We strive to live out our baptismal promise to never stop learning while not taking ourselves too seriously. To encourage you to create your own path of study and growth in faith, links are provided that relate to topics discussed in worship and adult learning sessions. We cover a lot of terrain throughout a year and we invite you participate in our monthly conversations.
Nov 2017 Topic: "Learning the Language of Forgiveness"
Presentation Given Nov 19 2107 (Prezi)
Building on our prior two months, we continue to expand our understanding for forgiveness. Our natural inclination is to think about and give thanks for God's gift of forgiveness as an individual event. Yet, Christ came and dwelled among all of humanity. His death on the cross and his Resurrection on the third day is God's unsurpassing act of reconciliation with Creation. Christ's life, death and resurrection is God's proclamation that every life matters. It is also a call for we faithful followers of Christ to live by his example and offer love and forgiveness to every person we encounter.
As we know, some lives are more vulnerable in our culture than others and this is the root of our conversation in November. We begin with a refresher on our Lutheran Christian understandings of forgiveness, details you can find links for below. From these tenets of faith we remember the gift of forgiveness, which we call "Grace," is not only internal but is equally external as we are drawn into community around the cross.
With the groundwork established, we use two living documents of the ELCA, the Social Statement on Race, Ethicity and Culture (1993), and the Statement on Human Sexuality (2009) as our lens through which we examine terms, acronyms and active ministries living out our call for reconciliation. Both social statements are not prescriptions for our congregation, though they are faithful expressions of how we are to dwell in a diverse community given to us by God.
Presentation Given Nov 19 2107 (Prezi)
Building on our prior two months, we continue to expand our understanding for forgiveness. Our natural inclination is to think about and give thanks for God's gift of forgiveness as an individual event. Yet, Christ came and dwelled among all of humanity. His death on the cross and his Resurrection on the third day is God's unsurpassing act of reconciliation with Creation. Christ's life, death and resurrection is God's proclamation that every life matters. It is also a call for we faithful followers of Christ to live by his example and offer love and forgiveness to every person we encounter.
As we know, some lives are more vulnerable in our culture than others and this is the root of our conversation in November. We begin with a refresher on our Lutheran Christian understandings of forgiveness, details you can find links for below. From these tenets of faith we remember the gift of forgiveness, which we call "Grace," is not only internal but is equally external as we are drawn into community around the cross.
With the groundwork established, we use two living documents of the ELCA, the Social Statement on Race, Ethicity and Culture (1993), and the Statement on Human Sexuality (2009) as our lens through which we examine terms, acronyms and active ministries living out our call for reconciliation. Both social statements are not prescriptions for our congregation, though they are faithful expressions of how we are to dwell in a diverse community given to us by God.
Oct 2017 Topic: "The Reach of Forgiveness"
In September (see below), we laid a foundation for our definitions of forgiveness. Our in-session conversation came to a close around the notion that forgiveness is deeply personal between us and God and yet, it is not private. We do not get to hold onto forgiveness without acknowledging the harm we have wrought or the suffering that others may be enduring. In essence, being forgiven is critical and it is only the first step.
This month we're working on the word reconciliation, rebuilding a broken relationship between people. Martin Luther has given us a clear understanding that no matter what we have done in this world against God or each other, we are saved by grace through faith and not works (not actually Luther's line, its from Ephesians 2.8-9 yet he used it a lot). Luther also taught us that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a profound theologian who spoke against Nazism in 1940's Germany, builds on this thinking and reminds us that through forgiveness, we are bound to Christ. This is the other half of the equation. If we are bound to Christ, the argument follows, we are bound to our neighbors as Christ is bound to our neighbors.
One of Bonhoeffer's central concepts is that faith and obedience our intertwined. We cannot have faith without obedience (action), we cannot have action without faith through Christ. When we do not act on behalf of the Grace God gives us through forgiveness, we cheapen it and make it fruitless. Grace is a gift, it is not ours to horde. Forgiveness is not simply a clean slate, it is transformation from our old ways to union with Christ. If we're not changing, we're not living in God's Grace. It then follows, if we're not reaching for our neighbors (whom Christ is already with), we are also not living in God's Grace. This living, or action or obedience to Christ, is reconciliation. Bearing our neighbor's burdens as Christ bears ours. How can we follow Christ, surrender ourselves and love our neighbor as Christ has loved us, unconditionally and with forgiveness?
Resources for the conversation:
Luke 23.32-43 - scripture text on Christ's forgiveness for the whole crowd
Matt 22.34-40 - Jesus' command to "love your neighbor as yourself"
Small Catechism App - for iPhone and Android, its free!
