Sessions

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Sessions

• Session I A Community in Mission
• Session II Leadership for Such a Time as This

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Leadership for Such a Time as This
Session II Rev. Ruben Duran
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Dwelling in the Word

• May the Word of God dwell in you richly!!
• 2 Timothy 1 1-7
• Find it on page 43 of the Worship book
• Paul encouraging Timothy reminding him of those
  who helped him in his growth, recognizing the
  gift of God within him.

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LEADERSHIP FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

• Empowering leadership Esther and Mordecai
  (Esther 4)
• Rebuilding leaders Nehemiah,
• Pr. Livenson Lauvanus

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Guiding Others

• We did not get where we are by ourselves
• We are standing on the shoulders of many who have
  come before us
• We honor today the saints that God put on our
  path to leadership in the ELCA.

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Think about it

• Who is someone who helped you grow spiritually or
  serve effectively?
• What did she/he do that helped you in your
  development?
• Share with the person next to you (3-4 min)

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Coaching Verbs?

• ?11? For you know that we dealt with each of you
  as a parent deals with children, ?
• 12? encouraging, comforting and urging you to
  live lives worthy of God, who calls you into
  Gods kingdom and glory.
• 1 Thessalonians 211-12 (NIV)

Yes, you can!
Yes, you will!
Yes, you must!
From Dennis Easter with permission.
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Since Baptism

• We are all ordained as priests and co-workers in
  the Reign of God, fellow-members in the Body of
  Christ children of the same Heavenly Father.
• In the name of a missional Triune God, we
  encourage one another in our journeys of faith,
  that we may serve with boldness.

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Because of Baptism

• New Identity. Ruben, child of God,..
• Equality of all people, same standing before God
  and the world
• Built-in capacity to be gracious, forgiving,
  merciful, to let the light of Christ in us shine
  before others to see God in us.
• Empowered to be missionaries of grace called and
  ordained as worker-priests.

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What Tools Stand at the Heart of a Church Like
This?

• The Vocation of the Baptized
• Luthers Priesthood of all Believers

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Vocation

• Vocation.
• From the Latin, Vocatio, meaning to be called,
  or calling.
• Martin Luther offered a radical understanding of
  vocation.
• A Priesthood of all believers.
• Our Christian calling is grounded in our Lutheran
  understanding of baptism.
• All are called to love and serve God and our
  neighbor.

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Vocation

• Vocation lived out in and with
• Family and friends.
• Society.
• Workplace.
• Church.
• The place God calls you to is the place where
  your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger
  meet. - Frederick Buechner

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What does Luther say?

• Now Christ is the High and Chief Priest anointed
  by God Himself. He also SACRIFIED His own body
  for us, which is the highest function of the
  priestly office. Then He PRAYED for us on the
  cross. In the third place, He also PROCLAIMED the
  Gospel and taught all people (sic) to know God
  and Him Himself. These three offices He also gave
  to all of us. Consequently, since He is the
  Priest and we are His brothers (and sisters), all
  Christians have the authority, the command, and
  the obligation to PREACH, to come before God to
  PRAY for one another, and to offer themselves as
  a SACRIFICE to God.
• LW, Volume 30, 1 Peter 24-5

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The Three Priestly Functions

• 1. Prayer intercede with God on behalf of
  others
• 2. Proclamation speak the gospel sharing it
  with the neighbor
• 3. Sacrifice Living a cross-centered and
  servant oriented life.

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What does this look like?
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Questions for Discussion

• In what ways is your congregation equipping
  people to
• Proclaim
• Pray
• Sacrifice/serve
• What one thing could you do differently to
  better
• Proclaim?
• Pray?
• Sacrifice/serve?

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Affirmation of Baptism

• ELW page 236
• Affirmation in the Presence of the Assembly
• You have made public profession of your faith. Do
  you intend to continue in the covenant God made
  with you in Holy Baptism?
• You said I do, and I ask God to help and guide
  me.

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Do you intend

• 1. to LIVE among Gods faithful people
• 2. to HEAR the word of God and SHARE in the
  Lords Supper
• 3. to PROCLAIM the good news of God in Christ
  through word and deed
• 4. to SERVE all people, following the example of
  Jesus, and
• 5. to STRIVE for justice and peace in all the
  earth?

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Manifestations of the Spirit in you

• 1. Spirit of wisdom and understanding
• 2. Spirit of counsel and might
• 3. Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord
• 4. Spirit of joy in Gods presence

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The Christians Call Today

• The gift is a call a call to a new life
• A call to be an instrument of God in and through
  the various roles you and I play in everyday life
  in relationship with others and with Gods
  creation.
• Remember your Baptism daily
• Remember your priesthood functions
• Remember the Spirit in you

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SO WHAT?

• Our calling is connected to Gods mission and to
  the purpose of the Church on earth.
• A Community in Mission calls for Leaders to come
  forth for such a time as this.
• Finish the sentence
• 1. My christian call and vocation today can be
  described in this way(s)
• 2. I will go deeper in this area(s)

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The Welcome Church, ELCA

• Philadelphia, PA
• Pastor Developer Violet Little

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The Welcome Church, ELCA

• Philadelphia

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Carl

• The Welcome Church, ELCA
• Philadelphia

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The Welcome Church, Logan Site

• Philadelphia

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Choir Director

• The Welcome Church, ELCA
• Philadelphia

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Friends at the Welcome Church
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(No Transcript)
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Pastor Developer Violet Little

• The Welcome Church, ELCA,
• Philadelphia

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Coffee hour after worship
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Whats next?

• A coalition of ecumenical leaders are coming
  together to plan for addressing the roots of
  homelessness in Philadelphia.
• A network of medical doctors are going to meet
  with Bishop Claire Burkat to intensify their
  service.
• Pr. Little and I will begin an ELCA network of
  ministries among the homeless to resource each
  other and pray for uprooting homelessness
  everywhere.

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Leadership for Such a Time as This

• Grounded in our Baptism
• Discover gifts and vocation in the world
• Encourage and empower others to join the
  priesthood we all share
• Pray, proclaim and serve with boldness
• A mature leader is one that rejoices at the
  accomplishments of others.
• Invitation rekindle the gift within you!!!!