A friend recently posted this question in a clergy group in which we both participate: "For those of you who preach the lectionary & observe the seasons of the church calendar: What do you do to “observe Easter?” I get Lent… but I don’t always get Easter. We have 40 days of Lent for a reason: to spend time in reflection and self-examination. To feel remorse, make confession, and generally prepare ourselves for the road that leads to Golgotha and the cross. …we know that the new life of Easter cannot be fully realized until walking the path that leads through the valley of the shadow of death. So, fine. We did that. We have made Good Friday a part of our Holy Week. So, when do we get to dance? We have 50 days of Easter (Ha! Take that, Lent! That’s 10 more than you!). How do we observe these days of Easter? Is it like the 12 days of Christmas (which seems like overkill – c’mon enough with the carols!). I mean, I know Luther taught that “every Sunday is a ‘little Easter’” but what are we supposed to do with these 50 days – to usher people into the abundant life Christ promised – that we aren’t doing every other Sunday of the year?
--
To which I responded: "I think you're wondering why we don't have a "shape" to practices during Easter similar to Lent. I've often wondered the same thing, but have assumed there was some theological wisdom in the lack of assigned practices during the Easter season, something to do with the release from a specific shape to repentance, the freedom of the new life in Christ. In point of fact, to assign Easter "practices" would be to proclaim something other than the resurrection to new life in Christ.
That being said, there certainly is a way to live the risen life in Christ (Wendell Berry's poem provides spectacular hints at this), and I've sometimes thought that the absence of guidance on this point ends up making Easter less proclamatory than Lent--problematic.
One incredibly wise thing the church does during the Easter season is to read from Acts. Since the Acts of the Apostles is the gospel of Jesus Christ recapitulated in the life of the church, that book itself describes better than anything else we can examine how to "observe" Easter. And what do we do during Easter, according to Acts? Bear witness to the resurrection of Christ by the Father. Share everything in common. Hold fast to the apostles teachings. Heal in Christ's name. Free prisoners. Go, beginning in Jerusalem, to the whole world with the gospel. Share in a meal Christ initiated, and invite absolutely everyone to that banquet. Love God and do what you will."
--
And then I added this, which is, without a doubt, the best description of how to observe Easter:
Wendell Berry - Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front
Love the quick profit, the annual raise,
vacation with pay. Want more
of everything ready-made. Be afraid
to know your neighbors and to die.
And you will have a window in your head.
Not even your future will be a mystery
any more. Your mind will be punched in a card
and shut away in a little drawer.
When they want you to buy something
they will call you. When they want you
to die for profit they will let you know.
So, friends, every day do something
that won't compute. Love the Lord.
Love the world. Work for nothing.
Take all that you have and be poor.
Love someone who does not deserve it.
Denounce the government and embrace
the flag. Hope to live in that free
republic for which it stands.
Give your approval to all you cannot
understand. Praise ignorance, for what man
has not encountered he has not destroyed.
Ask the questions that have no answers.
Invest in the millenium. Plant sequoias.
Say that your main crop is the forest
that you did not plant,
that you will not live to harvest.
Say that the leaves are harvested
when they have rotted into the mold.
Call that profit. Prophesy such returns.
Put your faith in the two inches of humus
that will build under the trees
every thousand years.
Listen to carrion -- put your ear
close, and hear the faint chattering
of the songs that are to come.
Expect the end of the world. Laugh.
Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful
though you have considered all the facts.
So long as women do not go cheap
for power, please women more than men.
Ask yourself: Will this satisfy
a woman satisfied to bear a child?
Will this disturb the sleep
of a woman near to giving birth?
Go with your love to the fields.
Lie down in the shade. Rest your head
in her lap. Swear allegiance
to what is nighest your thoughts.
As soon as the generals and the politicos
can predict the motions of your mind,
lose it. Leave it as a sign
to mark the false trail, the way
you didn't go.
Be like the fox
who makes more tracks than necessary,
some in the wrong direction.
Practice resurrection.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Lutherans and Ethnic Ministries in Northwest Arkansas
Ever since our return from Slovakia in 1999, I have served as an Ambassador for Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. Having lived in a foreign country for some years, I developed a passion for finding ways to offer hospitality and support for those migrating to our own country.
