Today’s post is from Julie B. Sevig, an ELCA deacon, communications specialist at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Chicago, IL.

Sunday, November 26, is soon here. In some congregations it is hailed as Christ the King Sunday, in others it has become known as the Sunday we focus on the Reign of Christ.

Some will sing “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!” (ELW 634) or “Crown Him with Many Crowns” (ELW 855) with gusto. Others will choose “Soli Deo Gloria” (ELW 878) or “Evening and Morning” (ELW 761), more gentle and subtle in both music and message. In my own congregation, the focus will be the end of the church year: Last Sunday of the Year.

Having a king doesn’t always turn out well for everyone, after all. Back in 1996, Gail Ramshaw, a scholar of liturgical language, wrote this when suggesting we call this “Last Sunday of the Year”: “I find the myth of the crown, like the crowns themselves, more greed and glitter than divine design.”

Throughout history, crown and throne have been associated with power that was misused and evil. And we’re sensitive to abuse of power and evil more than ever these days. It’s as palpable as the morning news.

So I look forward to November 26 as an opportunity to bid the year farewell, collectively and individually. Much like December 31, we have the chance to take stock of how we’re doing.

Don’t wait until New Year’s to make resolutions, theologian Karoline Lewis says: “Make this New Year’s Resolution Sunday.” On this Sunday (whatever we call it), we look back and look forward, and imagine God’s future and our role in it.

No, we won’t be singing “Auld Lang Syne” that week. But before shifting to Advent and all the anticipation it brings, my faith community will sing “Christ Is Alive! Let Christians Sing” (ELW 389):

“In ev’ry insult, rift, and war,

Where color, scorn, or wealth divide,

Christ suffers still, yet loves the more,

And lives, where even hope has died.” (v. 3)

 

Perhaps Dawn Chesser, preaching director for Discipleship Ministries of the United Methodist Church, says it best in her liturgical reflection for The Last Sunday of the Year: “Affirm the victories and name the demons, but then let it all go and move on. Hope is coming. New life is just around the corner. God’s grace is the hope of the world.”

——-

Sources referenced:

“Transfiguring Monarchy” by Gail Ramshaw in “Liturgy Christ Reigns” Journal of The Liturgical Conference, Volume 13, Number 2.

Karoline Lewis, “Throne Mentality” from Working Preacher, Luther Seminary, November 16, 2014.

Dawn Chesser, Preaching Notes for Christ the King Sunday, Year B (November 22, 2015).

Issue 55 of Administration Matters

Stories of Faith in Action 2017-2018 is here!

Stories of Faith in Action is an annual publication highlighting how God is changing lives through ministries funded by Mission Support. Mission Support is a portion of ELCA members’ unrestricted offering dollars that is shared with their synods and the ELCA churchwide organization. This collection of stories is a tool to help ELCA members understand how important their weekly offering is in sustaining and growing global and local Lutheran ministries. Stories, videos, bulletin inserts and an infographic explaining “Where does my offering go?” are tools congregations can use to encourage giving. Order free printed copies of the resource—just pay shipping and handling—or download a free pdf. Visit ELCA.org/SOFIA  now to read Stories of Faith in Action and download additional resources.

Plan ahead for 2018 payroll withholdings

If you provide ELCA benefits through Portico and your employees changed their 2018 pretax retirement, supplemental life insurance, and/or other voluntary benefit elections during Portico’s Annual Enrollment, you’ll need to adjust payroll withholdings for 2018. In December, this summary of 2018 payroll withholdings on EmployerLink can help you determine how much to withhold from paychecks in January.

