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#RethinkingConfirmation

Last week, Luther Seminary hosted an event where 300+ leaders gathered to Rethink Confirmation. I wasn’t there but others were. Below is just a collection of tweets from participants. Hopefully these thoughts will help me to rethink confirmation too.

https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/626755334049173504

Parents must form own faith.
RT @thelifemosaic: “I couldn’t teach my daughter to drive without a driver’s license.” #RethinkingConfirmation

— Brian Campbell (@campbellbrianr) July 30, 2015

"It’s never too early to help young people begin to see their purpose." @drreggieblount #RethinkingConfirmation

— Jen Bradbury (@ymjen) July 30, 2015

https://twitter.com/DestaG/status/626786227027480578

Youth must learn to build Christ-centered, functional relationships in their churches, schools, and society #RethinkingConfirmation

— First Pres Brookings (@FPCBrookings) July 30, 2015

https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/626798794756087808

https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/626806944091615232

A: Make it as much NOT like school as possible – ditch the sit still and listen model #RethinkingConfirmation

— First Pres Brookings (@FPCBrookings) July 30, 2015

A: Take field trips – get out and see faith at work in the world #RethinkingConfirmation

— First Pres Brookings (@FPCBrookings) July 30, 2015

A: Small groups, time for personal connection and sharing ideas #RethinkingConfirmation

— First Pres Brookings (@FPCBrookings) July 30, 2015

https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/626845880176394240

https://twitter.com/annacgsorenson/status/626850203363098624

https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/626850431155761153

https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/626853003627249664

https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/626854367908507648

https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/626864800551845888

https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/626871968021749760

https://twitter.com/annacgsorenson/status/626874731027795968

https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/627117674858844160

https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/627118925667438592

https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/627120801876062213

Great value in inviting junior mentors (high school age) to join the adult mentors in mentoring confirmands #RethinkingConfirmation

— First Pres Brookings (@FPCBrookings) July 31, 2015

https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/627125522372235264

https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/627126501616390144

Confirmation Tip/Trick:Teach them worship songs in Confirmation. #rethinkingconfirmation

— Brendan Johnston (@signaj90) July 31, 2015

Confirmation tip/trick: go with them to camp! #rethinkingconfirmation

— Jacob Sorenson (@CampGuyJake) July 31, 2015

https://twitter.com/annacgsorenson/status/627134271300308992

https://twitter.com/thelifemosaic/status/627136549763747840

Evening at the Pool

Detroit at the Corner of Cass

Taken on July 16.

The Lord’s Super

I attended last week’s ELCA Youth Gathering. This massive event, with 30,000 youths, invaded Detroit to worship God and live our faith out loud. Part of the event involved a giant convention center filled with interactive things to do, including re-enacting Da Vinci’s the Last Supper. We (Christ Lutheran Church) joined Good Shepherd, Glen Rock and created this:

Look at that hair.

This is what I feel like all the time now

It’s summer. This is how I want to live my life.

O at the Pool

Mark 4:16-20

“And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy. But they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word, but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing. And these are the ones sown on the good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”

This was the passage, according to the New York Times, that was being studied at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church when the racially motivated terror attack occurred.

I don’t have anything to say. I’m struggling with tomorrow’s sermon (which is Mark 4:35-41 – Jesus calming the storm). But I wanted to write down the passage they were studying. I want to make sure I remember.

Sunday Morning, George Edition

Every Sunday, I stand in a gap in our communion rail to proclaim confession and forgiveness. It doesn’t matter what style of worship (contemporary or tradition), I’m always there, declaring the absolution of sins. It’s a tradition here at Christ Lutheran Church and one that I’m glad we do. Somedays, I need forgiveness before I lead worship. On other days, I know people in the pews who need to hear God’s love for them before the readings begin. And then, sometimes, my eight month old decides to chime in during the declaration. Here’s how it went last Sunday.

Me: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ out Lord.

George: Tbbbbbbbbbppptttttt!!!!!! (he’s busy blowing raspberries in the back)

Then, a few moments later:

Me: In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins –

George: HEEYYYOOOOOO. Daddadadadadada.

Me (continues): As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority (George: *raspberry*), I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father (George: *raspberry*), and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

George: AHAHAHAH.DADADadadadadadada.

All: Amen.

This might end up as a sermon illustration at some point.

Trash is my Treasure

One of the gifts being pastor of Christ Lutheran Church is the annual Trash & Treasure & Clothing Sale held on the First Saturday of May. This is a beast of an event. Volunteers work for a month cataloging clothing, cleaning pieces donated from the wider community, and sorting and pricing an amazing amount of items. The church building is taken over, an army of volunteers is fed by another army of volunteers, and, in one day, we’ll raise $15,000. This is the most professional and well organized church sale that I have ever seen. Most of the money will be given to organizations outside the church, from our local food pantry to ELCA Disaster Response. It really is an amazing event and I can’t believe the energy, talent, gifts, and skill the volunteers have to pull this off. And since I’m helping as I can (and I’m in the building most days), I have first pick of what comes in.

So, to whomever donated these Star Wars actions figures: thank you.

You Are: Jesus as a Ghost.

While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence. Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

Luke 24:36-48

My sermon from the 3rd Sunday of Easter (April 19, 2015) on Luke 24:36-48.

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