My volunteer work with LIRS changed over the years, but essentially I focused time and energy on advocacy for refugees and immigrants, taught classes at churches about the ministry of LIRS, and did fund-raising for refugee resettlement in Milwaukee (most notably by running the Syttende Mai race each year). I continue to encourage anyone reading this blog to consider how you might intentionally and financially support the work of LIRS, either in your local context through a refugee resettlement office, or through advocacy and contributions to the national organization.
In 2010, the relationship our synod had developed with LIRS in Milwaukee resulted in Madison being designated as a satellite refugee resettlement location, and it was our congregation's and my personal joy to be able to help resettle a refugee family from Bhutan. Refugee resettlement of Bhutanese families continues in Madison.
However, this past year I moved to Arkansas, and LIRS discontinued its Ambassador program. I have been feeling the lack of an intentional focus that would continue ministry with immigrants and refugees. It's not that there is a lack of opportunity, just simply that the move and change of institutional structures has meant I have to revision what it means to be intentionally connected to ethnic communities different from my own, and what it means to be an advocate for refugees and immigrants in this next context.
I've known ever since we were moving to Northwest Arkansas that there were at least two large immigrant communities in the neighborhood. Marshallese folks have been moving to Springdale for many years, and in fact Springdale is the largest Marshallese community in the United States outside of the Marshall Islands themselves. Somewhere around 10,000 people, I believe.
Second, the Latino population of Springdale is large and growing at a rapid pace. Currently there are about 16,000 Latino people living in Springdale, and this number is predicted to rise to 25,000 by 2015. Anecdotally, there are whole sections of the town where Spanish-language markets, shops, and restaurants predominate. There are ethnic restaurants from a variety of countries in South and Central America. It's a diverse and vibrant population. You can even buy pupusas at El Salvadoran restaurants. Yum!
--
Today our synod hosted a consultation in Tulsa on Latino ministries in Arkansas-Oklahoma. Pastors and lay persons from about four different regions were in attendance. I carpooled with a neighboring pastor, Paul Theiss, of Peace Lutheran in Rogers. He's a wonderful pastor to have as a neighbor, and we got so wrapped up in our conversation on the drive home that we missed the 412 turnpike and almost drove to Missouri instead of Arkansas!
Our presenters at the consultation were the coordinators for Latino ministries from the ELCA office in Chicago. Essentially, they simply walked us through what various ELCA Latino ministries look like around the country (the types of congregations that are out there, how they were started, how they are financed, who leads them, how they partner with parent or nest congregations, etc.).
I was inspired to learn that often these ministries have started at a very basic level, often with an Anglo congregation simply hosting ESL classes with teachers from World Relief, public school resources, etc. Then, as such ministries progress, the congregations have offered worship in Spanish, sometimes by inviting a neighboring Latino pastor to come and lead services, and then eventually by calling a Latino/Spanish speaking pastor to serve as pastor of the Latino population.
Sometimes these are bilingual ministries. Other times it is more like two churches simply sharing space.
Our presenters took time to teach us at least a bit about the cultural contexts we're envisioning engaging. They know, for example, that many Latino people who are coming to a Lutheran ministry likely have backgrounds in Roman Catholic piety, charismatic piety, or a mix of the two. It has been interesting to hear stories from these pastors (as well as our neighboring LCMS missionary, Tardeli Voss, who leads a vibrant Latino congregation nested out of Salem Lutheran in Springdale) talk about how to be sensitive to these religious traditions (perhaps especially how to talk about and relate to icons, festivals, and Our Lady of Guadalupe, about which, see Maxwell Johnson's American Magnificat: Protestants on Mary of Guadalupe
).
). As I listened, I was reminded of a couple of things I'll make note of here. I hope to remember these points as I begin to engage my Latino and Marshallese neighbors more intentionally this summer.
1) The fact that Latino people have unique parts of their culture that they bring into their religious practice is actually not wrong, it's just different. Anglos do the same thing, but as the dominant culture, we don't think of our cultural accommodation as ethnic. We just think it's normal.
2) It is so easy, as the dominant cultural religious group, to be patronizing. Avoid this. Find out how to accompany each other in the gospel of Christ and the mission of God.
3) Remember how thrilling, if also challenging, it is to be exposed to another culture. Be open. Be generous.
4) The Latino community is a community of many generations. The first generation thinks differently about language and worship than the subsequent generations.
