New Search

If you are not happy with the results below please do another search

508 search results for: pastor

271

Church@Home October 2021

/in , , ,

CHURCH@HOME www.lca.org.au/churchhome

Nurturing a strong faith foundation

Regular devotions can be a great foundation for our home-worship life. They can help nurture our faith and even that of our families, as they strengthen our relationship with Jesus, increase our trust in God and our openness to the call of his Spirit. We pray that you will receive blessings from the devotional materials here and in the Church@Home resources collection collated and shared on the special webpage at www.lca.org.au/churchhome. There are also other faith-building and practical resources available through this webpage. If you have internet access and a printer, why not print some and mail or deliver them to those who may otherwise miss out?

– Lisa

Exodus 33:14

My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.

DEVOTIONS FOR HOME WORSHIP

These reflections are from a collection of devotions written for our LCANZ family and friends to help us to keep our eyes on Jesus. They can be used by families, small groups and individuals as part of daily faith practice. You can find these and more on the LCA website at www.lca.org.au/daily-devotion

Serving the Lord by Pastor Mark Lieschke

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters (Colossians 3:23).

Read Colossians 3:18–25.

The kind of behaviour Paul is talking about in these verses is not surprising. It would have been generally thought of as noble in the society of that day. He is not presenting a completely new morality for Christians.

What he is doing is saying something very new about the motivation for this behaviour. This is continually emphasised in the phrases ‘as is fitting in the Lord’, ‘this pleases the Lord’, ‘reverence for the Lord’, ‘working for the Lord’ and ‘the Lord Christ you are serving’.

In the repeated references to Jesus, we are reminded that as Lord, he is Lord in the everyday lives of believers and our relationships with other people.

What a great challenge, responsibility and privilege! We are called to live and serve. But instead of being motivated by rules, regulations and laws, we are encouraged, inspired and energised to reflect the love of Christ because of his presence and power within us.

Rather than being pressed, forced and coerced into serving, rather than being under the threat of punishment if we don’t do what’s expected of us, rather than feeling obligated and duty-bound, we’re freed to give of ourselves as Christ has given of himself to us.

The service we offer, then, while never perfect, is the very love and grace of God, offered by our hands, voices, ears and hearts. It is Jesus Christ himself serving those around us. He comes, he acts, he gives, he forgives, he blesses, and he loves as we live in loving relationships with those around us – and especially those in our homes and family life.

Gracious Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to serve us. Thank you for releasing us from the pressure of living under the law and enabling us to serve you freely in gratitude for your love and grace. Bless us in our serving, especially those who are near and dear to us. Bind us together as sisters and brothers in Christ and give us your grace as we serve one another. In your name, we pray. Amen.

Like living stones by Marlene Cooper

You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Christ Jesus (1 Peter 2:4b).

Read 1 Peter 2:4–10.

A striking feature of farming areas in the north of England is the network of dry-stone walls crisscrossing the landscape. These walls, some ages-old, have been built to last come wind or weather. Skilled craftsmen choose the stones and their place within the wall with ancient wisdom. Essential to the structure and set into the walls at intervals are the vital ‘through stones’ – large penetrating stones, which serve as linchpins, holding each stone secure in the wall’s fabric.

Peter writes to believers experiencing the ‘great persecution’ (Acts 8:1). Their reliance on Christ has been threatened as they have fled into unfamiliar territory, losing the happy, supportive fellowship of their own congregations. ‘You are like living stones’, he writes. You are not scattered, lying loose across the field. Rather, you are purposefully taken up to be set wisely into the walls of a spiritual house of God. Keeping these ‘stones’ secure and rock-steady in the wall is the mighty ‘through stone’, Christ, the immovable Cornerstone. He is the precious Chosen One, who, through his Spirit, works to unify believers into walls of a house built to last. Here, all the stones together ring out their praise and offer their prayer in a united service of worship.

