‘In the Middle of Things’ Pastor Olson
In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the
world should be enrolled . . . And Joseph also went up from Galilee,
from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called
Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be
enrolled with Mary his betrothed, who was with child. And while they
were there, the time came for her to be delivered . . . [Luke 2.1, 4-6 RSV].
As the season of Advent begins, we wait and we prepare to celebrate the incarnation of our Lord Jesus among us on Christmas Day. With the birth of Jesus, the human experience of God takes on a radically new dimension. God can no longer be passed off as an abstract idea with little or no bearing on reality. On that cold night in Bethlehem two thousand years ago, everything changed because God became one of us — Incarnate in a frail human body with all its limitations. For a people who have a difficult believing and trusting a God whom they cannot see, Jesus became the human face of God, the ‘Immanuel’ or ‘God with us.’
But most surprising, I think, is God's timing for his incarnation among us. The evangelist Luke sets the scene: an imperial decree demanding the immediate registration of all people in their ancestral cities for taxation, a journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem by Joseph and the expectant Mary, his betrothed. At the most inconvenient of times, away from home, among strangers, in the middle of things, ‘the time came for her to be delivered.’
God inserts himself right in the middle of things . . . God inserts himself into our lives.
During this time of Advent, the mystery of our Lord's incarnation envelopes us with its unexpected timing. Jesus is indeed present; but I suspect that he will find us in times and places which are just as unique as in Luke’s story. Perhaps we will find him in the eyes of a brother or sister who extends the hand of reconciliation to us; or perhaps, in an act of kindness done for someone who cannot repay us; or perhaps, as we pause during our Christmas rush to hear anew the story of our Lord’s birth among us. But that’s the way God is; the One who comes at the most inconvenient of times, when we are away from home, among strangers, and busy with other things. God is the One who is always in the middle of things . . . always waiting, for us to notice him.
A personal note: I am looking forward to beginning our journey together on the First Sunday of Advent. Please feel free to speak to me about any concerns you might have about Immanuel’s future ministry. Your leadership and the staff of the NE MN Synod have been extremely helpful to me in providing information so that we can together set goals for this time of interim ministry.
In Christ ☩
Pastor Stephen Olson
In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the
world should be enrolled . . . And Joseph also went up from Galilee,
from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called
Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be
enrolled with Mary his betrothed, who was with child. And while they
were there, the time came for her to be delivered . . . [Luke 2.1, 4-6 RSV].
As the season of Advent begins, we wait and we prepare to celebrate the incarnation of our Lord Jesus among us on Christmas Day. With the birth of Jesus, the human experience of God takes on a radically new dimension. God can no longer be passed off as an abstract idea with little or no bearing on reality. On that cold night in Bethlehem two thousand years ago, everything changed because God became one of us — Incarnate in a frail human body with all its limitations. For a people who have a difficult believing and trusting a God whom they cannot see, Jesus became the human face of God, the ‘Immanuel’ or ‘God with us.’
But most surprising, I think, is God's timing for his incarnation among us. The evangelist Luke sets the scene: an imperial decree demanding the immediate registration of all people in their ancestral cities for taxation, a journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem by Joseph and the expectant Mary, his betrothed. At the most inconvenient of times, away from home, among strangers, in the middle of things, ‘the time came for her to be delivered.’
God inserts himself right in the middle of things . . . God inserts himself into our lives.
During this time of Advent, the mystery of our Lord's incarnation envelopes us with its unexpected timing. Jesus is indeed present; but I suspect that he will find us in times and places which are just as unique as in Luke’s story. Perhaps we will find him in the eyes of a brother or sister who extends the hand of reconciliation to us; or perhaps, in an act of kindness done for someone who cannot repay us; or perhaps, as we pause during our Christmas rush to hear anew the story of our Lord’s birth among us. But that’s the way God is; the One who comes at the most inconvenient of times, when we are away from home, among strangers, and busy with other things. God is the One who is always in the middle of things . . . always waiting, for us to notice him.
A personal note: I am looking forward to beginning our journey together on the First Sunday of Advent. Please feel free to speak to me about any concerns you might have about Immanuel’s future ministry. Your leadership and the staff of the NE MN Synod have been extremely helpful to me in providing information so that we can together set goals for this time of interim ministry.
In Christ ☩
Pastor Stephen Olson
Pastor Stephen Olson
Pastor Stephen Olson will begin his contract with Immanuel, as a part time Intentional Interim Pastor
on December 1, 2018.
Pastor Olson brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his ministry. He has a Master’s Degree in Divinity from Luther-Northwestern Seminary, a Master of Science degree from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Science Engineering. Pastor Olson was Senior Pastor at Zion Lutheran International Falls from 2005-2017, Senior Pastor at Tracy Lutheran in Tracy, MN from 1989-2005.
Pastor Olson is married with two children and currently lives in St. Paul, MN. He will be spending at least one night a week in the Hillman area and be available to provide a range of pastoral duties to include worship, preaching, teaching, committee ministry, visitation, funerals and weddings. He takes his preaching & worship very seriously, he believes a congregation must have a sense of community and that teaching is an essential part of pastoral ministry, including confirmation classes, which he taught and developed material for.
Pastor Stephen Olson will begin his contract with Immanuel, as a part time Intentional Interim Pastor
on December 1, 2018.
Pastor Olson brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his ministry. He has a Master’s Degree in Divinity from Luther-Northwestern Seminary, a Master of Science degree from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Science Engineering. Pastor Olson was Senior Pastor at Zion Lutheran International Falls from 2005-2017, Senior Pastor at Tracy Lutheran in Tracy, MN from 1989-2005.
Pastor Olson is married with two children and currently lives in St. Paul, MN. He will be spending at least one night a week in the Hillman area and be available to provide a range of pastoral duties to include worship, preaching, teaching, committee ministry, visitation, funerals and weddings. He takes his preaching & worship very seriously, he believes a congregation must have a sense of community and that teaching is an essential part of pastoral ministry, including confirmation classes, which he taught and developed material for.
