Pastor Rick Swanson has accepted a call to be our Intentional Interim Pastor.  He has served as an  Intentional Interim Pastor since 1998 helping congregations in California and Missouri during pastor vacancies.  Typically, he will serve a congregation for 1-2 years while the congregation is in the process of calling a permanent pastor.  During this time he carries out all pastoral duties while focusing on specific concerns of each parish, both in the recent past and the near future. 

Pastor Swanson is residing at the parsonage at Holy Cross campus.  He is married to his wife Linda and they have two children David and Andrew .

　From the Pastor…

FROM THE PASTOR. . .

On the fourteenth day of this month we Americans help our economy when we buy candies and cards to give to others. With computers and other smart machines we can also create our own messages to share with the person special to us. What makes it most interesting in our day is the fact that many regard the words, “I love you,” as ones which mean far less than in years past. With marriage success being around 50% there are many who are even afraid to express affection to another. Many people today would indeed treasure “I love you” being said more often in our homes.

Valentine’s Day has a confusing history. In the Christian faith two different people have the name of St. Valentine. They both lived in the third century and both were martyred in Rome. It seems strange that we would celebrate the martyrdom of early Christians. That is why the origin of our version of Valentine’s Day does come from Rome. However, the gift of a valentine to someone of the opposite sex whom we are courting has its origin in the pagan festival of Lupercalia which was in mid-February.

As we read the Bible from Genesis through Revelation the theme of love does reoccur. However, the key is that the love comes from the faithful Lord to an often unfaithful human race. Be it through prophets or apostles the word of a loving God for a sinful world is clear. The manifestation of God’s greatness is in the love shown when God became man in Jesus Christ and went all the way to death for the world then and now.

We need to remember that God is daily saying to us that He is with us and showing love toward us. He protects, heals, and gives new life on earth and for eternity. When we can register that for our daily existence, we have a better chance to also love others in the world that is starving for love. Christians are called to share love with our world today. Beginning  with the home and then with the community and your own “big” or “little” world, share words and acts of love that cause others to ask, “Why do you listen? Why do you care? Why do you help? Why do you love?” Our answer? Because we are certain of God’s unending love for each of us!

As I thought about these words overnight, a line form the song, “People,” came to mind. “Love isn’t love until you give it away.” Find a way this month to share love in a creative way with those dear to you and with others who long for a word of hope and care. As we all grow in Christ, we learn that the sharing of love from a most gracious God enriches the lives of others and of ourselves.

Be sure to say, “I love you” at least twenty times in February and eventually reach the point where the words are said more than once each day!

In Christian love,

Pastor Rick

CONGESTION. . .

Novembers in Missouri are always an adventure. On occasion fall lingers with temperatures and breezes fitting for a football game. At other times the fall dies too soon because snow hits the roads and fields. With all those inconsistencies comes the congestion expressed in coughs and colds and the season for the flu no one wants. Remember to get your flu shot!

Congestion comes in another form: traffic! I mentioned to my wife about the congestion I had to face in Concordia when I had seven cars or trucks in front of me at the corner of First and Main. We smile about that because of the real congestion on the highways and bridges in the San Francisco/Oakland area of California. When I was having my cancer treatments, I would be happy to cover five miles within half an hour! I can understand why some rural folks do not even want to go to Kansas City because of the traffic.

Our busy lives are another form of congestion. Whether it is putting the next meeting down on the calendar at the house or on the ever-present smart phone, we are busy folks who try to do a lot with the time God gives us. The wise person is the one who can balance rightly the desires of the one’s heart, the requirements of one’s vocation, the needs of the family, and the presence of our gracious God at all hours of day or night. This busy life has been a part of our routine for quite some time. It is no surprise how tired we are before the end of a day!

As we approach two busy months where the congestion could increase, we need to ask for the leadership of our God to keep us on track. We need the help of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to keep us from following the evil one who wants to distract us so the God does get pushed aside. The congestion comes when we have trouble separating good and evil and when we wonder how God fits in anywhere. To answer the questions mentioned and others you might come up with requires our taking time to slow down, to pray, to listen to His answers to our cries, and to let His will be done. You will be surprised how much He will bless if we but trust Him.

