Daily Prayer
It is the time of year when many of us are writing New Year's resolutions. I would invite you to consider your prayer life as you craft your own.
Regular daily prayer with the Scriptures has been part of the tradition of the church since its beginning. It is practice that we inherited from our Jewish ancestors, who marked not only the Festivals (Passover, Weeks, Booths, etc.) and the months, but also the evening (the beginning of the day, cf. Genesis 1: "...and it was evening and it was morning") and the morning with times of prayer.
Christian monasteries and many churches also mark the day with fixed-hour prayer. That is, certain times of the day are set aside to pause and to pray: usually with prayers from the Psalms and other Scriptures. How often? Some as often as every three hours: 6 am (or sunrise), 9 am (the third hour), 12 noon (the sixth hour, the time of the crucifixion), 3 pm (the ninth hour), 6 pm (evening, sunset), 9 pm (late evening) and midnight. Some even rise in the middle of the night to give thanks and praise to God. Work and pray. Work and pray. Work and pray. This is the rhythm of the monastery--and it may be ours too!
If this all seems quite ambitious to you, that is ok. Begin where you are and work on growing to a more frequent marking of the days with prayer. If you pray less often than weekly, why not commit to praying weekly? If you pray weekly, why not commit to praying daily this new year? And if you pray daily, why not consider gradually growing to marking more than one time of day for fixed prayer? If you are a morning pray-er, add noon or evening. The idea is that the Words of God would be "on our lips and in our heart" (Romans 10:8).
And since we have just heard Mary's Song (on December 21) and Simeon's Song (December 28) during Sunday worship, why not begin with some fixed prayers from Scripture?
Traditionally the Benedictus (Zechariah’s Song) in Luke 1:68-79 is prayed in the morning, after rising. It celebrates God's victories for his people and the Savior Jesus Christ.
The Magnificat (Mary’s Song) in Luke 1:46-55 is prayed in the evening (near sunset, often around dinner time) and it celebrates God's provision for the poor and lowly. Mary voices her praise to God for us all. Note the connections between Mary's song and Exodus 15 in the Old Testament.
Finally, the Nunc Dimittis (Simeon’s Song) in Luke 2:29-32 is a "bedtime" prayer and forces us to consider the links between our regular evening sleep and the "sleep" of death. Both involve an incredible amount of trust as we enfold ourselves into the hands of our Creator.
Services for Morning Prayer (Matins), Evening Prayer (Vespers) and Compline (Night Prayer) may be found in our new Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnal, pp. 295-327 and in the green Lutheran Book of Worship, pp. 131-160. Don't be intimidated by all the music. Simply read the sung parts if you do not know the music. If you do not have a hymnal in your home, I would invite you to consider purchasing one of these (another New Year's resolution?). There is even a resource with abbreviated versions of morning and evening prayer with hymn suggestions called Bread for the Day.
Let's not forget the Psalms. Ideally these should be a part of Daily Prayer. The Psalms are a rich treasure trove of song and verse that Israel (and then the Church) have been praying for thousands of years. A table for praying the whole book of Psalms each month is available here. The first Psalms listed each day for the morning and the second for the evening.
If you would like to read more about fixed daily prayer, I would also recommend a resource by Phyllis Tickle called The Divine Hours, who has written on the subject of fixed-hour prayer. Another online resource (with book suggestions) is available here.
Mark Your Calendar
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events. For more information check the newsletter later this week. It should be posted online by then.
+January 3: 1st Saturday evening worship service (5 pm) and blood drive (daytime)
+January 4: Installation of council members during worship
+January 11: "Companion Synod Sunday": We celebrate our partnership with churches in Tanzania and Serbia
+Late January / early February: e100 (Essential 100) Bible reading program kick off
Merry Christmas (Day 5) and Happy New Year!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
TXT ME!
One thing at the top of my New Year's Resolution list for 2009 will be this: "Practice the virtue of being present at all times." Of course, as I write this, I have my phone within reach, my iPod charging at home, my calendar open on my desk, various books scattered about with pages marked from the last time I stopped reading, two bulletins that I am proofing, my hymnal, a half-dozen notecards and more than three pens and pencils scattered about. This "being present" thing is not something that comes naturally to me. We are a distracted people.
When I drive through Bowling Green and bemoan how many college students are texting as they walk to class, I am also aware at how many people my age and older break into a nervous sweat if they cannot find their Blackberry or cell phone... and how man portable electronic devices I own myself. We are a very distracted people.
