I have two invitations for you this week:

Invitation to Pray

Please pray for Luther Seminary because two big things are happening on our campus this week. The first is that our second on-campus accreditation visit is happening on Monday and Tuesday. Last month we went through the ATS (Association of Theological Schools) 10-year review campus visit. This week we will have the HLC (Higher Learning Commission) campus visit. These are important, but stressful, moments for a school to experience. The second is that our Board of Directors will be on campus for their regular May meeting on Thursday-Saturday. Please pray for wisdom, courage, and peace during all these meetings this week.

Invitation to Reflect

Happy Easter! Happy Spring! Happy Mothers’ Day! As I dwell in the texts from the Revised Common Lectionary this week, I see a theme of new life that comes from pain and death, and how Jesus is the Shepherd who leads us there.

You may not feel like celebrating this season. You may feel caught in darkness. That’s OK. AND, I encourage you to remember that the original hearers of these texts were people who were suffering greatly. The disciples of Jesus were Jewish people who were suffering under the tyrannical oppression of the Roman Empire. They were people experiencing deep division and hatred between ethnic groups. They were people who were faced with death if they proclaimed their devotion to Jesus rather than the Empire.

Our hope is found in the resurrection life of the Good News of the kin-dom of God that Jesus proclaimed and embodied. The murderer Saul became a grace-filled giver of new life. Sister Tabitha was raised from the dead. Those who were slaughtered for their faith gather around the lamb who was slain and proclaim, “Salvation belongs to the LORD!”

Mothers who have passed through the pain of giving birth know the joy that comes on the other side. God, the universe, our generation is in the pains of childbirth, awaiting the already-but-not-yet life that our Shepherd Jesus leads us to each day.

Blessings on this week as we pray for our body and trust in our Good Shepherd.

This image comes from my 300 daily devo doodle collection

This Week in chapel

All chapel events are at 11:00am

• Monday text study on Zoom.
• Tuesday Circle Practice in OCC Meditation Chapel and on Zoom
• Wednesday Traditional ELW liturgy with Holy Communion in the Chapel of the Incarnation and on YouTube. Stay for treats at the Chapel Cafe afterwards. We welcome Dr. Matt Skinner as our preacher this week.
• Thursday Lunch Church. Simple communal practice in Dining Room A.
• Friday intercessory prayer on Zoom. AND, a special Lunch Church with the Board of Directors in Dining Room A.

The Easter season is the time of year when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, new life, and new beginnings. Many preachers will walk through the stories of Acts and how the Holy Spirit led Jesus’ disciples to cross cultural boundaries that helped them realize that the body of Christ is much bigger and more inclusive than they had ever imagined. This week we have a special opportunity to be reminded that we still struggle with the scope of who is part of the body of Christ. Who is at the table? Who is often forgotten, or denied access to the table?

We welcome a special guest preacher this Wednesday to guide us through these important questions. Pastor Laura Cannata, (see bio at Robinsdale Parkway UCC) will preach on ideas around accessibility in Luke 5. Then, lunch will be provided after the service. During lunch, Pastor Laura will make a brief participatory presentation to the audience on “Disability Theology Contrasted with Ableist Theology.”

Pastor Cannata is a Justice Minister ordained in the United Church of Christ. She graduated from United Theological Seminary in 2016 and specializes in disability and mental health justice. Laura herself lives with multiple physical and mental health disabilities. She serves on the board of director’s for Disability Ministries and, in her professional practice, is involved in preaching, speaking, and educational engagements.

This Week in chapel

All chapel events are at 11:00am

• Monday text study on Zoom.
• Tuesday Contemplative Practice in OCC Meditation Chapel and on Zoom
• Wednesday Contemporary worship with Holy Communion in the Chapel of the Incarnation and on YouTube. Stay for treats at the Chapel Cafe afterwards. We welcome Pastor Emily Rova-Hegener to lead us in worship and Pastor Laura Cannata as our guest preacher(see above).
• Thursday 11:00am – Lunch Church. Kristina Cossa, M.A. student, and Joellen Barak, M.Div. student will lead us in contemplative practice in Dining Room A.
• Friday intercessory prayer on Zoom.

I woke this morning to experience mixed emotions. My intent was to rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the returning of students to the regular flow of Seminary life. I will do that in a moment. However, while going about my morning routine I saw the news that Pope Francis died early this morning.

We pause to grieve and give thanks for the life and work of Pope Francis…

…

And…

This is a good reminder that death is not the end of our journey.

