It seems that we are indeed living in the time between the times. We are no longer students, yet we aren’t in a call yet. We’ve been reassured by a current seminary student that we are not unemployed. He told us that for the first two months, we are still on vacation – only then should we be concerned about being unemployed. I’m not sure about his definition, but I’ll take it for now.
It’s been a quiet and yet quite busy week. Last Sunday night, when I looked at the calendar for this week, I was a bit dismayed. There weren’t any classes, appointments, deadlines, or even work shifts scheduled! What would a week without any of those feel like?
There were still several books sitting on the shelf waiting to be read, and sermons to write for next week, so we weren't out of things to do, but the usual pace had certainly changed! It has been a good week to catch up some reading and study, and it has actually been pretty exhausting. In addition to picking up a few hours of work on campus, we have spent time tending the rose garden there and have completed – or at least begun - several long-postponed chores here at home. We have now installed the attic exhaust fan we purchased last fall, have a new electrical outlet on the back porch for the freezer, have shredded a couple of years’ worth of old files, and have begun the much dreaded process of painting the railings on our front and back porch and carport. Well, we haven’t actually painted anything yet… but we have been very busy scraping and scrubbing in preparation for the new paint!
The one good thing about hours spent with a putty knife or wire brush in your hands is that you have plenty of time to pray and to think and even begin to prepare a sermon. The bad thing is that you don’t have much to show for your time when you’re done! That sort of sums up how I feel about this whole week – I’ve been plenty busy, and have actually accomplished several tasks, but don’t have much to show for it, since the porch railings still need to be painted. Unless, of course, you count the four trash bags full of shredded paper still sitting in our office!
I am profoundly grateful that we are not judged according to what we are able to accomplish, but that God provides for all our needs - even our need to be busy and feel productive!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Don't Worry
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
May 25, 2008 (Lectionary 8)
Isaiah 49:8-16a
Psalm 131 (2)1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Matthew 6:24-34
Matthew 6:24-34
‘No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
No – I did not preach today, but what a wonderful text it would have been for a sermon – especially as a just graduated seminarian in that “in-between” time from graduation to first call. For most of us recently graduated seminarians, we are in that time where we are coming to the end of budgeted school expenses. Most have probably paid rent through the end of May (or in our case, house payment) and paid most of the monthly bills for May out of the last of the student loan money which is what we have been living on. For June, some of us have reserves to get by and some don’t. Some have to move by the end of May and others don’t. Our lives are unsettled because we don’t know what is in store. We know where we are assigned, but we still have to interview and work our way through the call process. But, for some of us, it feels like time is running out. Money is tight, we face the unknown, and we have too much free time on our hands.
The Gospel text to day is perfect for this time of uncertainty. Why worry? What are we to worry about? God has provided for us, just as He provides for the birds of the air. As the lilies of the field are clothed, so are we. Times are still uncertain, but we need only deal with it one day at a time – “Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
This is good news! We may not know how we are going to buy a tank of gas to drive to our interview, or how we will deal with July – should we still be in the call process, without any income, but we need not worry. Jesus tells us not to worry, tells us all that God has done for us, is doing for us, and promises yet to do for us.
Life for the next several weeks may not be easy, we may not know today how we will pay next months bills, but we know that God will provide – in some way. In conversations with classmates over the last week, it is already obvious that God works in ways that we cannot even begin to imagine. Each day brings wonders, surprises, and even miracles that we do not expect. Even a free meal after church today that was not expected becomes more than just an unexpected pleasure, and much more than a coincidence. Thanks be to God!
May 25, 2008 (Lectionary 8)
Isaiah 49:8-16a
Psalm 131 (2)1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Matthew 6:24-34
Matthew 6:24-34
‘No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
No – I did not preach today, but what a wonderful text it would have been for a sermon – especially as a just graduated seminarian in that “in-between” time from graduation to first call. For most of us recently graduated seminarians, we are in that time where we are coming to the end of budgeted school expenses. Most have probably paid rent through the end of May (or in our case, house payment) and paid most of the monthly bills for May out of the last of the student loan money which is what we have been living on. For June, some of us have reserves to get by and some don’t. Some have to move by the end of May and others don’t. Our lives are unsettled because we don’t know what is in store. We know where we are assigned, but we still have to interview and work our way through the call process. But, for some of us, it feels like time is running out. Money is tight, we face the unknown, and we have too much free time on our hands.
The Gospel text to day is perfect for this time of uncertainty. Why worry? What are we to worry about? God has provided for us, just as He provides for the birds of the air. As the lilies of the field are clothed, so are we. Times are still uncertain, but we need only deal with it one day at a time – “Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
This is good news! We may not know how we are going to buy a tank of gas to drive to our interview, or how we will deal with July – should we still be in the call process, without any income, but we need not worry. Jesus tells us not to worry, tells us all that God has done for us, is doing for us, and promises yet to do for us.
Life for the next several weeks may not be easy, we may not know today how we will pay next months bills, but we know that God will provide – in some way. In conversations with classmates over the last week, it is already obvious that God works in ways that we cannot even begin to imagine. Each day brings wonders, surprises, and even miracles that we do not expect. Even a free meal after church today that was not expected becomes more than just an unexpected pleasure, and much more than a coincidence. Thanks be to God!
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Me too!
I know – my response is a bit slow, especially since Ruth Ann responded almost a week ago. In my defense, it has been a busy week and part of it was spent rebuilding our desktop computer, so I have not been doing much blogging or reading of blogs. The only reason I am doing this now is because it is one of those nights where sleep seems to be for everyone else.
The rules for this meme are fairly standard. Simply post the rules at the beginning of your post, answer the questions,, and tag five others to play along. Leave a comment on their blog to let them know that they need to visit yours for the rules, and of course, link back to the one who tagged you, in this case….me!
Ten years ago:
I was trying to remember today exactly where I was about 10 years ago. I guess I would have to check my passport, since in 1998 I was traveling internationally for Siemens and spent about 40 weeks of the year traveling somewhere, much of it to southeast Asia. May was a popular month for a visit down under, as well, so I could have been in Australia or New Zealand.
Five things on today’s “to do” list:
Well, it is 1:00 a.m., so which day? For Saturday, the list includes installing XP Service Pack 3 on a computer (a couple of hours, at least); walking through the campground inviting people to the lakeside church service on Sunday; possibly mowing the grass; ordering a new video card for a computer I am repairing; take Smokey for a walk (which actually happens most days, not just today).
Things I’d do if I was a billionaire:
I would have to agree with a few things Ruth Ann listed – paying off student loans would be high on the list – ours, our children’s, and our classmates; I would definitely be in favor of establishing a scholarship fund for second career seminarians (no – we don’t come with money in hand to pay for seminary and no – most of us do not/can not cash in retirement funds to pay for seminary); I would work with LDR to establish a way to provide better emergency housing and create volunteer centers that can be self-supporting long-term; and I would establish a fund to help churches set up food pantries and soup kitchens.
Three bad habits:
Staying up too late (I usually get a lot done, but it makes mornings an issue); eating habits (especially the scoop of ice cream during the news); spending too much time on the computer when I should be doing things like sleeping (which I probably could not do right now anyway).
Five places I’ve lived:
For how long? I have lived in Maryland, North Carolina (multiple times/places), South Carolina (Florence and Columbia), Illinois, and Washington D.C. I also have lived in some very fine hotels for up to three weeks at a time, in several countries around the world.