Let me be clear. I'm not fussing about technology. Rather, I am worried about how all this "need to be somewhere else" stuff is forming us, about what kind of people we are becoming. What all this is doing to us is giving us the false promise that "somewhere or someone else" is always better or more exciting than where (or with whom) I am now. You know the feeling: You're out to dinner or lunch and your companion takes a cell phone call and talks on and on. Inside you're yelling, "But I'm right here, sitting in front of you!" This fall I saw a child, who looked to be about 9 years old, go up and sit next to his father on the park bench. His dad was on a call with his bluetooth headset and never even acknowledged his presence. After about 10 minutes (plenty of time, I thought), the boy just got up and went back to play.
It also hits close to home. It is troubling to me when I am at home playing with my children and realize that while I'm there in body, my mind and heart are elsewhere: usually thinking about work.
It's almost Christmas time, and so it's probably a good thing to contemplate Mary's response to the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: Luke 2:19: But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. Sure, the Shepherds are running here and there, telling the news, but Mary, like all good mothers, holds that tiny newborn in her arms and gazes into his eyes. For there is no better place to be in the world than right here, right now, for that is where God is.
When I drive through Bowling Green and bemoan how many college students are texting as they walk to class, I am also aware at how many people my age and older break into a nervous sweat if they cannot find their Blackberry or cell phone... and how man portable electronic devices I own myself. We are a very distracted people.
Let me be clear. I'm not fussing about technology. Rather, I am worried about how all this "need to be somewhere else" stuff is forming us, about what kind of people we are becoming. What all this is doing to us is giving us the false promise that "somewhere or someone else" is always better or more exciting than where (or with whom) I am now. You know the feeling: You're out to dinner or lunch and your companion takes a cell phone call and talks on and on. Inside you're yelling, "But I'm right here, sitting in front of you!" This fall I saw a child, who looked to be about 9 years old, go up and sit next to his father on the park bench. His dad was on a call with his bluetooth headset and never even acknowledged his presence. After about 10 minutes (plenty of time, I thought), the boy just got up and went back to play.
It also hits close to home. It is troubling to me when I am at home playing with my children and realize that while I'm there in body, my mind and heart are elsewhere: usually thinking about work.
It's almost Christmas time, and so it's probably a good thing to contemplate Mary's response to the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: Luke 2:19: But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. Sure, the Shepherds are running here and there, telling the news, but Mary, like all good mothers, holds that tiny newborn in her arms and gazes into his eyes. For there is no better place to be in the world than right here, right now, for that is where God is.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Through the Bible in 90 Days? Whew!
Exhausted Yet?
I don't know about you all, but the craziness of the pre-Christmas season has swept over our family. I think we have evening commitments from now until December 21... then again beginning on Christmas Eve. Our gift list is about half done and I have only made a small dent in the Christmas letter.
And yet there is a lot about this craziness that I must confess that I love. The sheer number of Christmas lights on houses reminds me of Christ the Light who has entered our dark world: Jesus Christ is the Light of the world... the Light no darkness can overcome.
The cookies and candy canes and endless string of parties remind me of the joyous celebration of Christ's victory over sin and death: the bitter sting of death is swallowed up in Christ's sweet victory.
And the crazy family Christmas gatherings? These remind me of the wide variety of people that God calls into his Church, into his family of faith.
Bible in 90 Days --> E100
As I write this, many members of our community are completing their reading of the Bible in 90 Days. If you know of someone who participated in this program, you may want to congratulate them and ask them how the experience was.
If you are interested in journeying through the Scriptures, you may want to consider a program beginning in late January and early February called E100: a walk through the Bible's "essential 100" passages. This program can be done on your own, in small groups, or in a larger group setting.
Lutheran Study Bible
The Lutheran Study Bible will be available on March 1, 2009. If you reserve a copy before December 31, 2008 they are available at a 30% discount (hardcover or paperback). Contact Kathy in the church office (419-287-4182) if you would like to be added to the list. We need 10 total (before December 31) to get the discount. If you would like to look more closely at this new Bible, see the sample pages.
Hebrews Devotions
We continue our journey through the book of Hebrews. Devotions are available here.
I don't know about you all, but the craziness of the pre-Christmas season has swept over our family. I think we have evening commitments from now until December 21... then again beginning on Christmas Eve. Our gift list is about half done and I have only made a small dent in the Christmas letter.
And yet there is a lot about this craziness that I must confess that I love. The sheer number of Christmas lights on houses reminds me of Christ the Light who has entered our dark world: Jesus Christ is the Light of the world... the Light no darkness can overcome.
The cookies and candy canes and endless string of parties remind me of the joyous celebration of Christ's victory over sin and death: the bitter sting of death is swallowed up in Christ's sweet victory.
And the crazy family Christmas gatherings? These remind me of the wide variety of people that God calls into his Church, into his family of faith.
Bible in 90 Days --> E100
As I write this, many members of our community are completing their reading of the Bible in 90 Days. If you know of someone who participated in this program, you may want to congratulate them and ask them how the experience was.
