Sermon on Peace, Dec. 9

I had a couple of requests for this sermon, preached at Central on Dec. 9. Please bear with it; it's kind of long. Deep peace, Lisa

"Peace"

Write a sermon about peace, our second Advent candle. I opened a Word doc and stared at it. What could I say about peace? This week, I had a conflict with a member of the Central family over a miscommunication. It haunted me Friday as I worked on this sermon. We discussed the conflict and both said, “I’m sorry.” Still, how to preach about peace when I can’t find it in my own congregation.

This week, I also had a conflict with a friend. I was unintentionally quite rude to this friend. I apologized but that doesn’t immediately fix things. This, too, haunted me as I worked on this sermon. How can I preach about peace when I can’t find it in my own friendships?

A few years ago, I had learned to play guitar and brought it to my extended family Christmas. My grandma requested Silent Night. As I played, two members of my extended family began chatting and it suddenly erupted into a yelling match; meanwhile, I sang softly. One of them ran out of the room. I kept singing softly, finishing the song in tears. How can I preach about peace when I can’t find it in my own family? Perhaps you can insert similar stories here. Congregations, families and individuals pray for peace on earth, peace between nations. How can we pray for peace when it’s not in our daily lives?

Sometimes when I’m low, I turn to God’s word for comfort. So how about this Matthew 3:1-12! Will there be comfort in these words? John the Baptizer is proclaiming repentance on the shores of the tiny Jordan River: “Prepare the Way of the Lord! Make his paths straight.” People listened to him and got baptized. The religious leaders of the day came, too, like all good religious leaders, to check out the scene. Maybe they wanted to get baptized just for insurance or may be they were just researching. Before they can utter a word, John lambastes them, calling them snakes, announcing wrath to come and urging them to bear fruit (which I take to mean that they were currently pretty barren). John continues to insult their Jewish ancestry and pride in being children of Abraham. Finally, John issues this threat that Jesus will carry a winnowing fork to separate wheat from chaff. It seems like John is calling the Pharisees “chaff” here.

On first glance, the only seeming way to find comfort here is if you knew FOR SURE you were wheat and not chaff. Maybe then you could find comfort in knowing you were peacefully in God’s hand. Maybe you could speak as certainly as the authors of the Left Behind series, who spoke a little too excitedly when asked in an interview about the fate of those considered “chaff.” They seemed to take a particular delight in the eternal damnation of some. I guess they knew for sure that they were the wheat. I disagree with those authors. Christ would take no delight in damnation of anyone. In fact, Christ seemed to prefer “chaff” over “wheat” in his day.

Let’s move to repentance, because I think it has something to do with peace. Greek experts remind us that this word “metanoia” is really about turning and going in the other direction. It’s about going 180 degrees the other way. It’s not just about changing your mind; it’s about changing your actions. But do we really need to repent? Didn’t Martin Luther get rid of the idea that we have to confess each and every sin to receive God’s mercy? I mean, the man drove himself crazy (and so would we) trying to recount them all. Do we need to repent? Of every sin, no. Of turning around, yes.

The reality of being human is that sometimes we go in the wrong direction. It’s not a judgment or a sign of moral failing. It’s just the way things are. Good people make bad choices; we do it all the time. So repentance offers us a venue to turn around and commit to going in another direction. We can do better, right?

Author Richard Jensen says when we think of repentance, we often think in an “I can” way. I can do better next time. I can think before I speak an unkind word. I can communicate earlier with people to avoid mix-ups. I can put others’ needs first. I can be more loving and compassionate toward the people in my life. I can work toward peace in this world. Do you think that maybe this Advent season, you can do this? Maybe just a little?

This is a great idea, but the reality is, repentance is more of an “I can’t” than an “I can.” True repentance is looking at our lives and saying, “You know what, I actually can’t. I can’t be good all the time, I can’t always treat others as I should, I can’t always put others’ needs first, I can’t always say the kind word or be the ‘bigger’ person. I can try but realistically I can’t.” And this, dear ones, is true repentance. We say, “I can’t,” but God in Jesus Christ can. This reliance on God’s strength is the way to peace.

This is the good news. The call to turn around, to repent, is the call to take an honest look at our lives, see our shortcomings, say, “I can’t” and know God says “I can.” God can and does offer us love and presence, forgiveness and hope and peace. When we say, I can’t, we remember our baptism (and John’s echoes of baptism). We believe that in baptism our old self is washed away and we are born again. We can remember our baptism every day; every day we say “I can’t,” we die to that old self and start anew. I wonder if maybe our best hope for peace in this world and in our lives is by returning to the font, to the baptismal font, acknowledging our shortcomings, knowing God’s forgiveness and trusting God’s love will help us turn and go a different direction. It is said that peace begins at home and this is true. Yet for Christians, this font, the waters of life, is our home. Here we are born and reborn.

A farm story: I never knew that chaff was worthless. Indeed, on my parents’ Iowa farm it is not. A couple weeks ago I talked about the baling and unloading hay as a family and enjoying the rest that followed. Before that promised rest, though, we swept the chaff that remained on the wooden bale rack. For this is another definition of chaff (I checked Webster’s) the bits and pieces of hay that remain after the rest is formed into bales. So my brother Jay and I swept the chaff and pushed it into recycled seed corn sacks that Dad held open. There was very little waste on our farm; Dad fed even the chaff to the cows. I like to think of it as cow appetizers.

Now that’s hay and Jesus spoke of wheat. So I checked this out online. Wheat chaff is the bracts and casings left behind from the grain. And what’s a farmer to do with wheat chaff? It gets tossed not into a fiery furnace but fed to animals. It becomes life-giving.

I believe that in our lifetimes, there is no way that God will every fully separate the wheat from the chaff in all my heart and actions. But I do believe that even my failings, God will somehow use for God’s purposes. Perhaps I might learn valuable lessons on how to better be Christ in this world. Perhaps my failings will lead me straight to God, to repentance and to saying “I can’t,” instead of insisting that I always can. Maybe God will use my chaff and yours too.

Maybe this is how peace is to come into the world. Maybe not with big acts of giving from Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey. Maybe not through religious leaders like the Pharisees and Sadducees or pastors and bishops. Maybe not by big corporations or empires. Maybe it comes quietly, unassuming. Maybe peace travels a bumpy road and comes through obstacles. Maybe peace comes when the word is very dark. Maybe peace comes into the rough-hewn mangers of our hearts, lying in a bed of straw (or chaff). Peace will come again this year. May we recognize it in Christ’s coming.

Shish on film!

Shishmaref is on the big screen. Or at least Anchor-town's big screen.

This week, Anhorage hosts its own international film festival. From features, to documentaries to shorts, the fest has dozens of options for movie-lovers.

"Polarized" features Shishmaref, a town of 560, mostly native. There's also a Lutheran presence in Shishmaref Lutheran, though that wasn't featured in the film.

The film discusses how global warming has affected Shishmaref, which is losing coastline fast due to erosion. Permafrost is melting and people's houses are literally falling into the sea. I saw it last Saturday; it was great.

So that's my recommendation: check out this film. It's a "short," only 10 minutes but good. For your ticket price, you also get to see another documentary. It's only playing once more during the fest: Saturday at 2:30 at OutNorth (Debarr/Bragaw intersection). Learn more at www.anchoragefilmfestival.com

'Tis the season for distraction

Got prayer?

Nah, too busy. It's almost December, you know. Time for the marathon of Christmas cards/shopping/parties/cookies/gifts/fruitcakes/extra pounds. Y'all ready for this?

Timely, then, that one of our parishioners submitted an article for our December newsletter about being "too busy" for worship. She wrote about the rest and peace that comes when she does make that holy space.

Sometimes I think the busier I am, the more I MUST stop and rest, worship, pray. If I am full, there is no space for God to come in and nestle in the manger of my heart.

But we all get distracted.

In another newsletter from Christ Lutheran in Soldotna (shout out to Pr Randy) there's an opening letter about distractions in prayer. We all experience this, admit it. My moments of silence can be the loudest part of my day, with the echoing thoughts screaming in my brain.

