From the Vicar…

Looking ahead to the Holy Week
By Vicar Albert Tchat

Holy Week is the last week of Lent before Easter, beginning on Palm Sunday and ending on Holy Saturday. It is the part of the Church Year which commemorates the events of Jesus’ final days and the historical events of his suffering and death:

The week begins with Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The people proclaim with great excitement:” Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! Hosanna in the highest!" There is contention that surfaces when the Jewish leaders ask Jesus to get the children to stop singing that song. But Jesus merely responds, “If they shut up, then the stones will sing my praises”. The events of the days between Palm Sunday and Maundy Thursday tell us that the Jewish leaders and Jesus are primed for battle. The Jewish leaders send delegates to ask Jesus trick questions. Jesus turns the tables and reveals the folly of the work-righteous system the leaders had designed and embraced.

On Maundy Thursday Jesus creates a new covenant with his body and his blood for the forgiveness of sins and he gives his last will. The most important parts of his will? “Do this in remembrance of me” and “love one another as I love you”. The disciples’ responses are some kind of strange: we see one of them betray Jesus, then in despair hang himself because he couldn't believe that Jesus' sacrifice paid for his sins as well. We see frightened disciples scatter and flee; we see one disciple finally go to the trial scene only to deny his Lord. After a "mock trial," it is decided that Jesus should be handed over to be crucified.

Good Friday commemorates Jesus’ crucifixion and death and gives Christians the opportunity to remember that, with Jesus, it is our sins – pass, present and future – which are nailed on the cross. Veneration of the cross and the reading of the passion are part of the church’s custom on Good Friday; they are not intended to re-awakening any forms of idolatry or pietism. They rather want to emphasize Jesus’ gracious love and God’s undeserved grace. Remember the malefactor nailed on the cross besides Jesus? He asks Jesus to remember him in His kingdom; Jesus tells him, "Today you will be with me in paradise." Imagine - the day before someone who was with Jesus the whole time of Jesus’ ministry hung himself in despair over his sin, and now a criminal, repentant of his sins, is granted an eternal seat in the presence of God!

Easter Vigil or Holy Saturday is the last day of the Holy Week. Some churches like to celebrate baptism that day to symbolize the people’s death and resurrection in Christ and with Christ. We go to church to celebrate Christ’s resurrection from the death, to worship God and celebrate our assurance that we also will rise from the death. The Allelujahs, gone during the Lenten season, are back! Oh, what joy!

From the Vicar…

Stewardship… Pledge… Estimate of giving… Money… Generous giving to the Church!

By Albert Tchato, Vicar

These expressions will soon be at the center of our conversations as we will be struggling to adopt a new Congregation Budget for 2010. Perhaps many of us have already wrestled with them before turning in our estimate of giving. Perhaps many of us do not feel comfortable estimating how much we will contribute to the life and mission of the church, or making any kind of pledge at “this” moment. Perhaps economic downturn and uncertainty about tomorrow will more likely be alleged to pull back many of us. Perhaps our “fears” are legitimate… and perhaps our “faith” needs to be strengthened a bit.

For “FEAR” and “FAITH” hardly belong together. “Fear” can be epidemic and even pandemic. “Faith” instead is beforehand a personal response. Now what does the Bible has to say to “me” today? How does it encourage “me” to consider my personal response to what I am asked to do as follower of Jesus-Christ?

God states that all good gifts that we receive come from his hands (James 1, 17); this means He is the one who grants us 100% of that we have. God is also the one who commands us to “tithe”; and “to tithe” means to give as an offering to God “one-tenth” or 10% of that we have received (Cf. Num 18 ,21; 2 Chr 31, 12; Amos 4 ,4; Mal 3:8…). Jesus in the New Testament is even more radical as he requires to think intentionally about the blessings God has given us and to respond proportionally to the Church. He says: Yes, it is your duty to tithe, but you should not neglect the more important things related to the requirement of tithing, namely justice, mercy and faith (Cf. Matt. 23, 23; Luke 11, 42).

Because nearly nobody willingly gives from the generosity of their hearts and because God wants to set good order and justice among “His” people, God instituted “tithing” to allow both the community and the priests to respond to the needs of those who are so easily ignored or forgotten, namely “the orphan and the widow”, who Jesus would later call “the little” or the “poor” that are among us.

Do you know that the Church is God’s hand for God’s purpose and work? Do you know that your gifts are means thereby God touches countless lives through social ministry, outreach, global mission, Christian education, worship, spiritual development and many others? Do you think that the Church will do okay without your money? Do you think your own bills and credit card debts compel you to get additional income before tithing or making an estimate of giving or any pledge?

In Rom 8, 31 St Paul suggests that Jesus came to demonstrate that God is for you, not against you; he also states that Jesus paid the highest price and ultimate price for our sins. Are you up to pay 10% of this? No; yet, as God’s children it is possible to speak from the generosity of your heart. How are you going to use your freedom?