If you are interested in journeying through the Scriptures, you may want to consider a program beginning in late January and early February called E100: a walk through the Bible's "essential 100" passages. This program can be done on your own, in small groups, or in a larger group setting.
Lutheran Study Bible
The Lutheran Study Bible will be available on March 1, 2009. If you reserve a copy before December 31, 2008 they are available at a 30% discount (hardcover or paperback). Contact Kathy in the church office (419-287-4182) if you would like to be added to the list. We need 10 total (before December 31) to get the discount. If you would like to look more closely at this new Bible, see the sample pages.
Hebrews Devotions
We continue our journey through the book of Hebrews. Devotions are available here.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Hebrews Advent
Since we are making our way through the Book of Hebrews for Advent, I have decided to reproduce my reflections for these weekly devotions. I hope they bear some fruit. If you would like to read more, they (and others) are also available at my blog: Hebrews.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Bible Reading - The "E"ssential 100
The American Bible Society has launched a new initiative called e100. It is a journey through 100 "essential" passages of the Bible, with an eye toward giving the reader a good sense of the grand sweep of the Scriptures.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Sickness and Sin
Sick in Sin
'Tis the season for the head-cold... fa la la la la, la la la la (or the stomach flu).
This is the time of year when it seems like virtually everyone is either sick, about to get sick, or recovering from being sick. This permafrost of stuffy noses, plugged sinuses and gurgling tummies has made me think a lot about sin.
In the West (most Christians we know), we often talk about sin in legal terms. A simplified version goes like this: We are guilty and stand before the Judgment seat of God the Father Almighty. Jesus Christ, God the Son, steps into our place and not only takes our punishment but shares his righteousness with us.
With all due process--er, respect--to the attorneys out there, I think we have been far too enthralled by this model for understanding Christ's work of redemption for us. But before I begin to take it apart, let me tell you what I do like about this model: It it squarely focused on Christ and his redemptive work on our behalf. Christ is the one who saves. Christ deals fully with the sin of the world (past, present and future) on the Cross. We have no chance apart from him. There is no question who stands "in our place."
What I think this model fails to answer is how Christ's work is "for us," that is, how Christ's redemptive and saving works becomes real in our lives here and now. I mean, if it is just that we are "pronounced" free/innocent, the question that remains for me is something like: "OK, but what do I do when I get out of jail?"
In the Eastern part of the Church, legal language for sin is replaced largely by the language of sin and sickness. We are literally sick with sin. It infects every facet of our lives. And more than simply being declared righteousness, we need healing, we need to be cured. I find this understanding of sin as sickness incredibly important in reflecting on what exactly sin does to us, what it is that Jesus saves us from, and what being "saved" really means.
First, a caveat: There is no "neat" relationship between sickness and sin. I write this against those who would make a necessary link always between one who is sick and their sin. Being sick does not prove a specific act of sin. Rather, I think, it speaks to the whole human condition under sin: that it is literally poisoning the whole of who we are: body, soul, mind and spirit.
If we are sick with sin, then what we need is not an announcement, but healing, a cure. Sin is literally eating away at us, making us lethargic and draining the lifeblood from us. Sin is slowly killing us. Enter Jesus, who seems to be healing all the time. As I read through the gospels I am struck by how often Jesus' ministry is a ministry of healing: the blind see; the deaf hear; the lame and crippled walk; the dumb speak! And all of this is not separate from Jesus' work of redemption but an intrinsic part of it. The word used in the New Testament for "healing" also means "salvation" (sozo).
In this understanding, Jesus takes all of our sickness (sin) upon himself on the cross, even sickness (sin) to the point of death and then literally swallows it all up into himself, bearing our sin. Then comes the empty tomb. Then comes the Resurrected Christ in the Body, restoring our sick human flesh to wholeness, to newness, to new life.
Therefore our ministry on this side of the Second Coming is like hospital work: one sick person caring for another with the healing gifts that come only through Jesus, the Great Physician.
Lord Jesus, we are literally sick with sin. We're dying here. Save us from our sin; heal us and make us whole. Amen.
Advent
Advent is now underway. I too get caught up in the busy-ness of the pre-Christmas season. I think that is why I look forward to the Season of Advent. For this is serious business, preparing ourselves for our Lord's return. If you would like to read more about it as we journey through Hebrews, see this blog.
Upcoming Events
Today is World AIDS day. I encourage you today to take time to pray for all who afflicted by this disease, as well as their families and friends
If you have the chance, I highly recommend checking out all or part of the Lutheran Revival that is happening Friday evening and all day Saturday in Bowling Green.
'Tis the season for the head-cold... fa la la la la, la la la la (or the stomach flu).
