A Story from my Youth

During Christmas break at the end 1971, our church high school youth group attended a Lutheran Youth Congress at a hotel located just outside of Washington, D.C.  The weather was unusually warm that winter.  One of the enticements to attend was the promise of a rink for ice skating, but all we got was a slushy mess.  The temperature during those two days topped 70 degrees.

My brother and I were both in high school at the time.  He was a 14 year old freshman and I was a 16 year old junior.  We did our best to avoid each other, so he went his way and I went mine, but we both remember the event, or parts of it, very well.

First, I remember trying very hard to catch the attention of a certain girl in our group.  We were already friends and saw each other at church multiple times during the course of a week.  The problem was that it was always in the context of worship or youth group.  This event provided the opportunity for me to make my move.  What would it be?  How might I impress her?  I didn’t have a plan.

I also remember that the keynote speaker for the event was Nicky Cruz, who had been the subject of David Wilkerson’s 1962 book, The Cross and the Switchblade.  The story had been released as a movie with the same title in 1970, so it was fresh in our minds.  Pat Boone played the role of evangelist Wilkerson and Erik Estrada played Cruz.

Nicky Cruz told us his compelling story.  He had been a gang member in New York City.  His life was on a violent path.  He met up with Wilkerson, whose preaching of an unconditionally loving Jesus transformed Cruz’s life.

He told his story to a ballroom full of Lutheran teens who sat in silence with rapt attention.  His words were meant to tug at every emotional string of a hormonal teenager’s fabric.  Girls were in tears.  Boys appeared stoic while sniffing their noses.  I was sitting right next to the girl I hoped would be my first real girlfriend.  I passed her a Kleenex.  That was surely worth a point in my favor.

Then, before I could even see it coming, there was an awkward moment that presented a golden opportunity.  The altar call.

I couldn’t believe it.  An altar call for hundreds of us Lutheran kids.  I looked down the row of seats for my brother.  His horrified look matched my own.   Where was our pastor?  What were we supposed to do?  We had been well schooled in our Lutheran upbringing to know that no decision on our part was necessary.  The decision had been made by Christ when we were claimed as children of God in baptism.

I had a non-Lutheran high school friend who was fond of reminding me, as often as he could as a part of his Christian calling, that I would spend eternity in hell because I had never been saved.  I had never accepted Jesus.  He just didn’t buy that Jesus had already accepted me.

A few years later, the author of some devotional material provided a response that would have come in handy.  She said when someone asked her if she had accepted Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior, she would respond by asking that person if she had accepted her mother.  Her point was that you cannot accept your mother.  She is simply your mother.  The same is true of Jesus.  Jesus is Lord and Savior.  Accept it or not.

Nicky Cruz called upon all of us who wanted to give our lives to Jesus to stand.  We were to take our time so we made a good decision.  Emotionally wrought young people across the room began to stand.  I didn’t.  Jesus and I were already in a good relationship.  But then, she stood.  She, whose affection and attention I sought, stood up.  What was I to do?  If I didn’t stand, she would think less of me no matter how I tried to explain.  If I did stand, well, in the end, what difference would it really make?  In a sense, I had recommitted myself to Christ at my confirmation.  I knew we renewed our relationship with Jesus every morning.  What would it hurt?  It was my golden opportunity to impress her and impress her mightily.  I stood.  We were asked to repeat a prayer that I don’t remember.  A great mumbling murmur swept the room.

My relationship with Jesus has continued now for a long time.  It began the day I was baptized and it continues to grow.  It is a personal faith lived out in the community of believers.  As for that youth event now so long ago, I sum it up this way.  I gave my life to Jesus, but I didn’t get the girl.

25th Anniversary

We are now just a couple of days away from the 25^th annual assembly of the Northern Illinois Synod!  In the past, I have likened the assembly to a family reunion.  This year it has felt like we have been planning a party.

Augustana College is our host.

I am looking forward to hearing from Lowell Almen, former secretary of the churchwide organization. He carries an unbelievable knowledge of the ELCA and its predecessor bodies.  We will be honored by the presence and preaching of our former presiding bishop, Herb Chilstrom.  We will be greeting and thanking former synod officers and former synod staff members.  I have a great appreciation for all of them.

In his report, Bishop Wollersheim will be sharing a video that will review the history of the synod.  We will be reminded of how far we’ve come and get a sense of where we’re headed.  We have an amazing story to tell.  It will be fun to see the story in images chosen from over 4,000 in the synod’s collection.  Each congregation will receive its own copy of the video and it will be available later online.

We will have two wonderful worship opportunities.  On Friday evening, four new pastors will be ordained.  On Saturday afternoon (at 1:30 p.m.) we will celebrate our anniversary.  Though we will not have a full memorial service, we will be remembering one synod pastor who died in the past year and members of our congregations who have died in prayer.

Members of Trinity, Moline helped pack bags

Of course, we will also be taking care of business such as adopting a budget and holding elections.  The agenda is very full!  A certain highlight will be the reception of a new congregation, Lord of Love, Galena.  If you’ve never been at an assembly when a new congregation is introduced, you are in for an inspiring moment.

When we leave Rock Island on Saturday afternoon, we will have taken a look back over 25 years.   But, more importantly, we will be sent into the future recommitted to the mission of Christ and the work of the church.  Looking back once in a while is a good exercise.   It tells us something about who we are.  Looking forward is exciting.  What is God calling us to do and be in the next 25 years?

