You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust." – Psalm 91:1-2 Have you ever repeated a word over and over in conversation and in your mind so many times that it eventually loses its power and starts to sound ridiculous? Churchy words like "missional" often make me feel like that – so overused that it gets lost like so much jargon in the din of conversation. Missional metaphors are so pressed to extremes that it no longer represents hopefulness to me, so much as a tired sense of failure. We've tried to "turn the church around" under our own steam, and I find myself with new and deeper appreciation for Luther's first words of explanation for the third article of the creed, "I cannot by my own reason or understanding..." As a leader among leaders in this church, I rely more heavily on the Holy Spirit, day by day, and less on program, process and prognostication.
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When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. -Leviticus 19:33 The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, has convened ELCA ecumenical and inter-religious partners in a statement addressing concerns over a recent U.S. government policy calling for more stringent enforcement of federal immigration laws. The policy will most likely result in an increase in family separations.
by Bishop Bill GohlEditor's note: You can watch a video of Bishop Gohl's address here, or embedded at the bottom of this post. Hear these words of Paul in the Letter to the Ephesians: I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. -Ephesians 4:1-5 I wish to continue the practice I began last year by amplifying my report with four brief words: a word of gratitude, a word of struggle, a word of challenge, and a word of hope.
by Pastor Lauren MuratoreThe 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."
by Pastor Lauren MuratoreIf yesterday’s theme was Baptism, today's has been Truth-Telling. There was a refreshing level of transparency in all of the presentations today, which was its own offering of sorts. A gift given to the whole assembly and to the whole church: "Here"s the truth. The way things really are. We trust you with it."
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