This is the time of year when it seems like virtually everyone is either sick, about to get sick, or recovering from being sick. This permafrost of stuffy noses, plugged sinuses and gurgling tummies has made me think a lot about sin.
In the West (most Christians we know), we often talk about sin in legal terms. A simplified version goes like this: We are guilty and stand before the Judgment seat of God the Father Almighty. Jesus Christ, God the Son, steps into our place and not only takes our punishment but shares his righteousness with us.
With all due process--er, respect--to the attorneys out there, I think we have been far too enthralled by this model for understanding Christ's work of redemption for us. But before I begin to take it apart, let me tell you what I do like about this model: It it squarely focused on Christ and his redemptive work on our behalf. Christ is the one who saves. Christ deals fully with the sin of the world (past, present and future) on the Cross. We have no chance apart from him. There is no question who stands "in our place."
What I think this model fails to answer is how Christ's work is "for us," that is, how Christ's redemptive and saving works becomes real in our lives here and now. I mean, if it is just that we are "pronounced" free/innocent, the question that remains for me is something like: "OK, but what do I do when I get out of jail?"
In the Eastern part of the Church, legal language for sin is replaced largely by the language of sin and sickness. We are literally sick with sin. It infects every facet of our lives. And more than simply being declared righteousness, we need healing, we need to be cured. I find this understanding of sin as sickness incredibly important in reflecting on what exactly sin does to us, what it is that Jesus saves us from, and what being "saved" really means.
First, a caveat: There is no "neat" relationship between sickness and sin. I write this against those who would make a necessary link always between one who is sick and their sin. Being sick does not prove a specific act of sin. Rather, I think, it speaks to the whole human condition under sin: that it is literally poisoning the whole of who we are: body, soul, mind and spirit.
If we are sick with sin, then what we need is not an announcement, but healing, a cure. Sin is literally eating away at us, making us lethargic and draining the lifeblood from us. Sin is slowly killing us. Enter Jesus, who seems to be healing all the time. As I read through the gospels I am struck by how often Jesus' ministry is a ministry of healing: the blind see; the deaf hear; the lame and crippled walk; the dumb speak! And all of this is not separate from Jesus' work of redemption but an intrinsic part of it. The word used in the New Testament for "healing" also means "salvation" (sozo).
In this understanding, Jesus takes all of our sickness (sin) upon himself on the cross, even sickness (sin) to the point of death and then literally swallows it all up into himself, bearing our sin. Then comes the empty tomb. Then comes the Resurrected Christ in the Body, restoring our sick human flesh to wholeness, to newness, to new life.
Therefore our ministry on this side of the Second Coming is like hospital work: one sick person caring for another with the healing gifts that come only through Jesus, the Great Physician.
Lord Jesus, we are literally sick with sin. We're dying here. Save us from our sin; heal us and make us whole. Amen.
Advent
Advent is now underway. I too get caught up in the busy-ness of the pre-Christmas season. I think that is why I look forward to the Season of Advent. For this is serious business, preparing ourselves for our Lord's return. If you would like to read more about it as we journey through Hebrews, see this blog.
Upcoming Events
Today is World AIDS day. I encourage you today to take time to pray for all who afflicted by this disease, as well as their families and friends
If you have the chance, I highly recommend checking out all or part of the Lutheran Revival that is happening Friday evening and all day Saturday in Bowling Green.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Naked Strangers
Matthew 25: Sheep and Goats: Redux
Pastor Dave did a wonderful job of reorienting our questions with his sermon on Matthew 25:31-46. How are we the "least of these"? And how does this recognition move us to care for the "least of these" in our communities and in our world? I'd like to offer a few more reflections on the text.
1.) I sometimes wonder if we put too much weight on this text as the reason why as Christians we are charged to care for the poor, the weak, the suffering, etc. We have an even greater warrant than this particular passage: the whole Old Testament! In fact, the whole of Scripture describes God's care and heart for the poor, the orphan and the widow. If you are not convinced, take a look at the Poverty and Justice Bible, which highlights all the references in Scripture to the poor.
2.) As Christians we begin with caring for the least among us. This does not mean we do not reach out to all--of course we do--but we learn what it means to care for the "least" by caring for the least among us. In this way, we are trained and equipped to care for all those whom the world calls "least." Charity begins at home, not in a self-centered way, but rather because if we cannot learn to care for the weakest among our own families, among our brothers and sisters in Christ, we have little hope of being able to care for the "least" of the world.