Comments?  Go to the blog website or comment on Facebook.  --JC

Photography Club

My grandfather was an avid amateur photographer.  Slide shows were a regular post-dinner pastime for our family when we were at my grandparents’ home.  Grandpa would set up the screen and projector in their small living room and we would listen to the stories he attached to each photo.  He took thousands of photos through his life and he kept every single one.  He had pictures from every trip he and my grandma took.   He chronicled the lives of my brother and me.  He loved the technology as it improved.  I remember metal framed slides that were loaded one at a time into the projector.  The frames eventually changed to cardboard and he had an early carousel projector made by Kodak.

I come by my interest honestly.  I do not remember a time when I did not have a camera of my own.  As a kid, I enjoyed taking the pictures, saving my money to have the film developed at our Rexall Drug Store, and making albums that told my own stories.  I thought drop-in film cartridges and flash cubes were amazing advances! 

The last time I was a member of a photography club was during my junior year of high school.  Back then we learned the basics of dark room use and photo developing—skills which are not in heavy demand today!  By now, I’ve had three digital cameras, none of high quality, but good enough to have some fun.

A few weeks ago Pastor Jeff Schlesinger (St. Matthew, Princeton) has a passion for connecting faith and photography.  He convened a group of five of us from our synod to consider forming a new photography club.  This past Sunday evening, the first official meeting of the Northern Illinois Synod Photography Club met at Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center.  About a dozen of us from as far away as Lockport and Galva gathered.

At the meeting we adopted a purpose statement.  “The Northern Illinois Synod Photography Club is a group of the baptized who love photography and gather to make their photography a part of their faith journey through mutual sharing, learning, and photographing.”

How many club meetings begin with devotions?  How often are you invited to see God through the lens of a camera?  I had a great time at the meeting.  I am in awe of the talents of some and their willingness to help those who are less skilled, like me.  I met some new folks and we are all anxious to welcome more.

John the Baptist at LOMC

For part of the meeting we went outside and took some pictures.  Here’s my effort.

Do you love photography?  Would you enjoy spending time with brothers and sisters from our synod?  You’re invited!  No skill level is required.  Our next meeting will be at 5:00 p.m. Sunday, July 15 at LOMC.  I volunteered to bring treats!

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

Remembering

It was a Saturday early last month.   It occurred to me that it was my grandmother’s birthday.  Although her memorial service was held the day before my ordination (29 years ago), I have always recalled her birthday.  I called my brother and I asked him if he knew what day it was.  After a couple of incorrect guesses, I told him the significance of the day.  “Grandma was born 110 years ago today.”  “I had forgotten,” he said.

It was not surprising that he didn’t remember.  It seems that every family has one member that knows the family history and has memorized all of the important dates.  My brother is not the keeper of dates in our family.

Grandma’s birthday did make me stop and think a bit.  In truth, it made me think a lot.  Could it be that I was the only one who had remembered her birthday?  Who else would know?  There are precious few people who would remember her at all.  Of course, my brother and I still have lots of stories to make us laugh and many loving memories.

We were especially close to Grandma because she lived with us throughout our childhood until we were grown and gone from home.  She was just about the only babysitter we ever had.  Even so, we cannot tell you many stories of her life in “the old country.”  We cannot tell you of her life with our grandfather.  We just don’t know those stories.

The number of stories diminishes with each succeeding generation.  I shared this picture with my son and he recognized it as a picture of me taken on my baptismal day, but he didn’t know which of my grandmothers was holding me.  Part of this story may already be lost.

Last Sunday in worship, I preached on the story of the Ethiopian eunuch, which is found in Acts.  Following the service, a visitor complimented me on my sermon and said, “I’ve never heard that story before.”  Fortunately, we as a Christian family have a written history, so we are not in danger of losing the stories, no matter how many generations pass.  But, the stories of our own lives of faith are not recorded.  We need to tell those stories ourselves.

As a Christian community, we have family stories to tell.  We tell them so that our children and our children’s children will know the love of God and how that love compels us to live.

We are called to remember each time we are invited to the Lord’s table.  “Do this for the remembrance of me.”  Lord, let us never forget.

Comments?  Go to the blog website or comment on Facebook.  --JC

SAWC Update

The other day I was asked about how our Synodically Authorized Worshiping Communities (SAWCs) are doing.  I am happy to report that they are doing well!  Pastor Kurt Nordby, our Director of Evangelical Mission, has been working closely with each SAWC and believes their potential for continued growth and community impact is great.

When I first wrote about our SAWCs (July 2010), we had four active worshiping communities.  Much has happened in their lives since then.

Together in Christ, Johnsburg had a short life and merged back into Joyful Harvest when it returned to the ELCA.  Its servant leader, Doug Liston, has served Joyful Harvest during his internship and while completing his seminary studies at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.  We anticipate celebrating his ordination at this year’s synod assembly.

Lord of Love, Galena outgrew its original space and now meets at the Ramada Inn.  Dennis Hill serves as its servant leader.  Hill, a former Baptist pastor, will also likely be ordained at this year’s synod assembly.  He is quick to remind everyone, “At Lord of Love, when we say, ‘All are welcome,’ we mean it.”  Lord of Love will be received as a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at the synod assembly in June.  This will no doubt be a highlight of this 25^th anniversary assembly.

