Author: The Pastor

Back in time

/ The Pastor

I know I said that I would be back here until April 27 but I decided to pop back in and share with you where I am at right now.

This morning my wife and I woke up on Fir Island; 5 miles south of Mount Vernon, Washington.  Fir Island is an island that is formed by the splitting of the Skagit river as both forks drain into the Puget Sound.  This is also the place where I spent a wonderful year of my life doing my internship at Fir-Conway Lutheran Church.  In about an hour I will be at the church building to see people…and taking a little trip back into time.

Before I go forward anymore I should be a little more specific about my waking up this morning.  When I got up I went into the kitchen and got some coffee.  I proceeded out onto the deck where a magnificent view was waiting for me; one created by God to welcome me to Washington.  As I sipped my coffee I peered straight ahead and caught a view of Mount Rainier…and what a sight it was.   It has to be a clear day up here before you can see that majestic mountain from here.  After a couple breathtaking moments I moved my gaze to the left where I caught the beginning the the sun’s approach over the Cascade Mountains that are just miles from my current location.  After a few moments recalling the many times I got to experiences views of the Cascades I shifted my gaze to the right where the Olympic Mountains were waiting to greet me.  What a sight they are as well.  I stood on the deck sipping my coffee; being greeted by this wonderful creation and gave thanks to our God for His awesomeness and faithfulness…and for my little trip back into time.

I say that this is a trip back into time because as I sit here I am reminded of all the things I learned while here; things I still employ in my ministry now:
(1) Monthly recognition of baptismal anniversaries.
(2) My sermon prep routine that my supervisor taught me; a routine that has served me well for 5 + years.
(3) Basic self care practices.
(4) The affirmation that God, family and self come before council meetings, committee meetings and other last night church events that “need” you there.

…and there are more “little” things that I won’t get into here.  In any case I am  very thankful for my time here and I am very thankful that I get to come and visit for a few days.

I am not sure if I will be back here before I return next week, but if I am not have a wonderful week and I look forward to sharing some pictures from this beautiful corner of God’s creation.

Take care and God bless!

-edh-

Vacation

/ The Pastor

I apologize for the inactivity of this blog but Holy Week kept me busy as usual and now I am on vacation.  I’ll see you all the week of April 27.

Take care and God bless.

-edh-

Holy Week stress and an answer to prayer

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

Holy Week has been a good one for me this year, but there was still some stress for me.  This is an account of one particular stress point and the faithfulness of our awesome God who came through for us.

We have a number of traditions here at Salem Lutheran Church as it pertains to Holy Week; traditions I look forward to.  Here are just a few of them (that relate to my particular stress point this week):

–We have a large rugged cross that stands in the narthex during lent that has a purple cloth draped on it topped with a crown of thorns.

–On Maundy Thursday we strip the altar and bring that rugged cross outside, to the base of the narthex ramp and drape a black cloth over the cross beams.
[A cool story about this from Good Friday.  Our custodian saw a van flying down the street next to the church on Friday.  When the van got to the church and saw the cross at the base of the ramp he slammed on his breaks and came to a screeching halt.  He looked at the cross for a couple moments and then proceeded on his way.  This cross, each year, attracts a lot of attention.]

–On Saturday we bring that rugged cross back inside to prepare it for Easter.  There are rings attached to the cross that hold Easter lilies.  We then staple the palms from Palm Sunday to the cross.  And let me tell you it is quite a sight…as pictured below…

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…well…here’s where the stress comes in…

…on Wednesday this week my wife and I noticed that the Palm branches from Sunday were dead.  They were dried up and crunchy even though they were still in water.  The problem was that we forgot to cut the ends to allow the branches to soak up the water.  Now what were we to do?  Wednesday was already a stressful day for me and this was the last thing I needed.  One of my deacons came in and cut the ends and put them in water.  We prayed that somehow God would resurrect those palms for Sunday.

On Thursday when I went out to Belmont for Maundy Thursday worship I noticed that Belmont had a bunch of palms that they were no longer needing.

[cue the ligh bulb that popped up over my head]

I asked the ladies of Belmont if Salem could have the palms and they said that would be no problem.  Now we have palms for the cross and our Easter tradition can continue.  An answer to prayer.  Praise be to God!

Now…as I write this, people are up in the sanctuary getting ready for Easter worship.  There are families in the Fellowship Hall preparing for the Easter breakfast.  And I am here finishing this post and soon will be finishing my Easter sermon.  I sit here feeling refreshed from great Maundy Thursday and Good Friday worships.  I sit here feeling hopeful that our amazing God is ever so faithful.  I sit here looking forward to our Easter worship services (as tiring as they will be for me, but I never seem to notice at the time).

God is faithful…not because He “resurrected” some palm branches for us, because…well…just look at the cross.

Have a very blessed Easter Sunday and God bless!

-edh-

The Passion of the Christ

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

Happy Holy Week!

