When I worked at an African American Church on the South Side of Chicago I was given the honor to preach a few times. I worked hard on the sermons and put a lot of thought into how to preach to those from another culture in a different context than myself.
On Saturday evening before one of my sermons – The pastor of the congregation called to inform me that one of their children had been shot in a drive by shooting that day. They were in the hospital and going to be ok – he explained that this was not the first of their children to be shot.
He knew that the congregation would be sad – devastated – and I really needed to have some good news for them that morning. Good News about liberation, redemption, and healing. The sermon I planned – had to change!
Late that night I stared at a computer screen looking for the Holy Spirit’s inspiration on how to change my sermon and all I could think was – God I don’t think I should preach. HOW can this black congregation hear good news from me on a day like today – a white-single-student-female-young preacher?
In many ways it was a very painful year. But God stretched me and I stood in the pulpit that Sunday and preached from the Gospel of John the 20th chapter. We know it as the doubting Thomas story. And I said, Jesus says BLESSED are those that have not seen and yet believe.
We have not seen an end to violence, discrimination, hunger, disease, loss, devastation, loneliness, racism, sexism, or pain – these worldly things are a reality and God comes to us in the midst of it and says, “Peace be with you.”
To my surprise after the sermon – I realized that the Good News I was worried they couldn’t hear from a white-single-student-female-young preacher that Sunday – was Good News not from me and all my labels – but from the Word of God.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Change happens.
By Johanna Johnson
By way of introduction, I am Johanna, the new intern at Christus Victor Lutheran Church, and Pastor Dana asked me to cover for her this week while she is at Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis.
Churchwide Assembly – now there is something to think about. Every two years, this body of Lutherans meets and discusses the direction – theologically, biblically, socially – of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Inevitably, there will be changes. They may or may not be changes the average pew-sitter notices, but there will be changes nonetheless. I can relate. I just moved from Connecticut to Northern California to Southwestern Florida all in the course of about two months. I went from living with a roommate, to living with my family, to living by myself and far from anyone I know. I’m living somewhere where it goes from sunny and bright to rain, thunder and lightening in five minutes’ time. Change happens. Sometimes it hurts bad, like a kick in the stomach; sometimes it hurts good, like a much needed massage. Sometimes it feels glorious and refreshing; sometimes it feels disconcerting. Always, I have to believe, it is what God had in mind.
Doesn’t God say though Isaiah, “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (43:19). And again, “From this time forward I make you hear new things, hidden things that you have not known” (48:6). Change is a part of this life, a part of this faith. The Spirit is moving, and who is to say we know where she blows? I have to trust that, even if it is one of those disconcerting, badly hurting changes, God will use this. And if we listen to those new things, those new hidden things that we have not known, I have confidence that God will show us how this, too, can bring a bit closer the Kingdom of God.
By way of introduction, I am Johanna, the new intern at Christus Victor Lutheran Church, and Pastor Dana asked me to cover for her this week while she is at Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis.
Churchwide Assembly – now there is something to think about. Every two years, this body of Lutherans meets and discusses the direction – theologically, biblically, socially – of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Inevitably, there will be changes. They may or may not be changes the average pew-sitter notices, but there will be changes nonetheless. I can relate. I just moved from Connecticut to Northern California to Southwestern Florida all in the course of about two months. I went from living with a roommate, to living with my family, to living by myself and far from anyone I know. I’m living somewhere where it goes from sunny and bright to rain, thunder and lightening in five minutes’ time. Change happens. Sometimes it hurts bad, like a kick in the stomach; sometimes it hurts good, like a much needed massage. Sometimes it feels glorious and refreshing; sometimes it feels disconcerting. Always, I have to believe, it is what God had in mind.
Doesn’t God say though Isaiah, “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (43:19). And again, “From this time forward I make you hear new things, hidden things that you have not known” (48:6). Change is a part of this life, a part of this faith. The Spirit is moving, and who is to say we know where she blows? I have to trust that, even if it is one of those disconcerting, badly hurting changes, God will use this. And if we listen to those new things, those new hidden things that we have not known, I have confidence that God will show us how this, too, can bring a bit closer the Kingdom of God.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Mud Puddles
Have you ever noticed that we tend to get comfortable in our faith? We know what denomination we are, where we worship, what pew we sit in, and what charities we support.
When we were baptized we were not called to be comfy – we were liberated from sin and freed to share that liberation with others. Baptism prepares us to get messy in a world that doesn’t encourage liberation - to go where we fear, fight for justice, and love the outcast. I often preach about what it means to be messy in faith – and sometimes feel the call to live it out, literally.
It was a Monday afternoon, the sun was high and I was leaving the church. It had rained quite a bit and there was a big mud puddle out front.
I couldn’t resist!
