Lutheran Schools Week postscript + Role models

Today's Theme

This is more of a reflection than a devotion. This past week [Jan. 24-30] was celebrated as National Lutheran Schools Week. I am hardly an unbiased observer of this annual event. My dad & mom were Lutheran educators. My wife continues to teach 1st grade @ Christ Lutheran School in Norfolk, NE. At one time my wife, brother & his spouse, sister, father, mother, & myself were all serving as Lutheran educators. My 3 children attended Lutheran schools from PreK thru Grade 12; one of them continued Lutheran education @ the Concordia University level before graduating from Concordia MN in St. Paul. I attended Lutheran schools from K-graduation from Concordia Teachers College in Seward, NE; also received my Masters from Concordia Seward.

I believe whole-heartedly in the mission & ministry of Lutheran schools. It stands to reason that--since we have such wonderful scriptural assurances re:  the transformation that comes about through the time we spend in His Holy Word--& since attendance at a Lutheran school virtually guarantees training in Holy Scripture, both Law & Gospel; taught & role-modeled by believers who are not only highly competent in what they do but also committed to the spiritual well-being of children--why wouldn't anyone want anything less for their children to spend an extra 7 hours per week day, hearing God's Word, listening to God's Word, studying God's Word, gathering with fellow believers in devotion & worship centered around God's Word; participating in group devotions & worship @ least daily, if not weekly? Oh, yeah . . . & being served by men & women who care not only about the mental & physical growth of young men & men, but also who care about their faith & character formation.

To my prejudiced way of thinking, the advantages of a Christian education at least through 12th grade far outweigh the advantages of marching band, orchestra, & a myriad of classes, clubs, sports & activities that many if not most smaller Lutheran schools cannot afford to provide. 

Well, of course I am biased, but I can't help but believe that 7 hours per week day in a Lutheran school trumps is something to be treasured for children. Not just little children, elementary-age children, & pre-pubescent children--maybe, especially high school students, who encounter a time in their lives when they may be most vulnerable to attacks upon their faith by satanic forces, our depraved culture & media, & rampant materialism.

And of course our own sinful nature doesn't need much prodding to chart its own course, apart from & sometimes openly disdainful of God's Will.

Are Lutheran schools perfect? If you have attended, are currently attending, have served in, are currently serving in a ministry of Lutheran education, you know that our schools include sinful people, living in a sinful world. And that means that there always has been & always will be unfortunate incidents, even unholy actions & attitudes, to be found between & among parents, students, teachers, coaches, administrators . . . I think you get the point.

Yet Christ still reigns supreme, because He is present in the Word. He is present in the hearts of His believers. Despite the shortcomings, Lutheran schools are a blessing. They are worth the investment of time, talent & treasure that we pour into them. And that an end to my "sermon" for today.

A Word from Scripture

"Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 KJV

A Favorite Hymn

"Earth & All Stars," text by Herbert F. Brokering
Source:  Lutheran Worship, (Concordia Publishing House), 1982.

St. 1  Earth & all stars! Loud rushing planets! Sing to the Lord a new song!
Oh, victory! Loud shouting army! Sing to the Lord a new song!
(Refrain) He has done marvelous things. I too will praise Him with a new song.

St. 5  Classroom and labs! Loud boiling test tubes! Sing to the Lord a new song!
Athlete and band! Loud cheering people! Sing to the Lord!  (Refrain)

St. 6  Knowledge and truth! Loud sounding wisdom! Sing to the Lord a new song!
Daughter and son! Loud praying members! Sing to the Lord a new song!  (Refrain)

St. 7  Children of God, Dying and Rising, Sing to the Lord a new song!
Heaven and earth, Hosts everlasting, Sing to the Lord a new song!  (Refrain)

NOTES:  One of my favorite hymns, in part because it highlights themes re:  Lutheran education that are near & dear to me. I've selected the stanzas that I find most relevant to the phenomena known as National Lutheran Schools Week.

Today's Prayers *

For Christian Schools:  Almighty God, our heavenly Father, since You have committed the care & nurture of children to Your people, graciously enlighten those who teach & those who are committed to their instruction that they may kow the truth & trust in You all the days of their lives, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

For Seminaries & Church Colleges:  O God, Source of all abiding knowledge, through Word & Spirit You both enlighten the minds & sanctify the lives of those whom You draw to Your service. Therefore look with favor on the seminaries & colleges of the Church, blessing those who teach & those who learn, that they may apply themselves with ready diligence to Your will & faithfully fulfill their service according to Your purpose; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

* Source:  Lutheran Worship, (Concordia Publishing House), 1982.

