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331

LCANZ answers mission call from the Philippines

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Rev Dr Michael Lockwood has answered the call to serve as a missionary with the Lutheran Church in the Philippines (LCP), a partner church of the LCANZ through LCA International Mission.

Dr Lockwood will take up teaching duties at Lutheran Theological Seminary in Baguio in July. His move is in response to a request last year from LCP President Rev Antonio Reyes to LCA International Mission for assistance with the training of pastors and deaconesses for his church.

The LCP seminary had been in desperate need of additional support, said the LCANZ’s Assistant to the Bishop – International Mission, Pastor Matt Anker. However, LCA International Mission was not in a position to respond to this request alone. ‘With few options locally, God provided the way’, Pastor Matt said of a funding partnership with the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.

The LCANZ’s General Church Board called Dr Lockwood to the role, which he accepted and, together with his wife, Naomi, and children, Asher and Jadon, is preparing for the move. ‘I am very excited about this opportunity to be part of what God is doing in the Philippines and within the region, and to be able to play a part in equipping pastors and church workers with a deep understanding of God’s word and the good news of Jesus Christ’, Dr Lockwood, pictured, said.

LCANZ Bishop John Henderson wholeheartedly endorsed the new partnership. ‘I see the call to Dr Lockwood to serve among our fellow Lutherans in the LCP and our region as a significant moment for the LCANZ’s participation in the mission of God’, he said. ‘Dr Lockwood’s service in the Philippines will enrich not only the LCP but also the LCANZ.’

332

A final expression of faith

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by Lisa McIntosh

Being with people who are dying – whether or not they are close to us – can be uncomfortable, daunting and sad. We might worry about saying the wrong thing or what to do to be a witness of God’s grace and love.

Even people with years of experience caring for or ministering to people who are dying, such as Sue Westhorp, say that each situation is different and that feeling uncomfortable may always be part of the process.

Sue is the spiritual care manager and Clinical Pastoral Education Centre director for Melbourne’s Austin Health. She was formerly a palliative care chaplain at Royal Melbourne Hospital and was a pastoral care worker for St Paul’s Lutheran Church Box Hill.

‘I’ve never become used to being with people who are dying’, she says.

‘I don’t take it for granted; it’s different every time and it’s profound every time. It’s important to be very aware of our own discomfort and anxiety. It’s okay to be uncomfortable. Your own mortality is being confronted in the process.’

However, while she says there is ‘no formula’ for this kind of pastoral care, just being present and listening are the two constants of our call as Christians, regardless of the context.

‘I think as much as each of us is able to individually, we’re called to sit with the person in grief, or as someone is dying, to actually just follow where they want to go with that and if they want to talk about it, or if they don’t’, Sue says.

‘I’ve had experiences in palliative care of people who are dying who’ve got no interest in faith or religion, who a day out from dying start asking the big questions. Or someone who’s had a very, very strong faith and gets to a week before they die, and suddenly they’re very wobbly about their faith. So it’s about responding to what you see in front of you and listening, and the ways in which we show up for people to show them God is present with them.

‘They’re ultimately on a journey they can only do alone. We can’t go on that journey with them, but we can be present with them as much as possible.’

Pastor Tim Klein, a former funeral director who these days serves the flock at Faith Warradale in suburban Adelaide and is LCA SA-NT District First Assistant Bishop, says funerals are ‘always gospel opportunities’, regardless of the faith of those who attend.

‘The funeral of a person of faith brings with it a wonderful testimony of the gospel’, he says. ‘Others can be challenging, because we don’t want to offend those who have no faith, yet at the same time we can bring good news and hope into that broken place. Funerals are a time of sadness, joy, hope and blessing in varying proportions.’

He says his main objective as a funeral director was to minimise ‘the organisational stress for a family so that they could attend to their grief and not be distracted by other things’.

‘That’s not to say a funeral director is immune to the grief. I was often thankful for the dark shades of my sunglasses, hiding my saddened eyes.’

Not surprisingly, he says leading funerals as a pastor is very different. ‘My prime focus is to provide pastoral care surrounding the funeral – caring for the bereaved, praying, and preparing a funeral service with them that brings God’s word of comfort into their lives.’

When Pastor Joseph Theodorsen, who serves the Top End Parish in the Northern Territory, was about to begin his ordained ministry he told The Lutheran that the privilege of being a pastor he was most looking forward to was ministering ‘to the sick and dying’. He says that is largely because of the way that our western culture ‘treats death and dying in such a private way’.

‘In this private space, people are able to truly show the deep emotions that come with the knowledge of the terminal illness or imminent death of loved ones – thoughts and feelings that are normally hidden from public view’, Pastor Joseph says. ‘To be invited into such a space, indeed often welcomed, is something that is truly a great privilege.

‘Being able to share in the pain and suffering of such times, and yet bring the hope and certainty of the gospel to people who are often in the midst of great difficulty, is something that I find very humbling.’

333

‘You can’t bury your dead here’ – a cost of faith in Christ

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IN OUR REGION

by Matt Anker

The death of loved ones here in Australia and New Zealand presents us with the heartbreaking reality of grief and the consequences of our fall from God’s original intention for humankind.

But for all the heartache we suffer, we can usually count on the ability to bury our dead with dignity and the support of professionals who take care of all the unfathomable details associated with funerals.

This is not the case for our Christian brothers and sisters in many parts of Indonesia.

In 2019 we shared the story of Pastor Anjel, a pastor of the Protestant Christian Church of Mentawi (GKPM) serving in the Muslim majority city of Padang. In particular we highlighted the incredible hospitality he offered to a Muslim family who were waiting to transport the body of their 15-year-old daughter to the Mentawi Islands for burial. You may remember that the mosque would not allow them access due to ethnic differences and so, as Pastor Anjel welcomed them to use the sanctuary to sit with their daughter, they willingly received the pastoral care and witness of the Christians who spoke of the hope we have in Jesus.

In this same region, Christians have even more difficulties burying their deceased loved ones. The ‘public’ cemeteries are controlled by Muslim authorities and they do not allow the burial of anyone who bears the name of Christ.

This results in additional hardship at a time of deep grief for all Christian families. They are forced to travel significant distances into the bush, beyond the control of the authorities, to cemeteries set up by the churches. For some this means a four-hour boat trip with their loved one, back to the nearby islands. For others it means not being able to be present as their loved ones are laid to rest in a remote area they may struggle to visit in years ahead.

This reality is not spoken of with any bitterness or lament by our Indonesian brothers and sisters in Christ. It is simply one of the costs of being a Christian in that part of the world. It is a cost that is borne willingly as the blessed hope of the resurrection, made certain in the blood of Jesus, far outweighs these challenges.

‘We were buried therefore with Jesus by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his’ (Romans 6:4–5 – ESV).

Pastor Matt Anker is the LCANZ’s Assistant to the Bishop – International Mission.

334

Dwelling in God’s word – death and dying

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by Peter Ghalayini

Death and dying have been at the forefront of our lives this past year. During the height of the pandemic, here in Victoria, we waited nervously to hear daily updates of COVID infections and deaths.

Death has also been a big topic in Victoria as we faced the recent passing of legislation for Voluntary Assisted Dying. Death is seen as an unnatural part of life that can be avoided if we do everything right or at least we are comforted if we control the time and circumstances of death.

Read Hebrews 9:27,28.

What is God’s purpose for us through death?

Among Christians, death is often seen as a punishment for sin. If only Adam and Eve had not sinned then death could have been avoided through access to the Tree of Life. (Read Genesis 3:24.)

But death is part of God’s graciousness now that sin has entered into this world and all the consequences of sin including suffering and death. God has limited the reach of suffering by limiting the life span of humanity. But Jesus reassures us that through him, even though we die we shall continue to live.

Read John 11:25–26.

Mary and Martha thought that if Jesus had come earlier, Lazarus could have avoided death, but instead, Jesus gives them a greater comfort. Even though Jesus knew that he was the ‘resurrection and the life’, we see through his tears of grief over Lazarus’ death that death still has great impact on the life of a Christian. This is despite the fact we know that eternal life is a gift of God when we die.

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13.

Paul speaks about the grief we go through as Christians but what does he say that brings comfort?

Paul also talks about a different type of death that Christians experience when he says that we have died to sin. Paul believed that in our baptism we are born again and therefore our old life dies and a new life arises with Christ. (Read Romans 6:1–4.)

Paul was quite insistent that our new life begins immediately even though we can only see the old life.

Read Colossians 3:1–4.

Paul speaks about this new life being ‘hidden’, but says it will be revealed when Christ returns along with God’s glory that is also hidden.

Read Colossians 3:5–10.

Are there parts of your ‘old life’ that continue to affect your ‘new life in Christ’?

Read 1 Corinthians 15:20–26.

What happens to death when we are in heaven?

Read Revelation 20:11–15.

In verse 14 death seems to have a life force of its own and ironically death must now also experience death. The difference is that death will no longer exist because it is part of what Jesus calls the ‘old order of life’.

Read Revelation 21:1–5.

In this ‘new order’ Jesus specifically declares what will be removed, or rather ‘passed away’ (another term we use for death): ‘“There will be no more death” or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’

And finally, the Tree of Life which Adam and Eve lost when the angel prevented them from reaching out and eating, is returned as the Garden of Eden is restored in heaven.

Read Revelation 22:1–5.

Thank you, Heavenly Father that Jesus is the resurrection and the life and even though we die we shall live. Amen.

Pastor Peter Ghalayini serves the Ringwood Knox Lutheran Parish in Melbourne’s outer east and is Aged Care Pastor at Good Shepherd Retirement Village at Ringwood.

335

Recognition for care-givers

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The LCANZ project to establish a Christian Care Sunday acknowledging volunteers and better connecting Lutheran aged and community services with congregations is underway.

The move results from a proposal to General Synod by the church’s Committee for Ministry with the Ageing. The Committee believes a focus on Christian care in congregations will assist provide awareness-raising opportunities for the care that flows from Lutheran communities and agencies into society.

Project officer Anna Kroehn will be guided through the 12-month project by the steering committee of Colleen Fitzpatrick, Helen Lockwood, Pastor Peter Miller, Sue Westhorp and Dr Tania Nelson. Anna said: ‘We plan to develop intergenerational, thought-provoking worship guides, studies, ministry program plans, social media resources and activities to help congregations and Lutheran aged-care and community services to explore and thank God for the Christian care extended by our people every day.’

336

Church@Home April 2021

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

Home worship nurtures faith

Regular devotions are a powerful part of an active 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

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you … plans to give you hope and a future.

DEVOTIONS FOR HOME WORSHIP

These reflections are from a fresh set of devotions written for our LCA/NZ family and friends to help us to keep our eyes on Jesus. They can be used by families and individuals as part of the Church@Home resources. You can find these and more on the LCA website at www.lca.org.au/daily-devotion

Seen and loved by Sonia Hulme

‘As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen’ (Mark 1:16).

Read Mark 1:14–20.

In today’s reading, we see Jesus at the very beginning of his earthly ministry, assembling the group who would become his 12 disciples. These are the ones who would spend the next three years travelling with, eating with, living with and learning from him.

Three of them would become part of his inner circle, including Simon. It seems this might not have been his first encounter with Jesus. The Gospel of John records that it was Simon’s brother Andrew who had first introduced them. Over the next three years, though Jesus and Simon were master and servant, they also became close friends. Jesus renamed him Peter, and he was the first disciple to recognise Jesus as Messiah, the one promised by God to save his people. No matter the exact timing or circumstances of their meeting, Simon Peter’s story began with being seen by Jesus as he toiled away at his everyday job. He saw into Peter’s heart, which was capable of great love but also deeply flawed, and called him anyway.

The beginning of Peter’s life-changing kingdom adventure was being seen in all his humanity and loved despite his imperfections.

It’s no different for you and me. Jesus sees you toiling away at your everyday tasks. He sees you, and calls you into deep and intimate friendship with him and then on into his kingdom work. Where does he see you today? Perhaps you are not a fisherman but employed in some other vocation? Or you are retired or struggling to find work? Jesus issues you the same invitation. Might he be saying to you, ‘I see you; I know you; I love you. Come; follow me, and take part in what I’m already doing in the world. Come on a life-changing kingdom adventure …’

Thank you, Lord, that you see me where I am today, and you love me. Your seeing of me frees me into life. Help me take up your invitation to friendship and join, with joy, your kingdom work in the world. Amen.

A hospital for the soul by Maria Rudolph

‘He sent forth his word and healed them, he rescued them from the grave’ (Psalm 107:20).

Read Psalm 107:1–3,17–22.

I recently had a big medical procedure done. I was in hospital numerous times, and I needed bed rest to recover. For weeks, I wasn’t able to take part in normal life. All outings in the car (that I couldn’t even drive myself) were trips back to the hospital or to see some kind of doctor. Finally, I was able to go on my first non-medical outing. It was Ash Wednesday and a friend took me to church for a special service. I sat there, breathing in the holy space after weeks in bed, after staring at ceilings in hospitals and at home. It suddenly struck me: on this outing, too, I had actually come to a hospital. The church is like a hospital, a place of healing for the soul. After weeks of living so outside of the norm, my innermost being was yearning for the sacredness of the word spoken, prayed and sung by a group of Christians in church. It enveloped me with peace.

The psalms are so raw; the psalmists captured human struggles and emotions so well. Today’s psalm describes a parched soul who hungers and thirsts for the Lord after straying from God’s path. But as soon as they are ready to turn back to God, there he is. He is like a well-watered garden, like a spring that never stops, filling them up and healing them instantly.

We might not experience the healing hand of God in a physical sense, although that can also happen to some. But absolutely every single one of us will experience the refreshment the Lord brings our weary souls when we are parched and open ourselves up to God.

What does that mean for where you are at in your own life at this moment? Here is Matthew 11:28,29 for you in The Passion Translation: Jesus says, ‘Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle and humble. You will find refreshment and rest in me’.

Dear Lord, thank you for refreshing my soul time and again. I praise and thank you for nourishing me more than the choicest food and healing me more deeply than the most knowledgeable doctor. Amen.

PRAYER 

You Lifted Me Out of the Depths 

I will praise you, O Lord,

For you lifted me out of the depths!

You did not let my enemies laugh at me,

Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.

O Lord, you brought me up from the grave, you saved me from the pit.

Sing to the Lord, you saints; praise his holy name.

For his anger doesn’t last and his love lasts a lifetime;

Weeping may last for a night,

but rejoicing comes in the morning.

You turned my crying into dancing;

you removed my rags and clothed me with joy,

that my heart may sing in praise forever.

O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!

– Psalm 30, from justprayer.org

Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold on firmly to the hope we profess because we can trust God to keep his promise.

I know exactly how you feel by Sue Westhorp

‘Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested’ (Hebrews 2:18).

Read Hebrews 2:9–18.

Have you ever had the experience of telling someone a part of your story and had them react with the words ‘I know exactly how you feel’? Perhaps it is a phrase you use to show that you understand and feel empathy for the other person. Sometimes this can be helpful for us, creating a sense of solidarity that helps us to feel less alone. Sometimes we might question whether it is actually possible for someone to know exactly how we feel. After all, we are all unique human beings with unique experiences, aren’t we?

Today’s reading outlines God’s plan for salvation through Jesus. Jesus is described as the pioneer of our salvation who is made perfect through suffering and ‘tastes death for everyone’. And in doing so, he claims us as his sisters and brothers, because he became human like us. It’s a pretty amazing concept, isn’t it? God had the power to swoop in triumphantly and save humanity, and yet he chose to become one of us, to experience life as one of us, and ultimately to die – something God could not do unless he was human.

And the story doesn’t end after the death and resurrection, for Jesus continues to help us in our times of testing and suffering. He doesn’t sit at a distance from us, no longer involved now that the work of salvation has been completed. No, he comes alongside us, identifying with our human experiences and helping us to work through them, not as an impartial observer but as one who knows what we are going through.

As you pour out your heart to God in prayer, in lament, and in sighs beyond words, know that Jesus has gone before you, enduring testing and suffering for our sake. And as he listens to you, he says, ‘My sister/brother, I know exactly how you feel, and I will help you through’.

Lord, I ask you to shine your light in my life. In your grace and mercy, illuminate changes I need to make, paths I need to take, and forgiveness I need to seek. May my confession of sins this week include all the secret darkness of my heart, and may I be fully restored to walk in the light. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

‘In tents faith’ by Pastor Tim Castle-Schmidt

‘By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise’ (Hebrews 11:9).

Read Hebrews 11:8–12.

Would you be happy living in a tent when you knew you had an enormous inheritance? An inheritance that could allow you to live out your days comfortably?

Because that is what Abraham had: faith to live in a tent despite the promise of a nation for his heirs. He had ‘in tents faith’. And yet, it wasn’t his faith through which the promise was fulfilled, but the faithfulness of Yahweh, the promise-giver.

Living in a tent is itself a bit of an act of faith. You have to trust that you won’t get wet, blown away or devoured by the local wildlife. And I suspect that’s part of the attraction of camping; you have to trust that you’ll cope, and that can be intense.

And so, when we are faced with a disruptive event, we are invited to have Abraham’s ‘in tents faith’. Faith to live in a tent when we have the promise of a castle. And that’s not so bad. Abraham and Sarah never entered the Promised Land, and yet their living by faith – intense faith – gave them the energy and connection with reality that was needed for them at that moment.

Lord God, the one who chose Abraham, enliven us with the faith to hang on in the face of adversity, knowing that you promise to be with us through it all. Amen.

337

Coping with family heartache

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by Jodi Brook

Grow Ministries travels around Australia leading training sessions that encourage congregations to support and equip families to develop family faith practices.

