North Star News 05-28-2015

In the first chapter of the Book of Acts there is an account of the first pastoral transition in the history of the Christian church.  The chapter begins with the ascension of Jesus into heaven after giving his disciples the commission to be his “witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)  Then comes a listing of the members of the group: the eleven remaining apostles as well as “the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers” all of whom “with one accord devoted themselves to prayer.” (Acts 1:14)  Left unstated is the obvious vacancy in the group that had once been called “the twelve” but now were only eleven.  Judas was no more.

            Then comes verse 15 where Peter takes a leadership role in the choosing of a successor to Judas.  The first thing he does is develop a job description.  “One of the men who accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us, one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”  (Acts 1:21)  In those early days it was important that that an apostle have a full understanding of all that Jesus said and did, and it is just as important for any pastor today.

            The beauty of this passage is that they immediately came up with two candidates.  Where they had been looking for one good man to replace Judas, God provided two.  Joseph and Matthias were both equally qualified to become apostles.  Both would have fit the bill.  This is the great generosity of our God in providing more for us than we ask or think.  Here in the vital time of the first generation of Christians, God provided two good candidates.  Now in the 21^st century, God is still providing good men and women to lead his people and preach the saving gospel of Jesus Christ.  When one dies or resigns or (God forbid) turns away, God will provide another.

            Then the whole company of them prayed for divine guidance in choosing which man was to become the new 12^th apostle.  In their prayer they said, “Lord, who knows the hearts of all men, show us which one of these two you have chosen.” (Acts 1:24).  Earlier the scripture says they were devoting themselves to prayer about many things as they waited for the promised coming of the Holy Spirit, but here they specifically prayed for divine guidance in a very practical matter.  Immediately God provided the guidance they sought.  They used the ancient practice of casting lots (the urim and thummin of Exodus 28:30) to make the decision, and the lot fell to Matthias so that, as the scripture so simply says, “he was enrolled with the eleven apostles” (Acts 1:26)  The ministry would go on.  Soon all twelve of them would be his witnesses not only in Jerusalem but “in Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth” after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which is described in chapter two of the Book of Acts.

            In generation after generation God has provided Christian leaders for his people through a process in which the people discern the qualities needed, find suitable candidates, pray, and then choose.  No one casts lots anymore, although some have argued that when you get down to two very good candidates it would work as well today as any other method.  Today elections are the norm.  But the most important step in the process is prayer.  When the people pray, God will answer, and the ministry will continue.

            To God be the glory.  Amen.

Pastor Gary Halverson

Karlstad Memorial Day Service

MEMORIAL DAY 2015

Invocation

Almighty and eternal God, we gather today to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our county and its ideals of liberty and justice for all.  As we remember those men and women who fought and died for us, we know that our freedom has not been granted to us by any human authority, and we believe that “all men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator by certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” as the Declaration of Independence says.  And so we begin today by acknowledging that you are the “Author of Liberty: even as we remember those who have defended our liberty in the heat of battle.

          We come before you today remembering as well that you are a God who rules over all the nations.  Even as we pray for our own country and speak of our love for our own native land, we know that you judge all the nations with equity, caring for people on every continent, and desiring peace and respect in the community of nations.  You are lord of all.

          Nevertheless, today we are gathered to honor our own.  We remember with grateful hearts those who fought for us over the 239 years of our independence, whose mortal remains rest in our local cemeteries, in our national cemeteries, in cemeteries overseas, and sometimes in places unknown.  Make us truly grateful for what they have given in defense of our land and of liberty, and determined that “government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth” as President Lincoln said at the dedication of a battlefield cemetery in 1863.  Amen.

 

MEMORIAL DAY 2015

Benediction

Almighty and eternal God, as we conclude these ceremonies, we pray that the sacrifices made in defense of liberty will not be in vain.  Grant that we will dedicate ourselves to the defense of freedom in our day, and that we will build a nation where the rights and freedom of all people will be respected and the rule of law will be upheld for every individual, no matter who they are.  May we leave this place dedicated to the defense of liberty and the equal protection under the law.

          Today as we remember those who experienced the curse of war, grant us the blessings of peace, as we recall the scripture that says, “blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”   We want to be sons and daughters of God who enjoy your blessings here on this earth and forever in heaven.

          As we face the future, we pray for those who rule over us in government, that you will grant them wisdom, strength, and courage as they make and administer the laws.  We pray for our president and congress, for our governor and legislature, including our own state representative who is with us today, our mayor and city council, and all the members of the judiciary.  May their work create a brighter future for all of us.

          And finally, bless all of us, O Lord, on this day of solemn remembrance, and on every day of the year.   AMEN.

