Tag Archives: ELCA

What I Have Learned This Summer!

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I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “Learn.” Write for five minutes; unedited.

This summer has been a busy summer for me…busier than usual. But throughout the summer, I have continued to learn so much.

I learned that my heart finds so much peace when I take the time to just be and enjoy God’s creation in the Rocky Mountains.

I learned how amazing it is when 30,000 youth and adults gather in a huge stadium in Detroit and declare God’s promises of peace and justice with the world.

This is only a portion of the Gathering!

I learned how sometimes you just have to get out of the boat…and other times you just have to stay. (Thanks for sharing those words FMF Retreat friends!)

I learned how part of my story will always be sharing my family’s struggle with a mental illness. I learned that part of my story will always be that I am a daughter; a daughter of a woman who daily struggles with a mental illness.

I learned that YOU are my people! I was so blessed to meet three of the Five Minute Friday ladies last weekend while I was in Nashville with my sister. You all are my heart!

I learned that I value spending quality time with my sister. It will be a long time before I forget our trip.

I learned that relationships and friendships go far beyond computer screens. They are found in Twitter handles and Voxer messages. They are found in sharing our stories and hearing those two simple words “Me, too!”

I learned that God continually widens the circle to bring more friends into the friendship circle.

I learned that I am never through learning! Life is always teaching us!

What have you learned this summer my friends?

Grace Personified

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The suitcase was packed away last night.

It has been a crazy summer of traveling for me..my favorite continuing education event in the heart of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, taking youth to the ELCA National Youth Gathering in Detroit MI,  and topping it all off with a sister’s trip to Nashville.

And in the midst of all of my travel, life has continued on as usual. As many of you know, our mom lives daily with a mental illness and has lived in a nursing home for the last ten plus years. In June, my sister called me to let me know that Mom was once again hospitalized. And since that hospitalization, life has been chaotic and hectic…..a few times this summer in and out of the hospital. Mom just hasn’t been herself. She has been asking to move which isn’t like her at all.

Then last week, we got a phone call saying she just wasn’t budging about the moving. We stuck to our guns because we just didn’t think it would be a good idea for her to move. Yet she still kept asking to move. We finally gave in…and she moved to a new place that specializes in pysch care. Instead of 45 minutes from me, she is now like four hours away from me. My sister and I are trusting this all to God…hoping that she can come back once she gets back on track, but for now she is in the best place for her. Just not so easy to navigate or trust in. Yet I know that this is all in God’s hands! (Not the first time, we have placed Mom in God’s loving care!)

My sister and I had an amazing time last week. But in  the backs of both of our minds, Mom was not far away. I am pretty sure we were both thinking about it just a little all throughout the week.  And then I got to meet a few FMF ladies! None of them knew what was going on…BUT each one of them (And each one of YOU!) is “grace personified.” They reminded me that we are connected beyond computer screens and rather are connected at the heart…heart connections made by God.

In those heart connections, God reminds me; reminds us that I am/we are never alone. I loved these words from my friend Tammy’s post this week: “Always listening, always hearing; Peace He gives us, love endearing; Storms may come, but then are clearing; He is here.”

Trusting in those promises…..
Today and every day.

Bottled Tears

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I stood on a bus last week, my cell phone pressed up to my ear. I listened intently to the woman on the other end of the line. And then she handed the phone off to my mom. Mom came onto the phone and was adamant about moving to a new nursing facility. Even though she has been struggling some with her health this summer, this came completely out of left field. I finished the conversation with my mom and hung up the phone. The minute I hung up the phone, tears began welling up in my eyes. I turned away because I was on a bus filled with my youth as well as several other youth and adult leaders as we were returning from the ELCA National Youth Gathering. Immediately my youth and several of the other adult leaders whispered the words “Are you okay?” to me.

A moment of peer vulnerability! I didn’t expect the tears to flow, but they did.

As a child, I was a very emotional child. I cried often. In fact, I have even been known to cry at Hallmark commercials. As I have grown up, those tears often have found their way into my eyes yet again. Those holy tears are a part of me that I wish didn’t come so easily. Yet I can count the numerous times that my eyes have filled with tears. More times than I care to even admit. And so often, those tears appear at the most inopportune times.

