It Stays With Us

May 24, 2020 – the seventh Sunday of Easter

Acts 1:6-14

The Ascension of Jesus

In today’s reading from Acts we have a contradiction: We know that Christ is still alive and active in the world, yet, we are told of his Ascension into the heavens…

How can both be true?

Either Christ is still here with us, or has ascended to the Father and will come again in glory, right?

Perhaps, both CAN be true…

When the disciples ask Jesus if his ascension means that the Day of the Lord is at hand, he tells them, that it is not, not yet any way.

This day had been foretold by the prophets, as the time when all the barriers between ourselves and God would be removed, and the Kingdom of God would be right here…where we are!

On that day, God’s act of creation would be completed!

So, while Jesus tells the disciples that the Day of the Lord had not yet arrived, he does task the disciples, and each of us, with sharing the good news of God’s love “…to the ends of the earth.”

He calls them to be Christ in the world, to help bring about the Day of the Lord, to make the Kingdom a reality in our midst!

To share all that he taught them.

After all, Jesus was a teacher, and like any good teacher, his lessons never end, we continue to learn from him…every day.

And good teaching stays with us.

My father taught Math and Computer Science at Upsala in East Orange, NJ, this meant that I grew up as a ‘campus brat’, with life revolving around the school…and I am proud to say that I am also a graduate of the college.

It was in existence for just over 100 years, and touched many lives, producing a few authors, athletes and actors.

Along with the rest of us, who went into a variety of professions, from doctors to business people and even quite a few ministers, and…of course, teachers.

Unfortunately, the school closed about 25 years ago, with half of the campus replaced by a development, and the classroom buildings turned into a public High School.

However, even though the school itself has closed, it’s teachings have stayed with us…

And in many ways, it lives on through all of us who get together to share what he learned there, and this is not only the many teachers who graduated to teach others, but also the rest of us, who took this knowledge into our own professions.

Upsala’s legacy also lives on in the many friendships and families founded on campus, and in the stories we share, both in person and on Social Media…and through sharing these stories many new people learn about this place that was so important to all of us.

Each of us carries the story of Upsala with us…meaning that it is still with us, even though has now become a part of history.

Stories can bind us together, breaking down barriers of misunderstanding and disagreement, and can call us to reconciliation and healing in the midst of our brokenness bringing us to common ground.

Because stories teach us about each other, and about the world we share…

Whether they are stories about a school, or if they are stories about Jesus.

These stories keep memory and learning alive.

And where we find this common ground, we have a basis for growth…a starting point for moving forward, for our own ascension to making our world a better place.

This brings us closer to the time the disciples were asking Jesus about, the Day of the Lord.

In order to move us forward towards that day, we need each other’s help, which is why we are called to invite others to join us, just as Matthias was called to join the disciples, replacing the tragic Judas.

Through this, we are reminded that all of us who follow Jesus are disciples…it is not an exclusive club, but a family. We can all carry the light of the Gospel, and the more who carry this light, the brighter it shines!

Although Jesus has ascended, Christ is still with us, through the disciples, who were tasked to carry out his ministry in the world…

And we are all disciples.

Through each of us, Christ is right here in our world, and always will be.

Just as the alumni of Upsala have keeping the stories and teaching of that school alive, although it has closed.

Christ is alive when we offer each other support through the long uncertain days, when we wear a mask, and take other precautions to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and those around us…even if it is inconvenient, even if we don’t like it.

We act as Christ when we treat others with respect and compassion…even those we disagree with, or don’t necessarily like.

We are being Christ in our world when we seek reconciliation, where others foment discord, when we build partnerships that can offer us all support in the face of commons foes, not just the virus, but also ignorance and fear.

When we shine the light of God’s gracious love into all the dark places where hate can fester…we are making Christ known, right where we are, and the Kingdom comes closer to being a reality in our world.

So yes, Jesus can be ascended and seated on the right hand of God, and Christ can be right here with us, all at the same time!

This is because we are all in the same place, the risen Christ is not far off in the heavens, but in our midst…for wherever we are together, whenever we are working to help each other, and when we are gathered in praise and worship (even if Socially Distant) God is with us.

When God is with us, Christ is alive, and the Kingdom is within our grasp!

 

 

Just Look and See

 

Sunday May 17, 2020 — The Sixth Sunday of Easter

John 14:15-21

Jesus is always with us!

We may not always see Jesus…but that does not mean that he has left us alone.

In the midst of our bus and stressful world few people even think to stop, and look for Jesus in their lives.

There are some who believe that having faith in God is a sign of weakness, and will mock the very idea of God, and believe that the Jesus stories are mostly myth.

These people may see religion as a relic of the past, something akin to superstition, that has nothing to say to our daily lives.

