What's the difference between the English soccer team and a tea bag?
A tea bag stays in the cup longer.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Green Season
I'm not what you would call an "outdoorsman." I take my family on a camping trip every summer but we like our conveniences. We sleep in a trailer with comfortable mattresses and even an electric heater if the nights should get cold. It's only a short walk from the trailer to the campground's washrooms and showers. We bring along a small refrigerator and a hotplate for cooking.
A few years ago my kids were so disappointed and I felt like such a failure because I couldn't get a decent campfire going. Not that we needed it for cooking, just for the evening atmosphere and coziness of sitting around the fire together. Now I make use of any of the fire starters that they sell in the camp store.
I'm not an outdoorsman but I like to be outdoors. I enjoy the warmer weather when we can eat dinner out on the patio, when I can while away a weekend afternoon lying in the shade of the big maple tree in our backyard. My wife is an avid gardener so our surroundings are so much more beautiful thanks to her efforts with the many plants and flowers that she tends.
My favourite colour has always been blue. Just the other evening I sat staring into a clear blue sky as just a few whispy clouds floated past. But more and more I'm coming to appreciate green.
Hildegard of Bingen, a twelfth-century monastic theologian and horticulturalist, spoke of God's greening power evident in summer's trees laden with growing fruit, the birth of a child, the Eucharistic bread and wine; the planet, humanity and Christ united in a trinity of living, breathing, potent life. God's greatest desire, she suggested, was to bring "green-ness" to all things that could readily fall into graceless aridity and barrenness. To say the least, summer was—for this medieval nun—a time marked by the natural grace of warmth and growth. The gardener in many of us might agree.
The summer isn't all perfect. The sometimes stifling heat and sometimes increased levels of smog can be hard on people's breathing. It's hard for those who can't afford air conditioning or don't have money for vacations to find some respite from the heat. Summer also brings hurricane season to the south Atlantic and tornado season to the Midwest.
In Lutheran theology we often talk about tension and paradox, about two "words" required to proclaim truth. We are saint and sinner. Creation is good and fallen. The Word of God is law and gospel. Jesus is human and divine. It would seem appropriate to recognize that we need two "words" to speak the full truth of the summer season as well. We give thanks for the growth and greening of nature and we plead for mercy when some find it a struggle just to survive.
During this "green" season we can grow in faith as we hear the stories of Jesus' ministry, his daily life and teaching that comfort and challenge. We hear stories of God's favour for the lowly—a widow's only son, a woman called a sinner, a man possessed by demons, people on the margins of life who received new life through Jesus. We also hear stories about the difficulty of discipleship, about disciples who can't follow Jesus wholeheartedly and turn back and about the disciples sent out with the reminder that they may be accepted or rejected.
May our faith be nurtured, may it grow, may it bear fruit as we live in the tensions and paradoxes of life. And may God bless us all.
A few years ago my kids were so disappointed and I felt like such a failure because I couldn't get a decent campfire going. Not that we needed it for cooking, just for the evening atmosphere and coziness of sitting around the fire together. Now I make use of any of the fire starters that they sell in the camp store.
I'm not an outdoorsman but I like to be outdoors. I enjoy the warmer weather when we can eat dinner out on the patio, when I can while away a weekend afternoon lying in the shade of the big maple tree in our backyard. My wife is an avid gardener so our surroundings are so much more beautiful thanks to her efforts with the many plants and flowers that she tends.
My favourite colour has always been blue. Just the other evening I sat staring into a clear blue sky as just a few whispy clouds floated past. But more and more I'm coming to appreciate green.
Hildegard of Bingen, a twelfth-century monastic theologian and horticulturalist, spoke of God's greening power evident in summer's trees laden with growing fruit, the birth of a child, the Eucharistic bread and wine; the planet, humanity and Christ united in a trinity of living, breathing, potent life. God's greatest desire, she suggested, was to bring "green-ness" to all things that could readily fall into graceless aridity and barrenness. To say the least, summer was—for this medieval nun—a time marked by the natural grace of warmth and growth. The gardener in many of us might agree.
The summer isn't all perfect. The sometimes stifling heat and sometimes increased levels of smog can be hard on people's breathing. It's hard for those who can't afford air conditioning or don't have money for vacations to find some respite from the heat. Summer also brings hurricane season to the south Atlantic and tornado season to the Midwest.
In Lutheran theology we often talk about tension and paradox, about two "words" required to proclaim truth. We are saint and sinner. Creation is good and fallen. The Word of God is law and gospel. Jesus is human and divine. It would seem appropriate to recognize that we need two "words" to speak the full truth of the summer season as well. We give thanks for the growth and greening of nature and we plead for mercy when some find it a struggle just to survive.
During this "green" season we can grow in faith as we hear the stories of Jesus' ministry, his daily life and teaching that comfort and challenge. We hear stories of God's favour for the lowly—a widow's only son, a woman called a sinner, a man possessed by demons, people on the margins of life who received new life through Jesus. We also hear stories about the difficulty of discipleship, about disciples who can't follow Jesus wholeheartedly and turn back and about the disciples sent out with the reminder that they may be accepted or rejected.
May our faith be nurtured, may it grow, may it bear fruit as we live in the tensions and paradoxes of life. And may God bless us all.
Friday, May 14, 2010
...about forgiveness
I wrote this for the local paper and it was in today's edition.
One of the few things that various world religions have in common is the idea of sin. It may not be expressed with that term but most religions would describe some ideal for life and would agree that humans don’t live up to that ideal. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam believe that sin creates a barrier between humans and God. Relationship is broken and somehow people need to be saved and have a relationship with God restored.
How that happens differs between religions. Even within a religion there can be different beliefs as to how this restoration can take place. I’m no expert on other religions and I can’t even claim to be totally versed on the subtle differences within Christianity. But I feel pretty safe in saying that a common belief in all branches of Christianity is a belief in God’s forgiveness.
I remember when I was still a seminary student on my internship. I was teaching a confirmation class, a group of twelve and thirteen year olds who weren’t all that interested in what I had to say to them. I asked, “What does God do when we mess up?” and I don’t think most of them even heard me ask the question. Most of the time I didn’t even expect an attempt at an answer but from the noise made by the boys horsing around one of the girls piped up with an answer. She wasn’t all that sure of herself so the answer sounded more like a question. She said, “Forgives(?)”
She was absolutely right. What does God do when we mess up? What does God do with our sin? What does God do to restore our broken relationship? God forgives. The Bible says, “If we say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn’t in our hearts. But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away” (1 John 1:8-9).
Not only does God forgive us, we are also commanded to forgive others. In the prayer Jesus taught to his disciples we pray, “Forgive us for doing wrong, as we forgive others” (Matthew 6:12). There was also a time when one of Jesus’ disciples asked just how often he should forgive. “‘How many times should I forgive someone who does something wrong to me? Is seven times enough?’ Jesus answered: ‘Not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!’” (Matthew 18:21-22). Jesus wasn’t just giving him a higher number, he was telling him to stop keeping score. Just forgive!
I don’t think we realize the power of forgiveness. The word has become kind of bland. It has become a “Yeah, whatever. No sweat. Just don’t do it again.” But the concept of forgiveness in the Bible is a life-changing thing. It’s a creative act. New life springs from forgiveness. “Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together” (Colossians 3:13-14).
That can be hard for some of us to take. Some things might be easier to forgive than others. Some things might seem totally unforgivable. In 2006 a gunman took hostage and then shot and killed five young girls before taking his own life in an Amish schoolhouse in Pennsylvania. One would think that such an evil act would be unforgivable but the families, the parents of those children, forgave the killer. Those who know about Amish life and culture and faith explained that their willingness to forgive does not undo the tragedy or pardon the wrong, but rather constitutes a first step toward a future that is more hopeful.
There’s an important point in there. Forgiveness does not say the action was not wrong. Forgiveness does not dismiss the fact that evil exists and happens. Forgiveness does not mean there are no consequences. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try to right the wrongs we have done. Forgiveness allows for reconciliation and a future that is more hopeful.
Recently there has been frequent attention in the media to sinful actions in parts of the Christian Church. The alleged sins of certain members of the clergy were kept quiet, or ignored, or overlooked. These acts were evil, perpetrated by people who held positions of power and trust against the innocent and vulnerable. Does that mean those actions are unforgivable? No. Does that mean those actions should not be punished? No. The consequences of sin remain and certain punishments are required by law.
But forgiveness of our sins is a foundation of the Christian faith. We confess it in our worship when we confess our faith by reciting the creeds of the church. The heart of the Christian message of salvation is reconciliation. “God was in Christ, offering peace and forgiveness to the people of this world. And he has given us the work of sharing his message about peace” (2 Corinthians 5:19).
We are made right with God and given new life, a life and future that are hopeful, by God’s grace and mercy. Our actions will have consequences and may deserve punishment. Relationships become broken. But by God’s grace relationships can be mended. Reconciliation can take place. Forgiveness can lead to new life and a future with hope.
