Faithful Friday – January 12th

Dear Disciple of Christ, If you’re a member of the congregation I serve, Shepherd of the Woods Lutheran in Jacksonville, Florida, you’re aware of a program we’ve participated in called “vicarage.” Every pastor is required to go through that year of “internship” though not every congregation serves as a vicarage site. That program was developed after World …

Faithful Friday – October 27th

Dear Disciple of Christ, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”  – 1 Corinthians 11:1 My family and I were visiting a pastor and his family in the parsonage of their church in Brooklyn. In fact, it was the church in Brooklyn where we served for a summer with the “Help a Child” program. Not …

Faithful Friday – October 20th

Dear Disciple of Christ, “Simon, do you love me more than these?”  -John 21:15 Do you recognize that question? It was asked by Jesus and issued to Peter (whose name had been “Simon” until Jesus called him Peter, “The Rock”). This interaction took place on the seashore of the Sea of Galilee after the resurrection. They were there because Peter …

Faithful Friday’s – September 29th

“We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28 I think I’ve mentioned that verse above being one of my favorites based on the fact that I experienced it over and over again in my life. I know that it is sometimes …

Faithful Friday – September 15th

Dear Disciple of Christ, Have you ever heard of the “Worship wars”? If you’re not familiar with them you may think it’s a religious television program (like “Storage Wars” except for church goers). You might likely think they are battles between denominations. If you’ve been to a variety of churches you realize that not all churches worship the …

Faithful Friday – August 11th

Dear Disciple of Christ, I’ve mentioned before the matriarch in my Brooklyn Church, the widow of the first pastor who was there 42 years. A “matriarch” is a woman who has a position of authority (often based on some actions or positions held in the past). Being the widow of the founding pastor gives that person a …

Faithful Friday – August 4th

Dear Disciple of Christ, One of the “new things” pastors deal with as pastors, are the “rites” of the church. We do baptisms and confirmations, weddings and funerals. It is most often the decision of a pastor whether they will set “restrictions” on any of these rites. For example, the pastor (or congregation) may have standards for a …

Faithful Friday – July 7th

Dear Disciple of Christ, And Peter testified with many other words and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”  So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.  And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. …

Faithful Friday – May 19th

Dear Disciple of Christ,  Quiz question. What miracle performed by Jesus is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)? Any idea? Jesus went up on the mountain, and there sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that …

Faithful Friday – April 21st

Dear Disciple of Christ, Last week I welcomed you back to these “Faithful Fridays” readings with a brief reflection on visions. From Proverbs we were reminded that…. “Where there is no vision, the people perish. ” (Proverbs 29:18) There is always more that can be said on any of these reflections and having set them aside for …

Faithful Friday – February 3rd

Dear Disciple of Christ, Do you know the difference between an “ordination” and an “installation?” One is done once in a lifetime and one may be done again and again. All pastors are ordained once (unless they “switch” denominations) and installation happens whenever someone begins in a new church setting. You’re right if you’re thinking this seems to be …

Faithful Friday – January 27th

Dear Disciple of Christ, Last week’s posting focused on the temptations we may have for us to use our “timeline” for life rather than God’s. Even now, looking back over those 9 years of study and preparations for pastoral ministry, it seemed like a long process. Those first four years of preparation (in Concordia Junior College in …

Faithful Friday – January 13th

Dear Disciple of Christ, I expect few of you have ever seen my “diploma” on the wall in my office. My “Master of Divinity” (known as an “MDiv”) represents the successful completion of a theological student’s studies. Without that document, at least in the Lutheran church, a person cannot become a pastor. So, after eight years of study (four in college …

Faithful Friday – November 18th

November 18, 2022 Dear Disciple of Christ, It is almost here, isn’t it?  The season of Advent is almost upon us (starting the Sunday after Thanksgiving, November 27th) and we will turn our attention to the coming of Christ. Would I be wrong to suggest that if you’re thinking of doing that (going to worship to celebrate His birth), …

Faithful Friday – November 11th

Dear Disciple of Christ, I really feel that my vicarage year was one of the most valuable of the eight years of preparation for ministry.  In actuality, that third year of the four year preparation in seminary was not always required of future Lutheran pastors. As I remember, it was initially offered as an option for those …

Faithful Friday’s – October 21st

October 21, 2022 Dear Disciple of Christ, Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence ​​​​​ 1 Peter 3:15 My remembrances of my vicarage (the 3rd year of my seminary training) continue. With any vicarage, much of what …