Others may see religion as a means of instilling guilt, or as a way to prove superiority over others, a way of condemning those we disagree with, as we have seen it used to divide instead of reconcile.

Jesus foresaw this, in fact, in today’s Gospel, he tells us that as much, saying “In a little while the world will no longer see me…”

This can be taken as a warning to his disciples that he would be leaving them soon…but he may have also been referring to a time when people would become too busy to see him, or have come to believe that they have ‘out-grown’ Jesus.

Perhaps, he was speaking to those who would be too focused on creating Christ in their own image, to actually see the truth of Christ in the world.

The truth that Christ is with us always, through each of us who carries the spark of the Resurrection…the light of Easter.

However, sometimes our faith falters, and we get so caught up in our frustrations, fears and just plain ‘busy-ness’ that we do not see what is right in front of us…

Jesus knew that this could happen, and therefore, he reassures us by promising “I will not leave you orphaned…”

With these words, we are reminded that Jesus never left us, and is always with us…we just have to stop, take a deep breath, and actually see.

In seminary, I learned the story of a priest in a poor country, who was struggling with his faith, and was having trouble seeing Jesus in the world.

As he watched people around him suffering from poverty, disease and injustice, while those who were causing all this pain seemed to thrive, he wondered “Where is Jesus in all this?”

How could a loving God allow such suffering to take place?

Then, as he was about to lead worship one Sunday, the priest looked out at the people gathered for worship, they were poor, hungry and worn out, yet when he looked at them, the priest saw the face of Jesus in the crowd.

And when he saw this, he knew that Jesus had not abandoned those in need, but was alive and active in the lives of these people, that through their faith, Jesus was with them in their struggles…weeping with them, and also giving hope.

Hope in the fact that as they gathered for worship, they knew that they were not alone in their struggles, that they were loved.

Just as the face of Jesus could be seen in the crowd gathered for worship on that Sunday morning, he is with us well…whenever we are gathered for worship, even if it is via Social Distance.

This is because as followers of Jesus, we are not only called to share the good news of the Gospel with the world, but to BE that good news…to act as Christ in the world!

When we join together to be Christ in our world, the Holy Spirit is in our midst!

And Jesus is seen….

However, there are times when we are just too busy, or too distracted to look…

Or things maybe going along okay, we may be managing our lives just fine…and don’t even think of seeking out Christ in our world.

Then, when things start to go south, or we wind up facing an obstacle that we simply cannot get around, and we find ourselves in need again…we start saying our ‘fox-hole’ prayers.

And this is okay, it is part of being human and nothing we need to beat ourselves up for.

Jesus is often revealed to us when we are weak, and needy…when our illusions have fallen and we can see that we need the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The good news is that we do not need to be in the midst of a pandemic for God’s Grace to touch us…for it surrounds us always!

When we support each other through the challenges of life, not only weeping, but also rejoicing together, Jesus can be seen in our midst.

And we become the Advocate that Jesus has promised…the gift of God’s love, given to us freely.

Through us, the Holy Spirit is alive and active in the world!

Lighting up the darkness, and giving us all hope!

Which Way?

John 10:1-10; May 3, 2020

Jesus the Good Shepherd

 

These days, it is hard to know what direction to take in our lives…

We are sheltering in place to keep ourselves and others safe, because it is the right thing to do!

However, even those of us who are most committed to Social Distancing, can find ourselves questioning…

“Is quarantining ourselves is really worth it?”

“Is it really helping?”

Like others, we may find ourselves wondering if the ‘cure’ is worse than the disease.

Many have been put out of work, and are struggling financially, relationships have suffered, both from too much distancing, or too little.

Educations have been disrupted, sports, concerts and family gatherings cancelled or postponed…including weddings and funerals.

Times when we most need to be together, to get a good hug, a warm hand…and we are advised to stay at least six feet apart.

We have many ways that we can connect remotely, through the internet and phone, but it is not the same, and in many ways we feel as if we are farther apart than ever before.

We wonder if it is okay to go to the store to buy food, clothes or other necessities?

When do we wear a mask?

Is it alright to go to the park, the lake, for a run, hike or bike ride?

Or just to walk the dog.

Can we go and visit a friend who is down, offer comfort to those who mourn? How do we take care of people who are sick, with virus or any other disease?

Are we doing enough?

And we can find ourselves asking “What will come next?”

It is easy to feel confused and a bit lost now, because it is so hard to know what to do.

Right now, we are truly in need of some guidance…but where will we find it?

We can look to today’s Gospel, when Jesus tells us that he is the good shepherd!

A shepherd leads the flock, feeds them, and cares for them…even when they do not want to be cared for, even when they want to go their own way.

