Fill… Spill… Thrill…

Bishop Dave deFreese
Nebraska Synod, ELCA

“Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread, because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

As we watch the horrors of the Haitian earthquake and our hearts ache at the overwhelming tragedy of human destruction, the call to be the Church arises with a profound clarity. Now we can live love. Now we can express the compassion of our God that declares immense value to each human life. Now we can overcome our innate selfishness and respond with the nobleness of Christ’s claim on our lives. Now we can demonstrate the acute difference our baptismal gift makes. Now we can be the Body of Christ for the sake of the world.

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Lisa Kramme
Director of Faith Formation
Nebraska Synod, ELCA

Can you see yourself in either of these scenarios?

A high school youth regularly helps with Vacation Bible School. You comment to the young man, “I can see you as an elementary teacher someday!”

A stay-at-home mom capably assists your congregation’s bookkeeper with recording income and expenses. You share with her, “If you ever consider working outside the home, I think you really have the gifts to be an accountant!”

In my opinion, people are usually very good at suggesting career paths to others as we see them exhibit their God-given skills, but here’s what I wonder—do we intentionally point out to others the gifts we see in them for the rostered ministry? I am not so sure that, even within the Church, people with gifts for ministry hear from trusted friends and mentors often enough.

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This past Memorial Day, 113 people gathered together in Plainview, Nebraska from Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and the local congregations from the United Methodist Church, UCC, Missouri Synod Lutheran, and Catholic churches. They gathered for a joint communion service, standing side-by-side in fellowship with others.

The gathering was in advance of the upcoming 958-51 vote at August’s ELCA Churchwide Assembly that adopted a full communion agreement with the United Methodist Church.

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