St. Philip's Lutheran Church | St. Philip's Lutheran Church |
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Pastor David
Carpé Mañana, “Seize Tomorrow”
ARPE′ DEUM, “SEIZE THE DAY,” was popularized by signs and bumper stickers after the movie “Dead Poets Society” made the cry relevant and inspiring some years ago. I believe this mantra should be in the DNA of what it means to be Easter people, our new life in Christ that defines how we live in the present moment-- the here-and-now!
As much as I have always liked this motivating phrase, there is another similar phrase that captures the importance of what it means to be the church in this time and place. The cry is Carpé Mañana, meaning “Seize Tomorrow.” As a resurrection community of faith are we ready to do so? When Easter living intersects with the Spirit of Pentecost (Acts 2) celebrated this month on Mother’s Day, May 11, there is a fresh, bold movement afoot that shouts from the mountain-top of faith “Carpé Deum! “Carpé Mañana!”
As most of you know, Pastor Ed has engaged several members in a Visioning Task Force in order to discern and focus the energies and goals of the entire congregation for the next 5 years. But did you also know that within that greater visioning for the whole congregation, members of the Youth Committee and the Education Committee have also been meeting together every other week since February, with Education Coordinator Julie Henrichs and myself, to help provide a focus of our energies and resources for the years ahead that will benefit “the youngest generation” of St. Philip’s (those between birth and college age).
While listening and observing at these meetings, I have been energized and my spirit rekindled because I know that God has great plans for this community… seizing tomorrow in ways known only to God! I was also reminded that the church does not define its mission, God does. We, the church, are the servant and expression of this mission. A favorite author, Len Sweet, says “the greatest sin in the church today is not any sin of commission or omission, but the sin of…NO MISSION!”
As we move forward with both Visioning Committees, (the first and foremost is our five year strategy for mission and ministry in general at St. Philip’s, and the other is our visioning in particular for the youngest generation), there will be elements that will be very clear and other objectives more fuzzy but which are in process and unfolding. Thus a consistent and unwavering focus and clear connection will be very important for these God-honoring goals to be realized. I pray that healthy conversation, openness to the spirit moving in this community of faith, and patience will be hallmarks of the next five years and beyond as this spirit-led strategy takes shape.
Clearly for us to seize the day and seize tomorrow, we need to be clear about the direction we are going and our purpose as Easter people. In these coming weeks and months you will hear more about the two visioning processes and I urge you, brothers and sisters in Christ, to engage and connect in any way that you are able to these goals. Each of these plans invites us to “be a player”, not a spectator or an apathetic bystander. This is important and all of us are called to pay attention to where God’s Spirit is leading.
May we be Easter people who step out and boldly declare, Carpé Deum! Carpé Mañana! Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Christ is risen in our faithful deeds!
Pastor David Wrightsman