"DR. EBERHARD SPEAKS OUT - “Wake Up”

The Rev. Dr. David Eberhard presents an article called “Dr. Eberhard Speaks Out”. He challenges us with his thoughts and experience as a leading churchman in America. While we may agree, or not agree, he shares with us what he has learned that works in the local parish. Over his forty years of experience in the ministry, and 24 years in the political arena, he has always tended to be ahead of the current curve and is always “pushing the envelope” to get us to expand our thinking.

DR. EBERHARD SPEAKS OUT - "Wake Up!"

Each week I hear of another Lutheran Church in the Metro Detroit area closing, or planning to close in the near further. Why ? one asks. Is it because the present congregation had become “a club”, and the last person should “turn out the lights”. Is it because they failed to see that they are surrounded by millions of people, that if they asked they could gain at least a few. Is it because the pastors is not working, he’s off to another conference - another meeting to study on how to be the church. Wake up, no conference, no consultant, no class is going to do the Lords work for you. When we hear that so many churches have only 40, 60, or maximum of 125 persons in worship on a Sunday. How many times can you call on 40 people, how many times can you email 40 people. I’ll bet your church facilities are closed most of the week, and open only for 2 hours on Sunday."

Get up - go open the doors. Have something - anything - to get people to come in the "side door", and some will come back in through the" front door". Then we have those that think we should not be concerned about how many people we have in church. We need to only have a "heart" for non-believer and the unchurched. Some have even gone as far as having Holy Communion "out there" in cell groups, not in the church building. Others feel we need to go out and start new churches in shopping centers, schools, storefront, anywhere other than a church building. They contend the church building is offensive, it is a stumbling block to reaching out. Come on now, get real. So now we have 30 people in a storefront, and we say hallelujah we have planted a new church. Unfortunately, too often that planning is not really to reach out, but rather to say at conventions - "we have opened 75 new churches". Yes, but we have closed 50 churches, and next year we will close 65 of those new plants and all along our denomination numbers dwindle even more.

Too often we are denying being "Lutherans" as if that is a bad word that drives people away. We provide "new" people with water drowned doctrines - don't want to hurt anybodies feelings. We are Lutherans, that stands for something, it is solid - and people today don't want quick fixes! You can't out "black" the fine Black Pastors, nor can you out "Baptist" the dynamic Baptist Preacher. Stop running in circles, stop throwing the baby out with the bath water, stop feeling sorry for yourself, stop thinking your congregation can not meet the needs of today's world, stop feeling that being Lutheran is old fashioned and outdated. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. While we may have, should have, various versions of worship services and assortment of hymns, we can do these effectively in a church setting. Storefronts, theater churches, etc. are temporary. When the "mission" funds run out, who is going to pay the bills? What happens to that poor pastor you stuck with an unstable future? It takes at least 300 members to make a parish self sufficient.

Fling wide open your church doors, be a caring people, become a powerful worshiping community, be a beacon of hope in an unstable world, administer the sacraments, and preaching the Word. People will come! We had all better get back to supporting, strengthening, and revitalizing the churches, older ones or new plants, before it is too late - and we will have no Lutheran presence in our Metro areas. Raise high the Cross of Jesus Christ - and move forward.

The Rev Dr David Eberhard

Fathers' Day - Sunday, June 20, 2010

Historic Trinity Lutheran Church - Detroit, Michigan USA - Fathers' Day: "The family unit is the basic element of all society. Families which have been blessed to have both a father and mother present can be thankful. On Sunday, June 20, 2010, Father's Day, Historic Trinity will say a special thanks to all fathers in all three worship services. The Rev. Dr. David Eberhard will be preaching, assisted by the Historic Trinity Cathedral Ministry Pastors. Each male present will receive a gift in honor of fathers, past and present." Services: 8:15, 9:30 and 11am. See you in church!

"Pastor’s Comment - “Don’t just fly....Soar!!”

"Pastor’s Comment - “Don’t just fly....Soar!!”

Graduation time is here with hopes for the future and memories of the past. One of the songs, many times heard at graduation ceremonies, is “On Eagles’ Wings” by Carl Strommen. “Like an eagle I will soar above the clouds. I will spread my wings and fly into the sun. Like an eagle I will race above the stars.” Now, eagles don’t fly like other birds. An eagle has an inborn ability to sense the motion of air currents and will wait patiently until the right breeze comes along. Yes, it flaps its wings, but mostly the eagle just lets go and is carried on the wings of the wind. And, unlike other birds who take refuge during storms, eagles love storms because it forces them higher and higher “above the clouds”. The eagle stands as an instrument of strength and freedom and is found as that description in the Bible. Through the symbol of eagles’ wings, God reminded the Israelites, when they became disgruntled, that, so far, He had carried them safely, encouraging them to continue to trust Him. “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.” Exodus 19:4. This same verse applies to us. Look at what God has done in the past! He died for our sins and gave us redemption. He rose from the grave and gave us eternal life with Him. And He continually fills our lives with blessings and renews our strength to soar with Him upon ‘eagle’s wings’!"