FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK

July 2009

Well, here we are in July and it’s hardly the time to be thinking about school but that is what’s on my mind.  You see, I’ve discovered that I’m missing some children…some of them are yours and some of them belong to the families we minister to through Lutheran Academy of the Master (LAM).  I had the privilege of teaching a religion class to many of them during the school year and worshiping with them in chapel on Thursdays.  With school out now, I don’t quite know what to do with myself on Tuesdays and on Thursday mornings.

It’s good to miss them.  Our partnership in ministry with LAM runs deep.  There are close to 30 families in our congregation who have a direct connection to LAM, past or present.  Every member of the LAM School Board save one is a member of LCM.  Countless families are touched by its programs and, most of all, by the love and care shown by its staff and volunteers.  As a result of their close connection with us, Pastor Wandrey and I have had the opportunity to give spiritual guidance and a listening ear to many parents and families we would otherwise have never known.

In this close, cooperative ministry, we have a lot of give and take.  As a congregation, we give LAM free space in which to do their ministry.  LCM charges no rent for the weekly use of the Gathering Place.  It wouldn’t take much investigating to realize how valuable that amount of space is and what it could cost if they had to rent a space.  The LCM Council agreed to offer my pastoral time for a day each week to teach religion as a donation to the school.  We provide the Gathering Place for other school functions like fundraisers, programs and science fairs during non-school hours without charge.

And what, you may ask, does the school give the congregation in return?  On a practical note, they provide us with a utilities reimbursement figured out each year by people who are smarter with numbers than I am.  And you may not be aware that Lutheran Academy of the Master is the largest outreach of our congregation.  Countless relationships have been formed from the school’s presence on our campus…relationships that have often led to involvement in the life of LCM.  Families who started out at the school have joined the congregation.  Students from the school have participated in drama ministry and youth activities.  Parents exchange e-mails with me about religion lessons and how they can help their children grow in faith.  People have told me that getting to know the church by being at the school has helped them overcome past hurts and stereotypes they had about “organized religion.”  Our ministry together is changing lives in our community.

Perhaps it is time that we, as a congregation, more fully embrace the ministry of the only Lutheran school in North Idaho.  Looking for a place to volunteer some time?  Love to read to children?  Have some expertise organizing events?  Want to be a classroom aide or help teach something like music or drama or art or language?  Perhaps you’d like to put a few dollars in LAM’s Educational Assistance Fund to help parents keep their children in this loving environment until the economy turns around.

I’m looking forward already to seeing the kids return after summer vacation.  If you knew them, and our school, the way I do, you would, too.  I encourage you to the discover the extraordinary gift that is Lutheran Academy of the Master.

Pastor Dave Kappus