Category: Uncategorized

After celebrating Holy Trinity Sunday this past weekend, we begin almost six months of time in the season of Pentecost. From now until November, the gospel readings will move chronologically through Matthew.

Sometimes, this time is referred to as “Ordinary Time.” Which, can be misinterpreted. “Ordinary Time” seems to suggest that it is nothing special, and something that is humdrum. But in this context, the word “ordinary” comes from the root “ordinal” meaning “related to a series.”

So instead of thinking of the next few months as “nothing special,” think of Ordinary Time as an ordered, deliberate, six-month step-by-step pilgrimage through the story of Jesus’ life with Matthew as our guide. We may not have high holidays like Christmas and Easter to celebrate in the coming months. But each and every week, we have the opportunity to gather together for worship, to hear the story of Christ’s life, and to be sent forth into service with the Spirit leading us. 

We hope to see you around this summer as we dive into “Ordinary Time” together, and we look forward to where our pilgrimage takes us…together!

Did you catch the words of our hymn of the day this past Sunday? Each week the intent of the song that falls immediately after the sermon is that it is to be our response to what we just heard proclaimed. 

So, if we were to relook at what we sang in the hymn of the day, how do you feel about offering these lyrics as your response? As your prayer?

God of tempest, God of whirlwind, as on Pentecost descend!
Drive us out from sheltered comfort, past these walls your people send!
Sweep us into costly service, there with Christ to bear the cross,
there with Christ to bear the cross!

The words of this hymn are not shy. They’re bold. And if we truly mean what we sing (and pray), the Spirit may actually do something. 

So this week, sing/pray these words again (the verse above and the remainder of the verses below). And, as you’re willing, offer yourself to the Spirit to work within you as God claims us for God’s Kingdom work.

God of blazing, God of burning, all that blocks your purpose purge!
Through your church, Christ’s Living Body, let your flaming Spirit surge!
Where deceit conceals injustice, kindle us to speak your truth,
kindle us to speak your truth!

God of earthquake, God of thunder, shake us loose from lethargy!
Break the chains of sin asunder, for earth’s healing set us free!
Crumble walls that still divide us; make us one in Christ our Lord,
make us one in Christ our Lord!

God of passion, God unsleeping, stir in us love’s restlessness!
Where the people cry in anguish, may we share your heart’s distress.
Rouse us from content with evil, claim us for your kingdom’s work,
claim us for your kingdom’s work!

If you scan through the announcements that follow, you’ll notice a theme: though there are some announcements for things just SOTC is hosting, there are a lot of joint endeavors goin’ on. 

• Summer Book Club
• Vacation Bible School for preschoolers
• Christian Day Camp
• Summer GOLF (Generations of Living Faith)
• and even the opportunity to purchase a t-shirt or long-sleeved SOTC shirt has the potential to be worn at a RAGBRAI pie fundraiser, should we accept the invitation to help prepare and serve pie alongside several other local congregations. 

Point being: there’s a lot of collaboration going on recently! And that doesn’t even begin to think about opportunities coming up in the fall as kid, youth, and adult groups continue through the joint Family Faith Night program with Grace and Zion. 

So why are we doing all this collaborative work? Why can’t we just do our “own thing” at Shepherd? 

It’s a valid question. For decades, churches have historically worked independently and focused on thier flock. Which, there’s merit to that. But in the past few years, we’ve recognized the joy of living and serving alongside one another in a way that uplifts the spiritual gifts that we all have to share in the body of Christ. And, we’ve recognized the joy of what can be done when we work together. 

But the thing is, the reason we work together isn’t only because it lessens the work load. And we don’t do this work together only because it’s the “good” thing to do, or because it stewards the resources we have. We do this work together, because in doing so, we live out Christ’s prayer for his disciples. And in doing so, we become a witness so that the world might come to believe in the truth of Jesus Christ. 

That’s the reason we live as one with each other. Because even when it takes more time, and even when it creates more headaches, we trust Christ’s prayer for his disciples. And we trust that just as Christ prayed for his disciples to be one, so too are we called to be one with each other and one with Christ…all so that we, and all the world, might come to know the love of God. 

