“A TIME TO MOVE FORWARD!!”
It is no secret that there is a deep and growing concern for the trends that we are seeing at Morning Star. While lives are being changed and we are growing our sense of mission, other key indicators are showing a rather steady decline. For example, this year to date our weekend worship attendance is down by nearly 20 people a week over last year and about 50 a week over 4 years ago. Our giving is holding steady, but is behind the pace we need to keep if we are going to achieve our goals for mission and ministry this year – for example we have not made a Mission Share gift to the Nebraska Synod since about this time one year ago which means we are not extending our mission and ministry through our Synod and ELCA. While our debt is relatively small (about $ 230,000 at this point), the interest payments we make each month (@ $1, 200) further reduce our ability to engage the mission and ministry to which we are called.
In the grand scheme of things “crisis” is probably too strong of a word. However, we certainly have a deep and growing concern about our ability to be the Morning Star that God would like us to be and that we would like to be – a vital center for mission committed to being the light of Christ in a world of darkness.
To say it another way, focus on these trends can quickly move us from a mindset of mission and ministry to a mindset of “self-preservation.” Self-preservation cannot be the main focus in the Body of Christ. A self-preservation mindset pulls people from looking outward to looking inward. Self-preservation thinking limits mission thinking to the extent that the choices we make pull us into scarcity thinking – what we can’t do instead of who we are and what we are called to do as caretakers of God’s abundance.
The central nature of being the church is being the Body of Christ is mission. God calls His church into a mindset of seeing God’s abundance and then asking how we use God’s blessings for the sake of the world. A mission focus helps the church see God’s abundance as blessing for behaving in ways that reach out for the purpose of changing lives, serving the needy and hurting and drawing people more deeply into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. This mission is only accomplished when each person lives as a disciple and does their part as a caretaker of Kingdom things.
I recently read the story of a college choir that was all set to present its package of music in a large church. The program of sacred song was to be carried live by a local radio station. When everything appeared to be ready, the announcer made his final introduction and waited for the choir director to begin. One of the tenors was not ready, however, so the venerable conductor refused to raise his baton. All this time, nothing but silence was being broadcast (radio stations abhor silence). Growing very nervous, the announcer, forgetting that his microphone was still on and that he could be heard in the church and on the radio, said in exasperation, "Get on with it, you old goat!"
Later in the week, the radio station got a letter from one of its listeners -- a man who had tuned in to listen to the music from the comfort of his easy chair. When he heard "Get on with it, you old goat!" he took the message personally. He had been doing nothing to further God's work, and this startling message was enough to convict him and get him going again.
You know, sometimes we need a wake up call. Sometimes we need to be reminded to “Get on with it!” We need to be challenged to rethink our apathy or our disengagement. I wonder if this current situation isn’t just a prompting to move us into renewing our commitment to the outward focus of mission and ministry.
But I can’t do it alone. Neither can you. It takes all of us recommitting ourselves to our call to discipleship and ministry. So, let’s get on with it. Let me suggest a couple of steps to help us get started.
1. Recommit yourself and your family to regular worship. If you’ve just slacked off, commit to one more Sunday a month. If you’ve gotten out of the habit take some time to create a new habit. If you haven’t been around for a while, now is as good a time as any to make your way back. If there are practical problems that prevent your attendance, please let myself or another leader know so that we might attempt to find a solution with you.
2. Recommit yourself to generosity. Commit yourself to be regular in your giving of time and resources. This isn’t a plea for increases, just a plea for regularity with the commitments you’ve already made. Every week, we have room for worship leaders and servants – greeters, communion assistants, coffee hosts / hostesses, nursery attendants and the list can go on. Your generosity of yourself spreads like a good immune system to wart off apathy and self-centered thoughts.
3, Recommit yourself to the community, the body. Just like a body needs every part and member of the body, the community of faith needs each disciple. Maybe it is time to set aside an old excuse or an old hurt in order to make a new commitment of faith. Maybe it is time to forgive or ask forgiveness in order to open up a new door to fulfilling what God has in mind for you. When we gather as a body, we encourage and uplift each other in the presence of God. We find strength in numbers. And God delights in our witness.
