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Expressing thanks for Christian care

by Anna Kroehn

Many people know the story of the Good Samaritan. When an expert in the law asks Jesus, ‘Who is my neighbour?’, he answers the question with a story and another question. Our neighbour is the person in need in our place and time.

In our communities, people offer loving care to their neighbours in different ways. Recognising this care and thanking God for it are the aims of the LCANZ’s Christian Care Sunday. Developed from a proposal to the 2018 Convention of General Synod, the project has gathered resources to help congregations celebrate, honour and bless people engaged in care. This includes congregational care ministries, individuals in formal and informal care roles, and Lutheran aged-care and community services.

Every LCANZ congregation is encouraged to celebrate Christian Care Sunday, choosing a Sunday in the next year to suit their calendar and local organisations.

LCANZ Bishop John Henderson blessed and endorsed the resources during an online launch on 18 August, saying: ‘It is the love of Christ who compels us to care for one another fully, giving ourselves for each other as he has given himself for us. May we always thank God for those who have cared for us in life, as we too, in our turn, care for others.’

WHAT DO THE RESOURCES INCLUDE?

There are Christian Care Sunday resources to help choose a date, in line with the lectionary or other relevant celebrations, while intergenerational worship resources have been provided by Grow Ministries and liturgical helps in line with the Commission on Worship’s Worship Planning Page are available too – including a ‘ready to go’ service order.

The resources are available for free to download from the LCA website at www.lca.org.au/ccs

Once your congregation has held an event, please give us your feedback on the resources at https://forms.office.com/r/vTQGknzPbM

Email me at anna.kroehn@lca.org.au if you need assistance planning your Christian Care Sunday celebration.

CHRISTIAN CARE SUNDAY IDEAS

  • Pray for your local care organisations – including Lutheran aged-care and community services
  • Invite a guest speaker to talk about their care work – a doctor or nurse, social worker or chaplain
  • Provide a special morning tea for your local aged-care staff team, child-care centre or medical centre
  • Write a thank you card to a care professional who has helped you
  • Ask a local care service how your church community can support their work
  • Surprise your pastor, lay worker or chaplain with a gift card, coffee voucher or bunch of flowers to thank them for their care work

Anna Kroehn is Christian Care Sunday project officer.

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Beauty (and soul) therapy

Are planned church programs or congregational community outreach essential to effective cross-cultural ministry? Or can we also work for the Lord’s harvest in everyday life? Beverley Heidenreich, a member at Trinity Lutheran Church Pasadena in South Australia, shares a recent personal experience.

‘Oh mum, you need your eyebrows threaded’, my exasperated daughter moaned. Forewarned, I headed to a local beautician. It’s one of those little shops in a mall with pictures of beautiful young women on the outside while inside a collection of ageing women in various states of repair reclines on chairs.

This is how my evangelism story began the other day. The staff who attend to my eyebrows are like the beautiful women in the pictures – Indian girls from Hindu families. We always have a good natter.

Today, Irene and Nicky are sorting me out. I have built a rapport with Irene. She has talked about wanting a baby and today is positively ‘popping’, so we share the joy of her ‘bump’.

TAKE IT TO THE LORD IN PRAYER

The girls know I help run a prayer group for my church. They are Hindu but don’t see this as odd as they have praying mothers. So, amid our laughter, I suggested we pray for the baby. I checked if it was okay to pray in Jesus’ name, and they were happy. Placing my hands on the bump, I said, ‘I can feel a foot’, to which Irene laughed, ‘Oh no, that’s my mobile!’

I prayed a simple blessing over the baby and that it would grow to know God and be healthy, strong and full of joy.

Next, Irene asked, ‘Which church do you go to?’, so I told her about my Lutheran church. ‘Oh’, she said, ‘I also work as a carer, and I go to a Lutheran church in Glynde [South Australia] with my client on Sundays. My favourite song is “Jesus loves me”, and when I went to the church recently that was the first song they sang.’ So, we promptly sang ‘Jesus loves me’ there in the beauty parlour, followed by some more laughter.

SEEING THE SPIRIT AT WORK

I felt it was time to take the conversation further, so I said, ‘Do you know why you heard that song, Irene?’. ‘No’, she replied, a little more serious now. ‘It’s because God’s Holy Spirit knows you and is moving over you and calling you.’

They were thoughtful and quiet.

While I paid my bill one of the girls announced, ‘If you go to St Luke’s church and pray, it’s good luck, and your prayers will be answered’. This gave me a chance to explain that Christian prayer is not like praying to Hindu gods because you are praying to your Father in heaven who loves you and wants to know you personally. God hears your prayers, and you don’t need to make a wish.

My prayer then is that God’s Spirit will continue to work in Irene and her colleagues. Praise be to him.

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Guide for cross-cultural engagement

The LCANZ’s Cross-Cultural Ministry Department has launched a new handbook entitled ‘Orientation to Cross-Cultural Ministry’.

Available to download free through the department webpage Resources section at www.lca.org.au/cross-cultural-ministry, this 16-page handbook focuses on how the LCANZ is engaging recent new arrivals from non-European cultures.

