Sunday, February 23, 2025

Love Your Enemies.

  “What is the hardest thing about following Jesus?” Rolf Jacobson asked his confirmation students. “Loving your enemies,” one of the students replied. Rolf is now a professor at Luther Seminary but as he reflected on today’s Gospel in Luther’s podcast, he said that answer has stuck with him… because he thinks the student got it right. Jesus’ teaching to: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” sounds not only impossible but unwise and unsafe.1

 It's also uniquely Jesus. Most of what Jesus teaches can be found in the Hebrew Scriptures, our Old Testament. Most of the world religions promote love – love yourself, the neighbor and the stranger; treat others as you would have them treat you; follow the Golden Rule.  But no one else asks you to love your enemy or to do good to those who hate or to bless those who curse or to pray for those who hurt you. This only comes from Jesus who instructs his followers – then and now – to be merciful just as God is merciful.

 Our reading from Genesis tells a piece of Joseph’s story. You may remember that Joseph was the favorite son of Jacob. Jacob had twelve sons but Joseph was his favorite. As you can imagine, this didn’t sit well with the older 10 brothers – who were half-brothers. It probably didn’t help that Joseph shared his dreams of them bowing down to him. And so, family dynamics being what they were, it probably shouldn’t have come as a surprise that the brothers turned against Joseph. They were about to kill him when some Egyptian slave traders came by – and they sold him into slavery instead.

 However, God was with Joseph and eventually, after interpreting the Pharoah’s dreams about 7 years of feast and 7 years of famine, he became Pharoah’s right hand. As Joseph had predicted, there were 7 good years. Joseph managed the grain and built big silos to preserve it for the 7 years of famine to come. And the 7 years of famine did come and it affected all of the land – not just Egypt.

 And this is why Joseph’s brothers had come to Egypt. The word was out that Egypt had food.  And so they came. This wasn’t their first visit. They had come before – and Joseph had seen them and had put them through a few tests to see if they were still the cruel hard-hearted people that had sold him into slavery – or if they had changed. The brothers passed the test by protecting the youngest brother, Benjamin, who was Joseph’s full brother, and by clearly caring for their father and each other.  And so Joseph reveals himself to them. Notice their first response is not joy – but fear. Joseph is in a position of power. He could have chosen to follow the rule: an eye for an eye and sold them into slavery. He could have chosen retribution and retaliation. He could have had them killed.

 Instead, Joseph chooses forgiveness and reconciliation. But not before speaking the truth to them about the harm that they had done. He does not let his brothers off the hook. Also, notice who Joseph credits for his current status. Joseph doesn’t say it was because of his own wisdom that he ended up as Pharoah’s grain czar. Instead, he shares the way that God has worked through this evil, cruel act of his brothers to not only preserve his life but to put him in a position to protect the life of the whole tribe. Joseph later says that it was God who was at work in his life for good – even though they intended it for harm. 

 Joseph was in a position of power when he offered forgiveness, reconciliation and literally the bread of life to his brothers. But not everyone who suffers abuse or cruelty is in a position of power. Too often, victims of abuse, often but not only women, have been told to forgive an abusive partner and to just forget and forgive. But without the truth telling, and the recognition by the abuser – the one causing harm - that what was done was wrong, there is little likelihood that the situation will change, especially if the abuser still has power. Reconciliation is not always possible or even wise.

 And yet, Jesus gives us this seemingly impossible task: “love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return… be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”  The confirmation student is right: This is hard. And yet… we can’t just dismiss it – because this it is the way of Jesus, this is the way of God.

A pastor colleague of mine has shared publicly a story of a hard time in her life – I’ll call her Jane. She had just gone through a rough, messy divorce in which her now ex-husband had left her and their children and refused to pay any alimony and was basically being a jerk. Jane was spitting angry, resentful and full of hatred for what he had done to her and their children. She was so mad that she couldn’t sleep, she couldn’t eat, she couldn’t even think; her life was miserable.

 Finally, she went to another pastor I’ll call her Sophia because Sophia means “wisdom.” Jane told Sophia the story and then said, “Help me. I can’t live like this. I feel as if I’m carrying a rock of anger in the pit of my stomach and I don’t even like who I’ve become.”   Sophia was compassionate and listened carefully. And then she asked Jane, what would you want in your life? What would you hope for in your life? Jane thought for a moment and then said, “I want to not have to worry about where the next meal is coming from; I want to love and be loved, to share joy and to be at peace.” 

 Sophia looked at her with eyes of compassion and said, “I have an idea for you. But it is not going to be easy – and it’s going to take 30 days.” Jane, with a sigh of disappointment said, “Sure. I can do anything for 30 days. What is it?”

 Sophia said, “OK. For the next 30 days, I want you to pray for all of those things that you named – for your Ex. Pray for him, that he have financial stability, love, and live with joy and peace.”

 Jane said, “Those are the things I want for me – not for him. But… I don’t want him I know Jesus said to ‘love our enemies’. I don’t like it. But I said I would it so I’ll do it.” And she did. For the first 10 days, she prayed with clenched teeth: “God give him love, financial stability and let him live with joy and peace.” For the next 10 days, she found herself rolling her eyes and saying, “God give him financial stability, love and let him live with joy and peace” but found herself saying it without so much anger. By the time she reached day 30, she had come to peace with realizing that she really did wish for him –financial stability, love, peace, and joy. Her life was still challenging as a single mom. But the heavy rock that she was carrying in the pit of her stomach was gone. And she was able to move forward with her life.

 “Love your enemies, do good… be merciful.”  These are challenging words at any time. But they are perhaps even more important for us to hear now, as our civic life is becoming more and more polarized with fewer people willing to listen to the other or to compromise or to work for the common good. Jesus calls us, as Christians, as followers of Jesus, to be different. We are to follow the hard but true words of Jesus: Love your enemies, pray for them, forgive as you have been forgiven. These are not easy.But, at least in this place, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we have a community of grace in which we can practice speaking words with kindness, praying for others with whom we disagree, and following in the way of Jesus, who is our Savior and Lord. Thanks be to God, Amen.

 1 Workingpreacher.com, Rev. Rolf Jacobson with workingpreacher podcast

 February 23, 2025 + Faith-Lilac Way + Pastor Pam Stalheim Lane

Sunday, February 16, 2025

What does it mean to be blessed?

Is it what happens when you are baptized? When you come to receive

communion? When something good happens? Yes to all of those – but that

doesn’t begin to contain what it means to be “blessed.” There are also many

times in the Bible in which someone is “blessed.” For example, Jacob steals

his brother Esau’s birthright and blessing, Aaron shares a blessing in the book

of Numbers, and Jesus received a blessing at his baptism.

Jesus gives blessings too, like the Beatitudes. Beatitude is simply the Latin

word for blessing. In Matthew, Jesus is on the mountaintop and proclaims.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit…Blessed are the meek”… and continues

blessing those whom others consider “the least of these” or less desirable or

deserving or worthy. It is absolutely beautiful and inspiring. I love it.

But, Luke’s blessings tell a different story, one that is much harder for us to

hear. For this time, Jesus is not on a mountain. Jesus is on the level plain -

which means he is accessible to and welcomes the poor, the hurting, the sick,

those in need. They come and Jesus responds - healing the sick, the lame and

giving good news to the poor.

I hear a bit of an echo of Mary’s Magnificat from earlier in Luke’s Gospel in

which Mary prophesies the poor would be lifted up and the rich would be

brought down.. and now here Jesus is, proclaiming blessings. And woes.

