Pastor's Note

Pastor’s Note A weekly letter from Pr. Tom Pietz, St. Olaf Lutheran Church December 3 – December 9, 2018

th December 5 – Advent Worship Every year I anticipate our Advent Holden Evening Prayer services on Wednesdays. We gather for great soup and sandwiches and even cream puffs last week! Then we gather in the sanctuary with the lights dimmed, candles flickers, Christmas decorations glowing, and sing together a very meaningful interchange of leader and response songs. If you’ve never been to one, come check it out. You will be blessed. Wednesdays, December 5, 12, & 19; 6:00pm dinner and 7:00-7:30pm worship.

th December 9 – Special Guest Speakers Plan to attend Worship service and G.I.F.T. hour on Sunday, December 9th as we will have guest speakers Jack and Carol (Leair) Benjamin with us. Carol is a former member of St. Olaf, now a missionary in Swaziland.

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I receive a daily devotion e-mail from Richard Rohr who broadens my understanding of God with a worldview that is greater than my American Centric view. I hope you are as inspired as I was with the following devotional.

From the Center for Action and Contemplation

Week Forty-eight Joy and Hope

Generosity of Spirit Thursday, November 29, 2018

For a week in April 2015, Archbishop Desmond Tutu visited His Holiness the Dalai Lama at his residence in exile in India. Their dialogue and interactions, facilitated by Douglas Abrams, became The Book of Joy. I’d like to share some of their hard-won wisdom with you today.

Suffering is inevitable, they said, but how we respond to that suffering is our choice. Not even oppression or occupation can take away this freedom to choose our response.

As our dialogue progressed, we converged on eight pillars of joy. Four were qualities of the mind: perspective, humility, humor, and acceptance. Four were qualities of the heart: forgiveness, gratitude, compassion, and generosity.

[Archbishop Tutu said:] “Our human nature has been distorted, . . . I mean, we are actually quite remarkable creatures. In our religions I am created in the image of God. I am a God carrier. It’s fantastic. I have to be growing in godlikeness, in caring for the other. I know that each time I have acted compassionately, I have experienced a joy in me that I find in nothing else.”

When we practice a generosity of spirit, we are in many ways practicing all the other pillars of joy. In generosity, there is a wider perspective [italics mine], in which we see our connection to all others. There is a humility that recognizes our place in the world and acknowledges that at another time we could be the one in need, whether that need is material, emotional, or spiritual. There is a sense of humor and an ability to laugh at ourselves so that we do not take ourselves too seriously. There is an acceptance of life, in which we do not force life to be other than what it is. There is a forgiveness of others and a release of what otherwise might have been. There is a gratitude for all that we have been given. Finally, we see others with a deep compassion and a desire to help those who are in need. And from this comes a generosity that is “wise selfish,” a generosity that recognizes helping others as helping ourselves. As the Dalai Lama put it, “In fact, taking care of others, helping others, ultimately is the way to discover your own joy and to have a happy life.”

[Near the end of their time together, Archbishop Tutu offered this blessing:]

“Dear Child of God, you are loved with a love that nothing can shake, a love that loved you long before you were created, a love that will be there long after everything has disappeared. You are precious, with a preciousness that is totally quite immeasurable. And God wants you to be like God. Filled with life and goodness and laughter—and joy.

“God, who is forever pouring out God’s whole being from all eternity, wants you to flourish. God wants you to be filled with joy and excitement and ever longing to be able to find what is so beautiful in God’s creation: the compassion of so many, the caring, the sharing. And God says, Please, my child, help me. Help me to spread love and laughter and joy and compassion. And you know what, my child? As you do this—hey, presto— you discover joy. Joy, which you had not sought, comes as the gift, as almost the reward for this non-self-regarding caring for others.”

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The Book of Esther was written approximately 470 B.C. in Persia. Esther became queen in 479 B.C. The key personalities are Esther, Mordecai, King Xerxes, and Haman.

Its purpose is to demonstrate God’s love and sovereignty in all circumstances. It is a post-exile story about Jews who stayed behind in Babylon after most returned to Jerusalem after captivity. Babylon was conquered by Persia and Esther miraculously becomes the queen of the land, and saves her people.

• In chapter 1-2, Esther becomes the queen to Xerxes of Persia. She was personally chosen by the King. “The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found favor and kindness with him” (2:17), probably because of her beauty and intelligence.

• Chapters 3-4, Mordecai (Esther’s guardian) refused to bow down and pay homage to Haman a high official of the king. Haman becomes infuriated and plots to destroy all the Jews in the kingdom because of his pride. Mordecai hears of the plot and reports it to his Esther. “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” (4:14).

• From chapters 5-10, Esther outwits Haman and takes her petition to the king and pleas for the protection of her Jewish people from Haman’s wicked stratagem. The king out of anger, has Haman hung on the gallows, which he had built to destroy all the Jews. Esther’s faith and courage saves her people.