That almost sounds strange to say, but someone said that to me this morning…so why not?  I know Holy Week is about the last week of Jesus life; about his arrest, trial, beating, crucifixion and death.  But through all of that we get to celebrate his resurrection and the victory Jesus gives us:

Death has been swallowed up in victory!
Where O death is thy victory?
Where O death is thy sting?
The sting of death is sin,
and the power of sin is the Law;
but thanks be to God for giving us the victory,
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1 Corinthians 15:54-57)

So…Happy Holy Week…

To kick off Holy Week each year, I have been showing the movie, The Passion of the Christ.  Yesterday marks the fourth year in a row we have done this.  Each year we get new people to come and watch; usually only around 8 to 15 people.  Last night we had 9.  This year I sent an email to the churches in town inviting people to come and of the 9 that came last night 5 were from other churches.  One particular couple stands out though.  I can’t remember their names right now, but the wife is legally blind.  I see this woman around town and have talked to her a few times so I think she can still see a little.  But when I walked into the Fellowship Hall last night I was surprised to see her there with her husband.  After the movie got going they realized that there were subtitles and she could not see well enough to read them.  I started feeling bad for her.  Then I heard something that made me smile and gave me goose bumps…her husband started reading the subtitles and read every single line to her throughout the whole 2 hour plus movie.  Every once in a while he had to describe a scene to her and which character was there and/or speaking.  It was a really amazing display of love AND ministry. There are so many things we take for granted.  The reading of the lines was not at all distracting…actually…it added to the movie for me.

After the movie we had a time of discussion and this woman participated.  She enjoyed the movie and thought is was very moving (even though she can’t see as well as you and I).    In addition to watching the events of Jesus life and death unfold, I got to experience the love of a husband telling the Passion Story to his wife.  I will never forget that night because in a way, I got to experience first hand one way the “passion of Jesus” is displayed and showed to people.  It is one thing to say that Jesus loves you and he died for you, but it quite another to display that love in your life.  This husband did that last night (and I am sure every other day in their lives).

I have seen this movie at least a half a dozen times and each time I get something new out of it.  Last night…I experienced something new…and for that I thank God.

I hope and pray you have a blessed Holy Week as we celebrate the victory won for us through Jesus death and resurrection.  God bless!

-edh-

“Nice try”

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

My Palm Sunday has gotten off to a rocky start…

…first off…my stupid “smart clock” sprung ahead one hour this morning for day light saving time (I normally get up at 5:45am on Sundays…not at 4:45am).   And…”yes, I know”…day light saving time happened a few weeks ago, but my clock didn’t get the memo.  But here’s worst/funny thing about this whole thing…I wrote a post about this a couple years ago about this happening to me except that time it was in the fall and I overslept by one hour.  One of these years I will learn my lesson.

Second…last night an April snowstorm moved into the area.  We were in a blizzard warning, but it never materialized into the storm the Weather Channel was predicting.  But even though this blizzard fizzled out, it was still enough to cancel worship out at Belmont Lutheran Church (my small county congregation).  Roads are still pretty bad out in the country.

Third…because these two events happened on the same Sunday, I am really out of my rhythm.  As I am sure many pastors can relate to, I have a routine each and every Sunday that I depend on.  I know it may sound strange to some, but this routine is important.  Currently I am in my living room watching Fox News instead of preaching at Belmont.  I will be moving over to my office shortly to restart my morning routine (if that is even possible).

But in light of all these mishaps, it is Palm Sunday…the beginning of Holy Week…one of my favorite times of the year.  And even though my routine got thrown off; even thought I got one less hour of sleep last night; even though Satan has thrown a lot at me today already…the Gospel will still be preached.   Even though today got off to a rocky start, I can still say to Satan…”Nice try”.

Have a wonderful Palm Sunday and a blessed Holy Week.

-edh-

That time of the year

/ The Pastor

About this time of the year I start feeling a bit overwhelmed.  Holy Week is bearing down on us; there are classes to prepare for; Sunday worship to prepare for; I have a funeral this week and that is all among anything else I usually do doing the week.  I expressed this feeling to my wife this past Saturday.  And…when I started feeling overwhelmed one would think I would turn to God for help, but often times I try to work harder to make sure I handle everything alright, but this week God has had a sense of humor and thus has humbled me.

Later in the day on Saturday (after I expressed my feeling of being overwhelmed) my wife and I discovered we had an unwelcome visitor in our basement.  My suspicion was a chipmunk or squirrel.  On Sunday after worship we went downstairs to check things out.  And there it was…a squirrel.  I chased it around for a while and was getting close to chasing it out the door, but it decided it wanted to stay.  The next few days entailed me searching the basement high and low for the pesky thing. I would see evidence of it once in a while and actually saw it once, but it quickly ran and hid.  I set a rat trap, but it just sprung the trap and took the bait.  Smart little creature.  Eventually, on Thursday, the squirrel let down it’s guard and got caught in the trap.  No more squirrel.  As frustrating as it was, when I look back on the last few days, it was kind of funny.