I removed my shoes and took a leap while realizing that half the neighborhood was watching some lady with a clerical collar taking a leap into a mud puddle. I braced myself for the shock of the cold water hitting my feet. I landed and well... the lesson learned that Monday was playing in mud puddles down south was different than other experiences I had. The water was at least 130 degrees, the grass was not soft on the feet, and a lizard or two came out of nowhere scaring me.
I quickly got out of the puddle wiped my feet off and got in my car. I had not played in a mud puddle in quite some time so I had forgotten the shock of the puddle. I had only remembered the fun of the puddle. We often go into situations expecting something. I jumped expecting cold and landed experiencing extreme warmth. The shock is what made me get out quickly. The shock is what made me forget the playfulness or joy of the act.
Sometimes it takes retreating to see joy when things are messy. God’s presence is very much alive daily in our life. I hope we can remember to retreat daily and be renewed through the baptismal promise. I hope we can experience it, embrace it and remember to play in the reality together.
In Holy Baptism our gracious heavenly Father liberates us from sin and death by joining us to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN!
When we were baptized we were not called to be comfy – we were liberated from sin and freed to share that liberation with others. Baptism prepares us to get messy in a world that doesn’t encourage liberation - to go where we fear, fight for justice, and love the outcast. I often preach about what it means to be messy in faith – and sometimes feel the call to live it out, literally.
It was a Monday afternoon, the sun was high and I was leaving the church. It had rained quite a bit and there was a big mud puddle out front.
I couldn’t resist!
I removed my shoes and took a leap while realizing that half the neighborhood was watching some lady with a clerical collar taking a leap into a mud puddle. I braced myself for the shock of the cold water hitting my feet. I landed and well... the lesson learned that Monday was playing in mud puddles down south was different than other experiences I had. The water was at least 130 degrees, the grass was not soft on the feet, and a lizard or two came out of nowhere scaring me.
I quickly got out of the puddle wiped my feet off and got in my car. I had not played in a mud puddle in quite some time so I had forgotten the shock of the puddle. I had only remembered the fun of the puddle. We often go into situations expecting something. I jumped expecting cold and landed experiencing extreme warmth. The shock is what made me get out quickly. The shock is what made me forget the playfulness or joy of the act.
Sometimes it takes retreating to see joy when things are messy. God’s presence is very much alive daily in our life. I hope we can remember to retreat daily and be renewed through the baptismal promise. I hope we can experience it, embrace it and remember to play in the reality together.
In Holy Baptism our gracious heavenly Father liberates us from sin and death by joining us to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Experiencing the Holy
There seems to be a longing by humans to understand and experience the Holy. We search for the meaning of life. We long for relationship. We believe there has to be something larger than our self.
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This past week a colleague of mine who does not define their faith as Christianity worshipped with us. She is a very spiritual creature of God who is open to the many forms in which people experience the Holy. I wondered when it was time for the Eucharist if she would come forward to partake in this Christian Sacrament.
To my surprise she walked forward during communion, opened her hands, and received the body and blood of Christ. After worship I said, “I’m surprised that you came forward for communion.”
She responded, “I could feel my grandma right there with me during communion.”
Knowing that her grandma was a faithful Christian while on earth, I sat there in awe with a smile on my face. I even had a moment of wondering if she understood the Sacrament of Holy Communion better than some of the people who receive the Eucharist every week. Communion is a way to experience the Holy in both an individual and collective way. It an individual reminder of God’s grace and forgiveness as you come to the table confessing your sins and asking for forgiveness. It is a collective gathering at the table of our Lord with all the saints who have come before us and all that will come after us.
So, my friend had it right. Her grandma was feasting in the warm grace of God’s love with her as she was taking communion. Oh, yes – there is something much larger out there than our self! And every now and then we get to experience a glimpse of the Holy.
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This past week a colleague of mine who does not define their faith as Christianity worshipped with us. She is a very spiritual creature of God who is open to the many forms in which people experience the Holy. I wondered when it was time for the Eucharist if she would come forward to partake in this Christian Sacrament.
To my surprise she walked forward during communion, opened her hands, and received the body and blood of Christ. After worship I said, “I’m surprised that you came forward for communion.”
She responded, “I could feel my grandma right there with me during communion.”
Knowing that her grandma was a faithful Christian while on earth, I sat there in awe with a smile on my face. I even had a moment of wondering if she understood the Sacrament of Holy Communion better than some of the people who receive the Eucharist every week. Communion is a way to experience the Holy in both an individual and collective way. It an individual reminder of God’s grace and forgiveness as you come to the table confessing your sins and asking for forgiveness. It is a collective gathering at the table of our Lord with all the saints who have come before us and all that will come after us.
So, my friend had it right. Her grandma was feasting in the warm grace of God’s love with her as she was taking communion. Oh, yes – there is something much larger out there than our self! And every now and then we get to experience a glimpse of the Holy.
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