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All That We Are
All that we have, all that we are, all that we hope to be we give to you, we give to you.
“We Are an Offering” (ELW 692)
Have you ever wondered what we are here for? What is our “purpose,” our reason for being?
Why is the Christian church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and (specifically)
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church here in Woodbridge, Virginia?
Looking over our constitution, the legal document that establishes our non-profit organization
and proscribes the rules by which we govern ourselves, there is a Statement of Our Purpose
made before stating how we hold meetings, call pastors, hire staff, set a budget, elect council members and such things. So, what is the purpose for this congregation of Christ-followers planted in this geographic (and temporal) location?
Our Statement of Purpose (Chapter Four) is that the Church (the world-wide church) is a people created by God in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, called and sent to bear witness to God’s creative, redeeming, and sanctifying activity in the world.
To participate in God’s mission, this congregation (GSLC) shall:
- Worship God through lives of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving,
- Proclaim God’s saving Gospel of justification by grace through faith
- Carry out Christ’s Great Commission, reaching out to bring others to faith in Christ
- Serve in response to God’s love to meet human needs
- Nurture its members in the Word of God to grow in faith, hope and love
- Manifest the unity of the people of God by living and serving together, joining with other Christians in prayer and action
Many have shorten this list so that it might more easily be remembered. One such model was popular back in the 2000’s: In his book PowerSurge, Pastor Michael Foss listed the Six Marks of Discipleship:
Pray Daily - Worship Weekly - Read Scripture Regularly
Serve Lovingly - Form Spiritual Friendships - Give Generously
But rather than adopting of the things we should do to be a follower of Christ, perhaps we ought to ponder what it means to be “us” – as we are, here and now? The church isn’t formed to be a social club or a political party. Nor is the church to be about judging others or pursuing economic power. The church is not a place just for those who “belong,” but we are to exist as much for the sake of those who aren’t among us as we are to enjoy the “mutual consolation of the faithful” (Martin Luther’s words).
Each of us has been gifted with certain skills, traits, abilities, experiences, visions, dreams,
desires, passions, and talents for the purpose of the building up of the community of faith:
Now there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of services but the
same Lord, and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of
them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
(1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
In other words, all that we come from God (through the Holy Spirit). You’ve likely heard me say in sermons that I believe there is a purpose in each of us being here at this time and in this place. God is providing us with what we need to fulfill our “purpose” by sending each of us here at the point in our lives. New ideas, new methods, new needs are part of a changing community and changing world. Even gifts that we don’t think the church could use might be the basis for new ministries serving our youth, our neighbors, our community, or our world.
All that we are is a gift of God’s Holy Spirit. We are called to exercise those abilities, skills,
dreams and desires for the sake not just of others, but to be fully what God created us to be. In this, we are fully living out all the unimaginable ways that God loves us – and the world.
Bless the world with who God has created you to be.
Shalom.
Pr. Mark
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