Now…today…I went over to the church to get the mail.   I dropped off the church mail in the office and brought mine to my office.  As I was walking back to the parsonage I realized my pocket felt a little lighter.  Yup…I locked my keys in my office for the very first time.

“Yes God…I get it.  You are in control.”

Today is my day off and I am enjoying my weird little circumstances from the past week and I am smiling.  And you know something…I am not feeling too overwhelmed right.  God is indeed in control…

…and praise be to God!

But please God…no more squirrels.

-edh-

Here we go again

/ The Pastor / 1 Comment

The communities of Fargo, Moorhead, Grand Forks and others in the Red River Valley of Minnesota and North Dakota, are once again preparing for a major flood.  Experts are saying that this year could be as bad or worse than 1997.

That scares me.

Even though I am not in harms way down here in SW MN, I still feel for my brothers and sisters in Christ in the Red River Valley.  They need our prayers (and if possible our physical help).  It is all too easy to distant ourselves from those who are suffering, but we are called to carry each others burdens.  So I ask you to include the Red River Valley and all those dealing with floods in your prayers and to place them on your church’s’ prayer list.  Take a special offering and send it to Lutheran Disaster Relief, The Red Cross or some other relief organization of your choice that is helping flood victims.  Keep all flood victims close to your heart.  I personally don’t know what it is like to lose everything to a flood…I can only imagine how painful it is.

But whatever happens…whatever the outcome…I know everything is in God’s hands.  For God, through Jesus Christ, has over come the powers of this world.  Through the waters rage and foam nothing can over come and drown out the power of God’s love for His children.

Please remember our brothers and sisters and pray for them.

Gracious and loving God, please remember your children in the Red River Valley and all those dealing with flood waters this spring.  Please bless their efforts to fight the rising rivers.  Grant them strength when they feel tired.  Grant them persistence when they want to give up.  Grant them hope in hopelessness.  But over all, please strengthen their faith that they may see and know your love in the face of adversity.  Please make your presence felt so they know they don’t fight this alone and that they won’t experience this flood on their own.  God…you are good and faithful.  We praise you through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  Amen!

-edh-

The beauty of a liturgical Church

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

I want to share a quick joke with you that I heard at my conference pastor’s meeting this past Thursday.  I am usually not one to leave jokes here but I got a kick out of this one:

A pastor was leading worship one Sunday morning when his microphone cut out.  The pastor then promptly said, “There is a problem with this microphone” and the congregation responded “and also with you“.

Or how about that Lutheran joke (that may of you Lutherans have heard before):  You know that you are a Lutheran if when watching Star Wars you hear someone say, “The force be with you” and you respond, “and also with you“.

Ahhhhh…the joys of a liturgical Church 🙂

-edh-

Wisdom

/ The Pastor / 6 Comments

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written:  ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligent I will frustrate.’  Where is the wise man?  Where is the scholar?  Where is the philosopher of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe…For the foolishness of God is wiser that man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” (1 Corinthians 1:18-21 & 25)

When we rely on our own knowledge and wisdom we get things wrong:  We think we know how to treat people, but we don’t.  We think we know what is right for the church, but we don’t.  We think we are judging people appropriately, but we aren’t.  When we rely on our knowledge and wisdom we miss the big picture, people get hurt and we don’t see the wisdom of God.

In the grant scheme of things, knowledge is easy to acquire, but true wisdom takes time.  Wisdom takes patience and prayer.   King Solomon did not pretend to know how to rule Israel.  He did not attempt to rule Israel on his own.  Solomon did not attempt to use his own (limited) knowledge and wisdom (see 1 Kings 5) to lead people.  But Solomon, when asked by God for anything, asks for wisdom to lead.  We can learn a lot from Solomon.

We can’t pretend to know how to act in the church without faithfully listening to God.  We can’t pretend to know what is the best way to treat people without faithfully listening to God.  We can’t pretend to be “wise” without asking God for wisdom and then being faithful in listening to God.  True wisdom comes from God.  True wisdom sees people on an equal “playing field”.  True wisdom does not judge certain people better or more worthy than others.  True wisdom is humble and gracious.  True wisdom seeks reconciliation.

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

If we truly want to see and know God, we need to rely on the wisdom that only comes from God.  The foolishness of the cross is salvation…to undeserving people.  And those undeserving people are none other than YOU and ME.  So let’s us give thanks to God for his “foolishness”.  Let us seek God and ask for his wisdom.  Let praise God always and forever.  Amen.

-edh-

Recovering

/ The Pastor

A nasty flu bug kicked my butt Monday after supper and just this morning started moving out. My energy is slowly coming back now and I have a lot of catch up work to do here. I do look forward to getting back to blogging very soon.

Take care of yourselves (and wash your hands) and I will see you soon.

-edh-