A reading from Esther 4:1-17

1 When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went through the city, wailing with a loud and bitter cry; 2 he went up to the entrance of the king's gate, for no one might enter the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. 3 In every province, wherever the king's command and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and most of them lay in sackcloth and ashes. 4 When Esther's maids and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed; she sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so that he might take off his sackcloth; but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what was happening and why. 6 Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate, 7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. 8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther, explain it to her, and charge her to go to the king to make supplication to him and entreat him for her people. 9 Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and gave him a message for Mordecai, saying, 11 "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—all alike are to be put to death. Only if the king holds out the golden scepter to someone, may that person live. I myself have not been called to come in to the king for thirty days." 12 When they told Mordecai what Esther had said, 13 Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not think that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father's family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this." 15 Then Esther said in reply to Mordecai, 16 "Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish." 17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.

Most of us have not likely read the book of Esther, unfortunately. It’s a fascinating historical account of an orphan Jewish girl in exile under Persian rule in which God implicitly does His work through her hands to save her people from death and destruction. If you haven’t seen the movie, “One Night with the King”, I highly recommend it. It was in the theatres in 2006, and done with utmost integrity to the Biblical account…very inspiring. The images today are from that movie.

As I prepared the message for this week I asked God how the Biblical story of Esther can inform and transform our lives. And as I read through this book, I could see in Esther God’s wisdom and courage and path of discernment as a model for us to consider. In worldly seminar terms, let’s entitle this message the SECRETS OF SUCCESS FROM THE LIFE OF QUEEN ESTHER. Let’s take a walk through the storyline of Esther together now. We’ll explore 7 words starting with the letter S (sounds like a Sesame Street approach, doesn’t it? )

Behind most great people lie key supporters to help them succeed, and this rings true for Esther. Listen to Esther 2:7-9.

7 Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah also known as Esther, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother (she was an orphan). This young woman had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.8 When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. 9 She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem.

In the life of Queen Esther we find that God had given her people who helped her and showed her favor. When she was a helpless orphan girl she had an uncle Mordecai who came forward to adopt her. When she was in the palace she had favor in the eyes of Hegai who was in charge of the arrangements. Finally she had favor in the eyes of the king who chose her to be the next queen. To be successful we need favor in the eyes of God and people. We need supporters who will stand with us and help us.

Esther was an obedient and submissive person. She obeyed the instructions of Mordecai not to reveal her Jewish identity. This was not an isolated incident but her way of life. She was always obedient to Mordecai when she lived in his house. Even when she was about to be presented before the king she allowed Hegai to decide what she had to wear. She respected the superior wisdom and experience of Hegai. It would behoove us to develop such a submissive and teachable spirit in order to be fruitful in life.

Listen to a few of these submissive, obedient incidents in which Esther was faithful.

Esther 2:10 10 Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so.

Esther 2:15 15 When the turn came for Esther (the young woman Mordecai had adopted) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her.

Esther 2:20 20 But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.

Esther was a sincere person with true heart of love and gratitude.

When Mordecai revealed a secret plot of some palace guards against the king, she passed the information to the king giving credit to Mordecai which later helped in giving a great honor to Mordecai for saving the king’s life. Esther was sincere in giving credit to Mordecai. She did not pretend as though she alone was responsible for giving this information to the king. Moreover Esther did not forget Mordecai once she became queen. She was still concerned about the welfare of Mordecai who was the one who brought her up when she was a destitute orphan. When she heard that Mordecai was in mourning she was greatly distressed and was concerned enough to find out the reason. She did not ignore the sufferings of Mordecai. God does much through people with a sincere and grateful heart and a concerned love for others.

Here’s a couple scripture clips, first from Esther 2:22 22 But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai.

And now from Esther 4:4-5 4 When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.

Supplication is a fancy word used in prayer to refer to our own personal requests for ourselves being made known to God. Think of SUPPLY- cation, asking God to supply for our needs. So listen to what Queen Esther requests on behalf of her people from Esther 4:16 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

Esther fasted and prayed for three days and called on her people to join her in the fast before she undertook her mission to save her people from destruction. She did not rush into action in pride and enthusiasm thinking she could do everything in her own strength. We need such a humility and supplication to seek God’s favor before we undertake tasks and endeavors in our lives.

Esther’s willingness to risk and sacrifice her very life was very real as we read from Esther 4:11 11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”

Esther took a risk to save her people. She went to the presence of the king without being summoned which meant death. Without this willingness on her part to even sacrifice her life to save her people she would not have succeeded in her mission. There are times we may need such a willingness to sacrifice in order to successfully honor God and accomplish His mission through us.

Almost like a mission impossible movie, Queen Esther puts together a strategy to outwit the evil Haman and change the mind of the king.

The scripture reads: 1 So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, 2 and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.” 3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people— this is my request.

Esther had a strategy to accomplish her task. She used wisdom and planning. She did not rush to the king in an emotional frenzy and outburst. But she went about her task in a methodical way by first inviting the king and the archenemy Haman to dinner. It may have looked bad to give a dinner to their archenemy. Her people could have criticized and misunderstood her actions. But Esther had a strategy and only after the second dinner did she reveal her requests. She did not accuse Haman directly knowing he was close to the king. But she first told the king about the danger to her life and the lives of her people. Only after the king demanded in fury as to who was responsible for this did she reveal the name of Haman. We need such godly wisdom and strategy and restraint and discretion in order to be successful in our lives.

