EMerge: The Blog

Stations of Life: A Lenten Journey- February 13, 2008

February 13, 2008
Passage:Matthew 9:18-26

"While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, ‘My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.’ And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.’ Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, ‘Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute-players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, ‘Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district."

I am amazed by the faith of the leader of the synagogue and the woman who touched Jesus' cloak. The leader of the synagogue had just lost his daughter. She was as dead as one can be, there was no hope whatsoever. And yet he comes to Jesus and believes that Jesus will revive his little girl. The woman with the "issue of blood" as it is called in some texts, thought that if she only touched his clothing, not touch him, but his garments, she would be healed. She did that and was healed of her illness. And the little girl came back to life.

Faith is a powerful thing and sometimes we tend to ignore the power it has, because we tend to ignore God. The mourners in the house laughed at Jesus pronouncement that the little girl was only sleeping, they ignored the power of God in their lives. This little girl was a dead as dead can be. There was no way, no way she could live again. What a preposterous thought.

But the father of that little girl believed. So did the woman. It's interesting that in many cases, people were healed by Jesus because of their great faith. They had placed their trust in Jesus.

What would happen if we really placed our trust in God and not bank accounts or large memberships? What would happen if we had faith even if the world tells us it is silly to believe in the impossible?

The late gospel and soul singer Sam Cooke sung a song called "Touch the Hem of His Garment," which puts this story of the woman and Jesus into song. It speaks of this woman's great faith in Jesus and reminds us of what can happen if we actually believe Jesus can make a difference. " if I could just touch the hem of his garment
I know I'll be made whole soon." What faith in God!

Here is the Sam Cooke song, "Touch the Hem of His Garment."

God of the Impossible, forgive for our lack of faith in You. Help us to believe that even if we have the faith of a mustard seed, mighty things can be done in your name.Amen.

Dennis Sanders is the IT/Communications Specialist for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. He is also an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Stations of Life: A Lenten Journey- February 8, 2008

February 8, 2008
Passage:Matthew 8:14-22

When Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever; he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him. That evening they brought to him many who were possessed by demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick. This was to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, ‘He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.’ Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. A scribe then approached and said, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ Another of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.’

Do you remember the Burger King ad from the 70s: "Have it Your Way?" Burger King was trying to go after its chief competitor McDonald's by saying that they could make a burger made to order.

We like to have things done on our terms. The thing is, when it comes to following Christ, it's not about having it our way. Three people come to Jesus saying they want to follow him and several times, Jesus challenges each of them by telling them to choose between following Christ or following whatever they have placed first. It's sound harsh to hear, I mean, should Jesus have enough sensitivity to understand that these men have responsibilities they need to take care of first? But Jesus would have none of this asking these would-be followers to put God first, not their business or aging parents.

In our culture, as it was in Jesus' day, we have many things to that vie for our attention. We want to follow Jesus, but we want to get some things out of the way first. As much I am tempted to look down on the would-be followers of Jesus, I also have to remember that I've been in their shoes at times and so have we all. The wonderous thing is that Jesus still loves us the same and still call us-but if we heed the voice we have to remember "have it your way" doesn't apply here.

Holy One, we hear your call to follow you and we want to...after we finish a few things first. Remind us that NOW is the time to follow you. Amen.

Dennis Sanders is the IT/Communications Specialist for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. He is also an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Online Registration for Special Called Meeting Ends January 23

Dear Friends,

Just a reminder that the last day to pre-register for the January 26 Special Called Meeting at Christ Presbyterian in Edina is tomorrow, January 23.  You can still register at Christ Presbyterian on Saturday morning.

To register online, please go to the  Registration page on the PTCA website: http://www.ptcaweb.org/statedmeetingregistration.htm.

Please note: Due to logistical constraints, only those visitors who register online will recieve lunch if requested beforehand.  Vistors who sign up on Saturday morning will not be able to recieve lunch.  However, there are a number of eating establishments nearby that will be able to accomodate guests.  This does not apply to Minister Members or Elder Commissioners. Godspeed.

Rev. Richard K. Stelter: 1949-2007

Rev. Rick Stelter died on Christmas Eve after a long fight with cancer.   

Rick died of multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer he has battled courageously for twelve years. Diane Stelter, Rick’s wife, said it is a miracle that he has survived this long- when he was diagnosed, he was given two years to live.

Rick’s ministry had an impact, not only in this Presbytery, but throughout the wider world.

Rick had a passion for the elderly and the infirm,  wanting to provide them with the resources they needed to live their final years with dignity and independence. He worked on a model of home chore workers that has been replicated nationally.  “Because of this,” Diane says, “because of him - it is no exaggeration to say that thousands, of seniors have been able to remain in their own homes.”

Another passion was connection people through worship.  He conducted worship services in an apartment complex in Northeast Minneapolis.  Diane noted that while he has not had a congregation to work in for the last 25 years, he has had Northeast Minneapolis as his parish. Diane notes, “He was called upon for many, many funerals for the unchurched and to assist with those of the churched volunteers who worked so zealously with him.  There were weddings and even a baptism.  There were late night phone calls.   He was the unofficial assistant for many of the small congregations in NE - the one called upon to cover when the pastor was away.  One summer we counted and he was in the pulpits of 6 different denominations, encouraging people to reach across the barriers of age and income to know and love their neighbors.  Through Rick adult children, often living far away, were able to hear how mom was doing, to arrange for the donation and installation of an air conditioner, a surprise gift of fertilizer and seeds, a ride to the hair dresser or doctor, an assurance that there was a local and personal interest.”

Rick served the Presbytery in many ways, including:  the Worship Committee, the Urban Strategies Task Force, the Youth Committee, the Council on Congregational Life, the Committee on Aging and the Committee on Preparation for Ministry. 

Rick is survived by his wife of 33 years, the Rev. Diane Stelter, his children Philippa Lynne Stelter, Corlin Richard Stelter and Theodore Homer Stelter.  He is a 1971 gradudate of Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota and received an MA in Educational Psychology from the University of Illinois in 1974.  He received his Masters of Divinity from United Theological Seminary in 1977 and was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in October of that year at Oak Grove Presbyterian in Bloomington.  He served as an Assistant Pastor at Grace-Trinity Community Church in Minneapolis and as a Parish Associate at North Presbyterian in North St. Paul.  He was a chaplain at La Salle Health Care Center and the Christian Union Home/Grace Manor for 20 years, and director of the Northeast Senior Citizen Resource Center (NESCRC)  for 27 years.  Upon his retirement from this position, June 6, 2004 was designated Richard K. Stelter Day in Minneapolis. The proclaimation read: 

Whereas, Richard Stelter has provided Northeast Minneapolis seniors with spiritual and physical support that has allowed them to live independently with dignity; and

Whereas, Richard Stelter has dedicated his life’s work to making Northeast Minneapolis a better place to live; and

Whereas, Richard Stelter’s strong faith, indomitable spirit and caring hand make him a role model for us all.

A memorial service remembering the life of  Rick will be held on Saturday, January 5, 2008 at North Como Presbyterian Church in Roseville at 1:30pm.  Visitation will take place at 11:30am.  There will also be a visitation on Friday, January 4 from 6-9pm at Cherokee Park United Church in St. Paul.

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant, Rick.

Acknowledge, we humbly pray,

a sheep of your own fold,

a lamb of your own flock,

a sinner of your own redeeming.

Recieve Rick into the arms of your mercy,

into the blessed rest of everlasting peace,

and into the glorious company of the saints of light.

Amen.