         

North Star News 05-21-2015

As we prepare for Memorial Day this coming Monday many of us will be paying a visit to a beautiful, tranquil cemetery to decorate the graves of our loved ones.  The Eidsvold Cemetery along a quiet country road (when the gravel trucks are not running) is one of those beautiful places I will visit.  There is a lovely calm in remembering the lives of those whose names are now etched in stone.  They rest in peace.

            Memorial Day originated in the aftermath of the Civil War when large cemeteries were placed next to the battlefields.  One of the greatest speeches in American history, President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, was delivered at the dedication of one such cemetery.  These cemeteries were often far from the places the soldiers had called home, so few relatives and friends could easily visit.  It fell to those living nearby to honor the dead with decorations and visits.  Thus began the observance of an annual Memorial Day.

            Today Memorial Day is observed by all Americans, military and civilian, and is a time for people to remember their loved ones with visits and decoration of their graves.  But when visiting these quiet places it is good to remember that the origin of the holiday really began with the din of battle, the roar of cannons, and the desperate cries of the wounded and dying.  The noise of battle preceded the tranquility of those country cemeteries, and the stench of death preceded the fragrance of lilacs in bloom at the end of May.  Memorial Day is a time to be reminded of the horrors of war and to rededicate ourselves to the benefits of peace.

            In every case when America entered a war there was an expectation of a quick victory, except for World War II which everyone knew would be a long, hard fight.  In almost every case the war was longer, the battle harder, and the casualties higher than expected.  This has happened time and again, and yet each new generation seems to forget this unchanging truth: once a war begins it spins out of the control of those who began it.

            The injunction to “seek peace and pursue it” in 1^st Peter 3:11 applies not only to interpersonal relations but to international relations as well.  This Memorial Day as we enjoy peaceful visits to quiet cemeteries, and as we remember the lives of those who have left this earthly coil, let us pray for peace on earth and do what we can as citizens and as voters to realize the vision of Isaiah 2:4 when

they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.

Pastor Gary Halverson

North Star News 05-14-2015

Saturday, May 16, is Armed Forces Day.  Since 1950 the third Saturday in May has been designated to honor those who are currently serving in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, or Coast Guard.  Those who wear the uniform of one of the branches of the military perform a valuable service in protecting the nation.  When they put on the uniform they are expected to act with integrity, honesty, loyalty, and bravery.  One of the reasons for the use of military uniforms is to instill in an instinctive way the sense that this uniform calls those who wear it to act in an honorable way.

            In Ephesians 6:11 St. Paul encourages all Christians, civilian or military, to “put on the whole armor of God.”  And then starting in verse 14 he uses the uniform of an ordinary soldier of his day to describe how Christians in every age should equip themselves.  He writes “Stand therefore, having girded your loins with the truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”

            This image spoke well to the people of his day, whether in Ephesus or elsewhere, for Roman soldiers were everywhere in his world.  Among the ways the faith spread from one country to the next in those early years was that a soldier was posted to Judea, for instance, was baptized there and then transferred to Gaul where he witnessed to another soldier who was then baptized and transferred to Albion, and so on.  Every day these Christian soldiers put on a military uniform, and as they did so were reminded of the Christian virtues of truth, righteousness, faith, and peace as well as the Roman virtues of bravery, integrity, and obedience.  They may have noticed that the only offensive weapon on Paul’s list is the sword, which represents the Word of God, but even then its purpose is to give life.  Hebrews 4:12 says, “the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joint and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  When the Word of God touches the heart there is life and salvation.  As Paul said in Romans 10:9 “if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

            May you proudly wear the uniform that Paul describes, being saved because the Word of God has touched your heart so that you confess Jesus Christ as Lord with your lips and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead.  And may you be equipped with truth, righteousness, faith, and above all, peace.

Pastor Gary Halverson

North Star News 05-07-2015

The day this meditation is published in the newspaper is the National Day of Prayer.  The National Day of Prayer is always the first Thursday in May and is a day set aside for all people of faith to pray for the nation and its inhabitants in their many needs.  The focus, however, tends to be on national leaders, the nation’s military, and the current challenges facing the nation.  If you are reading this on the day of publication I encourage you to take some time to pray for the nation in whatever way you are led to do.  If you are reading this at a later date please know that any day is a good day to pray for our country.

            In II Timothy 2:1 St. Paul wrote, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way.”  It has always been a part of the church’s ministry to pray for those who hold authority in the land, whether that be a president of the country or a local official.  It is not just for those “who are in high positions” for whom we pray, but for all who have a part in making and enforcing the laws of the land and protecting our people from harm.  That being said, those who are in high positions make decisions that affect millions of people.  This spring the nation is observing the 40^th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War and the fall of Saigon which surely teaches us that bad decisions by those in high positions can have devastating consequences for those of us in more lowly positions.  So let us pray for those who have great authority that they act with wisdom.