3.) Did you notice the connections to our Christian baptismal journey in the text? The "least" are described in three sets of pairs: the hungry and thirsty, the stranger and naked, the sick and imprisoned. So too with us! We come to God hungry and thirsty, completely impoverished and longing for the food, the Bread of Life, that is only God's to give. We hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6). We are strangers, for we are the Gentiles, the outsiders, who are brought near only by the blood of the Lamb. We are also naked, for we stand beside our sinning parents, Adam and Even, naked and embarrassed after having eaten of the forbidden fruit. The only "clothing" we have is Christ's righteousness, which comes as sheer gift. Finally, we are the sick and imprisoned. We are literally sick to death with sin, which infects the very depth of our soul. We are also the imprisoned, held in the grip of sin, only released by Christ who sets us free. In other words, these words paint a picture of us before Baptism and along our baptismal journey until our baptism is completed only in death.
Bethlehem: What's in a Name? City of David
Occasionally I like to offer some reflections on our mission and ministry together as a congregation using our name, Bethlehem, as a touchstone.
Bethlehem (Hebrew: House of Bread) is the city of David. So King David bears our close attention. Early in our reading through the Scriptures with the Bible in 90 Days program, we read through the books of Kingdoms (1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings) and through a retelling of that story in the two books of Chronicles.
What struck me this time reading through these texts is how much David was a man, literally, "after God's own heart." He was not perfect (see his adultery with Bathsheba, for example), but again and again we find David reflecting to us God's mercy in his own person. He refuses to slaughter King Saul, the Lord's Anointed, even when he has the chance. He consistently refuses revenge on his enemies who have wronged him, even in his own house, even when his advisers think and recommend otherwise. He weeps over the deaths of those close to him, even when they have done him wrong. And he gives us a model for repentance when he is accused of his sin with Uriah's wife (see Psalm 51).
We often remember David for how he slew Goliath, but in fact I think the consistent witness of the Old Testament, which longs for the fulfillment of the promise of a Messiah-King from David's line, is that he is a Shepherd "after God's own heart." This longing is fulfilled in Christ, born in the City of David, born to be our Bread of Life in the city that is appropriately named "House of Bread."
May we who bear the name of King David's city, learn from his example and witness, being men and women "after God's own heart."
Advent
Our Advent devotions are now available online and as a booklet (from the church office). Join us this Sunday (11/3o) as we prepare for Christmas and for our Lord's second coming during these weeks of Advent. You may want to consider buying a simple Advent wreathe and using this booklet for evening devotions.
Events and Such
Thanksgiving Day worship is 9 am this Thursday (11/27). Please join us in giving thanks to the Lord. President Bush's proclamation for the National Day of Thanksgiving is available here.
The women of the church gather this coming Sunday (11/30) for their winter fellowship gathering. Join us at 2 pm for a program, "Putting Your Best Foot Forward."
Decorating for Advent and Christmas will be this Saturday (11/29). If you are up for heavy lifting, that begins at 8 am. Everyone else is invited to join us at 9 am.
Advent offering boxes were distributed to Sunday school students this past Sunday. This school year, 100% of the money collected through these Advent boxes and 30% of the general Sunday school offerings will be given to Heifer Project International.
Caroling will be Sunday, December 7 (7pm) with the youth and Monday, December 8 (6pm) with the Priscilla women's Bible study group. Come, let us sing to the Lord!
Our Bible in 90 Days group has crossed over into the New Testament. Why not join us for the last 21 days. Begin on day 68 this schedule.
Revival is coming to Bowling Green on Friday evening, December 5 and Saturday, December 6. For more information on this Lutheran Revival and to register, see the synod website.
Pastor Dave did a wonderful job of reorienting our questions with his sermon on Matthew 25:31-46. How are we the "least of these"? And how does this recognition move us to care for the "least of these" in our communities and in our world? I'd like to offer a few more reflections on the text.
1.) I sometimes wonder if we put too much weight on this text as the reason why as Christians we are charged to care for the poor, the weak, the suffering, etc. We have an even greater warrant than this particular passage: the whole Old Testament! In fact, the whole of Scripture describes God's care and heart for the poor, the orphan and the widow. If you are not convinced, take a look at the Poverty and Justice Bible, which highlights all the references in Scripture to the poor.
2.) As Christians we begin with caring for the least among us. This does not mean we do not reach out to all--of course we do--but we learn what it means to care for the "least" by caring for the least among us. In this way, we are trained and equipped to care for all those whom the world calls "least." Charity begins at home, not in a self-centered way, but rather because if we cannot learn to care for the weakest among our own families, among our brothers and sisters in Christ, we have little hope of being able to care for the "least" of the world.