‘Cybersecurity Best Practices for Churches’

Cybersecurity is the body of technologies, processes and practices designed to protect networks, computers, programs and data from attack, damage or unauthorized access. In a computing context, security includes both cybersecurity and physical security. In order to protect your constituents’ data, it is critical to understand cyber security threats and vulnerabilities and have the ability to defend your computer systems against cyberattacks. >More

‘You Need a Disaster Communications Plan’

This practical guide to developing a congregational disaster communications plan was written by the Rev. David Hansen, serving at Spirit of Joy! Lutheran Church in The Woodlands, Texas. Based on his experience at the congregational and synodical level responding to Hurricane Harvey, this blog post offers tips for communicating before, during and after a disaster. >More

1 in 10 Protestant congregations experiences embezzlement

While it’s easy to believe fraud could never happen in your congregation, the truth is that no congregation is invulnerable.>More

Planning safe events

Anyone who has hosted a gathering knows how much goes into even a simple get together with family and friends. Putting on a successful and safe church event takes planning to a new level. This resource from Church Mutual provides some steps to take as you manage your event planning.

– Theresa Hanley 

When I was first invited to attend the 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit, Michigan, I was scared. Before the Gathering, I only knew of the negative connotation that surrounded Detroit. However, since my short time in Detroit, I will forever be able to speak so proudly of the city. When I went to the Gathering, I was able to see God more clearly than ever before, and the people of Detroit changed my life. The Gathering allowed me to truly listen to God’s call for me by not only speaking about social justice topics, but also acting on these issues. 

Jesus calls us to make ourselves vulnerable for those in need, and that is what the Gathering enables. My whole life, I attended a tiny church in central Pennsylvania where my brother and I are the only youth. Although this place is my home, the Gathering made me truly proud to be a member of the ELCA. The Gathering was the first time I was able to worship God with more than the forty people who attend service every Sunday.  

The Gathering is a place where you are surrounded by people who believe the same fundamental things as yourself. It is an experience that is impossible to recreate. Singing “Hallelujah” in a building filled with over 30,000 Lutheran youth from across the country and beyond makes you feel so humbled that you are a part of this church. The Gathering changed my faith journey and I am forever thankful for the opportunity.  

I cannot wait to see what God has in store for Houston.

On Tuesday, October 31, rostered ministers of the Saint Paul Area Synod & Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA joined together in commemoration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. The theme for the day, Turning 501, we examined the question, “What Does the Church Need to be Passionate About As the Reformation Turns 501?” Six speakers from across this synod – theologians, professors, artists, & even a former bishop – challenged us to approach this question through a new lens and with wider scope. I , Rev. Jen Collins from the Saint Paul Area Synod was one of those six speakers. Having recently attended and completed the Transforming White Privilege (TWP): A 21st Century Leadership Capacity training in Chicago with other ELCA affiliated members, this laid the groundwork for reflection and envisioning the answer to the proposed question. “What does the church need to be passionate about?”

You see, I am a Latina who grew up in the southwestern desert in Albuquerque, New Mexico and has since then traveled all over this nation. Minnesota being my home since 2010 where I’ve attended seminary, met my now husband and have the most incredible daughter. We have a wonderful array of culture and heritage within our small family which is why I am so passionate about sharing my story and adding my colorful voice to the sea of many white ones within our ELCA church.  Being “Lutheran” is more than whiteness.

An answer to a question:

Greetings to you my family in Christ.

I am so elated and on fire to share with you a vision I believe the church should be passionate about as us Lutherans turn 501.  We just celebrated on Sunday this the Reformation- the congregation I serve had 12 young people stand before the community and affirm that God chose them- that they are the next set of reformers to help us shape God’s church.

We though. Those of us here and in our communities, are reformers too! When I was ordained just a couple of years ago, I was taking on two calls at the same time. My half African American, half Latina daughter, Faora blessed our lives. Faora was just barely a month old when I became a mother and a pastor. These calls have been intimately intertwined and have changed everything- the past couple years have been challenging in both my roles. The world’s climate has not been a breeze– if anything it’s been an ever-changing storm. I’ve have never felt so much heart ache – too many black bodies, night clubs and concerts, immigrants, refugees, #allarewelcome, hurricanes, #metoos, fake news, #hatehasnohomehere and most days I don’t even want to know what’s next. I pray that my African-American husband makes it home, I pray my family or others- are not harmed, judged, persecuted, marginalized just for the shade of skin God has gifted us.

