By Tessa Comnick, ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellow

I was the youngest person by maybe 30 years sitting in a dilapidated American Legion hall at 5 a.m. preparing to start a 15-hour shift at my local polling station. The gentleman next to me warned that we’d probably have some intermittent slow periods. “We’re expecting we’ll get more people than last year, though,” he told me with some pride.

“More people” turned out to be over double the voters on Nov. 6, 2018 than in the previous year. In Lorain County, Ohio, 26.80%* of those eligible voted in November 2017—in November 2018, we hit 54.15%.** This is a trend I am hopeful we will continue to see.

The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP), part of the ELCA Advocacy network, has been active in encouraging congregations through its Get Out the Vote (GOTV) Faithful Citizen Civic Engagement Program. Regional trainings teach effective nonpartisan civic engagement in order to prepare members and places of worship to raise their voices and promote 100% voting participation in their communities. And I have reason to hope for a continued rising voting trend— twice as many people turned out for VICPP’s first GOTV event than registered.

I am a firm believer that everyone eligible should vote in this country, but why should faith communities be involved? For me, our faith equals love. In Mark 12:30-31, Jesus commands us to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. “There is no commandment greater than these,” Jesus teaches. To love God means to love all, every one of us.

The people we vote for are people elected to represent us all: the rich, the poor, the famous, the stranger, the healthy, the sick, the believer, the non-believer—all of us. Our input can help promote in our government our values of love, care, and protection. No matter what beliefs (or lack thereof) individuals in this country follow, we all deserve to be protected, we all deserve to be happy, and we all deserve to be healthy, just as we would want for ourselves.

Don’t miss your state’s deadline – register to vote. Then, whether by mail or at your own local polling location, get out the vote!

*Lorain County Board of Elections, “2017 General Election Information,” loraincountyelections.com, accessed September 26, 2019, https://www.loraincountyelections.com/2017general

**Lorain County Board of Elections, “2018 General Election Information,” loraincountyelections.com, accessed September 26, 2019, https://www.loraincountyelections.com/2018-general-election

Synopsis from a sermon preached by the Rev. Dr. Yolanda Denson-Byers at the historic “Lift Every Voice” African Descent Lutheran Association (ADLA) & Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM) Worship Service on Friday, August 2, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Sermon Based on: Acts 10

I come before you with a pastor’s heart to address the hurt, pain, and suffering that I am aware is present in this room. As a human being who identifies as female, Black, and queer, I recognize that as African descent Lutherans, allies, and queer folks we make an unlikely assembly.

I’m sure it’s no secret that our communities have not always seen eye to eye on many different issues. The African descent community has often lamented that those in the queer community have not been more faithful allies in the struggle against racism and queer folks have lamented that Black folks have not been more faithful collaborators in the struggle against homophobia.

In the Acts reading from today, an unlikely assembly was also gathered together by God. It appears that God was up to some holy mischief. Isn’t it exciting when God brings together two communities previously at odds with one another?

As a cradle born African American Christian, one of the things I have appreciated most about the Black Church is the enduring quest for freedom, equality, and justice for Africans in the United States of America. We were kidnapped from Africa, enslaved in the U.S., suffered through Jim Crow segregation, and now daily reiterate in words and deeds that #BlackLivesMatter. As an out, and gay, person in America, I now recognize that the queer struggle for equality has also been fraught with discrimination, hardship, violence, and death.

Ironically, for both of our communities, one of the greatest challenges to our righteous struggle has been the Christian Church which has long had ideas about who is clean and unclean, saved and unsaved, worthy of salvation and worthy of damnation.

Simon Peter showed how this bias works, when he arrived at Cornelius’ house, stating boldly, “You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile.” Did you hear, Peter? He essentially said, “It’s in the Word.”

Now, I hope that all of us in this room know that we need to be extremely careful when we weaponize scripture to oppress any of God’s Kids. We know that it was these kinds of interpretation of scripture, without regard to contextualization, culture, or even a basic respect for The Law of Love, that has made all sorts of atrocities possible.

