Home for Christmas

Advent is a time of waiting, expectant waiting. I, and some of you, had the opportunity to spend time with waiting families last week. My husband Jon and I spent one night at Hope for the Journey Home, a wonderful local ministry providing housing and support for families who are temporarily homeless. In their waiting, they quickly form a new community with their housemates, caring for each other's children, offering supportive stories of job searches, and become family for one another, at least for this stretch of life's journey.

Whenever I leave after a shelter shift, the faces and stories of the residents stay with me. I wonder when their hope for a home will be realized, I ache for teenagers sharing a room with their family weekend after weekend, I imagine the middle-of-the-night worries of parents or the situation of children who can not invite a friend over to play. Spending time there during Advent revealed the story of another family in a new light. Mary and Joseph, having likely endured scorn, confusion, uncertainty, or an exhausting journey, are expectantly waiting for the birth of not only a baby, but the Messiah. Overwhelmed, surely. And then there is no room. Yet we don't read of Mary asking, "Why, God?" or Joseph quipping, "Seriously?" Instead, we are given their story of hope and of home. That night, home was not a cozy, Christmas tree-lit house, but something closer to a cave with a feeding trough cradle. Yet, perhaps alongside newly formed community, it was sufficient for Mary, for Joseph, for Jesus. Room enough.

This Advent, one of the women's groups is reading Not a Silent Night: Mary Looks Back to Bethlehem. Each of us marvels in some way at Mary's faithfulness, trust, patience, fortitude, joy, heartache, or some blend of all of these. As I reflect on Mary's experiences of waiting, and of their Christmas 'home', and then spend just one night in the presence of families living in limbo, I find room. Room to be more patient in crowded shops or with ever-changing family plans, room for time in God's word, room for altered Christmas expectations, room for change in my attitude, my priorities, my heart.

A friend's facebook post shared a Frederick Buechner reflection on home. He recalled preacher George Buttrick responding to the common December question, "Are you going home for Christmas?" "His answer was that home, finally, is the manger in Bethlehem, the place where at midnight even the oxen kneel. Home is where Christ is." Buechner writes, "I believe that Buttrick was right and that the home we long for and belong to is finally where Christ is. I believe that home is Christ's kingdom, which exists both within us and among us as we wend our prodigal ways through the world in search of it." The name for our local shelter is suddenly even richer with meaning. Hope for the Journey Home. I wish for you that Advent hope as you journey home for Christmas.

Written by: Sarah Storvick

The Thanksgiving Cure

Last Sunday I challenged the congregation to make this week, Thanksgiving Week, by writing down each day one specific thing for which they are grateful.  Not just a general concept like family or friends, but a specific, concrete experience from that day, such as the laughter of your child when you tickled her or the small display of affection you shared with your spouse or the delicious chocolate chip cookie you enjoyed.

I based my thoughts partly on Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are.

Just like you, Ann Voskamp hungers to live her one life well. Forget the bucket lists that have us escaping our everyday lives for exotic experiences. “How,” Ann wondered, “do we find joy in the midst of deadlines, debt, drama, and daily duties? What does the Christ-life really look like when your days are gritty, long—and sometimes even dark? How is God even here?”

In One Thousand Gifts, Ann invites you to embrace everyday blessings and embark on the transformative spiritual discipline of chronicling God's gifts. It’s only in this expressing of gratitude for the life we already have, we discover the life we've always wanted … a life we can take, give thanks for, and break for others. We come to feel and know the impossible right down in our bones: we are wildly loved — by God.

Ann goes on to describe how we often live a Waiting Room Life in which we are always waiting for the next Big Thing to happen, counting down the days until we can live the life we desire or expect.   Meanwhile, God is active all around us and we are not willing or awake to see God's daily activity in our life.  Ann's cure for the Waiting Room Life is to embrace thanksgiving, to practice gratitude everyday.  Here is a short video that captures some of the joy of practicing gratitude.

