A Wonderful Visit Today

We had 3 visitors at our home today from Russia. These boys are staying with host families for a week and we pray that they find new families! My Russian/American -- Alex -- is the boy in the middle with the glow-in-dark speed stacking cups.

The Blogs

We live in a world where you are one click away from anywhere thanks to the Internet. Granted, that can get you in trouble as you can use the wrong words or perhaps react too quickly. But it is also such a blessing as we learn from others and share with others. The cancellation of Issues Etc has connected so many people in awesome ways. I read my favorite blogs which in turn link me to other blogs. So now I've added to my list of favorite blogs: (This list will grow!)

http://churchandliturgy.blogspot.com About liturgy
http://rasburrysres.blogspot.com/ Pastor Asburry in St. Louis
http://revcwirla.blogspot.com/ Rev. Cwirla's Blogosphere (Underground) It's his personal bunker in case of synodical terrorism.
http://www.redeemerfortwayne.org/blog.php?msg=9142 A great post about the LCMS from Pastor Petersen at Redeemer Lutheran in Fort Wayne, IN
http://augsburg1530.wordpress.com/ A grassroots movement to understand why Issues Etc was cancelled.
http://adelphoitouchristou.typepad.com/savethelcms/News & Information from the Christ-Centered Cross-Focused Resistance Movement
http://laymenetc.typepad.com/ Exactly what it says!
http://bringbackissues.blogspot.com/ Exactly what it says too!

The Listeners Got ISSUES

About that PEW Report

PEW Research recently released its findings on religion in America. In addition my local paper, the Oakland Press, released a story on that report. While I can't argue with their findings and I don't know how valid the survey really is, I can make some observations on the newspaper article.

The article suggests that churches have to keep their services current. It states that the non-denominational churches seem to growing and that's true. The clergy quoted say that people are searching for something and often leaving the mainline denominations that they grow up in. That's probably true and very sad.

It leaves me wondering about a few things though.

• Why has the traditional church with hymns and liturgy which have been around for 2000+ years all of sudden become insufficient and irrelevant?

• The non-denominational churches tend to create their own hybrid 'creeds'. Are the historic creeds insufficient and irrelevant?

• Church seems to be about feeling fed and being happy and knowing your purpose in life. Exactly why did Jesus die and why do I belong to a local congregation and attend worship regularly?

From my vantage point (I'm a baby boomer) it's not about me at all, rather it's about what Jesus did on the cross and what God gives to me with that. No amount of my work can give me forgiveness of sins and make me a child of God. God works that through faith which only the Holy Spirit can give through the means of grace, namely Holy Baptism, Holy Communion and the Word.

Of course therein lies a part of the problem. Somehow many people think they need to help God do the saving by their decision and prove it by their acts of service. Some think you have to add good works in addition to what God gives in Holy Baptism. Some think that acts of service and being a good person will gain your access to heaven. Actions of service are essential, but they have nothing to do with salvation.

I can only speak for the Lutheran church (specifically LCMS) as that is the denomination I am a part of.

Why do you leave?

• Perhaps you don't really understand that when you attend that 'boring' liturgical service that God is present in Word and Sacrament. (The Divine Service)
  

• Perhaps you don't understand that the hymns you sing are oozing with the Word of God.
  

• Perhaps you don't understand that faith that saves (forgiveness of sins) is a free gift given to you even through you are poor, miserable sinner.

• Perhaps you don't understand that when the Pastor speaks that God is using the Pastor's voice -- He forgives your sins with the absolution, He speaks Law and Gospel, that is the Good News that Christ died for YOUR sins and you are forgiven.

When you decide to go to the local non-denominational church that is culturally relevant you are no longer receiving the means of grace. You may hear the Word of God, but it will most likely be 'Law, Gospel, Law'. Where's the Good News in that? The last time I looked most non-denominational churches are not sacramental and there is no room in their statements of faith (assuming you can find it) for Holy Baptism, Holy Communion and hearing the Word as the means for creating a saving faith.