Five jobs I’ve had:
Considering that I have worked in multiple fields, it is hard to decide where to start. I have pumped gas, driven a tractor, managed a restaurant, owned my own business (twice), bagged groceries, welded, driven a tow-truck, flipped burgers, preached a few times, and spent 20+ years testing and designing hardware, writing software, installing systems and training customers – all in the electric utility industry.
I guess that is more than 5, but I would not know how to narrow it down without some parameters. All were interesting experiences, and many of those occasionally find their way into a sermon.
I really don’t have anyone to tag (most of the bloggers I know have already been tagged), but feel free to jump in if you read this and have not been tagged.
The rules for this meme are fairly standard. Simply post the rules at the beginning of your post, answer the questions,, and tag five others to play along. Leave a comment on their blog to let them know that they need to visit yours for the rules, and of course, link back to the one who tagged you, in this case….me!
Ten years ago:
I was trying to remember today exactly where I was about 10 years ago. I guess I would have to check my passport, since in 1998 I was traveling internationally for Siemens and spent about 40 weeks of the year traveling somewhere, much of it to southeast Asia. May was a popular month for a visit down under, as well, so I could have been in Australia or New Zealand.
Five things on today’s “to do” list:
Well, it is 1:00 a.m., so which day? For Saturday, the list includes installing XP Service Pack 3 on a computer (a couple of hours, at least); walking through the campground inviting people to the lakeside church service on Sunday; possibly mowing the grass; ordering a new video card for a computer I am repairing; take Smokey for a walk (which actually happens most days, not just today).
Things I’d do if I was a billionaire:
I would have to agree with a few things Ruth Ann listed – paying off student loans would be high on the list – ours, our children’s, and our classmates; I would definitely be in favor of establishing a scholarship fund for second career seminarians (no – we don’t come with money in hand to pay for seminary and no – most of us do not/can not cash in retirement funds to pay for seminary); I would work with LDR to establish a way to provide better emergency housing and create volunteer centers that can be self-supporting long-term; and I would establish a fund to help churches set up food pantries and soup kitchens.
Three bad habits:
Staying up too late (I usually get a lot done, but it makes mornings an issue); eating habits (especially the scoop of ice cream during the news); spending too much time on the computer when I should be doing things like sleeping (which I probably could not do right now anyway).
Five places I’ve lived:
For how long? I have lived in Maryland, North Carolina (multiple times/places), South Carolina (Florence and Columbia), Illinois, and Washington D.C. I also have lived in some very fine hotels for up to three weeks at a time, in several countries around the world.
Five jobs I’ve had:
Considering that I have worked in multiple fields, it is hard to decide where to start. I have pumped gas, driven a tractor, managed a restaurant, owned my own business (twice), bagged groceries, welded, driven a tow-truck, flipped burgers, preached a few times, and spent 20+ years testing and designing hardware, writing software, installing systems and training customers – all in the electric utility industry.
I guess that is more than 5, but I would not know how to narrow it down without some parameters. All were interesting experiences, and many of those occasionally find their way into a sermon.
I really don’t have anyone to tag (most of the bloggers I know have already been tagged), but feel free to jump in if you read this and have not been tagged.
Monday, May 19, 2008
I've been tagged!
As soon as I got one post done, I discovered that David had has tagged us with another meme. Here goes:
The rules for this meme are fairly standard. Simply post the rules at the beginning of your post, answer the questions,, and tag five others to play along. Leave a comment on their blog to let them know that they need to visit yours for the rules, and of course, link back to the one who tagged you, in this case….me!
Ten years ago:
I was working full time, completing my bachelor's degree in Business Administration, serving in a leadership role in our home congregation, volunteering as a Girl Scout troop leader and council trainer, preparing for our daughter's high school graduation, unpacking boxes in our new home, and getting very little sleep.
Five things on today’s “to do” list:
Tend the roses in the campus rose garden, go to the bookstore, fill out and submit an application for a part time job, wash dishes, and do laundry. So far they are all done except the laundry!
Things I’d do if I was a billionaire:
Pay off our mortgage and student loans (and our children's, too).
Establish a seminary scholarship specifically for second career seminarians!
Provide funding for a lodge at the camp my Girl Scout troop loved best.
I'm sure that's just a good start, but I'd have to think about what to do next!
Three bad habits:
Procrastinating and then having to finish projects at the last minute.
Eating too much - especially sweets.
Nibbling on my fingernails when I'm nervous.
Five places I’ve lived:
Does the month I spent in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania training for a new job count? I've actually lived in central Illinois and in the Southeast: Chenoa and Mahomet, Illinois among others. In Charlotte, North Carolina; Columbia, South Carolina; and Mobile, Alabama.
Five jobs I’ve had:
Wow - where to start? I've worked in several industries and had more job titles than I can count!
Babysitting, then hostess/cashier at my future in-law's restaurant.
Receptionist, then draftsman at a machine tool company.
Construction estimator and project manager for a glass contractor.
From customer service rep to materials manager at a machine tool manufacturer.
Most recently, student worker in the campus library and supply preacher in several congregations.
Now, I just have to figure out who to tag...
The rules for this meme are fairly standard. Simply post the rules at the beginning of your post, answer the questions,, and tag five others to play along. Leave a comment on their blog to let them know that they need to visit yours for the rules, and of course, link back to the one who tagged you, in this case….me!
Ten years ago:
I was working full time, completing my bachelor's degree in Business Administration, serving in a leadership role in our home congregation, volunteering as a Girl Scout troop leader and council trainer, preparing for our daughter's high school graduation, unpacking boxes in our new home, and getting very little sleep.
Five things on today’s “to do” list:
Tend the roses in the campus rose garden, go to the bookstore, fill out and submit an application for a part time job, wash dishes, and do laundry. So far they are all done except the laundry!
Things I’d do if I was a billionaire:
Pay off our mortgage and student loans (and our children's, too).
Establish a seminary scholarship specifically for second career seminarians!
Provide funding for a lodge at the camp my Girl Scout troop loved best.
I'm sure that's just a good start, but I'd have to think about what to do next!
Three bad habits:
Procrastinating and then having to finish projects at the last minute.
Eating too much - especially sweets.
Nibbling on my fingernails when I'm nervous.
Five places I’ve lived:
Does the month I spent in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania training for a new job count? I've actually lived in central Illinois and in the Southeast: Chenoa and Mahomet, Illinois among others. In Charlotte, North Carolina; Columbia, South Carolina; and Mobile, Alabama.
Five jobs I’ve had:
Wow - where to start? I've worked in several industries and had more job titles than I can count!
Babysitting, then hostess/cashier at my future in-law's restaurant.
Receptionist, then draftsman at a machine tool company.
Construction estimator and project manager for a glass contractor.
From customer service rep to materials manager at a machine tool manufacturer.
Most recently, student worker in the campus library and supply preacher in several congregations.
Now, I just have to figure out who to tag...
Trinity Sunday
Since our approval essay last fall was written on the subject of the Holy Trinity, and mine included a sermon written on the lectionary texts for this year, it was rather ironic to be asked to supply preach this week. For the benefit of those who might have read my essay or heard my laments about writing that essay and sermon, I should report the following: Yes, I did use the exegetical work I had already done on those texts and No, I did not use the same sermon I had written last fall, but I did adapt portions of it.
