Nov. 30 marked not just the beginning of Advent, but the beginning of a new lectionary year—Matthew for those who follow the RCL and John for those who follow the newer Narrative Lectionary. For several lectionary cycles, my go-to commentary on Matthew has been ethicist Stanely Hauerwas’ commentary in the Brazos section. In conversation with Lutheran Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Discipleship, it helped me draw on the best of Matthew’s gospel—a vision for the church on earth and clarity about what it means to follow Jesus.
In Preparation - A New Liturgical Year
I am ready for the old, old story. It does not matter that I have heard this story, sung this story, seen this story portrayed by artists from across the globe, or told this story countless times. Jesus, Son of God, will be born in Bethlehem and visited first by shepherds, far from the halls of power. He is coming soon, already here among us, and will come again, bringing the shalom that only God can bring.
United at the Font: Partnering for the Future - Recap
Three one-day events were held at Immanuel Lutheran, Moses Lake (Oct. 25), Our Savior Lutheran, Clarkston, WA (Nov. 1), and First United Methodist, Pocatello (Nov. 15). Our CaSTLE Grant from Wartburg Seminary funded our two professional facilitators, Lauren Hackman-Brooks and Rebecca Hoyt, and paid for lunch at each event. But YOU, all of the participants, made these gatherings so hopeful and life-giving!
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Gathering at the Gate
Who we are: “We are Lutheran Christians—rostered and lay—gathering in a time of growing injustice against refugees, immigrants, LGBTQIA+ people, those experiencing poverty, and many pushed to the margins and harmed by unjust systems. We are compelled by our faith to proclaim good news and act with courage. Rooted in Amos' call to justice, we gather not only to pray, but to build relational power and pursue sustained change.”
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A Message from Bishop Manlove
I am writing this on All Saints Sunday, one of my favorite festivals of the church year. I love that we take this day to remember the pillars of faith (saints like Francis, Julian, Hildegard, and Augustine) and the ordinary saints of our own lives and the lives of our congregations (I am thinking especially of my half-brother and father today).
I have become just a bit obsessed this year with Ray Makeever’s hymn (found in All Creation Sings): Death be Never Last. He wrote the first verse shortly after his wife died and the other verses came later. Here’s a choral arrangement of the hymn by David Sims: