Well, it seems that I actually get to this blog about once a month, which is certainly less than I'd hoped. If only there weren't so many real world needs, distractions and concerns! First, let me say, Happy New Year! Yes, I know it's December 3rd. However, for Christians, the Church calendar just restarted last Sunday with the beginning of Advent. We've also moved into the second year in the three year lectionary cycle. That means that the controlling Gospel for the year is Mark, where everything happens euthus, which is Greek for immediately! Mark is sort of a rapid fire prologue to a powerful passion narrative. There's no Christmas story, no detailed temptation during Jesus' spirit walk in the wilderness, and far fewer parables. Mark is so terse that next summer we'll use a big selection of John texts to fill in the calendar.
If you never lay eyes on the Advent texts, it's easy to assume that a Christian celebration of the season of Christmas is all about a "Silent Night" image. Offering up Perfect peace, quiet, and Mary glowing and reveling in her infant son. We can imagine a silent baby who radiates holiness and a watchful stepfather who guards his family. We can cram a pile of thoughtful shepherds, gift giving wise men from Persia, India and Babylon into the tiny cave. We can even find spots for a fat jolly elf in a red suit with a cold (or maybe he's been tippling? how else do you account for the red nose and rosy cheeks?) and a Syrian boy with a drum who is a conscript into the occupying Roman army. Well, I suppose throwing in Santa and the Drummer Boy are a bit unfair, but sometimes we try so hard to synchronize not only the two Christmas stories (Matthew & Luke) from the Bible, but also pop culture information we've collected along the way.
Yet, if you look at the texts for Advent, we have the prophet Isaiah last Sunday begging God to "tear open the skies and come down", crying out for God to rock this world and shake us to our sinful core. Next week it doesn't get any rosier, we have a prophet in a smelly camel-skin urging people to repent before the mighty messiah arrives. If you've ever taken time to get to know some homeless people, you've probably met John the Baptist. He/She was the one who in his/her total deprivation of self seemed to understand the real mess our world is in and who knew just how desperately we all need saving. Fortunately, there's plenty of language in the readings that speaks to God's ability to redeem and reshape us.
In Isaiah 64, the prophet confesses that "You are the potter and we are the clay", God can remold our lives. And in this Sunday's texts Isaiah again proclaims reconciliation.
40:1 Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.
40:2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.
For Christians, Christmas is about "Advent" or "arrival". Hence the name of the preparatory season before the Holy Day. It's about the "first advent", the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem during the reign of Tiberius, because his life and ministry flow from that event. It's also about the "second advent", the promised day of Christ's return and the elimination of death. And in between those events, it's about the "little advents", the signs and events that remind us that the Divine is breaking into the world. Those little advents, like the sacraments, the confession of faith of a new believer, the free service to neighbor, the proclamation of God's Word, the rebirth of a person's faith, the anointing with the Holy Spirit, all point in the direction of God's movement. Not away from us, and not stationary waiting for us to claw our way up, but down to meet us, right where we are in order to transform our very selves.
Peace and a Solemn Advent!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
All Saints Sunday through Sunday 31
Lectionary Thoughts
Well, here goes another stab at keeping up with this! This past weekend, many Christians around the world celebrated the Festival of All Saints. In fact, the goofy costume wearing, sugar-coma inducing, teeth-rotting celebration on October 31st (Halloween, the CVS version, not the modern pagan holiday) is derived from the term All Hallows (Saints) Eve. All Saints had deepened significance all around for me this year, from the one year anniversary of my ordination, to the death of my father earlier this year, the communion of the saints is a vital part of my faith journey right now. Preaching-wise, I focused on the presence of Christ and the saints gathered to him for All-Saints. This is a theme I like to return to whenever I have a funeral/memorial with communion. In the process of grieving, we must relocate the dead to a new place in our consciousness and lives at every other table, both noticing their empty seat and also shuffling up the seating chart for the sake of the living. But at the communion table, we still dine with them, the only difference being that they experience the meal in a new context. To recognize the presence of Christ and all the saints in this way offers a startling and positive reminder of the promises made to us, and of the vital importance of gathering in Christian community. There are no lone ranger Christians if the communio is understood fully.
That reality make this weekend's apocalyptic texts even more interesting. The question of who is and isn't a part of God's people is asked again and again. Is it simply the people who do "religious stuff", like festivals, worship and ceremonies? Or does being God's people mean acting in justice, with a compassion that is associated with God? Amos seems to strike right at the notion of formal religiosity with no real-world component. Paul addresses the anxiety of the church in Thessaloniki that brothers and sisters who die before Christ's return are somehow lost, promising that they will reap the benefits of grace even before the survivors do. Finally, the Matthean community wrestles with Jesus' cryptic teaching on the unpredictable return, wondering who will be ready and who will be caught off-guard by the full presence of Christ. Will we skip out on the bridegroom's entrance in order to seek more (preparation, holiness, material security, political benefit, blessing, endurance, self-improvement, etc.) before drawing close to him? Knowing that the church is always the faithful departed, faithful gathered and the faithful who are far away by no fault of their own, how do we live into this reality, making our invisible communion more visible?