Open Arms' young musicians lead worship

Freedom, Oregon continues to meet at Lutheran Outdoors Ministries Center.  Worship has moved from Freedom Tree Village to the dining hall for the additional space that is needed.  Pastor Frank Lay continues to serve Freedom.

Servant Leader Elizabeth Martin

Open Arms, Rockton has a new space to call home.  It is a storefront in the business district, providing worship, fellowship, meeting and office space.  This replaces a school for Sunday worship and private homes for everything else.  Open Arms’ servant leader is Elizabeth Martin.  Elizabeth is an associate in ministry and is currently studying in the M.Div. program at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

Each of our SAWCs is serving as the ELCA presence in their respective communities and bringing the good news of our resurrected Lord.  Other synods have looked to the Northern Illinois Synod for advice on how to utilize the SAWC concept since we have used it in a way for which it was not originally conceived.  Our SAWCs were first places of healing and solace and are now communities of faith, outreach and service.

Comments?  Go to the blog website or comment on Facebook.   –JC

Links:  Joyful Harvest Lutheran Church; Lord of Love, Open Arms.

Love One Another

The synod’s finance committee recently met to work on the 2013 budget, which must be presented to the Synod Assembly in June.  Bishop Wollersheim led devotions to open the meeting and included a prayer of Bishop Oscar Romero.  At the time of his death, Romero was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of San Salvador.  We were meeting on the 32^nd anniversary of Romero’s death, March 24, which made Bishop Wollersheim’s thoughts and Romero’s prayer all the more significant.

Romero was murdered at the altar while celebrating the Eucharist in 1980.  He had been fighting for the freedom of the Church in El Salvador and the rights of the poor.  I was in seminary at the time and recall him becoming the topic of conversation.  Liberation theology was a hot topic too.

In my early years of parish ministry, Oscar Romero was quoted often in sermons.  But, until our recent finance committee meeting, it had been quite a while since I had given him much serious thought.  I came home and did a little reading and added “Romero” to our DVD queue.

It was so interesting to watch “Romero” during this Holy Week.  This week we hear Jesus command us to love one another.  We participate in foot washing that symbolizes servanthood.  We hear Jesus’ dying words. We pray for the church throughout the world, Christians in other churches, the Jewish people, those who don’t share our faith, and those who do not believe in God.  We reverence the cross.  The film depicted the life of a servant of God, an imperfect human being, who was assassinated for loving others.

Consider Romero’s words:  We have never preached violence, except the violence of love, which left Christ nailed to a cross, the violence that we must each do to ourselves to overcome our selfishness and such cruel inequalities among us. The violence we preach is not the violence of the sword, the violence of hatred. It is the violence of love, of brotherhood, the violence that wills to beat weapons into sickles for peaceful work.  (From The Violence of Love by Oscar Romero, which I found as a free download.)

In this week, when we focus our attention on Jesus and the incomprehensible sacrifice he made for us, it is good to be reminded of the sacrifice others, such as Oscar Romero, have made in Jesus’ name.  May God use us to change the world in the name of our Savior.

On behalf of Bishop Gary Wollersheim and your synod staff, I wish you a blessed Easter.

Comments are always welcome either on the blog website (http://niselca.blogspot.com) or on Facebook.  --JC

A Missed Opportunity?

A robocall from the police department was meant to inform us of something we already knew.  There had been an increased number of home burglaries in our neighborhood.  Just a few days prior to the call, my wife had been awakened early in the morning by a police officer at our door.  She was asked if we had seen or heard anything suspicious since the last evening.  Our next door neighbor’s house had been broken into and some items of value had been taken.

Everyone in our general area was subsequently invited to a neighborhood watch meeting.  The meeting was conducted by three police officers. They laid out the facts and encouraged neighbors to watch out for each other.  They also distributed information on how to organize a neighborhood watch group.

I noted with some interest that most of those who attended were older than I.  There are a lot of condos in the area which appear to be owned by seniors.  In the pre-meeting chit-chat, I overheard some words of fear but there were more expressions of anger and disgust.

There were two occasions during the meeting which drew applause.  The second was at the conclusion of the meeting when the assembled group offered their gratitude with polite applause.  The first occurred in response to the answer to a question by an older gentleman.  “Is it OK to shoot someone if he breaks into my house?”  The officer said, “You have the right to protect yourself.”  The audience response was rousing and animated.

I have struggled to find a word to describe my personal reaction.  More than anything I think I was just instantly and overwhelmingly sad.  Cheering the opportunity to shoot someone just does not seem right to me.  My sadness was compounded by the fact that it had already been several days since Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman had become household names.

The following Sunday I went to church.  I bristle when people accuse the church of being irrelevant.  But, on this Sunday morning, for the first time, I, as one who has been a church “insider” for most of his life, left worship feeling that the church, or more specifically this particular congregation, was irrelevant to the mission given to us by Jesus Christ.

Please try to understand me.  Yes, I had the opportunity to worship and offer praise.  Yes, I had received the body and blood of Christ.  What I missed was a sermon that somehow touched the realities of my life.  What I missed were prayers of the people that went beyond the congregation.  We prayed for the sick of the congregation, but we did not pray for our neighbors.  We did not pray for those whose lives have been ruined by violence.  We did not pray for those who live in fear.  We did not pray for those who have no way out of poverty.  We did not pray for communities that suffer the divisions of racial strife and injustice.  We did not pray for my neighbors who cheer the thought of creating their own justice with a gun.