This is the season when we begin each worship service proclaiming, “Christ is risen, indeed! Alleluia!”

Easter is the day that makes all the pain and suffering of the past week make sense. Creator God, through the incarnation of Jesus, entered into the violence and suffering that we created. Jesus stood in solidarity with the outcast and oppressed. He absorbed the injustice and did not retaliate with violence. As he died, he forgave those who killed him.

That would be a tragic story if it ended there.

But it didn’t.

Jesus’ death on the cross was God’s resounding “NO!” to the corruption and violence of the systems that humans have created that distort the original vision of God.

Jesus came out of the grave.

Jesus’ resurrection is God’s resounding “YES!” to LIFE and new beginnings.

It is not too late. It is never too late. God’s CHESED–steadfast, unfailing love–will call us to new life again, and again, and again.

I think Pope Francis tried to model that hope in his life and ministry. Rest in peace.

This Week in chapel

All chapel events are at 11:00am

• Tuesday Contemplative Practice in OCC Meditation Chapel and on Zoom
• Wednesday The International Students Association leads worship with Holy Communion in the Chapel of the Incarnation and on YouTube. Stay for treats at the Chapel Cafe afterwards. We welcome Pastor Venicious Reeves to preach and Pastor Sumo Kokor to lead worship.
• Thursday 11:00am – Lunch Church. M.Div. Student Ann Emilie Tjorhom gives her “Why Jesus?” presentation in Dining Room A and on Zoom.
• Friday intercessory prayer on Zoom.

This is a big week for the Church. The Seminary is on Spring Break this week, so there will not be any of our regular Chapel services. We experienced Holy Week in Community Last Wednesday. You can watch that service here.

While the Seminary may be going quiet this week, I know that many of you will be working triple time as you lead and participate in Holy Week Services.

This week we sit with Jesus in the upper room as he shares his last supper with his disciples. We follow him to the garden where he asks his disciples to stay awake with him while he cries out to God to take this cup from him. We watch in shock as he is arrested and dragged to a midnight trial with the high priest. We stand in horror as he is executed like a common criminal, hanging naked and humiliated in the public eye while the crowd taunts him.

We sit in the cold, numb darkness of Saturday as the disciples are huddled in shock and fear.

waiting.

waiting.

My prayer for you this week is that you will be able to bring all your fears, anxieties, longings, pain, and suffering into these stories. Allow yourself to grieve with the disciples.

And then…

it will happen.

Resurrection!

I look forward to next week when we can regather as a Seminary community and imagine together what new life looks like for us in the power of the Holy Spirit in the coming season.

Until that day, walk this week well, knowing that our loving creator is with you every step of the way.

Where Did the Palms and Hosanna Go in Luke?!?

This Sunday is traditionally called Palm Sunday. The event is called the Triumphal Entry. If you grew up in the church then you probably have fond memories of children parading around the sanctuary waving palm branches while the congregation sings “Hosanna!” People are generally smiling and the tone of the word is joyful and light.

This week, as I’ve studied the story in Luke’s version, a few questions have popped up.

• Where are the palm branches?
• Where are the “hosannas”?
• Why are we so happy when Jesus is so somber?

I invite you to meditate on two images. read more…

Coming Up in Chapel This Week

All chapel events are at 11:00am except Thursday evening

• Monday text study on Zoom
• Tuesday Contemplative Practice in OCC Meditation Chapel and on Zoom
• Wednesday Experience the events of Holy Week through scripture and song with Holy Communion in the Chapel of the Incarnation and on YouTube. Stay for treats at the Chapel Cafe afterwards.
• Thursday 11:00am – Lunch Church. The Society of Stewards join us this week in Dining Room A.
• Thursday 7:00pm – Virtual Vespers on Zoom
• Friday intercessory prayer on Zoom

We will not have chapel service next week since we will be on Spring Break, so we will be working through the story of the Passion in Chapel this Wednesday. Here are the texts from the RCL.

This is our last stop on the road to Jerusalem. When I meditate on all the lectionary texts, on the spirit of Lent, and on the events in our world of this week–including the massive earthquake in Myanmar–I am drawn to one word.

Tears.

One of the messages of the Gospel is that we cannot get to Easter without the cross. Joy does not exist without tears. Evil seems to win again and again. Good people suffer at the hands of selfish tyrants. Innocent people die in the rubble of tectonic shifts.

Life is hard. Jesus told his disciples that if they want to follow him they would need to take up their cross. They would need to be willing to lose it all.