Role Models

I was a professional church worker in the educational ministry of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, serving into my 40th year until early November, 2014, when I took a voluntary medical leave-of-absence. I knew I wanted to go into some kind of church work by the time I was in 8th grade, but it wasn't really until sometime in my early high school years that I felt some sort of call to be a teacher; & it wasn't until the mid-1980s that I began to feel a calling into some type of a more active administrative role in Lutheran  education.
        I could have chosen many more role models, but for the sake of brevity *. These are individuals who had a major impact not only on my life but, in particular, my journey into professional church work within the educational mission & ministry of the LCMS.
* Who am I kidding? Sometimes I just crack myself up.

A Father *

My dad was long-time teacher & principal of St. Paul's Lutheran School in Concordia, MO. I remember him as being long-suffering, a peacemaker, loyal to His Church & Synod, but, most importantly, loyal to his Savior. I interpreted his reaction to circumstances as evangelical, measured, patient, thoughtful. At times I felt that he was being taken advantage of & wished him to be more assertive. The older I got, the more I appreciated his character & his style of leadership. Truly a servant leader. Truly a godly man & role model.
* My dad is in heaven.

A Mother *

My mom will probably always make it hard for other church organists to measure up to my standards. I will always think of her as one of the best if not the best church organist I've ever encounted. Talented? Yes, but more. I will always remember how she faithfully walked from our teacherage, past the parsonage, to the St. Paul's Lutheran Church, for at least an hour each Saturday afternoon before she played the chimes that evening [The hymns were broadcast & able to be heard throughout the community of Concordia & beyond.] Weather was not a deterrence & neither was sickness. She easily could have "mailed it in," but I don't remember her ever slacking off. As far as I know, she persevered in this endeavor until a stroke cruelly robbed her of this gift in her early 70s. She also directed an awesome adult choir.
* My mom is in heaven.

A Teacher

My 7th grade year was not fun. There were 2 high schools in Concordia:  St. Paul's College High--the Lutheran High School were I was headed--& Concordia High School, the local public school. There was a long-standing rivalry between these two schools, & it could get brutal at times. Only 3 out of 31 classmates attended St. Paul's, & lines were beginning to be drawn at our grade school by the beginning of 7th grade. Larry Noack was our 7th grade teacher, & he helped me navigate what was in many ways a miserable year for me, as I found myself somewhat of a social outcast. Admittedly, I brought a lot of misery on myself, because I was a jerk. You might say I was more than a little competitive, & as classmates began to choose sides concerning the high school they would be attending, barbs were thrown around, & I wasn't one to back down. Although I didn't realize it at the time, Larry was a role model whose example I would strive to recall & follow when I entered the teaching profession. [As an added bonus, I got to serve alongside Larry for several years when we both taught at Lincoln Lutheran Junior High.] Thank you, Larry!

A Teacher/Coach/Counselor

Rick Gove was my high basketball & track coach. He also taught some courses & was our high school guidance counselor. He held us to high standards, both on & off the court [& pole-vaulting runway]; yet I always felt that he cared about us as people, not just athletes; had deeper lessons in mind for us than just winning games, track points & medals. He listened to me especially my senior year when I was dealing w/a very cynical outlook on life & having trouble communicating with my dad. Also a role model whose example I would strive to recall & follow when I entered the Christian education profession. [As an added bonus, I became Rick's "peer" when I started attending ALSS * conferences as a Lutheran administrator, while he still served as head administrator @ St. Paul's High School in Concordia, MO.] Thank you, Rick!
* Association of Lutheran Secondary Schools

An Administrator *

I was lazy at times in my first assignment as a teacher @ a Lutheran High School in Chicago. Roger Schmohe was my vice-principal. At least two incidents inspired me. First, there was a summer when I taught a summer class @ Luther North. There were some days when I hadn't put in enough time & effort. Students finished the next day's assignment in class, & I didn't feel like exercising more than a token amount of classroom discipline. My solution? I started letting the class out early. Until Roger noticed & paid me a visit. He could have read me the riot act. He SHOULD have read me the riot act. Instead, he sat down with me & asked if I was having trouble with my lesson planning. He offered to help me come up with lesson plans that would help me fill a complete class period. And he did it without being patronizing or demeaning. Did I feel guilty? You bet I did, but I never forgot how his approach didn't shame me. I tried--not nearly as successfully--to adapt his style into my own style of leadership.
       Here's the other memory that sticks with me. While I served at Luther North, a financial crisis was brewing. I'm not sure that many of us knew just how bad things were. One day after school I was in my classroom, grading papers or planning lessons, & Roger came into my classroom with a broom & trash basket. When I asked what he was doing, he explained that they had laid off a janitor & he had volunteered to do some cleaning at least for the time being in an effort to help save some money. An awesome, awesome role model. An awesome, awesome example of "foot-washing."
* Roger is in heaven.