LESSONS OF THE REFORMATION:Worship and Education in the Church and the HomeOne of the reasons that Luther is my favorite theologian is that he grew up poor and he never lost sight of his humble upbringing. In a clergy-dominated church he uncovered, or re-discovered the doctrine of the Priesthood of all Believers. “Each and all of us are priests.” With those seven words, Luther asserted the idea of equality, so wrote the popular columnist, George Will. Luther called the laity, “a new breed of clergy”. Baptism, not ordination, is the important event in our lives, because it makes us all ministers, all servants of God.Christians are Life Long LearnersHowever, Luther also insisted that these ministers, you and I, be trained - that is that we be equipped for ministry. Which brings me to my second reason for being high on Luther and that is his twin emphasis on learning and worship. Learning without worship leads to the creation of “clever devils” and worship without learning is vulnerable to fanaticism and all kinds of superstitions. Recall the Apostle Paul’s stirring words to the Christians in Corinth, “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, but when I became an adult, I gave up childish ways.” (1 Cor. 13)  In the early centuries of the church we have St. Augustine saying, “Not all who believe think, but they who think, believe.”  One of the reasons the Reformation movement captured the hearts of the people was Luther’s emphasis on the importance of learning. He put the Bible in the hands of common people. Luther made the language appropriate for God talking not just to scholars but to ordinary people. In 1529, Luther wrote The Large and Small Catechisms. The catechisms provide a brief summary of the Christian faith which keeps believers alert and sensitive to the Gospel. Worship empowers us by keeping open the lifeline to God through Word and Sacrament.Home and ChurchLuther not only made partners out of leaning and worship, but he also brought together the Church and the Home. Initially the catechisms were tools of learning for the parents. In a survey taken some years ago, the question was asked, “Will your children have faith?” When both parents attend regularly, 72% of the children remain faithful. If only the father attends regularly, 55% remain faithful. If only the mother, only 15% remain faithful. If neither parent attend, only 6% remain faithful.All through my ministry I have fought the unspoken but very visible macho attitude that says the church is primarily for women and children. Once one is confirmed, the church becomes optional, with a low priority. Just about anything in our lives becomes more important than our discipleship - be it a family picnic, a soccer game, a program on TV, a movie, a fishing trip, deer hunting, the Sunday paper, etc. Here is cheap grace operating at full throttle, while our commitment to our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ, becomes very casual and spasmodic.The Church needs the Home (Family)The steady, but consistent “commitment slippage” that I have observed over my many years of ministry, shout the message that Sunday School and Confirmation are not enough to “keep the faith.” The Church needs the Home and the Home needs the Church. “Faith is formed by the power of the Holy Spirit through personal, trusted relationships - often in our own homes.” (From the Great Omission to a Vibrant Faith, p. 17)  I fear that we have forgotten how important our homes are in the development of a life of faith. “Home” is also Church. “The basic building block for healthy congregational life is the home.” (A quote from Frogs without Legs Can’t Hear, pp 9-10)May the Reformation continue …In a modest attempt to correct that neglect we are: 1) Beginning with the season of Advent, enclosing with each church bulletin, a half sheet that offers a wide variety of suggestions to encourage the family to engage in “faith” discussions. 2) We are attempting to encourage some sort of organization among the young parents of our congregation. We have a vision of small groups, meeting in homes where ideas, dreams, hopes are shared that could help our homes be a church. As indicated, these are modest beginnings for a most important congregational undertaking. I am hoping to hear more ideas from you on how to strengthen the “church” in our homes and a willingness to implement them.

Pastor Bud

In January, 1947, a book sold at public auction for $151,000 – the highest price ever paid for a book up to that point. No, it was not the Bible; it was a first edition of the Bay Psalm Book, officially titled “The Whole Booke of Psalmes Faithfully Translated into English Meter”, published in Cambridge, MA, in 1647.This “hymnal” was written in 1640 by a group of 30 Puritan clergymen in an attempt to translate the Psalms from the Hebrew into versions that could be sung by men and women alike, both in the homes and in the church. Because their focus was on a literal translation, the versions are often rather awkward; however, it should be remembered that the phrasing was designed to make memorizing the verses easier in an age where many could not read. Music did not appear until the 9^th edition of 1698. Until that time, only the words were published with the Psalms being sung to various popular tunes, most of which have been lost.The Bay Psalm Book was the first book written and published in the United States. The printing press used for it was imported from London specifically for that purpose. Its preface is 14 pages long, detailing why, how and when the Psalms should be sung. The ELW, in contrast, contains only a 4-page introduction. I encourage you to look up the Bay Psalm Book preface online. It is interesting reading, once you get past the punctuation, run-on sentences, and other writing and/or printing errors.Sometimes we complain about our current hymns being “too long”, “too wordy”, etc.  Here is Psalm 137:2-5a from the Bay Psalm Book:Our Harps we did hang it amid, Upon the willow tree. Because there they that us away   Led in captivity, Required of us a song, and thus Askt mirth; us waste who laid Sing us among a Sion’s song, Unto us then they said’  The lords song sing can we? being In a strangers land.As we sing our beloved hymns of Thanksgiving and Christmas, be particularly thankful that we are not living in the time of the Pilgrims and the Puritans!

Elaine Jaeke

The Council is very encouraged in the strength of the congregation, the support that is happening in every area and the renewed Holy Spirit that is with NGMLC.  We have been working on starting the call “process” and continue to search for ways to have most if not all of our congregation play an active part in choosing our next permanent Pastor.  We are excited to have the opportunity to work with a very experienced consultant at a modest cost.  Dr. Jon Huegli will help guide us through the process,  along with the Synod.  Mary Weber has been agreed to take on the brunt of the workload functioning as the Internal Resource Person in preparing the way for his workshop on November 13^th.  Please thank Mary if you have the opportunity and if possible, make time to be part of this ever important “process” at this critical junction of NGMLC’s future.  We have also been working to secure our future Pastoral needs with Pastor Bud Buchheim, the Synod and likely our next Interim Pastor.  Our hope is to have a contract (approved by the Interim Pastor and recommended by Council) ready for a vote at the Congregational meeting on November 14.  As I’ve  mentioned recently, God works in wondrous ways.  I have witnessed the Holy Spirit in action 3 times in my life…this is one of those times.  I have no doubt that God is currently at work in our Congregation.  Please come to the Congregational Meeting for the official announcement of our next interim Pastor.  I’m sure you’ll be pleased.Council continues to be cautiously optimistic about our current attendance and finances but still concerned for the future.  I personally feel we have turned a corner (but now we need to hit the gas).  There may be some positive trends emerging, but more work needs to be done to ensure these trends become engrained.  We must have increased income to have a 2011 budget that reinstates our programs and provides for the hiring of a permanent Pastor.  Even a small increase in your monthly giving and pledges will make a big impact by finishing 2010 on a positive note and helping to move into 2011 with a faith mission instead of continual concern over income.  It would be great if we all are able to share more of our financial successes with NGMLC.  But…also don’t forget to share words of encouragement to your friends and family by letting them know they are always welcome to join our vibrant, spirit-filled Congregation.And finally, Council and others are continuing to look for volunteers in many roles.  Some volunteer opportunities we’ve recently discussed are:  Volunteer Coordinator, Publicity Team Members, Webmaster, Capital Drive Campaign Team Members, Nursery Coordinator and Nursery Volunteers.  If you would like to volunteer for any of these roles or any others, please let us know.

Respectively submitted by Jim Simpson, Council President