Lent is not a happy journey. But, it is a true one. Be strong, my friends. If the land seems dry and barren, if your heart is full of sorrow, if the race seems overwhelming, press on. Jesus is walking with you.

For the Revised Common Lectionary

• Isaiah 43:16-21 – Water in the desert
• Psalm 126:1-6 – sowing in tears, reaping in joy
• Philippians 3:4-14 – press on
• John 12:1-8 – Mary anoints Jesus’ feet

Coming Up in Chapel This Week

All chapel events are at 11:00am except Thursday evening

• Monday text study on Zoom
• Tuesday Circle Practice, led by Dr. Mary Hess. in OCC Meditation Chapel and on Zoom
• Wednesday Traditional ELW service of Holy Communion in the Chapel of the Incarnation and on YouTube. Our preacher is Dr. Mark Tranvik. Stay for treats at the Chapel Cafe afterwards.
• Thursday 11:00am – Lunch Church led by the RIC Advocacy Group in Dining Room A
• Thursday 7:00pm – Virtual Vespers on Zoom
• Friday intercessory prayer on Zoom

A Reflection on the Reading

Jesus continues his journey to Jerusalem and we continue our journey through the season of Lent. Each week the reality of the cross becomes more intense and the stakes get higher. This week we pause in Luke 15. Jesus is scorned by the Pharisees because he “welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Jesus responds to their disdain with a series of parables that runs all the way to Luke 17:10 (See page 18 of A Cartoonist’s Guide to Luke to see them all in context).

The RCL only asks us to read one of these parables–the lost son–and then leaves the Gospel of Luke next week. It is easy to lose sight of the purpose of this familiar parable when it is plucked out of its context like this. Perhaps it would serve us well to read all of the parables in this section together to see why Luke collected these parables of Jesus in this moment on the journey.

Here is the order: A lost sheep found, a lost coin found, a prodigal son welcomed home and a brother who is jealous, a dishonest manager who uses money to build relationships, a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus who end up in Hades together, a reminder to always forgive one another, faith like a mustard seed, and a reminder that Jesus’ disciples are servants.

It seems to me that, in this collection of parables, Jesus is criticizing the Pharisees for the following lapse in leadership: First, they have made harsh boundaries in order to keep “sinners” out and maintain their own identity as “God’s chosen people.” Second, they love money more than they love people. Third, they have turned their position of spiritual leadership into a way to lord it over people that they consider inferior to themselves.

The parable of a father who welcomes home a repentant son, in this larger context, is a reminder to all of us–especially those who may identify with the jealous brother–that God’s love is for everyone. God’s arms are open wide. We who are church leaders, or who consider ourselves “the faithful ones” are called to love all and “eat with sinners” as we are servants of Christ’s love for the whole world.

For the Revised Common Lectionary

• Joshua 5:9-12 – The Manna stops because the people have arrived
• Psalm 32:1-11 – Happy are the forgiven
• 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 – Jesus became sin so that we might become righteousness
• Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 – Parable of the Father and Two Sons

Chapel this week…

• Monday Text Study – 11:00am Zoom only
• Tuesday Contemplative Practice – 11:00am OCC Meditation Chapel and Zoom
• Wednesday Holy Communion – 11:00am in the Chapel and on YouTube. It is the fourth week of the month, so it is time for Contemporary Worship Style. Our musicians have put together some Summer Camp Favorites to lead us into a time of worship in community. I am preaching this week and Dr. Elton will preside. Chapel Cafe is open immediately following Chapel, so come for treats and fellowship!
• Thursday
  • Lunch Church. 11:00am Erin DeBour-Moran, the director of music for the Chapel, will lead us in a spiritual practice of singing circles this week. Dining Room A.
  • Virtual Vespers at 7:00pm on Zoom.
• Friday Intercessory prayer – 11:00am on Zoom.

Jesus’ words are alarming this week. He says, “I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.” What’s going on here? Is Jesus playing the part of the Pharisee? Is Jesus presenting a God who punishes sinners and only accepts those who have their act together?

I don’t think so. 

We must always keep in mind the fact that Israel went to war with the Roman Empire in the year 66. It ended in the year 70 when Rome destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus is warning the people that their current political attitude toward their enemies will bring destruction. He is playing the part of the Hebrew prophets that came before him. 

Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem during this season of Lent is a call to his beloved siblings (and to us) to remember that God’s promise to Abraham was never about amassing wealth and power to become a political empire. It was about being a holy priesthood that shined the love of God to the world. 

