Thy Kingdom Come

“If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” – Mark 5:28

While there are many reasons for us to pay attention about keeping our hands to ourselves – touch is one of the most prominent “connectors” in our humanity.  Without touch we become strangers to one another.

Americans are among the world’s least tactile people. Touch is our most social sense. Unlike seeing, hearing or smelling, touch typically indicates an interaction with another person.  But we have become so afraid of accusations of “abuse” that touch has become “taboo”.  We de-sensitize ourselves to the necessity of this kind of human contact and we become more and more isolated.

The gospel of Mark is a reminder of the close proximity that people had to one another and to Jesus.  In the narrative, of both the leader of the synagogue who comes to Jesus on behalf of his daughter, and the woman who was hemorrhaging, we are reminded that we cannot separate touch from healing.   Vulnerability, touch and presence are all a part of God’s healing. And in healing we see God's Kingdom as a very real presence with us. 

Check out this article written 10 years ago about why touch is important and what happens to us when we miss out. http://www.healingheartpower.com/article1.html

We are called to follow Christ (be present with one another) we are called to act as Christ does (be a healing presence) we are created in God’s image – we are created to be healers…It’s no wonder to me that we find ourselves more isolated from one another and from God as we retreat into our own private worlds. 

I invite you to take some of the suggestions from the end of the article above and get back in touch with the world around you – God’s world, our world.

Here are a few of the suggestions:

1  Make time for face to face relating. Don’t let yourself be quite so busy.  Pick up the phone and invite a friend or loved one to dinner instead of spending the night on e-mail.  

2  Go dancing. Partner dances, like Swing, Cha Cha, Salsa, Waltz, etc., integrate touch at the very heart of the dance.

3  Lend a helping hand.  Be proactive.   Reach out.  Ask permission and be respectful, yet willing to be of support.  

4  Pet a dog or cat.  Stroking a four-legged animal provides two-way love and affection.

Peace and Light

Pastor Erin

Called to Peace

“And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”  But he turned and rebuked them.  And they went on to another village.”

Luke 9:54-55

We had a guest preacher this last Sunday, a pastor from Turkey, Pastor Ramazan Arkon.  He reminded us of the history, current events and culture of Turkey; a country that spans 2 continents, holds many of the earliest Christian church sites, and is now 99% Muslim.  He reminded us how our actions, attitudes and beliefs can impact the relationships of Christians and Muslims worldwide.

He reviewed the racism that is a clear and pervasive tension in the biblical narrative (Samaritans and Jews) and in the end he gave us a clear picture that the ONLY way to change this discrimination and intolerance is to have conversation and discourse in love. 

This is what we are taught by Jesus.  We are called to peace.  We are called to forgiveness, we are called to leave space for conversation.

This space for conversation is especially important (and especially difficult) for those of us who are in the majority.  I have learned that I cannot speak FOR my brothers and sisters who are oppressed, but I can speak with them, and stand with them. 

And we need to have these conversations with our children.  It is not enough to simply say “this is not my issue” or “I am not racist”… we must admit that racism is still a disease in our American culture and unless we are willing to be a part of the change we remain a part of the problem.

Our ELCA presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton says it this way…“We need to be honest about the reality of racism within us and around us. We need to talk and we need to listen, but we also need to act. No stereotype or racial slur is justified. Speak out against inequity. Look with newly opened eyes at the many subtle and overt ways that we and our communities see people of color as being of less worth. Above all pray – for insight, for forgiveness, for courage.”

Read the full letter here Letter from Bishop Eaton here http://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/long_season_of_disquiet_letter.pdf?_ga=1.227968345.578868222.1411494496

The issue may die down in the news, but let us be moved to work together, led by the love of Christ, to build stronger relationships and communities.

Peace to you in Christ

Pastor Erin

Hallowed Be Thy Name

“The Lord requires you to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.”

 Micah 6:8

This week we are taking time to be thoughtful about the first request in the Lord’s Prayer – “Hallowed be thy name”.

I have been thinking a lot about this first petition.  At first glance it seems a bit odd when you think about it.  Asking God that God’s name be holy.  Are we making a request?   Making a statement of fact?  Expressing a belief?  And if any of those are the case, how does this prayer change us, or our way of thinking?

It makes me think about how we use language – and how we are shaped by the way we use language.  For example – (and I know Pastor Dave uses this one), when we say we are going to “try” something, the word “try” suggests that we already think that we might fail. Or as Yoda says – “Do or do not, there is not try”. 

We use phrases when we are working out, or making our way through tasks that help us to move forward and get stronger… “We can do this”, “it’s a good day to have a good day”, “clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose”, “I choose Happiness”, “it’s not a race” (unless is it a race then…get moving).

Perhaps we can use “Hallowed be thy name” to remember who it is that leads us in life.  Maybe we can use this phrase to remind us that God is ever present.  Maybe we can use it to give us courage when we are working together to actually be the presence of the body of Christ in the world.  When we “do justice, love kindness and walk humbly”.

I wonder how different we would move through our days if we used this as a breath prayer for the next 7-10 days.  Would we be more open to see God working in us and through us?  Would we recognize when we belittle God in our lives?  Would we reach out more to our neighbor?  Or at the very least be more open to seeing the needs?

I invite you to take the time to breathe this prayer as a regular part of your day.  Let me know how it goes…and ask me to share my experiences.  (that way we can keep each other accountable.)

Peace and Light

Pastor Erin

Our Father in Heaven

Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

Mark 3:35

It is not really a question of how we are related by blood, (although one could scientifically make the argument that an atom never really dies or goes away – it is just more or less.  And in that we are all “of the same blood”). Our questions of family have more to do with links, roles and authority.

In much of the world the head of the family is often seen as the eldest male in the household.   In many places it is the female elder.   In our culture (which is very much based on the Greco-Roman model) we are used to the head being a male.  This was also true in the times when the Bible was put together.

And so we see the kings and public rulers and leaders in our scripture as mainly male figures with a few females such as Esther, Deborah, and Lydia in the mix.  AND considering Mary was a woman and the mother of Jesus – then God must be a male.  (We are very much people of reasoning – even when it comes to issues beyond reason).

So it should be no surprise that the name “Father” is missing in this text since we call God “Father” and God is present. The whole family, those who live out life in unity with the will of God, is present.  

Over the next 9 weeks we will be looking more closely at the Lord’s Prayer and how we can apply it – and live it out daily. 

As we pray – “Our Father”, we remember that it is all of us together, one family, praying – recognizing that we live this life together.  And if it is difficult (as it sometimes is) to call God “Father”, we might do well to remembering that God is bigger than our reasoning, God is bigger than our imaginations, and that God encompasses the “whole” of who we are.

We can come to this God – and pray with whatever image brings us closer to knowing the will and the love of God.  We can come to God knowing that God is already there – wanting us to know the expanse of love that God does have for us, each of us, and all of us. 

Welcome to the Family…

Pastor Erin