N A TIO N A L M A G A ZIN E O F THE L U THE RA N C HU RC H O F A U STRA LIA
FEBRUARY 2017
Serving God in DAILY LIFE
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Whatever your work, DO IT FOR GOD Colossians 3:23
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FEBRUARY
Special features Called to do more
EDITOR'S
Letter
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Serving God in
Before I took on this role I never really thought I had a vocation. I was a journalist, then a speechwriter, then an electorate officer. I had a job, an occupation, a profession even, not a vocation. I reasoned that vocations were far more worthy than anything I could aspire to. People with vocations had to be infinitely giving and caring and unfailingly patient, serving with grace in the most humbling situations. The nurses who comfort the terminally ill; the carers of the frail elderly or people with disabilities; the mental health workers who face anger and even violence on a daily basis; the pastors and chaplains available 24/7 to minister to those at their lowest ebb; the teachers of children with learning difficulties or behavioural problems; the farmers always praying for rain – these people have vocations. I always aimed to do my work to the best of my ability. I often called on God for help when work was stressful or demoralising. And I took him to work, though I reckon I made a hash of the opportunities he gave me to talk about my faith. Still, I didn’t think I had a vocation. But I was wrong. We all have at least one vocation. It may be paid or volunteer; it may be during our working years, or within our ‘retirement’; it may be within the church or in secular employment. Nearly all of us has a vocation as a family member, friend or neighbour. As Dr Andrew Pfeiffer says in his theological reflection on page 8, a vocation is ‘what God calls us to do’. Even Macquarie Dictionary includes among its definitions ‘a divine call to God's service or to the Christian life’ and ‘a function or station to which one is called by God’. In this issue, we hear from LCA members who don’t work for the church as paid employees, but they work in the church in their everyday roles. We also meet the latest crop of pastors being sent out to serve our church from 2017 in a very special vocation. I pray that their witnesses will encourage us to remember that God wants to be with us as we go about our daily tasks, whatever and wherever they are.
than a good job
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daily life
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Taking up the call
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in 2017
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The Lutheran turns 50
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Regulars 12
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Heartland
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Reel life
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Go and Grow
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Inside story
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Your voice (Letters)
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Directory
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Notices
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Coffee break
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I must also mention that this year is a special one – 2017 marks The Lutheran’s 50th birthday. Many things have changed since the first edition was published on 21 January 1967 (see pages 12-13). We give thanks to God that this humble church periodical has continued for five decades, while many magazines and newspapers have ceased to exist.
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One thing that hasn’t changed is the way The Lutheran is funded – by subscriptions and advertising. We know of no other major Christian publication in Australia and New Zealand which survives without the budgeted financial support of its church. While we have resisted passing on increased production costs, including postage, for as long as responsible, unfortunately we have had to raise our subscription and advertising rates this year, but only by a very modest amount. We pray for your understanding and thank you for your continued support as we endeavour to fulfil our vocations to share the stories of our LCA.
Lisa
Our cover:
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JES U S I S G OD'S LOVE. HE G IVES U S NE W HE ARTS TO L AY AS IDE O UR OL D WAYS, TO B EL IE VE AND FOL LOW HIM, TO L IVE WI T H HIM E VERY DAY.
heartland
REV JOHN HENDERSON
Bishop Lutheran Church of Australia
ALL IN THE FAMILY To most people, family matters. It’s where we learn – among other things – how to connect with the world, why some things are more important than others, and how to respond to the expectations of other people. In the church, many times our families have been our strength. They have stuck together through adversity. They have held to their bearings in a sea of doubt. They have kept the faith. Maybe that’s why, after a church service, it seems natural to many Lutherans to ask visitors, ‘Who are you? Which family is yours?’ Those with strong, healthy families and satisfying relationships may well be okay with this. Those with less happy families may find such inquiries less welcome, but at least it’s a way of fitting in. Those who have no family, or who feel hurt by family, can for years be uncomfortable with these wellmeant questions.
