I think I have our web radio working again. Try the link on the left, coslc web radio and let me know if it opens for you
Dan
Luke 11:1-13
1 year ago
5/29/09
5/28/09
Made One
My wife, Carol, and I are back from a lovely trip outside to Billings, MT and Yellowstone. We had a great time with our three children and one soon-to-be daughter-in-law. We worshipped at our daugther's home church, Bethlehem Lutheran in Billings, pastored by Eric Thorson. It's a small church that was nearly dead. It's now being raised from death, by welcoming the stranger, the odd and different, the children who make a bit of noise, the gay and lesbian, etc. Our daughter made this her church home largely because the people are so welcoming. Some young families are starting to come and join. It's interesting to me that the full liturgy is sung ("Now the Feast" when we were there), with the feeble help of a weak electronic keyboard, and that the people sing the hymns of the faith from ELW and yet it is so welcoming and "family friendly." People manage a worship book, a liturgy booklet, and a bulletin. Imagine that!
What do you think brings us to church, gathers us in and empowers us to participate? Is it that we expect a good show, that we look forward to seeing our church friends, that we hold in common certain opinions, political views, work habits, social and economic status, ethnic heritage, family roots? What unites us? What makes us one? Are we one because we think or feel or do something. No. Not if we are the church of Christ. God makes us one in Christ. God does this in and through Holy Baptism and then continues doing it, re - membering us as one in Christ, in and through Holy Communion.
Our unity is given, by God. It is not our doing, not our achievement. We sisters and brothers in Christ, members of the body of Christ, baptized believers in and followers of Jesus are MADE ONE in Christ Jesus. We are MADE ONE, not by virtue of ourselves, our efforts or any of our supposed virtues. We are MADE ONE by Christ, in Christ, through Christ, for Christ's sake. All the rest, what seems to separate us or distinguish us from one another, is overcome in and through our belonging to Christ.
The faith is not about us. The church is not about us. Our worship is not about us. It's all about God, God in Christ. The Spirit of God, through the gospel, calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies us in the true faith, making us one in Christ Jesus. God's work in, among and through us is what matters. If we put something else ahead of God's Spirit, then our faith is false, our worship empty and our church dead. If we do not together focus on Jesus, journey together with Jesus, faithfully follow in the Way of Jesus, then we deceive ourselves and others, for then we are not church, not Christian, but just a religious club, a society of spiritual sentiment. We are not the church of Christ when we focus on ourselves. It is not worship when we come primarily to receive and get instead of to offer ourselves to God and give God thanks and glory. It is not faith if we are in it just to save our own skin.
Related story: A woman in one car and a man in another have a fairly serious automobile accident. Both cars are "totaled," unable to be driven. Although both the man and woman are "shaken up," neither is physically hurt. They carefully crawl out of their cars and the woman says, "Wow, look at our cars! There's nothing left; but praise God we're alive! This must be a sign from God that we should meet, become friends, and live together in peace." The man agrees. "And look here," the woman says, taking a full bottle of wine from her demolished car. "It's a miracle. This unbroken bottle of wine must mean that God wants us to celebrate our good fortune and drink to one another's health and happiness!" The man agrees. The woman opens the bottle and hands it to the man. She tells him to drink first and to drink as much as he likes. He begins sipping the wine from the bottle. He offers it back to the woman, but she says, "No you enjoy yourself. I'll wait my turn." Finally, when the man had drunk about half of the bottle, he says to the woman, "Aren't you having any?" She replies, "No. I think I'll just wait for the police."
Hmm? I think I'll trust the God who makes us one.
What do you think brings us to church, gathers us in and empowers us to participate? Is it that we expect a good show, that we look forward to seeing our church friends, that we hold in common certain opinions, political views, work habits, social and economic status, ethnic heritage, family roots? What unites us? What makes us one? Are we one because we think or feel or do something. No. Not if we are the church of Christ. God makes us one in Christ. God does this in and through Holy Baptism and then continues doing it, re - membering us as one in Christ, in and through Holy Communion.
