From the Pastor's Computer...

Well, it’s the end of April, and I’m sure many of you are saying, “Thank goodness I got my taxes done on time, the refund check is in the bank, and the stimulus package REBATE is on the way.”  I suppose there are some of you who are upset about taxes.  The cry of the American Revolution was, “Taxes without representation is tyranny.”  We as Americans are disposed, from the beginning of our history as a nation, to distrust taxing authorities.  But we do have representation in how our government is run, in how budgets are passed, and how taxes are collected.  All too many of us fail to educate ourselves about the issues, and then vote for the representative with the best fifteen second sound bite.  As Christians, we have an obligation to act responsibly in our personal life, and I would suggest, to act responsibly in our civic life as well.

On Friday, the 9 of May, at 10 am, we will be hosting Mr. Larry Struve and Mr. Matt Newell-Ching for an hour and a half “Community Forum.”  Mr. Struve is your advocate to the Nevada Legislature to voice concerns about pending legislation as it affects policy statements of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  I’m sure that you are aware that the mining industry, the casino lobby, and the labor unions all have their lobbyists working hard to ensure that their particular special interests are protected.  But few in Carson City advocate for policies, for budgets, and for taxes that take into count the long term well being of the ordinary citizen.  Everyone likes the idea of tax cuts, but few take the time to seriously consider whose taxes are cut and which government programs will be underfunded as a result.  And few look at the long term consequences to the average taxpayer that result from underfunding social programs.  (For example, I wonder if cutting education funding for public schools and colleges now, will limit earnings of graduates 10 years from now, which means they will contribute less to my Social Security retirement benefit.  I wonder if limiting support for government funded health insurance for poor children means that they go to emergency rooms instead of primary care providers for ordinary services, thus increasing my wait when I have a stroke or a heart attack.)  If you want to learn more about schools, taxes, welfare, and the legislature, please join us for this Community Forum!

There are lots of other important events and programs at Reformation that are coming your way between now and September.  This Sunday, the 4^th of May we’ll host our “Casino Capers” fun filled fund raiser; the men will be hosting the women to a continental breakfast after church on Mother’s Day; look ahead for some new music for our liturgy—some may be introduced as early as Pentecost Sunday; after church on June 1, we will “Safari” out to a movie theater to see the second in the Chronicles of Narnia series, “Prince Caspian;” and look ahead to one of the nicest things we do during the year for homeless families:  Family Promise, June 8-15.

Reformation is filled with people who are young-at-heart and vitally concerned with living out our vision of being the Heart of Christ in the Heart of the City!

God Bless, Pastor Loren