May 2016
Last week after worship, I announced that I had received a call to Joy Lutheran Church in
Cambridge, MN. Some of you understand how a call to serve at another congregation comes
about and some do not. Please allow me to help everyone in this short article to understand how
calls work in the LCMS.
A call to serve as a pastor at another congregation can come at any time with or without
previously interviewing with a congregation. Pastors do not contact churches, ask or seek
pastoral openings in specific churches, or ask to be interviewed by a congregation. Essentially
congregations find pastors two ways. The first is through word of mouth or recommendations of
lay people who maybe heard or saw a pastor and think he might be a good match in their church.
The second way is through a list of potential pastoral candidates provided by a District President.
This does not mean that a pastor put his name on a call list through the district although that can
be done. I have NOT put my name on a call list.
Remember what I said above that every pastor can receive a call to serve another
congregation at any time. This does not mean that the pastor has to take a call just because he
received a call. When he receives a call to come and serve a new congregation, the pastor then
has two calls. He has one call to the congregation he is currently serving and another call to the
congregation he has been called to serve. From there the pastor visits, looks at paperwork, prays
about his gifts, invites discussion from lay people from both congregations, prays about the
strengths and growth areas of both congregations, and prays for the will of the Lord and clarity
as to where he should serve.
That is where I am at now. By the time you read this I will be in Minnesota visiting Joy
Lutheran Church. Upon my return, my prayers will continue as I seek Gods will for all involved. I
invite you to please speak with me about your feelings towards the call and future of ministry. I
will be back in the office on Monday, April 25. Please keep me, my family, and both churches in
prayer until the decision is made which will be about two weeks. If you wish to set up a time to
speak to me, call my cell or email me and I will find time for us to sit down together. Remember
that Jesus is the Lord of the church and no matter what happens HE is in control and his will shall
be done.
God Bless,
Pastor Andy
Most of you who know me know that I love a good movie (I even love a
bunch of bad movies!). Just thinking about going to a movie theater puts a
smile on my face. The anticipation of a darkened theater, hoping for a great
couple of hours. The smell of buttery popcorn wafting through the air. The
laughs, the screams, the gasps while the images flash on the giant screen. I
dont even mind the soda- and candy-covered sticky floor. It feels oddly
like home, a place to go to join together with others and experience the
highs and lows of the human experience as depicted by flickering pixels.
Yet, one thing I hear people complain about with the movie-going
experience is the previews. There are just too many advertisements! I have to
sit through so much just to watch a movie. Cant we get to where were going?
But man, truth be told, one of my favorite parts of going to a theater is those
movie previews! Even though sometimes it takes 25 minutes to get from the house going dark until the
main film plays, I do love those two-three minute trailers. The way the editing, the sound, the bombastic
cinematography is put together in such a tight package a great trailer can be an awesome feast for the
senses. They can get people so excited for something thats coming months, if not years, down the line.
They cause us to dream of what might come, of a story that we might find ourselves in, of an adventure
that might sweep us away into something greater.
Friends in Christ, today we find ourselves on the other side of Easter the greatest preview of
coming attractions ever! Stay with me for a second.
Jesus Christ is risen he is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Our Lord is no longer buried. He has laid
suffering, struggle, sorrow, toil, worry, loneliness, and anger in the grave. The power of Satan, of sin, and
of death itself are in the tomb, and they will never awake. Our King Jesus reigns over all of this, and stands
alone as Lord and Savior. This has happened!
We celebrate this because we know one day we will see and experience all of this for ourselves!
What happened to Jesus on Easter will happen to each and every one of us who call upon his name. His
resurrection is a preview of our resurrection! Connected to him in our baptism, we will rise on the Last
Day, body and soul, to never-ending, never-ceasing, all-abundant life!
Just as depicted in the trailer of Easter Sunday, our suffering, struggle, sorrow, toil, worry,
loneliness, anger will be buried. Surely, our sin, death, and the devil will be locked in the tomb we once
occupied. Surely we will stand with Christ our King and reign over all these things. We will celebrate for
all of eternity in Jesus Kingdom that has no end.