There are probably even more pieces of wisdom I could list that I learned from our consultation today, but the my primary take away was as follows: Although I can envision what our congregation might do in the coming years by way of Latino and immigrant ministries (launch a multi-ethnic Lutheran satellite congregation in Springdale, develop ESL classes out of our Fayetteville facility, advocate for worker justice, etc.) for the time-being I just plan to be out and about this summer as a pastor and person being with people and walking neighborhoods to learn more and accompany folks on the journey. I think God is calling me not to launch something in the congregation, but just intentionally love my neighbors, and especially seek to connect with some ethnic groups from whom I can learn much about what it means to be human, in community, and faithful. That's a good start.
For a big picture approach to this topic, see:
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
His Holiness and the Basketball Palace of Mid-America
Bud Walton Arena, more often the staging grounds for fine Razorback basketball games, was today converted into a venue for the visit of the Dalai Lama and a panel discussion on nonviolence. For a world leader of such stature to come to our state and region was an honor, and is due in large part to the persistent inviting of Sidney Burris, Director of the Fulbright Honors Studies at the University of Arkansas. Burris was instrumental in bringing Geshe Dorjee to the Fulbright college in 2006, perhaps the only Geshe at a university in North America. Burris lead The Text Project, an oral history project designed to record the stories of Tibetans currently living in refugee settlements in India.
There were many pleasant aspects to the day, but most pleasant was certainly the chance to attend a university and community event with a variety of parishioners from my congregation. I carpooled to the stadium with Tom Perry, a member of my call committee. We rode the bus with other pilgrims and students for the opening plenary session. It's a strange phenomenon, to ride to an event centered around an eastern spiritual leader of such stature together with western folk enamored of or intrigued by the east. Not surprisingly, one couple I rode the bus with was from Eureka Springs.
The opening plenary was spectacular. They had invited two other noted advocates of non-violence--Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account Of The Death Penalty In The United States
; and Dr. Vincent Harding, author of Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous sermon "Beyond Vietnam" and Hope and History: Why We Must Share the Story of the Movement
. Sidney Burris moderated the discussion.
Sister Prejean and Dr. Harding both took narrative approaches to answering questions. Prejean's committment to nonviolence arose out of her first-hand witnessing of the process of executing the death penalty in many states. Harding's came while he was in basic training for the military. He enjoyed firing rifles, and was good at it, but in his spare time he was voraciously reading and re-reading the New Testament, and he became committed to the way of non-violence when he observed that the training he was receiving in the military was at odds with his read of the New Testament and the way of Jesus.
One statement of Harding in particular I latched onto, indicating, as I often think, that eschatology and its connection to life today, in this moment, is an important aspect of Christian theology, "Our hearts were too full of the dream of what would be--racial and religious reconciliation--to let hatred or frustration distract us." Harding, answering a question on how they dealt with "the enemy" during civil rights.
The Dalai Lama, on the other hand, spoke more anecdotally and whimsically. In fact, the most remarkable thing about the Dalai Lama was his earthy humor and humility. He has a kind of snickering laugh that can win over an individual, or 10,000 people in stadium seating. It wasn't so much individual things as much as his actual presence, that was a powerful aspect of the day.
I had the honor of attending a "private" lunch with the Dalai Lama, a smaller group of university leaders and community leaders, in the press room of the stadium. One thing the Dalai Lama said really stood out for me. He loves that the U.S. is committed to democracy and freedom worldwide, and he told us, "Do not be afraid [in the midst of this global economic crisis]. Work hard and united and lead the free world." Inspiring coming from someone like the Dalai Lama. I had the pleasure of spending this part of the day with Cynthia Nance, dean of the law school and a member of our congregation. Many thanks to her for inviting me!
Then, back out to the stadium for the afternoon plenary lecture. The Dalai Lama took a circular approach to his presentation, touching on many topics, pausing to tell stories, and along the way, offered some choice pearls, including,
To be honest, I didn't follow everything he was saying. It's difficult in that setting to understand his English (my problem, not his; the fact that he has learned English in order to communicate with us shows his respect and concern to speak to the world on nonviolence, ecology, and human rights). Nevertheless, it was grand to be in the midst of this crowd reflecting together on interfaith harmony, nonviolence, etc.
