Dear Cross & Crown Lutheran Church
A word for Pastor Per Anderson and Cross & Crown Lutheran on the occasion of his installation.
To the Church, Cross & Crown, gathered in Montebello, California. Grace and peace.
“You are the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12.27). In your own eyes and estimation, small and possibly insignificant, but in the eyes of our Lord, precious and endowed with power and purpose from on high. 809 W. Beverly is more than your mailing address. It is the actual place where the scattered body of Christ becomes one—constituted from different neighborhoods, different experiences, different ethnic backgrounds, different vocations.
Here you are made one—in your one Lord, sharing one faith, in one baptism. Here sinners of every kind are gathered to hear the word of Christ: Forgiven! For Christ’s sake! Here the real presence of Jesus—in his body and his blood touch down at 809 W. Beverly “as often as you” bread the bread and share the cup— “given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”
No, your assembly is not insignificant. Not insignificant for you—nor are you insignificant, for this corner isn’t just the intersection of Beverly and Montebello. This is the intersection of heaven and earth. Right here. A sign that Montebello is not God-forsaken, but that God has saving plans for the inhabitants and commuters and small-business owners, and gig-economy entrepreneurs, and pedestrians young and old—that God means to save every one of them.
The word you are installing Pastor Per to proclaim to you—God’s word of law and gospel—is the very word everyone outside these walls also needs. So say it!
Say it to the despairing: “There is hope!”
Say it to the addicted: “There is freedom!”
Say it to the idolatrous: “Here is your real God!”
Say it to sinners: “There is a redeemer!”
Say it to the self-righteous: “You don’t have to prove a thing—There is a righteousness not made or lost by you—but received by faith alone!”
Say to the sick: “There is a healer!”
Say to the dying: “There is life!”
Say to the duped: “There is truth!”
Say to the undecided: “Here is the way!”
Jesus Christ is hope, freedom, our real God, our redeemer, the end of our trying and failing, our righteousness, healer, our way, and truth, and life.
One particular way God loves Montebello is by putting Cross & Crown in her midst. You are here on purpose—not an accident of geography or history. You are on time and in the right place. It is the mission of each parish to find out why! Why are we here? Why now?
One particular way God loves Cross & Crown is by putting Pastor Per and Renee in your midst. They are here on purpose—not an accident. You have a unique pastor—perfectly unsuitable for you! I know this because I have been perfectly unsuitable for Trinity for the last 18+ years. He, like me, is vulnerable, a certified sinner, and he will misstep. He will emphasize things he shouldn’t and won’t emphasize things he should. Good news—Pastor Per will give you ample opportunity to forgive him. Your grace will abound! Oh, and you are unsuitable for him! He hasn’t complained to me, but I’m guessing like the other pious Lutherans I know, you might be hesitant, adverse to change, a little self-protective and insular? This is GREAT news! Pastor Per will have ample opportunity to forgive you. His grace will abound!
The pastor-parish relationship is not unlike marriage. Two unsuitable partners whose unsuitability makes them profoundly suitable for the gracious and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Neither is perfect—which makes them perfect for each other.
That said, I really can’t imagine a pastor and parish better matched.
MISSION. INTERCESSION. TESTIMONY.
Am I talking about Pastor Per or am I talking about Cross & Crown? The to-the-word way I would describe Pastor Per is the way I would describe Cross & Crown. What a match! Mission-Intercession-Testimony is the culture of this house, and it is just what 809 W. Beverly needs.
God knows what he is doing here. Often times we don’t. But comfort one another with these words, “God knows what he is doing here.” Right here. Right now. Do it Lord!