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Do we not care that they are perishing?

But [Jesus] was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.
And they woke him and said to him,
“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Mark 4:38

The disciples of Jesus were in a boat on the storm-tossed Sea of Galilee. Jesus was asleep on the stern, apparently oblivious to their impending peril. Their question was a desperate one; a matter of life and death, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” His answer was a powerful one. First, he spoke some simple words, “Peace; be still,” and calmed the storm. Then he challenged his disciples concerning their great fear and their little faith.

It is fitting for us to reflect on this event considering our District Convention focus on the church’s mission to bring the good news about Jesus to the world.

Interestingly, in Mark’s gospel this event concludes an entire chapter in which Jesus teaches about the mission of his kingdom. In the Parable of the Sower, he spoke of sowing the seed of God’s word so that people could hear it and be gathered into God’s harvest of souls (Mark 4:1-20). Jesus then encouraged his disciples to put the ‘light of Christ’ on a stand where it can give light to all and not to hide it under a basket or a bed where it cannot be seen (v.21-25). He then tells two more parables: the first about the seed of God’s word growing in people’s hearts, by God’s power, until the final harvest of souls (v.26-29); and the second about the mustard seed whose growing ‘bush’ (God’s kingdom) provides shelter for the ‘birds’ (people) that rest and nest in its shade (v.30-34).

We can be sure that this same mission to spread God’s good news was very much on Jesus’ mind as he lay down on that cushion in the boat for some rest. There was more kingdom work to be done on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. We can be sure that this mission was also on his mind as he calmed the storm and encouraged the faith of the disciples. But can’t we also hear, in the disciples’ desperate cry, a great challenge for us in church of today? Jesus’ disciples woke him up and cried out, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Do we need to wake up and listen for the cry uttered by many souls who live without saving faith in Jesus – or the Spirit’s cry uttered on behalf of the many that are not even aware of their need, “Do you not care that we are perishing?”

The Christian church has often been likened to a ship or a boat for that very reason. Church architecture and the names for various parts of the church building (e.g. nave) are meant to remind us of that. We, who are in the ship of the Christian church, are there as the rescued ones. We are Jesus’ disciples in the boat with him. Our boat is on its destination to the distant shores of heaven. But that is not the end of the story. The boat of the Christian church is also God’s rescue vessel, called to rescue others from the storm-tossed seas of human sin and its consequences, and bring them safe to heaven’s shore. God teaches that, without saving faith in Jesus, people will ‘perish’ or be ‘lost’ forever. Like Jesus and his disciples, we are on the boat and on the journey with Jesus, not just for our own benefit, but because there are more people yet to hear about the good news of God’s salvation through Jesus.

We know that God still cares that people might ‘perish’ eternally. We know that he did something about it: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). He wants no one to “perish” and everyone to have eternal life. We know that God’s “one and only Son” who stilled the storm is also in the boat with us.

The challenge lies with us this time, “Do you and I still care that people are perishing?”

Closing of St John’s, Wodonga

Sunday 7^th May 2023 saw 150 members both past and present, and visitors gather at St John’s Lutheran Church, Havelock Street Wodonga, for the official closing service of the church building.

Parish Pastor Joshua Muller and Bishop Lester Priebbenow led the service with the Bishop officially closing the door of the church to end over one hundred years of worship at the Havelock Street site. Pastor Graham Zweck a former pastor to the Parish read one of the readings for the day.

The St John’s church building was officially opened and dedicated by the Victorian District President at the time Rev T.M.J. Wiebusch on Sunday 28^th May 1978.

Over thirty years ago when the vision of establishing a Lutheran school in West Wodonga came to fruition, a section of the land on which Victory Lutheran College now stands was set aside for the Parish to build a church on this site. The decision to move to the Victory College site was made at a Parish meeting in 2017.

After the closing of the church on Havelock Street, the Parish is now worshipping in Luther Hall, Victory Lutheran College, Drage Road in West Wodonga, until such time as the new church is completed, God willing by the end of the year.

