Northlake Lutheran Church 6620 NE 185th Street Kenmore, WA 98028              map      Home News

Phone 425.486.6977 Fax 425.481.9139 nlcoffice@northlakelutheran.org Events Church Calendar Prayer Time Tues @ 11a Bible Study Tues afternoon @ 1:00p Wed nite @ 6:30p Musician Rehearsals Praise Team Rehearsals Thurs Nites @ 6p Choir Rehearsals Thurs Nites @ 7p Quilters 2nd Wed @ 9:30a Knitters, Etc Mon @ 6p Dorcas Circle 2nd Thurs @ 9:30a Ruth Circle 1st Tues @ 7p Pioneer Club Schedule Wed Nites @ 6:30 Club starts up on Sept 30!! Youth Events / Links Sr Hi Youth Group Mon 4p Jr Hi Youth Group Tues 6p Permission Slips 2010 Daycamp Registration  What's New this Month Pastor's Page - Pastor Marvin's monthly words to the congregation Northlights Newsletter   Pastor's Page “34When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35and one of them, a lawyer, asked Jesus a question to test him. 36‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’  37He said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” 38This is the greatest and first commandment. 39And a second is like it:  "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”                         Matthew 22:34-39 A few days ago, as I sat eating lunch at a local area restaurant, I was blessed to be able to watch, with great joy, the kindness and compassion, graciousness and patience exhibited by the two people working behind the counter as they were confronted by a young man who had lapsed into an unknown medical condition—a situation which was clearly very serious.  Initially it resulted in the young man being frozen where he was, blocking the counter, unable to communicate or respond to others.  Yet, despite the line of customers behind him, the two workers, with gentle caring and thoughtfulness, rallied to the occasion with a calm and engaging presence which allowed the immediate need at hand to resolve itself without anxiety or fear, panic or over-reaction.  Assisted by a customer and another employee of the restaurant—along with the quick response of local paramedics—a critical, immediate concern/need was answered without incident or needless fanfare.   This was, however, not the first time that I have experienced such care and compassion at this particular establishment.  The special touch, kind words, and extra assistance offered to everyone who enters there—no matter who they are or what disability and/or difficulty they may have is truly wonderful.  At the same time it has also never felt excessive, overdone, phony or contrived.  Instead, it has just been ordinary people simply taking the time, making the extra effort, and going beyond what is required or expected, so that a real connection can be made with the people who enter their doors. Now some might say that it is just part of good business practice or perhaps a strategy put in place solely for the sake of profit.  But, although such methods may in fact be good business, there is something else happening, something that goes beyond the bottom-line, something much deeper.   I tell you this story not as an advertisement for that particular business but because of what I  have experienced in that place on a variety of different occasions -- a great sense of welcome and hospitality. When Jesus was asked about the commandments, he responded by reminding all of us the importance of loving all of our neighbors as ourselves—something which begins with, and is strengthened by, loving God with all of our heart, mind and soul, even when it may not seem convenient.  As a people of faith we are called to seek (and do) justice, love (and enjoy) kindness and to walk humbly (and caringly) with God, not for the sake of personal profit, increased individual power or selfish gain, but because it is the right thing to do—because it is what Jesus did/does!   Of course loving our neighbor as ourselves is not always easy to do—especially if our neighbor looks, sounds or acts differently from what we are used to seeing, hearing or experiencing in our daily lives.  But, Jesus never drew distinctions   between people —  be they sick, disabled, dying, or from traditions and histories different from our own.  Jesus welcomed all people!  He took time for all people. He never let a schedule or the demands of others get in the way of Him connecting with real people in the real world in a very real way. He stopped his preaching to heal the sick. He paused along His journeys to help those in need. He welcomed those who had lived and experienced other paths, other pressures, other ways of understanding life.  He welcomed the stranger,  fed them with hope, clothed them with righteousness and cared for them, and visited with them even amidst the things that sometimes imprison us all, i.e., health, poverty, exclusion, prejudice, hatred, fear, etc.   To love our neighbor as ourselves means not only loving God with heart, mind and soul but truly knowing and believing that God loves us in the same way—that, “God so loved the world (and everyone in it!) that God gave His only Son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16  Like the people at the restaurant who, with care and compassion, stopped what they were doing in order to help someone in need, without pause or reservation, Jesus did (and does) the same for all of God’s people—whoever we are and wherever we may be in life.    When Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me,” Matthew 25:40, He was (is) calling us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Gracious God, equip us in our calling to be a place of warmth and openness, to welcome the weary travelers we meet on our journey. Empower us to do what Jesus taught us to do—to Love our neighbor as ourselves!  Amen. Pastor Marvin God Bless You,      Yours in Christ, Pastor Marvin