What an image of grace! Living stones in a wall of praise! Interconnected for mutual support and encouragement. It graces us to live for others, invites us to sing, ‘Make us your building, sheltering others, walls made of living stone’*. The events of life may sometimes cause us to feel unsteady, perhaps isolated and scattered, far from our spiritual home. But here is the assurance that we are in the Builder’s hands. No doubt or anxiety can separate us from his wisdom and love. The gift we receive daily as children of God’s love, through Christ our Cornerstone, holds us steady and secure in the walls of God’s house by the power and persistence of the Spirit who always builds to last.

Lord Jesus, our unfailing Cornerstone, hold us close to you and to one another as you build us into the walls of God’s house. Open our hearts and lives to sing your praise together, resting in your wise and gracious hands when we meet the shocks and storms of life. Amen.

*Bernadette Farrell, 1993

PRAYERS

A SHORT SIGH TO GOD

A short sigh to God the Father…
O God, Father of all poor, miserable souls!
Give us all your grace and enlighten us with
your truth.
To you be praise, glory and thanks forever.
Amen.
– Martin Luther (1483-1546AD), from justprayer.org

GUIDING STAR

Be to me, O God,
a bright flame before me,
a guiding star above me,
a smooth path beneath me,
and a kindly shepherd behind me,
today, tonight, and forever.
–  St Columba (521–597AD), Iona, from justprayer.org

Psalm 27:1a 

The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear?

One true hope by Maria Rudolph

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Saviour; my God will hear me (Micah 7:7).

Read Micah 7:7–12.

Often, I have heard Christian people say, ‘Family is the most important thing’. We are certainly taught to honour our father and mother (Exodus 20:12) and be humble and gentle to all people (Ephesians 4:2), not least the members of our own family.

But relationships with others is somewhat out of our control. They can never give us complete satisfaction and fulfilment, no matter how much we pursue positive relationships with others.

Sometimes things go wrong. As we are reminded by the prophet Micah (7:6), ‘a son dishonours his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law – a man’s enemies are the members of his own household’. And the prophet Isaiah even reminds us, ‘Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!’

Although our closest friends and family may forsake us at some point in our lives, God never will. God can always be trusted; he is always constant. God is always close to you – in times of joy and in times of need.

God is, in fact, the most important thing and should come before all other things in our lives. When we have God as our number one, all other things will fall into place. It doesn’t mean the hardships will stop and everything works out for the better. But when we look to God above all else, we know where our help comes from. We can put things in perspective, and we can have confidence in him.

Have you been challenged in family relationships?

Loving God, thank you for your constant, unfailing love. Help me put my trust in you completely. Help me be forgiving and loving with people who hurt me, particularly my own family members. Help me to love in the way you love me, unconditionally and loving even the unworthy and unlovable. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Christ’s love meets our every need by Kimberley Pfeiffer

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want (Psalm 23:1).

Read Psalm 23.

Do you ever think about why ‘I shall not want’ comes after ‘The Lord is my shepherd’?

Often when we think of Christ as our Good Shepherd, we imagine ourselves as his sheep. Maybe we are prone to getting into trouble or wandering off, and we remember Jesus, our Shepherd, who guides and protects us, keeping us on a safe path. The Good Shepherd also provides for the sheep so that they lack nothing. In this prayer, we also receive the gift of contentment that we find in Christ. Contentment in God is opened up for us in Christ.

In Christ, you are given a new life where you walk with God. What does this mean? It means that every morning as you rise, God’s blessings are made new. God is with you on the days you dread giving you courage; the days filled with sadness giving you hope; sounding the heavenly choir with you on the joyous days; and comforting you when you are grieved.

God is faithful; he can do no other, and he wants to give you everything you need at the proper time. So, as you pray this psalm, give thanks to God for his goodness and mercy and his love that is always shining on you. Thanks be to God for all the gifts that come out of his abundant mercy: life, love, peace, courage, faithfulness and joy, to name a few. They certainly make any worldly wants seem pretty minor by comparison.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for opening up to us the abundance of your love in Christ. Send us your Spirit so that we can faithfully look to you when we find ourselves in want. Please send your Holy Spirit to help us when we are tempted to find satisfaction in worldly things. Help us to grow in your love so that we can share your gifts with those you have called us to love and serve. In Christ, our Lord, Amen.

