This week I thought I'd try my hand at Haiku. I know that traditionally Haiku has a focus on the seasons and/or nature. I think this can be adapted liturgically to the Seasons of the Church year and the "nature" of worship.
English Haiku is usually three lines: 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables. I know I have an extra syllable in the second line... but here it is:
Haiku for All Saints Sunday
Ah, the holy ones!
The Lord, glorious in his saints
Shines with radiance
Friday, October 31, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Routine | Reformation | All Saints
Reformation and All Saints
Yesterday we celebrated the Reformation. Next Sunday we will celebrate All Saints Sunday. What I love being about Lutheran is that we stand with one foot in the Protestant world and one foot in the Roman Catholic world. This puts us in an important position when it comes to ecumenical conversation and dialog. Almost ten years ago, churches of the Lutheran World Federation and the Roman Catholic Church signed an agreement on Reformation Sunday stating we are no longer in disagreement about the central tenet of the Reformation. If you missed the news then, you can read the Joint Declaration on Justification for yourself.
If you would like to read more on the Reformation, I would direct you to the Book of Concord, a collection of all of our Lutheran confessional documents. Reformation Day (October 31) commemorates Martin Luther's posting of his 95 Theses for disputation. As one who likes to argue, I celebrate that it all began with a debate, or rather an invitation to debate. The Augsburg Confession is perhaps the most concise summary of the faith of the Reformers, stating our agreements and disagreements with other Christians.
Most of all, I love reading Luther himself (at least in translation). Since the English edition of his works numbers 55 volumes alone (not including the sermons), it is a little daunting to know where to begin. Here I would point you toward the late Timothy Lull's book, Martin Luther's Basic Theological Writings. It is an impressive one-volume collection with introductions to some of Luther's most important works. Reading Luther is always refreshing to me. He has a wonderful way of cutting to the heart of the matter. Reading him directly is so much better than reading a dry biography of him.
For me, this week between Reformation Sunday and All Saints Sunday always calls me to repentance, longing and rejoicing: repentance of my own sinful pride, longing for the full unity of the Church which Christ commands (cf. John, ch. 17), and rejoicing with the company of all the saints who have fought the good fight of faith and witness to Christ for us.
Routine
Our family just returned from some time away. I love vacation. Even as a child it was a nice break from the everyday. However, we cut our trip a little short this year and came home, longing for (you guessed it), the everyday. We missed home. We missed routine.
I think this is one reason why the Church has thought it wise to pray with regularity. The Church borrowed from ancient Israel the concept of morning and evening prayer. And while we do not offer sacrifice at the Temple or Tabernacle as ancient Israel did, we do offer the sacrifice of our lives and our repentant prayers.
Perhaps you already have a set time for daily devotions and prayers. If not, I encourage you to add one, beginning with either morning or evening prayer. Links to orders of service for the home are in this message.
If you don't already have a series of Scripture readings for daily prayer, I would suggest several options:
1) The Episcopal Book of Common Prayer offers a 2-year daily lectionary.
2) The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau publishes this same lectionary in a 4-volume set called For All the Saints. November 30 this year begins Volume 1.
3) In our Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnal the daily lectionary begins on p. 1121.
Yesterday we celebrated the Reformation. Next Sunday we will celebrate All Saints Sunday. What I love being about Lutheran is that we stand with one foot in the Protestant world and one foot in the Roman Catholic world. This puts us in an important position when it comes to ecumenical conversation and dialog. Almost ten years ago, churches of the Lutheran World Federation and the Roman Catholic Church signed an agreement on Reformation Sunday stating we are no longer in disagreement about the central tenet of the Reformation. If you missed the news then, you can read the Joint Declaration on Justification for yourself.
If you would like to read more on the Reformation, I would direct you to the Book of Concord, a collection of all of our Lutheran confessional documents. Reformation Day (October 31) commemorates Martin Luther's posting of his 95 Theses for disputation. As one who likes to argue, I celebrate that it all began with a debate, or rather an invitation to debate. The Augsburg Confession is perhaps the most concise summary of the faith of the Reformers, stating our agreements and disagreements with other Christians.
Most of all, I love reading Luther himself (at least in translation). Since the English edition of his works numbers 55 volumes alone (not including the sermons), it is a little daunting to know where to begin. Here I would point you toward the late Timothy Lull's book, Martin Luther's Basic Theological Writings. It is an impressive one-volume collection with introductions to some of Luther's most important works. Reading Luther is always refreshing to me. He has a wonderful way of cutting to the heart of the matter. Reading him directly is so much better than reading a dry biography of him.