Yet those tears are so much a part of who I am. They are like the waters of Baptism that continually flow over me and cleanse me. Those waters also always call and claim me as one of God’s children. God has gifted me with this gift of holy tears. Yet so often I want to force the tears back down. I want to hold them back and not share that part of me. I don’t want to break open that piece of who God has called me to be!

But what I have come to realize is is that God has gifted me with this gift, because in sharing this gift with others, we realize we aren’t alone. Some of the holiest times in my life are times when I have sat and shared tears with those that are near and dear to me….and also with those that have been complete strangers. In those moments, I am reminded of one of the shortest verses in the Bible “Jesus wept.” Jesus wasn’t afraid to weep. Jesus wasn’t afraid to shed his own tears. And Jesus keeps track of all of our tears as well. In Psalm 56 verse eight, we read “You have kept count of my tossings, put my tears in your bottle (ESV).”

Jesus has kept every one of the tears I have wept and put them in his bottle. It is so easy to think that God doesn’t see our tears. But the truth is that God sees every one of our tears. God wants us to know that we are not alone. God wants us to open up to those moments of vulnerability and like a waterfall cascading down, God wants us to release our tears and let them shower God with our tears.

Last week on that bus and many other times throughout my life, it has felt like my tears are paralyzing and drowning me. Yet God wants me; wants all of us to know that our tears are a gift from him to us. God collects every tear we shed and places them in the bottle of grace, forgiveness, hope and love. So the next time you feel those tears welling up in your eyes, simply let them come, knowing that God collects them and accepts them from us in all of our grief and brokenness.

I am linking up with Holly for Testimony Tuesday, Katie and Kelly for the RaRa Linkup, Holley for Coffee for Your Heart, and Jennifer for Tell His Story:

 
 




Justice for All

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I am participating in this month’s synchroblog (a blog where numerous bloggers blog on the same topic) which can be found at http://synchroblog.wordpress.com. This month’s synchroblog topic is “Gay Marriage.” I respectfully post knowing that we all are not going to agree, but this is how I feel and is not necessarily the views of my place of employment.

 I just returned from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) National Youth Gathering which was held in Detroit, Michigan. 30,000 Youth and adults converged on the city of Detroit as we heard their stories and served their community. We also heard wonderful speakers that helped us learn what it means to proclaim justice, build bridges and offer hope to all of God’s people.

The seven youth along with all of the youth gathered continually gave me hope for the future. They want to make a difference. They want to show God’s love to all of God’s people. They want to proclaim justice. According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, justice is defined as “the quality of being just, impartial, or fair.”
So, my friends, what is fair? To them, fair is showing equality to all of God’s people even those that our different than us.

As I look at our society, I cannot help but think about how we all could use a lesson in marriage and relationships. Statistics show that the divorce rate is high. And many members of society are getting married way to young. Yet so many think it is wrong for two men or two women to get married. If these two can provide a stable home and show love to a child, do they too not deserve the same rights as a married heterosexual couple? I have a friend who is in a committed same sex relationship and has a son with her spouse. All I have ever seen is them show love to their child.

I realize that we all come down on both sides of this issue. Yet, my friends, Jesus was the one who was continually showing love to all of God’s people. Jesus was never afraid to turn the world upside down and sit and break bread with tax collectors and sinners. In a post I wrote in May of 2013 here after Minnesota passed the Freedom to marry act, I shared these words: “I don’t know what Jesus will say when we all get to heaven, but what I do know is Jesus always chose love. Jesus was always the one crossing the line onto the other side. Yet I know there are people hurting tonight because of this decision…people who don’t understand. I keep coming back to Jesus’ words that night in the upper room…’that they all may be one.’ Jesus spoke these words to his disciples that last night in the upper room even though they were far from being one themselves.” (To read that post, click here: That They All May Be One)
The truth is that we are not always going to agree with each other. Yet Jesus calls us to cling to the promise that we all may be one…trusting in this One who calls us to put our differences aside and calls us to proclaim justice to all of God’s people. In all actuality, I find myself clinging to the promises of our youth who are continually ready and willing to rise up together, to proclaim justice, offer hope and build bridges with all of God’s people.
 Their actions remind me that the church is not dead, but rather is a living breathing church that is ready to shower the world with God’s love putting aside their differences and fighting for what is right. They are always ready to proclaim justice and build bridges with God’s people despite their differences. Thanks be to God for a generation that isn’t afraid to stand together and live out the words that Jesus said in the upper room that night “that we all may be one.” And as one community in Christ, we are called to “Rise up together.”