This would be completely shocking to Jesus’ first audience. They lived in a

very hierarchical society. The Emperor was at the top and was considered the

one who was the most blessed. As Diana Butler Bass explains, The blessed”

in Greek actually became interchangeable with “the gods” and “the elite.”…

Thus, the “the blessed” were the big shots of the ancient world” and the

“blessings” were the material riches that were handed down (or not) by those

in power. 1

By blessing the people who are poor, who have no food to eat, who wonder

where their next meal is coming from, who live off food stamps and handouts

and food pantries and bags of food offered by charities, Jesus turns the

hierarchy upside down. He gives hope to people who have no hope and he

2

gives a promise of change. To the poor, Jesus promises the kingdom of God,

to the hungry, he proclaimed, “you will be fed,” and to those who weep, that

they will rejoice with laughter.

These promises are in keeping with the promises of the psalmists and

prophets who remind the people of God that the earth and everything in it is

the Lord’s (Psalm 24:1) – and do not belong to the Emperor or any other

person. Just as Isaiah and the prophets declared that when God’s Kingdom

comes, the Lord will wipe away all your tears, so Jesus declares that those

who weep will rejoice. In addition, there is an underlying message that since

Jesus is not giving these blessings from on high, but rather from the plain,

where there is no hierarchy, these blessings are for the ordinary people.

But that is not all. Jesus also has a message for the rich, for those who have

put their trust in the Emperor or other gods or in their own status or luck.

And the message is “Woe to you.”

This is not a blanket condemnation of the rich and powerful but rather a

warning for them and all who have God-given resources and yet are not

following the way of God. It is also an invitation to repent and change.

For example, remember the story of Zacchaeus? This is a story from later in

the Gospel of Luke. Zacchaeus was a rich tax collector. And yet, Jesus saw

that he had a good heart - and so Jesus called Zacchaeus to dine with him.

Zacchaeus was overjoyed and in response, shared his wealth generously -

especially for anyone who felt wronged. After Zacchaeus made that

announcement, Jesus responded, ‘Today salvation has come to this house,

because he too is a son of Abraham.  10 For the Son of Man came to seek out

and to save the lost.’ Jesus was calling those with riches and wealth to trust

in the power of God - and not their own selves, and what they call their own

– whether it is property, status and power. For if you put your trust in

anything less than the love and power and provision of God, it will not last.

Luther Seminary Professor Dr. Mary Hinkle Shore writes that the challenge

for those of us in our 21st-century American, mainline Christian context is

that most of us who will hear this word are not inclined to trust it.” After all,

who would want to be poor, have your character maligned, be bullied or

3

“cancelled” – even if it was for the sake of our faith? As Mary says, “We aim

to be rich, full, laughing, and respected. Hearing the beatitudes from Jesus,

we may be tempted to think, “I’ll take my chances with the status quo.” It’s

tempting to put your trust in pensions and security systems rather than in

Jesus. But Mary says, “It is as if Jesus said, “Certain things are worthy of

your trust, and other things are sure to betray it.” When those objects of

misplaced loyalty do betray your trust -Lord, have mercy.” 2

Dr. Kate Bowler, a professor at Duke University, was studying the prosperity

gospel and evangelical church culture when she was diagnosed, at age 35

with a rare form of cancer, at stage IV. The church community told her to

pray for healing. She prayed. They prayed. But she didn’t heal. Some in her

church assumed it was because she didn’t have enough faith. They felt that if

she did, she would have been healed. And since she wasn’t, clearly, she

wasn’t “blessed.” 3

Through all of this, Kate held onto her faith – despite the diagnosis, despite

the shaming from some in her church, and despite the challenges and the

grief of dreams that had to die. Suddenly, Kate had to confront her own ideas

about what it meant to be blessed. And she found that it wasn’t being perfect,

it wasn’t about winning God’s favor. Instead, Kate discovered it was about

living fully the ordinary life that she was given, trusting in God, and caring

for others in the world around her. She also discovered that she had a gift for

noticing the blessings in the ordinary of her life and ours. She shares these

blessings freely on her website. Here’s one for you. It’s titled:

4

a blessing for the life you have

Blessed are you who

hold hope with an open hand.

You who try not to fix your gaze

on time’s far horizon or

get drunk on what might yet be.

And blessed are you who

avoid walking too far down memory

lane, getting stuck wondering if that

was as good as it gets,

if you’ve peaked,

or feeling resentful about all that

has disappointed before.

Blessed are you who know

that sometimes you need

to stay right here.

At least for a minute.

Blessed are you who look

wide-eyed, maybe timidly,

at the present moment,

gazing at those things that

are gently, actually within

the reach of your fingertips.

Blessed are you amid the

ordinary details that define

what life is for you, right now.

And as you see them,

greet them—each one—

as you smile and

call them by name.

Everyday joys. Small pleasures.

Birds chirping. Cat cuddles.

A cold glass of water.

5

A little child calling your name.

The breeze on your cheeks.

The ocean rhythm.

The perfect pillow.

The kindness of a friend.

Loves that are and were

and ever will be.

May they seem even lovelier,

even more delicious because

they become gifts offered anew.

May gratitude fill you,

reaching all of the spaces within

you that disappointment

left behind and fear has gripped.

May something rise in your heart

that feels like a strange

new kind of contentment.

Because this isn’t what

you had planned, but it

surprises you that even here

it can be good. Satisfying.

In a way that you know you

can come back to. A place that can

sustain you through

whatever may come.

Blessed are you,

finding that life is good

because it is enough.

6

Friends in Christ, you are blessed. Trust in Jesus when the way before you

seems difficult – and when things are going so well that you feel on top of the

moon. For God is the provider of it all – including all the blessings for the

poor, the ordinary, those who are considered “less than,” the young, the old,

the middle aged and all of those just trying to make it to the next day. And so,

regardless of what happens in your world and in your life, trust in God, keep

the faith and receive God’s many blessings. Friends in Christ, may the Lord

bless you, and keep you in God’s loving and surprising grace. In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

1Diana Butler Bass, Grateful

2 Workingpreacher.com Mary Hinkle Shore

3 Dr. Kate Bowler, Everything Happens for a Reason and all the Lies I’ve learned to Hate.

4. Dr. Kate Bowler website,

https://katebowler.com

Sunday, February 9, 2025

YOU Are CALLED by GOD

And invited to CALL on GOD

Back in the day when cell phones were a relatively new thing, someone’s phone would inevitably ring during our Synod conference, and as the embarrassed pastor would quickly try to silence it, then Bishop Mark Hanson would always say: “That had better be God!”

 I haven’t heard any stories yet of God calling on a cell phone, but in our lessons today, we see three different ways that God calls people into God’s mission for the world.

Isaiah receives a vision of God sitting on a throne with seraphs – these are not sweet little cherubic angels gathered on soft fluffy clouds but rather fiery flying serpents. They are singing a song of praise to God, “Holy, Holy, Holy”, but Isaiah is not comforted. He is terrified. He says, “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” He thought he was going to die. No one had ever seen God before and lived. He certainly did not feel worthy – he was a man of unclean lips.

Peter, in our Gospel lesson, was at work, cleaning his nets after a disappointing night of fishing. They caught nothing. This was his livelihood. But he had no fish to sell; no fish even for his family to eat. But as he was working, a rabbi came and sat in his boat and started to teach the crowd. I imagine that Peter stopped cleaning his nets and paid attention to the rabbi who was using his boat as a pulpit, or maybe he listened while he worked. In either case, when Jesus was done speaking, he instructed Peter to push out into the deep water and throw down your nets for a catch.

Peter was the professional fisherman. He knew how to fish.  And he knew that he and his father and his father’s father had always fished at night when the fish came up to feed. During the hot summer day, the fish swam in the cool waters down deep. And yet… even though he was probably exhausted and ready for a little shut-eye… Peter said, “If you say so, I will let down the nets.”

