Claimed, gathered and sent

My thoughts on the meaning and importance of baptism as well as the mode and timing of one's baptism have changed significantly over the years. I was baptized as an infant into a family that did not participate in the life of the church. As a teenager I had a religious experience that some would refer to as being "born again." After some time, I was baptized again, as a believer by immersion. I then, saw no validity in my infant baptism. I have now been a Lutheran since the late 1980s. Lutherans primarily baptize infants. This is something I have struggled with for a long time. Was it really valid if the recipient was not exercising faith? What if the parents of the child did not believe? What if it was being done simply for "fire insurance," just in case there might be something to this God thing? Or, what if the baby is baptized because the parents have caved into pressure from other family members? My appreciation of infant baptism, including my own, began w...

Thanks to Singing Owl for this interesting quiz. Here are my results. Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz... You Are a Bette! "I must be strong" Bettes are direct, self-reliant, self-confident, and protective. How to Get Along with Me * Stand up for yourself... and me. * Be confident, strong, and direct. * Don't gossip about me or betray my trust. * Be vulnerable and share your feelings. See and acknowledge my tender, vulnerable side. * Give me space to be alone. * Acknowledge the contributions I make, but don't flatter me. * I often speak in an assertive way. Don't automatically assume it's a personal attack. * When I scream, curse, and stomp around, try to remember that's just the way I am. What I Like About Being a Bette * being independent and self-reliant * being able to take charge and meet challenges head on * being courageous, st...

For the last couple of months, this has been what the main road through the seminary looked like. It has been with uncertainty and a bit of trepidation that we would venture out each morning. Where will the trucks be? What part of the road will be inaccessible? What's the best route to take? The route may have been circuitous, and bumpy, but unlike parts of New England where, "You can't get there from here,"we could get there, but it's been a challenge. I have a new appreciation for Isaiah's imagery , especially of making the uneven ground smooth. Progress has been made since this picture was taken. Yesterday they were putting asphalt on the road. When I went to class in the morning, there was none. Later, on the way to chapel, part of one side was done. By the time lunch was over, the other side was done. Because of the need to daily take different routes, Amity has not yet completely learned her way around campus. Once the work is completed, however, it won...

Not being brought up Lutheran, one of the great joys of being involved in a teaching parish is reading and studying Luther's Large Catechism with my mentor, Rural Pastor. This week we were studying the Lord's Prayer. As I read Luther's comments at home in preparation for Sunday, I experienced one of those "Aha" moments. When I shared my discovery with Rural Pastor, he agreed and said he had not seen the connection before, so let's see what you think. This is regarding Luther's exp lanation of the third petition of the Lord's Prayer, “May your will come about on earth as in heaven " (p. 448, "Large Catechism," The Book of Concord). For where God’s Word is preached, accepted, or believed, and bears fruit, there the holy and precious cross will also not be far behind. And let no one think that we will have peace; rather, we must sacrifice all we have on earth— possessions, honor, house and farm, spouse and children, body and life…...

Law and Gospel has made me feel so much better. In her comment to my recent post about missteps and brain freezes in church she pointed the way to this YouTube. Enjoy.

"Our steps are made firm by the Lord , when he delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand" (Psalm 37:23-24). I could take that verse quite literally yesterday at Rural Lutheran as I assisted with the liturgy. It was one of those days of brain cramps and literal missteps. Part of the misstep issue is due to my height, or should I say lack thereof? I had to have my alb specially made because no one keeps my size (short, but big enough to go around me) on hand. So, the alb has not yet arrived and I am using one I borrowed from the seminary--the shortest one I could find. It still isn't short enough and I have to tuck it and hike it up...well you get the idea. It didn't stay hiked up enough yesterday though. I was carrying the full offering plates (which meant I had two full hands and couldn't grab the the alb to lift it as I ascended the stairs to the altar). I stepped on the bottom of the alb with one foot,...

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