One of the few things that various world religions have in common is the idea of sin. It may not be expressed with that term but most religions would describe some ideal for life and would agree that humans don’t live up to that ideal. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam believe that sin creates a barrier between humans and God. Relationship is broken and somehow people need to be saved and have a relationship with God restored.
How that happens differs between religions. Even within a religion there can be different beliefs as to how this restoration can take place. I’m no expert on other religions and I can’t even claim to be totally versed on the subtle differences within Christianity. But I feel pretty safe in saying that a common belief in all branches of Christianity is a belief in God’s forgiveness.
I remember when I was still a seminary student on my internship. I was teaching a confirmation class, a group of twelve and thirteen year olds who weren’t all that interested in what I had to say to them. I asked, “What does God do when we mess up?” and I don’t think most of them even heard me ask the question. Most of the time I didn’t even expect an attempt at an answer but from the noise made by the boys horsing around one of the girls piped up with an answer. She wasn’t all that sure of herself so the answer sounded more like a question. She said, “Forgives(?)”
She was absolutely right. What does God do when we mess up? What does God do with our sin? What does God do to restore our broken relationship? God forgives. The Bible says, “If we say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn’t in our hearts. But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away” (1 John 1:8-9).
Not only does God forgive us, we are also commanded to forgive others. In the prayer Jesus taught to his disciples we pray, “Forgive us for doing wrong, as we forgive others” (Matthew 6:12). There was also a time when one of Jesus’ disciples asked just how often he should forgive. “‘How many times should I forgive someone who does something wrong to me? Is seven times enough?’ Jesus answered: ‘Not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!’” (Matthew 18:21-22). Jesus wasn’t just giving him a higher number, he was telling him to stop keeping score. Just forgive!
I don’t think we realize the power of forgiveness. The word has become kind of bland. It has become a “Yeah, whatever. No sweat. Just don’t do it again.” But the concept of forgiveness in the Bible is a life-changing thing. It’s a creative act. New life springs from forgiveness. “Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together” (Colossians 3:13-14).
That can be hard for some of us to take. Some things might be easier to forgive than others. Some things might seem totally unforgivable. In 2006 a gunman took hostage and then shot and killed five young girls before taking his own life in an Amish schoolhouse in Pennsylvania. One would think that such an evil act would be unforgivable but the families, the parents of those children, forgave the killer. Those who know about Amish life and culture and faith explained that their willingness to forgive does not undo the tragedy or pardon the wrong, but rather constitutes a first step toward a future that is more hopeful.
There’s an important point in there. Forgiveness does not say the action was not wrong. Forgiveness does not dismiss the fact that evil exists and happens. Forgiveness does not mean there are no consequences. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try to right the wrongs we have done. Forgiveness allows for reconciliation and a future that is more hopeful.
Recently there has been frequent attention in the media to sinful actions in parts of the Christian Church. The alleged sins of certain members of the clergy were kept quiet, or ignored, or overlooked. These acts were evil, perpetrated by people who held positions of power and trust against the innocent and vulnerable. Does that mean those actions are unforgivable? No. Does that mean those actions should not be punished? No. The consequences of sin remain and certain punishments are required by law.
But forgiveness of our sins is a foundation of the Christian faith. We confess it in our worship when we confess our faith by reciting the creeds of the church. The heart of the Christian message of salvation is reconciliation. “God was in Christ, offering peace and forgiveness to the people of this world. And he has given us the work of sharing his message about peace” (2 Corinthians 5:19).
We are made right with God and given new life, a life and future that are hopeful, by God’s grace and mercy. Our actions will have consequences and may deserve punishment. Relationships become broken. But by God’s grace relationships can be mended. Reconciliation can take place. Forgiveness can lead to new life and a future with hope.
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Post-Easter Post
It's something, how a dreary and rainy day can change your mood. Or maybe it's just a letdown after the emotion of Easter. What a weekend!
You go through such a range of emotion through the Three Days. The Maundy Thursday liturgy includes the laying on of hands with individual absolution which always kind of gets me. The words I say are "In obedience to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins." It's entirely biblical and it's right and good to do this but I kind of feel, like, Wow! I forgive you all your sins(?)
Then there's the foot washing. I don't wash the whole congregation's feet or even a representative twelve. I ask one person ahead of time if they'll allow me to wash their feet. Again, it's moving. I take off my chasuble and stole while the person takes his/her shoes and socks off and I kneel down and take one foot at a time, pour water over it, and dry it. Then I get myself dressed again while s/he puts socks and shoes back on. I kind of have a sense of embarassment, certainly humility, so that it's hard even to look up into the person's face.
Then we share the Lord's Supper which isn't really anything out of the ordinary. After that we strip the altar and worship space. The way we do it, I pick up the various items and paraments all around the chancel and any altar guild members who is present comes forward to receive them and take them out of the sanctuary. Our organist normally chants Psalm 22 a capella and I sit down until he is done and then leave in silence.
I've tried more and more to remind myself and others that Good Friday is not necessarily a sad or somber occasion, just a subdued or austere day. It is, after all the "triumph of the cross" that we proclaim and celebrate. We read the passion from John's Gospel in which Jesus does not suffer, does not cry out, does not feel foresaken by God. It is, after all, called "Good" Friday. Our organist chose ELWorship 350 as the Hymn of the Day. "They crucified my Lord, and he never said a mumbalin' word; not a word, not a word, not a word." I normally like something like "Ah, Holy Jesus" or "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" but the African American spiritual was very fitting. We prayed the bidding prayer, and did the procession of the cross. I always mean to get a more substantial cross. The one we have, that was here before I came here, is made out of 2 x 3s and looks nothing like something on which anyone could be crucified. Then I read the solemn reproaches to which we responded each time with the Trisagion (ELWorship 161) by Mark Mummert. Then we sang 803, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" and then left in silence after reverencing the cross.
We don't do an Easter Vigil service. We did the first few years I was here together with the Anglican Church. I enjoyed the service but I honestly don't miss it. The weekend is so full anyway.
But we do worship at dawn (or slightly after). We have a sunrise service on Easter Sunday out at our cemetery. I proposed it for my first Easter here and the Worship Committee said, "You can do it, but I don't know who's going to come." That first year (2003) 28 people came and since then it has become a tradition that many people don't want to miss. This year we were 61 gathered there. We start at 7 a.m. so the sun had been up for a little less than half and hour. We bring a table and I bake bread on Saturday and we have Holy Communion together.
After that service we come back home and our kids search around the living and dining rooms to see what the Easter Bunny left them. Then at 9 a.m. we go to the church for breakfast. Then we have worship in the church at 10:30 a.m. It's amazing what a difference the registration on the organ and the bright tunes of the Easter hymns will do to change the mood from Thursday and Friday's services. And the alleluias just lift my spirit after having disappeared all during Lent. We changed to setting 1 of the liturgy from ELWorship and the canticle of praise "This is the feast..." is just awesome in my opinion. The alleluia in the third verse goes up to a high E-flat so that you can pretty much shout it out. We ended with 382, "Christ Is Risen! Alleluia!" which has been transposed in ELWorship so that the refrain only goes up to an E-flat instead of an F as it did in LBW, but it's still a joyful noise.
Yesterday was a day of rest. We slept in. We rented some movies (Sherlock Holmes, Planet 51, Blindside) and just vegged on the couch in front of the TV. After a four day weekend the kids weren't eager to go to bed and see the weekend end. Then today we woke up to a grey sky and showers through the day.
But it's still Easter. I've got to try to remember that. Maybe I have to go home and greet the family with "Alleluia! Christ is risen!" to get myself and all of us back into that frame of mind. As I look outside there are crocuses and daffodils blooming, and the first tulip. The grass is really green. I don't know if it was like this a week ago. New light is streaming. Er ist wahrhaftig auferstanden! Il est vraiment ressuscite! Alethos Aneste! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
You go through such a range of emotion through the Three Days. The Maundy Thursday liturgy includes the laying on of hands with individual absolution which always kind of gets me. The words I say are "In obedience to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins." It's entirely biblical and it's right and good to do this but I kind of feel, like, Wow! I forgive you all your sins(?)
Then there's the foot washing. I don't wash the whole congregation's feet or even a representative twelve. I ask one person ahead of time if they'll allow me to wash their feet. Again, it's moving. I take off my chasuble and stole while the person takes his/her shoes and socks off and I kneel down and take one foot at a time, pour water over it, and dry it. Then I get myself dressed again while s/he puts socks and shoes back on. I kind of have a sense of embarassment, certainly humility, so that it's hard even to look up into the person's face.
Then we share the Lord's Supper which isn't really anything out of the ordinary. After that we strip the altar and worship space. The way we do it, I pick up the various items and paraments all around the chancel and any altar guild members who is present comes forward to receive them and take them out of the sanctuary. Our organist normally chants Psalm 22 a capella and I sit down until he is done and then leave in silence.
