by Pastor Lauren Muratore
The final day of assembly was short but full. Our half day together began with another workshop from Brian McLaren followed by a plethora of workshop opportunities in break out rooms, and then, of course, we closed with gorgeous worship led by synod staff and the Lutheran Youth Organization Music Team (who totally rocked it out, by the way!).
With so much going on in just one day I felt a little stuck about what to write, so I asked our bishop what he thought the one most important theme had been. He took less than a second to reply: "Sent to be the body of Christ alive in the world."
It’s true, being "sent" did come up again and again today, right down to us actually being sent out into the world to love and serve the Lord. During worship youth and adult leaders going to the ELCA Youth Gathering, as well as Gathering staff and volunteers, were commissioned. Sent out in anticipation of the Gathering in Houston this summer. They were reminded in that commissioning that the God we worship, the Jesus we follow, the Spirit among us changes everything. That's the Gathering theme: "This Changes Everything." But it's also the gospel truth.
Faith, grace, love — these change everything. Brian McLaren pointed out today that to be "saved" really means liberated. Set free. This changes everything.
In his fiery, prophetic, gospelizing, sermon today, Bishop Bill Gohl spoke of all the hard realities we're faced with. The demons — personal and systemic. He told the truth about our limited ability to change some of those realities, saying "If there is a national mood for June 2, 2018 it seems like it would be hopelessness..."
But then he spoke about how Jesus doesn't love us for our ability to overcome demons. Jesus loves us into the overcoming. Overcomes the demons for us, even. "Our Jesus proclaims the gospel in times when the demons submit to us — in success — but also when they don't. When we fail. In times like ours. And in times like ours," the bishop said, "we need Jesus. True joy — transcending, lasting, useful joy — is not rooted in what we do but in what God does. In what God does for us. The God who becomes one of us, who died and was raised for us, who sends the Holy Spirit to be with us, who writes our names indelibly in heaven. In baptism we are marked by the cross of Christ forever. Sealed by the Holy Spirit." In baptism we are changed from people who despair to people who stubbornly hope. This — THIS — changes everything.
This God of liberating change is the same God who sends us out now into communities across Delaware and Maryland. This demon-dispelling God is the one calling us to make a way for justice. This God of against-all-odds compassion is calling us to embody grace and love especially when it’s challenging. This God is calling us to delight with the divine when "we are creators of justice and joy, compassion and peace," as the LYO music team sung today.
My prayer is one of thanksgiving that we have been sent out by such a God and called into the world for such a time as this. Because that changes everything.
Thanks be to God.
Faith, grace, love — these change everything. Brian McLaren pointed out today that to be "saved" really means liberated. Set free. This changes everything.
In his fiery, prophetic, gospelizing, sermon today, Bishop Bill Gohl spoke of all the hard realities we're faced with. The demons — personal and systemic. He told the truth about our limited ability to change some of those realities, saying "If there is a national mood for June 2, 2018 it seems like it would be hopelessness..."
But then he spoke about how Jesus doesn't love us for our ability to overcome demons. Jesus loves us into the overcoming. Overcomes the demons for us, even. "Our Jesus proclaims the gospel in times when the demons submit to us — in success — but also when they don't. When we fail. In times like ours. And in times like ours," the bishop said, "we need Jesus. True joy — transcending, lasting, useful joy — is not rooted in what we do but in what God does. In what God does for us. The God who becomes one of us, who died and was raised for us, who sends the Holy Spirit to be with us, who writes our names indelibly in heaven. In baptism we are marked by the cross of Christ forever. Sealed by the Holy Spirit." In baptism we are changed from people who despair to people who stubbornly hope. This — THIS — changes everything.
This God of liberating change is the same God who sends us out now into communities across Delaware and Maryland. This demon-dispelling God is the one calling us to make a way for justice. This God of against-all-odds compassion is calling us to embody grace and love especially when it’s challenging. This God is calling us to delight with the divine when "we are creators of justice and joy, compassion and peace," as the LYO music team sung today.
My prayer is one of thanksgiving that we have been sent out by such a God and called into the world for such a time as this. Because that changes everything.
Thanks be to God.