Thanksgiving...
while a good idea, should not be saved for a single day of the year. As Son the Younger night say, "Deo Gratias"! Thanks be to God, should be a phrase on our lips with reckless abandon. There never cease to be much to be thankful for.
It is important though to attach a person to whom we give thanks. It is meaningles the thanks of those who are content to thank empty air. Or the Cosmic Someone. We thank God who is the only -- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
It was noted by a coworker a couple of years ago that those facing special challenges, it seemed to him, tended to downplay the adversity and, well... be thankful. He mentioned this to me in the context of Son the Elder's disability.
Perhaps there is less of a tendency to take what we have for granted when we are constantly mindful of what is missing. Or maybe it's just a slight shift of focus that is displayed by being thankul. It could even be the old, "well it's either laugh or cry" theme that begets thankfulness.
I must say, whatever the reason, I'm thankful that I haven't hardened to God's many and varied blessings on my life and our lives.
Ah, the reason then...
it isn't me at all. It is God's manifold grace.
Revealed in Word and Sacrament.
as we say in receiving Divine Service then... Thanks be to God!!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
reflections on Armistice Day...
W - W - one. While the Treaty of Versailles was not signed until June of the following year, the war was effectively ended with the armistice on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, 1918.
In 1919 President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov 11 a day to commemorate the end of the war. In typical fashion the United States Congress recognized the end of World War One in 1926. Several States by then had made Nov 11 a legal holiday, the federal gov't followed in 1938, declaring that Armistice Day would be celebrated to commemorate the veterans of WWI, and dedicated to "world peace"( Is that where Miss America got it from?).
Then in 1954 Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation changing the day to "Veteran's Day" -- commemorating American veterans of all wars.
For a few years your state might have had two Veteran's Days! The federal gov't decided that it should be a Monday holiday in '68 (took effect in '71). A number of states and many veteran's groups didn't think much of the decision, some states kept their state holiday on Nov 11, with the federal falling at the end of Oct or some such.
The hullaballoo did not die down - President Ford put it back on its original date, he signed in '75, it was effective in '78.
Over time Veteran's Day has come to be a day to commemorate all those who have served in our nation's military. After the national disgrace of our treatment of Vietnam vet's, it seems appropriate to remember that our servicemembers these days have voluntarily submitted to serve, for the benefit of every citizen - often at political whim, too often with their very life's blood.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Home, at last!!
My family and I had much to celebrate this year... I slammed into the mid-century mark in anniversaries of my birth, my wife and I celebrated a quarter century in holy matrimony, our daughter celebrated the receipt of her Bachelor's degree and Deaconess certification ( do I hear a CALL coming?!).
We decided to celebrate all of this together on a cruise of the Caribbean. Since the departure point was Miami, we also decided to spend some time in Florida as it's where my wife and I had our first permanent address together -- Miami in fact. The buddha is still watching over the pool at our first apartment ( buddha like bikini?)
Our travel trailer provided housing until cruise time - there were six of us, a wee bit cozy but we survived. Wife's brother joined us, keeping Son the Younger occupied.
We were privileged to worship at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church in Saint Augustine on the way down. The Sunday on board we prayed Responsive Prayer 2 (LSB). We customarily use Matins for homeschool chapel -- with this group I decided that singing together was not adviseable. I had looked up the propers for the Day, it was much like a spoken setting of Matins.
There were some minor mishaps and one major one. We had to skip the Line's island due to swells, we left a bag on the carousel (FedEx to the rescue -- not too many $$) and the tranny on the truck had an argument with the transfer case an hour from home --- both will be replaced at significant cost. What the hey... life aint cheap!
All in all we enjoyed seeing new places together. Still don't get driving on the left but retaining left hand drive!! Both US and Brittish Virgin Islands.
As much as we enjoyed this adventure outside of reality --- the very best part is getting back home. Son the Elder was so happy to be back in his own bed that he went to bed early and slept like a log!