God has shaken me, I’m now woke; meaning – I have been made aware of internal and external injustices constructed and uplifted by individuals, systems and institutions. I’ve been thinking and rethinking for myself, woke to the injustices my multi-ethnic family has endured. It is my prayer that the Lutheran Church, that the whole church of God becomes woke and stays woke to the racism and privilege that our- yes, our Lutheran Church has allowed to cultivate in the pews, in our seminaries and in the pulpit. We’ve reinforced stereotypes and limit who is “Lutheran” and who is not. We keep making cultural assumptions which continue to advantage some groups and disadvantage others.

In 501, we should be passionate and strive for EVERY member of the church to be aware of and respect all the voices in the room, not just the most evident or numerous.

We have a need, an urgency and commitment to God and our children that when we say, we are the ELCA Lutheran Church it means we are about the Reformer who changed it all- Jesus. The Word became flesh- a colorful, wonderfully made brown body, a middle eastern Jew that God embodied. Jesus is not a white savior- is not a dusty blonde with flowing locks, not a white European! Our mighty reformer, Jesus challenges us – invites us to tell the right story not a white story. To re-frame the narrative so, the whole church can honestly be welcoming, where ALL God’s people are valued, beloved creations. We are the church in 501. Germans- Swedes- Norwegians- White Europeans are not the only one’s who write the narrative about what it means to be Lutheran!

Jesus shows us we are to reform the world so children- black, brown, indigenous are not seen as less than, second-class, dangerous or a commodity to be used. We NEED to speak – We NEED to stop being silent. We need to be the beacon of hope this world needs. Luther said- “our office involves much toil and work, many dangers and attacks, and in addition to little reward or gratitude in this world. But, Jesus will be our reward, so long as we labor faithfully.” Being silent for fear of backlash, intimidation, ignorance, loss of employment at the utterance of “Black Lives Matters”- Taking a knee- support of LGBTQIA community – anything deemed “political” – not talking, that is being unfaithful to the gospel.

Will we just have to wait another 500 years to consider reforming?

Now is the time. Did Jesus wait? Jesus rocked the boat- stretching the imaginations of God’s people from the beginning and still this day as Lutherans enter 501. Do you see it- Jesus schooled sin, death and the devil to keep setting the marginalized, and demonized victims FREE.  Jesus pardons the prisoners and crosses ethnic and cultural lines, so people will SEE. Jesus changes lives- every life is SEEN, every life – every shade of flesh is VALUED- RESPECTED-DEEMED BEAUTIFUL- filled with Grace! Every life is worth the cost– Jesus endured being slapped around, insulted, assaulted, named “criminal” and led off to the cross- to breath his last breath but not for a loss.

Jesus endured for us – body and blood for us. Jesus rose for us- THIS IS GREAT, REFORMING, LIFE-CHANGING NEWS! We respond because what Jesus has done! We are reformers- called, gathered and sent by the Spirit- she helps us bring hope, love and life to a broken and sinful world. So that one day as Dr. King envisioned, my daughter, will not be judged by the color of her skin but by her heart, whose she is, as was dreamed just some 54 years ago.

 In 501, let’s Reclaim Jesus. Reform Lutheranism. Renew Hope. 

This is my passion and NEEDS to be our passion. This work is HARD and challenging but if we do not do the deep and investigative work within ourselves and with each other – then we aren’t being faithful to the gospel. We all – people of color and white folks have got to open ourselves up to talk productively about racial equity, take ACTION to address whiteness- the dominant culture narrative, privilege and the consequences. It is a goal to utilize this TWP Leadership Capacity to accomplish the ideas stated above. This program will be a monumental tool for our Synods, churches and communities. Let’s keep moving forward in 501 – be motivated!

#Reformation501 #DecolonizeLutheranism #Blacklivesmatter #TransformingWhitePrivilege

Faith Lens

Warm-up Question

What is the riskiest thing you did last week, something that could have cost you time, money, or health.