Life in this kind of church family requires quite a shift in our attitude and behaviour. God is much more of a risk-taker than we are and freely lets sinners – even us – join the family! When we wander off into sin once again, God is patiently waiting to welcome us back. The Lutheran FEBRUARY 2017
This family of faith may also turn out to be so much more than we thought. Confessional Lutherans, used to a relatively small, welldefined church community, may feel challenged, just as Luther did during the Reformation when he found himself in a church different from the one he had known as a monk. Like Luther, we have to learn the language of the people, how to speak the gospel in a changing world and to sort the truth from the half-truths. It's not that God has left us, nor that we have left him. We are simply challenged to relearn how to share God’s gift of Jesus Christ with the world in which he has placed us.
God is much more of a RISK-TAKER than we are and freely lets sinners – even us – join the family!
There is another way to think of the church, and that’s as the family of God. God includes us in his family through the new birth of baptism in an example of pure grace. We belong because of the faith he gives us. We all receive the same Spirit, we all share Jesus as our brother. We voluntarily come together for family celebrations such as worship, holy communion, and Bible study.
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That’s the heart of the parable of the younger son and the waiting father in Luke 15 and the cause of the argument between the older son and his father. That argument is unresolved, because the son is less willing to love his erring brother than the father is.
A former governor of New South Wales once told me that the people she met at church events always amazed her. In her civic, business and government engagements she met people who came to support a cause they held in common. The church draws in people from all over, regardless of their interests, origin, wealth or social standing. She described the church as a unique and precious family. There is nothing else in society quite like it. That’s how we need to start thinking about the church. It is not ours, but God’s. It is he who unites our human families into one family in Christ, regardless of where we have come from, or who we were before he brought us into his family.
Main photo: Katy Kucks’ daughters Nicole and Anna tend to horses on the family farm.
Called to do more than a We don’t hear the word ‘vocation’ much these days, but for a Christian it is an everyday concern. For us, our work is much more than a job. And that’s not just for those who work for the church in a formal capacity. We are all called to live – and work – for Christ, serving him and his kingdom in whatever we do and wherever we do it. We asked four people to share their stories about the way in which their faith underpins their daily work, while Dr Andrew Pfeiffer from Australian Lutheran College offers a theological reflection on this topic.
Below left: Katy and Trevor
FARMING T AKES FAITH S by K AT Y KUCK When I attended Lutheran Youth of Queensland camps more than 25 years ago and met farmers for the first time, little did I know I would marry one and leave Brisbane behind for rural central Queensland and the farming life. At first there was culture shock. The nearest Kmart was about 270 kilometres away, when previously I had walked to work at one. Gone were city conveniences and opportunities, but wide open were the skies and freedom of a different sort. It’s been a great adventure and learning journey. Faith has also been central and critical throughout. ‘The farmer’ Trevor, my new husband, enjoyed teasing the city girl. He put me on a tractor with some implement behind it and sent me out with vague instructions in a 500–acre (202–hectare) paddock, blissfully leaving me until dark. A few weeks later this joke backfired in the form of weedy strips of ground I’d missed! These days, the once naïve suburban girl is a wiser farmer’s wife – and company director! And working the land has changed as technology has advanced. Now we have ‘agribusiness’ and it is big business. Yet the timeless constant is the struggle of coaxing food from the land on the driest, harshest habited continent. This is where our faith is a vibrant, living thing that sees us through. The Bureau of Meteorology website may offer my husband’s favoured
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The Lord of all CREATION created the great vista of sky and soil we are SURROUNDED by every day at work. forecast – but it’s only God who truly knows, gives and provides. The intergenerational aspect of farming supports all members. My vocation as ‘farmer’s wife’ has allowed me to stay around for my children. Trevor’s parents (Barry and Kathy Kucks) bought the original properties, while Trevor’s two brothers and our eldest son Nathan are all on the land. It’s great to be able to work as a family, even though at times it calls for wisdom and even a break from each other. But, above all, this vocation is a complete faith life. Would you be happy if, after working 12-hour days for three months and putting your own savings into your boss’s project, he refused to pay you because it didn’t rain? Or because it rained too much? I’ve been on the land for 25 years and I’ve seen five droughts, one major flood, three minor floods, two mouse plagues and a few small bushfires. But we have also raised four children in fresh air and freedom, grown some bumper crops and produced topshelf, grass-fed beef, all while knowing God is our strength and provider. The Lord of all creation created the great vista of sky and soil we are surrounded by every day at work. Matthew 6:25–34 relates perfectly to God’s provision for my life on the land. In part it says: ‘So don’t worry about these things saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need’ (NLT). Katy Kucks is a member at Theodore Lutheran Church, Queensland.