The bottom line is that it will take all of us “getting on with it” to begin to reverse the trends we are seeing. It will take all of us finding ways to make new commitments for the good of the Kingdom. It will take each one of us being willing to step out in faith, to even step out of our comfort zone in order to rebuild our mission focus and get back on the track of a fitting Kingdom Mission for Morning Star.
As your Lead Pastor, I truly believe that Morning Star is exactly at the point in its life where a new burst of energy, faith and excitement is about to take place. I believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is moving among us with renewing vitality. I believe that God has great plans for us.
And, I’m delighted that we are partners in this ministry at this point in history.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
The Value of Saying “Thanks!”
It might have been the first prayer we ever learned: "God is great; God is good. We thank Him for our food." And perhaps it started us off with an understanding of the very positive impact gratitude can have in our busy, noisy lives.
You see, a sense of appreciation for all the positives of life, a sense of gratitude for the abundance God has freely bestowed to us, coupled with praise to the God who has provided them, gives us a clearer sense of ourselves and our relationship to the Deity who is the giver of every good gift. Our “attitude of gratitude” is an affirmation that God’s grace is real in our lives.
Rubel Shelly writes about when his son was about four years old, and it was his turn to say a prayer of thanksgiving over lunch. “With open-face sandwiches on the plates, he folded his hands and began. ‘Deah God, we fank fee . . .’ (Note: He wasn't doing well with his r- and th-words at four! But back to the prayer . . .) ‘Deah God, we fank fee foh de bwead and de tomato . . .’ (Another Note: Yes, he was peeking! But back to the prayer . . .) ‘And we fank fee foh de meat and foh . . . and foh . . .’ (Final Note: He knew what lettuce was, but it just wouldn't come to him at that critical moment. So he pointed his still-folded hands toward it and continued to pray . . .) ‘And foh dis stuff. Amen.’”
It’s a cute story, but it gets to the heart of the matter. A bit of thanksgiving at mealtime (or anytime) is such a tiny piece of our spiritual lives. However, being thankful is good. Honoring God as the giver is better since we can’t claim credit for any of it!
So may we be reminded of the wonderful gifts of food and air, friends and work, sunshine and rain and every blessing we enjoy. All are blessings we did not create and for which we can take no credit. It is good to recognize them as gifts and to be thankful. And the bigger blessing is our little bits of thanks make it even more natural to turn to our Creator in stressful times to name our hurts and pains, our stresses and our troubles, and to ask for God’s help without feeling guilty as a thankless beggar.
I remember this verse: "Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done" (Philippians 4:6).
You see, a sense of appreciation for all the positives of life, a sense of gratitude for the abundance God has freely bestowed to us, coupled with praise to the God who has provided them, gives us a clearer sense of ourselves and our relationship to the Deity who is the giver of every good gift. Our “attitude of gratitude” is an affirmation that God’s grace is real in our lives.
Rubel Shelly writes about when his son was about four years old, and it was his turn to say a prayer of thanksgiving over lunch. “With open-face sandwiches on the plates, he folded his hands and began. ‘Deah God, we fank fee . . .’ (Note: He wasn't doing well with his r- and th-words at four! But back to the prayer . . .) ‘Deah God, we fank fee foh de bwead and de tomato . . .’ (Another Note: Yes, he was peeking! But back to the prayer . . .) ‘And we fank fee foh de meat and foh . . . and foh . . .’ (Final Note: He knew what lettuce was, but it just wouldn't come to him at that critical moment. So he pointed his still-folded hands toward it and continued to pray . . .) ‘And foh dis stuff. Amen.’”
It’s a cute story, but it gets to the heart of the matter. A bit of thanksgiving at mealtime (or anytime) is such a tiny piece of our spiritual lives. However, being thankful is good. Honoring God as the giver is better since we can’t claim credit for any of it!
So may we be reminded of the wonderful gifts of food and air, friends and work, sunshine and rain and every blessing we enjoy. All are blessings we did not create and for which we can take no credit. It is good to recognize them as gifts and to be thankful. And the bigger blessing is our little bits of thanks make it even more natural to turn to our Creator in stressful times to name our hurts and pains, our stresses and our troubles, and to ask for God’s help without feeling guilty as a thankless beggar.