From the Vicar…

The Coffee Hours: some thoughts and reminders

About a month ago we wrote an article in the Newsletter; it was entitled “To give God back his Coffee Hours”. We thereby were inviting the whole congregation to dialogue, to look for ways to come back to the great fellowship moments that we had lost. This time we would like to say great thanks for the huge and positive answer that we have received from you; 25 among you have already signed up, and the Coffee Hours are back since October 18, 2009. It is a wonderful blessing, and we know that we are going to receive a lot more as you will allow God’s Spirit to continue to touch your heart.

Now let’s talk about some practical details. The Coffee Hours are taking place in the Social Hall from 9:45am through 10:45 am every Sunday. The Coffee Hours closet is located in the Social Hall and ready for use. When you are the host, we expect you to bring some fresh milk and anything you would like to share during the fellowship hour: donuts, cake, fruit, salad, bread and cheese etc…

Please, make coffee (regular and decaf) for about twenty. It is important to be flexible and pay attention to how many guests you have, included those who might prefer some tea, or those of the youth who would enjoy some hot chocolate instead. We invite you to use the ceramic cups, which you will find in the kitchen. Please feel free to take anything you need in the kitchen, given that you did not find it in the Coffee Hours closet. Yet, it is not okay to get anything from the closet labeled “Café Z”. The host is also responsible to clean up. Everything should be in good order by 11:00 am. Please, feel free to use the dishwasher, and do not hesitate to ask for help.

For any question you might have, please feel free to contact Pastor Whitlock, Ms Katie Finnerty or Vicar Albert Tchato. Thanks.

From the Vicar…

TO GIVE GOD BACK HIS “COFFEE HOURS”

All human groups have a set of traditions, some of which speak of their identity or their purpose, their goals, their mission or the like. It happens that, over the years and depending on the circumstances, some of those traditions are redefined, reinforced or alleviated or simply lost. Any of those sounds okay whenever dictated by the groups’ thinking will, consensus or decisions. It is not okay any longer when the group cannot give an account of a specific related lost, mostly when the loss, directly or not, affects the life of the whole group. It is even more stressful to observe the status quo whereas a come back is possible, yet nothing or very little is done to make it happen.

Despite our stress, however, God’s Law commands us to “rejoice in the Lord always”; for He always gives another occasion for a new beginning. We are truly empowered by God, and it is our privilege to proclaim with Paul í can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Let me stop here with those generalities and come back to our subject: “The Coffee Hours”, which are no longer part of our traditions at Zion Lutheran Church. Besides our worship services, we hope them to incarnate and contextualize great fellowship moments. We hope them to be (again?) forums of one-on-one or small group interactions. We hope them to bridge the gap between those who participate to different Sunday services. We are looking forward to finding again a place of refreshment after a more or less long physical absence from the Church grounds. We expect them to express the truth of Zion as welcoming Church, a good start for our visitors and people longing for a new family… God is giving us his grace for a new beginning. Let’s make it happen!

Over the next few weeks, I invite the whole congregation to share on diverse ideas and skills to implement our project. Call me or e-mail me, please (atchato@yahoo.fr). Allow me to contact you and learn from you and build up with you.

“God’s Work, Our Hand”! Let it be so. Vicar Albert Tchato.

Greetings to the people of God at Zion.

Here I am at Zion Lutheran Church, Rahway NJ for another journey initiated by God, and designed to complete my education for Ordained Ministry in the ELCA.

I have completed the academic part last year at the LTSP. So far I have earned an MDiv and STM degrees. I am a native of Cameroon in central Africa; I have been living in America for six years and I was granted a permanent resident status in the US. My spouse, three daughters and a son have joined me in the country near two months ago. They live in Philadelphia PA, where I have build up strong relationships over the years; we spend my time off together.

Where do I stand in relationship with the pastoral identity? What are the necessary skills I still need to develop, given the challenges of our time ad society? So far, I have been active in leadership in as many areas as evangelization, education, pastoral care, liturgy and music. My learning contract suggests how I will continue to develop my skills and possibly contribute to the growth of our church; however, the task is quite impossible unless I would continue to receive huge support and collaboration from the “WHOLE” Zion. As a matter of fact, an African idioms states: “a stranger has big eyes, but he sees nothing”; beyond my Supervisor/Pastor and different committees that run the church, I therefore am targeting to each particular member to help me “SEE”. You might tell me for example “WHO” we need to reach out to (his or her identity, their struggles and needs and expectations…) within our church and our community, what would be a better approach etc… You might invite me in “YOUR” own home for any pastoral concerns or simple fellowship ETC… I am very welcoming, I am open to critics and I value team work.

I am looking forward to continue living a wonderful experience with you and among you “ALL”. Albert Tchato, Vicar.