What did that Christian just say?
Apocalyptic- When certain texts are called apocalyptic (e.g. Daniel, Revelation) this refers to a their containing a revelation (from the Greek apocalypsis) of a truth that may not be apparent to the reader based on the facts of history at the moment. Apocalyptic writing frequently is produced in response to the crushing forces of Empire (Babylon, Seleucid, Rome) in a way the disguises the political critique contained therein. At the core of these revelatory images is the firm belief that God is the ultimate arbiter and ruler of history. (God's the decider...) This means that systems which purport to replace the role of God as maker, sustainer and redeemer of the world are bound to fall to God's judgment. These systems are often represented by terrible beasts and other fantastic creatures in order to show both their power, but also the fact that they are unnatural. Unlike the majestic power of a lion or a killer whale, these chimeras are not wholly one sort of creature or another. They are an amalgam of powers from across creation, but by being shown as beasts, the writer places them under the innovator and author of the universe, God. The Apocalypse does not refer to a particular point in time, but rather to a special time where people see the systems and powers for what they are, and see the judgment of God reasserted and made plain. It's the revealing of truth that is so powerful, it seems as though the world is ending, because the powers that seek to dominate it begin to crumble and are proven to be pretenders to the throne. Often times, Apocalyptic visions are combined with eschatalogical hopes. These hopes are related to "final things" an eschaton is a thing that is final. Christians place our hope in the apocalypse (revelation) that in the eschaton (when all is said and done, both individually and corporately), the powers of the world which dominate and crush us (including death) will be revealed as overcome by God's compassion for the world (as expressed by the enemy-love of Jesus), and that God will dwell among the people in a way that is evident to all.
Well, here goes another stab at keeping up with this! This past weekend, many Christians around the world celebrated the Festival of All Saints. In fact, the goofy costume wearing, sugar-coma inducing, teeth-rotting celebration on October 31st (Halloween, the CVS version, not the modern pagan holiday) is derived from the term All Hallows (Saints) Eve. All Saints had deepened significance all around for me this year, from the one year anniversary of my ordination, to the death of my father earlier this year, the communion of the saints is a vital part of my faith journey right now. Preaching-wise, I focused on the presence of Christ and the saints gathered to him for All-Saints. This is a theme I like to return to whenever I have a funeral/memorial with communion. In the process of grieving, we must relocate the dead to a new place in our consciousness and lives at every other table, both noticing their empty seat and also shuffling up the seating chart for the sake of the living. But at the communion table, we still dine with them, the only difference being that they experience the meal in a new context. To recognize the presence of Christ and all the saints in this way offers a startling and positive reminder of the promises made to us, and of the vital importance of gathering in Christian community. There are no lone ranger Christians if the communio is understood fully.
That reality make this weekend's apocalyptic texts even more interesting. The question of who is and isn't a part of God's people is asked again and again. Is it simply the people who do "religious stuff", like festivals, worship and ceremonies? Or does being God's people mean acting in justice, with a compassion that is associated with God? Amos seems to strike right at the notion of formal religiosity with no real-world component. Paul addresses the anxiety of the church in Thessaloniki that brothers and sisters who die before Christ's return are somehow lost, promising that they will reap the benefits of grace even before the survivors do. Finally, the Matthean community wrestles with Jesus' cryptic teaching on the unpredictable return, wondering who will be ready and who will be caught off-guard by the full presence of Christ. Will we skip out on the bridegroom's entrance in order to seek more (preparation, holiness, material security, political benefit, blessing, endurance, self-improvement, etc.) before drawing close to him? Knowing that the church is always the faithful departed, faithful gathered and the faithful who are far away by no fault of their own, how do we live into this reality, making our invisible communion more visible?
What did that Christian just say?
Apocalyptic- When certain texts are called apocalyptic (e.g. Daniel, Revelation) this refers to a their containing a revelation (from the Greek apocalypsis) of a truth that may not be apparent to the reader based on the facts of history at the moment. Apocalyptic writing frequently is produced in response to the crushing forces of Empire (Babylon, Seleucid, Rome) in a way the disguises the political critique contained therein. At the core of these revelatory images is the firm belief that God is the ultimate arbiter and ruler of history. (God's the decider...) This means that systems which purport to replace the role of God as maker, sustainer and redeemer of the world are bound to fall to God's judgment. These systems are often represented by terrible beasts and other fantastic creatures in order to show both their power, but also the fact that they are unnatural. Unlike the majestic power of a lion or a killer whale, these chimeras are not wholly one sort of creature or another. They are an amalgam of powers from across creation, but by being shown as beasts, the writer places them under the innovator and author of the universe, God. The Apocalypse does not refer to a particular point in time, but rather to a special time where people see the systems and powers for what they are, and see the judgment of God reasserted and made plain. It's the revealing of truth that is so powerful, it seems as though the world is ending, because the powers that seek to dominate it begin to crumble and are proven to be pretenders to the throne. Often times, Apocalyptic visions are combined with eschatalogical hopes. These hopes are related to "final things" an eschaton is a thing that is final. Christians place our hope in the apocalypse (revelation) that in the eschaton (when all is said and done, both individually and corporately), the powers of the world which dominate and crush us (including death) will be revealed as overcome by God's compassion for the world (as expressed by the enemy-love of Jesus), and that God will dwell among the people in a way that is evident to all.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Holy Cross Day through Sunday 25
Lectionary Thoughts
This past Sunday, churches using the Revised Common Lectionary had two choices for planning worship. The texts for Sunday 24 continued the journey through the book of Romans and the Gospel of Matthew. However, September 14th is also Holy Cross Day, a day to venerate and contemplate this complex symbol. Western Tradition has been to celebrate Holy Cross whenever it falls on a Sunday. The day calls us to reflect on the central paradox of Christian faith. When treated honestly, we acknowledge the cross to be brutal, awful, and horrific. We open ourselves to the mystery that something that looks evil can be good. We open ourselves to the awesome compassion of a God who drives straight into the worst of places precisely to bring what is missing: comfort in the face of pain, solace in the face of heartache, forgiveness in the face of rebellion and life in the face of death.
Hopefully, we come to recognize that while the crucifixion was a moment in history, that the consequences of God's total emptying of self now cast a new light on a whole host of circumstances. Whenever we stand face to face with the compelling arguments that the world is lost and that suffering will overtake us, we can see the Cross in that moment, and know the foolish wisdom of God, creating life where there should be none.
Commemorations this week
9/16/2008- Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage and Martyr d. 258
9/17/3008- Hildegard of Bingen, Abbess & Mystic d. 1179
9/18/2008- Dag Hammarskjold, Diplomat & Mystic d. 1961
9/20/2008- Nelson Wesley Trout, Bishop d. 1996
What did that Christian just say?
This week's term is martyr in honor of Bishop Cyprian. The term martyr comes from the Greek marturion, which means "witness". This could be a witness in a court case, or a witness who provided a letter of reference for a person. The marturion, could vouch for the character of the person whom they were attesting to. In some sense, all Christians are witnesses (or at least we're called to be), attesting to the character of Christ. In the early church, during times of intense persecution, martyrdom, i.e. "witnessing" took on a special meaning as some believers chose to face punishment, torture and even death rather than to renounce Christ. While this act was not essential to remain a believer (after all a religion of 100% persecution martyrs doesn't last long), it was held up as an example because of the powerful testimony it gave to those who observed their stand. More recent thinking has moved beyond understanding the witness of martyrs under persecution to consider how every Christian can witness to their faith, especially in the way they face death, even if that death is from natural causes.
This past Sunday, churches using the Revised Common Lectionary had two choices for planning worship. The texts for Sunday 24 continued the journey through the book of Romans and the Gospel of Matthew. However, September 14th is also Holy Cross Day, a day to venerate and contemplate this complex symbol. Western Tradition has been to celebrate Holy Cross whenever it falls on a Sunday. The day calls us to reflect on the central paradox of Christian faith. When treated honestly, we acknowledge the cross to be brutal, awful, and horrific. We open ourselves to the mystery that something that looks evil can be good. We open ourselves to the awesome compassion of a God who drives straight into the worst of places precisely to bring what is missing: comfort in the face of pain, solace in the face of heartache, forgiveness in the face of rebellion and life in the face of death.
Hopefully, we come to recognize that while the crucifixion was a moment in history, that the consequences of God's total emptying of self now cast a new light on a whole host of circumstances. Whenever we stand face to face with the compelling arguments that the world is lost and that suffering will overtake us, we can see the Cross in that moment, and know the foolish wisdom of God, creating life where there should be none.
Commemorations this week
9/16/2008- Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage and Martyr d. 258
9/17/3008- Hildegard of Bingen, Abbess & Mystic d. 1179
9/18/2008- Dag Hammarskjold, Diplomat & Mystic d. 1961
9/20/2008- Nelson Wesley Trout, Bishop d. 1996
What did that Christian just say?
This week's term is martyr in honor of Bishop Cyprian. The term martyr comes from the Greek marturion, which means "witness". This could be a witness in a court case, or a witness who provided a letter of reference for a person. The marturion, could vouch for the character of the person whom they were attesting to. In some sense, all Christians are witnesses (or at least we're called to be), attesting to the character of Christ. In the early church, during times of intense persecution, martyrdom, i.e. "witnessing" took on a special meaning as some believers chose to face punishment, torture and even death rather than to renounce Christ. While this act was not essential to remain a believer (after all a religion of 100% persecution martyrs doesn't last long), it was held up as an example because of the powerful testimony it gave to those who observed their stand. More recent thinking has moved beyond understanding the witness of martyrs under persecution to consider how every Christian can witness to their faith, especially in the way they face death, even if that death is from natural causes.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Prolonged Web Silence...
