“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark (John 20:1)…” we gathered on a hilltop in a cemetery to worship and proclaim the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!
It was dark and quite cold this morning at 7:00 am in Boone, NC when we joined with others for a community worship service. The sky in the east was just beginning to lighten and the wind grew even colder as worshippers drew close together to stay warm; but by the time we had prayed together, sung Jesus Christ is Risen Today, and heard this morning’s appointed text from the Gospel of John, the sky had grown much lighter. By the time the sermon ended, the bright sun was peeking over the top of the mountain to the east, and as we sang the final hymn, the sun was fully visible in the eastern sky!
What a glorious way to welcome the dawn and celebrate Jesus’ resurrection! I pray that each of you also had a blessed and joyous Easter. In the words of this morning’s preacher, “Let’s run” to proclaim this good news to others!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Saturday, March 15, 2008
And now time to rest!
It has been a busy week here on campus – or at least it has seemed so from our perspective. It has also been a week filled with cooking, with music, and with celebrating our (well, at least my) ethnic heritage.
This really all started last Friday, as we prepared salad, chicken noodle soup, and bread to serve dinner to a visiting choir that performed here on campus Friday evening. After dinner and some hurried clean-up, we enjoyed their concert of both traditional and modern music.
Seminary Days, a semi-annual event here on campus, was early this week. This is an opportunity for those who are considering attending school here to visit classes, learn about the campus, and meet faculty, staff, and students. One of the campus wide activities during this event is a dinner on the quad. So again we were cooking, to make a dessert to share.
We had a special group project due this week in our Lutheranism in North America course. Ray and I were both part of the group researching German Lutherans of the Midwest. By the time the presentation was done Tuesday – complete with a display of books and documents, typical German foods (including a homebaked Almond Kringle from our kitchen), and a lengthy Powerpoint – we were both exhausted from being Midwest Germans. Which does present a bit of a conundrum, because we are both at least partially of German descent, with ties to Lutheran churches in the Midwest!
More music came in the form of choir practice and two special pieces the choir sang during the weekly Eucharist service Thursday evening. (Thanks to a fellow student, we have a digital recording of both, so we got to hear them too!)
Then to wrap up the week, some friends on campus had an early St. Patrick’s Day celebration – including bagpipe music by one of our classmates! It was a real treat and quite an ending to the busy week. It also allowed me to celebrate the other half of my heritage by appreciating all things Irish!
Now we have a week off for Spring Break – which is really just a thinly masked opportunity to catch up some reading and other homework and hopefully some sleep!
This really all started last Friday, as we prepared salad, chicken noodle soup, and bread to serve dinner to a visiting choir that performed here on campus Friday evening. After dinner and some hurried clean-up, we enjoyed their concert of both traditional and modern music.
Seminary Days, a semi-annual event here on campus, was early this week. This is an opportunity for those who are considering attending school here to visit classes, learn about the campus, and meet faculty, staff, and students. One of the campus wide activities during this event is a dinner on the quad. So again we were cooking, to make a dessert to share.
We had a special group project due this week in our Lutheranism in North America course. Ray and I were both part of the group researching German Lutherans of the Midwest. By the time the presentation was done Tuesday – complete with a display of books and documents, typical German foods (including a homebaked Almond Kringle from our kitchen), and a lengthy Powerpoint – we were both exhausted from being Midwest Germans. Which does present a bit of a conundrum, because we are both at least partially of German descent, with ties to Lutheran churches in the Midwest!
More music came in the form of choir practice and two special pieces the choir sang during the weekly Eucharist service Thursday evening. (Thanks to a fellow student, we have a digital recording of both, so we got to hear them too!)
Then to wrap up the week, some friends on campus had an early St. Patrick’s Day celebration – including bagpipe music by one of our classmates! It was a real treat and quite an ending to the busy week. It also allowed me to celebrate the other half of my heritage by appreciating all things Irish!
Now we have a week off for Spring Break – which is really just a thinly masked opportunity to catch up some reading and other homework and hopefully some sleep!
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Gulf Coast Recovery campaign begins
While this may seem a bit unusual, for those of you who have followed this blog, and our journey, it should not surprise you in the least. Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) is beginning their spring campaign for the Gulf Coast recovery from hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This will include over 1000 people who will assist as part of spring break, and the many, many others who have made trip after trip after trip to the Gulf Coast to assist since Katrina. We have met many who have gone at least once a year, sometimes 4 or more trips in a year, by themselves and with others, to help those with no other means of recovery.