272

Records continue to change lives

/in , , ,

by Rachel Kuchel

What continues to amaze me working at Lutheran Archives is the myriad stories contained in the archive, the stories in one item or one box of records, and the myriad ways those stories or records have impacted lives.

In June a box of records was deposited at Lutheran Archives by former Finke River Mission (FRM) staff Pastor Paul Albrecht, Garry Stoll, Roger Fargher and Marion and Mark Schubert. The records were from FRM for the years 1972 to 1982. They are documents that surround the pivotal event of the 1982 handover of the title to the former Hermannsburg Mission lease to five Aboriginal clans as five individual land titles.

This has been the only instance in Australia of land titles being granted to representatives based upon their traditional custodianship – as opposed to one title being granted across land that might have multiple traditional custodians. Aboriginal leaders made 18 individual submissions to Parliament that were instrumental in the success of this event.

The records document the process undertaken by FRM staff to achieve this landmark event, including the changes in LCA policy and the Aboriginal Land Rights Act at Federal Government level.

HOW THE HISTORIC DOCUMENTS WERE SAVED

Seven years ago, a group of former FRM staff began to collect the records and Marion, a former part-time worker at Hermannsburg from 1978 to 1985 while Mark was a teacher and principal there, began retyping individual documents as many were beginning to fade. She later contacted me at the Archives to determine how we could work together to preserve them. This resulted in the records being digitised at the Archives and collated, listed and described by Garry, Roger, Marion and Mark.

It has been a long process, but the records are now at Lutheran Archives available for research. Our FRM collection already contained copies of the 18 submissions to Parliament, but these records provide the context to this event.

It is always my desire that Lutheran Archives records continue to impact lives, inform us, provide hope, healing or understanding, and even influence or shape current decision-making – both within the LCA and, potentially, at government level. I hope that these records can perhaps now be used by government agencies to show them a path they could use in recognising and granting traditional Aboriginal land custodianship.

Rachel Kuchel is Director of Lutheran Archives.

This is an excerpt from a story that appeared in the Friends of Lutheran Archives (FoLA) newsletter under the headline ‘Handing back land to families at Hermannsburg’.

273

Learning to grow together

/in , , ,

Two years on from the start of their Grow Coaching journeys, members of Chinchilla parish and Dalby congregation in Queensland’s western Darling Downs have grown in ways that have brought life and vibrancy to their faith communities.

Each member of their Grow teams now is equipped to share what they have learnt about intergenerational ministry with their congregations. The LCANZ’s Grow Ministries team will continue to support them as they continue to build an intergenerational culture.

Grow Ministries began the ‘gathering’ phase of coaching congregations in October 2019, led by Rachel Schilling. The Chinchilla and Dalby teams met over two years at both locations. During this time, learning and growing took place through weekend workshops. Their journeys involved re-thinking any preconceived notions of church and how these contrasted or aligned with effective child, youth and family ministry – that is, intergenerational ministry – and how to put this new paradigm in place.

Grow Ministries representatives Pastor Nigel Rosenzweig and Vicki Rochow joined several of the workshops, bringing a fresh approach to the events. They even managed to hold a workshop in 2020 despite most of Australia being in lockdown.

Grow Coaching clusters are in progress in Perth, Adelaide and the Adelaide Hills, with each consisting of two or three congregations. These clusters provide members with ideas, encouragement and support on their journeys of learning and implementing new ways of doing ministry.

To learn more about Grow Coaching, Grow Ministries or our ‘Rethinking Faith Formation’ congregational workshops, contact Grow Director Jodi Brook at jodi.brook@lca.org.au or by phoning 08 8267 7300.