This act of faith – or maybe just this openness to Jesus’ word – led to a surprising miracle. Peter went to the deep waters and put out the nets – and immediately, their nets were so full, they were beginning to break. Peter and his partner – probably Andrew - signaled the other boat to come and help. Both boats had so many fish the boats began to sink.  But, like Isaiah, Peter’s first response was not awe and excitement at this amazing catch. It was fear. “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”

Paul also felt unworthy to be called a disciple of Christ. When writing to the church at Corinth, Paul recounts all of the others to whom Jesus had appeared and then he writes, “Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” Paul writes of that he is unfit to be an apostle because of his prior persecution of the church

And yet, God called Paul, the persecutor of his people, four failed fishermen, and Isaiah, a reluctant prophet, all of whom felt unworthy, as God’s messengers to the world. If you haven’t noticed, God has a habit of choosing surprising people, often the most ordinary people, to proclaim God’s message and do God’s work.

But God doesn’t force any of them to do God’s work. The voice of the Lord asks Isaiah, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” Isaiah says yes to God’s call: “Here am I; send me!”

Likewise, when Jesus invites them to follow, Peter and his brother Andrew and James and John drop their nets – which were full of the best catch ever! That night, they had caught no fish. Suddenly, they had more fish than they had ever seen before. And they left it all on the shore – the fish, their father, their families – and they followed Jesus. For they had heard the voice of God.

Jesus is still calling. Probably not on your cell phone – although I wouldn’t put it past him. Like Paul, we have not walked with Jesus on the shore of Galilee, as Peter and the other disciples did, trying to figure out what Jesus meant when he proclaimed that the Kingdom of God was at hand. Like Paul, we have received the Good News from other people. We are a part of a long line of people of faith – Sunday School teachers, parents, grandparents, pastors and camp counselors and friends and neighbors and family who have passed on the message of Jesus, the stories of his life, death, resurrection and ascension and of God’s continuing work in the world. God continues to call people, ordinary and extraordinary people – like you – to share the message of Jesus and to do God’s work in bringing, hope, faith and love to everyone in God’s world.

God is calling you and me into the world, into our community, to love the neighbor, feed the hungry, care for the poor and the vulnerable. For, as Jesus says, when we do this, we are caring for Jesus.

We are called to be engaged in the world. But I also know that it has been difficult to keep up with all of the changes and proposed changes and the consequences of those changes in our country and in the world over the last few weeks. It causes me, anyway, a great deal of anxiety when our partner Lutheran organizations are being attacked by an official without cause. We need to respond to set the record straight.

However, when the news of the world is overwhelming, confusing and, or challenging, which it often is, I invite you to stop listening to the news for a bit. Take a break and listen to the words of Jesus’ prayerbook, the Psalms.

For not only does God call you and me into the world to share God’s message of love, faith, hope and care for the vulnerable, but God also welcomes you and me to call on God and God’s Holy Spirit.

As we read in our Psalm for today, Psalm 138, “When I called, you answered me.” We do not always get our answers as quickly as we would like. God is on my speed dial these days, but God’s response doesn’t usually come in a tweet. Instead, God invites us to slow down, remember who we are and whose we are. You are a child of God and God has called you by name.

Martin Luther found that in the midst of the chaos in his time – when his life was endangered and he was hidden in a cold drafty castle –he turned to prayer and to the Psalms. Luther once said that at times of trial, he needed twice the amount of time with God. It’s not a bad habit.

For when we read scripture and hear the promises of God, and the love that God has for us, we can join the Psalmist in proclaiming and praying to God, “You will make good your purpose for me; O Lord, your steadfast love endures forever; do not abandon the works of your hands.” 

Brothers and sisters, friends in Christ, have confidence in the word of God for you and listen for God’s call. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sunday, February 2, 2025

Love is…

First Corinthians 13 is a beautiful ode to love. Paul holds love up like a gemstone or a work of art from every angle, reflecting on its depth and beauty: “Love is patient; love is kind…Love never ends.”  And so, it’s not surprising that this passage is a favorite scripture for weddings. And it is a great choice, reminding the couple – and all who are gathered – that love is not a static gemstone or work of art to be admired from afar… but instead, must be lived, and practiced day after day.

But while these are great words for a couple who is getting married and beginning their life together, Paul wrote them to a congregation that was in conflict. They were arguing about who had the greatest gifts. Was it preaching or teaching or speaking in tongues?

In response, in chapter 12, which we explored last week, Paul uses the metaphor of the body to show that all of the gifts that God has given are not only important – but each one has a role to play, just as an eye and an ear and a hand each has a job to do for for the sake of the whole body.

There are three words for love in Greek – eros – romantic love, filio, the love of friends and agape love, the love of God. Paul writes about agape love.  The gift of agape love is like the skin that holds all of the parts of the body together and holds a community together. Because love “is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude” all gifts can be honored. Because love does not insist on its own way but encourages the community to listen to others, the community is able to thrive. Maybe we can even be open to new ideas?. Likewise, because love is not irritable or resentful but instead, seeks to lift up the young, the old, the vulnerable, the stranger, the person who feels left out… and to appreciate their gifts too… love, agape love, binds people together into the beloved community of Christ. 

This is who we want to be as a church, as the people of God.

We have a scout troop, Troop 67, that meets in our building. I have a soft spot in my heart for scouts, since both of my sons were scouts and it was an important part of their growing up years.  And so, when Aaron invited me to do the invocation and blessing at his Eagle Court of Honor, the highest rank, I happily agreed.

An Eagle court of Honor is a time to light up the accomplishments of the scout. Aaron had many. He was clearly a young man who was good for scouting – he had tons of merit badges on his sash and participated in all of the scout programs. He had even overcome his fear of heights enough to encourage his troop to take the long hike up a mountain pass rather than an easier journey because, according to the scout leader, Aaron wanted to be an example for others to face their fears. But as strong and as uplifting as the accolades that the troop leaders heaped upon Aaron, I was most impressed with what I observed before the court of honor even began.

I got to the rehearsal early – not because I needed the practice – I’ve done a few of these before, but because I knew that Aaron would be running the rehearsal himself and that sometimes organizing a troop of adolescent boys isn’t easy – so if the adults show up on time, it’s one less thing for him to worry about. 

As I waited for my line, I noticed that the boys were all very attentive and listened to Aaron’s directions. Aaron treated them all with respect and care. I also noticed that there were two boys to whom Aaron gave extra attention. The first boy is one that I had met before - he is on the Autism spectrum and very active in the scout troop. His job was to carry in one of the flags. But he couldn’t quite carry it on his own, so Aaron – who was the one being honored – carried it with him.  The second scout, also had some special needs and sat in the audience. Aaron went over to him and included him, inviting him to read a small part in the program.

I was impressed with the way that Aaron exhibited incredible care for each one of the scouts.

Actions often speak louder than words.  So I guess I should not have been surprised, when it was Aaron’s turn to speak, that he spoke directly to the scouts. Rather than speak about the Scout Law or the Scout Oath, Aaron encouraged them to CARE. Care about one another. Find a hill and stand on it. CARE for one another and the community around you.

Aaron chose the word “Care.” But as he was speaking, a different word came to my mind because I was reminded of Jesus’ commandment to “Love one another.” Caring for someone is a way to show love, Agape love.

Although he focuses on love, Paul lifts up three great gifts from God – faith, hope and love.  In Christians community, these three gifts work together.

Simeon and Anna are great examples of faith, hope and love and the role of wise elders in the community.   The Holy Spirit has given Simeon the hope and promise that he would see the Messiah. Anna is one of the very few named female prophets in the Bible. She is devout, full of faith- and hope --- despite her life circumstances. As a childless widow in that culture, she had little social standing. And yet, out of love, Agape love, they both shine a light on who Jesus is, proclaiming him as the Messiah and as the one to redeem – save – God’s people.