I've tried more and more to remind myself and others that Good Friday is not necessarily a sad or somber occasion, just a subdued or austere day. It is, after all the "triumph of the cross" that we proclaim and celebrate. We read the passion from John's Gospel in which Jesus does not suffer, does not cry out, does not feel foresaken by God. It is, after all, called "Good" Friday. Our organist chose ELWorship 350 as the Hymn of the Day. "They crucified my Lord, and he never said a mumbalin' word; not a word, not a word, not a word." I normally like something like "Ah, Holy Jesus" or "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" but the African American spiritual was very fitting. We prayed the bidding prayer, and did the procession of the cross. I always mean to get a more substantial cross. The one we have, that was here before I came here, is made out of 2 x 3s and looks nothing like something on which anyone could be crucified. Then I read the solemn reproaches to which we responded each time with the Trisagion (ELWorship 161) by Mark Mummert. Then we sang 803, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" and then left in silence after reverencing the cross.
We don't do an Easter Vigil service. We did the first few years I was here together with the Anglican Church. I enjoyed the service but I honestly don't miss it. The weekend is so full anyway.
But we do worship at dawn (or slightly after). We have a sunrise service on Easter Sunday out at our cemetery. I proposed it for my first Easter here and the Worship Committee said, "You can do it, but I don't know who's going to come." That first year (2003) 28 people came and since then it has become a tradition that many people don't want to miss. This year we were 61 gathered there. We start at 7 a.m. so the sun had been up for a little less than half and hour. We bring a table and I bake bread on Saturday and we have Holy Communion together.
After that service we come back home and our kids search around the living and dining rooms to see what the Easter Bunny left them. Then at 9 a.m. we go to the church for breakfast. Then we have worship in the church at 10:30 a.m. It's amazing what a difference the registration on the organ and the bright tunes of the Easter hymns will do to change the mood from Thursday and Friday's services. And the alleluias just lift my spirit after having disappeared all during Lent. We changed to setting 1 of the liturgy from ELWorship and the canticle of praise "This is the feast..." is just awesome in my opinion. The alleluia in the third verse goes up to a high E-flat so that you can pretty much shout it out. We ended with 382, "Christ Is Risen! Alleluia!" which has been transposed in ELWorship so that the refrain only goes up to an E-flat instead of an F as it did in LBW, but it's still a joyful noise.
Yesterday was a day of rest. We slept in. We rented some movies (Sherlock Holmes, Planet 51, Blindside) and just vegged on the couch in front of the TV. After a four day weekend the kids weren't eager to go to bed and see the weekend end. Then today we woke up to a grey sky and showers through the day.
But it's still Easter. I've got to try to remember that. Maybe I have to go home and greet the family with "Alleluia! Christ is risen!" to get myself and all of us back into that frame of mind. As I look outside there are crocuses and daffodils blooming, and the first tulip. The grass is really green. I don't know if it was like this a week ago. New light is streaming. Er ist wahrhaftig auferstanden! Il est vraiment ressuscite! Alethos Aneste! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Easter Gospel
The previous post made mention of my uncle who has cancer. When he was diagnosed last fall he was told he might have 11 months to live. The past few weeks had been looking pretty grim as the tumor was affecting his ability to eat and drink so he wasn't getting any nourishment and getting weak and thin. He had intestinal surgery to relieve the problem he was having and the surgeon thinks that now he could possibly have up to 2 or 3 years. He also said that a positive attitude can have a remarkable effect on the length and quality of life he has left. I don't know if the surgeon is aware of the effect that faith and prayer is having and will have on my uncles life as well.
This news has just lifted my spirits so dramatically. When I heard this news yesterday it was just like, WOW!
Happy Easter.
This news has just lifted my spirits so dramatically. When I heard this news yesterday it was just like, WOW!
Happy Easter.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Holy Week
It's Holy Week, the most sacred time of the church year, when we remember Jesus' sacrifice of his life, celebrate Christ's life-giving passion, our Passover with Christ from darkness to light, from bondage to freedom, from death to life.
Holy Week. Maybe Hectic Week or Harried Week would be more appropriate for clergy. Yesterday was the birthday of one of my daughters. We went out for dinner and the restaurant she chose was over an hour's drive away. I was happy to take her there. I think we fall just short of spoiling our kids and a birthday should be special. But my wife asked a few times if something was wrong because I was very quiet and didn't seem to be into the birthday celebration. I said maybe I was just tired.
Now that I look back on it, and consider how I'm feeling today as well, I think maybe I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed about how busy this week will be. In addition to four sermons to write (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter 7 a.m., Easter 10:30 a.m.) there are a whole lot of logistics that I have to try to remember. Ask someone if they'll let me wash their feet on Thursday evening. Get the cross out of the basement for Good Friday. Arrange for everything we'll need out at the cemetery for the sunrise service. Bake bread for the Easter services and maybe for Thursday as well. Did I mention four sermons to write?
When I finally get to the worship services, assuming everything has been remembered and/or has fallen into place, I do get into the moment and they can be moving and they do mean something for my faith. But by the time I sit down to Easter lunch I'm exhausted. As much as I liked the Easter Vigil service the first few years I was here I don't miss it since we haven't done it for a few years now.
As exhausting as this week can be I wouldn't want to miss it. I actually look forward to it. I grew up going to all the services in Holy Week and I can't understand the people who miss any of them. Liturgists will tell you that the worship services of the Three Days are all of one piece. There's no blessing at the end of the Maundy Thursday services because it continues on Good Friday. We leave in silence on Good Friday, again without a blessing, because we conclude our observance on Easter when the bells will ring again and the organist will pull out all the stops and blast us up out of our seats (Auferstehung).
I have an uncle who is dying of cancer. I visited him last week and he says he's ready to die. He's my godfather and a faithful Christian man. He may have a few months left. His doctors are doing what they can to give him more time and to give his life as much quality as they can in the time he has left. Tears are shed in our family as we think of losing him. His birthday (I believe 72) will be on Good Friday. This week is what our faith is all about. "'Death has been swallowed up in victory.' 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 15.54-56).
So, maybe once in a while, for the sake of our faith, I'll be exhausted by the celebration of our Lord's Passover. Now back to writing sermons. Blessed Holy Week and Happy Easter.
Holy Week. Maybe Hectic Week or Harried Week would be more appropriate for clergy. Yesterday was the birthday of one of my daughters. We went out for dinner and the restaurant she chose was over an hour's drive away. I was happy to take her there. I think we fall just short of spoiling our kids and a birthday should be special. But my wife asked a few times if something was wrong because I was very quiet and didn't seem to be into the birthday celebration. I said maybe I was just tired.
Now that I look back on it, and consider how I'm feeling today as well, I think maybe I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed about how busy this week will be. In addition to four sermons to write (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter 7 a.m., Easter 10:30 a.m.) there are a whole lot of logistics that I have to try to remember. Ask someone if they'll let me wash their feet on Thursday evening. Get the cross out of the basement for Good Friday. Arrange for everything we'll need out at the cemetery for the sunrise service. Bake bread for the Easter services and maybe for Thursday as well. Did I mention four sermons to write?
When I finally get to the worship services, assuming everything has been remembered and/or has fallen into place, I do get into the moment and they can be moving and they do mean something for my faith. But by the time I sit down to Easter lunch I'm exhausted. As much as I liked the Easter Vigil service the first few years I was here I don't miss it since we haven't done it for a few years now.
As exhausting as this week can be I wouldn't want to miss it. I actually look forward to it. I grew up going to all the services in Holy Week and I can't understand the people who miss any of them. Liturgists will tell you that the worship services of the Three Days are all of one piece. There's no blessing at the end of the Maundy Thursday services because it continues on Good Friday. We leave in silence on Good Friday, again without a blessing, because we conclude our observance on Easter when the bells will ring again and the organist will pull out all the stops and blast us up out of our seats (Auferstehung).
I have an uncle who is dying of cancer. I visited him last week and he says he's ready to die. He's my godfather and a faithful Christian man. He may have a few months left. His doctors are doing what they can to give him more time and to give his life as much quality as they can in the time he has left. Tears are shed in our family as we think of losing him. His birthday (I believe 72) will be on Good Friday. This week is what our faith is all about. "'Death has been swallowed up in victory.' 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 15.54-56).
So, maybe once in a while, for the sake of our faith, I'll be exhausted by the celebration of our Lord's Passover. Now back to writing sermons. Blessed Holy Week and Happy Easter.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Holy Week Concert
I sing in a chamber choir called Choralis Camerata made up of singers from the Niagara Region. This weekend we're performing twice:
Choralis Camerata
with the
Ensemble Camerata
presents
Vivaldi—"Gloria"
Stainer—"Crucifixion"
Saturday, March 27 — 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 27 — 7:30 p.m.
Lundy's Lane United Church, 5825 Lowell Ave., Niagara Falls
Sunday, March 28 — 2:30 p.m.
First Grantham United Church, 415 Linwell Rd., St. Catharines
Soloists:
Soprano: Jennifer McKillop; Alto: Vicki St. Pierre;
Tenor: David Holler; Bass: Dane Wendell
Tenor: David Holler; Bass: Dane Wendell
Adults $25; Seniors $22
It's been fun learning these pieces and I imagine they'll sound beautiful. And they'll be a wonderful meditation on the events we'll be observing and commemorating in the coming weeks. If you're in the area and wish to attend you can get tickets at the door.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
...about language
I wrote this for our local paper. It should appear on Friday.
In last week's federal throne speech, the governor general made mention of the government considering a change to some words in our national anthem. There were a few reactions to the proposal.
Some jumped on it as another instance of political correctness gone too far. Some welcomed the debate or discussion in an effort to make a symbol of our nation more inclusive. Some thought it was a red herring thrown in by the government to deflect some attention from other more delicate and possibly embarrassing issues. If that was the intention then I think it worked for a time because it resulted in numerous news stories and editorials.
It got me to thinking about language, and the power or language. A song by the Police back in the '80s had a line that went "Poets, priests and politicians / Have words to thank for their positions." But it's more than that, everything depends on our language and how we're able to communicate things.
I found early in my career as a pastor that the way I say things is very important because if I'm not clear then people can take things in the wrong way, take them in a way that I never intended. I think we all learn at one time or another, in one situation or another, that you have to be careful what you say and how you say it.
In the case of our national anthem, some people take issue with the line "True patriot love in all thy sons command." In the original English words, written in 1908, that line said "True patriot love thou dost in us command." Those words are more inclusive, but nobody talks like that anymore. Language changes over time. The use of "sons" to refer to all Canadians and the use of "man" to refer to all of humankind regardless of gender was at one time commonplace and implicit. It's not strictly the case anymore. Language changes over time.
In the church there are often objections to newer, more modern translations of the Bible. The King James Version was produced in the year 1611 and portions of that version are well known, not only in church but in society. That version has a very poetic and majestic quality to it. But people don't talk that way anymore and language has changed over the past 400 years.
Some words have just gone out of use. Who would know that 'gins' actually means 'traps' or 'wist' actually means 'knew'? Other words have changed their meaning like 'carriage' which sounds like something that would be drawn by horses but used to mean 'baggage.' Or 'prevent' which sounds like you're keeping something from happening but which used to mean 'precede.'
Similarly, the word 'men' used to be used to refer to all people whether male or female and for many people it still does so they don't see a problem in using it that way (though not when it's a sign on a door). But for more and more people the word 'men' refers specifically and only to males and it's not a matter of them being stubborn and refusing to let the word refer to all people, it's a matter of language changing.
Now, in the case of changing a lyric in O Canada maybe the timing of this latest proposal is suspect. But I disagree with people who say it's a non-issue. For them it might be a non-issue but for some it is an issue about how they know and see themselves. We can't discard the issue by saying "oh, they're just words." Words have power. The childhood saying "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" is just wrong. Words have the power to hurt and words have the power to heal.
Just think about the effects on someone who repeatedly hears things like: "you're worthless," "you're ugly," "you're stupid," "nobody loves you," "you disgust me." And then think about the effect on someone who gets to hear things like: "I love you," "you have a beautiful smile," "I'm proud of you," "well done," "I'm blessed to know you." They're not just words. They can be weapons used against the soul and they can be an ointment to soothe the soul.
In the church we believe that words can work miracles. "Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). We believe that hearing the Good News about Jesus Christ produces faith and faith is what makes us right with God. Words matter. Words have power. Words heal the soul and give life.
May we all use words carefully, respectfully, and honourably. And may the way we use our words show love for all of our human family.
In last week's federal throne speech, the governor general made mention of the government considering a change to some words in our national anthem. There were a few reactions to the proposal.
Some jumped on it as another instance of political correctness gone too far. Some welcomed the debate or discussion in an effort to make a symbol of our nation more inclusive. Some thought it was a red herring thrown in by the government to deflect some attention from other more delicate and possibly embarrassing issues. If that was the intention then I think it worked for a time because it resulted in numerous news stories and editorials.
It got me to thinking about language, and the power or language. A song by the Police back in the '80s had a line that went "Poets, priests and politicians / Have words to thank for their positions." But it's more than that, everything depends on our language and how we're able to communicate things.
I found early in my career as a pastor that the way I say things is very important because if I'm not clear then people can take things in the wrong way, take them in a way that I never intended. I think we all learn at one time or another, in one situation or another, that you have to be careful what you say and how you say it.
In the case of our national anthem, some people take issue with the line "True patriot love in all thy sons command." In the original English words, written in 1908, that line said "True patriot love thou dost in us command." Those words are more inclusive, but nobody talks like that anymore. Language changes over time. The use of "sons" to refer to all Canadians and the use of "man" to refer to all of humankind regardless of gender was at one time commonplace and implicit. It's not strictly the case anymore. Language changes over time.
In the church there are often objections to newer, more modern translations of the Bible. The King James Version was produced in the year 1611 and portions of that version are well known, not only in church but in society. That version has a very poetic and majestic quality to it. But people don't talk that way anymore and language has changed over the past 400 years.
Some words have just gone out of use. Who would know that 'gins' actually means 'traps' or 'wist' actually means 'knew'? Other words have changed their meaning like 'carriage' which sounds like something that would be drawn by horses but used to mean 'baggage.' Or 'prevent' which sounds like you're keeping something from happening but which used to mean 'precede.'
Similarly, the word 'men' used to be used to refer to all people whether male or female and for many people it still does so they don't see a problem in using it that way (though not when it's a sign on a door). But for more and more people the word 'men' refers specifically and only to males and it's not a matter of them being stubborn and refusing to let the word refer to all people, it's a matter of language changing.
Now, in the case of changing a lyric in O Canada maybe the timing of this latest proposal is suspect. But I disagree with people who say it's a non-issue. For them it might be a non-issue but for some it is an issue about how they know and see themselves. We can't discard the issue by saying "oh, they're just words." Words have power. The childhood saying "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" is just wrong. Words have the power to hurt and words have the power to heal.
Just think about the effects on someone who repeatedly hears things like: "you're worthless," "you're ugly," "you're stupid," "nobody loves you," "you disgust me." And then think about the effect on someone who gets to hear things like: "I love you," "you have a beautiful smile," "I'm proud of you," "well done," "I'm blessed to know you." They're not just words. They can be weapons used against the soul and they can be an ointment to soothe the soul.
In the church we believe that words can work miracles. "Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). We believe that hearing the Good News about Jesus Christ produces faith and faith is what makes us right with God. Words matter. Words have power. Words heal the soul and give life.
May we all use words carefully, respectfully, and honourably. And may the way we use our words show love for all of our human family.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
God's Valentine
This certainly isn't original from me. It's one of those things that circulates from time to time, especially at this time of the year. I'm using it in my children's chat this Sunday and giving a copy to each of the kids, cut out in a heart shape and glued on a red construction paper heart.
For God so loVed the world
that he gAve
his onLy Son,
so that evEryone who
believes iN him
may noT
perIsh but may
have eterNal
lifE.
John 3:16
Happy Valentine's Day this Sunday.
For God so loVed the world
that he gAve
his onLy Son,
so that evEryone who
believes iN him
may noT
perIsh but may
have eterNal
lifE.
John 3:16
Happy Valentine's Day this Sunday.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Why God?
When a tragedy like last week's earthquake and today's large aftershock in Haiti happens people invariably as how God could let something like that happen. This is not a refutation of Pat Robertson's drivel. I don't think his statements deserve any attention. But I was thinking about God letting something like this happen.
The first thing I thought about was, just how much would we appreciate God's intervention in our lives? Do we really want God to stop every poor choice we make? Is some mysterious force supposed to prevent humans from settling in any part of the world that might be prone to a natural disaster? What natural forces would we expect God to prevent? We don't even know how tectonic movements, volcanic activity, and weather phenomena act together with countless other natural forces to keep our world merrily spinning and humming and working.
Then, specifically with Haiti, what exactly is God responsible for in the current situation? How much less severe would the devastation and loss of life be if the people of Haiti hadn't suffered from decades of deplorable government under dictators and other incompetent rule? How many of the buildings that collapsed might have survived, saving hundreds or thousands of lives, if better building codes and practices would have been in effect and in place? How would the lives of the people in Haiti be better if their plight and poverty hadn't been ignored for so long by those in the world who are so much more fortunate?
And if God is supposed to take the blame for this tragedy, does he receive the credit for all the lives that weren't lost? Does God receive the credit for the help that is now on the way to save lives and help rebuild and give the people of Haiti a new start?
So, where is God in all this?
Well, if we look for God then we have to look to the cross. It's on the cross where God meets us. God makes himself present hidden in weakness, vulnerable, suffering, forsaken, dying. Because of Jesus we see God weeping where there is pain and alienation, rejoicing where there is wholeness and love. In Jesus God has entered the darkness of our existence to gather us into his reign of wholeness, unity, and peace.
If the world was ignoring the plight of the people of Haiti at this time it would be a double tragedy. I believe the heart of God breaks as the people of Haiti suffer and die and mourn. I also believe that the heart of God rejoices as so many around the world unite in this effort to show our love, compassion, concern, and help to that country at this time.
There are many worthy organizations helping in the relief efforts at this time. One that I hold up and support is Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) who are combining their efforts and resources with other churches in the organization Action by Churches Together (ACT) to provide relief and rehabilitation in Haiti. The Canadian government is matching donations made by individual Canadians by February 12, 2010. Contributions to the Haiti appeal may be made in the following ways:
1. Online at www.clwr.org/donate. In the process of completing the form, you will come across a pull-down menu that allows you to designate a specific project. Choose Haiti Earthquake.