For all those who were helped with funds from Katrina Aid Today, there at least that many more who did not qualify, or who still have needs. A friend recently returned from the Gulf Coast and was proud that their church group had completed two houses during their stay, but admitted that there were 10,000 more homes to be done. The only way it happens is one house, one family at a time.
For everyone who reads this, and has donated, and/or has given their time to the recovery of the Gulf Coast, we give thanks to God what you have done. For those who have not yet helped, this may be your opportunity.
If you are reading this blog for the first time, go to the beginning as we went to Mississippi just a few months after Katrina and read of the time we spent there. If you have questions or comments, feel free to post them here.
**********
March 4, 2008
Sisters and brothers in Christ,
When the 2005 hurricane season battered communities along the U.S. Gulf Coast, the response of Lutheran donors was amazing, even overwhelming. Through your support, Lutheran Disaster Response has played an integral role in the initial stages of recovery from these terrible disasters. But the work is far from over. Urban planners and other local officials estimate that recovery could continue for years to come. Now, we ask you to renew your commitment to the Gulf Coast by giving to an unprecedented second funding campaign.All gifts received through this campaign will support the work of local long-term recovery organizations, through staff expertise, volunteers, and other resources. What is a long-term recovery organization? In short, it is a not-for-profit organization formed as a sort of local response headquarters. By working with these committees, local leaders from any active response organization have the opportunity to contribute resources to a wider group and broaden their influence on community restoration. Through long-term recovery, all available resources are multiplied through the collaborative commitment of everyone involved.
To give a gift to the appeal or learn more, click here. Updates on the progress of the appeal, as well as success stories about long-term recovery, will also be posted so please check back regularly. Please share this message as broadly as you are able -- forward this e-mail to anyone who might be interested, post this information on your Web site or blog, share this message in your church bulletin or newsletter, tell others about your experience as a Lutheran Disaster Response volunteer. The response of the Lutheran community to this appeal will help to define our presence in the Gulf Coast recovery into the future.
In 2008, Lutheran Disaster Response celebrates 20 years of bringing help and hope to disaster survivors. Over those 20 years, Lutherans have earned the well-deserved reputation of being committed to the long-term needs of recovering communities from Grand Forks to Oklahoma City, eastern Pennsylvania to southern California, New York City and New Orleans. Thank you for your continued commitment to this amazing and life-changing ministry!
In service,
Rev. Kevin A. Massey
Acting Director
Lutheran Disaster Response
Bringing Help and Hope...
Phone: 773-380-2748
Fax: 773-380-2493
Visit us on the Web at www.ldr.org
For all those who were helped with funds from Katrina Aid Today, there at least that many more who did not qualify, or who still have needs. A friend recently returned from the Gulf Coast and was proud that their church group had completed two houses during their stay, but admitted that there were 10,000 more homes to be done. The only way it happens is one house, one family at a time.
For everyone who reads this, and has donated, and/or has given their time to the recovery of the Gulf Coast, we give thanks to God what you have done. For those who have not yet helped, this may be your opportunity.
If you are reading this blog for the first time, go to the beginning as we went to Mississippi just a few months after Katrina and read of the time we spent there. If you have questions or comments, feel free to post them here.
**********
March 4, 2008
Sisters and brothers in Christ,
When the 2005 hurricane season battered communities along the U.S. Gulf Coast, the response of Lutheran donors was amazing, even overwhelming. Through your support, Lutheran Disaster Response has played an integral role in the initial stages of recovery from these terrible disasters. But the work is far from over. Urban planners and other local officials estimate that recovery could continue for years to come. Now, we ask you to renew your commitment to the Gulf Coast by giving to an unprecedented second funding campaign.All gifts received through this campaign will support the work of local long-term recovery organizations, through staff expertise, volunteers, and other resources. What is a long-term recovery organization? In short, it is a not-for-profit organization formed as a sort of local response headquarters. By working with these committees, local leaders from any active response organization have the opportunity to contribute resources to a wider group and broaden their influence on community restoration. Through long-term recovery, all available resources are multiplied through the collaborative commitment of everyone involved.