So how do we, in this time in which we live, proclaim faith, hope and love? How do we show care to one another – and to the community around us?

There isn’t a 7 step program. Nor is this something we can check off our list. Instead, this is the life that we are called to live into, this is the life of God’s beloved community. We are called – you and I – to live as Christ Jesus would have us live. We are to love one another – and the other, the stranger, the neighbor, the outsider, the immigrant – as Christ loves us.

This is not easy at any time. It is certainly not easy when there are some in our government sowing discord and is in a period of change and uncertainty. But what we can do, is what God has always called us to do: pray for one another --- and for our enemies and our perceived enemies. Care for the world around us. Act and speak out of faith, hope and Agape love.

Brothers and sisters, friends in Christ, the good news is that God is with us – always. For there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. And so, my prayer for you:  May the Holy Spirit surround you with grace and mercy and give you peace.  In Jesus name. Amen.

February 2, 2025 + Faith-Lilac Way Lutheran + Pastor Pam Stalheim Lane

Sunday, January 26, 2025

We are Many Parts and One Body in Christ Jesus

 When I was growing up, my mother sometimes put big puzzle out on our big table in the dining room for everyone to work on together. It was good fun and we found that, working together, it came together relatively quickly. But there was a problem. One piece – in the very center of the puzzle -- was missing. We looked high and low.  But we couldn’t find it.  As children, we were very frustrated. Although almost all of the puzzle was complete, our focus was drawn to the hole. where the missing piece should have been. We needed all the pieces of the puzzle in order for the picture to be complete.

 Paul is saying much the same thing to the people of Corinth. They had been fighting amongst themselves over who had the best, most spiritual gift. Using the metaphor of the body, Paul writes, “Your body has many parts—limbs, organs, cells—but no matter how many parts you can name, you’re still one body. It’s exactly the same with Christ… Each of us is now a part of Jesus’ resurrection body” Message Bible 1 Cor 12 and we are refreshed and sustained at Christ’s table, where we come to be renewed by God’s spirit.

 For just as an eye is not better than an ear, nor is an ear better than your stomach, we need all of them to do their own job for the sake of the whole body. As Eugene Peterson translates this, “ No part is important on its own. Can you imagine Eye telling Hand, “Get lost; I don’t need you”? Or, Head telling Foot, “You’re fired; your job has been phased out”? As a matter of fact, in practice it works the other way—the “lower” the part, the more basic, and therefore necessary. You can live without an eye, for instance, but not without a stomach. When it’s a part of your own body you are concerned with, it makes no difference whether the part is visible or clothed, higher or lower. You give it dignity and honor just as it is, without comparisons. If anything, you have more concern for the lower parts than the higher. If you had to choose, wouldn’t you prefer good digestion to full-bodied hair?”  We are called to honor and care for all the parts of the body so that the whole body can function well. 

The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part” 1 Cor 12:20-23 The Message Bible

 If we look at our church, this is indeed the case.We are called to unity – to share the gifts we have been given. But we are not called to uniformity. For example, in the choir, not everyone can reach the low notes of the basses or the high notes of our sopranos, but together, the choir can lead the rest of us in singing beautiful praises to God. Likewise, some use their math and accounting skills to keep us on track financially while others focus on keeping the building running well. Some of you cook, others bake, and we all join together in making a delicious potluck fellowship that we can enjoy together after worship. When we all share the gifts that we have been given, we do the work that God calls us to do.

 We can extend this even further. Just as each of us are one part of the congregation of Faith-Lilac Way, so our church is one part of Wildfire churches, which is one part of the NW Hennepin Conference which is one part of the Minneapolis Area Synod, which is one part of the ELCA, which is one part of the World federation of Churches, which is one part of Christ’s body. It’s like zooming out from the individual pieces to see the beauty of the whole. But when we zoom back in, we also see that just as when my family lost the puzzle piece, the picture was incomplete, so each individual piece is an important, essential part of the body of Christ.

 And so, let us honor and celebrate the many gifts that God has entrusted to us – for God has indeed given us many gifts… including the gift of relationship between us and these larger organizations of which we are a part. And, as we celebrate the diversity of the gifts, let us also remember that even the seemingly littlest gift, the smallest person is an essential part of the body of Christ. As Paul writes, God calls Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female1 Cor 12:13 and I would add, republicans and democrats, voters and visitors, refugees and generational immigrants, all of these seemingly polar opposites, to be one in Christ Jesus.

And then Paul goes further, to remind us of our relationship with one another. Just as, if you hurt your hand, your whole body is affected and so works to heal the hand, so too, we as members of the body of Christ, should care for one another. For while we represent a great diversity of gifts and talents and opinions, we need unity when it comes to the care of the body of Christ. As Paul writes, “there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.  If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”

“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it.” And so, we suffer with the homeless, the refugee without a home or a country, the people impoverished by war or violence, the people whose homes have been burned by fire or flooded or destroyed by mudslides. The body of Christ has many different people with diverse qualities and gifts and all of them belong – and when any of them are missing or hurting or suffering – we all feel their suffering and so we are called to do what we can  to care for the part, the people, who are hurting. 

 My father was a great guy and had many gifts and skills but… vacuuming wasn’t one of them.  So, I found it odd one day when he got out the vacuum, disconnected the hose from the vacuum and then got out his flashlight and peered through the long hose. He then started to shake it violently. And… the missing puzzle piece came flying out.

 We rejoice with those who rejoice and especially when one who was hurting is healed and those who were homeless are housed and all who are hungry are fed. This is our mission as the body of Christ. So let us not forget to rejoice with those who rejoice.

  Brothers and sisters, friends in Christ, let us celebrate the diversity among us and the unity we share in the body of Christ. Let us take special care of those in need of comfort, care and wholeness and let us rejoice with all who rejoice in the love of Christ Jesus. Amen.

 Faith-Lilac Way + January 26, 2025 + Pastor Pam Stalheim Lane

Sunday, January 19, 2025

“Pastor, we are running out of food. What shall we do?” I’ve only heard those words twice in my ministry. Both times the anxiety and desperation went right to my gut.  Is this my problem? What am I supposed to do about this?

Jesus’ response to his mother was somewhat the same. “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me?”

In Jesus’ day, running out of wine would have been shameful – the family and the wine steward would never live it down.  And, as much as we would like to think that we have progressed since the time of Jesus, some things don’t change. . No one wants that to be the story of their event.  That’s why, in most situations whether it is a wedding or a funeral or even a church picnic, there are tons of leftovers. People are so afraid of “running out” that we often over-plan. I know I do. I have a lot of tomato soup from a Synod conference meeting we held here on Wednesday if anyone is interested.  

In Jesus’ day, weddings lasted for days. And often the guests brought gifts of food and wine to share. So what went wrong? Who is to blame?

In the big scheme of things, running out of wine on the third day isn’t world shattering news. It seems as if it shouldn’t be that big of a deal. I mean – they got married, right? It’s true that they would never live down the shame. But is this really a crisis worthy of the son of God? Weren’t there other more important problems to solve? Like proclaiming world peace? Or healing the blind, deaf and mute? Or something like that?

But in this story, Jesus’ mother, Mary thinks it is important. And she somehow knows that Jesus can do something about it. And she is not put off by Jesus’ response that it is not “his hour.”  She simply tells the servants, “Do what he tells you to do.”  This simple statement always makes me smile. It’s the perfect response. She isn’t arguing with Jesus. She doesn’t tell him what to do. She simply has faith that Jesus will do the right thing.

Maybe we should all adopt her statement. “Do what Jesus tells you to do.”

We don’t know why Jesus acts. Maybe he could not resist his mother’s nudging – and didn’t want to be reminded of it every time he went home for Passover.

