First full day

This will not be daily but what a start. No class, but just breathing in the atmosphere -- the snowy atmosphere at that!

Russell in Lutherland

I landed in Berlin, where I was met by representatives of the Luther Study event.
This event is funded by the Lutheran World Federation to foster celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation by Lutherans around the world. I was one of three Americans, a Canadian, two Swedes, and then one pastor from each of Argentina, Chile, Denmark, Latvia, Ethiopia, Liberia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Palestine, India, and Hong Kong. Two others were not able to make it.
We were hosted by a helpful German pastor and his assistant. Classes were led by three Lutheran professors -- two Germans and a Zimbabwean.

As I write this, I am anticipating my Wittenberg, Germany Seminar routine -- arriving in Berlin, traveling to Lutherstadt Wittenberg, being assigned a room, attending Worship on Sunday, and starting the classes. I can almost visualize that sequence of events even though it has yet to occur because I have experienced such seminars previously. Though, to be sure, none have offered the excitement of being held in the place where the Lutheran Reformation began almost 500 years ago.
The Wittenberg study also holds the prospect of surprises – who will join the group that gathers and what are their homelands, what different foods will be shared by the participants, what alternative Lutheran practices will be discussed, where will we go outside the city to discover more about the life of Luther, how has appreciation for Luther changed over the years, and how does it compare to the United States Lutherans?
Stay tuned!

Month of February

Four “secular” holidays occur this month – Ground Hog Day (a day for repetition and anticipation), the Super Bowl (a clash between two major powers), Valentine’s Day (a day for love), and Presidents’ Day (honoring our tradition of leaders). In addition, we churchy folks plunk another day right in the middle of this month with Ash Wednesday.

I believe Ash Wednesday is marked not only by the smudge of ashes on foreheads at worship, but Ash Wednesday is a day which includes repetition and anticipation, recognizes a clash between two powers, is a day for love, and honors our leaders.

Certainly the ancient Rite on Ash Wednesday of marking the sign of the cross dominates the day. But why mark this day? Is it merely going through the motions of an ancient practice, a repetition of the past? Or is this a repetition that recognizes that sin repeatedly enters our world, that we repeatedly remember its presence and persistence? And do we not anticipate our death and Christ’s triumph? That black cross admits death exists, but then proclaims the cross of Christ is greater and overcomes the threat of death.
This Ash Wednesday indeed marks the clash between two great powers – the fullness of God, demonstrated in Christ’s triumph, versus the opposing team of sin, death, and the devil. The best thing is that unlike the Super Bowl, we can already bet on a winner, count on Christ. Give us a “J;” give us a “E;” give us a “S;” give us a “U;” give us a “S.” What’s that spell? “Jesus” What’s that spell? The ultimate end of sin, death, and the devil.
And there is the ultimate expression of love. Instead of giving up on humans because of our shortcomings or failures, instead of just randomly firing at a special few with arrows of love, “God so loved the world that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Love indeed!
And we are not left alone to figure this out by ourselves. We have a leader – that Jesus, whose cross marks our foreheads on Ash Wednesday, leads us from the worship service by sending the Holy Spirit into the world – teaching us, directing us, demonstrating the fullness of life, leading us now and into life eternal. Sure there are other leaders along the way – family, teachers, supervisors, presidents. But ultimately all, ALL, pale in comparison to Christ.

“People, Look East”
A newer Advent hymn, found in our blue With One Voice worship books is “People, Look East”. That is a very different message than “Go West, Young Man” from American history. But that may be very appropriate for the season.
The advice to “Go West” was an encouragement to head in a direction that offered personal challenge and success, opportunity and risk.
To “Look East” is a reminder to observe the actions of God on our behalf. Look to Bethlehem in the East to be sure. But look East, away from personal actions, and see God’s provisions – Guest, Rose, Star, and Lord, as the hymn says.
Look East, and see the promised visitor of God, the one we decorate for during Advent.
Look East, for the growing promise of God’s bountiful gift, a Rose proclaiming beauty, but holding the blood-red color of the cost to God.
Look East, for the Star. Really? And you thought the wise ones from the East followed the star to the west. But we live in a different place and time; we are invited to shift our view from home and locality, from this Western nation, and look outside ourselves, strain our eyes and attention to see the Lord’s arrival outside our too often small world.
Look East, yes it is the Lord who comes. Not Santa down Santa Claus Lane, not our inflated credit cards bills, not our party invitations.
This Advent we are reminded once more of the ancient story, the even more ancient promise – Jesus is coming, God’s promise comes, the Lord draws our attention to the preparations and promises – the Advent of our God. “People, Look East”