Ray and I were both asked to supply preach Sunday for the congregation which was our field church during our junior and middler years, so we were familiar with the congregation and it was great fun to be back at Good Shepherd and greet many people we knew. Because they have three worship services – including two held at the same time (a traditional service in the sanctuary and a contemporary service in the fellowship hall) – it actually kept both of us quite busy!
The most unusual part of the day though, was leading worship there while the congregation’s senior pastor was being elected the new bishop of the South Carolina Synod! The fifth and final ballot was actually being held downtown at the assembly about the same time the worship service was taking place.
We are not likely to ever repeat that experience! I’m certainly glad that we included prayers for the Holy Spirit to guide the election process at the synod assembly in our prayers for the church. Please join me in continued prayers for the Bishop-elect of SC, the Rev. Dr. Herman Yoos. He has been an important mentor to us during our seminary process and we are certain that he will serve the synod well as their next bishop. We will also be praying for the entire congregation, as they certainly face many changes in the days, weeks, and months to come.
Ray and I were both asked to supply preach Sunday for the congregation which was our field church during our junior and middler years, so we were familiar with the congregation and it was great fun to be back at Good Shepherd and greet many people we knew. Because they have three worship services – including two held at the same time (a traditional service in the sanctuary and a contemporary service in the fellowship hall) – it actually kept both of us quite busy!
The most unusual part of the day though, was leading worship there while the congregation’s senior pastor was being elected the new bishop of the South Carolina Synod! The fifth and final ballot was actually being held downtown at the assembly about the same time the worship service was taking place.
We are not likely to ever repeat that experience! I’m certainly glad that we included prayers for the Holy Spirit to guide the election process at the synod assembly in our prayers for the church. Please join me in continued prayers for the Bishop-elect of SC, the Rev. Dr. Herman Yoos. He has been an important mentor to us during our seminary process and we are certain that he will serve the synod well as their next bishop. We will also be praying for the entire congregation, as they certainly face many changes in the days, weeks, and months to come.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Graduation
We really made it! Friday was graduation and we now have diplomas in hand. As you can see, the weather was perfect, plenty of people showed up (even the overflow room had overflow), and the ceremony was wonderful.
One of the highlights of graduation was hearing Dr. Ridenhour preach again. He had retired last year while we were on internship and we had missed having him on campus and occasionally preaching in Christ Chapel. Our class had decided to have him as our speaker for graduation, and he did not disappoint us. As always, his sermon was to the point, included law, but had clear, unambiguous gospel proclaimed as well. Would that we could always do so well.
There were plenty of photo ops at graduation as well - while we were robing, during the class photo, and then again afterwards. I am still sorting out photos from the last two days. On Thursday, it was Alumni Day here on campus, and so plenty of grads from previous years were here for lectures, workshops, and of course - food. There was an alumni luncheon, and then a picnic in the evening before the Baccalaureate service in Christ Chapel.
One of our activities here on campus has been the choir. The choir sang during the Baccalaureate Service (see photo below) and at graduation.
I think that even harder than knowing we are done with classes and it is time to move on, was the realization on Thursday evening that this would be the last time we would sing together as a choir in this place. It was also the last service in Christ Chapel for Rev. Michael Costello, who has served as an adjunct teacher of liturgical practicums and choirmaster. Michael graduated the spring before we began our internship, so we count him as friend, classmate, and instructor. We will miss our fellow choir members, and especially, hearing Michael on the organ (see right).
Michael leaves LTSS this next week, and we will all miss having him around, just as we will miss singing in the choir..
I suppose that over the next several days, it will sink in that our time here is done. Some classmates are headed off for vacations, some are packing up and heading home, some are hoping that a letter of call will come soon so they can move to a new place to begin their ministry. A few know where they are going and will soon be packing and headed off to new adventures. For all of us, the next time we gather in this place, it will be as alumni rather than as students. We will see each other at synod assemblies, or churchwide events, or maybe just on Facebook, but it will as former classmates, not someone that we will see on Tuesday morning in Lutheranism in North America class, or in choir, or at lunch, or in the library. The context will change, but the memories will remain.
.
As for us, we are in the hopeful waiting category, with several sermons to write in the next few weeks as we fill in for various pastors who are away on synod assembly or vacation, our out-of-town weddings. Good thing, too! Our A/C unit died this morning. Welcome back to the world of home ownership!
Friday, May 02, 2008
And now we rest
We're done! Believe it or not, this journey that began four years ago is coming to a close, and soon a new one will begin. Today, we attended our last class and turned in our last paper as seminary students. As with our classmate, David, it has not really sunk in that on Monday there will be no classes, there are no more books that have to be read, and no more papers to write.
Instead, next week will be some rest, some yard work and house cleaning to prepare for guests on graduation day, and a few errands. On Thursday, the alumni come to campus for a full day of events (some of which include graduating seniors). Thursday evening is baccalaureate, and then Friday morning will be graduation. A long two days, and at the end of them, we will really be done - degrees in hand and everything.
It has been a long journey. Even though this blog has not existed for all four years, many of you who read this have followed our journey from the beginning; others have followed since we went to the Gulf Coast in December of 2005 and began the blog. It has been hard, it has been rewarding, is has been uplifting, and through it all - we continue to be blessed by God and led by the Holy Spirit.
One of the common questions throughout the seminary journey is, "Do you still feel called to ministry?" I think I can firmly state, that for both of us, this continues to be true and has not diminished over the entire four years. Our faith, your prayers, and God's steadfast love have sustained us over many hurdles and through many dark moments. And now - the day is at hand. On May 9, we will be graduates and waiting a call to be pastors.
Oh -you ask. How is the call process going? About the same. We have had a very busy schedule and not really available to do much. Once graduation is over, maybe things will start to roll along. A few preaching opportunities lie ahead of us, and the North Carolina Synod assembly is coming up, so we will be kept busy at least into June.
And now - time to put our feet up and spoil the dog some (he has missed us the last couple of weeks while we were typing our last papers).
Instead, next week will be some rest, some yard work and house cleaning to prepare for guests on graduation day, and a few errands. On Thursday, the alumni come to campus for a full day of events (some of which include graduating seniors). Thursday evening is baccalaureate, and then Friday morning will be graduation. A long two days, and at the end of them, we will really be done - degrees in hand and everything.
It has been a long journey. Even though this blog has not existed for all four years, many of you who read this have followed our journey from the beginning; others have followed since we went to the Gulf Coast in December of 2005 and began the blog. It has been hard, it has been rewarding, is has been uplifting, and through it all - we continue to be blessed by God and led by the Holy Spirit.
One of the common questions throughout the seminary journey is, "Do you still feel called to ministry?" I think I can firmly state, that for both of us, this continues to be true and has not diminished over the entire four years. Our faith, your prayers, and God's steadfast love have sustained us over many hurdles and through many dark moments. And now - the day is at hand. On May 9, we will be graduates and waiting a call to be pastors.
Oh -you ask. How is the call process going? About the same. We have had a very busy schedule and not really available to do much. Once graduation is over, maybe things will start to roll along. A few preaching opportunities lie ahead of us, and the North Carolina Synod assembly is coming up, so we will be kept busy at least into June.
And now - time to put our feet up and spoil the dog some (he has missed us the last couple of weeks while we were typing our last papers).
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
The path of the labyrinth
First, time for a quick progress report: We have only two more classes left; one tomorrow morning, then one Friday morning. I have four of the five final papers for the semester complete, one left to finish before Friday morning. That translates to 49 pages done, about 5 left to go!