275

Blessed to follow God’s lead

/in , , ,

For retired Openbook Publishers General Manager Warren Schirmer, 73, and his wife Marianne, 69, a casual conversation with a guest at a friend’s barbecue in 2010 has led them to more than a decade of serving as volunteers for LCA International Mission.

276

A shepherd’s path

/in , , ,

by Lisa McIntosh

Each year in The Lutheran, we introduce the wider church to the newest pastors of the LCANZ, including sharing a bit about their work and family backgrounds and their call to the ordained ministry. It is both amazing and encouraging to learn of the many different paths our shepherds have taken to get where they are today. No two are exactly alike. And God uses their experiences for his kingdom as they serve in our congregations, schools, care settings, or district or churchwide ministries.

Among the ranks of serving pastors in the LCANZ are former funeral directors and footy umpires, fast-food outlet managers and farmers, taxi (and bus) drivers and teachers, economists and engineers, scientists, business bankers, finance and IT industry specialists, medical doctors and defence force personnel, cleaners, counsellors and copywriters, retail managers and sales staff, and even a prize-winning livestock photographer. And the list goes on.

But what do these ‘former lives’ mean for present-day ministries? Do any of the skills learnt behind a fast-food or shop counter, or on a tractor, in a laboratory, factory or classroom really translate into a parish setting?

Rev Dr Dan Mueller, who has served the Walla Walla Lutheran Parish in New South Wales since 2017, thinks so. A former software engineer and research scientist who worked in the Netherlands for several years, Pastor Dan believes there are two aspects from his ‘previous life’ that God continues to use in his ministry. ‘Firstly, I always had a desire to help and heal people. This is why I specialised in medical computing’, he says. ‘In particular, I designed algorithms and wrote software used by doctors in hospitals to diagnose and treat various medical conditions including cancer. This desire to help remains in my pastoral ministry. Now I help by speaking God’s gospel word of comfort; now I heal with water, bread and wine.

‘Secondly, my time living abroad and travelling, has shown me the diversity of God’s wonderful creation. It was a thrill to meet people with vastly different stories from my own. This connects with cross-cultural ministry. We need “many eyes” to see the cross. Each culture, each person, each story, enables us as individuals and as a church collective to hear, see, know, experience God more fully.’

Pastor Matt Bishop’s own experience backs up the idea that God can use any work or vocational journey to grow his kingdom. Pastor Matt, who currently serves at Blair Athol in South Australia and was ordained in 2015, was an Economic Policy Advisor with the Commonwealth Treasury, worked in the Australian Government’s Department of Finance, was deployed to the Papua New Guinea Treasury, and managed a McDonald’s franchise and served as a kitchen hand with the fast-food giant.

‘I don’t think too much is wasted, right down to being able to use my previous “Maccas” experience to place 24 pancakes expertly on a barbecue hotplate at the local high school breakfast club our (former) congregation ran in Morley Western Australia’, he said. ‘Being able to take a big-picture approach, assess competing narratives, and have some financial skills has helped with my service on the LCA’s Council for Local Mission, and more generally, in the parish as we think about where Christianity is at in an increasingly “no-religion”, if not hostile, society. More generally, my research and policy development skills, and my God-given inquiring mind, continue to find all sorts of applications.’

With Pastor Peter Klemm’s call to the ministry taking more than 20 years to come to fruition, he also had plenty of time to explore different occupations. Pastor Peter, who serves at Cummins on SA’s Eyre Peninsula, was a farmhand on his family’s farm after leaving school, next headed to Central Australia to work at the Finke River Mission store at Hermannsburg/Ntaria, then worked in roles including tyre-fitter, delivery driver and selling batteries, stockfeed, petrol, hardware and paint, as well as quoting jobs for tradesmen for HR Sanders in Clare in SA’s Mid-North.

Pastor Peter believes that his previous roles have helped him to be able to relate to people from all walks of life and ‘to always lean on God in all things’.