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As I write this blog post, I am grateful for the laughter I shared this morning with our staff.  Sue and Sarah and Hannah often help me see the humorous side of life, especially my own.  This morning Sue asked me if I was willing to write the blog post for this week.  I first said grudgingly, "Of course," thinking to myself "My turn again?"  She then observed that it could be on Thanksgiving. I thought, "how ironic that I feel unenthusiastic to write about Thanksgiving, when I challenged the congregation to be thankful all week." When I saw my ungrateful behavior, I laughed, knowing that I still need plenty of practice in developing a grateful attitude. Thus I am thankful that Sue made me laugh at myself.

For what are you thankful today?

Pastor John Keller

Christmas is Coming

The snow this week makes thoughts of Advent and Christmas seem timely, although there was likely no snow in Bethlehem. To help prepare hearts, minds and busy lives for the good news of our Savior’s birth, plans are underway for two events. The timeless and universal Christmas story is brought to life in new ways each year, especially when told by children and seen through their eyes. Resurrection’s family ADVENTure is an evening for families the first Sunday in Advent.

A meal is provided to allow all who participate to simply show up and enjoy a time of fellowship with others. How appropriate to prepare our hearts for the gift of the Messiah by gathering with the body of Christ! After time at the table, craft supplies and instructions are provided for families to spend time together, creating countdowns, Advent candle centerpieces, ornaments, and other items to take home. Each offers a reminder of Christ’s coming and can spark family conversations and traditions. The candles of the Advent centerpiece serve as signs of Christ’s light, “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.” A devotional time sends families on their way, warmed by the light of worship, community, and shared memories. This is a wonderful way to anticipate the coming of Jesus into our world and into our hearts anew.

Throughout Advent, children and adults will be rehearsing songs and lines for Faith Outfitters’ Christmas program, presented during both worship hours on Sunday, December 21. A Country Christmas imagines the Holy Family looking for room in the barn right here at Resurrection. 

Sunday School students can share their preferred roles with Director Michelle Storm this week. We read in Isaiah that a little child shall lead them. Jesus came to us as an infant. Later in his ministry, he said, “whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” It is clear that children are very important to God and Jesus loved children dearly. The way children love Jesus, and dramatize his birth, can touch all of our hearts and open our eyes to the real gift of Christmas. As we approach Advent, please consider these opportunities. Let the children lead us to find “Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger.”

 Written by: Sarah Storvick

Let God Lead in Our Celebration.

This past Sunday we celebrated our life together as a congregation. This was in response to the scripture text read that morning, Deuteronomy 26:11

 Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house.

The Israelites celebrated when they brought the first fruits of the harvest to the temple.  Resurrection celebrated as we brought our financial intentions for 2015, our Estimate of Giving cards, to the altar. We celebrated by giving thanks for the many blessings God has given us as individuals, families and as a congregation. We celebrated with music, special snacks and a great video. 

I cannot share the special snacks but I can give you a glimpse at the great video we watched.  

Thanks to all who joined the celebration by returning their Estimate of Giving card to the church office. 

You can join the celebration by making sure your Estimate of Giving card is completed and sent back to the church office. If you did not receive an Estimate of Giving card in the mail, please call the office or pick one up at church. Our goal is to make sure this celebration includes every member of Resurrection.  Thanks be to God. 

Pastor John Keller

Confirmation: Faith Super-sized

Last Sunday afternoon, seventeen of our youth stood and professed their faith in Jesus Christ.  What a joy to celebrate the confirmation of their faith. 

Ruth Erikstrup, one of the confirmands, spoke. She had been chosen by her class to speak. In her remarks she referenced a joke I had told the students during our recent retreat at Camp Wapo. We were in one of the old camp buildings when a mouse raced past the students. That reminded me of the following joke, which Ruth repeated.

A Lutheran church was having problems with mice. The custodian had tried various mouse traps, poison and even a cat, with limited success. He asked the pastor what he should do. The pastor said, “You might try dressing them up in red robes and have them confirmed. Afterwards they will never be seen in church again.”

