January 27, 2022
In Sunday’s gospel reading, Luke 4:14-21, Jesus proclaims a sermon in his hometown synagogue, reading from the prophet Isaiah and outlining the mission Jesus has been given by God that he will live out in word and deed throughout the rest of his ministry.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)
Jesus’ mission is rooted in scripture, it is something he preaches with words and with deeds and informs the way he lives each day, it is focused on the things God is focused on and continuing the work God is already up to in the world. Jesus will live out God’s mission in particular and specific ways that only Jesus can and only in that moment.
Spirit in the HIlls kicked off our own process of discerning a new strategic mission plan alongside 49 other congregations through the ELCA’s Congregations Lead Initiative (CLI).
Like Jesus, we have been and will continue to root our mission in God’s word in scripture.
Like Jesus, our mission will be something we say and something we do – a way that we live in our personal lives and as a congregation.
Like Jesus, we will continue and join in the work God is already up to in the world.
Like Jesus, we will live out our mission in specific and particular ways that grow from the gifts we have and the context we live in right here in the Lake Travis area in 2022 and the years ahead.
Throughout this year, please pray for this process of discernment, listen for how God is calling you and calling us to join in God’s mission right here and right now. Be ready to share boldly knowing that our strategic planning team needs to hear your voice and the ways God is speaking to and through you and there will be planned opportunities to listen but we’re ready to listen even outside of those times and conversations as well.
What is God up to in the world right now? What does God want us to do about it?
Thanks be to God for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the language and scripture, tradition, liturgy, and hymns that helps us articulate the answers to these questions, and the sustaining and saving love of God in Christ Jesus that is with us now and forever.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Drew