To give a gift to the appeal or learn more, click here. Updates on the progress of the appeal, as well as success stories about long-term recovery, will also be posted so please check back regularly. Please share this message as broadly as you are able -- forward this e-mail to anyone who might be interested, post this information on your Web site or blog, share this message in your church bulletin or newsletter, tell others about your experience as a Lutheran Disaster Response volunteer. The response of the Lutheran community to this appeal will help to define our presence in the Gulf Coast recovery into the future.
In 2008, Lutheran Disaster Response celebrates 20 years of bringing help and hope to disaster survivors. Over those 20 years, Lutherans have earned the well-deserved reputation of being committed to the long-term needs of recovering communities from Grand Forks to Oklahoma City, eastern Pennsylvania to southern California, New York City and New Orleans. Thank you for your continued commitment to this amazing and life-changing ministry!
In service,
Rev. Kevin A. Massey
Acting Director
Lutheran Disaster Response
Bringing Help and Hope...
Phone: 773-380-2748
Fax: 773-380-2493
Visit us on the Web at www.ldr.org
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Resting a While
As you can tell from Ray’s recent post, it has been a busy weekend in our house. I must admit that I have quite willingly missed most of that busy-ness, as I answered a call to “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” (Mark 6:30, NRSV)
I journeyed this weekend with a small group from campus to the Snail’s Pace Retreat Center, in Saluda, North Carolina. I have often attended retreats in the past, but they were often really planning sessions or board meetings in disguise, so I have rarely been truly ‘on retreat.’
This weekend away was a delightful and restful time of worship, prayer, Bible study, and fellowship. The weather was wonderfully crisp and clear, so our group spent an entire afternoon outdoors, doing a bit of browsing in the shops of downtown Saluda and visiting the nearby Pearson Falls. I spent quite some time simply sitting on a bench near the falls, with my eyes closed, soaking up the warm sunshine and listening to the rush of the water. Ray would have called this my ‘lizard on a warm rock’ imitation!
We also had quiet solitary times for reading or napping. (One often leads to the other for me!) We also enjoyed the wonderful food prepared by the staff and the companionship of others visiting the retreat center. It was a wonderful restful and calming experience in the midst of a busy semester – and a welcome respite from concerns about the call process.
I can highly recommend this as a delightful place away from the routine for those who are weary! If you go, please give my greetings to Randy and Linda, the gracious and hospitable staff .
I journeyed this weekend with a small group from campus to the Snail’s Pace Retreat Center, in Saluda, North Carolina. I have often attended retreats in the past, but they were often really planning sessions or board meetings in disguise, so I have rarely been truly ‘on retreat.’
This weekend away was a delightful and restful time of worship, prayer, Bible study, and fellowship. The weather was wonderfully crisp and clear, so our group spent an entire afternoon outdoors, doing a bit of browsing in the shops of downtown Saluda and visiting the nearby Pearson Falls. I spent quite some time simply sitting on a bench near the falls, with my eyes closed, soaking up the warm sunshine and listening to the rush of the water. Ray would have called this my ‘lizard on a warm rock’ imitation!We also had quiet solitary times for reading or napping. (One often leads to the other for me!) We also enjoyed the wonderful food prepared by the staff and the companionship of others visiting the retreat center. It was a wonderful restful and calming experience in the midst of a busy semester – and a welcome respite from concerns about the call process.
I can highly recommend this as a delightful place away from the routine for those who are weary! If you go, please give my greetings to Randy and Linda, the gracious and hospitable staff .
Saturday, March 01, 2008
And the winner is..
Last night the seminary community had a chili night - with a contest for the best in several categories. Now in some ways, my entering the chili contest might have been considered unfair, as I have been making chili longer than most of my classmates have been alive, and I have made chili professionally (my parents were in the restaurant business for many, many years). I probably have also made more gallons of chili than most people I know. All that said, I do enjoy making chili, and the fellowship of the night was great.
The categories for chili included Best Vegetarian, Best Beanless (meat only), Best w/Beans, Most Unusual, and Hottest. Now, I take my chili pretty seriously - beans and meat with lots of onion and green pepper. Spicy, but not too hot (or no one else in the family will eat it), not too thick and not too thin. Oh - and lots of tomatoes. Canned diced tomatoes work best, unless you just happen to have a bunch of fresh ones that need to be used, and you have the time to peel them (no tomato peel in my chili, thank you very much).