Risk and Trust

The stock market has been booming of late.  That has a lot of people excited, but analysts remind us that what goes up will ultimately come down.  Investments in the market have potential to make great gains–or lose a lot of their value overnight.  Generally speaking, riskier investments have the potential for a higher payoff.  Safer investments are less likely to lose their value, but they seldom create vast fortunes.

Some wonder why you should even be in the market.  If you want safety, why not put your money in the proverbial mattress?  Not investing has its own risks.  If inflation is running at 2.2% (the rate for the past twelve months) and you are not making any interest, you are losing buying power.

Whether and how you invest in the market is driven by your “risk tolerance.”  Some people get very anxious at the prospect of losing any money at all, and they are happy with modest, but steady returns.  Others like to roll the dice and see if they can score big gains, living with possibility that they will see big ups and down over the short run.

Discussion Questions

• Do you have any money invested (perhaps in a college fund, mutual fund, or money market account)?  How closely do you watch how it is doing?
• If someone gave you $1000 with the condition that it had to be invested in the market, would you look for safe, less potentially lucrative investments or would you opt for riskier investments with a bigger potential for quick, large gains?  Why?
• What might allow someone to make a risky investment without feeling too anxious?

Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year B at Lectionary Readings

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection

I’ve always thought this would be a much better story if the first two servants had lost their shirts.  A man goes on a journey, but before he leaves he entrusts some of his wealth to three slaves (or servants).  One gets five talents (a unit of gold or silver), one gets three, and the last servant gets one.   The first two slaves double their investment and–surprise, surprise–get a rousing affirmation from their master.  The third slave, who just returns his master’s investment intact is called lazy and wicked.  The key question is this:  What is the master affirming, the success of the first two slaves or their willingness to risk?  I think it is their willingness to risk, and indirectly the trust in their master which made them willing to go out on limb.  That is why it might be a better story if the first two had not been so insanely successful; then it would be clearer what Jesus values.

Few parables have been more abused than this one.  It has been the proof text for many “slot machine” theologies:  put in your coin and God guarantees riches.  But when you look closely you realize that the first two servants are just the set up, not the focus of story.  The focus of the story (and thus Jesus’ concern) is the poor fellow who was so paralyzed by his fear that he did not dare to do much of anything.

The tragedy of the story is that the one-talent man assumes his master is harsh and unreasonable–too often exactly the image many have of God.  But the story itself belies that assumption.  A talent was a tremendous amount of money, and the master entrusted it to this fellow.  True, he did not give him as much as the others, but maybe that is because he was not as competent.  Yet, there is no suggestion that the master expected him to do anything more than take a risk with what he has been given.  It is not his lack of success but his refusal to dare which brings his master’s wrath.

The gospel is not a magic amulet which guarantees that life will be smooth as we attempt to follow the way of Jesus.  There is genuine risk that we will be misunderstood, thought a little crazy, or put in the position of standing alone against a crowd.  Sometimes it may well look like we have failed.  God can live with that.  What is much more unfortunate is letting our fears keep us from bearing witness to the way of Jesus.  Whether we are entrusted with five talents or just one, the invitation is the same:  live boldly, love boldly in Christ because it is fear, not failure which is the great tragedy.  Christ came to set us free from fear and assure us that we can dare to take risks because the one who judges us is the one who loves us beyond measure.

Discussion Questions

• What is your greatest fear?  How might really knowing you are loved beyond measure help you deal with it?
• With whom do you identify in the parable?
• Why do you think the master gives the one-talent man’s money to the other servants?
• What do you need to know or feel in order to take a risk for your faith?

Activity Suggestions

Create a “stock exchange” of faith.  Brainstorm some activities which you might engage in as part of your Christian faith and talk about the risk/benefit of each.  List the “offerings” in which you might invest.  For example,

• How risky is it for you to worship regularly and how much potential is there for it to make a big difference in your life or the world?
• What are the potential costs and benefits of taking a stand against the bullying of a classmate?

Talk about what you learned about your own “risk tolerance” when it comes to discipleship.

