Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Memorial Day Reflections


Yesterday I was blessed to have the opportunity to join the Eyota American Legion Post 551 in providing brief Memorial Day ceremonies at several local cemeteries.   It was a time to reflect on the sacrifices that our service men and women have made for our nation.  Here were my words:

We gather together today to honor those who have served our nation, those who have given of
themselves, sacrificing their time, their careers, and their families to stand in the gap to defend our freedom.  This is a day for thanking those veterans who live among us, those who were discharged from the service with honor and distinction.  We are honored to have some of these veterans with us this morning.

But today is also a day to remember those veterans who do not live among us…those who now rest in these graves and in graves throughout our world…those whose service ended with a bullet…or grenade...a mortar…a roadside bomb...or other tragic end.  These did not serve for a few years and move on in life.  No, they sacrificed everything for the cause of freedom.  They left behind wives and husbands, children and neighbors and friends.  Today, we honor them and vow to remember what they have done.

Gracious God, on this Memorial Day weekend, we remember and give thanks for those who have given their lives in the service of our country. When the need was greatest, they stepped forward and did their duty to defend the freedoms that we enjoy, and to win the same for others. O God, you yourself have taught us that no love is greater than that which gives itself for another. These honored dead gave the most precious gift they had, life itself, for loved ones and neighbors, for comrades and country – and for us. Help us to honor their memory by caring for the family members they have left behind, by ensuring that their wounded comrades are properly cared for, by being watchful caretakers of the freedoms for which they gave their lives, and by demanding that no other young men and women follow them to a soldier’s grave unless the reason is worthy and the cause is just. Holy One, help us to remember that freedom is not free. There are times when its cost is, indeed, dear. Never let us forget those who paid so terrible a price to ensure that freedom would be our legacy. Though their names may fade with the passing of generations, may we never forget what they have done. Help us to be worthy of their sacrifice, O God, help us to be worthy. Amen.

(Prayer in final paragraph from United Church of Christ, Worship Ways, Vol. 7, No. 3)

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Letter to God


Dear God –

Why?

In this world we do a pretty good job of destroying each other’s lives.   Mass killings have
become the norm.  Civil war rages in Syria, killing tens of thousands.  Roadside bombs still explode in Iraq.  Drone strikes take the lives of the ‘target’ and all around them.  It’s easy to explain these by talking of ‘sin.’  We live in a world where you give us the freedom to hurt each other.   People suffer because other people cause pain.   Cause and effect.  I get that.

Then come tornadoes like the one that slammed through Moore on Monday.  Dozens lost their lives, including children hiding in the basement of a school.  Many more recover from injuries the tornado caused.  Entire areas of town have been obliterated: homes lost, school destroyed, businesses no longer exist.  How do we explain these things? 

The American cliché is to blame these events on things like ‘homosexuality’ or ‘abortion.’  People want a quick and easy answer…and scapegoat.  They say, “If only we could be a holy land then these things wouldn’t happen.”  Back in your son Jesus’ day the Pharisees thought the same thing, but Jesus didn’t exactly agree with them! I’d argue that the sin of greed runs much more rampant in our land, but nobody seems to blame that.    It hits too close to home.

These simplistic answers take away the theological challenge of the whole event.  If you are all powerful (and we claim that you are) you could have stopped the tornado, right?  If you didn’t choose to stop it that means that you chose to allow the tornado to rip through Moore!  Stories have begun to surface of people who were miraculously saved.  They credit you for doing something to protect them in times of danger.  But God, what about those who died?  I find it hard to believe that you would go out of your way to protect one person while standing idle while the swirling winds took another’s life.  I don’t get it.   I join the writer of the Psalms, “My soul is in deep anguish.  How long, Lord, how long?” 

I have to admit that now that the destruction has come it’s becoming easier to see you at work.  I see you in the rescue workers, desperately seeking for survivors.  You are in the people of the Red Cross, providing food and shelter to your people in need.  You are in the crisis counselors who speak to the suffering.  You are anonymous people all over Moore who provide a shoulder to cry on.  You are in the people throughout the world who send money to help rebuild.   You are at work in the prayers of people near and far who reach out to those in Moore.

Why?  I could go on for hours, argue point after point, and in the end I won’t have an answer.  I’m simply left with your mercy, your love for your children, and the salvation that you promise through Jesus.  Even the pain of death is not final, for you are the one who conquered death forever.

May you use us to care for those in need in these dark days.  Comfort those in pain.  Feed those who hunger.  Clothe those who lost everything.   You work in the midst of a world of destruction.  Care for your people, Lord.

Your son,
Pete

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Life's Markers


Any journey has markers along the way to help me know where I stand.

The drive to our cabin takes about 3 ½ hours, but I mentally break it up into three sections.  My first goal is to get to the Cities…then I look for the Famous Dave’s just past the Cities.  When I get to Famous Dave’s I don’t stop the car (unless traffic is backed up!).  It’s not the end of the journey…it’s just a marker on the road top let me know where I stand.

When starting a 5K race I don’t have the finish line in mind right from the starting gun.  I focus on the first mile…then the second…then the third.  I have a goal in mind for each portion of the race that will lead me to the proper finish.   I don’t get to the first mile marker and take a seat!  It’s not the end of the journey…just a marker in the race.

At this time of year in 1989 I prepared to graduate from high school.  With my classmates I reflected on where we’d been together.  Sappy songs and sentiments abounded.  Yet once I graduated from high school I went back to school once again.  That fall I enrolled at Northwestern University and started all over again.  Four years later I again prepared to graduate, and once again I prepared to go back to school, this time at Luther Seminary.  Each graduation held a moment of importance, but I did not stop my learning!  I didn’t graduate and stop my school career.  They weren’t the end of the journey…just a marker on the path to becoming a pastor.

Nearly 20 years ago Shannon and I stood at an altar, pledging our lives to each other in marriage.   We’d had a year of dating and a year of engagement to prepare us for that moment.  It’s now been two decades of ‘better or worse’ and we’ve been blessed to spend time with each other.  I didn’t walk out of the marriage service to head off to live my own life.  It wasn’t the end of the journey with Shannon…just an important step on the path of our life together.

In the spring of 1971 my parents brought me to a church and presented me for baptism.  That began a life of faith that continues to this day.  I’ve had many important markers on that journey of faith, but it’s a faith that continues to this day.  At no time have I felt like I’d ‘arrived’ in faith.  I never got to a plateau where I felt like my faith felt complete.  My journey with my God continues every day.  It’s a relationship that began in baptism and will never end for eternity. 

In 8th grade I joined my fellow classmates in standing in front of a congregation, claiming the promises made to me in baptism, but that moment came as simply another step in a long journey of faith.

This coming Sunday eleven young men and women from Peace will come together to stand before the community of faith.  They will make promises…and they will hear God’s promises to them.  They have had the opportunity to spend the past few months in deep reflection on their faith.  They’ve talked with a parent about Jesus, creation, the Holy Spirit, prayer, Holy Baptism, Holy Communion, and Scripture.  They’ve taken the time to put their faith into words, explaining it both in a paper and in a conversation with me. 

This process comes as a step on their journey of faith.  They don’t have faith all figured out, though they have a better understanding of where they are in this moment of faith.  Life’s challenges will arise and impact their faith journey.  Commitment Sunday is not the end of a journey…just a marker in the relationship with God.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Nurturing Faith in a Congregation - More than just another Bible Study


When I picture people who are ‘nurturing faith’ I usually picture a group of folks sitting in a circle, sharing Scripture and talking about how it connects with daily life.  

The good people of Peace Lutheran Church have shown me that it’s that…and much, much  more!

A couple weeks ago Peace provided some surveys for folks in an attempt to see how well we are living up to our Mission Statement: The mission of Peace Lutheran Church is to call people to Christ, nurture them into the faith, and send them out in witness and service.

Last fall we did away with Sunday School and replaced it with more family activities.  We added some Wednesday night events for elementary and Middle School youth.  In the midst of change we felt it especially important to check in and see how well we’re accomplishing our goals.

People’s responses showed four main areas where they felt that God works through Peace to nurture their faith.  Faith is nurtured in worship, in community, in family events, and in age specific events.  Not every person experiences God in the same way.  A variety of ministry opportunities provides the best way to impact the lives of faith of the most people.

Here is our proposal for future ministry based on these responses.  How might these themes fit your ministry?
 

Nurturing Faith in Worship

Worship is at the heart of Peace’s ministry.  It is a time for families of all kinds to gather together to encounter the living God and grow in faith.  Peace is intentional about including all ages in the service.  The lessons and sermons are presented in a format that provides Biblical background to the stories, proclaims the grace of God, and helps people find ways of turning their faith into action.

Nurturing Faith in Community

The Christian life was never intended to be a solo exercise.  Faith is nurtured as people have an opportunity to get to know others and build relationships with them, providing a strong basis of support in the faith.  The Hospitality time following worship is an essential portion of this community building.  Other community building activities such as game nights, bowling trips, meals, campfires, Christmas decorating, and other events provide the people of Peace with the opportunities to grow close together as a community.

Nurturing Faith in Families

Research shows that the faith of children is significantly impacted by the involvement of adults in their faith formation.  In Livin’ the Faith (9th grade or higher) and First Communion (2nd grade) Peace has a history of successful youth/parent activities.  We will build upon that by providing additional times for youth and parents to come together to learn about important aspects of the faith.  Providing a regular schedule will ensure that no group ‘falls through the cracks’ and misses an essential portion of their faith formation.  Many of these times will be held on Sunday mornings at 10:30 in the separate classroom (to not conflict with Hospitality time).

The full list:

·         Using the Jesus Storybook Bible (one time, Kindergarten)

·         First Communion (two times, 2nd grade)

·         Using the Bible (two times, 3rd grade) – they will receive a NIrV version of the Bible at this time.

