Dear Friends and Members of Shepherd of the Hills,

Twelve summers in Ruidoso.  That is what I have experienced so far.  Some of those summers of late have been a bit tumultuous with fires and floods.  Mostly though, they have been summers of peace and joy.  Serving along side you all, spending extra time together, and visiting with our summer crowd.  

The Lord gives us seasons.  He gives us rhythms. These seasons and rhythms help give our years, months and days some structure: times of work and service, and times of rest and recreation.  These rhythms are a blessing for us all.  We are called to work/service.  It is as God designed in the garden of Eden.  However, we are not designed for just work.  He has given us rest.  Daily he gives us nights for sleep and rest.  Weekly he gives us a rest day on Sunday to be revived and nourished by God’s Word and rest for our bodies.  

Seasons are times of activity and rest as well.  Summer is one of those seasons that seem to be more full of work and opportunities to serve.  The days are longer.  The weather is better.  In an agricultural environment we would be doing just that.  But we are not.  So, what do we do with the rhythm of the seasons and God’s gift to us of work/service, and rest/recreation?  We work and serve as our default when and where God has by his grace, given us the chance to work and serve.  We rest and recreate as needed to stay ready for work and service. I love that God gives us rhythms of work and rest.  I’m very thankful that this summer season has been more “normal” for our town and community.  

I share all this with you as a reminder:

Some of you need to be reminded that there are intentional times of rest designed for you.  Sunday is one of those times.  True rest starts with receiving the Word and Sacraments.  Come and rest.  

Some of you need to be reminded that we are designed for work and service; service to our families, communities and the church.  Sundays are not just for recreation, but for the hearing of the Word and the receiving of the sacraments so that we might be refreshed and serve.  

If you are interested in serving here at the church in some way, shape, form or fashion, come talk to me.  We need people to volunteer for the office.  We need a trustee committee to help coordinate caring for the church property.  We need a stewardship committee to help us grow in the Christian discipline of using our time, talents and treasures wisely for the sake of the Gospel.  We need someone to help coordinate and volunteer for our Lutheran Emergency Response Team and tree cutting.  I’m sure there are more things that I am forgetting in this small list.  

The point is that not everything is “covered” and “fine” and I’m probably not great about communicating these things, so I thought I would start here.  There is no crisis.  No alarm bells are ringing.  This is an attempt to be more transparent as your pastor about what goes on around the church.  

It is a joy to work and serve with you.  It is also a joy to rest and recreate with you.  God be praised that he has givens times and seasons for both.  

In His Love and Service,

Pastor Rust