Each day the Lord added to their group others who were being saved. ACTS 2:47B
LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA
EDITORIAL
Editor Lisa McIntosh
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e lisa.mcintosh@lca.org.au
Executive Editor Linda Macqueen
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LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA
The Lutheran informs the members of the LCANZ about the church’s teaching, life, mission and people, helping them to grow in faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. The Lutheran also provides a forum for a range of opinions, which do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editor or the policies of the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand.
Loyalty points for Lois
We are blessed to have many loyal readers in The Lutheran family. One such subscriber is Lois Rathjen, who her daughter Kaye says has ’possibly read every word of every copy’ since our LCA magazine was first published in 1967. An active member of the Lutheran Church all her life, Lois has been part of congregations at Natimuk, Vic, Koonibba, SA, Henty, NSW, Maitland, SA, Nhill, Vic, and Loxton, SA. She moved to the SA Riverland in the 1980s, when her late husband Eric was called as principal of Loxton Lutheran School. Set to turn 97 in May this year, the loving mum, grandmother and greatgrandmother is ‘still shining for Jesus and still blessing others’, says Kaye.
Send us a photograph featuring a recent copy of The Lutheran and it may appear on page 2 of a future issue and on our website at www.thelutheran.com.au
People like YOU bring love to life
This edition features people involved in their congregation’s local mission initiatives. Be inspired by these LCANZ outreach endeavours on pages 5-15.
Jane Chen
Grace Chinese Lutheran Church Perth WA Lay pastoral ministry leader
Most treasured Bible text: Psalm 23:1–3
‘The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures .., He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.’
Lisa Enever
Wodonga Lutheran Parish Vic Parish Ministry Coordinator
Most treasured Bible text: Joshua 1:9
‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’
Lorraine Eldridge
Trinity Lutheran Church Ashmore Qld Church Plant Oversight Committee Chair, retired Lutheran college teacher
Most treasured Bible text: Psalm 121:1–4
‘I look to the mountains; where will my help come from? My help will come from the Lord ... He will not let you fall.’
Let the light of someone you know shine through their photo being featured in The Lutheran and LCA Facebook. With their permission, send us a good quality photo, their name and details (congregation, occupation and most treasured text) and your contact details.
It seems we’ve been talking a lot about mission in the LCANZ in recent months. And, after having the privilege of reading the stories of those congregations who have received Local Mission Fund grants for this year, it’s easy to see that many in our Lutheran family are doing more than just talking about it, too.
They are actually doing mission in and among their local communities. It’s such a beautiful expression of bringing love to life, both in our church and, more importantly, outside it as well. How wonderful!
How encouraging, when we often are tempted to focus on the negatives – the shrinking worship attendances, the apparent lack of young people, the bickering among ourselves, whether about the big things or the small things.
So, the stories in this edition about LCANZ members taking up God’s offer and prompting to share his love with people right under their noses – those he has placed in their backyards, so to speak – are an excellent reminder of what ‘church’ can be. They remind us, too, ‘that in all things God works for the good of those who love him’ (Romans 8:28).
I’m sure many others of you are already serving in your neighbourhood mission fields, sharing care and compassion, hospitality and hope, building relationships and, perhaps, even making friends for Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Certainly, Jesus’ example in washing the disciples’ feet, which we remember especially on Maundy Thursday, is the ultimate template for humble service.
In fact, is there a better time than Easter to pray that he will use us in this way? The joy of the resurrection is ours to live and share, not to keep to ourselves.
But while some people are already putting their mission dreams into practice, you may have an as-yet unfulfilled idea that would help foster a missional culture in our church. Why not work on it with your congregation, school or agency and apply for funding when the grants open again this year? You can read more about that opportunity on page 5.
In this edition, we also continue to give thanks to God for 80 years of Lutheran Media and 75 years of ALWS. You can learn about ways to be involved with anniversary events and support the work of these ministries.
As always in your Churchwide magazine, we include our popular regular columns and highlight some of the many resources designed to support and equip our faith families – and we share the big news from across our church.
I pray you will be inspired and enriched as you read the words that follow. May God bless your reading,
Nurturing grass-roots mission
Speaking your language
Planting for growth
Learning together
Building community
Teaming up to welcome newcomers
Sowing the seeds
Leaving a legacy of love and service
Because we bear your name: Bishop Paul’s letter
Dwelling in God’s word
Life
Go and Grow)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following pages may contain images of people who have died. Our cover: iStock.com.
BISHOP PAUL’S LETTER Because we bear your name
‘The hearing ear and the seeing eye – the Lord has made them both’ (Proverbs 20:12).
I was listening to a podcast about a familiar parable of our Lord – the one known as the ‘Prodigal Son’ (Luke 15) – and I was reminded how faith sees everything in a new way. Since the parable is given that popular title, we often forget that the story is about TWO sons: the younger and the elder. The story of the elder brother is so very helpful for understanding our participation in the mission of God.
The elder brother seems rightly upset. The younger brother has insulted their father, acting as though the father was already deceased by demanding early access to the inheritance, then squandering the family estate.
Then upon the return of the younger son, the fatted calf is killed and there is celebration. The elder son would have been expecting this calf to go towards something other than a celebration for his wayward brother.
see ourselves and the world through eyes enlightened by this good news.
As this word of the gospel takes root in us, we discover the missionary call to bear this good news to all the world. This word of the gospel shapes how we see ourselves and those around us. We are not entitled members of a cult who will have nothing to do with other people. We are beloved daughters and sons of the God who has gone to the cross to show us love and who sends us as witnesses to the ends of the earth.
This is the ‘hearing ear’ and the ‘seeing eye’ we read about in Proverbs 20. Faith in the work of Christ and his cross gives us eyes to see the neighbour in a new way.
FAITH IN THE WORK OF CHRIST AND HIS CROSS GIVES US
EYES TO SEE THE NEIGHBOUR IN A NEW WAY.
But this elder brother also does not understand the heart of his father. The father must go out to his elder son who has not come into the celebration for the younger brother’s return. The elder brother speaks of his brother as ‘this son of yours’ and he speaks of prostitutes when there is no mention of prostitutes in the story. The elder brother has dwelt in the father’s house, expecting that he had earned entitlement. He believes that he deserves more than his wayward brother.
In response, the father is gracious and purposeful, addressing the elder brother personally as ‘little child’ and saying, ‘You are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found’.
This parable calls us to see each other with the eyes of faith enlightened by the gospel. Scripture proclaims, ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only Son’. This is God’s amazing and abundant love for all – regardless of race, background or misdeeds. We who are baptised into the death of Jesus Christ are raised with him to walk in newness of life and to
This past month, I gathered with my wife, Heidi, and our extended family, at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Henty NSW, for the funeral of Heidi’s father, David Muller. It was a sad but hopefilled time as we commended this Christian man into the everlasting arms of the Good Shepherd, trusting in his mercy.
What was quite clear about David’s witness was those ‘hearing ears’ and ‘seeing eyes’ of faith. His obituary reminded us that David had learned to not despise preaching or God’s word, but instead to keep that word holy and gladly hear and learn it (Small Catechism, 3rd Commandment).
And in hearing and learning the word, David lived as a gentle and purposeful evangelist who saw all those around him as people for whom his Lord and Saviour had died on the cross.
We are privileged to bear the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Christian mission he has given to us. In the parable, the father said to his beloved child, ‘You are always with me, and all that is mine is yours’.
In Christ,
REV PAUL SMITH Bishop, Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand
