Great Stuff . . .

from Pr. Reed over at his blog, "To me, TO LIVE IS CHRIST."  It's about time he started blogging a little more - I hope the trend continues!  Every post he's made in December is a pure gem - what a gifted writer he is.  And, being blessed to know him in person as I do, I can assure you that he is every bit as pastoral as his keyboard reveals him to be.  Get thee over there and give these gems a read; you'll be blessed for doing so. 

"Murder in the Knife Room" - A belated post

In between my travels back and forth to Illinois, last Saturday I had the pleasure of attending the play, "Murder in the Knife Room," performed by the Alma High School Drama Class.  I was greatly impressed.  The kids did a fantastic job.  The play itself, written by renowned playwright, Jonathan Rand, is wonderfully entertaining, but the kids who acted it out made it all the more so.  Even our own Samantha, who has the rep of being shy and quiet-mannered (except among those of us who know her well!), showed some acting skills and looked at home on the stage.  There was a lot of talent up there.  It wouldn't surprise me to see some of these kids actually pursue a career in acting, they were that good.  Kudos to teacher and director, Mrs. Elizabeth Campbell, for preparing the class to perform so wonderfully.  This was the best High School production these eyes have ever beheld, for sure!  Funny, suspenseful, and wildly entertaining, especially the end, when it was revealed that Samantha (Mysterious Host) was a robot, and she did that weird thing with her arm that caused the audience to erupt in a combination of laughter, applause, and gasps of "Oooohs!"  A few pics from the evening:

Way to Go, Panthers!

What a great basketball game last night!  I was so pleased to see the girls come out and take control in the fourth quarter.  They played lousy in the third quarter and found themselves down by nine heading into the fourth.  It didn't look good at all.  But, they came out and took it to them in the fourth, outscoring Chippewa Hills 17-2 to come away with the victory.  Samantha is not mentioned in the article linked below, but she had a few key steals and beautiful assists to help her team turn things around in the late going.  It was a very exciting game, indeed!

Panther girls top Warriors 52-46 - themorningsun.com

On Liturgical Extremism

Fr. Beane has an excellent post over at Gottesdienst Online concerning the popular idea held by many in our synod that the goal in liturgical matters should be to find the happy medium (or, "mushy middle") between what they see as extremism on both ends of the liturgical spectrum.  He hits the proverbial nail on the head here, for it is most certainly true that many, if not most, among us conclude a priori that these extremes exist and are to be avoided.  The pastor who takes seriously how he conducts the Divine Service, paying special attention to rubrics and focusing on the ceremonial is mocked as a "liturgical pietist" (or, "liturgical nazi").  Such a pastor is just as guilty in their eyes as the pastor who puts together an informal "worship experience," paying no mind to rubrics or the ceremonial, with the result that the "worship" they lead bears little to no resemblance to a Lutheran Divine Service.  I have heard pastors who consider themselves to be conservative, liturgically-minded, fellas boast of their refusal to chant, make the sign of the cross, elevate and genuflect, and so forth, in a "thank God I'm not like those liturgical purists" kind of way.  They bask in being liturgical, but not too liturgical, and in being reverent, but not too reverent, as Fr. Beane points out. 

I challenge the assertion that these extremes actually exist.  I'm not saying that there don't exist those pastors, who would fall into the "too liturgical" extreme posited by many, who are guilty of thinking that their way is the only way, and that anyone who doesn't do everything in the same manner as they do are less than Lutheran.  Maybe such pastors do exist, and if they do, they are indeed guilty.  But, to be honest, I have yet to meet a single one of them.  Oh, I have met many who are falsely labeled as being this way, but who, upon further investigation (you know, actually talking with them and hearing from them what they actually believe, and so forth), they are anything but.  They don't actually believe that a pastor must chant the liturgy or make the sign of the cross at all the appropriate places or wear a chasuble or elevate and genuflect, etc. in order to be faithful, as if these things are necessary for the Holy Spirit to do what He does through the Holy Word and Sacraments.  They may contend for these things, believing them to be efficacious aids to our worship and confession, but they don't mandate them, as they are often falsely accused of doing.  They recognize that there is great freedom and enormous latitude in liturgical matters, but what they're not willing to embrace is the idea that this freedom and latitude is limitless, as if anything and everything done in the name of Lutheranism is hunky-dory and, well, Lutheran.  I think that is the real reason why they get labeled extreme:  They draw a line that many don't want to draw.  Drawing such lines is simply not kosher in our live-and-let-live day and age.  But, make no mistake, the line they draw is nowhere near where those who accuse them of being liturgical extremists claim that they place it.

I really don't think there are two extremes on the opposite side of the liturgical spectrum among us.  I think, rather, that there are those who adhere to, and practice, a Lutheran theology of worship, and those who don't.  Of course, I'm sure I would be accused by many of being in the "extreme, litugical pietist" camp.  After all, I'll be donning a rose chasuble tomorrow to conduct the Divine Service on Gaudete Sunday, and I'll chant the liturgy, make the sign of the cross at the appropriate places, elevate the Body and Blood of our Lord and genuflect before Him, reverently consume the remaining elements, cleanse the sacred vessels and return them in a reverent manner to the credence table, and so forth.  It's all so very "extreme," I know.  But, am I really just as guilty in my "extremism" as the pastor who will conduct the "worship experience" he invented in his jeans and t-shirt - a "worship experience" which bears far more resemblance to what one would find in a "methobapticostal" or "Americanized Evangelical" congregation than to a Lutheran Divine Service?  Really?  And, does it matter that I do not see myself as superior to those who do not conduct the Divine Service in the same manner as I do; that I do not look down upon those who may not chant, make the sign of the cross, etc.; that I would be content to attend a Lutheran Divine Service with or without what many term "smells and bells" or "pomp and circumstance," so long as our Lutheran theology of worship was evident, the Holy Gospel was preached in its purity, and the Holy Sacraments were administered according to Christ's institution? 

I think it's high time that we stop hiding behind the "liturgical extremes" which have been conveniently invented to avoid having to have a real theological discussion on liturgical matters.  And, I think it is very sad that Lutherans have become accustomed to setting the goal of finding some "happy middle" where they believe they can live in peace, having managed to avoid the "extremes" that don't really exist.   

What A Poker Face!

After the Committal and luncheon yesterday, I drove down to my parents' house, which is only a half hour or so from Milford, and spent the night with them.  My nephew Maximus came over for dinner (Brandy and Mike came, too :).  After dinner, Maximus was treated to his first-ever Family Texas Hold 'Em tournament:

The kid is a natural, let me tell you!  Just look at his poker face - you ain't getting no tells from that boy!:

He's a handsome fella, ain't he?!

A Very WErry Christmas Special

Not Like Those Without Hope

That makes all the difference in the world, that we Christians do not grieve the loss of our loved ones who depart in the faith like those without hope.  Oh, we grieve and mourn and shed as many tears as they do, but we are not led to despair, for even as those tears stain our cheeks, we have the sure and certain promises of God to comfort, console, and support us in our time of sorrow.  We don't have to wonder and imagine where our faithfully departed loved ones are.  We don't have to rely on wishful thinking and hope that they're in "a better place."  We know exactly where they are.  The pain is still real.  The tears are just as wet.  And there's no shame in that.  Jesus wept at the death of His friend, Lazarus, and it's okay for us to weep, too.  But, our tears are soaked up by the rock solid promises of God which assure us that this is not the end, that we who believe in the same Lord Jesus Christ as our faithfully departed loved ones will see them again.  For our hope is not a "Gee, I really hope all this Jesus and heaven stuff is true" kind of hope, but a rock solid, take-it-to-the-bank kind of hope, as sure and certain as the blood Jesus shed for us on the cross. 

This past week has been very hard.  Last Friday, I watched my best friend die.  Monday, I viewed his dead body lying in a coffin.  Tuesday, I served as Liturgist at his Funeral Service.  Yesterday, I presided over his Committal and watched his remains get lowered into the earth.  I shed many tears, gave and received many hugs to those who mourn his death as I do, have had trouble sleeping, and even more trouble trying to concentrate on the pile of work I need to catch up on.  But, through it all, I have had God's promises.  I have had His Word reminding me time and time again that my friend and brother, Al, is fine; that he is, in fact, better than ever.  That Word was delivered in the liturgy and hymnody of the Funeral Service, and most beautifully in the sermon preached by Pr. Dan Chambers, who reminded us how very blessed are those who die in the Lord, a concept that seems absurd to the dead and dying world in which we live, but a truth proclaimed time and time again in Holy Scripture, and that Word was reinforced again yesterday in the Rite of Committal. 

