Two Years Go By So Quickly

Hard to imagine it was just 2years ago that we gathered in this spot to begin our time at Trinity.

Here it is. The end. Well, an ending of sorts. Pastors Colin, Rick and I have completed our 2 years in the Transition into Ministry program and now are headed our separate ways into various ministry ventures. There were times when the 2 years seemed to creep and crawl at a snail's pace, but these last few months especially have flown by!

Can't you just see how much we've grown to love each other?!

Since I began two years ago by sharing a bit about each of us on this blog, the boys nominated me to do it again. (They were just lazy and didn't want to do it themselves!)  But seriously, I know that all three of us would like to say THANK YOU to the congregation for a great first call. You have inspired us, befriended us, challenged us, and supported us. You showed us patience when we didn't always seem to know what we were doing, care when we were going through a tough time, and encouragement when we toyed with new ideas and tried new things. To each of our ministry teams-- again, thank you! To the staff-- we were so lucky to get to work with you; thank you for helping make us better pastors! To Pr Lew-- thanks for the humor, the good suggestions of where to eat, and your modeling of faithful and persistent pastoral care. To Pr John-- what can we say? You did a great job picking us! :)  But also, you did a great job leading, listening to, and laughing with us. It was an incredible experience working with you: thanks!  In case you haven't gotten the drift of this message: we are really thankful for everything and everyone! 

So, now you are probably wondering what is in store for all of us. Well, here's a little bit about each of our future plans: 

PASTOR COLIN~

Pastor Colin will be staying in the area with his wife Jeni, who is happily serving as pastor in Glyndon. At the time of this posting, he is awaiting the congregational vote at a nearby church, having already been recommended by Call Committee and Council. He is very excited at the prospect of this new ministry. In the meantime, he will be enjoying some much deserved and anticipated time at his family's lake place. Perhaps he'll even get some golf in.

PASTOR RICK~

Wisconsin beckons for Pastor Rick, Lindsay and Anya. They are moving to Madison, WI, where Lindsay will begin a PhD program in the fall. Pastor Rick's name is in at a couple of congregations there, and he is awaiting interviews with them in the month of August. They're excited to be moving to a place just blocks from the Capitol, in the heart of the city's action! Lots of good parks, coffee shops, and even a Walgreens nearby! As ever, Anya keeps them busy and on the go.

PASTOR ALEXIS~

This city girl is heading back home, to Milwaukee. I am currently awaiting a congregational vote after the Council and Call Committee recommended me for call at a little urban church in the northwest/central part of the city. The hope is that I will start by Sept 1. Until then I am on the go-go-go! Packing and moving here, then a Mission Developer's Training in Seattle, then vacation in upstate NY with my seminary best friends. I'm looking forward to being back in the land of good brats and beer, and my two adorable nephews! 

Again, for welcoming us as three of your own, and for giving us the chance to grow into the delightful and talented pastors you see before you today-- thank you!  Trinity will always hold a special place in our hearts!


In Christ's Love,
Pastors Colin, Rick, and Alexis

It's So Hard to Say GOODBYE

This is the sermon that Pr Alexis preached on Sunday May 20, 2012. On that day the congregation recognized graduating seniors, was the last day of Sunday School, and most importantly was Organist Peter Nygaard's final Sunday, after 27 years. There were lots of goodbyes... 

It had been a long day. I found myself back in my office, looking around at the empty walls, the faint smell of Lysol still lingering from yesterday’s thorough desk and table cleaning. Gone were the progress charts, stories, colored pictures, and helpful spelling hints from the walls. Gone were the little notes I’d posted around my desk, reminders of various tasks. Instead what was left was the pile of cards that many students had made me. And the poster that one second grade class made. And the tear stains on my shirt from the goodbye hugs I’d just gotten from several very upset kids who didn’t want to say goodbye.

It had been a long day. My last at Windlake Elementary, where I was now the most recent casualty in the public school budget cuts that unfortunately resulted in the termination of my position as Bilingual Instructional Support Aid, at a school that was primarily Spanish-speaking. It was hard for them to let go of one of only two fluent Spanish speakers on staff. But more than that, the goodbye was tough because over the semester—we had grown to care for each other. Both staff and students—they had all become so dear to me.

But now, I had to say goodbye. And it was so hard to say goodbye. What would happen to these kids? To Patricia, my little first grader who barely knew any English and who met with me once a day. To Evan, my tough fifth grader who was already starting to follow in his dad’s footsteps towards gang life. To sisters Ana and Veronica, who had spent most of the year homeless—couch surfing from home to home. To Mary, my colleague who I had grown close with as she navigated a nasty separation from her husband… What would happen to these beloved ones once I was gone? I worried about them, held on to my dreams and hopes for them.

It’s so hard to say goodbye.

I think Jesus understood a thing or two about the difficulty of saying goodbye. Here in the gospel, he sits with his disciples, his friends, on the night he’s about to be betrayed, before he will be executed. His heart is heavy. And in the few chapters previous to our gospel today, Jesus has been teaching his disciples, leaving them with final instructions and bits of wisdom. But in his last moments with them, heart heavy with worry and anxiety over what will become of his beloved ones, before heading to the Garden, he does the best thing he can for them… he PRAYS for them.

He knew his time with them was too short. That he had more he wanted to say or give. He worried about what would become of his students, his friends. Of James and John who so desperately wanted to be at his side, in places of honor. Of Peter who too often couldn’t see the whole picture. Of Thomas whose faith was strong but was full of questions. Of Judas who would be lost. What would become of these, whom he had grown to love and care for? True, God had entrusted these faithful servants to him over the last few years. And they had witnessed marvelous things! But, it was time. Jesus knew it. Time to leave them. Time to die.

It’s so hard to say goodbye.

You’ve been there, haven’t you? In that instant where you linger over those fleeting moments that quickly bring you to Goodbye? Filled with anxiety, sadness, heart-ache… unwilling to let go…

It is SO HARD to say goodbye.

Because goodbyes signal an end. An end of time together, an end to a job being worked, an end to a relationship… And when we’ve been so blessed, when we have had so much growth and so much hope being built together, as Jesus had had with his disciples and I had had with my staff and students at Windlake… when the hellos had been so good and fruitful… the goodbyes are always hard.

We are no stranger to goodbyes here. Today in the CLC at 11:10 we will honor graduating seniors, many of whom ready themselves to move out of the homes they’ve grown up in to move on to new jobs or college. It’s also the last day of Sunday School today, and our dozens of faithful teachers will say goodbye to the kids they’ve watched grow and learn all year. Then there are the goodbyes that will come in the next two months as the three of us TiM pastors prepare for new calls. And perhaps much more profoundly for us today, here, we ready ourselves to say goodbye to Peter, who has faithfully served this congregation for 27 ½ years by sharing his gift of music with us. As organist, he has touched so many through steady and thoughtful worship leadership on Sundays as well as at your weddings and funerals. Over the years, he has grown to be a dear and beloved figure in this worshiping community. And now it is time for Peter to retire.

It’s so hard to say goodbye.

But, I’ll let you in on a little secret. Something Jesus knew in those final moments before he was to be taken away from his friends… goodbyes don’t have to be THE END. Perhaps an end, yes, but THE END? No.    Not just because God had given them to each other, which God did. And not just because Jesus had loved, protected, guarded, and taught them for years, which he did. But Jesus knew that his goodbye wasn’t the end because his hopes and dreams for them lived on with him. He knew it wasn’t THE END because he held them in love and prayer.

Jesus prays that his disciples will continue to grow in love for each other and in fervent love towards God. He prays that they will be protected and united after he is gone. Especially as he tasks them with going on to do the work of the Church in his absence.

Because goodbyes don’t have to mean ‘gone from heart and mind forever.’  Just because we say goodbye, doesn’t mean a relationship loses its meaning or effect on us. Just because Jesus said goodbye to his disciples, doesn’t mean that their journey together had come to an end. His impact on their lives didn’t stop just because he was leaving. His goodbye wasn’t THE END.

Just because I said goodbye to the staff and students at Windlake doesn’t mean I still don’t think about the kids— where they are now, how they’ve grown. It doesn’t mean that I haven’t hoped the school has been spared more devastating budget cuts. It doesn’t mean that I don’t expect that the teachers have continued to educate with exemplary patience and grace. It doesn’t mean that they have forgotten me or the work I did with them. I left that place with love in my heart and prayers on my lips. And they stay there today. And so our goodbye was not THE END.

And just because we say goodbye today to Peter, along with the many other goodbyes we say in these coming days and months, doesn’t mean that our relationship together is done. Doesn’t mean that we are parted forever from each others’ thoughts. Holding each other in love and prayer, not just today but especially in the days to come, we trust that our goodbye is not THE END.

It IS so hard to say goodbye. 

But, we can take comfort in knowing that not only can our relationships live on in our memory, thoughts, and prayers through and after our goodbyes, but that in all of it—through our anxieties and fears and heartache, Jesus holds us in HIS prayers.

Today our Savior holds us in prayer. Whatever we need, whatever goodbyes are weighing on us today—it’s in God’s hands.

What prayers do you need today? What is getting in the way of your relationships, what goodbyes are heavy on your hearts? Whatever it is, be reminded that there is no goodbye so great, that it can separate us from the love of God. No goodbye so great that the distance can’t be covered by holding your beloved one’s fears and troubles, hopes and dreams in love and prayer, just as our risen and ascended Christ holds us in prayer.  Goodbyes may be hard, but they’re not THE END when our love and prayers live on.

Thanks be to God. AMEN. 

Church-- What It Really Looks Like

I got a glimpse of it recently.

CHURCH.

Not just because it was Pentecost Sunday. Not just because, well, hey-- I'm a pastor and work in a church building. But it was right there, where I least expected to see it, at:
                          Graduation Parties!


It's that time of year. Graduation. This year Trinity's graduating senior class is pretty big, and active. And so, the graduation invites came. I was happy to go, to see the homes of these seniors, to celebrate with them on this momentous time in their lives.


But, I didn't just see these 17 and 18 years olds, surrounded by memory books, lots of cake, tacos-in-a-bag, family, and friends... I saw... The Church. It happened, right there before my eyes.


What was it that I saw? Community. At each of the parties I attended, I expected to see family-- aunts, uncles, and grandmas-- helping host and serve. I even expected to see a couple of Trinity families who also have seniors. What I didn't expect, was how often I saw Trinity members helping their friends host these parties. I didn't expect to see them serving the bbq sandwiches, pouring the lemonade, and serving up the ice cream. I didn't expect that families who didn't have seniors (didn't even have teenagers, some of them!) would be there at these parties, but there they were alongside grandpa and Mr. Tandberg. I didn't expect to see so many underclassmen Trinity kids at these parties, but there they were playing boccee ball with the graduate's cousins. 


I saw what it looks like when the Body of Christ comes together in love to live joyfully with each other. "If one member is honored, all rejoice together with it." (1 Cor 12:26)  

It was... beautiful.  

I found myself feeling so proud to be a part of this community, to be a pastor to this community. Here were a group of people whose faith and commitment to each other were incredible signs of God's faithfulness and grace. 

It's a great day to be Church!

The Cross We Bear...

His name was Richard.

We first met a couple weeks ago.
He'd just been kicked out of one of the local shelters and made his way to Trinity.

I had been gone most of the morning, but he waited for me at the church. For hours. When I arrived, we talked about some options of other places he could go. I learned that he had burned bridges at one of the shelters big time. He could not return.

I quickly learned why...

Richard was surly. He was tired, and grouchy. He was loud and impatient. He also had some clear health problems and it was apparent he hadn't been able to take good care of himself or keep himself clean and healthy. In a word, Richard was a pain.

But, being a pain doesn't negate one's need of help. So, I gave him some numbers to call (other churches and agencies) and I made some calls on his behalf. I even found a lead for a place to stay for the night for him and gave him what help I could. He'd wanted more. I had no more to give. After he'd lingered at the church for several hours, I told him it was time for him to go. Which he did, reluctantly. Complaining about his mobility, about the bus system in town, and about how no one will help him in this city...

I wasn't sure if I'd see or hear back from him again. 


But I did.

Richard called back several days later from a motel that he was staying at. Some pastor from a local church had helped him secure a couple of nights. The day he left us, he'd ended up in the hospital for a day. Then one night on the floor at one of the shelters and he went searching for money for a motel so that he could get some good sleep. I couldn't blame him. Clearly with his physical and health conditions as they were-- it had to be hard to be on the streets and not be able to rest per doctor's orders.

So he called looking for some help, again. This time for food (he's diabetic and the only food at the continental breakfast at the hotel was sugary, unhealthy stuff) and for help getting his bags which were being stored at the shelter he was no longer allowed to return to. So, I made a couple calls and found a Trinity member who was willing to bring him his bags from the shelter to the motel. These bags had some personal care items and his insulin-- he was VERY grateful to have them back. He told me then that his county case worker had secured a place for him, and that he was hoping to get in the apartment come the end of the week. We were both happy to hear this news.

I didn't expect to hear from Richard again.


 But, I did...

Wednesday I got another call from Richard. He was in the hospital. Again. This time, he had collapsed at the [different] motel he was staying at. Nearly had a stroke the paramedics said. He was banged up pretty badly from the fall. He said everything had fallen apart. The apartment fell through (didn't pass the background check). His motel room was only paid up through Friday morning and then he'd have to be out of there, with no where to go. His mother who manages his social security and disability was refusing to send him any money. And to make matters worse, she never even checked in on him upon hearing that he was in the hospital.

Richard was even more angry. And loud. And bitter. He lashed out at me and at everyone. Some of the time (perhaps most of the times) I knew he didn't mean it. But, nevertheless, it was hard to take his calls, to listen to his rants, and to keep working on his behalf.

I told him that I didn't think I could get in to visit him, but that I would call him at the hospital the next day. But when I called yesterday, he had been discharged and was back at the motel. Back to angry Richard. He was panicked-- what was he going to do? He had to be out of the motel in one day. And had no resources, no options left.

Every idea I had, he shot down. He belittled my suggestions and questioned whether I really was helping him or not. Finally, I let him have it. I told him I was offended by his tone and by his ungrateful attitude. That I was doing everything I could but he wasn't making it any easier for me. Eventually I said I needed to go, but that I would make one last phone call for him. He wanted me to come up with the $250 he needed to stay an extra week in the motel. That wasn't going to happen. But, I knew there HAD to be some place that could help.

So I called a friend at one of the shelters, the shelter that had banned him. She listened as I explained how frustrated both Richard and I were. I told her that I was extremely concerned about his health, that if he didn't find time and space to calm down and rest, that he would have a stroke and would likely end up dead. There had to be a place for even surly, grouchy, angry, impatient, disabled homeless men like Richard. And my friend agreed, though she didn't know if they could let him back in. She agreed to talk with her staff and to get back to me in the morning.

Today, I arrived at church to about a dozen missed messages from Richard. My friend from the shelter had contacted him, but it didn't go well. He was not going to be able to return. He was again frantic. He had just a couple hours til he had to be out. Miles and miles away from any services and without any money. And, to be frank, with no hope and not a friend in the world.

When I called back, I could tell he was angry with me. I had failed him. He accused me and the church of not being Christian, because Christians help people in need. I told him we did help. Lots of churches helped. But that he needed to take responsibility too. I told him I had done all I could, that I had even wrangled a possible second chance with the shelter, but he wasted the opportunity. What was I to do?

What was he to do?

He was at a loss. And he felt let down. So he told me he'd never call again.

It's hard to do what I do some days. How do I reach out with compassion and kindness and generosity, while at the same time advocating for personal responsibility and respect for myself and for others? I know that I gave more time to Richard than anyone else I've seen in the last four months. Yet nothing was good enough.

Because the system is not going to work for a guy like Richard. All avenues were closed, if not permanently than at least for the time being. His anger and frustration are understandable, but they make encounters difficult. Hard to go out on a limb for someone who you don't really like or trust or believe is grateful. And yet, as those feelings welled up in me, I pushed myself to stay with him. I wouldn't be one of the many who abandoned him.

On this Good Friday, I am struck by the irony of this day. Good... what's good about today? Richard would tell you, not a darn thing! The cross, the messy, painful, dark cross... Where all our frustrations, abandonment, anger, selfishness, and fear dwell... today, this week, with Richard, I felt the disappointment of the cross. Of human shame, guilt, and inadequacy.

And today, I will sit with that. I will cling to the cross. Today, hope seems at a loss.

Richard knows that this is true.

But, I dare to believe in hope. I dare to trust that there can be resurrection-- new life and new chances. I pray it for Richard, as I pray it for us all. May the hope of the resurrection find us always in the darkness of the crosses we bear.

Good Decisions

Today was our annual 9th grade "6th Commandment Retreat" (otherwise known as the Sex Retreat)! I think it's one of the most important things we do with the youth-- helping them think through sexuality and how they make their decisions about when and in what context it's okay to have sex.

We looked at Scripture passages, watched video clips from tv shows and movies (Glee and Twilight), and listened to popular music ("Moves like Jagger" and "Just a Kiss") to see the many ways that media influences us when it comes to sex and relationships. We also did activities around what character traits are most important to us in a partner and around gender stereotypes. Most of the activities happened with just the youth, but some happened with their parents at the end. The event is always such a joy-- a blessed, awkward, clumsy, helpful joy...

But one of the things that has stayed with me today is something that guest presenter Becky Hulden said. Becky is a labor & delivery nurse, and she talked very candidly, patiently, and graciously about healthy sex and relationships. Among some of the more colorful things she discussed was the brilliant summation that:

"You can make good decisions, or you can make decisions good."

MAKE:
GOOD DECISIONS............
...........DECISIONS GOOD

She pointed out that most people assume the hardest and most important part of a decision is what happens before and as you make it. In the "making" of the good decision. But, too often we don't realize that what really counts is what we do once we've made the decision. We have lots of power and choice to take any decision we've made, and turn it into something positive or negative. So, even when we don't make a good decision, we can make that decision good in the end.

Such a helpful tool when it comes to relationships. We try to do the best we can to make the most informed choices and decisions we can. But ultimately, we will never make ALL good decisions. Ultimately we make mistakes. But, even so God is working in and through us to help transform us, to help make a way, to help find the joy and hope in any situation. So when we think we've messed up, we can trust that we can always find the good (because we can always find God) in any decision.

I Love You!

Coming in to work this morning, I saw the most beautiful thing. I saw that someone had made a snow angel in front of the steps leading up to our sanctuary. And they'd written in the snow: "I love you."

I love you.

If that wasn't the best evangelism campaign/ marketing slogan I'd ever seen for a church, I don't know what is!

From the voice of God the creator, and the choirs of angels, enter this place and you will hear a truth spoken so sweetly, that you are loved.

All work and no play...

We all know the saying: "All work and no play, makes Johnny a dull boy."

But, not to worry-- we definitely do not have that problem here at Trinity these days! There is lots of play mixed in to our work...

In particular, Pr Rick and I have become quite the partners in crime when it comes to play at work. We have taken to pulling pranks on some of our co-workers and each other. Good, clean fun-- don't worry!

And the thing is, we wouldn't be able to do this, if things at Trinity weren't

good. Solid. If the staff didn't like each other or get along. If there wasn't trust. But, with joy in the workplace comes room for laughter and play.

I think I'd characterize the environment around here lately as: playful, good-spirited, and fun!

In the midst of busy fall schedules, hectic personal lives, and staff transition as Senior Pastor Steve Wold retired, the staff has been able to really enjoy themselves. I have been able to really enjoy myself!

And for this, I am truly THANKFUL!