Or maybe Jesus remembers, as Biblical scholars have since pointed out, that in Scripture, the wedding banquet is often used as an image of the restoration of God’s people Israel and wine is used as a symbol of the joy and celebration of salvation. The prophet Amos speaks of the day when “the mountains shall drip sweet wine. and all the hills shall flow with it.” Isaiah prophesizes the feast that God will prepare for all peoples, “a feast of rich food, a feast … of well-aged wines strained clear” (Isaiah 25:6)1

Or maybe, Jesus was simply reminded that he was a guest at this wedding and as a guest at the party, he had an opportunity to give a gift.

For whatever reason, Jesus gives a gift – and this gift is generous –abundant and extravagant.

He asked the servants to fill the six stone water jars that had been used for purification rites with water.  These were not little table jars. These were huge - 20-30 gallon vessels -  and each of them were filled with water – which Jesus then turned to wine. And since there are about 5 bottles of wine to a gallon that is well over a thousand bottles of wine. That’s a lot of wine for a party. And, when the wine steward tasted it, he remarked on the amazing quality of the wine.  That’s a lot of really good wine.

It's even more remarkable when you consider that villagers in Jesus’ day were typically not wealthy – they were subsistence farmers, shepherds, townspeople who got by, most of the time, with enough food for their day-to-day needs. They couldn’t afford expensive wines and foods.  And yet, Jesus supplies them with an abundance of delicious wine.

The Gospel of John calls Jesus’ extravagant gift of wine – and all of the other amazing things that Jesus does in this Gospel – such as healing the sick, feeding the five thousand, walking on water and raising Lazarus from the dead, as “signs” rather than miracles.  All of these things seem pretty miraculous to me. But John calls them “signs” instead of miracles.  Signs point us towards something beyond themselves. A road sign alerts you to the direction you want to go – and also can warn you against going the wrong way. The sign of Jesus changing water into wine points to something bigger and even better than a thousand bottles of the best wine ever. It points us to Jesus, the source of all life and joy.2

As pastor and theologian Elisabeth Johnson writes, “Jesus’ extravagant miracle of changing the water into wine is a sign that in him, life, joy, and salvation have arrived. At the beginning of John’s Gospel, the narrator told us that “in him was life, and that life was the light of all people” (1:4). And later in the Gospel, Jesus will tell us, “I have come that they might have life, and have it abundantly” (10:10).2

Abundant life. This is what Jesus wants for you. Abundant life is more than simply “getting by.” Abundant life isn’t about having a lot of material “stuff” or money. There are lots of rich people who have riches and luxuries and a lot of stuff – but they don’t have “Abundant life.” Abundant life is to know and to be known by Christ Jesus. Abundant life is to have a relationship with Jesus, the one who loves you so much that he gives to you grace and mercy. It is a life of faith and grace and love. And it is a life that Jesus wants for you.

Having an “Abundant Life” does not, of course, shield you from all misfortune or challenges or trials. But the Abundant Life which we have in Jesus, means that even when challenges, sorrows and trials come our way, we do not need to fear or be anxious because we are joined to Christ who is the source of true life. As Paul writes to the Romans, “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor depth, nor anything else in all of creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38). 

There are challenges of course. We still live in a world that is hurting and badly in need of healing. Our world is full of bad news. And it is easy to get caught up in it. But we are called to be messengers of GOOD NEWS. We can’t turn our backs on the evils around us. But we can offer a different perspective – and challenge others to live into the abundant life of sharing God’s generous gifts, caring for the poor, the hungry, the non-members, the migrants, the “other” – whoever is “other” in your mind - and all those who do not know and experience the love of God.

We have been given this incredible gift of abundant life and this is why we come ourselves and bring our children to be baptized into the life of Christ. For this is an amazing gift that Jesus gives to each one – for you are individually called by name by God to be a part of God’s family. This is the gift of Abundant Life.

Most of the people at the wedding party enjoyed the wine. But only some knew that the wine was a sign that God has come into the world to bring life and abundance and JOY.

Like the servants, Mary and the disciples, you know the Source of the sign. And just as Dylan today will be claimed by Christ as he is baptized into God’s family, you too will be reminded that God claims you as God’s beloved child and gives you new life in Christ Jesus. And later, you will be invited forward to the Lord’s supper to taste and see that the Lord is good.

And so, Brothers and sisters in Christ, as Mary said, “Do what Jesus tells you to do.” Live into the abundant lifes so that through your words and your actions, others may see and experience  God’s abundant love and grace and mercy. Amen.

1Elisabeth Johnson https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/second-sunday-after-epiphany-3/commentary-on-john-21-11-8

Sunday, January 12, 2025

God Speaks

 The other day, someone asked me, “How come God doesn’t speak anymore?”  I said, “What do you mean?”  Well… she said, “God speaks to people in the Bible – how come he stopped?” 

 It was a good question.  She seemed satisfied with my answer, but the question has been rattling around in my brain ever since. And so today, I want to explore with you some of the ways that God has spoken through the prophets, through scripture, and some of the ways that God continues to speak today.

 In the Gospel, after Jesus is baptized, we hear a voice from heaven declare, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” The words are direct and personal and accompanied by a dove – not an eagle or a bird of prey, but a dove, a symbol of peace.

 But God’s voice is not always peaceful. In today’s Psalm, the voice of God is described as being upon the waters. It thunders so loudly and powerfully that it breaks the strong cedar trees.  It bursts forth in lightning flashes and shakes the wilderness. Sometimes God’s creation can be noisy! God also speaks through the gentle rustling of the trees, the chirping of the birds, the hoot of an owl or the howl of a wolf.

God’s creation has a powerful voice -- and doesn’t always use words.

 And then we come to the passage from Isaiah, one of my all-time favorite scriptures. In this passage, God speaks to God’s people as a whole – but also as individuals. God speaks personally and intimately. This time, God is not saying, “I love you’ all.”  Instead, God says, “I love you.” This is a message for the people of Israel at that time. AND, it is a message for God’s people everywhere and of all time. God says, “I love you.”  Don’t be tempted to look over your shoulder to see who God is talking to – because God is talking to you; Yes, you.

God speaks these powerful words not sweetly or sentimentally but instead as a transformative word to a people who are in trouble and who may be wondering who God is and if God even knows who they are.

 A little background might be helpful. Our reading comes from the book of Isaiah and covers the time before the exile to Babylon, during the exile and also the end of the exile. Because of the expanse of time covered, a couple of hundred years, the book is divided into three parts: First, Second, and Third Isaiah.  First Isaiah begins while the people are still in Israel and Judah. The prophet Isaiah “condemns hypocritical worship, complacency, and the failure to act with justice for the poor.” 1 The prophet of First Isaiah warns rulers that they are not following God’s way and that they are not keeping the covenant and that there will be judgment upon them if they don’t listen.  They don’t listen. Instead, the rulers make bad choices politically, economically, and spiritually, and the people follow. Their land is overtaken by the Babylonians and the leaders and many of the people are exiled.

 By the time of “Second Isaiah,” a second generation has been born into captivity. The people of God are servants, or more likely slaves, living far from what had been their homeland or rather, their parent’s homeland. They have been gone a long time. At this point, the people of God don’t know if they ARE the people of God anymore. They are dispirited, alienated, and out of touch with God. God seems silent. They may have wondered: Has God abandoned them?

It is to these people – people who are poor, living as foreigners, alien residents, slaves and servants - that God speaks in our Isaiah lesson for today. In words reminiscent of the story of creation, God reminds them of their relationship. God says, “I have created you. I formed you.” 

To a people who don’t know if they belong anymore, God says, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name. You are mine.”

In Bible times, being redeemed basically means being “bought back,” financially, usually by a family member when one member of the extended family falls into debt and cannot pay their bills or has no real way of making a living. It can be a life-changer.  So, when God says to his enslaved people, I have redeemed you, God is saying, I am setting you free – no matter what the cost. 

