2012 Lent 5: Irresistible

What, in all the vast reaches of the internet, could be more likely to draw my attention than this? An Andrew Sullivan post about the It Gets Better book written by a YDS grad? Yes, please!

When I first got the book, incidentally, I turned to the Gabrielle Rivera story almost immediately. I had seen her video, and it is obviously one of the best of all the videos I had seen. (I'm also partial to the video of ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson, not just because he's sort of my super-boss). This week I heard a breathtakingly beautiful story of God's answer to a Christian's honest questions about the place of gays in God's heart. I can't tell the entire story here, but let's just say it ends with said Christian baking an extra-fabulous wedding cake.

2012 Lent 4: Get Out!

Get out of the building, I mean.

Today marked the soft (as opposed to grand) opening of the Free Store of Kalamazoo, a new ministry on the east side of Kalamazoo Lutheran Church of the Savior shares with some of our local United Methodist partners - Sunnyside UMC, Stockbridge UMC, and Chapel Hill UMC. I had the chance to volunteer today, meeting folks, building and tearing down clothes racks, breaking down boxes, and whatever other behind-the-scenes and skirting-around-the-edges-of-the-scenes work folks could find for me. As much as I love being a pastor, leading and doing that important work, I also love the opportunity to just be a part of the team, helping out where necessary and supporting the leaders of this wonderful ministry.

2012 Lent 3: Ash Wednesday links

I have not actually read all of these articles yet, but as I save my Ash Wednesday list for Lenten reflections, I think it appropriate to share them with you as well. If anyone has other Ash Wednesday reflections to add, please do so in the comments.

• My admiree Andrew Sullivan links to my firiend Benjamin Dueholm. 
•  I have linked to Chris' priceless reflections before, and am happy to do so again.
• An account of St. Lydia's annual subway station Ash Wednesday ritual.
• A student reflection on Lent from Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Minnesota.
• A Kalamazoo College grad / pastor's thoughts on Ash Wednesday.

Bonus: Online Lent from Sullivan and The Huffington Post's live blog of Lent. It's going to be a great Lent for online reflection and community-building, and I hope to see you there.

2012 Lent 2: Ash Wednesday, cont'd.

Though I had thumbed Ash Wednesday ashes and been thumb-ashed before, it felt wholly different this week. Somehow, the power and vulnerability, the intimate connection of touching another's forehead and speaking those words - "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." - grabbed onto me in a new and unexpected way. This seemed like that rare ritual in which no one was just going through the motions. This mattered in a way my mouth could not explain, but my hand and my eyes could attest.

My Ash Wednesday ended unconventionally; I joined some friends at a local karaoke establishment for some much-needed unwinding. We immediately talked about Ash Wednesday, and how could we not, given my maximum pastor garb - best black suit, round Anglican collar, sweet clergy vest* - and of course, the ashes prominently marking my forehead. As I stated on Facebook, I was reliably informed that the words "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" are "totally metal." As in, those words would fit into the culture of the metal wing of rock music, stereotyped to be loud and dark and sometimes anti-Christian. I barely know the first thing about that music, so I won't burden you with my ignorance on the subject. 

2012 Lent 1: Ash Wednesday

Again this year I will endeavor to blog during Lent. Again this year I expect to fail to live up to my own goals for consistency, but I will at least make the effort to reflect on my journey this Lent.

No, not that journey. It's Lent, for heaven's sake. Although I suppose you could do much worse...

Anyway. I did not preach from a script today, but I will start with just a couple of reflections from my Ash Wednesday sermon. We used the alternate first reading, from Isaiah 58 (look it up; I don't have time to figure out how to link directly to the text), which I find to be a breathtakingly beautiful passage.

After God tells the prophet not to pull any punches, God reflects on these curious people who beg for God's presence while constantly ignoring God's ways and commands. Then the people whine about how God ignores their fasting, and God smacks them down proper: fasting and humility are not about self-pity, and are certainly not about showing off your piety to others.

January 2012 Newsletter Article

Though I am small, my God, my all,

you work great things in me,

and your mercy will last from the depths

of the past to the end of the age to be.

Your very name puts the proud to shame,

and to those who would for you yearn,

you will show your might,

put the proud to flight,

for the world is about to turn.

My heart shall sing of the day you bring.

Let the fires of your justice burn.

Wipe away all tears,

for the dawn draws near,

and the world is about to turn.

- Rory Cooney, “Canticle of the Turning,” ELW 723

As our calendars turn from 2011 to 2012, I cannot help but reflect on the year past and look with anticipation to the year ahead. This has been a strong year for us of Lutheran Church of the Savior. We have engaged in new local ministries by volunteering at the Loaves and Fishes Pantry with our sisters and brothers of Sunnyside United Methodist Church, and by building a relationship with Ministry With Community. We continued many of our now-annual traditions, such as VBS with neighboring congregations, our spaghetti dinner to benefit Kairos Dwelling, our involvement with local the Thrivent chapter, our rummage sale and holiday bazaar, and many more.

Christmas 2011

"Have a joyful, hopeful, peaceful, love-filled Christmas, and share it with whoever you can."

Thus concluded my Christmas Eve sermon last night, which focused on the four words of Advent - joy, hope, peace, and love - and how they are the manifestation of all that we have been waiting for, and all that we celebrate today.

This morning there was no sermon, but as I said to the hearty few gathered with Lutheran Church of the Savior, everything I wanted to say is contained in the text of the newer hymn "Love Has Come," by Ken Bible, and set to the beautiful French tune we know as "Bring a Torch Jeannette, Isabella." 

Love has come - a light in the darkness!
Love shines forth in the Bethlehem skies.
See, all heaven has come to proclaim it;
Hear how their song of joy arises:
Love! Love!
Born unto you, a Savior!
Love! Love!
Glory to God on high.