Pr Randy quotes British theologian Herbert McCabe, so I will too. (Shout out to McCabe, where ever you are). Says McCabe, when we pray for "high-minded" things like wars to cease and the hungry to be fed, we may be easily distracted. Yes, these are good to pray for but they are not our deepest desires. We are distraced by our deepest desires, so pay attention to them. McCabe goes on:

"If you are distracted, trace your distraction back to the real desire it comes from and pray about these. When you are praying for what you really want you will not be distracted. People on sinking shops do not complain about distractions during their prayer."

Amen!

Frequently facebook

It's true. Since my twenty-something sister helped me figure out how to use Facebook this summer, I'm a regular user. I confess. My email address for Facebook, BTW, is centsmith@gci.net. So if you'd like to be my "friend," please invite me. I can't figure out how to invite you. No offense.

Anyway, came across this funny little ditty about Facebook on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b-fJxzpK7s

What does this have to do with ministry? Well, the reason I signed up (and as Pastor Lisa) was by an invite from a parishioner who doesn't attend worship but communicates with me on Facebook. Interesting way to do ministry, eh?

A little more press

Okay, one more bit of media attention. Check out what the Anchorage Daily News has to report about the after school program at Central, run by Campfire USA.

http://www.adn.com/news/education/story/9457561p-9368961c.html

I promise I'm not quoted in this one :)

On interfaith dialogue

Last Thursday I attended a luncheon of Jews, Christians and Muslims. We came for interfaith dialogue, facilitated by Maryam Quadrat, a Muslim scholar whose family is from Afghanistan. She did a number of lectures last week as part of APU's "Engaging Muslims" series.

First, let me say unapologetically that we each have a responsibility to learn from and listen to those of other faiths, cultures and ethnicities. This is foundational if we are to work for peace in our world. Living in a bubble of those just like us is not the way toward peace and understanding. We must go out of our comfort zone and dialogue with someone different.

Sitting in the Willow Conference room at Providence Hospital last Thursday, I felt alive. We introduced ourselves: Muslims, Jews, Methodists, Lutherans, Christian Scientists. Our common purpose was to listen and hopefully hear each other.

Here are some things I learned:

* Islam is tightly wound with politics and culture. Political and religious leaders are "in" with each other, kind of like the Holy Roman Empire/Catholic church of middle ages Europe. This is problematic, but not a FAULT in Islam. Can you say, "crusades?"

* The Koran does NOT say women must cover their heads. It says they must cover their "ornaments." So it's open for interpretation and many disagree, just like with the Bible. Remember these are men in power doing the interpreting. So, women cover their heads. Some think "ornaments" means hair. A more liberal read on the Koran would suggest "ornaments" merely refers to "breasts." And, yes, those should be covered in public!

* In Afghanistan, only men are allowed in mosques. Period.

* The Taliban are burning 10 schools a month in Afghanistan.

* The way to change? Quadrat suggests EDUCATION, which would "put the Taliban out of business." People need education and scholarship rising up from universities. This is where we can find hope.

When asked at the end, what can we do to help bring about peace, we heard only simple answers. But maybe these are the most important.

Recognize that peoples' most basic needs are the same everywhere. And get beyond misconceptions to actually learn about those from different cultures and religions.

To that, I'd add, "Do it now."

Can I Have Your Autograph?

Seriously. Someone asked me this yesterday (I think they were kidding). We've had some media attention around Central lately, thanks to the municipality of Anchorage budget that underfunds an after-school program at Central.

Two years ago, the mayor's office agreed to fund a Campfire USA program for free for kids in our West Fairview neighborhood. In the 2008 proposed muni budget, the program was not fully funded. Neither was a summer kids' program at St. Anthony Catholic Church, a fellow member of our community organizing group AFACT.

So we did what we knew how to do: we had a public meeting with assembly members, presented research on why these programs are important and asked assembly members to commit to supporting them.

And then the media came. The local NBC and CBS affiliates interviewed me here at Central, one on Monday, one on Friday. One interviewed our parishioner Dahna Graham. Both she and I ended up on TV. I was sure glad we were getting some "press" for something positive. Yes! Now we just have to wait and see what the assembly will do.

I was pretty fired up about getting our muni support for the families in Fairview who use the Campfire program. One mother recently told me that her son has no where else to play (they live in a high-density living area). And a 6-year-old boy in an apartment for hours on end is no good!

Another thing that fired me up: when we focus on the families being served, we win. When we focus on the politics, we lose. There's been some tug of war between mayors' office and assembly 'round this buget. I was extremely disappointed when a parishioner from another congregation (thank you!) wrote an assemblyman to urge his support for the afterschool program. The assemblyman's response: it's the mayor's fault, he left it out of the budget, why don't you ask him. The last sentence was in all capital letters...like he was in third grade or becoming Owen Meany.

Anyway, I don't know whose "fault" it was that the after school program wasn't in the budget but the damage is done. I commend all who showed up to support these programs in our AFACT meeting Monday night, and all those on the assembly who will work for after-school programs in the budget.

For all the saints

Hello to all you saints out there. It's all saints day in our tradition and I've been thinking about this all week. My yoga teacher even mentioned it in class this morning (after first asking me to please explain the intent of the festival -- nice to get some positive PR for Christians in there :)

Pastor Mike explained last year that All Saints on Nov. 1 traditionally honors those "bona fide" saints: matthew, mark, luke, what-have-you. All Saints was started sometime in the third century to honor martyrs.

Nov. 2 is All Souls, which honors anyone who has gone before. I always thought All Souls sounded funny, especially when I noted that an Episcopal church in Berkeley was named "All Souls Parish." Duh!

In worship tonight (Taize, 7 pm) and on Sunday, we'll light a candle for those who have gone before. It's good to think of this. We need ritual to remember the dead and celebrate their impacts in our lives. After all, most people at a funeral aren't crying over the one who died, they're grieving all the other losses they haven't finished grieving yet. Some of them we never finish grieving and that's okay. We just live with "grief moments," as Donna Stevens says, an Anchorage nurse and expert in grief. We should have her speak at Central sometime.

So I'll share that I'm thinking about my Grandma today, who died in March. Janina Hnantow Smith. I haven't been back to Iowa since she died, so sometimes I forget she's gone. I think this is normal. And I know the grief moments will keep coming, especially when I return after Christmas this year.

So maybe you have special saint to think of today. Maybe you can light a candle to remember him or her. I'm going to go light one right now.

Pondering my sinful nature

I opened the devotion book to that night's reading:

"I pray that I consider my sin and the sin of the world so that, sorrowful and broken, it might drive me to Christ." (or something like that!)

Ugh. Ponder my sinful nature. No thanks. My life's good. Why would I want to waste time feeling bad? I just couldn't get excited about this one.

I'm working through a devotional book from my spiritual director (To Walk With Christ). It's based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignagtius. Each week has a prayer focus, scripture readings and an encouragement to journal. Past weeks have asked me to ponder God's love for me and ponder the gifts of God in my life. These were fun; I just wasn't into feeling down about my sin.

A couple days later, I looked at the texts for Reformation Sunday, on which I'll preach. Romans 3:23: "Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Well, of course I know as Lutherans we recognize ourselves as saint-sinner. But I kept hearing in the back of my head the voice of a college friend who once told me, "You know, I don't really think of myself as a sinner."

So what's this about? Hubris? Pride? Dependency on my own gifts instead of God's? Worshipping the false idol of myself? Probably something in there is true. Douglas John Hall warns, for example, that sometimes we don't really love others, we love ourselves for pretending to love others.

I don't think I've quite answered this for myself, so I'm not going to leave you with the "right" answer, just ask the question again: How do I ponder my sinful nature in a real way when my life's good?

Almost Famous

Sometimes pastors get to be talking heads. I pray we say things that matter.