As I mentioned, Sidney Burris and the planning committee for the event did a spectacular job with lead up educational events and communication. The Dalai Lama's visit was the "buzz" of Fayetteville these last few weeks, and I imagine for weeks to come. I had the chance to bum a ride home from another member of our congregation who was actually on the planning committee, Kathryn Sampson, a professor of writing in the law school. I commend her and everyone who helped put together such a spectacular event.
You might be wondering what a Lutheran pastor makes out of the visit of the Dalai Lama to Fayetteville. I am too. He is, obviously, not holy in the tradition in which I recognize holy people, so I do not pray or bow around him in quite the way others might. Nevertheless, I definitely recognize in him wisdom, piety, holiness, stature, gravity. He's really a remarkable person. He's earthy, an advocate for our connection to nature and the world in which we live, and he continually says we are, all of us, humans together. That's an important message, from any faith tradition.
That being said, I wonder what kind of impact his visit will have. Vincent Harding warned us that often we approach everything as a spectator society, even a conference on non-violence. Harding said, "If your applause means you plan to take action on what you have heard today, the clap away." So I wonder what the continuing impact will be of the non-violence message, in our community and in my personal life and ministry.
I have written a column for the Northwest Arkansas Gazette that will appear on Saturday, in which I discuss more of the interfaith aspect, so more of that anon.
In the meantime, blessings to the Dalai Lama as he travels home, and blessings on our community as we try to live into some of the wisdom offered today. For starters, I'm going to learn more about the terrible death penalty statutes in my new home state, and see what kind of holy trouble we're called to cause around that.
There were many pleasant aspects to the day, but most pleasant was certainly the chance to attend a university and community event with a variety of parishioners from my congregation. I carpooled to the stadium with Tom Perry, a member of my call committee. We rode the bus with other pilgrims and students for the opening plenary session. It's a strange phenomenon, to ride to an event centered around an eastern spiritual leader of such stature together with western folk enamored of or intrigued by the east. Not surprisingly, one couple I rode the bus with was from Eureka Springs.
The opening plenary was spectacular. They had invited two other noted advocates of non-violence--Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account Of The Death Penalty In The United States
; and Dr. Vincent Harding, author of Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous sermon "Beyond Vietnam" and Hope and History: Why We Must Share the Story of the Movement. Sidney Burris moderated the discussion.Sister Prejean and Dr. Harding both took narrative approaches to answering questions. Prejean's committment to nonviolence arose out of her first-hand witnessing of the process of executing the death penalty in many states. Harding's came while he was in basic training for the military. He enjoyed firing rifles, and was good at it, but in his spare time he was voraciously reading and re-reading the New Testament, and he became committed to the way of non-violence when he observed that the training he was receiving in the military was at odds with his read of the New Testament and the way of Jesus.
One statement of Harding in particular I latched onto, indicating, as I often think, that eschatology and its connection to life today, in this moment, is an important aspect of Christian theology, "Our hearts were too full of the dream of what would be--racial and religious reconciliation--to let hatred or frustration distract us." Harding, answering a question on how they dealt with "the enemy" during civil rights.
The Dalai Lama, on the other hand, spoke more anecdotally and whimsically. In fact, the most remarkable thing about the Dalai Lama was his earthy humor and humility. He has a kind of snickering laugh that can win over an individual, or 10,000 people in stadium seating. It wasn't so much individual things as much as his actual presence, that was a powerful aspect of the day.
I had the honor of attending a "private" lunch with the Dalai Lama, a smaller group of university leaders and community leaders, in the press room of the stadium. One thing the Dalai Lama said really stood out for me. He loves that the U.S. is committed to democracy and freedom worldwide, and he told us, "Do not be afraid [in the midst of this global economic crisis]. Work hard and united and lead the free world." Inspiring coming from someone like the Dalai Lama. I had the pleasure of spending this part of the day with Cynthia Nance, dean of the law school and a member of our congregation. Many thanks to her for inviting me!
Then, back out to the stadium for the afternoon plenary lecture. The Dalai Lama took a circular approach to his presentation, touching on many topics, pausing to tell stories, and along the way, offered some choice pearls, including,
If you have a problem and you see the solution there is no need to be overwhelmed. If you have a problem and there is no solution there is no POINT in being overwhelmed.
Wise selfish is much better than foolish selfish.
the death sentence eliminates the person not the action.
A Tibetan saying, "The Lamas blessings are better at a distance." This in reference to his exile in India and perhaps permanently delayed return.