Friends, I just sat back and realized how long it's been since I posted to City Pastor. Since my last post, I've buried my father, spent a week of vacation helping my mother, been to Cape Cod (know to locals simply as "The Cape" as if there were no other), and spent a busy month planning, revising schedules for Sunday School, Catechism studies, and our Wednesday community dinners. I've tried to build excitement about the New England Youth Gathering at Hammonasset park in Connecticut, and spent time working with the commissions and committees that are both in and out of my portfolio. All in all, I'd say the sabbatical of my colleague has been a smooth, but tiring process. Smooth because the many volunteers who have pulled together to keep things running have been simply wonderful. I've been blessed with patient responses as I get up to speed on all the aspects of the parish that were less familiar before the sabbatical.
Right now, we're in the thick of a fantastic Vacation Bible School week. Our grade schoolers are with a team of counselors from Camp Calumet and our preschoolers are with a dedicated group of volunteers and junior counselors. The preschoolers are learning the seasons of the church year, dressing in a new liturgical color each day, making seasonal crafts, and I've been using my biblical storytelling talents to present a seasonal story each day that lifts up the core of the season. Getting ready for each day means coming in an hour early to work with my text and memorize (or refresh) the text in my head since I'm working without any written references. It's been exciting, and the puppets and visual aids that Ruth, our summer intern made for the storytelling time have been excellent.
It will be such a radical change of pace next week when I head to WPI to work on the Campus Religious Center and the 70 energetic bouncing kids are all back at home. Ah, the sound of silence.
Right now, we're in the thick of a fantastic Vacation Bible School week. Our grade schoolers are with a team of counselors from Camp Calumet and our preschoolers are with a dedicated group of volunteers and junior counselors. The preschoolers are learning the seasons of the church year, dressing in a new liturgical color each day, making seasonal crafts, and I've been using my biblical storytelling talents to present a seasonal story each day that lifts up the core of the season. Getting ready for each day means coming in an hour early to work with my text and memorize (or refresh) the text in my head since I'm working without any written references. It's been exciting, and the puppets and visual aids that Ruth, our summer intern made for the storytelling time have been excellent.
It will be such a radical change of pace next week when I head to WPI to work on the Campus Religious Center and the 70 energetic bouncing kids are all back at home. Ah, the sound of silence.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Joy & Sorrow
Dad died peacefully just before seven this morning. Now that we've all said our goodbyes, the work of grieving begins in full as we commend him into God's hands. Though Augsburg won't mention it in the little red book next year, from this day forward, June 17 will be the commemoration of Gerald of Hartford, Renewer of Society. Let light perpetual shine upon him, and may he rest in peace.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Wedding Mania
Two down and one to go! June is still one of the most popular months for a wedding and this June is no exception. Weddings are a real challenge, while they are almost always joyous occasions, it can be hard to find a deeper Gospel message in the midst of the glitter, the fancy clothing and the party-goers. Even though the wedding preparation process is first and foremost for the couple, in my listening to their story I discover some of what will form the basis for a wedding sermon. Unlike a typical Eucharist, where the assembly is addressed as Christian community, or a funeral where the assembly is addressed as those who mourn, at a wedding, the assembly is addressed through the couple. My message for them, as Christocentric as possible, flows through the celebration of their relationship to the gathered friends and family.
I spent last night on a cot in the hospital, keeping an eye on my father and giving him Celtics updates, a truly surreal experience even for someone who has covered overnight and 24 hour shifts as a hospital chaplain. It's hard to say what today will bring, but every day brings subtle changes that reflect new aspects of the dying process. With great wisdom, my mother reflected on how the travail of birth is so oddly mirrored in the slow and difficult process of death.
I spent last night on a cot in the hospital, keeping an eye on my father and giving him Celtics updates, a truly surreal experience even for someone who has covered overnight and 24 hour shifts as a hospital chaplain. It's hard to say what today will bring, but every day brings subtle changes that reflect new aspects of the dying process. With great wisdom, my mother reflected on how the travail of birth is so oddly mirrored in the slow and difficult process of death.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Lutherans Assemble!!
Okay, so it's not as flashy as the Avengers getting together to save the world, but I had a great time (if a bit exhausting) at the New England Synod Assembly. This assembly was special to me for a few reasons. First, it was my first assembly as a clergy voting member. Secondly it was the first opportunity for our summer immersion student to observe the larger church conducting itself in business, worship, sharing and discernment. Finally, I was able to witness the ordination of two colleagues from Philadelphia seminary who have been called to serve here in New England. All around a momentous affair. The hearings, elections and business went smoothly and peaceably, and the worship was amazing. From belting out hymns in the assembly hall to our festive Eucharist on Friday, everything both went well and had a spectacular feel to it. Kudos to the Trinity Choir, to Donald our choir leader and to Steve our guest organist. Your worship leadership was excellent.
This Assembly was also challenging, not because of the early mornings and the late finishes, but because of some other things that bumped into it. There was a wedding rehearsal Thursday and a Wedding Saturday that took time and energy. There was lots of planning and finalizing for Sunday. During the assembly, I received news that my father, who was undergoing treatment for lymphoma was discontinuing treatment and entering a hospice program. Sara and I spent time with him and other family members on Sunday so that we could celebrate Father's Day a week early. It was the best Father's Day and the hardest Father's Day ever. I give thanks to God for the gift of faith that has allowed me to face these trying times with a sense of peace and a deep seated hope. The amazing support I've received from colleagues, parishioners and friends has made the entire ordeal much more bearable. It was so moving to be prayed for at the assembly, by brothers and sisters I know well, and those I have yet to meet.