2. By calling CLWR's toll-free number: 1.800.661.2597. If you do not need to use a toll-free line or are calling locally from the Winnipeg area, you can reach CLWR at 204.694.5602.
3. By sending a cheque made payable to CLWR to: CLWR, 302-393 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 3H6. Please indicate in your correspondence that you wish to contribute to the Haiti Earthquake Appeal.
4. Through ELCIC and LCC congregations by giving an offering designated to the Haiti Earthquake appeal.
The first thing I thought about was, just how much would we appreciate God's intervention in our lives? Do we really want God to stop every poor choice we make? Is some mysterious force supposed to prevent humans from settling in any part of the world that might be prone to a natural disaster? What natural forces would we expect God to prevent? We don't even know how tectonic movements, volcanic activity, and weather phenomena act together with countless other natural forces to keep our world merrily spinning and humming and working.
Then, specifically with Haiti, what exactly is God responsible for in the current situation? How much less severe would the devastation and loss of life be if the people of Haiti hadn't suffered from decades of deplorable government under dictators and other incompetent rule? How many of the buildings that collapsed might have survived, saving hundreds or thousands of lives, if better building codes and practices would have been in effect and in place? How would the lives of the people in Haiti be better if their plight and poverty hadn't been ignored for so long by those in the world who are so much more fortunate?
And if God is supposed to take the blame for this tragedy, does he receive the credit for all the lives that weren't lost? Does God receive the credit for the help that is now on the way to save lives and help rebuild and give the people of Haiti a new start?
So, where is God in all this?
Well, if we look for God then we have to look to the cross. It's on the cross where God meets us. God makes himself present hidden in weakness, vulnerable, suffering, forsaken, dying. Because of Jesus we see God weeping where there is pain and alienation, rejoicing where there is wholeness and love. In Jesus God has entered the darkness of our existence to gather us into his reign of wholeness, unity, and peace.
If the world was ignoring the plight of the people of Haiti at this time it would be a double tragedy. I believe the heart of God breaks as the people of Haiti suffer and die and mourn. I also believe that the heart of God rejoices as so many around the world unite in this effort to show our love, compassion, concern, and help to that country at this time.
There are many worthy organizations helping in the relief efforts at this time. One that I hold up and support is Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) who are combining their efforts and resources with other churches in the organization Action by Churches Together (ACT) to provide relief and rehabilitation in Haiti. The Canadian government is matching donations made by individual Canadians by February 12, 2010. Contributions to the Haiti appeal may be made in the following ways:
1. Online at www.clwr.org/donate. In the process of completing the form, you will come across a pull-down menu that allows you to designate a specific project. Choose Haiti Earthquake.
2. By calling CLWR's toll-free number: 1.800.661.2597. If you do not need to use a toll-free line or are calling locally from the Winnipeg area, you can reach CLWR at 204.694.5602.
3. By sending a cheque made payable to CLWR to: CLWR, 302-393 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 3H6. Please indicate in your correspondence that you wish to contribute to the Haiti Earthquake Appeal.
4. Through ELCIC and LCC congregations by giving an offering designated to the Haiti Earthquake appeal.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
...about my alarm clock
I've been thinking about getting back into the swing of things. The holidays are over which leaves me in a somewhat melancholy mood.
Even though I might sometimes decry the commercialism of the season something about the decorations in the stores, even when they go up right after Hallowe'en, got me into the spirit of Christmas.
The season brought with it the obligation to get together with grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins and all of the rest of the relations, but I looked forward to that.
For me, a pastor, the season brought with it some extra work and extra worship services and extra sermons to preach, but I enjoyed that.
And then there were the presents. I enjoyed going out or going online to shop, to try to think of something that my wife or my kids would like to find under the tree. And even though I'm 43 years old, I still enjoy getting presents the way I did when I was seven.
As much as we, in the church, like to emphasize that the Christmas season doesn't end on December 25 it still feels that way. We left the tree and the decorations and the poinsettias to decorate the church, we even sang Christmas carols on the two Sundays after Christmas, because the twelve days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day and run into January.
But for some reason it didn't feel like Christmas anymore. The TV channels stopped playing Christmas specials and movies. The radio stopped playing Christmas music. And somehow I wasn't able to maintain that Christmas spirit in my own heart and mind.
Then the kids went back to school this week, I had to start setting my alarm again in the mornings and getting up earlier than I ever did the past two weeks. It's back to the old routine. It's kind of a drag.
But then I remembered a song that I haven't heard in many years. As a kid I had a Sesame Street Christmas record. It's certainly not a religious song but I think it can have religious significance. It's called "Keep Christmas with You All Through the Year." The message of Christmas is that God became one of us and came to be with us.
And that Sesame Street song is significant because that Christmas miracle is not something that happens on one night of the year or for twelve days of the year or even for one month a year. It's not a message that only rings true as long as there's a fir tree standing in your living room or as long as Christmas carols play on the radio.
We believe that Christ comes among us whenever his followers gather to worship. We believe that Christ comes among us whenever we hear his word proclaimed. We believe that Christ comes among us whenever we share in his holy meal. We believe that Christ comes among us whenever we show love to our neighbours.
So I'll look forward to hearing those carols again next December. And I'll try to remember that the miracle of Christmas, of God coming to be with us and among us, happens all year long. But I don't have to enjoy getting up with the alarm again.
Even though I might sometimes decry the commercialism of the season something about the decorations in the stores, even when they go up right after Hallowe'en, got me into the spirit of Christmas.
The season brought with it the obligation to get together with grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins and all of the rest of the relations, but I looked forward to that.
For me, a pastor, the season brought with it some extra work and extra worship services and extra sermons to preach, but I enjoyed that.
And then there were the presents. I enjoyed going out or going online to shop, to try to think of something that my wife or my kids would like to find under the tree. And even though I'm 43 years old, I still enjoy getting presents the way I did when I was seven.
As much as we, in the church, like to emphasize that the Christmas season doesn't end on December 25 it still feels that way. We left the tree and the decorations and the poinsettias to decorate the church, we even sang Christmas carols on the two Sundays after Christmas, because the twelve days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day and run into January.
But for some reason it didn't feel like Christmas anymore. The TV channels stopped playing Christmas specials and movies. The radio stopped playing Christmas music. And somehow I wasn't able to maintain that Christmas spirit in my own heart and mind.
Then the kids went back to school this week, I had to start setting my alarm again in the mornings and getting up earlier than I ever did the past two weeks. It's back to the old routine. It's kind of a drag.
But then I remembered a song that I haven't heard in many years. As a kid I had a Sesame Street Christmas record. It's certainly not a religious song but I think it can have religious significance. It's called "Keep Christmas with You All Through the Year." The message of Christmas is that God became one of us and came to be with us.
And that Sesame Street song is significant because that Christmas miracle is not something that happens on one night of the year or for twelve days of the year or even for one month a year. It's not a message that only rings true as long as there's a fir tree standing in your living room or as long as Christmas carols play on the radio.
We believe that Christ comes among us whenever his followers gather to worship. We believe that Christ comes among us whenever we hear his word proclaimed. We believe that Christ comes among us whenever we share in his holy meal. We believe that Christ comes among us whenever we show love to our neighbours.
So I'll look forward to hearing those carols again next December. And I'll try to remember that the miracle of Christmas, of God coming to be with us and among us, happens all year long. But I don't have to enjoy getting up with the alarm again.
Friday, January 01, 2010
Happy 2010
Happy New Year!!!
We went down to the canal to see the fireworks at midnight. I expected a bigger crowd but the people who showed up got a good show. It was a 10 minute fireworks show and really impressive.
I hope 2010 is a better year than 2009. Last year wasn't all bad. There was the trip to New York in February and the trip to Florida including M & Rs wedding in September/October.
But there were some really sad diagnoses in the extended family. I presided at the funeral of a soldier killed in Afghanistan. I wish the damned war would end. Just the day before yesterday four more Canadian soldiers and a newspaper reporter were killed. I'm sick of it.
I've got a good life and a great family, there's just a lot of crap going on in the world. Here's hoping 2010 will have more good news. God bless us, everyone.
We went down to the canal to see the fireworks at midnight. I expected a bigger crowd but the people who showed up got a good show. It was a 10 minute fireworks show and really impressive.
I hope 2010 is a better year than 2009. Last year wasn't all bad. There was the trip to New York in February and the trip to Florida including M & Rs wedding in September/October.
But there were some really sad diagnoses in the extended family. I presided at the funeral of a soldier killed in Afghanistan. I wish the damned war would end. Just the day before yesterday four more Canadian soldiers and a newspaper reporter were killed. I'm sick of it.
I've got a good life and a great family, there's just a lot of crap going on in the world. Here's hoping 2010 will have more good news. God bless us, everyone.
Monday, December 21, 2009
The Reason for the Season
I wrote this for our church newsletter that went out last week.