The enemy is your best teacher.
To be honest, I didn't follow everything he was saying. It's difficult in that setting to understand his English (my problem, not his; the fact that he has learned English in order to communicate with us shows his respect and concern to speak to the world on nonviolence, ecology, and human rights). Nevertheless, it was grand to be in the midst of this crowd reflecting together on interfaith harmony, nonviolence, etc.
As I mentioned, Sidney Burris and the planning committee for the event did a spectacular job with lead up educational events and communication. The Dalai Lama's visit was the "buzz" of Fayetteville these last few weeks, and I imagine for weeks to come. I had the chance to bum a ride home from another member of our congregation who was actually on the planning committee, Kathryn Sampson, a professor of writing in the law school. I commend her and everyone who helped put together such a spectacular event.
You might be wondering what a Lutheran pastor makes out of the visit of the Dalai Lama to Fayetteville. I am too. He is, obviously, not holy in the tradition in which I recognize holy people, so I do not pray or bow around him in quite the way others might. Nevertheless, I definitely recognize in him wisdom, piety, holiness, stature, gravity. He's really a remarkable person. He's earthy, an advocate for our connection to nature and the world in which we live, and he continually says we are, all of us, humans together. That's an important message, from any faith tradition.
That being said, I wonder what kind of impact his visit will have. Vincent Harding warned us that often we approach everything as a spectator society, even a conference on non-violence. Harding said, "If your applause means you plan to take action on what you have heard today, the clap away." So I wonder what the continuing impact will be of the non-violence message, in our community and in my personal life and ministry.
I have written a column for the Northwest Arkansas Gazette that will appear on Saturday, in which I discuss more of the interfaith aspect, so more of that anon.
In the meantime, blessings to the Dalai Lama as he travels home, and blessings on our community as we try to live into some of the wisdom offered today. For starters, I'm going to learn more about the terrible death penalty statutes in my new home state, and see what kind of holy trouble we're called to cause around that.
Monday, May 09, 2011
Another beautifully prosaic week in the life of a pastor
Continuing the practice of blogging a week of ministry, here's the second week of May:
Sunday- Mother's Day is also confirmation Sunday at our congregation, so we confirmed our 7th graders this morning. We have a great practice where the parents give a brief testimonial to and for their children before the children give their faith statements. Lots of special music shared. Later in the day, spent time in the yard building a new mulched perennial bed, ran 4 miles in the Vibrams with two of the kids in a stroller, and watched a bit of The Tourist.
Monday- Morning teleconference with our music director at Paul Westermeyer of Luther Seminary to plan our Trinity Sunday celebration of the new (for us) Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnal. Staff strategic planning morning, look at our spiritual gifts and congregational vision in order to evaluate programming and planning for the remainder of 2011. Took communion to a family in Greenland, south of Fayetteville. They moved here from Bismark, ND to be with family. On the way back, stopped at the coffee shop for a Chemex pour over, and while sitting in the coffee shop trying to read the LIFT ELCA task force report, ended up in a fascinating conversation with a man who had served abroad administrating English language schools in Bolivia, Hong Kong, and most recently Kazakhstan. Fascinated by religion, he doesn't currently attend worship anywhere, but told the story of the rebuilding of the Russian Orthodox cathedral in his town after communion ended, and the group of Polish priests who moved to town and started a significant community ministry that revitalized the whole city. That was a coffee worth having, and yes, it meant I read very little of the report.
Back at church, made calls to potential members of the congregation, reviewed bulletin for Sunday, came home for to plant some flowers and play with the kids, and now an evening of writing council report, blogs, and perhaps finish reading the LIFT report.
Tuesday- Morning staff party saying goodbye to our longtime custodian who is moving to Kansas City. Counseling session, free afternoon with family (hopefully more running and playing in a stream nearby), then return to interview new custodial personnel, and lead evening Bible study (Acts 3).
Wednesday- All day attending the visit of the Dalai Lama to Fayetteville. http://dalailama.uark.edu/ I have tickets for the panel discussion and plenary, and the dean of the law school was kind enough to invite me to the "private" lunch with the Dalai Lama. Wow. Wednesday evening supper with the spouses of our staff, BBQ at Whole Hog.
