UPCOMING AT ADVENT – ST. NICHOLAS
a newsletter of the
ADVENT – ST. NICHOLAS ENGLISH SPEAKING CONGREGATION
QUITO,  ECUADOR
served by the Lutheran and Episcopal (Anglican) traditions
welcoming an ecumenical community
Isabel La Católica 1431  Tel: 2507-494  Fax: 2507-425  P.O. Box: Casilla 17-07-9688
adviele@uio.satnet.net
Pastoral Services: Rev. Geoffrey Reeson  Tel: 2446-189 
gmmasn@andeangate.com  and  gasn_bu@yahoo.com

JUNE 27, 2007

THE TRI-CONGREGATION
“THE ADVENT” EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF ECUADOR,
OF WHICH OUR
ADVENT – ST. NICHOLAS ENGLISH SPEAKING CONGREGATION
IS A MEMBER,
NOW HAS ITS OWN WEB-PAGE:
www.iglesialuterana.ec
IN SPANISH, GERMAN, AND ENGLISH.
THANK YOU, PASTOR NILTON GIESE,
ASSOCIATE PASTOR
OF OUR SISTER SPANISH SPEAKING CONGREGATION!

Sharing information about:

THIS WEEK:
 SUNDAY, JULY 1, 2007
           9:00 AM. SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
ü LOOKING AHEAD …
       SUNDAY, JULY 8, 2007
             9:00   AM. Morning Worship Service
ü IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY …
       Celebrate! Barbeque Sunday July 1st, sponsored by Damas NyB
üON GETTING TO HEAVEN …
IN PRAYER …
IN CLOSING …   

INCLUDED:
ABOUT PASTOR – PEOPLE ARRANGEMENTS …
Sermon preached by Eugene Braun
at Advent – St. Nicholas, Sunday, June 24,2007

THIS WEEK:
SUNDAY, JULY 1, 2007
       9:00 AM.   SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
                                        Lutheran With One Voice
             Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
             Suggested Scripture Readings for Personal Preparation:
             1 Kings 19: 15 – 16, 19 – 21; Psalm 16: 5 - 11
             Galatians 5: 1, 13 – 25; Luke 9: 51 – 62  

             Suggested Prayer of the Day:
                                   Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
                   Flowers:              Martha Reeson
                Minister:             Rev. Geoffrey Reeson
                   Sermon:              Rev. Geoffrey Reeson
                   Refreshments:     “Appetizing Individual Delicacies by Ken™”

ü LOOKING AHEAD …
       SUNDAY, JULY 8, 2007
              9:00   AM.    Morning Worship Service
                   Worship Leaders: Bruce Rydbeck and Sarah Groman 
                   Sermon:                Cherith Rydbeck

ü IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY …
       Celebrate! Barbeque Sunday July 1st, sponsored by Damas NyB
[Should you have a wider community activity announcement
that this newsletter can help pass on,
do let Geoff Reeson have it by 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday of each week.]

Barbeque July 1st!

Sponsored by Damas Norteamericanas y Britanicas

Please join us for a potluck barbeque on Sunday, July 1st,
in celebration of America’s Independence Day (July 4) and Canada Day (July 1)!

Time:                          4pm – 7pm
Place:                          Dot Ensminger’s home, in Valle de los Chillos
                                                             (directions below)
Requested donation: $2pp adults
                        $1pp children 2-12

Fireworks at Dusk!!

RSVP is not required, but sure is helpful for planning purposes!! 
Send your RSVP to damasnyb@yahoo.com.

Dot will provide wine punch for adults and virgin punch for kids. 
If you plan to bring meat (chicken drumsticks, hot dogs, steaks, whatever),
bring it raw so that we can put it on the grill!

Don’t have time to cook? 
Bring ice cream, potato chips, a bottle of wine or a six-pack of beer!

We look forward seeing you there!!!

Directions:
Directions from Quito - going to Chillos valley (OR SAN LUIS MALL) stay on the extreme right side of the Peaje and exit at bridge 3 toward Guangopolo (left under highway) - follow signs for Colinas de Paz and Estancia de La Armenia down the mountain. When you see a wall with Lote 13 continue on main road but take 1st left turn - continue *on a beautiful PAVED black top road until you see a gate being built to the right - this is Calle A and we live at the bottom of the road, 207 2403. We are next door to Estancia de la Armenia.

Directions from Cumbaya - take Intervalle thru Guangopolo and take the first right over bridge that allows for one vehicle at a time follow main road past the reservoir and up past the purple house with orange roof continue on main road thru town of La Armenia passing multi colored town homes with white walls and driveway gates on right take next right turn (large house with red roof on corner) and *(continue above)

Get lost?  Dot’s phone number is: 207-2403

üON GETTING TO HEAVEN …

 I was testing the children in my Sunday school class to see if they understood the concept of getting to heaven.

I asked them, "If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church, would that get me into Heaven?"
"NO!" the children answered.

"If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would that get me into Heaven?" Again, the answer was, "NO!"

By now I was starting to smile. Hey, this was fun!

"Well, then, if I was kind to animals  and gave candy to all the children, and loved my husband, would that get me into Heaven?" I asked them again. Again, they all answered, "NO!"

I was just bursting with pride for them. "Well," I continued, "then how can I get into Heaven?" A five-year-old boy shouted out,
"YOU GOTTA BE DEAD."

IN PRAYER …                

Please let  either Geoff (Reeson 2446-189 : gmmasn@andeangate.com) or Sandra (Edwards  2521-083  :  edwards@rdyec.net)  have the prayer needs that you may like to have included in this community prayer list, as well as any news which will help with updates or advise us to no longer include certain individuals.
Thank You.

That the summer be a Sabbath time of rest, recreation, and renewal for all of our church family.

For our Church Family, that God direct and guide us in our service to the English-speaking community of Quito, and the wider Ecuadorian community we are immersed in.

For our Children’s Sunday School ministries, and all who teach and learn, and grow together in them.

For our Transition Commission, in it’s discerning of how best to meet the pastoral needs of our changing congregation.

For the Illinois South Conference of the United Church of Christ, celebrating all that the continuing Ecuador Partnership is. 

For Anna (Groman) and Antonella (Dueñas Escalante), as they begin to live out their public reaffirmation of their baptismal covenant.

For Betsy (Phil Groman's sister), for swift healing and good medical and follow-up care.   

For Cherith’s (Rydbeck) Mom, that she continue to know God’s presence with her.

For Christopher (Groman), asking that God remove from him the fears that beset him and strengthen him in the work of his recovery.

For Dorothy (Onisko – Michelle Fried’s mother), asking that God continue to provide her with the support she needs for continuing to live in her own home.

For Ellen (Gene and Helen Braun’s daughter in law), in thanksgiving for God’s healing and uplifting hand on her.

For Fanny (Bautista), in her struggle with ALS, that she be upheld in her changing conditions.

For Fred and Elsa (Brown) and their daughter Birgit, her husband Francesco and their children, that God direct and guide them as they go about permanently settling in Lima, Peru.

For Jeanee (Panoke – a friend of Dot Ensminger – who with her son visited with Advent – St. Nicholas about a year ago), in her ongoing struggle with cancer, that God’s healing and uplifting hand continue to be on her.

For Jessica’s (Naranjo) grandmother, that God’s healing and comforting hand be on her as she recovers from a ruptured spinal disc.

For Nancy’s (Fullilove) Dad, as he faces his changing conditions in his retirement home.

For Paula (Heinz – Amy Robertson’s aunt), who has an advanced brain tumor. 

For those of our church family who are working through trying personal and family situations, that they may know that peace of God that surpasses all understanding.

For all inmates who are working through the uncertainties of their imprisonment.

For the ministry of the Alcoholics Anonymous group that meets in this church.

For the ministry of the “Grupo APASHA” (HIV+ affected persons support group).

For the new Tri-Congregation Church Council (Consejo Directivo) of The Advent Evangelical Lutheran Church, that God direct and guide it in its leadership ministry and in its preparations for the celebrating of the 50th anniversary of the church in 2008.  

For the Central Diocese of the Episcopal Church of Ecuador, as it discerns God’s purposes and seeks God’s direction for it.

For Bishop Wilfrido Ramos and his ministry as Diocesan Bishop of the Central Diocese of the Episcopal Church of Ecuador.

For Chris and Trish (Morck and their children Clare - 4 yrs - and Isabel -7 months), in thanksgiving and support in prayer for their ministries with CLAI (Latin American Council of Churches) and the Episcopal Diocese of Central Ecuador.