With Justice For All - book by John Perkins, community organizer/trainer who advocates reconciliation as central to community
The Cost of Discipleship - by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, especially Part I: Grace and Discipleship
In September (see below), we laid a foundation for our definitions of forgiveness. Our in-session conversation came to a close around the notion that forgiveness is deeply personal between us and God and yet, it is not private. We do not get to hold onto forgiveness without acknowledging the harm we have wrought or the suffering that others may be enduring. In essence, being forgiven is critical and it is only the first step.
This month we're working on the word reconciliation, rebuilding a broken relationship between people. Martin Luther has given us a clear understanding that no matter what we have done in this world against God or each other, we are saved by grace through faith and not works (not actually Luther's line, its from Ephesians 2.8-9 yet he used it a lot). Luther also taught us that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a profound theologian who spoke against Nazism in 1940's Germany, builds on this thinking and reminds us that through forgiveness, we are bound to Christ. This is the other half of the equation. If we are bound to Christ, the argument follows, we are bound to our neighbors as Christ is bound to our neighbors.
One of Bonhoeffer's central concepts is that faith and obedience our intertwined. We cannot have faith without obedience (action), we cannot have action without faith through Christ. When we do not act on behalf of the Grace God gives us through forgiveness, we cheapen it and make it fruitless. Grace is a gift, it is not ours to horde. Forgiveness is not simply a clean slate, it is transformation from our old ways to union with Christ. If we're not changing, we're not living in God's Grace. It then follows, if we're not reaching for our neighbors (whom Christ is already with), we are also not living in God's Grace. This living, or action or obedience to Christ, is reconciliation. Bearing our neighbor's burdens as Christ bears ours. How can we follow Christ, surrender ourselves and love our neighbor as Christ has loved us, unconditionally and with forgiveness?
Resources for the conversation:
Luke 23.32-43 - scripture text on Christ's forgiveness for the whole crowd
Matt 22.34-40 - Jesus' command to "love your neighbor as yourself"
Small Catechism App - for iPhone and Android, its free!
With Justice For All - book by John Perkins, community organizer/trainer who advocates reconciliation as central to community
The Cost of Discipleship - by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, especially Part I: Grace and Discipleship
Sept 2017 Learning Topic: "Bound to Forgive"
Presentation given Sept 17, 2017 (Prezi)
Forgiveness is at the center of our identity as Christians and it shapes our words as Lutherans. We confess that we are forgiven in the Apostles' Creed, a statement of faith we recite nearly every week in worship. We pray for forgiveness whenever we speak out loud or hold in our thoughts the Lord's Prayer. Our church father, Martin Luther, argued for the wideness of Grace (the free gift of Christ given through faith) against his colleagues who searched for its limits. In one of our founding documents, the Augsburg Confession, forgiveness and Grace is explicitly named as central to how we talk about God.
Naming these truths at the beginning, we still are not sure that forgiveness can reach all people and/or acts. Logic and some verses from the Bible note that God will hold back Grace or stop distributing it when we humans have crossed a particular line (the line being different depending on the book of the Bible and the context of the limitations).
We know we are equally and simultaneously saint and sinner. What does that mean for our daily lives? What does that say about how we encounter our neighbors? Is the dread in our thoughts right in wondering when we've wandered too far into the wilderness to the point of no hope?
Resources to continue the conversation:
Romans 3.21-26 - scripture text on forgiveness
Justification in Lutheranism - how we are made right by God; the title of the 4th article of the Augsburg Confession
Augsburg Confession - a PDF translation of the Confession, scroll to Article 4, "About Justification"
Small Catechism App - for iPhone and Android, its free!
Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton - a recent interview she held with the Chicago Sun Times, discussing forgiveness among topics
Preaching Forgiveness, a reflection by an African American ELCA minister on forgiveness and reconciliation
Presentation given Sept 17, 2017 (Prezi)
Forgiveness is at the center of our identity as Christians and it shapes our words as Lutherans. We confess that we are forgiven in the Apostles' Creed, a statement of faith we recite nearly every week in worship. We pray for forgiveness whenever we speak out loud or hold in our thoughts the Lord's Prayer. Our church father, Martin Luther, argued for the wideness of Grace (the free gift of Christ given through faith) against his colleagues who searched for its limits. In one of our founding documents, the Augsburg Confession, forgiveness and Grace is explicitly named as central to how we talk about God.
Naming these truths at the beginning, we still are not sure that forgiveness can reach all people and/or acts. Logic and some verses from the Bible note that God will hold back Grace or stop distributing it when we humans have crossed a particular line (the line being different depending on the book of the Bible and the context of the limitations).
We know we are equally and simultaneously saint and sinner. What does that mean for our daily lives? What does that say about how we encounter our neighbors? Is the dread in our thoughts right in wondering when we've wandered too far into the wilderness to the point of no hope?
