Category Archives: Ephemera

Bearing the Yoke

Posted on by
Reply

Introduction

The people of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Hickman, Neb., have organized a Spirit-Driven Task Force, bringing together almost forty members who have committed to a year of study, prayer, reflection, and deliberation to discern how God is calling the congregation to renewal for the sake of his mission.

This is the eleventh of a series of weekly meditations with the aim to inspire reflection and encourage conversation among the members of the task force as we journey together in obedience to our Lord’s calling to serve him.

Pastor Ron Drury, a member of the Spirit Driven Task Force, wrote this week’s meditation.

Scripture

Jesus said, “If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.” —Matthew 11:28–30, Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Meditation

Praying that whenever and wherever you read this, that you will be able to recognize Jesus reaching out to you with the “yoke of community in Christ”! I had hoped to send this earlier today, but was called to the hospital to serve by Jesus’s side in visiting with one of our members, with whom I shared this Psalm excerpt. I planned to share it here with you anyway…and now I will:

You are merciful, LORD!
You are kind and patient and always loving.
You are good to everyone,
and you take care of all your creation!” —Psalm 145:8–9, CEV

Our “sibling in the Savior” shared that these words eased his burden and calmed his anxious heart. This child of GOD went on to give a variety of ways in which numerous family, friends, and hospital staff lightened the load they were bearing. This person no longer felt pressed under by the weight of trying to take care of everything by themselves and no longer felt alone.

Earlier this week one of our council members visited with me and asked if there were any ways they might possibly help me serve. The hearing of the offer was music to my ears and the weight on my shoulders felt a little less. Jesus’s invitation in Matthew 11 is for us to join in one with another so that the yoke might be shared with our siblings. This yoke not only connects us with all who follow Jesus, but in our yoking up we learn from the Master! O Rabbi Jesus, let us ever walk side by side with you as we serve faithfully!

Prayer

Empower us through your Holy Spirit to join together with each other to carry the light, rest-filled yoke of Jesus, guided by God’s grace! Amen.

Abiding by Our Father’s Direction

Posted on by
Reply

Introduction

The people of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Hickman, Neb., have organized a Spirit-Driven Task Force, bringing together almost forty members who have committed to a year of study, prayer, reflection, and deliberation to discern how God is calling the congregation to renewal for the sake of his mission.

This is the tenth of a series of weekly meditations with the aim to inspire reflection and encourage conversation among the members of the task force as we journey together in obedience to our Lord’s calling to serve him.

Lisa Woeppel, a member of the Spirit Driven Task Force, wrote this week’s meditation.

Scripture

“Instead, you should say, ‘If the Lord wants us to, we will live and carry out our plans.’”—James 4:15 (GOD’S WORD Translation)

Meditation

On a recent drive into Lincoln, I was especially attuned to the occupants in the car immediately ahead. A determined teenage girl sat behind the wheel, operating the vehicle in a very deliberate and cautious manner. A fatherly figure seated to her right appeared to repeatedly guide and assure her. She responded with respectful glances and nods of the head. Ah ha; a daughter learning to drive under the loving tutelage of a father! Over the miles, as I witnessed this rite of passage, a more profound concept emerged: She was in the driver’s seat, but he was in control. She listened with ears attuned to her father, with eyes opened to his leading signs, and she carried out her plan.

We may be in the driver’s seat of our ministry, but we have to be aware of His control and attend to His leading. We must not do anything important without His assurance that it is right. How do we abide by our Father’s direction? Seek His will through contemplative Scripture reading and prayer. Submit to God’s will in everything. Desire to follow His leading and expect His blessing.

Prayer

Father, teach us how to listen with ears attuned to the Spirit and eyes open to the signs of Your leading. Amen.

The Enemy Within

Posted on by
Reply

Introduction

The people of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Hickman, Neb., have organized a Spirit-Driven Task Force, bringing together almost forty members who have committed to a year of study, prayer, reflection, and deliberation to discern how God is calling the congregation to renewal for the sake of his mission.

This is the ninth of a series of weekly meditations with the aim to inspire reflection and encourage conversation among the members of the task force as we journey together in obedience to our Lord’s calling to serve him.

Kurt Kechely, a member of the Spirit Driven Task Force Steering Committee, shares this meditation from the ELCA’s devotional periodical, “Christ in Our Home.”

Scripture

“For Thou art my rock and my fortress; For thy name’s sake Thou wilt lead me and guide me.” “Into Thy hand I commit my spirit; Thou hast ransomed me, O Lord, God of truth.” —Psalm 31:3,5.