This Assembly was also challenging, not because of the early mornings and the late finishes, but because of some other things that bumped into it. There was a wedding rehearsal Thursday and a Wedding Saturday that took time and energy. There was lots of planning and finalizing for Sunday. During the assembly, I received news that my father, who was undergoing treatment for lymphoma was discontinuing treatment and entering a hospice program. Sara and I spent time with him and other family members on Sunday so that we could celebrate Father's Day a week early. It was the best Father's Day and the hardest Father's Day ever. I give thanks to God for the gift of faith that has allowed me to face these trying times with a sense of peace and a deep seated hope. The amazing support I've received from colleagues, parishioners and friends has made the entire ordeal much more bearable. It was so moving to be prayed for at the assembly, by brothers and sisters I know well, and those I have yet to meet.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
A Time to Learn
So here I am in Philadelphia, getting ready for the Project Connect orientation at the seminary. The Project helps people who are discerning a vocation in ministry through retreats, mentoring and supporting immersion experiences in local congregations. This summer I'll be working with a student from Valparaiso University on pastoral care training and visitation. It's exciting to help mentor a future pastor and the experience thus far has confirmed my thoughts about wanting to be an internship supervisor when the time comes. I'm looking forward to hearing our guest preacher this weekend, the first of several sabbatical helpers. There are many activities popping up all over and I'm excited about getting engaged with all of them, with hopes that I'll have the energy to do them.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
2nd Sunday after Pentecost
For those of us in liturgical churches (which has more to do with style of liturgy than its presence, according to the esteemed theologian Dr. Gordon Lathrop, all Christians have some kind of liturgy, even if it is gathered silence. Otherwise we'd have no cause to ever gather.) we are entering into several new seasons at once. Memorial Day, which properly is set aside to remember the gift of self that countless soldiers have given throughout our country's history, marks the "unofficial start of summer" in the U.S. and folks orientation moves away from schooling and work towards warm weather and recreation. At Trinity we have our own transitions as some programs are modified during the summer and others are paused until the fall. And of course, with Pentecost and Holy Trinity Sunday behind us, we enter the sea of green. Green readings, about the life and work of the church; green vestments to test the endurance in buildings without air conditioning; green paraments to remind us of our life in God.
The 'summer', however it is loosely defined, is not time off for the church. Worship and some education continues apace. There is ample planning, preparing and revising going on. Summer is a time to reinvigorate home visitation because the weather is less of a barrier to traveling to folks' homes. And in our particular context there are students to mentor, a vacation bible school to run and a campus ministry that needs to be brought up to speed.
This is the time to open up the garage, sharpen the tools and make sure we have what we need for the harvest ahead!
The 'summer', however it is loosely defined, is not time off for the church. Worship and some education continues apace. There is ample planning, preparing and revising going on. Summer is a time to reinvigorate home visitation because the weather is less of a barrier to traveling to folks' homes. And in our particular context there are students to mentor, a vacation bible school to run and a campus ministry that needs to be brought up to speed.
This is the time to open up the garage, sharpen the tools and make sure we have what we need for the harvest ahead!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Helena's Handbasket
Tomorrow we remember Helena, the mother of Constantine. Following her son's conversion to Christianity, Helena was involved in a journey to the Holy Land where she was responsible for the construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher on the site of Jesus' tomb. Her generosity, simplicity and piety were well known in her time and she would worship alongside commoners in spite of her high social standing.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
What a Mystery
One God, three persons. When translators attempted to bring the Greek idea of One God, three hypostases into Latin, the image they came up with was One God, three Personnae. These personnae were the masks from ancient theater that let the audience know that the same actor was appearing as more than one character. The same actor stood behind each personnae, giving life and energy to the character. Yet, each personnae was distinct, a person in their own right. I made these fun masks for the Sunday School devotions for the Feast of the Holy Trinity. No matter how we try to wrap language around the Trinity, it is always a mystery. However, this is certainly one of the more fun ways I've tried to offer some understanding on this doctrine.
For a fun geeky note, I snapped the photo with an LG VX9900 and then mailed myself the image in order to blog it.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Lost in Space?
Happy Pentecost to everyone! And for anyone who is keeping track, today is the commemoration for Matthias the Apostle. Technically number 13, Matthias took the place of Judas after Judas committed suicide. Matthias was chosen because he had been with the disciples from the beginning of the mission (a reminder that there were always more than just 12) and he had known Jesus. It's striking to think that discipleship and even apostleship work that way. The Spirit moves and selects the right people for the task, guiding each of us towards a place of purpose.
Between my father's illness, traveling and meetings for the church it's been hard to do much blogging lately. However, thanks some recent birthday gifts, I've been able to acquire a pretty amazing new device. See it here for further inspection http://eeepc.asus.com/global/
The EeePC is no larger than a paperback beach book or a paper daytimer. However, it has the much of the functionality of a notebook computer. To add to my joy, it runs a custom Linux desktop that is perfect for the form factor. And yes, even though it is small, it is possible to type on the keyboard. I am actually writing this post on the Eee. This little 2 lb. wonder will replace my turbo-charged widescreen laptop for traveling and off site meetings, I can pack it in its case and carry it like a datebook.