I remember this verse: "Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done" (Philippians 4:6).
Friday, June 10, 2011
A Story with "Heart"
Did you hear the story from the Major League Baseball Draft earlier this week?
The Texas Rangers drafted two players from the University of Georgia Bulldogs: Zach Cone 37th over-all in the fifth round and Jonathan Taylor 1,000+ over-all in the 33rd Round. The two have been teammates since their years at Parkview High School. They were both quality players for the Bulldogs program.
But what is newsworthy in this story is that Jonathan Taylor, a Junior outfielder, will probably never be able to play baseball again. He is paralyzed from the waist down and confined to a wheelchair after an on field collision with his teammate and friend, Zach Cone, in early March.
The Rangers selection of Taylor was to show a token of support for his rehabilitation process. It was also a way of acknowledging the talent he possessed. An honor roll student his first two seasons, Taylor had a .312 career batting average over 117 games for Georgia and may have had a future on the diamond.
The story is that Taylor was in rehab when he got the Ranger’s phone call. His mother described the news as “awesome” and said her son’s face “lit up” when he heard about the pick.
Baseball fans will know that teams often use the last rounds of the draft to symbolically draft players who may never play for them. The most famous might be from 1987 when Tommy Lasorda used a 62nd-round pick on a little-known catcher as a favor to a family friend. (Guy by the name of Mike Piazza.)
As of this writing, it is noted that in the 40th round, the Houston Astros selected San Jacinto College reliever Buddy Lamothe, who had a 0.86 ERA before being paralyzed in a recreational accident.
These kinds of stories remind us that dreams do come true. And they give us confidence that even organizations like Major League Baseball have a heart to do what is right.
I hope it’s a trend that will spread into other areas of our society and lives.
The Texas Rangers drafted two players from the University of Georgia Bulldogs: Zach Cone 37th over-all in the fifth round and Jonathan Taylor 1,000+ over-all in the 33rd Round. The two have been teammates since their years at Parkview High School. They were both quality players for the Bulldogs program.
But what is newsworthy in this story is that Jonathan Taylor, a Junior outfielder, will probably never be able to play baseball again. He is paralyzed from the waist down and confined to a wheelchair after an on field collision with his teammate and friend, Zach Cone, in early March.
The Rangers selection of Taylor was to show a token of support for his rehabilitation process. It was also a way of acknowledging the talent he possessed. An honor roll student his first two seasons, Taylor had a .312 career batting average over 117 games for Georgia and may have had a future on the diamond.
The story is that Taylor was in rehab when he got the Ranger’s phone call. His mother described the news as “awesome” and said her son’s face “lit up” when he heard about the pick.
Baseball fans will know that teams often use the last rounds of the draft to symbolically draft players who may never play for them. The most famous might be from 1987 when Tommy Lasorda used a 62nd-round pick on a little-known catcher as a favor to a family friend. (Guy by the name of Mike Piazza.)
As of this writing, it is noted that in the 40th round, the Houston Astros selected San Jacinto College reliever Buddy Lamothe, who had a 0.86 ERA before being paralyzed in a recreational accident.
These kinds of stories remind us that dreams do come true. And they give us confidence that even organizations like Major League Baseball have a heart to do what is right.
I hope it’s a trend that will spread into other areas of our society and lives.
Friday, May 27, 2011
June 2011 "Sketchings"
“GREAT CHURCHES ARE NO ACCIDENT!!”
Had I been blessed to be a “fly on the wall” back in the mid fifties, when the founders of Morning Star gathered to create a new Lutheran church in “west Omaha”, I’m pretty sure I would have heard a conversation laced with faith in what God was doing in this area of the city. Faith would have been coupled with commitment to the cause ahead supported by a sense of excitement for the future of the Kingdom of God in this place.
In the now 55 years following, as pastor after pastor took on the mantle leadership of God’s people, as family after family and person after person grew into discipleship in this congregation, as dreams for space became buildings, there has been a sense of accomplishment and thanksgiving to God for the overwhelming blessings poured out in this place.
