Thursday, December 24, 2015

Thursday, December 24 and Friday, December 25, 2015

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"
Luke 2:8-14

Poor, illiterate, dirty, unkempt, mostly loners…to shepherds guarding their flocks for the night, the angels announced the greatest news ever! This dark outpost, far from the powerful communities and major synagogues, became the center of the world.

Naturally, when an angel appeared with the breaking news of the birth of the Messiah, they were afraid. Why would this Good News be shared first with those tending sheep, rather than with high priests?

Why? Because the news of this night is too big for a temple, or a city, or even a nation to contain. The promise fulfilled that night upends the status quo and makes room for those not welcome elsewhere. After their initial shock, the shepherds live into new identities as they become alert, courageous, and obedient to the direction of the Great Shepherd. Luke tells us they leave their fields and go to worship the newborn child not in the holy temple but in a rough stable, a place for the outsiders whom God led there as well.

The Good News of Jesus’ birth invites everyone, even those who aren’t usually accepted, to be embraced by an accepting community of faith. It reaches each one of us in our dark and broken places, and makes us whole.

May Christ’s light and peace and welcoming grace fill you this Christmas—and overflow so that all the people you come in contact with will know through your witness that the birth of Jesus is Good News for them.

Gracious God, fill our hearts with joy at the news of your presence and light in the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Inspire us to share this Good News with our service and love. Amen.

Rev. Claire Burkat serves as Bishop of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

In the midst of suffering, worry and trouble, it is often difficult to see how God is making things work together for God according to his purpose. It is precisely at these times, when those around us are quietly and courageously revealing God’s compassion and hope.

In October, Liberty Lutheran’s Hospice received a letter from the family of a gentleman who passed away under hospice care. In the letter, the family acknowledged that their father’s decline and death were very difficult but that the compassion and care of the hospice staff brought comfort in simple, yet profound ways.

It was the time spent with the family in visits patiently talking about options for care, late evening visits to keep their father comfortable, education, smiles, and cheerful conversation that made the biggest difference. “Helping an individual with such basic needs is caring beyond what most people can do.”

God’s purpose is not complicated. It is simply that we love and care for one another when suffering overwhelms our ability to reach out. In God’s work together as the community, we take turns reaching out to those who are in need and being helped in our time of need. Thanks be to God for those who care for us, who show us the good even in the worst of circumstances.

Healing God, you offer help to us in our worst times by the care and compassion of the community. Thank you for your love. Help us to share it with those who are in need this day. Amen.
Family letter to Liberty’s Hospice summarized by Rev. Jennifer Ollikainen.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.
Ephesians 2:19-20

Being a member of a household, having a sense of home, is vital to our lives and our quality of life. In a senior community, staff, family and residents endeavor to find ways to spark a sense of home in a new living situation. Often, it is the relationships which blossom that make a new residence a home.

Recently, the daughter of a resident of Artman who died wrote, “We don’t know when death will come except that it is in God’s hands and in God’s time…I am so thankful that Artman was her home for 6 years. I am so thankful for all of your care and support. She was wonderful, strong and sharp as a tack. Thank you for allowing her to remain herself. You never took her identity or spirit away…You have a calling for which I will always be thankful to have observed.”

In God’s hands, we are beloved as saints as children of God, members of God’s house. When we build relationships and move beyond being strangers to becoming brothers and sisters in the family of God, we glimpse the joy and hope God promises. Jesus Christ comes into the world to reveal a way of compassion and love. We follow Christ in this way, building a new home wherever we find ourselves using the foundation of God’s love.

Loving God, thank you for welcoming us into your house built on a foundation of joy and hope. Strengthen our calling to offer care and compassion to those whom we encounter as a sign of our shared membership in the household of God. Amen. 


Excerpted from a note sent to Artman.

Monday, December 21, 2015

Monday, December 21, 2015

And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace.
Micah 5:4-5a

This year we watched as the worst refugee crisis since World War II unfolded in Europe. Hundreds and thousands of Syrian refugees flooded into Europe as they fled from terror in their own country. Families and individuals set out on a journey to seek safety and shelter, often not finding it.