Unfortunately, I missed the timing of the trip and we were unable to join in the assembly of the saints for "Reformation Sunday". My family will do a Reformation devotion on Oct 31 --- for those of you on one of the coasts that's Reformation Day. Still, we will have missed the high church celebration that traditionally marks this day.
My family and I had much to celebrate this year... I slammed into the mid-century mark in anniversaries of my birth, my wife and I celebrated a quarter century in holy matrimony, our daughter celebrated the receipt of her Bachelor's degree and Deaconess certification ( do I hear a CALL coming?!).
We decided to celebrate all of this together on a cruise of the Caribbean. Since the departure point was Miami, we also decided to spend some time in Florida as it's where my wife and I had our first permanent address together -- Miami in fact. The buddha is still watching over the pool at our first apartment ( buddha like bikini?)
Our travel trailer provided housing until cruise time - there were six of us, a wee bit cozy but we survived. Wife's brother joined us, keeping Son the Younger occupied.
We were privileged to worship at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church in Saint Augustine on the way down. The Sunday on board we prayed Responsive Prayer 2 (LSB). We customarily use Matins for homeschool chapel -- with this group I decided that singing together was not adviseable. I had looked up the propers for the Day, it was much like a spoken setting of Matins.
There were some minor mishaps and one major one. We had to skip the Line's island due to swells, we left a bag on the carousel (FedEx to the rescue -- not too many $$) and the tranny on the truck had an argument with the transfer case an hour from home --- both will be replaced at significant cost. What the hey... life aint cheap!
All in all we enjoyed seeing new places together. Still don't get driving on the left but retaining left hand drive!! Both US and Brittish Virgin Islands.
As much as we enjoyed this adventure outside of reality --- the very best part is getting back home. Son the Elder was so happy to be back in his own bed that he went to bed early and slept like a log!
Unfortunately, I missed the timing of the trip and we were unable to join in the assembly of the saints for "Reformation Sunday". My family will do a Reformation devotion on Oct 31 --- for those of you on one of the coasts that's Reformation Day. Still, we will have missed the high church celebration that traditionally marks this day.
Friday, September 11, 2009
A fork in the road...
or is that a pitchfork sticking in between my ears?
For the last couple of years I've been thinking that my congregation needs to change location. We're hard to find, hard to see from the street that erroneously carries our address, the architecture says nothing about our confession - and little about Christ.
On the other hand... what has always set us apart has been the worship. The Divine Service is what those who visit notice. Although it seems to me that through neglect that is a little less true now than it was.
The Divine Service is the thing.
The most public announcement of our confession is found in the Divine Service. Or not!
I am convinced that we need to return to a full time music director/Cantor for a cohesive music program. The folks working part time to provide music to aid and lead the Divine Service have done an admirable job, still -- it just isn't the same. The result is good, it was excellent and could be extremely excellent with a Cantor and a digital pipe organ.
While I still feel that a move would be good for our future as a parish -- at what cost? At first I was concerned primarily about the financial burden a move would create. The only conceivable way to pay the bills would involve "Open Arms"(tm) Daycare. I don't much like daycare but could live with it to pay the bills. Thinking on this has made me examine --- what would such a building look like?
Now if we were a new congregation contemplating building or continuing to rent the local funeral home --- no brainer -- build.
We on the other hand have been in a building for decades. While the architecture is mid-60's modern, it is a space dedicated to worship. It is possible too, that with some refurbishing it could do a somewhat better job of expressing our confessional standard. On the higher feast days we are a high church congregation and that works fine.
It concerns me that the cost of moving would be a loss in the way we worship. It isn't that high church worship can't be done in a multi-use building -- that's done all the time. Not by this group of Christians though. It would change us. We would be backing up.
To go forward we need to re-focus on our strong suit. The Divine Service.
Should we move? Perhaps, but only if the funding can be achieved to provide a dedicated worship space that fits the liturgical tradition to which we are accustomed.
or is that a pitchfork sticking in between my ears?
For the last couple of years I've been thinking that my congregation needs to change location. We're hard to find, hard to see from the street that erroneously carries our address, the architecture says nothing about our confession - and little about Christ.
