Friday, January 31, 2025

Thanks to old friends. . .

On the day of my retirement, the parish I have served for 32 years invited two old friends to honor the day with me, my wife, and my family.  One of them is the Rev. Dr. Michael Kumm.  Though he and I are actually distantly related, both having roots in a very small congregation called Golgotha in Northeast Nebraska, I have known and respected this man and his faithful service to the Lord in other ways.  He has been a Navy chief, a seminarian, a parish pastor, and the longest serving chairman of the Board of Directors of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.  His leadership is widely known and highly esteemed.  Many of you might know his voice because he announces for Issues, Etc.  I was so deeply honored by his presence, wit, humor, and encouragement.  Thank you!  

The other individual is the Rev. Stephen Starke.  Though he and I have

known each other many years, you know him best as the writer of wonderful hymns, especially those included in the Lutheran Service Book.  His poetic gift have well served not only the LCMS but the wider Christian community as testament to the living craft of hymnody and its profound character in the life of God's people.  He graciously wrote a text at the invitation of my parish and for the occasion of my retirement.  It was not his first gift.  Twenty years before he wrote another hymn for another anniversary.  More than the hymn text, he offered reflections at the hymn festival that followed the banquet and led us through a meditation of hymns and anthems culminating in an anthem composed in my honor by Benjamin Culli -- one of our church's most gifted and talented musicians.  It all came together around the idea of "O Day Full of Grace" and it concluded with those amazing words of an anonymous Danish hymn writer translated by Gerald Thorson.  

When we on that final journey go
    That Christ is for us preparing,
We’ll gather in song, our hearts aglow,
    All joy of the heavens sharing,
And walk in the light of God’s own place,
    With angels His name adoring.

Though I am deeply grateful by both their present and their words, both men represent a commitment to the Church and to working on behalf of the Kingdom of God -- though in decidedly different venues.  I want to take this opportunity to laud and give thanks for them and those like them who have and continue to offer their service to the Lord of the Church.  I fear we do not esteem as highly as we ought their service and the cause for which they serve.  The internet is too full of complaint and nit picking.  Even those who have served long and well are not immune from the barbs and unkind words of the peanut gallery.  It does not serve us or our church body well to constantly berate and complain about our leaders.  None of them are perfect but they serve at our behest to the best of their ability and because we have, by our votes and acceptance, placed them in the offices and areas when they have labored.  Sometimes we forget the cost of their labor and service which they have borne and presume some other motive.  How will we labor into the future if we diminish those who serve us and the ways in which they have served?

Scripture reminds us that we are to pray for our leaders and honor them and their service.  Of course, we have disagreements from time to time.  My own meager blog admits such disputes and conflicts.  I remain ever so thankful that God has raised up such men and given me and the rest of us the privilege and blessing of their service.  They have so ably and faithfully led us and if we are to enjoy their kind in the years to come, it will require us to honor and esteem them and those who serve after them.  It has been the privilege of my life to know them and so many others and to count them friends and partners in the work God has given us to do.  You should as well.

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