The Pilgrim's Coat

Today I was interviewed by a man from the church I went to as a little girl - Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Raleigh, NC. Just like Trinity in Moorhead, they've had lots of folks from their congregation enter ordained and rostered ministries. They're doing a research project in order to learn about what aspects of their congregational life have influenced people in their sense of call to ministry. So, I was asked lots of questions about what I remember being key experiences in my life of faith while I was growing up at Holy Trinity.

It was great fun to relive these childhood moments - everything from live Nativity scenes to a confirmation retreat to a very profound moment when I watched my pastor help a homeless man get something to eat for lunch. I was reminded by this interview how much little moments make a big difference, and how important it is, from time-to-time, to reflect on what moments have made us the people we are today.

And then, I happened upon this blog post about Pilgrim's Coats: http://theadventdoor.com/2008/12/05/the-pilgrims-coat/

Here's a quote from that blog: "Painted with Buddhist mantras in flowing Japanese calligraphy, a simple coat such as this would have been worn by a person as they traveled from temple to temple on their spiritual journey. Each temple had its own stamp, and a typical pilgrim’s coat is laden with vivid cinnabar imprints gathered from the temples. The coat of a pilgrim who had been traveling for some time would have looked something like a cross between a passport and prayerbook, with the cinnabar stamps and calligraphic mantras mingling together to enfold the wearer."

We are stamped, marked, formed into who we are by things we experience along our way.

And, so, during this season of Advent reflection, I invite you to think about the experiences, people, places, and moments that have made an imprint on your life.

What's on your "pilgrim's coat"? And where might you look for your next stamp?

posted by Marsha.

An unpreached sermon

Once upon a time, a preacher carefully prepared a sermon. When it came time to preach the sermon, she went to print it off and realized that she wasn't able to open the document. That night, she preached what she could. Here is what she intended to share...

Scripture passages: Psalm 139:1-18//Jeremiah 1:4-10//John 8:21-38

Tonight. In this space. I invite you to take a deep breath. Breath in. And breath out. Let the tension from the day subside.

Tonight. In this space. As we breath in. And breath out. We step out of the hustle and bustle of life. We step out of the fear and anxiety of life. We step in to a time of prayer and a time of reflection.

Tonight. In this space. As we breath in. And breath out. God meets us. God fills us.

As we breath in. And breath out. We think of the One who first breathed life into out being--the One who formed our inward parts, who knit us together in the comfort of our mother’s womb. We think of this One who is with us.

This One who searches us. Who Knows us. Who knows when we sit, when we rise up...

This One who goes with us, to the highest heights and the deepest depths. In the light and in the the darkness...

As we breath in. And breath out. We recall that this One who is with us, knows us. In the deepest way.

This One knows...

how we try to flee from our past,

how we try to flee from being that which we were created to be,

how we try to flee from doing that which we were created to do,

how we try to flee like the prophet Jeremiah, saying we unable, unequipped

And this One, God, knows that when we try to flee, we are really bound, we are really slaves to sin...we cannot really flee on our own. God knows. God cares.

And so God the Father, sent the Son into the world. Because of Jesus Christ, we are not dead in our sins. We are not bound by our sins. We no longer need to try to flee on our own.

Rather, we are freed. Freed to be who God created us to be. To do what God created us to do. So that when we, like Jeremiah, hear God telling us to go, we can go. Knowing that the one who formed us, who knit us together is the one who goes with us. Knowing that the one who formed us, who knit us together, enables and equips us.

Tonight. In this space. Let us take a few moments, in silence, to breath in and to breath out. To dwell in the presence of God. To let the Spirit of God fill us. So that we may go...freed to be who God created us to be and to do what God created us to do.

posted by Pastor Emmy

Sign Language

As many of you heard, a tornado touched down at the Churchwide Assembly last week. After the storm passed and everyone took a deep breath and realized no one was hurt & the damage minimal, there was a LOT of joking about the tornado being a sign from God.

Contextually important is that the storm hit in the midst of the Assembly's discussion and vote on the new social statement, "Human Sexuality: Gift & Trust," which passed by the skin of its teeth.

With their tongues in their cheeks, those opposed to the social statement asserted that the tornado must have been a portentious omen from a distressed and angry God. Meanwhile, those in favor of the statement noted that the tornado hit during the discussion, but that as soon as the vote was taken, the sun came out and the wind ceased.

In fact, in almost every conversation I've had about the social statement, the tornado comes up in one way or another. We seem to jump to this conversation (however glib we might be) about SIGNS.

I like the idea of signs from God, despite my typical skepticism about such things.

Just yesterday, I was on an airplane, and I looked out of the window to see a lit-up cross shining up at me from the ground. (It was a small town at night.) It reminded me of Jesus, and that's a good thing.

And, a few months ago, as I was being pulled over for speeding on 8th St (yes, it's true), I could see the Trinity window in my rear-view mirror, and it gave me a little bit of peace in the midst of a stressful situation. A sign? Who knows, but again, it reminded me of Jesus, and that's a good thing.

