A Message from Pastor Bob

Service Sunday, September 8 / Year of Service 2019-2020

 What’s going on here? What’s Service Sunday and Year of Service? I’m so glad you asked. Please read on.

 On Sunday, September 8, our Rally Sunday will be called Service Sunday. That day marks the time we all get back to more robust Christian service, such as attending worship, attending Sunday School or Confirmation, or serving on one of our committees or at one of our events. This Sunday will be a sort of Service Fair after worship when different ministries will have displays and information at tables in the Blue Narthex. Then through December, every Sunday we will have one of our ministries give a short Temple Talk in which they will explain what they do and how you can get involved.

 September 2019 through May 2020 will be designated PLC’s Year of Service. Yes, we serve all year long, every year, but I believe we can expand and reinvigorate our service to God and others. Stay tuned for further information on our Year of Service.

First, the ideas and plans presented above are the work of several PLC members and committees. Thank God for the insight, interest, and ingenuity of so many!

 Second, “service” is central to our identity as Christians. Jesus Christ is our model of the godly life, and he served others in order to convey the Gospel truth of God’s love and mercy. Jesus said in Matthew 20: If one of you wants to be great, you must be the servant of the rest; and if one of you wants to be first, you must be the slave of the others — like the Son of Man, who did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life to redeem many people.

Do you believe that when you serve someone that you might be saving their life? You may have helped them avoid spiritual, emotional, or even physical death! And we do so by offering Christ’s love and mercy through our words and deeds. Before we get too over-confident about this, we must remember three things:

 1) It is our calling – our life’s work – to serve others as Christ served us. So, service to others becomes part of our everyday lives and the distinctive way we live out our faith. Service is not what we do occasionally; it’s who we are in Christ and because of Christ.

 2) Our service to others is a faithful response to what God has done for us through Christ, not a fearful  reaction meant to pacify an angry god or earn our way to Heaven. Martin Luther said God does not need our good works, but our neighbors do. Christ’s perfect love drives out all the fears that limit and enslave us, so we are freed to boldly proclaim the work of a loving, merciful God to everyone.3) Jesus never talked about church membership because through Holy Baptism, your place in God’s church is secured. But when we join a specific church (May I suggest Peace Lutheran in Menomonie?) we commit to serve God through the ministries of that congregation. Through Christ – and through The Word, Holy Baptism and Holy Communion – we are served by God, but then we are to leave the sanctuary and engage in the specific ministries to which God has called our congregation. What does Jesus talk about instead of being a church member? He calls us to be disciples and apostles. Disciples are students who chose a lifelong commitment to spiritual growth. As part of that journey, they are called to act as apostles, those who support and serve the Christian faith through service.

 Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, how will you serve during our Year of Service? Learn of the  opportunities we have here at PLC on Sunday, September 8 as you attend worship and see what’s going on in the blue narthex!

 Finally, as we begin a new year of worship and ministry, please pray for our Church, asking God to move us all from membership to discipleship. We all need the power of prayer, especially as our church family discerns how to love God, serve others, and serve the World.

With Gratitude,

Pastor Bob