president of the congregation. I dont know what I was thinking, Pastor, she said. I cant do this job. Im not qualified. I dont even know how to run a meeting. How can I lead this congregation? But you said yes, when you were asked to run, the pastor suggested. I know I did. And I dont know what possessed me to say that. I do! the pastor said. Gods Spirit possessed you. You are the right person at the right time to do the job. Me? But how can you be so sure? Because you were chosen. Thats what makes lead- ers in the church, what they all have in common. They are chosen. Gods leaders have always been chosen. Gods choosing is constant in the Bible. In every case, those God sought out to do great things were unready, unqualified, and almost always reluctant. In every case, God was able to do mar- velous, miraculous things through these chosen ones. Look at Moses, the disciples, and Paul. They all became leaders. They did nothing less than change the world for generationscenturies. Those leaders had something else in commonsomething Marcia shares with them. None of them sought the job they were given. Moses was hiding in the wilderness when God found him and called him. The simple Galilean disciples were living quiet lives as fishermen. And Paul was in the midst of an active persecution of the followers of Jesus when he was con- fronted, chosen, and called to open salvation to all. Reluctant though they were, each responded to Gods call and each became a perfect tool for Gods saving action in the world. Whatever task God has set before you in the church or in Gods world, whatever you feel called to do, God can do great things through you. Not because you are qualified or especially trained. Not because you sought the job or seek anything for yourself. But because the Spirit of God has possessed you, called you, helped you say yes, and will use you to do what God has in mind for you. Jesus said and continues to say, You did not choose me but I chose you. . . . (John 15:16) JANUARY Gods Leaders are Chosen Read Exodus 3, Mark 1:1620, and Acts 9:19. What similarities do you see? Prayer Lord, help us to move into the future you have set for us with the confidence that comes from knowing that we are your chosen ones. Set us on fire with the Spirit so that we can climb out of tired ruts, set out on new paths, and move boldly in witness and service. In the name of the one who chose us. Amen. For ref lection and discussion What does it mean to you to know that you are chosen by God? FEBRUARY Gods Leaders are Consecrated The ceremony doesnt seem all that important. The pastor asks if we are willing to do the task to which the congre- gation has elected us. We respond: Yes, with the help of God. It seems like just another passing promise until we see how that promise fits into what God has always been doing with Gods leaders. Isaiah may not have been remarkable in any other way than thishis mouth was touched by the angel of God and his words from that time forward were dedicated, consecrated to God. Mary seemed an ordinary young woman from an ordinary village in Galilee until she was set apart, consecrated as the mother of the Savior. And so throughout the biblical story, again and again, ordinary people are marked, called, and set apart for unique and remarkable service. Jesus himself was consecrated. He stood on the mountain of transfiguration, shrouded in the glory of God, and the voice of God named him my beloved. He was set apart for the task he had already determined to do. Sometimes the work we are called to do in a congregation may seem rather ordinary. We may be faced with dozens of day-to-day jobs that need to be done. Just like the cer- emony that puts the tasks in our hands, the whole thing can seem rather unimportant. But God does not see it that way. No matter how unre- markable the job, Gods chosen ones are always marked and set apart for the task. They are touched, called, named, visited with the very presence of the Spirit of God as they set about to do what they have been called to do. The ceremony there in church may seem less than impres- sive. The task ahead may seem a great deal less than remarkable. But we can be assured of this: God has set us apart for the task. It is Gods Spirit that inspires and inhab- its our doing. It is Gods will that drives us ahead. And it is Gods purpose that is accomplished. Jesus said and continues to say, You did not choose me but I chose you. . . . (John 15:16) We are Gods chosen ones, set apart and consecrated for the tasks we have promised to do. Read Isaiah 6:18, Luke 1:2638 and Mark 9:28. What similarities do you see? Prayer Lord, help us to know that we are the set apart ones, the ones who have been consecrated for the service you want us to do. Set us on fire with the Spirit so that we can accomplish great things, even in the seeming- ly common tasks you have called us to do. In the name of the one who was set apart for us. Amen. For ref lection and discussion You are consecrated, set apart, dedicated. What does that mean to you as you go about your tasks of service? How is that consecration evident in what you do? By the middle of the year, Susan was ready to quit. As head of the congregations