It is like when Mary and Joseph, who set out on a journey only to find no room at the inn, gave birth to Jesus in a manger . Jesus was born on the road, wandering with his parents, and without a place they could call home. God redeems this story with hope and light brought to even the darkest of situations. 

We are birthing hope across vast networks of people and resources. In collaboration with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service and Lutheran Children and Family Service, we are finding homes and making new lives for countless numbers of refugees right here in our own communities. It takes a whole network of folks to support this effort. No action is ever too little.

I marvel at how easy it was for St. Mark’s to get involved by offering an empty garage at our church to store some furniture that was collected and awaiting placement in a refugee’s home. That small act was transformed into a full donation center in our Education Wing which holds kitchen and household items that are used to set up a home for refugees in our area. Through our collective
work, we offer much more than what Mary and Joseph experienced in being offered a stable! We offer these refugees hope and a chance to live securely, because Christ first came and offered to make his home with us and give us hope.

Holy God, we thank you for your presence on our journey no matter where we go. Continue to guide and lead our care for refugees. Help us all to be instruments of your peace and protection so that all may live safely and securely. Amen.


Rev. Bryan Penman serves as pastor of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Conshohocken.
The church stores donated household goods for the refugee resettlement program.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Saturday, December 19 and Sunday, December 20, 2015

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
Luke 1:41-45

The excitement of the presence of God is palatable in this story. Mary feels the baby jump in her womb and Elizabeth exclaims with great joy. This is not a rational, well-thought out response, but radiant, unbounded delight. These women were both givers and receivers of the grace of God and in finding that grace in one another, they overflowed with joy.

In my work, I am blessed to experience the presence of God in many ways as I work to coordinate social ministries connecting those who want to serve with those who are vulnerable. While I am passionate about serving those who are vulnerable, I am often surprised that the outpouring of delight is more often found in those who are blessed to give. When they realize that God worked through them to bring a bit of healing and hope into the world, it is as if they are set on fire with possibilities. The donations multiply. There are more volunteers. Those who serve bring together their friends and fellow church members to take the next step into service.

The good news of God’s presence with us in Jesus Christ moves through our service with overflowing grace. The joy of service is contagious with radiant, unbounded delight when we open ourselves to that joy. Mary and Elizabeth show us that our service is never a burden, but a privilege.

God of joy and delight, fill us with joy as we encounter your presence through service. Make us shine with delight as a sign of your grace for the sake of the world. Amen.   

Rev. Jennifer Ollikainen serves as Executive Director of Lutheran Congregational Services.

Friday, December 18, 2015

Friday, December 18, 2015

Friday, December 18

And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25

The saying, “It takes a village,” comes to mind when I read this text from Hebrews and think about the work of working with congregations supporting refugee resettlement.

Back in December of 2013, two of us from Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansdale’s refugee resettlement team headed to the airport to meet and welcome three young sisters traveling to Philadelphia from a refugee camp in Namibia, Africa. Their journey began many years before our church community ever met them. The journey began when these three were forced to flee for their lives from their home of the Democratic Republic of Congo, live in a refugee camp and then travel to the US to begin a new life.

We didn’t know much about them except that they were traveling alone without parents. We were nervous because we didn’t know what they looked like, how to find them at the airport, and how we should greet them. We were strengthened by the help, encouragement and reminders to each other about what is important. When we found the three sisters, we easily knew what to do. We welcomed them with hugs and brought them to the home our congregation had decorated and furnished. We ate a warm meal together and they finally slept in a safe place, a place they now call home.

Hebrews teaches us that we are called to show others what it means to welcome, care, support, help, and love one another. By working together, refugees are able to transition into a new life with new relationships. They are able to heal from their past, have a voice for themselves, and regain their humanity.

Gracious God, give us courage to welcome those who are different from ourselves and inspire us to help one another offer your compassion and love to those who are vulnerable. Amen.

