Newsletter. Lutheran Week A Seminarian s View. Volume 1 Issue 2 October By Matthew Vatalare

Transcription

1 Newsletter Volume 1 Issue 2 October 2015 Lutheran Week A Seminarian s View By Matthew Vatalare This was my first opportunity to go to convocation and not only did I go to the seminarian s retreat, but I also went as a lay delegate for my home congregation. I packed up my bags and got on the airplane that took me to Dallas, TX. I was having a flood of emotions as I traveled but I was excited for the opportunity ahead. Once I was at the hotel and the seminarian s retreat started, I knew that any reasons for nerves or anxiety were gone. I felt like I was home with my brothers and sisters in Christ. We learned about what it meant to be a Christ Centered, Mission Driven, Traditionally Grounded, and Congregationally Focused leader as well as worshipped together. This feeling continued into The Carl E. Braaten-Robert D. Benne Lectures in Theology and the NALC Convocation. Last year I had the same opportunity but did not attend. I had just been accepted to seminary and felt that this retreat was not for me. I checked the dates and found out I had a conflict with the dates and could not attend so I hid behind that conflict and did not go. On a side note, isn t that how it often goes? I have an opportunity that can help me grow spiritually or help someone else in their walk with Christ and it seems like there is always a conflict. I learned a big lesson. The next time I m taking that step of faith knowing it will be an opportunity for growth. The best way that I can describe our seminarian s retreat was focused. It was not another class or lecture that we might typically sit in during our studies at our respective seminaries, instead it was active at all times. The focus was, how are the NALC core values relevant for your growth and leadership in your future ministry? An example of this type of learning occurred during the session on being Congregationally Focused. While divided into three different groups we were handed a congregational profile. This was a realistic profile that we might experience when looking for our first call. We were told Being Congregationally Focused, work through this case study, remembering to be Christ Centered, Traditionally Grounded, and Mission Driven. It was like getting a final exam in class that you know will help you in the future. We were able to put the skills that we had learned in seminary and at this retreat to put together a plan for what we... Continued on page 6

2 V olum e 1 Is sue 2 Page 2 On Formatio: The new term, a topic, and tests to come In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we are forming pastors and church leaders for the North American Lutheran Church who will faithfully preach, teach, and live God s eternal truth, through Word and Sacrament, proclaiming Christ s cross and resurrection, making disciples who will renew and grow the church in Christ s name. Mission and Vision, The North American Lutheran Seminary Come, friends, seminarians, let us begin this term and this column with this vision s beginning and the end in sight. Let us consider the wide sweep of formatio as well as the specific brushstrokes that will be laid down during the seminary experience. Let us also be very practical, concrete, and specific, that the Word and Sacraments might, indeed, continue to take flesh, dwell in us and in all to whom we will be sent. Let us consider a topic on which you ll be tested during your involvement in seminary life, whether as regents, faculty, staff, students, families, congregations or others who participate in this ministry of pastoral formation. Let us consider a topic that will follow you into the parish or the academy, or any other vocation for that matter. That topic is really a characteristic: Resilience, or all that goes along with the fitting of heads, hearts, and hands for the call to be disciples and to make disciples in the name of Jesus Christ. The call to resilience comes with the call to this life in Christ. These years in seminary and in the ministry to follow will challenge your resilience in ways you might only now begin to imagine. There s the head cold or flu that could not strike at a more inconvenient time, such as the week when you re cramming for mid-terms or finals or on deadline for a major paper. There will come the time when you are confronted with truths about yourself that have you silently screaming, with every fiber of your being. Let s not go there even when, God knows so well, you must. Seminarians, those tests of your resilience won t stop at graduation, upon ordination, or with installation to your first call. There will be the parishioner who needs you to be by his death bed at 2:00 AM on a Sunday morning. There might come the call that a loved one s cancer has metastasized and shown up in yet another location a load of bad news that comes right in the middle of pressing issues, big and small, in the flock you ve vowed to shepherd. Faculty and governors of academic institutions, you are not immune, either, in forming the next generation of trustworthy stewards of the mysteries of God (1 Corinthians 4:1-2) to preach, teach, absolve and preside. Whether as student, professor, practitioner or in roles of oversight, there might just be times when you wonder about God s wisdom in calling you to your vocation times when your Isaiah-like resolve ( Here am I, send me -- Isaiah 6:8) dissolves into thoughts that echo Moses pleading that the Lord send someone else (Exodus 4:13). Such times call for the fruits of formatio found in spiritual resilience, that graced state of being that will see you through the times when the final verse of A Mighty Fortress is our God (Hymns , Lutheran Book of Worship) is describing your life. It s the graced state of being that gets us through those times, as the old hymn puts it, When all supports are washed away. (Hymns , LBW). Researchers who study clergy burnout in the parish the causes, effects, prevention and antidotes - have found that spiritual resilience is critical to clerical health, vitality and longevity. Even military commanders have long recognized that spiritual resilience is critical to mission readiness, not to mention recovery following both victory and defeat. As a spiritual director for both seminarians and practicing clergy, I can attest to this as well.

