The pastor is the congregation’s shepherd, chaperone, not leader. This I hear quite often when I talk about leading the congregation with members. Being a pastor is usually perceived as being a spiritual task, and often it is said that you don’t lead a congregation like a business. Service work is often seen as fulfilling the needs of the congregation and taking care of the congregation. Ian Jagelman has defined service work as the following:” Service work is a function that serves people’s needs. It includes such duties as preaching, teaching, informing, prayer, visits, nourishing and purifying.” (2013) Is this enough to satisfy the needs set by the modern-day congregation? In a congregation the pastor usually works under the authority and supervision of the council. This is close to a business as the director works between the board and subordinates, is it not? At a church lead by elders, the pastor serves as an intermediary between the elders and the congregation. As the pastor is often in charge of operation of the congregation, leadership must come to the surface. Being a shepherd alone will not take you very far as the legality and regulatory requirements must be considered. It is necessary to be an organizer who is able answer to these issues and take care of the worldly matters as well. A serving leader should bring new outlooks to the congregation and its leadership. “A serving leader has the complete outlook of the congregation, its administration, organization, functions, spiritual nature, and the conditions of the job. It must be the leader’s ability to see the gifts, talents, and abilities of others. A serving leader is able to build important relationships with people through personal interaction.” A pretty big list of requirements which a pastor has complete to lead/ chaperone the flock.
Leadership and service work differ from each other, but, in my opinion, the difference between leadership and service work has become smaller and almost disappeared. It has gotten so far that in both cases we could speak of a serving leader. Would a pastor be a good leader of a secular business? Or would a secular leader be a good leader in the congregation? In my opinion, the current society and it’s changing needs and character present big challenges to a pastor and leading a congregation. Is it possible to be a good pastor and lead as well as chaperone the flock from a purely calling standpoint? I would argue that it isn’t. In my opinion, it is critical to acquire knowledge about leadership and building organization. Leading an organization must include many administrative duties, which cannot be completed without schooling. What about a pastor as the leader of a secular business? The same rules about the necessity of schooling apply here. How would a secular leader pan out in a congregational leadership position? If the question was only taking charge of operations of the congregation, the threshold would not be very high. The job would be the same as that of a secular organization. When you add the spiritual leadership of the congregation on top of that, the big question of an individual being born again comes into question. If an individual owns his calling from God and is born again, in my opinion he is not vey fay from a congregation leader. The search for God’s leadership and a pastor’s schooling is to succeed in service work. Leadership and service work should be seen as the completion of each other and then we would be close to Jesus’ leadership/ shepherd. Optimally we should let the Holy Spirit lead us, change our hearts so that we would look towards God’s face daily and towards his will, and if we do his will, we cannot fail as leaders.
A fragment from my essay: HOW LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE WORK DIFFER
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A blessed May to everyone.
Sami-shepherd
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Dear members of the congregation,
What an exciting month we have had! Thank you to all of the volunteers who made the Easter luncheon possible. The food was delicious! It was great to see so many new and familiar faces joining us.
Summer is approaching quickly and many of our members have returned to Finland. The Council is currently working on our summer calendar of events. We will update you soon.
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Many thanks for your continued support of the Church.
Blessings,
Saara Saarela-Vening
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We warmly thank all those who have remembered and supported our congregation through their gifts. We are living through economically challenging times, and we need your prayers as well as financial support, so that our work can continue year round. May God bless you and your gift!
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Moses leads the Israelites toward the promised land. Taival is challenging, the population is whiny and rebellious and the leaders’ nerves are being tested. Exodus Ch. 25 - 40
1. Why was a sacred tent built? God needed a place to live / to store the Israelites valuables / so that God could be among is people. (25:8)
2. What kind of figures were embroidered into the tent’s curtain? Nothing, as the Jews had banned the use of any pictures / pictures of lions / pictures of winged cherubim
3. Who were picked to serve as priests? Aaron and his sons / Lev’s ancestors / Joshua and his children. (28:1)
4. What would happen to a priest who did not wash up before offering sacrifice? He would no longer be a priest / would be killed / he would be ridiculed. (30:20 - 21)
5. What was the name of the craftsman, who was filled by the Holy Spirit, and was to build the sacred tent for the Lord? Uri / Bazelel / Caleb. (31:2-4)
6. What did Aaron make when Moses did not return from Mount Sinai? A meal from banned raw materials / a bull statue / an altar to the glory of God. (32: 4- )
7. Why were the Israelites afraid to approach Moses after he came down from the mountain? Moses was angry / his face was shining / in his hand was a rod made of a snake.
8. When the people were asked to make donations for the building of the sacred tent only the Levites gave contributions / everyone gave and the materials were just enough / the people gave more than what was needed. (36: 3-7)
9. How did the Israelites know when to move their camp and be on their way? They heard the sound of a trumpet playing / On Moses command / when the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle. (40:36-37)
10. Who became Moses’ successor? Caleb / Aaron / Joshua
CORRECT ANSWERS AT THE END OF THE NEWSLETTER. 😊
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Sometimes our birhtday lists are not up to date. If you notice someone's name missing or do not want your name on our list, please notify us. THANK YOU! |
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This winter season seems to have flown by, and it certainly has been a busy one. Now as we are approaching summer, and our winter members are leaving the area, our activities will slow down for sure, but we can still worship and serve God even in small numbers.
