April 2017
The Pastor’s Ponderings Pastor David’s cell phone—348-330-4170 and email address—fleeneda@gmail.com Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19 We all know that Lutherans tend to look at the past with nostalgia. That’s why our bishop has made these verses from Isaiah a thematic Scripture for his work, encouraging us to see the new thing that God is doing in our church, community, and world. But what if we don’t see the “good old days” as so good? What if, instead of nostalgia, we look back on our past with deep regret? What if we
long to go back to a particular point in our lives, not to enjoy the past, but to make a different decision that would give us a better present? Nearly all of us, I suspect, have things we wish we could go back and change. Bad choices can hang over us like a dark cloud. That’s just as true for me as for anyone else. Off the top of my head, I can think of at least a half-dozen instances in which I wish had done or said something differently. My brain can bombard me with “If only...” and “What if?” until I can barely move. Sometimes it feels like an assault from the spiritual realm, with the devil taunting me with my mistakes. Perhaps you know what that feels like too. It was in response to such assaults from the devil that Luther fell back on his baptism. Whatever bad choices he had made, his baptism
Zion’s 2017 Council Members Elder & President .......................................................................... Larry Hile Elder & Vice-President ............................................................. Fred Walker Secretary ............................................................................. Cathy Willmann Deacons .................................................................................... Drew Walker Allen Stallsmith Mike Clamme Trustees ................................................................................Tom Armstrong Mark Prout Neil Stroble Treasurer ............................................................................... Dennis Walker Financial Secretaries ............................................................ Sandy Langdon Anita Reid
made it possible to rise again daily and have a fresh start living as God’s child. Baptism made it possible to accept what had been to live for what will be in God’s kingdom. That’s true for us as well. When the devil assaults us with our own mistakes, we can talk back. “I am baptized!” Because of that, God accepts you for who you are. God accepts you as a sinful human being, and promises to make you into something new. The “new thing” that God is doing isn’t just out there. It’s also in you. You, too, are the “new thing” that God is working on and bringing into being. May we all remember that good news when we are tempted to dwell on the bad. Love to you all, Pr. David
Holy Week at Zion Maundy Thursday, April 13th at 7 p.m. - Worship with Holy Communion Good Friday, April 14th at 7 p.m. - Tenebrae at Zion with First Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Susan Finley, pastor at First Presbyterian, will preach. Easter Sunday, April 16th at 10:30 a.m. - Worship with Holy Communion