That is why we need our friends and allies in the Christian Church to join us in the mission and ministry of bringing Jesus’ good news to those who have not historically received such a gracious message. So today, I ask our friends and allies, “What is the good news that you can deliver to the unarmed sons and daughters of African Americans being killed by racist police officers in your neighborhoods? What is your good news message to children who still don’t have clean water in Flint? What is your good news message to gay kids thinking of commiting suicide, the queer professional fired from his job, or to the survivors of The Pulse nightclub in Florida? What is your good news message to African Americans, the Rainbow Nation, and to all of those who are hurting, oppressed, and marginalized in your own neighborhoods?”

Dear Ones, our unity is our strength. Thank God, that our mischief making God brought Jewish-Christ followers and Gentiles together in Caesarea. Thank God, She brought ADLA and ELM together in Milwaukee, and thank God that she will continue to call together unlikely assemblies in every time, and in every place, to affirm the full inclusion of all humanity at the Banquet Feast of our God.

That is why Peter could declare, “Truly, I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to God … Jesus commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

I don’t know about you, but I am so glad that Jesus lived, died, and rose again! I am so glad that the Holy Spirit is continually putting a new leaf in the table and pulling up an additional chair! I am so glad that God declares again and again, all are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place! Amen.

Note: You can view this sermon in its entirety at https://youtu.be/bbHCVgqgy5o

To learn more about Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries visit: www.elm.org

To learn more about the African Descent Lutheran Association visit: www.adlaelca.org

The Rev. Dr. Yolanda Denson-Byers hails from Saint Louis, Missouri. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wesleyan University in Religion and African-American Studies. Her Masters of Divinity is from Harvard University with specialty in worship, preaching, education, and pastoral care and counseling. Her Doctorate of Ministry is in the field of Congregational Mission and Leadership from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Pastor Yolanda is a missional leader , with a heart for social justice issues, who has, for the last twenty-three years, been exercising her gifts through the vocations of pastor, evangelist, campus minister, hospice chaplain, and bereavement counselor. In addition, she is very proud of her ministry as a wife and mother. Pastor Yolanda enjoys reading, writing, camping, and anything pertaining to a warm climate with a salt water beach!

Seth Moland-Kovash, Palatine, IL

Warm-up Question

When was a time that you felt left out or out of place?

Sharing is Caring

Bullying happens all over the place and it is a common experience in schools. Sometimes a person is bullied and left out for a particular reason and sometimes there is no discernible reason. No matter what the reason, there is no excuse for bullying. But there is often a thing that attracts the attention of those would bully.

In one school near Memphis, Tennessee, a young man was bullied because he repeatedly wore the same clothes to school. Two other classmates saw this happening and decided they could do something about it. They chose to address the fact that he wore the same clothes and gifted him with shoes and clothing from their own closets. You can see a video of the gifts being given in the school hallway here.

Discussion Questions

• What are the situations that can cause someone to be left out or bullied at your school?
• What are some ways you can help someone who is being bullied?
• Do you think the generosity and the kindness of the act is lessened at all for being filmed and put on social media?

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Amos 6:1a, 4-7

1 Timothy 6:6-19

Luke 16:19-31

(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

Jesus tells a parable about a rich man (who is not named) and a poor man (named Lazarus). Lazarus spends his days begging at the door of the rich man and getting no help. In death, their situations are reversed and the rich man wants some of what Lazarus has. This idea of a “great reversal” is central to what Jesus teaches – that in God’s kingdom the last will be first and the first will be last; the rich will be poor and the poor will be rich. 

Having been told he can’t have what Lazarus has, he at least wants to send a warning to his brothers who are still alive so they will learn from his mistakes and not end up in the same situation. He wants Lazarus to go back because his brothers will surely believe someone who has risen from the dead. He is told “if they don’t listen to Abraham, they won’t even listen if someone comes back from the dead.”

It is interesting that Jesus tells this anecdote. He tells it before his own death, but we know what is going to happen. We know that Jesus will die and will come back from the dead. And we wonder sometimes whether we listen even to him.