Read other synchrobloggers here: (You will find varying opinions on this topic. Be kind!)

* Justin Steckbauer: Gay Marriage, LGBTQ Issues, and the Christian Worldview
* Leah Sophia: Marriage Equality Again
* Tony Ijeh: Thoughts on Gay Marriage
* Tim Nichols: Imago Dei: Loving the Different
* Carlos Shelton: About Gay Marriage
* Wesley Rostoll: Some Things to Consider Regarding Gay Marriage

* KW Leslie: Same Sex Marriage

Ten Plus…..

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I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “Ten.” Write for five minutes; unedited.

On July 12, I began a trek with seven youth and another adult for the ELCA National Youth Gathering. We traveled with 138 other youth and adults on three buses. Our trip was a full ten day trip from beginning to end, but the main purpose for our trip was the National Youth Gathering which is held every three years.

This year’s gathering was held in Detroit Michigan. The last two gatherings were held in New Orleans as we helped residents pick up and clean up from Hurricane Katrina. 30,000 youth and adults (yep way more than ten) gathered every night in Ford Field to worship with the entire body of Christ gathered there in that place. We also listened to amazing awesome speakers who talked about social justice, racism, and making a difference in our communities. Together we learned what it means to Rise Up together; to rise up and spread God’s love throughout the world and especially to the city of Detroit as we were gathered there.

Each day 10,000 youth and adults went out to engage in service projects. There were two launch groups; one at 8:15 am and another one at 10:15 am. We were in the second launch group on Saturday. Our group went to work for an organization called O’Hair Park Community Association (Learn more here: O’Hair Park) We helped them trim branches along a service road.* It was a hot humid day, but the youth never complained. They were kind, courteous, and listened intently to the stories of the Detroiters who were gathered there with us. And they worked HARD!

Every night we worshiped together and heard from wonderful speakers who reminded us of the power of “where two or three are gathered in his name.” The youth came out each night full of vigor and power and ready to conquer the world. They came away knowing that they can make a difference. They learned what it means to proclaim justice, build bridges, and offer hope. They raised over 400,000 for ELCA World Hunger and the Walk for Water. We are waiting on numbers for how many heads of hair were donated and how many pints of blood were donated.

These youth give me hope for the future. In a world that continually often thinks that our church is dying, I don’t see that at all. I see a church that is full of life; that isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty and fight for what is right. I see a church that understands that all of our stories matter. I see a church that is all about action and not just words. I see a church that is ready to Rise Up together.

And in light of today’s prompt I had to share this Top Ten List that a woman (Kathy Schaeffer) shared on an ELCA Youth Ministry Network FB page today. It is so much fun and captures the gathering so well. Enjoy my friends! 10–Want to walk everywhere; 9-Keep asking people, “Where are you from?”; 8-Have uncontrollable smiling; 7-Shout out “Jesus is” until you finally say, “Good News”; 6-Unfazed by rain! Just pull out a rain slicker and say, “Let’s go!”; 5-Keep clipping “God Loves You” clothespins on people!; 4-Helping people everywhere! (Called the local food bank, Habitat for Humanity and Literacy council all in one day!); 3-Want family members to wear the same colored t-shirts!; 2-Try and high 5 everyone they pass by!; 1-Talk about going to church early this week in order to get a seat “on the floor” and up front.)

*This is where my five minutes ended.

Our Hope

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I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “Hope.” Write for five minutes; unedited.