Jane Jorgenson is a Resource Developer for Lutheran Children and Family Service Refugee Resettlement program in Philadelphia.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Thursday, December 17

But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jeremiah 31:33

The prophet Jeremiah is speaking of a change in the way God’s people will know who God is. The covenant God made with Moses was being disobeyed. Now God will provide another way to see who God is and the love God has for the people. The law will no longer appear on stone tablets, but upon the hearts of God’s people.

The covenant Jeremiah proclaims is here and now. We have the opportunity to establish a permanent loving relationship with God through Christ and the dwelling of the Holy Spirit.  This new relationship is founded on the grace of God through Christ: God’s free unconditional love given to all through Christ. It is God’s grace, God’s love, God’s life and light to all God’s people. In our relationships, in our hearts, and in our love, God lives.

The ministries and services of Liberty Lutheran are an extension of this relationship with God and love for neighbor. As a Disaster Spiritual Partner, I am privileged to be a point of contact and support in times of tragedy or disasters which occur within our neighbors’ lives. Disaster Spiritual Partners accompany our sisters and brothers in Christ to comfort the hurting and brokenhearted and to find ways of extending God’s love to the community. Our ministry is the extended hand of God in love, light, and life to all.

Loving and gracious God, you dwell within our hearts, you light our way, and we live in service to you and our neighbor. Amen.


Rev. Barry Spatz is pastor of Jacobs Lutheran Church and Outwood Lutheran Church in Pine Grove. He serves as a Disaster Spiritual Partner with Lutheran Disaster Response – Eastern PA.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Wednesday, December 16

Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:7-8

Christmas is the season of giving. And not just giving to family and friends. Americans give more to charity this time of year than any other time. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians reminds us to be thoughtful and purposeful in how and what we give. Are we giving from our heart? Are we sowing seeds that promote good?

In my role as a fundraiser with Liberty Lutheran, I am blessed to frequently witness cheerful givers who give with purpose, sowing in faith seeds that grow and flourish.

Some invest in the future of our children, providing a safe, supportive environment that helps children achieve academically and develop strong characters to succeed in life. They plant seeds of love and hope –showing children from low income families that their lives matter, that they are loved; and hope that their future can be as bright and beautiful as their dreams.

Others invest in older adults, providing programs and services that help seniors age with dignity and quality of life. They sow seeds of peace, comfort and joy so that seniors can live life to the fullest, knowing that their needs, regardless of their circumstances, will be met.

Still others invest in newcomers, families fleeing persecution and torture for a safe, secure place to start over. They sow seeds of peace, freedom and hope – peace and freedom from the trauma these newcomers endured; and hope that they can regain their humanity and truly live again.

God of hope, inspire us to sow the seeds of your love with cheerful giving. Make us generous and compassionate every day. Amen.

 
Patty Cline is the Director of Major Gifts with Liberty Lutheran Services.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Tuesday, December 15

Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Psalm 80:3

I always enjoyed participating in the Christmas Gift program at Artman. I would receive the name of a resident with some suggested gift requests, and was asked to purchase and wrap the gift for them to receive at Christmas. Since both of my parents have died and entered the Kingdom of God, I thought this would be a nice way of remembering and honoring them at Christmas.

One year, I was eager to receive the gift request. What interesting items would they want? When I received the name of my resident and their gift request I was a bit surprised. Batteries! He wanted batteries in two specific sizes. I admit that I was a little bummed out because it was not very creative or exciting. Bit I complied and got batteries. And I got creative in the wrapping of the gift.

After Christmas, I talked with a staff member who told me how thrilled the resident was to receive the batteries. He now had a big enough supply that he didn’t worry about burning them out. I gave him a lot!

This verse from Psalm 80 put this into perspective. “Let YOUR face shine.” God let me know what it would take to bring a smile to this resident’s face. I wasn’t bummed out anymore. It wasn’t about what I thought would be a good gift. It was about letting God use me to celebrate his Son’s birth by bringing joy to someone else.

Gracious God, may people see your face shine through the ways you use me to do your work. Amen.

