Thursday, February 2, 2012
The Light of Christ
Presentation of Our Lord is an ancient festival of the church, with many layers of tradition. What are we actually celebrating? We celebrate the vision and perception of Anna and Simeon, who knew Jesus as Messiah before his ministry even began. The light of Christ, sparked in the manger, goes with us out into our life every day.
Vicar Erik Doughty, The Presentation of Our Lord; text: Luke 2:22-40
Welcome to a rather quirky festival of the Church! Candles blessed, prophets canticle-ing, processions, and other interesting stuff. Tonight you get a religious-history lesson, and then some Gospel, because we need to hear both.
First, some history. Why exactly are we here tonight? What are we having this little festival FOR?
We are not commemorating Jesus’ circumcision and naming-- that was last month. We are not commemorating Jesus’ bar mitzvah -- for one thing, he was way too young; for another, this is in the Jerusalem Temple, not a synagogue. Here’s the reason Joseph and Mary went to the temple in the first place:
Leviticus. 12:1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. 3 On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. 4 Then the woman must wait thirty–three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. 5 If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty–six days to be purified from her bleeding.
Lev. 12:6 “‘When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year–old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering.a 7 He shall offer them before the LORD to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood.
“‘These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. 8 If she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’”
What all that means is this: in part, this worship service we’re having is about MARY’s ritual purity, now restored by the sacrifice of two pigeons, which she had formerly lost after giving birth to a son. And the date of this festival is 40 days after Christmas-- 7 days plus 33 days is 40.
BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE!
In the book of Numbers, just after a whole lot of death and unpleasantness, due to Israelites who grumbled against Aaron and Moses and God -- go read Numbers chapter 17 and 18 if you want a sample-- the tribe of Levi is chosen to be priests in the temple, and they are given the first of everything -- crops, animals, and children. All firstborn are to be dedicated to God-- and if you’re not going to donate your child to be raised by the temple Levites, you pay money to the Levite tribe as “ransom” or “redemption”. Here’s what God tells the Levites:
Num. 18:14 “Everything in Israel that is devoted to the LORD is yours. 15 The first offspring of every womb, both human and animal, that is offered to the LORD is yours. But you must redeem [ransom] every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals. 16 When they are a month old, you must redeem them at the redemption price set at five shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs.
Aren’t you glad you came to church tonight? Look how much you’re learning! Maybe some of you still owe some shekels! Except, well, we’re not Jews living in the time of the temple, are we? No.
Ok, so anyway, those two readings are from the first books of the Bible.
But what about the candles? No one really knows for sure. It could be a Christianization of pagan practices (which a Pope in the 1600s believed, among others). In any case, blessing of candles on this day is a pious tradition which WE choose to keep as a remembrance of Christ’s Epiphany light going out into the world. Armenian Christians have a similar practice, carrying lit candles home from this festival, light overcoming darkness. So now you know. But why the French eat crepes on this festival, I have no idea. You can research by eating lots of crepes.
But what on earth does this have to do with Good News for you and me? We’re not Jews; I hope we’re not pagans; we’re (mostly) not French (maybe a little). How does this all apply?
Here’s the good news, of that Epiphany light we celebrate this evening: It was not merely young zealous hotheaded 20-something Essenes and first-century fishermen who thought there was something special about Jesus. Even this early in his life, before his ministry started at all, before his baptism and before he called his very first disciple, the grizzled, blind, dedicated prophets in the Temple-- Simeon and Anna -- met Jesus in the course of their usual workday-- and old, blind Simeon burst into song, praising God for sending the Messiah; and Anna, who knew the Holy when she saw it-- Anna, who lived her life in the Temple day and night-- saw this small child and knew the redemption of Jerusalem had arrived, and she gave thanks.
Our Mount Olive member, Laila Malm, died this week after some time in memory-care and hospice; her funeral will be next Thursday, in this holy place. Already, other of our members rest in the columbarium in our side chapel in the transept. We mourn the loss of our beloved dead and yet we sing Alleluia, for Simeon and Anna were right. They did recognize the Messiah, the savior not only of Israel but also of you and me. A sword did pierce Mary’s heart, at Jesus’ crucifixion, and yet we rejoice that Christ, dying, destroyed death. And in Christ’s resurrection is the resurrection hope of all the baptized-- you, me, Laila too.
Our good news is that Christ came to be with Simeon and with Anna AND WITH US, to love us, to die for us, to be raised for us; our good news is that when the time comes for us to go to the heart of God and for our baptism to be completed in death, we may go in peace just like Simeon, with song on our lips, having seen the Lord; and still seeing the Lord calling us home. Until then, when we light these candles, we remember the light of Christ with us, first sparking from a manger in Bethlehem, and with us still. We give thanks for Simeon and Anna, old and faithful, and among the first to point to Jesus and see the light of salvation. This is the light we all bear with us out the church doors tonight. This is the light we praise as we light all the candles blessed tonight. This is the light shining into our lives and homes, all year: the light of Christ. Thanks be to God!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
The Olive Branch, 1/30/12
Accent on Worship
The gods of the ancient world were often perceived as powerful and ruthless, at best indifferent to mortals. However, Isaiah, in the First Lesson for the Fifth Sunday After Epiphany, gives the Judeans, who are returning from exile, a true vision of who and what God is to them. God is the infinite Creator of all, who has no equal even among the great and powerful on earth. God “brings princes to naught and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.” Yet, unlike the ancient gods of Isaiah’s time, the true God is concerned about the creation and involved in the lives of God’s people, especially those who are weak and vulnerable. “He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless.”
Psalm 147, the Psalm for the day, continues with this theme, which is one of hope for those who are returning to rebuild, for those who are overwhelmed by the destruction of their home country, and those who are broken hearted. The Judeans are reminded of the power of their God and God’s concern for them.
This power and concern is no more manifested than in the Word Made Flesh, in Jesus. In this season the Gospel is all about the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, the people he chooses, and the excitement he generates in every town he enters. “Everyone is searching for you,” said Simon to the Lord when he slipped away to pray. No truer words could have been spoken. Jesus was what everyone had been searching for, perhaps the Messiah, but if not that, someone who embodied the power and concern of the God who was proclaimed by the prophets. Jesus’ first actions in this exciting new ministry were healing all who came to him. In Mark 1:29-39, Sunday’s Gospel, we are told that the whole city came to the door for Jesus’ healing touch. And even though the people had not figured out who Jesus was, the demons already knew, “but he would not permit them to speak, because they knew him.” Such was the power of Jesus, the Son of God.
The interesting insight that I got out of Mark’s Gospel was that Jesus did not separate his actions from his words. When Simon found him in prayer, Jesus said to him, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” As followers of Jesus we, too, are called to proclaim our message of God’s love, by our actions.
- Donna Neste
This Sunday’s Adult Forum
February 5: Dr. Terence Nichols of St. Thomas University will offer the first of a 2-part presentation, “What Christians Should Know About Isalm.”
Book Discussion Group
For its meeting on February 11, the Book Discussion Group will read Native Son, by Richard Wright, and for the March 10 session A Passage to India, by E. M. Forster.
Book Discussion meets on the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. at the church. All readers welcome!
2011 Year-End Statements
Contribution statements for the year ending December 31, 2011 will be available on a table near the coat area for contributors to pick up.
If you cannot be at church in the coming weeks and would like your statement mailed to you, please call the church office.
Welcoming!
On Sunday, February 12, 2012 at the 10:45 a.m. liturgy, we will welcome those who have indicated that they want to become "official" members at Mount Olive. If you are interested in membership at Mount Olive, please speak with Pastor Crippen, contact the office at 612-827-5919, or speak with Andrew Andersen, the Director of Evangelism.
Sign Up for Altar Flowers
The Altar Flowers Chart for 2012 is now posted in the church office. If you would like to sign up to provide flowers for worship to commemorate a special day, in memory of a loved one, in honor of a special event, or simply to help beautify our sanctuary for worship, please sign up on the chart for the date you want, and be sure to include your designation. The cost of the altar flowers this year is $50 a Sunday for two bouquets. You may sign up to purchase both bouquets by signing on both lines, or purchase just one bouquet ($25) by signing on only one line.
Heart Healthy Food and Fun Event
Set aside February 12 for a not-to-be-missed dinner at Mount Olive, with “hearts” as its theme. Sponsored by the Neighborhood Ministries Committee, this fundraiser promises to be deliciously “heart healthy,” as well as fun. Hans Tisberger will provide games and prizes. Tickets for the event will are $12 for adults, $5 for children aged 5 to 12. Children under 5 are free. Join the fun and support the raising of funds to acquire additional needed kitchen equipment.
Call for Palms
It’s time to bring in any palm branches you have from last year’s Palm Sunday liturgy. These branches may be placed in the designated basket in the narthex. They will be burned on Shrove Tuesday, and their ashes used for the Imposition of Ashes on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22.
Taste of Chile
Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 4! The Missions Committee will be hosting the Taste of Chile to celebrate Chilean food and culture and to learn about missions in Chile. If you are interested in making an authentic Chilean dish for the event (recipe provided), please contact Lisa Ruff at jklmruff@msn.com or 651-636-4762.
Attention Worship Assistants!
All of the server’s albs and hangers have now been labeled with numbers. Please choose an alb and write the alb number next to your name on the list which is posted on the bulletin board. Once the list is complete, a new roster with alb assignments will be posted.
Films of Faith in February
Seen any good movies lately? It’s a good question, because film (like the other arts) can be a great way to be challenged, inspired, and guided to reflect on our lives of faith. And as with the other arts, one’s appreciation of a film can be enhanced by discussing it with others. So on the four Sundays of February (including Super Bowl Sunday), we will have the opportunity to gather at church to watch movies of substance and discuss then. We kick off at 3 p.m. on 5 February (in the chapel lounge) with Of Gods and Men, a powerful film that focuses on the decision of a group of Trappist monks to stay in the ministries in Muslim Algeria, despite threats and the urging of those “in the know” to flee to safety.
We will watch the movie, munch (quietly, please) on popcorn, sip a little cider, and then, after the movie, talk about what the movie showed and said and how it speaks to us as we try to live our lives of faith.
Future films will be Babette’s Feast, Joyeaux Noelle, and Into Temptation (which was filmed in Minneapolis and Saint Paul).
Minnesota FoodShare Cordially Invites You to Their Kick-Off Event
The Westminster Town Hall Forum, on Thursday, February 23, at 12 noon will be the kick-off event for the 30th Minnesota FoodShare. Rick Steves, host to the popular travel show on Minnesota Public Television, will speak about hunger from a global and local perspective. Further details can be found on www.westminsterforum.org.
South Minneapolis Coalition for Grief Support
2012 Winter / Spring Series
This series will be held on Thursday evenings, January 19 – March 29, 2012, at Diamond Lake Lutheran Church, 5760 Portland Avenue S. Minneapolis, MN 55347 (612-827-5931).
Weekly Schedule
6:15 pm Registration and refreshments
6:30 pm Speaker
7:00 - 8:00 pm Facilitated Small Groups
Individuals may join the group at any time. For further information, contact the coordinator, Norine Larson at 952-925-2437.