Discussion Questions

• Why do you think the rich man didn’t share with Lazarus while they were both alive?
• What would it take to make someone like the rich man start to share?
• What can you do to help those who have less in your own school or community?

Activity Suggestions

Closing Prayer

By guest blogger the Rev. Lamont Wells, President of the African Descent Lutheran Association

The sidewalk alongside 116th Street was filled with hungry consumers lined up to purchase that very popular chicken sandwich from Popeyes as I left my local gym. (I had tried the tasty sandwich the weekend before and realized it might really help me with my fitness goals.) I paused and watched the line grow longer and overheard various conversations and pontifications about community changes that were occurring in Harlem, especially due to gentrification.

While I listened, a young male said aloud, “I haven’t registered to vote yet!” Many of the things that concerned those in line were happening as a result of political decisions from elected officials. Then I heard my inclination to get involved. I thought to myself, “We could do something about that – today.”

I ran upstairs to my condo and grabbed a handful of voter registration applications leftover from a previous drive. The young man was in about the same place in front of the crowded restaurant when I got back, and I introduced myself as a concerned neighbor who wondered about some of the same things I had heard earlier. We exchanged names, and I asked Chris if he knew the voter registration deadline was approaching very soon. Using the application I gave him, he completed it and was ready to mail it that day.

Chris and I approached others. Within a two-hour period, about 11 people waiting in line for a sandwich were registered to vote, and many more received information about their polling places and eligibility.

These are some of the things I learned:

1. Observe and listen for opportunities to engage your local community. Seize those moments.
2. Know the deadlines for voter registration.* Set benchmarks and registration goals.
3. Obtain necessary supplies: pens, clipboard and applications.
4. Introduce yourself and be ready to tell why voting matters.
5. Review each application’s completion and mail in timely manner.
6. Be ready to educate voters on important issues or refer them to a local register-to-vote hotline.

I took advantage of a captive audience that I overheard cared about many community matters but were not participating in the voting process that could impact elected officials who support their best interests. (I also didn’t judge the desire for this chicken sandwich that made people endure such long lines.)

Voters and potential voters need to know how the political process works, why their vote is important, and what is at stake if they don’t vote. I have often been tempted to disengage from the political process, but as a person of faith who is dedicated to creating a just world for all, I know I/we must be involved. Our Christian faith is infused with hope and our Lutheran witness is built on a foundation of action. That’s why I am so glad to help those in my community get prepared to change the world around them.

* Learn about local voter registration deadlines from www.vote.org/voter-registration-deadlines/.

Please join ELCA World Hunger in welcoming Domonique Griffin to the team!

Hello! My name is Domonique Griffin, and I am the newest member of the ELCA World Hunger Domestic Hunger Strategy Team. I am originally from Buffalo, New York, where I have spent the last few years honing my research and evaluation skills. Focusing my formal urban planning training in neighborhood planning and community development afforded me the opportunity to work in both the private and public sector, supporting projects that combine research, evaluation, and community engagement to promote community development.

As a project leader at The University at Buffalo’s Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, I worked with team members to evaluate the Local Food Systems Grant that was administered by The United Way of Buffalo & Erie County. The goal of this grant was to strengthen the food system by promoting food equity and food sovereignty in the city of Buffalo. I have witnessed how research can influence policy, strengthen organizations, and inform development strategies that foster more stable communities. ELCA World Hunger’s commitment to systemic change through the lens of the gospel is what compelled me to join the Domestic Hunger Strategy Team. I am excited that I can continue the work of increasing equity within food systems as a Program Associate for the Domestic Hunger Strategy team. I will primarily be working with Daily Bread Matching grants and comprehensive impact reporting.

Amy Martinell, Sioux Falls, SD

Warm-up Question

Today’s parable is about a dishonest servant.  Share the first time you remember lying or being dishonest.  What happened?  Did you come clean or have you kept it a secret?

Can’t Do It Alone

Last night tornados and severe straight-line winds struck Sioux Falls, SD, where I live.  Most people here spent the midnight hours monitoring the storm and taking shelter in their basements. Today the community is flooded with images of the devastation the storms brought.   Buildings are destroyed, trees are uprooted, and power lines are down.  Hospitals had to transfer patients and schools started late this morning, to allow for the streets to be cleaned.  Fortunately, no deaths are serious injuries have been reported.  While there is a lot of damage, we are grateful everyone is safe.