Ray is still finishing one paper as I type this. We also still have to locate about 35 library books in the chaos of our office and get them turned in by Friday. Then we can begin preparations for our graduation celebration in earnest!
I took time out today to walk the prayer labyrinth on campus. The weather was cool, breezy, and sunny this morning, but half of the labyrinth lay in the shade of several large trees. Each time I turned and took a few steps, I moved from sunshine to shade and the breeze alternated between being at my back or on my face. Plus the labyrinth is placed between most of the buildings on campus and Main Street. So, while you are walking silently, you are surrounded by the sounds of birds singing and leaves rustling, and the traffic rushing by, and activity on the campus. Quite an amazing juxtaposition.
(For more information about the Trinity Labyrinth at LTSS, click on the photo!)
All in all, a marvelous and meaningful experience. Each time I do this - which is not as often as I would like - I am reminded of how similar a labyrinth is to our daily walk of faith. After all, in our daily life we are called to be in the world but not of the world. We can’t ever really block out the sounds of nature or other people.
In case you have never walked a labyrinth, a bit of explanation is probably necessary: unlike a maze, a labyrinth contains only one path. You don’t have to make decisions about which direction to walk; you simply follow the twisting path that lies in front of you. This pattern of the path allows you to spend time in prayer, instead of concentrating on where you are going.
What always fascinates me is that even after doing this several times, whenever I try to guess which way the path will turn next, I am rarely right. I'm learning that it doesn’t really pay to guess what is coming around the next turn. It is much simpler to trust that the path has already been planned out to take you to your destination, so that you can relax, follow the path, spend time in God’s presence, and savor the journey.
Also much like life, if I get distracted and raise my eyes away from path, I inevitably take a wrong turn. It is much simpler if I can stay focused on the path before me.
Finally, and also much like my everyday life - it is much easier to walk this stony path in practical, comfortable shoes!
Blessings on each of you in your journeys today. May you feel the sun and the breeze; may you hear the sounds of nature and of those around you, and may you always be wearing the appropriate shoes for the path you travel!
Ray is still finishing one paper as I type this. We also still have to locate about 35 library books in the chaos of our office and get them turned in by Friday. Then we can begin preparations for our graduation celebration in earnest!
I took time out today to walk the prayer labyrinth on campus. The weather was cool, breezy, and sunny this morning, but half of the labyrinth lay in the shade of several large trees. Each time I turned and took a few steps, I moved from sunshine to shade and the breeze alternated between being at my back or on my face. Plus the labyrinth is placed between most of the buildings on campus and Main Street. So, while you are walking silently, you are surrounded by the sounds of birds singing and leaves rustling, and the traffic rushing by, and activity on the campus. Quite an amazing juxtaposition.(For more information about the Trinity Labyrinth at LTSS, click on the photo!)
All in all, a marvelous and meaningful experience. Each time I do this - which is not as often as I would like - I am reminded of how similar a labyrinth is to our daily walk of faith. After all, in our daily life we are called to be in the world but not of the world. We can’t ever really block out the sounds of nature or other people.
In case you have never walked a labyrinth, a bit of explanation is probably necessary: unlike a maze, a labyrinth contains only one path. You don’t have to make decisions about which direction to walk; you simply follow the twisting path that lies in front of you. This pattern of the path allows you to spend time in prayer, instead of concentrating on where you are going.
What always fascinates me is that even after doing this several times, whenever I try to guess which way the path will turn next, I am rarely right. I'm learning that it doesn’t really pay to guess what is coming around the next turn. It is much simpler to trust that the path has already been planned out to take you to your destination, so that you can relax, follow the path, spend time in God’s presence, and savor the journey.
Also much like life, if I get distracted and raise my eyes away from path, I inevitably take a wrong turn. It is much simpler if I can stay focused on the path before me.
Finally, and also much like my everyday life - it is much easier to walk this stony path in practical, comfortable shoes!
Blessings on each of you in your journeys today. May you feel the sun and the breeze; may you hear the sounds of nature and of those around you, and may you always be wearing the appropriate shoes for the path you travel!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Seminary Meme
No, it is not like we really have time to be posting here, but it does take our minds off of the many papers yet to write.
I have not gotten too involved in meme's (from Dictionary.com : –noun - a cultural item that is transmitted by repetition in a manner analogous to the biological transmission of genes), but this one seemed interesting - especially as it applies to life at seminary. The text below is from http://www.goingtoseminary.com/ (who knew - here I am almost done and I just found this website).
This Seminary Meme is part of a competition sponsored by Going to Seminary and Eisenbrauns. If you’d like to be entered, simply answer the 7 questions below and tag 5 other people. You’ll also need to post this paragraph (links included) with your answers as the links will be tracked back to your blog and will count as your “entry” into the competition. On April 30th, 2008, one blogger will be selected at random to win a $100 gift certificate to the Eisenbrauns online bookstore.
Please feel free to modify the question so as to make it appropriate to your situation as a pre-seminarian, seminarian, or seminary graduate (example given on first question).
1. Where do (will/did) you attend seminary?
2. What class do you think has most impacted your spiritual life?
3. What seminary professor has been the most influential while in seminary?
4. What is the greatest challenge you’ve faced in seminary?
5. What has been the greatest reward you’ve experienced in seminary?
6. What are your plans after seminary?
7. How many times have you been asked question #6?
Here are the answers for me:
1. Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (LTSS)
2. Ethics
3. Tough question, but probably Dr. Ridenhour (homiletics professor, now retired)
4. Internship - being a student worker after many years in industry
5. Internship - this is what ministry in the parish will be like
6. Plans after seminary - not up to me - except to find the place that God has prepared for me/us to serve Him.
7. Hundreds, if not thousands during 4 years.
Tagging 5 people is a little tougher, since they need to be seminary students - David, Ruth Ann, Nathan, Carolyn, and Annette are the 5 seminary bloggers that I can think of.
I look forward to your answers, and I know that any of the 5 of us would love $100 worth of books!
I have not gotten too involved in meme's (from Dictionary.com : –noun - a cultural item that is transmitted by repetition in a manner analogous to the biological transmission of genes), but this one seemed interesting - especially as it applies to life at seminary. The text below is from http://www.goingtoseminary.com/ (who knew - here I am almost done and I just found this website).
This Seminary Meme is part of a competition sponsored by Going to Seminary and Eisenbrauns. If you’d like to be entered, simply answer the 7 questions below and tag 5 other people. You’ll also need to post this paragraph (links included) with your answers as the links will be tracked back to your blog and will count as your “entry” into the competition. On April 30th, 2008, one blogger will be selected at random to win a $100 gift certificate to the Eisenbrauns online bookstore.
Please feel free to modify the question so as to make it appropriate to your situation as a pre-seminarian, seminarian, or seminary graduate (example given on first question).
1. Where do (will/did) you attend seminary?
2. What class do you think has most impacted your spiritual life?
3. What seminary professor has been the most influential while in seminary?
4. What is the greatest challenge you’ve faced in seminary?
5. What has been the greatest reward you’ve experienced in seminary?
6. What are your plans after seminary?
7. How many times have you been asked question #6?
Here are the answers for me:
1. Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (LTSS)
2. Ethics
3. Tough question, but probably Dr. Ridenhour (homiletics professor, now retired)
4. Internship - being a student worker after many years in industry
5. Internship - this is what ministry in the parish will be like
6. Plans after seminary - not up to me - except to find the place that God has prepared for me/us to serve Him.
7. Hundreds, if not thousands during 4 years.
Tagging 5 people is a little tougher, since they need to be seminary students - David, Ruth Ann, Nathan, Carolyn, and Annette are the 5 seminary bloggers that I can think of.