3.) Did you notice the connections to our Christian baptismal journey in the text? The "least" are described in three sets of pairs: the hungry and thirsty, the stranger and naked, the sick and imprisoned. So too with us! We come to God hungry and thirsty, completely impoverished and longing for the food, the Bread of Life, that is only God's to give. We hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6). We are strangers, for we are the Gentiles, the outsiders, who are brought near only by the blood of the Lamb. We are also naked, for we stand beside our sinning parents, Adam and Even, naked and embarrassed after having eaten of the forbidden fruit. The only "clothing" we have is Christ's righteousness, which comes as sheer gift. Finally, we are the sick and imprisoned. We are literally sick to death with sin, which infects the very depth of our soul. We are also the imprisoned, held in the grip of sin, only released by Christ who sets us free. In other words, these words paint a picture of us before Baptism and along our baptismal journey until our baptism is completed only in death.
Bethlehem: What's in a Name? City of David
Occasionally I like to offer some reflections on our mission and ministry together as a congregation using our name, Bethlehem, as a touchstone.
Bethlehem (Hebrew: House of Bread) is the city of David. So King David bears our close attention. Early in our reading through the Scriptures with the Bible in 90 Days program, we read through the books of Kingdoms (1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings) and through a retelling of that story in the two books of Chronicles.
What struck me this time reading through these texts is how much David was a man, literally, "after God's own heart." He was not perfect (see his adultery with Bathsheba, for example), but again and again we find David reflecting to us God's mercy in his own person. He refuses to slaughter King Saul, the Lord's Anointed, even when he has the chance. He consistently refuses revenge on his enemies who have wronged him, even in his own house, even when his advisers think and recommend otherwise. He weeps over the deaths of those close to him, even when they have done him wrong. And he gives us a model for repentance when he is accused of his sin with Uriah's wife (see Psalm 51).
We often remember David for how he slew Goliath, but in fact I think the consistent witness of the Old Testament, which longs for the fulfillment of the promise of a Messiah-King from David's line, is that he is a Shepherd "after God's own heart." This longing is fulfilled in Christ, born in the City of David, born to be our Bread of Life in the city that is appropriately named "House of Bread."
May we who bear the name of King David's city, learn from his example and witness, being men and women "after God's own heart."
Advent
Our Advent devotions are now available online and as a booklet (from the church office). Join us this Sunday (11/3o) as we prepare for Christmas and for our Lord's second coming during these weeks of Advent. You may want to consider buying a simple Advent wreathe and using this booklet for evening devotions.
Events and Such
Thanksgiving Day worship is 9 am this Thursday (11/27). Please join us in giving thanks to the Lord. President Bush's proclamation for the National Day of Thanksgiving is available here.
The women of the church gather this coming Sunday (11/30) for their winter fellowship gathering. Join us at 2 pm for a program, "Putting Your Best Foot Forward."
Decorating for Advent and Christmas will be this Saturday (11/29). If you are up for heavy lifting, that begins at 8 am. Everyone else is invited to join us at 9 am.
Advent offering boxes were distributed to Sunday school students this past Sunday. This school year, 100% of the money collected through these Advent boxes and 30% of the general Sunday school offerings will be given to Heifer Project International.
Caroling will be Sunday, December 7 (7pm) with the youth and Monday, December 8 (6pm) with the Priscilla women's Bible study group. Come, let us sing to the Lord!
Our Bible in 90 Days group has crossed over into the New Testament. Why not join us for the last 21 days. Begin on day 68 this schedule.
Revival is coming to Bowling Green on Friday evening, December 5 and Saturday, December 6. For more information on this Lutheran Revival and to register, see the synod website.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
The New Testament in a Month
Our Bible in 90 Days local group will cross over into the New Testament this Sunday (11/23), Christ the King Sunday. I am encouraging anyone who did not join in the Bible in 90 Days study to join us for the last 21-day home stretch: reading through the New Testament in 21 days. If you would like to join us, see this schedule and begin on day 68.
All this Bible reading has prompted me to consider a new spiritual discipline for 2009: reading through the New Testament each month for several months. One schedule for doing this is posted below (31 days). A 30-day schedule in pdf format is also available.
1 Matthew 1-9
2 Matthew 10-18
3 Matthew 19-28
4 Mark 1-8
5 Mark 9-16
6 Luke 1-8
7 Luke 9-16
8 Luke 17-24
9 John 1-7
10 John 8-14
11 John 15-21
12 Acts 1-9
13 Acts 10-18
14 Acts 19-28
15 Romans 1-8
16 Romans 9-16
17 1 Corinthians 1-8
18 1 Corinthians 9-16
19 2 Corinthians
20 Galatians and Ephesians
21 Philippians and Colossians
22 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians
23 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy
24 Titus and Philemon
25 Hebrews 1-7
26 Hebrews 8-13
27 James
28 1 Peter and 2 Peter
29 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude
30 Revelation 1-11
31 Revelation 12-22
All this Bible reading has prompted me to consider a new spiritual discipline for 2009: reading through the New Testament each month for several months. One schedule for doing this is posted below (31 days). A 30-day schedule in pdf format is also available.