Thursday- Day trip with neighboring pastor of Peace Lutheran Church to Tulsa to attend an ethnic ministries consultation at the synod office. Will be good to have time with the closest ELCA pastor, and good to hear our ethnic ministry (and especially Latino ministry) plans. I've already had some great conversations with the pastor of Salem Lutheran (LCMS) in Springdale and possibilities for us partnering with him (he is a missionary from Brazil) for joint Latino ministry between his congregation and GSLC.
Friday and Saturday- Like an actual two day weekend. Praise God.
Sunday- Worship and graduating seniors recognition, evening new member orientation class, meal, and tour.
Mixed in along the way, but with no specified times, are study and pondering time for the sermon on Acts, fining up Jeffrey Stout's fine philosophical volume, Democracy and Tradition (New Forum Books)
, as well as Derek Wilson's Luther: Out of the Storm
, which is a resource I'll be using for a summer sermon series on Luther, the Reformation, and the development of Lutheranism. And a variety of other simple things, like writing a council report, pondering summer contemporary worship structure, and other things as they arise.
Hope such a description helps you picture how I spend the week. I'd absolutely love to read similar descriptions from folks in other professions.
Sunday- Mother's Day is also confirmation Sunday at our congregation, so we confirmed our 7th graders this morning. We have a great practice where the parents give a brief testimonial to and for their children before the children give their faith statements. Lots of special music shared. Later in the day, spent time in the yard building a new mulched perennial bed, ran 4 miles in the Vibrams with two of the kids in a stroller, and watched a bit of The Tourist.
Monday- Morning teleconference with our music director at Paul Westermeyer of Luther Seminary to plan our Trinity Sunday celebration of the new (for us) Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnal. Staff strategic planning morning, look at our spiritual gifts and congregational vision in order to evaluate programming and planning for the remainder of 2011. Took communion to a family in Greenland, south of Fayetteville. They moved here from Bismark, ND to be with family. On the way back, stopped at the coffee shop for a Chemex pour over, and while sitting in the coffee shop trying to read the LIFT ELCA task force report, ended up in a fascinating conversation with a man who had served abroad administrating English language schools in Bolivia, Hong Kong, and most recently Kazakhstan. Fascinated by religion, he doesn't currently attend worship anywhere, but told the story of the rebuilding of the Russian Orthodox cathedral in his town after communion ended, and the group of Polish priests who moved to town and started a significant community ministry that revitalized the whole city. That was a coffee worth having, and yes, it meant I read very little of the report.
Back at church, made calls to potential members of the congregation, reviewed bulletin for Sunday, came home for to plant some flowers and play with the kids, and now an evening of writing council report, blogs, and perhaps finish reading the LIFT report.
Tuesday- Morning staff party saying goodbye to our longtime custodian who is moving to Kansas City. Counseling session, free afternoon with family (hopefully more running and playing in a stream nearby), then return to interview new custodial personnel, and lead evening Bible study (Acts 3).
Wednesday- All day attending the visit of the Dalai Lama to Fayetteville. http://dalailama.uark.edu/ I have tickets for the panel discussion and plenary, and the dean of the law school was kind enough to invite me to the "private" lunch with the Dalai Lama. Wow. Wednesday evening supper with the spouses of our staff, BBQ at Whole Hog.
Thursday- Day trip with neighboring pastor of Peace Lutheran Church to Tulsa to attend an ethnic ministries consultation at the synod office. Will be good to have time with the closest ELCA pastor, and good to hear our ethnic ministry (and especially Latino ministry) plans. I've already had some great conversations with the pastor of Salem Lutheran (LCMS) in Springdale and possibilities for us partnering with him (he is a missionary from Brazil) for joint Latino ministry between his congregation and GSLC.
Friday and Saturday- Like an actual two day weekend. Praise God.
Sunday- Worship and graduating seniors recognition, evening new member orientation class, meal, and tour.
Mixed in along the way, but with no specified times, are study and pondering time for the sermon on Acts, fining up Jeffrey Stout's fine philosophical volume, Democracy and Tradition (New Forum Books)
, as well as Derek Wilson's Luther: Out of the Storm, which is a resource I'll be using for a summer sermon series on Luther, the Reformation, and the development of Lutheranism. And a variety of other simple things, like writing a council report, pondering summer contemporary worship structure, and other things as they arise.Hope such a description helps you picture how I spend the week. I'd absolutely love to read similar descriptions from folks in other professions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)