Storms are terrifying things and none of us want to experience them, but I am moved by what we are experiencing after the storm as our community comes together.  Friends and family have been calling and texting to check in with one another.  Local restaurants are providing free meals for city officials and first responders.  Our city helpline is already organizing volunteers and encouraging those who need help with clean up to call for assistance.  As I ran errands this morning, people in the stores took the time to check in with each other, and strangers provided listening ears for one another.  In the midst of the fear and destruction, we see so many caring individuals looking out for each other.

Discussion Questions

• What is your favorite activity to do with your family?  With your friends?  
• What groups provide support and community for you?  
• Who has been a support for you doing a hard or scary time?

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Amos 8:4-7

1 Timothy 2:1-7

Luke 16:1-13

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

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

Gospel Reflection

Can I be honest and say this is a really strange parable?  First we have the manager who is told he will lose his job.   The man cannot do hard labor and does not want to beg so he hatches a plan.  He will forgive the debts of others so that they may give him a place to stay when he loses his job.  So without any permission he lessens the amount owed by two of his master’s debtors.  Surprisingly the master praises him for his shrewd actions and he appears to keep his job.

It is a bit disconcerting that Jesus tells a parable praising dishonest actions, but I cannot help but notice at the heart of the parable is this man being awaken to his need for other people in his life.  We can assume by his panicked response to losing his position that he had no friends or family to take him in.  Suddenly when things go wrong, he realizes he needed other people to help him.  He realizes he needs a community.  

We cannot serve two masters.  When we are concerned only with our own needs, when we focus only on wealth or possessions or status, we cannot live a life of faith.  Our lives instead become limited and we are left alone in our times of need.  When Christ is our master, our world open up.  We are given a community of faithful believers that support us in whatever we are going through.

Discussion Questions

• Why do you think Jesus told his disciples this parable?  What might they learn from it?
• Is there ever a time when it is okay to act dishonestly?  Why or why not?
• What is the problem with trying to serve two masters?  What other things in your life can become your master?
• How do you view money?  Are you a saver, a spender, or a giver?  How does your faith influence your thoughts on money?

Activity Suggestions

Words of affirmation:    Have everyone write their name on a piece of paper.  Pass the papers around and have everyone write something they appreciate about each person on their paper.  Encourage youth to keep the words of affirmation.  Share together why you like coming to youth group and what you appreciate about this group.

Closing Prayer

Gracious God,  we give you thanks for the gift of community in our lives.  We thank you for those who support and care for us.  Help us to do our part to spread love and hope in our communities.  Amen

Issue 66 of Administration Matters

Workers’ compensation insurance
In almost every state, employers are required to buy workers’ compensation insurance, both to protect employers from lawsuits that result from workplace accidents and to provide medical care and compensation for lost income to employees hurt in workplace accidents. >More

Confidentiality and health-related information
The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act deals with health care privacy concerns. Privacy rules restrict the use of medical records and health information maintained by hospitals and other health care providers but generally do not cover ELCA congregations. >More

The inherent risk of guest Wi-Fi access at your congregation
With the myriad of wireless devices in constant use, many churches provide Wi-Fi for the convenience of employees and guests. However, this complimentary benefit can come with a heavy price if security is taken for granted. You may want to forward this information to your IT support specialist before deciding to provide Wi-Fi access to your congregation. >More

Records retention schedule for congregations
It is important to know which records and information a congregation or synod should keep and which can be removed. Some records need to be maintained permanently, and others can be discarded periodically. >More

Valuable tips to protect your identity
Identity theft has become a common problem in the United States, with an estimated 9 million people affected annually, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Here are important tips to protect your identity. >More

The Rev. Ramon Collazo is a second-career pastor from Puerto Rico who ministers with immigrants in detention. It’s one way he channels his passion for immigration reform and raising awareness about human rights.