I’m sure we’ve probably all heard the saying that “Jesus is the reason for the season.” It’s a nice sentiment I guess, but sometimes I wonder what’s behind it. Lately I think some Christians have been getting a little defensive over what has been happening to “our” holiday.
I don’t see it a lot anymore but I remember when I was younger people got upset over the use of Xmas and the popular saying was “Put Christ back in Christmas.” (Actually X is the first letter of Christ in Greek but the people using Xmas probably didn’t know that.) More recently there has been a backlash over what people call “political correctness” and Christian people get upset over the use of “Happy Holidays” and “Season’s Greetings” in place of “Merry Christmas.”
I certainly wish people a Merry Christmas at this time of year but I don’t get upset if someone wishes me Happy Holidays or Season’s Greetings. And there are some people, perhaps relatively few but some, who celebrate other holidays during this season or who might have no celebrations at all.
I don’t feel threatened. So far there’s no law that says I can’t put up a Christmas tree in my home and call it a Christmas tree. Nothing says I can’t come to church on Christmas Eve to celebrate the birth of Christ, my Saviour and Lord. If the schools shy away from an overt observance of Christ’s birth there’s nothing stopping me from teaching my children the true message and reason for the season.
And speaking of the reason for the season as my title says, what is the reason for the season? As I said at the outset, the saying goes that Jesus is the reason for the season but is that really the case? I once caught my children off guard when I suggested that Christmas is really all about presents. They tried to argue with me, giving the expected Sunday School or Children’s Chat answer that Christmas is really about the birth of Jesus.
I couldn’t really fault them. Their answer was correct. But I think I was right too. Christmas is all about presents. What is the greatest gift that we’ve been given? It’s the life and salvation we have in Jesus Christ. God loved this mixed up and messed up world so much that he gave his only Son, “so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” Christmas is about the greatest gift.
And the reason for the season is US. God sent his Son for YOU and for ME. But not only for us who call ourselves Christians. Jesus came for the ones who replace Christ with an X. Jesus came for the ones who celebrate Hanukkah. Jesus came for the ones who celebrate Kwanzaa instead of or in addition to Christmas. Jesus came for the ones being politically correct by wishing you Happy Holidays or Season’s Greetings.
Jesus came and showed us the love of God. So, this Christmas season, rather than becoming angry or defensive when someone wishes us Happy Holidays let us show love to our neighbours. Let us be open and invite family, friends, neighbours, and even strangers to know the love of Jesus that came down as the greatest gift of all.
May your Holidays be Happy, your Greetings Seasoned, and most of all your Christmas be Merry.
I’m sure we’ve probably all heard the saying that “Jesus is the reason for the season.” It’s a nice sentiment I guess, but sometimes I wonder what’s behind it. Lately I think some Christians have been getting a little defensive over what has been happening to “our” holiday.
I don’t see it a lot anymore but I remember when I was younger people got upset over the use of Xmas and the popular saying was “Put Christ back in Christmas.” (Actually X is the first letter of Christ in Greek but the people using Xmas probably didn’t know that.) More recently there has been a backlash over what people call “political correctness” and Christian people get upset over the use of “Happy Holidays” and “Season’s Greetings” in place of “Merry Christmas.”
I certainly wish people a Merry Christmas at this time of year but I don’t get upset if someone wishes me Happy Holidays or Season’s Greetings. And there are some people, perhaps relatively few but some, who celebrate other holidays during this season or who might have no celebrations at all.
I don’t feel threatened. So far there’s no law that says I can’t put up a Christmas tree in my home and call it a Christmas tree. Nothing says I can’t come to church on Christmas Eve to celebrate the birth of Christ, my Saviour and Lord. If the schools shy away from an overt observance of Christ’s birth there’s nothing stopping me from teaching my children the true message and reason for the season.
And speaking of the reason for the season as my title says, what is the reason for the season? As I said at the outset, the saying goes that Jesus is the reason for the season but is that really the case? I once caught my children off guard when I suggested that Christmas is really all about presents. They tried to argue with me, giving the expected Sunday School or Children’s Chat answer that Christmas is really about the birth of Jesus.
I couldn’t really fault them. Their answer was correct. But I think I was right too. Christmas is all about presents. What is the greatest gift that we’ve been given? It’s the life and salvation we have in Jesus Christ. God loved this mixed up and messed up world so much that he gave his only Son, “so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” Christmas is about the greatest gift.
And the reason for the season is US. God sent his Son for YOU and for ME. But not only for us who call ourselves Christians. Jesus came for the ones who replace Christ with an X. Jesus came for the ones who celebrate Hanukkah. Jesus came for the ones who celebrate Kwanzaa instead of or in addition to Christmas. Jesus came for the ones being politically correct by wishing you Happy Holidays or Season’s Greetings.
Jesus came and showed us the love of God. So, this Christmas season, rather than becoming angry or defensive when someone wishes us Happy Holidays let us show love to our neighbours. Let us be open and invite family, friends, neighbours, and even strangers to know the love of Jesus that came down as the greatest gift of all.
May your Holidays be Happy, your Greetings Seasoned, and most of all your Christmas be Merry.
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Messiah
This past fall I joined a choir. I've been singing with our little church choir for seven years and with my previous church choir for probably about 20 years before that. This year I joined a chamber choir called Choralis Camerata which is Latin for chamber choir.
It has been fun. It's more challenging than our church choir. There are something like 35 or 36 voices in this choir. I brought the number of tenors up to five. Our first concerts took place this past weekend. We performed Handel's Messiah. It was tough but it was fun. The orchestra that accompanied us was the Niagara-on-the-Lake Sinfonia.
The tenor parts that I'm used to singing with our church choir generally go up to an E, occasionally to an F and on rare occasions up to a G. In Messiah there are probably six to eight places where I had to hit an A. I managed it the first few times but when it got to the Amen chorus at the end of the piece and we were supposed to hit the A eight bars from the end or the entire oratorio I couldn't do it except by going falsetto.
We performed Messiah three times. On Friday, December 4 we were at St. Mark's Anglican Church in Niagara-on-the-Lake. On Saturday, December 5 we were at First Grantham United Church in St. Catharines. On Sunday, December 6 we were at St. Alexander's Roman Catholic Church in Fonthill. Three very different spaces. I felt like our best performance was on Saturday, at least I think my best singing happened then. People raved about us. I think we got the most smiles from our conductor on Saturday. And all three concerts were, if not SRO, at least full. There were no big gaps or spaces in the pews.
Many of the choristers were singing Messiah for at least the second time, some even more. It was my first time and I have to confess that I wasn't prepared enough. I should have practiced a lot more and known the pieces better. I was counting and reading way too much and making mistakes too often. This choir performs Messiah every two years so if I stick with them that long I'll do a lot better the next time around.
But it was still fun, and very moving. If you don't know Handel's Messiah, it's about Jesus. The text is completely from the Bible, starting with Old Testament prophecy that has come to be associated with Jesus, through to his birth, death, resurrection, and then praises to our Lord and King from the book of Revelation. If you've never heard anything else from Messiah you've certainly heard the Hallelujah chorus.
Our next concerts will be in February when we will sing some Gospel/Spiritual pieces in observance of Black History Month. I can't wait to sing some more.
It has been fun. It's more challenging than our church choir. There are something like 35 or 36 voices in this choir. I brought the number of tenors up to five. Our first concerts took place this past weekend. We performed Handel's Messiah. It was tough but it was fun. The orchestra that accompanied us was the Niagara-on-the-Lake Sinfonia.
The tenor parts that I'm used to singing with our church choir generally go up to an E, occasionally to an F and on rare occasions up to a G. In Messiah there are probably six to eight places where I had to hit an A. I managed it the first few times but when it got to the Amen chorus at the end of the piece and we were supposed to hit the A eight bars from the end or the entire oratorio I couldn't do it except by going falsetto.
We performed Messiah three times. On Friday, December 4 we were at St. Mark's Anglican Church in Niagara-on-the-Lake. On Saturday, December 5 we were at First Grantham United Church in St. Catharines. On Sunday, December 6 we were at St. Alexander's Roman Catholic Church in Fonthill. Three very different spaces. I felt like our best performance was on Saturday, at least I think my best singing happened then. People raved about us. I think we got the most smiles from our conductor on Saturday. And all three concerts were, if not SRO, at least full. There were no big gaps or spaces in the pews.
Many of the choristers were singing Messiah for at least the second time, some even more. It was my first time and I have to confess that I wasn't prepared enough. I should have practiced a lot more and known the pieces better. I was counting and reading way too much and making mistakes too often. This choir performs Messiah every two years so if I stick with them that long I'll do a lot better the next time around.
But it was still fun, and very moving. If you don't know Handel's Messiah, it's about Jesus. The text is completely from the Bible, starting with Old Testament prophecy that has come to be associated with Jesus, through to his birth, death, resurrection, and then praises to our Lord and King from the book of Revelation. If you've never heard anything else from Messiah you've certainly heard the Hallelujah chorus.
Our next concerts will be in February when we will sing some Gospel/Spiritual pieces in observance of Black History Month. I can't wait to sing some more.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Where's Baby Jesus?
Well, this morning in church the absolutely sweetest thing ever happened. I'll never forget it.
A little girl, maybe around 4 years old, has been coming to church with her grandmother for 3 or 4 weeks now. I baptized her a few years ago, I'll be baptizing her baby brother on the Sunday after Christmas. As I was making my announcements before the service started she made her way up the aisle and when I was finished she was standing in front of me and asked "Where's Baby Jesus?" I said he'd be coming in a few weeks, meaning when we decorate the church for Christmas and get out the ceramic nativity. I thought later, what a perfect question. I don't know if her question was that profound but how many people do come to church looking to find Jesus? And in our scripture readings, hymns, sermons, and meal, do they find him?
Well, that wasn't the sweetest thing yet. A few minutes later, after singing the gathering hymn, lighting the first candle on the Advent wreath, praying a prayer of blessing and the prayer of the day, I sat down on the chancel steps and called the children forward. The same little girl sat right in front of me, maybe four feet away from me. I was trying to talk to them about today's gospel reading, about being prepared, ready, anticipating, expecting the coming of Jesus and how we might find him in some very ordinary everyday things. I used examples of doing something nice for a friend, sticking up for someone on the playground when they're being picked on, or the love we get from our parents when they hug us, kiss us, and tuck us into bed. In those ordinary instances, I said God is there.
While I'm talking she keeps whispering, *pastor,* *pastor.* I tried to ignore her and finish my talk, figuring I'd see what she wants when I'm done, before I send them off to Sunday School. Well, she wouldn't be ignored and all of a sudden she was standing in front of me. So I stopped and asked what she wanted and she leaned in and kissed me on the forehead. Everyone who could see couldn't help but say "Awwwwww!" I was so touched, so flabberghasted, I lost my place, must have blushed profusely, it was so totally unexpected. When I got back to what I was talking about I said that in just that kind of action, God is there and if we're on the lookout then we'll notice God's presence in loving acts.
I haven't been able to forget that moment. All day long it has come back to mind. It was a wonderful, unexpected, sweet and touching moment that I'll really never forget.
A little girl, maybe around 4 years old, has been coming to church with her grandmother for 3 or 4 weeks now. I baptized her a few years ago, I'll be baptizing her baby brother on the Sunday after Christmas. As I was making my announcements before the service started she made her way up the aisle and when I was finished she was standing in front of me and asked "Where's Baby Jesus?" I said he'd be coming in a few weeks, meaning when we decorate the church for Christmas and get out the ceramic nativity. I thought later, what a perfect question. I don't know if her question was that profound but how many people do come to church looking to find Jesus? And in our scripture readings, hymns, sermons, and meal, do they find him?
Well, that wasn't the sweetest thing yet. A few minutes later, after singing the gathering hymn, lighting the first candle on the Advent wreath, praying a prayer of blessing and the prayer of the day, I sat down on the chancel steps and called the children forward. The same little girl sat right in front of me, maybe four feet away from me. I was trying to talk to them about today's gospel reading, about being prepared, ready, anticipating, expecting the coming of Jesus and how we might find him in some very ordinary everyday things. I used examples of doing something nice for a friend, sticking up for someone on the playground when they're being picked on, or the love we get from our parents when they hug us, kiss us, and tuck us into bed. In those ordinary instances, I said God is there.
While I'm talking she keeps whispering, *pastor,* *pastor.* I tried to ignore her and finish my talk, figuring I'd see what she wants when I'm done, before I send them off to Sunday School. Well, she wouldn't be ignored and all of a sudden she was standing in front of me. So I stopped and asked what she wanted and she leaned in and kissed me on the forehead. Everyone who could see couldn't help but say "Awwwwww!" I was so touched, so flabberghasted, I lost my place, must have blushed profusely, it was so totally unexpected. When I got back to what I was talking about I said that in just that kind of action, God is there and if we're on the lookout then we'll notice God's presence in loving acts.
I haven't been able to forget that moment. All day long it has come back to mind. It was a wonderful, unexpected, sweet and touching moment that I'll really never forget.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
HAPPY BOBUNK!!
Tonight we’ll be celebrating Bobunk. What is Bobunk you ask? It’s the holiday that disappeared.
In an episode of Sabrina the Teenage Witch she has no Christmas spirit and she inadvertently does away with Christmas. People wonder why anyone would cut down a perfectly good tree to stand it up indoors. It seems nobody has any recollection of Christmas at all. Her cat, Salem, tells her that the same thing happened to Bobunk. "What’s Bobunk?" she asks. "See!"
I won’t ruin the ending by telling you whether she manages to save Christmas or not. I’m sure you’re in suspense now.
Anyway, our family designated November 12 as Bobunk. We’ll have a Bobunk cake and watch that episode of Sabrina tonight. The boys have a day off school tomorrow so they can stay up late and everything. The girls still have school so they’ll have to get up at the usual 6:30 a.m. to catch the bus at 7:09.
So again, Happy Bobunk!
In an episode of Sabrina the Teenage Witch she has no Christmas spirit and she inadvertently does away with Christmas. People wonder why anyone would cut down a perfectly good tree to stand it up indoors. It seems nobody has any recollection of Christmas at all. Her cat, Salem, tells her that the same thing happened to Bobunk. "What’s Bobunk?" she asks. "See!"
I won’t ruin the ending by telling you whether she manages to save Christmas or not. I’m sure you’re in suspense now.
Anyway, our family designated November 12 as Bobunk. We’ll have a Bobunk cake and watch that episode of Sabrina tonight. The boys have a day off school tomorrow so they can stay up late and everything. The girls still have school so they’ll have to get up at the usual 6:30 a.m. to catch the bus at 7:09.
So again, Happy Bobunk!
Monday, November 09, 2009
...about faith and fear
It seems we can’t look at a newspaper or turn on a TV or radio without hearing about the H1N1 flu. For the most part the media has presented a fairly consistent message. Beyond simply reporting the facts and statistics of the number of people becoming ill and some even dying from this flu, they are doing a good job of pointing out the risks and providing information about how to protect yourself and your loved ones.
But then you start talking with friends and neighbours and colleagues and you get a whole different picture. Some people are concerned about the safety and long term effects of vaccines. Some figure this will be no worse than a regular seasonal flu. Some see a conspiracy between drug manufacturers and governments. Some think the whole saturation of the media is just hype or that we’re not getting the whole story.
It can all be very confusing. And then when you hear about people dying including children, some who were otherwise normal and healthy, it can all be very frightening. So what do you do? Do you give in to the fear? Do you cower behind closed doors, never to venture out into public again? Or on the other end of the spectrum, do you ignore or disbelieve the risks and go on as if nothing is wrong and nothing harmful is out there?
I would suggest living our lives with common sense and faith. The medical community have told us what the best practices are to reduce the risk. Wash your hands frequently. Don’t touch your face more than necessary. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve. If you are sick, stay home so that you don’t spread germs to others.
Even in church we’re encouraging people to stay away if they are sick. When we share the peace we are telling people that it’s perfectly acceptable to speak the words of blessing with a nod or another gesture and they may refrain from shaking hands. For those concerned with drinking wine at communion from the same cup as others people we offer the option of individual glasses that are filled from a pouring chalice, or people are free to receive just the bread. We also have hand sanitizer pumps in a few locations in the church.
That’s the common sense part, but what about the faith part? We believe and teach and trust in the grace and love of God. In baptism we are sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked forever with the cross of Christ, who is health and salvation for the whole world. That doesn’t mean we’re magically or mystically protected from all illness or even death. It does mean that God is present with strength and comfort in time of suffering.
Does this mean that Christians are never afraid? No way! What it means is that in the midst of confusion, doubt, and fear we can live in faith, trusting in God’s promise to always be with us. It means we can depend on God to bring us through times of difficulty. It means that we are part of a community of faith that walks with us in good times and bad. It means that even when illness leads to death, God accompanies us and our loved ones, holding us in his loving embrace no matter what.
So, my prayer is that we can live and walk and perhaps even struggle through this flu pandemic with faith and common sense. God be with all of you.
But then you start talking with friends and neighbours and colleagues and you get a whole different picture. Some people are concerned about the safety and long term effects of vaccines. Some figure this will be no worse than a regular seasonal flu. Some see a conspiracy between drug manufacturers and governments. Some think the whole saturation of the media is just hype or that we’re not getting the whole story.
It can all be very confusing. And then when you hear about people dying including children, some who were otherwise normal and healthy, it can all be very frightening. So what do you do? Do you give in to the fear? Do you cower behind closed doors, never to venture out into public again? Or on the other end of the spectrum, do you ignore or disbelieve the risks and go on as if nothing is wrong and nothing harmful is out there?
I would suggest living our lives with common sense and faith. The medical community have told us what the best practices are to reduce the risk. Wash your hands frequently. Don’t touch your face more than necessary. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve. If you are sick, stay home so that you don’t spread germs to others.
