Doing What Matters 

Bible Passage

In the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up-for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no one to till the ground; but a stream would rise from the earth, and water the whole face of the ground- then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:4-7

Guided Imagery

Let's Pray - Art as Prayer

• Place your art supplies on the table before you.
• Breathe deeply and slowly. With each breath, imagine God's love and creativity flowing in and out of you. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in your thoughts.
• Allow your imagination to give you an image from this reading that speaks to you now.  What is God doing?  What is the living being doing?  What is God's intention for the living being?  What does that feel like for you?
• Use your art supplies to create a representation of this image that you see in your mind.  Let your freedom and creativity go wild.
• Look at what you have created.  Do you see anything that surprises you?  How is God speaking to you through this activity?

Closing Prayer

Spirit of the living God, we are grateful that you speak to us and listen to us in many different ways. Guide us to till the ground to the glory of God.  We pray in the strong name of Jesus and through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Hurricane Irene: When "First Responders" Wear Clerical Collars

Brilliant blue skies...abundant sunshine....and not a cloud in sight. The picture-perfect summer images visible throughout New England the day after the storm belied the devastation caused by Hurricane Irene as she cut a wide swath through the Northeast this past Sunday. Millions lost power as torrential rains and damaging winds ravaged virtually every corner of our synod, causing epic flooding and widespread property destruction. Now, as pastors and other church leaders throughout New England begin to assess the situation and plan their recovery efforts, their main concern is for their congregations. 

Fortunately, many of them had heeded the words of Bishop Margaret Payne, who had advised avoiding conditions that would be "unsafe for worshipers" over the weekend, and even suggested the possibility of cancelling services. One of the bishop's concerns in her email to New England congregations was  "keeping parishioners out of the way of falling tree limbs." 

Little did the Rev. Lena Warren, pastor of Salem Lutheran Church in Naugatuck, Conn., know how prophetic those words would turn out to be. As reported in the local "Patch" coverage of Hurricane Irene, part of a large beech tree that had shaded the church playground for years collapsed during the storm - breaking a lamp pole in half, and tearing down a power line that was attached to the church and extended along the sidewalk. The line arced, setting fire to the siding and insulation. But it was quickly extinguished.

As Pastor Lena told the Patch, gratefully, "due to the rapid response of the Naugatuck Fire Department, only the very outside of the building and the wiring burnt. There was no other damage to the church." However, repairs will need to be made, wiring replaced, and poles restored. Since the Rev. Warren also pastors the nearby Immanuel Lutheran Church, she will be moving her office into that building in the meantime. "Immanuel seems to have survived unscathed," she said, "there are only a few branches and leaves down, despite the wind."  

Like many New England pastors and their parishioners during the storm's aftermath, Pastor Lena is looking forward to getting her power back and having things return to normal. And seeing to the needs of one's parishioners before, during, and after the storms life brings is part of what it means to be a "first responder" in God's kingdom. To quote Bishop Payne, during this time of restoration and recovery, "we seek to be the Body of Christ in compassionate care and service to one another." 

Raging Waters in Shelburne, Mass

Was your congregation among those impacted by Hurricane Irene? If so, we would love to hear your story, and perhaps even publish it on our website. Please click here  

A program, "What Is Missional Church?" will be held Tuesday, Sept. 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Vernon, Conn., for theologians and rostered leaders, sponsored by the New England Lutheran Theological Forum. The group seeks to stimulate and support excellence and faithfulness in ministry, especially on the theological level. Check out its blog for articles by Pr. Kari Henkelmann Keyl, "Mission, Passion, and Latin Roots," and Dr. James Nieman, "Context." For more information, contact Pr. James Debner, Zion Lutheran Church, Southington, Conn., at 203-368-3103 or pastor@zionlutheranct.org. Registration is $25.