These reflections are a part of ELCA World Hunger’s Sermon Starter series which is published via email every Monday. You can sign up for the weekly email here on the right side of the page if on a computer or near the bottom of the page if viewing from a phone. Pastor Tim Brown is the writer of these reflections. Pr. Tim is a Gifts Officer and Mission Ambassador for the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and a pastor and writer out of Raleigh, NC. You are invited to use the message below for personal devotion as well as prompts for sermon writing. 

February 26- Ash Wednesday

Matthew 6:1-6; 16-21

It’s curious how Jesus will use soil to heal things.

Like the man Bartimeaus, who is blind. He gets mud rubbed in his eyes to help him see. That makes no sense.

Or, how Jesus will draw in the sand as the woman about to be stoned is held on silent trial. Why would he turn to the dust to draw as charges are being brought up?

Or, consider the resurrection itself. How could the ground, the earth, the grave, bring about eternal life?

And yet soil is how Jesus seems to choose to heal.

If you want further thought on the healing properties of soil, consider this Irish idea about the healing properties of dirt. I’ve felt something like this, actually. Every time I put my hands in the earth of my yard, as I toil away growing and pruning and planting, I find my soul as improved as the soil.

What is it, Beloved, about dirt that helps to heal things?

We embrace this notion on Ash Wednesday. As we pull the dust of our lives and have it placed on our brows; as those burned Alleluias of praise become marks of humility (as, ultimately, all words of praise, should), we hold tightly to the belief that this dirt will, by God, heal us.

Matthew’s Gospel warns against practicing our piety in public. But on this day we hold that advice loosely as, though our piety is marked on our brow, the reasons themselves stay mute inside of us.

Because, honestly, we all come to Ash Wednesday with different, specific reasons: those moments we thrust needles into our veins to feel something; those moments we lashed out in rage, cursed out of fear, or judged out of prejudice; those times we cheated to get ahead, or because we are born ahead and denied someone their God-given dignity with impunity.

We all come to Ash Wednesday with a personal confession on our lips.

And yet we all, no matter our confession, receive the same sign of redemption: a dirt cross that intends to heal.

And note that the symbol on our brows is not just any sign. It is not a money sign, as if that can save and redeem us. And it is not the sign of this political party or that political party, as if our politics can save us.

All these things we rely on in life to save us: money, status, politics…they all blow away, like dust, as that dirt cross is smudged into our brows as an act of redemption.

On this day, though our piety is public, we don’t wear it with any sort of pride, Beloved. Because we all know, deep in the recesses of our hearts, that those things we bring to the altar on Ash Wednesday are not a moment of pride, but implicit acknowledgments that we cannot do this thing called life without the kind of redemption that our God in Christ gives.

Soil heals.  Perhaps it does every day, if you believe the websites. But even if you don’t, you know it does on Ash Wednesday, by God.

 

Dave Dodson, Houston, TX

Warm-up Question

Do you ever engage in discussions or debates on social media? Do you think that social media is useful to debate important topics?

Listen Up

In the last couple of months, it seems like there has been even more political news in front of us than usual.  A presidential impeachment, Brexit in Europe, a cabinet shakeup in Russia – all of these events stacking on top of one another.  Thanks to social media, we see much of these events as they happen.  However, as technology improves, brand new problems are cropping up which we have to anticipate and deal with.

Boston University professor, Danielle Citron, is tackling one of these problems: the rise of “deepfake” video clips.  Deepfake fraudsters will soon be able to create phony video clips using cutting edge audio and video technology to make it appear as if a leader or public figure said or did something horrifying, when in reality, the whole video is simply computer-generated imagery.  These videos will be posted onto social media, and then be shared again and again by angry individuals who think the video is real.

To combat this, Citron has developed an Eight-Point Plan to combat the spread of deepfakes.  She is confident that we will be able to use technology to detect deepfakes, which can then be targeted and taken down by social media platforms.  But will this be enough?

Unfortunately, human nature might not make it this easy.  Human beings are hampered by a psychological tendency called “confirmation bias”.  To put it simply, we tend to dismiss information or sources which challenge our existing ideas.  At the same time, we automatically believe anything that helps confirm what we already believe.  We’re not very good at listening with an open mind.  Instead, we often seem to just want to be proven right.

Discussion Questions

• When is it important to listen with an open mind?
• What could make it hard for us to listen to other people and perspectives?

Transfiguration of Our Lord

Exodus 24:12-18

2 Peter 1:16-21

Matthew 17:1-9

(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 C at Lectionary Readings

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

Gospel Reflection

In high school, one of my teachers gave us an important rule for our class debates: No one was allowed to raise their hand while another person was speaking.  It was a wonderful rule, and the reason was simple.  As our teacher pointed out, when you raise your hand, you have stopped listening.  From that moment on, you are thinking about what you are going to say, not listening to the current speaker.  In our Gospel lesson today, Peter has let his enthusiasm run away with him, and he has metaphorically raised his hand.

Our story takes place at the top of a mountain.  Stories in the Bible that take place on top of mountains are momentous, holy experiences.  For instance, God revealed himself to Moses and handed down the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai.  Today’s story mirrors that experience.

In this story, Jesus and three of his closest disciples – Peter, James, and John – have gone off together to a “high mountain”.  As they reach the top, an amazing transfiguration takes place.  Jesus becomes radiant and shines with the glory of God.  As this happens, two of the most important figures in the Hebrew scriptures appear.  Moses represents the law and commandments, while Elijah represents the greatest of the prophets.  In these two figures, the whole of the Old Testament is symbolized.  In this vision, we see Jesus as the law and prophecies fulfilled.

It isn’t surprising, then, that Peter gets excited! He blurts out his idea to build special places for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah right then and there.  You can imagine his surprise, then, to hear the voice of God booming down, telling him to be quiet and listen.

What did Peter do wrong?  Aren’t we supposed to get excited and want to work for God?