I did a news interview with CBS Channel 11 today. The topic: the US House was unable to override President Bush's veto of the SCHIP bill that would reauthorize spending for health insurance for uninsured kids. I wore my AFACT hat (Anchorage Faith and Action, Congregations Together -- which is a community organizing ecumenical group --and I'm on the board). The clip will air tonight (Oct. 18) at 5 and 6 pm news.

The bill impacts Alaskans. Families at 100% of poverty level get Medicaid. Families who can afford it or have adequate employer coverage use private insurance. In AK, those who are at %175 of poverty level or below, get insurance through DenaliKidCare, which is 70 % funded by the federal government. So, now that SCHIP has failed, we wonder if/when/how Alaska will fund DenaliKidCare.

The reporter wanted to know AFACT's reaction and what we'll do next. I said we were disappointed, though pleased that Rep. Don Young did vote to override the veto. I also said we'll keep talking to our state reps (which AFACT members are doing right now) and find out their vision of children's health care. We'll also keep talking with families.

It must be frightening to be a parent with no insurance for your children, or choose between rent, food or insurance.

I don't remember the strain, but I grew up without health insurance. My parents were farmers and couldn't afford private coverage. We did lots of home remedies and only went to the doctor when absolutely necessary. When my younger sister was born, my parents slowly paid the hospital bill in installments. Thank God no one was ever seriously hurt. When I was in college, my parents were able to find a state-sponsored health insurance for my sister, so she did grow up with this aid.

Anyway, I certainly don't have all the answers, but not helping working parents provide health care for their kids is not acceptable.

Faith, starring Glenn P.

Can I just say that I love working with our new senior pastor Glenn Petersen? This sounds like I'm sucking up but he preached a good sermon on faith yesterday. Here, a few gems worth repeating.

* Faith is not a choice but it prompts choice.

* Faith is personal but not private.

* We don't own our faith. Our faith owns us. (It belongs to a community).

* Faith lives in us. It's not something we have.

* We "keep the faith" by living it, by giving our love, compassion, kindness away.

Good stuff, eh? Thanks Glenn!

What do they expect us to be?

I'm preaching a sermon series at our 9:45 contemporary service on doubt. More specifically, on "Why Christian?" by Douglas John Hall. It's an apologetic for Christianity and an honest look at why we believe the things we believe as Christians.

Last Sunday (9.30) was on "What difference does Christianity make?" When I spoke of faith as trust (not certainty), a few people had comments.

One young man (married, 2 elementary-aged kids) said people outside of churches expect (want, demand?) Christians to be unwavering in faith. He reminded us of the upset of the recently discovered letters of Mother Teresa's doubts. He said we may feel free to express doubts in church but "out there" there's a different expectation.

I was troubled by his comment. Perhaps it rang too true.

I do have doubts, at times, and feel it's most healthy to live those questions in community, as well as in my personal prayer time. In my work with young adults, I feel my honesty about doubts are actually a strength.

I wonder this: why do those outside or marginally outside chruches want us to be so steadfast? What purpose or role does this serve? Is it just a symptom of a black-and-white culture that wants easy answers?

I don't know. This seems opposite from Hall. He says doubt make us seem MORE relevant to the world. He suggested that if Christians were more honest about their doubts, our answers would be more compelling.

I wonder, finally, if focusing on what others want/need isn't the right place to start? Maybe we still start from out centered self -- centered on Jesus Christ as the particular expression of the abstract God -- so centered that we are free to doubt as part of a loving relationship with God.

Spacious

I'm teaching yoga, after graduating from a year-long teacher training program in June.

I teach Wednesdays in the early morn at the Inner Dance Yoga studio here in Anchor-town. Some of my students know about my "real job," some don't. I always tell them if they ask and they always look slightly surprised. Of course a young female pastor gets that a lot in general...

Anyway, this morning's class was all about opening the hips and releasing tension and tightness there. The yogis believe that we store anxiety in our hips muscles and if we stretch them, we will release this pent-up anxiety. Heck, we're North Americans, I think we store anxiety EVERYWHERE. I digress...

I was reminding my students to create spaciousness through the various poses that open the hips. At one point, without really planning to, I heard myself quoting Lutheran Pastor Dan Erlander, who said "salvation" in Hebrew is can be translated as "spaciousness."

I always find it interesting to make these connections across faith backgrounds. A yoga class where a Lutheran pastor is quoting a Hebrew understanding of salvation.

It felt good. It felt spacious.

Annoyed with/as Hell

I'm not very happy about hell at the moment.

My confirmation kids and I had a great discussion at a lock-in this weekend about Hell. The kids wanted to know if it was a place, like, "for real?"

I gave them a brillian (I thought!) explanation on how sin is a state of separation from God, others and self and how it was possible that hell was not a place but a state of being in separation.

Then, on Sunday night during my prayer time, I read the text that I will preach on this upcoming Sunday, Luke 16:19-31, the story of the Lazarus and the rich man.

Lemme break it down: a poor man named Lazaurs lives outside a rich man's gates. Lazarus dies and angels escort him to heaven pronto. The rich man dies too, and goes to Hades, do not pass go, do not collect $200. The rich man BEGS Lazarus for just a drop of water but the chasm is too far to cross. Then the rich man BEGS someone to go tell his brothers so they may avoid such a fate. Too bad, is the reply. Those left on earth should listen to Moses and the prophets. The End.

Seriously. The rich man in Hades? And I just go through telling the Confirmation kids there might not be a physical place called hell. Great.

Looks like I have some work to do before Sunday. Help?!?

Church rant

While I'm on my church rant here, one more thing. This came across my email today, from Religion News Service, a wire service of religious news.

The author, Tom Ehrich, writes editorials for this site (www.religionnews.com)

"Whether they say so or not, I think most people come to churches on a spiritual quest. They might see their needs in more functional terms, like wanting friendship, loving good music, making business contacts, or doing the right thing by their children. But the heart of their quest, I think, is a hunger for God, born of a restlessness to which only God can respond. Responding to that spiritual quest is a tricky business. If congregations did want to honor the spiritual quest, what would they do? First thing, of course: stop arguing. Listen to the world you presume to care about. Listen to the aching hearts around you. Listen to the questions people are asking. Just be quiet."

Did I mention we have a taize service tonight (Sept 20, Thursday) at 7 pm?

Where are the men?

I keep hearing this concern from the young women in my congregation: where are the men? Oh yes, we know where they are: hunting, fishing, disc golfing, running, eating pizza at Moose's Tooth, drinking beer at Humpy's. But they don't seem to be at church. Why is this?

The ELCA had attempted to address this by doing what we do best: studying it! So far, I haven't seen any satisfactory answers.

Is the church too feminine? Are people in churches asked to connect in ways that seem archaic or irrelevant to men? Is it too much talk about feelings?

I had lunch today with two "older" churchmen, both pastors, once LCMS. We talked about this missing men problem.

One suggested we go where the men are, build relationships by doing, or just hanging out. This can work, I think. Of course our youth director tried this here at Central...took two high school boys trap shooting...and heard some criticism for this. But maybe ministry with men has to look different, so maybe that's okay!

My thought was providing opportunties to serve. Working for Habitat for Humanity, for example, or our Central mission trip to rebuild homes in Texas post-hurricane (this November!), are good ways to serve. I love what Changepoint (a big non-deom in Anchorage) does with their Rightway Auto. Church members volunteer to use their mechanic skills to help low-income families with car problems. Supercool, I think.

My lunch partners today seemed to think these were good ideas.

But one pushed me further.

The problem with our church, he said, is that we've lost our sense of adventure.

Did we have one in the first place, I wondered?

Anyway, his point is that church is kind of boring (he's a pastor). And sometimes, I agree. I mean, life with God is supposed to be a very uncertain adventure, not a programmed list of rules to follow. God is one leading us into the future with open eyes, not one keeping us stuck in the past.

Interesting idea. Now how does this help us with our young men concern?

I'm still working on this one....

Not preaching, Part 2

Yup, still not preaching this Sunday. But one (ten) more comment(s) anyway.

"Whoever is faithful in very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much." (Luke 16:10).