Closing Prayer

Giver of all good things, you have promised that perfect love casts out fear, yet we often find ourselves very fearful of failing, of other’s harsh opinions, of not being good enough.  Give us courage and confidence to dare in your name, confident that your care undergirds all our efforts.

Many folks passionate about hunger issues are familiar with Shannon Jung’s work. He has written extensively on the topics of food and eating from a faith-based perspective. His books include Food for Life: The Spirituality and Ethics of Eating (2004), Sharing Food: Christian Practices for Enjoyment (2006), and Hunger and Happiness: Feeding the Hungry, Nourishing Our Souls (2009). In addition to his perceptive writing on these topics, Dr. Jung is a Presbyterian pastor and professor who has taught at Concordia College (Moorhead, Minn.) and Wartburg Theological Seminary (Dubuque, Iowa) as well as Dubuque Seminary and Saint Paul School of Theology. Below, Jung introduces us to his newest book, Building the Good Life for All: Transforming Income Inequality in Our Communities, available this year from Westminster/John Knox.

We hear a lot about the gap between the economically secure and those just getting by. What we wonder is, “How can we transform this gap in our communities?” We know that this is the sort of neighborliness Christ commended. But still the question: How can we build the good life for all?

Sometimes that neighbor is working hard to get by but seems to be falling behind and going further into debt. Many times, a single expense (doctor’s bill, car accident) will shatter a tight budget and force a family to choose between food or medicine or a house payment. “Getting by” can often be a pretty precarious way to live.

We see the devastation that natural disasters can wreak on vulnerable communities. Yet the income inequality we see now can leave communities vulnerable as well – to hunger, poverty, homelessness, and disease. What can we do about this?

In this new book, Building the Good Life for All: Transforming Income Inequality in Our Communities, the focus in on those who are working but find themselves struggling to get by, including those whose income already leaves them living in poverty.

As I contended in Hunger and Happiness: Feeding the Hungry, Nourishing our Souls, I argue here that our own happiness depends not on the quantity of goods we have stored up, but rather on our efforts to eliminate hunger and to ensure that all have access to the resources for a “good life”. Indeed, our own flourishing is tied into the flourishing of our neighbor. Thus, alleviating suffering and enabling long-term well-being is spiritually uplifting for the receiver, but even more so for the giver.

Building the Good Life for All maintains that our work at enabling all our neighbors to enjoy a good life will enrich our spiritual life. We are interdependent. God creates us like that. Striving to empower all people to have a sufficient and secure life–free from hunger and want–is one step towards recovering what God intended for the world.

This isn’t an attempt to harangue Christians into “doing more.” Instead, the book moves by way of stories from one strategy to another. People and churches are already working to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. They are also engaging in efforts to help people develop skills and abilities that will enable them to feed and clothe themselves. So, what the body of the book contends is that this effort is already underway and that Christians could enrich themselves by joining them or initiating similar efforts in their communities.

The beginning focus is on the specific community of Manatee and Sarasota counties in Florida, but many of the efforts there (advocacy, food pantries, tutoring programs, congregational-based community organizations) have branches around the country. So, the question is, “What fits your community?” There will be other similar efforts in your community. Many of the chapters in the book focus on one of four strategies:

1. Relief: This is the sort of program that a crisis like a hurricane calls for–feeding the hungry, finding clean water for the thirsty, making sure people are free from illness.
2. Self-Development: Here, churches can come alongside the working class and poor to assist them to learn English, to learn household management, to develop job skills, to get a job or to get a better job. People are thus able to feed themselves.
3. Public opinion formation: The church’s hunger ministries are efforts to shape public opinion in such a way as to see hunger as a scandal in the land of the free.
4. Public policy advocacy: This is the sort of work that ELCA Advocacy does with its partners, including Bread for the World, to influence legislation that will guarantee an income floor for all people and to support the rights of workers. It also includes such efforts as Fight for Fifteen – the movement to raise the minimum wage, and working to make affordable housing more accessible.

I strongly hope this book will be used by adult Christian education groups in churches. Each chapter has a list of discussion questions to spark conversation, and the last chapter encourages churches to develop or extend their own work. It is helpful that the operating assumption is that churches and other organizations are already doing this and the encouragement is to develop efforts that fit one’s own context.

In addition to the discussion questions in the book, there will be a video series to accompany the text, to help facilitate use by congregations.  Building the Good Life for All: Transforming Income Inequality in Our Communities is now available on sale from the Presbyterian Church (USA) store at https://www.pcusastore.com/Products/0664263186/building-the-good-life-for-all.aspx.

– Heather Langan 

Hello, my name is Heather Langan and I am the assistant team leader for the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering Community Life Planning Team.  I am so excited to be working as a member of this team as we create spaces for you and your youth to come together in fellowship, faith, and FUN while at the Gathering.   

So why should you bring your youth to the Community Life venues while you are in Houston?  What will spending time in the Community Life areas do for you?  Community Life will be the first people to greet you when you arrive in Houston at your hotel.  We will be there to help you check-in for the Gathering and to help you throughout your stay whether it be at your hotel or at NRG Park. We will be there to answer your questions to help make your experience at the Gathering be enjoyable and knowledgeable. 

When you arrive at NRG Park and are trying to figure out what to do with your youth until the “next thing” happens, we will be there to provide you lots of options. Community Life is organizing the playground which will be full of large group games, inflatables, and relaxation areas; to our concerts and youth talent showcases; to worship services and small group bible studies.  We are here to help and to serve you making your time in Houston a time to grow together as a youth group and also in your personal faith development.   

We will be in Houston to help you and to help your group have a great time whether you are at play or just spending time together. Community Life wants to serve you! 

Danny Stone, Marion, IA

Warm-up Question

Share a story about when you were late, unprepared or procrastinated.

It’s the End of the World as We Know it

Ever listened to REM’s 1987 classic, “It’s the End of the World?”  Playing it now prompts listeners to ponder recent disasters.  Texas was battered by Harvey.  Irma devastated the Caribbean Islands and rolled across Florida.  Hurricane Nate made landfall in Mississippi.  Puerto Rico is coping with the overwhelming effects of hurricanes Irma and Maria.  Forest fires burned more than a million acres in Montana and scorched California’s Napa Valley.  The Vegas gunmen opened fire from his hotel suite. World leaders threaten annihilation, and you cannot even talk about football without starting a fight.   Are we watching the end of the world?  What’s next?  Elvis is still dead, right?  Will The Walking Dead become a reality show?

Infamous televangelist, Jim Baker, sells a wide variety of food and gear for those anticipating an epic cataclysm.  You can enjoy a king’s breakfast while the world dies around you.   You can get 31,000 servings of food for $4,500.  National Public Radio’s food critics called it “Apocalypse Chow” and found the meals were far from a royal feast.  However, if you are worried about the Yellowstone super caldera volcano, a meteor from space, or civil collapse, Rev. Baker is hawking the grub you need.

The National Geographic Channel and the Discovery Channel feature end of the world enthusiasts in their shows Doomsday Preppers and Apocalypse Preppers.  Families detail their preparations, training, and weapon mastery.  Viewers get tips on how to purify toilet water, “toilet water on the rocks.”  You can learn how to make a bug-out bag, properly store gasoline, and escape cities when society collapses.

People have been anticipating the end for a long time.  The early Christian church anticipated the return of Jesus in 365, 400, 500 and 800 AD.  Expecting the end of days, Holy Roman Emperor Otto III dug up long dead Charlemagne in the year 999 AD.  Because Otto expected the dead to rise at 12:00 am on January 1, 1000, Charlemagne was propped up in the corner, ready to walk again.  Y2K was going to destroy our modern world with a computer glitch crashing the power grid and financial markets.

Perhaps the question is not, “When will the end come?” but “How should we live in the meantime?”At various points in Martin Luther’s life, he was convinced the end was near.  He felt the church was ruled by the “Antichrist,” Ottoman Turks threatened the West, plagues swept the land, and peasants rose in revolt.  Luther faced these challenges by getting married and worked to reform the church and society.

