I have been reading instructor Grace Pomroy’s Stewardship Leaders Newsletter for at least five years. I know the word stewardship does not excite everyone as much as it does me, so let me state clearly that there has always been something unique about Pomroy’s approach to generosity and stewardship. It is holistic, includes both data and stories, creative (but not trendy), and it is always grounded in scripture and prayer. Last summer, when I read the draft of her forthcoming book, I loved the way she started with the Ezra 3:10-13 passage and also began each chapter with Dwelling in the Word (similar to Lectio Divina).
Advocacy and Prayer
It always struck me as an interesting coincidence that Time after Epiphany overlaps with at least the beginning of the state legislative sessions. In the first few weeks of the session (both Washington and Idaho’s sessions begin Jan. 8 this year), citizens get manifestations of the legislative bodies, through bills, speeches, meetings, and local reporting. We talk often in the church about how Jesus made sure people on the margins were brought into the main story; these individuals often take primary space in the pages of the four gospels. As people following Jesus, our eyes and ears should be attuned to what space the marginalized today have in legislative bills and at their hearings.
HIghlights of Companion Synod Trip to Tanzania
Oct. 23-Nov. 11, five of us traveled to our companion synod in southern Tanzania, the Ulanga Kilombero Diocese. I am eternally grateful to Deacon Heidi and Dan Cryer (Lord of Life Lutheran, Kennewick) and Pastor Ethan and Carla Bergman (Grace Episcopal, Ellensburg) for being amazing travel companions. I tried to document the trip well in real time on my blog (megganmanlove.com), but I will share a few reflections here as well.
Mark: Lindisfarne Gospels
It may feel a bit early, especially for you preachers and worship planners reading this, for me to be writing about the Year of Mark, which begins Dec. 3, the First Sunday of Advent. I assume I will want to use my next column to write about the trip to our companion synod in Tanzania. So, onto Mark.
Video of The Installation of Rev. Dr. Meggan Hannah Manlove
Source of Joy
The overarching theme of Philippians is the joy we have in Jesus Christ. There is so much that is still broken in our communities and cosmos and sometimes both the small conflicts and large injustices can overwhelm. I cannot continue the work of witnessing to the love of Jesus Christ with words and actions without reminders that the good news is for me too, and that the joy Paul writes of is ours.
Former Things and New Things
I do not think it’s a stretch to say that God is doing something new right now. Sometimes I wish I could predict what it is. Other times I am simply up for the adventure and hope I can keep up. Whatever is happening, I do find it helpful to remember that we are not the first ones to experience new things.
Who Is Jesus?
I spent the first two weeks of June leading summer staff training sessions for Luther Heights Bible Camp in the Sawtooth Mountains and Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp south of Glacier National Park in Montana. I led sessions on Lutheranism 101 and then took the counselors on deep dives through the Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Bible Studies.
The text for Day 2 Who is Jesus? Is John 15:1-17 (the vine and branches passage). Because we were at the beginning of staff training at both camps, biblical passages about community were also used for worship and devotions.
These passages included 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (the body of Christ). I found it wonderful to juxtapose these two passages with the summer staffs, but I also find it helpful as I begin my call as bishop of our synod. In the passage from John, Jesus uses a metaphor that highlights interrelationships and is nonhierarchical. Perhaps most significant, the branches are also anonymous; nothing distinguishes one branch from the other. The only measure of one’s place in community is to love Jesus. Period. Contrast that with the Apostle Paul’s metaphor of the body in his letter to the church in Corinth. Instead of anonymity, Paul has an abundance of specificity. What both passages share is an emphasis on interdependence, with God in Jesus and with one another.