Bread for the World Workshops and Offering of Letters
The 2012 Bread for the World workshop, "Cut Hunger, Not Hunger Programs" will be held at three different locations and dates. On Thursday, February 23, 9a.m. -noon, at Guardian Angels Catholic Church, 8260 4th Street N, Oakdale; on Saturday, February 25, 9a.m.-noon, at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, 8400 France Ave. S., Bloomington; and on Wednesday, February 29, 7-9 p.m. at Bethel University, Eastlund Room in Community Life Center, 3900 Bethel Dr., Arden Hills.
This year, Bread for the World members and advocates need to raise our voices more than ever. The deficit-reduction proposals Congress is considering could result in the most severe cuts to programs for hungry and poor people in Bread's history.
Bread's 2012 Offering of Letters overall campaign will work to create a circle of protection around those most vulnerable by working to protect the funding of programs for hungry and poor people. The focus will be on four mini-campaigns: domestic nutrition assistance, poverty-focused foreign assistance, tax credits for low-income families, and international food aid.
Plan Ahead!
March is Minnesota FoodShare Month
From 2008 to 2010 visits to the food shelves increased by 62%. During that time in the Twin Cities it increase by 97%! But the suburbs are suffering too. Since 2008, Second Harvest reported a 70% increase by seniors to suburban food programs. There were more than three million visits altogether to Minnesota food shelves in 2010. More hunger facts are posted on the Neighborhood Ministries bulletin board.
Once again Mount Olive congregation is invited to participate in Minnesota FoodShare Month. Bring your non-perishable food donations any Sunday during the month of March and place them in the grocery cart in the cloak room.
The goal this year is to collect a total of 12 million combined dollars and pounds of food from congregations, businesses, and individuals throughout Minnesota. This amount will stock food shelves around the state with more than half the food distribution needed annually. And remember, food shelves can stretch donations of cash further than donations of food, because of their access to discount products and programs. So your cash donations go much farther! If you would like to make a cash donation, make your check out to Mount Olive and in the memo line write "MN FoodShare," and place it in the offering plate.
The gods of the ancient world were often perceived as powerful and ruthless, at best indifferent to mortals. However, Isaiah, in the First Lesson for the Fifth Sunday After Epiphany, gives the Judeans, who are returning from exile, a true vision of who and what God is to them. God is the infinite Creator of all, who has no equal even among the great and powerful on earth. God “brings princes to naught and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.” Yet, unlike the ancient gods of Isaiah’s time, the true God is concerned about the creation and involved in the lives of God’s people, especially those who are weak and vulnerable. “He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless.”
Psalm 147, the Psalm for the day, continues with this theme, which is one of hope for those who are returning to rebuild, for those who are overwhelmed by the destruction of their home country, and those who are broken hearted. The Judeans are reminded of the power of their God and God’s concern for them.
This power and concern is no more manifested than in the Word Made Flesh, in Jesus. In this season the Gospel is all about the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, the people he chooses, and the excitement he generates in every town he enters. “Everyone is searching for you,” said Simon to the Lord when he slipped away to pray. No truer words could have been spoken. Jesus was what everyone had been searching for, perhaps the Messiah, but if not that, someone who embodied the power and concern of the God who was proclaimed by the prophets. Jesus’ first actions in this exciting new ministry were healing all who came to him. In Mark 1:29-39, Sunday’s Gospel, we are told that the whole city came to the door for Jesus’ healing touch. And even though the people had not figured out who Jesus was, the demons already knew, “but he would not permit them to speak, because they knew him.” Such was the power of Jesus, the Son of God.
The interesting insight that I got out of Mark’s Gospel was that Jesus did not separate his actions from his words. When Simon found him in prayer, Jesus said to him, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” As followers of Jesus we, too, are called to proclaim our message of God’s love, by our actions.
- Donna Neste
This Sunday’s Adult Forum
February 5: Dr. Terence Nichols of St. Thomas University will offer the first of a 2-part presentation, “What Christians Should Know About Isalm.”
Book Discussion Group
For its meeting on February 11, the Book Discussion Group will read Native Son, by Richard Wright, and for the March 10 session A Passage to India, by E. M. Forster.
Book Discussion meets on the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. at the church. All readers welcome!
2011 Year-End Statements
Contribution statements for the year ending December 31, 2011 will be available on a table near the coat area for contributors to pick up.
If you cannot be at church in the coming weeks and would like your statement mailed to you, please call the church office.
Welcoming!
On Sunday, February 12, 2012 at the 10:45 a.m. liturgy, we will welcome those who have indicated that they want to become "official" members at Mount Olive. If you are interested in membership at Mount Olive, please speak with Pastor Crippen, contact the office at 612-827-5919, or speak with Andrew Andersen, the Director of Evangelism.
Sign Up for Altar Flowers
The Altar Flowers Chart for 2012 is now posted in the church office. If you would like to sign up to provide flowers for worship to commemorate a special day, in memory of a loved one, in honor of a special event, or simply to help beautify our sanctuary for worship, please sign up on the chart for the date you want, and be sure to include your designation. The cost of the altar flowers this year is $50 a Sunday for two bouquets. You may sign up to purchase both bouquets by signing on both lines, or purchase just one bouquet ($25) by signing on only one line.
Heart Healthy Food and Fun Event
Set aside February 12 for a not-to-be-missed dinner at Mount Olive, with “hearts” as its theme. Sponsored by the Neighborhood Ministries Committee, this fundraiser promises to be deliciously “heart healthy,” as well as fun. Hans Tisberger will provide games and prizes. Tickets for the event will are $12 for adults, $5 for children aged 5 to 12. Children under 5 are free. Join the fun and support the raising of funds to acquire additional needed kitchen equipment.
Call for Palms
It’s time to bring in any palm branches you have from last year’s Palm Sunday liturgy. These branches may be placed in the designated basket in the narthex. They will be burned on Shrove Tuesday, and their ashes used for the Imposition of Ashes on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22.
Taste of Chile
Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 4! The Missions Committee will be hosting the Taste of Chile to celebrate Chilean food and culture and to learn about missions in Chile. If you are interested in making an authentic Chilean dish for the event (recipe provided), please contact Lisa Ruff at jklmruff@msn.com or 651-636-4762.
Attention Worship Assistants!
All of the server’s albs and hangers have now been labeled with numbers. Please choose an alb and write the alb number next to your name on the list which is posted on the bulletin board. Once the list is complete, a new roster with alb assignments will be posted.
Films of Faith in February
Seen any good movies lately? It’s a good question, because film (like the other arts) can be a great way to be challenged, inspired, and guided to reflect on our lives of faith. And as with the other arts, one’s appreciation of a film can be enhanced by discussing it with others. So on the four Sundays of February (including Super Bowl Sunday), we will have the opportunity to gather at church to watch movies of substance and discuss then. We kick off at 3 p.m. on 5 February (in the chapel lounge) with Of Gods and Men, a powerful film that focuses on the decision of a group of Trappist monks to stay in the ministries in Muslim Algeria, despite threats and the urging of those “in the know” to flee to safety.
We will watch the movie, munch (quietly, please) on popcorn, sip a little cider, and then, after the movie, talk about what the movie showed and said and how it speaks to us as we try to live our lives of faith.
Future films will be Babette’s Feast, Joyeaux Noelle, and Into Temptation (which was filmed in Minneapolis and Saint Paul).
Minnesota FoodShare Cordially Invites You to Their Kick-Off Event
The Westminster Town Hall Forum, on Thursday, February 23, at 12 noon will be the kick-off event for the 30th Minnesota FoodShare. Rick Steves, host to the popular travel show on Minnesota Public Television, will speak about hunger from a global and local perspective. Further details can be found on www.westminsterforum.org.
South Minneapolis Coalition for Grief Support
2012 Winter / Spring Series
This series will be held on Thursday evenings, January 19 – March 29, 2012, at Diamond Lake Lutheran Church, 5760 Portland Avenue S. Minneapolis, MN 55347 (612-827-5931).
Weekly Schedule
6:15 pm Registration and refreshments
6:30 pm Speaker
7:00 - 8:00 pm Facilitated Small Groups
Individuals may join the group at any time. For further information, contact the coordinator, Norine Larson at 952-925-2437.
Bread for the World Workshops and Offering of Letters
The 2012 Bread for the World workshop, "Cut Hunger, Not Hunger Programs" will be held at three different locations and dates. On Thursday, February 23, 9a.m. -noon, at Guardian Angels Catholic Church, 8260 4th Street N, Oakdale; on Saturday, February 25, 9a.m.-noon, at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, 8400 France Ave. S., Bloomington; and on Wednesday, February 29, 7-9 p.m. at Bethel University, Eastlund Room in Community Life Center, 3900 Bethel Dr., Arden Hills.
This year, Bread for the World members and advocates need to raise our voices more than ever. The deficit-reduction proposals Congress is considering could result in the most severe cuts to programs for hungry and poor people in Bread's history.
Bread's 2012 Offering of Letters overall campaign will work to create a circle of protection around those most vulnerable by working to protect the funding of programs for hungry and poor people. The focus will be on four mini-campaigns: domestic nutrition assistance, poverty-focused foreign assistance, tax credits for low-income families, and international food aid.
Plan Ahead!
March is Minnesota FoodShare Month
From 2008 to 2010 visits to the food shelves increased by 62%. During that time in the Twin Cities it increase by 97%! But the suburbs are suffering too. Since 2008, Second Harvest reported a 70% increase by seniors to suburban food programs. There were more than three million visits altogether to Minnesota food shelves in 2010. More hunger facts are posted on the Neighborhood Ministries bulletin board.
Once again Mount Olive congregation is invited to participate in Minnesota FoodShare Month. Bring your non-perishable food donations any Sunday during the month of March and place them in the grocery cart in the cloak room.
The goal this year is to collect a total of 12 million combined dollars and pounds of food from congregations, businesses, and individuals throughout Minnesota. This amount will stock food shelves around the state with more than half the food distribution needed annually. And remember, food shelves can stretch donations of cash further than donations of food, because of their access to discount products and programs. So your cash donations go much farther! If you would like to make a cash donation, make your check out to Mount Olive and in the memo line write "MN FoodShare," and place it in the offering plate.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Claimed by Christ
In today's readings, Christ teaches with authority, and casts out demons. Because through Baptism the Holy Spirit dwells in us, there is no room in us for whatever tries to possess us. We are claimed by Christ, and freed to love and serve God and our neighbor.
Vicar Erik Doughty, Fourth Sunday after Epiphany; texts: Mark 1:21-28
So, when was the last exorcism you attended?
We in the rational, Enlightenment-affected, Science-friendly, Western church like to think, in daily life, that we are logical and self-controlled and sensible. We don’t often talk about things like unclean spirits, or how to get rid of them. But in liturgy and practice . . .
“We confess that we are in bondage to [or, “captive to”] sin, and cannot free ourselves.”
“Do you renounce the devil and all the forces that defy God? Do you renounce the powers of this world that rebel against God? Do you renounce the ways of sin that draw you from God?”
“Child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.” Our last exorcism was on January 8, the baptism of the newest member of the Spalding family; and before that, another on December 18, the baptism of the youngest Berka.
Our usual entry to Christian life and faith includes exorcism . . . and possession by Christ, into whose body the Holy Spirit enters at his baptism. (The Holy Spirit comes to us, too, in baptism.)
