Partners in Christ – Building for Eternity!

 I have been praying about the Biblical foundation and theme for the work we have begun as a congregation which has brought us to the Campaign Readiness Study and hopefully results in a Capital Campaign that will allow us to renovate and expand our facility so that we are better able to reach our neighborhoods with the life-saving message of Jesus Christ.  As I prayed over this, the Lord kept bringing to mind a Scripture that was shared at a Vision Team meeting – Philippians 1:3-6.  I studied the entire book of Philippians to better understand the context of Paul’s words.  I prayed and brainstormed, but nothing seemed right.  In my personal devotion one morning I approached my Bible study with a simple prayer: Lord, give me your idea... your theme.  When I was finished I found that I had a few more thoughts which I jotted down on my note pad.  Then I turned to my email for the morning.  There was one that I was about to dismiss because of time, but I was compelled to open it and read it.  It was an LCMS News Report entitled, LCEF Reps Meet to Build for Eternity.  What followed was an inspiring report about the vision and commitment of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund and our church leadership to involve all of us in taking up the challenge to impact our culture, communities and world with the Gospel.  To that end the LCEF has adopted the theme: Together in Christ – Building for Eternity.  That’s when the light seemed to go on for me.  Our mission theme for 2008 and beyond?  Partners in Christ – Building for Eternity. 

Consider what Paul wrote in Philippians 1:3-6.  I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  Do you see what I see?  I see a an emphasis on two crucial aspects of our mission. 

First, it captures the idea of "partnership" and "team" and uniting around our mission.  We all agree this is vital if we are going to accomplish anything significant for the Lord and His Kingdom.  This is the unity Jesus prayed for in John 17:20-21, 23.  I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me... May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me. 

Second, it captures the element of history and eternity.  We are part of a good work God began at Holy Cross in March of 1962.  This was the month and year of the organizational meeting which resulted in a decision to go ahead with a Lutheran Mission in Northwest Rochester.  From that point the Lord has been at work building His Kingdom through the people who have made up Holy Cross.  We are part of that history and now it is our turn to make a significant contribution to the good work the Lord began.  We do this with an eye towards eternity, because we see that this work will reach an end on the Day of Christ Jesus.  That is the last day.  Until then, Jesus exhorts us in John 9:4... As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.   

That gives  a sense of urgency to our work.  The day of Jesus' return is approaching.  Our mission is to help as many people as possible become fully alive in Jesus.  To do that we must first reach our neighborhood(s) with the life-saving message of Jesus Christ.  As we reach more and more people we also need to equip them for faithful living and serving in Jesus' name.  That's where our space/facility needs come in.  We are not talking about building Solomon's Temple.  We are talking about  designing and developing an excellent Mission Training Facility where God's people can experience:

*Connecting -- with each other, the mission and ministries of Holy Cross, and with unbelievers and the unchurched.

*Worship -- individually and corporately giving glory to God and being built up in their faith.

            *Equipping -- be equipped for faithful living and serving in Jesus' name.

*Stewardship -- discover how they can utilize their God-given gifts and resources  in fulfilling our mission (*The 4 Core Functions of our Mision).

 Back in 1962 Holy Cross was considered a "Mission."  Historically, one goal of a "mission" is to become a "self-supporting" congregation.  While that is a good goal to reach, what can happen is that we start to think of ourselves as a "church" now and no longer a "mission."  We need to see ourselves as a "Mission" which is an ongoing work.  The Lord began a "mission" with his people in 1962.  That "mission" continues today.  When the first building was dedicated on April 26, 1964 the mission of Holy Cross was stated this way: Dedicated to the service of Christ and the Community.  When the second building project was completed  and dedicated on April 16, 1972 the first pastor, Donald Lutz, communicated this to the congregation: Our supreme purpose and direction now must be to use all the means our Lord has given to reach out and draw people so that together we might see Jesus, and seeing Him, adore Him.  He went on to say: "Come, for all things are ready."  That is the invitation which Holy Cross extends to all within reach of her voice.  May every disturbed soul, troubled conscience and restless heart share in that peace and hope which is given by our... resurrected King, Jesus Christ.  On the back page of the dedication booklet was a drawing of our "holy cross" which hangs in the sanctuary and adorns our rooftop.  Below are these words:

            -- To those who pass by may the Christ of the Cross reveal His Redemptive love.

            -- To those who enter within, may you find the warmth of the Savior's care.

-- To the members of this Congregation, may we share with our fellow men the treasures of God's abundant Grace.

This bit of history reveals to me that our current Mission, Vision, Values and Mirror (Core Identity) and our Core Functions of Connecting, Worship, Equipping and Stewardship are consistent with the work that was begun.  We are to "use all the means our Lord has given" to help people become fully alive in Jesus (Mission).  We want to do everything we can to Show people the Way to Jesus, Share with the people the Truth of Jesus, and invite them to Celebrate the Life that is ours in Jesus (Vision). Because we value Grace we desire everyone to consider Jesus.  In all things the Bible directs and develops our life in Jesus in all areas of Connecting, Worship, Equipping, Stewardship.  We value our Relationships with each other and those who do not know Jesus as their Savior.  That is because God uses relationships to nurture our life in Jesus. 

Like Paul in his words to the Philippian Church, we recognize Prayer as crucial in everything we do because God's guidance and blessing are sought through prayer.  Because of the eternal significance our mission we value Integrity and pledge to do everything with integrity.  And, like those who laid the foundation of the first and second buildings we value Creativity because we know how new ideas inspire new ways to pursue our mission (6 Values).

 As the Lord continues this "good work" in us and through us we desire to see a continuous cycle of people who:

            -- Receive Jesus as Savior and Lord.

            -- Remain in Jesus through continual growth in their relationship with Jesus.

            -- Relate their life in Jesus to the people and world around them.

            -- Rejoice in the presence, purpose and power of God in their lives.

            -- Respond by using their God-given gifts and resources to fulfill our mission (Mirror). 

I believe it is crucial that we see that we are part of what the Lord began at Holy Cross.  That is because we do not want to find ourselves asking God to be a part of what we are doing.  Rather, we want to be a part of what God is doing.  Here are two quotes I came across in my prayer and devotion time.  The first is from Henry Bosch one of the founders of the popular “Our Daily Bread” devotional.  He wrote: Where God guides, God provides.  In other words, if we are following God’s guidance in this endeavor, then we can absolutely trust him to provide.  The second quote is from God’s Word.  For the sake of Your name lead and guide me.  (Psalm 31:3)  This is our prayer.  We seek God’s clear guidance and blessing for one purpose– for the sake of God’s name.  In other words, in all things we desire God alone to receive the glory.  That means we pray with complete faith in Jesus’ promise in John 14:13... And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.

 While our task is a huge undertaking, its key components are simple.  What was at the heart of the Church in the earliest days of its beginning needs to remain at the heart of Holy Cross.  We read it in Acts 2:42... They devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching (the WORD), the breaking of bread (WORSHIP), Fellowship (RELATIONSHIPS) and to the Prayers (PRAYER).

The amazing results of their devotion are in the verses that follow.  The most important result of all is found in Acts 2:47... And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.  Until we reach that point our work will not be completed.  And, when we do our work will continue until the Day of the Lord’s return.

 Rejoicing in our Partnership in the Gospel and in this opportunity to be: Partners in Christ – Building for Eternity.

 Pastor Schauder

December 2007