From May on Theology of Vocation

There are many things we can ask of ourselves as a Congregation. Especially as Zion Lutheran Church has struggled with maintaining attendance levels and membership, “how do we reach new people” becomes a very pressing question. But as I am often reminded the greatest struggle we have is “how do we remain Church?” I think there might be yet a better question, which we have spent the last several months trying to address.
What does a congregation look like that lives out a theology of vocation?
This is where we started back in September. We talked about the definitions of Church verses Congregation and the Theology of Vocation. We talked about challenges that are faced in understanding a theology of vocation especially with Holy Orders. Then we talked about a couple of ways in which we can see the theology of Vocation used or could be used in a congregation. Maybe you have taken some notes along the way. Maybe you even have some new strategic planning ideas of how we can be church in White South Dakota.
As I write this I am thinking of some different things that might be good for us in the future. But I am also thinking about many of the failures in the Past. It is easy for us to get discouraged because something didn’t work in the past, but it is those failures that help to teach us valuable lessons.
As we come to the End of another School year, Sunday School is done, and we are looking towards Summer vacation. I hope you are starting to think about how things might be different next year. Not how things may be worse, or how things might fail. But let us use this time to talk through some of those strategic plans. Maybe we can change things around and if it doesn’t work; hey at least we tried.
I worked a couple of part time jobs in College most of them only lasted a couple of months. You all have provided me with my first real job for over ten years now. I know I have made mistakes, had failures, and you all have supported me through them. As you have supported me in my vocation, hopefully I have helped to support you in your vocations as well. And maybe we can find new ways to support one another.
Either way God has placed us in these vocations in service to him and for our neighbor. God has called us by the Gospel to be his Holy Family. He has placed us in the Four Realms (Family, Community, Church & Employment) giving us plenty of opportunity to serve. God Loves you and Christ has laid down his life for yours.

So in conclusion; What does a congregation look like that lives out a theology of vocation? Hopefully it looks a lot like Zion Lutheran Church, or maybe vice versa. I know that we have tried to support one another in our various Vocations. Ultimately, one of the biggest struggles any congregation will face in living out the Theology of Vocation (the same struggle most families have) is that we need to communicate better with all of our family members.  

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