So this week, I have two challenges for you: 
1) Consider how you’re doing at living as one with those around you. What’s causing that to be challenging? And, how might you be called to extend a hand and live as one with someone/a group near you? 

2) And, consider joining us in any of the various collaborative opportunities coming up this summer. You might not find your niche in each opportunity. But I can almost guarantee there’s an opportunity coming up that will give you the space to practice living as one with others.

Two weekends ago, I brought a glass of water and an Alka-Seltzer tablet to worship to illustrate the nature of how God dwells within us and how we dwell within God. As Jesus promised his disciples on the eve of his death, Jesus has created places us for us to dwell with Christ – not only after our death, but here and now as we dwell in God and as God dwells in us. 

But how, really, does that work? How could God – the almighty and all-powerful God – reside within mortal bodies like our own? And how could we dwell in God? 

It’s a solid question. And just as much as I wouldn’t be able to tell you exactly how or why an Alka-Seltzer tablet dissolves completely in water, I wouldn’t be able to tell you exactly how we dwell in Christ and Christ dwells in us. But this past weekend in our Gospel lesson, we got a hint as Jesus promised his disciples an Advocate – the Spirit of Truth. For it is only by the power of the Spirit that we are united to God and we are united to one another in the body of Christ. 

But that only raises even more questions! What is the Spirit and what does the Spirit do? How does the Spirit work within us and how does the Spirit actually connect us to God? 

Again, solid questions. Dare I say, even faithful questions. Questions that I’ve wondered for years, and questions that so many scholars and leaders of the church have spilled serious amounts of ink over. 

So then, with all these questions, what are we to think as people of faith? Well, I wonder if the invitation to us as followers of Jesus is not necessarily to “understand” all the in’s and out’s of the Spirit and the Triune God. Rather, I wonder if the invitation to us is to allow the Spirit to move within us so that we might be united to Christ and to one another. 

For sure, to live in such a way won’t erase all the questions. And, if you’re wondering about questions like these, I invite you to consider joining us this summer as a part of our Book Club or next fall as a part of an adult formation group. In these spaces, together, we have the opportunity to hear various perspectives, and bring our own experiences of God to the table as we discover the truth of God for ourselves. 

But in the meantime, this week, keep pondering and wondering…faithfully. And, as you are willing, invite the Spirit to move through you – uniting you to God and to those around you and leading you, and all God’s creation, to fullness of life.

There’s a couch at a friends’ home that I always sit in when I’m there. For sure, there are several other places I could sit. But over time, the right corner of the couch has become my “nook” whenever I’m there. I can nestle down on into the cushions, and I feel at home…even though I’m not in my home. I can let a load off from the day, and I can allow my body to relax. 

Whether in our own home, in the home of another, in another building, or outside, many of us may have those “dwelling places” where we feel “at home.” Places where we can be ourselves – fully – and places where we can allow ourselves to be still…even for just a moment. 

Well, in this past Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus promises that he is going to prepare those places for his disciples to dwell with him. He promises to create spaces – here and now! – where we can remain in God’s presence, where we can be ourselves without fear of repercussions, and where we can allow ourselves to sink into the mercy of our Father. 

God has created those spaces for us. But even more than physical spaces, as we discovered on Sunday morning, the space that Jesus has created for us is not so much a physical place. Rather, what Jesus promised his disciples, and promises us, is that Jesus has created a space for us to dwell in him, and for him to dwell in us. Instead of co-existing together, it’s almost as if we become like an Alka-Seltzer tablet…dissolving into one with our Lord. 

So this week, as you find yourself going from place to place, consider the places that you frequent that you might call “home.” And, going one step further, take a moment to recognize the home that God has made in you, and that you have in Christ. On a day to day basis, we might not always have the luxury of landing on our favorite spot on the couch. But we always, always, have the promise of living as one – at home – with our Lord.

This past Sunday we celebrated Good Shepherd Sunday. In worship, we focused our attention on Jesus’ call for us to listen to his voice as our shepherd and to be ushered into fullness of life along with those in the fold of God (John 10:1-10). Great stuff. But, in doing so, we only gave lip-service to Psalm 23, our appointed psalm for the day. 