Rev. Bruce Todd serves as pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Lafayette Hill and on the Advancement Committee of Liberty Lutheran.

Monday, December 14, 2015

Monday, December 14, 2015

Monday, December 14

By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Luke 1:78-79

There is a time to be born and a time to die.  We are all united to this common reality. As Chaplain with Liberty Hospice, I have the privilege of assisting patients and their families as they transition in their final stage of life.

We are gifted with the skills and abilities to help families decrease their fear and anxiety as it relates to death and the dying process. We encourage patients and families to discuss end of life issues, fears, and concerns related to the dying process. We provide active, compassionate listening and encouragement. We address the physical and spiritual needs of the individual. We foster spiritual and emotional exploration, life review, and joy of life. We provide pastoral and supportive counseling. We also play music, sing to, and pray with our patients--one of my favorite things to do with families.
  
It is a privilege and an honor to serve the patients, families, and team members. I do not take this task lightly or half-heartedly. I am firmly grounded in Jesus’s proclamation that we are the light of the world and the salt of the earth.  I have seen God working through the team doing works of emotional and spiritual healing, reconciliation, and bringing joy and comfort to the families that we serve. I am so very thankful for the privilege to serve those who are in need and through God and His love, bring comfort, light, and hope to those who are suffering and in need.

Loving God, open our eyes to see the light and hope even in the face of death. Help us to care for one another in all stages of life. Amen.


Rev. Matthew Hopkins serves as Chaplain for Liberty Lutheran’s Hospice and as Associate Pastor at the Second Baptist Church of Doylestown.

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 13, 2015

And the crowds asked [John], “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax-collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’Luke 3:10-12

As a child in Sunday School, whenever I heard these verses about sharing my extra coat with those who had none, I would feel guilty. After all, I had two coats: one for playing and one for school and special occasions. Surely, I could give one of them away.

But, the more I contemplate John the Baptist as prophet, the more I realize that people may not have asked, “What should we do?” out of fear and guilt. They asked because they believed John’s message and were ready to participate in his mission to bring repentance and healing to a weary world. John made it uncomplicated. Share what you have, even something small. Be fair and compassionate as you deal with others, especially those weaker than or different from you. 

That’s what Lutheran Congregational Services seeks to help individuals and congregations to do. It’s as uncomplicated as providing sponges for LDR cleaning buckets or socks for a Christmas Ingathering. It’s as compassionate as offering pots and pans for Refugee Resettlement welcome boxes or volunteering for Camp Noah, a day camp for children who have survived disasters.

In this reflective time of Advent, how can the fire of God’s Spirit within us help us show the light of God’s loving grace to the world? In what uncomplicated way can you participate in the mission of God to a weary world?

Loving God, help us notice the small, simple ways you invite us to participate in your grace-filled mission for this world. Thank you for these opportunities. Amen. 

Rev. Paulette Obrecht is a pastor in Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod who serves as a hospital chaplain and on the Advisory Board of Lutheran Congregational Services.

Friday, December 11, 2015

Friday, December 11, 2015

May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
2 Peter 1: 2-3

What do we have that we can give away? As the reading states, God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness. Therefore, we will always have enough to give some away. However, it takes compassion on our part.

A high school boy walked into our Share Our Surplus warehouse last fall and asked what we were doing. When we explained that we distribute laundry detergent and fabric softener for those who come to food banks and agencies, his very first reaction was, “How can I help?” I shared with him the schedule and he loaded them into his phone calendar. Honestly, I never expected to see him again. Was I wrong!

This young man showed up several times and even brought his brother with him. Since most of us who volunteer in the warehouse have gray hair, we were grateful for their strong backs and delighted with their compassionate attitude toward others they did not know.

There is a strange thing about compassion. You can never use it up. The more you give away the more you will have. God will make sure that you will never run out of the opportunity to be compassionate. We all learned something from those two young men.

Dear Lord, continue to put people in our lives that show us and teach us that you work in the hearts of all your people. We are grateful to be reminded and inspired by the compassion youth have for others.


