By Pastor Betty Landis, member of Grace Lutheran Church, Evanston, IL

“The time has come for us to civilize ourselves by the total, direct and immediate abolition of poverty.”

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Where do we go from Here: Chaos or Community?” (1967)

My excitement has caused me to wake up before dawn on a Monday morning. After months of meetings, training sessions, phone calls, rallies, social media posts and paperwork, I soon will board a bus from Evanston to Springfield, Illinois. It is the second week of an intensive six weeks leading up to the launch of the revived, reignited Poor Peoples Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. Last week, the 40 Days of Nonviolent Moral Fusion Direct Action began with a rallies and demonstrations in 39 states and the District of Columbia focused on Somebody’s Hurting Our People: Child Poverty, Women and People with Disabilities. National campaign co-chairs the Revs. William J. Barber II and Liz Theoharis were among hundreds arrested nationwide in the most expansive wave of nonviolent civil disobedience in U.S. history, kicking off six weeks of direct action demanding new programs to fight systemic poverty and racism, immediate attention to ecological devastation and measures to curb militarism and the war economy.

Today, our focus is on the connection between Systemic Racism, Poverty and Voter Suppression. We will visit our legislators to demand an end to racist gerrymandering and a reversal of state laws that prevent municipalities from raising minimum wages. Just days after our President referred to undocumented immigrants as “animals” who “aren’t people,” our protest will also demand a clear and just immigration system that strengthens our democracy and provides a timely citizenship process that guarantees the right to vote. We have been asked to accompany and be witnesses for the Illinois Fight for 15 coalition – the leaders of today’s nonviolent moral fusion direct action. One of our principles is always to follow the lead of those who are most affected. Another covenant reminds us that our political, economic and moral movement is not from above, but from below – building up the power of people and state-based movements.

Two years ago, I was invited by my colleague, now my pastor, Rev. Daniel Ruen, to participate in the Moral Mondays protests focused upon changing Illinois’ unjust tax structure in order to allow for a people- and planet-first state budget. After two arrests, multiple Kingian nonviolence training sessions, and significant faith-based community organizing efforts, I am more convinced that ever that this is a critical time for people of faith to put their bodies on the line for their neighbors in need. The PPC is a natural progression made even more necessary by the increasing incidents in racism, homophobia, xenophobia, gun violence/militarism, ecological destruction, wage disparities and white nationalism – often promoted by religious extremists.

It has been an honor to support Rev. Ruen’s leadership, my fellow Grace Lutheran members and Evanston’s interfaith community members in preparing trained, passionate and creative folks to join this movement in whatever way they are called by the Holy Spirit. I am grateful to be able to continue in the covenant God made with me in Holy Baptism which includes discipleship that “strive[s] for justice and peace in all the earth.” Like the on-going nature of discipleship, this is not just a finite moment. The PPC is a long-term, creative, non-partisan, nonviolent movement of faithful people intentionally opening themselves to God’s will done on earth as in heaven. Won’t you join us? It is my prayer that you will gladly share with your children and your grandchildren that you did!

Today’s post comes from Rev. Christopher Laughlin, chaplain at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

I was an Army Reserve chaplain and a parish pastor; I served a small, rural parish in Michigan. I currently serve as a basic training battalion chaplain at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; I’m one of three chaplains who lead worship at the “Liturgical Protestant Service.”

Attendance at this service fluctuates between 50 and 200, and it’s the youngest, most diverse congregation I can imagine; it is truly representative of “every nation, tribe, people and language” (Revelation 7:9). While there are a few soldiers and families who are permanently assigned to Fort Leonard Wood in attendance, most are trainees who will attend our service for less than 22 weeks (many for only 9) while they complete Basic Combat Training (BCT) and/or Advanced Individual Training (AIT). They hail from every state and nearly every continent.

Some attend because this service is the most comfortable for them, coming from a liturgical or sacramental background (this was why I attended a similar service while in BCT and AIT). Others attend because they prefer hymns over praise music. Still others attend because of the relationship that they form with their chaplain, or because they are exploring different Christian traditions of worship. The singing fluctuates wildly in quality, as trainees are often hoarse from “being motivated” (yelling) all week.

Then there are those trainees who attend because congregations and individuals from all over the North/West Lower Michigan Synod send me cookies for the fellowship time which follows worship each week. This has been a real gift to the trainees – those cookies are a taste of home and comfort in what is, for many of them, the most difficult and trying time in their lives.

My opinions are my own and do not reflect those of the 2^ndBattalion, 48^thInfantry Regiment, the 3^rdChemical Brigade, the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence, the Training and Doctrine Command, the Chaplain Corps, or the United States Army.

The Farm Bill is an omnibus legislation that helps to fund our national and global food programs. Reauthorized every five years, the Farm Bill is among legislation that Congress needs to pass this year. To learn more, check out the Farm Bill Resource and ELCA Advocacy’s Farm Bill recommendations here. 

The House Agriculture Committee passed H.R. 2 – Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (Farm Bill reauthorization bill) on April 25, 2018 by a vote of 26-20. This marks one of the first times that a Farm Bill passed out of committee on a party line vote. The Farm Bill is usually one of the most bi-partisan bills in Congress with the last vote being a 68 in favor, 32 in opposition result in the Senate, and a 251 in favor and 161 in opposition in the House of Representative. ELCA Advocacy opposes the House bill in its current form for several reasons detailed below.

Nutrition

The House bill includes new work requirements for able-bodied adults receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps). These requirements put many people at greater risk of hunger as they divert funding away from direct food assistance to pay for ineffective work mandates. There are already work requirements under current law and creating additional requirements will lead to unnecessary and complicated burdens, which come in the form of added bureaucracy and verification that ultimately reduce the effectiveness of SNAP. Mandating additional work requirements, education and job training will create more barriers for low income people who are already struggling to free themselves of the cycle of poverty. We urge Lutherans to advocate to their representatives for protection of SNAP programs without hidden cuts to benefits, to ensure our neighbors have access to food.

Environmental

The House Farm Bill appears to be a mixed bag: it creates positive changes to help farmers, but there are uncertainties that linger over some of the benefits of some changes. The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is expected to be eliminated and some funding will instead be diverted to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). These programs help improve farming practices through reducing fertilizer use, better management of manure and building fences to manage livestock movement so as to keep them away from streams.

Additionally, the bill redesigns the structural funding of programs, and switches many of them from permanent to temporary or a one-time funding. These programs include the Conservation Stewardship Program which is rolled into the Environmental Quality Incentives Program; the Rural Energy for America Program; the Biomass Crop Assistance Program; and the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical & Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance.  Some of the benefits for the Farm Bill includes the way it boosts other items such as agricultural trade, crop insurance and creation of a national vaccine bank to fight foot-and-mouth disease.

The forest management provisions would be changed to allow for bigger and faster forest-thinning projects under the current exclusion from certain reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) with the purpose being to reduce wildfire risk or address disease and insect infestation. This revision also includes the elimination of the requirement for a consultation under the Endangered Species Act as long as the listed species are deemed not to be harmed. It is too early to fully determine the impact of the changes. We must proceed cautiously, to provide the protections needed for our farmers and farms while doing these in an environmentally safe manner.

International Food Aid Programs

The House bill makes some important reforms to the international food programs, including authorizing the Food for Peace program to purchase food commodities from local and regional farmers, something we have advocated for a long time. Additionally, the bill removes the 15% requirement for monetization of food commodities, which will allow implementing organizations to utilize the appropriate range of tools and interventions depending on what’s needed and the context, such as food vouchers and cash transfers. These changes will increase efficiencies in international food aid programs. Unfortunately, the bill does not make any changes to the cargo preference requirement (a regulation that requires at least 50 percent of the nation’s overseas-bound food aid to be transported by U.S.-flag ships), something that we would like Congress to address in order to save on the cost of shipping and enable more food to reach the people who need it most.

What’s Next

The Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to release a bi-partisan Farm Bill later this month that will build on the successes of the bill enacted in 2014. It is expected that this will be an improvement over its House companion. The House is expected to vote on their Farm Bill during the second week of May. We ask you to urge your members of Congress to write a bipartisan Farm Bill that will pass in both chambers.

Lutheran Presence

Christ taught us in the Lord’s Prayer to pray for our daily bread. Martin Luther’s expansive understanding of daily bread includes not only what nourishes our bodies, but also the natural resources, labor and the economy, including the food supply chain. Advocacy for good policies in the Farm Bill responds to God’s love for us through active love for neighbor by shaping policy that will provide daily bread for people, care for creation and contribute to a just world where all are fed.