As I said at the beginning of this post, that Word makes all the difference.  Contrary to popular belief, time does not heal all wounds.  But, the Word Made Flesh does.  He heals all wounds by being wounded and killed in our place.  And for those who cling to Him in faith, as my brother Al did, death is but a passageway to a life where there is no more, and never will be any more, wounds to heal. 

Al knew this to be true.  He preached it.  He lived it.  And, even from the grave, he's still preaching it.  His sons, Dustin and Chris, were looking through his study and found a legal pad on his desk with page after page of notes scribbled by their dad.  On one of those pages, Al had jotted some thoughts down about the concept of "Time."  As I read what he had written, tears welled up in my eyes as I smiled at the same time.  It's typical Al, whose mind was always engaged in deep thought, especially when it entered the realm of theology and philosophy.  He starts off by comparing time to a predatory animal that sneaks up on us, stalks us, smelling our trail, and moving closer to making the kill day by day.  He mentions how we can try to outrun it with doctors and new technology, but that, in the end, this predatory animal called "time" is going to hunt us down and make the kill.  "The singular concept in this whole world is death," he writes.  He then goes on to entertain the idea that maybe the saying "vale of tears" refers to "time"; that it may be time itself that brings about the tears associated with our pain and suffering in this world.  I can just picture his mind working as he was writing this.  Always wondering.  Always searching.  But, always anchored in the Truth of God's Word, as is evident by his concluding sentence, which reads:

"Thanks be to God!  For according to His Promise - His Word - there shall be no pain, suffering, or tears for those who believe in the Christ, the Anointed One of God, who came to save us from our sins and death, and has also promised us the gift of eternal life.  I pray that you and I look forward to that time without time!  Amen."

I will miss my friend and brother tons, but I am comforted and ever so thankful that he knew that His Redeemer lives, and that he is now enjoying that "time without time" to which he looked forward.  I pray that all who will miss Al as I do look forward to that "time without time" as well, and to the joyful reunion which awaits us in heaven.  I was pleased to see so many people, including several brother pastors, turn out for his visitation and funeral.  Al touched a lot of lives and was a blessing to many.  I was also blown away by how many people approached me and said, "You must be Tom/Pastor Messer.  Al/Pastor Majewski always talked about you."  It was testimony to how close we were.  And, I'm sure if things were reversed, people I know would have said the same to him.

The next few weeks will be hard for all of us who mourn Al's departure.  Christmas day will be especially difficult for his family, and for me as well.  Since 1998, not a Christmas day has gone by without our ritualistic phone call.  That phone call always began with the one who made the call giving the other one a hard time for not calling first:  "Well, I figured I'd give you a call to wish you a Merry Christmas, since you obviously don't care enough about me to call and wish me one!"  I hated it when he beat me to the punch, because he would lay it on thick.  Those who knew Al know exactly what I mean.  He could carry on like nobody's business, and the only thing to do was to sit back and listen until he was done.  But, it was always great fun and we always got around to sharing with one another our love and well wishes for each other and our families.

But, as much as I will miss that phone call (and the plethora of others we made to each other often), I look forward to that "time without time" when I shall see my brother again.  We do not grieve like those without hope.  Thank God for that!  I pray that the sure and certain promises of God will carry Marjorie, Dustin, Chris, Brittany, Jakob, and all of Al's family and friends, through the difficult days ahead.  For "precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints."  This is most certainly true!  Amen.

Al's Ordination Sermon

Reminiscing today, I pulled out the sermon I was privileged to preach upon Al's Ordination into the Office of the Holy Ministry, and thought I would share:

THE ORDINATION OF ALOYSIUS MAJEWSKI

The Presentation of the Augsburg Confession

Pentecost 3 - June 25, 2006

St. Paul Lutheran Church – Hamburg, Michigan

 Rev. Thomas C. Messer, Pastor

Peace Lutheran Church - Alma, Michigan

“Preach the Faith-Creating, Faith-Sustaining Word”

Romans 10:5-17

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, esteemed colleagues, Majewski family and friends, and Al, my brother whom I love,

            It is a great honor and a tremendous blessing to stand before you this morning and preach the Word of God on this blessed occasion.  I’ve been looking forward to this day for some time now.  Long before Al actually received his call to serve as pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Manito, Illinois, I was looking forward to this day – the day in which my best friend and brother in Christ would be ordained into the Office of the Holy Ministry.  Oh yes, I’ve been looking forward to this day for some time now, praying for it to come.  And, here we are.  The Lord is good!

