FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK
We start the new Church Year on December 1st with Advent. Why is it called “Advent”? Advent” comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming or arrival.” Used by the Church, the word refers to: 1) The “arrival” of Jesus Christ when he was born on the original Christmas Day; and 2) The upcoming “arrival” of Jesus Christ when, as Christians believe, he will return to judge the living and the dead. So, the season of Advent is a season of preparation and waiting first for Christ’s second coming to judge the living and the dead (2 Pet 3:11-14; 1 John 3:2-3), but also to celebrate Christ’s first arrival at Christmas. Just as the Israelites awaited a Messiah to fulfill God’s promises from Genesis 3:15 to Jeremiah 31:31-34 and beyond, so Christians await the return of Jesus the Messiah to make all things new (Revelation 21).
God’s blessings to the Shared Ministry during our season of Advent. You are invited to pick up Advent devotionals at the Hope Lutheran narthex table. These will by ready weekly for your devotional preparation for Christmas. And on December 15th, at 7:00 pm, there is a Shared Ministry Event—the Holden Evening Prayer Song Service—at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, with coffee/cookie fellowship. Then, Christmas Eve Worship services will be celebrated at 4:00 pm at Hope Lutheran Church in Frankfort, KY, and at 7:00 pm at Gethsemane Lutheran Church.
In the midst of our continuing exploration of the Church as a system, this month I am writing about healthy BOUNDARIES. The Church provides its best ministry when there is communication between clergy and congregation, between congregation to congregation, and then also within each congregation. This means listening and clarifying, sharing and communicating, and reviewing and reflecting. In the same vein, though, there also needs to be boundaries. It is a sacred trust for and between everyone.
For clergy particularly, pastors need to keep confidences. If someone shares some family or personal information with me, I am very careful not to share that information unless the person has first told me that they want the information given to others. This boundary must remain for many reasons. In order for pastors to give the best pastoral care, they need to be trusted that information shared with them remains confidential. This trust relationship, then, provides the opportunity for further care, trust, and also the responsibility the pastor has to be able to speak further into situations and that, through the trust, this specialized kind of care from clergy will be received from members of the congregations in their care.
Examples of confidential boundary keeping: Perhaps there is a young adult female who needs a hysterectomy. Does she want the congregation to know? In most circumstances, no. Perhaps a diagnosis of terminal cancer in someone of any age. Should the congregation know? In some circumstances, yes; but other circumstances, no. That is decided by the parishioner always. Perhaps the loss of job, or continued miscarriage, or marital conflict, or financial strain, among other situations that pastors need to maintain their professional boundaries and confidences. If pastors are not careful with boundaries, many times parishioners stop sharing with them. It behooves clergy to maintain professional boundaries so that the best pastoral care might be provided.
Enjoy the beauty of the celebrations of Advent and Christmas this month. Surely, Christ, our Light, WILL come.
With Hope and Confidence in Christ,
Pastor Jerri ╬