1 Matthew 1-9
2 Matthew 10-18
3 Matthew 19-28
4 Mark 1-8
5 Mark 9-16
6 Luke 1-8
7 Luke 9-16
8 Luke 17-24
9 John 1-7
10 John 8-14
11 John 15-21
12 Acts 1-9
13 Acts 10-18
14 Acts 19-28
15 Romans 1-8
16 Romans 9-16
17 1 Corinthians 1-8
18 1 Corinthians 9-16
19 2 Corinthians
20 Galatians and Ephesians
21 Philippians and Colossians
22 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians
23 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy
24 Titus and Philemon
25 Hebrews 1-7
26 Hebrews 8-13
27 James
28 1 Peter and 2 Peter
29 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude
30 Revelation 1-11
31 Revelation 12-22
Monday, November 17, 2008
Slow Cooked Oats
Slow Cooked Oats and Faith
Most mornings I make slow-cooked steel-cut Irish-style oats for breakfast. (It really sounds fancier than it is.) It's actually "instant" and doesn't involve much work, just a little more preparation and patience. Unlike most instant oatmeal concoctions which take 1 to 3 minutes in the microwave or 5 minutes in boiling water on the stove, these steel-cut oats take about 30 minutes of slow boiling on the stove, plus time for the water to heat up initially.
Why in the world would I spent so much time on breakfast and what in the world does this have to do with anything? Well... first of all I think these oats taste better: texture, flavor, the works. They're also really good for me. And so for me they are worth the wait. They also teach me preparation and patience. I have to think about my breakfast and start preparing it fairly early if I want to eat before leaving the house. And on the mornings when my stomach is grumbling they teach me patience, to wait for the food that God has so graciously given me.
I think faith is a lot like slow-cooked oats. It rarely comes pre-packaged or "instant." Good faith is slow-cooked over a long time. It takes preparation on God's part and ours. It takes patience. But it is well worth the wait.
Most of my heroes of faith were not formed that way overnight. They emerged as new creations over time, through years of Bible study, through pain and suffering, through sacrifice and prayer, through the trials and tribulations of the Christian church. In other words they were slow cooked, in the best sense of the phrase.
The End of the Year... So Soon?
Even though we won't change our wall calendars until December 31, the end of the church year is almost upon us. Next Sunday (November 23) we will celebrate the last Sunday of the church year and begin the new year with the first Sunday of Advent on November 30.
Christ the King Sunday is a relatively recent addition to the church calendar, but a good one. On this day (well, actually every Sunday in fact) we celebrate that the Lord Jesus Christ reigns over heaven and earth and all things. As a reminder of this reign, we will read from the last part of Matthew 25. For the rest of the readings, click here.
Faith in Action: Thanksgiving Baskets
One way to concretely embody the words of Christ in the text at the end of Matthew 25 is to help put together Thanksgiving baskets for families and individuals in need this Sunday at 2pm. Meet near the food pantry in the basement.
Sunday School for Adults
Each week we offer two opportunities for adult Christian education. One class meets in the chapel and studies the Sunday Scripture readings. The other class is continuing the Nooma (which means "Spirit" in Greek) series on faith issues. Next Sunday is #17: Today. Here is a brief description from the Nooma website:
How much time and energy do we spend wishing things were how they used to be? We often think about times in our past when things were different and want our lives to be like that again. Some of us have even come to believe that our best days may actually be behind us. But if we’re in some way hung up on the past, what does that mean for our lives now? How are we and those around us affected if we’re not fully present? If we’re longing for the way things used to be, what does that really say about our understanding and appreciation of our lives today? Maybe we need to learn to embrace our past for what it is, in order to live our lives to the fullest, right here, right now.
Bible in 90 Days: Home Stretch
This Sunday the participants in the Bible in 90 Days are entering the home stretch. Beginning Nov. 23, on these last 20 days we will cross over from the Old Testament into the New. If you were thinking about joining us in September but did not for whatever reason, why not join us these last 20 days as we read through the New Testament? See this schedule and begin on Nov. 23 with day 68.
Gospel of Mark
I found the following information in both the Toledo Blade and the Sentinel-Tribune and thought it was worthwhile to pass along for any who might be interested:
Epworth United Methodist Church, 3077 Valleyview Drive, Toledo, will present Rev. Joseph Morris in a two-hour performance of "The Gospel of Mark" Friday (11/21) at 7 p.m. The Roman Catholic priest began committing the entire gospel to memory after an injury left him confined to bed for four months. Following his recovery, he adapted the story for performance in what is described as a "living, breathing proclamation of an ancient story about God's healing love."