Years ago, I had a more profound experience with what I considered to be a sign from God. The year after college, I'd been experiencing a period of extreme doubt in the existence of God. It was a real struggle for me to pray, to go to church...to let myself believe. And so, one night, I opened my Bible, and asked God for a concrete sign that God was real...something I could hold onto. And, on the first page I opened to, the word "believe" was highlighted 7 or 8 times. A sign? Who knows...but it kept me going for a while. I don't think it was magic, and I don't know if it was a sign...but it showed me that some other person in this world felt the need to highlight that word over and over again. I saw that 'sign', and I didn't feel so alone in my struggle.

Not all signs are helpful. I'm from the south, where there are lots of billboards shouting at people to 'REPENT!' or to 'READ YOUR BIBLE!'. These aren't so helpful, I don't think. They mostly just make me roll my eyes & get a little angry.

Signs can point us in the wrong direction, if we aren't careful, because we can read them any way we want to. Like the tornado at Churchwide Assembly, the same sign can be read in opposite ways.

So if signs are dangerous, where do we go for direction, when we need help along the way?

We don't get a clear, Charlton Heston-God-voice out of the clouds.

We don't get Bible passages that say: "Marsha, here's your task for today"

Discernment is messier than that. Our recent debates on sexuality have shown us that, if we didn't know it already.

Well, I don't have all the answers (shocker!), but...we Lutherans do believe that the sure sign we do have is the CROSS. We have a clear revelation of who God is and what God wants of us in Jesus Christ - in the way he lived and the way he died...and the way he lived again. When we're unsure about life, we can look to Jesus' life. When we're unsure about our next steps, we can read about the steps Jesus took all over Galilee and Samaria and Jerusalem. When we need a sign, we have the cross.

Apart from the cross, things get murky.

But it's not the most ideal sign. It points us to conflict and sacrifice and death. But, it also points to new life after every suffering we face. It points to nonviolence, saving grace, and the biggest love there is. It points us to God...a God not of glory, but of LOVE. A God that doesn't send little magic signs like tornados and billboards, but a God that does much better - our God comes to us in Jesus...Godself in front of us, God present with us, 2000 years ago, and NOW. God is here. And we don't need tornados to tell us that.

Ok, I'm done preaching for now.

For more info on the Churchwide Assembly, check out www.elca.org/assembly.

posted by Marsha.

Tour de WAKE UP!

This past weekend, I was given a bit of a wake up call.

This past weekend, the Tour de Revs were in the F-M area. This group of three pastors is traveling the country to raise awareness and funds for the ministry of the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. It was a joy for Trinity Lutheran Church to be a host to the group and have Pastor Fred preach on Sunday. As I listened to the men present on Saturday night, I was reminded of how feeding the hungry is a very real way that we can do God’s work in this world. The hope of eradicating world hunger may be lofty, but small practices in my life can make a big difference in the life of others. Could I eat out a little less often and give money to the Hunger Appeal a little more often? Could I pass on the four dollar cup of coffee and put it in the offering plate instead? The Tour de Rev’s got me thinking…and hopefully realigning my priorities a bit.

Check out their webpage to learn more! http://www.tourderevs.org/

This past weekend, I also got a note from a friend who will be riding in the Tour de Pink, a 200+ mile ride to raise awareness and funds for the Young Survival Coalition – a group that provides support for young women with breast cancer. As I read through the information, I was reminded of the very real struggles that people who have cancer experience. It’s a struggle that is in some part their own, but it is also a struggle that they don’t need to go through alone. Part of what we, as followers of Christ, can do is to walk with them, letting them know they are loved and supported. This event is just one way to do that. To learn more this group, check out the webpage: http://www.youngsurvival.org/

And, (a shameless plug) my friend would certainly appreciate support you can give him in reaching his fundraising goal. Donate here. http://www.active.com/donate/tourdepink/MBeers2

So that’s what’s on my mind today: Sometimes I’ve wondered about the value of these sorts of fundraisers, but these two events have been a bit of a wake up call for me. Pulling me out of my own life and reminding me of some of the bigger issues we face together in this world. Thanks for reading. Time to keep plugging along!

posted by Emmy

St. Urho

Part of my time here in the upper midwest has been about exploring my Scandinavian heritage. Growing up in North Carolina, there weren't many folks with Finnish & Swedish roots, like me.

And so, when we TiM pastors were in Menahga for a retreat, I just HAD ot stop by the larger-than-life statue of Finland's St. Urho.

After reading his story (check out the plaque), and calling my Finnish gramma to get her take on this grasshopper-killing hero, I started thinking...what is the deal with this guy?

Why do we need these larger-than-life heroes? What is so magnificent about a eprson that you'd want to make a 12-foot tall concrete 'replica' of him in all his glory?

I think part of it is that we like to think we're part of something epic & nobel - part of something bigger than our little lives.