Rev. Ginny Goodwin is the coordinator of Lutheran Congregational Services’ Share Our Surplus warehouse ministry.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Thursday, December 10

He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.
Isaiah 40:11

Like all communities across America and around the world, the city of Easton continues to see families and individuals who struggle to reliably put nutritious food on their table. God has provided enough bounty for all, yet we cannot seem to find the universal compassion to see that it is distributed fairly. Some of us have too much while others have too little. Faith leads me to seek a way to share God’s blessing and light with care and balance.

As a Christian, I seek comfort and insight through worship within our congregation at Arndt’s Lutheran Church in Forks Township, Pennsylvania. And through Lutheran Congregational Services, a Lutheran Social Ministry Organization, I have connected with other Christian soldiers beyond my congregation, people who share my mission to support the changes needed to relieve food insufficiency in our community, our region, our country and our world. Our work together helps me know that the path that God has shown me is the one to follow and that God will always provide the light to guide us.

Lord of light, help us see the need in our midst. Support and grow our collective compassionate hearts so that every lamb is carried in your arms, every lamb is fed as you intended. Amen.

Nancy Walters leads the “Make It Take It” kitchen in Easton. It is a program that teaches people who are food insecure to cook healthy, economical dishes.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Wednesday, December 9

Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
Luke 9:1-2

Several of our residents at Artman had a lively discussion about this verse with me. What follows is from the wisdom of our elders.

One resident observed that there are things which “sit on our shoulders” or dwell “in the pit of our stomachs.” In the end, these things hurt and even destroy us. It is the power of Jesus that frees us from these “demons” of anger, helplessness, grief, guilt, fear, intolerance, injustice, lack of trust, and selfishness.

I asked the residents about the “kingdom of God” which the disciples were sent to proclaim. They shared that this proclamation was centered in the forgiveness and peace God gives to us. Trusting that God yearns to help us, we find what we need to handle all those things in life which are so difficult. God brings the healing and peace we need. It is the very opposite of the “demons” which seek to demand our attention.

The disciples were called to proclaim this forgiveness and peace. And we are called to do this, too. We share the Kingdom of God through the way in which we treat others, wherever we find ourselves in life. The residents shared that they through listening to the sorrows of others, giving support, praying for one another, being a friend, and welcoming the new resident.

Our proclamation doesn’t always have to be something spectacular. You don’t have to be rich and powerful, or eloquent and able-bodied to do this work. God calls each one of us to share God’s love in whatever way we can.

Loving God, help us share your love through the ways we treat others with compassion, patience and prayer. Amen.

Rev. Linda Hatcher is Chaplin at Artman.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. 
Isaiah 40:1

“Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God,” paired with our Advent theme, “You are the light of the world,” can be too heavy of a command for me. It is simply too much for one person to do.

In 2011 after Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, a list of hundreds of names of people in need was delivered to my inbox. After Hurricane Sandy in 2012, I even received an email from a whitehouse.gov email address requesting support for a family in a dire situation in our area. I was overwhelmed and felt like I didn’t have the right or enough resources to help. I didn’t want to find myself as a point of failure knowing so many people need comfort and light.

After years of this work, I am finally learning to remember that I am not able to provide all that’s needed, alone. When I share the needs with others--with individuals, congregations and community partners—together, we bring comfort and light. God’s command is not issued to any one person. Rather, God calls to all of us, together, to bring comfort and light into the world.

Recently, when I received a call from someone needing help beyond what one person could do, I did not worry. I took a deep breath, made some phone calls, and remembered that God is with me in many ways as we do this work of disaster response, together. Now, a team of volunteers is assembling some much-needed home repairs on a house damaged by last year’s harsh winter. Together, we are bringing comfort and hope.

Dear Lord, help us to remember that we are not alone in our service and that, together, we share the comfort that is in you. Amen.

Julia Menzo is the Coordinator of Lutheran Disaster Response – Eastern PA and Coordinator of Volunteers at Liberty Lutheran Services.