Entering now into the 56th year of ministry and “bringing the light of Christ to all creation”, Morning Star finds itself right back in that same meeting of 55 plus years ago – the meeting where the seeds of a church in West Omaha first were sown and spouted –asking the same question – How can we identify what God is doing here and align ourselves to be part of it? The question may also be framed in words like, “How can we regain the energy and enthusiasm we once had for being Morning Star?” “How can we deal with what seems to be a decline in our participation?” “How can we over come what feels like a general malaise in our life together?” “How can we renew our sense of mission and ministry to serve and glorify God?”
Recently, some significant research has gone into what makes some churches grow while others fail to thrive. From my ministry experience and from the reading I’ve done, as well as from the experiences of my peers, I’d suggest that these are a few of the key elements that separate healthy mission centers from churches that find themselves declining or dying.
The past is a new beginning. Healthy growing mission centers recognize that the present generation of mission and ministry stands on the shoulders of those who have gone before. Healthy growing mission centers know that good beginnings always help contribute to continued successes. These congregations also understand that yesterday is gone. Tomorrow, with new challenges and opportunities, beckons the church in mission forward.
Welcoming atmosphere. The process a congregation has for welcoming the stranger is telling about the atmosphere of a place. Expressions of welcome beginning in the parking lot, multiple hands of welcome and introduction from everyone from the greeters to the ushers to the people in the same pew (even before the visitor has a chance to meet the Pastor) is a sure sign that this is a place where I will be accepted and find a sense of "home" in the church family.
Long term pastorates. It seems like congregations that thrive, grow and mature have a series of long term pastors, those who remain in that congregation for 10 or more years. From my experience productive ministry and leadership is unlikely to present until year 7 or 8 of a pastor's tenure. The ensuing years are rich for congregational deepening, growth and the development of a strong active laity in ministry.
Spiritual Deepening. In today’s world, where "spirituality" and "spiritual journey" are spoken of with some regularity, it appears that mission centers that experience growth, spend a fair amount of time teaching and practicing spiritual disciplines (worship, prayer, Bible Study and devotions, generosity and witness) and participating in small group or worship group activities that help support spiritual deepening. This deepening usually occurs though a variety of worship expressions that are theologically sound, life changing, challenging and are created to bring the worshiper into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.
Smaller caring communities. Within the larger congregation there are smaller caring communities, small groups, sub “congregations”, women’s and men’s circles, youth groups and the like. Congregations that grow recognize that these smaller “congregations” are the key to success. They also find a way to become comfortable with a multitude of smaller communities within the one community. These smaller communities are where relationship are forged, ministry blooms, learning occurs and God is glorified.
Financially committed membership. Disciples in growing mission centers recognize the importance of their financial stewardship as a matter of faith. These disciples are generous not because the bills need to be paid, but because they need to give as a faithful response to God’s blessings. Disciples in growing congregations recognize that they have been financially blessed in order to be a blessing to others churches have members that recognize the importance of their financial stewardship. Growing churches aren’t afraid to talk about tithing and sacrificial giving. Members of growing churches recognize that they have been financially blessed with a trust that comes from God in order to be a blessing for others.
So, the future awaits. Maybe one or more of these key elements apply to us. Maybe one or more will help us unlock the door as we move into a time or recommitment and resolve for our future.
I look forward to the journey with you.
Had I been blessed to be a “fly on the wall” back in the mid fifties, when the founders of Morning Star gathered to create a new Lutheran church in “west Omaha”, I’m pretty sure I would have heard a conversation laced with faith in what God was doing in this area of the city. Faith would have been coupled with commitment to the cause ahead supported by a sense of excitement for the future of the Kingdom of God in this place.
In the now 55 years following, as pastor after pastor took on the mantle leadership of God’s people, as family after family and person after person grew into discipleship in this congregation, as dreams for space became buildings, there has been a sense of accomplishment and thanksgiving to God for the overwhelming blessings poured out in this place.
Entering now into the 56th year of ministry and “bringing the light of Christ to all creation”, Morning Star finds itself right back in that same meeting of 55 plus years ago – the meeting where the seeds of a church in West Omaha first were sown and spouted –asking the same question – How can we identify what God is doing here and align ourselves to be part of it? The question may also be framed in words like, “How can we regain the energy and enthusiasm we once had for being Morning Star?” “How can we deal with what seems to be a decline in our participation?” “How can we over come what feels like a general malaise in our life together?” “How can we renew our sense of mission and ministry to serve and glorify God?”
