministry within RLC and the need to fund it well. There, some objected and some advocated, and we ended up with a budget that we can live with and support God’s mission with. I thank God for the time and ability to address those concerns together, honestly and directly.

The same thing happens when we’ve amended the constitution, allocated special funding, and, as this time, adopted the RIC designation and welcome statement. Some are excited, some are ambivalent, some are hesitant, some are opposed– and all belong as necessary parts in the body of Christ. 

I am reminded of a story in Acts 15. Paul and Barnabas had been spreading the good news of Jesus Christ to Gentiles, who did not keep every regulation the Jewish Christians thought necessary. The council of Christian leaders in Jerusalem, themselves all Jewish, were concerned. Could a person really follow Jesus if that person didn’t keep all the same behavioral codes? 

Ultimately, Paul convinced the council with these words, “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

The Jerusalem council then agreed to share a dramatically simplified version of their ethical code with the Gentile Christians, so that Jesus Christ could remain their shared foundation. Then each group within the church continued its ministry, supporting one another with their prayers and offerings.

That’s a model I hope we can follow. When we’re concerned about a policy or plan, we take our thoughts directly to the source. When a decision needs to be made, we listen to everybody and pray for God’s guidance. When things change, we trust that what God plants will flourish in its time. And we do it together, because the body of Christ means all of us.

 

In case you missed it, this is the song I gave as part of my report. It's to the tune of "My Favorite Things."

Midweek soup suppers and chili that’s hearty

Short Council meetings and the choir party

Heritage found in a butterfly’s wings

These are a few of my favorite things

 

Organ and guitar and sometimes a conga

Worship that’s one hour unless it goes long-a.

Tunes so beloved each worshiper sings

These are a few of my favorite things

 

Students who ask things like “What does this mean?”

Paraments: white blue red purple and green.

Gathered in person or watching on screens

These are a few of my favorite things

 

When the world’s hard

When the day’s long

When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so bad

 

Sharing a meal with members and neighbors

Meetings and emails and fruits of our labors

And when the Bell Tow’r so punctually rings

These are a few of my favorite things

 

Gospel and law and mercy and grace

Here at this table we all find a place

To Christ alone our faith firmly clings

These are a few of my favorite things

 

Youth trips and lock-ins and singing Messiah

Socials just brimming with ice cream and pie-uh

Also the staff is a team that I love

This is a list of my favorite stuff!

 

When the rhyme fails

When the note’s wrong

When I'm feeling blue

I simply remember my favorite stuff

And I thank my God for you.