Our unity is given, by God. It is not our doing, not our achievement. We sisters and brothers in Christ, members of the body of Christ, baptized believers in and followers of Jesus are MADE ONE in Christ Jesus. We are MADE ONE, not by virtue of ourselves, our efforts or any of our supposed virtues. We are MADE ONE by Christ, in Christ, through Christ, for Christ's sake. All the rest, what seems to separate us or distinguish us from one another, is overcome in and through our belonging to Christ.
The faith is not about us. The church is not about us. Our worship is not about us. It's all about God, God in Christ. The Spirit of God, through the gospel, calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies us in the true faith, making us one in Christ Jesus. God's work in, among and through us is what matters. If we put something else ahead of God's Spirit, then our faith is false, our worship empty and our church dead. If we do not together focus on Jesus, journey together with Jesus, faithfully follow in the Way of Jesus, then we deceive ourselves and others, for then we are not church, not Christian, but just a religious club, a society of spiritual sentiment. We are not the church of Christ when we focus on ourselves. It is not worship when we come primarily to receive and get instead of to offer ourselves to God and give God thanks and glory. It is not faith if we are in it just to save our own skin.
Related story: A woman in one car and a man in another have a fairly serious automobile accident. Both cars are "totaled," unable to be driven. Although both the man and woman are "shaken up," neither is physically hurt. They carefully crawl out of their cars and the woman says, "Wow, look at our cars! There's nothing left; but praise God we're alive! This must be a sign from God that we should meet, become friends, and live together in peace." The man agrees. "And look here," the woman says, taking a full bottle of wine from her demolished car. "It's a miracle. This unbroken bottle of wine must mean that God wants us to celebrate our good fortune and drink to one another's health and happiness!" The man agrees. The woman opens the bottle and hands it to the man. She tells him to drink first and to drink as much as he likes. He begins sipping the wine from the bottle. He offers it back to the woman, but she says, "No you enjoy yourself. I'll wait my turn." Finally, when the man had drunk about half of the bottle, he says to the woman, "Aren't you having any?" She replies, "No. I think I'll just wait for the police."
Hmm? I think I'll trust the God who makes us one.
Not a matter of if, only when
Russell Simmons frames it well,(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/russell-simmons/it-is-not-a-matter-of-if_b_208351.html) it is not a matter of if, only a matter of when. When will the Lutheran Church enter on the side of love and inclusion and pick up the banner in support of gay marriage? Or will we do as we have done on many important national ethical issues before and come marching up the rear with a sign saying "we were with you all along." Yes, we would lose members in making the ethical decision to stand up for love and inclusion, but would we not also open the door to growth by finally taking a stand?
It is remarkable that it took only one day for our beautiful country to show its greatest potential and its greatest challenge. And that day was Tuesday. In the morning, I was inspired by the President's nomination of Justice Sonia Sotomayor for a seat on the Supreme Court. Yet, in the afternoon I was deeply saddened by the decision made by the California Supreme Court upholding Proposition 8.
It pains me that we have come to a point in this country where we use the ballot box to address the civil rights of our people. If President Johnson had to take a vote, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 would not have passed. If Congress took a vote in 1920, women may still not have the right to vote today. And if President Lincoln went to the polls, blacks would definitely have endured many more years of slavery. We trusted our government to make the right decision and protect the minority, and yesterday we, as a nation, failed.
Unfortunately, most of the arguments against these monumental advancements of our country's history have been deeply rooted in religion; and in my opinion the misuse of religion. Let's remove religion from this discussion, and focus on the greatest gift religion has given all of us, the ability to love. And as an African-American, I urge my own people to take a deep look at our own struggles and not wish them upon anyone else. Simply, civil rights for all is about being connected as humans, united, tolerant, loving and brave.
We have come such a long way in this country. Let's us not stop now. Vermont and Maine have done the right thing by legalizing same sex marriage, and I am extremely supportive of my own Governor, David Paterson, to follow suit in New York.