I’ve been especially looking forward to this day for the past couple of months, ever since Al asked me if I’d be willing to preach at his ordination.  I said “Yes” right away, but I have to admit that I was a little frightened about it.  After all, who am I to preach at an ordination service?  I’m just a “rookie” pastor myself, still learning what it means to be a pastor.  I can’t offer Al or anyone else words of wisdom that come from years of experience – I don’t have years of experience, I have a year of experience.  As I thought about how unqualified I am for this task, I came very close to calling Al and asking him to find someone else.

Two things stopped me from making that call.  First, I came to realize that this is simply an opportunity I couldn’t allow to pass me by.  To be able to speak in Al’s presence for a length of time without being interrupted by him would be a dream come true.  Allow me a moment to explain.

You see, Al and I became acquainted about eight years ago while attending Concordia University in Ann Arbor.  We hit it off right away and have been best of friends ever since.  One of the reasons we hit it off was because we were the two “old guys” on campus.  I won’t say which of us is older, but I can assure you it ain’t me!  Another reason we became such close friends was that we had so much in common.  We were both married and had four kids; we both knew what it meant to work for a living; and we both had experienced many trials and tribulations in this life, leaving both of us amazed that the Lord would call us into His Service. 

The close bond between Al and I which began in Ann Arbor remains to this day.  Distance has done nothing to sever the bond.  Even though we’ve only seen each other a few times over the past five years – I attended Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana while he attended that other seminary (I think it’s in St. Louis) – we remain as close as ever.  I can’t even begin to fathom how many hours we’ve spent on the phone or how many emails we’ve sent to one another over the past five years.  All I can say is thank God for unlimited long distance!  And, this brings me to my point.

A typical phone conversation between Al and I lasts at least a couple of hours.  They usually begin with some small talk and catching up, but almost always turn into deep theological or philosophical debates in which Al dominates the conversation, making it extremely difficult for me to get a word in edgewise.  And, as if that weren’t bad enough, because these phone calls usually take place in the evening and last so long, coupled with the fact that Al is an early morning riser who needs his beauty sleep, I always somehow get blamed for keeping him up, as if I was the one keeping the conversation going.  And so, you see what I mean, that being able to speak for a length of time without being interrupted by Al is, for me, a dream come true. 

That’s the first thing that kept me from calling Al and asking him to find someone more qualified.  The second reason is more serious and, truth be told, the real reason I didn’t make that call.  You see, I realized that even though I lack the words of wisdom to offer Al that comes from years of experience being a pastor, I do have something even greater – the Word of God. 

Al, my dear friend and brother in Christ, listen once more to the beautiful, Holy Spirit-inspired Word of God recorded for us by St. Paul in his epistle to the Romans, which you know so well:

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?  And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”  But not all the Israelites accepted the good news.  For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”  Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ (Romans 10:14-17).

How beautiful are your feet, my dear friend, for you are being sent by God to Manito, Illinois to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to administer the Sacraments according to Christ’s institution.  Nothing more, nothing less. 

Of course, if we were on the phone right now, you would probably interrupt me and say, “Wait a minute, there’s much more to it than that.”  You would probably remind me of the many administrative duties a pastor is asked to perform, the many Bible studies a pastor is called to teach, the hospital and shut-in calls a pastor must make, the many meetings a pastor must attend, and a great many other things a pastor must do.  I’m aware of all that.  Believe me, if there’s anything I have learned in my limited experience as a pastor it’s that there is a lot more to do than I ever dreamed.  The old joke that pastors have it made because they only have to work two hours a week – one to write the sermon, the other to lead the Service on Sunday – isn’t all that funny to me anymore.  Soon, it won’t be all that funny to you either, for you will learn, as I have, that, in addition to being a wonderful blessing and gift from God, being a full-time Lutheran pastor is a demanding and time-consuming vocation.  And, while you’ll be doing a great many things as a pastor, I would submit to you that everything you do as a pastor falls, in one way or another, under your Divine call to preach the Gospel and administer the Sacraments.  That, my friend, is what you are being ordained and sent to do.  Nothing more, nothing less.    