Meditation

Without a doubt, King David had his enemies. Goliath and Absalom come to mind as David prays for God’s protection in Psalm 31. Yet, perhaps his greatest threat came not from without, but from within. The old comic strip, “Pogo,” once had Pogo reporting that “we have met the enemy, and he is us.” We know that David did not always follow God’s lead. With Bathsheba and Uriah, he was his own worst enemy. While David prays that God will lead him and guide him—and God indeed leads and guides—it does little good if he doesn’t follow and obey.

It’s old wisdom that you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.

God actively leads and guides us. Made in God’s image, we live with a conscience that can discern right and wrong. God gives the law to help us. The life and teachings of Jesus are our model to emulate. God gives us each other for counsel and support. Moreover, God’s Spirit never leaves us. The challenge for us is to yield to God, even when we are tempted to ignore God’s lead and guidance.

Prayer

God of all wisdom, keep me from ignoring your lead and guidance. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Tending the Gifts of God

Posted on by
Reply

This is the fifth in a series of reflections offered as part of my service with the Stewardship Ministry at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Hickman, Neb., where Anne and I are members.

Over the past several weeks, Anne and I have been blessed to welcome my parents, who came from Pennsylvania for a visit, and Tara and Dennis, Anne’s daughter and our son-in-law, who rested with us while moving from Portland, Oregon, to Boston, Massachusetts. We’re looking forward to a visit from relatives from western Nebraska and from Kansas in the coming weeks.

We would always count the gift of family as the greatest blessings, next to the faith we receive as a gift from God. What strikes us is how focused we become on preparing for these visits. We want our lawn to be cut, the flowers watered, the beds to be free of weeds, the house clean, the groceries purchased, the guest bedrooms ready, and our schedules arranged to help us make the most of our time with them.

The priority we place on these preparations reminds us, too, that God desires for us to treasure our time with him with at least as much intensity as we devote to family. He doesn’t live far away and come to visit only on occasion. Instead, he invites us to come to his home each week for worship, to gather around his table for fellowship, and to reminisce about our family history in Bible reading and education.

This all sounds like every other ministry of our congregation except stewardship. But really, the ways we devote ourselves, our time, our efforts, and our possessions in response to God’s grace in our lives are all signs of how we practice stewardship of the gifts we have received from him. Our response to God’s hospitality is simply our stewardship of the blessings he has given to us.

For His Purpose

Posted on by
Reply

Introduction

The people of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Hickman, Neb., have organized a Spirit-Driven Task Force, bringing together almost forty members who have committed to a year of study, prayer, reflection, and deliberation to discern how God is calling the congregation to renewal for the sake of his mission.

This is the eighth of a series of weekly meditations with the aim to inspire reflection and encourage conversation among the members of the task force as we journey together in obedience to our Lord’s calling to serve him.

Susan Hansen, a member of the Spirit Driven Task Force Steering Committee, wrote this meditation.

Scripture

“Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’” —John 20: 21–23

Meditation

Some time ago, I came across the following quotation: “Although they are only breath, my words are immortal.” I gave pause to consider that the very words I might speak to my son might become my legacy that he leaves to his children and grandchildren. I made a point to be more mindful of the thoughts and words I chose to speak to my son.

In the passage from John, we learn of a very profound communication between God’s Incarnate Word and his disciples. Jesus breathes his Holy Spirit into his disciples and sends them into the world to speak God’s eternal message. Much is revealed in Jesus’s heavenly name of the Word. It is a reminder to us of that God intends communication to be for his divine purpose.

Through the Holy Spirit we are privileged to commune (communicate) with God. He reveals his eternal purpose to us personally and we are charged with sharing God’s divine peace and reconciliation with others.

Are our words to one another spoken in God’s love and grace?

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, please let your love and glory be revealed in our words and conversations with others. Amen.

No Objections

Posted on by
Reply

Introduction

The people of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Hickman, Neb., have organized a Spirit-Driven Task Force, bringing together almost forty members who have committed to a year of study, prayer, reflection, and deliberation to discern how God is calling the congregation to renewal for the sake of his mission.

This is the seventh of a series of weekly reflections with the aim to inspire reflection and encourage conversation among the members of the task force as we journey together in obedience to our Lord’s calling to serve him.

Rod Koehler, a member of the Spirit Driven Task Force Steering Committee, wrote this meditation.

Meditation

Acts 10:46b–48 says, “Then Peter asked, ‘Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.”

No Objections: No one can properly object when the Holy Spirit has clearly been involved. So Gentiles were baptized and their fellow Jewish and Gentile Christians had become friends and they shared their lives together in Christ. The Holy Spirit empowers the Word to convict their hearts and the Spirit is also the power behind their fellowship. They are one family, filled by the same Holy Spirit. They will break down barriers and live as one!