Just because you were confirmed as a teenager or maybe you went through a short new member class, doesn't mean you are done growing. You have to sustain your faith in the same way that you have to care for your body with means of food, shelter and rest. Open the Word regularly, strive to understand what happens in liturgy, learn what the theology of the Lutheran church is (ie how faith is created for starters), read and re-read Luther's Small Catechism. Avail yourself of the means that God has ordained -- Holy communion, worship, and His Word. That's how you sustain your faith. Remember Holy Baptism is not the Willy Wonka golden ticket. You can lose your faith if you are not careful.

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

Albrecht Altdorfer

Altar Piece
The Resurrection of Christ
c. 151
Oil on wood, 70,5 x 37,3 cm
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

Holy Week

Holy Week happened and I never made to my blog. The first event of the week was on Holy Tuesday when the LCMS saw fit to cancel Issues Etc (on www.kfuoam.org) and terminate Pastor Todd Wilken (the host) and Jeff Schwarz (the producer). It has been a wild ride on The Wittenberg Trail as it relates to this bad move by the Synod. The blogosphere is 'ablaze' with this story and I'm not talking Ablaze as in the efforts by the LCMS to evangelize.

I have spent too much time hiking The Wittenberg Trail as well as sending my share of emails to synod contacts. And I'll continue spending too much time.

My dad had a pacemaker put in this week and that went very well. Praise God for the vocation of medicine.

Alex was the penitent thief in the Passion Play that the 5th graders do every year at his school. The entire cast was wonderful and what a tremendous witness they were to everyone who attended. We were thrilled that Alex's godparents came -- Bob, Sherry and family.

We attended our first Maundy Thursday service at Our Shepherd. It was a very powerful service as the altar was stripped and all the lights extinguished. The 22nd Psalm was chanted by two men and it was so moving.

We attended our first Good Friday service also. It was a Tenebrae service. The only lights in the sanctuary were the candles in front of the altar. The pastors woke simple black robes. It was so sad and somber. We heard mediations on Jesus' last 7 words and sang the hymn "Jesus, in Your Dying Woes' throughout.

On Saturday we had a seder at home. We combined what I have experienced at seders in the past with information on found on the Internet. Our goal was to remember what God did for the Israelites as they left Egypt and what He did when He sent His Son. And finally we made Resurrection cookies.

Our New Church Home

We were privileged today to officially join our new Lutheran church. We are members of Our Shepherd Lutheran in Birmingham.

We have been attending a class for the last 7 weeks which helped us to know what kinds of opportunities are available. Since we were transferring from another LCMS church we didn't attend the Living Discipleship class which explores Lutheran theology. However I plan to attend it later this spring. I didn't pay attention to confirmation as a teenager many decades ago.

We were warmly welcomed today both in the service and at a potluck afterwards. Today was also first communion for the 8th graders so there were many people at the 11:00 service. Since tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day, the theme of the potluck was green. Alex was one of the winners in the icebreaker and received a large chocolate bunny -- that thrilled him. And we came home with a shamrock plant and a beautiful bouquet of spring flowers.

I am in awe of our Lord Jesus Christ as I reflect on the various church stops I have made in my life. I grew up basically in one church (starting at age 8 -- can't remember much before then) and then got married and moved away to South Dakota. I found a church home there.

But I took a detour and ended up back in Michigan as a single mom with a 7 year old. I returned to the church I grew up in and met my second (and last) husband. We adopted our son and began to feel a need to make a church change.

So with fear and trepidation we did. In fact we jumped synods, moved across town and joined a very large church. That created tension in my family as I left the 'family' church. We changed worship style -- contemporary, praise and worship. And we grew tremendously in that church.

After several years of homeschooling Alex returned to school -- a Lutheran school. That gave us re-exposure to traditional Lutheran (liturgy) and a desire to return back to liturgy grew. We couldn't return to the church that I grew up in as I now have doctrinal concerns, plus it made sense to be at the church that is associated with Alex's school.

So we joyful continue on our faith journey as we head towards eternity and that face to face meeting with Jesus.