And in Affirmation of Baptism --what used to be called “Confirmation” -- those same renunciations are spoken again-- with the addition of this prayer: Stir up in (name) the gift of your Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding; the spirit of counsel and might; the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord; the spirit of joy in your presence, both now and forever. Amen.”
You see, in baptism the Triune God takes possession of us. The Holy Spirit enters in, lives in us. We are not our own. We belong as part of Christ’s body, the Church.
. . . and so, we speak Christ’s words, not our own.
. . . and so, we act in ways that build up community, not tearing down community.
. . . and so, we fear and love God. Perhaps you recall Luther’s small-catechism explanation of the eighth commandment? We should so fear and love God that we do not betray, slander, or lie about our neighbor, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain his actions in the kindest way.
And no, this isn’t a sermon about the commandments-- but you can see the connections; you’re a smart bunch. In baptism, the Holy Spirit kicks out whatever unclean spirits are in us, and then the Holy Spirit lives within us, creating faith, allowing us to build community in ways we couldn’t before. It gives us a healthy fear of the Creator of All That Is; we see God and are awestruck.
And baptism, with its exorcism of other spirits and invocation of the Holy Spirit, also gives us love for God and for one another--and the neighbor Luther speaks about-- because God dwells not only in us, but also in places beyond us-- which we signify here at Mount Olive by reverencing the cross, and the Gospel book, and the altar, and the blessed communion bread and wine-- and God dwells in this congregation, too, each one of us, and so we bow to one another, forgiven sinner-to-forgiven sinner, one temple of the Holy Spirit to another Temple of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps we should reverence the neighborhood as we exit the church building? Perhaps. God is present in the world, too.
And the peace of God comes from God AND dwells with each one of us, so that when we say “The peace of the Lord be with you,” it is not a symbolic formality but it is something actually happening, changing, transacting from one member of the body of Christ to another, in those words, at that moment. As Susan said last week during education hour, words are not just words; words have effects; and these are holy words; and they have holy effects. We do not say them idly. We should so fear and love God that we recognize the reality we create with our words (and with God’s words).
I’m going to preach to the choir a little now (not literally). Because you know this, but in a little while you’ll go out the church doors and others NEED to know this:
I have been reading an ongoing discussion about words, where one person used the word “homo”, reasoning that it was a logical abbreviation for a longer word referring to gay and lesbian people. Well-- we should so fear and love God that we do not call fellow members of the body of Christ -- or of our general human family -- names. We should so fear and love God that we build up the body of Christ in every way we can think of. We should so fear and love God that we acknowledge and encourage love when we find it.
And we should so fear and love God AND ONE ANOTHER that we do not use these texts today to hurt people. If we are going to name those things which draw us from God, those sins to which we are in bondage, let us say clearly that being gay or lesbian or bisexual or transgender is not the same as having an unclean spirit. Being gay or lesbian, bisexual or transgender, does not draw us away from God any more than being heterosexual does.
By contrast, what becomes demonic are those things which take hold in us which we cannot control, and which clearly does harm to us, to others, to the community, to the church. Abuse- sexual or physical or emotional -- is demonic. Addiction-- to whatever we cannot shake, which takes control of us and will not let go of its own accord-- is demonic. For some, jealousy. For some, envy. For some, gluttony. For some, racism. There’s a pretty long list, actually.
You might know some of your own demons. And sometimes they will not go away completely in this life. I’ve actually given a name one of mine, a name for my tendency to sometimes be overly cautious and overly critical of myself, and to see everything in the most pessimistic way. Having a name for it allows me to realize it is not really *me*.
And I am convinced that it is the Holy Spirit residing within me that allowed me to see that personal demon for what it is-- and, in naming it, to have the authority to toss it out when I recognize it. “Oh hi-- I recognize you. Yes, I know what you’re going to say. Now shoo!” And you know, it no longer has the power over me that it had before. It stops in every now and then; and I say hello --and shoo it back out the door.
The same Jesus Christ who today exemplifies teaching with authority will, by the end of the Gospel according to Mark, lose every bit of authority and power we’ve heard today, stripped from him by our human desire for power and control and order. So I am not telling you “be like Jesus,” no, not quite. But, too, at the end of this Gospel we’re beginning now, Jesus has been raised from death, does not live in the tomb, but is out in the world again, alive, at work, living and acting now with authority granted by God, Christ who has utterly destroyed the power of sin and death. It is the risen Christ we worship today.
In the name of the risen Christ, whose light is spreading through the world, you and I are called to recognize and name chaos and darkness for what it is. And we are given the authority, as children of the Father, as members of the body of the risen Christ, and as temples of the Holy Spirit, to evict the demons we encounter. “Shoo, get out, I belong to Christ, not to you,” is a good start. I know that may sound glib. But we don’t need fancy language; we need to remember that God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is already with us and in us, and in this faith community at Mount Olive.
Christ has claimed each person here. And Christ has no space to spare, no patience for unclean spirits; Christ washes us in baptism and says, “Come eat the bread of life; drink the cup of salvation, this is my body broken, my blood shed, for you-- a new covenant, for forgiveness of sin”.
The Holy Spirit is already in us, in residence; there is no vacancy for the unclean spirits. And so we are set free, you and I; set free to go out those doors and model in the world how incredibly amazing it is to belong to Christ, to love one another, to live without fear of sin but to live IN the awe and love of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-- and to live out confident love of God and neighbor, each day of the week.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The Olive Branch, 1/24/12
Accent on Worship
We are called to be Christ
The season of Epiphany usually has a shift mid-season between readings for our Eucharist which focus on call and discipleship to Gospels about the early ministry of Jesus, along with complementary readings from the rest of Scripture. That shift happens this week, as we leave behind two weeks of focus on calls of God and begin looking at the ministry of Jesus, specifically his healing.
But there is a connection between these themes. Jesus did several things throughout his earthly ministry. He taught, often using parables. He healed people of disease and possession, even doing several resurrections. He did other miracles or signs which showed his divine power. And he gathered a group of followers, disciples, who stayed with him throughout his ministry. Of this large group of perhaps more than 100, twelve were chosen as an inner circle of disciples.
At one level, the gathering of disciples was not uncommon. Itinerant teachers of the day often had their own followers, as well as teachers who lived in one place and drew people to them. John the Baptist had disciples, some of whom left him to follow Jesus. In the past two weeks we’ve heard Jesus’ call to Philip, Nathanael, Andrew, Simon Peter, James, and John – six of the inner twelve. In this Jesus is just acting like a teacher is expected to act.
However, for Jesus there is something more. These disciples, whom we famously remember as awkward, often confused, less than brilliant followers, were a vital part of Jesus’ mission. He healed, yes. But he also sent his disciples out to heal. He taught, yes. But he also sent his disciples out to teach. He gathered people to himself, yes. But he also sent his disciples to proclaim the kingdom of God and bring people to know God’s love in Jesus.
All this was preparing the disciples, all of them (not just the twelve), to do something crucial. They became the ministry of Jesus themselves after Pentecost. Jesus, in fact, was a prelude to what the big plan was. Rather than being the best part, something to be looked back at with nostalgia and longing, the ministry of Jesus was the first course, leading to a feast which only his disciples could spread to the entire world. Yes, we still read of Jesus’ ministry today. But we are mistaken if we think that it was the main point of his coming.
The main point of his coming was to call disciples, and now us, to do what he did, to be who he is, to continue, expand, deepen and spread his ministry. The profound truth of his death and resurrection, the celebration of which is starting to come closer with the advent of Lent in mid-February, is that by dying and rising and defeating the powers of evil and death, Jesus is able to fill all his disciples with the power of the Spirit of God to become him, to be the anointed ones of God in the world. Freed from our fears of all that can harm us, we are empowered in the risen life of Jesus to continue the healing of the world.
As we move into a focus on those first days of Jesus’ ministry in these next weeks, let us keep in mind our own calls to follow, to learn, to be discipled, to be Christ. God grant us the Spirit that we might answer our call and continue God’s healing of the world.
- Joseph
This Sunday’s Adult Forum
Jan. 29: Susan Cherwien will offer the second in a 2-part series on Hymns and Worship.
2011 Year-End Statements
Contribution statements for the year ending December 31, 2011 will be available on a table near the coat area for contributors to pick up.
If you cannot be at church in the coming weeks and would like your statement mailed to you, please call the church office.
Welcoming!
At Mount Olive we identify ourselves as Musical, Liturgical and Welcoming. Each of these descriptive terms has a number of facets.
On Sunday, February 12, 2012 at the 10:45 a.m. liturgy, we will welcome those who have indicated that they want to become "official" members at Mount Olive. If you are interested in membership at Mount Olive, please speak with Pastor Crippen, contact the office at 612-827-5919, or speak with Andrew Andersen, the Director of Evangelism.
Sign Up for Altar Flowers
The Altar Flowers Chart for 2012 is now posted in the church office. If you would like to sign up to provide flowers for worship to commemorate a special day, in memory of a loved one, in honor of a special event, or simply to help beautify our sanctuary for worship, please sign up on the chart for the date you want, and be sure to include your designation. The cost of the altar flowers this year is $50 a Sunday for two bouquets. You may sign up to purchase both bouquets by signing on both lines, or purchase just one bouquet ($25) by signing on only one line.
Book Discussion Group
For its meeting on February 11, the Book Discussion Group will read Native Son, by Richard Wright, and for the March 10 session A Passage to India, by E. M. Forster. Book Discussion meets on the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. at the church. All readers welcome!
Heart Healthy Food and Fun Event
Set aside February 12 for a not-to-be-missed dinner at Mount Olive, with “hearts” as its theme. Sponsored by the Neighborhood Ministries Committee, this fundraiser promises to be deliciously “heart healthy,” as well as fun. Hans Tisberger will provide games and prizes. Tickets for the event will are $12 for adults, $5 for children aged 5 to 12. Children under 5 are free. Join the fun and support the raising of funds to acquire additional needed kitchen equipment.
Meals On Wheels
Mount Olive left the South Minneapolis Meals on Wheels program last January. In order to continue in this vital neighborhood ministry, we joined TRUST, Inc. One of TRUST’s many programs is that of Meals on Wheels.
The list of Meals on Wheels driver/deliverers at Mount Olive was given to TRUST, Inc. They have scheduled the following Mount Olive members to drive/deliver Meals on Wheels: Nancy and Gary Flatgard, Elaine and Art Halbardier, Karen Johnson, Mary and Bob Lee and Connie and Rod Olson. Others from the list of driver/deliverers at Mount Olive could be recruited by TRUST, Inc. We are thankful to those who continue to drive and deliver Meals on Wheels. Gary Flatgard has represented Mount Olive on the TRUST, Inc. board of directors.
TRUST, Inc. has many other neighborhood ministry programs in which Mount Olive could participate. Their wide range of programs will be described at a future adult forum by a TRUST, Inc. representative. All are encouraged to watch for this forum and attend. We need to be well informed and supportive of these neighborhood ministries
Minnesota FoodShare Cordially Invites You to Their Kick-Off Event
The Westminster Town Hall Forum, on Thursday, February 23, at 12 noon will be the kick-off event for the 30th Minnesota FoodShare. Rick Steves, host to the popular travel show on Minnesota Public Television, will speak about hunger from a global and local perspective. Further details can be found on http://www.westminsterforum.org/.
2012 RIC Festival Worship
January 28, 4:30 p.m.