In my heart, I know that marriage equality for every human being isn't a question of if, but only a matter of when. I ask those who feel that giving freedom to others somehow binds you, to please take a good look at what you are standing behind. It is only through opening your hearts will you be able to see that by promoting freedom for all, you are unchaining yourself. I guess I'm an optimist. I have faith in people and our government ultimately to do the right thing. And to my brothers and sisters in California, I'm there with you every step of the way until that day comes...
It is remarkable that it took only one day for our beautiful country to show its greatest potential and its greatest challenge. And that day was Tuesday. In the morning, I was inspired by the President's nomination of Justice Sonia Sotomayor for a seat on the Supreme Court. Yet, in the afternoon I was deeply saddened by the decision made by the California Supreme Court upholding Proposition 8.
It pains me that we have come to a point in this country where we use the ballot box to address the civil rights of our people. If President Johnson had to take a vote, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 would not have passed. If Congress took a vote in 1920, women may still not have the right to vote today. And if President Lincoln went to the polls, blacks would definitely have endured many more years of slavery. We trusted our government to make the right decision and protect the minority, and yesterday we, as a nation, failed.
Unfortunately, most of the arguments against these monumental advancements of our country's history have been deeply rooted in religion; and in my opinion the misuse of religion. Let's remove religion from this discussion, and focus on the greatest gift religion has given all of us, the ability to love. And as an African-American, I urge my own people to take a deep look at our own struggles and not wish them upon anyone else. Simply, civil rights for all is about being connected as humans, united, tolerant, loving and brave.
We have come such a long way in this country. Let's us not stop now. Vermont and Maine have done the right thing by legalizing same sex marriage, and I am extremely supportive of my own Governor, David Paterson, to follow suit in New York.
In my heart, I know that marriage equality for every human being isn't a question of if, but only a matter of when. I ask those who feel that giving freedom to others somehow binds you, to please take a good look at what you are standing behind. It is only through opening your hearts will you be able to see that by promoting freedom for all, you are unchaining yourself. I guess I'm an optimist. I have faith in people and our government ultimately to do the right thing. And to my brothers and sisters in California, I'm there with you every step of the way until that day comes...
5/21/09
5/14/09
Not bad for a dime
Dad: I am never going back to that church, it was hot, the seats were uncomfortable, the sermon was boring and the singing was off key.
Son: Gee Dad; I didn’t think it was bad for a dime!
How do we walk that fine line between entertainment and being contextually relevant? I hear the term “worship war” used which often means bringing music into the service that is a bit more contemporary than what is in the current hymnal promoted by Augsburg Fortress. Keeping in mind the track record (Jimi Hendrix died in September of 1970 and the “Green Book” LBW came out in September of 1978) I am not impressed with what Augsburg Fortress deems as contextual. Liturgy is the work of the people, but it is also the voice of the people and all too often it is the voice of the classically trained church musicians foisted upon them.
I remember going to a conference on Worship and music at St. Olaf where the opening speaker was the head of the music department (can’t remember his name). He stated very emphatically that the only proper form of music for worship is Classical and once in a rare, rare while, folk, as long as the music people could have it for at least six months ahead of time to work it into a proper musical style. During a later comment period I suggested the best thing they could do for the church, in light of the numbers of young people who were leaving in droves, was to throw the damn pipe organ out the window and hire a rock band. The suggestion did not fly well with the presenters but did gain resonance with those attending.
On the other hand, I have found it very difficult to come up with good contemporary worship hymnody. I believe it was Lisa that referred to a lot of the contemporary stuff (which comes from non-Lutheran traditions) as “Jesus is my boyfriend” songs, and I would agree.
How can Lutheran worship remain true to its contemporary and contextual musical roots? I believe AF did a great disservice in the publishing of yet another closed source book, known as the cranberry hymnal. It does have some nice stuff, but compared to the musical language spoken by those attending, and the musical voice of those we are trying to reach (as exemplified by what is on their ipod playlist) we are no closer the mark than we were with the Green Book/Hendirix divide.