Often, Psalm 23 is a psalm that we recite at funerals. And, appropriately so. Psalm 23 offers a word of comfort, and promises us that even in the valley of the shadow of death, our Lord does not leave us, but walks with us so that we might dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 

Psalm 23 leads us into Christ’s presence, even after our death. But rather than seeing this psalm as just something recited at funerals, what would happen if we also looked at this psalm as a psalm written for those of us who are still living? Where might this psalm lead us? Well, as the psalm suggests…

• it would lead us to green pastures: to places of sustenance and nourishment;
• it would lead us to waters of rest where our soul, indeed our very life, would be restored;
• it would lead us to a table of abundance: to a feast of goodness and mercy;
• and it would lead us to a place in which we are anointed –  blessed – by our Good Shepherd who calls us Beloved. 

Psalm 23 leads us to these promises. But…how do we get there? 

At the close of the psalm, often translations state “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” (vs. 6) Follow. The word seems rather passive. But in the Hebrew translation, the impetus behind the action for “follow” is much stronger than a sauntering walk. It’s a full-blown pursuit. This is an active, chase-you-down, nothin’s-gonna-stop-me-’til-I-get-you-in-the-groove sort of pursuit. 

So, how do we get to where Psalm 23 leads us? Not on our own. Instead, it’s our Good Shepherd – our Lord Jesus Christ – who pulls us into the groove, into the path that leads us to abundant  life. 

So this week, pay attention to the pursuit of your Good Shepherd pulling you into his groove – his path – of righteousness. And if you’re willing, allow Jesus to take the lead for a bit…drawing you into the life God has in store for you. For in following the pursuit of our Good Shepherd, it’s there – even now, in the land of the living – that we will dwell in our Lord’s presence our whole life long.

Since Easter Sunday, you likely noticed that our altar looks different than normal. Our Worship and Music Team got creative and had an idea to transform the altar to resemble Christ’s tomb.

As our Worship and Music Team was compiling this the Saturday before Easter, for a time we struggled to get all the pieces to look “right.” Wanting to make the inside of the tomb appear dark, we draped black fabric on the sides and back of the altar. But also wanting to retain a semblance of white paraments for the season of Easter, we searched and searched and searched for what might seem “right.”

Alas, we pulled out the funeral pall. That’s right: on top of our altar is a piece of cloth that’s intended to drape caskets at funerals. At first, it might seem like an odd thing to use. Isn’t Easter supposed to be a season of resurrection and new life? Not a season that reminds us of death? 

Yes. But, without death, there cannot be new life. And, the funeral pall is a sign of new life. At the beginning of many funeral services, we hear these words (referencing Romans 8:4-5):

When we were baptized into Christ Jesus, we were baptized into his death. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life. For as people united with Christ in a death like his, and as people clothed with Christ, we shall certainly be united with Christ in a resurrection like his.

The pall that we place on caskets is physical act of draping our loved ones in their baptismal garments. It is not on our own merit that we receive eternal and abundant life. But clothed in Christ, God’s life becomes our life. 

So though it seems odd, to drape our altar with a funeral pall is actually quite appropriate. In the Eucharist, we believe that Jesus Christ – as our crucified and risen Lord – is present to us. And through his death and resurrection, the sacrament we receive offers us grace, hope, healing, forgiveness, and life everlasting. 

So next time you’re in worship, take a moment to reflect on our altar for the season of Easter. Reflect on how you have been united with Christ through his death and resurrection and how you have been clothed with Christ in your baptism. And as you receive the elements of communion, give thanks that God’s promises to you are not merely words…but a lived reality as we go forth forgiven, healed, and filled with life. 

If I told you that during the season of Easter you have permission to read someone else’s mail, you might think I’m nuts. That’s just not something we do! Mail that’s addressed to a certain person is for their eyes only, right?

Well, 99.9% of the time, I’d agree with you. However, during the season of Easter, we have the opportunity to read mail that was first addressed to early believers after Christ’s death and resurrection. 