I read somewhere once that a woman can tell a lot about a man from three things:
1.) How he treats the waiter.
2.) How he treats animals.
3.) How he treats his mother.

These are important; these are how he will treat you!

Little things make up our lives, little choices, little opportunities. Sometimes I think that my smallest choices have no consequence, yet they do set up patterns that weave the web of my actions and character.

So while the parables aren't meant to me solely moral lessons, I was thinking I might learn something here.

Another thought: sometimes since I'm still crawling out of ginormous student debt, I think I don't need to give much money to church and charity. Let me just admit here that I'm not a 10% giver (tither). I'd like to be, but I'm just not. I give a small amount each month to Central and that's about it.

This verse in Luke reminds me that while I don't have much, I can still give (because it's good for me and others need my gifts, not because Jesus will love me more :) So I'm thinking I'd like to up my church/charity giving.

Otherwise, it's like I don't really trust God or really believe that God will provide.

I saw a bumper sticker once:
"If you love Jesus, tithe. Anybody can honk."

Whoever is faithful in very little...

Not preaching, Part 1

Sure glad I'm not preaching on the texts for this Sunday....ah, the joys of having another pastor here!

Just returned from the Anchorage-bowl pastors text study (which I often refer to as "me and the white-haired guys") where we discussed the texts for this week.

Luke 16:1-13, a weird parable about a dishonest manager, who, when accused and basically fired by his master, does something quite odd. This dishonest manager summons his master's debtors and cuts back on the amount that each owes. So, like, one owes that master 100 jugs of olive oil and the dishonest manager says, "Okay, make it fifty." Kind of a weird-o story, I'd say.

So I'm not preaching, but if I was, I might say what I said last week during my sermon: Parables are not moral lessons about you and me. Parables are about God and the strange ways God works in the world.

So who is God here? Is God a master firing his dishonest manager?

Or is God the "dishonest" manager? Is God the one who doesn't play by our rules but who is always reducing debts for all of us, who need forgiveness and mercy? This is more consistent with the witness of Jesus Christ.

Since I don't know all the answers, I'm glad Glenn is preaching...

Commercial break

Thursday worship starts up again at Central THIS WEEK! So those of you in Anchor-town and environs...please feel invited/welcomed/loved and come on over to Central this Thursday at 7 pm.

We alternate Holden Evening Prayer and Taize, every other week. This week's Holden, led by our very own Holly Emmel on vocals and Debbie Pankow on piano.

Worship is about 30 minutes, with some readings (no sermon this year...a new highlight :) and communion with bread that actually tastes like it.

Share the good news about this service with someone else!

The Latest

Well, since you all were just DYING to know what's new at Central and with me :) here are some updates.

Aug. 25: Fishing with Pastors Eric and Bill Ottum on the Russian for silvers. With a fly rod! I mostly caught dead reds or nothing at all.

Aug 26: Pr Eric's last Sunday. He preached and puppet Mortimer the Moose said goodbye. I brought out sister Millie the Moose, complete with new makeover. We had dueling moose. Said goodbye to Eric.

Aug. 26-31: Vacation in Montana. Yes, pastors take vacation. This is a good thing. I spent time with seminary friend Debbie, who serves a congregation in Kalispell. We shared our good times and not-so-good times doing this pastor thing. I felt renewed to come back and jump into fall programming.

Sept. 1: Spent all day writing my sermon for Sunday. Garrison Keillor is my sermon-writing pal. Was nervous that I'd somehow preach the world's lamest sermon on Pr Glenn Petersen's first Sunday.

Sept 2: Pr Glenn's first Sunday. He sings well! And I've rarely seen so much egg casserole and coffeecake in the same place. Hooray for Central's bakers and chefs :)

Sept 3: State Fair with Lutheran ladies my age. Cotton candy and endless displays.

Sept 4: Spent all day answering 1001 questions from Pastor Glenn about Central. He asks GREAT questions! A good sign, I think.

Sept. 5: One more vacation day...a Wartburg college friend (Jess the doctor from Indianapolis) is visiting this week. Went on a cruise in Whittier -- I heart the calving glaciers :)

Sept. 6: Back to work!

Wow, are you still reading this ?!??!?! :)

Lots of exciting things happening at Central for the fall....that's the next entry :)

Very bad haiku

Our interim senior pastor (Eric Ottum) is leaving Central after 9.5 months here. We're getting a new senior pastor (Glenn Peterson) next week. How exciting!

We had a staff lunch/potluck today to wish Eric the best. One of our traditions as a staff is to write each other bad poetry as a sign of affection at birthdays, welcomes and farewells.

"Bad" poetry is defined as that written in a few minutes before the event is to take place. It should also be, obviously, bad.

Here's the haiku I wrote for today:

Mortimer in hand
Teaching God's love to the kids
Can you hold my mouth?

He's Pastor Awesome
Nine month passes quickly by
We are glad you came.

Thanks, Pr Eric!!!

Daily mantra

This morning, my yoga teacher asked us to select one sentence that would serve as our mantra today.

In my head, I said: "Be in the present moment."

Not sure where that came from, but it seems to easy to slip into worry about the past or anxiety about the future.

Just being in the present moment means enjoying what God has given us RIGHT NOW and trusting that there will be enough.

I need to remind myself of this at least 20 times a day.....

BE IN THE PRESENT MOMENT

Pula from Heaven

One of our Central parishioners (Sami Oeser) is serving in the Peace Corps in Botswana in HIV/AIDS education.

Just received an email from her discussing scarcity of water in Botswana. In the native language Setswana, the word "pula" means "currency" and "rain." It is also a general term for blessings.

This is interesting to me...money and rain are the same word. It's been crazy-raining here in AK the last few days and cramping my hiking style. What if I saw these raindrops as precious as money?

I Heart My Job

Another pastor asked me recently to tell her the Top 10 most exciting things about my job. I actually enjoyed generating the list.

Any clergy out there reading this, what would be on YOUR list?

• Being with people in grief. Hospital visits. Funerals.
• Weekly text studies. Interactions with colleagues.
• Simplicity of Lutheran sacraments. It’s all about what God has already done!
• Helping people see the Bible as a living, relevant Word.
• The prophets. Enough said.
• Preaching grace, grace, grace.
• Being present in communities, especially lower socio-economic areas.
• Working with young adults. Offering church that meets them where they are.
• Dialogue on hard stuff: life, death, grief, loss, evil in self/world, etc.
• Exploring spirituality as an essential part of human experience.

Fun fact o' the day

From Religion News Weekly...

"More than two-thirds of young adults stopped attending Protestant churches regularly for at least year when whey were between the ages of 18 and 22, a new study by LifeWay Research shows."

Sermon on conflict and sexuality

I dislike conflict. I dislike preaching on it even more. Still, in light of the recent decisions of the ELCA's churchwide assembly, and the fact that for our congregation we used a text on Aug. 12 about conflict, I couldn't avoid it.

I preached a sermon on Aug. 12 about conflict. I also talked about homosexuality from the pulpit, the "third rail" of ministry at Central. I did not take any sides, because it's not about sides. It's about learning to live together despite our inevitable differences. It's about not running from conflict but entering into it in thoughtful ways.

For those in church on Sunday, thanks for listening. I'd love to hear your feedback, even if, or maybe especially, if you didn't agree.

For those who missed chuch on Sunday, I'll post a copy of my sermon online as soon as I can figure out how.... :)

Lutherans talk homosexuality

Lutherans made the national news this weekend. Here's why you should care.

The ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) met in a churchwide assembly this past week in Chicago. There were 1068 voting members, including a mix of lay and clergy voters.

Among other things, they discussed issues around Lutheran pastors who are gay/lesbian and in relationships.

The assembly voted 538 to 432 to "encourage the ELCA's synods, bishops and presiding bishop to "refrain from or demonstrate restraint in disciplining" people and congregations who call qualified leaders on the professional rosters of the ELCA "who are in a mutual, chaste and faithful, committed, same-gender relationship." “

Background, Jargon explained, Theological implications, Congregational implcations and Wider implications to follow.

