LOCATION
Messiah Lutheran Church is conveniently located at 8300 Providence Rd. just south of the Arboretum and Hwy 51 (Pineville-Matthews Rd). Map
Parking is located on both the north and south sides of the
sanctuary. Handicapped parking has been designated at the south
entrance, although both entries are wheelchair accessible.
April Memory Verse
1
Corinthians 15:3-4
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I
also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the
Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in
accordance with the Scriptures . .
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Pastor's September 2011 Message |
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A Significant Half-Note Pause “Take my life and let it be…. Consecrated Lord to Thee..” It’s one of the most familiar Christian hymns … and not just in the Lutheran Church. One can find that hymn in the Celebration hymnal, the Worshipping Church hymnal and the Great Hymns of the Faith hymnal to name just a few, hymnals that are used by a variety of Christian church bodies. I call it to your attention this month in order to highlight something that has always struck me about the construction of this hymn. Even though there are a couple of different tunes used to sing this hymn (both are included in the latest Lutheran Hymnal), each has a half-note pause between the words “be” and “consecrated.” So what’s the big deal, right? “Why is that significant,” you ask? If we are honest with ourselves, when things are going well, we are tempted to end the phrase at the pause, “Take my life and let it be” – period. “It’s okay, Lord. Everything is going fine, You can..er ..well Lord… just let me be. Things are comfortable right now and I would appreciate it if You would… ah … not shake things up.” ☺ But the phrase does NOT end there. Yes, there is a half-note pause - perhaps we can use it to step back and seriously consider the next part - but then it goes right on with a ‘stewardship’ statement of commitment, “Consecrated, Lord to Thee.” The rest of this special hymn underscores just what ‘consecrated’ means: take our moments, days, hands, feet, voice, lips, silver, gold, intellect, will and love, then, Lord, use them as You choose. This hymn is rightfully in the ‘Stewardship’ section of the LSB hymnal. It gives us one of the best vehicles for expressing commitment to total life-style stewardship. Since everything that we have in this life is a gift from God, and since every aspect of this life will end when God takes us home (as the saying goes, “You can’t take it with you”), we are given them to manage for a time. As we learn how to manage our time, talent, treasure and everything else that these encompass, we are being prepared for whatever God will give us to manage for eternity (Matthew 25:21, 23). Beginning on October 2nd, Pastor Ron Wiese will lead “Consecrated Stewards,” a Bible-based stewardship education and commitment process that has been used in hundreds of Lutheran congregations around the nation with great response. It is designed to help members grow in their spiritual lives and in their management of God’s gifts. This educational opportunity will take place in the Fellowship Hall at 9:45 on 10/2, 10/9, 10/16 and 10/23. It will be followed by Messiah’s Consecration Sunday Service and brunch on Reformation Sunday, October 30th. Contact Pastor Ron for more information.. Most of this article is a reprint of Pastor Baldinger’s September 2010 newsletter article. The last paragraph is new information.
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