3 V olum e 1 Is sue 2 Page 3 Sooner or later, the matter of spiritual resilience will come up in those regular, confidential, holy conversations with my spiritual directees. Some generalizations based on experience: Those who have been well-formed spiritually and who have stayed with the formative spiritual disciplines throughout their ministry find themselves better able to bounce back - in positive, lasting ways in the midst of the changes and chances of life in general and ministry in particular. Those who set aside spiritual disciplines during the easy seasons of ministry or in the busy activity-trap of parish life find themselves drawn back to the untapped resources of spiritual formation. Those who had seminary preparation that was long on information but short on formatio often find themselves drawn to soul-sustaining spiritual disciplines only when they have hit bottom. Those who let spiritual disciplines become ends in itself, a collection of works alone, found that they had missed the point of the disciplines as a process of being formed for, in position and ready for hearing and heeding God s call. Sooner or later, spiritual resilience will be called for. In the Word, the Sacraments, and the powerfully restorative process of confession and absolution, we have been given the gift of holy, spiritual resilience, for Jesus sake and for the good of our neighbors as well as ourselves. In the spiritually disciplined life, we are taught how to unpack the gift of holy resilience, that we might be ready to practice it when called upon for the Kingdom. Neither the gift of spiritual resistance nor the desire and ability to unpack it are of our own doing, any more than justification and sanctification are anything we could accomplish for ourselves. By God s grace in Jesus Christ, the gift is given. By the work of the Holy Spirit, we are called and shown how to open it. Frequently during the last few weeks, I ve found myself drawing on The Whole Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), both for my own ministry and for the sake of those who are my colleagues and my spiritual directees. As this Fall Semester 2015 begins, I commend this text to you along with Luther s practice of Oratio, Meditatio, and Tentatio: Pray on it. Meditate on it. Let this Word afflict you - do its work in you - all to the end that you may be well formed for the holy calling to which you will say Yes, and I trust and ask God to help and guide me. The Rev. Dr. Cathi Braasch STS is a retired parish pastor and former denominational executive in outreach leadership and mission development. She currently serves on the NALC Candidacy Committee. She lives on a cattle and sheep ranch in south-central Nebraska and enjoys writing, teaching graduate-level courses, providing spiritual direction and retreats, serving in interim ministry and mentoring other interim pastors. She and her husband Red, have an adult daughter, Sara, and son-in-law Jim. The Whole Armor of God Ephesians 6:10-18 (ESV) 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

4 V olum e 1 Is sue 2 Page 4 From Our President God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change Psalm 46:1-2 Summer has turned to fall. Schools, including the North American Lutheran Seminary, are in full swing. The tasks of home and garden are changing. The harvest will soon come in. Before you know it, it will be Reformation Sunday, and we ll all be singing, A Mighty Fortress is Our God. God is our refuge and strength in every season. God is our refuge and strength at all times and in all places. God is at the center of our lives, and our relationships, and our church communities, our Seminary, and our world. It is so, because whether acknowledged or not, He is the center of all things. He is the creator of all. He made the moon and the stars and set them in their courses. (Ps. 8:3) He makes the sun to rise on the good and the evil. (Mt. 5:45) In his image we are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Ps. 139:14) Without him was not anything made that was made. (Jn. 1:3) All that we are and all that we will be is by His design. though the earth should change. Our NALS seminarians are being prepared to speak God s everlasting Word into this ever-changing world. In and out of the classroom they are learning to listen attentively for His voice and to follow His command. There is a world out there that God loves with His life, a world out there that He has promised to be with, a world out there in which He plans to use His faithful people as instruments of mercy and grace. At the NALS we are always Mission-Driven, for we are a mission whose source and destination is the heart of God, a mission whose center lies in Resurrection of Jesus Christ, a mission that calls all people to experience the mercy of God in Word and Sacrament. May the start of this new academic year be a time of renewed commitment to the mission of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in this time and place. In Christ s love, Just as every page of the Holy Scripture is filled with His life, so are the pages, the seasons of our lives. Seminarians are preparing for a life of service in Word and Sacrament ministry. Pastors are delivering God s Word to eager congregations. Congregational members are living out such eternal love in changing and stressful times, witnesses to the eternal mercies of our God. Can we see His beauty in the face of an ailing neighbor or a lonely child? If we have eyes to see, it is as clear as the changing leaves on an autumn tree. If we have ears to listen and hearts to love, we ll see that beauty with even more clarity when in the starkness of the winter s cold, the true life who enlightens every man (Jn. 1:9) is made known in a hand held and a kind word shared in His name. Spring will come, but its brilliance is too much for our eyes now. What we have now is the promise, the promise of Him who is our refuge and our strength. He is a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear

5 V olum e 1, I ssu e 2 Page 5 Students participate in Rural Ministry Day A group of students and President Amy Schifrin were recently invited by the Rev. Nila Cogan to tour several sites in rural central Pennsylvania. Students toured the historic Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, visited two working farms and also visited the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA.