May God grant us clear hearts and minds which have let us make sense of all that is happening in the two months ahead. Let the living Lord be first and all the rest will fall into place according to His will. Have a busy, joyful, grace-filled life every season of the year!

ACROSS MY DESK. . .

Those of you who have come into my office know that the desk has too many stacks. When I lived in central coastal California in the late 80’s and early 90’s, I remember how my stacks were even worse and the office secretary’s desk was so very neat. I did not always have kind thoughts about that primarily because I was jealous of her neatness. Also back then more pieces came through the mail due to no common email system.

This month we will be emphasizing the common calling of every Christian community. Jesus said in the final chapter of Matthew that the task of the church was to go and make disciples all over the world and to baptize and teach them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Our mission emphases will be through the LWML on the first Sunday, a mission fest on the middle Sunday with a guest speaker, and a look on the last Sunday at how we are continuing the Reformation today that Martin Luther started in 1517. Be sure to come and worship on those and every other Sunday too!

Back to the stuff on my desk. Below are some areas of mission and ministry worth noting and keeping us mindful of the array of mission opportunities churches and individuals have in sharing the Good News of the crucified and risen Lord.

LWML Lutheran Women’s Missionary League is our women’s auxiliary in the LCMS reaching out to missions in the US and all over the world

LBT Lutheran Bible Translators are working all over the world to get the message of the Word of God in as many languages as possible

LHM Lutheran Hour Ministries is the men’s (and women can help too) auxiliary for our church body

LHF Lutheran Heritage Foundation gets the catechism written in many languages and helps us remain mindful of our church body’s history since 1847

LBW Lutheran Braille Workers have the Scriptures and important Lutheran documents made available for the blind; we have a local chapter in Concordia with members from Holy Cross being one of the teams

LYF Lutheran Youth Fellowship is the arm of our church body seeking to reach out to the youth in our communities, states, and country

LW The Lutheran Witness is our official monthly publication of the LCMS seeking to give words of encouragement and building up of faith for all who read it

HCM Human Care Ministries is a part of our national church body which responds to natural disasters such as Katrina, the Joplin tornado, etc.; this ministry reaches to all corners of the earth

The nine groups above will send mail across my desk and always ask for me to get the word out to the members of the congregation. Of course, there are twenty or so more from our church body and then numerous pleas from other valid ministries sponsored by other Christian churches. Those are some of the items that pass this desk each month. If you would like to know more about them or other areas of ministry, feel free to call or stop by.

The world is indeed struggling with disease and war and financial chaos. We cannot run all

over the world but through prayer and generosity and a shared ministry with others we

can help people see Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Blessings in your ministry in His name and when a piece of mail comes by your desk, give

prayerful thought on how you can help.

In Christ,

Pastor Rick

P.S. In some other month we will talk about the other items that pass this desk: school

needs, bills, ads for this and that, etc.

GREEN AND WHITE…

As I look out my office window or travel along the streets and highways of west central Missouri, I notice that the color green is returning after many months of winter hibernation. Despite the many gray skies and the erratic weather the green of spring keeps coming. The leaves on the trees are budding and the lawns display a rich green wondering when the sitting mowers will be in full swing to keep things beautiful. Green is also sneaking upward out of the earth as the different shades of green crops recolor the barren land.

As I walk between the pews during the week and especially on Sunday, I let my eyes wander. I notice a white that colors the area of worship. The banners have white and other colors with it and the paraments on the altar, lectern, and pulpit are white. The white will be the predominant worship color for all of May as the Christians in this place keep saying thanks to the Lord for the glorious news of the resurrected Savior. White tells us that Jesus has purified us all and washes away our personal and collective sins.

A more recent color emphasis has been the request for our society to “go green.” Save the trees and pay your bills by electronic means and not by paper. Think of all the items purchased today which are recycled from earlier months and years. As this planet keeps growing in numbers and the demands for things, the use of our natural resources is a most valid concern. To properly make wise use of God’s many gifts is commendable. It indeed is good stewardship of all that we have received.