I tested out the media player yesterday, and was able to drop my music collection from the laptop to an 8G SDHC card. In addition, I've ripped a couple of movies I own and put them on the SDHC as well. The Eee makes a pretty sharp movie player for the road. The fullscreen mode was clear and sharp. Just plug in the headphones and enjoy your flight/train/bus.
Tonight we're holding the second class for the month of May, offering some basic perspective on Lutheran Christianity and our confessional history. If you're a local reading this, stop by Trinity Lutheran in Worcester at 5:45 for class followed by a community dinner and a contemplative worship.
Between my father's illness, traveling and meetings for the church it's been hard to do much blogging lately. However, thanks some recent birthday gifts, I've been able to acquire a pretty amazing new device. See it here for further inspection http://eeepc.asus.com/global/
The EeePC is no larger than a paperback beach book or a paper daytimer. However, it has the much of the functionality of a notebook computer. To add to my joy, it runs a custom Linux desktop that is perfect for the form factor. And yes, even though it is small, it is possible to type on the keyboard. I am actually writing this post on the Eee. This little 2 lb. wonder will replace my turbo-charged widescreen laptop for traveling and off site meetings, I can pack it in its case and carry it like a datebook.
I tested out the media player yesterday, and was able to drop my music collection from the laptop to an 8G SDHC card. In addition, I've ripped a couple of movies I own and put them on the SDHC as well. The Eee makes a pretty sharp movie player for the road. The fullscreen mode was clear and sharp. Just plug in the headphones and enjoy your flight/train/bus.
Tonight we're holding the second class for the month of May, offering some basic perspective on Lutheran Christianity and our confessional history. If you're a local reading this, stop by Trinity Lutheran in Worcester at 5:45 for class followed by a community dinner and a contemplative worship.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Whirlwind of Activity
Well, just as much as Chicago and the National Workshop on Christian Unity plunged me deep into the bleeding edge of ecumenical discourse, last week's mission trip to central Pennsylvania got me immersed in youth work and service activities. The trip was a lot of fun, and we focused our spiritual life on four key topics:
1. God made everything, including us.
2. We're not alone, God is with us in and through the community of faith.
3. God has a special calling for each of us.
4. In service to our neighbors, we show God's goodness and act as the hands of Christ.
And our apologies and thanks go to the hardworking staff of the Gettysburg Pizza Hut on Baltimore Pike for rising to the occasion and feeding 57 hungry people at the drop of a hat.
1. God made everything, including us.
2. We're not alone, God is with us in and through the community of faith.
3. God has a special calling for each of us.
4. In service to our neighbors, we show God's goodness and act as the hands of Christ.
And our apologies and thanks go to the hardworking staff of the Gettysburg Pizza Hut on Baltimore Pike for rising to the occasion and feeding 57 hungry people at the drop of a hat.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Drawing to a Close
Next year I may be blogging the conference from an internet tablet in Phoenix, AZ. I'll have to see on that. In the meantime, things are drawing to a close here. I've met lots of fascinating folks and am excited to take some of what I've learned here home with me. Like the wedding at Cana, the organizers saved the best for last. The final panel discussion featuring one Orthodox, one Reformed and one Catholic presenter offered amazing insights into their conception of both the local and the global/universal church. The room for dialogue was excellent and I feel better informed about each. Tonight we have a final Eucharist at the Lutheran Center Chapel and then tomorrow I'll be headed home after a plenary with some national church staff. I've made a number of good contacts both for returning to New England and for future ecumenical work around the U.S. Once I get the CD's of some of the talks, I'll be posting selections from the conference here.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Big Church
"Big Church", as my wife and I sometimes refer to life and expressions beyond the congregation, has involved a good deal of my time this past weekend and this entire week. It began on Saturday with a trip to the Mission Area Conference in Sturbridge, MA and continues with the National Workshop on Christian Unity in Chicago, IL. I am always humbled and deeply gratified when I participate in such events, precisely because they are reminders that I am part of something much bigger than one parish, and in the case of NWCU, much bigger than just the Lutheran branch of Christianity.
Mission Area Conference involved a daylong get together with members and leaders of churches from central and western Massachusetts. We heard a presentation by our Bishop, had workshops on topics of concern and had a great networking lunch where I met a variety of folks involved in Christian Education.
NWCU involves a concurrent education program and the meetings of various ecumenical networks. So I've been attending both the mixed programming and the meeting of LERN (Lutheran Ecumenical Resource Network). I'll post more on both later.
In the meantime, I just wanted to share the bookstore haul. (Lord save me from conference bookstores!)
William G. Rusch "Justification and the Future of the Ecumenical Movement"
David Batstone "Not for $ale" the official book of the Amazing Change Campaign
Julia K. Dinsmore "My Name is Child of God... Not 'Those People'"
Siku "The Manga Bible", a Japanese style graphic representation of Genesis through Revelation.
