“I believe in… one holy, Christian, and apostolic Church…” –The Apostles’ Creed (emphasis added)

This line from the Apostles’ Creed explains the Church, the collective group made up of those who believe in Jesus Christ. As we look forward to this summer, we can see all these one of these adjectives in action. Apostolic. But what does “apostolic” mean?

This word carries with it two ideas. First, it means that our church follows in the long line of teaching put forth by the disciples following Pentecost. We strive to hold to the teachings of Peter, Paul, and the rest as closely as we can. The doctrines of our church aren’t created anew each generation. Instead, we receive what the previous generations have taught and share them with the next.

Also, in this idea of apostolic is the idea of being sent. An apostle was one who was sent. Throughout the gospel accounts, the twelve followers of Jesus are referred to as “disciples,” which is a student or an apprentice. In the book of Acts, a shift takes place and these same men are referred to as “apostles,” sent ones. After Jesus’ ascension into heaven, the disciples are sent to proclaim the Gospel to all nations (see Mt. 28:18-20). 

At Mt. Calvary, we’re also involved in a sending ministry. In July we’ll be sending about a dozen men and women and children from our church along with another group from Zion Lutheran Church in Arcadia, Iowa over the northern border to Cross Lake, Manitoba, Canada. This is our LAMP group, and they are sent by our congregation with our blessing that they might sow gospel seeds in far-flung communities in association with the Lutheran Association of Missionary Pilots. They are sent by us to teach the timeless truths of the Church to the people of Cross Lake.

Also in July, we’ll be sending nine high school youth and three adults to New Orleans, Louisiana for The Gathering. This group will join with tens of thousands of other youth and adults from all over the globe to celebrate and be strengthened in their faith in Jesus Christ. They’ll have a chance to hear from Lutheran speakers and worship in the Superdome, where the New Orleans Saints play football. It’s an amazing opportunity to see just how vast our church body truly is and rejoice in the God who joins us all together. This group is also sent by us that they might grow in their faith and service to the Church.

With all this apostolic action coming up in July, it’s only fitting that we should celebrate the sending of these groups. On June 29, at our Combined Service at 9:15am, we will include a time of blessing and sending for these two groups. We’ll bring these members of Mt. Calvary forward so that we can send them forward with our blessing and so that we might pray that, through them, the apostles’ teachings will take root and grow for the benefit of future generations. Please plan to join us for this celebration!

In Christ,

Pastor Tom Vanderbilt