CONTENTSVolume F;fleen, Num~rThree November 2011 FEATURES 4 Life Together-Gift By Rev. J. Bart Day The Office of National Mission is doing the work of "Home Mission."' The world is at our door. The challenges facing the church in our post-Christian culture can appear overwhelming. In Ihe face of such challenges, the church must stand ready to proclaim the Gospel boldly. Being a faithful Lutheran has never been more critical. 6 Experiencing Life Together in Christ By Rev. Brian D. IRoberts God 's people are uniquely empowered to model life together in Christ. Not only is Ihe church where we abide in community with Christ (Matthew 18:20), but we also abide in communi ty with one another (E phesians 2: 19). And then, we take thai power of life together in Christ into a world around us (Matthew 22:39)-a world parched for meaningful relationships (Isa iah 32:2). 9 Philadelphia Lutheran Ministries: Witness, Mercy and Life Together in the City By Rev. Joshua R. Gale Philadelphia Lutheran Ministries (PLM), the organization that has recently called me as their mission developer, is a Recognized Service Orga nization (RSO) of the LCMS, daring to pursue Witnes.·, Mercy and Life Together in the name of Christ into tbe Philadelphia metropolitan area. The project at my direction, known as the "NOItheast Pbilly Project." seeks to real ize this purpose through reaching out to the homeless in and around the city of Philadelphia. Also in this issue: What Does This Mean? .................p. 13 Called to Serve ... ....................p. 16 In the Field...........................p. 18 Dr. Lawrence Rast Installed as Concordia Theological Seminary's 16th President ... . p. 20 Certificate of Occupancy for Library Expansion Granted ..............p. 22 A Journal on the Summer Trips to Japan, Korea and Haiti .................p. 23 Profiles in Giving ......................p. 28 In the Word ..........................p. 30 3 PIA OM 9'n JO aJ!l 9111 AO.:l .18 pJlo 81. \~ () ~E:%:Y~O "Behold, /row good and how pleasant it i. for brethrell to dwell together in IIllity_ " (pwllll /33: I) Life Together begins in Christ. There is no life apart from the One "through whom all things were made" (John 1:3). The life of Christ is the life of the world, our life together. The miracle of the incarnation is that our Lord descended to take up our life. He wears our fallen human flesh that He might bear our sin and be our Savior. In His bloody enthronement at Calvary, He draws all creation to Himself. Here is our salvation. Here is our life together. In the Divine Service, our Lord lovingly invites us to eucharistic eating and drinking. With His body and blood, we proclaim His death and receive His life. The crucified One gives us the gifts of forgi veness and the scal of immortal ity. As He is, so we shall be. The postcommunion collect roots our life in Christ and our life togeth.er in the same. "Wc give thanks to You. almighty God. that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strcngthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another." The living Christ creates "fervent love toward one another." The work of the church in witness, mercy and life together flows from and to the cross. What joy and freedom we have in serving our Lord and His holy bride, the church. We are no longer burdened by the Law's requirements. The Gospel, Christ in us, compels us to share His Word to the ends of the earth, to share the mercy and love of Christ with those in need and to share in the corporate November 2011 life of the church. Life together is the best li ving. Selllsh ambition and pride disappear as we pray for and support the body of Christ. We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ. In his little book Lzfe Togelher: The Classic Explor([fio/l oj Chri.sliw/ Community, Dietrich Bonhoeffer offers several helpful insights into our life together. For Bonhoeffer, our life together is a concrete reality. God is not a God of the emotions but a God of truth. That truth is revealed in the divine revelation of the Word and the Word made f1esh. The justified sinner lives in the community of sanctification, a gift from God that no man ean claim. Life together is a gift. Of course, the body and all its members suffer under the delusions and false advertising of the world, the devil nnd our own sinful nature. The promise of power, prestige and possessions always comes at the expense of hurting those we love the most. Our life together becomes a life of isolation. The body and community suffer. The powerful in the community weed out the undesirables. As Bonhoeffer notes, "The exclusion of the weak and insignificant, the seemingly -LIt\:' God is not a God of the emotions but a God of truth. That truth is revealed in the divine revelation of the Word and the Word made flesh. The justified sinner lives in the community of sanctification, a gift from God that no man can claim. Ufe together is a gift. useless people, from a Christian community may actually mean the exclusion of Christ; in the poor brother Christ is knocking at tbe door." Our life together includes all for whom our Lord died: the world. The body of Christ cares and comforts in word and deed. As the Office of National Mission (Life Together) begins its work, we pray that the Lord will strengthen and support the work of our Synod. The Office of National Mission is doing the work of "Home Mission." The world is at our door. The challenges facing the church in our post-Christian culture can appear overwhelming. In the face of such challenges, the church must stand ready to proclaim the Gospel boldly. Being a faithful Lutheran has never been more critical. The world is crying out for authentic confession and geIluine lire togetber. The church oilers both. WI, R£'l'. ./. Bart Dm .I('ne,\ 1/.1 f: x['u({il'C Direcfor Olllw LeM!; Oll/I'e o/Ntlliollal Milsi(J/1 jil! tlie Lilli/emIl Clum·I! -Mil'slIw'i . Yllm/. 1(11/ ("(/1/ ("011/(/1 I him af lJarf.Day@/c'IIII.m:s:. 5