Background: ELCA gay/lesbian pastors are required to be celibate. Those who chose to be in relationships are subject to removal from the roster. However, some congregations and bishops have elected not to discipline such pastors.

Jargon explained: The assembly this weekend encouraged congregations and bishops to refrain from discipline. Let gay/lesbian pastors in relationships continue to serve.

Theological implications: None, really. No theological statements were made. The assembly did not assert that homosexuality was wrong nor did it give its blessing. It only asked for permission to "bend" the rules while the ELCA and its members keep studying this issue.

Congregational implications: If your pastor is not gay/lesbian, this doesn't change a thing. If your congregation doesn't want to call a gay/lebian pastor, you don't have to. If your congregation has a gay/lesbian pastor, you may get to keep him/her.

Wider implcations: The ELCA is a diverse body with myriad viewpoints. While I recognize the debates around homosexuality have been very divisive, they also teach us how to disagree and stay in relationship. We are ALWAYS going to have disagreements. As a denomination, we're learning how to take tough issues head on. We're learning we can state our thoughts and feelings and still love someone with the opposite point of view.

I HOPE we learn that while this is an important conversation, there are things that are EVEN more important. Our common grounding in God's love and how we share that love...that's the real news story.

What young adults think about church

A few 20-something women associated with Central meet regularly for Bible Study. I recently asked them what they like/dislike about church. See if you agree with them :) Let me know what you'd add!

What I don’t like about church…
Don’t mix politics and religion: “Tell me principles and let me decide.”
Hell-fire and brimstone: “I want to come to God out of love, not fear.”
They expect you to know Bible stuff, please explain!
Perception of church-goers as “blindly” believing anything
Peer pressure
Brainwashing
No focus on service or mission
Forced touching: holding hands, shaking hands, hugs
Encouraging people to live a “bubble” instead of real life

What I like about church…
Singing together
Realistic and practical applications
Uplifting
Keeps me accountable
Caring community
Good sermons that education: history, propose theories, motivate
Religious and biblical history and background
Intergenerational
Feeling safe

Blackle

I'm just old enough, I think, to be mostly useless when it comes to technology. Perhaps I'm not learning fast enough?

Anyway, when my sister Lorna was here, I learned all about Facebook, DSL and how I need to learn to buy some kind of cord for my camera to get the photos off of it. I still haven't mastered this yet. Scary, isn't it?

But one of the best things she taught me was about the Web site called Blackle. Since Google is an all-white screen, it costs in KW energy. So the designers started a Google site with a black screen. It't the exact same search engine, just saves energy.

No, I am not working for Google :)

Check it out at www.blackle.com

They'll even tell you how much energy is saved...

About families

I just put my sister on an airplane. Lorna stayed with me for 5 weeks here in Alaska. She's 20 and will be a junior at Wartburg College in Iowa. Alaska is the farthest she's traveled from home, the longest time away from my parents.

I miss her already.

It's interesting, I think, that while I rest in the bittersweetness of time well spent and saying goodbye, I'm getting ready to preach a challenging sermon tomorrow about division within families.

Jesus says that his word will divide, and cause families to react against each other. Must the word of God always affect our most cherished relationships this way?

Success

I'm working on getting better at random blogging....

Overheard today during a church meeting:
"Success has 1000 fathers."

What do you think that means?

Brevig Mission, wrap up

Sorry for the delay in the blogging...we returned safely from Brevig on July 16.

We spent Sunday, July 15 cleaning Brian's house and the church. There was much toilet scrubbing, mopping, vacuuming and general tidying. We hoped we left things a little better than we found them.

After the cleaning, we had a free afternoon. Some of us hiked up to one of the "mountains" outside of the village. We hiked all the way into the fog, up and up and up until we couldn't see the village...so we decided that was far enough. It's such a treat to walk on the squishy tundra and look out over the hauntingly empty hills around Brevig.

When I got back from the hike, Pr Brian called and asked me to pick him up. He had boated across to Teller to do worship that morning, but the water was too choppy for him to boat all the way to the village site. He planned to boat part way to a spit of land on which the village folks set up summer fish camps. I was to drive the 4-wheeler the 3.5 miles to pick him up.

Um, I've never driven a 4-wheeler...

So I asked Jenny to teach me. She's about 23, recently divorced and has a 4-year-old. As we walked to the 4-wheeler (locals call them ALL Hondas, regardless of make), she chatted with me about her life. Then she taught me how to drive, a 30-second crash course. I drove off to get Brian... relieved when I arrived alive at Fred Olanna's fish camp.

When I returned, Ray helped me load up the Honda and trailer and we hauled a load of luggage back to the boat by Fred Olanna's fish camp. We had to boat all our bodies and stuff across to Teller after worship that night, so as to be picked up early the next morning by Pastor Matt from Nome.

Worship was at 7:30. It was great to see Pr Brian in his white alb, liturgically-appropriate green stole, jeans and muddy shoes. He played hymns on the guitar, with parishioners picking the hymns as we went along.

Then he preached on the Good Samaritan, which we had used as a text during the week. It was so great to hear him preach and I was delighted to see his extemporanous style. I love that! He gave me things to think about: Who is my neighbor?

After worship, Elder Rita Olanna got up and thanked us for coming and asked us to introduce ourselves. It was special to be honored by her.

Before we knew it, it was time to go. Kids hung around us everywhere, asking if we were coming back next year. I'm so pleased that I can say, "Yes, Central will be here!" I'm so proud of this congregation for supporting this ministry.

More Honda rides came next, to get us all down to Fred Olanna's fish camp for the shorter boat ride to Teller. I drove the Honda back and forth about 4 times to help shuttle. A man named Robert Rock drove it back for me after I made the last trip. It felt good to be out in the chilly air, with the hum of the Honda engine, watching the waves slap the beach and waving to the kids at the fish camps as we drove by.

It's always hard for me to leave Brevig.

At the Teller church, we found that Brian had emptied the honeybuckets that morning (praise God)! We had brief devotions where we discussed what we'd take from this trip. Everyone learns something unique but each person was touched in some way. I mentioned that this is why I do this repeatedly: each time, it changes me.

I fell asleep that night in my sleeping bag, next to my sister, on the floor of a dusty church building in Teller, Alaksa, in complete contentment.

Thanks for sharing our journey!

Brevig Mission, Day 5

Saturday, July 14 was our last day of Vacation Bible School. The kids knew it, of course, and were already asking if we were coming back next year.

Day 4 of VBS was the story of the 4 friends, or Jesus Heals the Paralyzed Man. Much silliness went into the prep for this skit. Eva recruited us to play our various roles. My personal favorite actor was the toy monkey on a sleeping pad, who brilliantly played the paralyzed man that was lowered through the roof to see Jesus.

The kids got to be in this skit, standing with Eva who was wearing a sign that said "Crowd." They got to help block the friends from getting the "paraylzed friend" through to see Jesus. I think the skit went over well with our audience.

By day 4, we have the routine down: opening coloring, songs, skit, skit review, snack, craft and outdoor games. Today we finally played their favorite outdoor game, "Blue bird." Which basically is a tag game, with the one who is "it" announcing a color and all other children running to the other side of the field (if they're wearing that color) without getting tagged.

The main activity of the day was really the community meal. This also served as our program for the kids to show off their crafts and songs to parents. I was concerned we wouldn't have many adults, but they came.

We served hot dogs (chili dogs, too), crackers, fruit and cookies. It was fun to connect parents to kids and see families together. The kids put on their Joseph coats and sang: Jesus Loves Me, We Love Because God First Loves Us and (of course) At the Cross. During the meal, we served food and milled about chatting with the people of Brevig.

More later about our last night in Brevig...

Fishing in Brevig

A separate entry on fishing in the bush is necessary here.

People in Brevig catch salmon (red, king, humpy and chum) out of the Bering Sea and its bays and tributaries. While they do use rods, many also use set nets.

Pastor Brian was fishing on Friday; he worked all day catching, filleting, washing and hanging fish to dry. Ray and I got to help.

