Holy week

Monday morning check in – 3/17/08

/ The Pastor / 6 Comments

HAPPY ST. PATTY’S DAY!!!  Oops, I don’t think we are supposed to be celebrating saints during Holy Week…

…well…let’s try this…

…HAPPY MONDAY OF HOLY WEEK (Hmmm…doesn’t quite roll of the tongue…does it?).  Oh well…

…It’s Monday of Holy Week and I feel a sense of…well…I am not sure if I have the right words here.  Last week I wrote that I was Tired and Excited.  This week it feels like I have more energy and drive within me.  I don’t feel as mentally, physically, emotionally or spiritually tired as I was last week.  I guess that is not too surprising since Holy Week and Easter is one of my favorite times of the year (Christmas being the other).  But one thing that does make me a little nervous is that my secretary has been sick since Wednesday night.  That meant on Thursday (bulletin day) I was playing "pastor" and "secretary".  And let me tell you…I have a whole new appreciation for what Vicki does.  I have always known that she is an incredible person and does valuable ministry here, but when I was thrust into her position for a while I got to see (and feel) some of the pressure she has to deal with.  All I can say is this:  "Vicki…you are a very important and valuable person to the ministry of Salem Lutheran Church.  And if no one else says it, let me say it here for all the world to hear:  I appreciate you so much!  But don’t feel you need to hurry back.  Take care of yourself, get some rest and take it easy.  I look forward to seeing you across the hallway very soon."

Quick side bar
Even though, "technically", we are not supposed to celebrate saints during Holy Week can I still wear green and not get into "trouble"?

Palm Sunday
Yesterday I continued my tradition of beginning worship with a Palm Sunday celebration and ending it with the reading of the Passion Story.  It is always a powerful time for me (and from what I hear, for others as well).  But one thing I noticed (and my wife and I talked about this afterward) is that there were a lot of kids getting a little restless during the long Passion reading.  After worship, Connie and I brainstormed the idea that next year we take the kids out before the Passion Story (on Palm Sunday) and Connie would read a children’s version of the story downstairs while the parents/adults stayed with me for the Passion reading.  The thought is that as the kids processed in with palm branches they would recess out with their palm branches.  I have never been a big advocate of removing children from worship, but I think I would make an exception here.  Does any else have thoughts on this?

God blessings to you this St. Patty’s Day (oops…I mean Monday of Holy Week) and I wish for you a week full of love as we hear about the Passion of our Lord and the gift of eternal life for each of us.

Take care!
-edh-

Sunday morning prayer – 03/16/08

/ The Pastor / 3 Comments

Good morning!

Holy Week is upon us…the most holy week on the Christian calendar.  Today (Palm Sunday) we journey with Jesus into Jerusalem as we sing his praises; shouting "Hosanna!" only to turn on him in a few short days as we shout "Crucify him!"  For many people this is a very strange thing.  For many people this is foolishness.  Why would Jesus allow such a death to occur…because Jesus LOVES US MORE THAN WE CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE!!!

Today we journey with Jesus but remember that we are not much different than that first Palm Sunday crowd; for we too live in a Palm Sunday world…we want Jesus to save us from our rotten lives…NOW.  We look for Jesus to fix things NOW.  We want prosperity NOW.  But Jesus doesn’t come to do those things, rather Jesus brings a cross.  But what we often forget…that cross means salvation for us…NOW.

So join me and pray as Palm Sunday people looking for salvation:
Gracious Lord, victorious God…we live in a Palm Sunday world where we get the wrong idea of you.  We want the good life NOW.  We want stuff NOW.  We want all the best that life has to offer NOW.  But what we often forget is that you did and do bring and give us the best…Jesus Christ.  Jesus suffered death for us.  Jesus rose from the grave for us.  Jesus gives us life.  Loving God, knock some sense into us when we stray and lead us back to THE reason and purpose to our lives…Jesus Christ our Lord.  Thank you God for never giving up on us.  You are awesome and worthy of all praise.  In Christ’s name we pray, Amen!