Even in church we’re encouraging people to stay away if they are sick. When we share the peace we are telling people that it’s perfectly acceptable to speak the words of blessing with a nod or another gesture and they may refrain from shaking hands. For those concerned with drinking wine at communion from the same cup as others people we offer the option of individual glasses that are filled from a pouring chalice, or people are free to receive just the bread. We also have hand sanitizer pumps in a few locations in the church.
That’s the common sense part, but what about the faith part? We believe and teach and trust in the grace and love of God. In baptism we are sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked forever with the cross of Christ, who is health and salvation for the whole world. That doesn’t mean we’re magically or mystically protected from all illness or even death. It does mean that God is present with strength and comfort in time of suffering.
Does this mean that Christians are never afraid? No way! What it means is that in the midst of confusion, doubt, and fear we can live in faith, trusting in God’s promise to always be with us. It means we can depend on God to bring us through times of difficulty. It means that we are part of a community of faith that walks with us in good times and bad. It means that even when illness leads to death, God accompanies us and our loved ones, holding us in his loving embrace no matter what.
So, my prayer is that we can live and walk and perhaps even struggle through this flu pandemic with faith and common sense. God be with all of you.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
...about bread
I wrote this and it appeared in our local paper last week.
Our church, and some other denominations as well, follow the Revised Common Lectionary. It's a schedule of scripture readings suggested for use in worship each week. This summer, from July 26 through August 23, the gospel readings on those Sundays came from the sixth chapter of the Gospel according to John. They all dealt, in one way or another, with bread.
The series of readings began with the story of Jesus miraculously feeding thousands of people with five barley loaves and two fish. The readings continued with Jesus speaking of himself as "the bread of life," speaking of eating his flesh and drinking his blood, with his hearers being confused and upset by his words, and ended with his core group of followers making a renewed commitment to him.
As a preacher it can be tricky to come up with fresh ideas about bread for five weeks in a row and here I am writing a newspaper column about bread. But it has been on my mind.
When my family sits down to eat, we give thanks for the food we eat by saying grace. We have a few prayers to choose from. We even sing some of them. Probably our most common table grace goes like this:
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest,
and let these gifts to us be blessed.
Blessed be God who is our bread.
May all the world be clothed and fed.
In our world bread is a staple. Obviously we use it to make sandwiches of all kinds. And when we eat the ever popular but not always healthy burger, it comes on a bun. A hotdog or sausage is laid in a bun. Some restaurants will give you a roll with your meal, or place a basket of rolls on the table before your meal arrives. If you have a taste for certain ethnic foods they might come on, or wrapped in, other kinds of bread like pitas or tortillas.
Except for some with dietary issues, for most of us bread is the stuff of life. We would hardly go a day without it. The same goes for our relationship with God. As the readings from John, chapter six discussed and as our table grace says, God in Jesus Christ is our bread.
You could debate whether Jesus was speaking metaphorically or literally. I think rather than either/or, in this case it's both/and. In my church's tradition we share in the weekly celebration of the Lord's Supper where we receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine. Different Christian traditions differ on what happens in that meal and how it happens but I think we all agree that when we gather, Jesus is there.
Being a Christian, having faith in Jesus Christ, is about living with him in your life. It's also about the last line in our table grace. Living a life of faith isn't just about "me and Jesus." A life of faith is also about serving all people, following the example of Jesus, and striving for justice and peace in all the earth. "May all the world be clothed and fed" is our prayer and also our duty.
As long as there are hungry people in our community and in our world, people without the bread that gives them physical life, we ought to be doing all we can to provide that bread. Another of Jesus' stories says that when we refuse to provide for the hungry we are refusing him.
We need Jesus, the bread of life, in our lives. And our Lord uses us in his mission to bless and save and feed the world. Blessed be God who is our bread. May all the world be clothed and fed.
Our church, and some other denominations as well, follow the Revised Common Lectionary. It's a schedule of scripture readings suggested for use in worship each week. This summer, from July 26 through August 23, the gospel readings on those Sundays came from the sixth chapter of the Gospel according to John. They all dealt, in one way or another, with bread.
The series of readings began with the story of Jesus miraculously feeding thousands of people with five barley loaves and two fish. The readings continued with Jesus speaking of himself as "the bread of life," speaking of eating his flesh and drinking his blood, with his hearers being confused and upset by his words, and ended with his core group of followers making a renewed commitment to him.
As a preacher it can be tricky to come up with fresh ideas about bread for five weeks in a row and here I am writing a newspaper column about bread. But it has been on my mind.
When my family sits down to eat, we give thanks for the food we eat by saying grace. We have a few prayers to choose from. We even sing some of them. Probably our most common table grace goes like this:
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest,
and let these gifts to us be blessed.
Blessed be God who is our bread.
May all the world be clothed and fed.
In our world bread is a staple. Obviously we use it to make sandwiches of all kinds. And when we eat the ever popular but not always healthy burger, it comes on a bun. A hotdog or sausage is laid in a bun. Some restaurants will give you a roll with your meal, or place a basket of rolls on the table before your meal arrives. If you have a taste for certain ethnic foods they might come on, or wrapped in, other kinds of bread like pitas or tortillas.
Except for some with dietary issues, for most of us bread is the stuff of life. We would hardly go a day without it. The same goes for our relationship with God. As the readings from John, chapter six discussed and as our table grace says, God in Jesus Christ is our bread.
You could debate whether Jesus was speaking metaphorically or literally. I think rather than either/or, in this case it's both/and. In my church's tradition we share in the weekly celebration of the Lord's Supper where we receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine. Different Christian traditions differ on what happens in that meal and how it happens but I think we all agree that when we gather, Jesus is there.
Being a Christian, having faith in Jesus Christ, is about living with him in your life. It's also about the last line in our table grace. Living a life of faith isn't just about "me and Jesus." A life of faith is also about serving all people, following the example of Jesus, and striving for justice and peace in all the earth. "May all the world be clothed and fed" is our prayer and also our duty.
As long as there are hungry people in our community and in our world, people without the bread that gives them physical life, we ought to be doing all we can to provide that bread. Another of Jesus' stories says that when we refuse to provide for the hungry we are refusing him.
We need Jesus, the bread of life, in our lives. And our Lord uses us in his mission to bless and save and feed the world. Blessed be God who is our bread. May all the world be clothed and fed.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Church Sign
I changed the message on our sign last week. The kids laughed when they saw it. It's not something I came up with myself. I'd read it somewhere before. This is what it says:
SIGN BROKEN
COME IN ON SUNDAY
FOR MESSAGE
Thursday, August 06, 2009
R and R
So, I'm in the middle of my first week back at work after two weeks of vacation. We went back for the seventh year in a row to our favourite campground in the Finger Lakes region of New York. We did all the stuff we usually do, went on the day trips around the area that we like to make, spent time with friends and family who came to stay for a while.
But it wasn't the same as other years. It wasn't as good as other years. We were there for two weeks and I think there were a whole two days when it didn't rain. Not that it rained and rained for hours and days on end. Sometimes the morning would be rainy and the afternoon would turn out fairly decent. Sometimes the day would seem okay but cloud over in the afternoon and then rain in the evening or overnight.
And the temperatures were cool. There have been years when I haven't had to break out the jeans at all during our stay. This time around there were only a few days when I was comfortable in shorts. I'm usually not one for hot and humid weather, something we normally get a whole lot of during the summer. But when we're at the campground and can sit under the shade of an umbrella by the poolside, reading a book, working on some Sudoku puzzles, and then just jumping into the water to cool down when the need or the mood strikes me, then I can take the heat. But we didn't have that this year. There were a few days when it was nice enough to spend some time at the pool. The kids swam a lot. I swam a few times.
It was time away from the ordinary. It was time for some relaxation. It just didn't seem as enjoyable for me as other years. The fact that my oldest daughter and I caught colds during the second week of the trip didn't help either.
We've got a Florida trip planned for the fall. The kids are counting down the days already. I hope it's more of a vacation, some real enjoyable rest and relaxation, than this summer holiday was.
But it wasn't the same as other years. It wasn't as good as other years. We were there for two weeks and I think there were a whole two days when it didn't rain. Not that it rained and rained for hours and days on end. Sometimes the morning would be rainy and the afternoon would turn out fairly decent. Sometimes the day would seem okay but cloud over in the afternoon and then rain in the evening or overnight.
And the temperatures were cool. There have been years when I haven't had to break out the jeans at all during our stay. This time around there were only a few days when I was comfortable in shorts. I'm usually not one for hot and humid weather, something we normally get a whole lot of during the summer. But when we're at the campground and can sit under the shade of an umbrella by the poolside, reading a book, working on some Sudoku puzzles, and then just jumping into the water to cool down when the need or the mood strikes me, then I can take the heat. But we didn't have that this year. There were a few days when it was nice enough to spend some time at the pool. The kids swam a lot. I swam a few times.
It was time away from the ordinary. It was time for some relaxation. It just didn't seem as enjoyable for me as other years. The fact that my oldest daughter and I caught colds during the second week of the trip didn't help either.
We've got a Florida trip planned for the fall. The kids are counting down the days already. I hope it's more of a vacation, some real enjoyable rest and relaxation, than this summer holiday was.
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