May our busy May, filled with planting and completing another year of school and the joys of confirmation and graduation, be blessed by the constant white reminder of the victorious and resurrected Jesus Christ. May the green and white and any of the other colors in God’s tapestry shower your life with God’s mercy, His peace, and His surprises.

Midst God’s beauty,

Pastor Rick

INSIDIOUSNESS…

As I watched TV a couple of weeks ago, I noticed an ad for a new movie. The title was “Insidious.” In that I had bought a new pocket dictionary (old school indeed!) in December to replace my 1980 edition, I made use of the book to confirm my understanding of what “insidious” means. The meaning includes stealth, sneakiness, and deceit with evil intention.

As we think about this holy time of the year called Lent, we need to be aware of how successful the devil was in getting the Jews and Romans in the days of Jesus to have Him crucified. They planned to get rid of Jesus for a good portion of His ministry because they thought that He would mess and not bless their lives. The Bible mentions a number of times how they conspired to have Him found guilty before Jewish leaders with the necessary blessing of the Romans who occupied their land. When Jesus was tried by the Jews, they came up with different ways to find Him worthy of death. The devil worked in their hearts to the point of mocking Him as He died for us and for them. Judas and Pilate were but two in this evil scheme to get rid of the too radical rabbi.

Before we jump on the folks of the last paragraph, it is critical that we see how the same devil works among us in our day. With the eternally evil intent of drawing people from Jesus into his trap, the devil works hardest among those who worship and trust this saving Lord. His insidious plans include getting church members to distrust each other. He works hard to have Christians hold grudges against one another. He has people gossiping about one another. He finds every way he can to undercut the ministry done by pastor, leaders of the congregation, and “regular” members. We of Holy Cross are not exempt from where and how the evil one works.

During this month be keenly aware of how the devil might work in you. Help fight in the battle with a life of worship on Wednesday and Sunday. Study the Word of God. Confess your sins to God and trust His forgiveness expressed in the words of Jesus Himself, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Yes, His death is for our sins. His preceding agony was because of us as well as those in the Bible. His resurrection is His assurance for us that the devil has been defeated and that lasting, meaningful life is in and with Him alone. The devil has lost. Jesus has won. What He won for us is as lasting as eternity. Thanks be to God!

Our mighty God is with us here at Holy Cross to remove any insidiousness that might be growing in us. With His power look with confidence for the blessing of God as we minister to one another and invite others to join us. Let the words we say and the activities we take part in reflect the new life that is ours because of the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ. Bless. Be a gift of grace to others. Let Christ Reign!

In the crucified and risen Lord,

Pastor Rick

FROM THE PASTOR…

MIRACLES…

Many a mile have I traveled over the course of forty years of ministry. There have been beautiful scenes of mountains and oceans and the rolling hills of America’s heartland. In the course of those many miles the faithful care of God and His angels have provided miracles. I was coming home one night on the streets of my first parish in Texas. It had rained and the streets were slippery. For some reason I had not been attentive enough and before me was a stationary vehicle which I thought I would not avoid hitting. Suddenly I found myself safely on the other side of the vehicle with no contact made. I cannot explain to this day how that accident was avoided. It must have been a miracle.

When I was coming to Missouri from California back in 2007 I was pleased that I had safely made it through the Las Vegas traffic on I15. Within about forty miles of my destination for the day I fell asleep at about 70 miles per hour. I heard my car hit some sign. I woke up with the car going downhill on the median. I slammed on the brakes. In about five seconds I was still again with the engine running and dust all around me. I got out of the car and noticed that the front bumper had taken the blow but all looked okay. I backed up and slowly reentered I15, went to the slower right lane, and reached my motel for the night rattled, but safe and sound by the grace of God. Another miracle indeed.

Those were two of the many times the grace of God and His miracles were mixed in my life. How many miracles have you witnessed in your life or in the lives of others? I pray that logic and science have not deprived you of seeing the miracles around you. They need not be filled with danger. There are the wonders of God in nature around us, in the growth of children with whom God blessed us, in healings even medical staffs cannot explain, and the list could go on and on. Yes, God is at work daily doing His wonders among us!