It is fitting that we remember and celebrate the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession today, which occurred on June 25, 1530, for, as you well know, the Augsburg Confession is the chief of our Lutheran Confessions.  In a little bit, Pastor Walther will officiate over the Rite of Ordination in which you will be asked to subscribe unconditionally to all of our Lutheran Confessions, acknowledging them “to be a correct interpretation of Holy Scripture.”

The two most important articles of faith to which you will subscribe are Articles IV and V of the Augsburg Confession.  Article IV confesses the central article of the Christian faith, that we are declared righteous (that is, justified, or saved) by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.  Then, Article V says, “To obtain such faith God instituted the Office of the Holy Ministry, that is, provided the Gospel and the Sacraments.  Through these, as through means, He gives the Holy Spirit, who works faith, when and where He pleases, in those who hear the Gospel.”

You are being sent to Manito, Illinois to do nothing more and nothing less than preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and administer the Sacraments according to Christ’s institution because it is through these means of grace, and only through these means of grace, that the Holy Spirit works to bring sinners to faith in Jesus Christ and to keep them in that salvific faith.  There is no other way, “for faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.” 

No one – not one single person - in this House of God here this morning who believes in Jesus Christ came to this knowledge and faith on their own.  There’s not a single believer here, or anywhere else in the world, who believes in Jesus Christ as a result of a personal decision they made, no matter how popular that false theology may be in our day and age.  There never has been, nor will there ever be, a person who came to faith of their own will, apart from God’s Word.  If people truly believe, it is only because the Holy Spirit worked that faith in them, connecting them to the Vine, Jesus Christ, by the power of the Gospel.  For, as our Lutheran Confessions declare based on the clear Word of God, before we’re brought to faith and connected to that Vine, we’re dead in sin, completely incapable of turning to God, unable to do one single thing pleasing in His sight.  But, when the Holy Spirit works through Word and Sacrament to convict us of our sins and point us to our Savior Jesus Christ, giving us the faith to believe that He lived the perfect life we can’t live and shed His holy, innocent blood on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, we are made alive in Christ, branches of the True Vine, and our new life in Christ bears much fruit pleasing to God.     

And so, the charge given to you is the same charge given to all pastors of all time:  “Kh/rucon to\n lo/gon! (Preach the Word!); be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Tim. 4:2).  Preach the Word, my dear brother, and when you do, preach it in its entirety, for the Gospel of Jesus Christ is meaningless to people who don’t realize their need for Christ.  You must preach the Law in its fullness, constantly reminding your hearers that, on their own, they are nothing more than poor, miserable sinners who need a Savior.  And then, preach the full, sweet message of the Gospel - the Good News that their need has been answered in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ; that, through faith in Him, they have forgiveness, life, and salvation.  Preach the faith-creating and faith-sustaining Word and then, say your “Amen” and leave the rest to the Holy Spirit.  That’s what you are being sent to do.  Nothing more, nothing less. 

Of course, preaching the faith-creating and faith-sustaining Word of God is much easier said than done.  In a very real way, you are entering a war-zone, my friend.  You are being sent out as “a sheep among wolves” (Matt. 10:16).  You are being called to “fight the good fight” against a fierce, powerful, multi-faced enemy.  Your biggest adversary will be that “old evil foe,” the “ancient dragon,” Satan.  You’re no match for him on your own, for he knows the Word of God far better than you and he is far more imaginative and crafty than you will ever be.  Then, there is the Old Adam, the sinful nature which lives in every member of the flock to which you are being called to serve, and the sinful nature which also lives in you.  You’re no match for Old Adam on your own either, and neither is your flock, for the flesh is weak and desires to do the will of Old Adam.  And, then there is death, that final enemy, against which, again, you and the flock in Manito are powerless. 

This fierce, powerful, multi-faced enemy will battle you every step of the way, always seeking to devour you.  Its primary weapons are deception, temptation, and pride.  It will try to deceive you into believing that God’s Holy Word and Sacraments are not enough, tempt you into tying something different, something said to be new and better in serving the flock, and it will try to fill you with pride, hoping that you will begin to believe that the church is your church and the people are your people to serve as you see fit.  You completely lack the ability to engage this enemy in battle on your own, let alone defeat it.  Every pastor who has ever tried has lost.  If you try to go it alone, you too will lose.    

