During my years at First Lutheran in Pine River, MN, at the end of each choir practice, the group would join hands in a circle, and Marvin, a retired businessman from the Twin Cities, would always ask: “Whose Father?,” and the group would respond “Our Father, who art in heaven……”
Throughout the upcoming Lenten season, we will focus on that very familiar prayer we know as “The Lord’s Prayer”. We will take a petition each midweek worship and ponder what it is we are praying as those familiar words roll off our tongues. Using Luther’s Small Catechism as a guide we will look anew at the breadth and depth of this prayer, and I encourage all of you to spend some time thinking about this prayer, and your prayer life in general.
The scene of the senior choir in Minnesota always reminds me that our Christian life is never something lived in isolation from others. It is never only MY Father to whom I pray, but from the outset Jesus reminds us that while we belong to God, at the same time we belong to each other.
In a society where the individual seems to be the focus of so much attention, Jesus’ prayer begins with the bold statement of our relationship to each other in faith. We print on our weekly bulletin this statement of faith: “A family in faith, reaching out to share God’s love with all people.” As a family we must always look for ways to help one another, listen to one another, and work together to show Christ’s love.
Let’s use this Lenten season to focus our hearts and minds on this task, and take time to worship, pray, and reflect in the presence of “OUR FATHER”
Peace,
Pastor John Twiton