November

November begins with a celebration of “All Saints” – either on the 1st day of the month or the 1st Sunday of the month.
“Saints” are a fading focus though in much of the Christian tradition, and I wonder how many of us are familiar with the concept of Saint. We Lutherans throw a monkey wrench into things as well, when we talk about every person as a Saint and Sinner.
So, is the first of the month a day to celebrate every one of us or something else?
Yes and no.
Saints have traditionally been exemplary Christians, persons whose sacrifice or service shines through history as an encouragement (judgment?) for us all. If you tour the ancient churches of Europe you see pictures and statues of faithful persons torn to shreds by lions or shot numerous times with arrows or, one of my favorites, a guy carrying his own decapitated head under his arm. Sounds more like Halloween than All Saints! But the idea is to emphasize faithfulness even unto death. What a challenge indeed!
In the Augsburg Confession, one of the key Lutheran theological documents, we claim saints as they strengthen our faithfulness. We do not pray to these saints for extra help, that is the relationship with have with Jesus. But we can indeed be thankful for guides and examples for our actions in life. Such roles can be fulfilled by the faithful deceased, but also faithful Christian folks all around us.
So, we can be Saint and Sinner – at times so faithful we can offer an example, at times needing others to get us back on track. And when we gather at the Communion Rail we remember the Saints above and the Saints at the rail with us, all dependent on the gracious gift of God, all fed by Christ, all led by the Holy Spirit to depart together and continue witnessing in our lives of faith!

Lutheran Note: October 31

This day is celebrated as the historic beginning of the Lutheran Reformation, the beginning of our religious testimony concerning the extent of God’s love, demonstrated on the cross by Christ. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther pounded his “95 Theses” on the Wittenberg, Germany church door and the Christian faith was reinvigorated!
We have remembered Luther’s witness this month with our “History Hallway” exhibit of posters related to the Reformation, then on Sunday, October 28, at 4pm, we hosted a bi-lingual (German and English) worship service!

October

This month among Lutherans contains the celebration of the beginning of the Reformation on the last Sunday or last day. We will observe and participate in several events for the Reformation with a poster exhibit, Wednesday evening classes of Reformation persons and activities led by Bishop (emeritus) Mark Herbener, two worship services (one bilingual German/English), and a special choir program.
Martin Luther and his followers stressed the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ, won on the cross, opened to us in the witness of the Bible. You may find your faith stimulated by a discussion with other adults about these critical topics. Certainly, you should hear in October again and again the message of the cross – Christ’s gift of salvation (by grace through faith!), a gift opened to us in the Scriptures.

The heat has returned!
That certainly seems to be the weather forecast for the next several weeks. We may have enjoyed the lingering Spring-like temperatures well into July, but now it is time to get serious about Summer!
The heat has returned!
That is our hope as Christians each day. The Lord’s promises and blessings refresh us like the Spring, then the Holy Spirit enlivens our experience of God – in prayer, in worship, in regular Bible reading, in witness, in service, in living as God’s called child. Deep into what can be the Summer doldrums, the proverbial “lazy days of Summer,” I encourage you to experience the heat of the faith each day. Begin with a prayer to start your morning routine.
Luther had a nice Morning Prayer:

“I give thanks to you, heavenly Father,
through Jesus you dear Son, that you
have protected me through the night
from all harm and danger. I ask that you
would also protect me today from sin
and all evil, so that my life and actions
may please you. Into your hands I commend
myself: my body, my soul, and all
that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me,
so that the wicked foe may have
no power over me. Amen.”

Then Luther encouraged us “to go to your work joyfully.”
That is the best heat, the tolerable heat, the enlivening heat, we all need this Summer and truly each day of the year! Welcome to the blessings of Summer and our Savior!
The heat has returned!

Prayer and Performance 4

This Summer our Wednesday evenings have been blessed by times of Prayer and Performance. Beginning at 7:00pm, we have a service of Evening Prayer, inviting deeper prayers for special concerns as they are shared, then we move into a celebration of God’s gift of music.
We concluded as Jamie Ovcarik shared traditional, regional guitar. (With surprise guest -- Austin Ovcarik!)