Throughout the coming weeks, we’ll be hearing from the book of Acts and the letter of 1 Peter. The book of Acts tells the story of the early church as the disciples and early believers heard the news of Christ’s resurrection and began witnessing to others. And, the letter of 1 Peter explores what it means to live as God’s people in light of what Christ has done for us. This letter was originally intended for a group of churches a few decades after Christ’s resurrection. But now, as we read from this letter in worship, we have the opportunity to “read that church’s mail” as we continue our journey of seeking. 

So this Easter, as we return to hearing four readings in worship  – Acts, Psalms, 1 Peter, and a Gospel reading – know that we are retaining each of these readings intentionally. Though we restricted the readings we heard during the season of Lent in order to focus on a specific theme, our hope in the season of Easter is to immerse ourselves in stories of the early believers who were also on a journey of seeking. If we were to hear from Acts one week in worship, and then 1 Peter the next, the story we’d hear would be inconsistent – almost like reading the first part of one letter you receive in the mail, but then picking up the next piece of mail and continuing on reading without an awareness that you’ve gone onto a totally different narrative. 

So as you gather for worship this season, pay attention to what you’re hearing. Place yourself in the stories, and consider how the story of those early believers matches your own as you strive to live as a follower of Jesus. And then, go and live out these stories that we hear as we become Christ’s living stones, witnessing to all that God has done. 

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

On Sunday we exclaimed with jubilation that our Lord has conquered death, and through Christ’s death and resurrection Christ’s life is now our life. 

But…now what? Where do we go from this Easter Sunday?

It’s a good question, and likely a question that Mary, and the disciples who came to the tomb, had as well. According to our Easter Gospel, after Simon Peter and the other disciple looked inside the empty tomb, they returned to their homes. But Mary remained at the tomb. As she wept, first two angels appeared to her and then Jesus himself, summoning her by name – “Mary!” After recognizing her Lord, Mary ran from the tomb, announcing to the disciples: “I have seen the Lord!”

In sum, in the Gospel of John, we see three reactions to Christ’s resurrection:

1. the disciples return to their homes…returning to familiarity and what they know;
2. Mary remains at the tomb…allowing herself to remain in what is unfamiliar, and allowing herself to remain in the un-comfortability of grief;
3. and later, Mary runs from the tomb, witnessing to the truth of Jesus Christ. 

So now, as people who’ve heard the story of Christ’s death and resurrection, what is our reaction?

1. Are we tempted to return to the familiarity of our lives? Returning to “normal” after a holiday weekend? Almost as if nothing happened? 
2. Or, has something in the story of Jesus’ resurrection touched us in a way that we just can’t continue on our journey of seeking in the same way…prompting us to seek Jesus for ourselves? Even if it means being open to the un-comfortability of transformation?
3. Or, having heard the good news of Jesus Christ for our lives and our world, are we running from the tomb, sharing the truth of God’s grace in our words and in our deeds? 

Do you find yourself reacting to the news of Christ’s resurrection in any of these ways? Or, perhaps in some other way? 

This week, ponder your response and offer your response to Jesus in prayer. And then, as we enter into the season of Easter, continue the journey of seeking with us as we live into the life that our Lord Jesus has offered to each and every one of us.  

Each year, we remember the story of our Lord’s death and resurrection: the only story that satisfies whatever we find ourselves seeking. But why do we experience Holy Week every year? And why are we encouraged to observe each day of Holy Week?

Think of it this way: Holy Week is a song that we get to sing only once a year. We anticipate it. We relearn familiar parts. And from year to year, we may discover new harmonies to add. Though it is the same song, each time we approach this story, we find a new layer, a new dimension, a new way in which we are touched by God’s grace. 

And in this song, there are four distinct stanzas. Each are important, and each add their own layer of meaning and purpose. Without the first stanza, the second stanza wouldn’t make sense. And without the second stanza, the third stanza wouldn’t make sense. The point being: without each unique stanza of the song, it would be as if we would be missing a key part of the song….a key part of the story. 

So this week, though it may seem odd to devote so much time to worship, I encourage you to dedicate yourself to worship on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. Come and sing this song with us that we sing only once a year, and come discover a new layer or harmony as you once again experience the abundance of God’s grace.