Dennis Sepper, Burnsville, MN

Warm-up Question

How can you tell if someone is telling you the truth?

Spirit of Truth

Nathan Zohner, a 14-year-old student at Eagle Rock Junior High School won first prize at the Greater Idaho Falls Science Fair with his project on Dihydrogen Monoxide.  Nathan urged 50 of his peers to sign a petition demanding strict control or the total elimination of the chemical Dihydrogen Monoxide because:

• It can cause excessive sweating and vomiting.
• It is a major component of acid rain.
• It can cause severe burns in its gaseous state.
• Accidental inhalation can kill you.
• It contributes to the erosion of our natural landscape.
• It decreases the effectiveness of automobile brakes.

43 of his peers said yes and signed the petition.  6 were undecided.  And one knew that the so-called dangerous chemical is…water!

It turns out what Nathan was really testing was how gullible we all can be to what we call today “fake news”.  86% of Nathan’s classmates just accepted what Nathan was saying and believed that “water” was a threat to humankind.  Following a report on Nathan’s project, an enterprising person set up a “Ban DHMO” website and was evening selling T-shirts for the cause (the website still exists @ DHMO.org)

Discussion Questions

• Have you ever believed something to be true but later found out it wasn’t?  How did you find out?  How did it make you feel?
• Going back to the warm-up question, how do you know if something you read or hear is true?  What resources can you use to find out the truth of something?
• Is there more to truth than “the cold, hard facts”?  Can a story be “true” in regard to what it says about human nature or even God?

Day of Pentecost

Acts 2:1-21

Ezekiel 37:1-14 (alternate)

Romans 8:22-27

John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

(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

On this Pentecost Sunday we remember and celebrate the giving of the Holy Spirit to the disciples, as promised by Jesus.  In this section of John’s Gospel, the Holy Spirit is called the “Advocate” and the “Spirit of truth” (see John 15:26 and John 16:13).  Jesus makes the promise that the Spirit of truth will guide us into the way of truth.  However, as we explored above, we might ask the question “what is truth?”

In the Gospel, John gives us some answers to that question.  First, John says that Jesus is the truth (Jesus is full of grace and truth, John 1:14 and Jesus states “I am the way, the truth and the life,” John 14:6.)  John also say that the Gospel Jesus proclaims is the truth (John 8:31-32).

What that means for us today is that in baptism we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit.  This is the same Spirit of truth that Jesus speaks of in this week’s gospel text.  We take Jesus at his word that the Holy Spirit will guide us in the way of truth.

Martin Luther had another way of saying this in his Small Catechism explanation of the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed when he wrote, “I believe that I cannot by my own understanding or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to him, but the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, made me holy and kept me in true faith”

Then Luther goes on to say how the Holy Spirit also calls and gathers the community of faith…the Church.  The Spirit of truth is not just present in us as individuals but as a community, as the Church.  So while we have the ability to consider the truth of something compared to Jesus and to what Jesus proclaimed and taught, so the community of faith has that ability too.

One final point about this issue of truth…in the Gospel of John, and in the whole New Testament really, truth demands action.  The truth of Jesus calls us to be witnesses to Jesus and to the Gospel in the world.  Or to put it another way, we do not just know the truth, but the truth sets us free to action, witness, advocacy and service in the world (See John 8:32).

Discussion Questions

• What are some of the gospel truths you hold dear in your faith journey?  How does that truth set you free?
• What truths have your congregation or community of faith claimed as the reason for their ministry and mission; evangelism, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, working with prisons (and there are many more)?  How did your congregation come to that decision?

Activity Suggestions

There is an old activity that would work well this week.  It is called “Two Truths and a Lie” and it goes like this:  each person states two truths and one non-truth about their life and the others in the group must guess which statement is the false one.  The purpose of the activity, not unlike Nathan Zohner’s experiment, is to show us how hard it is sometimes to figure out truth from falsehoods.

Closing Prayer

Spirit of Truth, on this occasion of Jesus giving you as a gift to us and the Church, we ask that you remind us that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  By your power let us clearly hear the truth of the Gospel and Jesus’ teaching.  Move us to action as witnesses, disciples, and advocates in our own day.  We ask this in name of Jesus, our Savior.  Amen

This post originally appeared on the ELCA Advocacy blog. You can subscribe to the ELCA Advocacy blog by following the link.

On Monday, May 14, 2018, people of faith and low-wage workers gathered in Washington, D.C. and more than 30 statehouses across the country to kick off the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. This initiative seeks to move poverty to the top of our national consciousness through energized grassroots organizing that will expose, confront and take aim at forces that keep people in poverty. At this moment of rising income inequality, this campaign brings together the moral power of organized people of faith, the voices of those living in poverty and the urgency of addressing our national priorities.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. planned the original Poor People’s Campaign of 1967-68 to build on the momentum and strategies of the civil rights movement to address the denial of human rights and dignity to Americans trapped in poverty. Moved by the struggles of people and communities he encountered in his journeys, he sought to bring together low-wage workers, faith leaders and activists to highlight inequities and demand our nation prioritize programs that support workers and jobs, access to housing and a war on poverty. The initiative lost momentum after the assassination of Dr. King.

Fifty years later, in 2018, a new Poor People’s Campaign is growing up from the seeds that Dr. King planted. The campaign will address the roles that systemic racism, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism play in perpetuating generational poverty in the U.S. As a faith community initiative, it is bringing together religious leaders who will engage in mobilization, advocacy and civil disobedience to make their voices heard. Read more about the 2018 Poor People’s Campaign.

The Rev Dr. William Barber and the Rev Dr. Liz Theoharris, the campaign leaders, are at the fore of a multiracial and interreligious coalition that launched 40 days of protests and direct action on May 14. Over the course of these 40 days, causes, concerns and solutions to persistent and generational poverty will be highlighted through marches, worship events and nonviolent direct action. The initiative seeks to change the moral narrative in our nation, from blaming poor people for their own poverty to involving them in solutions to it. The campaign highlights the role that entrenched systemic racism plays in perpetuating poverty and the result of a national budget that prioritizes military spending at the cost of anti-poverty programs. The renewed campaign also takes on environmental degradation and promotes sentencing reform as areas where our collective moral voice must break through for change.

The 2018 Poor People’s Campaign is bringing together Lutherans who are concerned about the increase in income inequality in our nation, the intersections of poverty, race and environment and the toll of cuts to anti-poverty programs on their communities and church members. As a new, faith-led grassroots movement by which to advocate on the local, state and federal level, it offers congregations a new way to act to address hunger and poverty. It highlights the urgency of this moment for action with and on behalf of our neighbor.

The ELCA Social Statement on Economic Life reminds us that God calls us to seek sufficiency and sustainability for all. “For all” refers to the whole household of God—all people and creation throughout the world. Therefore, our economic analysis cannot stop with our own well-being, but must assess how economic activities affect “all,” especially people living in poverty. Scripture gives voice to the circumstances that keep people poor, whether social status, oppression or because of the greed and injustice of the powerful. The statement urges this church to “address creatively and courageously the complex causes of poverty.” The Poor People’s Campaign is a vehicle to help us do that in our day.

Too often, advocacy is speaking for others who are perfectly able to speak for themselves. As the ELCA, we prioritize advocacy that supports people with lived experience of poverty or oppression to tell their own stories, using voices that are often the most powerful in creating change. The Poor People’s Campaign offers an opportunity to accompany others in solidarity and urgency, in advocacy as the church for the world.

ELCA Advocacy will be highlighting the reflections and experiences of Lutherans involved in the next 40 days of action. Look for coming blog posts, or send us your experience. How is your faith a catalyst for your participation? What outcomes do you hope for? Who are your partners and what are you learning? Please send to washingtonoffice@elca.org.

Issue 58 of Administration Matters

2018 ELCA Youth Gathering

Next month we will be gathering with more than 30,000 of our Lutheran friends! The 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering is on its way, and we can’t wait to engage in our theme, This Changes Everything, guided by Ephesians 2:8: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” For those of you who won’t be able to join us in Houston, we invite you to connect with us via livestream on our website. We’ll be sharing our Mass Gatherings (starting June 27 at 7:30 p.m.), as well as daily Bible studies with some of our main stage speakers (starting at 3:30 p.m.), and worship services for MYLE (June 26 at 6:45 p.m.) and The tAble (June 27 at 10 a.m.). We also would like to invite you to follow us on all social media platforms using #ELCAYG2018. Join the story and share with others! > More

Pastor’s discretionary fund tips

Without a clear policy in place, the pastor’s discretionary fund can result in mistrust, accusations and even income tax issues for a congregation and its leadership. > More

How to handle money and protect contributions

Theft or embezzlement at worship centers happens at facilities of all sizes, within all denominations and at locations across the country. The sad truth is many religious organizations are easy targets for three main reasons: financial control is often given to one person; there is little oversight because the person is trusted within the organization; and a large amount of cash is handled. > More

Amending or ending gift restrictions

From time to time, restricted gift purposes cannot be fulfilled as expected. However, charitable organizations should be very careful and take all proper steps to repurpose or amend restricted gifts. > More

Prepare trees to endure high winds

The destructive force of wind can cause enormous damage to trees. Everyone has seen photographs of areas hit by a hurricane or tornado. Large areas are littered with uprooted trees and broken branches. However, it does not take a storm of great magnitude to cause tree damage. > More

Handling church property losses

It’s bad enough having a property loss caused by fire, smoke or vandalism, but not having the proper records to substantiate your claim with the insurer can cause even more headaches. It is essential to know that in the event of a loss, it is the claimant’s responsibility to prove the amount and extent of the loss. Proper record-keeping can save the day. > More

By The Rev. Amy Reumann, Director of ELCAadvocacy

They tried to bury us. They didn’t know we were seeds.

Dinos Christianopoulos

On Monday, May 14, 2018, thousands of people of faith and low-wage workers will gather in Washington, D.C. and more than 30 statehouses across the country to kick off the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. This initiative seeks to move poverty to the top of our national consciousness through energized grassroots organizing that will expose, confront and take aim at forces that keep people in poverty. At this moment of rising income inequality,this campaign brings together the moral power of organized people of faith, the voices of those living in poverty and the urgency of addressing our national priorities.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. planned the original Poor People’s Campaign of 1967-68 to build on the momentum and strategies of the civil rights movement to address the denial of human rights and dignity to Americans trapped in poverty. Moved by the struggles of people and communities he encountered in his journeys, he sought to bring together low-wage workers, faith leaders and activists to highlight inequities and demand our nation prioritize programs that support workers and jobs, access to housing and a war on poverty. The initiative lost momentum after the assassination of Dr. King.

Fifty years later, in 2018, a new Poor People’s Campaign is growing up from the seeds that Dr. King planted. The campaign will address the roles that systemic racism, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism play in perpetuating generational poverty in the U.S. As a faith community initiative, it is bringing together religious leaders who will engage in mobilization, advocacy and civil disobedience to make their voices heard. Read more about the 2018 Poor People’s Campaign.

The Rev Dr. William Barber and the Rev Dr. Liz Theoharris, the campaign leaders, are at the fore of a multiracial and interreligious coalition that will launch 40 days of protests and direct action on May 14. Over the course of these 40 days, causes, concerns and solutions to persistent and generational poverty will be highlighted through marches, worship events and nonviolent direct action. The initiative seeks to change the moral narrative in our nation, from blaming poor people for their own poverty to involving them in solutions for it. The campaign highlights the role that entrenched systemic racism plays in perpetuating poverty and the result of a national budget that prioritizes military spending at the cost of anti-poverty programs. The renewed campaign also takes on environmental degradation and promotes sentencing reform as areas where our collective moral voice must break through for change.

The 2018 Poor People’s Campaign is bringing together Lutherans who are concerned about the increase in income inequality in our nation, the intersections of poverty, race and environment and the toll of cuts to anti-poverty programs on their communities and church members. As a new, faith-led grassroots movement by which to advocate on the local, state and federal level, it offers congregations a new way to act to address hunger and poverty. It highlights the urgency of this moment for action with and on behalf of our neighbor.

The ELCA Social Statement on Economic Life reminds us that God calls us to seek sufficiency and sustainability for all. “For all” refers to the whole household of God—all people and creation throughout the world. Therefore, our economic analysis cannot stop with our own wellbeing, but must assess how economic activities affect “all,” especially people living in poverty. Scripture gives voice to the circumstances that keep people poor, whether social status, oppression or because of the greed and injustice of the powerful. The statement urges this church to “address creatively and courageously the complex causes of poverty.” The Poor People’s Campaign is a vehicle to help us do that in our day.

Too often, advocacy is speaking for others who are perfectly able to speak for themselves. As the ELCA, we prioritize advocacy that supports people with lived experience of poverty or oppression to tell their own stories, using voices that are often the most powerful in creating change. The Poor People’s Campaign offers an opportunity to accompany others in solidarity and urgency, in advocacy as the church for the world.

ELCA Advocacy will be highlighting the reflections and experiences of Lutherans involved in the next 40 days of action. Look for coming blog posts, or send us your experience. How is your faith a catalyst for your participation? What outcomes do you hope for? Who are your partners and what are you learning? Please send to washingtonoffice@elca.org.

By Elena Robles, Hunger Advocacy Fellow

Today we celebrate Mother’s Day and mark the many ways in which those in a mothering role enrich and bless our lives. Mothers throughout the Bible were often strong and tenacious women who endured and sacrificed much to sustain and nourish the lives of their children and families.  As we celebrate mothers today, we are mindful of one of the major challenges that many low-income mothers face daily: hunger.

Through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program(SNAP), many low-income mothers can bridge some of their financial gaps and guarantee access to the food their families need to survive and to thrive. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistant program is one of our nation’s best defenses against hunger and poverty.

In 2016 SNAP helped to feed over 19 million children, almost half of SNAP recipients. SNAP serves children across all age groups. Across the country,  “32% of all children ages 0-4, 30% of children 5-11, and 21% of children ages 12-17 participate in SNAP”(Source: SNAP and Kids).  More than 80 percent of families on SNAP live below the poverty line, with an income at about about $20,000 for a household of three. SNAP is effective, in that kids from low income families who received SNAP benefits were 18% more likely to graduate from high school that low income kids who didn’t. SNAP recipients are members of our communities who are most vulnerable to experiencing hunger.

When our legislative system allocates funding and enforces a fair eligibility structure for SNAP, we as a country invest in the lives of mothers and kids who presently face challenging days, but seek futures full of opportunity.

Our country needs a SNAP program that is consistent, navigable, and contextual. We need strong funding for SNAP without any cuts, so all mothers who have been deemed eligible for benefits of this program will be allowed to continue to access it.  SNAP should maintain a structure that ensures that proposed job requirements do not serve as additional barriers for women in their work place or as bureaucratic burdens on overseeing states.  Broad base categorical eligibility is essential for an effective SNAP program, in that it allows states the flexibility to make adjustment to set standards that best fit the needs of their populations.

When we address hunger, we begin to address the worst symptoms of poverty. As you celebrate the mothers in your lives, be sure to consider how you can put your faith into action and advocate for policy that supports Mothers and children in your community and across the nation.

Click here for more information on SNAP and its impact on children.

Click here to write a customizable message to your legislators.

Today’s post is by artist Robyn Sand Anderson.

Painting has become a very spiritual practice in my life. And, I believe it can be for you, even if you aren’t an artist. 

My friend, Pastor Kathie Nycklemoe (ELCA, St. Stephen, Bloomington, MN), and I sometimes lead a retreat we call “Art & Soul.” She leads a couple of sessions on different ways of praying, like Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina. I lead a session using art as a way to pray or meditate and a hands-on session where everyone uses watercolors to paint their prayers. The movement of your brush and the swash of color across paper become a vehicle to open yourself up, to listen and to release. Color, movement and texture can speak of the Mystery that words can’t explain.

“Sacred Self” was created in 2012 for my exhibit called “The Suffering of Becoming.” This body of work explored what I had learned from living through my diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. RA is a chronic disease of great physical pain, exhaustion and muscle weakness. I painted four exhibits working through my experience of suffering and finding threads of hope. This painting began with a sense of deep, dark, primordial forest. In the midst of this darkness, pain and sorrow, I wanted to convey the presence of God that I experienced in the midst of my own suffering. Light in the darkness. 

Robyn Sand Anderson © 2018 All Rights Reserved.

The presence of the Trinity became apparent in the steps I was taking to convey the Mystery of it all. Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier. In the center of the Holy Trinity, I placed a small, moving blue and white sphere of sacred life. Sacred Self. I knew God’s presence in my darkest moments and I knew in that Presence that we are all a precious, holy creation of God. God was with me in my suffering. Jesus, who suffered great pain, was with me in those darkest of moments. Finally, God’s Holy Spirit surrounded me and lifted me from my dark forest. In the creation of this painting, I experienced the thread of hope I needed.

www.RobynSandAnderson.com

Leslie Scanlon, Chesapeake, VA

Warm-up Question

Tell about a time this week you felt lonely.  Tell  about a time this week you felt part of a group.

Think of it like “high/low,” “rose/thorn,” “mountain top/valley,” or whatever metaphor you like to use.

A Lonely Lot

With the rise of technologies that claim to facilitate communication, you might think that we would feel more connected than people in decades and centuries past.  However, an article recently posted by NPR reports that a survey conducted by the health insurance company Cigna concluded that “Americans are a lonely lot” with over 50% of those surveyed responding, “that they feel alone or left out always or sometimes.”

The UCLA Loneliness Scale uses a series of statements and a formula to quantify someone’s sense of loneliness and was used in the survey to determine that many Americans do not feel truly connected to those with whom they are in relationship.  Loneliness is not just an “emotional” issue, but can also negatively affect your physical health in a major way.

The survey results also suggest that the average sense of loneliness is progressively higher as you look at younger and younger generations. (Note: those surveyed were all over 18 years of age.) Some studies have reported a correlation between more screen time/less face-to-face time and higher instances of depression and suicide, but the Cigna survey did not find enough evidence to blame social media for the generational trends.  That might be because not all social media use is equal—positive and negative personal interactions can happen on social media platforms, but they can also be used somewhat passively.  Technology can aid in our relationships being built up, but can also be the means of breaking them down.

Discussion Questions

• What ways do you interact with people on a daily/weekly basis (outside of the obvious answer: school)?
• To what clubs, teams, and groups do you belong?
• How would you describe your use of social media (active/passive, regular/occasional, etc.)?

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

1 John 5:9-13

John 17:6-19

(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

For the past two Sundays, the Gospels readings in John 15 have been from Jesus’ final discourse to the disciples before his arrest, trial, death, and resurrection.  This Sunday, we skip to chapter 17. Jesus is no longer talking to his disciples, but praying for them.

In the repetitive, seemingly roundabout sentences characteristic of John’s gospel, Jesus articulates in prayer to God (the Creator) that his followers are in fact God’s followers, and that, although he is about to die, it does not change that fact that they are God’s beloved children.

In verse 11, Jesus prays for protection for his flock which he is about to physically leave behind.  One of the reasons he worries for them is because they are going to remain “in the world” (v.11) without him, but “they do not belong to the world” (v.16).

This is not true just of those disciples who physically walked with Jesus, but is true of us too.  We are “in” but not “of” this world.  We are called to take part in the aspects of life that this world makes possible, but we are called to do so in a way that gives glory to God.  We are not called to tuck ourselves away and interact with only those who believe, worship, and look like us; we are called to be one (as Jesus talks about in verse 11).  That is not to say that everyone in the church is always going to agree 100% of the time on every topic.  However, there is a way to remain connected and in relationship, despite our disagreements.  We do all of this as part of keeping God’s word and making God’s name known.

This is not always easy work.  Jesus knew this, and that is why he prayed that God would protect, teach, and lead his disciples then and us now.  As people of faith, we are called to not be “of” the world—giving into every whim we might have or striving to be what society tells us we should be.  We are sent out into the world to do God’s work with our hands…as ONE people of God, ONE flock, ONE church.

Discussion Questions

• What is one example of how you are (or someone you know is) “in” but not “of” the world?
• What can get in the way of the church being “one”?
• You have been given the Word of God; what is God sending you out into the world to do? (be as specific as possible)

Activity Suggestions

• Make a plan of how your youth group can work together (as ONE) to do God’s work in the world…and get started. SMART goals (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART_criteria) are helpful when working to create a concrete and achievable plan.
• Brainstorm ideas about how to make your youth group, church, or other faith-based group more “one.” What is getting in the way of unity in the midst of diversity?  How can you overcome those obstacles?
• Play a group-building game to help build “oneness” in your group. There are lots of ideas on Pinterest and Youth Ministry blogs.  When choosing, keep in mind the participants’ levels of comfort with physical contact.

Closing Prayer

Gracious and loving God, you have given us so much—your Word, life, and each other—for that we are thankful.  Thank you for being with us in our time together and we ask that you would continue to be with us and protect as we go out into the world this week.  Help us to remember that we are never alone. Amen.