But then comes a troubling verse. God is speaking metaphorically when God says that I will pay the price even if it is the unimaginably large cost of the then richest nations on earth – Egypt, Cush and Seba. Although it sounds exclusive here, in the next couple of chapters, God makes it clear that God’s redemption is for all people of every nation.

God goes on to remind God’s people of their history – and how God has been with them through the water of the Exodus and across the river Jordan to reach the promised land. God promises to be with them even in fire and flame.  This is not to say that God’s people will never experience hurricanes or forest fires – the hurricanes of Florida and raging forest fires of Southern California come to mind. However, God promises that even in the deepest water and the hottest flame, God will be with us, Emmanuel. And God extends that promise to “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created, whom God formed and made.”

This is the promise of God, and the love of God which God gives to you, my friends, individually, one at a time, as each one of you were named and claimed by God at your baptism.

It is in your baptism that you heard the words – whether you remember that moment or not – “You are my child, my beloved.”  And from that moment on, “You belong to Christ in whom you have been baptized. Child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit, and marked with the cross of Christ forever.”

We are reminded of God’s word to us when someone else is baptized – as we will hear next week when Dylan Lynum will be baptized.  

We are reminded of God’s promises and God speaks to us anew in the breaking of the bread and the eating and drinking of Christ’s body and blood at the Holy Supper when we are in community together. And God speaks to us – to me and to you in the Bible, in God’s Holy Word when we hear God say, “You are precious in my sight, and honored and I love you… [so] do not fear, for I am with you.”

But these are not the only ways that God speaks. God also speaks to us through other people – often in surprising ways.

Charles was volunteering at a homeless shelter ministry when he met a man that everyone called “Twitch.” When Charles asked about his name, Twitch replied, “My given name is Jeremy but ‘Twitch’ is the name I used back when I was using drugs and was in and out of jail.”

Charles said, “Oh, then I’ll call you Jeremy” – assuming that he would rather not use the name that was associated with his past life.

But the man replied, “Call me Twitch. I want the people here who were friends of mine while I was in and out of jail to know that it is me, Twitch, that God has brought out from under that load and has transformed me, redeemed me, and given me a new life.  I want them to see that if God can love me – and I was bad – God can redeem anyone. I want to give them hope for a new life, that God can give them too.2

God speaks to you today… through the word of God, through the words of scripture, through the bread and wine, through Twitch and through this proclamation. God said,  “ [INSERT YOUR NAME]: You are precious in my sight, and honored, And I love you.  I have ransomed you. You are my beloved child.”  Thanks be to God. Amen.

Faith-Lilac Way Lutheran + January 12 + Pastor Pam Stalheim Lane

1 Enter the Bible, https://enterthebible.org/courses/isaiah/lessons/summary-of-isaiah

2 Charles L. Aaron, Jr https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/baptism-of-our-lord-3/commentary-on-isaiah-431-7-4\

Sunday, January 5, 2025

SHHH.. Don’t tell the stores that are busy having their “after Christmas sales – or maybe their after, after-Christmas sale – but it is still Christmas!  Today is the 12th day, the last day of Christmas – and the eve of Epiphany.  This is an in-between time, as we begin to put away the Christmas decorations and eat or send away the remaining Christmas cookies – and lean into a new year and the season of Epiphany.

 At Christmas, we rejoice in the birth of Christ, at God coming to earth, taking on flesh and blood and becoming one of us, being born as a little vulnerable baby.  At Christmastime, we rejoice and sing for the light of Christ has come into the world. And whether we focus on the baby of Bethlehem or the Cosmic Christ that we read of in John’s Gospel, we have received a gift. This gift is Jesus. And, this is the gift, as John says, that “we have all received, grace upon grace.”

 Today as we give thanks for Christmas and welcome in Epiphany we sing “Noel” – proclaiming the joy of Christ’s birth with the shepherds and with the wisemen.  And yet, even as we sing of peace and joy, we also know that our world does not reflect the peace and joy that is promised at Christmas….at least not yet.  And so we to the new season, the season of Epiphany to make Christ known.  

In her book,  From Glory into Glory, Susan Palo Cherwien writes,

“Epiphany is the season of revealing, making known, manifestation, appearance.  In living out this season, we step into a story that reveals who Jesus was [and is] and who we are; [And] who we are to be.”

She goes on to say:

“The whole liturgical year is a sacred space where two stories overlap – the Christ story and our story.  The revealing has to do with Christ; the revealing has to do with us.  [As] we re-member the story, we bring it again into flesh, into our flesh, our lives.”1

 The wisemen – Non-Jewish Gentile astronomers -- were on a journey, a pilgrimage of sorts, searching for the King that they saw revealed in a star. I wonder if they ever got discouraged – or wanted to give up. After all, it must have taken a long time. While we can’t know the circumstances of their journey, because Matthew doesn’t tell us, what we do know is that they showed up. Oh, they made some mistakes, some assumptions along the way. They assumed that a king – especially a really important king -- would be born to king in a castle or at least at the capital city. Maybe they assumed that since it was clear to them that a king would be born, others must know too.  So, they asked King Herod for directions. Herod didn’t know – but he knew people who did. He asked the scholars – and they were  helpful.. They pointed right to Bethlehem – the city of David -- which was only 5 miles away.

 The best part of this story is that when they left Herod and the star showed up again – the wisemen were overwhelmed with joy. They entered his house, knelt in praise and worship and were generous with their kingly gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

 This story, as we re-member it, tells us a bit of who Jesus was and is: Jesus is a king, worthy of worship, praise and gifts.

 The story also reveals something for us. First, it reminds us of the expansive grace of God that includes all people. The wisemen were not Jewish scholars but foreigners, gentiles, people who would be considered outside the covenant. And yet, God show them a sign.  Through a star, God revealed the birth of Jesus and invited foreigners of another faith to come and follow, come and worship.

 Most of our ancestors were gentiles too . As Paul writes, we as “Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise of Christ Jesus” Ephesians 3

 Another thing we can learn from the wisemen is to ask for help from one another. As wise as they were, they didn’t know everything. They didn’t know the Hebrew scriptures or the prophecy. By they did know when they needed help. Sometimes we don’t like to ask for help – maybe it’s the American “I can pull myself up from my bootstraps” mentality. I don’t know. But I do know God made us to live in community and to ask for help from one another and to care for one another – and the stranger.

 Finally, like the wisemen, who generously opened their treasures and shared them we too can be generous – generously sharing the good news that we have received and generous with the gifts that God has entrusted to us.

 The quieter days in-between Christmas and Epiphany can be a time for reflection as we think back on the past year and look forward to the next. Perhaps you made some New Year’s Resolutions. Or maybe you have sworn off making New Year’s Resolutions. I read in a recent article by Kate Bowler that “94% of people will fail their New Year’s resolution.” At first I thought, “That sounds depressing!” But maybe it is because of the standard that we have for our resolutions.  Kate suggests, “What if the goal wasn’t perfection but something much braver: showing up, being real, and finding a little joy in the beautiful, chaotic mess of it all?” 2  

 This is exactly what we can do too:  Show up. Be real. And find joy in the midst of our messy – and broken – world.  

But sometimes that is easier said than done. So the question remains: In this season of Epiphany, this season of making Christ known, in what ways are we seeing Christ revealed to us? And, in what ways are we making Christ known to others by the way that we live our lives?

 Some of you have tried and true prayer and Bible study practices. This is wonderful. Continue to use the practices that work for you, good and faithful servants of Christ.  