Quickly after finishing his time at United Lutheran Seminary (formerly, Luther Theological Seminary at Philadelphia), Collazo received a call to serve as mission developer for a new Synod Authorized Worshiping Community (SAWC) called Santa Isabel Ministry to Immigrants in Detention. This ministry focuses on providing spiritual care and hope for Puerto Rican and immigrant inmates at the Elizabeth Detention Center in New Jersey.

One mission starts another

The Iglesia Luterana Santa Isabel Latino Mission congregation in Elizabeth launched the SAWC in 2015. Itself a mission congregation — sponsored by the New Jersey Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — Santa Isabel started the new detention ministry SAWC as one way to care and advocate for immigrants and their rights. The congregation also hosts a citizenship drive twice a year and collaborates with the New Jersey Coalition for Justice.

The Elizabeth Detention Center is specifically designed for immigrants who either do not have proper identification of their citizenship or have committed a minor crime. It holds male and female citizens of multiple countries from Latin America, Europe and Asia. Collazo first became active in this  detention ministry when he was invited to provide prayer during a rally outside its walls.

Rev. Ramon Collazo (shown second from left), with ministry partners who presented the Puerto Rican Christmastime music tradition of Parranda to inmates at the Elizabeth Detention Center in December 2018.

Ministry in detention

Collazo brings a unique voice to this ministry, which centers on doing intentional work to help and share the gospel with its immigrant community and other detainees. He hosts two worship services each week. Each service typically has 50 to 100 participants in worship, Bible study and prayer. Collazo also spends time offering prayer over specific requests or distributing rosaries and Bibles.

On December 27, 2018, Collazo gathered together a few ministry members to bring the Puerto Rican Christmastime music tradition of Parranda to the  detention center’s residents. “We gathered not in a porch, but in a conference room, with guitar and cuatro puertorriqueño (a guitar-like instrument) to practice. We began the Parranda to the dorms, where we surprised the men and women with ‘Feliz Navidad’ and other songs.” Collazo could feel the joy this activity created in the residents as well as a strong sense of unity where it would normally be absent during Christmastime in the  detention facility.

Raising awareness of immigration reform

Collazo has learned much from hearing the stories of people who have tried to flee from oppression but then had to face the harsh reality of being forced to return to the situations from which they fled. He believes, “If we don’t watch the news and don’t put ourselves in their shoes, nothing will change.”

He points out that the reality is that change does not always happen from institutions, it happens through people who are willing to advocate and show empathy to those who are hurting. “It has to come from God, and it has to come from our hearts because we love God and are called to serve our neighbors.”

Touching the hearts of people is where we meet the authentic work of the gospel. Collazo is living this out wholeheartedly and invites fellow congregations to pray for those affected by immigration policies.

by Blake Thomas, Congregational Vitality Team

edited by Kris A. Mainellis, Program Director for Communication and Events, Congregational Vitality

 

“Peace and the end of conflicts are fundamental in the battle against hunger.” – Jose Graziano da Silva, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

For those of us old enough to remember, it is hard to imagine that nearly twenty years have passed since the World Trade Center towers graced the New York City skyline. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 brought into striking relief for Americans and neighbors the world over the vulnerability under which we live – and the threat posed by those who would exploit that vulnerability. 9/11 made clear that terrorism was a threat that could not be ignored, no matter how strong the walls or wide the oceans that might seem to offer protection from it.

In the days after, it became clear that the US and its allies would soon be at war, though few knew just how long the conflicts following 9/11 would last. As military preparations began and continued for more than a decade after, it also became clear that renewed energy for peace-building was also needed, to establish a just peace that strengthened institutions against violence and corruption, protected communities from terrorism, and fostered resilience to conflict.

Against this background, the member nations of the UN laid out the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – a framework for encouraging development toward peace and prosperity for people and the planet. SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – directly addresses the need for equal access to justice and protection of rights for all people. The goal makes clear what many have already known – without justice, there is no peace.

SDG 16 doesn’t stand alone, however. The need for justice and peace is closely tied to SDG 2 – Zero Hunger. Without justice, there is no peace. And without a just peace, there will always be hunger.

Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) bear this out. After decades of decline, global hunger has been on the rise since 2014, driven by conflict within countries in the developing world. The FAO found that in 2017, 489 million of the 815 million undernourished people around the world lived in countries facing conflict, violence and/or fragility. The growth in global hunger also correlated with a growth in non-state violence, which increased 125% between 2010 and 2017.

To be fair, the FAO understands “conflict” broadly, but terrorism is not without ties to hunger and poverty, too. Studies about these ties often look in one direction, trying to see if poverty and hunger are drivers of terrorism. But more recently, the research has started to look the other way, too, identifying the ways that terrorism and other forms of violence can make people more vulnerable to hunger and poverty. In a study of northern Nigeria, for example, researchers found that Boko Haram, a terrorist organization known for its kidnapping of schoolgirls in 2014, significantly disrupted markets through a series of attacks. As one respondent put it,

“People are afraid of coming to the market, me too am afraid. This market have been attacked many times, while perishable goods left wasted each time of attack causing many traders into incurring debt (sic).”

Attacks along roads to markets have also made it harder to exchange goods between markets. Threats of violence have significantly reduced access to food and left traders, particularly farmers selling their produce, vulnerable to debt and poverty. The recent debate over funding for health care expenses for rescue workers in the US following 9/11 highlights yet another way that terrorism and violence can leave individuals and families vulnerable to financial insecurity. Getting treatment for injuries and illnesses incurred as a result of the attacks left many workers and their families saddled with medical bills and lost income still felt today, 18 years later.

Terrorism isn’t the only type of violence that can increase food insecurity. Conflicts in places like Syria and Yemen, for example, have forced people from their homes and livelihoods, leaving them especially vulnerable to hunger. Interpersonal violence, too, particularly violence against women and children, is another significant cause of hunger. Often, violence or the threat of violence is used against women to prevent them from defending their rights or pursuing their vocations, as a 2004 study in the Journal of Poverty found. This is one of the many ties between SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and another of the SDGs, SDG 5 – Gender Equality.

The ELCA, through ELCA World Hunger, is working with fellow member churches of the Lutheran World Federation toward these Sustainable Development Goals as part of the “Waking the Giant” initiative. Together, we are lifting up the ways that churches and communities around the world are addressing the complex causes and effects of hunger, violence, and injustice and encouraging one another to deepen our efforts. We know that achieving any one of the SDGs will require a holistic response that addresses the other goals. If we want to end hunger, we must work for peace. If we desire a just peace, we must work for equality.

Certainly, as the refrain goes, we can “never forget” 9/11. But we should add to this the active commitment to “be ever mindful,” particularly of the ways that violence continues to threaten communities around the world, sometimes in the starkness of violent attacks but often in the pernicious effects of fear, instability, insecurity and hunger.

The pervasiveness of sin renders the world God has created a threatening place for us and our neighbors. The tragedy of violent attacks and the tribulation of undernourishment are painful, powerful reminders of how far we yet remain from the world which God has intended and promised for us. And yet, the hope enlivened by individual acts of courage and collective movements toward resilience reminds us that in the world as it is, too, God remains present – mourning as we mourn, and ever inviting us to share in the work of reconciliation and restoration.

We lift our voices in prayer, as lamentation for those who have been lost to violence and as invocation of hope in the transformative power of God to fill our needs – for food, for safety, for community. As a church, we pray for peace. We pray for justice. We pray for an end to hunger. And we pray knowing that each of these petitions is tied together in one single, holy plea to God for a just world where all may experience well-being and security amid the goodness of God’s creation.

Or, in other words, a world where all may be fed.

Tim Jacobsen, West Des Moines, IA

Warm-up Question

What is the longest time you have spent looking for something? Where did it end up being? How did you feel? (Be honest, it’s ok to say it was right in front of your face)    

Pain in Losing, Joy in Finding

Take some time to familiarize yourself with the devastation from Hurricane Dorian, here is a helpful link: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/03/us/hurricane-dorian-updates.html.

Pro Tip: Be sensitive to those students who may be scared or storms or who have gone through severe weather events and know that it may bring up emotions for them. Talk about the storm, but don’t force response or shame those who this could bring up emotions for. 