During the Lenten season this year the theme for the midweek Lenten services focuses on the miracles in the life of Jesus and especially those happening close to His suffering and death. Please come and discover these miracles then and how they can be applied to our lives now. For three of the weeks there will be guest pastors here at Holy Cross as I go elsewhere in the circuits to be their guest pastor. The service will begin at 7:00 with the question of a simple meal at the school still undecided. Read elsewhere in this newsletter about the meal.

With Epiphany season ending with the wonder of the transfiguration of Jesus celebrated on Sunday, March 6, and the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday, March 9, open your mind and hearts to the miracle of God’s love for you. Recall the miracles of your life and be alert for some more every season of the year.

From one miracle to another,

Pastor Rick

CARING FOR EACH OTHER…

When Christmas was put away in the stores around us, the shades of red took over as the “in” item for January and the first half of February. It is good that the world talks about hearts and love and care for one another. For the Christians, of course, love must flow all year round if we take our faith seriously and apply it to daily life. Jesus commanded us to do so and backed up His words with the sacrifice of His life on the cross. His resurrection added more power and blessing to His ministry then and is to be applied to our lives right now. We have this month and the rest of this year to care for one another and for the crying world around us. The Spirit is more than willing to help us see the blessing that will come when we do as Jesus said.

STIRRINGS…

It is a quiet afternoon on Christmas Eve. As the snow falls lightly on the ground, the sounds are those of the heater in the office and the unexpected arrival of the UPS truck whose driver still has a full day ahead of him. Things will stir a little later tonight but I am reminded of what was going on in a quiet field one night where shepherds suddenly had the surprise of their life.

There will be quiet days throughout this month of January. I still marvel at the grace of God for me through the years. As another calendar year begins, I keep looking and listening to the sights and sounds around me. Living out here away from heavy traffic and blaring sounds, I ask myself questions about what is going on in the ground underneath me and in God’s creation in the trees and bushes that greet me each day no matter what the temperature might be.

Like our great Lord and God who does not head south for the winter but is present every day and night in all kinds of weather, God keeps His creation stirring. If creation could speak, it would talk about the year past and would look forward to the surprises that will be ahead for the rest of the winter and then into the spring. Somehow the bugs keep crawling around and a bird or two fly by looking for food for the day.

Where I find comfort and peace in this time of year is in the message that keeps repeating itself for all who will listen. A Savior is born. His name is Jesus. He will start as a baby but by the end of January He will be stirring up hearts as a Teacher for disciples of all languages and in all countries. His stirring through what He says and does will lead to the noises we all do not like to hear too often: mockery, sneering, and the sudden silence that come with death, on a cross for the sake of the world. His birth, instruction, miracles and wonders, death, resurrection, and ascension keep stirring people to both conflict and mercy. My prayer for all of us at Holy Cross is that we indeed will be stirred away from battles and sins of all sorts and stirred into acts of mercy and grace and peace all the days of 2011.

God bless your January and open your eyes and ears to the stirrings around you. Remember, the Lord is in charge. He will take care of all of us. He will take care of you while you journey on this earth and when you will be with Him in the eternity that Jesus has made yours since your baptism. Pray often. Read the Bible daily. Abound in love that is rooted in Christ Jesus.

Have a blessed conclusion to the twelve days of Christmas. Midst sounds and silence may the Light of the Lord show you the way to lasting love and peace.

Midst His stirrings,

Pastor Rick

SHAPES…

One wonderful dimensions of living in Missouri is what shapes the clouds in the sky offer. When I lived in parts of our country where the ocean or the mountains seemed to dominate the day, I sometimes lost sight of the clouds around me. Here the sky is so open and the clouds decorate my view whether I am driving down the highway or I take time to turn my head upward to see the various shapes around me. In the clouds I often see animals or buildings or objects chasing one another. Of course, when the wind blows, the clouds seem to move even more quickly.

