June 2009 newsletter

It's been a memorable time at St. Martin's as we've looked back at the past 125 years in the history of our church. From our modest beginnings as a small congregation of German immigrants, we've grown to become a vibrant downtown church for people across the Austin area. St. Martin's has been blessed to share the message of God's love for 125 years and counting.

The last days of the Lenten season invite us to journey through Holy Week before we awaken to the joy of Easter Sunday. You are welcome to join us in this time of worship, reflection and prayer.

Web-enhanced St. Martin's News, March 2009. As St. Martin's continues its 125th anniversary celebration, we now turn our attention to the season of Lent. Throughout the years, our community traditionally has marked this time by focusing on prayer, reflection and study. The Lenten season is an important time for Christians. It reminds us of Jesus' 40 days alone in the wilderness, and it marks the period in the life of the church that leads up to Christ's death on the cross.

St. Martin's members packed the church on Jan. 11 to celebrate the beginning of our 125th Anniversary celebration. Our kick-off party featured a German Fest complete with music, food and entertainment as we honored the heritage of our congregation.

A new year is upon us and with it comes a milestone for our congregation: the 125th anniversary of St. Martin's Evangelical Lutheran Church. In 1884, a small group of families gathered to worship together. Now, years later, the congregation of St. Martin's has shared many occasions of worship, fellowship, learning and service to others, moving through three different buildings and other changes. The coming year will bring opportunities to come together as a community to celebrate our past, rejoice in our many blessings and explore ways to share God's love and blessings with others in the future.

We all like gifts at the holidays, but here's a secret of the season: the best presents aren't under the Christmas tree. Instead, they arrive four weeks early -- and they're nothing more than wicks and wax. A box of bright blue Advent candles seems to clash with the reds and greens that we race to unfurl as soon as our Thanksgiving plates are back in our china cabinets.

The season of thankfulness is here and there's no better time to kindle a heart of gratitude. During this month in the life of our church, we look toward Thanksgiving as a time to reflect upon the goodness of God that we witness together as a community of faith.

Our role as God's stewards is one that has many dimensions....10, as defined by the ELCA: grateful, responsible, self-sacrificing, willing, sharing, proportionate, committed, regular, genuine and challenged. Read more in October's St. Martin's News.

From Pr Craig: Fall in love with the stories of Jesus again. To open your Bible with others and dig deeply into its meaning for us can be an incredibly enriching experience. What we can all benefit from is a dialogue, sharing our thoughts while also listening to the insights of others.

Marked with cross of Christ forever, we are claimed, gathered, and sent for the sake of the world. (Mission Statement of the ELCA) Faith in action is sharing our time, talents and possessions; it's praying that God will inspire others; it's doing God's work. Read about St. Martin's work with Habitat for Humanity, one story of faith in action.

To build a community focused on the Kingdom of God in our midst requires commitment. Volunteering, worshipping together, sharing our talent, working to care for the earth, and even helping to retire the building debt are all important. As we work together, we also pray for God's Kingdom to come, a Kingdom of justice and peace, where all are welcomed and valued.

Recommit to environmental stewardship, attending church, giving. Recommit to organizing your life around the things that truly matter.

Let the children come. Children are always welcome and encouraged to be in worship at St. Martin's. Worship is one way children can experience the joy of knowing God's grace. Let the children come and experience the words, songs and actions that we all hold dear in our worship of God.

An Evangelizing Church: "Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable ... do the work of an evangelist ... " (2 Timothy 4:2a, 5b) Bishop Mark Hanson writes: "How are we doing as an evangelizing church? That is an important question to ponder as we seek to hold each other accountable."

The story of Easter does not end with Jesus' resurrection but continues in our lives as we carry the message that life goes on. This is a word of hope that does not just speak about what happens when we die. It is a word of hope for everyday life.

Lent is the 40-day liturgical season that begins on Ash Wednesday--February 6 this year--and concludes at the Great Vigil of Easter. Pastor Craig writes: "Lent is a season of spiritual growth. Some have referred to it as the springtime of our soul. Consider these qualities in Colossians 3 as the focus of your own spiritual growth this Lent: compassion, kindness, patience, forgiveness and thankfulness."

From Pastor Craig: St. Paul writes in Romans, "be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God." Faith is a matter of the heart and mind. As a community of faith, we are called to delve more deeply into the mysteries of God. Are you involved in an adult study opportunity at St. Martin's? Would you be interested in joining a group or hosting one in your home? Faith is not deepened by accident. It requires an intentional effort of a group of people coming together to share and test different ideas and then listening for the Spirit of God. Take this new year to find a place to read and discuss the Holy Scripture, our faith story.

Each year at Christmas, we are reminded that God has come near to us in a child. He was born with the innocent belief that peace could belong to all people, that God loved all equally, and that compassion was a given. Instead of innocence, some call this naiveté. The world tried to put this innocence to death, but the power of God was stronger. Let our prayer during this Advent and Christmas season be one for a return to the innocence of our childhood when we knew that peace, love and compassion were all part of God's plan.

In November we celebrate the 20th anniversary of WELCA's ThankOffering, a time when handmade quilts are displayed in church. WELCA--Women of the ELCA--address concerns of women and children in crisis. Handmade quilts are one of the ways WELCA supports women and children. Learn more about WELCA ministries and how you can help on November 10 and 11.

How are you called to share your time, talent and treasure--all gifts from God? October is pledge month at St. Martin's and this issue of the newsletter encourages all of us to plan how we will contribute to the life and ministry of St. Martin's.

Share Your Joy! Rally Day 2007 is a Fall kickoff celebration of the many wonderful ministries at St. Martin's. Read about ways you can reconnect and recommit to our worship, witness, service and support.

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