Recently, some significant research has gone into what makes some churches grow while others fail to thrive. From my ministry experience and from the reading I’ve done, as well as from the experiences of my peers, I’d suggest that these are a few of the key elements that separate healthy mission centers from churches that find themselves declining or dying.
The past is a new beginning. Healthy growing mission centers recognize that the present generation of mission and ministry stands on the shoulders of those who have gone before. Healthy growing mission centers know that good beginnings always help contribute to continued successes. These congregations also understand that yesterday is gone. Tomorrow, with new challenges and opportunities, beckons the church in mission forward.
Welcoming atmosphere. The process a congregation has for welcoming the stranger is telling about the atmosphere of a place. Expressions of welcome beginning in the parking lot, multiple hands of welcome and introduction from everyone from the greeters to the ushers to the people in the same pew (even before the visitor has a chance to meet the Pastor) is a sure sign that this is a place where I will be accepted and find a sense of "home" in the church family.
Long term pastorates. It seems like congregations that thrive, grow and mature have a series of long term pastors, those who remain in that congregation for 10 or more years. From my experience productive ministry and leadership is unlikely to present until year 7 or 8 of a pastor's tenure. The ensuing years are rich for congregational deepening, growth and the development of a strong active laity in ministry.
Spiritual Deepening. In today’s world, where "spirituality" and "spiritual journey" are spoken of with some regularity, it appears that mission centers that experience growth, spend a fair amount of time teaching and practicing spiritual disciplines (worship, prayer, Bible Study and devotions, generosity and witness) and participating in small group or worship group activities that help support spiritual deepening. This deepening usually occurs though a variety of worship expressions that are theologically sound, life changing, challenging and are created to bring the worshiper into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.
Smaller caring communities. Within the larger congregation there are smaller caring communities, small groups, sub “congregations”, women’s and men’s circles, youth groups and the like. Congregations that grow recognize that these smaller “congregations” are the key to success. They also find a way to become comfortable with a multitude of smaller communities within the one community. These smaller communities are where relationship are forged, ministry blooms, learning occurs and God is glorified.
Financially committed membership. Disciples in growing mission centers recognize the importance of their financial stewardship as a matter of faith. These disciples are generous not because the bills need to be paid, but because they need to give as a faithful response to God’s blessings. Disciples in growing congregations recognize that they have been financially blessed in order to be a blessing to others churches have members that recognize the importance of their financial stewardship. Growing churches aren’t afraid to talk about tithing and sacrificial giving. Members of growing churches recognize that they have been financially blessed with a trust that comes from God in order to be a blessing for others.
So, the future awaits. Maybe one or more of these key elements apply to us. Maybe one or more will help us unlock the door as we move into a time or recommitment and resolve for our future.
I look forward to the journey with you.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Living "His Story"
The more and more I dig into the Bible the more and more I realize the Bible is NOT a very safe book. In fact, it is a pretty “dangerous” book. Unless you’re just reading superficially and for pleasure, even simple stories like David and Goliath, Joseph’s coat of many colors or Jesus healing little children, it can still be pretty un-safe
You see, even the simple “children’s stories” are there to tell us of God’s bigger purpose—that is to rescue sinful and broken people who are dearly loved by our God who gave his Son Jesus to show grace, mercy forgiveness and love. The overall goal of the stories of the Bible is for us to see beyond Jesus and to begin to see ourselves in the story. It is for us to see ourselves in God’s big story.
Some years ago a Bible teacher make this connection, one that makes a great deal of sense as far as I am concerned. That is that “my story” is “our story” in “God’s story.” That is to say that my story is ultimately, at some level, the story of every human being. And our collective story makes sense only in the contest of His (God’s) Story. The message of the big story, God’s big story, is not some doctrinal proclamation. It is not some theological treatise for preachers and seminary professors to debate. Finally, God’s big story (His – story) is the unfolding of God’s greater purposes for the beloved of his creation, you and me, made in his own image, out of his own imagination of us.
