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Past Special Features
South to North Missionary
Dr. Julius Bathol Mollel
Reflection on Partnership
Music in Meru
Synod 10 to 1 Money
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HOME PAGE
Past Special Features
South to North Missionary
Dr. Julius Bathol Mollel
Reflection on Partnership
Music in Meru
Synod 10 to 1 Money
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PARTNERSHIP CONGREGATION BRINGS COMMUNITY
PASTOR BOWERS REFLECTS ON PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ADORATION LUTHERAN IN GREENFIELD AND MULALA PARISH IN DIOCESE OF MERU
When I was in Minnesota I was told a story of an old Norwegian farmer who worked a rocky patch of ground just south of the city of Duluth. It was reported that this farmer would get up early, before sunrise, each day. Before he did anything else, even put on the coffee pot, he would spend time with God in prayer. Those prayers were usually of such a nature that anyone overhearing them would marvel at the man’s faith. His intensity was such that it appeared as though everything in the whole world depended on God.
Then, after his devotional, this farmer would eat, get his mandatory infusion of coffee, and then go out into the fields and work so hard that an outsider might think that he thought the whole world depended on him.
Through the years this story has been very helpful to me as I have tried to place into perspective the role of faith and works. The story however, leaves out one facet of life that is very important. Community is not addressed. As I have worked with this story I have discovered the loneliness of it. It is not just God and me against the devilishness of this world. There is also the community of believers. The issue of community is addressed at Adoration through our relationship with the Mulala Parish, Meru Diocese, Tanzania.
 One of the first symbols I noticed when I came to Adoration was a carving of black ebony that was sitting on a table in the narthex. I was first drawn to it because of its color. But then I noticed it was a configuration of one person upon another all working together to achieve a common goal.
I was later told that the carving (seen at the right) was called “Ujama” meaning community. It is a sign of community. In my context it is a sign of the people of Adoration and the people of Mulala working together – a world apart – to bring about the kingdom of God.
Our two worlds are that -- worlds apart one from another and yet those worlds are influenced by one another. In some ways we are still learning to live with one another. We find that sometimes it is easy for us in our wealth and affluence to speak down to their poverty and pain. We give money to the parish, we offer prayers and we support their educational pursuits. Sometimes it is harder for us to receive what they give – prayers, concern, love and HOPE! It is totally amazing the hope that comes with every communication and note. They share hope and praise for the gift of God’s salvation. They share hope and affirmation that God is building a world on God’s justice and with each day things are getting better.
With this comes the realization that without one another working in different cultures and separated by many miles we would be lost in our own context. We need one another. We cannot do things alone and God needs us as we work together.
So, every day now when I get up from my devotions, it is not just God and me on whom everything depends like that old Norwegian in Minnesota. It is God, me and my sisters and brothers at Adoration and in Tanzania and elsewhere. Some of these are people whom I have never met and probably never will. But we work as a community bringing about God’s kingdom. (the creeds call it the “communion of saints”)
So my devotions and life are a three way conversation. I hear the familiar “Good Morning Ray” as God greets me each morning. But this greetings is coming from another source as well – Mulala. My actions are influenced by this communication. Even at the end of the day it is no longer saying good night to my wife, Joyce, to the rest of our family, both personal and the family of Adoration but it also involves my friends in a little place in Tanzania. My prayers for a safe night apply to them all. I find that each day this community is expanding and the phrase “community of saints” has new meaning.
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PARTNERSHIP CONGREGATION BRINGS COMMUNITY
PASTOR BOWERS REFLECTS ON PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ADORATION LUTHERAN IN GREENFIELD AND MULALA PARISH IN DIOCESE OF MERU
When I was in Minnesota I was told a story of an old Norwegian farmer who worked a rocky patch of ground just south of the city of Duluth. It was reported that this farmer would get up early, before sunrise, each day. Before he did anything else, even put on the coffee pot, he would spend time with God in prayer. Those prayers were usually of such a nature that anyone overhearing them would marvel at the man’s faith. His intensity was such that it appeared as though everything in the whole world depended on God.
Then, after his devotional, this farmer would eat, get his mandatory infusion of coffee, and then go out into the fields and work so hard that an outsider might think that he thought the whole world depended on him.
Through the years this story has been very helpful to me as I have tried to place into perspective the role of faith and works. The story however, leaves out one facet of life that is very important. Community is not addressed. As I have worked with this story I have discovered the loneliness of it. It is not just God and me against the devilishness of this world. There is also the community of believers. The issue of community is addressed at Adoration through our relationship with the Mulala Parish, Meru Diocese, Tanzania.
One of the first symbols I noticed when I came to Adoration was a carving of black ebony that was sitting on a table in the narthex. I was first drawn to it because of its color. But then I noticed it was a configuration of one person upon another all working together to achieve a common goal.
I was later told that the carving (seen at the right) was called “Ujama” meaning community. It is a sign of community. In my context it is a sign of the people of Adoration and the people of Mulala working together – a world apart – to bring about the kingdom of God.
Our two worlds are that -- worlds apart one from another and yet those worlds are influenced by one another. In some ways we are still learning to live with one another. We find that sometimes it is easy for us in our wealth and affluence to speak down to their poverty and pain. We give money to the parish, we offer prayers and we support their educational pursuits. Sometimes it is harder for us to receive what they give – prayers, concern, love and HOPE! It is totally amazing the hope that comes with every communication and note. They share hope and praise for the gift of God’s salvation. They share hope and affirmation that God is building a world on God’s justice and with each day things are getting better.
With this comes the realization that without one another working in different cultures and separated by many miles we would be lost in our own context. We need one another. We cannot do things alone and God needs us as we work together.
So, every day now when I get up from my devotions, it is not just God and me on whom everything depends like that old Norwegian in Minnesota. It is God, me and my sisters and brothers at Adoration and in Tanzania and elsewhere. Some of these are people whom I have never met and probably never will. But we work as a community bringing about God’s kingdom. (the creeds call it the “communion of saints”)
So my devotions and life are a three way conversation. I hear the familiar “Good Morning Ray” as God greets me each morning. But this greetings is coming from another source as well – Mulala. My actions are influenced by this communication. Even at the end of the day it is no longer saying good night to my wife, Joyce, to the rest of our family, both personal and the family of Adoration but it also involves my friends in a little place in Tanzania. My prayers for a safe night apply to them all. I find that each day this community is expanding and the phrase “community of saints” has new meaning.
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