building committee she had just about had it. The plans had been drawn, ground broken, and the new education wing seemed headed for comple- tion. But between those who kept coming to her with suggestions and others complaining about every deci- sion, Susan had begun to feel that she and her committee could do nothing right. Im going to quit, she spluttered to her committee. This just isnt worth it! Its like being in the middle of a battleand you dont even know what the war is about. Mazie, one of her steady committee members, spoke quietly. Susan, do you think you are doing the right thing and what is best for the congregation as a whole? Yes, I do. I think we have made each decision care- fully and with good reason. And do you feel that you have served God in these decisions? Do you feel that we have followed Gods will for this project? Yes. I think we have spent wisely and planned well. Then there is no waronly some disgruntled peo- ple. They will come to terms with their whims and wish- es. Our task is to be faithful and move ahead with what God wants done. Wise words. As much as we would like to believe it, doing service among Gods people is not always easy. Sometimes the more people care about the congregation and its mission the more conflict there is likely to be. Conflict can be a real test. Jacob physically wrestled with the angel of God and seemed to win, even though he was wounded. Peter, on the other hand, wrestled with himself in the courtyard and failed. Even Jesus faced desperate conflict as he was tempted by Satan in the wilderness. Following Gods will can be difficult. Thats the message we can hear so clearly in all of these experiences. Not by our own power and strength but by the power of the Spirit living and working in us we can prevail. We are not called to win every battle or be right in every decision. We are called to be faithful. Like Susan, we are called, not to please everyone, but to carry out the will of God as we see it. God will take care of the rest. Jesus said and continues to say, You did not choose me but I chose you. . . . (John 15:16) Listen, heroes of God: Because God chose us, we are free to be what God is calling us to be. MARCH Gods Leaders are Tested Read Genesis 32:2228, Matthew 26:6975, and Luke 4:113. What similarities do you see? Prayer Lord, send us the Spirit, the Comforter, to be with us in the time ahead. Inspire our decisions, and set our hearts on fire with your will so that we can be, not necessarily vic- torious, but faithful in all that we do in your name. Amen. For ref lection and discussion Recall a time when you were tested. What did that testing have to do with your being a chosen leader? What did Gods promise have to do with the outcome? APRIL Gods Leaders are Sent Go. The word occurs 1,165 times in the Bible. The congregation members could not figure out how to involve more young people. No matter how long they waited, the young families in the neighborhood didnt seem to come through the door. We have to go out and bring them, said a wise member. I wonder how many of the families moving into that new housing development are members of a church? mused a member of the evangelism committee. Theres only one way to find out, said another. Weve got to go out door- to-door, and ask them. This community seems to have no care for the homeless. They dont even have shelters and are hassled by the police, said a member of the congregation council. Perhaps it is up to us, said another, to go and speak for them. Gods leaders do a lot of going. Abraham was roused out of his comfortable home and told to go to a new country. The disciples, perhaps contentedly following Jesus, were told to go to every town and village and preach the com- ing of the kingdom. Gathered with Jesus after the resur- rection, Jesus followers were told to go to all and preach and teach everything. And the women at the empty tomb were told to go and tell. We are still sent. We are still told to go. If we look at our congregation and we seem to be dead in the water, certainly the message of God is go. And if we look at our lives and see not much happening, a kind of drift or same- ness to it all, surely Gods message to us is go. When we go, things happen. We move into what God has ready for us. We engage the Spirit as guide. We climb out of old ruts and move down new paths. We cause change. We break into our future. Sometimes Gods word to us seems complex. Sometimes it seems difficult to discern Gods will. Sometimes we wan- der and wonder. But this message is simple and clear: Go! Go and tell. Go and teach. Go! Jesus said and continues to say, You did not choose me but I chose you. . . . (John 15:16) As chosen ones, we go. Read Genesis 12:13, Matthew 28:1620, and Mark 16:18. What similarities do you see? Prayer Lord, send the wind and fire of your Spirit to move us into the future you have set for us. Fill our hearts with a desire to go, our ears with the call to go, and our feet with the need to go and reach and teach each one. In the name of the one who was willing to go to the cross for us. Amen. For ref lection and discussion In what way do you hear Gods command to go? What is your response? How does your congregation hear the