‘I believe God has placed me into ministry after moulding me over a number of years’, he says. ‘God has given me a pastoral heart, a thirst to know more about him, a willingness to listen to other people and a yearning to visit people, whether on the tractor or header, in aged-care facilities, or their homes.’

Pastor Peter Heintze also comes from a rural background and says he spent 34 years ‘wandering in the wilderness’ before studying for the ministry and being ordained in 2017.

‘God was preparing me for something that I did not think I was capable of, or even worthy’, says Pastor Peter, who serves at Coonalpyn in SA’s South-East. ‘What amazes me is how God uses our journeys through someone like me, who did not like school, left as soon as I could to work on the family farm for 20 years, which I did not like, but I did learn a lot.’

As well as having been a primary producer for two decades, Pastor Peter worked as a cleaner, a school handyman and tutor, a Community Development Employment Projects supervisor, a mining laboratory soil sampler, a Big W warehouse employee, a Centrelink work supervisor, a painter/renovator and in water compliance.

‘The different occupations, the diverse range of people I worked with, the people skills I acquired, the life experiences gained, the myriad of role models, and the power of the Holy Spirit helped to prepare me for the ordained ministry’, he says.

Another pastor who spent many years of his pre-ministry life in his family’s business is Darryl Shoesmith, who serves at Christchurch in New Zealand.

Pastor Darryl, who previously studied at Queensland Agricultural College in Gatton, worked at the college as a vet’s assistant for a year while undertaking an honours endorsement in wildlife management. The following year though, he was employed at the family firearms shop as a retail assistant.

A love of the craftsmanship of firearms and their history led to study in gunsmithing in the US in 1982 and, after returning to Australia and Shoesmith Firearms, he worked as an employee for several years and then managed the business until 2008 when he retired early.

While Pastor Darryl had given thought to studying for the ministry earlier, it was only in his fourth year of retirement, after discussions with the pastor taking his father’s funeral, that he pursued his new vocation.

And he believes his customer-service background has helped prepare him for serving a parish. ‘Dealing with, speaking with, getting to know, so many different types of people on a day-to-day basis is a good grounding because it is not just about them, but is good for knowing yourself’, he says.

And how would he best explain to people that you can have both firearms as a hobby and a love of sharing Jesus’ message of reconciliation and peace? ‘Like other tools – a good chisel for the woodworker, a quality sharp knife in a chef’s kitchen – (firearms) are not necessarily killing implements, but articles used for appreciation and peaceful enjoyment’, he says. ‘Jesus’ message of reconciliation and peace pertains not to objects, but to the human heart.’

Pastor Joseph Theodorsen also had customer or client-focused roles before studying for the ministry and being installed to serve Top End Lutheran Parish Northern Territory earlier this year. After attending school in Western Australia, he was a service station attendant then manager, a clerk, a recruitment consultant, a Bachelor of Education student and taxi driver who had explored the option of becoming a Specific Ministry Pastor at his home church of Geraldton before moving to Adelaide to attend Australian Lutheran College to study to become a General Ministry Pastor.

‘There are many ways God had planned for me to grow as his servant through the various roles I had before the ordained ministry’, he says. ‘Many of them were customer or client-focused, and a desire to help people was always very strong for me. Also, the wide range of people that I would interact with through these roles, particularly as a taxi driver and at the service station, was great preparation for the ministry. To have had such a large amount of experience with people from all walks of life helps in many ways.’

Like the other pastors who’ve shared their reflections here, South African-born Roelof Buitendag didn’t start out wanting to be a pastor. After a move to Australia and studies in psychology and science, his main role was as a sleep scientist, but he had also worked in casual jobs as a shop hand at a convenience store in West End, Queensland, in a bagel shop, as a bartender, hotel cleaner, sales attendant and paint mixer with Dulux Paints, bricky’s labourer, and a youth coordinator.

Pastor Roelof, who serves at Ipswich Queensland, believes God’s will for our lives is often only ‘revealed as we walk on that journey’. ‘Everything beforehand has helped me relate to people and hopefully helped me communicate the reality and truth of the God of the Bible into the utmost needs of people’, he says.