The task of Bible study, the goal of devotions and Bible reading is to find ourselves in the story of God’s grace, love, mercy, forgiveness and ultimately in the life giving death and resurrection of Jesus. Our goal is to connect with the Jesus who is the culmination of God’s redemptive plan.
To carry it one step further, the goal of outreach and invitation (sometimes called “evangelism” is to invite people into the God story, into the story of Jesus, into our shared story of being the blessed and redeemed of God. It is to challenge folks to see themselves in light of Jesus, The Good Shepherd or Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life. When we (and others around us) are able to find themselves in the middle of the story of salvation, there is no doubt they will find a new meaning and purpose of the “dangerous” story of following Jesus.
Of course, our world sends a different message. Our world wants to give us the option of leaving God out so that we can pursue “life on our own”, that we can be “in charge of our own destiny.” It is easy to engage our world’s story because it is safe; it leaves us in control.
People of God, on the other hand, are called into His story, the bigger story of God, to be shaped by God, redeemed by His love and to live where true joy and hope reigns. That feels like a more “dangerous” place to be.
As people of God, then we engage the story. We connect ourselves to God’s story. Live out what Jesus has modeled. And, in the end, God will write the final chapters, chapters of victory and renewal, redemption and resurrection.
You see, even the simple “children’s stories” are there to tell us of God’s bigger purpose—that is to rescue sinful and broken people who are dearly loved by our God who gave his Son Jesus to show grace, mercy forgiveness and love. The overall goal of the stories of the Bible is for us to see beyond Jesus and to begin to see ourselves in the story. It is for us to see ourselves in God’s big story.
Some years ago a Bible teacher make this connection, one that makes a great deal of sense as far as I am concerned. That is that “my story” is “our story” in “God’s story.” That is to say that my story is ultimately, at some level, the story of every human being. And our collective story makes sense only in the contest of His (God’s) Story. The message of the big story, God’s big story, is not some doctrinal proclamation. It is not some theological treatise for preachers and seminary professors to debate. Finally, God’s big story (His – story) is the unfolding of God’s greater purposes for the beloved of his creation, you and me, made in his own image, out of his own imagination of us.
The task of Bible study, the goal of devotions and Bible reading is to find ourselves in the story of God’s grace, love, mercy, forgiveness and ultimately in the life giving death and resurrection of Jesus. Our goal is to connect with the Jesus who is the culmination of God’s redemptive plan.
To carry it one step further, the goal of outreach and invitation (sometimes called “evangelism” is to invite people into the God story, into the story of Jesus, into our shared story of being the blessed and redeemed of God. It is to challenge folks to see themselves in light of Jesus, The Good Shepherd or Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life. When we (and others around us) are able to find themselves in the middle of the story of salvation, there is no doubt they will find a new meaning and purpose of the “dangerous” story of following Jesus.
Of course, our world sends a different message. Our world wants to give us the option of leaving God out so that we can pursue “life on our own”, that we can be “in charge of our own destiny.” It is easy to engage our world’s story because it is safe; it leaves us in control.
People of God, on the other hand, are called into His story, the bigger story of God, to be shaped by God, redeemed by His love and to live where true joy and hope reigns. That feels like a more “dangerous” place to be.
As people of God, then we engage the story. We connect ourselves to God’s story. Live out what Jesus has modeled. And, in the end, God will write the final chapters, chapters of victory and renewal, redemption and resurrection.
Late Spring Fashion Shows
“Spring is a really choice time to put on a fashion show. A time when nature begins to arouse from her winter death-like sleep and burst into her own splendid show of color and life.
Tulips and daffodils dance in their new spring hats, covering the hillsides with a rainbow of color.
Forsythia are proud to display their new yellow frocks.
Magnolia and flowering crab compete with each other to see who can come up with the most beautiful spring outfit.
And tall graceful trees, not at all embarrassed about their high hemlines begin to display their glorious green; starting out with a delicate pinafore or light green soon changing to a lush forest green robe.
This yearly display is always very moving, for it is a reaffirmation of Christ’s rising from the dead and his promise that we too, through his grace and mercy, shall have an eternal spring after our winter sleep. We too shall be gifted with life after death.
