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Faith at any age

Here’s a Lenten devotion for the whole family

Every year someone asks me what I’m giving up for Lent (that 40 day period before Holy Week where many Christians seek an inward journey, a connection with the holy).

I used to give up ice cream. There were years I gave up wine. Chocolate, cookies, all those things have hit the list.  But I don’t give up things for lent anymore. I take something on. Just one thing. If I take on just one thing, perhaps my lenten discipline will succeed.lent-share.jpg

Last night at Ash Wednesday services I invited people to a “Holy Lent” and talked about “Lenten discipline”. I’m not sure what folks think when I say that, but for me, a Holy Lent is a mindful lent. Just a few weeks of the year where I remember that I am dust, and to dust I shall return.

I am very pleased with the idea of a Lenten discipline being a devotion – reading, praying something every day for the Lenten season. And I have included one that I found that makes me happy. Its for all ages, for families, for singles, for couples. Try it out, won’t you? (It started on Sunday, but you can start today). Or pick up a devotion at Holy Cross, or even search the web for one that makes you happy. Take on a discipline for lent with me, won’t you? I think we will both be better for it. –

Pastor Patricia+

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Fear, and what comes next

The kids at Holy Cross let me bring out my Daniel Tiger doll every so often. And we all learn from the very young tiger who is learning things often for the very first time.

The adults at Holy Cross let me sometimes enter into discussions about the life of faith through the eyes of a very young tiger. Because I think we are all dealing with fear today. We cover it up – some of us ‘eat our fears and anxieties’ – mine are most appreciated when they are chocolate dipped. Some of us become angry people – shaking our fists in rage at the ‘fools’ who run things, or the ‘idiots’ who want change to come. Some of us, driven by fear, disappear into ecstasy – (yeah, this is hard to explain) – religious ecstasy is ancient, but modern ecstasy finds worship, prayer and the like to be a vehicle to back out of the conflict we see around us.

But we are transfigured. On the mountaintop in Matthew, Jesus tells the terrified disciples, ‘Get up. Do not be afraid.’ He’s been showing them in his ministry, by healing, and casting out demons, and feeding the people all along. His power is shown to them in a fearful display on Transfiguration, as Elijah and Moses join him in glorious light! But this power display is not to frighten, but to inspire. This life they are called to join is glorious – don’t minimize that – don’t let the fear take hold.

So, when we all get frightened, like Daniel Tiger does, we could learn from Daniels’ mother who tells him to think of something happy. And then what? move forward, step by step, do not be afraid. What might we accomplish if we could move beyond fear to action in the name of the King?

My friends, take a breath, go to that place inside yourselves where we worship our Lord – and change the world.

Pastor Patricia

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Welcome

Today’s blog is from Margo Jensen, chair of our Reconciling in Christ team at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Enjoy.

“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of
others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope,
and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and
daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest
walls of oppression and resistance.”
― Robert F. Kennedy
“Ultimately, America’s answer to the intolerant man is diversity, the very
diversity which our heritage of religious freedom has inspired.”
― Robert F. Kennedy Continue reading “Welcome”

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You will be found

As the world’s news swirls around us these days – coronavirus, elections, disappointing behavior on the part of  elected members of the government. I continue to see hope, to be hopeful, that compassion is alive and well.

Compassion – Merriam Webster defines it this way – : sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it. Being aware of how our  brothers and sisters struggle in our world, and the desire (and also the motivation) to enter into that struggle, on the side of those brothers and sisters. In my heart, this is the business of the church as well as individuals today.  Continue reading “You will be found”

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Do Justice, love mercy, walk humbly

I had a conversation with a member of my church, Holy Cross, about 6 years ago. We were talking about the vote that was coming up from our congregation to agree to let me perform weddings in the church sanctuary – weddings for couples I had met for counseling and believed they wished to enter into a loving marriage – where they put the other partner first, and self interest to the side. And, if the couple consisted of two men, or two women, or one of each, it didn’t matter to me. The church was asked to consent. And then, I had this conversation with a member about it. He said, “You know in my life, Pastor, I’ve seen a lot of change. On the Navy ship I served, black men could only serve as cabin boys, or in the galley. I didn’t realize how wrong that was then. Seems to me that people wanting to get married where they are gay or homosexual or whatever, might be the same thing. You go ahead and do it.”  Continue reading “Do Justice, love mercy, walk humbly”