God bless you this Holy Week and I pray that you may experience the depths of God’s graciousness all the days of your life.

Take care!
-edh-

Saturday Christians

/ The Pastor / 1 Comment

Today is Saturday…between Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday.  And this is exactly where we live as Christians.  But why do we like to jump straight to Easter morning?

I recently read a couple blogs that talked about this very issue.  Check out "Good Friday" at HERE I STAND and "Post 5: Isaiah 53:10-12" at curious notions.  I was intrigued by this question and want to ponder this with you for a couple moments.

This year, the combined Maundy Thursday and Good Friday worship attendance was the lowest I have seen since I began serving at Salem in 2004 (and this was the second year with Salem AND Belmont worshipping together).  Good Friday attendance was the highest I have seen, but Maundy Thursday took a big hit.  Last year our Easter services (Salem Lutheran Church) saw the largest attendance in about 7 seven years (Belmont was about average).  So I am curious what tomorrow will bring. 

My point is this:  Are more and more people ignoring the "dark" side of life; ignoring the cross and focusing on the resurrection alone?  For me Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are very powerful.  It makes me think about the person I am and the great passion our of Lord.  I don’t think I could blow off Holy Week and jump straight to Easter (outside the fact that I am a Lutheran pastor and cannot blow off Holy Week).  I need to be reminded of my sinfulness and the darkness of our Christian walk.  I need to be reminded of what Jesus went through for me.  It is through this dark journey that the love of Jesus Christ truly shines forth.

Last night (Good Friday) I led a worship service of contemplation.  We took a journey that started in the Garden of Gethsemane and ended at the tomb.  Along the way we took some "pit stops" to contemplate and listen.  I allowed for long moments of silence to think about the scripture that was read and to listen to God speaking to us.  I had never done anything like this in worship before and personally it was a powerful experience for me.  I saw Good Friday in a whole new light.  I think Easter will be different for me this year.

If you skipped over Holy Week or any parts of it, I urge you to go to scripture and read the Passion story.  I urge you to not forget about the darkness of our lives and sinfulness that encompasses it.  We have to go through the cross to get to Easter. 

Today is Saturday…and this is where we live.  But we live here in the hope of the resurrection.  That is the Good News so there is no reason to be in despair.  Have a joyous and blessed Easter.  AMEN! -edh-

Holy Week ponderings

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

Greetings everyone!  God bless you this Holy Week and beyond.

It has been a couple days since I have posted something so I wanted to write and update you on how my life is going and talk about the thoughts running through my head right now. 

Today is Maundy Thursday so I am in the midst of finishing that message up.  I am planning on talking about this "New Commandment" that Jesus gives to love one another.  After all, the word "Maundy" means commandment.  Tomorrow is Good Friday and I still have some finishing touches to put on that service.  Basically the service is one of contemplation.  I will be reading the Passion story, offering up a short reflection after certain selections and then allowing a couple minutes of silence for prayer and contemplation.  I have never done this before so I am curious how it will be received.

Then there is Easter.  The text I am using is the Resurrection account from Luke.  The question that the angels ask the women is one I find myself pondering, "Why do you look for the dead among the living?"  Isn’t that exactly what we have a tendency to do?  I am planning on getting a little "feisty" (did you catch that Kara?) on Sunday.  I am planning on asking people, especially the CEOs (Christmas Easter Only people) why they are searching for the living among the dead?  Why are you searching for meaning where there is no meaning?  Why are you searching for life where there is no life.  If you were searching for a child who ran away from home, you would not look in the cemetery.  You would search for them among the living.  People who don’t come to worship or who do not know Christ need to know that our only true source of life is in Jesus Christ.

Outside of Holy Week preparations life is good as well.  Connie’s sister came for a visit last night with our one year old nephew, Micheal.  We had a great time watching Micheal run around and explore the house.  Tomorrow is my "day off" but I got a feeling that won’t happen.  Oh well, I am on vacation next week so I will get caught up on resting then.

