December 2024

“What Did You Replant?”

“Do no be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:7-10)

          What comes to mind when you read this passage? I hope it reminds you of our 2024 Parish Ministry theme: “Let’s Replant It!” at the beginning of this year, I introduced this theme by featuring it on the cover of our weekly bulletin, encouraging everyone to focus on replanting in our ministry. I urged you to look forward, not back. Together, let us replant seeds of hope, vision, and the Good News in our ministry. I added: If we feel that our churches are aging, we must intentionally reach out to younger people. As I’ve shared before, without reaching out to others, we cannot revitalize our churches. Let’s step out and invite those who are unchurched—people who don’t currently have a church to attend on Sundays. I emphasized: Let’s replant a vibrant children’s and youth ministry! Let’s also replant special ministries inspired by the unique gifts God has given us. Just as God has made every person different, each individual and every church has received distinct gifts from Him. Let’s identify the gifts God has entrusted to us and use them to serve both God and others.

Now is the time to reflect on our ministry. Are we replanting hope, vision, joy, love, and the Good News in our families and our church? Last week, during my sermon, I shared a mystery about the life of houseplants. Let me share it with you again:

I often meditate in the mornings while looking at my houseplants. How beautiful they are, with new leaves appearing day by day! It truly is a mystery of life. One day, as I was observing my houseplants, I noticed something unusual in the soil of one cactus pot—the soil was pushed up and cracked. I smoothed it out to make it flat again.

Three days later, the soil was pushed up once more. I thought to myself, “What is going on? Did a mouse come in and dig it up?” Once again, I carefully smoothed it out.

Then, a few days later, I was astonished. From that very spot, a new sprout was emerging.

I have no idea where that seed came from—it must have been mixed into the soil somehow. I marveled at how hard it must have been for that tiny seed to push through the soil and begin its new life. And because it was in a cactus pot, I hadn’t even watered it much. How challenging it must have been to sprout under such conditions!

And yet, life was breaking through. Without realizing it, I had been flattening the soil over and over, unintentionally hindering the emergence of this new life.

Let’s take a moment to reflect: Are we unknowingly hindering others’ lives? Perhaps we do this by opposing or negatively responding to those with new visions for ministry or by offering discouraging comments to those returning to church. Without realizing it, we might harm others, just as I kept flattening the soil in the pot over and over.

Have you noticed the energy in our youth group gatherings every Wednesday and Thursday? Did you see the success of our Vacation Bible School (VBS) this year, led by the youth? Did you see our youth group having retreat camps twice this year? Have you noticed the growing number of young children gathering at Central-Grantsburg every Wednesday? Have you heard that Atlas and St. Croix Falls have new members this year?

These are signs of the fruit that comes when we replant our ministry with a fresh vision. The Bible reminds us, “You reap what you sow.” If you joyfully participate in this harvest, you will see how wonderfully God has worked among us! Let us continue to “do good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Thank you for your incredible contributions to this ministry.

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Blessings!

Pastor Jenny