Monday, December 7, 2015

Monday, December 7, 2015

Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God.”Isaiah 35:3-4

When we are lonely, scared, and most vulnerable, life may seem overwhelming. Alone, we find that life is difficult; scared, we find our hands weak and our knees shaky and feeble. We often seek the “miraculous” or other supernatural events to reveal to us a much-needed intervention in our lives. But that never seems to come. So where do we go to have our hands strengthened and our knees firmed? It is then (and sometimes only then) that we seek out God. It is then that we must be saved, not by ourselves, but by the help of God.

As the prophet states, we encourage the lonely, the broken and those with fearful hearts “to be strong: Here is your God.” Isaiah goes on to promise that God will “come and save you.” In this season of Advent, we remember that God became human; that He came and saved us. God showed us a miraculous birth of a child who grew to be Jesus, the Christ. It is Jesus who saved us from sin and death, and gave us eternal life.

Today, God continues His care of the scared, fearful and lonely through us. It is a privilege to work with and alongside God’s servants at Liberty Lutheran, providing care and comfort to seniors, children and families, refugees, immigrants, and disaster relief in times when we find ourselves most vulnerable.

As we wait on the Advent of our Lord, let us strengthen the hands of the weak and make firm the fearful of heart!

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Protect us by your strength and save us from the threatening dangers of our sins, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen


Rev. David Young is pastor of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Blue Bell and Grace Lutheran Church, Warminster. He is a Geriatric Counselor at Journey’s Way Senior Center, Philadelphia, and a member of the Board of Directors of Liberty Lutheran Services.

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 6, 2015

[John] went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
Luke 3:3-6

I am struck in this passage by the fact that in preparing for the Lord, every valley shall be filled. A valley is usually a large empty space. To fill it is no easy task. And yet, God makes it so. This image is powerful for me, conjuring up images of emptiness and fullness. It brings to mind so many people in whose lives there is emptiness, both physical and spiritual, and the fact that God uses my gifts and abilities to prepare the way, to fill up the emptiness.

This weekend is the Southeastern Pennsylvania Christmas Ingathering, where we gather nearly $100,000 of items which are physically needed by our brothers and sisters both locally and globally. These items include quilts, food, toiletries, school kits, socks, and gifts for children.

“Every valley shall be filled...” To be present at the central collection site is always awe-inspiring. Five trucks arrive from all over the Synod full of these items. The large room which begins stark and empty is filled with donations. One of the five trucks is refilled with items for Lutheran World Relief and is delivered to their warehouse in Maryland, which is also filled to the brim. Another of the trucks is loaded with hundreds of bags of food to stock several city food pantries that will help to fill the valleys of those who are hungry.

Jesus, help us to see the needs of others. As we prepare the way, help us to fill the valleys of our companions on the journey. Amen.


Rev. Sandra Brown is the Interim Pastor at Peace Lutheran Church in Bensalem and serves on the Faith-Based Relations Team of Liberty Lutheran.

Friday, December 4, 2015

Friday, December 4, 2015

And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. I Thessalonians 3:12-13

I must admit. I’ve never been drawn to science. Give me a book of history or literature over biology any day. And so it is with some surprise that, as a pastor, I find myself functioning as a “physician of souls.” Don’t worry, it involves no surgery or anesthesiology!

However, it does mean that I spend less time proclaiming “rights and wrongs” and more time administering the healing Gospel of Christ’s love to people who are worn down by life and who question their value and worth. A person who thinks he or she is unlovable generally struggles to love others.

I think that was one of the challenges Paul was addressing in his letter to the Thessalonians. If they thought themselves unlovable, they would struggle to love others. Accordingly, even as Paul affirmed his love for that community, he prayed that the Lord would increase the Thessalonians’ love for one another. It is a blessing that when we feel powerless to love or be loved, our perfect Savior fills and heals our imperfect hearts. That’s medicine for the soul!

Wherever you are in this journey of life, whatever missteps you have taken, and whatever challenges you face, know that you are beloved by Jesus Christ. May he heal you with his perfect, abundant love and thereby enable you to increase and abound in love for your neighbor.

