Claimed, gathered and sent

Last Friday, Abby once more had a chance to go to chapel, as a pet. As a community we celebrated St. Francis' day with a b lessing of the animals. Pets included dogs, cats, fish, a gerbil, and a snake. All were quiet for the most part and very well behaved. The homily reminded us how each animal is doing what it is created to do and thereby glorifies God...as in G enesis where God pronounces "it was good." Much of life in seminary revolves around discerning how we can faithfully live out our baptismal calling. For some that means preparation for the ministry of Word and sacrament, for others Word and service. But as Christ's followers, all of us, in or out of seminary, must daily keep our eye on the prize, just as Paul did, just as we heard in this past Sunday's epistle reading. We need to be who God created us to be. By God's grace, may we too, glorify God in our daily lives as easily as our pets do. flickr picture

Teaching Parish is an opportunity to get our feet wet when it comes to public ministry. This is accomplished by "observing and listening to the congregation...by teaching and preaching...[and] by worshipping and praying with the congregation..." ( Teaching Parish Reference Book 2008-2009, p. 14). The first Sunday I attended Rural Lutheran incognito, so to speak. The pastor didn't introduce me or tell anyone I was coming. He wanted me to get a feel for the congregation the way a first time visitor would. and asked me to sit in a particular part of the congregation. Though there were only 30 + people attending, no one talked to me until the peace. Mouths moved, but no one sang around me. My overall response was one of sadness for the people. This past Sunday I could sit wherever I wanted and I was being introduced. The experience was completely the opposite. Was it because of where I was seated? Was it because more of the committed people were there? Was it because they wer...

Yesterday while I was at teaching parish, Ray, still at Seeing Eye in NJ, took new guide dog Amity to church for the first time. All went really well until...communion distribution. Amity was seated beside Ray who was kneeling and waiting for the pastor to give him the bread. As soon as the pastor offered Ray the bread, Amity stretched, reaching her head forward like she wanted communion too. Ray, the pastor, and the Seeing Eye trainer lost it. They couldn't help but laugh. That was Amity's first church visit. She's already a good Lutheran dog. As one friend remarked, "Okay - so THAT dog needs to go to First Communion class!" For Abby it's compline, for Amity it's communion. What can one do with dogs like that? If only all God's people were as interested in the means of grace as these dogs are! Flickr pictures

One of my favorite prayers is: O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting up; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (ELW p. 317). The first time I prayed this was at an evening prayer service at Emanuel Lutheran Church in RI. It struck a chord with me then and continues to do so. As the time approached for the move to seminary and since our arrival, these words have echoed in my heart, "...not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us..." I don't know where we'll go after graduation in 2012. I don't know where my internship will be my third year. I don't know where my CPE will be this coming summer. Until today, I didn't know where my teaching parish would be that starts this Sunday. Today I f...

Thanks to RevGal Leah Sophia f or this YouTube of beautiful scenery and one of Rich Mullins' songs, "Calling Out Your Name." It seems a fitting way to begin the week. Peace.

I was first introduced to Frederick Buechner by a pastor who quoted his well-known wisdom on discerning vocation as "That place where your great joy meets the world's great need." Buechner has a new book out and Jim Martin offers a thoughtful reflection on it . Please check it out. By the way I just joined Twitter, so if any of you are members, let me know. Blessings. Flickr picture

Sally at revgalsblogpals posted the following for the Friday Five: I have recently been reading a book entitled Jesus wept , it is all about vulnerability in leadership. The authors speak of how Jesus shared his earthly frustrations and vulnerabilities with a select group of people. To some he was the charismatic leader and teacher, to others words of wisdom were opened and explained and some frustrations shared, to his "inner circle of friends: Peter, James and John, he was most fully himself, and in all of these things he was open to God. So I bring you this weeks Friday 5: 1. Is vulnerability something that comes easily to you, or are you a private person? It comes to me very easily, at times too much so. I feel that I have nothing to hide. Of course, I'm in seminary with a wonderful community of faith. In the parish I suspect I will need to be more guarded in what I share and with whom. 2.How important is it to keep up a professional persona in work/ ministry? I despise p...