May our Heavenly Father shower His unending blessings on the members of the Wodonga Parish as we close one building, and as we wait with anticipation and excitement to not only opening a new worship facility, but to see what the Lord has instore for us in our new location.

To God be the glory!

Hanging on and hanging together! Staying Connected at St Matthews, Footscray

Hanging on and hanging together. That has been the status of St Matthew’s Footscray over the past two years, as we have dealt with a pastoral vacancy and Melbourne’s series of COVID lockdowns. In the absence of a pastor, the leaders of our little (even littler since the lockdowns) congregation have not only handled the same lockdown fatigue and pressures as the rest of us, but stepped in to keep our church functioning and connected. We have been meeting through Google Meet each week. Although not all of our parishioners have joined us online, our numbers have been boosted at times by relatives from around the country, whose own congregations have not been able to meet.

“Being able to connect every Sunday has kept the community together,” said Vanessa Williams, the St Matthew’s council member who has coordinated, put together and run the online services, with the help of LCA resources.

“It’s been wonderful to see everyone on screen every week,” agreed Ruth Borchert, our church deacon. “So many congregations have absolutely nothing. It’s a long time without a pastor and difficult times. I think we can just be thankful that not too many things have happened in our congregation over the past two years.”

As well as allowing connection with distant family members, the online services have also enabled connection with members of our own church family, Ken and Esther Cross, who have continued to worship with us from their new home and workplace in Utopia, two or three hours’ drive from Alice Springs.

While this period has had its challenges (including some break-ins to the vacant church premises), it has also had its unexpected joys. One of these has been our new relationship with the VECA Hope Church, a Vietnamese congregation, who recently started sharing our premises. They happen to have quite a bit of building expertise in their congregation and have already helped revamp our kitchen and renovate our church hall. The timing of the new partnership meant that they have only had one service, which they combined with a celebratory lunch to which we were all invited, but it was a blessing that the timing of that event fell between lockdowns.

“They worked hard to be ready in time for that one service and they did,” said Simon Lienert, St Matthew’s chairman.

“It wasn’t because of COVID that they wanted to be ready for that date, but it turned out it was just about the only weekend in between lockdowns that we could physically worship at the church.”

It is perhaps a sign that, even more than the resilience that has helped us hang on to our worship tradition and each other in a new way, God is hanging on to us. While we are holding on, waiting for a return to physical services and the invigoration of a new pastor, we can be sure that God has other new blessings for us and our future.

by Sam and Bec Lienert

The General Synod Resolution on Ordination

The decision of General Synod to remove a clause from the LCA Doctrinal Statement called the ‘Theses of Agreement’ has been the topic of much conversation, leaving some church people rejoicing, some anxious and some confused by what that means for us. This can result in people giving and receiving only partial information, which may be unhelpful.

It may be constructive to reiterate some things I have said before. In an earlier communication, I explained that the clause which synod voted to remove, known as TA 6:11, states:

Though women prophets were used by the Spirit of God in the Old as well as in the New Testament, 1 Cor 14:34,35 and I Tim 2:11–14 prohibit a woman from being called into the office of the public ministry for the proclamation of the Word and the administration of the Sacraments. This apostolic rule is binding on all Christendom; hereby her rights as a member of the spiritual priesthood are in no wise impaired.

The Theses of Agreement has formed the basis for church unity since the two prior Lutheran synods combined in 1966 to form the LCA. Naturally, the removal of this clause of our common confession on the Office of the Ministry will affect the public teaching and practice of the LCANZ, meaning that women as well as men will be able to be ordained as Pastors and called to congregations who choose to do so.

Pastors Conference advised and synod agreed that CTICR prepare a Pastoral and Theological statement to include a description of the exegetical differences among us as to ‘who is to be ordained into the office of the public ministry’, what this means for our common life as one church, and what will be the provision for conscience concerns. This is to be discussed at pastors’ conferences in 2025, and thereafter presented for adoption at an interim online General Convention.