On our travels, we have encountered many parents and grandparents who become very emotional during our sessions. As we discuss research around family faith situations, participants openly share their own experiences as children and parents. What we often hear is a sense of grief, guilt and lament about how they feel they may have failed to nurture faith in their own homes.

Feeling this grief, Grow Ministries wanted to offer a Bible study that provides an opportunity for parents to share their feelings with others and to experience God’s forgiveness and love. In partnership with Pastor Richard Haar, lecturer at Australian Lutheran College, we are pleased to tell you about ‘Parents in Pain’.

Sharing enables support

The Parents in Pain Bible studies have been designed to help parents cope with the heartache of having loved ones turn away from their Christian faith.

These studies are designed to be done in a group setting. This allows for mutual sharing and ensures that parents receive support and encouragement from others on a similar journey. Intended as a guide, we encourage you to allow the discussion to organically unfold as your group’s needs are uncovered.

The studies are not designed to be a therapy or counselling session. If the topics discussed raise deeper issues, please speak to your pastor or seek counselling support.

Study sessions address parents’ pain

The ‘Parents in Pain’ Bible study series is designed to be completed over four sessions.

SESSION 1

You are not alone (COMFORT)

Begin to confront the fear and pain over the heart-wrenching experience of seeing your child/ren reject the faith.

SESSION 2

What went wrong? (REFLECTION)

Explore some of the factors which led your child to turn away from God.

This session has the goal of gaining a deeper understanding of yourself and your child/ren.

SESSION 3

Wrestling with the guilt (LETTING GO)

Deal with the important distinction between appropriate and inappropriate guilt and how to best respond to both of these.

SESSION 4

Just keep loving them (HOPE)

Develop some positive strategies for coping and for encouraging your child/ren to reconnect with the Church and their faith.

We pray this resource is an opportunity to support the parents in your congregation who are struggling with this painful issue.

We pray this resource is an opportunity to support the parents in your congregation who are struggling with this painful issue.

Parents in Pain is available for purchase for $5 from Grow Ministries online store at www.growministries.org.au/product-category/bible-studies/ 

Jodi Brook is Director of the LCANZ’s Grow Ministries.

338

What happens when I die?

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by Richard Fox

Death is often a topic people worry about and wonder about but don’t often discuss with others. Lutheran Media’s Messages of Hope has shared about this subject and received many responses, including from Jaimee, who said:

‘Thank you so much for your adverts which help to ease my worry about death.’

Jaimee read the free PDF booklet ‘What happens when I die?’, while others ordered the printed booklet.

You can download and order it at www.messagesofhope.org.au/what-happens-when-i-die-booklet or follow the links from www.messagesofhope.org.au/future

Jesus is with you in your grief

Grief is part of death and dying and can be difficult to live with.

‘Take heart in your grief’ is a booklet originally written by The Lutheran Hour’s Dr Oswald Hoffmann more than 25 years ago but which is still very popular today. It will help you better understand grief and more importantly how Jesus is with you to guide and support you through it.

You can download the free PDF or order the free booklet at www.messagesofhope.org.au/take-heart-in-your-grief

and discover more videos and podcasts at www.messagesofhope.org.au/grief

 How to survive a loved one’s death

When someone close to you takes their own life it can be devastating and very difficult to understand. Messages of Hope shares the free booklet ‘Surviving a Loved One’s Suicide’ to provide hope to people who are trying to survive a loved one’s suicide. The free PDF and booklet can be downloaded and ordered at https://www.messagesofhope.org.au/surviving-suicide-booklet

Videos share hope

Messages of Hope also has a webpage featuring videos and audio programs about dealing with grief and loss. You can find them online at www.messagesofhope.org.au/grief-and-loss/

Pastor Richard Fox is Director of Lutheran Media.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please speak with someone about your feelings. Your local pastor or counsellor may be able to help and you can call Lifeline at any time on 13 11 14.

339

ALC library supports wider Lutheran study need

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The resources of the Australian Lutheran College (ALC) library are available to support the learning, teaching and research needs of the LCANZ’s wider pastoral and academic community – not just those of the ALC’s students and staff. The library houses a wide range of print and electronic resources and subscribes to current periodicals. Inquiries are welcome via email to library@alc.edu.au

340

Navigating end-of-life issues

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In the 20th century, medicine and improved public health measures in Australia were very successful in increasing life expectancy. However, this has changed the pattern of ageing and the pattern of dying, says Dr Clare Seligmann.