Message from Pastor Wenger
August 2010
Dear Friends and Family of Faith,
Last month I shared with you an examen of consciousness that I gained from Dr. Lisa Dahill when we had a presentation on Lutheran spirituality. This month I want to ask: With whom do you share your reflections? Who travels with you as you ponder the questions and with whom can you share the responses? Who comes along beside you in that with which you struggle day by day? Who shoulders the burden with you when you feel the life draining out of you? Is there someone to remind you of how God has been present in the past, and assists you in seeing the patterns of God's activity in your life? Who helps point out where God's promise continues to meet you in the days ahead?
St. Paul wrote to the people of the churches in Galatia saying “help carry one another's burdens” Galatians 6:2. The questions posed above may well be asked in worship and is the kind of thing I want to challenge myself with day by day. But it simply doesn't work to share the answers to all those questions for each individual in a worship setting. Nancy and I talk regularly together, but even then we aren't as focused and definite in our conversation about God as we would by being in a group to share such an examen. Over the years, I have treasured having some close church friends with whom I can be accountable and share my spiritual journey. I have been a part of a number of different kind of small groups, growth groups, sharing groups, study groups, and the like. I find that in those connections I am not lost in the crowd, and I am healthiest by having others who speak and listen and who wrestle with the questions that mean the most to me.
Do you have a small group of people, trustworthy, thoughtful, loving and reliable, with whom you can be truly you? I invite you to explore forming some groups like that with others. If you find yourself interested or would just like to know more, give me a call, an email, or stop by the office. I would be pleased to explore the possibilities with you!
Yours in Christ, Pastor Jim Wenger
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