This seventh annual festival worship service celebrates the Metro area ministry of Reconciling in Christ congregations at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church, 1509 27th Ave. NE., Minneapolis this Saturday, January 28 at 4:30 p.m.
The Rev. Justin Lind-Ayres of Bethany Lutheran Church will preach. Freewill offering to benefit the RIC Program. Light supper (no cost) & fellowship to follow. Over supper, debuting a Readers Theater play by William Randall Beard, "Families Valued."
Bread for the World
Workshops and Offering of Letters
The 2012 Bread for the World workshop, "Cut Hunger, Not Hunger Programs" will be held at three different locations and dates. On Thursday, February 23, 9a.m. -noon, at Guardian Angels Catholic Church, 8260 4th Street N, Oakdale; on Saturday, February 25, 9a.m.-noon, at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, 8400 France Ave. S., Bloomington; and on Wednesday, February 29, 7-9 p.m. at Bethel University, Eastlund Room in Community Life Center, 3900 Bethel Dr., Arden Hills.
This year, Bread for the World members and advocates need to raise our voices more than ever. The deficit-reduction proposals Congress is considering could result in the most severe cuts to programs for hungry and poor people in Bread's history.
Bread's 2012 Offering of Letters overall campaign will work to create a circle of protection around those most vulnerable by working to protect the funding of programs for hungry and poor people. The focus will be on four mini-campaigns: domestic nutrition assistance, poverty-focused foreign assistance, tax credits for low-income families, and international food aid.
South Minneapolis Coalition
for Grief Support
2012 Winter / Spring Series
This series will be held on Thursday evenings, January 19 – March 29, 2012, at Diamond Lake Lutheran Church, 5760 Portland Avenue S. Minneapolis, MN 55347 (612-827-5931).Weekly
Schedule
6:15 pm Registration and refreshments
6:30 pm Speaker
7:00 - 8:00 pm Facilitated Small Groups
Individuals may join the group at any time. For further information, contact the coordinator, Norine Larson at 952-925-2437.
Plan Ahead!
March is Minnesota FoodShare Month!
From 2008 to 2010 visits to the food shelves increased by 62%. During that time in the Twin Cities it increase by 97%! But the suburbs are suffering too. Since 2008, Second Harvest reported a 70% increase by seniors to suburban food programs. There were more than three million visits altogether to Minnesota food shelves in 2010. More hunger facts are posted on the Neighborhood Ministries bulletin board.
Once again Mount Olive congregation is invited to participate in Minnesota FoodShare Month. Bring your non-perishable food donations any Sunday during the month of March and place them in the grocery cart in the cloak room. The goal this year is to collect a total of 12 million combined dollars and pounds of food from congregations, businesses, and individuals throughout Minnesota. This amount will stock food shelves around the state with more than half the food distribution needed annually. And remember, food shelves can stretch donations of cash further than donations of food, because of their access to discount products and programs. So your cash donations go much farther! If you would like to make a cash donation, make your check out to Mount Olive and in the memo line write "MN FoodShare," and place it in the offering plate.
We are called to be Christ
The season of Epiphany usually has a shift mid-season between readings for our Eucharist which focus on call and discipleship to Gospels about the early ministry of Jesus, along with complementary readings from the rest of Scripture. That shift happens this week, as we leave behind two weeks of focus on calls of God and begin looking at the ministry of Jesus, specifically his healing.
But there is a connection between these themes. Jesus did several things throughout his earthly ministry. He taught, often using parables. He healed people of disease and possession, even doing several resurrections. He did other miracles or signs which showed his divine power. And he gathered a group of followers, disciples, who stayed with him throughout his ministry. Of this large group of perhaps more than 100, twelve were chosen as an inner circle of disciples.
At one level, the gathering of disciples was not uncommon. Itinerant teachers of the day often had their own followers, as well as teachers who lived in one place and drew people to them. John the Baptist had disciples, some of whom left him to follow Jesus. In the past two weeks we’ve heard Jesus’ call to Philip, Nathanael, Andrew, Simon Peter, James, and John – six of the inner twelve. In this Jesus is just acting like a teacher is expected to act.
However, for Jesus there is something more. These disciples, whom we famously remember as awkward, often confused, less than brilliant followers, were a vital part of Jesus’ mission. He healed, yes. But he also sent his disciples out to heal. He taught, yes. But he also sent his disciples out to teach. He gathered people to himself, yes. But he also sent his disciples to proclaim the kingdom of God and bring people to know God’s love in Jesus.
All this was preparing the disciples, all of them (not just the twelve), to do something crucial. They became the ministry of Jesus themselves after Pentecost. Jesus, in fact, was a prelude to what the big plan was. Rather than being the best part, something to be looked back at with nostalgia and longing, the ministry of Jesus was the first course, leading to a feast which only his disciples could spread to the entire world. Yes, we still read of Jesus’ ministry today. But we are mistaken if we think that it was the main point of his coming.
The main point of his coming was to call disciples, and now us, to do what he did, to be who he is, to continue, expand, deepen and spread his ministry. The profound truth of his death and resurrection, the celebration of which is starting to come closer with the advent of Lent in mid-February, is that by dying and rising and defeating the powers of evil and death, Jesus is able to fill all his disciples with the power of the Spirit of God to become him, to be the anointed ones of God in the world. Freed from our fears of all that can harm us, we are empowered in the risen life of Jesus to continue the healing of the world.
As we move into a focus on those first days of Jesus’ ministry in these next weeks, let us keep in mind our own calls to follow, to learn, to be discipled, to be Christ. God grant us the Spirit that we might answer our call and continue God’s healing of the world.
- Joseph
This Sunday’s Adult Forum
Jan. 29: Susan Cherwien will offer the second in a 2-part series on Hymns and Worship.
2011 Year-End Statements
Contribution statements for the year ending December 31, 2011 will be available on a table near the coat area for contributors to pick up.
If you cannot be at church in the coming weeks and would like your statement mailed to you, please call the church office.
Welcoming!
At Mount Olive we identify ourselves as Musical, Liturgical and Welcoming. Each of these descriptive terms has a number of facets.
On Sunday, February 12, 2012 at the 10:45 a.m. liturgy, we will welcome those who have indicated that they want to become "official" members at Mount Olive. If you are interested in membership at Mount Olive, please speak with Pastor Crippen, contact the office at 612-827-5919, or speak with Andrew Andersen, the Director of Evangelism.
Sign Up for Altar Flowers
The Altar Flowers Chart for 2012 is now posted in the church office. If you would like to sign up to provide flowers for worship to commemorate a special day, in memory of a loved one, in honor of a special event, or simply to help beautify our sanctuary for worship, please sign up on the chart for the date you want, and be sure to include your designation. The cost of the altar flowers this year is $50 a Sunday for two bouquets. You may sign up to purchase both bouquets by signing on both lines, or purchase just one bouquet ($25) by signing on only one line.
Book Discussion Group
For its meeting on February 11, the Book Discussion Group will read Native Son, by Richard Wright, and for the March 10 session A Passage to India, by E. M. Forster. Book Discussion meets on the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. at the church. All readers welcome!
Heart Healthy Food and Fun Event
Set aside February 12 for a not-to-be-missed dinner at Mount Olive, with “hearts” as its theme. Sponsored by the Neighborhood Ministries Committee, this fundraiser promises to be deliciously “heart healthy,” as well as fun. Hans Tisberger will provide games and prizes. Tickets for the event will are $12 for adults, $5 for children aged 5 to 12. Children under 5 are free. Join the fun and support the raising of funds to acquire additional needed kitchen equipment.
Meals On Wheels
Mount Olive left the South Minneapolis Meals on Wheels program last January. In order to continue in this vital neighborhood ministry, we joined TRUST, Inc. One of TRUST’s many programs is that of Meals on Wheels.
The list of Meals on Wheels driver/deliverers at Mount Olive was given to TRUST, Inc. They have scheduled the following Mount Olive members to drive/deliver Meals on Wheels: Nancy and Gary Flatgard, Elaine and Art Halbardier, Karen Johnson, Mary and Bob Lee and Connie and Rod Olson. Others from the list of driver/deliverers at Mount Olive could be recruited by TRUST, Inc. We are thankful to those who continue to drive and deliver Meals on Wheels. Gary Flatgard has represented Mount Olive on the TRUST, Inc. board of directors.
TRUST, Inc. has many other neighborhood ministry programs in which Mount Olive could participate. Their wide range of programs will be described at a future adult forum by a TRUST, Inc. representative. All are encouraged to watch for this forum and attend. We need to be well informed and supportive of these neighborhood ministries
Minnesota FoodShare Cordially Invites You to Their Kick-Off Event
The Westminster Town Hall Forum, on Thursday, February 23, at 12 noon will be the kick-off event for the 30th Minnesota FoodShare. Rick Steves, host to the popular travel show on Minnesota Public Television, will speak about hunger from a global and local perspective. Further details can be found on http://www.westminsterforum.org/.
2012 RIC Festival Worship
January 28, 4:30 p.m.
This seventh annual festival worship service celebrates the Metro area ministry of Reconciling in Christ congregations at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church, 1509 27th Ave. NE., Minneapolis this Saturday, January 28 at 4:30 p.m.
The Rev. Justin Lind-Ayres of Bethany Lutheran Church will preach. Freewill offering to benefit the RIC Program. Light supper (no cost) & fellowship to follow. Over supper, debuting a Readers Theater play by William Randall Beard, "Families Valued."
Bread for the World
Workshops and Offering of Letters
The 2012 Bread for the World workshop, "Cut Hunger, Not Hunger Programs" will be held at three different locations and dates. On Thursday, February 23, 9a.m. -noon, at Guardian Angels Catholic Church, 8260 4th Street N, Oakdale; on Saturday, February 25, 9a.m.-noon, at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, 8400 France Ave. S., Bloomington; and on Wednesday, February 29, 7-9 p.m. at Bethel University, Eastlund Room in Community Life Center, 3900 Bethel Dr., Arden Hills.
This year, Bread for the World members and advocates need to raise our voices more than ever. The deficit-reduction proposals Congress is considering could result in the most severe cuts to programs for hungry and poor people in Bread's history.
Bread's 2012 Offering of Letters overall campaign will work to create a circle of protection around those most vulnerable by working to protect the funding of programs for hungry and poor people. The focus will be on four mini-campaigns: domestic nutrition assistance, poverty-focused foreign assistance, tax credits for low-income families, and international food aid.
South Minneapolis Coalition
for Grief Support
2012 Winter / Spring Series
This series will be held on Thursday evenings, January 19 – March 29, 2012, at Diamond Lake Lutheran Church, 5760 Portland Avenue S. Minneapolis, MN 55347 (612-827-5931).Weekly
Schedule
6:15 pm Registration and refreshments
6:30 pm Speaker
7:00 - 8:00 pm Facilitated Small Groups
Individuals may join the group at any time. For further information, contact the coordinator, Norine Larson at 952-925-2437.
Plan Ahead!
March is Minnesota FoodShare Month!
From 2008 to 2010 visits to the food shelves increased by 62%. During that time in the Twin Cities it increase by 97%! But the suburbs are suffering too. Since 2008, Second Harvest reported a 70% increase by seniors to suburban food programs. There were more than three million visits altogether to Minnesota food shelves in 2010. More hunger facts are posted on the Neighborhood Ministries bulletin board.