“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”–Desmond Tutu

I have been replaying these words in my mind ever since I heard them especially as I look at the events in Charleston, racism, etc. It is extremely difficult to find the light in the midst of these situations.

And then I look at the world around me. I see hope in plants growing up in the soil. I see hope emerging from the children around me. “For a little child shall lead them.” I see hope as 30,000 youth and adults get ready to emerge on the city of Detroit for the ELCA National Youth Gathering. But even though I see this hope, sometimes (ok more often than I or any of us care to admit), it is almost impossible to spot.

Where is hope in the midst of the world’s events?

Where is the hope as we watch so many struggle with a mental illness, with cancer, with…..?

Where is hope when ISIS continues to steal away so much from so many?

Where is hope?

The truth, my friends, is that hope can be found in our Lord and Savior. Our hope comes in the form of a son who died on a cross for our sins. Our hope comes in the form of this holy one who isn’t afraid to turn the world upside down and sit and break bread with tax collectors and sinners. Our hope comes in the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I am reminded of what has become one of my favorite verses from the book of Psalms; “Weeping may come for the night, but joy comes with the morning (Psalm 30:5)

In these beautiful words, I see HOPE; a hope that only can be given to us by our dear savior.

A Rise Up Mashup

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I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “Rise.” Write for five minutes; unedited.

I will admit that the minute I heard the word prompt, my mind was all over the place. In fact, at one point, my head was full of a mashup of three different songs: the hymn “Jesus Christ is Risen Today,” Matt Mahrer’s “Rise Up” and Shawn MacDonald’s “Rise.” Now try to make sense of all of that! And besides the mashed up tune in my head, I was reminded of the theme for the ELCA National Youth Gathering this summer “Rise Up.”

The Theological statement for the Gathering reminds us that the youth and adult leaders in Detroit will “learn that to ‘rise up’; doesn’t mean pursuing power or victory over another, but choosing weakness over power so that they might be together. The experience of death and life held together on the way is the “beginning of the good news;” it is God’s narrative into which we are inviting young people, and in which we hope young people will nest their own stories.

And as I contemplate this statement, I realize it is a word that we all should listen to and follow. We all need to learn that to ‘rise up’ means that we need to stop pursuing power or victory over another, but choosing weakness over power so that they might be together. When you weep, I will weep with you. When you rejoice, I will rejoice with you. When you are in the depths of death, I will sit with you. When you are afraid, I will remind you that you are not alone. Because together we are stronger than we are apart. Jesus calls us to ‘rise up’ together.

Jesus was the first one to show us what it means to ‘rise up’. Jesus died on the cross for us. But then after three days, he rose from the dead. The ultimate example of what it looks like when we ‘rise up’ together. We see that life not death has the final word! God has the ultimate power to overcome death. “Easter says you can put death in the grave, but it won’t stay there.” (Clarence W. Hall)

*I think of the words to the chorus to Shawn MacDonald’s song “Rise.” The chorus goes like this:
“Yes I will rise; Out of these ashes rise; From this trouble I have found; And this rubble on the ground; I will rise; Cause He Who is in me; Is greater than I will ever be; And I will rise.” Even in the most debilitating darkness, God rises up and shows us the light.

Because many times we will feel like we don’t have the power or the energy to rise up, but the truth is that God always has that power. God always will raise his Son from the dead. God always will have the ultimate power over death. God’s love always breaks into God’s kingdom here on earth.

Rise Up –Matt Mahrer

*This is where my five minutes ended!

Maundy, Maundy

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If there is any holy day that I like more than Christmas and Easter, today is indeed that day. Today, in many traditions, is known as Maundy Thursday. Maundy Thursday is a part of the Triduum (the three days: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday). Maundy comes from the latin word “mandatum” which means “mandate” or “command”. On this day, Jesus gives us a new commandment “Love one another as I have first loved you.”

Maundy Thursday often uses the Last Supper reading from the Gospel of John where Jesus washes the disciples feet. The foot-washing does not appear in any of the other gospels. Maundy Thursday is an important day, in my opinion, because it teaches us how to follow Jesus’ example of being served and serving others. Jesus still washes Judas’ feet even though he knows what is yet to come…that Judas will betray him before his death. Jesus calls all of us with all of our brokenness to come to the table, have our feet washed, and gather as we eat and drink together. Then we are called to go out into the world “to serve and be served.”