Synod’s decision paved the way for a greater part of the proposed Way Forward Framework to be enacted in the LCANZ. A summary of that framework is available via the link HERE.

Further to that, your congregation’s synod delegates have been provided with resources which have been prepared to assist them to answer questions they might receive from congregation members. Please ask your delegate about anything of which you are unsure.

It may also be helpful to recall some of what I wrote to District congregations soon after synod:

“No doubt, some of you are joyful and hopeful about the outcome of the Way Forward resolution, while for others there is deep sadness, concern for the church, and for some, uncertainty about their place in this church.

My encouragement is this:

If you are happy with the outcome of the synod vote on ordination, please consider those for whom it causes grief or uncertainty.

If the outcome of the synod vote troubles you, I encourage you to let it sit with you and not to make hasty reactions or decisions. Reflect on it patiently and prayerfully, immersed in Scripture and the promises of your baptism. Seek the mutual conversation and consolation of the fellow members who journey with you.

Besides our processing of what this means for us, we should not forget that there are always considerations beyond our own. We are part of a wider church-family which includes people who could benefit from our support.

St Paul encourages us as he did the Christians in Galatia during their time of struggle, ‘Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ’ (Gal. 6:2).

In your conversations, emails and on social media, please be mindful of the Eighth Commandment. Yes, say how you are feeling if you need to, but be careful not to speak ill of others, either by what you say or imply. As St Paul’s encouraged the Colossians, ‘Let your conversations be always full of grace, seasoned with salt’ (Col. 4:6a).”

LCA General Synod Reflections

In early October, delegates from the Vic-Tas District joined with others at the LCA 21^st General Convention of Synod, held at Concordia College in Adelaide. Presentations were heard, reports were accepted, and business was discussed and voted on. You can read the Popular Report HERE.

Prior to this gathering, a significant amount of work was put into an intense 18-month ‘Way Forward’ journey for our church – a strong and respectful collaboration by people of the LCA with differing views. Many of you likely spent time reading and discussing the various Framework versions as they were released by the Way Forward teams, and you may have joined one of our District’s online or in-person gatherings.

With the adoption at Synod of parts of the Way Forward Framework, many people are processing what this means for them personally and as congregations. It is natural that this may be an uncertain and unsettled time for congregations. Our District Bishop, Pr Lester Priebbenow, recently sent a congregational newsletter reflecting on people’s possible responses and encouraging open and respectful discussions at all levels – you can read the newsletter HERE. Our churchwide Bishop, Pr Paul Smith, has also shared a message with the church that you can read HERE.

We remind people that there are many great mission stories happening all of the time in our District. Some of these are:

the growing Lutheran school at Tarneit/Mambourin;
a new fellowship group, ‘Ignite’, at Luther College;
the realigning of the congregations of Greater Geelong into one “Living Faith” community;
The mission work with Chinese folks happening at Nunawading/Glen Waverley;
the Wodonga LCANZ mission grant and its close relationship with Victory Lutheran College;
South Sudanese ministry.

Many of these have been highlighted in eNews articles this year.

Another great mission initiative is the series of collaborative zooms currently being offered by the LCA Mission Directors. Many members from Victoria attended the last one. Information on the next Zoom is HERE – register soon, and encourage others to join in with you!

In time, there will be more information from the General Church Board and College of Bishops about next steps as a result of decisions made at Synod. Note that nothing needs to happen straight away; rather, it is important to allow time for rest and recovery from the intense time of Synod, time for personal reflection, and time for listening to how it may be affecting others.

For those needing assistance to process any issues, we remind church employees and volunteers that we have access to skilled counsellors though our EAP (Employer assisted Program) providers, ‘Empatia’. More information can be found HERE.

