Classes

In the heat of Israel, inside the Lutheran church building, underneath the sheet metal roof, seated on hard wood benches, we held theology classes for four days for the leaders of the church who had come from their individual communities to receive more tools to lead and share the gospel.

It was my first time teaching the leaders. I had prepared a class on the liturgy of the worship service… where things are in the bible and what they mean for us. For example, what is confession and absolution and why is it important using Romans 6. I also had prepared a class on the church year. I had thought about an hour each…

Well, it turned out that the leaders really got into my class. Instead of teaching 2 classes for an hour each I taught 5 classes from between 1.5 hours and 2.5 hours. For many it was the first time that they had heard many of the texts that I used, the first time they had thought about the why behind the ritual… it was rewarding seeing how we worship explode with meaning for them. It was challenging as well because at least two of the leaders present did not know how to read, but they still asked for my handout so that they could bring it back to their community and have someone who can read and write read the passages to the congregation so that they too could understand.

I have found my vocation… a fit and something that brings me great joy… and something that helps the members of the church and more than just in matters within the church for these ideas, these promises of Christ which we receive freely, extend into all areas of our lives.