But, if you abide in the Word, sin, death, and the devil will be powerless against you.  If you cling to the Word of the Lord who is sending you out, you will be constantly reminded of the truth, that it’s not your message He’s sending you to preach or your church He’s calling you to serve, but His message and His church.  My friend, you are being called, ordained, and sent out as a mere instrument to be used by the Lord to accomplish His purposes.  You are being sent out to be nothing more than a mouthpiece through which the Lord Himself will speak to His people.  You will be nothing more than a messenger through whom the Word of the Lord will be delivered, convicting people of sin and pointing them to the Savior Jesus Christ.  Armed with this Word, you are already victorious over the enemy, for this is the Word who became Incarnate – the Valiant One, Jesus Christ, who has already “fought the good fight” and won the victory on your behalf and, indeed on behalf of the whole world.    

The Lord’s flock in Manito needs this Word, my friend, and the Lord is answering that need by sending you.  Some of them may want something else, but you’re not being sent to give them what they want.  You’re being sent to deliver to them what they need – the eternal, unchanging Word of God, for it is through this Word, and this Word alone, that sinners are brought to, and sustained in, the one true faith and receive the spoils of war won by Christ – complete forgiveness of all sins, everlasting life, and eternal salvation.

So, my good friend and brother in Christ, preach the faith-creating, faith-sustaining Word of God.  For this reason, you’ve spent nine years in training so that you’d be thoroughly equipped for the task.  For this reason, and this reason alone, you are being sent.  And, as you preach this Word, know that you will not be alone, for the Lord’s promise to you is that He will be with you always and that His Word which goes out from you, His mouthpiece, will not return empty (even though it will often seem like it does), but will accomplish the purpose for which He sent it (Isaiah 55:11). 

Abide in His Word.  Be His mouthpiece.  Deliver His message.  Preach the faith-creating, faith-sustaining Word!  Nothing more, nothing less!  I love you and so does the Lord who is sending you out to preach His faith-creating, faith-sustaining Word to His people.  In His Holy and Precious Name.  Amen. 

The Peace of God that passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, keeping you steadfast in His Word, unto life everlasting.  Amen.

I Love You, Al!

Yesterday morning, at 9:56 a.m. (CST), I watched my best friend, Al (Pr. Aloysius Majewski - St. Paul Lutheran, Manito, IL), breathe his last.  Words escape me to describe how tough that was.  So many good times; so many laughs; so many theological and philosophical debates; so many hours on the phone.  And now, only tears and an emptiness I feel that simply won't go away.

You don't get many best friends in this life.  Those people the Lord puts in your life who love you unconditionally, who are always there for you, whom you can trust with your very life, and with whom you can share everything, are few and far between.  Al was such a person for me, a blessed and precious gift granted me by our Lord, and I am eternally thankful to have had him in my life.

I am also thankful for the brother pastors who were there to console us the last couple of days, especially Pr. Dan Chambers, who conducted the Commendation of the Dying for Al during his last minutes of life in this vale of tears.  As we stood in that room weeping and physically shaking at the sight of our loved one leaving us, Pr. Chambers' voice was heard above the groans and sighs and we added our tearful "amens" and joined in confessing the Creed and praying the Lord's Prayer amidst our sorrow.  I'm so glad he was there.  I had brought my Pastoral Care Companion with me and, knowing how close Al and I were, Pr. Chambers and the other brothers asked me if I would conduct the Rite.  I knew there was no way I could have done it, and so I handed my Companion to Pr. Chambers and asked him to do it.  That was definitely the right move.

I have been blessed to provide pastoral care for grieving families on numerous occasions, but it is at times like this, when I need pastoral care myself, that the importance of what we pastors are called to do in the stead and by the command of our Lord Jesus Christ is realized.  I hope I am as much of a blessing to those who need me as the several brother pastors were to me and to Al's family these last couple of days.  Thank you Pastors Peters, Chambers, Riddle, Wenndt, and Dufon for bringing the compassion, mercy, and glorious Good News of our Lord to us!