If, however, you are interested in trying something new, one idea, a tool that I have sometimes found helpful, is choosing a “Word of the Year” or “Star” Word” a word to help reveal Christ to you this year. As you reflect upon the past year, and look forward to the new, ask yourself,  is there a word – or a Bible verse – that would provide a compass for you for the upcoming year?  Pray about it. Ask God if there is a word that would act like the star of the wisemen in revealing Christ to you?  Sometimes a word can be a response to the world around you.  For example, if you have been anxious, sad or mournful – perhaps a word like Trust, Peace, or Still would help put into perspective the world in comparison with the strong word of God. If you are angry, distresses or frustrated, maybe you would be led to choose a word like: Gratitude; Faith or Hope.  If you are anticipating something wonderful, perhaps a word like, Joy, Love or Patience would fit.  There is no “right” word – and give yourself grace if this is not a practice that resonates with you.

Finally, friends in Christ, in this upcoming season of Epiphany, may the light of Christ shine on you so that you may reflect the prophets word,
“Arise, Shine for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” Isaiah 60:1 Amen.

1From Glory into Glory, Susan Palo Cherwien p 114.

2Kate Bowler, Try January podcast and email chain January 1, 2025

Faith-Lilac Way Lutheran Church     January 5, 2025           Pastor Pam Stalheim Lane 

Sunday, December 29, 2024

Reflections and prayers

 First Lesson

 In the beginning…God created a marvelous universe. It was orderly. And it was GOOD.  The night was not jealous of the sunshine of the day and the day was not envious of the moon and stars of the night.  Everything was new and fresh and bright and worked – in harmony.  And God said, it was “it was Good.”

 Let us pray, Creator of the sun and the stars of night, your world is good. Help us to care for your world so that it may continue to work in harmony and for the good of all creatures in it. Amen.

 Second Lesson

 The world was working so well! But then God gave people freedom to choose. And Adam and Eve – as representative of ALL people – chose not to follow God but to try to BE God. And then they blamed someone else. We are all Eve. We are all Adam, dust. And to dust we shall indeed return.

Let us pray,  Dear God, forgive us. Unlike Adam and Eve, we know the consequences of not following your way. And yet, too often, we still choose to try to be self-sufficient, to be God-like instead of God-followers. Forgive us. Renew our hearts, our minds, our actions and our words. Thank you for sending us your Son, Jesus, to save us and to bring us unending joy, hope, and the bright dawning of a new day, Amen.

 Third Lesson

 Despite the many times that we have chosen to go our own way instead of following God’s way, God made a covenant with Abraham and Sarah that all of the world would be blessed through them.

 Let us pray: Dear God, thank you for keeping your promises to us – even though we have broken our promises to you and to each other. Thank you for your great and abiding love in sending your beloved Son to be our Savior. Amen.

 Fourth Lesson

 The prophets foretold you would send One with Authority, One who is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of PEACE. But You didn’t just send someone – you came yourself!

 Let us pray: Jesus, we rejoice with you and give thanks for your coming as a child, to take on flesh and live among us. We rejoice and give thanks that you shine a light on injustice and the way of peace and reconciliation. We rejoice that you are and will always be God-With- Us yesterday, today, tomorrow and always. And this is why we rejoice! Amen. 

 Fifth Lesson

The people of Isaiah’s time were looking for a leader – but God promised so much more than an earthly king. The prophets were given a word from God of a future time, a time in which the world will be restored to the harmony of Creation’s day ONE..  Jesus began that restoration to God’s Kingdom but we are not yet there yet.  The hymn, Lo’how a Rose E’er Blooming uses the image of a rose in December – an unexpected blessing  -- to describe the beauty and sweetness of Christ’s coming.

Let us pray, 

Creator God, help us notice the beauty and wonder of the world that you are still actively engaged in creating. And let the smallest flower remind us of your enduring love and fill us with trust in your abiding grace.  Amen.

Sixth Lesson

Bethlehem was a small town that would have escaped the prophet’s notice – except that it was King David’s hometown. The prophet proclaims a hope and a remembered promise of God to keep God’s covenant with David and the people of Israel.

 Let us pray: Bethlehem may look like a dreamy town. But from this little town, the hopes and fears of all the years, are met. Let us join the angels and the morning stars in singing the praises of Christ Jesus.

 Seventh Lesson

The prophets were great messengers of God – but now God has sent His Son, his very self to us. Let us praise the God of Creation and the God with us – Emmanuel.

 Let us pray: God- With-Us – Emmanuel.  You are with us – now reveal yourself to us, in us and through us. In Your name we pray, Amen.

 Eight Lesson

God Saves us – not be we passed the test; not because we lived a clean and perfect life; not because of anything that we did. Instead, out of God’s great mercy, God poured out God’s spirit upon us and made us right with God – that is what is meant by justifies us. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we receive the gift of rebirth and renewal in our baptism.

 Let us pray: Your mercy is great, O Lord. You have already promised to renew us and restore us. We trust in your promise. And so, now all we have left to do is to share the Good News! Amen.

 Ninth Lesson

 In the beginning….  We have come full circle. And yet, the world is not the same. The world is not an innocent pure place. Instead, Jesus, the Son of God, came to renew and restore the world and the people in it. God first gave the law to give us guidance on how to live rightly. But now… Jesus has come to renew, restore and re-invigorate the world. A world that is better for it.

 Let us pray. Dear God – there is nothing left for us to do – except to praise you. We give thanks for Jesus. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Amen.

Tuesday, December 24, 2024 Christmas Eve

Christmas: Noctilucent Light , Love and Joy

“Mommy! Help me! Come!” The little girl cried. Her mother, out of love, but perhaps with a sigh and with a nudge from her husband, got up, went to her room and turned on the light. At that moment, all of the monsters, wild animals and whatever other scary creature had crept into my dreams… vanished.

Perhaps you – or your children – have also suffered from bad dreams or even terrors of the night. Maybe you invested in a little night light to help you. I’m not sure why we never did. But one thing I do know… and that is that it only takes a little light – especially when offered with love -- to pierce the darkness.

Recently, I learned a new word for a night light:  Noctilucent. Noctilucent literally means “lighting the night.”  This word is used by astronomers to describe cloudlike ice crystals that are so high in the sky that the light of the sun continues to illuminate them even after the sun has set and the sky is dark. Noctilucent: lighting the night.1

On Christmas night, the shepherds were out in the fields, watching over their sheep – as they always did. Ordinary men, their job was to protect the sheep – the livelihood of their family. And so, they paid attention, listening to the world around them in case a thief or a predator or a storm would come up. They were poor –if they had money, they would have hired someone else to do this job. But they had drawn the short straw when it came to wealth, status and opportunities. Except on this night.

For on this night, suddenly an angel appeared and as they cowered in fear with knees knocking knees the angel said, “Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people; to you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”  And then a multitude of the heavenly host, a noctilucent choir of angels, began singing, praising God for the birth of Jesus, God’s son, and lighting up the night. 

The shepherds, with eyes and ears opened to something amazing and marvelous responded -- not with fear and trembling -- but with  joy and wonder.  The angels had given them the news, directions and a way to verify the identity of the savior: “This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”  But then the angels left – not telling the shepherds what to do next.

However, they lost no time in going to check it out. Luke says they went “with haste” – so it sounds like they left their precious sheep – since no one can drive a herd of sheep in a hasty manner. And when they found Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus, their immediate response was to share with anyone who had ears to hear the Good News that the noctilucent choir of angels proclaimed to them: Jesus, the Messiah, was born.

This good news came to a people in a land that was occupied by foreign forces, and divided by ethnicity and class and wealth. Most of the people were poor – except for those who were working for or with the Roman Government. In a world like this, who would listen to a bunch of shepherds who said they heard a noctilucent choir of angels proclaim the Messiah’s birth?