As strange as I might be, I think that you also note different shapes in the objects or people around you. Some of you might visualize the different shapes of automobiles. Some are sleek and close to the ground. Others are like a box with wheels. Other ordinary vehicles are notable because there is a major dent in the door. Think also about the shapes of homes. There is the ranch style which is at one level but spread out. Other homes are tri-level with the steps taking you to the different floors. And the list could go on and on.

At this time of year what interests us a great deal is the shape of the boxes under the Christmas tree. Children are curious when it is different from a typically rectangular box. And what about the small gift which once opened is priceless!

We males and females display so many different shapes. The baby is so cute. The child’s growth pattern is always unique. Then there are the ears and eyelids and fingers and hands and torsos and legs and feet. Add to that one’s height or width and the ability to coordinate all the parts as we stand or walk or run.

What is most amazing is that the God in Whom we place our faith takes on our human form. He is born in a stable and lies in a manger. He, the Lord of the universe, becomes one of us to be the present that we all need when the shape of our lives is altered or burdened with all that life might bring. God among us! God with us! God for us! And then to know that He has ahead of Him a life of mercy and care even when others do not care at all. He ends up being crucified and neatly buried in the grave which most people thought of as being the end. But it is not!

Linda and I send blessings to you this Christmas as God in Jesus takes the shape of humanity. May the joy of the Christ child bring peace and forgiveness and love that only God can bring. Have time to marvel. Rejoice in the gift He is for us. May you and the ones you love be aware of the beauty of our Lord now and always.

Have a blessed Advent and Christmas now and always.

In the Christ Child,

Pastor Rick

FROM THE PASTOR…

THE HARVEST…

In my numerous trips from Emma to either Concordia or Sweet Springs I have been struck by the harvest now concluding. I am sure that most of you who have lived here a goodly number of years are used to change in the lay of the land. However, for city boy me I have talked to the Lord quite a bit about His blessing me and our country due to the labors of all who have now begun and are close to the end of the harvest.

I remember last winter when things were cold and nothing could grow. I recall the extra amount of rain that fell this spring so that I heard members talking about having to plant a crop more than once. As I would travel in the spring and summer I would see the crops growing. I would sing in the car from the musical Oklahoma these words: “The corn is so high on the fourth of July and it looks like it’s climbin’ clear up to the sky.” And now those big machines have harvested the growth of the crops so that the earth is starting to look barren again and another winter will be coming soon. Another year of the grace of God has been with us and I have had the honor of listening and caring for all who labor with animals, crops, and life itself.

I think the Lord put me here among you so that I could be enriched with all dimensions of life. I grew up in the big cities of Minneapolis, St. Louis, and Denver and went to school in St. Paul, MN, Ft. Wayne, St. Louis, and Ft. Lauderdale. I have been a pastor in Nacogdoches, TX (22,000+), Albuquerque, NM (300,000), Arroyo Grande, CA (8,000+), El Reno, OK (6,000+), Ardmore, OK (5,500+), and in the California cities of Ventura (100,000+), Santa Paula (5,000+), Ojai (5,000+), Camarillo (9,000+), Mill Valley (8,000+), and Hayward (8,000+), and outside of Jefferson City, MO (50,000+), and now at Emma (243). This final stop in ministry has been a blessing in letting me see close up what I only took for granted in my previous locations.

Being here has put flesh and blood to what Jesus said two thousand years ago: “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.” (Matt: 9:37-38). As I see weary workers who have labored with animals and crops and business and family and life itself, it is so essential that we all find the source for all that we do in Him who has gone further than any of us could. He died and rose again and gives us hope for every season of the year.

Thank you for teaching me much thus far. I pray that I will keep learning and at the same time stay close to Him who is our Life and Light, namely, Jesus Christ. As we all thank God for the harvest this year from our fields and our streets, we count on the same Spirit to richly guide us to thankful lives filled with the joy and peace He gives every hour of our lives!

KINDNESS…

We live in a world of cynics and skeptics. We love to find the faults in other people and nations. The news that sells tells us how bad things are. To those words and other ways of being negative we add the practice of being hard on ourselves. That seems especially to be so among those of us of German stock.