Perhaps it was just a missed opportunity.  My fear is that my experience reflects a congregation without a mission.  Not once was the assembly asked or challenged to go out and do something.  There was no invitation to engage in meaningful ministry.

I will admit that my reactions were predictable.  I abhor violence.  I grew up in a city that was nearly destroyed by its racial division.  I live in a city plagued by poverty and lack of opportunity.  I love the church and think that we would actually have to work at making it irrelevant.  (How could our proclamation of Christ ever be irrelevant?)  However, we need to do better.  We need to be better.  I believe that we are to be about the business of peace and unity.  I believe that congregations are called to make a positive impact in their neighborhoods and in the world.  I believe that to ignore the issues that confront us and our neighbor is to ignore what it means to be a disciple of Christ.

I am sad, but I am not hopeless.

“For [Christ] is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.” Ephesians 2:14.

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

Street Preachers

If there are any street preachers in downtown Rockford, I haven’t seen or heard them.  On a recent vacation trip to San Antonio, Texas, however, street preachers were in good supply.

I heard some yelling from the street below our hotel window.  Across the street, six floors below, there was a preacher shouting his message to the crowd gathered at the bus stop.  He was well dressed, matching the afternoon business crowd.  Interestingly enough, he returned late that night dressed in sweats.  He would get right up into a person’s face, but only reduced the decibel level if the person in front of him engaged in conversation.

A second preacher was stationed on a bridge over the San Antonio River, but he seemed a bit less committed to the task.  He would stop shouting, sit down and take in the scenery when no one else was around.

I found a third street preacher to be the most intriguing.  He was in the same place day after day on the plaza in front of the Alamo.  Using a short wall for his pulpit, he preached to the crowds that neither stopped nor listened.  In front of him he had an assortment of tracts.  I saw no one either take one or engage him in conversation.  Occasionally he would stop long enough to take a swig of water from a plastic bottle.

I do not doubt the sincerity of this man.  He preached as one who believed what he was saying.  Jesus had rescued him from a misguided past.  His passion was for others to know the fear of God, be rescued from the devil and the fires of hell, and know the joy of salvation.

I am guessing that this man is motivated to go out to that plaza every day because he believes that God has called him to do so.  I don’t think he will ever be discouraged by the fact that no one is listening to him because he is doing what God has asked him to do.

If only his energy and passion could be directed into a more effective means of communication.  I found him to be annoying.  My moments of rest along that wall would have been more restful had he not been shouting in my ears.  The Word of God drove me away from that spot.  I cannot imagine that his message is doing much good for the kingdom of God.

It does make me wonder if I have ever preached a sermon that someone would have walked away from if it were more socially acceptable.  Have I preached any sermons that did not in some small way build up the body of Christ?  Has my mode or style of communication ever been totally ineffective?

Effective preaching has never been more difficult in the life of the church.  I cannot think of any other time in our daily routine when we are expected to passively sit and listen to what one person has to say.  Life is interactive everywhere.  Preaching styles may be changing. I am not sure of how we will be communicating the Gospel in another generation.  But, for now, I am encouraging pastors to take great care in their preaching.  Give the task enough time and effort to do it just as well as you can on a consistent basis.  I am also encouraging parishioners to give pastors constructive feedback on sermons.  The body of Christ will be stronger for it.

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

How it Happened, Ten Years Ago

There was a message to call the bishop waiting on my desk when we returned from vacation.  I called the synod office and Julie told me that Bishop Wollersheim wanted to see me as soon as possible. I told her I could come in the next day.

I did not even ask why he needed to see me. At the time, I was serving as secretary of the synod and I figured that the bishop needed my signature on a letter or some official form. As I got ready to leave for Rockford, my son asked me where I was going and why.  When I told him, he said, “The bishop wants you to be his assistant.” To this day I do not know what prompted him to say this.

Little time was spent on pleasantries in the bishop’s office. He got right to the point. “I want you to join the staff.”  I was flattered, surprised and unconvinced that this is what God had in mind. I asked for time to pray. The bishop agreed.

My sense of call to serve the church as a parish pastor was firm and by this time longstanding.  I could not imagine doing anything else. The bishop’s plan was a challenge to my vocational self-understanding.

I entrusted my mutual ministry committee with my dilemma. It was not a kind thing to do to these folks, but I needed their prayerful support.  Three days later, a phone call from the bishop for my decision was proof that the Holy Spirit answers him more quickly than me. I needed just a little more time.

Ten years have now passed since I began my call to the synod. In February of 2002, I was warmly welcomed as a colleague by old friends, Sandy Musch, Pastor Chuck Steinke, Pastor Janet Hunt and Pastor Barb Rapp. I hit the ground running and it feels like I have been running ever since, which is exactly how I like it.

I have been privileged to interact with almost every pastor and every congregation in the synod. I have worked in areas that reflect my passions in ministry—youth, worship and stewardship to name just three. I have learned call process and finances. I have been stretched by working with congregations in conflict. I have learned how to be a “non-anxious presence” in some very anxious situations. I have celebrated and mourned, preached and listened, led and followed, studied and acted.  I have driven hundreds of thousands of miles and listened to countless books in the car.  I have bid farewell to some staff members and welcomed new ones.  More than anything else, I have prayed.

In my years of ordained ministry, God has called me to serve the church in unanticipated ways in unanticipated places.  I have been blessed in it all. Working for you in the synod continues to be an incredible privilege.  I need your prayers and appreciate your support.

