If Anyone Saves a Life. . .

Like so many of you I have been distressed and heartbroken by the continued suffering in wars and conflict across the globe. I am always thinking about Ukraine, especially since some of our members look to relatives suffering there. And in this holy Advent season our hearts go toward the Holy Land and the ongoing conflict and suffering there: from a horrific terror attack, to remaining hostages, to civilian deaths in Gaza. Previously I had shared some reflections from a journal I kept in a visit to the Holy Land. Today, with Advent hope and waiting on the coming of the Prince of Peace I share verses from Jewish and Muslim scriptures and a final entry in that journal.

Have the Conversation

FROM THE PASTOR Have the Conversation The punchline of the story about my paternal grandmother I told a few weeks ago was “If I die, how will I get in touch with you?” The point is – why wait? There’s no better time than the present for a conversation. Especially a conversation with those you…

Shaping Our Expectations

I want to share some readings, both ancient and new, which can help to arouse our imagination of our awareness of what Advent’s time brings: a mature expectation and sensitivity toward the lord’s coming. Advent summons us to the beginning. The lavishness of God’s compassion and mercy frame yet another year of the church for us. In my blog each week I will share some reflections to help us shape our expectation of the coming of Jesus. I hope and pray that these readings will speak to your hunger for deeper relationship to God through the advent of Jesus Christ into our world and our hearts.

I Love You Soooo Much

I am remembering a note I received from one of my children many years ago. It was boisterously colorful, scribbled with a rainbow of many crayons in a random way. In the middle of a page full of wiggly color. Written in big red thick crayon was this: Dear Daddy, I love you soooooooo much!!!!!” It was a masterpiece, a stunning work of art because it reflected true thanksgiving. There was no particular occasion. I hadn’t done anything recently that I could think of think of to earn such a lavish offering from one of my children. It was simply an act of love for me, a human being who shared a life and a home with another human being and remembered him.

Remembering Carol-And All the Saints

During Summer, 2022, Carol Becker offered to be my coach and mentor as I transitioned our front lawn from grass (and weeds) to a shade garden. This year under her supervision we planted a variety of yews, hostas, ferns, wild geraniums, bergenia, and viburnum, including a blackhaw viburnum tree she chose to replace the serviceberry tree in our parkway which had died last year. It was fun to work with Carol, to experience her enthusiasm, and to see the energy she seemed to draw from this project. Carol was very much alive, despite the challenge of living with metastatic disease.

“Shema” “Mezuzah” “Giving From the heart” 

In a Jewish home you will notice a kind of bump on the door post. It is a small container affixed to the lintel of the door and is called a Mezuzah. Inside, written in Hebrew on a tiny piece of paper are some words from Deuteronomy which is called the Shema. As a person leaves the house and enters the house they touch the Mezuzah. These are the words: “Hear O Israel, the Lord your God is one Lord. You Shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your might and all your soul, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” This is the chief law of God in Hebrew Scriptures. Every time a devout believer touches the Shema it is a reminder of the place of God in the person’s life. On leaving the house, upon return, love the Lord. Love your neighbor. Stay in touch with your faith.

How Do You Make a Saint?

Have you tried to row a boat across a lake? The rowing takes work, to be sure. But I think rowing is the easiest part. The hard part is staying on course so that the boat does not drift this way and that, all over the lake. To row hard, and in the right direction, so that the destination is reached, that is what rowing is all about. And the interesting thing is this: In order to find your future direction, you must look back. Rowing is accomplished by facing backward and keeping your eyes on a fixed point of the receding shoreline as you steadily pull forward. That is the spirit of All Saints Day.

The Reformation

The Reformation was a pastoral movement within the one Body of Christ to restore the faith and the Gospel to the common lay believer. Luther translated the Bible into German, did away with the Latin mass and introduced worship in German so people could worship and sing in their heart language. It is important to remember that the possibility of mass communication through Guttenberg’s invention of the printing press was critical in spreading the ideas of the Reformation. It has been true since the beginning of the Christian Church following the resurrection of Jesus, that new platforms of communication have aided the spread of the Gospel.

Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?

More than 30 years ago Judy and I escaped to New Orleans for a week’s vacation. It was Easter Sunday. The car was packed and as soon as the second service ended, we were on the road. We had a wonderful time (except for the ticket I got in a small-town speed trap) and agreed to someday return to New Orleans.

“A Pray for Peace”

Like people across the globe, I am troubled and haunted by the violence, suffering and death in Israel and Gaza. This hits me hard because I have been to Israel and Palestine five times, have listened as Palestinian and Israeli leaders and everyday people have shared their hopes, despair, experiences, anger, compassion, loss, and humanity amid ongoing conflict and tension. I kept a journal on the visit I made in 2003 as part of a delegation with ELCA’s presiding Bishop, Mark Hanson, and Lutheran bishop in Palestine Mounib Younan. We were there as the “Roadmap For Peace” was being considered by Israeli and Palestinian leaders.