Q. How many Lutherans does it take to change a light bulb?
A. Change? What’s that?
I’m sure you all know this old joke. There’s one for every situation in life but our Lutheran version is spot-on. No one really likes change, so why us least of all? Perhaps because of our rock-solid confessional identity, or our strong liturgical tradition, or Martin Luther’s uncompromising conviction of God’s grace.
Your Council and synod staff will be leading you through the pastoral transition that will begin with my retirement on June 1, but I want to offer a few words that I hope will lessen your anxiety in the coming weeks and months.
· Grace is equipped with an excellent set of ministry teams, each with strong leadership. Each team has a liaison on the Council. The best thing about these teams is that they that function independently of the pastor’s participation. I attend most meetings mainly so that I can help with communication, but they are largely running on their own steam. I am sure this will continue into the next chapter of your life at Grace. By the way, there is a new version of the Ministry Teams booklet in the book rack in the narthex. Check it out and get involved, if you’re not already!
· You are a people blessed by strong liturgical instincts. That is, you recognize how the liturgy—our pattern of worship—supports our life together, and how important it is that our liturgical worship remains consistent. Hold fast to this firm foundation on which your worship life is built, and it will continue to be a source of comfort in the midst of transition.
· Stay together, worship together, keep having fun fellowship events together. This is a time for your faith to be strengthened rather than challenged. Change happens every day in life and it can either unify us or divide us. Choose the former. Choose life. As Jesus says in John 10, “I come that you may have life, and have it abundantly.”