The set net sits perpendicular to the beach, just down from the Brevig church. When it's time, Brian takes a small boat out and pulls himself, hand over hand, down the length of the net, pulling fish out that have been tangled in the web. Then he hauls himself back into shore, hand over hand.

Next, he fillets them on a small table on the beach. Also on the table was a small battery powered radio, a jar of lemonade, a bag of sunflower seeds and some Morton's salt. I never actually saw him use the salt.

Brian was out there all day. He got about 80 fish. After filleting them, he keeps the tail connecting the two fillets and slices the fish (not breaking the skins) into wedges about 1 inch thick. Then the fish goes into a tub of ocean (sea) water. Enter Lisa and Ray.

Wearing rubber gloves, we pulled out the fillets and washed the blood out, sometimes scrubbing the cut flesh with the sea water. Bacteria flourishes out of blood, so we needed to get it all. We gave each fillet a final rinse in the sea, then threw it in another bucket, ready to hang. When that bucket is full, we hung it on drying racks made out of wood. The fish hangs over the wood, once fillet on each side.

It's SO MUCH work. Brian was out there at least 10 hours and came in covered in fish blood and smelling like the same. I was out there washing fish for maybe an hour and a half and even I was tired.

Though I grew up on a farm in Iowa, I forget sometimes, how much work hard work is.

Brevig Mission, Day 4

Day 3 of VBS, and our 4th day in Brevig Mission. Can't believe we have only one day left of VBS.

I started the day with a walk to the dump, which is somewhat of a destination, since the gravel road to get there is nicely maintained. I walked partway with Lorraine and Jenny, locals girls (16 and 22) who chatted with me but then turned around 'cause I was walking too fast.

I confess I was a bit low-energy today. Just tired from staying up so late (this CRAZY sun) and getting up early. Of course we've got nothing on the sleep habits of the locals. When we left on our walk at 9 AM, Lorraine and Jenny hadn't been to bed yet. When do they sleep? I can't say.

Our theme today was "Love your neighbor as yourself," and we did Good Samaritan for the skit. Merri Lynn was the skit organizer and narrator...she did a great job! She also recruited our talented actors. Karen was a great Jewish woman who got robbed by Lorna, Dianne and Eva. The kids just laughed at this robbing scene, as our actors were so hilarious. Ethan and Ray got laughs as Priest and Temple Assistant (respectively) who passed by, and then Heather rocked as the Good Samaritan.

For crafts today, we made masks out of paper plates and kids decorated them with pompoms, yarn, crayons. They loved it! Dianne did a nice Job of talking to the kids about making these as "helper" puppets, pretending the puppets were the good Samaritans.

Attendance was a bit lower today (Pastor Brian was out fishing on the beach and tons of kids were swimming...more on this later) and, again, my energy was a bit low. Still, the kids did a great job singing, making crafts and playing games. It's so great to have 10 adults to pitch in.

Today was Doreen's birthday; she turned 8. At least 10 kids came up to me to tell me it was Doreen's birthday and ask me what we were going to do and when we would sing to her. When it was time for the singing and I asked what song they wanted to start with, they all screamed, "Happy Birthday." Interesting...their biggest concern was that Doreen get the attention she deserved on her special day. Of course we did sing and gave her a special birthday cookie.

We played some outdoor tag games, briefly interrupted when a man came walking up from the beach with a fishing rod. "Reuben!" they screamed. Turns out this young man had just returned from Iraq and the kids were thrilled to see him again. I was touched to see this display.

All in all, another great day! Tomorrow is our last day of VBS..and we're doing a community meal of chili dogs to follow. We'll have kids sing for their parents and put on their coats of many colors. I'm excited! :)

Brevig Mission, Day 3

It's Thursday, July 12 about 11:30 PM and the sun is still brillant, the mosquitos swarming. Most of our team is still awake, debating the finer points of theology with Pastor Brian. We've enjoyed getting to know him this week: he sings and plays guitar with the kids during VBS, eats some meals with us and talks theology/political science/sociology/philosophy with us. We laugh and share stories about the differences in our lives.

VBS was easier today, in many ways. The kids were more comfortable with us and we with them. Prep for the skit today took AGES. We did the Joseph story -- the whole thing -- as a campy melodrama that I'd found online. There are so many characters and most of the characters were playing 2 or 3 roles. There were costume changes and props and it was so confusing during practice, we didn't know if we were coming or going. But with enough practice, we got it down!

I went outside about 10 minutes 'til 2 pm (our start time) and the kids were already bunched around the door waiting to get in. We did nametags and coloring, then Brian was on for opening songs. They love "Father Abraham...had many kids.."" because they get to run and jump around.

The skit went great! Ethan added some appropriate piano music (doom-like music when Joseph gets thrown into jail, etc) and the kids were captivated. Although I think a few were scared...they thought the brothers were actually going to kill Joseph. Hmmm, maybe in a culture where abuse is common, we may want to re-think some of our acting techniques/themes.

Craft time today was making dream coats...out of white trash bags with taped multi-color streamers on them. They were a big hit! Prepping for this activity was very time consuming...and again we laughed at the irony of putting children in trash bag coats...hello suffocation risk?!! Well, they looked great in their coats and everything went fine.

Game time included a balloon relay. Getting them into equal teams proves challenging, but they seemed to like the balloons. We had them walk/run with balloon in between their knees... so funny. Even Ethan and Ray played along! A few of the balloons got loose in the dog kennel area, the dogs were rather confused...

A note (pun intended) about music: toward the end of the day, we did a few more songs, including the local favorite "At the Cross." They don't really know the verses, but they sure sing with gusto on the chorus. "At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light and the burden of my heart rolled away..." I sang the verses and they BOOMED the refrain. Each time it was louder and louder. It was a beautiful sound.

Later this evening (after dinner) some of the highschoolers wanted to come to church for Eskimo drumming and dancing. The man (Robert) who used to organize dancing has moved to Nome, so it was hard to get enough to dance. There was only one drummer and a couple of dancers. The kids sat around the church, just hanging out with us, listening to Ethan play piano and waiting to see if more dancers would come.

Ray observed that even though we were all waiting, just listening to Ethan play, some chatting, some playing with kids, that the music united us all. "It was a joyful calm," Ray observed. Yeah, that's Brevig Mission. A joyful calm.

Hiking, Brevig-style

More from Brevig! One more excerpt from today. After our shared meal (spaghetti and salad, yum!) a few of us took a hike in the hills. The group was Eva, Ray, Heather, Merri Lynn and myself. We headed for the hills. No obstructed view here: the treeless tundra gives plenty of room to see what's ahead.

The path is non-descript; we just headed up through the tundra. The ground is uneven (as a result of freezing/thawing permafrost) and grass, shrubs and flowers lie over the bumpy earth. There's one "mountain" that's a favorite destination, but as we only had a couple of hours, we decided to go for a lesser "peak."

The sky was perfect deep blue, the Bering Sea an even deeper, more majestic color. We could see mountains in the distance with the slightest streaks of snow. Toward the top of the rise, the grassy tundra gave way to layered shale, a wash of skree to scramble up toward the ridge.

We stayed at the top for awhile to admire the view.

When we finished, we gathered at 10 PM for group meeting and devotionals. Dianne led us in a reading of Psalm 24...the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof...and she spoke of the fullness and beauty and abundance of this place. God's fullness is here in sky, sea, rolling hills, game and salmon.

Interesting: in a place with only one store, no bars, few places for employment, no theaters and the only entertainment is Bingo....we still intuit and see that this place is full. There is everything that is truly needed here: families living and working together, natural beauty, abundance of game and plants to eat. I always think differently about what is "enough" when I return from Brevig Mission.

Brevig Mission Day 2

We woke in Brevig this morning to a beautiful dark blue Bering Sea view and a cloudless sky. It's hard to know when it's day or night here, in this the extreme land of midnight sun.