Mission Area Conference involved a daylong get together with members and leaders of churches from central and western Massachusetts. We heard a presentation by our Bishop, had workshops on topics of concern and had a great networking lunch where I met a variety of folks involved in Christian Education.
NWCU involves a concurrent education program and the meetings of various ecumenical networks. So I've been attending both the mixed programming and the meeting of LERN (Lutheran Ecumenical Resource Network). I'll post more on both later.
In the meantime, I just wanted to share the bookstore haul. (Lord save me from conference bookstores!)
William G. Rusch "Justification and the Future of the Ecumenical Movement"
David Batstone "Not for $ale" the official book of the Amazing Change Campaign
Julia K. Dinsmore "My Name is Child of God... Not 'Those People'"
Siku "The Manga Bible", a Japanese style graphic representation of Genesis through Revelation.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
So Many Surprises
When you begin the week with a story as familiar and as startling as the road to Emmaus, it's hard not to start seeing amazing surprises everywhere. Whether it's the feeling that the campus ministry work that I've been inching is on the precipice of real movement, or the many and varied couples I'm preparing for marriage, or even the delight of reconnecting with an old friend from years ago, the days feel full of potential.
April will be over in the blink of an eye, especially with the conference and the youth mission trip. Each of these opportunities will spur new ministry and will solidify some of the core elements of my own call. I feel very energized about all of the possibilities that lie ahead and am excited to roll up my sleeves and engage this work.
This Saturday I'll be at the Mission Area Conference for Central and Western Massachusetts. I'm hoping to learn about what's going on in terms of community ministry around the area. This ought to be a good time for doing some networking as well. My hope is that I'll come across some blogworthy items to report both there and from the National Workshop on Christian Unity that is coming up.
April will be over in the blink of an eye, especially with the conference and the youth mission trip. Each of these opportunities will spur new ministry and will solidify some of the core elements of my own call. I feel very energized about all of the possibilities that lie ahead and am excited to roll up my sleeves and engage this work.
This Saturday I'll be at the Mission Area Conference for Central and Western Massachusetts. I'm hoping to learn about what's going on in terms of community ministry around the area. This ought to be a good time for doing some networking as well. My hope is that I'll come across some blogworthy items to report both there and from the National Workshop on Christian Unity that is coming up.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
It must be Spring
Confirmation students beg to have class outside, even though it's not exactly warm enough. Discussions of the calendar revolve around weddings, wedding rehearsals and the annual New England Synod Assembly, birds are singing around my house, sometimes it's even still light when my office hours are finished. It must be Spring.
It was a little disorienting this past Friday to do a little shopping in the cold and damp weather, feeling as though Winter still clung to us, when I saw the Easter decorations cast on to the clearance shelf. However, I am deeply grateful to be in the Easter season. With the recent challenges I've experienced in campus ministry, in addition to coordinating the final stages of our upcoming youth trips, and generally working a few too many hours, I am glad to be in the fifty days of Resurrection. When I take time to pause and reflect I am awed by God's presence in these struggles, carefully and wonderfully opening paths to life when it appeared that all routes where cut off.
I more deeply appreciate Dietrich Bonhoeffer getting "stuck" on Job in his bible study in prison, and I feel as though I ought to dwell there for awhile as well. Job contends mightily with God, but he never curses or rejects God's justice.
It was a little disorienting this past Friday to do a little shopping in the cold and damp weather, feeling as though Winter still clung to us, when I saw the Easter decorations cast on to the clearance shelf. However, I am deeply grateful to be in the Easter season. With the recent challenges I've experienced in campus ministry, in addition to coordinating the final stages of our upcoming youth trips, and generally working a few too many hours, I am glad to be in the fifty days of Resurrection. When I take time to pause and reflect I am awed by God's presence in these struggles, carefully and wonderfully opening paths to life when it appeared that all routes where cut off.
I more deeply appreciate Dietrich Bonhoeffer getting "stuck" on Job in his bible study in prison, and I feel as though I ought to dwell there for awhile as well. Job contends mightily with God, but he never curses or rejects God's justice.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
First Foray
I'm excited about tonight, it will be my first foray on to a college campus. I've been invited to take part in a student led forum at WPI (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) that engages questions of science, ethics and the advancement of both. Tonight's forum focuses specifically on the non-physiological causes of illness. I look forward to expounding on the experience. Hopefully this can serve as a stepping stone to meaningful involvement in the campus next door.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Easter Miracles
My first Holy Week and Easter as a pastor went well when you take everything into consideration. During the two weeks leading up, it seemed as though there was work every night of the week. And of course Holy Week is worship, followed by getting ready for more worship, followed by setting up for the next worship. So it's not surprising that I had a Spring cold in my Easter basket this year. Even so, with lots of water, tea, cough drops, zinc supplements and tissues, I made it through the week, participating fully. I even delivered a couple of well received sermons on Maundy Thursday and the Easter Vigil and managed not to panic long enough to sing the sung portions of the Easter Morning liturgies.