But the thing is - we already are. We don't need giant St. Urho, as awesome as he is, to bring us into something bigger. We are already part of something epic & nobel - part of something bigger - because God has invited us in. In our baptisms, our little lives are added to the long list of stories in the Bible - it's Adam & Eve, Noah, Abraham, Ruth, Jonah, Jesus, St. Urho, and you & me!

& it's not because we're strong or descended from giant men who drove pests out of Finland with a pitchfork. We're part of something epic & noble that uses the weak, lowly, & humble to create a new world. We are saved, not by power and strength and giant pitchforks - we're saved, not by violence - but by the ultimate act of weakness, the ultimate act of nonviolence - the cross.

I still love St. Urho, cause he's kitchy and fun & part of my history, sort of. And really, look at him! How can you not think that big lovable Finn is just the greatest?!

But it's not the big things like St Urho, but the little things, that bring us into something great. It's the little candle I got at my baptism that reminds me that I am part of something bigger. Or it's turning to a hymn in the ELW and knowing that Lutherans all around the world are turning to that page and singing that song too.

We are a part of something epic & noble - part of something bigger - because God has invited us in - putting all of our little lives together to create a new world.

Posted by Marsha.

'Mobilizing' in DC

The centerpiece of the new mission statement that the Social Concerns Ministry Team is working on is our baptismal promise 'to strive for justice and peace in all the earth'. We hear that promise again at confirmation (which, at Trinity, was today), affirming that this is something we are committed to.

But it's tricky to figure out just how to go about actually doing this. How the heck are we supposed to strive for anything 'in all the earth'? The earth is a big place! We can get overwhelmed - and yet, this is a huge part of what Jesus was all about. So, where do we start?

I look for help. And one of the places I've found guidance is an organization called Sojourners (aka 'Sojo'). Since the '70s, they've hoped 'to articulate the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church, and the world.' They do this in lots of ways - a magazine, a website, and a strong presence in DC. I've interacted with them mostly thru their daily emails and blog entries. (www.sojo.net) They are aware of justice issues which we Christians might care about, and they let us know how we can help - whether that means emailing our representatives, preaching on or praying about a particular issue, or even going to Washington.

That's what I did last week as a part of my trip to the east coast. I attended Sojo's 'Mobilization to End Poverty' conference. The first day was full of fantastic speakers: Jim Wallis, dir of Sojo; David Lane, head of the ONE campaign; Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of CT; several members of Obama's administration, and more. President Obama even sent us a video message!


The 2nd day of the Mobilization was our lobby day. I went with the MN delegation to Capitol Hill and met with staffers in Senator Klobuchar and Rep Peterson's offices. We talked about legislation that would commit to cutting the poverty rate in half by 2020. We also talked about the importance of foreign aid, even in the recession, as part of our commitment to love our neighbor and care for 'the least of these.' We also talked about the importance of health care reform this year, as health care is one of the leading causes of poverty in our country. It was a great experience to visit these offices and to see, first hand, that we Christians DO have important things to say to our government!

It was awesome to go to DC and do this, but you don't have to fly across country to make your voice heard. Emails and calls are surprisingly effective, and pretty easy, once you get the hang of it. The ELCA makes it even easier, w/ their great advocacy resources. Visit www.elca.org/advocacy to sign up for email alerts. They don't flood your inbox, but they'll let you know when there's an issues of 'justice & peace' that needs our attention. They'll let you know who to contact, and often provide a draft email.

We have important things to say as Christians - and DC will listen if we put ourselves out there!

posted by Marsha

pastor with a pedicure

I got a pedicure today. This is not something I typically do, but I’d been hoping to get one today. On this Maundy Thursday, this day when the Church remembers Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, I wanted to get my feet washed. I recognize that my actions are a bit ironic. Traditionally, the Church has recognized this as a day when Jesus gives us the command to "love one another" as he has loved us. (John 13:34). "Maundy", after all, comes from a Latin word meaning mandate or command. Traditionally, this has been a day when we in the church think about self-sacrifice and service. Followers of Jesus Christ are invited to consider how loving others is a central task of our lives. We receive a command to care for others and to love as Jesus loved. We are called to action for the sake of one another.

Yet, I also think Maundy Thursday is about experiencing God’s love for us. This is where my pedicure comes in. Jesus’ actions showed extravagant love towards his disciples. He became a like servant to them, caring for them in big ways. He graciously loved them. As I got my feet rubbed and scrubbed, I was reminded that God loves me very much. During my seminary training I was constantly reminded that in order to care for others, I first need to care for myself. The same goes for all of us. It’s okay to take time to love and care for ourselves. True, Jesus probably didn’t file down calluses or paint the disciples’ toes a pretty shade of pink, but he did love extravagantly. So today, even as I hear a command to love and care for others, I am also reminded of God’s love and care for me. I’m reminded that it’s okay for me (and all of us) to take time to love and care for ourselves. In the coming weeks, I’ll think of this every time I look down at my pretty pink toenails!

posted by Emmy