The problem isn’t Peter’s enthusiasm.  Instead, it’s the fact that Peter’s eagerness to do something was stopping him from experiencing what the moment truly was.  Peter was so busy with planning his next moves that he failed to truly experience the magnificence of Jesus’ transfiguration.  The voice of God had to remind him to be quiet, be still, and truly listen so that he could grow.

It is certainly possible that we do this today, even when we’re trying hard to be great followers of God.  Do we get caught up in planning church events, youth gatherings, and even outreach programs?  Do we work so hard on building our church that we sometimes forget to be still and listen?  It is easy to get caught up in our excitement to serve God.  Sometimes, like Peter, we need to be reminded to be quiet, be still, and bask in the presence of God’s love.

Discussion Questions

• Does your church have members who run systems like audio and visual technology during the service? Do you think that it’s challenging to do those things and still be in a worshipful frame of mind?
• Why do you think so many religions throughout the world, including ours, promote meditation and quiet reflection as an important spiritual practice?

Activity Suggestions

One of the finest meditative practices in Christianity is the walking of the Labyrinth.  Consider projecting a labyrinth onto a paved space, and then tracing it with sidewalk chalk.  Walk the labyrinth as a group, and invite your congregation to use it as well! For a guide on walking the labyrinth, check out this fantastic source from Saint Mark’s Lutheran Church in Salem, Oregon: http://stmarksalem.org/about/labyrinth/

Closing Praye

Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for the love and excitement you inspire in us.  We want so much to serve you and to work for the coming of your kingdom.  We ask that you help us remember to stop and listen.  Grant us the peace and patience to seek your voice in the stillness of our hearts.  In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

 

from the ELCA Advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, director

TRAVEL BAN  |  GIRLS’ EDUCATION  |  DISASTER AID FOR PUERTO RICO  |  FAIR HOUSING RULE  |  CENSUS 2020

 

TRAVEL BAN EXTENDED:  On Jan. 31, 2020, the Trump administration announced an expansion of the January 2017 travel ban to include more countries in Africa and Asia. Under the new policy, citizens from Nigeria, Eritrea, Myanmar and Kyrgyzstan will be barred from applying for visas to immigrate to the United States. The National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants (NO BAN) Act would address this executive action and assist those of us escaping perilous or life-threatening situations. Support for the NOBAN Act can be facilitated in a current Action Alert.

In a statement on the expanded travel ban, the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton writes, “As Lutherans, these actions should concern us. Through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, God has set us free from ourselves to serve our neighbor. This expanded policy separates families from loved ones already here. Further, it prevents people — especially those escaping perilous or life-threatening situations in several of these nations — from coming to safety in the U.S. It does not enhance our safety or reflect our vocation as Christians.”

 

GIRLS’ EDUCATION:  On Jan. 28, the House of Representatives passed the Keeping Girls in School Act, a bill that seeks to strengthen U.S. international programs by reducing education barriers faced by millions of girls around the world. The bill calls on continued U.S. government and private investments to ensure quality and equitable education, promotes girls’ empowerment and streamlines existing programs.

Hundreds of ELCA Advocacy network members used an Action Alert in support of this legislation to send over 1,000 messages to members of Congress. An identical bill in the Senate awaits committee action before it can be sent to the Senate floor for a vote.

 

DISASTER AID FOR PUERTO RICO: The House of Representatives passed legislation to provide an emergency aid package for Puerto Rico in the wake of ongoing earthquakes and aftershock damage to the island. Support for this emergency aid in the Senate is the subject of an Action Alert, which emphasizes the lowest-income families in the greatest distress and the pressing need for authorizing proactive disaster policies for the greater United States.

The new package comes as the Trump administration recently released half of the blocked allocated assistance to help Puerto Ricans recovering from severe storms such as Hurricane Maria who now face additional devastation across the region. Two years after the 2017 hurricanes, more than 30,000 households are still waiting for assistance to have their homes repaired and/or rebuilt. Recent earthquakes have only accentuated the devastation many have experienced. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding is desperately needed to assist survivors with building materials, furniture and labor so that they can rebuild their lives and homes.

 

FAIR HOUSING RULE: In January the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) proposed a new rule that would weaken oversight and national data on fair-housing initiatives in low-income communities of color. Under the new proposal, the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule would be rendered almost completely ineffectual. Before March 16, use the Action Alert to make a public comment discouraging implementation of the change.

AFFH was first designed to help localities promote diversity and inclusivity under the 1968 Fair Housing Act and take proactive steps to reverse the effects of housing segregation. ELCA World Hunger recently shared a blog outlining the effects of altering the AFFH rule and explaining how discrimination in housing is an intersectional moral issue that affects multiple aspects of our lives.

 

ELCA PARTNER WITH 2020 CENSUS:  The ELCA is an official partner of the 2020 Census as we work toward a just world where all are fed and further our commitment to greater justice in public policy and the electoral process. More than $675 billion in federal funds, grants and support to states, counties and communities is based on census data. An accurate count determines electoral maps and ensures that resources more justly go where they are needed most, including to vital programs that combat poverty and hunger and support people in need.

Posters are available from ELCA.org/resources/advocacy to help ELCA congregations encourage participation, particularly among hard-to-count populations such as people residing in rural areas, young children, LGBTQIA people, people experiencing homelessness, indigenous people, people who do not speak English, and racial and ethnic minorities. National Census Day is April 1, 2020, at which time all homes should have been invited to complete the census. For your neighbor and yourself — encourage your community to be counted!

 

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Receive monthly Advocacy Connections directly by becoming part of the ELCA Advocacy network – http://elca.org/advocacy/signup , and learn more from elca.org/advocacy .

 

The Season

I didn’t fully appreciate (or understand) liturgical seasons growing up. As a kid, Lent was a baffling time of year that somehow started with a fun pancake party on Shrove Tuesday and took a seriously somber turn PRETTY quickly, culminating in the highly scary Bible slamming during my church’s Good Friday Tenebrae service. Growing up in the deep South, a lot of my Christian friends from non-liturgical traditions didn’t observe these seasons or days. It wasn’t fair – they didn’t give up soda or chocolate or meat for 40 days.