It is designed to equip and encourage congregations, groups and individuals who have a heart for mission to newcomers to our communities, to be able to get to know, love and share the ultimate ministry ‘resource’ – the gospel – with strangers.

As well as setting out the LCANZ’s approach to cross-cultural ministry and mission, the guide provides a biblical context for multi-ethnic ministry, addresses forming cross-cultural relationships, explains the role of bridge people and the concepts of cultural intelligence and acculturation, and offers insights into the world of a newcomer.

LCANZ Cross-Cultural Ministry Facilitator Craig Heidenreich says in his conclusion to the booklet that the gospel itself ‘reminds us that in Christ, and only in him, do we have a unity that transcends all cultural difference’.

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New resource will help families with funeral plans

‘Preparing for my funeral’ is a new resource developed by the Committee for Ministry with the Ageing, which is designed to take away some of the stress of preparing a funeral for a family member or other loved one.

This two-part resource provides you with a guide for ideas on preparing for your funeral and comes with a planning sheet to complete with all those important things you want others to know about your wishes.

Dr Tania Nelson, LCANZ Executive Officer – Local Mission, says the resource was developed from a guide produced by an LCA pastor. ‘When the Committee for Ministry with the Ageing heard about the guide, we felt it was too good to keep to ourselves’, she says. ‘After considerable collaboration, we’ve printed a practical booklet that can assist in what can be a difficult conversation.’

Committee for Ministry with the Ageing chair Colleen Fitzpatrick says: ‘“Preparing for my funeral” provides a prompt for thinking about end-of-life matters and organising things to make it easier for whoever has to organise things after you die.’

The booklet can be downloaded from the LCA website at www.lca.org.au/events-training-resources or you can contact Ministry with the Ageing at cma@lca.org.au to request a copy.

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Aged and community care webinar series begins

With the Aged Care and Community Services Networking Forum cancelled as an in-person event, the LCANZ’s Ministry with the Ageing has begun providing webinars on a range of important topics.

The first seminar in the series was held last month on the theme ‘Lutheran Care – Identity and Ethos: how God’s love influences our care’. The second in the series will be held at 2.30–3.30pm (ACST) on 14 September on the topic ‘Dementia and the Church’. In it, Committee for Ministry with the Ageing chair Colleen Fitzpatrick speaks with Ann Pietsch about how to become a dementia-friendly church. To register, visit www.lca.org.au/ministry-with-ageing and go to the Events, Training & Resources page.

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Alternatives being planned for postponed mission conference

LCANZ Local Mission’s New Horizons conference planned for Melbourne in late July, which was to have carried the theme ‘Bridging cultures with the gospel’, was postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The joint New & Renewing Churches and Cross-Cultural Ministry planning team has been working on alternative solutions to deliver its cross-cultural ministry content, with updates to come via the New & Renewing department website at www.newandrenewingchurches.org.au/events/

Future New Horizons conferences are also planned for Brisbane (date to be advised) and New Zealand and Perth (both 2022).

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Helping young people build a sense of belonging

by Jodi Brook

At Grow Ministries, we often encourage congregations to rethink their ministry to children, young people and their families. But what does ‘rethinking’ ministry involve?

We frequently begin training days with a question: Who or what has influenced your life of faith? Responses often include parents, grandparents, pastors, Sunday school teachers, mentors, friends, Bible studies or Christian camps.

These answers tell us that across decades, geographical locations, and in different sizes of congregations, relationships are among the most important influences on our faith.

We often put energy into programs for children and young people that provide learning and fun but may exclude them from getting to know the wider congregation. Therefore, our rethinking needs to emphasise relationships first and programs second.

So, how can we build relationships with young people in our congregations that help to build connections and a sense of belonging?

Grow Ministries developed 10 Guiding Principles to help efforts in creating effective practices that support ministry to children, young people and their families. This is intergenerational ministry, as it requires the efforts of all generations and brings benefits to all generations.

WHAT ARE THE 10 GUIDING PRINCIPLES?

  1. Leadership – Leaders in homes and congregations have a strong understanding of the nature and practices of effective child, youth and family ministry, and their role within it.
  2. Intergenerational – Meaningful intergenerational church experiences are intentional and valued.
  3. Faith at Home – Faith is integrated into family identity and practice.
  4. Mentoring – Children and young people have multiple adult mentors of vital faith.
  5. Lifelong Faith Formation – Use the NCLS Research framework of church vitality to assess nine core qualities and three attendance measures.
  6. Peer Relationships – Faith formation is encouraged by building Christian relationships through quality, age-specific ministry.
  7. Personal Crisis – People of all ages are engaged in a Christian community that provides support during times of personal crisis.
  8. Gifts and Talents – Opportunities are given to discover and express gifts and talents.
  9. Acts of Service – Opportunities are given to participate in acts of service that show the love of Christ.
  10. Missional – Ministry practices and approaches have a strong missional focus.

Go to www.growministries.org.au/guiding-principles-home/ and click on each principle for ideas and resources.

