Bishop's Pastorial Letter

National Convention Frequently Asked Questions

In spite of the sturm und drang (translated “storm and stress”) that continues to preoccupy us as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Synod of Alberta and the Territories in the wake of the National Convention’s decisions in July, invariably life goes on.  We rest in the faithful hope that nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:39) The human tendency is to wring our hands and wonder where God is in all of this.  The answer, of course, is that God is where God always is: alive and at work in the midst of his world, in the midst of his people. Sometimes the revealed God (deus revelatus) seems for all the world like the hidden God (deus obsconditus), but that is simply our failure to see God where God is. In those moments, when we feel God is absent, we have to walk by faith and not by sight.

In my devotional readings, I have recently discovered vignettes from Pastor Edmund Steimle (1907 – 1988), who at one time taught homiletics at Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. I find some of his thoughts very salient, especially as we – seemingly mired in chaos – nevertheless enter Advent and the impending feast of the Incarnation. Steimle writes (in his book FROM DEATH TO BIRTH): “Perhaps we can be on the alert to hear the voice of God coming to us in the turmoil and change of the big problems around us.  But not only in the big affairs of humankind and of nations that puzzle and perplex and horrify.  In the common, in the trivial, in what we might consider the inappropriate moments to recognize the presence of God…coming to us.  The whole world is alive with God’s comings – quite literally!  Advent [and Christmas] opens our eyes to the wonder that God keeps coming, entering into dialogue with us, to speak in love, where [and when] we least expect…. In the big, overbearing problems of a world in radical change, or in the simple delights of daily life, God’s literally all over the place hoping that we’ll have the eyes to see and the ears to listen to his coming.” (As found in For All The Saints, Vol. III, pg. 11 and 12).

The story of Christmas is a living metaphor for the living of our days.  Humanity was not standing “all in their places with bright shiny faces” when the Christ of God burst forth from the Blessed Virgin’s womb.  The world was messy. In no way was it ready for the Savior of the world.  Ready only in this sense: KAIROS! … the fullness of time, God’s suitable moment, had come.  A Holy Advent and a Blessed Christmas to us, each and all!

+Ronald B. Mayan, Bishop
Synod of Alberta and the Territories
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
10014 - 81 Avenue
Edmonton, AB.  T6E 1W8
Edmonton Office: (780) 439-2636
Toll-Free Number: (866) 430-2636
Red Deer Office:  (403) 347-5072
E-mail: rbmayan@elcic.ca
Synod Website: www.albertasynod.ca