As OUR good shepherd we can look to Jesus for guidance…to live in the answer of the old question: “What would Jesus do?”

We can do as Jesus taught us, by showing compassion, consideration, and care, for others.

We are following Jesus when we sacrifice our own comfort and convenience in order to keep others safe and protected.

When we act selflessly, putting the needs of others ahead of our own.

When we support those who are feeling brunt of this quarantine, through the kindness of a phone call or a text, connecting via Zoom or Skype…to help all of us feel less ‘isolated’.

When we offer comfort to those struggling, with money trouble, Depression, Addiction, or illness…even the virus, when we do all these things, we are following the lead of our good shepherd.

It is not always easy to follow Jesus, but then, his journey was not an easy one…but he is our best teacher and guide.

When we move forward despite our questions and doubts, and seek to do the next right thing…even if we are not sure what that is.

When we seek to unite rather than divide…

We can help each other find our way to healing, not just from the virus, but from all the ills and injustices that this pandemic has brought to the surface…where they can be treated.

For when we follow our good shepherd, we are acting as Christ in the world, sharing his message of hope…

The message of the Gospel, the message that God’s love is for all people, and is meant to be shared. This message has the power to reconcile and restore us.

And our world is very much in need of Christ’s message of hope, we are need of some good shepherding, because this health crisis has also become an economic and political struggle.

Causing us to become further divided at a time when we need to come together to face our common foe!

Yet, all is not lost, because while this pandemic can break us, it can also give us the opportunity face the faults that keep us apart, allowing us to move forward more connected and unified than ever before.

With our good shepherd leading the way, we too can become shepherds.

Amen

The Long Week

Palm Sunday: April 5, 2020

Matthew 27:11-54

Here we are, Palm Sunday, and we are coming to the end of a Lenten season like none of us have ever seen before.

What we have been through, gives us some insight into what it might have been like for Jesus and his disciples, living with constant uncertainty and anxiety, not being sure where their journey was leading them.

Today, in terms of our Lenten journey at least, we pausing to remember the triumph of Jesus’ arrival in the Jerusalem, knowing full-well that this is only a moment of joy, that darker days are to follow.

Knowing what is come, it would be nice to be able to celebrate the day; instead, our Gospel skips over this event and takes us to Jesus’ last three days: the worst part of Holy Week, but also the most significant.

These were days when hope must have appeared to be out of reach for Jesus and his disciples.

It was a long week for them…and it makes me wonder if Jesus looked back on his Palm Sunday triumph during the darkest times at the end of that week.

We know about long weeks, unfortunately, for some of us it has been longer than for others…with worries about family, health, jobs and finances…

To tell the truth, we have known too many of these ‘long weeks’ recently, and I am probably not the only one nostalgic for February.

And it is not fair…we did nothing to deserve all this, we were just living our lives as best we could, when the virus came and threw everything off course!

But when has life ever been ‘fair’?

Life certainly wasn’t fair to Jesus…

All his life, Jesus had tried to do what was right, to be a “Mensch”, a good person. He sought to follow God’s Will, no matter where it took him…and this, appears to be his reward: to be betrayed by a close friend, arrested, mocked, tortured and then rejected by the very people he had dedicated his life to helping.

And then he was executed as a subversive, an enemy of Rome, put to death in one of the most horrific ways possible!

With everyone watching.

Sometimes our only reward for doing the right thing is the knowledge that we have done what is right…and by doing so, we have made a difference in the lives of others.

Even if the results do not seem to be so great, at first…even if it sometimes feels like all our efforts were for nothing.

Back at beginning of the last century, there were Bridge Tenders, people who managed the opening and closing of drawbridges along the rivers surrounding New York City.

On one warm day in June, about 1930, one of these Bridge Tenders, up on the Harlem river, was enjoying a breeze outside of his small shelter, when he saw two girls fall into the water, where they were taken by the current.

Without hesitation, the Bridge Tender dove into the river in an attempt to save the girls. Though he caught up to one, the river was too strong for him, and all three died.

However, his sacrifice was not in vain. As a result, he won a Carnegie award for public service, with his widow and children receiving a modest prize which helped them to make ends meet. They also had the honor of seeing his name on a plaque in Grand Central Station.

And, his act inspired others to service, to show compassion for others.

The fact that I am sharing it today, proves that the Bridge Tender’s story did not end with his death…

Just as Jesus’ story did not end at the cross, but in the triumph of Easter morning, when he walked out of the dark of the tomb and into the soft light of dawn.

Giving us all hope.

Yet, as that long week turned toward the cross, that hope must have seemed very distant for Jesus.

In the midst of our long weeks, hope can seem far away from us as well…when will it end, why are we doing this, at the cost of jobs and relationships, the price of our freedom?

Where is our reward?

When we find ourselves thinking like this, we can instead think of the doctors, nurses and other people helping to fight this virus…it must feel like an uphill battle, with no end in sight, and instead, a lot of frustration, fear, and loss.

They are putting their lives on hold and at risk, in order to help us…and many of them are getting sick themselves.

It would not be surprising if they also found themselves asking “Where is our reward?”

Here, we can stop and once again look to Jesus, and so many who have followed in his footsteps…as the reward is not necessarily just for us as individuals, but for ALL of us, as a community!

What we are doing now will help to keep the people we share this world with safe and healthy, to slow the spread of the disease, and to save lives.

In this case, our reward will be knowing that we acted with compassion.

It will not be an easy journey for us, but at least we do not have to travel this road alone…

Even if we have to keep our distance, we will still have each other to help us through these dark days, and into our own Easter, and what comes beyond, as we step into our new lives.

We will get through this…together.

“Lazarus Come Out!”

March 29, 2020

John 11:1-45; The Death of Lazarus

 

I have often wondered what it must have been like…

For Lazarus.

What it must have been like to be so sick, laying in his bed and hoping to see Jesus, not only because he was a friend, but also because Lazarus knew that Jesus…who had become known for healing others, may also be able to save him from this illness.

But still Jesus did not come, and Lazarus faded…

His sisters, Mary and Martha, were caring for him, spending their days in his sick room, praying for his recovery, and then, perhaps, for his comfort.

They too were hoping for Jesus to come and help, but were also disappointed.

We can only wonder what it must have been like for Lazarus, as he finally lost the battle with his illness, the light of this world slowly growing more distant until hope of healing was out of reach.

And still Jesus had not come to help.

We don’t have to imagine how Martha felt when Jesus finally arrived, but was far too late to help.

We can almost hear it in her voice when she tells him “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died…”

But Jesus had his reasons for the delay, as he told his disciples a few days earlier “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory”.

Still and all, the loss of his friend did not feel good for him either.

This is why the Gospel tells us that “Jesus wept” at the loss of his friend.

In this moment, we can find ourselves weeping with him.

Then, we are also made a part of the joy experienced when Jesus called “Lazarus come out!” and the man staggered from the darkness of death and back into the light.

However, we have to wonder what it was like for Lazarus to return, to come back from the dead and its mysteries?

We wonder what those four days in the darkness were like, and what it did to him.

Many people who are in Recovery from Addiction to drugs or alcohol will say that they know what it is like to be in Hell, because that is where they addictions took them.

Finding Sobriety can be like coming back to life, returning from the dead and walking back into the light.

Yet this journey is not an easy one, because recovery does not bring us back to where we were, but takes us to a new place, and we have to learn a whole new way to live!

Perhaps Lazarus could have understood this.

After he was raised, his old life was out of reach, it no longer existed for him…

He had to find a new way to live his life.

The change must have been immediate, as how do you come back from the dead and not have even those you are closest to treat you differently?

And there was more, as the next chapter of John tells us that the same people who would soon be nailing Jesus to the cross also wanted to kill Lazarus.

They wanted to make sure he stayed this time, so that proof of Jesus’ miracle was not just walking around for all to see, so Lazarus ran away.

Jesus had given him a great gift, and he did not want it to be taken away from him so quickly.

According to one tradition, Lazarus fled to Cyprus, where he eventually met with the Apostle Paul, who appointed him Bishop in the newly formed church, responsible for sharing the good news of God’s love, as given through Christ…

A message he knew well, having received it in person from Jesus, as he was called back to life.

Yet, the trauma of his death and return must have weighed heavily on Lazarus…

Today, he would probably be diagnosed with PTSD…because, why not?

Being brought back from the day has got to be traumatic!

Tradition also tells us that after he came back, Lazarus seldom smiled or laughed. Instead, he remained taciturn, withdrawn and serious.

But he also became known for his piety, devotion to shepherding the church, and to helping all those in need. It was believed that this new life of service was inspired by what he had seen while in the land of the dead for those four days.

Trauma is something that many of us can relate to.

Most of us have known sorrow and suffering that has changed who we are, or has changed the lives of those we love…and now we are sharing another time of trial…together!

What all of us are going through will change our lives, because we can never go back to where we were before the virus hit, we are different people, just like a person in recovery from addiction…

Just like Lazarus.

While I do not believe that it is ever God’s Will for us to suffer, as Jesus pointed out, sometimes suffering can help bring out the best in us.

How we face this trauma can show the world what it means to be followers of Christ, to truly walk in his footsteps.

These times can make us stronger people, stronger in faith, and stronger in love and compassion for each other. Facing these challenges can also lead us to find reconciliation at a time when it seems as if many have been trying to pull us father apart.

We can find unity in having gone through a common trial, one that transcends all of our differences: politics, religion or race.

And we need to rely upon each other to get through this, and then to move beyond the virus and into a new life, because we can never go back…but that is okay, because when Jesus raised up Lazarus, he did not call upon him to back to his old life, but to a new one…a true gift of love.

The same new life promised to all of us in his resurrection on Easter morning, when Jesus himself stepped out of the darkness and into the light of a new day.

This promise was given to all of us on that early morning, as Christ came to change the world with the good news of God’s love for all people…a message we are all called to share together.

We share this message by caring for each other, and supporting each other, for wherever this message is shared, we inspire hope in each other.

Hope, that is sorely needed…not only today, in the midst of this crisis, but for the world that we will be moving into…together.

For this too shall pass…and we will all find recovery as we are all called back into the light to proclaim that God’s love still shines brightly!

 

A depiction of St. Lazarus

Jesus and The Blind Man

 

March 22, 2020

John 9:1-41; Jesus Heals the Blind Man

Lent has become a very real for us this year…

Not only are we following Jesus as he journeys towards the cross, we may be feeling as if we are actually making that journey ourselves…

We are experiencing things that most of us never thought we’d see…not outside of a movie or a TV show.

During this season, we have found ourselves living with uncertainty and anxiety, in danger of getting lost in the darkness that comes with the fear of the unknown.

Searching for meaning, seeking the light…when all we want is for things to go back to normal.

When we are not even be sure what ‘normal’ means any more.

For the blind man in today’s gospel, the darkness was normal, it was all he knew…to be healed was something he could hardly imagine.

Then, Jesus came along and changed everything…

He gave the blind man sight, for the first time ever, and gave him a new ‘normal’.

We may read of this miracle and think that the blind man’s life was great after Jesus restored his sight, but healing is not always easy, while the blind man was given a miracle, it came with a price: lots of questions and accusations, and a lot to get used to, as his life would never be the same again.

He had to learn a whole new way to live, as he could never go back to the life he knew.

A few years ago, while walking out to my car, I slipped and fell on the ice, and I shattered my elbow!

This left me with pins and a plate in my elbow, which led to a long and painful recovery. After a couple of weeks of healing, I started Physical Therapy. It was not fun, but with a lot of help, I was able to regain about 90% of the use of my arm.

I got better, but things did not go back to the way they were before the accident, I simply had to get used to a new normal.

Today, we too are moving towards our own new ‘normal’ and the journey between here and there will not be an easy one.

It will be difficult and painful for so many…

But with each other’s help, we will find healing; however, our lives will never be the same.

While this too shall pass, it will leave a scar.

Just as I did after my accident, and like the blind man in the Gospel, we too will need to adjust to our new lives, and we may find ourselves in mourning for what we have lost:

A job, a lifestyle, a relationship or perhaps, sadly, we may even find ourselves mourning people who have fallen victim to the virus.

Or to the fear it inspires.

And this is where faith comes in, for this is a gift that can carry us through all the changes and challenges that we will face on our way to healing.

For faith, especially when shared, enables us to face our fears, and speaks to our anxiety, as it is the good news of God’s gracious love, which surrounds and supports us always…

It is this gift that inspires to keep moving forward, giving us hope for the future, assuring us that our world can never grow so dark that the light of God’s love cannot reach us.

This is Jesus’ promise, a promise given when he told those questioning him about the miracle, and also told us, that he is the light of the world…

The true light of God’s love, given for us all…the light that we are called to share together, until it grows so strong that there is no darkness left.

The light that gives us hope on our own journey…

For it is the same light that shines forth from the empty tomb, a light that remind us that for every season of Lent, there is an Easter.

Seize the (Ordinary) Days

 

“Carpe Diem”, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life!”, “Make the most of every day!”, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

I recently lost a friend. She was one of those people who was (almost) always positive. No matter what was going in in her life, she did her best to put a good spin on it, and keep a smile on her face. Being a natural cynic, I could have seen this as disingenuous, but as I got to know her, I realized that she was nothing if not genuine.

She was the type of person who would take these aphorisms to heart, whereas I am the kind of person who struggles with them…finding them easy to say and to repeat, but much more difficult to follow.

Of course, there are some days when it is easy to find reasons to rejoice…

For example, not too long ago, my girlfriend and I spent a few days at the shore. While there, we had a great time! We spent time in the town checking out shops, that evening we watched a thunderstorm rolling over the beach from the roof of the B & B, and then walking the boardwalk in the sunshine the next day.

On days like that it’s easy to find reasons to rejoice and be glad! When I was at the beach, I wanted to seize the day and hold onto it as tightly as I could. In the same way, the worst days can also inspire us to hope, turning us to our Higher Power and to each other for support in the midst of tragedy and loss. But what about the regular days? The days ground out at a job that is uninspiring, filled complaints, deadlines and stress, not to mention long commutes and having to deal with shopping and other chores once work is through?

How do we motivate ourselves to make the most of those days when we keep watching the clock and wishing it would speed up as we trudge towards quitting time? When we don’t feeling like savoring every moment and instead, want the time to go quickly?

I think this is a valid question: How to rejoice and be glad when faced with the monotony of ordinary days? It may be a good question, but there are no easy answers.

But then, when are there ever easy answers in life?

I don’t have any answers myself…if I did, perhaps I’d be rich enough so that my days wouldn’t be quite so ordinary; however, what I do have are suggestions!

You can take them for what they are worth (remember I have two degrees and still work in a call-center, so any suggestions can be taken with a large grain of salt).

We can start by simply, by being grateful for breathing. It seems like nothing, but just being able to breathe is pretty important to setting the tone for the day…even if those breaths are not always easy, it is a gift to simply be alive to enjoy an ‘ordinary’ day.

If we can practice the joy of living on a daily basis, despite any challenges we may face during that day, we are ahead of the game!

During the midst of our busy day, we can stop and look at the sky, even if it’s raining or snowing. While it helps to get outside, this is not always possible, so just making that connection with nature, even if it is through glass, can make a big difference in our attitude.

In regard to work, even if it is not the job we want, or even like, we can be grateful for it. No matter how insufficient, having a steady paycheck and benefits are crucial. At least we are being paid, and not wondering where our next dime will be coming from (not an exaggeration, I have been there). This is something many do not have to count on. This means that your shitty job could be one that some people would feel lucky to have.

That said, we can also make the most of the day by doing something nice for others. We can help those who are struggling with the challenges of life, by simply offering them kindness and friendship. We can make our day better by showing compassion to those who may not feel as if they have many reasons to rejoice.

We can also remember the great gift of having other people in our lives…even those we do not like very much. Every person we come into contact with can teach us something, and therefore, enrich our lives. It is even more important to have people we share a deeper connection with, like family, friends, and/or a ‘significant other’. These are the people who can give us support and show us care when life can get a bit overwhelming.

It is these relationships that add value and meaning to our lives.

For those of us who are able to get up, and get to work or school, or just plain out and about, we can be grateful for our health, even if it is less than perfect. Any day we can get up and get active has the potential of being a good day…

No matter what else is going on in our lives, it is great to be able to be present for them, and to be able to ask for help.

Clearly, not every day is over-flowing with perfection, and there are many when the joy of living seems far away, we can do what my friend often did: ‘flip the switch’ and seek out the positive in the midst of the difficult…or ordinary.

This can enable us to grasp at whatever sparks of happiness that can light up the darkness, no matter how fleeting these sparks may be.

Each day gives us an opportunity to celebrate that joy of living, knowing that no matter what we are facing we are not alone, because we have a power greater than ourselves walking with us. That power may be a deity, it may be nature, science, the universe, or simply the power of compassion shared among those we care for. The point is that having faith can allow us to face the darkest…or even the most ordinary of days and still be able to see the light of hope shining brightly.

This light reminds us that this IS the day the Lord has made for us to rejoice and be glad in; and this is especially important when reasons to rejoice are not self-evident. Like with the friend that recently passed.

Although she not only sought out reasons for rejoicing during her struggle with cancer, long before she was diagnosed, my friend always sought out the positive in any situation…no matter how dark the day, she would always be able to find a spark of happiness, a reason for rejoicing, which gave her a smile that that would light up any room.

She shared this light with all of the people who knew her, and this light will stay with us…

Even on the most ordinary of days.

A New Reformation

Each year, there seem to be fewer people in the pews. It has become a problem that no only affects our congregation, but many traditional ‘main-line’ denominations: the decline in church attendance! 

Many of these churches are hurting financially due to the loss of membership, with some congregations, both Protestant and Roman Catholic, having been forced to close their doors! While this is not a new phenomenon, the loss of membership has increased recently, and this has many in the churches to asking “Why is this happening?” 

There are no easy answers, but it is important to understand some of the contributing factors, as this can help us find solutions. 

Among these factors are: 

• Scheduling youth sports and other events for Sunday mornings.
  • Sunday mornings used to be off-limits, but now time constraints, and the fact that many people do not go to church, have changed this practice.
  • Also, for many families, Sunday morning can be the only time during the week when they can just take it easy, and not have to get up and go, go, go.
• Negative images of the church in the Press and on Social Media.
  • The Clergy Abuse issues that have plagued many traditional churches, both protestant and Roman Catholic.
• Pundits, comedians and writers who have derided Christianity as being based on myth or “fairy tales”; and mock those who believe.
• The excesses shown by some “Mega-Church” leaders, who are perceived as taking advantage of the tax-exempt status of their churches, and have used contributions to line their own pockets.(Practices that will get you assigned to the 8th level of Hell.)
  • These abuses have led to a call to remove this status for all churches, which would be the nail in the coffin of those congregations that are trying to serve their communities while operating on a narrow margin. 
• The infusion of political rhetoric within some churches.
  • While this criticism is most often directed at Evangelicals, who have supported conservative values from pulpit, it happens on both the left and the right; however, it should be pointed out that there is a difference between seeking Social Justice and pushing a political agenda.
• Loss of trust:See points above. 
• Inconsistency of message:
  • Some still preach ‘Fire & Brimstone’, about an angry God, who causes bad things to happen in our lives as punishment or to teach us a lesson.
  • Others preach about the unconditional love of God, and forgiveness.
    • Both will often fall short of their message, because they are human beings; however, this can be confusing, and lead to accusations of hypocrisy.

• A lack of clergy.
  • It has become very difficult to attract new people to the clergy, in the most part due to competition from the corporate world, and the heavy burden of debt incurred by seminary studies. 
    • In addition, many younger people have grown up hearing faith being compared to believing in fairy tales, and other negativity regarding Christianity and those who follow it.

• Other: obviously there are many other reasons, such as those who seek different routes to faith and a connection with a Higher Power that works for them. There are also those who are excited by the livelier worship and the family atmosphere of many non–denominational churches. 

Perhaps it is that the traditional churches got used to their prominence in the community, and assumed that there would always be people to fill the pews. Maybe when some saw the decline, they accepted that times were changing, and that no matter what they did to change things, the results were inevitable? 

There are many factors behind the decline in attendance, and there is probably not a single root cause that could be identified, but maybe this is not all that important. What is important is to figure out what to do about this crisis.

There is a deep hunger for spirituality and for connection in our world, but this is a hunger that the church has failed to adequately meet, as many who have attended the traditional churches and left, reported that they felt uninspired and unengaged during worship…as if they were an audience rather than active participants.

So, one answer would be to get the congregation up and moving during worship; however, this is not necessarily an easy thing to do. If we try to encourage people to participate more, by getting up, singing more, or even (gasp) moving, we’d face a lot of push-back, mostly because we are not used to worshiping this way. 

Maybe we could take baby steps, as a way of easing congregation members into being more a part of the worship? We can strive to make the liturgy both more interactive and more relevant to parishioners’ lives. We could form a committee (we love those in the Lutheran Church) to review and adapt the liturgy to that congregation, and to make this an on-going process.  

We could get people to stand up more, by asking them to get out the pews and welcome each other on Sunday morning. During the sermon, the pastor can issue challenges to the congregation to get up and move, change seats, stretch, or help out with the message. 

Maybe we could ask for volunteers do the children’s sermon, or to share their own stories of faith in place of the sermon (with advanced notice of course). They would not even need to go to the pulpit, but could stay in their pew, with a hand-held microphone. 

These are just some suggestions, and whether they would work or not, the point is that in order to continue our ministry and mission to the community, we need to start thinking differently, to try new things, and not be married to “we have never done that before” any longer. 

The world doesn’t stand still, and neither does our relationship with God and each other, this is why doing what we have always done is not always the best course.

Instead, we need to have a new “Re-formation”! 

This can begin with taking an inventory, which would require us to look at where we have been, what has worked for us, and what has not. Then we can look at where we want to go as a congregation and how we want to meet the new challenges that are facing us.

We can also look at other churches, to see what is working well for them.

Many of the churches that are doing well have fostered a family atmosphere of support and care for each other, where the members feel invested in the life of the congregation, and where they can share (not just hear) in a message that speaks to their lives.

As Lutherans, we believe in the “Priesthood of All Believers”, meaning that living in the midst of God’s grace, we are all ministers, called to share the good news of God’s unconditional love both in the sanctuary, and beyond our walls, out into our community! As such we ARE all part of a larger family of faith, and like most families we can be dysfunctional at times…and this can leave to disagreements and divisions.

While division and argument seem to be in vogue right now, but they only pull us farther apart and the more polarized we become, the less we can accomplish, and we all lose.

One of the best ways to break down barriers and to find reconciliation, is by working together for a common cause…to make things better for everyone. We may not always follow the same path to get there, but I believe that we can all agree on where we want to wind up: living in a more peaceful, compassionate and prosperous (not just money) world! 