Our team met at 10 AM to prep for Day 1 of VBS (Vacation Bible School). Today's theme was LOVE and the Bible story was the Prodigal Son. We write our own curriculum, by the way, to make it our own and because most VBS lesson plans are WAY too complicated for bush VBS :)

We divvied up tasks: made signs to hang around the village announcing VBS, set up crafs, practiced skit, prepared games and planned songs. Ethan was playing piano like mad just before 2 PM and the kids came like flies to honey.

It went pretty well, all things considered. Our theme is "God's family" this year, so we made name tags shaped like people and kids decorated them. They put stickers on attendance sheets and did some coloring. Next we sang songs (thanks Ethan). The kids are so funny: no praise songs here, folks. It's all about the old school hymns..."At the cross at the cross, where I first saw the light..." Of course we did Jesus loves me, too.

Next it was skit time, talking about the skit (main point: Jesus loves you, rock on) and then snack time. Then more coloring: we made murals on paper on the wall of our families.

Then Pastor Brian came and played songs on his guitar. The kids are fascinated with him. He's obviously earned respect here, very cool. He sang Jesus Loves me, Blind Man, We Love Because God First Loved Us and At the Cross (again!)

Then we played games outside: What time is it Mr. Fox and Elbow Tag. AND we played this relay with water. Basically, teams take a cup, race to a common water bucket, carry water to their team's containter and race back to tag the next runner. This was hilarious, because the kids LOVED this. My sister Lorna was a team captain and one of the little girls on her team got confused and was taking water OUT of the bucket and running back. HIlarious!

At 4:30, we collapsed. This is SO MUCH fun :)

Headline hooray!

Yes! I'm so pumped! I couldn't figure out how to put titles on this blog and my friend Ray and I totally just figured it out. Sweet!

So how do you get to Brevig Mission? About 300 people live here, in this town off the road system where most people live by subsistence living (hunting and gathering most of their food).

Here's how we arrived:

Tuesday, July 10: Alaska Air flight Anchorage to Nome. Arrived in Nome 10:47 AM. Left for Teller via one old green van and one old extended cab Chevy trucks. Our drivers were Pastor Matt Littau (Our Saviors Lutheran in Nome) and Pastor Brian Crockett (Brevig Memorial Lutheran in Brevig Mission). Beautiful drive through open hills (too far north for trees), clear creeks where locals fished for salmon and even a few musk ox in the distance.

Arrived at Teller at around 5:30 PM. Next, a 15-20 mintue boat ride in a small aluminum Lund with an outboard motor. Pastor Brian took half of us (and half the luggage) but couldn't return to get the next half because he had a council meeting at 7. (Pastor Brian is also the mayor of Brevig)

So five of us went to Brevig and five stayed in Teller.

Now, let me say that while Brevig is on sewer and water, Teller is not. It's all about the honey buckets (go in bucket, dump when full). Unfortunately, the honeybuckets in Teller church were quite full. We walked around Teller, a place so quiet I half expected tumbleweeds to cross our path.

Instead, we found the local store where we bought water and the laundromat, with the only running water -- showers! toilets! sinks! -- in town. My sister Lorna's on this trip with me and on coming out of the rest room, exclaimed: "I've never been so grateful for running water in my whole life!"

We returned to the Teller church/parsonage to wait for Brian to return. We watched a DVD (so odd in a place with no running water)... (not sure why, but seems like why DVD if no toilet)...and ate the only food we had: brownies, carrots, peanut butter and mini chocolate bars. Dinner!

Brian returned around 10 PM and we took our boat ride across. We unloaded onshore and Brian brought his 4-wheeler (they call 'em Hondas here) to haul our luggage up to the church/parsonage where we're staying.

Whew! A long day. Time to turn in...but it's still sunny here at midnight!

Enough for Day 1, will write next about today (July 11)...

I've missed you all in blogworld! Actually, I'm a blog slacker.

But I'm back...with a great story to share. I'm sitting in Brevig Mission, an Alaska Native village about 75 miles outside of Nome. I'm here for 1 week with 10 people to lead about 60 kids in 4 days of Vacation Bible School.

Life in "bush" Alaska is totally different than life in Anchorage (my home sweet home). So stay tuned and I'll give you the play by play 'bout life in the bush.

Seven young people were confirmed at Central on May 20. Each read a portion of their faith statement.

Just when I was getting discouraged, here are some excerpts.

"Jesus to me is my best friend and guardian. I can talk to Him whenever and share with him things I feel I can't share with others." (Marianne, age 14)

"Prayer is very important because I can help other people without them knowing." (Nathan, age 14)

"I still struggle to believe everything I hear. Going to church helps me remember that God is there for me and will help me believe." (Hannah, age 14)

"I do believe that I am on this earth for a reason. I don't know the reason yet, but I plan on taking the challenges and living a rich life trying to find a purpose here on this earth." (Jack, age 14)

Yea, I'm proud of these kids. More than they know.

The secondary title of this blog entry is: "How I survived teaching Confirmation"

So since I'm the "youth" pastor here at Central, I teach Confirmation. I actually love it. I love sharing stories and getting kids to ask questions.

I love kids, especially middle school kids. It's a rough age. You're either getting picked on or doing the picking. Having a (somewhat) captive audience each week is a way to let them know I care about them.

But I also try to teach them some stuff, like Biblical stories, what it means to be Lutheran and how we can use faith in real life. I sure hope something sunk in.

I gave them a "final test" last week. They all failed. Seriously. Now maybe I made the test too hard or didn't do a review. But really, most couldn't identify Joseph, Moses or King David of Old Testament fame (or infamy). Ack! I've failed!

But, then again, every last one of them could tell me the difference between a Lutheran understanding of Law and Gospel.

(For those who don't know...or don't care :)... the Law shows us our human weaknesses and gives us boundaries, the Gospel is good news of what God has already done for us...Lutherans believe we need both and the Bible shows both)

So I confirmed them on Sunday, May 20. All seven of them. I was so proud of them. They read excerpts of their faith statements (I'll post in another entry). Then they came back later that night for a final Confirmtion party.

It pained me to watch them leave that night.

I wonder how many I'll see again in church. I felt sad and kind of defeated. There was so much more I wanted to tell them, so much more I wanted to learn about who they are and what they think.

I wondered if this was what it was like to be a parent, to cast your bread upon the waters and wonder if it will ever return.... (this poetic phrase is from Old Testament sage in Ecclesiastes)

I wonder.

I wonder if anyone else reading this has wondered that too....

The conversation about death caught me off guard.

I'm a Lutheran pastor, so talking about end of life, meaning-making, heaven -- no problem. But this was yoga class, full of spiritual-not-religious types, some who've had not-so-nice church experiences.

I study yoga at a studio here in Anchorage, actually I'm in a training program to become a yoga teacher. (As my friend Marcia says: Lutherans Doing Yoga: What does this mean?) I digress....

The class meets four hours each Friday morning. We do asanas (poses), anatomy, adjustments and yoga philosophy.

Based on Hindu wisdom texts, these "yoga sutras" provide the undercurrent for yoga. They speak of how to live a life free from violence, distraction and grasping for material success. Yoga philosophy touches the core of what it means to be human.

So last Friday, there was a sutra on death. I'll paraphrase: The fear of death is the cause of suffering. Usually our teacher comments on the sutra, students say a few words and we move on.

This time, things got heavy. I didn't even realize what was happening until the entire room was in tears.

Stories just came out: One woman watched her father die and it was meaningful and healing. Another women had a memorial service scheduled that day for her grandmother. Another was reeling from news that a young friend has pancreatic cancer. They needed to speak. We all needed to listen.

We all need sacred spaces. I'm so thankful that our congregation provides safe spaces for this kind of sharing. But we don't have the monopoly on it.

So let's celebrate that sacred, holy sharing happens anywhere, everywhere. Look for it, in the space where you find yourself.

Virginia Tech.

You're watching it on the news. You're actually reading the Daily Press. You are talking about it at work. I am too. And there isn't really anything to say. 33 people died in a school shooting. What is there to say?