On the other hand... what has always set us apart has been the worship. The Divine Service is what those who visit notice. Although it seems to me that through neglect that is a little less true now than it was.
The Divine Service is the thing.
The most public announcement of our confession is found in the Divine Service. Or not!
I am convinced that we need to return to a full time music director/Cantor for a cohesive music program. The folks working part time to provide music to aid and lead the Divine Service have done an admirable job, still -- it just isn't the same. The result is good, it was excellent and could be extremely excellent with a Cantor and a digital pipe organ.
While I still feel that a move would be good for our future as a parish -- at what cost? At first I was concerned primarily about the financial burden a move would create. The only conceivable way to pay the bills would involve "Open Arms"(tm) Daycare. I don't much like daycare but could live with it to pay the bills. Thinking on this has made me examine --- what would such a building look like?
Now if we were a new congregation contemplating building or continuing to rent the local funeral home --- no brainer -- build.
We on the other hand have been in a building for decades. While the architecture is mid-60's modern, it is a space dedicated to worship. It is possible too, that with some refurbishing it could do a somewhat better job of expressing our confessional standard. On the higher feast days we are a high church congregation and that works fine.
It concerns me that the cost of moving would be a loss in the way we worship. It isn't that high church worship can't be done in a multi-use building -- that's done all the time. Not by this group of Christians though. It would change us. We would be backing up.
To go forward we need to re-focus on our strong suit. The Divine Service.
Should we move? Perhaps, but only if the funding can be achieved to provide a dedicated worship space that fits the liturgical tradition to which we are accustomed.
Friday, August 28, 2009
I am a child of the ALC...
yep, been keeping that quiet! I even transferred into the LCMS during the post-Seminex period before altar/pulpit fellowship was revoked.
My baptism took place in an Episcopal parish. I've got heterodox written all over me!!
The ALC (it was called the new ALC, due to some older one some other time), merged with the LCA (bleeccch from the getgo) and the AELC (LCMS traitors) to form the heterodox ELCA in '88. Ahh the good 'ole days. Of course, the heterodoxy predated the merger. ( and no, I'm not unaware that we have our own doctrinal problems -- but Dr Luther opposed violence in dealing with the heterodox -- and that's the only quick way to fix it!)
Do you remember when the late Dr Barry wrote that the ELCA was no longer (charitable of him) an orthodox Lutheran church body? I'm waiting for the current LCMS leadership to announce that the ELCA is no longer a Christian denomination, but instead a quasi-christian cult (you know, like the JW's or Mormons).
It shouldn't be long before ELCA considers the cross a falic symbol and requires artemis or ashera to balance the altar in their temples.
These people hate Christ!
yep, been keeping that quiet! I even transferred into the LCMS during the post-Seminex period before altar/pulpit fellowship was revoked.
My baptism took place in an Episcopal parish. I've got heterodox written all over me!!
The ALC (it was called the new ALC, due to some older one some other time), merged with the LCA (bleeccch from the getgo) and the AELC (LCMS traitors) to form the heterodox ELCA in '88. Ahh the good 'ole days. Of course, the heterodoxy predated the merger. ( and no, I'm not unaware that we have our own doctrinal problems -- but Dr Luther opposed violence in dealing with the heterodox -- and that's the only quick way to fix it!)
Do you remember when the late Dr Barry wrote that the ELCA was no longer (charitable of him) an orthodox Lutheran church body? I'm waiting for the current LCMS leadership to announce that the ELCA is no longer a Christian denomination, but instead a quasi-christian cult (you know, like the JW's or Mormons).
It shouldn't be long before ELCA considers the cross a falic symbol and requires artemis or ashera to balance the altar in their temples.
These people hate Christ!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Uh-oh...
the kid made the papers! and so young! at least we were able to keep his name out.
Yep, Son the Younger (sugar cured Ham!) was in front of the camera as the "Liberty Belle" taxied by. A travelling museum, this B-17 visits several cities throughout the year - a compelling reminder of WWII -- its troubles and triumphs.
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