‘In the end, my studies and career in psychology, science and sleep science have made me more aware, and more passionate, about the issue behind the issues that so many people face every moment of every day – and, most importantly, that there is an “ultimate remedy” to the issue behind the issues, and his name is Jesus.’

277

135 years of gospel in PNG

/in , , ,

by Pastor Giesa Panpan

Papua New Guinea (PNG) Christians have marked 135 years since the gospel of Jesus Christ first landed on the PNG mainland, introduced by Lutheran Pastor Johannes Flierl at Simbang Finschhafen, Morobe Province, on 12 July 1886.

The written and oral histories of how the gospel spread are beyond imagination: crossing high mountains, fast-flowing rivers and rough seas, plains and valleys, and to the ‘no-go’ territories of people with different languages and cultures.

This is what God’s mission is all about. The histories record the amazing results from the work of the missionaries, of which you and I are also part. Over and over again, missionaries preached the gospel among remote-living people who had never heard it, and individuals were converted; their lives transformed.

There were many participants in the missionary work, both sending and receiving. The progress of mission was so magnificent because of faith-promise missionary giving. This giving went beyond tithes. It was giving of an amount by faith to mission so systematically.

What can I do for my church, in my time and in my day? This question does not require systematic answers. It is all about giving. God gave Jesus Christ to the world because he is a missionary God. He wants us to continue the mission by giving ourselves – our lives, our time and our resources – so that the gospel reaches and transforms the unreached.

Pastor Giesa Panpan serves with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG’s Ministerial Training Department.

278

Editor’s letter

/in , , ,

I am constantly inspired by God’s grace shining through the work of members of our Lutheran family in service to his kingdom.

So many of you lovingly serve God, his church and the communities in which he has placed you, whether as volunteers, paid lay workers or pastors, or as ministry supporters. You give unstintingly and almost inexhaustibly of yourselves by sharing your God-given time, talents and resources, and by your prayers.

Isn’t it wonderful (and mind-boggling) that he works through us in this way, according to our giftings and vocations, and despite our human failings? 2 Corinthians 12:9 springs to mind – ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’. Thank God that this is the case throughout our lives. (If not, there would be some months The Lutheran wouldn’t be finished on time!)

What’s even more remarkable is that no matter how we serve – formally or informally, part-time or full-time, voluntarily or employed, in our congregations or the wider church – or where we’ve come from workwise or vocationally, God uses our life’s experiences to prepare us to bless others and grow his kingdom.

In this edition, we are privileged to share life-journey stories of LCANZ members who serve as pastors, lay workers and volunteers. Their backgrounds are incredibly diverse, and I have been amazed to learn of the many ways God has led these people to his service. I hope you, too, will find encouragement in these testimonies.

Of course, had this been an ‘ordinary’ year, this edition would have been completely different – themed around our upcoming LCANZ Convention of General Synod. But with the triennial meeting now to be held in two parts, including a two-day online meeting on 1–2 October and much of its business deferred until 2022 (see www.generalsynod.lca.org.au for more details) due to the extraordinary circumstances relating to COVID-19, we felt this was a great opportunity to share some personal good-news stories. With many in our two countries in lockdown as I write, I’m sure we can all do with more of those!

And, with our sisters and brothers in New South Wales suffering more than much of Australia and New Zealand, most of our prayer calendar this month is focused on the people and ministries of the LCANZ’s NSW District. Of course, as usual, there are devotions and a themed Bible study to foster our home faith life, too.

And you can read about some wonderful new resources from our church departments, agencies and congregations, including an encouragement to all congregations to recognise, bless and give thanks for those engaged in care in their communities through the Christian Care Sunday project (see page 13).

God bless your reading,

Lisa

279

Expressing thanks for Christian care

/in , , ,

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.

280

New resource will help families with funeral plans

/in , , ,

‘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.