And yet, God has a habit of using unexpected people to be his messengers. God chose Moses, a murderer and fugitive to lead his people out of slavery; God chose Rahab, a prostitute, and Ruth a Moabite, to be a part of genealogy of Jesus, and God chose ordinary shepherds to share the message of Christmas joy.

As Bishop Elizabeth Eaton in her Christmas message reminds us, “Joy is a sign of the reign of God…Perhaps that is why in the middle of the night, to terrified shepherds, outside of a small town, God chose to send the angels to announce the birth of Jesus. No distraction. No interference. Just the simple, deep, profound gift of true and lasting joy.”2

In December, the book club has a tradition of watching a movie of one of the books that we have read. This year, the movie was set in Paris and so we decided to have a French theme for our meal. One person, Sue, brought French-onion soup. Now I had tasted French Onion soup once before – and it was awful -- the cheese was rubbery and the soup bland and so I’ve always avoided it. But since this was the meal, I tasted it – and it was scrumptious. The cheese was phenomenal – and the soup broth was incredibly flavorful. It was delicious! 

There were also a couple of kids there – and I wasn’t sure how they would like it. We had some chicken nuggets in the freezer so we heated those up for the kids. But it turned out that we didn’t need to do that.  One of our youngest members, three-year-old Soren, wanted to try everything. And when he did, his reaction was delightful. He tried a small piece of cheese. “It’s my favorite” he declared. Then he tried some crackers: “It’s my favorite.” He tried a French cookie, “It’s my favorite, he exclaimed as he reached for another.   And then he tried the French Onion Soup. I waited to see his reaction. Again, he declared “This is my favorite.”  But he discovered that he was having a little trouble managing to keep the broth on the spoon. So, he turned to Mary, who he had just met and who he liked immediately – it didn’t hurt that Mary ws the one who made the cookies that were his favorite. He considered Mary to be his new friend, and since she was sitting next to him, he asked her to help him by feeding it to him. She did, and with her help, he ate the whole bowl.

“This is my favorite.” Apparently, Soren has never been told that he had to choose ONE thing to be the favorite – and so he assumed that everything and everyone could be his favorite. I hope Soren always believes that and he never learns to “exclude” things or people from being his favorite. Because it was wonderful to see how Soren, in his delight with new tastes and relationships brought joy and a smile not only to the face of his new friend Mary but to all of us. Soren’s joy in life and new experiences was contagious. 

Like the shepherds, Soren is an unexpected messenger of Good News. Through his joyful and inclusive words and actions, Soren reminded me that our responses to the world around us matter – not only for us – but also for the people around us. 

Of course, one could argue, Soren is a child. He has not yet had to deal with paying bills, losing loved ones, or any of the other challenges that face us in our daily and communal life. This is true. But it is also true, that we who have experienced life for a bit longer than Soren’s three years, and who have experienced challenges big and small have a choice on how we react to these challenges. We can respond with fear, anxiety, hatred or revenge. Or we can respond with faith in the one who created us and came to earth to save us, with wonder at the one who sent a noctilucent choir of angels to ordinary shepherds and with joy at the one who is Emmanuel, God with us.

Henri Nouwen writes, “It is important to become aware that at every moment of our life, we have an opportunity to choose joy. Life has many sides to it. There are always sorrowful and joyful sides to the reality we live. And so we always have a choice to live the moment as a cause for resentment or a cause for joy. It is in that choice that true freedom lies, and in that freedom is, in the final analysis, the freedom to love.”3

Brothers and sisters, friends in Christ, may you be open to hearing with awe and wonder the Good News of Jesus from noctilucent choirs, little children or from someone you least expect. May you be respond joy and gratitude and with compassion to each moment of your life and, may you be a bearer of the light and love of God to all you meet.

In the name of the Incarnate Christ, Jesus, the Word made Flesh. Amen.

Faith-Lilac Way Lutheran Church  + Christmas Eve + Pastor Pam Stalheim Lane

1Susan Palo Cherwien, From Glory into Glory: Reflections for Worship, Morning Star publishers, page 344

2 ELCABishop Elizabeth Eaton, Christmas message 2024

3Henri Nouwen, Here and Now: Living in the spirit.”

Sunday, December 22, 2024

No sermon today. The Christmas Story As Told By the Children, Youth, and Congregation.

Sunday, December 15, 2024

All Creation waits…  and sings with Joy!

All Creation Is Waiting. As the scripture and the music declares, the whole world is waiting…from the little green shoot out of the stump of Jesse to the grand mountains and the hills to the lion and the lamb and all people …  All creation is waiting. But what are we, and the whole creation, waiting for? 

 All creation waits for… the coming the King, of God’s Kingdom, for a time of peace, a time when all the world – lions and lambs – wolves and cows – all prey and predators – will no longer hunger or live in fear – but instead live in harmony. That time is not yet…

 In her book, “All Creation Waits” Gayle Boss writes that “The early Fathers of the Christian church read the ebbing of light and heat and vegetable life each year as a foreshadowing of the time when life as we know it will end completely…To their and our abiding fear of a dark ending, the church spoke of an adventus: a coming.”1 xi

 No one knew or remembered the actual day Jesus was born. But this season – at least in the northern hemisphere – with the fading of light, the wintering and coldness of the world – seemed the perfect time to recall that – despite the anxiety and brokenness of the world around us, despite the seeming “deadness” of the earth, there is “One who is the source of life, One who comes to be with us, in us – especially in the midst of darkness and death. One who brings a new beginning.”2 P xi

 To understand the hope and anticipation of life out of death and light out of darkness, all we need to do is to listen to the story of animals preparing for winter – like painted turtle who, at some sign, dives deep into the pond, buries herself in mud, slows her heart and breathing until it is almost gone and then lies still, waiting. Each animal has its own story of how it waits:  the bear sleeps, hibernating in its cave, the deer huddle together, the squirrels dig up the nuts that they have buried for this very reason.

But while they are waiting… something is happening. There’s a mystery in waiting… in anticipating. In the stillness… in the quiet, creation is not stagnant. It may look dead but it is not. Instead, it is resting, growing, like a baby in the womb – still encased in the dark. It is waiting.

In our first world culture – we have been somewhat cut off from the seasons of the year. We don’t like to wait – and we are told – we don’t have to! Go to the store and you can buy fresh fruit available year-round and Amazon or UPS will deliver just about anything you want. I’m not complaining. I love having fresh fruits and vegetables and all of the conveniences of delivery. But I am wondering if we need to be reminded that in the midst of our hustle and bustle – and yes, I’m preaching to myself here too – to stop and remember that this is Advent.

In Advent, when we stop and reflect, we can see that our world is broken, but we can also see that brokenness is not the last word. Our brokenness, our world’s brokenness is merely a sign that we need a Savior, One who is the source of life, One who comes to be with us, in us – especially in the midst of darkness and death, sorrow and despair. Into a broken world has come our Savior Jesus – the One who brings a new beginning.

In the morning, light begins to dawn. And… if we listen… we can hear the notes of a song. It may be faint at first. But this is the song creation has been waiting – in the dark – to sing. It is a song of joy, abiding joy, that has been bubbling up, waiting to find a voice to proclaim the coming of the Anointed one, the Messiah.  

But it isn’t just one voice! As scripture tells us, there are many voices singing: “the mountains and the hills…shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:12).  And we, brothers and sisters in Christ, have been invited to join in the song. For despite all of the challenges of our world – and there are many – our response is to sing. Join with all of creation in singing with joy because God is here – with us. There is no darkness or sorrow or despair than can overwhelm the presence of God in our midst. So, brothers and sisters, let us join with all of creation – trees and flowers, mountains and valleys, creatures big and small – in praising God with joy!  Amen. 

1 All Creation Waits, Gayle Boss Introduction xi December 15, 2024 + Faith-Lilac Way + Pastor Pam Stalheim Lane