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The Fandrich children enjoy time together at home – back from left: Andreas, Enoch, Thomas and Abigail holding Bethany; front: Sophia and Noah
GLORIFYING GOD AT HOME NDRICH by SA RA H JOY FA I am a pastor’s wife and stay-at-home, homeschooling mum to seven children. This is my career and calling, and in a way I view myself as a CEO. My aim is to do the job well for the benefit of our business – our family. We educate our kids at home so we can more effectively live out Deuteronomy 6:4–9 in our family setting, including ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children’. As Christian parents, our greatest desire is that our children know Christ as their Saviour. So, as we seek to teach them the faith, we discuss and debate it in our daily work. We encourage critical thought – why do we do what we do? Teaching our children about how God works in their world when things are not easy is the most important part of how I serve God.
community is a difficult task, there are disagreements and sometimes fights. Children reveal our own sinfulness (perhaps I have many because God is showing me how sinful I am). Often my own sinfulness is revealed in theirs, bringing me to my knees before God and that’s the BEST place for a parent to be. As a mum, I need to acknowledge my own sin and weakness, not just to God, but also to my children. Our seventh child was born in November and was not well in the early days. Constant exhaustion often leads me to tears and prayer. I have learnt to take life minute by minute. Thinking in moments helps me persist, especially in those ‘witching hours’ between 5.00pm and 7.00pm when the children seem to push my buttons. It’s then I’m reminded it’s just another hour until they are all in bed; just keep it together a bit longer.
Faith in God is what KEEPS ME SANE.
We serve God as a family by participating in weekly worship, hospitality in our home, and including our visitors in family devotions. Most weeks I have conversations with other women, mums or homeschoolers and encourage them and point them to Jesus. I pray with them, in person, on the phone or even by private messages on Facebook. Encouraging others through conversation is another big part of how I personally serve God. Faith in God is what keeps me sane. Many tell me they don’t have the patience to homeschool or have lots of kids – neither do I. Living in
As a pastor’s wife I serve our church by supporting my husband in his work. Pastoral ministry is a lot like housework in that there’s always more to be done. It’s a lot like raising kids in that there are often challenging behaviours to work with. I support my husband by keeping our home running smoothly, being present at many events, lots of listening, praying with him and encouraging him. Being a career mum is tiring. I seek a home glorifying God in all we do with fun and service. I love it when that happens. Sarah Joy Fandrich is a member of Burrumbuttock Lutheran Parish NSW.
SEEKING HIS PURPOSE
Below: Greg Spann with wife Tiffany Ng-Spann and their daughter Oleander
by BOB TH IE LE Two years ago I received a letter from my superannuation fund. ‘Dear Mr Thiele, this is to inform you that your pension scheme has matured and you will no longer be required to pay into the scheme’. Confused, I phoned to query this. I was only 59. How could my pension have matured? Pensions are for old people! I was informed that the information was correct, that my contributions had ceased but my employer would pay into the scheme until February 2017 to take my pension to 75 per cent of my total salary indexed for life.
at six years of age when I decided to become a teacher. I have taught in disadvantaged state schools since I was 22 years old. My brother and sister became teachers in Lutheran schools. My conviction is that God wants Christian teachers in public schools and that's where he wants me still. Now as a principal of more than 20 years, I try to take God into every class, every meeting and every situation. I pray that he will give me the wisdom, words and actions to handle the challenges that get thrown at me. I trust he is using me to make a positive difference in the lives of the children and families with whom I work, serving his purpose.
I try to TAKE GOD into every class, every meeting and every situation.