Once again Mount Olive congregation is invited to participate in Minnesota FoodShare Month. Bring your non-perishable food donations any Sunday during the month of March and place them in the grocery cart in the cloak room. The goal this year is to collect a total of 12 million combined dollars and pounds of food from congregations, businesses, and individuals throughout Minnesota. This amount will stock food shelves around the state with more than half the food distribution needed annually. And remember, food shelves can stretch donations of cash further than donations of food, because of their access to discount products and programs. So your cash donations go much farther! If you would like to make a cash donation, make your check out to Mount Olive and in the memo line write "MN FoodShare," and place it in the offering plate.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
How Clear?
Today’s readings are filled with dramatic calls to turn to God, to follow the Son of God. For us, focusing on the drama of these calls might cause us to miss our everyday calls to serve God, to do justice, to bring in God’s kingdom.
Pr. Joseph G. Crippen, Third Sunday after Epiphany, year B; texts: Mark 1:14-20; Jonah 3:1-5; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Sisters and brothers, grace to you, and peace in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
I am amazed by the people in today’s readings. They have unbelievable clarity of vision and they act with urgency. Jonah walks into a city of over 100,000, cries out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” And “the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.”
Then Paul, former persecutor of the Church, today tells his hearers that there is very little time to act, that the days of this world are almost over, and urges them to follow his example after his conversion, and completely change their lives.
In our Gospel, Mark uses the word “immediately” twice. That’s not unusual for him, “immediately” is his common transition word throughout the Gospel, but what happens “immediately” today is eye-opening. Jesus shows up on the lakeshore, calls the brothers Andrew and Simon to follow him and fish for people. “And immediately they left their nets and followed him,” Mark says. “Immediately” after they follow, Jesus calls James and John and they also leap, leaving Mark to describe this sad little scene: “And they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.”
These people are convicted somehow, changed somehow, moved somehow, and they follow, they repent, they live life as if each day was their last day.
It’s almost tiring just to think about. Why aren’t we that way? Have any of us ever completely changed the way we live to begin to live in God’s ways? Have any of us ever dropped anything to follow God’s call?
And what would happen if we did? Because the other powerful image that sticks with me from our readings today is the sight of poor old Zebedee, standing in the boat with his hired hands, helplessly watching his two sons – his future, his business, his life – walk away after an itinerant preacher.
This whole “all or nothing” drama in our readings today seems foreign to us, and if anything, it is concern for our lives, for our own Zebedees, which perhaps prevents us from dropping everything in response to God. Or maybe the problem is that we just don’t think experiences like this, calls like these, actually happen to us.
These are dramatic, compelling stories.
The people of Nineveh’s wickedness is so great God sends special warning in the person of Jonah. And they listen, they believe, they repent! Their immediate and complete turnaround is astonishing. Think how long it would take most of us to change our lives so completely and radically, to re-do our way of being.
And Paul’s call to the Corinthians to put aside anything which distracts them from their following of Jesus comes directly from his “drop everything” experience on the road to Damascus.
The first disciples’ response is at least as compelling. It’s hard not to worry about their families, including poor Zebedee. But how can we not admire them? They saw the Son of God, they felt his love, and they said, “I need to be a part of that.” And they left everything with that clarity, and followed Jesus.
While we might admire these people, our difficulty is that even if we were to sense such a dramatic call from God, we’d struggle to act on it as they did.
These people, these stories, are easy to admire from a distance – they’re ancient, they’re in a book.
When it comes down to our own lives, though, we’d rather not change in a way that total repentance calls for. The disruption to our sense of who we are, our “normal” way of being, would be profound. And we’d rather avoid that. So we pretend it’s not so bad, our lives don’t require a radical shift of focus.
And, we’d rather not drop everything, leave all that we love, and follow. This one’s easier to understand – we have people who depend on us, lives which require our attention, details which only we can do. What mentally healthy person would simply uproot at a moment’s notice and leave everything? Paul seems to suggest these things are distractions, but to us they are life, and even though there are a couple places where Jesus himself suggests we need to let go of anything which prevents us following him, even family, it’s a move we actually don’t feel justified making. After all, aren’t we serving God by caring for those who surround us? So we argue ourselves out of following in this way.
And third, we’d rather assume we’ve got years to live instead of living as if we were on our last day. In part, Paul’s urgency is muted for us because 2,000 years later we’re still here – it’s hard to get excited about this being the end of time, as perhaps the early believers did. So we act as if we have all the time in the world.
But at the heart of our problem perhaps is that believing in the Triune God has become comfortable for us. We live in a society which allows us freedom to believe. So we don’t have persecution, we don’t have risk in coming to church. We can be active in a congregation if we want, or not.
And unlike Nineveh, Paul, or the disciples, we’ve heard this message our whole lives. There’s nothing new to us here.
And we live 2,000 years after the person of Jesus, God’s Son, walked, taught, lived, died, and rose. He’s not, after all, standing in front of us on some beach, looking directly into our eyes, saying, “Come, follow me.” And mostly we like that. We can serve God with our lives, or we can serve ourselves, and not really have to fret about the repercussions or consequences.
Human nature often prefers order, predictability, planning. Nothing disrupts all that like a voice from God, be it prophet, preacher, or Jesus himself, that calls us to see the world differently, live in the world differently, look at our lives differently.
So there are two questions: first, does God still call us to follow, to repent, to live as if the time were short, or not? And second, would we respond like these folks if God did?
First question: is God calling to us today?
It would be hard to argue the negative here. Our Biblical examples have clear needs that must be addressed: Nineveh’s wickedness cannot continue. And they need to hear of God’s forgiveness as well. And Jesus has people that need to be fished for, people who need the Good News.
The same reality exists today. There is still great evil and injustice and wickedness in the world that needs addressing, not couch sitting. Many people don’t have the option to sit back and do nothing. Death and hate and pain force them to act, to live. Doesn’t God need those of us who are comfortable and free to use all our power and wealth to do something? And not just for the sufferers, but also for the evil-doers? After all, God loved the Ninevites.
And there are still many in this world who have not been reached with the message of God’s love in Jesus, about the life that is ours in Christ. Doesn’t Jesus still need people-fishers, good-news-tellers?
And our lives still aren’t close to perfected, they aren’t lived as Christ, so surely a call to repent like Nineveh isn’t out of order?
It seems that God’s love for this broken world still reveals a lot that we are uniquely capable of doing or need to do. So why is it that we too often take our faith as a comfort rather than a challenge? Or that we see such calls as in our readings today as relics of the past, not our present reality?
I wonder if our focus on these dramatic calls leads us to miss the ways we could follow God today.
This will get us to the second question, but first, I think that we make a mistake in admiring the dramatic shifts for these people. Yes, these are dramatic stories, with apparent tremendous life-changes attending.
But in fact for all of them, the hard part was living after these events, and daily making changes and answering God’s call. The Ninevites surely didn’t instantly become good. If they truly were repentant, it was going to be a day-to-day effort, with regular attention to old patterns and choosing new ones. Paul apparently converted all at once, but it still had to be a constant effort to hear God’s call, to make decisions based on his new reality, to follow where God led.
And the four fishermen? Well, evidence within the Gospels suggests that they got home from time to time, and probably helped out with the business occasionally. But the deeper evidence is that this was for them the beginning of a new life, not the achievement. Their bumbling and lack of understanding eventually transformed in the light of Jesus’ resurrection into fearless preaching and martyrdom. But it was a daily, if not hourly change.
So we might think we’ve not received such powerful life-changing calls to be different, to follow, to turn to God. But if we look at our lives, and at the way our Lord Jesus is calling us to live, we can see plenty of room for turning around, for change, for new life.
It may not be a call to sell everything and move to the mission field. But that doesn’t mean it’s any less dramatic a change. Even if we stay with our lives, and care for our families and our neighbors and our community, we are called to repent, to serve, to follow with our all.
And that’s where the rub comes, the second question: if God is calling us just as with the people of the Scriptures, are we at all interested in following?
And I’m not sure I’m capable of answering that here – that becomes something for each one of us to take home and ponder. The needs for God’s world are still there, and the call of the Scriptures, through whom the Holy Spirit speaks to us and shapes us, applies to us as much as Peter or Andrew, Jonah or Paul. And so we have to ask: are we willing to face the changes it will mean in our everyday lives, our personality, our way of living, our interaction with others, to be followers, disciples of Jesus? Or not?
We may find ourselves with a clarity of call which we try to confuse or obfuscate simply to avoid its clarity.
We may hide behind the excuse that no such dramatic events have ever challenged or called us, and therefore we’re perfectly fine living our lives as we want, without worry about what God might need from us.
But I think we know now that isn’t true. And that just as God reached out to these people of the past, God is reaching out to us. We’d do well to listen, to seek counsel from each other, and to pray for the courage to follow.
Because you are needed. I am needed. And our Lord is waiting to see and hear what we do.
In the name of Jesus. Amen
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
The Olive Branch, 1/17/12
Accent on Worship
We are Called
In the lessons for last and this coming Sundays Jesus invites Philip, Simon, and Andrew to follow him, calling them to form his community of followers. Gordon Lathrop, our guest lecturer and preacher at this past weekend’s Conference on Liturgy thanked us for responding to the unique and important calling to serve the role of being a community that cares deeply for things liturgical. He has noticed that many metropolitan areas have one or at best a very small number of communities where these values provide a very important place for those in need of this kind of faith life in community. The combination of all these things gave cause for some thoughts which I share here.
First of all, we can understand that to be unique, and embracing that in and of itself, is unique. It’s not the way of the world in these days of the “consistency of commercial chains.” We can stand out as NOT being the same. In our role, God is blessed and proclaimed, we are blessed, and we are strengthened each week to return to that same culture to live in the world loving and serving our neighbor as God’s people.
As a “liturgical” people, there is responsibility, or a further calling to even deeper things.
I tell choirs I direct this: composers provide instructions for “how” to sing what we are singing. Loud here, soft here, crescendo here, accent here, long or short notes there. Simply observing them is one thing, but it is not enough. We need to explore “why” those instructions are there. The musical phrase needs to crescendo because it can do nothing else! The text in order to carry meaning needs staccato (short) notes and not legato (longer and deeply connected from note to note)! These instructions, in fact, are relatively recent in the grand scheme of music history – only included in the past couple of hundred years. Prior to that, musicians just “knew what was needed,” and composers presumed that and did not provide those instructions.
The same could be said for being called to be “liturgical.” It’s not really enough to simply observe the rubrical rules or instructions, or to be merely fascinated by them. We need to consider getting “under them” to know why they are what they are. Why do we process? Why do we not have announcements and constant verbal instructions? Why do many bow? Why do we observe the church year? Why do we stand? Why do we sing? Why do we process to the center for the reading of the Gospel lesson? Why do we adhere to using the lectionary? WE could just do these things – and indeed – even be fascinated by them (everyone loves a parade - processions are fun to watch, aren’t they?) but with thought, perhaps even personal research, we can get “underneath” why those things are practiced. And how do they become of the rest of our daily lives? Does doing anything “liturgical” mean anything to you outside of this community? I knew of one household that instead of band-aids to make a child feel better after getting a scratch, kept a small amount of “holy oil” to “anoint a wound” which probably addressed a deeper kind of healing for a crying child.