            Much of what happens in this country is the result of countless small decisions made by ordinary citizens.  The recent riots in Baltimore were not the result of anything anyone in high authority did, but what some ordinary people did.  St. Paul asks that prayer be made for all men, including those often unemployed young men who take to the streets in violent protest.  Pray that they find better ways to air their grievances and more productive ways to life their lives.  Don’t forget the little guy.  America was founded on the principle that “all men are created equal.”  Every voice is important.  Every person has their part to play in the life of the nation.  So let us pray for everyone in this land that they all lead “a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way.”

             The theme of this year’s National Day of Prayer is “Lord, Hear Our Cry” based on the theme verse from I Kings 8:28, “Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day.”  You can be confident that when you pray to the God of heaven, he will hear the prayer you offer.  This assurance is found in James 5:16, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”  So let us pray today.

Pastor Gary Halverson

Newsletter May 2015

On the last day of May I will complete 25 years as pastor of the First Eidsvold Lutheran Parish.  My ministry here began on June 1, 1990 followed by an installation service in the afternoon of June 3, 1990 at First Lutheran Church.  None of us knew then how long this ministry would last in light of the serious challenges in this parish at the time.  Then on my second Sunday here (June 10, 1990) First Lutheran Church voted to go ahead with a major addition and remodeling project to be finished in time for the 75^th anniversary of the congregation during my second June here (1991).  We accomplished this and celebrated both the dedication of the addition/remodeling and the anniversary with a banquet and program on Saturday night at the school and a communion service on Sunday morning at church with several former pastors and many former members participating.  It was a great weekend.

Now, 25 years later, I will conclude my active ministry in this parish at the end of May and officially resign as pastor effective on June 30.  This was a hard decision for me to make.  In the Lutheran Church the call to serve as a pastor in a parish ends only with the death or the resignation of the pastor.  There are no terms of office and certainly no term limits.  No bishop or other official determines when, where, and how long a pastor serves, although the bishop may give advice.  It is up to the pastor and the congregation, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to determine when a change of pastor is in order.

Sometimes a call ends when the pastor has another congregation calling for pastoral services, but even then it can take some time and a lot of prayer to discern God’s will in the matter.  In Acts 16 St. Paul endured a time of discernment about his ministry.  As he and Silas (and Luke, presumably) traveled they attempted to go to Bithynia but “the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.” (v.7)  And then “a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing beseeching him and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’  And when he had seen the vision immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” (vv.9-10)

Today a pastor may have that same sense of being needed more urgently somewhere else (Macedonia).  And many a pastor can testify to the experience of feeling the need to go someplace else (“Bithynia”) and not being able to do so.  The question then is, “what does God want?”

At other times there is a sense that the time has come to bring a pastor’s ministry to a close in a particular place.  That is my situation.  For quite some time I have pondered the question, “how will it all end?”  This year several things converged that led me to conclude that now is the time.  As I noted, I am completing 25 years of service here.  I turned 65 years old earlier in the year.  Soon I will complete 40 years of preaching, teaching, and administering the holy sacraments.  It’s not just the nice round numbers, but a sense that this is a good time to move on.

Next year First Lutheran Church will celebrate the centennial of the organization of the congregation (November 12, 1916).  I believe the congregation will benefit from a new pastor with new energy and perhaps with a fresh vision as it moves into its second century.  Eidsvold celebrated its centennial back in 1986 and is currently seeking to know what its role in the life of the church and the parish is.  The shape of congregational life is changing in remote rural areas such as ours.  At one time this was a five point parish (Eidsvold, First, Zion, Pelan, and Hegland). It may be that we are headed back to that kind of configuration again.

Pastors are not the only ones who seek the leading of God’s Spirit in deciding what to do.  This parish will enter into a period of discernment about where it is now, what it hopes to be, and what pastor might serve that purpose.  That is what lies ahead in the next few months.  This can be an anxious time for the congregation, as it is for me personally as I enter retirement, but we should look at this as a time when the Lord is leading us to something new.  As Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow…..” (Matthew 6:34)  And remember his last words on “the mount to which [he] had directed [the disciples]….. ‘and lo I am with you always even to the close of the age.’” (Matthew 28:16&20)

I view the next few months with excitement and a bit of apprehension.  I am retiring from full-time ministry but expect to do some kind of ministry part-time after taking the summer months off to visit family in Minneapolis, Chicago, and Wisconsin.  I hope that this parish, too, will be excited and not too anxious about what the future may hold.  As one old saint repeatedly said to me some 30 years ago: “the future is as bright as the promises of God.”     

Pastor Gary Halverson