Do You See What I See?

As May begins there are so many things that will come to completion. On the 1st, 12 saints will confess their faith and make their first communion. On the 18th, our Day School will graduate another class of students ready to be further formed at either Staunton High School or Metro-East Lutheran High School. And fro the rest of the students, another year will be completed.

But the ministry at Zion just keeps on going. There will be more opportunities to carry out our mission of spreading the Gospel and growing in fellowship. We will continue to be gathered by the Holy Spirit into the House of the Lord so that we may hear the Word proclaimed and the Sacraments received. Our summer schedule will include a VBS, Summer Sunday School and Adult Bible Class. In many ways, as school ends, we at Zion just keep going.

But I have to ask you, do you see here what I see? I am doing some work for the class that I will be taking the first two weeks in June. The class is Shepherding the Growing Parish. Most of the reading assignments for the seminar are right up our alley. The main question I will be confronted with in this upcoming class is what do I see God doing at Zion. It is really a questioun of vision.

What do I see at Zion? That is a question that could take hours to answer. I see so many gifted leaders among our laity. Peopl who are committed to making the work of the Lord happen in this place. I see a strong commitment on the part of many to being in church on a weekly basis. I see stewards of God's goodness being faithful and beyond in supporting the ministry. I see God doing remarkable things.

But the question of vision also takes us into the future. As I sit here early in the morning, I see a future for Zion that is as bright as the dawn. I see the excitement that will come to pass as we begin the ChristCare ministry in the months to come. I see the very real ministry potential for the vicar when he arrives to begin ministry among us. I see some committed staff members putting in long hours of work to a degree that the phrase, "above and beyond the call of duty," might well be an understatement. I see the potential of adding some new "volunteer" staff positions like Director of Outreach and Parish Nurse. I even see the very real need that, probably sooner rather than later, we will have to start planning long term additions to ministries, staff and facilities, most of all parking!

What I don't see is a Zion that is going back to the dark times of the past where squabbles derailed the Gospel. What I don't see is the possibility that we can think of the ministry as two separate units that co-exist. What I don't see Zion willingly going backward.

Whay do you see? What do you see God doing at Zion? What are we doing well? What could we be doing that would make our labor here for the Lord more worthwhile? These are the questions we will need to answer as we look to the long-term future that the Lord is laying out before us. Would you take the time this month to jot down a few notes about what you see God doing here at Zion, not only now, but in the future. NOW is the time for this dialogue. To do any less will be to fail to be spreading the Gospel and growing in fellowship.