I would like to express my appreciation for the musicians who have been part of the music team this past year, and all who have performed at church at our services and concerts- what a blessing it is to have you all. Our work will continue in the summer at church and frequent visits to the rest home.
These rest home visits have been a real treat for me weekly. I am blessed to be able to bring music and God’s word to the residents two to three times a week. There has been good attendance on Wednesday afternoon’s during coffee hour, as the residents participate in a bilingual hymn sing along, as well as a nice group on Thursday afternoons for Bible study and Finnish hymns. Once or twice a month we have also held worship services for the residents- one on the rest home side in the Pokela Room and then another service in the nursing home lobby. It is really important to serve our members at the rest home, as they too are an important part of our congregation.
Please continue your prayers for our congregation and ministry during our upcoming summer months. God’s blessings to everyone!
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe,
praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. (Ps.150: 3-6)
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Have a blessed May!
Michael
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PIRJO-LEENA KOSKISEN COLUMN |
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We had a Women’s Day meeting this week and our Pastor gave us an introduction for discussion about ‘love and truth’. It really made me think about it – and I wasn’t the only one, I noticed.
At first it seems easy: everyone knows what love is and everyone loves the truth. A mother’s love for her children is probably easiest to understand. What to say, where to start? I come from the famous Häme area in Finland (they are said to be slow to speak and react!) when I’m still bothered by this. I guess I had to write about it.
Truth is one of the basic Christian values, so is love. We are taught to love the truth and we need to love our neighbor, that’s the way the Bible teaches us. Jesus teaches us in everything he was speaking about. ‘Love thy neighbor like you love thyself.’ That sounds easy. But what if our neighbor isn’t very lovable? Still we have to try. It may be that the ethnic background, the language, the religion or the style of living isn’t the same as mine – or maybe even his political views are different from mine? Still I have to try. And what is the truth? Information is flooding from every possible source, but what is the truth? We have the Bible and it’s truth. It’s a good ‘filter.’ We have the words of Jesus and His instructions in the Sermon on the Mount, which personally is very important to me. And there is always the Power of Prayer, it’s always available, every day, all the time.
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May the Holy Spirit be with you all – and special blessings to all Mothers on the Mothers’ Day!
Pirjo-Leena
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On April 15, Good Friday, we were at the rest home holding two very touching services, on both the rest home and nursing home sides. |
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On April 17, there were 108 guests at our Easter luncheon. We sold ten's of take out orders as well. |
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On April 29th we made 450 doughnuts and 57 liters of sima. Thank you to all who participated. |
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EASTER LUCNHEON - TIMO VAINIONPÄÄ |
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The activities at St. Andrew’s Church in Lake Worth Beach has been activated under the leadership the new pastor couple. Mid-day prayer moments and some other activities started by Pastor Mia before the pandemic have continued, but the church now makes food on a frequent basis, under the direction of Tarja Ettanen.
The pastor couple has also been a frequent guest at Finnish functions. As pastor Sami said, the congregation is where people gather. This is where we should be.
Even though the congregation’s Wednesday soup lunches have become popular, the Easter luncheon exceeded expectations. Wisely, they presold tickets to the event. At first about 40 were expected, then about 70 had reserved places. In the end over a hundred people attended, and the fellowship hall was sold out.
There was enough food for everyone, and for doggie bags as well. Many different delicacies were served- deviled eggs and shrimp sandwiches. From what I hear, the pastors own cucumber salad was good. They reminded of the vinegar pickles served in the homeland.
The main course was lemon chicken, rice and carrot/ paprika casserole, green bean and bacon salad, broccoli, and other salads according to your preference.
The desert table crowned the service. Chocolate mousse, bunny and carrot shaped cookies, chocolate buttons and many others. The best was home made chocolate, which Marabou itself to take example.
A very nice lunch, the talented volunteers in the kitchen put in a lot of effort. The result was excellent.
Another beautiful aspect of the lunch was the yellow-dressed crowd, where language and other barriers did not make a difference.
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It is worth following the example of St. Andrew’s Church.
Timo Vainionpää
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1.”The people must make a sacred tent for me, so that I may live among them. The sacred tent was built, so that God could be in the midst of his people.
2. The curtain in the sacred tent was to be embroidered with cherubim.
3. Aaron and his sons were chosen to be priests.
4. If the priests did not wash themselves, they would die.
5. The craftsman who God filled with the Holy Spirit was named Bazelel.
6. Aaron made a bull statue.
7. The Israelites were afraid to approach Moses, because his face was shining.
8. When the people were asked to make donations in order to build the sacred tent, they donated more materials than were needed.
9. The Israelites knew when to move their camp, when the cloud lifted from above the tent.
10. Joshua became Moses’ successor.
Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,
that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.
(Ps. 119:27)
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CLICK HERE TO GET TO OUR FINNISH
PARTNERS WEBSITES:
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St. Andrew's Lutheran Church | (561) 582-0554 | 928 South E Street, Lake Worth, FL 33460 | www.standrewsfl.com |
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