command? How do you respond? We have been at this for years, said the congregation president. We brainstorm new ministries, we dream dreams and every time we try to put our plans into action, something gets in the way. We always seem to be stuck in the rut of doing the same old thing and we cant get out of it. You know, said farmer Arnold, one of the older council members. I love to start to work my fields in March, to get a head start. But almost every time I try that, I get stuck in the mud. But when I wait on Gods timewhen the fields are readyeverything goes just right. I think maybe wed better see if we can move in Gods time instead of our own. Sometimes doing Gods work can be discouraging. We see the way we need to go; we see the actions that need to be taken and nothing happens. We push and prod and still nothing happens. And like the council president, we begin to think that almost anything we want to do is beyond us. Jeremiah felt like that. Hed done what he was called to do. He boldly spoke Gods word. For his trouble he was scorned and rejected. In his discouragement he seems to cry out Why? Why does all this trouble come my way? Im doing my job. Why the pain? Gods answer is power- ful. I am with you, comes the word. It is the promise that comes to all those facing a great or discouraging task. To Moses and Gideon, to Jeremiah and the disciples, the promise is the same: I am with you. Jesus makes us that same promise. No matter how dis- couraged we may become, no matter how difficult the task or how often we are tempted to despair, God prom- ises to be with us. We can be certain that even though things dont go according to our schedule, God is with us and at work in us. For we are the sheep following the shepherds lead. And he leads us to the blessing that God has in store for us. Its a promise. Jesus said and continues to say, You did not choose me but I chose you. . . . (John 15:16) In that promise, we are encouraged to keep on keeping on by the Spirits power. MAY Gods Leaders are Encouraged Read Jeremiah 15:1521, Matthew 28:20b and John 10:1118. What similarities do you see? Prayer Lord, help us to see past the dark clouds toward the bright light of your promise. Give us your Spirit, your presence, and your power so that all that we do can be done in your time and according to your will. In the name of the one who overcame every testing for us. Amen. For ref lection and discussion When have you become discouraged or frustrated in your attempts to serve? What did Gods promise mean to you then? How can you help each other in times of discouragement? JUNE Gods Leaders are Equipped I have a friend who carries a small stone in his pocket. The stone is named enough. Having it there to touch often helps him remember that by Gods grace there is always enough. Enough time in the day to do what is needed. Enough food and shelter. Enough grace to cover his mis- takes. Enough strength to accomplish what God directs. Enough hope to move on to tomorrow. Gods leaders always have enough. Gideon, the least of the least by his own admission, had only 300 warriors, but they were enough to defeat the great Midianite army. The disciples, certainly not trained speakers, had enough courage to stand before the tribunals and judges who called them to account for their faith. There they spoke, not their words, but the words provided by the Spirit. The believers gathered at Pentecost had enoughenough of the fire of the Spirit to proclaim the Good News to the multitudes gathered. And thousands believed. It is easy to fall into the there is not enough trap. By our human standards, there is never enough. Never enough time. Never enough money. Never enough workers. We live in a world of never enough. And if we try to run Gods church that way, we will always be frustrated, stopped, and struggling. God always gives enough. We have enough gifts to make wonderful things happen. We have enough grace to overcome the failings and faults of today and make a better tomorrow. We have enough vision to see what God can do with us and through us in the place where we are. We are equipped to equip others generously and without hesitation. Jesus said and continues to say, You did not choose me but I chose you. . . . (John 15:16) In that choosing we know that we are equipped with enough to do what God is calling us to do, now, in Gods world, among Gods people. Read Judges 6:117:23, Matthew 10:19, and Acts 2. What similarities do you see? Prayer Lord, help us celebrate the gifts you give by sharing them quickly, generously, and openly. Let our giving startle the people of the world so that they may see our good works and give glory to our Father in heaven. In the name of the one who was able to do everything for us. Amen. For ref lection and discussion What special gifts has God given you and your congre- gation? In what way are they enough? What can you hope to accomplish because you have enough? Then Peter came and said to him, Lord, if another mem- ber of the church sins against me, how often should I for- give? As many as seven times? Jesus said to him, Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. (Matthew 18:2122) Because of our emphasis on forgiveness, Christians