As winter drags on, I begin to get bogged down in small worries and plans for this and plans for that. By the time winter ends, I have everything planned out for the next ten years and I’m worrying about all the details now.
But as spring blossoms, I feel a great relief and joy. I feel like running and enjoying and savoring the changes that each day brings. The new leaves on the trees, the flowers sprouting up through the ground, the early blossoms.
By Jan Kane
(Seen during a hospital visit)
Tulips and daffodils dance in their new spring hats, covering the hillsides with a rainbow of color.
Forsythia are proud to display their new yellow frocks.
Magnolia and flowering crab compete with each other to see who can come up with the most beautiful spring outfit.
And tall graceful trees, not at all embarrassed about their high hemlines begin to display their glorious green; starting out with a delicate pinafore or light green soon changing to a lush forest green robe.
This yearly display is always very moving, for it is a reaffirmation of Christ’s rising from the dead and his promise that we too, through his grace and mercy, shall have an eternal spring after our winter sleep. We too shall be gifted with life after death.
As winter drags on, I begin to get bogged down in small worries and plans for this and plans for that. By the time winter ends, I have everything planned out for the next ten years and I’m worrying about all the details now.
But as spring blossoms, I feel a great relief and joy. I feel like running and enjoying and savoring the changes that each day brings. The new leaves on the trees, the flowers sprouting up through the ground, the early blossoms.
By Jan Kane
(Seen during a hospital visit)
May 2011 Sketchings
EASTER PROMISES
If you were regular in worship during the weeks leading up to Easter, you will know that our lessons all had a focus of lives transformed by the power of Jesus to renew (the woman at the well), to bring sight, spiritual sight, to those who cannot see the presence of God (the healing of the man born blind) and the power to resurrect a life from the grave (the resurrection of Jesus’ friend Lazarus).
One of the stories we missed, due to the length of some of the readings, was one from Ezekiel 37, the “valley of dry bones.” You may know this story from a Sunday School Song, “Dem Bones” which has a chorus that contains “The thigh bone connected to the knee bone, The knee bone connected to the shin bone” etc.
You know, I love to preach this story and I was sorry to miss it this time around. I love to preach it because sometimes when I look out into the world, into the congregation, into the lives of individual people, even into my own life and faith, I see bones. I see the bare bones revealed in grief and the hurts and pains of life. I see lives dried up by fear and insecurity. I see death walking around in the cares and concerns about where the world and the church are headed. I see and feel the rending of relationships and the tearing of hearts. I hear people talking about the mad nightmares that are sometimes the reality of life.
And I wonder, as did Ezekiel, “Can these bones live? Can these bones ever have life again like they did last week, or last month, or last year, or back when it felt like everything was all right? Can these bones ever recover from their dried up death to find life and hope again?
Oh, yes, I’ve wondered aloud, as did Ezekiel. Lord!! Can these bones live? Lord!! Can these bones find the breath of life? Lord!! Is there hope at all for these bones?
And just about at the moment of despair, I hear God’s promise of new life in the resurrection of Jesus. Just about at the moment of giving up, I see God fulfilling God’s promise to breathe new life into these bones and these lives of ours. Just at the moment of hopelessness, God’s Spirit comes to blow in the powerful breath of renewal, even of creation’s life giving power, “he breathed into them the breath of life.” Just when we need it most, God’s Spirit blows like a mighty wind (Acts 2) to fulfill what God promises: life for these bones. Life for this life. Life like never before.
Oh, dear friends. Oh, God’s people. We are not bones. We are not in the tomb. It just seems that way. No, dear people, we are God’s people. We are those who have been brought to life in our Baptism. We are those who have been called from lifelessness to new life. Called to be living examples of what it means to have a faith that is active in our lives.
We are those called forth from the tomb as God breathes the breath of the Spirit over us, as God breathes into us life. We are not bones on a plain. We are not dead in a tomb. But we are full and blessed with abundance because God is God over even death, even grief, even changes, even over all that will be unknown and uncharted before us.
You know on Easter we declare with certainty, with enthusiasm from the depth of our beings, “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed.” We proclaim with certainly that God has ultimate power to give life, to raise from the dead, to open the doors to a new eternity and to overcome everything, even death itself.