I look forward to your answers, and I know that any of the 5 of us would love $100 worth of books!
How much?
This little video was made by some of our classmates, and while made in the spirit of fun, does give you an idea of how much a 4 year seminary education costs.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Seeking the place
Several people have asked us lately about how the call process is proceeding. That is a tricky question to answer, especially in a public forum, but I’ll try. Yes, we have been in conversation with the NC Synodical office; yes, our names and paperwork are with a congregation right now; and yes, this is potentially an opportunity for us to serve in ministry together. We are excited by the possibility of serving in one congregation – and I realized as we travelled – by the opportunity to return home to North Carolina.
I certainly can’t announce where that congregation is, but I can tell you that Ray and I met with their call committee earlier this weekend. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with the members of the call committee, in both a formal interview and more casual conversations over meals. We appreciated the opportunity to become acquainted with them, the local community, and their beautiful facility and grounds. The committee members were gracious hosts. We felt truly welcomed and engaged in what I think was a helpful conversation for all of us.
Ray and I have talked about how surprisingly relaxed we felt during our conversations this weekend. I attribute that both to the hospitality we experienced and to our faith that God has already prepared a place for us. Our job now is not to impress a call committee and convince them to hire us (like many job interviews), but rather to engage in honest dialogue so that we can all prayerfully discern together if this is the place where God intends for us to begin our ministry of word and sacrament.
It is far too soon to tell that for certain, but I am glad that the process has begun. The only real problem is that being involved in the call process and anticipating life after graduation makes it even harder to concentrate on the work that needs to be done in the next couple of weeks! Graduation is now less than three weeks away, but all of our homework is due by May 2, so that our grades can be completed before graduation day.
So now, I'd better get back to the books...
I certainly can’t announce where that congregation is, but I can tell you that Ray and I met with their call committee earlier this weekend. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with the members of the call committee, in both a formal interview and more casual conversations over meals. We appreciated the opportunity to become acquainted with them, the local community, and their beautiful facility and grounds. The committee members were gracious hosts. We felt truly welcomed and engaged in what I think was a helpful conversation for all of us.
Ray and I have talked about how surprisingly relaxed we felt during our conversations this weekend. I attribute that both to the hospitality we experienced and to our faith that God has already prepared a place for us. Our job now is not to impress a call committee and convince them to hire us (like many job interviews), but rather to engage in honest dialogue so that we can all prayerfully discern together if this is the place where God intends for us to begin our ministry of word and sacrament.
It is far too soon to tell that for certain, but I am glad that the process has begun. The only real problem is that being involved in the call process and anticipating life after graduation makes it even harder to concentrate on the work that needs to be done in the next couple of weeks! Graduation is now less than three weeks away, but all of our homework is due by May 2, so that our grades can be completed before graduation day.
So now, I'd better get back to the books...
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Commencement Contemplations
The announcements went in the mail yesterday. It’s official – commencement is only a month away, on May 9!
Our friend and classmate, David, who commutes quite a long drive every day for classes, announced this afternoon that there are only 17 more days of classes – not that he’s counting or anything! (For more on his calculations about commuting, visit his blog.)
For now, I am just amazed how little time is left and how much work still remains to be done. It seems at bit, well, presumptuous to send out announcements about graduating, when I still wonder how we can possibly get everything done in time!
The To-Do list for just next week looks like this:
+ a 1000 word essay for Christian Ethics on offering advice to a parishioner troubled by her career as an engineer for a weapons manufacturer is due on Tuesday;
+ a one page paper written in response to the book Open Secrets is due in Lutheranism in North America – also on Tuesday;
+ a two page paper on the Lutheran doctrines concerning Mary, the mother of Jesus, is due for Ecumenical Theology on Wednesday;
+ the outline for the final research paper in Lutheranism in North America is due Thursday;
+ there are also several articles and two entire books which need to be read BEFORE these papers are written;
+ plus continuing the research and completing the reading for the final papers and book reports in all our courses.
Did I mention that income taxes are due on Tuesday?
It’s going to be a very BUSY 30 days….
Our friend and classmate, David, who commutes quite a long drive every day for classes, announced this afternoon that there are only 17 more days of classes – not that he’s counting or anything! (For more on his calculations about commuting, visit his blog.)
For now, I am just amazed how little time is left and how much work still remains to be done. It seems at bit, well, presumptuous to send out announcements about graduating, when I still wonder how we can possibly get everything done in time!
The To-Do list for just next week looks like this:
+ a 1000 word essay for Christian Ethics on offering advice to a parishioner troubled by her career as an engineer for a weapons manufacturer is due on Tuesday;
+ a one page paper written in response to the book Open Secrets is due in Lutheranism in North America – also on Tuesday;
+ a two page paper on the Lutheran doctrines concerning Mary, the mother of Jesus, is due for Ecumenical Theology on Wednesday;
+ the outline for the final research paper in Lutheranism in North America is due Thursday;
+ there are also several articles and two entire books which need to be read BEFORE these papers are written;
+ plus continuing the research and completing the reading for the final papers and book reports in all our courses.
Did I mention that income taxes are due on Tuesday?
It’s going to be a very BUSY 30 days….
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Sermon for Third Sunday of Easter
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 (Ps. 116:13)
1 Peter 1:17-23
Luke 24:13-35
The Road to Emmaus – how many times have we heard this story? It is one of those stories that we have heard so often that most of us can probably recite the major points from memory. The question is, have you heard it so many times that you don’t even think about it any more?
We have all heard the various explanations of the story, as well. We know that the location of Emmaus is not known. There are two or three possible locations, but not much proof to make it the town in the story. We know that this story is unique to the Gospel of Luke, and that Cleopas appears nowhere else – only here. We also know that Luke often uses food, and events surrounding meals to make his points. We also know that this story is very similar to Old Testament stories where strangers are entertained, only to later find out that they were angels! So what is new to tell about this story, here and now?
How about this - have you ever put yourself in to the story? Tried to get a new feel for one of the characters in the story? I would guess that the unnamed companion of Cleopas would be our place. We are not given this companion’s name, nor are we told if it is a man or woman! In fact, it has been speculated that this person’s name is not given precisely so that we can insert ourselves into the story!
Now - Imagine – you are the unnamed companion – you have just experienced what you feel has been the worst 48 hours of you life. After celebrating the Passover with your teacher and friends, you go out for a walk, and you are suddenly surrounded by soldiers as Jesus is arrested. Then, there is the trial, and the beating, and everyone is crying out for him to be crucified! Finally, Pilate gives in and Jesus is sent to the cross. Tensions are high, and anyone who was associated with Jesus is hiding in fear that they might be next. From a distance, you watch him die. He is taken down from the cross and put in the tomb just before the start of Shabbot – the Sabbath. From sundown to sundown, you hide, you try to pray – as a good Jew should, but you do so with a heavy heart. Your friend – the teacher, the prophet, who you thought was going to redeem Israel, is dead. Finally, Shabbot is over, but now it is dark and there is nothing you can do. Some of the women begin preparing spices and wrappings and other things so they can go to tomb first thing in the morning – to finish preparing the body, which they were prevented from doing during the Sabbath. Everyone else is still hiding, waiting till morning when they might be able to slip away without being noticed – or arrested.
