by Liv Larson Andrews, Director for Evangelical Mission
“We are a people on the move following Christ Jesus.” This is the invitation to Susan Briehl’s workshop at the 2024 Institute for Liturgical Studies called On Our Way: The Purpose and Practice of Processing. Do you feature processions in worship? As a teenaged acolyte, I remember being a bit anxious that I would walk in the right direction and remember what to carry. In college, I was more at ease, but the processions were much more elaborate, being a part of weekly chapel life at Valparaiso University. On the other hand, Theologian Alexander Schmemann says that the most important procession begins when we wake up in the morning. As Susan puts it, we are on the move following Jesus. All our days, and all our movements, are lived to the glory to God.
“We are a people on the move” could also describe our synod staff lately. We have been out and about on the highways and byways, visiting parishes, meeting folks, connecting. Discovering what the holy Spirit is up to. It is inspiring and sacred. Perhaps we have been engaging in a long procession throughout our synod geography!
And even as we notice the rising level of fear and anxiety flowing through our geography, there is so much dedication to mission and cultivation of hope.
Among the things I carry with me in procession after the last 6 months are:
An image from Faith Lutheran in Kamiah, Idaho of the gathered assembly in a circle, singing a sending blessing to the tune of Edelweiss.
Seeds of conversation spilling out into hallways and street corners following an anti-racism/decolonization training in Wenatchee led by our mission developers at Cultivating Justice.
A story from my former parish in which a professor of theology met with a queer student who felt exiled in their church. This professor reached out to queer faithful members of the congregation who spoke with the student, invited them to the Easter Vigil, and in the student’s own words, showed them that “church doesn’t have to suck.” Alleluia, alleluia!
Pastor Dean Stewart of blessed memory always loved to quote St. Theresa of Avila who said, “All the way to heaven is heaven. As we live our lives, journeying together, heaven, resurrected life, is breaking forth all the time. It’s worthy of a joyful procession.