Prayer

Father in heaven, please forgive the petty things we keep doing against each other—whether at school, on the job, in our homes, or in our churches. Convict us, and call us to your holy grace so that we will remove the barriers between us and any of your followers who call upon your name. Amen.

Lord Jesus, Come In

Posted on by
Reply

Introduction

The people of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Hickman, Neb., have organized a Spirit-Driven Task Force, bringing together almost three dozen members who have committed to a year of study, prayer, reflection, and deliberation to discern how God is calling the congregation to renewal for the sake of his mission.

This is the sixth of a series of weekly reflections with the aim to inspire reflection and encourage conversation among the members of the task force as we journey together in obedience to our Lord’s calling to serve him.

Kurt Kechely, convener of the Spirit Driven Task Force, wrote this meditation.

Meditation

Read two scriptures: 1 Peter 2:2,5—“like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” and “you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

Building a Spiritual House: When I call repair technicians to come to my home to fix something, I may tell them to just let themselves in if I’m not there. They are invited to take action. In a similar way, when Peter writes, “let yourselves be built into a spiritual house,” he is inviting us to take action. This spiritual building doesn’t happen by being passive.

Taking time for devotions, praying regularly, and attending worship services are good practices for building a spiritual house. They are undergirded by our faith that God is a constant presence in our lives. With further spiritual practices, it is possible to increase our awareness of God’s presence, as well as our sense of what God might be saying to us. There is a wide array of practices that can help us build a spiritual house. A very simple meditation technique is this: at a moment where there are few distractions, close your eyes and take a deep breath. As you breathe in, say to yourself, “Lord Jesus, come in.” Repeat this two more times. Then see what thoughts and feelings come to mind, and ponder if they might be something God wants you to pay attention to.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, come in. Lord Jesus, come in. Lord Jesus, come in. Amen.

Commitment to the One

Posted on by
Reply

Introduction

The people of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Hickman, Neb., have organized a Spirit-Driven Task Force, bringing together almost three dozen members who have committed to a year of study, prayer, reflection, and deliberation to discern how God is calling the congregation to renewal for the sake of his mission.

This is the fifth of a series of weekly reflections with the aim to inspire reflection and encourage conversation among the members of the task force as we journey together in obedience to our Lord’s calling to serve him.

The Rev. Ron Drury, pastor of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, wrote this meditation.

Meditation

“Into your hands I commend my spirit, for you have redeemed me. O LORD, God of truth.”

—Psalm 31:5, Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW)

Committing our entire being to GOD in a loving relationship is not just “one” of the important choices we make as followers of JESUS…it is the crucial core of our life in Christ!!! These words are also found quoted by JESUS in Luke 23:46, and were the final prayer of our LORD from The Cross and are the central reality of this 31st Psalm.

JESUS in his life and death found comfort and guidance in the plea of the psalmist. They appear to be just as apropos for us and for all in this Season of Easter as well as anytime throughout the church year. In a similar fashion, the refrain from our “Hymn of the Season” for “The Resurrection of Our LORD” proclaims our deepest need:

“Shepherd me O God, beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life.”

—ELW #780, “Shepherd Me, O God”

Our life is not meant to be stuck in the muck of life, but rather one of being lifted up! If our focus is anywhere but in GOD, we are living a less than an abundant life and are dying.

Each of the refrains quoted above are keys to our living this reality as the “Resurrected people of GOD”!!! Please consider placing one or both of these in your heart for continual reflection. We as the sheep of Shepherd of the Hills daily praying for THE GREAT SHEPHERD to receive, redeem and shepherd each of us and everyone, would powerfully impact our serving as we give our all into GOD’S Hands each day! In making Psalm 31 our own we are immersed into the voice and prayer of JESUS. In a small way we gain a glimpse of JESUS relationship with his/THE Father! Only in JESUS can we pray FATHER!

Please take a moment to read and reflect on all 24 verses of Psalm 31. GOD is also our: Refuge; Deliverer; Righteousness; Listener; Strong Rock; Castle; Crag; Stronghold; Tower of Strength; Redeemer; LORD; Truth; Steadfast Love; Wondrous; Protector; Shelter; Trustworthy; and The Encourager! As you reflect on Psalm 31, please listen for the describing and clarifying words of how GOD desires to reveal divine presence!!!

Please pray with me these words from Psalm 31 and our “Hymn of the Season”.

Prayer

In YOU, O LORD, have I taken refuge; incline your ear to me; Be my strong rock; Into your hands I commend my spirit, for you have redeemed me; Shepherd me O God; My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me. Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love; from death into life – in JESUS! Amen.