After the congregation finished laughing, Ruth went on to say that she did not feel this reflected her faith at this time. She felt the firm bond of friendship with her classmates and looked forward to seeing them in church and at That High School Thing on Wednesday nights. She wanted to continue the faith conversations that had started in confirmation. She wanted to keep growing in her faith.

Ruth was expressing the three goals of our confirmation program at Resurrection. The goals are.

• Provide basic instruction on what the Christian faith believes: to engage minds.
• Connect confirmands to a living faith in Jesus Christ: to engage hearts.
• Build relationship with their classmates as fellow Christians: to engage community.

I see this as fulfilling Jesus' basic instruction to his disciples. When asked what is the greatest commandment, he responded

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matthew 22: 36-40

Each year our staff prays that our confirmands will grow in love for God and each other. I think Ruth expressed that as did her fellow speaker Tim Dornfeld.

Of course their faith does not stop growing with confirmation. A very large pumpkin was placed on the altar and I referenced it during my sermon. God wants our faith and love of him to grow to super-size. We are not to be content with a small pumpkin faith, but rather a super-size faith.

A super-large pumpkin only grows under four conditions: the right seed, the right soil, the right weather, and the right space. The seed must come from a super-size pumpkin. The seed must be planted in the right soil with excellent fertilizer and top soil. The seed and soil must receive the proper amount of rain and sun for the pumpkin to grow. Finally, there must be space provided for the pumpkin to grow to its giant status.

As Christians we have been given the right seed, the seed of Jesus Christ in our baptism. The seed of Jesus Christ must be planted in the right soil of God’s word, the story of God’s work in Jesus Christ. The seed also needs the proper climate of prayer, worship and service. Finally the proper space is provided through the community of faith, that we are connected to each other and God.  Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches" (John 15).

I am so proud of our 17 confirmands and their public affirmation of faith. I trust that the Holy Spirit will continue to work in their lives, providing the energy and conditions needed to super-size their faith in Jesus Christ.

Pastor John Keller

Let God Lead Us With Courage

Courage seems to be a forgotten value in our society. Only soldier, sailors and first responders are publically credited with bravery. Courageous movie heroes are restricted to superheroes such as Ironman or Captain America. Many seem to think that displays of courage are really only acts of foolishness; “Fools rush in to where angels fear to tread.”

Yet God often encouraged his people to take courage, to stand strong.

David said further to his son Solomon, "Be strong and of good courage, and act. Do not be afraid or dismayed; for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished. I Chronicles 28:20

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord. Psalm 31:24

Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. I Corinthians 16:13

In Joshua chapter one, Joshua is told that Moses, (Israel's great leader and Joshua' mentor) is dead. Joshua must take on the mantel of leadership. He is to lead God’s people into the promise land and fight against the Canaanites who occupy the land. Three times God commands Joshua, “Be strong and courageous.” This would not be an easy task. The battles would be tough.  His people would be fickle and frightened  But God also gave Joshua a great promise as well.

“I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:19

The promise to Joshua of God’s guidance and strength is the foundation for our fall emphasis: Let God Lead. God gives Resurrection that same promise today. We are to be strong and courageous as we seek to do God’s will in our community and world. Our courage is not based on any human strength but on God’s strength and power. We need to remember God’s promise and meditate on God’s strength as we look into the future. God faithfully led the Israelites into the promise land; God promises to lead us into our future as we trust in him.

This Sunday at Resurrection we will look at how courage can be a critical part of our Christian faith.

Pastor John Keller

Let God Lead with Generosity; Part Two

Yesterday in his sermon, Pastor John invited people to share experiences of generosity.   He shared  two examples.

I remember the generosity of my father in regards to the Lutheran Bible camp near our home.  The camp was called Lutherhaven and it was on Wildcat Lake, about 15 miles from my home in Bremerton, Washington.  He served on the camp board and worked many week-ends helping to maintain the cabins and lodge.  He appealed to our congregation to make our financial donations and he also gave monetarily to the camp.  And the one summer I worked as a camp counselor there, he proudly showed the new staff what the camp had to offer.   My dad was a model of generosity for me.