Lent changed for me in middle school when my dad, probably half-serious, half-desperate, suggested that I give up being rude to my sister for Lent.

It didn’t make any sense to me.

What about chocolate?

I was just starting to worry about my waistline anyway, and Lent would be a great time to make a change.

The Word

Isaiah 58: 4 – 9

You fast only to fight.

Is this the kind of fast that I’ve chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves?

Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?

Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?

But this is the fast that I choose:

To loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,

To set the oppressed free and break every yoke.

To share your food with the hungry,

To provide the poor wanderer with shelter

When you see the naked, to clothe them,

And to not turn away from your own flesh and blood.

Then shall your light break forth like the dawn and your healing will quickly appear.

Then you will call and the Lord will answer;

You will cry for help and God will say:

Here am I.

The Fast

I heard a (very awesome young adult) pastor, Rev. Erin Coleman Branchaud preach on this text a few weeks ago and explain that this part of Isaiah is about the people of God asking to be recognized for their good fast. God helps them understand what REAL fasting that is pleasing to the Lord looks like.

It looks like fasting from the injustice we participate in every day – knowingly and unknowingly.

Fasting from leaving our neighbors without food and shelter.

Fasting from shame.

Fasting from building walls between us and our loved ones.

Fasting from destroying the earth.

Fasting from fighting with our little sisters.

THIS is part of what Lent is about for us. And maybe sometimes fasting from a specific item or food can be part of this fast. But, as Rev. Coleman Branchaud noted, Lent is not “a baptism of our self-improvement goals”.

Lent, a season during which we remember Jesus’s 40 days of walking in the wilderness, invites us to reflection, to lament, and to THIS fast – one of justice and peace. Lent welcomes our pain and sorrow and frustration and asks us to lay down the things that keep ourselves and our neighbor in chains. Lent invites us to be intentional, to notice our own habits, and to walk in the liberating steps of our Savior.

The Movement

So why plastics?

This year at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly the body gathered – including a huge number of young adult voting members – called on the ELCA to get serious about its commitment to care for creation.

The #NoplasticsforLent initiative, led by young adults across the church, calls us to prayer for creation, to lament the ways we have been complicit in the degradation of the earth, and to action to care for our neighbor in fasting from the things that are hurting our planet.

Our suggestion is that individuals, families, and communities fast for 40 days from single-use plastics.

We want this initiative to be accessible to all, and if this is not possible for you in your context or community, we invite you to sustainability practices that make sense for you.

The Details

We will publish a sign-up next week where individuals, families, and communities can share whatever it is that they’ve pledged to do to fast from degradation of creation this Lenten season!

Over the course of the next two weeks we will publish videos with how-to tips and easy switches to make, and we encourage you to share your ideas for fasting from plastics with each other on social media with the hashtag #NoplasticsforLent .

We will have weekly devotionals, like this one, published each Monday of Lent. These devotionals will be by young adult writers who are passionate about their spirituality and about care for creation.

We know that it will take more than giving up plastic cups at communion to heal the earth, but we hope that walking together as the Body of Christ in this initiative during this Lenten season will help us both individually and communally be better neighbors to plants, animals, the earth, and each other in our day-to-day lives. We also hope that it will move us toward more long term justice-seeking for the creation in our care.

We invite you to this Lenten practice of prayer, lament, and fasting as we walk for these 40 days with Christ.

The Promise

We invite you to this fast from the ways we harm our neighbor, creation.

And this is what Isaiah tells us:

That when we seek justice, love God, and serve others in this way

“light will break forth like the DAWN.“

As we pray and mourn for creation,

“Healing will quickly appear.”

Even when we feel overwhelmed by the challenges of environmental degradation,

“You will call and the Lord will answer;

You will cry for help and God will say:

Here am I.”

Reflection Questions:

1. How do you understand Lent? Has your understanding changed at all over time?
2. Have you ever participated in a Lenten practice? If so, which have been the most meaningful and why? If not, what other spiritual habits or practices have you engaged in?
3. Why is care for the earth important for you as a person of faith?
4. What sustainability practices or creation care practices might you commit to this Lent as an individual? With your family / friends? With your congregation / community? How will you hold one another accountable?

 

Savanna Sullivan (she/her/hers) serves as the Program Director for ELCA Young Adult Ministries at the ELCA Churchwide Office in Chicago, IL. She was a main stage speaker at the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston, TX and gives presentations around the country to ELCA and ecumenical groups about Young Adult culture and empowerment in the church. She is passionate about helping young people seek the Divine in themselves and pushing the church to equip, amplify, and respect the voices of young leaders. She loves banana pudding, the Clemson tigers, and memorizing poems.

#TreasuresOfDarkness: An African Descent Month Devotional-A reprise for 2020 (excerpt)*

 

Darkness/Black:

Devoid of Light

Lacking knowledge or culture.

Wickedness.

Evil.

Lack of spiritual or intellectual enlightenment.

Ignorance.

Sullen.

Foul.

Hostile.

Throughout our complex and convoluted history, forcibly exiled to these divided United States , we as People of Color specifically, children of the African Diaspora, have had the label affixed to our very being, everything that could be seen as negative and malevolent, based on the color of our skin. Our ancestral home, was known as the dark continent:

Therefore, it is no surprise the roots of the detriment of our humanity has become a learned and permanent part of the dominant culture and the status quo’s misinformation.

In the movie Malcolm X, Malcolm who is at the brink of spiritual awakening, is confronted by another prisoner, who is a follower of the Nation of Islam about the meaning and the portrayal of the words Black and white and how these are attributed to humanity. Malcolm slowly becomes angered after the description and definition of white is shown to him:

White:

The opposite of Black

Free from spot or blemish

Innocent

Pure

Without evil intent

Honorable

Harmless

“It is inherent in every monotheistic faith that there are only truth and error, good and evil…Since the dark-skinned heathen obviously did not belong on the side of truth and good, the Christian assigned him…to error and evil.” Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas, What’s Faith Got to Do with it? Black Bodies/Christian souls.