·         Prayer (two times, 5th grade)

·         Using a Study Bible (one time, 6th grade) – they will receive a Study Bible at this time

·         Human Sexuality (two times, 7th grade)

·         Livin’ the Faith (nine times, 9th grade or above)

 
Nurturing Faith in Specific Age Groups

There can be great benefit in gathering people together in specific age groups to provide time for faith formation and community building.   For five weeks in the fall and four weeks in the winter Peace will take time on Wednesday evenings to provide faith building activities for the following groups:

·         Pre-K

·         Early Elementary

·         Upper Elementary

·         Middle School

·         High School

·         Adult

The Middle School and High School youth will have additional activities planned:

·         Cardboard Box City in October

·         Waterpark trip in December

·         Rochester Supernight in February

·         Mt. Olympus in the Dells in August

·         On overnight mission trip in the summer

Vacation Bible School provides a time for 3 year olds through 5th graders to gather together to grow in faith. 

 

 

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Child Sexual Abuse - It's time for the church to be part of the solution, not the problem


One in four females will be sexually abused by the time she is an adult.

One in eight males will be abused by the time he is an adult.

These statistics are based on studies that define sexual abuse in terms of ‘contact’ offenses such as fondling or rape.

 These numbers are shocking.  At my congregation (Peace Lutheran Church) we have roughly 300 members, so if we’re average that means 38 women and 19 men in our midst have been abused at some point in their lives.  If this is your history, you are not alone.

People have the perception that perpetrators of abuse are these ‘strange’ people hiding in the woods.  The reality is that only 10% of abuse comes from strangers.  60% of perpetrators are known by the children or their families.  30% are family members.  Those that young people trust the most betray them.  I can’t imagine the pain and the shattered trust that this brings.  Some of you know it all too well.  

Over the past years ‘the church’ has been a part of the problem.  Perpetrators have used the trust given in congregational settings to prey on vulnerable children.  While Catholic priests have received much of the press, the reality is that this issue has hit every denomination and church body.  Clergy and lay volunteers have gained access to kids with little or no supervision.  Terrible acts have been committed.  Lives have been shattered.  A pastor friend of mine was abused as a child by a Vacation Bible School volunteer.  Her life has never been the same.

After too long the church has awakened to the fact that something has to be done.  Congregations like Peace now do background checks on volunteers who work with kids.  This is just a small part of what we do.  We built a building with very few places to go and ‘hide’ from others.  Everything is open for all to see, with windows on each door.  We insist that multiple adults work with our youth at all times so we can all see each other and keep everyone safe. These actions are no different than the Boy Scouts or other organization that works with kids.  It doesn’t mean that we don’t trust people.  We want to provide the best, safe environment for all people, young and old.

Preventing sexual abuse in the church setting is a start, but as people of God it is not enough.  While ‘we’ have been a part of the problem in the past, it’s time for us to be a part of the solution.  While keeping people safe in our own buildings, we must be God’s people out in the world, keeping an eye out for the signs of abuse in the young people we encounter.  The sooner we recognize the signs of abuse the quicker we can put an end to it and begin the healing process.

The warning signs of abuse in small children:

·         Complaining about people or activities they used to like

·         Becoming isolated

·         Major behavior change

·         Unexplained anxiety

·         Sudden onset of bedwetting

·         Sudden onset of inability to control bowels

·         Excessively touching themselves

Other warning signs of abuse in older children:

·         Depression

·         Aggressive behavior

·         Moodiness

·         Drastic change in schoolwork

·         Sudden promiscuity of indiscretion in sexual activity

·         Distance from family

It’s easy to think that these kinds of things ‘can’t happen here.’  They can…and they do.  One in four females.  One in eight males.  It’s happening here.

Those abused tend to feel overwhelmed with shame.  They fear telling anyone about what someone has done to them.  It’s time to show love for our young people by being bold to ask questions and stand up for them.  It’s time to keep an eye out for potentially dangerous situations; to not keep quiet.  We dare not think, “They are such a nice person, they would never do something as awful that.”  If you suspect ANYTHING you need to speak up.  Talk to a school counselor or pastor.  Call Child Protective Services (or the police).  You don’t need proof, because most perpetrators are good at what they do and won’t let you see any.  Let trained people do the investigating.  If you report in good faith laws are in place to protect you.

One in four females.  One in eight males.  That’s a lot of pain all around us.  As people of God we must do everything in our power to put an end to this.  Let us build strong relationships with young people so they know that they can overcome their shame and have someone to talk to.  Let us keep an eye out for the signs of abuse in the kids around us.  Let us provide safe spaces to minimize the chances of abuse.  Let us err on the side of the vulnerable children. 

Let us also care for those who still live with the lingering effects of abuse in their lives.  Some people have held this secret their entire lives.  How can we provide a loving environment where people will be able to be honest about their pain and will be able to receive the support they need?

God does not intend for anyone to suffer like this.  May God use us to make a difference in the world!