From the Bridge Pastor
A bit of trivia: September (from Latin septem, “seven”) or mensis September was originally the seventh of ten months on the ancient Roman calendar that began with March (mensis Martius, “Mars’ month”). It had 29 days. After the reforms that resulted in a 12-month year, September became the ninth month, but retained its name. September followed what was originally Sextilis, the “sixth” month, renamed Augustus in honor of the first Roman emperor, and preceded October, the “eighth” month that like September retained its numerical name contrary to its position on the calendar. A day was added to September in the mid-40s BC as part of the Julian calendar reform.
The first Labor Day celebration was on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, when 10,000 citizens marched for labor rights down the streets of Manhattan. During this time the average American worked 12 hours a day, six days a week. It wasn’t until the Adamson Act passed on September 3, 1916. that our modern eight-hour workday was established.
This Sunday: The Gospel text is about lost and found. Christians of certain persuasions talk about “finding Jesus.” My snarky self wants to reply, “Oh, I’m sure that’s nice, but I didn’t know he was lost!” I realize what they mean, but they have it backwards…we are the ones who get lost! Jesus finds us! Join us this Sunday either at 4600 Hamilton Blvd or streaming on Facebook.
Vacations are a good thing. We all need time to get away from our usual routine and take the opportunity to relax and enjoy time away. Jesus often got away from the crowds to make time for himself and God. He set the example that we should follow, especially those of us who likely to overextend ourselves.
With another schoolyear beginning, I hope that all parents and kids were able to take that time before the busyness of that routine makes it more difficult to get away.
As always, if you are someone you know would benefit from a pastoral visit, please call the office, and let Michael or me know.
In Christ,
Pastor Del
ADDENDUM
My road to ordination was a lengthy one. Many of my colleagues are “pipeliners”…women or men who graduate from college and then go to seminary. I took a long route. I say that God prepared me in stages for my ordained ministry. I obtained my Bachelor of Music Education degree from Morningside College (now University) in 1976 and taught elementary vocal music for a few years. I left that field and obtained my Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree from Creighton University in Omaha and practiced psychiatric nursing in Omaha, NE and Seattle, WA for several years.
The entire time I was doing this, I was also serving as a church musician, either as an organist or choir director or organist/choir director. When I told Jane that I didn’t want to teach music anymore, she planted the seed for me to go to seminary, but I didn’t feel the call yet. When, several years later, I told her that I was sensing the call, she legitimately said, “I told you so!” I graduated from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota on May 25, 1997.
My first call was at Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown, SD. It was a wonderful first call! The pastor at Augustana Lutheran Church in Sioux City left that call to become Assistant to the Bishop of the Western Iowa Synod. (My affiliation with Augustana dates back to 1975 when I became the organist, took instruction, and was confirmed there in 1976.) The bishop of the Western Iowa Synod asked the bishop of the South Dakota Synod for my papers. She declined because I had not been in my first call for three years. Because she and I had a good rapport, I asked to speak with her and told her why I was interested to see if there was a possibility of a call at Augustana. She granted that and I began my ministry on March 1, 2000. I was there until I retired on July 15, 2019.
It is now my honor to have “failed retirement” and serve as your Bridge Pastor here at First Congregational United Church of Christ.