We conclude with excerpts from Bishop Lester’s newsletter:

“Besides our processing of what this means for us, we should not forget that there are always considerations beyond our own. We are part of a wider church-family which includes people who could benefit from our support. …
Some of you will have questions. Please speak to your pastor or church leadership if you do. They probably won’t have all the answers but will be willing to help you as best they can. …
Finally, be gentle with yourselves, as God is gentle with you.”

Wodonga Lutheran Parish News

The Now

It is with long awaited excitement and anticipation the Wodonga Lutheran Parish will, God willing, very soon, be moving into their new worship centre. The building, which was completed at the end of February, is still waiting for the power to be connected by Ausnet (at early June). The hope is that by District Convention we will have a date for when we can open and consecrate this beautiful place of worship. All in God’s timing!

Forward into the Future

Late in 2023, the Parish Council formed a ‘Moving Forward’ team. The MF team began looking at ways in which the Parish could continue in their mission and ministry in Wodonga and, most importantly, how to use the wonderful new building in the area of West Wodonga and to the Victory Lutheran College community. The Lutheran Church is the only church in West Wodonga and so the Lord’s harvest is well and truly ready.
The members of the Parish were asked for their input into how they saw the Parish moving into the future. There were many amazing ideas, suggestions and thoughts, most of which, in time, will become with God’s help and blessing, a reality. At the moment we are focusing on what we can do well with the human and material resources we have now.

The Moving Forward Team presented to the Parish the need for a Ministry Coordinator to oversee the outreach ministries of the Parish. At a Parish meeting at the end of 2023, it was decided to employ someone to fill this role.

The financial support from the LLL Mission Outreach Grant for $25,000 to partly fund this vital position was a real blessing for the Wodonga Lutheran Parish.

On 10^th March 2024, Mrs Lisa Enever was installed into the position of Ministry Coordinator for the Wodonga Lutheran Parish, by Pastor Joshua Muller.

Lisa has been very busy since her installation meeting with Pastor Josh and planning for the future. Working in a confined space (the only space the Parish has at the College) together with the Administration Officer has not been ideal so moving forward plans are on hold until the move but is ready to hit the ground running as soon as that happens.

Even though the Parish has employed a Ministry Coordinator, members of the Parish are being encouraged to use the gifts God has given them to reach out to those He has sent to us. There will be many ways in which all members, whatever their age, can minister to others.

There is a plan to have the church open for the school hours so that anyone can pop in at any time for a chat and coffee and many other activities such as mid-week service, Bible study, Ladies Fellowship, craft groups etc.

A Friday evening family service is also being planned where families can come and worship in the style of the College chapel service and to enjoy a meal together.

One very small change that will be implemented immediately when we move, is that all ‘duty rosters’ will be referred to as ‘Ministries’. Members will see that being ‘rostered on’ is not a duty but an opportunity to minister to God’s people and in the end a service to God.

Working Together

Early 2022, a Parish/College Mission and Ministry team was formed to implement ways in which the Parish and College could work together in Mission and Ministry.

Over the past years the Parish and College have supported each other in many ways including

members go to the College library and cover books every week
members provide morning tea each Friday morning after the junior chapel service for parents and friends
together we organized a very successful Walk My Way fundraiser
a coffee station for the Parent/Teacher interviews was provided
invitation to Award ceremonies, beginning and end of year services
together in a Carols at the College evening
Victory Sunday

In the future

having the junior chapel services in the church
displaying children’s artwork in the foyer of the worship centre
inter-generational activities
class visits to the church

The joint mission and ministry between the Parish and the College after a slow start is now working really well. The Parish worshipping in Luther Hall for the past twelve months and having the College community seeing the building of the new church progress over the months has brought the two communities together – two communities, one mission.

The Wodonga Lutheran Parish has certainly been blest with a very generous member who faithfully followed the Lord and gifted us our beautiful new worship centre. The Parish took a step in faith to accept this gift and now has the responsibility to use it to proclaim God’s glory in our community.