Jesus demonstrated the heart of God by the way he treated the outcast, reached across boundaries, and ultimately gave his own life rather than returning evil with evil. Be sure to read all the texts this week to get a fuller picture of how warnings come from a loving parent who does not want the children to suffer the consequences of their unwise choices.

For the Revised Common Lectionary

• Isaiah 55:1-9 – Seek the LORD while He may be found
• Psalm 63:1-8 – My soul thirsts for God
• 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 – God will not let you be tested beyond your strength
• Luke 13:1-9 – Watch out!

This week in Chapel

Monday – Text Study on Zoom at 11:00am

Tuesday – Contemplative Practice in OCC Meditation Chapel or on Zoom

Wednesday – International Students lead Worship!!

On the third Wednesday of each month our International Students Association leads worship. Join us as we experience a variety of international perspectives on worship that draws us together as one body around the bread and wine of Communion. And, don’t forget, The Chapel Cafe is open afterwards with sweet treats from Emily!

Thursday Morning – Lunch Church. 11:00am in the Dining Room

Stanley Ayashim, our Residential Life Program Coordinator, is presenting his answer to the question, “Why Jesus?”

Thursday Evening

At 7:00pm we gather for Virtual Vespers on Zoom.

Friday – Intercessory Prayer on Zoom

A Reflection on the Gospel Text

The Gospel this week is Luke 13:31-35

Jesus is traveling toward Jerusalem. He knows what will happen to him when he gets there. He knows how much fear and hatred have gripped the hearts of its citizens. He knows that they will take out all of their fear on him, to the point of merciless, unjust execution. 

And still, he stops. He looks to his beloved people.

And he weeps.

Oh, that we might have the compassion of Jesus for those who lash out in ignorance and fear.

This week in Chapel

Monday – Text Study on Zoom at 11:00am

Tuesday – Contemplative Practice in OCC Meditation Chapel or on Zoom

Wednesday – Special Edition of LUNCH CHURCH!!

Yes, you heard it correctly. We are having lunch together AS OUR SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION at 11:00am on Wednesday. We thought it would be a fun experiment to begin our Lenten Journey by gathering in a different space and sharing conversation around the table. Don’t worry. We will have a liturgy of communion with bread and wine at the tables to end our time together. Please come and share this experience as a community…and have Emily’s treats for dessert!!

Thursday Morning – Lunch Church…as usual. 11:00am in the Dining Room

Rachel Postler is leading us in a very special creative prayer practice in which we will make stained glass windows! Learn about her stained glass art in this Faith+Lead article.

Thursday Evening

At 7:00pm Dr. Cody Sanders will host our second Virtual Vespers on Zoom.

Friday – Intercessory Prayer on Zoom

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The Lectionary Texts for This Week

The echoes of a wonderful RFS bounce around the halls of our campus. A Winter storm looms on the horizon, reminding us that Spring has not yet arrived. We begin our Lenten Journey with Ashes on Wednesday…

Special Notes about Ash Wednesday

• Rev. Tim Coltvet, our Director of Contextual Education, is preaching and will also help to offer ashes to all you wish to receive them.
• This will be a Contemplative Liturgy with lots of candles and lots of silence.
• The Chapel Cafe Opens!! The Chapel and Community Life have partnered to run an experiment during Lent. We will offer coffee and freshly baked pastries every Wednesday in the Narthex immediately following Chapel. Come to chapel to be fed spiritually, physically, and relationally!

Virtual Vespers Begins on Thursday

I am excited to announce that we are running another experiment during Lent that is designed to cultivate a space for the Luther Seminary community to gather on Zoom every Thursday evening at 7:00pm Central Time. This Virtual Vespers will be a very casual environment where we will spend 40ish minutes in a simple scripture reading/contemplation practice and then break out into small groups for conversation and prayer. We hope this will allow a space for distance learners who are not able to attend the daily morning practices to have an opportunity to participate in the communal spiritual life of Luther Seminary. All are welcome. See the Community Announcements email for the link.

An Ash Wednesday Reflection

Our Lenten Journey begins on Wednesday where we hear the sobering words, “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.” This can seem morbid, especially in a society that lives in stark denial of our mortality. Yet, it is important for us to remember that our life is not the central theme of the story. Each of us are important, but we are all supporting characters in the larger story of the universe.

I invite you to meditate on this image. What does it tell you about yourself? God? Our place in the story?