‘Just one moment, sir. Let me do a quick calculation. If you retire today, with tax offset, etc, etc, your pension will pay you virtually what you are taking home now.’ Pause while I take this in. ‘You mean that I am working for nothing now?’ I ask incredulously. ‘That is correct, sir. There is no financial benefit to continue to work.’ I wish that I did not know this. Most people work to retire. I had to make a conscious decision to work when I didn't need to. People now think me very strange, or stranger! Why work when you could live a life of leisure? I have asked myself the same question. For me the answer is purpose. What is God’s purpose for me at this time in life? I do not feel that God is calling me to a life of surfing and gardening. I do still feel called to be in the same vocation I believe God called me to Right: Primary school principal and keen surfer Bob Thiele is presented with a surfboard by two students who made it. Bwelow: Bob spends time with his family, (clockwise from left): daughter Lucy, wife Melissa, daughter Sierra and son Job.
He will make it clear to me when it is time to move on to the next stage of life. Whatever this will be, God will still have a purpose. I hope that it includes surfing. Still, on days or weeks of high stress, or of not being able to turn off at night, waking at 2.00am due to stress, concerns about student behaviour, irate parents, staff performance, budget headaches, endless administration, early mornings, being last to leave, gaining wrinkles and grey hair, I think to myself, I don't have to do this. I do it because I choose to. I do it because I am called. Bob Thiele is a member at Seaford Lutheran Church, South Australia.
SEEING BEYOND THE LABELS by GR EG SPAN N I was at a dedication on New Year’s Day and was asked, ‘So what do you do at the hospital?’ ‘I’m a pharmacist’. Silence. But then with a smile, ‘So you must know all the good drugs’. I sighed a little, ‘No, I give the patients the drugs they need to counteract those drugs’. And then the second most common question followed: ‘So why does it take so long to put the label on the box?’ Well, I’ll get back to that. But first a little about my vocation. My journey to my current job started at school. I was good at science and, unimaginatively, thought I’d do a science degree. Fortunately my father and my chemistry teacher suggested pharmacy. My first thought was what most people think of pharmacy – white coats behind a counter. But a lady at church commended the simple role of a pharmacist as an educator. The pharmacist doesn’t have appointments – they take as long or as little time as necessary to make sure the patient knows about their medication or condition. ‘Great’, I thought, ‘I can help people’.
I know that aspiration is very clichéd but, even now, after years of working, I still need to be reminded of it every day. ‘God’, I pray as I drive to work, ‘let me serve my patients today’. Even in a hospital you can get so task-orientated or performance-driven you can forget the person in the bed. I know I’m guilty of that. I really enjoyed studying pharmacy. The bodies God has given us are just so remarkable and fragile. This fascination and admiration turned me towards clinical pharmacy, as opposed to the business side of it, so I pursued a career in hospital pharmacy when I graduated. Around that time I remember our small group leader talking often about Jesus’ desire to seek out the least and the lost. And as a follower of Jesus, this was my calling as well. But how could I seek the least and the lost as a hospital pharmacist? Who in our society are shunned and marginalised? A few years into my career I found that space working in mental health. It is a space often shared by drug abuse and criminality. That’s where I’ve been for the past five years and I’m still thoroughly loving the work. God is good. As Jesus says in Matthew, ‘Seek first the kingdom … and all these other things will be added to you’. I have been very blessed in my career – progression, job opportunities and income have come without seeking them for their own ends. Every day I am able to meet people at their worst, discuss with them what’s brought them here and try to assist them to manage their medication to get them back on track. And sometimes I even have to put a label on their medication. So why does it take a pharmacist so long to put a label on the box? Well, the label doesn’t take too long; determining whether the dose is going to kill you or treat you takes a little longer. Greg Spann is a member at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Rochedale, Queensland.
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SERVING GOD IN
DAILY LIFE
W by A N DR E
PF E IF F E R
What is God’s call on our life? What does ‘vocation’ mean? How do we work out what God wants us to be and do in life? Vocation does not just refer to paid employment. Rather, it is what God calls us to do. As Christians we have a number of different vocations, more than one calling. Luther’s Small Catechism helps us on this point. There is a section in the catechism called The Household Chart. It is a list of Bible passages about different situations in life, including vocations. It teaches that, firstly as Christians, we all share the same calling, a common vocation. Secondly, it shows us we each have different callings, because we each live in different situations.