And our congregation has a model of generosity in our own recent history.  We are so blessed by the generosity of Glenn and Inez Oehlke, whose farmland we now occupy.  Early on many commercial developers approached them: Walgreens and others, because they knew what valuable property this was, being on the key intersection of Bailey Road and Woodbury Drive.   But they said no to the commercial realtors, because they wanted churches to be here.  So they sold at reasonable prices to both St. Ambrose Catholic Church and to Resurrection Lutheran Church.

Then after Glen died, Inez moved out of her farmhouse and donated the land and buildings to the south to us where we now enjoy our Harvest Festival and outdoor worship.  God truly has taken the lead in our congregation's experience of generosity.

     

You can share your own experience of generosity  by taking the following survey where your comments will be used later this month in worship.  You can take the survey anonymously or leave your name if you choose. The link is here Generosity Survey

Let God Lead With Our Generosity

Transitions are tough.  To move to a new town is challenging for us.  To start a new job and to learn new work habits and culture adds to the difficulty.  Yet thousands of people do it every year.  My wife and I did it when we married and moved to St. Paul from Kansas City so that I could start seminary.  I helped my daughter Christina move to Austin, Texas, so she could begin her first teaching job. With patience, wisdom and perseverance people transition to a new life. 

The people of Israel had a difficult transition as they entered the Promise land of Canaan.  They had been nomadic sheep and goat herders in their wandering in the wilderness.  Moses, before he died, had a final word from God. In the book of Deuteronomy he instructed the people on how they were to act once they transition to farming.  

    When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it,  you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name.
    And you shall say, “The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders;  and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.  So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me." You shall set it down before the Lord your God and bow down before the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 26:1-2, 8-10

This was the offering of first fruits.  God was teaching the people to practice generosity in their daily living.  The first-fruit generosity was stated as the expectation of God for his people as a response to God’s generosity in giving them the land they now settled and farmed.  Notice why they gave. It was not a payment in order to earn God’s favor.  Rather it was a thankful response to what God had already given to them.

The practice of generous giving is one that our contemporary society can embrace.  Our congregation witnessed such generosity when Inez Oehlke donated her farm buildings and land to the congregation when she transition out of the farm house.   We are ever grateful for her example of generosity.

The practice reminds us to open our hearts and minds towards God’s gracious gifts towards us.  It reminds us that God has given us not only the created world and all its produce, but has given us new life in his Son, Jesus Christ.  God is generous and gracious towards us; can we not be generous toward God’s ministry in the world?

When have you recognized a gift of generosity towards yourself?   When have you practiced generosity?

Lord Jesus, teach to me practice generosity towards others.

Pastor John Keller

Let God Lead Friday Devotion

Theme: Prayer for the World

First Word:  Genesis 12:2-3 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will become a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

High Noon: John 3:17 God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 

Last Word: Acts 1:8 But you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. 

Questions and Reflections:

In Genesis, Abraham is blessed for a purpose, that all the families of the earth might be blessed. How are you blessed to be a blessing?  How is Resurrection blessed to be a blessing to the world?

In John 3:17, we learn that God in Jesus is not about condemning the world, but saving it. How might we bring this message of love and salvation to the world?

In Acts, Jesus tells his followers that they are to go beyond their home base of Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. Where might God be calling Resurrection to go beyond our home base?  What might be our “ends of the earth?”

God has a plan for you and for Resurrection.

God also has a plan for the whole world and we are part of the plan.  God calls his people to be his agents in our families, congregations and local communities.  He also calls us to see the whole earth as part of our place of ministry.

Through Lutheran World Relief, our congregation supports Lutheran service work in over 20 different countries on four different continents.  Through Feed My Starving Children we help prepare food for children around the world.  These are good and valuable ways of reaching the world.  Yet might there be other ways? 