And finally the last “S” word, Service. Listen to the tone of Esther’s humble voice of service expressed here in chapter 8, verse 5:

5 “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces.

And then here in Esther 10:3 we hear the true servant character of her adoptive father, Mordecai. 3 Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.

Esther used her influence to help her people. She realized that purpose of her elevation is to be useful to others and not just to enjoy her life selfishly. Mordecai her mentor also followed the same principle of using their influence to be a blessing to their people. Today the Lord wants to bless and promote those who desire to be a blessing. Their success would benefit many others. Indeed, this humble attitude leads to the Lord’s blessing upon our lives bearing fruit to our efforts to the glory of God.

Summary of the Book of Esther BUT read the book

Esther was a Jewish woman who was selected by the Persian King Xerxes to be his wife. He had banished his former wife and chose Esther through a contest. However, the king did not know she was a Jew. (Esther 1-2)

Esther’s uncle was Mordecai. Mordecai learned of a plot to kill the king and made it known to Esther who passed the news to the king. The two men involved in the plot were hanged. In the book of Esther this information is casually presented as unimportant, but comes up later in the story. (Esther 2)

One of the princes in the kingdom was Haman. Mordecai and Haman had a mutual disdain for one another. Haman devised a plan to eliminate Mordecai. He told the king that there was a people group in the kingdom that had their own laws and customs. If they were allowed to continue they might overthrow the power of the king. Therefore Haman convinced the king that this group should be killed. While Haman and the king did not know it at the time, he was asking the king for permission to kill the new Queen Esther. (Esther 3)

The law was created that allowed the Jews to be murdered. When Mordecai learned of the new law he spoke with Esther about asking the king to reconsider. She was loved by the king, but she did not have the authority to enter into the king’s chambers and talk with him at any time she pleased. Mordecai told her that God had allowed her to become the queen to help protect her people. Though conflicted with the thought of perishing by the hand of the king or by the new law in place, she determined to let the king know she was a Jew and that his new law would require that she be killed. (Esther 4)

Without an invitation into his presence Esther approached the king and invited him and Haman to a meal at her house. When asked what the occasion was, she said that she wanted to ask the king and Haman to return to her house the next day for another meal. The king agreed and Haman was pleased to be so favored by the king and his bride. (Esther 5)

However, Haman saw Mordecai that day and was enraged. He determined that he would kill Mordecai the next day by hanging. He requested a gallows be made to hang Mordecai in the morning. (Esther 5)

That night the king could not sleep. He asked that someone read to him about the recent events in the kingdom. He was reminded that Mordecai stopped a plot to kill the king. King Ahasuerus never publicly thanked Mordecai for his efforts, but determined to honor Mordecai the following morning. (Esther 6)

About this time Haman came to the palace to talk to the king and tell him that he would like to hang Mordecai the next day. The king was glad to see Haman because he had a question for him. Before Haman could give his request the king asked, “What should be done to the man I wish to honor publicly?” Haman thought that the king must be wanting to honor Haman for being such a good servant so he came up with the most elaborate plan to be honored by the king. He said the man should be paraded through the streets wearing the king’s robe and crown while riding on the king’s horse. (Esther 6)

Haman did not get a chance to tell the king that he wanted to kill Mordecai before the king told Haman, “You have come up with a great way to honor a man who saved my life. Gather everything you need and do just as you’ve said for Mordecai!” (Esther 6)

Haman was disgusted to have to honor Mordecai this way. After the parade he went home in a rage. But he was not able to vent very long because it was time to go to Queen Esther’s house for her banquet. When Haman and the king arrived at Esther’s house the king wanted to know what her request was. He was willing to give her up to 1/2 the kingdom. (Esther 6-7)

She told the king that there was a plot to destroy her and her people. The king was angry and asked who was behind the wickedness. When she pointed to Haman the king was furious. He went outside to think. Haman was arguing with Esther, supposedly not knowing she was a Jew. He was begging for his life because the king had already said the person behind the plot would be hanged. Haman got animated and excited. He fell onto Esther’s bed. When King Ahasuerus came back from the garden he saw Haman on his wife’s bed and grew even more angered at the thought that Haman was trying now to persuade his wife sexually. (Esther 7)

Haman was hanged that day on the gallows he intended for Mordacai. (Esther 7)

Esther made one more request to the king. That was that the law be reversed which would have destroyed the Jews. The law was rewritten to save the Jews and destroy the family of Haman. He was an Agagite, or an Amalekite. (Esther 8)

The celebration of the Jews that ensued after the new law was carried out was the beginning of the celebration called Purim. Today, Purim is celebrated by a public reading of the book of Esther. Each time wicked Haman’s name is mentioned the crowd will stomp their feet, hiss and yell to show their disdain for the villain of the story. (Esther 8-10) Lutefisk – Saturday, December 1st Lutefisk Dinner Results - 655 dinners sold, 7 donated and all our "most helpful" youth ate free!!! Thankful for all the hard workers at St. Olaf! The festive atmosphere was exciting!