And, as I have often said, and will probably continue to say until I join the saints in the walls of the columbarium, what people who join us will notice is not so much “what” we do, but “how” we are doing it, and to what level we are “underneath” the meaningfulness of what we do. We do not need to presume our calling as community needs to be everyone’s, nor that ours is THE right one, nor that we can be critical of other’s calling. It can mean that we embrace that calling with joy and responsibility, and that it is meaningful and from a deep place is enough.
We do play an important role. We are unique. We are called to this unique ministry. Let’s get UNDER it!
- Cantor David Cherwien
Meals On Wheels
Mount Olive left the South Minneapolis Meals on Wheels program last January. In order to continue in this vital neighborhood ministry, we joined TRUST, Inc. One of TRUST’s many programs is that of Meals on Wheels.
The list of Meals on Wheels driver/deliverers at Mount Olive was given to TRUST, Inc. They have scheduled the following Mount Olive members to drive/deliver Meals on Wheels: Nancy and Gary Flatgard, Elaine and Art Halbardier, Karen Johnson, Mary and Bob Lee and Connie and Rod Olson. Others from the list of driver/deliverers at Mount Olive could be recruited by TRUST, Inc. We are thankful to those who continue to drive and deliver Meals on Wheels. Gary Flatgard has represented Mount Olive on the TRUST, Inc. board of directors.
TRUST, Inc. has many other neighborhood ministry programs in which Mount Olive could participate. Their wide range of programs will be described at a future adult forum by a TRUST, Inc. representative. All are encouraged to watch for this forum and attend. We need to be well informed and supportive of these neighborhood ministries
Foundation Gift Requests
Mount Olive Lutheran Church Foundation's Board of Directors will meet on Tuesday, January 24, to recommend program and project recipients from its annual gift to the Church. Board members are seeking from staff, Vestry, and congregation members gift designation ideas that will move Mount Olive's ministries forward in a variety of ways. In the past, the Foundation has benefited among other things: musical events, youth trips, capital improvements, Neighborhood Ministries, church anniversary celebrations and Diaper Depot.
If you have an idea for a program or project, please speak with the Vestry member who oversees the area of your interest. Together, you can decide whether to submit a brief one-page request to the Foundation for consideration. Please contact Keith Bartz at albsinmpls@yahoo.com or (612) 823-3572 with questions or to obtain a gift request form.
Adult Forum Topics for January
Jan. 22 & 29: Susan Cherwien will offer a 2-part series on Hymns and Worship.
Book Discussion Group
For it's meeting on January 21 (postponed one week this month due to the annual Conference on Liturgy), the Book Discussion Group we will read William Faulkner's A Light in August. And for the February 11 meeting the selection will be Native Son, by Richard Wright.
Welcoming!
At Mount Olive we identify ourselves as Musical, Liturgical and Welcoming. Each of these descriptive terms has a number of facets.
On Sunday, February 12, 2012 at the 10:45 a.m. liturgy, we will welcome those who have indicated that they want to become "official" members at Mount Olive. If you are interested in membership at Mount Olive, please speak with Pastor Crippen, contact the office at 612-827-5919, or speak with Andrew Andersen, the Director of Evangelism.
Sign Up for Altar Flowers
The Altar Flowers Chart for 2012 is now posted in the church office. If you would like to sign up to provide flowers for worship to commemorate a special day, in memory of a loved one, in honor of a special event, or simply to help beautify our sanctuary for worship, please sign up on the chart for the date you want, and be sure to include your designation. The cost of the altar flowers this year is $50 a Sunday for two bouquets. You may sign up to purchase both bouquets by signing on both lines, or purchase just one bouquet ($25) by signing on only one line.
Hymn Festival Reflections
Due to some technical difficulties at last Friday evening’s Conference on Liturgy Hymn Festival, Susan Cherwien’s reflections may not have been completely audible to all in attendance.
Susan has graciously made these reflections available in written form to any who may want them. They are located on the ledge just outside the church office, next to extra programs from the hymn festival.
2011 Year-End Statements
Contribution statements for the year ending December 31, 2011 will be available on a table near the coat area for contributors to pick up beginning this Sunday, January 22.
If you cannot be at church in the coming weeks and would like your statement mailed to you, please call the church office.
Church Library News
Thanks to our Mount Olive furnishings committee of 2010-11 for the addition of a new child-sized table and two chairs placed in the Crossroads Library area recently. The attractive table is even glass-topped and when I checked all the tiny fingerprints on it prior to our second liturgy on Sunday, I agreed that whoever made that decision, did so wisely. That also testifies that many little ones visit the popular children's browser bin quite regularly before, after or even during our liturgies.
In my usual helter-skelter method of perusing the articles in each Sunday's Star Tribune, imagine my surprise to find in yesterday's paper an article entitled "Decor By the Books," written by Sandra Barerra of the Los Angeles Daily News. The article includes details of interior designers who are installing whole walls of either real or fake books to create a library-look that is meant only to impress their client's friends or colleagues. You can read the article for yourself but one Minneapolis designer supposedly "loves his books, keeping many leather-bound antiques that have been in his family for generations, and also that he hopes the day will never come when books are eliminated from the home as they add so much ambience."
Well, with part of the above, I might agree, however, pondering the last sentence further and the continuation of the entire article, soon left me completely frustrated and frankly a bit angry. How sad that the books in use in the article are only there for "window dressing" so to speak. As an admitted "bookaholic," I struggle to find enough appropriate space in my apartment for all my many books. Keeping my books nearby is a necessity for most of them are my long-time "friends" you see, and it has very little to do with only adding decor to my home!
All of the above comes back to the congregation's use of our Louise Schroedel Memorial Library. Granted that the decor of our room may be enhanced by the books lining the shelves, but much more important is the "treasure trove" of good reading to be found there. In short, there is sure to be something there for everyone, if you will just come and take the time to explore it. Have you visited our church library recently? Let your New Year's resolutions include one that brings you (and your children) into our library soon to spend some time finding numerous "friends" of your own choosing, and plan to do so at least once a month all year long!
In my next article I will tell you about three new reference books to be added to our collection (plus some other newer books) that will soon be available for your use. I will close this time with the following quote from Joseph Howe: "My books are very few, but then the world is before me --- a Library open to all --- from which poverty of purse cannot exclude me ---- and in which the meanest and most paltry volume is sure to furnish something to amuse, if not to instruct and improve."
- Leanna Kloempken
Cultivating Respect, Creating Safe Schools for All Students
Twin Cities PFLAG announces the “Cultivating Respect, Creating Safe Schools for All Students” Conference, a day-long conference for 250 to be held on January 20, 2012 at Hamline University, St. Paul.
We invite all educators, social workers, psychologists, school nurses, school board members, administrators, parents, of GLBTQ individuals, students middle school through college, GLBTQ youth and allies, GSA leaders or anyone invested in creating healthy and safe schools for our children. Please encourage your neighbors, your child’s teacher or principal to attend as this is a great opportunity for learning and creating a new dialogue in which our children and their well being is placed front and center in our schools and communities.
There will be a number of break-out sessions on important topics such as how to create safe spaces, the impact of bullying on mental and physical health, understanding what is at the heart of bullying, prevention, and many more. Jamie Nabozny, the subject of the Southern Poverty Law Center documentary “Bullied,” will be the keynote speaker, along with a panel of youth from the Anoka-Hennepin School District. In the evening, we will host an awards dinner (which can be attended separately from the conference) where PFLAG will honor members of the community who have been committed to creating safer schools for our children.
To register for the conference, please visit: https://www.blacktie-innesota.com/tickets/index.cfm. For more information, visit www.pflagtc.com, or email: conference2012@pflagtc.com.
2012 RIC Festival Worship to be Held
January 28, 4:30 p.m.
This seventh annual festival worship service celebrates the Metro area ministry of Reconciling in Christ congregations at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church, 1509 27th Ave. NE., Minneapolis on Saturday, January 28 at 4:30 p.m.
The Rev. Justin Lind-Ayres of Bethany Lutheran Church will preach. Freewill offering to benefit the RIC Program. Light supper (no cost) & fellowship to follow. Over supper, debuting a Readers Theater play by William Randall Beard, "Families Valued."
Bread for the World Workshops and Offering of Letters
The 2012 Bread for the World workshop, "Cut Hunger, Not Hunger Programs" will be held at three different locations and dates. On Thursday, February 23, 9a.m. -noon, at Guardian Angels Catholic Church, 8260 4th Street N, Oakdale; on Saturday, February 25, 9a.m.-noon, at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, 8400 France Ave. S., Bloomington; and on Wednesday, February 29, 7-9 p.m. at Bethel University, Eastlund Room in Community Life Center, 3900 Bethel Dr., Arden Hills.
This year, Bread for the World members and advocates need to raise our voices more than ever. The deficit-reduction proposals Congress is considering could result in the most severe cuts to programs for hungry and poor people in Bread's history.
Bread's 2012 Offering of Letters overall campaign will work to create a circle of protection around those most vulnerable by working to protect the funding of programs for hungry and poor people. The focus will be on four mini-campaigns: domestic nutrition assistance, poverty-focused foreign assistance, tax credits for low-income families, and international food aid.
We are Called
In the lessons for last and this coming Sundays Jesus invites Philip, Simon, and Andrew to follow him, calling them to form his community of followers. Gordon Lathrop, our guest lecturer and preacher at this past weekend’s Conference on Liturgy thanked us for responding to the unique and important calling to serve the role of being a community that cares deeply for things liturgical. He has noticed that many metropolitan areas have one or at best a very small number of communities where these values provide a very important place for those in need of this kind of faith life in community. The combination of all these things gave cause for some thoughts which I share here.
First of all, we can understand that to be unique, and embracing that in and of itself, is unique. It’s not the way of the world in these days of the “consistency of commercial chains.” We can stand out as NOT being the same. In our role, God is blessed and proclaimed, we are blessed, and we are strengthened each week to return to that same culture to live in the world loving and serving our neighbor as God’s people.
As a “liturgical” people, there is responsibility, or a further calling to even deeper things.
I tell choirs I direct this: composers provide instructions for “how” to sing what we are singing. Loud here, soft here, crescendo here, accent here, long or short notes there. Simply observing them is one thing, but it is not enough. We need to explore “why” those instructions are there. The musical phrase needs to crescendo because it can do nothing else! The text in order to carry meaning needs staccato (short) notes and not legato (longer and deeply connected from note to note)! These instructions, in fact, are relatively recent in the grand scheme of music history – only included in the past couple of hundred years. Prior to that, musicians just “knew what was needed,” and composers presumed that and did not provide those instructions.
The same could be said for being called to be “liturgical.” It’s not really enough to simply observe the rubrical rules or instructions, or to be merely fascinated by them. We need to consider getting “under them” to know why they are what they are. Why do we process? Why do we not have announcements and constant verbal instructions? Why do many bow? Why do we observe the church year? Why do we stand? Why do we sing? Why do we process to the center for the reading of the Gospel lesson? Why do we adhere to using the lectionary? WE could just do these things – and indeed – even be fascinated by them (everyone loves a parade - processions are fun to watch, aren’t they?) but with thought, perhaps even personal research, we can get “underneath” why those things are practiced. And how do they become of the rest of our daily lives? Does doing anything “liturgical” mean anything to you outside of this community? I knew of one household that instead of band-aids to make a child feel better after getting a scratch, kept a small amount of “holy oil” to “anoint a wound” which probably addressed a deeper kind of healing for a crying child.