Then, it is morning. Some of the women have already gone to the tomb. You and Cleopas decide that it is time to head for home, back to the life you gave up to follow this prophet, sure that things were about to change. Then suddenly – the women burst back into the room – “He is gone” they shout. “An angel told us that He is alive!”
Simon Peter – the one who had denied Jesus – ran to the tomb with some of the others, but came back to report that it was empty, and that he had seen no one. Now, you are going back home, not quite sure what to make of things but absolutely certain that the events of the last few days are not what you expected. Your hearts are heavy, and puzzled. As you walk along with Cleopas, a stranger begins asking questions, and you wonder, “How on earth can you have missed the biggest thing to have happened around here since the Romans took over Jerusalem?”
Then you begin telling your new companion about all the things that Jesus had done – his mighty deeds and profound words - and about your great expectations of what he was going to do – how he was going to save Israel! But now, he is dead, and his body is missing, and the women are talking about angels, and you are just tired and confused and on your way home to sort things out.
Then, this stranger begins to tell you – you who were there – about Jesus, and his ministry, and what the scriptures said about him and why he had to suffer and die. For someone who did not seem to know what had happened, he sure seems to know a lot of scripture to explain it! Then, just as you get home, the stranger heads on down the road, but you – being the good host that you are – call him back and suggest that he come home for supper. As you lay out supper, the stranger takes his place at the table and as soon as everything is ready, he takes the bread, he blesses it, and he then breaks it and gives you a piece. Suddenly - you realize that you have seen him do this before! This is Jesus – just as he was the last time you saw him, when he blessed bread, and broke it, and gave it to everyone to eat. Just as you realize who it is, He disappears! But you and Cleopas have shared this vision, this conversation, this revelation – Jesus is alive!!!
What a story! You have just been part of one the most told and re-told resurrection stories that we have. Just like the disciples – whom we are told “just didn’t get it” – we don’t get it either, until our eyes are opened. Jesus explains, very patiently and in great detail how all the scriptures foretell that Jesus will come to live among us, will teach us, and do mighty deeds, and then he must suffer and die. Jesus, and later Martin Luther, explains that all that we read in scripture is part of God’s plan for us, and that the key to the plan is that Christ, the Messiah, would come, and be rejected, and be put to death as were many of the great prophets of Israel. Christ leads us from the garden in Genesis to the Cross in Jerusalem; Christ leads us from the cross to meet the Holy Spirit which the Father has sent; Christ prepares us for the coming of the kingdom.
Now, imagine yourself in your daily lives. Imagine that a stranger comes up and ask, “what are you talking about?” We know the story; we can even place ourselves in the story and make it personal. How do we share it with others?
One of the commentary writers, in talking about this story, speaks of us as Easter people. We are just like Cleopas and his companion – and the rest of the disciples – we are “foolish” and “slow of heart to believe” but we keep trying. We may not fully understand this kingdom of God stuff, but we understand enough that we offer hospitality to the stranger – who turns out to be Jesus. We may not understand all that the prophets wrote about Jesus and why he must suffer and die – but we are here every week to learn more. We don’t understand the words of Jesus when he gave thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to his disciples and said “Take and Eat,” but we do it every week anyway. We know, as Easter people, that Jesus came and lived among us, that he suffered and died, that he was raised from the dead – so that somehow – through some miraculous work of God - we might have eternal life.
Now the question is, what do you do? A couple of weeks ago, we heard about Mary, who after seeing Jesus, ran to tell the others. Here, in this story, you and Cleopas do the same thing – you run to tell the others what you have seen. You run, because the news is so great. You run, because you can’t hold it in any longer – you have to tell someone! Anyone! Everyone! And so, you run back to Jerusalem – that place where it all started – and ended – and you tell the story. As Luke describes it – you tell the story of the mighty deeds and words of Jesus. You recount all that He has done – in your life, in the lives of the disciples, in the lives of those you know. You tell the story, and you tell it again, and again, and again. You tell it till you don’t think you can tell it anymore, then you tell it again.
In this story, in this walk to Emmaus, we hear this story acted out. We hear Jesus recount God’s salvation story so that the disciples may understand how God’s salvation really works – not by the sword, but by God’s redemption of the world – through the cross.
Here - we hear the story of what it really means for God to have sent His only Son to die on the cross, so that we who believe may have eternal life.
Here - we hear the story – so that we can run and tell it to others.
Here – we come to the table – to meet Jesus in the bread and wine.
Here – we are redeemed.
Thanks be to God!
Amen.
Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 (Ps. 116:13)
1 Peter 1:17-23
Luke 24:13-35
The Road to Emmaus – how many times have we heard this story? It is one of those stories that we have heard so often that most of us can probably recite the major points from memory. The question is, have you heard it so many times that you don’t even think about it any more?
We have all heard the various explanations of the story, as well. We know that the location of Emmaus is not known. There are two or three possible locations, but not much proof to make it the town in the story. We know that this story is unique to the Gospel of Luke, and that Cleopas appears nowhere else – only here. We also know that Luke often uses food, and events surrounding meals to make his points. We also know that this story is very similar to Old Testament stories where strangers are entertained, only to later find out that they were angels! So what is new to tell about this story, here and now?
How about this - have you ever put yourself in to the story? Tried to get a new feel for one of the characters in the story? I would guess that the unnamed companion of Cleopas would be our place. We are not given this companion’s name, nor are we told if it is a man or woman! In fact, it has been speculated that this person’s name is not given precisely so that we can insert ourselves into the story!
Now - Imagine – you are the unnamed companion – you have just experienced what you feel has been the worst 48 hours of you life. After celebrating the Passover with your teacher and friends, you go out for a walk, and you are suddenly surrounded by soldiers as Jesus is arrested. Then, there is the trial, and the beating, and everyone is crying out for him to be crucified! Finally, Pilate gives in and Jesus is sent to the cross. Tensions are high, and anyone who was associated with Jesus is hiding in fear that they might be next. From a distance, you watch him die. He is taken down from the cross and put in the tomb just before the start of Shabbot – the Sabbath. From sundown to sundown, you hide, you try to pray – as a good Jew should, but you do so with a heavy heart. Your friend – the teacher, the prophet, who you thought was going to redeem Israel, is dead. Finally, Shabbot is over, but now it is dark and there is nothing you can do. Some of the women begin preparing spices and wrappings and other things so they can go to tomb first thing in the morning – to finish preparing the body, which they were prevented from doing during the Sabbath. Everyone else is still hiding, waiting till morning when they might be able to slip away without being noticed – or arrested.
Then, it is morning. Some of the women have already gone to the tomb. You and Cleopas decide that it is time to head for home, back to the life you gave up to follow this prophet, sure that things were about to change. Then suddenly – the women burst back into the room – “He is gone” they shout. “An angel told us that He is alive!”
Simon Peter – the one who had denied Jesus – ran to the tomb with some of the others, but came back to report that it was empty, and that he had seen no one. Now, you are going back home, not quite sure what to make of things but absolutely certain that the events of the last few days are not what you expected. Your hearts are heavy, and puzzled. As you walk along with Cleopas, a stranger begins asking questions, and you wonder, “How on earth can you have missed the biggest thing to have happened around here since the Romans took over Jerusalem?”