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

Health & Wellness

The synod’s Health and Wellness Task Force is currently encouraging those of us with Portico health coverage to take a health assessment as a first step toward earning money back and becoming healthier. My wife and I both worked through the assessment in early January and have begun earning our points for 2012.

Pastor Sarah Schaffner, a member of our task force, has written the following and asked if I might share it with you. I do so gladly.

When I told my sister I was the newest member of the synod’s Health and Wellness Committee, she laughed.  Seriously, the “you’ve got to be kidding me,” “they’ve hit the bottom of the barrel” kind of laugh.  And, although I acted offended, I know she’s right; because health and wellness have not been at the top of my priority list.  I try really hard:  like I lose 50 pounds (but then gain back 40); I fill out my health assessment online like I’m supposed to (but Steve logs in for me, so I’ll get the points I need); I’m really, really, really awesome at starting exercise programs (and even better at ending them).  But, you know what I’m tired of the yo-yo; I’m tired of feeling like a failure; of having resources and not using them; of gaining and losing and still feeling not good enough no matter where I am.  So, here is my goal (and thank you to my Coach Natasha for helping me!):  Next year, I will be the Health and Wellness Committee’s poster child.  And it’s not going to be because I’m a size 8 (or 10, or heck even 12).  It’s not going to be because I can run a 5K or because I eat 9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.


It IS going to be because today is the first day of a long string of days, when I look into the mirror and see a precious child of God (not those other horrible things I tell myself).  It IS going to be because I’m taking small steps (even if it’s cliché) to move more and eat less.  It IS going to be because my struggles might encourage you to take a step of your own.


What do you think about instead of just phoning (or logging) it in this year, you actually take those small steps to love yourself, to care for yourself, to be the self God created you to be.  It might be fun if next year we had to get a bigger poster; a poster that shone with all our faces—faces that sure might be a little thinner, a little healthier but a whole lot happier.  


So, here I go…


Step One Taken.


Why don’t you take the next one with me?   (Go to www.elcaforwellness.org to get paid for it!)


Your Future Co-Poster Child,
Sarah Schaffner


Comments? Go to http://niselca.blogspot.com or comment on Facebook. Thanks for joining the conversation.  For more information: Click here.  --JC

Coming Attractions

While it may seem a bit early to some of you to be thinking about the Synod Assembly, we (your synod staff) have been working on the assembly for months.  In fact, it will be just a few short weeks until congregations receive registration materials.

This year will be our twenty-fifth annual assembly.  In the summer of 1987, congregations of The American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church in America, located in the twenty-two counties of what would become the Northern Illinois Synod, gathered together in a constituting convention at Augustana College in Rock Island.  The Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches was also a part of our merger, but I do not recall any AELC congregations in our area.

That first gathering was a bit awkward.  There were lots of new faces, many of us had never been on the Augustana campus, and with an ecclesiastical ballot we had no idea of who would be elected as our first bishop.  That meeting was masterfully presided over by Dr. Robert Marshall, former president of the Illinois Synod (LCA) and later president of the Lutheran Church in America. We all left excited about the possibilities for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and our life together in northern Illinois.

Twenty-five years have passed with remarkable speed. We who were young pastors then are now the seasoned veterans.  We have watched ministry and congregational life change.  Conventions became assemblies, delegates became voting members and our language became inclusive.  All the while, the mission of the church has remained the same, to make Christ known, to make disciples.

This year’s assembly will help us look back, but it will also propel us forward.  Anniversary celebrations can be a lot of fun.  We remember the way we were.  But, I think it is of even greater importance to also consider who we will be.  This assembly will help us do both.

Former ELCA Presiding Bishop Herb Chilstrom will be at our assembly to preach at our anniversary worship.  This special service, to which the whole synod is invited, is scheduled for early afternoon on Saturday, June 16.  Your congregation’s choir will be invited to participate as well.  Former ELCA Secretary Lowell Almen will be this year’s Bible study/keynote leader.  The Rev. Wyvetta Bullock, executive for administration, will be our ELCA representative.  Of course, we will also be taking care of business, welcoming additional youth and young adult voting members, and celebrating the rite of ordination.

It’s shaping up to be a great assembly.  If you won’t be attending as a voting member, please consider attending the assembly as a visitor or, at the very least, participating in the anniversary worship.  I know that you will be glad that you did.

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

Nothing New to Report

Do you read your church newsletter?

Don’t answer that question out loud.  Your pastor and church office staff will be terribly disappointed if your answer is no.  Newsletters take quite a bit of time and effort to produce.

We receive a great many church newsletters in the synod office.  Bishop Wollersheim reads a sampling of them.  I read all those of the North Conference congregations and any others that are addressed directly to me.  The conference assistants keep up on theirs too.  Most congregations still produce a print newsletter, but I read my own congregation’s online.

Newsletters are an important part of a congregation’s communication.  I think they should inform and inspire.  Here’s what I look for in a newsletter:  a message from the pastor, a calendar of events, a summary of congregation council actions, opportunities for service and thank-yous.  I also really like stories of how my offerings are making a difference in the lives of others.  I like stories of local, synod and churchwide ministries.  Here’s my disclaimer:  I am not an expert in parish communication, but I have been around the church for a few years.