SHALOM
Pastor Ron Drury

Well Done, Steward

Posted on by
Reply

This is the fourth in a series of reflections offered as part of my service with the Stewardship Ministry at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Hickman, Neb., where Anne and I are members.

Thirty-five years ago this June, I was confirmed by Dr. Wallace E. Fisher at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Lancaster, Pa. Pastor Fisher has long ago retired and entered the Church Triumphant. Even so, his words still influence me, even after all these years. He wrote a number of books. One of those is entitled All the Good Gifts: On Doing Biblical Stewardship. In it, he said:

The essence of Christians stewardship … is to do God’s will with Christ as guide and support. This stewardship is every Christian’s true vocation. The community of persons called and empowered to take up this task is Christ’s church. The gospel, the church, and God’s stewardship [his total plan of salvation] are inextricably bound together. To separate any one from the other two is to obscure God’s self-revelation and distort the purpose of Christ’s church. Biblical stewardship is not a fund raising process that keeps the church “running.” It is every Christian’s essential vocation. The church is responsible to God for its proper custodianship of his good gifts—life, earth, cosmos, and his Word (p. 35).

Dr. Fisher’s insights are powerful and inspiring. They help me to remain focused on Jesus Christ, who stands at the root and core of our faith. This short excerpt from his book offers several perspectives from which we can view our stewardship ministry together at Shepherd of the Hills Church.

  • Stewardship is not primarily about money; it focuses us upon our calling to tend all the good gifts God has given to us.
  • Because stewardship runs throughout our lives as Christians, we should expect to hear about, discuss, and pray for our stewardship at every turn in our life together.
  • God makes us responsible for stewardship. When he entrusts us with that responsibility, he also blesses us with the insights and the means to serve faithfully.

As we carry out our vocation to serve as God’s stewards, we can pray that the day will come when our Lord will say to us what the master said to his slave in one of Jesus’s parables:

Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.

—Matthew 25:21, New Revised Standard Version

Please pray that God will stir up in us a sense of responsibility for his good gifts, so that we may live as faithful stewards, serving him to his glory.

David M. Frye, Stewardship Ministry

Our Shepherd and Guardian

Posted on by
Reply

Introduction

The people of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Hickman, Neb., have organized a Spirit-Driven Task Force, bringing together almost three dozen members who have committed to a year of study, prayer, reflection, and deliberation to discern how God is calling the congregation to renewal for the sake of his mission.

This is the fourth of a series of weekly reflections with the aim to inspire reflection and encourage conversation among the members of the task force as we journey together in obedience to our Lord’s calling to serve him.

Meditation

This Sunday’s readings are like a tapestry with a gold thread winding its way through the texts, a thread that binds us to them with the word “shepherd.” We often call this Shepherd Sunday because the readings depict Jesus Christ as the shepherd. If we turn to the second reading, we hear what St. Peter writes,

For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls (1 Peter 2:25, NRSV).

It’s easy for us to picture Jesus as a gentle shepherd, calling lovingly to his sheep by name, leading the flock to green grass and cool springs, carrying the strays home on his shoulders, and opening the gate to the sheepfold. And these are all good and true and beautiful parts of how Jesus shepherds us. But as the shepherd, he also guards and protects us. A shepherd in the ancient Middle East would carry a crook, a hooked staff like the one on the cross in our sanctuary. Sometimes the crook would serve as a rescue hook to pull a sheep from a ravine, but on other occasions, the shepherd would wield the crook as a weapon, beating back attacks from wild animals and perhaps sheep-stealers.

Maybe a little of that sense of the shepherd as protector comes to life in St. Peter’s phrase calling Christ the “guardian of your souls.” It’s comforting to know he is watching out for us. And as the verse reminds us, his protection extends to us when we have returned from our straying ways, called back by the shepherd.

This insight into our Lord as Shepherd and Guardian helps to guide our work as the members of the Spirit Driven Task Force. It leads us to ask some questions:

  • What does it look like for us to follow the Shepherd?
  • Have we strayed from his path individually, congregationally, and denominationally? What does that look like?
  • When do we hear his voice?
  • What is he calling us to do in his name?
  • What threats do we face in following him?
  • How does he guard us from those threats?

Prayer

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, though your people walk in the valley of darkness, no evil should they fear; for they follow in faith the call of the shepherd whom you have sent for their hope and strength. Attune our minds to the sound of his voice, lead our steps in the path he has shown, that we may know the strength of his outstretched arm and enjoy the light of your presence for ever. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen. (The Liturgy of the Hours II, p. 756.)

David M. Frye
Friday of the Third Week of Easter
May 13, 2011