Then you begin telling your new companion about all the things that Jesus had done – his mighty deeds and profound words - and about your great expectations of what he was going to do – how he was going to save Israel! But now, he is dead, and his body is missing, and the women are talking about angels, and you are just tired and confused and on your way home to sort things out.
Then, this stranger begins to tell you – you who were there – about Jesus, and his ministry, and what the scriptures said about him and why he had to suffer and die. For someone who did not seem to know what had happened, he sure seems to know a lot of scripture to explain it! Then, just as you get home, the stranger heads on down the road, but you – being the good host that you are – call him back and suggest that he come home for supper. As you lay out supper, the stranger takes his place at the table and as soon as everything is ready, he takes the bread, he blesses it, and he then breaks it and gives you a piece. Suddenly - you realize that you have seen him do this before! This is Jesus – just as he was the last time you saw him, when he blessed bread, and broke it, and gave it to everyone to eat. Just as you realize who it is, He disappears! But you and Cleopas have shared this vision, this conversation, this revelation – Jesus is alive!!!
What a story! You have just been part of one the most told and re-told resurrection stories that we have. Just like the disciples – whom we are told “just didn’t get it” – we don’t get it either, until our eyes are opened. Jesus explains, very patiently and in great detail how all the scriptures foretell that Jesus will come to live among us, will teach us, and do mighty deeds, and then he must suffer and die. Jesus, and later Martin Luther, explains that all that we read in scripture is part of God’s plan for us, and that the key to the plan is that Christ, the Messiah, would come, and be rejected, and be put to death as were many of the great prophets of Israel. Christ leads us from the garden in Genesis to the Cross in Jerusalem; Christ leads us from the cross to meet the Holy Spirit which the Father has sent; Christ prepares us for the coming of the kingdom.
Now, imagine yourself in your daily lives. Imagine that a stranger comes up and ask, “what are you talking about?” We know the story; we can even place ourselves in the story and make it personal. How do we share it with others?
One of the commentary writers, in talking about this story, speaks of us as Easter people. We are just like Cleopas and his companion – and the rest of the disciples – we are “foolish” and “slow of heart to believe” but we keep trying. We may not fully understand this kingdom of God stuff, but we understand enough that we offer hospitality to the stranger – who turns out to be Jesus. We may not understand all that the prophets wrote about Jesus and why he must suffer and die – but we are here every week to learn more. We don’t understand the words of Jesus when he gave thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to his disciples and said “Take and Eat,” but we do it every week anyway. We know, as Easter people, that Jesus came and lived among us, that he suffered and died, that he was raised from the dead – so that somehow – through some miraculous work of God - we might have eternal life.
Now the question is, what do you do? A couple of weeks ago, we heard about Mary, who after seeing Jesus, ran to tell the others. Here, in this story, you and Cleopas do the same thing – you run to tell the others what you have seen. You run, because the news is so great. You run, because you can’t hold it in any longer – you have to tell someone! Anyone! Everyone! And so, you run back to Jerusalem – that place where it all started – and ended – and you tell the story. As Luke describes it – you tell the story of the mighty deeds and words of Jesus. You recount all that He has done – in your life, in the lives of the disciples, in the lives of those you know. You tell the story, and you tell it again, and again, and again. You tell it till you don’t think you can tell it anymore, then you tell it again.
In this story, in this walk to Emmaus, we hear this story acted out. We hear Jesus recount God’s salvation story so that the disciples may understand how God’s salvation really works – not by the sword, but by God’s redemption of the world – through the cross.
Here - we hear the story of what it really means for God to have sent His only Son to die on the cross, so that we who believe may have eternal life.
Here - we hear the story – so that we can run and tell it to others.
Here – we come to the table – to meet Jesus in the bread and wine.
Here – we are redeemed.
Thanks be to God!
Amen.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Thoughts for a rainy Saturday
Today is one of those rainy Saturdays where you just don't feel like doing much - not that there are not plenty of things to do! There taxes to finish, a sermon for tomorrow morning, papers to write, and dozens of small household tasks that ought to be done; but somehow - looking out the window at the rain just sort of takes the urgency out of most of those task.
It also puts one into a contemplative mood - which is not bad for sermon writing if one can focus the contemplations only on things to do with the sermon. Unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case today (hence - an unexpected blog entry to clear out some of the extraneous thoughts). For example, in reading a friends blog entry from yesterday I remember yesterday, standing next to David and his daughters, and Ruth Ann, and about 30 classmates and professors as we all watched a video of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s I Have a Dream speech (link to this in David's post). It had been a long time since I had heard this speech (I may have heard it in 1963, but if you do the math - I wasn't very old) and I had forgotten just how powerful it was. In listening to it yesterday, I was struck both by its power, and by how much truth was in it (although most white, middle and upper class Americans would have denied it). The other thing that struck me is how true it is today - not as much for black Americans, but for those of other countries - particularly Hispanic countries. No - they are not being denied seating in a restaurant, or a bus seat, but they are still discriminated against - in language, and by our attitudes, and our jokes, by our dismissal of them as fellow human beings - focusing instead on their heritage, their possible lack of citizenship in this country, their lack of possessions. They are not like us - therefore they are not accepted.
Even in the neighborhood where we live, where the racial makeup is very mixed, there is mistrust of strangers, a desire to only have neighbors who are like us (middle class with upscale attitudes - no matter what skin color we have). We still claim that there are those who "do not fit" in the neighborhood - especially if they can't keep their grass neatly cut and trimmed. Discrimination is not gone - it has merely changed focus. Rather than skin color (although that still exists) there is much more focus on (against) the poor. Rather than feeling compassion, we feel disgust. We want them to have a place to live and be able to get a meal and health care - but not in our neighborhood. Low income housing, half-way houses, re-hab houses, soup kitchens, food pantries - they are all good things, but not here. Even a seminary in the neighborhood is not necessarily deemed a good thing for the neighborhood - they might attract homeless people looking for help!
I heard recently about a neighborhood that fought tooth and nail against a church that wished to expand their facility. The project would bring more traffic, and the larger church would create parking issues, and the addition of a food pantry would bring "undesirable" people into the neighborhood. Rather than "welcoming the stranger" we want to find somewhere else to send them. Rather than opening our homes and neighborhoods to help those struggling to pay for prescription medicines, food, basic shelter, we want to find ways to keep them out. Some neighborhoods put up fences; others hire security guards. Cities pass laws against pan-handling or loitering. We install alarm systems and put up signs. Anything to keep us from getting involved, from actually making a sandwich for a homeless person, or taking one of them to lunch with us, or encouraging our own church to open its doors as a soup kitchen or as a shelter or as a food pantry. Instead, we want "someone else" to do it.
The Gospel text this week is the Road to Emmaus story. Many of you know the story - two of the disciples, worn out and discouraged, are walking home to Emmaus. On the road, they meet a stranger and discuss with him the events surrounding Jesus suffering and death. The stranger then tells them all that the scriptures have to say about the coming of the Messiah. As they reach Emmaus, they invite the stranger to join them for supper. In the breaking of bread, Jesus reveals himself to them, as He does each time we celebrate the Eucharist.