This mindset has filtered down throughout Christianity, to where many, as People of Color have become ashamed about who we are and questioned why the Creator would curse us with this troublesome skin. Unfortunately and because of the onset of what Dr. Douglas defines as “Plationized Christianity”, scripture after scripture has been misused to enforce racism, stereotypes and our sacred bodies being dehumanized into nothing more than beasts.

“Our American Christians are too busy saving the souls of white Christians from burning in hellfire to save the lives of black ones from present burning in fires kindled by white Christians.” Dr. James Cone, The Cross and the Lynching Tree.

This February as always is African Descent History Month; as scholars, troublemakers, seminarians, pastors, theologians and questers towards knowledge and empowerment, we are flipping the definition of darkness/blackness on its proverbial head and reclaiming the power of this word. Darkness does not equate a people blessed and enriched with melanin, created and formed in the image of Creator, who has blown sacred breath into our sacred bodies, giving us LIFE and a purpose.

Follow us at #treasuresofDarkness this February, as many beloved siblings of Faith, of Love and of Light share with you their perception and translation of the concept of darkness in Scripture and in sacred/holy texts.

ASE!

AMEN!

Peace.

The Rev. Kwame Pitts(M.Div, LSTC), is empowered and embolden by the presence of the Ancestors, living out her life as such. Her call is not only to prophetically teach and preach but also experience her Faith along a dual and sometimes complex spiritual pathway, as Creator has called her. Following and continuing the responsibilities laid out through her Womanist theologian mentors and Elders, her Ancestors both known and unknown and venerating her namesake and the work of building a nation, Kwame lives her life authentically, as a Woman of the African Diaspora, working and rooted in transformative and social justice. She has been ordained in the ELCA since 2015 and currently serves in Upstate NY Synod both as Pastor and Campus Pastor. She continues towards completion of her Master’s of Sacred Theology (STM) from Chicago Theological Seminary, 2020.

 

**To view the entire post from #TreasuresOfDarkness, follow: https://medium.com/@TravelingPastor/treasuresofdarkness-an-african-descent-month-devotional-3cf60143bd9e. 

U.N. | Colorado | Minnesota | Pennsylvania | Washington | Wisconsin

Following are updates shared from submissions of the Lutheran Office for World Community and state public policy offices.

Lutheran Office for World Community, United Nations, New York, N.Y.

Dennis Frado, director

U.S.-IRAN CRISIS: On January 9, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton offered a pastoral message to ELCA members about the crisis between the United States and Iran. Calling it “worrisome,” she said “Our country and Iran need urgently to find ways to resolve our differences through a de-escalation of the current crisis, using diplomacy and other peaceful means.” She concluded, “We should appeal now to our elected officials to pursue the path of dialogue and diplomacy with Iran — for our sake, for the sake of the people of Iran and for the sake of the world God so loves.”

ADMINISTRATION’S “PEACE TO PROSPERITY” PLAN: Presiding Bishop Eaton said on January 28, she was “very dismayed and disturbed by President Trump’s announcement” of his new “Peace to Prosperity” plan, expressing her “fear, [that it] will bring greater insecurity for Israelis and Palestinians instead of peace.” She lamented that it “involved only one party,” noting, “A plan made for a people without consulting that people will not bring peace.” She observed, “Rather than drawing together Israelis and Palestinians to reach a peace accord, the effect of this plan will be further alienation and, I am afraid, more tension” and concluded by calling “upon President Trump to develop a different plan that would involve all parties, and to pursue efforts that would adhere to international law and human rights conventions. This plan should ensure the protection and preservation of internationally recognized human rights and realize, for Palestinians and for Israelis, two viable, secure states living side by side in peace.”

ADDRESSING HATE SPEECH AND PREVENTING INCITEMENT: The United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect as well as the Permanent Missions of Bangladesh, Italy and Morocco sponsored a panel discussion held February 4, “Addressing Hate Speech and Preventing Incitement to Discrimination, Hostility and Violence: Synergies within the United Nations system”. In addition to the respective ambassadors of sponsoring missions, Mr. Adama Dieng, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, stressed the importance of existing UN initiatives such as the “Fez Plan of Action for religious leaders and actors to prevent incitement to violence that could lead to atrocity crimes” (July 2017).

A number of the other panel members, representing entities such as the World Council of Churches, the UN Alliance of Civilizations and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), noted the urgency of combating hate speech on online platforms and social media. Of particular interest also to churches and other religious organizations are the “Rabat Plan of Action on the prohibition of advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence” and the Beirut Declaration and 18 Commitments on “Faith for Rights”. A useful new tool is OHCHR’s Faith4Rights toolkit with peer-to-peer learning modules, exploring the relationship between religions, beliefs and human rights.

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Colorado

Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado www.lam-co.org

LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS: The Colorado General Assembly convened on January 8 and will adjourn May 6. We have already begun advocating in earnest on several important issues from our policy agenda. These include:

• SB 20-100, Repeal the Death Penalty. The bill has moved out of the Senate and on to the House. We support this measure to repeal Colorado’s outdated, expensive and unjustly administered death penalty.
• SB 20-029, Basic Cash Assistance Increase. This bill would increase the baseline amount for Colorado Works, our state version of cash assistance from TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). The first hearing takes place on February 11.
• HB 20-1009, Suppressing Court Records of Eviction Proceedings.

FAITHFUL THURSDAYS: People of faith, including ELCA Lutherans, are once again convening a fortnightly gathering at the State Capitol. We are gathered around the themes of equity, a moral economy and ending racism. Learn more at FaithfulThursdays.org and join us in February on the 6^th and the 20^th at noon!

LUTHERAN DAY AT THE LEGISLATURE: Join us on Thursday, February 27, for Colorado Lutherans and other people of faith to gather at the State Capitol and learn about the process of our government, as well as how to advocate faithfully on specific issues. Registration is open now at https://www.rmselca.org/legislature_day_2020.

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Minnesota

Tammy Walhof, Lutheran Advocacy- Minnesota (LA-MN)  lutheranadvocacymn.org

AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Lutheran Advocacy-MN will again have housing and homelessness as one of its two top priorities for the 2020 legislative session. The lack of adequate affordable housing remains a statewide crisis! In some previous years, we have organized joint education and advocacy events with Lutheran Social Service of MN or in conjunction with Homes for All end of session events. This year, our long-time advocacy partner, Joint Religious Legislative Coalition is holding their first ever Faith Leader Summit on Housing, with opening remarks by Governor Walz and participation by important legislative leaders. We strongly encourage all faith leaders & advocates to attend this free event on the morning of February 20. Register on JRLC’s website.

JRLC Faith Leader Housing Summit
Thursday, February 20, 2020, 8:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. (plus afternoon legislator visits)
Christ Lutheran on Capitol Hill, 105 University Ave. W. St. Paul, MN 55103
LUNCH PROVIDED / *Please make appointments with your legislators for the afternoon hours following the summit and encourage them to make housing a top priority in the 2020 bonding bill!

CREATION CARE: Clean Energy & the Climate Crisis is the other key issue area that Lutheran Advocacy-MN is addressing with the 2020 Minnesota State Legislature, We are also continuing to make public education for our church people and other people of faith a key priority for the care of God’s creation. Lutheran Advocacy-MN has partnered with the Northeastern Minnesota Synod’s EcoFaith Network in their summits & retreats over the last several years. This year, we encourage people of faith throughout the Upper Midwest to join with us in Brainerd for the 2020 EcoFaith Summit! What will happen at the Summit?  Worship that sings Easter for the whole creation; Young activists share what motivates them; Breakout sessions for worship and grassroots action in your congregation and community; How to have conversations about important yet sensitive environmental issues; Networking for musicians, students, creation care teams, church gardeners, youth leaders, preachers, public advocates, and more! Register soon, as space is limited!

Now the Green Blade Rises: The Easter Gospel for the Whole Creation
2020 EcoFaith/Creation Care Summit
Saturday, March 28, 2020, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 418 8th Ave NE, Brainerd, MN 56401

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Pennsylvania

Tracey DePasquale, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry–Pennsylvania (LAMPa) lutheranadvocacypa.org

LAMPA ANNOUNCES FEATURED SPEAKERS FOR LUTHERAN DAY AT THE CAPITOL: Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) President and CEO Krish O’Mara Vignarajah will be the featured speaker at the LAMPa Honorees Celebration Dinner on May 18. The Rev. Roger A. Willer, PhD., ELCA Director for Theological Ethics in the Office of the Presiding Bishop, and leader in the development of the social message on government and civic engagement, will be the keynote speaker for Lutheran Day. LAMPa Director Tracey DePasquale joined other advocacy staff at the Lutheran Ethicists Gathering in January.

ANTI-TRAFFICKING BILL HEADS TO GOVERNOR, RELATED BILLS PASS HOUSE: The House passed a package of anti-trafficking bills, including SB 60, which increases penalties on traffickers and those who would buy sex or labor from those in servitude. Revenue from increased fines would fund services for child sex trafficking victims. The package has moved into the Senate. SB 60 awaits the governor’s signature. LAMPa advocates acted on alerts requesting support for the bills and thanking lawmakers who voted in favor.

PUSHING BACK ON POTENTIAL HIGH-COST LENDING LEGISLATION: LAMPa program director Lynn Fry and the Rev. Matthew Best, a LAMPa policy council member whose congregation works closely with those experiencing homelessness, joined coalition partners in meeting with lenders to discourage them from pursuing legislation that would significantly raise fees and interest on consumer loans in Pennsylvania.

EDUCATING AND EQUIPPING LEADERS: DePasquale participated in a panel discussion with fellow SPPO directors for Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) students and taught about advocacy as part of a faith formation course at United Lutheran Seminary (ULS). Fry shared an informative session on LAMPa and ELCA Advocacy with the adult discussion class at St. James, Gettysburg.  DePasquale also met with leaders at Union, York to plan community gun violence awareness events connected to National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Emanuel Nine and Juneteenth commemorations.

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Washington

Paul Benz, Faith Action Network (FAN) fanwa.org

WASHINGTON LEGISLATIVE SESSION: Washington state’s 2020 legislative session meets from January 13-March 13. During that time, Co-Director Paul Benz is at the state capitol most of each week lobbying for the many bills on FAN’s Legislative Agenda, while the staff in Seattle send weekly updates on the session, create sample advocacy emails for constituents to send to their legislators on important bills, and keep our Bill Tracker up-to-date with the progress in Olympia. Two major successes we celebrate so far are the passage of the Sustainable Farms and Fields bill to reduce the carbon emissions produced by agriculture (SB 5947) and the death penalty repeal bill (SB 5339) out of the Senate – we are hoping those will be followed by passage in the House, and that 2020 will be the year the death penalty is finally repealed in Washington State!

INTERFAITH ADVOCACY DAY: FAN hosts three regional legislative days – in Olympia, Spokane, and Yakima. We recently cohosted a successful Eastern Washington Legislative Conference in Spokane, with 150 advocates who discussed issues affecting our state in workshops, heard an overview of FAN’s legislative priorities, and heard from local elected officials. We are currently putting the last-minute touches on Interfaith Advocacy Day in Olympia, which is taking place this Thursday, February 6. We look forward to about 200 advocates who will meet in workshops and caucus groups before heading off to meetings with their legislators, and we’ll conclude the afternoon with updates from key elected officials on the 2020 session. Finally, we’ll conclude the weekend with Yakima Interfaith Advocacy Day.

CENSUS 2020: FAN received a grant from the WA Census Equity Fund, managed by Philanthropy Northwest, to dedicate outreach efforts across the state to coordinate the Census in hard-to-count populations. We look forward to engaging faith communities in this important work to ensure that all communities receive their fair share of critical federal and state funding, and that everyone in Washington State counts!