Resources to continue the conversation:
Romans 3.21-26 - scripture text on forgiveness
Justification in Lutheranism - how we are made right by God; the title of the 4th article of the Augsburg Confession
Augsburg Confession - a PDF translation of the Confession, scroll to Article 4, "About Justification"
Small Catechism App - for iPhone and Android, its free!
Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton - a recent interview she held with the Chicago Sun Times, discussing forgiveness among topics
Preaching Forgiveness, a reflection by an African American ELCA minister on forgiveness and reconciliation
June 2017 Usher & Greeter Retreat Notes
The way we understand ushers and greeters is both ancient and new compared to Biblical descriptions. There are references in the Bible to individuals and entire groups called "keepers of the threshold." They were part of the Levite tribe of early Israel and they stood watch at the tent that held the ark of the covenant (pre-Temple worship structure). They stood their watch 24/7 and made sure the entrance was open every morning. They are noted specifically at 1 Chronicles 9.17-27. Since the Levites were charged with all operations and worship leadership around the Temple, this reminds us that even ushers and greeters are fundamental roles in weekly worship.
Three questions to consider while setting up as an usher/greeter at Trinity on Sunday morning:
1) Why am I here? What is drawing me to be in worship this morning?
2) Why would my friend want to come to worship? What would they need to hear or experience?
3) What do people need to feel welcome and in control when they attend worship here?
Contemplate these as we remember that people show up for worship for a myriad of reasons. Joy, hope, sadness, frustration, anger with God, unspeakable questions, longing to sing, missing their loved ones, searching for God, and on the thoughts go. We won't know and we can't assume and yet, we also can't presume that everyone wants to be greeted the same.
Our ushers and greeters are our first sign of Grace that our worshippers experience. We are the smiling face who hands out the programs and announcements and various secondary materials. We point out the bathrooms and the empty spots in the pews and where the projector screens are up front. We also make sure the lights are on, the doors are open (see 1 Chronicles above), and that anyone needing assistance into our building gets it.
The instructions can be found at the entrance of the worship space and Pr Josh is always available for specific questions. Being an usher & greeter is an opportunity to share our love for God and our congregation with long time friends and new people who are popping in for the first time. Thank you for praying about and signing up to fill this crucial worship role.
The way we understand ushers and greeters is both ancient and new compared to Biblical descriptions. There are references in the Bible to individuals and entire groups called "keepers of the threshold." They were part of the Levite tribe of early Israel and they stood watch at the tent that held the ark of the covenant (pre-Temple worship structure). They stood their watch 24/7 and made sure the entrance was open every morning. They are noted specifically at 1 Chronicles 9.17-27. Since the Levites were charged with all operations and worship leadership around the Temple, this reminds us that even ushers and greeters are fundamental roles in weekly worship.
Three questions to consider while setting up as an usher/greeter at Trinity on Sunday morning:
1) Why am I here? What is drawing me to be in worship this morning?
2) Why would my friend want to come to worship? What would they need to hear or experience?
3) What do people need to feel welcome and in control when they attend worship here?
Contemplate these as we remember that people show up for worship for a myriad of reasons. Joy, hope, sadness, frustration, anger with God, unspeakable questions, longing to sing, missing their loved ones, searching for God, and on the thoughts go. We won't know and we can't assume and yet, we also can't presume that everyone wants to be greeted the same.
Our ushers and greeters are our first sign of Grace that our worshippers experience. We are the smiling face who hands out the programs and announcements and various secondary materials. We point out the bathrooms and the empty spots in the pews and where the projector screens are up front. We also make sure the lights are on, the doors are open (see 1 Chronicles above), and that anyone needing assistance into our building gets it.
The instructions can be found at the entrance of the worship space and Pr Josh is always available for specific questions. Being an usher & greeter is an opportunity to share our love for God and our congregation with long time friends and new people who are popping in for the first time. Thank you for praying about and signing up to fill this crucial worship role.
May 2017 Learning Topic: Book of Revelation
Book of Revelation (link to scripture text via Bible Gateway)
Dr Barbara Rossing, Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago Biblical scholar, speaking on her work around the Book of Revelation
Dr Barbara Rossing written reflection in Yale Divinity School press
A People's Commentary on the Book of Revelation, Pablo Richard (Amazon.com link to book)
Dr Craig Koester, New Testament Biblical scholar at Luther Seminary, notes on various readings from Revelation
Book of Revelation (link to scripture text via Bible Gateway)
Dr Barbara Rossing, Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago Biblical scholar, speaking on her work around the Book of Revelation
Dr Barbara Rossing written reflection in Yale Divinity School press
A People's Commentary on the Book of Revelation, Pablo Richard (Amazon.com link to book)
Dr Craig Koester, New Testament Biblical scholar at Luther Seminary, notes on various readings from Revelation