… our vocations are not so much something we seek, but rather are GIVEN TO US by God.
The Household Chart speaks to Christians in general (Romans 13:9; 1 Timothy 2:1). It teaches us about the common calling to love our neighbour (Ephesians 2:10), and to bring the world’s needs to God in prayer (1 Timothy 2:1-4). As God’s people, the church gathers to receive forgiveness, life and salvation through absolution, hearing God’s word and participating in the Lord’s Supper. In that assembly we share a calling to pray for all people (Lutheran Hymnal with Supplement, pp13-14; 30; 67-68). Leaving with God’s blessing, we are called to serve our neighbour sacrificially (Romans 12). And as we serve, we are to be prepared to share our hope in Christ (1 Peter 3:15).
The Household Chart teaches that the Bible also refers to specific vocations. The passages are organised around the order of the church, the order of the family, and the order of society. In this sense our vocations are not so much something we seek, but rather are given to us by God. The starting point is to ask not ‘where is God calling me?’, but ‘what is God calling me to do where he has placed me?’. In Luther’s world work was seen as part of the order of the family. God was caring for his creation through work in the field, the dairy and the government. Many people today don’t work in family businesses, so to this we add workers in modern industry, large companies and in public service, for example. At work, Christians work with God to bring his blessings to his world; What else is all our work to God – whether in the fields, in the garden, in the city, in the house, in war, or in government – but just such a child’s performance, by which he wants to give his gifts in the fields, at home, and everywhere else? These are the masks of God, behind which he wants to remain concealed and do all things (Luther’s Works, Vol 14.114, commentating on Psalm 147). So Christians do not just serve God when they talk to others about him, but also when they do their job faithfully. In that way they are serving the world with the abilities they have been given, working with God to bring his gifts to the world. Our vocation, our calling, does include our work, but is not just our work. As Christians we share a common calling to bring God’s love to our neighbours and to bring the needs of our neighbours to God in prayer. In addition, each of us has specific callings to care for the neighbours given to us in our own congregation, our own family, and the society in which we live.
Dr Andrew Pfeiffer is the Head of School of Pastoral Theology at Australian Lutheran College and Assistant Bishop of the LCA.
Taking up the call in 2017 These six pastoral ministry graduates from ALC come from a wide variety of backgrounds and are stepping out in faith to begin their first assignments.
Photo: Rhonda Klemm
Photo: Rebecca Haak
DAN MUELLER
PETER KLEMM
Age: 35
Age: 42
Family: Wife Jenny; Eli, Hannah and Zara
Family: Wife Jody; Lily and Ciarna.
Assigned to: Walla Walla Parish NSW
Home congregation: Brinkworth SA
What did you do before you went to ALC? I worked as a computer engineer and research scientist.
Assigned to: Cummins Parish SA
How did your call to study for ordained ministry in the LCA happen? In high school I felt this ‘tap’ on my shoulder. I have a slight stutter, so (I thought), ‘I can’t do that, God!’ I studied engineering/computer science. Nearing the completion of my PhD, the tapping started again. So I ‘chucked a Jonah’. I worked as a research scientist in the Netherlands designing software to help doctors diagnose cancer. The tapping persisted. I couldn’t ignore it any more. What is your favourite leisure activity? Curling up with a good science fiction book, or catching a movie with friends. What is your most relied upon Bible verse and why? Psalm 19:7–10. This is the wisdom of God revealed to humankind. What is your favourite meal? Medium-rare eye fillet steak with chips and roast vegies; or pan-seared Atlantic salmon with asparagus; or authentic moussaka, or fresh sashimi! The most important thing people need to know about God is … God speaks to us through his word and reveals he is the LORD – ‘merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness …’ (Exodus 34:6,7 ESV). Which privilege of being a pastor are you most looking forward to? To meditate on God’s word in order to preach it to God’s people; building up and equipping the saints for their mission. If you could chat to any famous person, living or dead, who would it be and why? I had the thrill of meeting German Luther scholar Professor Oswald Bayer. However I now have dozens of other questions I want to explore with him.