Like the best movie trailers, lets get excited for this coming Kingdom of God. We know its coming
we may not know what the release date is just yet, but we pray, hyped with anticipation, Come
quickly, Lord Jesus! It wont disappoint, because the Artist is perfect!
As we wait, lets dream of what it will be like. Cherish the Scriptures and be patient, knowing God
is preparing. Celebrate by eating the meal of bread and wine, body and blood that gives us a taste of the
feast to come. Encourage one another with the hope of eternal rejoicing. Live like people who have hope
that is surely coming. Share it with others, joyfully live with love, and celebrate it all day, every day.
Thank God that Jesus is risen he is risen indeed! Alleluia! because he has secured our sure,
certain, and coming hope of life. No grave in the world can hold us down, and the main attraction will be
awesome beyond words! Come quickly, Lord Jesus! Amen.
Pastor Harrison
Terry Callies
Anti-Harassment Policy
Terry Callies, President, ALC
One of our members who is upset about things at
ALC got carried away after two of our MMC
Meetings. After one of the meetings last fall he
shoved Pastor Harrison and angrily told Pastor
Harrison to get out of his way because he was
not talking to him. We should have done
something about that physical harassment but
we didnt. At the last MMC Meeting in February
that same individual waved a clenched fist in
Pastor Harrisons face and threatened to punch
him in the face. He then did that a second time.
There were many witnesses to both events and
as other members of ALC have found out about
these events people have expressed concern
about the safety of our pastors as well as concern
about their own safety.
I sought guidance from our District President. He
said this is very serious. Most congregations will
not put up with this kind of behavior regardless
to who it is from or who it was directed towards.
This type of behavior should be grounds for
immediate and permanent removal from
membership in the church. He strongly
recommended that we establish a policy that
deals with this type of behavior. He also
suggested that we might want to consider going
back to having MMC meetings that are closed
and not open to the general membership. Below
is a copy of the policy that has been established
for ALC. It pertains to a number of different
kinds of harassment activities that would be
done by any member toward the pastors, staff,
any other member or guest. The new adopted
policy is as follows:
As the body of Christ, Anchorage Lutheran
Church believes what Scripture teaches
concerning how we treat and act toward each
other. What Jesus says, goes. Because of that, we
believe, teach, and confess that each disciple is
called to protect the unity of Gods church:
by acting in love toward one another.
by speaking to each other and working
through issues.
by refusing to gossip.
A Common Thread
Financial Review
Do you have
a family member or
friend who
is addicted to
heroin or have you
lost the life of a
loved one to heroin?
Join this
confidential support
group, A Common
Thread and invite
others who share the common thread of loving
someone affected by heroin. Six weeks of
support begins Monday, April 18 and ends
Monday May 23. It will be held in Room D at
Anchorage Lutheran at 7 p.m. All are welcome to
attend any or all of the meetings. Contact Scott or
Arlene at 522-2476 or email Arlene
at arleebrew52@gmail.com for more
information.
Voters Meeting
A Voters Meeting will be held on Sunday May
22nd after the late service. We will hold elections
and vote on the budget for the next fiscal year.
Terry Callies, President.
Farewell
Krista Shelby,
Administrative Secretary
I started working for
Anchorage Lutheran as the
church secretary in
December 1993. I plunged
right into the middle of
Advent and then rolled right
into preparing for 3 Christmas Eve services, a
Christmas Day service, as well as Sunday. It was
kind of a trial by fire, but I survived, and lasted
for 22 years.
I will be caring for my parents full time for a
while, as they were both diagnosed with
dementia within the past year. I head to Arizona
on May 2 to help them pack up for their
transition back to Anchorage.
I have enjoyed getting to know you all here at
ALC. Please keep me and my family in your
prayers as I head out on this new adventure.