6 V olum e 1, I ssu e 2 Page 6 Continued from page 1 would want to do to help this congregation. When we were finished we came back together to discuss our plans. Hearing feedback from others on our plan as well as receiving advice from our facilitators and members of the Candidacy Committee was a wonderful opportunity to see how people with different backgrounds view the same challenge. We wrapped up the seminarian s retreat by having an informative and enjoyable conversation with the Candidacy Committee about questions on various phases of the candidacy process. So far I have only discussed the learning opportunity given to us in the classroom portion of the retreat, but in my opinion there was much more. Throughout the retreat I was able to meet seminarians from across the North American Lutheran Church. We had opportunities to talk to one another about our lives, school and what we hoped for in the future. We spent time in fellowship through many different meals and most importantly we worshipped together. The experiences we shared and the friendships that began are only the beginning. I look forward to seeing my new friends at future retreats, but this was only the beginning of the week. There was more to come. Being part of the NALC Convocation was exciting. It was an opportunity to share my congregation s convictions and vote on their behalf. When I first arrived in Dallas I thought the Convocation was going to be mostly business oriented, but once again I was wrong. I continued to have the feeling of being with family. I was surrounded by my brothers and sisters in Christ and I felt at home. I knew that I could go up to anyone, start up a conversation and be blessed. To see pastors and lay leaders eagerly talking about their congregations and offering help to one another to help the body of Christ grow was exciting. Throughout this experience I would go to bed with a smile on my face because I knew not only did I meet new people that shared the same love of God, but also because I felt my faith revived and strengthened by the focus on the preaching of the Word and the sacrament. I would like to thank the Rev. Dr. Catherine Braasch, STS and the Rev. Keith Falk, STS for leading an amazing seminarian s retreat as well as all the others who put on the NALC week in Dallas. I was truly blessed by this experience and look forward to next year. Matthew Vatalare is a Middler (2nd year) seminarian at Trinity School for Ministry. Matthew is from West Virginia.

7 V olum e 1, I ssu e 2 Page 7 NALS Updates: Dr. David Yeago and Dr. Gemechis Buba served as responders during the Ancient Evangelical Future Conference at Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, PA. President Amy Schifrin served as chair for the Braaten-Benne Lectures in Theology during Lutheran Week in Dallas, TX, August The theme was Martyrdom and Suffering of the Righteous. President Amy Schifrin spoke at Peace Lutheran Church in Edmond, OK on August 30, The Lutheran Military Veterans and Families Ministries visited the Seminary Center at Trinity School for Ministry in September. Executive Director, Leslie Haines shared with the students about ministering to veterans and their families. Dr. David Yeago will be speaking at the Atlantic Mission District Convocation on October 17, President Amy Schifrin will be the keynote speaker at the Mid-Northeast Mission District Convocation that will be held on the campus of Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, PA on October 24, President Amy Schifrin will preach Reformation Sunday at St. John s Lutheran Church in Kittaning, PA on October 25. President Amy Schifrin will be leading a workshop at the NALC Mission Festival in Columbus, OH, November 5-7, President Amy Schifrin will be preaching at the Bach Cantata, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland on November 22, 2015 at Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest, Il. Sermons preached during chapel at Trinity School for Ministry by President Amy Schifrin and Dr. David Yeago can be found at this link. If your congregation would like to have a representative from the NALS speak at an event, please contact the NALS office (info@thenals.org) We would love to have the opportunity to share about the seminary. McDaniel Reformation Conference, October 29, 2015 The NALS House of Studies at Gordon-Conwell and the Carolina s Mission District are proud to host the McDaniel Reformation Conference once again this year. The conference is in honor of Michael McDaniel who was noted for his faithfulness to God, love for the Biblical foundation of the Christian church, allegiance to the confessional tradition of the Lutheran church, and his commitment to making known the gift and task of unity which Christ gives to his church. The Reformation lectures will feature two New Testament scholars who are also parish pastors. The Rev. Dr. Steve Turnbull (LCMC) will lecture on "Evangelical Discipleship." The Rev. Dr. Roy Harrisville III (NALC) will lecture on "St Paul and the Faith of a Disciple." The brochure and more information can be found here.

8 V olum e 1, I ssu e 2 Page 8 Martin Luther found his inspiration for his hymn, A Mighty Fortress is our God, in Psalm 46. We invite you to pray it daily during these autumn months. Psalm 46 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God will help her right early. 6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. 8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has wrought desolations in the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, he burns the chariots with fire! 10 " Be still, and know that I am God. I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth!" 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge Donate: We are thankful for everyone who partners with the NALS. If you want to help us prepare Pastors for the future, there are two different ways: 2. Thrivent members can choose the NALS for your Thrivent Choice Dollars. 1. Support the NALS Theological Education Fund by sending a check to: NALC 2299 Palmer Dr. Suite 220 New Brighton, MN