If you’re still in the workforce, have you ever thought about what you would like to do if you weren’t doing your current job? For instance, if I were not a pastor, what would I see myself doing? The fact is, I have a hard time answering that because I thoroughly enjoy being a pastor, especially in a setting where I get to be involved in our school ministry as well. I love preparing for and leading worship, teaching the Scriptures, visiting with people, bringing our shut-ins Holy Communion, and helping people sort through some of life’s issues in view of what God might say about things in His Word. I enjoy having the opportunity to officiate wedding celebrations and am humbled by the privilege of being with families in the midst of grief and funerals. I love watching how the Lord puts together the different gifts and abilities of His people to grow His Kingdom and planning with our congregation’s leaders.

I have now been a pastor for 34 and ½ years. My goal, if it is the Lord’s desire, is to serve for 40 years, which gives me 5 and ½ more years. And then what? First, there are the words of James 4:14-15, “You do not know what will happen tomorrow… You ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” I shall see how the Lord’s plans for me unfold. What I do know is that even if I find myself no longer able to do many of my pastor roles, my desire shall always be to gather with God’s people for worship.

This weekend’s Old Testament and Gospel readings give us pictures of people gathered for worship. A basic question we will consider during the message is, “Why have I come here today?” With that, there is another question to consider: “Why has God come here today?” The answer to that, simply put, is that we are worth it to Him who loves us. Is God worth it to us? That’s really what worship is, isn’t it? The word "worship" comes from the Old English word worth-ship, which means “to give something worth.”

What a gracious God who invites us to worship together as His people, to receive His gifts of Word and Sacrament, and to celebrate a God who loves us so much to want to be with us not just now, but for all eternity.