For the Venezuelan Anglican Episcopal Church and its Bishop, the Right Reverend Orlando J. Guerrero, in its ministries to the Venezuelan people. 

For all small church congregations throughout the world, in their efforts to satisfactorily provide for their pastoral needs.

IN CLOSING …
You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11 (NRSV)

DO HAVE A BLESSED SUMMER!

Sermon preached by Eugene Braun at Advent – St. Nicholas, Sunday, June 24,2007

ABOUT PASTOR – PEOPLE ARRANGEMENTS …

Helen and I had a very special time in the U.S. in April and May, with
our two sons and their families They are deeply involved in establishing
an intentional community with five other families on a 135 acre rocky
farm in upstate New York. Part of their intention is have the community
be as self sustaining as possible although they are more concerned about
maintaining sustainable personal relationships than a sustainable food
supply. However, the use of the land is a big part of their effort. One
project is a flock of sheep. Two of the ewes were pregnant. Our
daughter-in-law Ellen is studying to be a mid-wife and so she was
anxious to be at the births, but the ewes didn't need help, they gave
birth alone during the night. It was fascinating to see the newborn
lambs standing up on their wobbly legs and with their amazing instincts
were immediately nuzzling around their mother's body to find nourishment
and within minutes and suckling contentedly.


In between sheep chores I read the mail from the transition commission
as they worked very diligently to find candidates for the pastorate of
the church. Sarah and Sandra have both left for well deserved vacations.
Michelle, Bruce, and Rich were also an important part of the process and
we are very grateful to them for all that work; job descriptions, needs
and interests of the congregation were agreed upon and time limits all
carefully worked out and distributed.


In that whole process I connected in my mind our sheep adventures and
all we had to learn about shepherding with the process in Advent St.
Nicolas congregation, a flock looking for a shepherd. I reflected on the
variety of ways people have worked out the pastoral task and the changes
over the years. – my son uses a solar powered electric fence, no sheep
dog, no curved staff.


That led me look up in scripture and find ideas on how pastors and
congregations got together. Maybe we have forgotten something on how
this process should work. What's involved? Who takes the initiative?
Where is does authority fit in?


In my search I found many types of pastor-people arrangements.


One of Jesus' first pastoral activities was with some fisher men. He
simply made them an offer: (Mt.19) “Follow me and I will make you fish
for people.” The result: “Immediately they left their nets and followed
him.” Here the pastor meets some people, makes them an offer and they
have a congregation.


On another occasion, (Mark 6:34) Mark tells us, that while walking with
the disciples along the lake of Galilee “Jesus saw a great crowd; and he
had compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.” Here a group is apparently
looking for Jesus. They meet, he has compassion and begins teaching. A
gentle, uncomplicated formation of a relationship, pastor and
congregation.


Jesus instructions to his disciples which we heard in the scripture
reading (Matt. 10:5-14) sets a pretty austere example for pastors and
congregations. Travel lightly! If they welcome you, stay, if not, shake
the dust off your feet and leave.


St. Paul gives us lots of examples for our study. He is more aggressive
than Jesus. As a Jew, he went to the synagogue in the cities he visited.
As was the custom, he was invited to preach and he shared his
experience, a Jew turned Christian. He told very clearly how he had
found a fulfillment of the Jewish faith.


Here is a difference from our ASN experience. Paul was a new pastor in
the pulpit who had not seen a job description nor a faith statement from
the congregation. He broke protocol. “Don't count on you old ways to get
you to heaven. True faith is not a matter of sacrifices or obeying rules
for eating. It is a matter of you hearts.” He came with a prepared
agenda. In Antioch with Barnabas (Acts 3.42) there was a fiery sermon.
The report in Acts concludes: “As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the
people urged them to speak about these things again the next sabbath.”
The story goes on and says that the next week there were some agitators
in church and it was a short service. Paul and Barnabas had to leave
fast. It is an exciting story of a missionary pastor giving the message
of the Good News. Some times churches were begun. In other places the
reception was not good. He was stoned and left for dead, or put in jail.


Later in Paul's ministry when churches had been established other kinds
of problems awaited him. (Acts. 19: 2) At Ephesus he had a difference of
opinion about the Holy Spirit. He had to set the congregation straight
on the truth. In some places he was able to resolve such problems and
the churches grew. In others he probably split the congregation.


