18 years reflection

As I sit in the Court Street Grill, reviewing things for tomorrow and getting things done for the coming weeks, I was just reminded that about 2 weeks ago I would have celebrated the 18th anniversary of my ordination.  I was in Lincoln, Nebraska, at my home congregation, everything I owned was in boxes and on Monday, the day after my ordination I would move to Saginaw, MI to begin a new call--not only a new congregation, a brand new call in life.

I was scared, hesitant.  What if seminary didn't teach me what I needed to know?  What if people didn't like me?  What if I really messed up?  It didn't take long to figure out that seminary didn't teach me everything I needed to know, not everyone liked me, and I could really mess up!  That was 18 years ago.

The same is true today.  I am now in my third call, serving now with the people of Ascension.  Seminary didn't teach me everything I needed to know.  Not everyone likes me or what I do all the time, and I can never live up to everyone's expectations of me.  And, I can still really mess up! 

I have learned in the 18 years about forgiveness, perseverance, and grace.  I believe when I started in my first call I had to do everything perfectly--so I did everything myself!  (we can unpack that one later).  I learned in my second call that I can't do everything, nor should I.  And in this third call, I try not to do everything, and at the same time find sometimes I just do.

Looking forward to another 18 years of this wonderful journey. 

Jesus-A refugee

Matthew 2:1-18:
The following reading is often read the Sunday after Christmas—where at Ascension we regularly do a service of hymns.  On internship, my supervisor had me preach the appointed readings on the Sunday after Christmas—known often as “The Slaughter of the Innocents.”  Sound’s uplifting.  But with the events of the days, I think it is important to read, to pray on, and to aid us in understanding the fear and rationale one might have to want/NEED to be a refugee.  

“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ²asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” ³When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ⁶‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” ⁷Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. ⁸Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”

Note that Herod tells them to search diligently and bring word back to him when they have found the child—to pay homage.  (If you haven’t figured that out, Herod was lying to the wise men, or telling a half-truth!)

⁹When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. ¹¹On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹²And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

They were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they knew that Herod had alternative plans, and homage was not part of that plan!

¹³Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” ¹⁴Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, ¹⁵and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”
¹⁶When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. ¹⁷Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: ¹⁸“A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”

Jesus, with Mary and Joseph fled in fear of the life of Jesus.  They were forewarned in a dream that Herod had plans to kill the child.  So they fled their homeland (where they had originally gone to register for the census), and they fled to Egypt.  They became REFUGEES. 

Yes, there are concerns in our country, and in every country about safety and security.  But what if Egypt had said no refugees? 

With the flight/travel restrictions, and the issue of the wall, refugees are held in their homeland where they are at risk.  A few months ago we heard and watched a video about those who flee primarily Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador for issues related to violence—this initiative is part of Lutheran Immigration Services and called AMMPARO.  I pray that we can see these neighbors as people, children of God.  It is complex and I want to believe there is a simple answer.  As a parent, what would you do if your child had a chance at a surgery that only someone in the United States would do?  Or if your child was at risk of gang violence and can’t go to school or go outside?  There is not a simple answer, because it is complex.  However, we must not forget that we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves.  And that our Lord was a refugee.   (http://elca.org/en/Resources/AMMPARO)

Encouragement with the New

Beginning January 1, our congregation began to "function" with a new leadership structure.  Instead of the election of vestry members, people who would serve on committees, we elected a council only.  These nine elected leaders plus the pastor serve as the board of Ascension Lutheran Church.  This is not a decision that came about quickly, but was recommended by the Long Range Planning team a couple years ago.  The purpose is to strategically put us in a place to move forward in mission. 

In addition, the work of the congregation, the management will be lead by the council, but the workers will be the disciples of the congregation acting on their passions and utilizing their spiritual gifts.  This concerns some, because in the past it has assured people will be on the committees to do the work.  However, sometimes people just knew we needed someone and said they would do it, without having a real passion.  This leads to burnout.  Plus it was a system put in place to maintain things, not so much dream and move forward in mission.

As a council, we plan to listen to the congregation, community, and God to discern direction.  We can't continue to do everything well all at once.  We want to use the resources we have-time, talent and financial, to provide what God intends for our mission. 

We know we will face challenges, and one of those is the reality that we don't have a set plan on how everything will work.  This is also an opportunity, because we can try things and get into place a procedure that works.  It will also likely help us discern what things are not necessary to the mission of the church.  My prayer is that the congregation will be patient, prayerful, and understanding.  We need to be nimble, adaptable--and keep our vision on boldly making Christ's vision known.