With the exception of one, I read all of these newsletters as an outsider.  Newsletters often serve as an introduction to your congregation to newcomers.  Some potential visitors will check out your congregation’s newsletter if it is posted online.  Many congregations will stay in touch with prospective members by mailing a newsletter.

As one who is concerned about the health and mission of congregations, I sometimes find newsletters to be disconcerting.  Consider one January newsletter I received in recent days.  No need to guess—it is not a Northern Illinois Synod congregation.  The council minutes reported:

            Property Team – Nothing new to report.

            Worship Team – Nothing new to report.

            Youth Team – Went bowling.

            Christian Education Team – Preparing for Christmas program.

            Shepherding Team – Nothing new to report.

            Missions Team – Nothing new to report.

            Stewardship Team – Nothing new to report.

           

Nothing new to report?  To be fair, December council meeting agendas are often light, especially if the budget work is done.  But, these team reports suggest to me that this is a congregation that has lost its focus.  It may be unclear of its mission.  I wonder what a potential visitor would make of this newsletter.

Take a look at your congregation’s newsletter.  Take an objective look.  What do you see?  Does it tell the story of your congregation’s mission?  What other messages does it convey?

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

Best Christmas Gift Ever

As I think back, one Christmas morning was different.  Too large to fit under the tree, there was a single large gift standing in front of our family Christmas tree with a tag indicating that it was just for me.  That was remarkable in itself.  My brother and I almost always received identical gifts, but not this time.  There was only one massive gift in our small front room.

I knew what it was before I opened it.  From its size and shape it could only be one thing.  My very own bicycle.  My first two-wheeler.  It seemed just too good to be true.

I unwrapped the bike with unbridled glee.  It was the most beautiful bicycle I had ever seen.  It was shiny black and had flame decals on the front and back fenders.  The bike was just my size, smaller than an adult model.  The training wheels had already been installed.  It was ready to go.

It was not a snowy Christmas in Detroit that year, so I rode that bike for the first time dressed in a snow suit, knit cap and mittens.  At that tender age, I could imagine no better day in my life.  It was a wonderful Christmas.

There is actually a little more to the story.  What I didn’t know that day was that bicycle represented a great deal of effort and love.  My parents knew that I wanted a bicycle more than anything and even though they didn’t have enough money to buy one, they made it happen.  They bought that little bike used.  My dad sanded down the frame, repainted it in glossy black, applied the decals and greased the chain, all in a neighbor’s garage.  Christmas Eve, after Brant and I were safely asleep, Dad retrieved the bike from the neighbor’s house and he and Mom wrapped it up.

I don’t think that I was ever supposed to know the rest of the story.  I found out years later, when that bike, which had been so special to me, was long gone.  The memory of that little black bike became all the more important to me.

I cannot imagine celebrating Christmas today without knowing the rest of the story.  Oh, the story of the baby in the manger, the shepherds in the field and the wise men with their gifts still moves me.  Deeply.  Profoundly.  Advent prepares me to the point of being desperate to hear the Christmas Gospel proclaimed.  But, it’s the rest of the story that really gets me.  It turns out that the baby Jesus is a gift that seems just too good to be true.  Mary and Joseph may have thought that Jesus was theirs.  If they had looked closely, there was a gift tag addressed to me.  And you.  And the whole world.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16).  What an incredible gift.  We dare not forget the rest of the story.  That precious baby born in Bethlehem so long ago, was born for us to die for us.

For me, every Christmas is wonderful.  I can imagine no better day.  I join Bishop Gary Wollersheim and the entire synod staff in wishing you a very Merry Christmas.  --JC

  

Rostered Leader Gatherings

In December, life in the synod office generally gets progressively quieter as we approach Christmas.  With parish life operating at a frenzied pace, the number of meetings and the volume of email and phone calls in our office goes down.  This allows synod staff members to catch a few last vacation days before the end of the year.  Perhaps I should say that is what I do.

The light schedule of this past week allowed me to attend three conference meetings.  The Northern Illinois Synod is divided into eight geographical conferences.  The rostered leaders of each conference get together once a month.  The meetings are all similar in nature.  The dean, a rostered leader elected by the conference, chairs the meeting.   There are coffee and goodies to eat.  The Eucharist is celebrated and a sermon is preached.  Announcements are made.  Some conferences have a program with a guest speaker.  Other conferences use their time for mutual sharing.  Lunch may follow at the church or at a local restaurant.

I am a big believer in collegiality.  Attending conference meetings is one way rostered leaders can be good colleagues to each other.  During the course of a year, I try to attend at least one meeting in each conference.  It helps me keep in touch with what is going on all across the synod.  It also gives me the opportunity to see some folks I do not see often.

I am the synod staff liaison to the North Conference, so I regularly attend its meetings.  Each December the rostered leaders of the North Conference gather at P.A. Peterson Center for Health, an LSSI facility in Rockford.   This past week, we were the guests of Pastor Chuck Olson, P.A. Peterson’s chaplain.  Pastor Denver Bitner, president of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, gave us an update on LSSI.  Following our meeting, we divided into two groups and did a little Christmas caroling for the residents.  I am always surprised at how little effort it takes to bring joy to so many faces.  Our singing was, well, let’s say, not of professional quality.  But, residents took a break from their meal to sing along.  Afterwards, we enjoyed dinner together, as you can see.

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

NIS Youth Ministry

Mary Lasits recently resigned her part-time position as youth coordinator for the Northern Illinois Synod.  Her leadership over the past four years has been well appreciated across the synod.  Mary felt God calling her to do something else in the church, so she is now working with Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio as the director of congregational relations.  While we miss Mary, we know that she is serving the church in a significant way.

With Mary’s departure, the synod had an opportunity to reexamine how we do youth ministry.  As we began that process, the leadership team of Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center approached me with an intriguing proposal.  LOMC offered to assume the responsibilities of the youth coordinator, maintaining current programs and expanding the possibilities.

I am very pleased to officially announce that we accepted LOMC’s proposal.  From LOMC’s existing staff, Audrey Adams will serve as youth event coordinator and Amy Hoening will be leadership mentor.   George Davis will also be directly involved in providing leadership.

Our LYO board will continue to function as it has been.  Rosemary Sibley (First, Prophetstown), lead LYO adult advisor will continue to serve in that capacity.

For several years, Bishop Gary Wollersheim has sought to strengthen our relationships with our agencies and institutions.  Our youth ministry has already experienced a beneficial relationship with Lutheran Campus Ministry at Northern Illinois University (now Grace Place @ NIU).   This arrangement with LOMC is another great step.

Youth ministry questions may be directed to Audrey and Amy at LOMC, (815) 732-2220.  LYO Board and ELCA Youth Gathering questions may be directed to Rosemary, (815) 537-2758.  Questions or concerns regarding this arrangement may be directed to me, (815) 964-9934.  –JC

www.nisynod.org

www.lomc.org

www.graceplaceniu.com

Sunday, December 25, 2011

I have been amused and somewhat bemused recently by the discussion that has been taking place in many congregations.  Since Christmas falls on Sunday this year, pastors and worship committees are wondering what to do about worship services on Sunday, December 25.

I don’t have any proof of this, but it seems to me that over the past generation there has been a movement away from Christmas morning services in favor of Christmas Eve exclusively.  Christmas Eve services are plentiful and offered at a variety of hours.  Christmas Day services are harder to find.  Thus, the question of what to do this year is more significant than it has been in the past.

I served a congregation where the emphasis was on Christmas Eve.  In fact, I used to write two sermons for Christmas Eve because we had an early Eucharistic service (more oriented toward families) and a late candlelight service.  Two unique sermons were necessary because so many of the same faithful folks attended both services.  I would get home well after midnight.  Selfishly, I was glad that I did not have to get up early on Christmas morning to get back to church.

However, in those years when Christmas fell on Sunday, it was simply a short night.  We worshiped as we did every Sunday.  Although it was always a smaller group than a normal Sunday morning, I found that those who came for worship on Christmas morning made for a highly motivated group.  We had the opportunity to sing Christmas morning hymns that don’t make as much sense after dark.  We stepped out of the romantic glow of the manger into the light of a new day in Christ.

Certainly, multiple Christmas services are exhausting for pastors, musicians, choirs and sextons.  They are also taxing on worship committees and altar guilds.  There is a certain price that is paid by the families of those who are in leadership positions.  It is a bit tricky to schedule family activities in between trips to the church.  Christmas morning worship does add to the burden.

Congregations that do not normally have Christmas morning worship are considering whether it is worth the effort to have worship services on Sunday, December 25.  They are wondering if anyone will show up.  Congregations that normally do worship on Christmas are deciding whether to go ahead with their normal schedule for a Christmas morning or to maintain their normal Sunday morning schedule.

Whatever decision your congregation makes, it must be made soon and then well publicized in multiple ways. Finding a locked church door on Christmas morning, Sunday, December 25, would not make a very good gift. 

In case you’re wondering, Christmas has fallen on Sunday most recently in 1994 and 2005.  Comments?  Go to http://niselca.blogspot.com or comment on Facebook. --JC

Funeral Liturgy

I attended a memorial service this week at a United Methodist congregation. As an outsider I felt pretty comfortable. The guest book was in a prominent location. A representative of the funeral home told me where to sit. In the service itself, the only thing that was not printed in either the bulletin or the hymnal was the Lord’s Prayer. The pastor began, “Our Father, who art….” I quickly thought to myself, Methodists don’t say the emphatic “and ever” before the “Amen.” It was a beautiful service followed by a bountiful lunch.

My personal expectations for a good funeral or memorial service were met. Hymns were sung, the Scriptures were read, the Gospel was preached and Holy Communion was celebrated. Hospitality at lunch was gracious.

My own expectations have been formed by a lifetime in the church and years of experience as a pastor. I have officiated, been part of, or attended countless funerals. I know what seems right and fitting to me.

 

I am sure that everyone carries his or her own expectations into funeral worship. Those expectations may have been formed from their own church traditions or they may have been influenced by other sources. Once in a while the funeral of a celebrity or a dignitary may be televised. I watched Ron Santo’s funeral. From it one might surmise that all Roman Catholic funerals include eulogies and assigned seating.

People are also influenced by fictitious portrayals of funerals on TV and in movies. It is fairly easy to picture a grim-faced preacher in a flowing gown standing next to an open grave solemnly intoning the King James Version of the Twenty-third Psalm. In sitcoms the casket is always open and is surrounded by mountains of flowers and candles enough to resemble a forest fire. Think about the TV funerals that you can recall. Do any of them resemble what you have witnessed in the church?

We need to remember that many folks who attend funerals in our congregations come from other churches or have no experience with the church at all. They come out of respect for the deceased not knowing exactly what to expect, though they may have some preconceived notions. We need to be explicit in our instructions during worship and maybe even offer some commentary as we move through the liturgy.