The April 17 shootings at Virginia Tech is probably the most tragic and horrific event we've seen as a nation since September 11, 2001. You can follow the news, talk about it with your friends, and listen to NPR. But what is there to say? And if you're a Christian, again I ask: What is there to say?

I've decided it's better to listen just now. Let's listen. Listen to the stories in the news who were witnesses. Listen to the life stories of those who died at Virginia Tech. (Check it out at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9618673)

And let's listen for God and remember God's promises. We trust that God walks with us, always and especially in tragedy. God doesn't leave. God promises God is with us always. Remember, too that prayer is listening. Show up. Be with God. Light a candle for all who died in Virgina.

Instead of asking why or blaming God or stereotyping the perpetrator, I think I'll just try to listen. In stillness, maybe we can hear God's quiet voice: I love you...I'm with you....I will stay close to you.

Have other thoughts on how to respond or process this tragedy? I'd love to hear from you.

Peace,
Pastor Lisa

Swimming for Jesus?

Okay, I wasn't really swimming for Jesus but I just thougth that title sounded cool.

I was actually swimming for the Gold Nugget Triathlon, Anchorage's women-only sprint triathlon. It's always appealed to me: I run, I bike, I....can't really swim.

So I'm practicing. This is the year. If only I wasn't so darned scared of the water.

It's a Monday morning and I'm at the Y at 7 for lap swim. This is what it looks like: swim down the length of the pool with only 2-3 strokes between gasping breaths. Then stop and breath heavily. Swim back. Stop. Breath heavily. Repeat 10 times. Great. That's halfway. And it "only" took me 15 mintues. What to the winners do? I think it's at least under 10 minutes total. I hung my head in shame as I realized how out of shape I was.

I think I'd swum/panted through about 12 lenghts when I happened to hear one line of a song on the radio: each day is getting better. I can't remember the song and didn't even realize the radio was on. Just that one tiny moment of grace was all I needed. Just one line, just one word, just one small sign. That's how Christ comes: in the tiniest ways.

An old story quotes a rabbi as saying, "Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous." I think that "coincidence" is another word for God's grace.

Faith and Food

The temperature is 5 degrees above zero, my stomach says it’s nearly lunch time and all I can think about are those tomatoes. Those little red jewels seem far, far away in a world blanketed with snow.

I grew them on my deck last summer: cherry tomatoes exploding with sweetness, unlike their pale cousins that line grocery shelves. I had to sit down the first time I ate one. It was just that good.

Thank God for sweet summer tomatoes, fresh heads of lettuce and tender green peas! God has long spoke to people through earth’s bounty. Food is nearly a sacrament: God demonstrates love through ordinary things. Consider Biblical history. God created a garden of delicious food for Adam and Eve, the widow at Zarephath fed Elijah with the tiniest portion of flour and oil, Moses and the children of Israel lived on manna and quail from God’s hand. When Jesus came among us, he started an entire meal to demonstrate his great love: bread and wine are taken, God’s grace fills us.

So if God can speak through manna and quail, bread and wine, I think God comes through cherry tomatoes. What is it for you? A family meal at the table? The summer’s first red salmon? Lettuce from your garden? Savor it! That’s what God intended.

Except that sometimes we don’t. We’ve been doing a 5-week series at our 9:45 service entitled “Simpler Living, Compassionate Life.” The premise is simple: we enhance our ability for compassion when we slow down, simplify. Recently, we discussed simplicity as it pertains to food. In an ideal world, the answer is this: “Find the shortest, simplest way between the earth, the hands, and the mouth.” (Lanza del Vasto).

Poet and farmer Wendell Barry says our culture produces “industrial eaters,” where we mindlessly shovel in fuel and move on to the next thing. Thus, we participate in an economic system in which agri-businesses mass produce food in ways that harm the environment and pollute our bodies. And think of the fossil fuel it took to get that apple here from New Zealand or those grapes from Chile!

We ask: is this what God intended? How can we simplify our eating habits to become more compassionate to others and creation? Then we hold that in tension with the realities of limited time and budgets. You might say, “This is all very sad but I am unable to cook all my own meals and I can’t afford to shop exclusively at Natural Pantry.”

Our Biblical witness demonstrates God’s interest in reconciliation, in relationships restored. The first step is realizing disconnect. We can begin here. Some simple steps for simpler living around food:

Think about where your food comes from. Ask questions. Research.
Buy local whenever possible, or from the Pacific Northwest/California.
Take your kids to a farm or the petting zoo. Teach where milk comes from.
Bring your own grocery bag; choose minimally packaged food.
Grow something, anything, in your house that’s edible.
Cook at least one meal a week and eat it with family or a friend.
Garden, hunt and fish responsibly.
Thank God when you sit down for a meal.
Consider shopping at the Anchorage Farmers’ Market this summer, which will be held in Central’s upper parking lot.

May you be nourished by God’s love!

Empty is good

In our 9:45 sermon series, we're doing a 5-week ponder on simplicity. Wanted to share a bit from last Sunday (Feb. 4) with you all.

We talked about simplicity and time. Do we love or hate free time? Is it energizing or boring? Relaxing or scary? Depends, it seems, on the situation and time in our lives.

Generally, our fast-paced McLifestyle discourages spaciousness of time. I'd like that burger and fries yesterday, please. (If I ate meat, that is). I digress. We're compulsively multi-tasking to fill time. Check out what else you do while you eat, drive or watch TV. I have changed an entire set of clothing and put on make up while driving. This is NOT something on which I should boast!

So in a culture that says you should be (over)filled and fulfilled and satisfied. But that's not real. And that's okay.

Why, you ask? Why would I want space, longing, emptiness?

It's part of being human, that's why. We are created with a certain longing, restlesness, desire. We are not meant to be completely fulfilled by the things of the world. We are meant to be filled by God. We are made to grow, to become. We are hard-wired for hope.

What do you think? Is there value in emptiness? Is there value in entering your own emptiness? What happens when you stop and think? What happens when you stop and notice God? What is that like?


Faith907

I Corinthians 13:1-13

By the way, here's the text so you can read it yourself.
The first link is to the NRSV (New Revised Standard Version) which we usally use at Central Lutheran.

http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=36593716

This next link is from "The Message," a contemporary translation I enjoy.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2013:1-13;&version=65;


Faith907

Love and noisy gongs.

On Sunday, January 28, we'll read the text from I Corinthians often used for weddings. You know, "Love is patient, love is kind," and all that stuff about love never dying.

Can I have the rings please?

Yup. It's the oh-so-cliche wedding text. Now I'm not pooh-poohing it for weddings. But that's not what this text was written for.

It was written for disgruntled members of a congregation. A group of people who were fighting. The church in Corinth (these ancient letters were written to churches in various cities) was in an uproar. They argued about who was better and who had the better spiritual gifts.

And Paul (who wrote I Corinthians) responds by telling them that each part of the body is important (see I Corinthians 12). Paul also teaches them something about love: God's love.

So what can this text mean for you?

You are called into community. Somehow the Holy Spirit is leading you into a congregation, worship space, Bible study group, whatever. God wants to nourish you with a community of believers.

Then what? Well, you recognize that each have gifts. And you try to get along with each other.

How? By following all the rules of how to love? Well, maybe. But how about starting with God's love. God's love is patient with you, God's love is kind. God's love endures all of your good and not-so-good behaviors. God's love will never die.

A group gathered with these principles is in the best place to start living and serving together.

Anything else, and you're just a noise gong.

Lisa



Faith907

Welcome Back!

Confession time: I haven't written here for months. I've missed you. Let's keep the dialogue open on faith and life. Let's keep it real, too. You hear enough preachy stuff from the world telling you what you should do, how you should be, what you should buy.

This is real: God knows you, loves you, forgives you for whatever you did or didn't do.

And spirituality is real, too. There's something in us that yearns for connection to something bigger than us. So let's talk about it.

To start, I thought I'd chat about the readings we use each week during our Sunday services. I'll post some thoughts on Tuesdays (that's today) about the readings to come.

So check out my blog on Tuesdays... comments on this week's readings to follow.

Peace!
Pastor Lisa

Faith907