Do Unto Otters

Mountain View Sunday School children are  seeking support for an outreach project to preschool children at Desert View Elementary School in Apache Junction.   They want to give each preschooler a copy of the book Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners by Laurie Keller.  The books sells for about $7.50 a copy and those who attend Mountain View Lutheran Church are being invited to help purchase copies of the book for distribution to area preschools by contributing their loose change following the worship time.  The goal is to raise $500.

Sunday school children recently taped a video to describe their plans.  Their ideas will be shared with the church attendees on February 17, 2019 at all worship services.

Follow Up Results

Those in attendance at worship services responded generously to the Do Unto Otters idea.  Sunday school children stood at the door and received donations totaling over $1300.  The goal was $500.  In response, the students recorded the video below:

Why Go to Church Every Sunday?

The late professor Martin Scharlemann said somewhere that a pastor’s job is “to interpret reality theologically.” Don’t we all want to understand what’s going on in our lives in light of God’s Word? And when we do, we’re better equipped to share our faith during the week, as Peter says, “being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). If sermons and Bible studies don’t seize on some of what’s happening “out there,” then our faith easily gets compartmentalized to an isolated hour rather than engaging us with the Word for our vocations during the week.

Jesus seized on teachable moments all the time. In yesterday’s Gospel, Luke 4:31-44, He used illness and demon possession to attract people to His teaching about the kingdom. In next Sunday’s Gospel, Luke 5:1-11, He shows an empathy for Simon’s work that netted converts to His mission. Gospel lesson after Gospel lesson, Jesus uses the stuff of daily life to teach about the Kingdom of God. During the week you and I interact with the culture “out there.” Those encounters can stir up our emotions and we experience the feelings of others. The local and national news unsettles us. Our attitudes are subtly shaped through opinions shared on our devices, that’s peer pressure. All this and more throughout the week provide teachable moments for your congregation.  

Not to lay this only on the pastor. A congregation needs a culture of asking, “What does this mean? How do the dynamics of Law and Gospel, the two kingdoms, and the like illustrate what we’re experiencing in our lives and this American culture?” When the disciples didn’t get it, when they “couldn’t interpret reality theologically,” they asked Jesus. “Those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.” “With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything” (Mark 4:10, 33-34).

Compare how much time you’re in church to how much time you’re being influenced by things “out there.” If we don’t have reality interpreted theologically every Sunday in church, we’re more susceptible to being drawn away from the Word. It’s insidious and it’s scary. “Pay attention to what you hear” (Mark 4:24).

From the Meyer Minute, February 4, 2019
Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer
President, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, M\issouri

The Columbarium

Have you noticed the wrought iron fencing and gate around the courtyard area near the office entry at Mountain View Lutheran Church?  If you have the opportunity to take a closer look, you might find it rather interesting as I did.  Cindy, the church secretary, opened the locked gate and gave me some insights about the area, helping me to remember the name COLUMBARIUM.  "The wall is arranged in columns and it is where you bury 'em," she explained.  I looked it up and sure enough she was exactly right.  

The middle section was part of the church structure near the time that it was built.  The drawers hold the ashes of folks who were members of the church and wished their ashes rot be placed near where presumably, they were actively involved.  Each drawer contains the remains of one person whose name is displayed on the brass plate on the front of the drawer.  

Later, when all of those brass drawers were chosen or spoken for, the church decided to add two additional sections on either side and this time to make the drawers large enough for the remains of two persons.   Each of the drawers in all three sections can be reserved for $600.  There are no additional expenses and friends and family members are welcome to come to the area, spend time on the bench, meditate and share memories of their departed loved one.  

Over the years only one of the drawers has been opened, Cindy recalled.  It happened that a family purchased another site back home closer to other family members, so the urn and the brass plate were shipped off to that location.  

When I thought about it, the idea of having my remains at the church has some appeal.  I do have a burial plot in Portland, Oregon, but there is no reason that must be my final resting place since none of my immediate family members live there anymore.  My wife's case is even more extreme.  Her first husband's ashes are in a canister near the top of Mt. Baldy, a mountain he named near the Goodpaster River which flows into the Tanana River about 30 minutes by boat from Delta Junction, Alaska which is 80 miles from Fairbanks.   Not many people know the mountain by that name, but when Jesus calls for the end of the world, I am sure he will know where my wife and her first husband are located.

Submitted by Dan Seim

Stephen Ministry at MVLC

Mountain View Lutheran Church is one of a handful of churches in the area that supports this outreach ministry.  There is a limited use of this ministry by the congregation which seems to be from a lack of understanding of the ministry and its mission.  I believe that as a human being and a Christian we all go through times in our lives that are difficult whether they are emotional, relational, spiritual, financial, medical, loss of spouse or work related.  Christians do their best to walk through life with God as they deal with their problems.  Sometime additional Christian help is needed.  This is when the Stephen Ministers develop a one on one relationship to help see where God is leading you as God solves your concerns.

Stephen Ministers are assigned on a same sex basis and all discussions are confidential.   Stephen Ministers do not reveal who they are working with. They only ask for ideas from the whole Stephen Ministry Group for the general problem they are working on with their care receiver. One of the main tenants for this ministry is that we are the care giver but God is the Cure Giver.  I know as a man the LAST thing I would do is ask for help, this made my difficulties last longer.  Whether we are male or female the first thing we must accept is “WE ARE NOT IN CHARGE” God is.  When we acknowledge this, our problems become easier to deal with and are solved in a shorter period of time.

If you are dealing with an issue that just doesn’t seem to go away you might consider taking the opportunity of this ministry.  The first step is to walk with God, and a Stephen Minister is a great companion to walk with you.  A problem shared is a problem being solved.  For more information on this ministry see Barb Lembke, Judy Root, or Tom Kaib.  To request a Stephen Minister, contact Pastor Mark.

Submitted by Tom Kaib
Stephen Leader