How can the church create, and encourage the growth of, an open source of Church hymnody? One that speaks to the musical language of the Seward Peninsula as well as the growing Hispanic and other ethnic voices in addition to contemporary and traditional traditions? Any published hymnal is, but the time it is sold, out of date. And the budgetary restraint of ownership perpetuates the church’s continued lack of contextual voice.
Liturgy is the work of the people, but it is a work that need not be difficult and foreign to our traditions.
In college a friend and I had a laugh over recalled conversations in his home church some years before. The church was considering adding an English service to the regular Norwegian language worship. The main argument against such was that God did not understand English. We laughed at the time, but is it humorous or tragic, that in the language of music, we perpetuate a similar argument today?
I wish I had a solution, I do not. All I have is frustration as I see the eyes glaze over at yet another hymn from the 1800’s, the boom, boom, boom on the car sound system as they drive out of the church parking lot, and the conversations with those who are leaving the church for the one down the street where worship is more “fun,” and the lack of the ability to offer both “fun” and “meaning” in the work of the people as they experience a message of Grace. How long do we continue to shoot ourselves in our evangelical foot for the sake of traditional musical purity?
Son: Gee Dad; I didn’t think it was bad for a dime!
How do we walk that fine line between entertainment and being contextually relevant? I hear the term “worship war” used which often means bringing music into the service that is a bit more contemporary than what is in the current hymnal promoted by Augsburg Fortress. Keeping in mind the track record (Jimi Hendrix died in September of 1970 and the “Green Book” LBW came out in September of 1978) I am not impressed with what Augsburg Fortress deems as contextual. Liturgy is the work of the people, but it is also the voice of the people and all too often it is the voice of the classically trained church musicians foisted upon them.
I remember going to a conference on Worship and music at St. Olaf where the opening speaker was the head of the music department (can’t remember his name). He stated very emphatically that the only proper form of music for worship is Classical and once in a rare, rare while, folk, as long as the music people could have it for at least six months ahead of time to work it into a proper musical style. During a later comment period I suggested the best thing they could do for the church, in light of the numbers of young people who were leaving in droves, was to throw the damn pipe organ out the window and hire a rock band. The suggestion did not fly well with the presenters but did gain resonance with those attending.
On the other hand, I have found it very difficult to come up with good contemporary worship hymnody. I believe it was Lisa that referred to a lot of the contemporary stuff (which comes from non-Lutheran traditions) as “Jesus is my boyfriend” songs, and I would agree.
How can Lutheran worship remain true to its contemporary and contextual musical roots? I believe AF did a great disservice in the publishing of yet another closed source book, known as the cranberry hymnal. It does have some nice stuff, but compared to the musical language spoken by those attending, and the musical voice of those we are trying to reach (as exemplified by what is on their ipod playlist) we are no closer the mark than we were with the Green Book/Hendirix divide.
How can the church create, and encourage the growth of, an open source of Church hymnody? One that speaks to the musical language of the Seward Peninsula as well as the growing Hispanic and other ethnic voices in addition to contemporary and traditional traditions? Any published hymnal is, but the time it is sold, out of date. And the budgetary restraint of ownership perpetuates the church’s continued lack of contextual voice.
Liturgy is the work of the people, but it is a work that need not be difficult and foreign to our traditions.
In college a friend and I had a laugh over recalled conversations in his home church some years before. The church was considering adding an English service to the regular Norwegian language worship. The main argument against such was that God did not understand English. We laughed at the time, but is it humorous or tragic, that in the language of music, we perpetuate a similar argument today?
I wish I had a solution, I do not. All I have is frustration as I see the eyes glaze over at yet another hymn from the 1800’s, the boom, boom, boom on the car sound system as they drive out of the church parking lot, and the conversations with those who are leaving the church for the one down the street where worship is more “fun,” and the lack of the ability to offer both “fun” and “meaning” in the work of the people as they experience a message of Grace. How long do we continue to shoot ourselves in our evangelical foot for the sake of traditional musical purity?