As we welcome the stranger, we are reminded that the stranger may not always be who we think it is. There are many who believe they have unknowingly entertained angels, or even Christ himself. There are several Bible stories where angels are unknowingly shown hospitality. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, tells those on His left and on His right - that they have or have not fed Him when He was hungry, or clothed Him when He was naked, or given Him drink when He was thirsty - for even as we do to the least of these - we do to Him.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. did not take us to this biblical image - but he did call us - the people of God - to remember that we are all created equal - that we are to treat our brothers and sisters - all of them - with respect. This call, this dream - was not just an address to this nation, but to all who claim Christ as Lord and Savior - to the Church that is His body here on earth. Open your doors - feed the hungry - cloth the naked - and see Jesus in the breaking of bread.
It also puts one into a contemplative mood - which is not bad for sermon writing if one can focus the contemplations only on things to do with the sermon. Unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case today (hence - an unexpected blog entry to clear out some of the extraneous thoughts). For example, in reading a friends blog entry from yesterday I remember yesterday, standing next to David and his daughters, and Ruth Ann, and about 30 classmates and professors as we all watched a video of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s I Have a Dream speech (link to this in David's post). It had been a long time since I had heard this speech (I may have heard it in 1963, but if you do the math - I wasn't very old) and I had forgotten just how powerful it was. In listening to it yesterday, I was struck both by its power, and by how much truth was in it (although most white, middle and upper class Americans would have denied it). The other thing that struck me is how true it is today - not as much for black Americans, but for those of other countries - particularly Hispanic countries. No - they are not being denied seating in a restaurant, or a bus seat, but they are still discriminated against - in language, and by our attitudes, and our jokes, by our dismissal of them as fellow human beings - focusing instead on their heritage, their possible lack of citizenship in this country, their lack of possessions. They are not like us - therefore they are not accepted.
Even in the neighborhood where we live, where the racial makeup is very mixed, there is mistrust of strangers, a desire to only have neighbors who are like us (middle class with upscale attitudes - no matter what skin color we have). We still claim that there are those who "do not fit" in the neighborhood - especially if they can't keep their grass neatly cut and trimmed. Discrimination is not gone - it has merely changed focus. Rather than skin color (although that still exists) there is much more focus on (against) the poor. Rather than feeling compassion, we feel disgust. We want them to have a place to live and be able to get a meal and health care - but not in our neighborhood. Low income housing, half-way houses, re-hab houses, soup kitchens, food pantries - they are all good things, but not here. Even a seminary in the neighborhood is not necessarily deemed a good thing for the neighborhood - they might attract homeless people looking for help!
I heard recently about a neighborhood that fought tooth and nail against a church that wished to expand their facility. The project would bring more traffic, and the larger church would create parking issues, and the addition of a food pantry would bring "undesirable" people into the neighborhood. Rather than "welcoming the stranger" we want to find somewhere else to send them. Rather than opening our homes and neighborhoods to help those struggling to pay for prescription medicines, food, basic shelter, we want to find ways to keep them out. Some neighborhoods put up fences; others hire security guards. Cities pass laws against pan-handling or loitering. We install alarm systems and put up signs. Anything to keep us from getting involved, from actually making a sandwich for a homeless person, or taking one of them to lunch with us, or encouraging our own church to open its doors as a soup kitchen or as a shelter or as a food pantry. Instead, we want "someone else" to do it.
The Gospel text this week is the Road to Emmaus story. Many of you know the story - two of the disciples, worn out and discouraged, are walking home to Emmaus. On the road, they meet a stranger and discuss with him the events surrounding Jesus suffering and death. The stranger then tells them all that the scriptures have to say about the coming of the Messiah. As they reach Emmaus, they invite the stranger to join them for supper. In the breaking of bread, Jesus reveals himself to them, as He does each time we celebrate the Eucharist.
As we welcome the stranger, we are reminded that the stranger may not always be who we think it is. There are many who believe they have unknowingly entertained angels, or even Christ himself. There are several Bible stories where angels are unknowingly shown hospitality. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, tells those on His left and on His right - that they have or have not fed Him when He was hungry, or clothed Him when He was naked, or given Him drink when He was thirsty - for even as we do to the least of these - we do to Him.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. did not take us to this biblical image - but he did call us - the people of God - to remember that we are all created equal - that we are to treat our brothers and sisters - all of them - with respect. This call, this dream - was not just an address to this nation, but to all who claim Christ as Lord and Savior - to the Church that is His body here on earth. Open your doors - feed the hungry - cloth the naked - and see Jesus in the breaking of bread.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Wonderful and Wandering Worship
The weekly Eucharist service here on campus last night was wonderful! For those of you familiar with the new cranberry hymnal, Evangelical Lutheran Worship, we used Setting # 7. This worship setting, which can be sung entirely in Spanish, contains liturgical music with an Hispanic/Latino flair. While the melodies weren’t familiar to most of us, and the rhythms can admittedly be challenging for those of us who are stodgy German or Scandinavian Lutherans, the music was truly delightful to sing and a wonderful break from the routine. We also had the advantage of a small group of musicians, who are all students here on campus, who led the music. This group calls themselves Unexpected Harmony; they certainly did add an unexpected joy to our worship service.
Now on to the “wandering” part of this post: as seniors, we are not assigned to specific congregations in the area, as we were during our first two years of study. Ray and I have committed to regularly attending worship here on campus – both daily chapel services and the weekly Eucharist services – as part of our spiritual life and as a way of participating fully in the seminary community.
We are also intentionally using this year to worship on Sunday morning in different congregations around the area. Since we returned to campus last fall, we have had some opportunities to supply preach and to return to our home congregation, but most weeks we worship as visitors in a new congregation. This has given us the opportunity to experience worship in a wide variety of styles and worship spaces. These opportunities to visit have been very educational to us, as we get to experience firsthand how visitors are welcomed (even given gift bags or welcome kits) or virtually ignored; how clear the bulletins and worship instructions (both printed and verbal) are; what follow-up visitors receive (notes from the pastor or lay leaders); and whether or not we are remembered on a return visit a few weeks or even months later.
I know it sounds a bit like being a “secret shopper” or as though we are intentionally testing congregations or looking for weaknesses, but we really aren’t. You might be amazed at what kinds of things we have learned about how to welcome visitors well - and we know these experiences will certainly guide us in our future ministry.
Now on to the “wandering” part of this post: as seniors, we are not assigned to specific congregations in the area, as we were during our first two years of study. Ray and I have committed to regularly attending worship here on campus – both daily chapel services and the weekly Eucharist services – as part of our spiritual life and as a way of participating fully in the seminary community.
We are also intentionally using this year to worship on Sunday morning in different congregations around the area. Since we returned to campus last fall, we have had some opportunities to supply preach and to return to our home congregation, but most weeks we worship as visitors in a new congregation. This has given us the opportunity to experience worship in a wide variety of styles and worship spaces. These opportunities to visit have been very educational to us, as we get to experience firsthand how visitors are welcomed (even given gift bags or welcome kits) or virtually ignored; how clear the bulletins and worship instructions (both printed and verbal) are; what follow-up visitors receive (notes from the pastor or lay leaders); and whether or not we are remembered on a return visit a few weeks or even months later.
I know it sounds a bit like being a “secret shopper” or as though we are intentionally testing congregations or looking for weaknesses, but we really aren’t. You might be amazed at what kinds of things we have learned about how to welcome visitors well - and we know these experiences will certainly guide us in our future ministry.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Easter Morning
“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!
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!
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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