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Faith, timing, and the next chapter for CLC pastoral leadership

There is a season

“There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1

As many of you know, I have been a member of CLC since the signing of the charter. We have always been a community of Faith. It was that Faith that led the original disciples to buy this property, to hire a full-time Pastor, and eventually build the Sanctuary. In my time at CLC, I have also been, in some way, a part of three Call processes. The first took more than two years, the second about six months (Pastor Karis), and the third about six months (Pastor Carla). We have been very fortunate that the season was right on these last two Calls. As Deb Wittle cited in her article two weeks ago, there is a discrepancy between the number of candidates and the number of congregations with vacant pulpits.

Procrastination can sometimes be a good thing. In typing my notes from the Congregational Special Meeting on March 2nd, we were told that Pastor Karis would extend her Call if we were actively looking for another Pastor to join our mission. Work was begun almost immediately to start the Call process, which includes a thesis, just kidding, about an eight-page document that is submitted to the Synod. The season was right because Pastor Carla’s name was their recommendation.

Pastor Carla was here for a month, and during that time, I had several opportunities to talk with her. I found her outlook for ministry at CLC is aligned with that of Pastor Karis and our congregation. Along with her sermons, I also heard her deliver the message at Ed Waluk’s funeral. I was amazed that in the short time of knowing Kathy, she had gleaned a deep knowledge of the family. That same day, I spent the afternoon with her and Kim, showing them around Lewes and attending the Lewes Juneteenth celebration. During that time, I found that she was very interested in the history of Sussex County and that of CLC. From my contact with her, I feel she will be a great addition to our ministry staff. Her outlook for CLC will complement that of Pastor Karis, and I am looking forward to them making a good, strong team. Is she Pastor Karis? No, but your senior year math teacher wasn’t your first-grade teacher. No two people are going to preach or teach in the same manner and style.

I started with “there is a season,” and our season is to continue outward ministry with a strong Pastoral team, and I feel that the team should be Pastor Carla and Pastor Karis.

Lonnie Riley
Council Member

Monday study group explores spiritual attentiveness through ‘Selah’

The Monday Study Group, which meets at 10:30 a.m., discusses many spiritual ideas and practices. One of these practices comes from a book titled “The Sacred Year” by Michael Yankowski. The author addresses the fact that in our fast-paced, multi-tasking world, many have lost the ability to hear the small, quiet voice of the Holy Spirit or to experience God in their lives. In his first chapter, he discusses the “Practice of Attentiveness” to help one learn to “single task” and simply focus on one topic at a time. While he chose an apple to use as a study prop, members of our group used an old pocket watch and even beach glass similarly. We need to “Selah”. This Hebrew word is sprinkled through the book of Psalms. The author suggests that a very loose, but best translation is “Shut up! And pay attention. Notice! Look, see, listen, hear, touch, feel, smell, taste.” As you know, we only have five senses through which the world can come crashing into our crowded brains. The psalmist said, “taste and see that the Lord is good.” He didn’t start with “see” – he started with the most intimate of the five! Yankowski asks, “Could it be that intimacy is a prerequisite to seeing something fully?”

Come join us in such discussions on spiritual growth.

For more info, contact Dave Bartges.

Due to many appointments and Labor Day, we will not meet on Aug. 25th or Sep. 1st.

Social Justice small group invites members to engage in local advocacy

Community Lutheran Church is in the process of organizing a Social Justice Small Group. So far, the group has hosted a sign-making party and joined the protests by Indivisible Southern Delaware in Rehoboth. We have also researched and attended the Indivisible Southern Delaware group in Bethany Beach. Both groups are available to those interested in participating on Saturday mornings. Rehoboth meets in front of the old Bed, Bath and Beyond on Coastal Hwy (parking available). The Bethany Beach protest is located on Route 26 just east of St Ann’s Catholic Church. Both are currently gathering from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. during the summer. Watch for time changes as the weather cools. More information on Indivisible can be found at www.indivisiblesode.org

We are interested in branching out to other Social Justice opportunities and would love to hear from you. Your interest and ideas to share are appreciated. Some suggestions have included supporting the Food Pantry at Community and being trained in signing up clients for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Future options include working with organizations like the League of Women Voters during election cycles, working for more affordable housing in Sussex County, and supporting the Hispanic community in our area. For those looking for quieter ways to perform justice acts, lists of businesses to boycott are another suggestion. What are your ideas?

We are called to serve our neighbors. Community has been working toward community outreach opportunities. The work we do outside the church building is the work of serving Christ. Prayerfully consider this opportunity. If this ministry interests you, please send an email to pamdean.pedersen@gmail.com. She’ll be in contact with you soon.

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