The public is invited. Admission is free with an offering taken. Light refreshments will be available at intermission.
Most mornings I make slow-cooked steel-cut Irish-style oats for breakfast. (It really sounds fancier than it is.) It's actually "instant" and doesn't involve much work, just a little more preparation and patience. Unlike most instant oatmeal concoctions which take 1 to 3 minutes in the microwave or 5 minutes in boiling water on the stove, these steel-cut oats take about 30 minutes of slow boiling on the stove, plus time for the water to heat up initially.
Why in the world would I spent so much time on breakfast and what in the world does this have to do with anything? Well... first of all I think these oats taste better: texture, flavor, the works. They're also really good for me. And so for me they are worth the wait. They also teach me preparation and patience. I have to think about my breakfast and start preparing it fairly early if I want to eat before leaving the house. And on the mornings when my stomach is grumbling they teach me patience, to wait for the food that God has so graciously given me.
I think faith is a lot like slow-cooked oats. It rarely comes pre-packaged or "instant." Good faith is slow-cooked over a long time. It takes preparation on God's part and ours. It takes patience. But it is well worth the wait.
Most of my heroes of faith were not formed that way overnight. They emerged as new creations over time, through years of Bible study, through pain and suffering, through sacrifice and prayer, through the trials and tribulations of the Christian church. In other words they were slow cooked, in the best sense of the phrase.
The End of the Year... So Soon?
Even though we won't change our wall calendars until December 31, the end of the church year is almost upon us. Next Sunday (November 23) we will celebrate the last Sunday of the church year and begin the new year with the first Sunday of Advent on November 30.
Christ the King Sunday is a relatively recent addition to the church calendar, but a good one. On this day (well, actually every Sunday in fact) we celebrate that the Lord Jesus Christ reigns over heaven and earth and all things. As a reminder of this reign, we will read from the last part of Matthew 25. For the rest of the readings, click here.
Faith in Action: Thanksgiving Baskets
One way to concretely embody the words of Christ in the text at the end of Matthew 25 is to help put together Thanksgiving baskets for families and individuals in need this Sunday at 2pm. Meet near the food pantry in the basement.
Sunday School for Adults
Each week we offer two opportunities for adult Christian education. One class meets in the chapel and studies the Sunday Scripture readings. The other class is continuing the Nooma (which means "Spirit" in Greek) series on faith issues. Next Sunday is #17: Today. Here is a brief description from the Nooma website:
How much time and energy do we spend wishing things were how they used to be? We often think about times in our past when things were different and want our lives to be like that again. Some of us have even come to believe that our best days may actually be behind us. But if we’re in some way hung up on the past, what does that mean for our lives now? How are we and those around us affected if we’re not fully present? If we’re longing for the way things used to be, what does that really say about our understanding and appreciation of our lives today? Maybe we need to learn to embrace our past for what it is, in order to live our lives to the fullest, right here, right now.
Bible in 90 Days: Home Stretch
This Sunday the participants in the Bible in 90 Days are entering the home stretch. Beginning Nov. 23, on these last 20 days we will cross over from the Old Testament into the New. If you were thinking about joining us in September but did not for whatever reason, why not join us these last 20 days as we read through the New Testament? See this schedule and begin on Nov. 23 with day 68.
Gospel of Mark
I found the following information in both the Toledo Blade and the Sentinel-Tribune and thought it was worthwhile to pass along for any who might be interested:
Epworth United Methodist Church, 3077 Valleyview Drive, Toledo, will present Rev. Joseph Morris in a two-hour performance of "The Gospel of Mark" Friday (11/21) at 7 p.m. The Roman Catholic priest began committing the entire gospel to memory after an injury left him confined to bed for four months. Following his recovery, he adapted the story for performance in what is described as a "living, breathing proclamation of an ancient story about God's healing love."
The public is invited. Admission is free with an offering taken. Light refreshments will be available at intermission.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Faith, Works, Change
I have been (slowly) reading through Volume 35 of Luther's Works (English edition). I came across this gem of a sentence:
Faith, however, is a divine work in us which changes us and makes us to be born anew of God, John 1[:12-13]. It kills the old Adam and makes us altogether different men, in heart and spirit and mind and powers; and it brings with in the Holy Spirit. (p. 370)
This is from his preface to the Book of Romans. I think it breathes fresh life into the Lutheran church, which has often neglected the changing power of God's grace in us.
Faith, however, is a divine work in us which changes us and makes us to be born anew of God, John 1[:12-13]. It kills the old Adam and makes us altogether different men, in heart and spirit and mind and powers; and it brings with in the Holy Spirit. (p. 370)
This is from his preface to the Book of Romans. I think it breathes fresh life into the Lutheran church, which has often neglected the changing power of God's grace in us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)