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Dear Friends in Christ,
In Ephesians 3:18-19, St. Paul prays, "I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God".
I believe in the power of prayer, and when you tell me that you are praying for me, I can see it in your eyes. Your prayers humble me, encourage me, and strengthen me in their breadth and length and height and depth.
As many of you know, Bishop Robert Schaefer of the Florida-Bahamas Synod has resigned his position as Synodical Bishop. In his letter of resignation, he writes, "
There have been many joys and privileges associated with serving as a bishop in this church. At the same time, I would be less than truthful if I didn't confess that the rigors and responsibilities of this office, both on the territory of this synod and in the wider church have taken a toll on me spiritually and personally, not to mention the toll it has taken on my family during my regular absences."
I believe in the power of prayer and I ask you to please pray for Bishop Robert Schaefer, his family, and God's people of the
Florida-Bahamas Synod. He is a good and Godly man, and has served this Church faithfully.
The Office of Bishop does bear a lot of weight, and there is a breadth and length and height and depth that simply cannot be carried alone. We must be in this together. We are called to be in prayer for each other, in partnership in the Gospel, in setting out new mission and vision, goals and priorities, in bearing one another's burdens, in sharing our love of Jesus, in moving out into our communities, and most importantly in the mission of making disciples. We must be in this together.
All of this is too much for one Bishop or even the Bishop's Staff. This ministry we are called to, we are called to together as Bishop, Staff, Synod Council, Rostered Ministers, Congregational Leaders, and the whole of the Baptized. This is the blessing of being Church together, and for this beautiful and sacred calling I give thanks.
On Sunday evenings, one of my habits is to look back on the previous week, and add to my morning prayer list people for whom I am grateful. I read a book last year called A Spirituality of Gratitude: The Unexpected Blessings of Thankfulness by Pastor Joshua Choonmin King. He encourages followers of Jesus to begin their prayers, not with confession or petition (those will come later), but with thanksgiving. I would encourage you to begin your daily prayers with thanksgiving and gratitude.
Tonight, I will be adding a few folks to my prayer list for whom I am grateful, including Grace from St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Bowling Green, Ohio. One of the traditions for the Children's Message at St. Mark's, is for a child to bring a mystery item in the "Mystery Box". The box is opened and the pastor immediately gets to work coming up with a message that incorporates the mystery item, the Bible readings, and something the children will understand.
Grace was so excited to hand me the box, and to see what we would do with a red tie speckled with red hearts. Of, course we talked about the love of Jesus. So tonight, I am grateful for Grace (see the photo below), and will be adding Grace to my morning prayer list that she may know the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Jesus.
A Few Comings and Goings
On Wednesday morning, February 15, at 9:00 a.m. I will be gathering with the Maumee Valley Conference leaders in Bryan, Ohio, for Eucharist, conversation, and lunch.
On Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, February 16-17, the Bishops of Region 6 will be gathering in Perrysburg, Ohio for prayer and conversation centered around Candidacy, the First Call Assignment Process, Campus Ministry, and the Region 6 Archives. The Region 6 Bishops are:
- Bishop William Gafkjen from the Indiana - Kentucky Synod
- Bishop Craig Satterlee from the North - West Lower Michigan Synod
- Bishop Don Kreiss from the Southeast Michigan Synod
- Bishop Suzanne Dillahunt from the Southern Ohio Synod
- Bishop Abraham Allende from the Northeastern Ohio Synod
- Bishop Daniel G. Beaudoin from the Northwestern Ohio Synod
On Sunday morning, February 19, I will be worshiping with the people of God at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, Ohio, and celebrating my daughter Hannah's 15th birthday in the afternoon.
2017: The Year of Grace Memory Verse
Ephesians 2:8 "
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God"
Bless you,
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