So, now, in the promise of Easter, in the power of the breath of the Spirit of God over us, we do what we’ve celebrated and proclaimed. We rise and live. We let God’s spirit breathe new hope into us.
Because, you see, ultimately this isn’t about us. It isn’t about death. It isn’t about the darkness or despair that seems to close in upon us.
Finally, it is all about God, the God who gives us life, breathes into us meaning and ministry, the God who in Jesus Christ calls into a resurrected so that His name and His power can be glorified.
This Easter, we pray for God to breathe on us the breath of life—the breath of NEW life so that we can continue in what is charted before us, looking forward to the kingdom, when all will be seen in the perfection of His light, in the perfection of the life we long for.
T. O. M.
If you were regular in worship during the weeks leading up to Easter, you will know that our lessons all had a focus of lives transformed by the power of Jesus to renew (the woman at the well), to bring sight, spiritual sight, to those who cannot see the presence of God (the healing of the man born blind) and the power to resurrect a life from the grave (the resurrection of Jesus’ friend Lazarus).
One of the stories we missed, due to the length of some of the readings, was one from Ezekiel 37, the “valley of dry bones.” You may know this story from a Sunday School Song, “Dem Bones” which has a chorus that contains “The thigh bone connected to the knee bone, The knee bone connected to the shin bone” etc.
You know, I love to preach this story and I was sorry to miss it this time around. I love to preach it because sometimes when I look out into the world, into the congregation, into the lives of individual people, even into my own life and faith, I see bones. I see the bare bones revealed in grief and the hurts and pains of life. I see lives dried up by fear and insecurity. I see death walking around in the cares and concerns about where the world and the church are headed. I see and feel the rending of relationships and the tearing of hearts. I hear people talking about the mad nightmares that are sometimes the reality of life.
And I wonder, as did Ezekiel, “Can these bones live? Can these bones ever have life again like they did last week, or last month, or last year, or back when it felt like everything was all right? Can these bones ever recover from their dried up death to find life and hope again?
Oh, yes, I’ve wondered aloud, as did Ezekiel. Lord!! Can these bones live? Lord!! Can these bones find the breath of life? Lord!! Is there hope at all for these bones?
And just about at the moment of despair, I hear God’s promise of new life in the resurrection of Jesus. Just about at the moment of giving up, I see God fulfilling God’s promise to breathe new life into these bones and these lives of ours. Just at the moment of hopelessness, God’s Spirit comes to blow in the powerful breath of renewal, even of creation’s life giving power, “he breathed into them the breath of life.” Just when we need it most, God’s Spirit blows like a mighty wind (Acts 2) to fulfill what God promises: life for these bones. Life for this life. Life like never before.
Oh, dear friends. Oh, God’s people. We are not bones. We are not in the tomb. It just seems that way. No, dear people, we are God’s people. We are those who have been brought to life in our Baptism. We are those who have been called from lifelessness to new life. Called to be living examples of what it means to have a faith that is active in our lives.
We are those called forth from the tomb as God breathes the breath of the Spirit over us, as God breathes into us life. We are not bones on a plain. We are not dead in a tomb. But we are full and blessed with abundance because God is God over even death, even grief, even changes, even over all that will be unknown and uncharted before us.
You know on Easter we declare with certainty, with enthusiasm from the depth of our beings, “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed.” We proclaim with certainly that God has ultimate power to give life, to raise from the dead, to open the doors to a new eternity and to overcome everything, even death itself.
So, now, in the promise of Easter, in the power of the breath of the Spirit of God over us, we do what we’ve celebrated and proclaimed. We rise and live. We let God’s spirit breathe new hope into us.
Because, you see, ultimately this isn’t about us. It isn’t about death. It isn’t about the darkness or despair that seems to close in upon us.
Finally, it is all about God, the God who gives us life, breathes into us meaning and ministry, the God who in Jesus Christ calls into a resurrected so that His name and His power can be glorified.
This Easter, we pray for God to breathe on us the breath of life—the breath of NEW life so that we can continue in what is charted before us, looking forward to the kingdom, when all will be seen in the perfection of His light, in the perfection of the life we long for.
T. O. M.
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