Christmas Blessing

⁷Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:  to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!  Luke 2:10-14

For lo! The days are hast’ning on, by prophets seen of old, when with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold, when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling, and all the world give back the song which now the angels sing.  ELW 282, st. 4

May the peace of Christmas be yours and may the peace of Christ spread anew throughout the world.  Amen.  --JC

Thank You

A few drops of rain were falling as I hastily made my way up the walk of Wethersfield School in Kewanee.  In contrast to the weather, I was cheerfully greeted by Russ, the former president of the congregation, as he approached from another direction.  The mood inside Moss Gymnasium was likewise upbeat and positive.  Energy filled the gym as many were busy making last minutes preparations for worship.

The last time I was with the people of Zion Lutheran Church was the day after the fire that had done major damage to their building.  That evening, with the congregation gathered in a circle on the church lawn, I promised the prayers of the synod in the face of uncertain days.

It was great to return and be with the people of Zion on Sunday, December 9.  The school gym was alive with worship—prayer, Scripture, preaching and song.  It reminded me of the energy of a mission congregation.  Santa Lucia even made her appearance on cue!

On behalf of our bishop and the synod, I was able to present a modest check to the congregation.  It is because of your generosity that this gift was possible.  Following the service, a number of people spoke to me.  The treasurer of the congregation thanked me for bringing the check.  I want to pass that thanks along to you.

I suppose I was a bit surprised when almost everyone else who spoke to me thanked me for just being there and for all of the prayers.  I want to thank you all for that too.  Your willingness to care about your sister congregations is what helps make this a fine synod.

I think it would be great if every congregation prayed for the other congregations in their conference on a rotating basis.  Many already do.  I also think it would be beneficial if each congregation would send visitors to other congregations just to say “hello.”

Comments?  Go to http://niselca.blogspot.com or comment on Facebook.  --JC

Prayers for Palestine and Israel

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of this season, I want to extend an invitation to you.  This coming Saturday, December 22 a group of us will gather at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 675 N. Mulford Road, Rockford at 9:00 a.m. for a simulcast of a live worship service from Bethlehem and Washington.

Christians from around the world are being invited to pray for the peace of Palestine and Israel.  Prayers, hymns and readings will alternate between the two locations.  Come a bit early to enjoy some hospitality provided by local supporters of Bright Stars of Bethlehem and to claim your seat for the 9:00 a.m. start.  Among the Lutherans participating in the service are the Rev. Mitri Raheb, pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, the Right Rev. Munib Younan, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, and the Rev. Richard Graham, bishop of the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod, ELCA.

I came to a much deeper and more accurate understanding of life in both Palestine and Israel when I traveled there a couple of years ago.  The situation there is complex.  The very least we can do is pray.  This is an opportunity for you to do just that.

For more information, please contact me directly or check the Bright Stars website at www.brightstarsbethlehem.org.  –JC

Come, Emmanuel

“You are not going to follow that bus!”  These were the emphatic words that my wife spoke to me some 23 years ago on our son’s first day of school.  I had thought that it would be a good idea.  There had been no practice run. The school bus would be transporting kindergartners through sixth graders.   I just wanted to make sure that he would get off the bus, enter the proper door of the school and make it to his kindergarten classroom.  He was so little, so innocent, so very precious.

One of the local funeral directors, a parishioner (and now an ELCA pastor), had a daughter who was starting kindergarten on the same day.  I told him about my overly protective plan to follow the school bus.  We had a good laugh when he told me that he actually had followed her bus!

Not long ago, my son discovered that I still have protective instincts.  He was in the passenger seat of the car when I had to make a quick stop.  As my seat belt locked up, my right hand reached across and flattened on his chest to hold him in place as if he were 10 years old.  I was a little embarrassed at my treating him like a child.

If I were sending a child back to school tomorrow, I think I would be tempted to start Christmas break early.  The horrific events of Friday in Newtown, Connecticut are still too fresh and our children seem so vulnerable.  I would have a hard time letting go of a hug and sending a child off to the bus stop.  Of course, common sense would eventually prevail and I would realize that I would have to let go sooner or later.  However, I would make no promises about not following the bus.

As much as we would like, we cannot protect our children or even ourselves from every danger.  We can and must work to make the world as safe a place as it can be.

With much, if not all, of this country, I grieve the loss of those precious children and their teachers and administrators in Newtown.  I hope that grieving parents are surrounded by caring people who know how to speak helpful words when words are necessary and know how to simply be present when silence is better.

In this season of Advent, we sing, “O come, O come Emmanuel.”  Emmanuel.  God with us.  It is wonderful and comforting to know that God truly is with us.  But, for a person who is in the depths of despair, it is a difficult, perhaps impossible, message to comprehend.  “God loves you,” are words that could ring hollow in the ears of someone in pain.  However, we can all bring Christ to another’s brokenness by simply being present with them.  We can be the presence of Christ in the emptiness.

May God be with you as you bear Christ to your neighbor.  --JC

Autumn Update

A friend in Minnesota recently sent an email asking, “Is everything ok down there, or are you just incredibly busy? There hasn't even been a blog post lately.”

I answered immediately to let her know that everything was fine.  I also promised that I would send an update soon, which I did the next day.  Finding a moment or two to work on the blog has been more difficult.  It has indeed been busy.

Final "Coffee" at First Lutheran Church, Rock Island

The bishop has just finished up his eight “Coffees with the Bishop.”  Bishop Wollersheim began each coffee with devotions.  With Karin Graddy’s help, he then showed the synod’s 25^th anniversary video.  This is the same video that was shown at this year’s Synod Assembly.  Each congregation received a copy and it has been well received.  It was a great look back at our history together and a fitting prelude for what comes next.  Following the video, Bishop Wollersheim answered any questions that attendees cared to ask.  Each conference asked different questions, though we did hear that there is a lot of concern over the future of the church.  Generally speaking, congregations are doing well, but declining numbers appear to be common.  Some of our congregations are fairly fragile financially.

This autumn we have also experienced four Discipleship Gatherings.  Pastor Kurt Nordby, our Director for Evangelical Mission, did a fine job talking about the importance of a mission plan to the life of a congregation.  Each congregation is being encouraged to take a look at their mission and articulate a plan.  I have found that there are congregations that do not have a good handle on why they are doing what they are doing.  With Pastor Nordby, our communication director Karin Graddy has developed a set of resources and placed it in a virtual toolbox.  Take a look.  You’ll find it at www.nisynod.org/toolbox.

Bishop Wollersheim has announced that the Synod Council will soon be working on a new mission plan for the synod.  He said that it is only fair that if congregations are being asked to work on a mission plan that the synod should as well.  We will be working with the Rev. Don McCoid of the Churchwide staff and he will join us at the January council meeting.

These are stressful days in the life of the church, but they are days filled with hope and promise, much like this season of Advent.

Comments are welcome.  Go to http://niselca.blogspot.com.  --JC