This is not quite the kind of pastor we are looking for. As we have
looked for a pastor we have given some limits. We suggest the kind of
liturgy many of us prefer. We set the time for the service and give
other suggestions. Paul's experience raised some questions for me: How
much should a congregation limit a pastor? How should a congregation
deal with the pastor's own agenda? Is there room for a variety of
interpretations of doctrine in a congregation?


The Old Testament has a lot of examples of how pastors and people got
together.


I found a few compassionate types like Jesus, especially Psalm writers
like the author of the 23rd Psalm showing real sensitivity to the needs
of the people. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”


Other pastoral figures in the old testament were the Priests. They were
more like church policemen enforcing the rigid rules of Judaism.


The most active figures in those times were the prophets. We had a
beautiful example of a caring but clear prophet in the service last
week. Nathan helped King David recognize and admit his guilt in the
killing of Uriah so that he could marry beautiful Bathsheba. A pastor
gently leading a sinner to repentance.


However, the predominant stance of the Old Testament Prophets was
different. They explained in no uncertain terms what was necessary to
get in a good relationship with God. Isaiah 1:10 ff “Hear the word of
the Lord. What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord.
I have had enough of burnt offerings.” This was his pre-arranged agenda.
But the same prophet could also become passionate and reconciling. A few
chapters later he is giving a hopeful vision of a different future when
he preaches the Good News: “ For a Child has been born for us, a son
given to us...and he is named Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting, Father, Prince of Peace”


There was something special with the pre-set agendas of these prophets.
They were not giving their personal point of view. They frequently began
their message “Thus Says the Lord....” They were totally convinced that
their message was what God wanted the people to hear.


In looking for a pastor dare we say to a candidate? We want a prophet.
We want you to tell us what God wants us to hear, be or do. We are open.
We realize that much of what we do here is for our comfort and because
of our custom,


These are the most positive patterns in the Bible, they give us an ideal
– a pastor fully tuned in to God's agenda with the congregation
listening and open to accept.


We could also look at the history of the Christian church over the
centuries –how have Christians organized themselves and arranged their
leadership? This is the story beginning with simple worship first in
homes, in catacombs then in specially constructed buildings, in
churches, Gothic and Cristal cathedrals. In this story the leaders: a
lot of them women at first, then they became mainly men, elders,
deacons, priests, bishops and even emperors.


Like any organization a church can evolve from a simple, informal,
person to person, enthusiastic group that becomes more formal, with a
growing organizational structure that becomes top heavy until something
happens to replace or renew it. Reformations like revolutions allow for
new structures but also much of the old can continue. Martin Luther kept
much of Roman Catholic structure. His major change was in regard to the
priesthood. He insisted in the priesthood of all believers. Groups like
the churches of the Brethren took this seriously and for years had only
lay pastors. Some of the more radical groups rejected much of the
elaborate Roman Catholic pattern, including infant baptism, images of
the saints and even the use of music in the church. Some of this remains
until today in a few churches.


And so the multitude of denominations and free churches we see today
developed with their many differences in practice and doctrine.


Can this look at the past contribute to our future and help us as we
continue our search?


First, doesn't this show us that change is inevitable and necessary? As
situations change so must the church. Quito has changed dramatically
over the last years. We live in the Information Age, a time of
environmental devastation and global warming. Are there new challenges
for Advent St. Nicholas. (We now have a web page!!) Are there prophets
today we should be listening to?


Secondly,  What about differences? How much diversity is possible in an
effective church? Of course there are limits to the differences we can
live with. We are human. But I do not believe that there is one way to
be THE CHURCH or one way to be a pastor. I believe in a universe created
with vast diversity. There is no flower that is the Real Flower, nor a
Real Sunset, nor Real Music. We each can find beauty in different
things. No two human beings can have identical understandings of their
faith. There will never be one set of words to describe the deep,
mysterious, wonderful truths of our belief about ultimate things.


I think our task is to be a community that can grow together in our
diversity, learn from each other and be open to the surprises that await
us.


Maybe that surprise follows the message of our first hymn this morning:
I, the Lord of Sea and Sky.

It states very clearly that God hears our cry, bears our pain and wants
to set a feast for us and asks the question, “Whom shall I send?”
Perhaps someone out there is answering: “Here I am Lord. Is it I Lord? I
have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I
will hold your people in my heart.