They are making years shorter these days. This one seems to have sped by. As I say that I realize that no young person would feel this. I have a friend who wrote a little advice handbook for teenage boys. He asked me what I thought of it. I told him that it read like the reflections of someone who had lived a long life and I was not certain how well this would go over with teenagers. I am happy to say he is still my friend. However, it does reveal the gap between how children and teenagers view life and how older people view it. As I write this I am conscious that it will probably not be read by children or youngsters. Since I cannot write like one of them it is perhaps a good thing, but we older people need to try to remember what it felt like being at the beginning of adult life.

Even if the Bible was written by adults for adults, God is the God of all ages. Jesus was a child in Nazareth. Think about that. He is perfectly well aware of the fears and worries of children, even teenagers. It is only too easy for us to dismiss their concerns as something that they will grow out of. They will usually, but at the time the fears and embarrassments are only too real. It is hard for grown-ups to enter again into the mind of a child, but it is not that hard to recognize that what bothers them really does upset them. Youngsters are changing all the time in ways they do not understand, and the world they had adjusted to makes new demands on them every day as their relationship to it changes.

A church family should be a place were they always feel safe and secure even as they change and struggle with the business of growing up. Every new six year old or sixteen year old has never been there before. It is a new adventure filled with all manner of new opportunities and also new mistakes they are afraid of making. Schools and even home neighborhoods can be alarming at times, and other young people can be very unforgiving over slips and embarrassments. Here we can be a safe place where people who have known them from when they were babies can be encouraging and supportive whenever we see them. I love having the young people read the lessons and be acolytes. It gives them a recognition and support which I hope is next to that they get at home.

It is something we can all take part in. I encourage everyone to talk to our young people.

More importantly, I encourage everyone to listen to them. Remember Christ welcomed the little children. He didn’t think that being the Son of God on Earth meant he was too busy or too important to find time for them.

We should make time whenever we are here and they are with us to take an interest, to ask about what they are doing, to listen to them (it’s fun), and to show them that we really do appreciate them. Remember we are called to have a faith like that of little children if we wish to enter the kingdom of Heaven.

August 28, 2008

Dear Members of St. Luke’s

On behalf of my mother, Dallas, and David, Angela and the entire Goeb family, I want to thank you all for your tremendous support and care as we experienced the death of our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. The outpouring of love we felt from all of you was a real source of comfort

I don’t know where to begin thanking all of you for the many kindness’ shown to us at this time and to dad and mom over the past several years. First, to all who worked so hard to make the funeral so special, thank you! The dinner you put together and served to so many was absolutely wonderful, as is typical of St. Luke’s, as I remember it. Food and fellowship have always gone hand-in-hand there. I know dad always looked forward to the special goodies during coffee hour and told me you would save him some without nuts!

I also want to express our thanks to those of you who went out of your way to drive our folks to church when dad could no longer drive. I realize it was a major undertaking but it was so very much appreciated. I believe the ability to stay connected at the church he loved and served for so many years was something that helped keep him going. As I said to Father Michael, it is almost not surprising that just when dad officially retired from St. Luke’s, he went home to be with his Lord.

David, Angela and I grew up at St. Luke’s and have known some of you for many years. We have great memories of Father Harding, Father Breisch, Father Doan, Father Fessler, and now have the pleasure of knowing Father Michael. As we sat downstairs after the funeral, enjoying the great meal, I couldn’t help but think of all the Sunday school classes, youth group meetings, VBS weeks, and coffee hours we spent there. Church was where we did most of our socializing and growing up, and it is obvious that after all these years, the same love and caring spirit of the Lord is still alive and active at St. Luke’s, still bringing people together. What a blessing and testament to all of you.

Thank you, too, to all of you who have visited dad and mom at Clement Manor. When you are in a situation like that it means so much to know that you have not been forgotten! You have truly been Jesus "with skin on" as the story says.

Again, our sincere appreciation to all of you! Blessings.

Kristine Goeb Zibell