In everything we do ‘to God be the glory’.

Risky Business???

Did you know that our church requires us to develop a safety plan for all of our church events and activities, from our weekly worship services to our Bible studies, our senior’s outings and our children’s and youth programs, our working bees, community events and our camps….. Yes, all the many programs and activities which form part of our mission and ministry must have a safety plan, which includes identifying and appropriately managing risks.

We do this to help us carry out our duty of care for all church employees, leaders, volunteers and visitors, to protect our people, property and reputation, and as part of being good stewards of all the things with which the Lord has entrusted us.

Additionally, we have responsibilities under Occupational Health and Safety legislation and Child Safe Standards.

Proverbs 27:12 says, ‘The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty’. Risk management is being prudent and doing our best to see and assess the risks and take action so we can reduce or avoid paying the consequences.

Those of you who have completed Safe Church Training will be familiar with the our Safety Management System which assists us to manage safety in an intentional and structured way.

We have the LCA Risk Management Policy which provides guidelines for our church, and now, Lutheran Insurance has provided a very useful resource, “Risk Management Guide for Churches.” This document is a wealth of information and resources to help us in the very necessary task of risk management. It supports and endorses the work of congregations and church agencies in this area.

I recommend the document to you, and thank Lutheran Insurance for making this resource available for our use.

Download the guide and other resources at: www.lca.org.au/risk-management

The Heart of Bethany

On Tuesday 13 February, Good News Lutheran College, Tarneit, held a ceremony to name and dedicate the Bethany Building (formerly known as the Junior Years Building). The building has been renamed in honour of Bethany Lutheran Church in Sunbury – a church that holds a special place in our community. The church is renowned for its four beautiful lead-light windows, which were designed by Raelene Kempe in 1982. The church was built from mud bricks sourced from a local farm.

Through the dedication of this building, Good News Lutheran College hopes to capture the heart of Bethany. It serves as an inspiration for the College to be resourceful when building facilities and relationships, keep service as an integral part of what we do, and ensure that we learn from the rich experiences of those around us. Just as the Biblical town of Bethany was a place of refuge and renewal, we pray that this building be a sanctuary where knowledge is imparted, character is shaped, and faith is strengthened.

To pay homage to the Bethany Lutheran Church, we have recreated the stunning leadlight window artwork in the Auditorium. This is a beautiful and meaningful reminder of the heart of Bethany. Bethany holds special significance in Biblical history as the town where Jesus spent time with, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Through His actions in Bethany, Jesus exemplified inclusive service leadership in various ways.

May the Bethany Building be a beacon of hope, a haven of learning, and a testament to the enduring values of compassion, integrity, and service. We hope that all who enter here will be inspired to live lives of purpose, wisdom, and grace.

Note: those attending the LCAV District Convention of Synod in July 2024 will be able to see this lovely artwork firsthand, as we will hold our business sessions in the Auditorium.

Photos below were provided by Good News Lutheran College:

Fiona McAuliffe, Principal of Good News Lutheran College (standing), and Pastor Lester Priebbenow, Bishop LCAVD (seated, first on left).

Mrs Rae Kempe, the original creator/designer of the leadlight window designs at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Sunbury.

The recreation of the GNLC Bethany Building windows, with permission of Rae Kempe, was crafted by Maree Svanborg of ‘Madmouse Graphic Design’ in South Australia.

‘Our help comes from the Lord’

Most of us are aware of the work that is being done around a ‘way forward’ for our church leading up to the LCANZ General Convention in October this year. This has understandably led to many feelings, from hopefulness to anxiety, fear, hurt, anger, disillusionment, or a host of other emotions.

It’s a difficult moment for the LCANZ as we seek to walk together in unity of teaching and practice. We recall the days of peace and harmony in the church, and now we search for ways to maintain our unity in the face of theological differences. We struggle with the challenge of being church in our modern world. And with the challenge of what that should look like. We know the devil is always out to create division among God’s people. Where do we turn for help and hope?

