The blog will go on hiatus for the holiday.  There will be no devotions posted from December 20, 2009 to January 4, 2010.  Your pastors wish you a very blessed Christmas and New Years.

The schedule for our worship times this season are listed in the page entitled, “Christmas Worship 2009.”  See the tab at the top of the blog & click to enter.

The Sanctuary Between Us © Jan L. Richardson

In the story that is assigned for this final Sunday in Advent, December 20, 2009, we hear of a holy meeting between two pregnant women, Elizabeth and Mary.  The artwork above cleverly depicts their bond, which is not just familial, but emotional…and maybe we could also say spiritual.

We will explore these themes more fully on Sunday morning, but suffice it to say that the reign of God has just been relocated to the hill country of Judea.  What does it mean that God has entrusted the future of salvation to two poor country women, so vulnerable and yet so magnificent? 

God, come to us, that we might comprehend your magnificence in the midst of human vulnerability.  Amen.

The first lesson for Sunday, December 13, 2009 is from a rather obscure prophet:  Zephaniah. 

The images presented in this passage are not your typical prophetic passages of repentance.  In Zephaniah, we read things like, “he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival.”  Zephaniah 3:17b-18a

Most people’s religious imagination allows for the idea that one can be so moved by God’s goodness that one might sing and rejoice.  In fact, our Advent readings this year are full of human singers:  Mary, Elizabeth, Zechariah, Simeon…

But how many people’s religious imagination allows for the idea that God can be so moved over the restoration of relationship that God sings over the people?   That God is the one with heart overflowing?

Lord of each joyful song, renew us in your love.  Amen.

Due to the snowy weather, we have cancelled all activities INCLUDING WORSHIP at First Lutheran Church today: Wednesday, December 9, 2009. Please be careful as you shovel, plow, drive, and walk in this white stuff!

**First Lutheran follows the school district cancellation policy. This means: if school is cancelled or let out early, all of our educational activities are cancelled as well. If school starts with a delay, and we have a program scheduled during that time, that program is also cancelled.

What:  The ELCA’s online Town Hall Forum with Bishop Mark Hanson

When:  Sunday, December 6, 2009

Where:  Higgins Road, Chicago, IL

AND NOW…available for on-demand viewing right here.

Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson

You get to see a glimpse of the personal side of our Presiding Bishop, Mark Hanson, in this interview given for his alma mater, Augsburg College.

Click on the URL below:

http://www.augsburg.edu/now/2009_2010/november/articles/hanson/index.html

Q:  What color is the sky right before dawn? 

A:  Blue.

If you were sitting in church pew 50 years ago at this time of year, Sundays in Advent used purple paraments.  In recent decades, there has been a reorientation of Advent.  Seeing it as less of a mini-Lenten season, more as a gifted season in and of itself.  Advent has moved away from the idea of simple penitence and toward hope.  And so, parament colors were changed from purple to blue–the color of faith.  The color of the sky, right before the dawn.  (thanks to Professor David Lose at Luther Seminary for inspiring these thoughts)

Normally our practice at First Lutheran is to keep with the lectionary cycle of readings in worship.  But this Sunday we will deviate slightly.  Rather than using what is prescribed (a sequential reading of John the Baptist’s ministry in Luke 3), we are instead lifting up Zechariah’s song in Luke chapter 1 for our Gospel reading this Sunday, December 6th.  It had been assigned as the Psalm for the day.  I am giving it higher place.

NOTE:  You can read the excerpt here, but I’d encourage you to read the entire chapter, which you can find here.

Within Zechariah’s song is beautiful poetic language.  Obvious fatherly pride.  Priestly awe.  Certainly, some political commentary.  And…this amazing foresight.  He speaks of God’s salvation in the past tense (something that has been), and in the future tense (something that will be accomplished). 

What does Zechariah know about God that others didn’t?  Where do faith and foresight intersect?

Lord, give light to those who sit in darkness.  Guide our feet in the path of peace.  Amen.

Our annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Worship was held on Sunday evening, November 22nd, 2009.  The Ecumenical choir (40+!) did a lovely job with two special pieces of worship music, and Pastor Charlie Leonard preached a touching and challenging sermon.  We raised over $470 dollars in offering for our local families in times of emergencies, along with donations of non-perishable food.  It was a wonderful night to worship with many of our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Heartfelt thanks to Red Oak Grove Lutheran and Pastor Gene Leiter for being such gracious hosts.

Photos follow.  Happy Thanksgiving to one and all. 

donations for the food shelf

people at worship

A letter and video from Rev. Mark Hanson, Presiding Bishop of the ELCA was released this week (November 19, 2009). 

You can view the video here

Or

Read the letter here.

This Town Hall Forum, scheduled for Sunday, December 6th, 2009 at 4:30 pm, will require a computer with fast internet connection in order to stream the live feed.  Many of you will be able to take part at home.  However, some of you will not.  For those who wish, we are contemplating having a time at church to watch together.  Please watch for details in weekly bulletins.

The Gospel reading for Christ the King Sunday, November 22, 2009 can be viewed here.

Jesus in on trial before Pilate in the 18th chapter of John.  But as you read even these few verses (or if you’re ambitious and check out the entire chapter!) you will grasp the amount of vacillation, in every way.

Physically, Pilate is the one who travels.  Out to check with the Jewish leaders (they cannot travel inside Pilate’s headquarters or they risk ritual defilement), back inside to talk with Jesus.  Again and again.  Back and forth.  Emotionally, things are at a fever pitch.  The Jewish leaders are firm and fixed, insistent.  Pilate is portrayed, somewhat, as a dimwit who is trying to bridge a cultural and political gap.  Spiritually, there is vacillation as well.  The disciples have now abandoned Jesus; he stands alone and speaks truth to power.  As chapter 18 draws to a close, the excitable crowds insist on one criminal to be let free as was the Passover custom.  And they insist that one be Barabbas. 

No one political system, no single gifted ruler, no well-intentioned process of deliberation will ever meet everyone’s needs, solve every dilemma, or bridge every gap.  It is not human loyalty that is lifted up on Christ the King Sunday.  Jesus spoke of an eternal hope when he answers Pilate in John 18:36 with, “My kingdom is not from this world.”

For our prayer, we meditate on the famous hymn by Isaac Watts, “Jesus Shall Reign.”

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun

Does its sucessive journeys run;

His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,

Till moons shall wax and wane no more.