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Wisconsin

Pastor Cindy Crane, Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin (LOPPW) loppw.org

CARE FOR GOD’S CREATION: LOPPW participated with coalition partners via the Wisconsin Climate Table. We discussed ways to make known positive state level efforts to diminish greenhouse gas emissions.

LOPPW supported a bill that, if passed into law, would help ensure quicker communication between departments in counties where groundwater standards have been threatened by violations made by Discharge Elimination System permit holders.  A case in La Crosse County revealed that the county and residents were unaware of a potential risk to groundwater contamination for 10 years.

Other news includes:
-The care for God’s Creation team met to discuss our solar project.
-The director advised our advisory council member from the Northern Great Lakes Synod as he helped to initiate a care for God’s creation team in his church.
-In January, for Wednesday Noon Live program we interviewed a meteorologist on climate change and natural disasters. We turned the interview into a stand-alone VIDEO https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=313763922844559 and PODCAST: https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-gfe6k-ceed73

ELCAVOTES: LOPPW attended an initial voting coalition meeting, sought a partnership with a local organization that focuses on voting to explore how concrete actions we would partner on could fit into our larger ELCAvotes efforts, and was in dialogue with a leader from the Northwest Synod about ELCAvotes.

ADVOCACY TRAININGS AND MEETINGS: LOPPW led a workshop on advocacy at a congregation in the South-Central Synod. The director was also part of a panel for Dr. Cynthia Moe Lobeda’s class at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS). The panel was made up of SPPOs and organized by Ryan Cumming. Lastly, LOPPW participated in the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin social justice team meeting.

IN ADDITION:
-The director was part of a conference call for relators to Directors of Evangelical Mission.
-LOPPW advised leaders with advocacy ideas for a young adults group in the South-Central Synod

 

 

 

 

Brooke De Jong is the Program Assistant for Hunger Education with ELCA World Hunger. Previous to this position she worked managing grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for a housing agency in Chicago, IL. 

When it comes to responding to homelessness in our congregations, often there is a will but not a way. We would help if we only knew how to do it safely, if we could guarantee that our money was not going to support an addiction, if we had more time to understand best practices and so on. Fear causes us to freeze and walk or drive past the neighbor in need on our everyday Jericho roads. We all have been the Priest and the Levite when we wanted to be the Good Samaritan. And sometimes we have been the person victimized on the hazardous road, waiting for our Good Samaritan.

However, many congregations do great work. They support shelters, make kits with important items such as clean socks and personal care products, act as warming shelters in the winter and more. Some even actively advocate for fair housing and oppose laws that criminalize poverty. Some of us have even made personal care kits or stood on a picket line – but still drive past the person with the cardboard sign standing on the median.

We all walk different Jericho roads every day seeing or not seeing and responding to or not responding to our neighbors without homes. Sometimes we are the Priest and the Levite and the Good Samaritan all in one day or even in a span of a few hours. This is what it means to be human and in need of God’s grace.

But just because we are afraid and in daily need of God’s grace, we should not forget our baptismal calling and duty as citizens. The ELCA social statement on Church and Society says we are daily called to be “[. . .] wise and active citizens. [. . .] Along with all citizens, Christians have the responsibility to defend human rights and to work for freedom, justice, peace, environmental well-being, and good order in public life. They are to recognize the vital role of law in protecting life and liberty and in upholding the common good.”

Our neighbors without homes are in need of our actions as wise and active citizens.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in January proposed a new rule that would weaken oversight and national data collection on fair housing projects. This rule change would disproportionately affect low-income communities of color. Under the proposed rule change the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule (AFFH) that was first designed to help communities promote diversity and inclusivity under the 1968 Fair Housing Act and take proactive steps to reverse the effects of housing segregation would be rendered almost completely ineffectual.

Read more about the AFFH Rule here.

To join with others in opposing this rule change, check out the ELCA Advocacy Action Alert here.

 

Scott Mims, Virginia Beach, VA

Warm-up Question

When you are sick or not feeling well, what are some of the things that help you to feel better?

Going Viral

Currently, the Wuhan coronavirus is one of the biggest stories in world news.  At the time of this writing, the number of confirmed cases in China has surpassed 20,000, with at least 207 other cases being reported in over two dozen countries.  Doubtless ,by the time you are reading this, many more people will have been sickened by this potentially deadly disease.

Part of what makes this virus so frightening to world health officials is that it is new, so little is known about how best to treat it.  Add this uncertainty to global mass movement and travel, and there is the potential for a worldwide pandemic.  Because of this, several countries, the United States included, have evacuated their citizens from impacted areas and have imposed strict travel restrictions as a way of hopefully containing the virus’ spread.  Even so, global impacts from this crisis have already begun to ripple outward.

Discussion Questions

• Have you heard about the Wuhan coronavirus?  If so, are you worried about it?  Why /why not?
• In the years 1918-19, well before ocean-crossing airliners and other high-speed transportation, a flu pandemic infected nearly 30% of the world’s population.  Over 50 million people died.  What are some of the challenges involved these days in dealing with deadly viruses and so-called “superbugs”?

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Matthew 5:21-37

(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 C at Lectionary Readings

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

Gospel Reflection

These days we often hear about items such as videos going “viral.”  Shared easily via email or social media, they spread rapidly from person to person reaching millions within a matter of days.  In a similar (though much slower) way, the impact of sin can also go viral, spreading out in ever widening circles.  In our gospel, Jesus attacks the root of the problem in several common life experiences, inviting us to become people of wholeness and grace.

We return this week to the Sermon on the Mount as Jesus teaches about what life in the kingdom of heaven looks like.  Specifically, these verses (Matt. 5:21-37) are part of a six-section set that is known traditionally as “the antitheses,” which means “contrasts” or “oppositions.”  This set, which also includes verses 38-48, is so named for the pattern which Jesus uses to introduce each section: “You have heard that it was said…But I say to you….”  And though in each case Jesus addresses a specific commandment or teaching from Torah, it is not because he thought them obsolete or useless. After all, Jesus has come to fulfill the law, not to throw it out. (Matt. 5:17).