And, as I have often said, and will probably continue to say until I join the saints in the walls of the columbarium, what people who join us will notice is not so much “what” we do, but “how” we are doing it, and to what level we are “underneath” the meaningfulness of what we do. We do not need to presume our calling as community needs to be everyone’s, nor that ours is THE right one, nor that we can be critical of other’s calling. It can mean that we embrace that calling with joy and responsibility, and that it is meaningful and from a deep place is enough.
We do play an important role. We are unique. We are called to this unique ministry. Let’s get UNDER it!
- Cantor David Cherwien
Meals On Wheels
Mount Olive left the South Minneapolis Meals on Wheels program last January. In order to continue in this vital neighborhood ministry, we joined TRUST, Inc. One of TRUST’s many programs is that of Meals on Wheels.
The list of Meals on Wheels driver/deliverers at Mount Olive was given to TRUST, Inc. They have scheduled the following Mount Olive members to drive/deliver Meals on Wheels: Nancy and Gary Flatgard, Elaine and Art Halbardier, Karen Johnson, Mary and Bob Lee and Connie and Rod Olson. Others from the list of driver/deliverers at Mount Olive could be recruited by TRUST, Inc. We are thankful to those who continue to drive and deliver Meals on Wheels. Gary Flatgard has represented Mount Olive on the TRUST, Inc. board of directors.
TRUST, Inc. has many other neighborhood ministry programs in which Mount Olive could participate. Their wide range of programs will be described at a future adult forum by a TRUST, Inc. representative. All are encouraged to watch for this forum and attend. We need to be well informed and supportive of these neighborhood ministries
Foundation Gift Requests
Mount Olive Lutheran Church Foundation's Board of Directors will meet on Tuesday, January 24, to recommend program and project recipients from its annual gift to the Church. Board members are seeking from staff, Vestry, and congregation members gift designation ideas that will move Mount Olive's ministries forward in a variety of ways. In the past, the Foundation has benefited among other things: musical events, youth trips, capital improvements, Neighborhood Ministries, church anniversary celebrations and Diaper Depot.
If you have an idea for a program or project, please speak with the Vestry member who oversees the area of your interest. Together, you can decide whether to submit a brief one-page request to the Foundation for consideration. Please contact Keith Bartz at albsinmpls@yahoo.com or (612) 823-3572 with questions or to obtain a gift request form.
Adult Forum Topics for January
Jan. 22 & 29: Susan Cherwien will offer a 2-part series on Hymns and Worship.
Book Discussion Group
For it's meeting on January 21 (postponed one week this month due to the annual Conference on Liturgy), the Book Discussion Group we will read William Faulkner's A Light in August. And for the February 11 meeting the selection will be Native Son, by Richard Wright.
Welcoming!
At Mount Olive we identify ourselves as Musical, Liturgical and Welcoming. Each of these descriptive terms has a number of facets.
On Sunday, February 12, 2012 at the 10:45 a.m. liturgy, we will welcome those who have indicated that they want to become "official" members at Mount Olive. If you are interested in membership at Mount Olive, please speak with Pastor Crippen, contact the office at 612-827-5919, or speak with Andrew Andersen, the Director of Evangelism.
Sign Up for Altar Flowers
The Altar Flowers Chart for 2012 is now posted in the church office. If you would like to sign up to provide flowers for worship to commemorate a special day, in memory of a loved one, in honor of a special event, or simply to help beautify our sanctuary for worship, please sign up on the chart for the date you want, and be sure to include your designation. The cost of the altar flowers this year is $50 a Sunday for two bouquets. You may sign up to purchase both bouquets by signing on both lines, or purchase just one bouquet ($25) by signing on only one line.
Hymn Festival Reflections
Due to some technical difficulties at last Friday evening’s Conference on Liturgy Hymn Festival, Susan Cherwien’s reflections may not have been completely audible to all in attendance.
Susan has graciously made these reflections available in written form to any who may want them. They are located on the ledge just outside the church office, next to extra programs from the hymn festival.
2011 Year-End Statements
Contribution statements for the year ending December 31, 2011 will be available on a table near the coat area for contributors to pick up beginning this Sunday, January 22.
If you cannot be at church in the coming weeks and would like your statement mailed to you, please call the church office.
Church Library News
Thanks to our Mount Olive furnishings committee of 2010-11 for the addition of a new child-sized table and two chairs placed in the Crossroads Library area recently. The attractive table is even glass-topped and when I checked all the tiny fingerprints on it prior to our second liturgy on Sunday, I agreed that whoever made that decision, did so wisely. That also testifies that many little ones visit the popular children's browser bin quite regularly before, after or even during our liturgies.
In my usual helter-skelter method of perusing the articles in each Sunday's Star Tribune, imagine my surprise to find in yesterday's paper an article entitled "Decor By the Books," written by Sandra Barerra of the Los Angeles Daily News. The article includes details of interior designers who are installing whole walls of either real or fake books to create a library-look that is meant only to impress their client's friends or colleagues. You can read the article for yourself but one Minneapolis designer supposedly "loves his books, keeping many leather-bound antiques that have been in his family for generations, and also that he hopes the day will never come when books are eliminated from the home as they add so much ambience."
Well, with part of the above, I might agree, however, pondering the last sentence further and the continuation of the entire article, soon left me completely frustrated and frankly a bit angry. How sad that the books in use in the article are only there for "window dressing" so to speak. As an admitted "bookaholic," I struggle to find enough appropriate space in my apartment for all my many books. Keeping my books nearby is a necessity for most of them are my long-time "friends" you see, and it has very little to do with only adding decor to my home!
All of the above comes back to the congregation's use of our Louise Schroedel Memorial Library. Granted that the decor of our room may be enhanced by the books lining the shelves, but much more important is the "treasure trove" of good reading to be found there. In short, there is sure to be something there for everyone, if you will just come and take the time to explore it. Have you visited our church library recently? Let your New Year's resolutions include one that brings you (and your children) into our library soon to spend some time finding numerous "friends" of your own choosing, and plan to do so at least once a month all year long!
In my next article I will tell you about three new reference books to be added to our collection (plus some other newer books) that will soon be available for your use. I will close this time with the following quote from Joseph Howe: "My books are very few, but then the world is before me --- a Library open to all --- from which poverty of purse cannot exclude me ---- and in which the meanest and most paltry volume is sure to furnish something to amuse, if not to instruct and improve."
- Leanna Kloempken
Cultivating Respect, Creating Safe Schools for All Students
Twin Cities PFLAG announces the “Cultivating Respect, Creating Safe Schools for All Students” Conference, a day-long conference for 250 to be held on January 20, 2012 at Hamline University, St. Paul.
We invite all educators, social workers, psychologists, school nurses, school board members, administrators, parents, of GLBTQ individuals, students middle school through college, GLBTQ youth and allies, GSA leaders or anyone invested in creating healthy and safe schools for our children. Please encourage your neighbors, your child’s teacher or principal to attend as this is a great opportunity for learning and creating a new dialogue in which our children and their well being is placed front and center in our schools and communities.
There will be a number of break-out sessions on important topics such as how to create safe spaces, the impact of bullying on mental and physical health, understanding what is at the heart of bullying, prevention, and many more. Jamie Nabozny, the subject of the Southern Poverty Law Center documentary “Bullied,” will be the keynote speaker, along with a panel of youth from the Anoka-Hennepin School District. In the evening, we will host an awards dinner (which can be attended separately from the conference) where PFLAG will honor members of the community who have been committed to creating safer schools for our children.
To register for the conference, please visit: https://www.blacktie-innesota.com/tickets/index.cfm. For more information, visit www.pflagtc.com, or email: conference2012@pflagtc.com.
2012 RIC Festival Worship to be Held
January 28, 4:30 p.m.
This seventh annual festival worship service celebrates the Metro area ministry of Reconciling in Christ congregations at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church, 1509 27th Ave. NE., Minneapolis on Saturday, January 28 at 4:30 p.m.
The Rev. Justin Lind-Ayres of Bethany Lutheran Church will preach. Freewill offering to benefit the RIC Program. Light supper (no cost) & fellowship to follow. Over supper, debuting a Readers Theater play by William Randall Beard, "Families Valued."
Bread for the World Workshops and Offering of Letters
The 2012 Bread for the World workshop, "Cut Hunger, Not Hunger Programs" will be held at three different locations and dates. On Thursday, February 23, 9a.m. -noon, at Guardian Angels Catholic Church, 8260 4th Street N, Oakdale; on Saturday, February 25, 9a.m.-noon, at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, 8400 France Ave. S., Bloomington; and on Wednesday, February 29, 7-9 p.m. at Bethel University, Eastlund Room in Community Life Center, 3900 Bethel Dr., Arden Hills.
This year, Bread for the World members and advocates need to raise our voices more than ever. The deficit-reduction proposals Congress is considering could result in the most severe cuts to programs for hungry and poor people in Bread's history.
Bread's 2012 Offering of Letters overall campaign will work to create a circle of protection around those most vulnerable by working to protect the funding of programs for hungry and poor people. The focus will be on four mini-campaigns: domestic nutrition assistance, poverty-focused foreign assistance, tax credits for low-income families, and international food aid.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
The Olive Branch, 1/10/12
Accent on Worship
As we move into Epiphany, we realize the surprising places where the light of Christ is shining, where the Word made flesh is dwelling. This Sunday the Word comes to Eli the prophet . . . through his servant boy, Samuel, who is not yet of age, but who sleeps in the temple near the Ark, where the presence of God dwells. And the Word that comes to Eli through Samuel is judgment -- not good news for Samuel, but Samuel does not drop the Word; he conveys it faithfully. And Eli, though his sight is dim, still “sees” this is the word from God.
Our Psalm proclaims that we are fearfully, wonderfully made, that God knows even our thoughts, and that there is no place we can go where God is not. God is everywhere we go. What do we do with that?
The Word comes through Paul to the Church at Corinth, where the members have become fond of saying, “All things are lawful for me,” -- and then doing, presumably, whatever they want to do. Paul’s word for them is, “You belong to Christ, and your body (body of believers? physical body? Yes.) is not your own; it’s a temple of the Holy Spirit.” Our freedom isn’t limited by a long list of “don’ts” but, because the Word and the Spirit are in our actual bodies, it matters what we do. There are things we should choose not to do for the sake of the body and the sake of the Holy Spirit; and, on the Gospel side, we are able to do amazing things and live graciously because God is present in the Church and in us. God no longer dwells in the Ark of the Covenant; you and I and the body of the Church is where God now chooses to dwell. What does THAT mean for us?
Finally, the Messiah comes from a little backwater town, Nazareth, of all places.
Where will the judging and saving, law and gospel presence of God show up for us this week?
- Vicar Erik Doughty
Tenth Annual Conference on Liturgy
Liturgy Shapes
January 13-14, 2012
The conference begins this Friday evening, January 13, at 7:30 p.m. with a hymn festival, “Liturgy Shapes.” Leadership will be provided by Mount Olive Cantor David Cherwien, The National Lutheran Choir, and author and poet, Susan Palo Cherwien.