When I walked in the room to see Al Thursday afternoon, I could tell right away that his time was short.  I grabbed his hand and told him that I loved him, prayed for him, and reminded him of the Gospel he knew and preached so well.  He looked up at me.  I'd like to believe that he knew it was me there with him, but who can say?  It was so hard to see him in the state he was in, but I'm thankful to have had some time with him before he went home.  I couldn't sleep at all that night.  I kept waking up every half hour or so.  I knew what was coming the next day.  Per the advice of the doctors, the family had decided to pull the ventilator out the next morning.  Al had taken a big turn for the worse the day before - on top of everything else, his kidneys had started to fail him.  It was time, no two ways about it.  We hoped that Al might come around for a bit after the ventilator was pulled, but I knew it was doubtful.  And so I prayed that night for the Lord to make it quick the next morning; to take my brother home as quickly and peacefully as possible.  And He answered that prayer.  In less than ten minutes after they pulled the ventilator, Al departed.  It was just enough time for Pr. Chambers to conduct the Commendation and for all of us to say our goodbyes.  I grabbed my friend's hand for the last time and said, "I love you, Al.  Go in peace, dear brother.  I'll see you again soon."

And I know that I will see my brother again.  That's the Good News in this.  But, it's the time between now and then that is going to be difficult.  Lord, give me strength!

I spent today putting together the bulletin for Al's Funeral Service.  Pr. Chambers asked me if I would like to do the Service.  He has gotten to know Al very well these last few years, since he serves a parish that is only five miles away from the parish Al served.  He told me that he thought my first name was "My best friend," since Al always said, "My best friend Tom Messer."  I told him that I didn't think it would be a good idea for me to preach, but that I thought I could get through serving as Liturgist.  He agreed to preach, and I volunteered to put the Service together, make, and print the bulletins, and to return for the visitation Monday evening and to serve as Liturgist for the Service Tuesday morning.  I will also preside over the Committal, which will take place in Milford, Michigan on Thursday morning at 10:30 a.m.  Al is going to be laid to rest in close proximity to his son, Zachary, who was called home by our Lord at six months old back in 1989.  What joy my brother must be experiencing right now, having been reunited to his son, whom he loved and missed dearly!

I googled "Rev. Aloysius Majewski" earlier today to search for his obit and the second entry read:  "Rev. Thomas C. Messer's Friends - The Wittenberg Trail."  Tears.  Man, I'm gonna miss him something fierce!

I desperately covet your prayers for the coming week, not only for myself, but for Al's family, especially his wife, Marjorie, and his children, Dustin, Chris, Brittany, and Jacob.  We all know where Al is.  We're so thankful to have that comfort and peace.  But, the void left in our hearts by his departure is unmistakable and painful.

I love you, Al.  Rest in peace, brother!  

Speaking of Pres. Harrison . . .

have you seen the new blog he and his team have developed?  Looks very, very promising!  How cool is it that our synodical leaders are so at ease with social networking?  They have blogs, Facebook accounts, and even take the time to comment and interact with people.  Gotta love it! 

Here's an excerpt from the inaugural post of the new blog, written by Pres. Harrison:

Lutheran preaching does not merely talk about the Law and the Gospel or this or that teaching. Lutheran preaching delivers the goods. It actually speaks the very word of God which kills and makes alive. Lutheran preaching dares to say “you are the man” to sinners, and “Christ came for you” to penitent sinners!

"Love Your Pastor"

In this "Advent Blessing from President Harrison," he lovingly exhorts us to love our pastors, especially at this time of the year when they are so busy.  Can't argue with that! ;)  Seriously, it's a wonderful message from a man who always exhibits a pastoral heart.  We are so blessed to have him serving as our Synodical President.  Enjoy!

Advent Blessing from President Harrison from VimeoLCMS on Vimeo.

The First Divine Service

Midnight Mass?  What's that all about?  Pr. Weedon answers that question in this beautiful article in The Lutheran Witness. 

And, in the same Witness, LCMS President Harrison writes an important article on keeping witness and confession together in the Life of the Church, rather than pitting one against the other. 

The Reigndom of Repentance

Issues, Etc. Interview

I had the privilege of being interviewed again yesterday on Issues, Etc. regarding the third in a series of four articles I wrote for Higher Things Magazine, this one being on The Day of Atonement.  You can listen to the segment below, if you wish:

What Is Christmas?

For a most excellent answer to that question, check out this wonderful article written by Pr. Thomas Chryst in The Lutheran Witness.  Simply fabulous!