Most people, including active church members, are not familiar with the funeral liturgy that we use. I think that is unfortunate. The funeral liturgy can and should be a source of comfort for those who mourn. But, it is hard for the liturgy to accomplish that goal if we are not familiar with it. As useful as funeral planning classes are, they never attract many people. I am wondering if it might be possible to incorporate portions of the funeral liturgy into what we do on an occasional Sunday. I might even be tempted to adapt the whole funeral liturgy for use on a Sunday. I think a congregation would hear the prayers and the Scripture readings much differently on a Sunday morning than it would at a funeral. The Good News can be hard to hear through the grief associated with a loved one’s death. However, I think we would all be better prepared if we went in knowing what to really expect.

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

Faith Stories

Pastor Chuck Steinke was the synod’s stewardship director prior to me.  At the time, I was glad that I didn’t have to do all that stewardship preaching.  Besides the occasional pastor’s installation, it seemed like preaching and teaching sound stewardship practices was all that he did.  I liked the greater variety that my portfolio afforded me.

When Pastor Steinke left the synod staff, Bishop Wollersheim tapped me to take over as stewardship director.  Soon I was preaching and teaching stewardship most of the time.  It’s not that stewardship wasn’t a passion of mine.  I was just afraid that serving as stewardship director would be somehow limiting.

After I had been preaching and teaching stewardship for four years, the ELCA created the position of Director of Evangelical Mission, with a job description that included stewardship.  Pastor Kurt Nordby joined our staff as our DEM and I passed the stewardship baton to him.  My job description once again included a lot of variety.  To my surprise, I missed the stewardship work!  I had found it to be much more fulfilling than I had anticipated.  I told Kurt that he could count on me to help in any way I could.

Fortunately, I am still called upon throughout the year and especially each fall to do some stewardship preaching.   In my preaching, I often tell the story of how I learned to be a good steward.  It began humbly in Sunday school and has continued to the present day.  I am still learning how to be generous.  In fact, I think a lot about what it takes to actually be generous.  For me, generosity is marked by unselfish, sacrificial giving.

I have learned to tell my stewardship story by listening to the stories of others.  We need to hear those stories in worship on Sundays.  As a pastor, I have had the privilege of hearing faith stories around kitchen tables, in circle meetings, in small groups, and in my office; but I have heard precious few in worship.  Whether we call them temple talks, testimonies, faith stories, or something else, we need to hear each other’s stories.  We would benefit from hearing how God is at work in the lives of others.  I think we would all become much more comfortable in talking about our faith if we just practiced a little.  What better place than in the midst of your own congregation?

Can your congregation make room in its worship for faith stories?  Are you willing to tell your own story?  Are you willing to hear the stories of others?

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

Farewell to Summer

Count me among the unwilling.  Autumn is arriving without my full endorsement.

I may be among the last to give up on summer.  After all, school is back in session and congregations are well into their fall routines. The first of the trees are changing color, we are experiencing cooler days and artificial Christmas trees have appeared in the big box stores.

It is hard to deny the change of seasons.  Even in the synod office we have shifted into the busier days of autumn.  We have had the first of this year’s Discipleship Gatherings and the normal schedule of meetings has resumed.  Only the calendar is on my side, but summer will officially give way to autumn on September 23.

I think that I am autumn resistant for a couple of reasons.  In spite of the incredible beauty of the season, I know what’s coming next.  I much prefer being warm to being cold.  But, that’s minor.  I know I would appreciate the other three seasons less if we didn’t have winter.  I think my real problem is that I really enjoyed this past summer.

There was much to enjoy.  Our Synod Assembly was fun.  The Churchwide Assembly was another great experience.  It is always reassuring to see the way the church takes care of its business.  It was a joy to make a personal commitment to the ELCA Malaria Campaign.  Our Synod Council has gotten back to work with its new members.  We’re in good hands.

Mackinaw City Lighthouse

I also enjoyed some vacation time.  I spent a few of my days off at Wrigley Field.  My wife and I spent a great week in North Dakota with my son and daughter-in-law.  Another few days were spent in Michigan exploring my childhood memories.  These were relaxing and joyful times for me and my wife.

As a parish pastor, I always thanked the congregation for the vacation time that I was granted as a part of my call.  The recommendation to congregations is that pastors receive four weeks with four Sundays of vacation each year.  This sometimes seems generous to a call committee or council, but the four weeks is given in recognition that pastors are on call 24/7 and often a missed day off is difficult to reschedule even in the smallest of parishes.  Pastors really never lack for something to do.

If you are a member of a mutual ministry committee or of your congregation council, I hope that you encourage your pastor to use his/her vacation time and to use all of it.  I have not always been good at that myself.  Make sure that your pastor is taking days off too.  At least one day per week is required to keep some sense of balance and two is preferable, though I do not know of many pastors who are able to take two.

This past week I saw a survey that reported that clergy have the highest job satisfaction of any profession.  That’s not surprising since most of us are doing what we believe God has called us to do.  What could be better than that?  But clergy also suffer burnout and stress at alarming rates.  It’s tough work.  At times, it is physically tiring and emotionally exhausting. Time off, which today means time without cell phone or email, helps combat those symptoms.

So, as my congregation, I thank you, the synod, for my vacation time.  This summer’s vacation was wonderful.  I’m just sad to see summer go.

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