| The New England District |
| Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod |
| 400 Wilbraham Rd. Springfield, MA 01109 |
| 413-783-0131 |
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A Holy Week Message from President Tim YeadonMarch 26, 2013
Brothers and Sisters of the Lord's New England District, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod,
In all the glories and wonders of this week I know that you have again and again been receiving the message of Christ's forgiveness and mercy. Whether it has come from a full-time Pastor or a Vacancy Pastor, from a Vicar or a gifted layperson, may that message ring clear to you. I have it on my heart also to ask that you let your Pastor know that his sins are forgiven and that He too has the same grace and mercy of the Lord that he has been sharing this Lent with you and will share again with you on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.
Pastors are not often told that their sins are forgiven. They are immersed in wondering if the sermon was good enough, thoughts of how the worship went, and seeking the energy to do what God has called them to do this week.
Try telling your Pastor in your own way that when the Lord looks at him He sees your Pastor through the eyes of Jesus. You and your Pastor wear that robe of Christ's righteousness because He wore the scarlet robe and crown of thorns for you both. He does not see your Pastor with an evaluation form in His hand of your joint ministry and He does not have a calculator in hand to total your attendance figures and your budgetary results. He has nail prints in His hands worn for you and as Isaiah says those nails engraved your names on the palm of His hands. I assure you that there is nothing you can do to lose that love of His. There is nothing you can fail to do that will dampen His love for you. The goodness of a Good Friday has declared you righteous in His sight.
I find it strange this year after three decades to be out of the pulpit this Holy Week although a gracious group of saints in Bedford, Massachusetts did allow me to share with them in the Palm Sunday celebrations. But if the extent of my Holy Week messages is simply this short word of blessing to you saints of New England, then I pray it comes to you from a heart that also has known of Christ's love to one so undeserving of it.
Thank your Pastor for his work for the Lord and for you this week. (Or whoever is the one blessing you from the altar of your congregation!) Tell him to take Monday off after Easter, even if Monday is not normally his day off. Dare I say that he "deserves" the rest and the joy of a job well done even if we live by grace and Christ's undeserved blessings— I'll take the risk of saying it knowing you will read my words through the filter of the Gospel ! And bask yourself in the victory won and when you scan the headlines of a Monday next week or a Tuesday that trouble all the world, just say, "He is risen!" And I will gladly echo back to you, "He is risen, indeed !"
I'll be thinking of all of you "from the pews" this year. The Lord be with you all.
President Timothy Yeadon
New England District,
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Brothers and Sisters of the Lord's New England District, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod,
In all the glories and wonders of this week I know that you have again and again been receiving the message of Christ's forgiveness and mercy. Whether it has come from a full-time Pastor or a Vacancy Pastor, from a Vicar or a gifted layperson, may that message ring clear to you. I have it on my heart also to ask that you let your Pastor know that his sins are forgiven and that He too has the same grace and mercy of the Lord that he has been sharing this Lent with you and will share again with you on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.
Pastors are not often told that their sins are forgiven. They are immersed in wondering if the sermon was good enough, thoughts of how the worship went, and seeking the energy to do what God has called them to do this week.
Try telling your Pastor in your own way that when the Lord looks at him He sees your Pastor through the eyes of Jesus. You and your Pastor wear that robe of Christ's righteousness because He wore the scarlet robe and crown of thorns for you both. He does not see your Pastor with an evaluation form in His hand of your joint ministry and He does not have a calculator in hand to total your attendance figures and your budgetary results. He has nail prints in His hands worn for you and as Isaiah says those nails engraved your names on the palm of His hands. I assure you that there is nothing you can do to lose that love of His. There is nothing you can fail to do that will dampen His love for you. The goodness of a Good Friday has declared you righteous in His sight.
I find it strange this year after three decades to be out of the pulpit this Holy Week although a gracious group of saints in Bedford, Massachusetts did allow me to share with them in the Palm Sunday celebrations. But if the extent of my Holy Week messages is simply this short word of blessing to you saints of New England, then I pray it comes to you from a heart that also has known of Christ's love to one so undeserving of it.
Thank your Pastor for his work for the Lord and for you this week. (Or whoever is the one blessing you from the altar of your congregation!) Tell him to take Monday off after Easter, even if Monday is not normally his day off. Dare I say that he "deserves" the rest and the joy of a job well done even if we live by grace and Christ's undeserved blessings— I'll take the risk of saying it knowing you will read my words through the filter of the Gospel ! And bask yourself in the victory won and when you scan the headlines of a Monday next week or a Tuesday that trouble all the world, just say, "He is risen!" And I will gladly echo back to you, "He is risen, indeed !"
I'll be thinking of all of you "from the pews" this year. The Lord be with you all.
President Timothy Yeadon
New England District,
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod