The Longest Night

On December 21st, the longest night of the year, about 60 people gathered to remember those for whom the holidays aren't happy times, those who truly experience long, painful nights during the winter. December 21st is Homeless Memorial Day, and the Fargo-Moorhead Coalition for Homeless Persons organized a candlelight vigil to remember those homeless persons who died in our community over the last year.

A pair of boots was laid in the snow for each person who'd died in the streets, each with a tag inscribed with a name and age placed inside. There were 37 pairs of boots laid out that night.

The vigil was attended by shelter workers, faith leaders, concerned people in the community, and homeless persons. One of our small groups, the Man Cave, was there for their volunteer service project. They tended to the fires spread out around the lawn between the Fargo Civic Center and Library. I was glad to be there with them, in the freezing cold, as we listened to friends of the deceased share memories and reflections, and as we were led in prayer by various faith leaders of many traditions.

Sometimes it's easy to forget that the Christmas season isn't a joyous one for everyone. That many people are grieving the loss of loved ones, worrying over lost jobs, experiencing abuse, and sleeping on the streets... And yet, these are those for whom Christmas matters most. Christ, Emmanuel, "God with us" comes to and for those who need God most. And in that, we can be thankful!

A Christmas Story...

This morning our receptionist shared with me an encounter she'd had on Friday.

It was 5:15pm Friday when she saw her. Ambling down the hallway, the receptionist looked at the clock and thought, "Gee, I wonder how long this is going to take... I wanna get out of here!" As the middle-aged woman came in, she was running through the list of things the woman might be asking for.

But, then the woman began to speak. In fact, she didn't ask for anything at all.

She said she'd been reading lately that it's important to give back to God 10% of what you've been given.

And then the woman began to take out her pack of cigarettes. The receptionist thought to herself, "Oh, now what? Is she going to try to smoke in here? Give me a cigarette?" But instead, the woman pulled out a $100 bill.

This was the 10% she wanted to give to the church.

The receptionist asked if she were a member, and when the woman replied "no," the receptionist quick on the beat asked, "do you want to be?" They laughed.

The $100 was from her monthly social security check. And the woman wanted no recognition for it. No tax form. No name.

And then she left... Gone, but not forgotten... because this woman's simple and humble gift is what Christmas is all about.

Her story reminds me of the woman Jesus points out to the disciples in the Temple-- the widow who gives her only two coins...

Mark 12:41-44
41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites,[a] which make a quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”

To give so much when one has so little. And for no other reason than because she is thankful and because she knows it is the right thing to do. With no gain for herself, no reward... Selfless, joyful giving... that really is the true spirit of Christmas! And when I'm hassled trying to buy gifts for my friends and family, and when I wonder about whether or not I can afford to make end-0f-year gifts to the charities and organizations I support, I will remember this woman and her true Christmas spirit!

Feed My Sheep

I have just come off of two very tiring, exciting, (somewhat traumatic), important, and "controversial" events... And neither was really what I expected...

November was Hunger Awareness Month for Social Concerns at the church. We had a handful of educational opportunities on Sunday mornings, but we also had two events. One was our 16th annual Thanksgiving Meal with our Catholic Church neighbor. The other event was a movie showing of a documentary on sustainable agriculture followed by community discussion.

I knew the movie would garner a lot of mixed feelings. "Fresh" is a film that looks at our food system, from seed to store. And it asks the question, is the current system working. Is it healthy? Good for the environment? Just? Though the film does look at buying options in grocery stores and the scarcity of fresh, healthy, affordable foods in inner city neighborhoods, it mostly examined industrial agriculture. Because this region is so heavily rooted in an agricultural economy, I knew that this would touch a lot of people. And, since there is a lot of conversation in the ELCA right now about whether or not farmers should use genetically modified seeds, I thought that conversation might overflow into our event.

I was nervous. I knew there would be people present who had very different views from me and from each other. Though I thought it might be a risky event to host, still I thought it was an important one to have. No matter how people feel about sustainable agriculture or industrial farms or genetically modified seeds-- the truth is that we have simultaneously a global food crisis AND an epidemic of obesity. We have more cheap food than ever before, but global health is declining. And environmentally we are losing potable water and arable land. Something has to be done about our food system. Someone needs to be talking about it... And we did talk about it. On a night when a severe winter storm threatened to cancel the entire event, 40 people showed up to talk about our food and farming system!

I thought the movie would be the only "controversial" hunger event, but as it turns out, our Thanksgiving Meal generated lots of tension as well. Our meal is advertised as a free meal for those who need one on the holiday. The goal of both churches upon starting the meal was to bring people together in fellowship, over a Thanksgiving feast, who would otherwise have no one to share the holiday with. It was never designed solely for "needy" (aka poor) people. But rather for those who need fellowship and the hospitality of a good, warm meal. This Thanksgiving we served 1100+ meals! About 500 of them were served in our sit-down dining area. The other 600 were delivered/ to-go meals.

The controversy came when many volunteers (and outside on-lookers from the church communities) began questioning whether meals were going to people who didn't really need them. They look so well-dressed-- why are they here? Or I saw their house, they could have had their own Thanksgiving meal. I found myself saying multiple times-- who are we to judge? We say we offer a free meal to those who need one on Thanksgiving, and that's what we're doing. Need comes in many shapes and sizes. Sure it'd be great to get more of those "to-go" meals to be eaten at the church with the others gathered there. Sure there are some who abuse the system. But, it is also true that we provide an extensive feeding and fellowship ministry on Thanksgiving. And that many people who would have otherwise been alone or gone without a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal had company and good food. And that's an incredible gift we can give to the community!

Both events showed me that the need to talk about hunger and food is great. And we in the church need to be having these conversations... We are a people who gather regularly at the Table to share a heavenly meal with one another. We are a people bidden by Jesus to "feed [his] sheep." We know that we do not do it alone, but we are called to be God's hands at work in the world. And it's a great thing to be a part of!

Storied Waters, Shared Community

Today was a beautiful All Saints Day, where we celebrated not only the blessed saints who've lived and loved and touched our lives, saints both living and deceased. But, it was all the more incredible for me because I got to welcome two new saints into the church in baptism.

BAPTISM.

I was really excited to do these baptisms-- my first as a pastor. But though there were the excitements and anxieties of the momentousness of my performing this sacrament on these two children, I was more captivated by the opportunity to be a part of the faith story of these two little ones.

STORIED WATERS

That's what baptism is-- storied waters. Where we become a part of God's story, and God becomes a part of ours. Storied waters that shape us our whole life through, forming, guiding, and supporting us. And I get to be a part of that. What an incredible blessing! But that's not just it... I get to do it in the context of a community.

SHARED COMMUNITY

Leading up to the baptisms, I met with the families in their homes. We got to know each other. They shared with me the story of their families, of the births of these little ones, of their family baptismal traditions. We shared laughs and hopes and prayers. We were able to connect. To build a relationship together, and with the Church. And then at the worship service, I was (as I always am) touched by the significance of the congregation's role in the baptism. Promising to love and support the baptized, and to welcome them into the life of the church. As I walked around the congregation with one of the newly baptized, I said to him, "Meet your new brothers and sisters!"

I am so thankful that I get to tell the great, great story of God's love. That I get to be a part of these storied baptismal waters. And that I get to do so in shared community with other believers. What a gift!

~Pr Alexis

Luther or Not Luther

For the Reformation Party, the small group ministry team at Trinity created a game called Luther or Not Luther. Let's see if you can guess the quotes and if Luther said it or not. How well do you know the great reformer? The answers may surprise you.

1. We choose life, not because we choose to be saved, but that we choose how to live into these promises God has made with us.

2. If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write.

3. Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see.

4. The more you wash, the dirtier you get.

5. In essentials, unity; in differences, liberty; in all things, charity.

6. In the Church of Jesus Christ there can and should be no non-theologians.

7. A simple layman armed with Scripture is to be believed above a pope or cardinal without it.

8. The devil should not be allowed to keep all the best tunes to himself!

9. Death solves all problems – no man, no problem.

10. Sinners are attractive because they are loved; they are not loved because they are attractive.

11. Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.

12. Thanks for letting me visit. I had a wonderful time.

13. A penny saved is better than a penny earned.

14. The thing I want more than anything else? I want to have children. I used to feel for every child I had, I would adopt another.

15. There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.

16. Men are like wine – some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age.

17. The fewer the words, the better the prayer.

18. Go home and tell how much God has done for you.

19. And I really do believe that the most important thing is the way you live your life on earth. But I think it's enormously comforting to believe that you're going to see your loved ones.

20. If I am not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don't want to go there.

21. As we drank beer, God’s word reformed the church.

22. If I can change than anyone can change. I promise you that.

23. Clergy are the greatest hindrance to faith.

24. Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection in every newly tapped keg of beer.

25. Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.

26. Whatever gives your life purpose, goal, and direction is your god!

27. I am afraid that the schools will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures and engraving them in the heart of the youth.

28. God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.

29. One act of obedience is better than one hundred sermons.

30. You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say.

Answers

1. Not Luther – Pastor Alexis Twito
2. Luther
3. Not Luther – MLK Jr.
4. Luther
5. Not Luther - Philip Melanchthon
6. Not Luther – Karl Barth
7. Luther
8. Luther
9. Not Luther - Joseph Stalin
10. Luther
11. Not Luther - Albus Dumbledore – Harry Potter
12. Not Luther – Pastor Lew Clefisch
13. Luther
14. Not Luther – Marilyn Monroe
15. Luther
16. Not Luther - Pope John XXIII
17. Luther
18. Not Luther –Jesus (Luke 8:39)
19. Not Luther - Barbara Walters
20. Luther
21. Luther
22. Not Luther – Brett Favre
23. Luther
24. Not Luther – Pastor John Hulden
25. Not Luther - Buddha
26. Not Luther - Phil Baker – Southern Seminary
27. Luther
28. Luther
29. Not Luther - Dietrich Bonheoffer
30. Luther

Baptismal Fear

During our experience as TiM pastors, we will encounter many pastoral firsts. Yet, most of the "firsts" will be repeated on a regular basis, like worship leading, communion, pastoral visits. In fact, most of the regular ministry roles we have done through seminary and internship. But there are other firsts - weddings, funerals, baptisms - for which we are not prepared. Experiencing these firsts is an important part of this program, because we are able to converse with our colleagues, learn from each other, and develop confidence in these ministry roles with which we are not familiar. Learning in a classroom, from a pastor/professor, or out of textbook, just isn't the same as practical experience.

The baptism first came for me last Sunday. I was anxious, excited, and nervous. I thought I was prepared. I reviewed notes from senior worship practicum and looked through the ELW. I walked through the pre-baptism teaching with the family and talked through the rite. I held Carter in my arms. I even was able to practice a baptismal rite with a doll and Trinity 4th graders, as I taught them how to be "guardian angels." (Guardian angels pray for the baptized, watch over him/her, light the candle and read 'Let your light so shine...' at the service.) Yet the fear that came with presiding over a baptism encompassed me.

But why? I have seen many baptisms and assisted in a few. All the words are written down, all I have to do is read the print. But what happens if I drop the baby? Worse yet, what happens if I trip and fall down the chancel steps. (Insert DC Talk here - 'What if I stumble, what if I fall, what if I lose my step, and make fools of us all"). Yes, we proclaim forgiveness, and there is no bigger forgiveness stage than at baptism, but I am not sure forgiveness would be abundant if I rolled down the steps with a baby in my arms.

So during the service, my mind was in another place. I led worship (all but preaching), but kept thinking back to the baptism and visioned what would happen. In sports, we are taught to vision the positive outcome of the game, play, or shot, and it will happen. But I was also taught to vision all of the mistakes that could happen, because then they happen in my mind, and not on the playing field. I am not sure if visioning came from this learning, or if I just worry too much!

Yet, when it came time for the baptism, an amazing thing happened....God intervened. God took over the rite of baptism. My mind no longer thought of the past or future, but God allowed me to be fully present as an active participant in what God was doing. I didn't worry about tripping, or even think about it as I descended the steps. That doesn't mean everything was smooth - we are still sinners after all - but God's presence took center stage, instead of the worries and vanity of an idiosyncratic pastor.

As I reflect on the fear of presiding at baptism, I thought that fear may be appropriate. What God does through us as called children is powerful. Called to forgive and receive forgiveness and to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Called to conduct baptisms, preside over communion, preach and teach, in the name of the triune God is scary. If it isn't, maybe we should reevaluate where God is in all this.

As times goes on, I am sure I will become more confident and less fearful in all ministerial roles. I won't have to worry about it being a "first" or count how many I have done, because it will be a normal practice. Yet, each time I stand to preach, give communion, baptize, and visit, my prayer is that God continues to remind me of the fear I felt, because it is a reminder of the awesome presence of God in our midst. It is God doing the work, and not me. May we never forget.

Pastor Rick

The Lingering Scent

Today a woman came in to the church for some assistance. There wasn't anything particularly stand-out-ish about this woman-- she was like any woman you'd see on the street. To be honest, I've even forgotten her name. But something about her has stayed with me...

She came in asking for gas money to help with her son-- his name I remember. He's 16.

But I didn't have anything to give. I offered her a list of other resources to check out, but she already had that list. I felt a little helpless... and guilty. In the end, all I could was offer to pray for her and her son. And so I took her hands, and began to pray for her. For peace and patience, for strength, for her son, and for support and relief to come... And then the nameless woman left, a tear streaming down her face.

I was anxious to move on. To not have to think about NOT helping this woman with what she needed. And yet, I couldn't move on... because she lingered. Her scent, lingered on my hands. In that brief, yet intimate, moment where we held hands and prayed together she left her mark on me. And I could not forget her, nor her story.

It made me think of Mary pouring the extravagent oil over Jesus' head and feet... how the scent must have lingered! The scent of love, of death, of service, of suffering... a reminder of the suffering Jesus was going to experience, an example of simple and pure love of neighbor.

And so it was with the woman I met today. The scent from her suffering hands lingered on mine own long after she was gone. Perhaps so that I am careful not to so easily forget the pain, suffering, and grief of those whom I meet.

~Pastor Alexis