No, Jesus has not come to abolish the law, still, in each case, he goes deeper into their true intent. So, for instance, he cuts murder off at its roots, teaching us instead to deal appropriately with our anger.  Just think of how easily situations escalate and spiral out of control, between individuals, different groups, and nations when anger flows into insults and disregard.  Jesus calls us to deal with our internal “stuff” before  our words can cause injury to another person.  Reconciliation and forgiveness, this is the true and godly work we are to pursue.

Likewise, Jesus attacks the root of adultery by setting boundaries around lust. In the over-the-top, hyperbole of plucking out eyes and cutting off hands, he calls us to take care that neither our gaze nor our touch turns other people into objects for our own sexual gratification.  Included in these limits is the need to abstain from the all too available trap of pornography.  “Just looking” is not okay.

When it comes to divorce, Jesus goes further than the law (Deut. 24:1), especially in protecting those who were often the most vulnerable in the marriage covenant.  In his time and culture, it was “legal” for a man to easily divorce his wife for just about any reason.  This left her without means of support, which often meant poverty, prostitution, or, if she were fortunate, remarriage.  Jesus, however, points to God’s original intention regarding marriage as that of life-long monogamy.  Sometimes, of course, the healthiest course of action is for a marriage to end.  Even so, Jesus’ teaching on the intended enduring nature of marriage is clear.

And finally, in a world of “spin,” misinformation, and downright lies, we are called to be people of truth.  To avoid swearing falsely, don’t swear oaths at all.  That is, instead of needing to prop up our credibility by swearing oaths and making promises, Jesus’ teaches us to be the kind of people others can trust.  Tell the truth.  Live with integrity.  “Let your word be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no;’ anything more than this comes from the evil one.”

As commentators on Matthew’s gospel note, Jesus isn’t unique in setting boundaries against the impact of sin by going deeper into the intent of the Ten Commandments and Torah.  Other teachers have done the same.  Even so, as Son of God and Messiah, Jesus’ words have a different level of authority for Christians.  Ultimately, what is presented in this passage – and indeed, in the whole of the Sermon on the Mount – is not a new take on the Law, but a call to a whole new way of life.

Discussion Questions

• As you read through these verses, what are some of the things you find most challenging? Most helpful?
• Is it possible  to do the things Jesus calls for?  Wholly possible? Totally impossible?  Or Somewhere in-between?  Invite participants to share the reason for their answer.
• If the gospel is supposed to be “good news,” then where do you find grace in this passage and for whom?  
• How might living more in line with Jesus’ teachings here make for a better life?  A better world?

Activity Suggestions

• Read through Martin Luther’s explanation of the Ten Commandments in the Small Catechism.   For each Commandment note how Luther expands and deepens the meaning.  What are some of the “practical” day-to-day actions you notice?
• Invite participants to consider one area, either from the Catechism or from today’s gospel, that they can work on.  What is one small step, one small action, that they might take in this area in the coming week?  If people are comfortable, have them share. Prayer for each other and the Spirit’s help.  

Closing Praye

Gracious and loving God, source of every good gift, give us eyes to see your love in Jesus’ call to lives of grace and wholeness, and lead us by your Holy Spirit as we seek to follow. In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen. 

 

Herb Wounded Head, Brookings, SD

Warm-up Question

How much sleep do you usually get? Is it enough?

Are You Feeling Salty?

We all need sleep in order to be able to function at our best from day to day. According to one study,  if you’re a teenager you need 8-10 hours of sleep. If you’re a young adult, you need 7-9 hours of sleep. In this day and age, it seems harder and harder to get enough sleep. It can be daunting, to say the least, in these years of busy-ness and homework and deadlines, to get enough sleep. 

A story on National Public Radio reports that one school in Michigan is trying some new things in order to help students function at their highest level. Eastern Flex Academy in Lansing, Michigan has a pilot program where students start their classes at 3pm, (3pm!) and goes until 8pm at night. The program was started to help students with internships, part-time jobs and even family responsibilities.  One student noted that the they can get the sleep they need to and can do more throughout the day while having a good night’s rest.

Discussion Questions

• What would it be like for you to get a good night’s rest every night?
• What changes would you make in your life in order to make sure you get enough sleep?

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Isaiah 58:1-9a [9b-12]

1 Corinthians 2:1-12 [13-16]

Matthew 5:13-20

(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 C at Lectionary Readings

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

Gospel Reflection

What would we do without salt? Our body needs a certain amount of salt in order to function. It is used as to cure meats and on the sidewalks to make them less slippery. It is used as seasoning on food to give it a better taste. But if salt is overused or mixed with too many other things, it loses its saltiness. So it goes with Jesus’ disciples. If we find ourselves doing too much and spreading ourselves too thin, we can lose the saltiness which is our relationship with God, and even our own sense of purpose in the world. One of the ways we can notice that we are spread too thin is by our sleep patterns. Do you get enough sleep and rest? It’s difficult to answer God’s call if we aren’t taking care of ourselves.

God places a high calling on our lives. Not so much that we need to be the purest, most holy, or best disciples.  Far from it! Our calling is to be people of God, such that we reflect God’s holiness and righteousness in and through us. We are a beacon on a hill which shines so brightly in our baptisms that all the world can see the glory of God. This is indeed a high calling, one in which God has called our true, salty, sinful selves into action. God needs us, as we are, in order to make God’s kingdom known throughout the world. 

All too often, we think that we aren’t invited to this high calling. We can see this by our own activity in the world. Are we living too much in comfort? Are we too conformed to this world, so that the busy-ness of life becomes something that we think we need in order to succeed? God calls and redeems us through God’s light in the world, Jesus Christ, to provide justice, mercy and love to an all too broken world.

Discussion Questions

• How can you be the salt of the earth? 
• What are some ways that you can do justice in the world?
• Where can you provide mercy?

