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Pilgrims Leave Bethlehem on Their Way to Galilee
Continue to pray for the six people from three congregations in the New England Synod who left Nov. 1 on a two-week pilgrimage through the Holy Land, led by Pr. Timothy J. Keyl, Bethesda Lutheran Church, New Haven, Conn. They have left Bethlehem and are on their way to Galilee, guided by Micah 4:3-4. Read Keyl's blog. Learn more about our companion relationships with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and with Honduras. |
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'We Still Want to Domesticate Miracles' -- Pr. Nadia Bolz-Weber
Preaching on the miracle of the five loaves and two fishes, Pr. Nadia Bolz-Weber, keynote speaker, told the recent 2011 Bishop's Convocation: "This is way too important a story to be about people sharing their lunch." Instead, the point is that it's only as ill-prepared sinners that we finally become feedable. "Jesus didn't give these beggars a lecture on personal responsibility," Nadia said. "And neither should we. But who hasn't -- at some point in their parish ministry -- felt the way Jesus must have that day. Who hasn't just wished they'd all go away?"
Nadia cautioned against trying to create a "Six Flags over Jesus" kind of church, reminding us that it's always our poverty that God asks us to bring to him. "We have a God who creates out of nothing. Nothing is his favorite material." She challenged rostered leaders to leave their congregations feeling spiritually satiated through their pastoral excellence, without taking on the entire burden of "hunting and gathering" all by themselves. "You have the God it takes to feed the people in your care," she said, "so roll up your sleeves and make spiritual sack lunches for them. Come to him with the tender nothing of the forgiven sinner."
The convocation is the annual continuing education event for all pastors, associates in ministry, deaconesses and diaconal ministers in the New England Synod. Nadia is pastor of House for All Sinners and Saints, an ELCA mission congregation in Denver, Colo. The full text of her sermon will be available soon on the synod website.
Marketing to Millennials: Some Thoughts from Nadia
- Make sure your liturgy is truly "the work of the people." People are more interested in creating something than consuming it.
- Give people "jobs" to do that fit their talents and gifts, but don't force them to get involved.
- Think about eliminating committees. "What you want is zero obligation, but total commitment."
- Make it fun! Serve red velvet cake on Pentecost ... create an Advent icon out of Christmas advertising leaflets ... have a "Selling of Indulgences" Bake Sale on Reformation Day ... celebrate the end of Holy Week with a dance party. "Nothing says 'he is risen' like a chocolate fountain in the baptismal font."
Read Bishop Payne's Sermon at Bishop's Convocation. |
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Synod Offers Two Mission Trips to Honduras in 2012
The Global Mission Team of the New England Synod is hosting two mission trips in 2012 to Honduras, one of our companion relationships: Feb. 18-25, Chachagualla on the north coast near the ocean, and April 14-21, Yuscaran in the mountains near the Nicaraguan border. "Both dates coincide with many school vacations, so this is an opportunity to have families with school age children experience the most powerful vacation ever," said the trip organizer, Pr. Jim Hazelwood, St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Charlestown, R.I. Register now. Download flyer. Learn more about the synod's companion relationships with Honduras and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. |