My call to Diaconal Ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is based specifically on this gospel text from John. Diaconal Ministers are called to pick up their basins and towels and wash the feet of all God’s people. Diaconal Ministry grew out of the Catholic understanding of deacons and deaconesses. On my consecration day, I was presented with a basin and towel to represent my call. It is a daily reminder to me to pick up that basin and towel and reach  far beyond the church walls. I am called to bridge the gap between the church and the world. So now you can see why Maundy Thursday is one of my favorite holy days.

Often, on Maundy Thursday, many congregations have their youth who are going to take their first communion do it on this night because it is the night we celebrate the holy meal in addition to the foot-washing. I am excited that we have 21 youth publicly joining us at the table tonight. What a powerful reminder of how we are all called to be fed and forgiven.

“How beautiful are the voices; How beautiful are the hands; How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good news to the world.”

A Book That Needs to be Read and Shared!

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Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved to read. I love and read just about everything. But rarely is there a book that captures my heart, soul and mind deeper than I could ever imagine. But Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber’s book Pastrix has done just that!! (Seriously I think everyone should read this book. It is pure grace!)

I saw Nadia speak when she spoke at the ELCA National Youth Gathering in New Orleans. Not only were my youth hanging onto her every word but I was too. Nadia is REAL! And so I was super stoked to read her book!

I got my wisdom teeth out on Sept 9 and her book was released on the 10th. I downloaded it onto my Kindle that day and was totally pulled in from the very first word.

I found myself laughing, crying and experiencing so many emotions as I read Nadia’s words. I read as she shared about learning about the Haiti earthquake and that their cantor’s friend was killed. Tears ran down my face as I thought of my own friends and our experience of losing this dear soul in our
lives.

I read as she shared the stories of those in her congregation at House for All Sinners and Saints. I especially found myself listening and reading about the man who was struggling with mental illness. I thought of those in my family who daily struggle with this illness. Nadia reminded me again that we all–including them–are beloved children of God. (I honestly wish people saw these individuals like Nadia does!)

I was constantly highlighting as I read Nadia’s words. I think I’m going to have to buy the hard copy too. This book is a gem. And if you are only going to read one book this year, please make it this one!!

You see, God always shows up. I leave you with this words from Nadia’s book. “This is the resurrected God to whom we sing. A God who didn’t say we would never be afraid but that we would never be alone. Because this is a God who shows up: in the violence of the cross, in the darkness of a garden before dawn, in the gardener, in a movie theater, in the basement of a bar (Pastrix; Nadia Bolz-Weber, P.200).”

You see God calls us all to the table; to gather around bread and wine where we come together in all our brokenness and messiness. And I think more often than we care to admit our lives are more broken and messier than we think or even realize ourselves.

Nadia, thank you for a beautiful book filled with pure grace!!

Always Being Made New

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It is a big day in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The ELCA elected the first female Presiding Bishop this afternoon. I am on vacation this week and have been trying to stay away from the live feed but as I read my Twitter and FB feeds, I found myself logging in to watch as I truly felt the Holy Spirit at work. I believe Rev. Elizabeth Eaton truly has been called and will lead the ELCA into the future.

But I cannot post without telling you how much I respect current Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson. Bishop Mark Hanson has been a tremendous leader especially over these last tumultous years of the ELCA. He is a gracious man and has led with such grace and humility. As I look at my life in the ELCA, Bishop Hanson has been the only Bishop I have truly known as I was 23 when he became Bishop. Bishop Hanson’s words have and will always hold a special place in my head and my heart. I must say that I truly will miss him but I will truly support Bishop Eaton as she has heard this new call.

Thank you Holy Spirit for raising up a new leader. Pray for Bishop Hanson and his staff as they transition. Pray for Bishop Eaton as she too transitions to this new call. And for her synod as they have just given up their Bishop. Prayers for all of us as we are led to a new and certain hope.

“Always Being Made New”