We answer that each week as we pray, ‘Our help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth’ (Psalm 121:2). The chief pastor of his flock, the church, reminds us that we should not be surprised by times of trial. He reminds us that he is there in our suffering – there with the suffering and victory of his cross. That his gracious care often comes in uncomfortable forms, like disappointment, trial, suffering and loss. These are not signs he has abandoned us, but of his zealous grace, his redeeming love toward us. The apostle writes in Romans 8, that if God ‘did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?’

So, my encouragement to the members and pastors of the church is to seek your care and direction from the Chief Shepherd. Come to him. God’s hope and direction for our future are found in Christ and his word alone.

Let’s continue to receive his life-giving gifts as they flow from the font, the altar, and the word.
Let’s turn to him in daily repentance and faith.
Let’s ‘bear one another’s burdens,’ just as Christ has borne ours.
Let’s pray constantly, pray for each other, for our leaders, for the unity of his church, and for faithfulness to his word.

Let’s pray, as we did in a recent liturgical prayer:
In all our doubts, dangers, and confusion, teach us, Lord, what we ought to say and do.
Give to us, who can do nothing good without you, the power to speak the truth and do your will.
Amen.

Facing a Task Unfinished

For this is what the Lord has commanded us, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” (Acts 13:47)

Last year, as I was thinking about a possible theme for District Convention 2024, I read hymn 234 from the LCA hymnal. The first line of that hymn, “Facing a Task Unfinished,” resonated with me because it reminds us of the chief purpose of the church. Verse one reads:

Facing a task unfinished,
That drives us to our knees,
A need that, undiminished,
Rebukes our slothful ease,
We, who rejoice to know You,
Renew before Your throne,
The solemn pledge we owe You,
To go and make You known. [Frank Houghton (1894-1972), alt.]

The Bible verse quoted as the text for this devotion (Acts 13:47) is printed under this hymn in the hymnal, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

That verse sits between double quotation marks because Paul and Barnabas were quoting from Isaiah 49:6 when they spoke those words to the new Gentile Christians in Antioch to encourage them of their rightful place in God’s story of Salvation.

Regarding our place in that story, I recalled a letter to the editor in ‘The Lutheran’ in which the author called church members to consider the impact of ongoing division in the church on our energy for and focus on God’s mission to bring his good news to the world.

I thought about how Jesus’ call to make disciples transcends the many other challenges in the church and in the world that may distract us from our chief task and drive us to introspection or even self-pity. Though the challenge of a rapidly changing church and social context are still very real and timely for us, we have addressed them at considerable length in the past synodical term.

While considering God’s chief call for us to bring his good news to the world I happened to find and reread the lead article from the 2016 LCA yearbook, giving the history of Lutherans in Australia leading up to the union of the two synods in 1966. I was reminded that the mission of the Gospel (then mainly to Aboriginal communities) was a major catalyst for the cooperation and eventual union of the former Lutheran synods.

I recalled synodical conventions from my early days in the ministry which were often themed with a strong, inspirational mission focus like, “There is still room!”

I observed a connection to the current LCA Synod theme: “The Gift of God – It’s grace that unites us.” Our mission to serve others with the good news of God’s grace also unites us.

Unfortunately, this ‘unfinished task’ does not provide a ready answer to our theological differences, but it helps to centre us on what is common to us all.

After we settled on, “Facing a Task Unfinished” as our 2024 District synod theme, some talented people in our office set to work on constructing a suitable synod logo. The image depicts the cross of Christ as central; the message of the cross is anchored firmly in the Word of God, despite the turmoil around us. Through that message, God is still causing his good news to grow and flourish in the church and in the world.

In this new year, where uncertainty again surrounds us, may we seize the opportunity to be reminded of the grace of God, which saves us and unites us in Christ, and which itself is the good news that we are called to ‘bring to the ends of the earth’ (Acts 13:47).

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