When I made chili in the restaurant, or even when I am in a hurry, I make chili with Bush's Chili Beans (no one else's will do). They are a good, canned bean and the seasoning is pretty good without being overpowering - which means you can add in your own special seasoning and still be able to taste it. These days, I prefer to make the chili from scratch - dried beans and all. I have also developed a taste for black beans, so my chili always has plenty of black beans in it, as well as kidney beans and pinto beans. For this batch, I started on Thursday evening, rinsing and soaking beans. I had to pick someone up at the airport around midnight, so about 1:30 a.m. I was able to give the beans one last rinse and turn the slow cooker on. By morning, the house smelled like beans and tomatoes. At lunchtime, I added cooked ground chuck (well seasoned, with onions, garlic, and green pepper) and more liquid. I like to use V8 juice along with tomatoes, because it adds a nice bit of flavor. During the afternoon, I stirred and adjusted the seasonings, adding chili powder, cumin, black pepper, red pepper, and something new this year - Smoky Tabasco sauce.
All in all, it was a great pot of chili. By starting with dried beans and using No-Salt-Added tomatoes, it was a low-sodium dish (important in our house), low-carb (also important) and high fiber (very important for those of us 50 and over). It also tasted great! The black beans not only add great flavor, but also are a nice contrast to the red kidney beans and tomatoes.
So how did my chili fair in the contest? Many people liked it, partly because it was not so hot as some others (hot should be added by each person to suite their own taste, not forced upon them). It, of course, did not win the vegetarian or beanless categories, but it did carry the day for most unusual. It was not the only chili there with black beans, but a couple of the others had corn added (corn is NOT something I want in my chili). Whatever the case, I was happy to have my chili recognized, but the best reward was that I brought home an almost empty pot, so someone thought it was good.
The best part of an evening like this is that it brings the community together for a very family-fun based evening of fellowship. Especially, at this time of life at seminary - first call for seniors, internship for middlers, CPE for juniors, mid-terms approaching for all - we all have plenty of stress in our lives. This was a great chance to just let go for a little while, and enjoy some time together.
The categories for chili included Best Vegetarian, Best Beanless (meat only), Best w/Beans, Most Unusual, and Hottest. Now, I take my chili pretty seriously - beans and meat with lots of onion and green pepper. Spicy, but not too hot (or no one else in the family will eat it), not too thick and not too thin. Oh - and lots of tomatoes. Canned diced tomatoes work best, unless you just happen to have a bunch of fresh ones that need to be used, and you have the time to peel them (no tomato peel in my chili, thank you very much).
When I made chili in the restaurant, or even when I am in a hurry, I make chili with Bush's Chili Beans (no one else's will do). They are a good, canned bean and the seasoning is pretty good without being overpowering - which means you can add in your own special seasoning and still be able to taste it. These days, I prefer to make the chili from scratch - dried beans and all. I have also developed a taste for black beans, so my chili always has plenty of black beans in it, as well as kidney beans and pinto beans. For this batch, I started on Thursday evening, rinsing and soaking beans. I had to pick someone up at the airport around midnight, so about 1:30 a.m. I was able to give the beans one last rinse and turn the slow cooker on. By morning, the house smelled like beans and tomatoes. At lunchtime, I added cooked ground chuck (well seasoned, with onions, garlic, and green pepper) and more liquid. I like to use V8 juice along with tomatoes, because it adds a nice bit of flavor. During the afternoon, I stirred and adjusted the seasonings, adding chili powder, cumin, black pepper, red pepper, and something new this year - Smoky Tabasco sauce.
All in all, it was a great pot of chili. By starting with dried beans and using No-Salt-Added tomatoes, it was a low-sodium dish (important in our house), low-carb (also important) and high fiber (very important for those of us 50 and over). It also tasted great! The black beans not only add great flavor, but also are a nice contrast to the red kidney beans and tomatoes.
So how did my chili fair in the contest? Many people liked it, partly because it was not so hot as some others (hot should be added by each person to suite their own taste, not forced upon them). It, of course, did not win the vegetarian or beanless categories, but it did carry the day for most unusual. It was not the only chili there with black beans, but a couple of the others had corn added (corn is NOT something I want in my chili). Whatever the case, I was happy to have my chili recognized, but the best reward was that I brought home an almost empty pot, so someone thought it was good.
The best part of an evening like this is that it brings the community together for a very family-fun based evening of fellowship. Especially, at this time of life at seminary - first call for seniors, internship for middlers, CPE for juniors, mid-terms approaching for all - we all have plenty of stress in our lives. This was a great chance to just let go for a little while, and enjoy some time together.
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