Pastor Martin's Message for December 2009

"Prepare" is the perfect word for where we find ourselves this Advent Season, as we prepare for Jesus' coming and where Bethany finds yourself as you prepare for new ministry before you and look for a new pastor. If you have the opportunity during this Advent Season, I ask for you to see how the word "prepare" is used throughout Scripture. We hear the word in Psalm 23 where our Lord as our Good Shepherd "prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies." We hear from the prophet Isaiah 40:3 with the reference to John the Baptist who will be the voice who "cries out 'In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God."' This text from Isaiah is used in the three gospels of Matthew 3:3, Mark 1:3 and Luke 3:4 again referring to John the Baptist preparing the way of the Lord. We have a most powerful text from John 14:2-3 that Jesus will "go and prepare a place for me, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also." In 1 Peter 1:13, we hear from Peter calling all of us to "prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed." Throughout scripture we receive the powerful texts of how Jesus prepares for us a table and a place for all of us and how we in return need to prepare for Jesus' coming and prepare (our) minds for action and discipline, setting all of our hope on the grace that Jesus has given to us when he is revealed.

As this Advent Season focuses on how we need to prepare the way of the Lord and to prepare (our) minds for action and discipline, we need to be thankful for the Resurging Bethany's Spirit process that is helping us in our preparation. Resurging Bethany's Spirit has brought the "Presents" of Prayer to all of us during worship and the first Sunday of the month. Resurging Bethany's Spirit has been looking at new mission and vision for Bethany. Resurging Bethany's Spirit has been looking to our outreach to our daycare and preschool children, parents and our visitors. Finally, Resurging Bethany's Spirit has brought together the Advent Devotionals and this year's midweek Advent service theme. We hope and pray that the Advent Devotionals put together by many of Bethany will bless all of us, as we look to scripture in our preparing for Jesus' coming and prepare our minds for action and discipline, setting all of our hope on the grace that Jesus gives to all of us. Our midweek Advent services will focus on preparing ourselves to receive the love, forgiveness and acceptance, what Jesus gives to all of us through his death and resurrection. We hope and pray that all of our preparing this Advent Season will help you as you prepare for new ministry with a new called pastor in the year to come, looking to scripture and prayer, preparing yourselves for action and discipline, setting your hope on the grace that Jesus has given to all of you. May our promised Messiah and Savior bless all of us as we prepare the way of the Lord this Advent Season, that our preparing will bless us as we prepare for action and discipline for new ministry that is before Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church!

God's many blessings as we prepare!

PASTOR MARTIN