The month of October is to us Lutherans a significant month. It was in 1517 on the last day of the month that Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses on the church door at Wittenberg. He wanted to discuss ninety-five items with his fellow priests. Most of them related to the pope and with the understanding of Scripture. There was some discussion which followed but the results were not what Martin wanted. He ended up being thrown out of the Roman Catholic Church with wanted posters with his picture thereon. He went into hiding in a castle for a year and spent his time translating the Bible from Hebrew and Greek into his native German. Some would say, “And the rest is history.” And what a history it has been!

Oh, back to the kindness. Before Dr. Luther discovered the freeing and forgiving nature of the Gospel for sinful people, he was very hard on himself. He felt guilty and could not find peace within. While at the monastery he would go to church all day long and would still feel bad after long hours of prayer. He could not be kind to himself because he thought he was not good enough.

Here we are almost 500 years later and the problem is still around. Yes, we do wonder about some who think they are always right and blame everyone else for their failures. However, we also keep beating ourselves for our own failures in a world of greed, jealousy, divorce, and sins of all sorts. I am not saying that we should keep sinning. What I want to do for myself and for all of us to do in general is to own up to our mistakes, to forgive ourselves with clear memory of what price Jesus paid at Calvary, and to remember that because we are forgiven we can be kind to others and to ourselves.

St. Paul says in Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” He says in Galatians 6:1, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently…” In the same book Paul tells the Galatians, “For the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such there is no law.” (5:22) He also says in Ephesians 5:28-30, “In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church - for we are members of his body.”

Let kindness reign this month and beyond. It might take some time to have it as a daily practice, but let today be a start. Keep fighting sin with the victorious Christ. Forgive yourself and others. Use your energy to bless. You will be glad you did!

DISCOVERY…

As the fall routine begins, I think about the interaction of teacher and student at all levels of education. If you happen to be a graduate of schools long ago, do not skip the rest of this paragraph because discovery continues in a different way. I always marvel at the skill teachers have in making a class interesting. To a teacher there is no greater joy than to see a student discover something new in the science lab or in the reading of a poem or in the singing of a song or in a report about a famous person of decades or centuries ago. The “Aha!” experience by a student makes the day for a teacher who cares about each child or adult entrusted to him or her for a year. The wise student also sees the gifts in the teachers he or she has. The last sentence usually takes a few years but it too is worth the wait. For those out of formal education think back on the teacher who helped you the most. If the teacher is still around, take time to say thanks to them!

One of the great joys of ministry is that of having a person in a Bible class or a confirmation class or in a personal discussion about some part of the Bible or the application of the Word to the Christian faith and life discover a thought or message that sticks. Sometimes this happens simply because the same message is said in a little different way. I am thankful for all who come on Sunday and who with me seek to have God’s Good News settle in their heart and mind. Wise indeed is the person who studies the Word often so that at the fifth or fiftieth time a familiar part of the Bible is read, the message comes from a different angle to be a blessing to the student. That is the work of the Holy Spirit and makes life bearable on the challenging days everyone of us must face. Let the Spirit help you discover new ways in which the Lord is caring for you!

If the reading of the Word and worship and fellowship with others can be a regular part of one’s life, discoveries of the patience and strength of God will be there when life is hard. A loved one dies all too soon. A disease invades the body. A marriage has numerous rough patches. The business which provides the money to keep the family afloat dries up. Those kind of ventures are ones few look forward to. They require of us a strong faith in a mighty Lord who will get us through the difficult times. Jesus knows about those things, even to the point of death - and resurrection and life. Accordingly, make use of the community of believers to help you if pain or grief comes your way. The Lord wants us to discover some new things about ourselves and about the others He has provided during these challenging times.

We at Holy Cross will have a church directory of those who make up the body of believers in this place. There is one membership directory with address and phone number per family. Discover who your fellow believers are. Take time to visit or call. Listen to one another and discover how our being together will indeed be a blessing. You will still find a few blank spots in the directory because we could not gather the information needed. Use these next months to make the directory complete so that in January of 2011 we can produce another one for the next year.

Like the Discovery channel on television, may your life and the people you love and with whom you worship be filled with new discoveries of God at work now and all of our days!

With you on His venture,

Pastor Rick