Over the last year-and-a-half, Bethel’s Long Range Planning Task Force spent a lot of time reading, praying, thinking, talking, listening, and organizing. This may sound odd, but much of their time was actually spent dwelling on two questions: “Who are we?” and “Who has God called us to be?” I say it might sound odd because doesn’t it seem like we, an almost 125 year old congregation, should already know who we are and what God has called us to do and be? These are questions we may not have had to ask before or maybe the answers were just understood. I’m guessing you could ask 10 people at Bethel about what is important to us as a congregation and you would get 10 differently answers. There are many other questions, but all other questions stem from these. Are there any more central questions we should ask as a congregation of believers? Are there any more central questions we should ask ourselves as individual believers?
If I had to identify one theme that weaves throughout the conversations with the Long Range Planning Task Force, all of Bethel’s ministries and Advent, it would be simply: “It’s all about relationships.” That’s it. Can you think of any ministry or activity at Bethel that doesn’t have something to do with relationships? I can’t.
As we begin the season of Advent – a time of watchful waiting – a time of examination and preparation – a time of new beginnings, let’s consider our relationships, especially the ones most important to us. Are there relationships in your life that would benefit from some renewal, some renewed energy or focus or attention, a new beginning?
Bishop Mike Rinehart (Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod) wrote:
John says, “Repent.” To repent (metanoia) is to change (meta) your mind (noia) or your thinking. It is to reorient your thinking and being. It is to turn away from self-destructive and other-destructive patterns. From what do you need to turn? This is a question for personal reflection, not a request for scary online personal confessions.
You know what needs change. Most people can’t tell you. Perhaps those closest to you can. This merits prayer.
Repent is not an attack we foist on others. It is an invitation for personal reform.
I invite you to this season of Advent. You will see the graphic I’ve used in this devotion or one similar to it as we focus on relationships and the importance of good, strong, and healthy relationships both with God and those around us.
For this week, pray about all of the significant relationships in your life – both about where you currently are with those relationships and where you think God would have those relationships be.
God bless you and this journey!
Epicurious Lutheran 