Anyway, I need to return to the task at hand.  God Bless and take care.  May the joy of our Lord resonant loudly in your heart.  -edh-

Un-Feisty Christians

/ The Pastor / 3 Comments

A friend of mine commented on a blog entry I wrote recently called Bipolar Christians.  She made an interesting point that I want to highlight this morning.  Kara basically talked about people not being "bipolar" enough.  There are too many people who are lukewarm about their faith.  They walk around apathetic about Jesus.  As Kara said, "Most people today aren’t disturbed by Jesus".  And Jesus should disturb you.  If Jesus does not then you might not be listening hard enough. 

There is a cool blog entry you need to check out at Unlikely Conversation: A Lectionary Blog called Easter and Evangelism.  This author talks about Christians having the best story in the world to tell; and I couldn’t agree more.  Actually I would say we have an AWESOME story to tell.  But my question is this:  Why don’t more people get more excited about this story?  We share good news with each other about our kids, promotions or about losing 20lbs but why not THE Good News?  Well…I think the simple answer is that people are not disturbed by Jesus (as Kara boldly puts it).  We take more joy in our kid’s accomplishments or in our "success" at work or in our body image than in the radical Good News of the cross.  We worry more about our position on the social ladder or how much influence we have or how much money we have saved than in the wild forgiveness God shows us in Jesus Christ.

Maybe the problem is that too many churches don’t get feisty enough about their faith (if you knew my friend Kara, you would know the "feisty" I am talking about).  Maybe there is too much "Minnesota Nice" coming out in our proclamation (a problem my internship supervisor pointed out in me).  Maybe we, as the church, are not taking a definitive enough of a stand against injustices and issues in the world.  I mean think about…we have the best story in the world to tell and there is still a large number of unchurched people in our communities.  There are too many churches satisfied with maintenance (status quo) than in evangelism.  Secular attacks on the Christian faith go widely unchallenged by Christians ("The Di Vinci Code" & "The Lost Tomb of Jesus"). We need to be more feisty.

"Kill the ‘old Adam’", "Sell all you have and follow me", "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you".  If those statements by Jesus do not disturb you, then read them again…He is talk to you. 

Let’s get more feisty about our faith and A LOT MORE bold about sharing the best story in the world.  We cannot afford to be "lukewarm Christians". Thank you, Kara, for making me think more and thank you for being "feisty".  If only more people followed your example. -edh-

Bipolar Christians

/ The Pastor / 4 Comments

I think all Christians are bipolar by definition.  I mean absolutely no disrespect to anyone who suffers from this illness; and I am by no means making light of this sensitive issue for some, but the rate that Christians change their attitude and feelings toward God is amazing.  Just check out the mob scene that Jesus experiences during the last week of his life.

One of the scripture texts for this coming Sunday – Palm Sunday – comes from Luke 19:28-40.  This is the account of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey; a victorious King coming home from battle.  The crowds are cheering and shouting, "Hosanna!" which oddly enough means "save us".  If only the people really knew what Jesus came to do.

That was the beginning of Holy Week.  A few short days later, some of those same people were shouting "CRUCIFY HIM!"  which means "Kill him, get rid of him, he is not our king!"  One moment the people are praising Jesus and the next moment they are trying to get rid of him.  Hmmm…sounds familiar.  This couldn’t possibly be talking about how we turn on Jesus in an instant when it serves us.

Do you see yourself in that early mob scene?  Do you see yourself following Jesus around listening to him?  Do you see yourself shouting "CRUCIFY HIM!"?  I read this text and can’t help but to place myself in those scenes.  But here’s the cool thing:  Even though this is mine (and our) reality, Jesus stills goes to the cross for us.  Jesus still offers forgiveness to us.  Jesus still gives us life.  How cool is that?  Bipolar and all…Jesus still loves you and me.  "HOSANNA!" -edh-