With the launch of our new website, we are also launching a new emphasis on content production to support the ongoing ministry of OSLM across our church, school, and preschool. While we have been working hard, especially since the start of the pandemic to provide online content that seeks to support the ongoing discipleship needs of those we are called to serve in each area of our ministry and the community at large, it is our hope and prayer that through this site, we will be able to further develop this emphasis.
Now as we are in the process of opening back up many of the businesses in our community and as we are now able to meet in person for worship and soon much more, we recognize that any ideas of simply returning to some sort of pre-pandemic normal just do not make sense. As the Body of Christ, gathered together in the Tri-Valley under the banner of Our Savior Lutheran Ministries, we will never fail to emphasize the necessity and importance of gathering together.
The author of Hebrews offers solid wisdom when writing the famous dictum “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” in Hebrews 10:24-25.
During the past year, much took place that disrupted the normal patterns of our life. Regardless of our opinions on the particulars of individual decisions and their impacts, it cannot be denied that the rhythms that once marked our personal discipleship in Christ were impacted. Now, depending on what we do next to support one another, those changes might not necessarily prove negative in their overall effect.
Churches have a choice, we can either attempt to find a way back to an old “normal” or we can lean in to shape a new approach to ministry. Ideally, we would find one that shacks off the bad habits that we have allowed to work their way into our lives, establishing new discipleship practices that will better serve our maturation in the faith.
In January, I began a new approach to my diet. While I have work still to do, I am attempting to work on some habits that had a negative impact on my waistline as well as my overall health. If I am able, with the support of my wife, family, and friends, to make these changes lasting, I will stand a better chance of a healthier lifestyle and potentially longer life.
As a ministry, we can provide similar support to one another. We all have our own less than helpful habits. Perhaps some of those habits were taken away from you a year ago. For some of us, not being able to go through life at the pace we had been is truly a blessing. Now as we are able to return to indoor dining and many other activities, let us be intentional in what we add back into our lives.
The Vineyard, as a blog for our website, is an attempt at providing ideas and support for all those we serve as a part of our ministry to establish healthy discipleship habits that will aid in our growth together with Christ. The image of the vineyard is nothing unusual in Livermore, nor it is out of place in the discipleship of followers of Christ. In John’s gospel, Jesus notes that
I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
As branches united to one another through the vine that is Christ, we are called to support one another, which this blog will be all about. We will focus on a number of areas of our life in Christ. As you see opportunities and ideas that we can include, let us know.