have been called the people of the second chance. Jesus takes the thing a bit farther. Not people of the second chance people of the seventy-seventh chance. Startling? Certainly it was to Peter. But God has always been almost unbe- lievably ready to restore the fallen and needing ones. Remember Samson? Judges 16 shows him to be a violent and selfish person. And yet he was given another chance and again became an agent of Gods action. Peter failed. He denied Jesus exactly as he was warned he would do. And yet Jesus gently restores him in love and entrusts him with a ministry to Gods lambs and sheep. The woman who touched Jesus clothes had suffered for years with her illness and sought every kind of healing. By her faith she received restoration. We still live in a broken world. The worlds brokenness invades the church. We know that even in the church rela- tionships are broken over what may seem like unimportant things. How often have we heard phrases like: Unless she apologizes or, I did all I could and no one even or even, Im never coming back. Left to our own devices, even in the community of believers, broken rela- tionships certainly bring us into conflict. But we are the people of the seventy-seventh chance. We are the restored restorers. Charged by Jesus to forgive that absurd number of times, we do not rest until those separated by sin and hurt are brought back together again. And we begin by remembering that each of us is Peter on the beach with Jesus. Each of us has denied him by word or action. Each of us has stumbled and fallen. Jesus might well have turned away from any of us. And yet he comes to us again and again, seeking to restore us, to heal our spirit, to put our relationship with God back together again. Jesus said and continues to say, You did not choose me but I chose you. . . . (John 15:16) What else can we do but be Gods restorers? JULY Gods Leaders are Restored Read Judges 16:2331; John 21:1519 and Mark 5:2534. What similarities do you see? Prayer Lord, make us those who live by the power of your Spirit, who restore, renew, rebuild, and recreate the relationships you have given us as gifts. In the name of the one who continues to restore us. Amen. For ref lection and discussion When have you been restored? When have you been a part of restoring someone else? How was God and Gods promise a part of those restorations? AUGUST Gods Leaders are Fed ELCA World Hunger information tells us that in developing countries in the world 852 million people are hungry 815 million people are undernourished 1.2 billion people live on less than $1/day 153 million children under age 5 are underweight 11 million children under age 5 die every year, over half of these deaths are from hunger-related causes 1 in 6 people is hungry 1 in 4 people lacks safe drinking water Our reaction might well be one of shame, since, while so many struggle for daily bread, most of us have so much. Or we might react in thanksgiving that we are among the blessed who have a full table every day. God is a bread provider; we are bread sharers. God cared for the Israelites in the wilderness with a gift they did not even understand. They called it mannameaning What is it? God provided then and continues to provide today. We receive the gift of daily bread and share with those who are in need. In addition to physical hunger, we may also experience spiritual hunger. We feel lost, empty. God seems far off and the way ahead looks gloomy. As when we are physi- cally hungry, when we are spiritually starving we need to be fed. God finds us in our spiritual need and fills that need with the only bread that can take care of our spiritual hunger and restore us, the bread of lifeJesus himself. The bread and wine that we receive at the altar may seem like something less than spectacular. Certainly we dont ask, What is it? We know what we receive. We receive nothing other than Jesus himself, for our spiritual food. Our soul is restored. The free gift is there for us and we receive it remembering what Jesus has given for us. Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. We live in a world of spiritually hungry people. They wan- der and search, seeking to fill the emptiness inside. We owe these seekers the same thing we owe those who are physically hungry. God provides bread, both physical and spiritual. We are called to share both. Jesus said and continues to say, You did not choose me but I chose you. . . . (John 15:16) As Gods chosen ones, our task, our challenge, our joy is to share our gifted bread with those in need. God gives lifewe are the sharers of that life. Read Exodus 16:1335, Matthew 25:2429, and John 6:35. What similarities do you note? Prayer Lord, giver of all good things, giver of bread, giver of life, make us those who not only live in thanksgiving for the gifts we receive, but those who joyfully share your good gifts with all. In the name of the one who is our bread of life. Amen. For ref lection and discussion When have you been spiritually hungry? What filled you then? When have you shared bread with some- one? What did that experience mean to you? The Peanuts cartoon shows Lucy lecturing Linus. She explains to him that inside of him he has a saint leading him to do good and a sinner pushing him toward evil. Linus gets a queasy look on his face, holds his stomach and says: I think I can feel them fighting in there. Certainly Paul felt the struggle. He laments his inability to do the good that he wants to do and his constant choos- ing of the evil that he wants to avoid. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? (Romans 7:24) he exclaims. We may be able to avoid the struggle between doing good or evil for a time, but something or someone (like Nathan confronting David) always brings us back to the realization that we are losing the battle against the evil in and around us. My almost four-year-old granddaughter brought me a cruci- fix that was waiting to be mounted on a wall of her new house. Look, Grandpa, she said, cradling the cross in her hands, they forgot the nails. And indeed, the stylized fig- ure on the cross gave evidence of no nails. It was a beauti- ful piece of flowing bronze art but the nails were missing. Holy Cross Day (September 14) helps us put the nails back into the story. It is easy, in our concern for making the gospel more acceptable, to leave the nails out. After all, people would rather hear about Gods love than a lot of suffering and dying. In the midst of a life that may have more nails than smiles, a God story that bristles with nails may seem decidedly unhelpful. But the quick trip to the open tomb without going by way of the cross (complete with nails) can create a beautiful artistic impression, but have little to do with the resurrection. Confronting the cross of Christ drags us kicking and scream- ing to the scandal of Calvary and the cosmic depression of that Friday death. Then Easter can overwhelm us with the truth that evil has been defeated, we have been forgiven, and death has indeed lost its sting and the grave its victory. Jesus said and continues to say, You did not choose me but I chose you. . . . (John 15:16) As Gods chosen ones we join in Pauls thanksgiving, reveling in the grace of God who loved enough to save us. SEPTEMBER Gods Leaders are Forgiven Read 2 Samuel 12:113, Romans 7:1425, and John 3:1416. What similarities do you see? Prayer Lord, help us not only to confront the sin that still plagues us, but also to return often to the cross of Christ where we are assured of the forgiveness that we have received and that we have to share. In the name of the one who has made the cross holy. Amen. For ref lection and discussion What does the scandal of the cross mean to you? In what way is Gods forgiveness a daily gift to you? How do you share it? OCTOBER Gods Leaders are Free In the late 1850s, a successful businessman from England visited St. Louis. As he walked around the city, he came upon a slave auction on the courthouse steps. Among those chained to be auctioned, he noticed one man, much bigger and stronger than the others. Unlike the rest, this man held his head erect, looking straight aheadas still as a statue. And a statue he might have been, except for the great tears that traced shiny rivers down his face. When the man stood to be sold, the price quickly went to a thousand dollars. The Englishman called out Fifteen hundred dollars, and other bids stopped. After paying the accountant, the merchant, followed a few paces behind by his new property, walked off. After they turned a corner and were out of sight of the crowd, the Englishman turned. You can go now, he said. You are free. The other man stood still, gazing at him through nar- rowed eyes. He did not seem to understand. I said you are free. I have bought your freedom. You are no longer a slave. The man continued to stare at him in silence. Please, you are free, the merchant said again. You can do what you want to. The former slave finally smiled. Dont you see? he said. I want to serve you. Much of what passes for religion in our world has to do with duty, obligation, guilt, and rules. Sometimes people take offices in the church because they feel obligated or are made to feel guilty if they dont. Sometimes people try to please God by following the rules and doing their duty. Martin Luther struggled with the idea of religious obliga- tion. He saw God as strict and demanding and almost killed himself doing acts he thought would satisfy God. But whatever he did was never enough. Finally he heard the gracious word: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). Suddenly he knew what it meant to be free. He was freenot to live for himself, but to live for a loving God who gave the gift of salvation. The people enslaved in Egypt were delivered by Gods grace and freed. Gods people today continue to be set free by Gods grace and called to willingly follow, joyfully serve. Jesus said and continues to say, You did not choose me but I chose you. . . . (John 15:16) As Gods chosen ones, freed from the bondage of guilt and death, we are free to serve, free to be what God is calling us to be, free to celebrate the life we have been given in Jesus. Read Exodus 3:715, Galatians 5:1, and Ephesians 2:110. What similarities do you see? Prayer Lord, help us live out our freedom in joyful service to you and to all. Give us hearts that overflow with thanksgiving, voices that fill with