WHERE SHOULD WE START WITH INTERGENERATIONAL MINISTRY EFFORTS?

Don’t feel like you need to do everything at once. Rather look at the guiding principles list as a menu of opportunities. Think about how God has gifted you and how you could serve a young person in your congregation, family or community.

A great place to start is simply getting to know one person a little better.

Offer to help at youth events, invite a young person to visit your small group. Ask them to speak about how God is working in their lives. Be prepared to share with them also. Become a prayer partner or a pen pal with a young person. May God bless us as we continue to be faithful servants of God’s mission in this world.

Jodi Brook is Director of Grow Ministries.

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Thousands respond to stories of hope

by Richard Fox

Many people need hope and are responding to the Messages of Hope shared by Lutheran Media through radio spots, online videos, podcasts, transcripts and booklets.

These include people like Mario: ‘Hi, I would like to know if you can help me, I am in a bad way. I live by myself and it is getting very hard, please get back to me.’

… and they include people like Elizabeth, who said: ‘Prayers are always important but never more than now.’

… and Helen: ‘I’ve been in hospital with a fractured hip. I’m going home today! Thank you for your prayers.’

… and Frank: ‘Howdy! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the posts, I realised it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely glad I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back often!’

… and Ripley: ‘I know how you feel, I’m going through the same with my dad and it’s like a living death. I’m grieving for him and he is alive.’

Your Messages of Hope reaches a potential audience of more than 25 million people and thousands are responding by watching videos, listening to podcasts, and reading about hope in Jesus at www.messagesofhope.org.au

Join us by praying for people who are being reached by these messages. You can also make a donation at www.lutheranmedia.org.au/donate or by calling us on 1800 353 350. Thank you for reaching out with us in mission so more people hear Jesus’ message of hope, especially during these current times.

PUTTING THE BIBLE ON TRIAL

The Bible is often heavily scrutinised and questioned. And although it is impossible to obtain exact figures, Guinness World Records says, ‘there is little doubt that the Bible is the world’s best-selling and most widely distributed book’, with an estimate of more than 5 billion copies sold. In The Bible On Trial: Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, the Bible is put under the microscope as to its reliability and authenticity and you are the jury. What’s your verdict?

Order The Bible On Trial DVD at www.lutheranmedia.org.au/bibleontrial

A free study guide is included, too. You’ll come away with a fresh appreciation of the Bible.

Pastor Richard Fox is Director of Lutheran Media.

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National conference to highlight life issues

Lutherans for Life (LFL) will hold its national conference this month, with registered participants able to attend in person in suburban Adelaide (COVID-permitting), or online via live streaming.

LFL is part of the LCANZ, accountable to the church through the Commission on Social and Bioethical Questions. LFL offers resources and information on life issues on its website (www.lutheransforlife.lca.org.au), through its newsletter, Life News, and on Facebook (Lutherans for Life – Australia).

The one-day conference on 18 September at Our Saviour Lutheran Church Aberfoyle Park will carry the theme ‘Fearfully and wonderfully made – Celebrating the beginnings of human life’. Conference speakers Meagan Schwarz, Kimberley Pfeiffer, Jodie Pickard and Pastor Andrew Brook will address life issues from personal, ethical, biological and biblical perspectives.

To find out more and to register, go to www.lutheransforlife.lca.org.au and click on the news item about the conference on the home page.

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Devotion book fills rural ministry need

Pastor Stephen Jaensch, who serves St John’s Lutheran Church Emerald in Queensland’s Central Highlands region, says he’d noticed the lack of a genuinely rural devotion resource among the many on offer in Australia.

So, in about 2014, he began encouraging the congregation to join him in producing something to serve country people and provide a resource for rural ministry. Pastor Stephen (pictured) believes he asked members once a year for four years whether they would get behind such a project. The fifth time he asked, they said ‘yes’.

The resulting 204-page book of 118 devotions – Rural Reflections: Living out front with the outback God – was launched by the congregation recently and ‘far exceeded’ Pastor Stephen’s hopes for the project.

‘SMALL BUT TALENTED’ CONGREGATION BACKS PROJECT

Emerald congregation has an average worship attendance of about 20 people and around 50 members. However, while St John’s is not large, Pastor Stephen says it has ‘very talented people’. The Emerald Lutheran family drove the devotion project, including arranging photography, contributors, printing and publicity, but it was also an ecumenical production, with people from eight denominations involved.

‘When the congregation went with it, they carried it far further than I ever imagined’, Pastor Stephen says. ‘Most of the congregation became involved. What really pleased me was that a lot of the younger families became involved.’

Among the 30 contributors, 19 were from St John’s. Eight of the writers are clergy, while 22 are laypeople.

‘It’s designed to cover every circumstance unique to the country’, Pastor Stephen said of the book, which includes sections entitled ‘Rain’, ‘Farming, agriculture and regional industries’, ‘Drought’, and ‘Family life’.

Rural Reflections is available for $20 (to cover costs) at www.emerald.lutheran.org.au

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