Healing God, speak your healing word to my heart. Affirm your gracious love for me, so that I can pass that love along to my neighbor. Amen.


Rev. Scott Schul is Pastor for Education and Outreach at Grace Lutheran Church in State College. He leads chapel services at the Village at Penn State and his wife Linda works there as a Certified Nursing Assistant.

 

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Thursday, December 3, 2015

The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.2 Peter 3:9

Recently, the staff of Lutheran Disaster Response – Eastern Pennsylvania (LDR-EPA), a ministry of Lutheran Congregational Services, received a note from a homeowner whose house was damaged by the harsh winter last year. LDR-EPA is arranging for volunteers to replace insulation in the house which was damaged by melting ice and snow.

“[We] received good news that Lutheran Disaster Team will be able to offer us some hands on assistance. We are so grateful to you in coming out to visit, from the distances that you all traveled that day and in providing an initial assessment of our circumstances. We really appreciate what ever assistance you can provide. We isolated ourselves in the process of waiting for answers from our insurance company and that wasn't good. It is not so easy to ask for help because there are so many folks who need help. It was with much deliberation that we did reach out. I think we just needed someone to let us know we don't have to handle this all alone. Last winter was rough. We just wanted to send a quick thank you. We consider it a blessing that we are going to see you again! Have a terrific day and know that you made our day!”

God is patient with us, working in us over time to help us see the presence of those who will help in hard times. In time, we are blessed to know that God is with us, we are not alone and God brings us help in due season.

Loving God, give us patience as you reveal the fullness of your love for us and for this world. Thank you for responding to our cries for help with those who care and serve through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Email to LDR-EPA shared by Rev. Jennifer Ollikainen.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

During Vacation Bible School in June, the children of our church tilled up and planted a community garden in the cemetery which surrounds the church. Each week, the vegetables from the garden were harvested and brought to the local food pantry. Amazingly, as our home gardens struggled this year, the community garden flourished.

In our area, Advent comes at a time of year when you live off the stores of food from the earlier harvest. The stores are in the time of dwindling. As you eat of those stores, they have the scent and taste of the bounty of the harvest God gave you a few months beforehand. The hope of Spring and another season of harvest seems distant.

However, this is a time when the community relies on one another to get through the dwindling days. Everyone shares of what they have, each bringing a different gift to the community. It becomes an abundant bounty only when each little bit is pulled together into a feast. This is what we are doing when we give to those who don’t have enough; we share God’s bounty and the blessing.

In times of thick and lean, we can rejoice as the body of Christ, as community, we can give thanks.

God of abundance, you bring forth the harvest and feed us with the bounty of the earth. Inspire us to share this bounty in order to see the fullness of the feast you have prepared in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Rev. Matthew Ollikainen is pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Niantic. This year, the church’s endowment funds supported the hunger outreach programs of Lutheran Congregational Services.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
Psalm 25:5

Chances are, at least once in recent memory, you’ve had to wait. Perhaps you’ve been put on hold during a phone call, found yourself in a long line at a store or event, or anxiously awaited the arrival of a package. In today’s world, timely responses and instant results are important. Time is valuable. And we all have responsibilities that seem to fill that time to its capacity. We don’t have time to wait!

Martin Luther is attributed with saying, “I have so much to do that if I didn't spend at least three hours a day in prayer, I would never get it all done.” While waiting twenty minutes for a simple slice of pizza can certainly be frustrating, prayerfully and patiently waiting on the Lord should not be. When we feel we are waiting on God, we can use such times to allow Him to lead us in His truth and teach us the lessons He wants us to learn. This will allow us all to better serve as the “light of the world” that Matthew describes in chapter 5, verse 14.

I am truly blessed, through my interaction with our entire family of services at Liberty Lutheran, to see this “light of the world” prominently displayed in all that we do. It is genuinely heartwarming to hear first-hand accounts of the many lives we are able to positively impact as we serve individuals and families facing life-changing situations.

Lord, during what is often a hectic, bustling season of Advent, allow me to wait for your light coming into this world as you lead me in your truth and teaching. Amen.