Hurricane Dorian has left devastation and damage along its path. Think of the many who were in the path of Dorian. Many had to make the choice between staying, weathering the storm and trying to keep their belongings safe, and evacuating with what they can take and hoping for the best. Hurricane season comes at a time when people are taking the last of their summer vacations.  Tourists have to decide what they are going to do or, if they have not left home, whether they should even go on the trip.  

Big weather events bring up a range of emotions for people. Some are eager to see the weather, but not the devastation that can happen. Others are scared for loved ones or worried about what the damage means for them moving forward. In times of worry or crisis we tend to take inventory of what we have, and what those things mean to us. The things that hold a lot of meaning are things that we try to keep safe or take with us because we couldn’t bear to lose them. 

Discussion Questions

• What do you hold close or valuable to you?
• How do you keep those things safe?
• How would you feel if you lost it?

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Exodus 32:7-14

1 Timothy 1:12-17

Luke 15:1-10

(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

I remember when I was little and was out running errands with my mom. We were in a store that had tall displays, so it was hard for those of us who were short to see over them. This led me to lose my mom in the store. I was scared and wondered how I would get home. Mind you, all this happened before cell phones, so I couldn’t call her and ask where she was. My mom was in the zone, looking for whatever she was looking for, so she did not realize right away that we were separated. I decided I would go to the front of the store; they paged her over the speakers to come up and meet me at the front. I was so glad to find her and did my best to stay close the rest of that shopping trip. 

In the Gospel reading for today there were some pharisees and scribes, basically some really churchy people, debating and judging Jesus’s actions. Jesus then turned the conversation around (as he often does) and posed this question to them, “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?”

I would ask some questions about the sheep’s age or health, really trying to answer the question of the sheep’s value. But that does not figure into the story.  In Judea, the hilly terrain could make it hard to find a sheep and there were spots where sheep could get and humans couldn’t easily follow. The shepherd must have put out a lot of effort for one lost animal.  Jesus adds that once the sheep is found the shepherd throws a party because the lost sheep was found. 

Then Jesus tells the parable of a lady losing a coin and looking all over for it. This wasn’t just any coin like the ones we lose in a couch and forget about; this coin was a half or full day’s pay. We don’t know her financial status but a half day’s pay is not something to just lose and ignore. She, like the shepherd, looks all over and throws a party rejoicing that it was found.  

Could you imagine throwing a party for a lost sheep or a missing coin? I’m down for a good party, but these seem like lame reasons to throw a party. To top it off the sheep or coin couldn’t even say thank you or show repentance for being lost. If we just take this view, we miss the point. 

These parables illustrate that God cares about those who are on the margins or missing. God knows what is best for us and wants us to be in community with God, not because God needs us, but because God cares about us. This could have been shocking news to the religious elite of the day because they were thinking they had an in with God and that they mattered most to God. Jesus embodied God’s goal for community through his life and ministry. Jesus ate and spent time with those who were on the margins and challenged the religious elite to expand their vision.

Discussion Questions

• Have you ever felt like you were missing?
• What makes you feel welcomed?
• How did these parables make you feel?
• How can you welcome people into your youth group or church?
• Who are some people you can reach out to our invite?

Activity Suggestions

All are welcome: Those are common words on church signs, but do you really mean it? The kingdom of God is for the people of God, which is everyone. It can be so easy to count people as lost or ignore them. Take a look at your youth group and think how a visitor would feel. Talk through what it could look like to invite people or what could change in your group to make all feel welcome. 

The point of this exercise isn’t just to grow numbers.  We are called to make Christ know to all, so let’s do that.  

Thank you: Write a note thanking someone who helped you when you felt lost or not included. Thank them for making you feel welcome or for reaching out to you.  

Closing Prayer

Good and Gracious God, we thank you for your presence with us and love that you have for us. We ask that you open our eyes to those around us who need to feel your love. Work through us as we go out to be your hands and feet. We have been blessed with much and long for much, help us to be content and willing to share our blessings with others.  Amen