Discussion Questions

• What preparations has your family made for a minor disaster?  Where do you go during a storm?  What would you do if the power went out for a day, week or month?
• Share stories of coping with a disaster like a house fire, tornado, earthquake, flood, riot, blizzard . . .
• “Christian” author, David Meade, predicted an object from space would end the world on September 23, 2017.  We’re still here.  Why do these predictions make the news?
• Luther’s response to living in turbulent times was to marry, raise a family and build a religious movement.  How should we live in a stressed world?

Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost

Amos 5:18-24

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Matthew 25:1-13

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year B at Lectionary Readings

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection

Ever wonder what the kingdom of heaven is like?  Jesus answers our question with a parable – a very difficult parable.  He says the kingdom of heaven is like bridesmaids waiting to enter a wedding banquet.  Some of the bridesmaids have their oil lamps ready.  Others don’t have enough oil, are left in the dark, and miss the groom’s invitation to enter the party.  Being unprepared blocks you from the kingdom of heaven.  Ouch.  I’m a slacker.  I procrastinate.  I’m never fully prepared.  I drive for miles with my gas tank on E.  Who among us is always ready?  Doesn’t Jesus offer grace?  Where is the grace in this parable?

We can find deeper meaning in the story if we focus on the lamps and the oil.  The lamps are simple clay vessels with small fiber wicks fueled by olive oil.  The lamps job is to illuminate – to provide light and help us find the way.

Follow the light and we follow God’s grace. We need to see God, Jesus, the holy and divine in our daily surroundings.   God’s love and grace is the illuminating force.  When we see God’s guiding presence, we can easily follow the bridegroom into the banquet.  We become lost when the wicks run dry and darkness overcomes us.  Luther reminds us that “we are saved by grace through faith.”  The wick and oil must surely be our faith.  How much faith do we need?  That’s another parable.

Discussion Questions

• Do you find this parable harsh?  Bible texts can be interpreted through the lens of “Law or Gospel.”  How would “Law” comment on this parable?
• Who or what illuminates God in your life?
• When have you been a lamp for others?

Activity Suggestions

You have many events that require forethought, planning and grace.  Brainstorm the “prep” lists for:

• first day of school
• a big test
• youth group fundraiser
• ELCA National Gathering
• job interview
• athletic competition
• prom
• graduation
• college
• wedding
• expecting a baby

Closing Prayer

Most merciful Father and gracious host, help us to be ready so that we can see your grace and love.  Help us tend your light and be a light to others, in your name we pray. Amen.

On November 6, the Administration announced the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Nicaraguans and took no action to protect Hondurans, automatically extending their designation for 6 months. TPS is a legal immigration status that allows citizens from other countries who are present in the U.S. during a catastrophe in their country to remain in the U.S. until it is safe to return home. As a church guided by Scripture to act for earthly peace that is built on compassion and the dignity of every person, we are disappointed by the Administration’s decision that will separate families and leave people to face an uncertain future.

Through the ELCA’s AMMPARO Strategy, our church strengthened our commitment to walk alongside children and families who are forced to flee their homes in Central America. We did this to respond to the suffering of the thousands of unaccompanied children and families that are displaced from their communities due to violence, lack of opportunities and environmental issues. We are committed to accompany churches and our partners in Central America to address these issues, knowing that today conditions in these countries are still unsafe.

The Administration has already rescinded TPS for over 1,000 people from Sudan, and now hundreds more face an uncertain future. For almost 20 years, TPS holders from Honduras and Nicaragua have worshiped alongside us and brought their gifts to our communities. Without this protection, they will be forced to leave their communities yet again. Children and family members of TPS holders, many of whom are U.S. citizens, will bear the brunt of this Administrative decision. We pray today for all who face an uncertain future due to this decision. We call on the Administration to extend TPS for Hondurans for 18 months and urge Congress to pass timely legislation that protects all TPS holders.