Lent is a journey, not a destination. And our Lenten discipline, especially around care for God’s creation is also a journey. We can’t solve the massive issues and threats facing our environment. But each thing we can do to preserve and protect God’s good creation is a step in the journey, a link in a global continuum of care and adoration of the Creator. I think this prayer nicely expresses the journey:
This week while I was preparing for the sermon and spending time in the gospel of Luke, a friend pointed me to this poem and reflection titled, “God of Yes.” In order to create healthy boundaries in our world that constantly asks us to do more and be more, we are encouraged to not be afraid of the word, “No.” No creates space to learn and grow. No creates opportunities to nourish ourselves and prioritize our time. No allows for a chance to rest and renew. But what about Yes?
This week we journey with Jesus to Mount Olive as he approaches Jerusalem. At the sight of Jerusalem Jesus has an emotional moment: “Oh, Jerusalem!” he says. Matthew tells us that at the sight of the city and its history and present experience of suffering that “Jesus wept.” Luke tells us that Jesus looked upon the city with a mother’s heart: “How I would gather you like a mother hen gathers her chicks.” Our sermon will center on the compassion of Jesus, who today looks on the city of Kyiv and Park Ridge (where each of us bear our burdens as well as joys) and sees the suffering and enters it.
In this first Sunday in Lent, we watch as the Spirit leads Jesus to the wilderness without food, water, shelter or relationships. Join us this week as the season of Lent invites us to draw closer to God, even through temptation. We celebrate with Lincoln, and his loved ones, as we welcome Lincoln to God’s family and St. Luke’s through his baptism on Sunday.
The fresh snowfall this week brought the drab ground and sky back to a bright and shiny wonderland that glistens in the sun and forces you to put on sunglasses while driving. This shininess is just in time for our celebration of the Transfiguration of Jesus this weekend where we hear about the dazzling white and rays of shininess of Jesus on the mountaintop where the disciples experience the Glory of God. Come and join us in-person or online for worship.
To many cultures shaped by Christian tradition, this pre-Lenten season is a time of celebration, a time to “eat and drink.” It is no wonder we think of partying, especially if we remember this year the season began with the story of Jesus making gallons and gallons of wine for a wedding celebration. Jesus ate and drink, and his disciples with him.
Yesterday in my conversation with Pastor Sally we continued our Epiphany focus on global mission, in the words of Simeon’s song: “A light to light the nations of the world.” I shared the history of the planting of a Southeast Asian ministry in Queens in the Metropolitan NY Synod of the ELCA. Pastor Daniel Peter from the Andrha Pradesh Lutheran Church in India was the pastor who developed the outreach. After the Tsunami in South Asia we gathered for comfort and renewal with South Asian Lutherans and neighbors for comfort and prayer. In the pastor’s blog is a devotion I wrote about that event.
I was planning a large camp game of capture the flag. There were about 150 kids playing. How in the world were we going to be able to keep everyone honest as to what team they were on? Our confirmation group had not pre-planned being able to ask students to wear or bring a certain color shirt to help with this kind of thing. I looked around and saw a group of leaders cleaning paint brushes from an art activity from free time. There! That’s it! Let’s use paint!
AAMPARO is the ministry of the ELCA which accompanies migrant minors (and their families) in Central America, their country of origin (especially the Northern Triangle: Honduras, Guatamala and El Salvador); in Mexico (the country of transit); and at the southern border of the US. I was Director of Domestic Mission for the ELCA and Rafael Malpica-Padilla was Director for Global Mission. We led a delegation to Central America to hear the stories of those who have been deported, and to hear what drives families to attempt to migrate to the US. This is one of the stories we heard
Hygge (pronounces Hue-guh) is a Danish concept that cannot be easily described in one English word but encompasses a feeling of cozy contentment through enjoying the simple things in life. If you’ve ever sat and simply watched it snow while you read a book or sipped from a warm mug, you’ve experienced hygee without even knowing it. If I had to put the concept of hygge into one English word, I would probably use cozy.