Back to Basics

This summer I’ve joined up with a small group of pastors who’ve decided to preach a series on the Lord’s prayer because we felt, with all the wild stuff that’s going on in the world, that it might be good to get back to basics. Last Sunday we considered the first petition in the Lord’s prayer: “Hallowed be Thy name.”

Martin Luther asked in his Large Catechism, “What is it to pray that God’s name may be holy? Is it not holy already? Yes, it is always holy in its nature, but in our use it is not holy. So how does it become holy among us? When we act like God’s children.”

In other words, we honor God when we let him honor US with so high a vocation - that of being children of God. This is the basics of prayer: saying yes to being who we are, members of God’s holy family.

So friends, when we pray, let us approach God with confidence, as we would a human parent who was kind, attentive, and available. Luther taught, “God encourages us to believe that he is truly our Father and we are God’s children. We therefore are to pray to God with complete confidence, just as children speak to their loving parents.”

One way we can behave as good children is by turning out to enjoy the company of other children of God - members of other branches of God's family! I had a wonderful time last year at the Islamic festival located outside the Unitarian Church in Burlington. This annual event is organzed by Mr. Ahmed, Hubie and Sherry's neighbor, who will be speaking at Good Shepherd this fall. Please plan to join me on the afternoon of August 1st for tasty free food and wonderful conversations with our Muslim neighbors!

with love,

Pr. Chelsea