 

Most colleges and universities now recommend that a student have an opportunity to study abroad.  The opportunity to live and study in a foreign culture opens their eyes to new perspectives and ways of seeing God’s world.  Students who have such an experience often are transformed by it.  My daughter had the opportunity to teach in Costa Rica for a semester.  She lived with a family and learned their customs and foods.  It both affirmed her desire to teach as well as opened her heart to all God’s people. 

In today’s world, we can easily hop on an airplane and be in a foreign land within hours. Minnesotans often fly south to Mexico or the Carribean in the winter to escape the cold. What if such a trip had a service component? What if we offered vacations with a purpose, the opportunity to meet God’s children in a different country? Our St. Paul Area Synod has Christian partnerships in Tanzania and Guatemala. What if we explored joining these partnerships? 

Might God be calling us to consider other forms of ministry beyond our country? To be a blessing to some end of the earth? 

Prayer Starters:

Almighty and Gracious God, you love the entire world.  To what edges of the world are you calling Resurrection?  How can we be your witnesses around the corner and around the world? 

God of Peace and Justice, we pray that peace might come to all the nations.  We pray especially today for those nations and people caught in violent conflict, especially . . .  Guide us in how to respond.

Let God Lead Prayer - Lord Jesus, thank you for your steadfast love for our family and our congregation.  We ask that you would clearly lead Resurrection Lutheran Church into the future you want us to have.  Guide us to be your church for people far into the future. You grace us and call us to a vibrant life of faith in Christ, a life we are asked to share with others.  Take away our fear and give us courage and strength to trust that you go with us.  Holy Spirit, give us ears to hear your voice, give us eyes to see your path, and give us faith to follow you. (pause for silence and listening)  In Jesus’ name.   Amen.

Let God Lead Thursday Devotion

Theme:  Prayer for Our Community

  

First Word: Romans 12:4-7 For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

High Noon: Ephesians 4:1-6 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body, one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

Last Word: Luke 10:27 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.

Questions:  

In Scripture, it is clear that community is the heartbeat of the gospel. To be in unity with one another, be in unity together for the sake of His kingdom, and to love one another. 

  

Within the body of Christ and at Resurrection we all have different gifts, and they are valued.  What gifts do you have that God is asking you to use within the congregation or in your family or your community? 

How is God calling you to live a life worthy of the calling?  How can we become more unified in our church family?

How can practice Luke 10:27?  How can we love the Lord with every ounce of our being, and to love our neighbor, our community, or church?

Reflections:  Community is something we cannot fit in a box.  Community is a beautiful mess.  Community involves real people, real feelings, and real stories.  When real people are involved people will get hurt, and people will feel loved and unified. We cannot force community, or force people to like each other. Though our hearts have to be open and willing to step into community.  When we do those things, we will experience the real gift that community has to offer!

 

In the three scriptures above, it is clear that Jesus cared about community as it is mentioned or referenced over 84 times in the Bible.  When we approach community with humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another in love, and making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit, we are able to fully experience the joy of community. 

Lets rejoice together, mourn together, worship together, serve together, gather around a table together, and experience the power of Community at Resurrection!

Prayer Starters:

Lord Jesus, we thank you for the gift of community.  May we experience the vibrant life of Christ at Resurrection together, and may we live into the calling of unity with one another.  Amen.

Heavenly Father, as family and members of Resurrection, may we approach each other with humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, and making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  Amen.

Let God Lead in Prayer - Lord Jesus, thank you for your steadfast love for our family and our congregation.  We ask that you would clearly lead Resurrection Lutheran Church into the future you want us to have.  Guide us to be your church for people far into the future. You grace us and call us to a vibrant life of faith in Christ, a life we are asked to share with others.  Take away our fear and give us courage and strength to trust that you go with us.   Holy Spirit, give us ears to hear your voice, give us eyes to see your path, and give us faith to follow you. (Pause for silence and listening.) In Jesus’ name. Amen.