Business aside, I do love this time of year. The various parts of the week, especially the Triduum (Thur, Fri, Sat) really refresh my faith and strengthen my gratitude. We heartily want to deny that the head can lead the heart, and that only "good feelings" will ultimately confirm our faith. However, I've discovered the opposite to be true, if you want to get splattered with watermelon, you need to sit down in front at a Gallagher show. If you want to be splashed by the Holy Spirit, you need to make a conscious choice to be present when the Spirit is most accessible. Doing all these practices can bend our heart in a new direction.
There were some disappointments, like not being able to spend Sunday night with my sister, brother-in-law and parents. Calling that afternoon to say hello wasn't exactly the same. Perhaps next year the circumstances will work out better to get together.
I wish everyone a happy Easter, and I pray that the 50 days will inspire and feed you until Pentecost!
Business aside, I do love this time of year. The various parts of the week, especially the Triduum (Thur, Fri, Sat) really refresh my faith and strengthen my gratitude. We heartily want to deny that the head can lead the heart, and that only "good feelings" will ultimately confirm our faith. However, I've discovered the opposite to be true, if you want to get splattered with watermelon, you need to sit down in front at a Gallagher show. If you want to be splashed by the Holy Spirit, you need to make a conscious choice to be present when the Spirit is most accessible. Doing all these practices can bend our heart in a new direction.
There were some disappointments, like not being able to spend Sunday night with my sister, brother-in-law and parents. Calling that afternoon to say hello wasn't exactly the same. Perhaps next year the circumstances will work out better to get together.
I wish everyone a happy Easter, and I pray that the 50 days will inspire and feed you until Pentecost!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Feeling Sort of Maundy
Today is Maundy Thursday, or Holy Thursday, depending on whom you ask. Maundy comes from the Latin mandatum or command. Therefore, on this commemoration of Jesus' great commands we recall his good instructions "Do this in memory of me" and "Love one another." For non-church folks, the fact that washing each other's feet is part of today's worship is plain bizarre. Yet for certain wings in the Christian household, what is odd is that we have bounded this practice and use it only on this day each year.
Now, I've participated in foot washing in three circumstances (on a retreat, on a couple of mission trips, and on Maundy Thursday) and each time it was a very humbling and worthwhile experience. Was it odd, embarrassing, and awkward? Absolutely yes. Do I have "nice looking" feet? I don't think so. Yet I am very glad to have participated. A little embarrassment for Jesus' sake is a good thing, it's both humbling and allows me to be the weak-arched, funny middle toes person that I was created to be. I often wonder what else would happen if church was a safe place to be honestly broken instead of tenuously held together.
Now, I've participated in foot washing in three circumstances (on a retreat, on a couple of mission trips, and on Maundy Thursday) and each time it was a very humbling and worthwhile experience. Was it odd, embarrassing, and awkward? Absolutely yes. Do I have "nice looking" feet? I don't think so. Yet I am very glad to have participated. A little embarrassment for Jesus' sake is a good thing, it's both humbling and allows me to be the weak-arched, funny middle toes person that I was created to be. I often wonder what else would happen if church was a safe place to be honestly broken instead of tenuously held together.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Two sides of a Story
It's really fascinating to be in the same city as the Synod (the area under a bishop) offices, because it seems that I see the staff from there quite often. Today was just that way, folks who came out for a Eucharist and Healing liturgy at lunch time had the opportunity to hear our Bishop preach, which is always really a positive experience. It was fascinating to hear about the whole assignment process from a leader's perspective, especially since good friends of mine are going through the process right now. The whole experience of guessing where you'll end up and then coming to terms with the placement, the potential congregation and community are all fraught with nervousness and wonder. It will be exciting to see folks who do end up in New England at assemblies and the like. The Spirit moves in astounding ways and I'm always amazed at how things come together.
Monday, March 17, 2008
New(ish) Computer
After much waiting the "new" desktop is here. Actually the case and the monitor are the same, so is the floppy drive (not that I have any use for it). Just about everything else is new, the motherboard, the AMD64 dual processors, the 4GB of DDR2 memory, the 500GB hard drive, and a squeaky clean installation of Ubuntu Linux 7.10. I've really gotten into the open source community this past year and I really like the stability and security we have now. Many Windows applications have great native alternatives, and for the pesky few that don't, they can either be run through a software layer like WINE or in a virtual machine running a Windows XP Pro desktop. I also really appreciate the sense of community effort, from blogs and boards to wikis of all kinds, the support is far better than the customer support from a restricted OS. There's something about open source that reminds me of the early church as described in Acts 2, where the believers provided for each other out of their wealth and shared all things in common.
Something New
I had always imagined myself chronicling my new adventures when I landed in a new church, what I never imagined was how long it might take to come back around and actually put something down. Even so, I find it all the more ironic that I'm sitting here writing on Holy Monday, after a very busy and emotionally charged Passion Sunday. In some ways, the remaining full week that lies ahead is not nearly as daunting as one might imagine. To be sure there are plenty of prayers to be written, sermons to be crafted and even some rehearsing that needs to be done. This however does not take away from the humbling reality that a story that is much larger than me, or anyone else is driving the week. That's a situation for which I'm truly grateful.
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