your praise, and hands busy at the tasks you give us. We pray in the name of the one who chose us and set us free. Amen. For ref lection and discussion How do you experience Gods gift of freedom? When does freedom seem elusive? What helps you share Gods freedom? Grandma Benson died in her 94th year. Shed been living in a small room at the nursing home for many years. Her mind was not always clear when I visited with her. She seemed to remember her childhood better than the years she had been active in the congregation some twenty years before. I thought the funeral would be small. Few people seemed to remember her, few ever mentioned her name. To my surprise, when I arrived to do the service the room was packed. One couple told me, Most of the people you see here are still in the church because of that wonderful woman. She taught us all. More importantly, she loved us alland we knew it. Some peoples gifts are easy to see. Others have quieter and less obvious gifts. Grandma Benson loved the children she taught in such a way that they knew they were loveda wonderful gift, but not very flashy. God is a gifter. Hezikiah was given 15 years of life; Lazarus resurrection; and Paul tells us that each of us is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7). What sets us apart as leaders in the church is not that we have giftsGod gives gifts gener- ously to all. It is that we are willing to use our gifts to the glory of God and for the sake of Gods people. Jesus said and continues to say, You did not choose me but I chose you. . . . (John 15:16) We are chosen and gifted so that we can lead the abun- dant life of purpose and service. NOVEMBER Gods Leaders are Gifted Read 2 Kings 20:16, 1 Corinthians 12, and John 11. What similarities do you see? Prayer Lord, make us instruments of your love and care as we discover the gifts you have given and set our hearts and minds on using them to your glory and the benefit of others. In the name of the one who was gift for us, help us to be the gifted who give. Amen. For ref lection and discussion On a piece of paper list your giftsthe talents, abili- ties, or strengths that God has given you. Next to each of your gifts, write down how you have used it. Which gifts are easiest to use? Which have been most effec- tive? Which still wait to be put to good use? Share your list with someone else. Talk about how you can invite the Spirit to lead you to a more effective use of the gifts you have received for the common good. DECEMBER Gods Leaders are Alight Once there was a rather remarkable woman named Hannah. Hannah was remarkable because she fairly glowed with the joy of her faith. While others talked about religion, Hannah lived her faith. While others planned pro- grams and fussed about the operation of the congrega- tion, Hannah went about teaching and comforting and supporting others. The more Hannah gave, the more she seemed to glow. The more she did for others, the more a strange kind of light seemed to come from her. And it got brighter and brighter with each passing day. Soon Hannahs glow was so bright that it seemed to hurt peoples eyes to be around her. Most people make their own kind of portable light that shines on themselvesso that others can see and admire them. But Hannahs light didn't shine on her at all. It shone from her and lit those around her. And it was so bright that it showed every blemish and fault, every age spot and scar, every imperfection they had. And, over time, Hannah became very unpopular indeed. Oh, it doesnt matter, said Hannah. For everyone who hides from the light, another finds the way. Perhaps some are tired of trying to make their own light or tired of trying to stand in the twilight of their own goodness. Gods gift to us is light in the darkness. Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness (John 1:5). God makes us alight with the Spirit and with the work that the Spirit is doing through uswork that glorifies God. Sometimes it is difficult to remember that we are the light of the world. The darkness is tempting. The no sayers are many. The gloom of the past can shroud us and the fear of the future can darken our hope. But now, at the time of the coming of the Christ Child, we are given the gift of light once again. We are the light of the world. We are aglow with the Spirit. Aglow with a light that the dark world desperately needs. Jesus said and continues to say, You did not choose me but I chose you. . . . (John 15:16) As Gods chosen ones we are aglow with the Spirit so that others might find their way in the darkness. Read Isaiah 60:15, 1920, Matthew 5:1416, and John 1:118. What similarities do you see? Prayer Lord, set us on fire with your Spirit so that we might be aglow with the gift of life and hope that you offer in Jesus Christ. In our dark world, set us as a light for all to see, a hope for all to hold, a way for all to follow. In the name of the coming Christ. Amen. For ref lection and discussion How is your congregation a light to your community. What hope do you offer? What invitation to the lost and wandering do people find in you? Talk about ways to make your congregation a light set on a hill for the sake of those who are still in the darkness.