Activity Suggestions

Make a 3 foot by 3 foot square out of duct tape in your meeting place. Tell your people that they all need to fit in this square in order to complete the task. If the square is too large for your group, make it smaller. This activity relies heavily on teamwork and communication and is a good team building tool for small groups.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly and gracious God, you have called us as your own and have formed and shaped us to be your people. Help us to grow more fully into a community of believers that trust in your Word. Be with those who are not with us, who may be struggling or suffering in this world; give them a sense of peace that passes all understanding and bring us all closer to you.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Ginger Litman-Koon, Mt. Pleasant, SC

Warm-up Question

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

Everyday Héroes

We all know that heroes rule the box office, but did you know they now rule the internet? Throughout 2019, Google analytics data showed a global increase in searches centering around “heroes.” Sure, some of those searches had to do with what action movies were playing in theaters, but many of them were centered around what they call “everyday heroes.” Google even aired a YouTube video on New Years featuring a montage of all the “everyday heroes” videos that circulated the internet during 2019. 

You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRCdORJiUgU

The heroes featured in the video are strangers, teachers, first responders, children, athletes. While there were some exceptions, most of the heroic actions

emerged from adversity: illness, danger, injury, loss, prejudice, natural disasters. Watching the video will bring happy tears to your eyes, because of the acts of courage and love shown by each of the individuals. It will leave you feeling a sense of hope for the world, despite the fact that many of the scenarios show struggle or hardship. So many of the stories in the montage are examples of light shining amidst moments of darkness.

 

This season of the church year is called Epiphany, where we highlight the ways Jesus is shown forth to the world. The season begins with the Day of Epiphany, when we commemorate the visit of the Magi to the child Jesus, following the light of the star. From the first day of this season to its end, light continues to be a prominent theme. Look for symbols of light used in your community’s worship (music, liturgy, paraments, images, etc) this Epiphany season.

Discussion Questions

• When have you seen light shining amidst the darkness, hope in times of struggle?
• Have you ever encountered an “everyday hero”?
• Why does it seem that sometimes the best in people comes out in the worst of times?

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

Micah 6:1-8

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Matthew 5:1-12

(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 C at Lectionary Readings

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

Gospel Reflection

In today’s Gospel Reading, Jesus speaks in paradoxes. Often we hear Jesus speaking in parables, but when it comes to the Beatitudes, the Jesus’ teachings seem contradictory. Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit… Blessed are those who mourn…Blessed are those who are persecuted…Blessed are you when people revile you.” This formula,“blessed are,” is not one we would use in everyday speech. But in the original language, “blessed,” could simply mean “happy.” Jesus is saying, “happy” are those who are poor, grieving, persecuted or reviled.

By the world’s standards, people in these pitiable situations would not be called the “happy” ones! This teaching is paradoxical indeed. In the words of St. Paul in the first letter to the Corinthians (1st reading for today), it “sounds like foolishness.”

Jesus is setting up a contrast between the values of heaven and the values of earth. He’s saying that the things people think they need in order to be happy – wealth, answers, popularity, lack of adversity – are not at all what truly makes one blessed. True blessedness, real happiness, comes from knowing Jesus, from following him, and from finding our value in him. While the values of earth are all about what you have – possessions, status, influence – the values of heaven are all about who you know (namely, Jesus).

In today’s reading, Jesus doesn’t stop at listing the paradoxes of the Beatitudes. He goes on to say, “When people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account, rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.” Sure, we may understand that our true worth does not come from earthly standards, but are we really supposed to rejoice when we are hated, rejected or denied? Are we really supposed to be glad about our misfortunes?  It’s difficult to wrap our heads around the idea of rejoicing over loss and rejection.

So how do we live this out? How do we take what Jesus is saying to heart? Well, some Christians might say that Jesus is simply telling us that the world brings hardships, but if we just make it to heaven, we’ll be rewarded there. Some might say, “Hey, life is rough, but heaven will be great!” But there’s more to Jesus’ message than that.

Jesus is helping us to see the true blessedness that appears even amidst the road bumps of life. Jesus is pointing us towards the light that shines even in the darkness. Jesus is challenging us to see the moments of mercy, grace and peace which happen in the places the world might call unredeemable. He is showing us that, through him, we can experience glimpses of the kingdom of heaven even amid the struggles of earth.

Have you ever felt peace even in a time of loss or grief? Have you ever experienced “the holy” in a time of sadness? Have you ever felt God’s presence when you thought you were completely alone? It may have come through a friend, a parent, or a stranger. It may have come through a feeling or a sense of calm. It may have come with no explanation at all. In Jesus’ teaching today, he’s challenging us to look past what the world may see, and to keep our eyes open for the unlikely moments of true blessedness.

So often, when people of faith are asked to share a time when they most clearly felt God’s peace or blessings, they point to a moment of loss: “When my grandmother passed away,” “when my friend died,” “when I didn’t get into the college I wanted.” People often say, “That was the moment when I knew God was there with me, surrounding me.” No, when it comes down to it, we may not feel much like rejoicing in those moments, but so often, it’s there that we discover the blessing of being known and loved by God.

Discussion Questions

• Have you ever felt God’s peace, even amidst loss or disappointment?
• Do you ever struggle with the paradox or “foolishness” of our Christian faith?
• Who can you reach out to when you are struggling to see light in the darkness?

Activity Suggestions

• Watch the video noted in the opening section of this week’s Faith Lens.  In your group, share which heroes were most meaningful to you and why?
• Has there ever been a time when you felt “reviled and persecuted” for doing something because of your faith?  Was it worth it?  What might it say if we have never gotten any heat for following Jesus, since Jesus seems to assume that opposition is inevitable when we are faithful?

Closing Prayer

God of light, this Epiphany season, we pray that you will show us the light of your love, no matter what darkness surrounds us. Draw us closer to you through your Son, who gave himself for our sake, so that we would know the riches of heaven here on earth. Amen.