For me, this week between Reformation Sunday and All Saints Sunday always calls me to repentance, longing and rejoicing: repentance of my own sinful pride, longing for the full unity of the Church which Christ commands (cf. John, ch. 17), and rejoicing with the company of all the saints who have fought the good fight of faith and witness to Christ for us.
Routine
Our family just returned from some time away. I love vacation. Even as a child it was a nice break from the everyday. However, we cut our trip a little short this year and came home, longing for (you guessed it), the everyday. We missed home. We missed routine.
I think this is one reason why the Church has thought it wise to pray with regularity. The Church borrowed from ancient Israel the concept of morning and evening prayer. And while we do not offer sacrifice at the Temple or Tabernacle as ancient Israel did, we do offer the sacrifice of our lives and our repentant prayers.
Perhaps you already have a set time for daily devotions and prayers. If not, I encourage you to add one, beginning with either morning or evening prayer. Links to orders of service for the home are in this message.
If you don't already have a series of Scripture readings for daily prayer, I would suggest several options:
1) The Episcopal Book of Common Prayer offers a 2-year daily lectionary.
2) The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau publishes this same lectionary in a 4-volume set called For All the Saints. November 30 this year begins Volume 1.
3) In our Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnal the daily lectionary begins on p. 1121.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Youth Gathering, Politics, Big Event
Youth Gathering 2009: New Orleans
Many of you may remember attending a Lutheran youth gathering. Next summer our congregation will send a group to New Orleans for the 2009 version: "Jesus, Justice, Jazz." Click on the link above to read more about it.
Politics
This is the time of year when it gets tiring being in a swing state, doesn't it? I think we are subjected to more ads than most Americans. To me there is always a certain amount of (good) anticipation surrounding Election Day: Will my team win?
And yet, the day after the election there is also a certain amount of disappointment--even if my team wins. For we wonder how much will change (or stay the same). We know that politics and salvation are very different creatures and that the world has never been saved through a party platform or a charismatic candidate.
I think Dayspring Church in Bowling Green has it correct with their Pray for Our Nation week (October 27-31). So I'm going to ask you do something a bit out of the ordinary this week: Pray for the other party's candidate. If you support Senator McCain, please pray for Barack Obama and Joe Biden. If you support Senator Obama, please pray for John McCain and Sarah Palin. If you support the Libertarian candidateBob Barr, pray for Ralph Nader and vice-versa--you get the idea. Not only are we encouraged in Scripture to pray for those in positions of authority (Romans 13), but (if you really feel strongly against a particular candidate), we are also encouraged to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). See you in the voting booth!
Capital Campaign Big Event
Just a friendly reminder that we have one worship service this Sunday (9:30 am) with a celebration (food, games, etc.) following at about 10:45 or 11:00 am.
Many of you may remember attending a Lutheran youth gathering. Next summer our congregation will send a group to New Orleans for the 2009 version: "Jesus, Justice, Jazz." Click on the link above to read more about it.
Politics
This is the time of year when it gets tiring being in a swing state, doesn't it? I think we are subjected to more ads than most Americans. To me there is always a certain amount of (good) anticipation surrounding Election Day: Will my team win?
And yet, the day after the election there is also a certain amount of disappointment--even if my team wins. For we wonder how much will change (or stay the same). We know that politics and salvation are very different creatures and that the world has never been saved through a party platform or a charismatic candidate.
I think Dayspring Church in Bowling Green has it correct with their Pray for Our Nation week (October 27-31). So I'm going to ask you do something a bit out of the ordinary this week: Pray for the other party's candidate. If you support Senator McCain, please pray for Barack Obama and Joe Biden. If you support Senator Obama, please pray for John McCain and Sarah Palin. If you support the Libertarian candidateBob Barr, pray for Ralph Nader and vice-versa--you get the idea. Not only are we encouraged in Scripture to pray for those in positions of authority (Romans 13), but (if you really feel strongly against a particular candidate), we are also encouraged to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). See you in the voting booth!
Capital Campaign Big Event
Just a friendly reminder that we have one worship service this Sunday (9:30 am) with a celebration (food, games, etc.) following at about 10:45 or 11:00 am.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Happenings
Capital Campaign: Rooted in Christ - Growing to the Future
We are well into our capital fundraising campaign. Mark your calendars for Sunday, October 19 for the Big Event: One worship service at 9:30 am followed by a celebration at 11:00 am.
I took a day of retreat last week and one of the things foremost in my mind was the health of Bethlehem and the capital campaign. I was praying in the grotto seeking some guidance and answers about this large undertaking we are considering together. Some of the questions that have been asked have been around the connection between the bricks and mortar and the ministry. The "answer" I received was this: As I gazed on the grotto, I noticed it was made largely of rocks and stones, the "bricks and mortar," if you will. And yet, out of these rocks, these lifeless things, life was growing--and I'm not just talking moss and weeds. Good life, abundant life, that just seemed to "fit" with these rocks was bursting forth. So I offer this: let us consider how the "bricks and mortar" of this church building are organically connected to us, the living members of the Body of Christ and the vital ministries that God has given to us.
Please continue to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we continue our campaign.
Upcoming Events
Below are some upcoming events that you might be interested in. I have provided links for as much information as possible.
Lutheran Disaster Relief is holding Disaster Training (Level 1 and 2) on November 8, 2008: 9:00 a.m. until noon for Level 1 and 12:30 until 3:00 p.m. for Level 2 at NWOS Office, 621 Bright Road, Findlay, Ohio 45840. Click here to register.
A retreat on prayer will be held October 24-26, 2008 at Our Lady of the Pines, Fremont, Ohio as part of our synod's Lay Academy for mission.
Grace Brethren Church of Bowling Green will be holding a Walk Thu the Bible Seminar on the Old Testament on November 8 from 9 am - 3 pm. The cost of the seminar is $17 and lunch is $6. They would like to have registrations at least one week in advance.
Zoar Lutheran, Perrysburg will hold a Luther Fest on October 19, beginning at 4 pm with a Battle of the Praise Bands followed by local musical acts. At 7 pm, there is an Afterglow Concert with Lori LeFever and Eric Dickey's Jazz Trio. Tickets are available for $25 by calling Glenwood Lutheran at 419-255-0886 and all proceeds go to assist Toledo inner-city youth in attending the ELCA youth gathering in 2009.
And a Lutheran Revival will be held at St. Mark's Bowling Green on December 5-6, 2008.
We are well into our capital fundraising campaign. Mark your calendars for Sunday, October 19 for the Big Event: One worship service at 9:30 am followed by a celebration at 11:00 am.
I took a day of retreat last week and one of the things foremost in my mind was the health of Bethlehem and the capital campaign. I was praying in the grotto seeking some guidance and answers about this large undertaking we are considering together. Some of the questions that have been asked have been around the connection between the bricks and mortar and the ministry. The "answer" I received was this: As I gazed on the grotto, I noticed it was made largely of rocks and stones, the "bricks and mortar," if you will. And yet, out of these rocks, these lifeless things, life was growing--and I'm not just talking moss and weeds. Good life, abundant life, that just seemed to "fit" with these rocks was bursting forth. So I offer this: let us consider how the "bricks and mortar" of this church building are organically connected to us, the living members of the Body of Christ and the vital ministries that God has given to us.
Please continue to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we continue our campaign.
Upcoming Events
Below are some upcoming events that you might be interested in. I have provided links for as much information as possible.
Lutheran Disaster Relief is holding Disaster Training (Level 1 and 2) on November 8, 2008: 9:00 a.m. until noon for Level 1 and 12:30 until 3:00 p.m. for Level 2 at NWOS Office, 621 Bright Road, Findlay, Ohio 45840. Click here to register.
A retreat on prayer will be held October 24-26, 2008 at Our Lady of the Pines, Fremont, Ohio as part of our synod's Lay Academy for mission.
Grace Brethren Church of Bowling Green will be holding a Walk Thu the Bible Seminar on the Old Testament on November 8 from 9 am - 3 pm. The cost of the seminar is $17 and lunch is $6. They would like to have registrations at least one week in advance.
Zoar Lutheran, Perrysburg will hold a Luther Fest on October 19, beginning at 4 pm with a Battle of the Praise Bands followed by local musical acts. At 7 pm, there is an Afterglow Concert with Lori LeFever and Eric Dickey's Jazz Trio. Tickets are available for $25 by calling Glenwood Lutheran at 419-255-0886 and all proceeds go to assist Toledo inner-city youth in attending the ELCA youth gathering in 2009.
And a Lutheran Revival will be held at St. Mark's Bowling Green on December 5-6, 2008.
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