What did you do before you went to ALC? I worked on the family farm before heading to Hermannsburg NT, to work in the Finke River Mission store. I then worked in a mixed retail and hardware business in Clare (SA). How did your call to study for ordained ministry in the LCA happen? This was a LONG process of about 20 years. Several people asked when I was going to become a minister, as well as the call being at the back of my mind. (I thought) I didn’t have enough life experience. When I met Jody, she told me she didn’t feel that God was asking her to be a pastor’s wife! But after many discussions with our pastor, Jody got to the point of thinking ‘who am I to stand in the way if this is what God wants?’, and I finally got the courage to apply to study at ALC. What is your favourite leisure activity? Reading and spending time with my family. What is your most relied upon Bible verse and why? Psalm 55:22 – I rely on this because it is my confirmation verse. It has brought me a lot of comfort. What is your favourite meal? Country pub meals like a mixed grill or nice steak; I also enjoy seafood marinara or a good home-cooked meal. The most important thing people need to know about God is … That God loves them no matter who they are or what they have done. His forgiveness is for everyone. Which privilege of being a pastor are you most looking forward to? Preaching the word and sharing the sacraments; coming alongside people and being part of their lives.
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Photo: Rebecca Haak
Photo: Viki Andersons
‘T he deep sense of PEACE at the unexpected change accompanied me throughout my studies, convincing me that it was of God.’
VALDIS ANDERSONS Age: 64
MICHAEL PRENZLER Age: 40 Family: Wife Gertraud; Gabriel and Rebecca Home congregation: Immanuel Gawler SA Assigned to: Magill & Adelaide Deaf Community Church SA Who were the most influential people as you were growing up? My immediate family, particularly my parents. Who are the most influential people in your life now? My family. My lecturers have also had a big impact on my personal and spiritual development. What did you do before you went to ALC? I was a mechanical engineer, working in technical and managerial roles in Australia and overseas. How did your call to study for ordained ministry in the LCA happen? After 13 years in engineering, I felt moved to study at ALC. The deep sense of peace at the unexpected change accompanied me throughout my studies, convincing me that it was of God. What is your favourite leisure activity? I have a number of ‘design and make’ projects which I enjoy working on. What is your most relied upon Bible verse and why? Matthew 6:33, which comes towards the end of Jesus’ teaching on worry. It helps to put life into perspective. What is your favourite meal? One shared with family and friends! The most important thing people need to know about God is … He loves them unconditionally and wants to spend eternity with them! Which privilege of being a pastor are you most looking forward to? Being able to bring the good news to people at the most significant times in their lives. If you could chat to any famous person, living or dead, who would it be and why? Aside from the obvious (Jesus), I would love to sit down with the Apostle Paul and ask him to explain some of his statements which I find confusing …
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Family: Wife Sylvia; Ilze and Markus Home congregation: Unley SA Assigned to: SA/NT District – locum at Lyndoch & Rowland Flat What did you do before you went to ALC? I worked in the SA/NT District as Communications Coordinator. Prior to that I worked in radio (as on-air announcer and copywriter), acting, promotions, and sales, and as a secondary school teacher. How did your call to study for ordained ministry in the LCA happen? While (at district office), I began study (for) a Diploma in Theology. I sensed a definite attraction to ministry, but when my position came to an end, pastors, a past director of Lutheran schools, and two past district presidents asked me if I had thought of entering the ministry. The more we talked about it at home, the clearer it became that I should transfer to pastoral studies. What is your favourite leisure activity? Watching a good movie on TV. What is your most relied upon Bible verse and why? Jeremiah 29:11, which reminds us of God’s promise to work out everything in our lives. What is your favourite meal? Sylvia’s chicken Caesar salad. The most important thing people need to know about God is … That he is real, and that reality is heightened knowing he entered our human existence as one of us in his son Jesus Christ, experiencing all the highs and lows we encounter. Which privilege of being a pastor are you most looking forward to? Becoming part of people’s lives. If you could chat to any famous person, living or dead, who would it be and why? Julie Andrews – she has had a half-century career in movies and was married to the late Blake Edwards, who was responsible for the original Pink Panther movies.
‘(God) entered our human existence as ONE OF US in his son Jesus Christ, experiencing all the highs and lows we encounter.’