We keep walking like disciples

By Rev. Sadi Omar Vila, San Andreas- Iglesia Luterana

 "San Andrés is a good place ..."

When the people of Israel left Egypt, their expectations were great and their assurances were few. They entered a territory rich in hopes and promises but unknown after all. They did not imagine a long and painful journey, but they did not back down. Moses led the search for a good place to celebrate their liberation, their reunion of love, their identity. Somehow —and we do not know how— I think they also had reasons to be happy ... because happiness also abounds in the midst of sadness.
 
This happens in San Andrés. Happiness is never a guarantee but there are plenty of reasons to smile and look to the future with hope and enthusiasm. 
We are a community of faith, a community that walks looking for and building that good place to celebrate.

Our pastoral project is based on the educational experience of the faith. We do not teach, we model behaviors and we share faith in a naturally spiritual environment; as saints and sinners, as citizens of two kingdoms and many nations.

We believe that our Lutheran tradition has all the theological and pastoral elements necessary to nurture and grow our Christian identity in the midst of a real community, which, in and of itself, already challenges every minute of our lives.

We want to have:

—‘Theological thinking’, that sees things from the perspective of faith. For this we promote serious and conscientious Bible study, which is knowledge, but is also a gateway to spirituality and for deepening one's relationship with Christ. 
—Liturgical heart, which celebrates Christ who saves and liberates, and who is the center of our entire faith life. We celebrate, sing, and pray with a universal, open, and inclusive perspective. 
—Open arms that narrow but do not imprison, that shorten distances and overcome differences. Hands that build and edify, that comfort the faithful and bless the weak and vulnerable. 
—Missionary feet, that walk and open paths for others. They take steps to bring real blessings to the world.

Where are we going?

We keep walking like disciples. Trusting and building ... hearing the prophetic voice of those who have already walked through these paths of faith: sister communities of faith that reach out to us, that pray for us, that guide us, and teach us.

Thanks to the local church, to our Nebraska synod, our bishop and pastor, and to all who take chances because San Andrés is a good place to celebrate the joy of being disciples for the world. 

Spanish Version

“San Andrés es un buen lugar…”
Cuando el pueblo de Israel salió de Egipto, grandes eran sus expectativas y pocas sus seguridades. Se adentraron en un territorio rico en esperanzas y promesas pero desconocido al fin y al cabo. No imaginaron una travesía larga y penosa, pero no dieron marcha atrás. Moisés lideraba la búsqueda de un buen lugar donde celebrar su liberación, su reencuentro de amor, su identidad. De algún modo —y no lo sabemos— creo que también ellos tuvieron razones para estar felices… porque la felicidad también abunda en medio de la tristeza.
Este sucede en San Andrés. La felicidad nunca es definitiva pero sobran razones para sonreír y mirar al futuro con esperanza y entusiasmo. 
Somos una comunidad de fe, una comunidad que camina buscando y construyendo ese buen lugar dónde celebrar. 
Nuestro proyecto pastoral está basado en la experiencia educativa de la fe. No enseñamos, modelamos conductas y compartimos la fe en un ambiente naturalmente sobrenatural; como santos y pecadores, como ciudadanos de dos reinos y muchas naciones.
Creemos que nuestra tradición luterana tiene todos los elementos teológicos y pastorales necesarios para nutrir y hacer crecer nuestra identidad cristiana en medio de una comunidad real, que, de por sí, ya desafía cada minuto de nuestra vida.
Queremos tener
—mentalidad teológica, que vea las cosas desde la perspectiva de la fe. Para ello promovemos el estudio bíblico serio y concienzudo, que es conocimiento pero es también una puerta a la dimensión sobrenatural del conocimiento de Cristo. 
—corazón litúrgico, que celebra a Cristo que salva y que libera y que es el centro de toda nuestra vida de fe. Celebramos, cantamos, y oramos con una perspectiva universal, abierta e inclusiva.  
—brazos abiertos que estrechan pero no aprisionan, que acortan distancias y superan las diferencias. Manos que construyen y edifican, que consuelan en la fe y bendicen a los débiles y vulnerables. 
—pies misioneros, que caminan y que abren caminos para otros. Pasos que llevan bendición real para el mundo.
¿Hacia dónde vamos? Seguimos caminando como discípulos. Confiando y construyendo… oyendo la voz profética de quiene ya han andado por estas sendas de la fe: comunidades de fe hermanas que nos tienden la mano, que oran por nosotros, que nos guían y nos enseñan.  Gracias a la iglesia local, a nuestro sínodo de Nebraska, nuestro obispo y pastor, y a todos quienes apuestan porque San Andrés sea un buen lugar donde celebrar la alegría de ser discípulos para el mundo. 



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