To achieve this goal, both the church leaders and the congregation need to work together to find solutions, and now would be a good time to start that process. We are already in a transitional period, and as such, are in the midst of changing who we are and how we worship…together! 

As people called to share the good news God’s love with the world, we can focus on what brings us all together, not on what separates us from each other. For in this sharing, there is reconciliation, and where there is reconciliation, there is growth! 

To Re-form the church is not going to be easy, and it may not necessarily work; it has been tried before. However, if we truly believe in our calling to be Christ to the world, we have to do something! 

We have to talk (and listen) to each other to find out what would make our worship more meaningful, to help us feel more invested. Then, we will need to talk to our community, our neighbors to find out what unmet needs they may have, and seek ways (together) to meet people where they are in terms of their faith journey. 

It is this unity that can help us re-form the church, and revitalize our ministry and message…because while no one person has all the answers, together we can find solutions.

Unity is not an unreachable dream, although getting there may not be easy (or pretty). The first step in working together is to meet each other right where we are, as we carry the light of God’s love with us, and that sharing that light we all people (regardless of how/if they worship) until it can fill every dark corner of our world with the hope that is needed so badly.

Change is Inevitable

It was a powder-blue leisure suit.   

It was made of thick polyester, with blue buttons with white borders (they looked like little white-wall tires), and even for the mid-70s it was a hideous outfit! When I complained to my mother, she pointed out that the suit was reversable, when inside out, it revealed a stunning (not in a good way) navy blue and white herringbone pattern!

Although I hated it, I still had to wear the suit to church every Sunday, because that’s what we did back then: on Sunday we got dressed up to go to church. It was unusual to see someone dressed casually for worship on a Sunday morning, and if anyone wore jeans, or left the tie at home, it would often set tongues to wagging!

Even during the heat of summer (with no air conditioning), everyone in their ‘Sunday-best’ and miserable, as there was no cross-ventilation! Even as a kid, it was hard to take, and it was not uncommon to see an older member simply pass-out in the pews and have to be taken out on a stretcher.

Back then, there was not as much music, beyond the three hymns and a choir anthem, the service was much more formal, and the sermons were very long and boring!

Times were different, it was the 1970’s, and we lived in a world where few people had cable TV, there was no public internet, if I wanted to make a phone call I had to use the one mounted on the wall in the kitchen (there was stool for specifically sitting on during phone conversations), or if I was out with friends, I’d better have some quarters for the payphone! Also, it was unheard of to have a computer, although my dad worked with one at the college, which filled up a large room!

Things have changed since then…

And while we can wax nostalgic about how things were “back in the day”, I can’t say that I miss thick polyester suits, nor do I miss life without cell phones, going on-line or laptops and tablets.

In college, I had to write papers on a Royal manual typewriter…lots of fun, especially when I made a mistake or wanted to change what I had written!

Change is a part of life, sometimes they are for the best, and sometimes they are not, but often it is a little of both! Regardless, change is seldom easy, and doesn’t come without some anxiety, or even pain!

While many of us have trouble accepting change, especially if we like the way things are already; it doesn’t need to be scary.  Even with the major changes we are facing here at St. Mark’s. These changes will not be easy ones, but we will get through them…together.

We have been blessed to have strong leadership during the life of our congregation, and Pastor Chuck is no exception. He has not attempted to lead by command but has shown a talent for inspiring people to become engaged in the life of the congregation and community!

When I was in seminary we were warned: if everyone in the congregation likes you, then you are probably doing something wrong. For the most part I agree with this, but I see Pastor Chuck as the exception. While he has never claimed to be perfect, it is clear that he practices his faith in all he does, and the compassion and commitment as a pastor has helped us avoid becoming mired in divisions and bickering that has as impacted other congregations.

Pastor Chuck has been a part of our congregation for over 20 years, and now that he is moving on, and while wish he and Kathy all the best. There is no doubt that we will miss Pastor Chuck’s leadership and friendship! However, his influence will stay with us, as together we have strengthened the ministry of St. Mark’s, both here in this building and out beyond these walls!

Through our ministry as a congregation we are reminded that we are the Body of Christ in the world, and walk in the light of God’s Grace, and in this light, we are given the gifts of faith and love and the tools we need to face whatever the next years will bring, and we will be stronger for it!

As Pastor Chuck moves on, so too will we, and we are going to be okay, as the story of St. Mark’s in our community and lives will continue…because we will be moving on together!

St. Mark’s has a history, rich in tradition, and in the ministry of making Christ known in our lives and in our community. And we will have a future, built upon this solid foundation of congregation, of faith and of the Gospel: the healing message of God’s love for us all!

Unlike polyester suits, payphones, and 8-track players, this love is one thing that will not fade away, and will never change!!