n an episode of the television series “Young Sheldon” the famously germophobic child genius is hospitalized overnight following emergency gallbladder surgery. Due to his anxiety about the setting in which he finds himself, Sheldon is unable to fall asleep. His harassed and aggravated nurse suggests he try counting sheep. Sheldon acknowledges the suggestion but reports the intervention would be ineffective for him. He is afraid of barnyard animals.
Dear St. Luke’s partners,
The Lord be with you in these holy days. “Ash Wednesday” is known as the poet T.S.Eliot’s “conversion” poem, written after he joined the Anglican church in 1927. It goes deeply into the tension between spiritual barrenness and his hope for salvation of all things. We live in that tension, and on Ash Wednesday bare on our foreheads both brokenness and death, yet cruciform baptismal hope.
Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain.” So begins the account of the Transfiguration of our Lord according to Matthew. What follows is the amazing vision of Jesus, bathed in light and glory, accompanied by Moses and Elijah. For a brief, shining moment, the identity of Jesus as God’s beloved Son is confirmed. It was a strengthening of faith for both Jesus and the disciples. We are meant to see ourselves on this mountain, to have our own faith made stronger, to see that our confidence in Jesus is confirmed.
Gun violence in our country is a public health crisis. This year (as of February 4) there have been 4,297 gun violence deaths, including 2,442 suicides. There have been 107 gun deaths resulting from the defensive use of a weapon. There have been 60 mass shootings. (Source: Gun Violence Archive)
I think Judy and I have decided that 2023 is the year we will return to New Orleans. We visited the city many years ago and it has remained on my “bucket list” as a city I want to see again. It is a remarkable city. A resilient community. Despite crime, poverty, corruption, and devastating storms, it is a city with spirit. It is a welcoming city that has a lot to celebrate and knows how to party.
Three powerful lessons await us this coming Sunday from the Epiphany Four lectionary.
Our Epistle for Sunday invites us to focus on the cross and consider the many surprising and unlikely ways that God is with us. “The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians: 18-31)
In 2 Corinthians chapter 8 we hear about the Macedonian offering. Paul is taking an offering to support the hungry and beleaguered Christian community in Jerusalem. The church in Macedonia was one of the most impoverished churches in as the Christian movement. Paul contrasts their poverty with their generosity. Here is Paul describing the offering:
The past three years have seen more conversation about and struggle with racial injustice than we have seen at any time since the assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Caring Connections, an ejournal published by Lutheran chaplains, pastoral counselors, and clinical educators, made a contribution to the conversation in its September 2020 issues, “Reflections on Racial Justice.” Following below is an edited version of my personal response to Robin DiAngelo’s White Fragility, published in that issue. I commend the book to you.
Pastor John Schumacher, BCC
“As with gladness men of old
Did the guiding star behold
As with joy they hailed its light,
Leading onward, beaming bright
So, most gracious Lord, may we
Ever more be led by thee.
As with joyful steps they sped,
Savior to thy lowly bed,
There to bend the knee before
Thee, whom heav’n and earth adore;
So, may we with willing feet
Ever seek thy mercy seat.” (LBW, 82)
I would like to reflect with you on the nature of Epiphany and the ministry we share as pastors and church leaders, especially as we find the mission field not somewhere else, but right outside our doors.
I am pleased to know we already have one St. Luke’s participant registered for the Bishop Anderson House Spiritual Care Visitor Training which begins with a full-day retreat on Saturday, March 25, at St. Luke’s. While the registration deadline is March 13, the time to sign up is now. Information about this ministry opportunity has been sent out to the Park Ridge Ministerial Association which is co-sponsoring this training. In addition, Bishop Anderson House has put the St. Luke’s training on its website, so registration information is out there for the entire metro Chicago community. Participation will be capped at twenty people and we would like to see a strong St. Luke’s cohort. A timely response is important.