5/13/09
Worship as Offering
How might we help our people worship, not only enter into worship, but bring their worship? Yes, we live in a time when people expect to be entertained and amused, whether by a sermon that knocks their socks off, by singing their one or two favorite hymns, by a rousing choir anthem, or some other form of worship show. Folks come to church, get their program at the door, find their seat, and expect to be amused and entertained, well, maybe occasionally comforted or challenged, but that's probably the need of someone else.
How might we help our people prepare to offer their worship?
Before the service of worship ever begins, we begin our preparations to worship. Not only do we prepare our bodies (shower, shave, comb hair, dress), but we also prepare our minds and hearts. We prepare to enter into corporate worship with our sisters and brothers even as we bring our own worship of heart, mind and body. As we gather, we invoke God's presence. We gather in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. This invocation reminds us that as followers of Jesus we live in vocation in this world. As Christians, we have a common calling and we have our own unique personal callings--in the realms of worship and Christian fellowship, work and study, state and nation, earth and environment, home and family, and in our calling to our own bodies, minds and spirits.
Worship doesn't happen to us as passive spectators, but worship is something we do, our work, our liturgy. It is our offering. I think of Cain and his problem with Abel (and God). Cain expected God to make a fuss over his offering, imagining that his worship offering was all about God doing something for him. Cain was depressed, his face fallen. Yahweh God came to Cain, "What's the matter? Why are you upset? Why are you depressed and your face so sad? If you do well, is there not already an uplifting?" In other words, if your worship offering comes from a heart filled with praise and thanksgiving, then already your joy is complete.
Cain did not hear and heed God. He killed his brother. Do our so-called "worship wars," at least in part, begin even before people show up at church? Do they derive from misdirected expectations? Do we come expecting to have our faces lifted up or do we bring our uplifted faces in worship of God?
How might we help our people prepare to offer their worship?
Before the service of worship ever begins, we begin our preparations to worship. Not only do we prepare our bodies (shower, shave, comb hair, dress), but we also prepare our minds and hearts. We prepare to enter into corporate worship with our sisters and brothers even as we bring our own worship of heart, mind and body. As we gather, we invoke God's presence. We gather in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. This invocation reminds us that as followers of Jesus we live in vocation in this world. As Christians, we have a common calling and we have our own unique personal callings--in the realms of worship and Christian fellowship, work and study, state and nation, earth and environment, home and family, and in our calling to our own bodies, minds and spirits.
Worship doesn't happen to us as passive spectators, but worship is something we do, our work, our liturgy. It is our offering. I think of Cain and his problem with Abel (and God). Cain expected God to make a fuss over his offering, imagining that his worship offering was all about God doing something for him. Cain was depressed, his face fallen. Yahweh God came to Cain, "What's the matter? Why are you upset? Why are you depressed and your face so sad? If you do well, is there not already an uplifting?" In other words, if your worship offering comes from a heart filled with praise and thanksgiving, then already your joy is complete.
Cain did not hear and heed God. He killed his brother. Do our so-called "worship wars," at least in part, begin even before people show up at church? Do they derive from misdirected expectations? Do we come expecting to have our faces lifted up or do we bring our uplifted faces in worship of God?
5/11/09
Mother's Day Proclamation - 1870
One of the great statements of history that should not go unheard.
by Julia Ward Howe
Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!
Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:"We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.
"From the voice of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with Our own.
It says: "Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice.
"Blood does not wipe our dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil
At the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace...
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God -
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality,
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.
by Julia Ward Howe
Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!
Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:"We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.
"From the voice of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with Our own.
It says: "Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice.
"Blood does not wipe our dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil
At the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace...
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God -
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality,
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.
5/10/09
5/9/09
boundaries
The spirit leads Philip beyond the “acceptable” boundaries of the early church, from baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch in the Philistine area of Gaza in the south to pagan area of the Galilee in the north. What boundaries is the spirit trying to push us beyond that our “civilized” church finds unacceptable?
5/8/09
Welcome
Welcome to Table Talk of the Alaska Synod of the ELCA. I pray you will find this blog interesting and informative and that we may be able to have some helpful conversations.
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