Brandon Frank is the Manager of Financial Reporting for Liberty Lutheran and is a member and Treasurer of the First Presbyterian Church of Olney.

Monday, November 30, 2015

Monday, November 30, 2015

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”Revelations 22:13

During the season of Advent, our eyes are trained to see the signs of the birth of that new thing, already here. Even the word Advent, "the coming of something new," implies that this is a season to keep our eyes open, a season of anticipation, a season where God is already doing new things. Our God is a God of new beginnings. And as God's followers, we are privileged to play a part in that work.

Many of us are familiar with the recent news of the explosion of refugees seeking protection, safety, and a new life for themselves and their children as they flee Syria and other places of conflict. For years, even when it has not been in the headlines, Lutheran Children and Family Service’s Refugee Resettlement Program has been resettling refugees fleeing persecution. LCFS has been helping refugees find a new beginning, a fresh start. For thousands of people over the years, and especially for unaccompanied minors and children, LCFS has been a light in the darkness, a beacon of hope. It has provided the foundation for the coming of something new in the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

We all do this work together as we welcome newcomers in our neighborhoods and communities. We live into the meaning of this season as part of the "new things" that God is doing in our midst. Praise be to our God of new beginnings.

God of new beginnings, help us to see the new things that you are doing in our midst. Inspire us to take part in your work. Amen.

Rev. Bradley R. Burke is the Assistant to the Bishop for Youth, Young Adult Ministries and Spiritual Formation for Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, ELCA. Formerly, he served as the Executive Director of Lutheran Charities, a partnership between the Lutheran Social Ministry Organizations in our region.

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Sunday, November 29, 2015


Then [Jesus] told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."Luke 21:29-33



A new season has begun. Advent is upon us. I often hear Advent described as a time to prepare for Christmas, and admittedly I have used that definition many times. However, in the church’s life, this season calls us to prepare not just for a coming holiday but for the arrival of the kingdom of God. Advent is about God breaking into our lives and disrupting our world. This text from Luke’s Gospel captures this peculiar nature of Advent: that it is not just about preparing for the arrival of God’s kingdom in the form of an infant born in Bethlehem, but also in the form of the resurrected Christ returning to us.

At a recent advisory board meeting for Lutheran Congregational Services (LCS), I heard stories of Lutheran confirmation classes full of young people sharing meals with their Muslim brothers and sisters, building relationships while learning about the faith of the other. This is just one part of the ministry of LCS. It is a living example of God’s Kingdom breaking into our world. Combating the voices calling them to be enemies, these young people of two different faiths broke bread, shared stories and encountered the other as a fellow creation of God. This is the kingdom of God at work among us: understanding where there once was ignorance; relationship where there once was rivalry; and friendship where there once was fear. “So also, when you see these things taking place, you know the kingdom of God is near.”

Loving God, open our eyes to see the signs of your love coming in to this world. Make us peacemakers and bridge builders between people. Amen.


The Rev. Eric Reimer is pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Hatboro and is on the Advisory Board of Lutheran Congregational Services.

Monday, November 9, 2015

Liberty Lutheran Advent Devotional Booklet 2015



Dear friends,



The season of Advent is a time to reflect on how the light of Christ shines into our lives. We can see that light shining through our care and service to one another in our greatest time of need.



Liberty Lutheran serves more than 59,000 individuals and families facing life-changing situations, from the earliest stages of life to the advanced stages of aging. Throughout Pennsylvania, our programs help children and youth, refugees, disaster survivors and seniors.



At the center of our service is our partnership in ministry and our relationships with people who live, work and worship in our communities and congregations. The light of Christ shines brighter as we work together serving the most vulnerable in our communities.



In the coming days, you will find the reflections, prayers and stories of people who make a vital difference throughout and alongside the programs and services of Liberty Lutheran.



May these reflections be an inspiration and affirmation of the joy and peace we share in faith and service.



Advent Blessings,

Luanne Fisher

CEO, Liberty Lutheran






Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.