On Saturday, hear keynote speaker Gordon Lathrop discuss how liturgy shapes our believing and how liturgy shapes our sending. Participants will be invited to choose from four workshops which will explore this topic further. Senator John Marty will lead a workshop on the ways in which liturgy influences our public lives. Susan Palo Cherwien will offer a session on worship and language. Joseph Crippen, pastor of Mount Olive, will offer a presentation on children and the liturgy. The fourth session is continued conversation with Gordon Lathrop.
The day will open with Morning Prayer at 9:00 a.m. and close with Evening Prayer at 4:00 p.m. Gordon Lathrop will be the guest preacher on Sunday, January 15.
Cost for Mount Olive members is $35/person.
Cultivating Respect, Creating Safe Schools for All Students
As some of you may know, I am on the Board of Twin Cities PFLAG and we are very excited to sponsor the “Cultivating Respect, Creating Safe Schools for All Students” Conference, a day-long conference for 250 to be held on January 20, 2012 at Hamline University, St. Paul.
We invite all educators, social workers, psychologists, school nurses, school board members, administrators, parents, of GLBTQ individuals, students middle school through college, GLBTQ youth and allies, GSA leaders or anyone invested in creating healthy and safe schools for our children. Please encourage your neighbors, your child’s teacher or principal to attend as this is a great opportunity for learning and creating a new dialogue in which our children and their well being is placed front and center in our schools and communities.
There will be a number of great break-out sessions on important topics such as how to creating safe spaces, the impact of bullying on mental and physical health, understanding what is at the heart of bullying, prevention, and many more. Jamie Nabozny, the subject of the Southern Poverty Law Center documentary “Bullied,” will be the keynote speaker along with a panel of youth from the Anoka-Hennepin School District. In the evening, we will host an awards dinner (which can be attended separately from the conference) where PFLAG will honor members of the community who have been committed to creating safer schools for our children.
To register for the conference: https://www.blacktie-innesota.com/tickets/index.cfm. For more information, visit www.pflagtc.com, or email: conference2012@pflagtc.com.
Please feel free to call me directly if you have any questions at 612-696-4117 or 360-319-8888. - Gretchen Campbell-Johnson
Thank You!
Mount Olive's chancel, nave and narthex were again beautifully decorated for the Christmas season. This was accomplished through the efforts of many: those who brought in and placed the trees, the volunteers that participated in "Hanging the Greens" and the special crew that hung the lights and Chrismons on the trees.
Also, kudos to those who removed the greens and trees and cleaned up after. We are grateful and wish to thank all of you for your time and willing hands.
Foundation Gift Requests
Mount Olive Lutheran Church Foundation's Board of Directors will meet on Tuesday, January 24, to recommend program and project recipients from its annual gift to the Church. Board members are seeking from staff, Vestry, and congregation members gift designation ideas that will move Mount Olive's ministries forward in a variety of ways. In the past, the Foundation has benefited among other things: musical events, youth trips, capital improvements, Neighborhood Ministries, church anniversary celebrations and Diaper Depot.
If you have an idea for a program or project, please speak with the Vestry member who oversees the area of your interest. Together, you can decide whether to submit a brief one-page request to the Foundation for consideration. Please contact Keith Bartz at albsinmpls@yahoo.com or (612) 823-3572 with questions or to obtain a gift request form.
Adult Forum Topics for January
Jan. 15: Art Halbardier will lead a presentation on the Development of the Nicene Creed
Jan. 22 & 29: Susan Cherwien will offer a 2-part series on Hymns and Worship.
Book Discussion Group
For it's meeting on January 21 (postponed one week this month due to the annual Conference on Liturgy), the Book Discussion Group we will read William Faulkner's A Light in August. And for the February 11 meeting the selection will be Native Son, by Richard Wright.
Welcoming!
At Mount Olive we identify ourselves as Musical, Liturgical and Welcoming. Each of these descriptive terms has a number of facets.
On Sunday, February 12, 2012 at the 10:45 a.m. liturgy, we will welcome those who have indicated that they want to become "official" members at Mount Olive.
If you are interested in membership at Mount Olive, please speak with Pastor Crippen, contact the office at 612-827-5919, or speak with Andrew Andersen, the Director of Evangelism.
2012 RIC Festival Worship
January 28, 4:30 p.m.
This seventh annual festival worship service celebrates the Metro area ministry of Reconciling in Christ congregations at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church, 1509 27th Ave. NE., Minneapolis on Saturday, January 28 at 4:30 p.m.
The Rev. Justin Lind-Ayres of Bethany Lutheran Church will preach. Freewill offering to benefit the RIC Program. Light supper (no cost) & fellowship to follow. Over supper, debuting a Readers Theater play by William Randall Beard, "Families Valued."
Please gather with members of more than 30 RIC congregations and organizations from across the metro area to celebrate the welcome we extend to the whole people of God!
As we move into Epiphany, we realize the surprising places where the light of Christ is shining, where the Word made flesh is dwelling. This Sunday the Word comes to Eli the prophet . . . through his servant boy, Samuel, who is not yet of age, but who sleeps in the temple near the Ark, where the presence of God dwells. And the Word that comes to Eli through Samuel is judgment -- not good news for Samuel, but Samuel does not drop the Word; he conveys it faithfully. And Eli, though his sight is dim, still “sees” this is the word from God.
Our Psalm proclaims that we are fearfully, wonderfully made, that God knows even our thoughts, and that there is no place we can go where God is not. God is everywhere we go. What do we do with that?
The Word comes through Paul to the Church at Corinth, where the members have become fond of saying, “All things are lawful for me,” -- and then doing, presumably, whatever they want to do. Paul’s word for them is, “You belong to Christ, and your body (body of believers? physical body? Yes.) is not your own; it’s a temple of the Holy Spirit.” Our freedom isn’t limited by a long list of “don’ts” but, because the Word and the Spirit are in our actual bodies, it matters what we do. There are things we should choose not to do for the sake of the body and the sake of the Holy Spirit; and, on the Gospel side, we are able to do amazing things and live graciously because God is present in the Church and in us. God no longer dwells in the Ark of the Covenant; you and I and the body of the Church is where God now chooses to dwell. What does THAT mean for us?
Finally, the Messiah comes from a little backwater town, Nazareth, of all places.
Where will the judging and saving, law and gospel presence of God show up for us this week?
- Vicar Erik Doughty
Tenth Annual Conference on Liturgy
Liturgy Shapes
January 13-14, 2012
The conference begins this Friday evening, January 13, at 7:30 p.m. with a hymn festival, “Liturgy Shapes.” Leadership will be provided by Mount Olive Cantor David Cherwien, The National Lutheran Choir, and author and poet, Susan Palo Cherwien.
On Saturday, hear keynote speaker Gordon Lathrop discuss how liturgy shapes our believing and how liturgy shapes our sending. Participants will be invited to choose from four workshops which will explore this topic further. Senator John Marty will lead a workshop on the ways in which liturgy influences our public lives. Susan Palo Cherwien will offer a session on worship and language. Joseph Crippen, pastor of Mount Olive, will offer a presentation on children and the liturgy. The fourth session is continued conversation with Gordon Lathrop.
The day will open with Morning Prayer at 9:00 a.m. and close with Evening Prayer at 4:00 p.m. Gordon Lathrop will be the guest preacher on Sunday, January 15.
Cost for Mount Olive members is $35/person.
Cultivating Respect, Creating Safe Schools for All Students
As some of you may know, I am on the Board of Twin Cities PFLAG and we are very excited to sponsor the “Cultivating Respect, Creating Safe Schools for All Students” Conference, a day-long conference for 250 to be held on January 20, 2012 at Hamline University, St. Paul.
We invite all educators, social workers, psychologists, school nurses, school board members, administrators, parents, of GLBTQ individuals, students middle school through college, GLBTQ youth and allies, GSA leaders or anyone invested in creating healthy and safe schools for our children. Please encourage your neighbors, your child’s teacher or principal to attend as this is a great opportunity for learning and creating a new dialogue in which our children and their well being is placed front and center in our schools and communities.
There will be a number of great break-out sessions on important topics such as how to creating safe spaces, the impact of bullying on mental and physical health, understanding what is at the heart of bullying, prevention, and many more. Jamie Nabozny, the subject of the Southern Poverty Law Center documentary “Bullied,” will be the keynote speaker along with a panel of youth from the Anoka-Hennepin School District. In the evening, we will host an awards dinner (which can be attended separately from the conference) where PFLAG will honor members of the community who have been committed to creating safer schools for our children.
To register for the conference: https://www.blacktie-innesota.com/tickets/index.cfm. For more information, visit www.pflagtc.com, or email: conference2012@pflagtc.com.
Please feel free to call me directly if you have any questions at 612-696-4117 or 360-319-8888. - Gretchen Campbell-Johnson
Thank You!
Mount Olive's chancel, nave and narthex were again beautifully decorated for the Christmas season. This was accomplished through the efforts of many: those who brought in and placed the trees, the volunteers that participated in "Hanging the Greens" and the special crew that hung the lights and Chrismons on the trees.
Also, kudos to those who removed the greens and trees and cleaned up after. We are grateful and wish to thank all of you for your time and willing hands.
Foundation Gift Requests
Mount Olive Lutheran Church Foundation's Board of Directors will meet on Tuesday, January 24, to recommend program and project recipients from its annual gift to the Church. Board members are seeking from staff, Vestry, and congregation members gift designation ideas that will move Mount Olive's ministries forward in a variety of ways. In the past, the Foundation has benefited among other things: musical events, youth trips, capital improvements, Neighborhood Ministries, church anniversary celebrations and Diaper Depot.
If you have an idea for a program or project, please speak with the Vestry member who oversees the area of your interest. Together, you can decide whether to submit a brief one-page request to the Foundation for consideration. Please contact Keith Bartz at albsinmpls@yahoo.com or (612) 823-3572 with questions or to obtain a gift request form.
Adult Forum Topics for January
Jan. 15: Art Halbardier will lead a presentation on the Development of the Nicene Creed
Jan. 22 & 29: Susan Cherwien will offer a 2-part series on Hymns and Worship.
Book Discussion Group
For it's meeting on January 21 (postponed one week this month due to the annual Conference on Liturgy), the Book Discussion Group we will read William Faulkner's A Light in August. And for the February 11 meeting the selection will be Native Son, by Richard Wright.
Welcoming!
At Mount Olive we identify ourselves as Musical, Liturgical and Welcoming. Each of these descriptive terms has a number of facets.
On Sunday, February 12, 2012 at the 10:45 a.m. liturgy, we will welcome those who have indicated that they want to become "official" members at Mount Olive.
If you are interested in membership at Mount Olive, please speak with Pastor Crippen, contact the office at 612-827-5919, or speak with Andrew Andersen, the Director of Evangelism.
2012 RIC Festival Worship
January 28, 4:30 p.m.
This seventh annual festival worship service celebrates the Metro area ministry of Reconciling in Christ congregations at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church, 1509 27th Ave. NE., Minneapolis on Saturday, January 28 at 4:30 p.m.
The Rev. Justin Lind-Ayres of Bethany Lutheran Church will preach. Freewill offering to benefit the RIC Program. Light supper (no cost) & fellowship to follow. Over supper, debuting a Readers Theater play by William Randall Beard, "Families Valued."
Please gather with members of more than 30 RIC congregations and organizations from across the metro area to celebrate the welcome we extend to the whole people of God!
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