Your Synod Staff

I am feeling a little bit guilty. Our last two staff meetings have had to be rescheduled due to commitments I had. Of all of the synod staff, Bishop Wollersheim has the most complex schedule, but our synod staff’s meeting dates are cleared with his calendar before they are ever scheduled. Changing a date isn’t all that easy because it impacts lots of people. Do you know the synod staff?

Bishop Wollersheim, Sandy Musch and I all work full-time from our office in Rockford. Bishop is the synod’s pastor and CEO. Sandy serves as assistant to the bishop and handles the complex administrative matters. She has worked for the synod from the very beginning of the ELCA, so she carries a lot of history. I coordinate call process for the synod, work with the North Conference and cannot begin to describe everything else I do. I am sure this is true for any “generalist.” Pastor Kurt Nordby, our Director of Evangelical Mission and Assistant to the Bishop, works full-time out of our Rock Island office. He is the staff liaison to the East Conference. As DEM, he also works in the areas of mission development, stewardship and mission strategy.

If you have called the synod office, you have no doubt spoken to Judi Fields, Julie Lewis, June Cain or Nancy Corey. They provide the support that the full-time staffers need to do their jobs. I want to be as responsive as possible to people’s needs, so I often tell them that if they call and I am not available to be sure to speak with June. She makes sure that I get my messages and responds in a timely fashion. June is also the synod’s bookkeeper. Judi is our receptionist and assistant to Sandy. Julie is the office manager and is executive secretary to the bishop. Nancy is the Rock Island office manager and assists Kurt.

We also have six part-time assistants for the remaining conferences. Pastor Tom Larsen relates to the Southwest Conference, Pastor Mike Clark to the West Conference, Pastor Kurt Hansen to the Northwest Conference, Deaconess Cheryl Erdmann to the Northeast Conference, Pastor Chris Stienstra to the Central Conference, and Pastor Tim Kenyon to the South Conference. They provide much needed assistance in the call process and pastoral care in a cost effective way.

The synod staff is rounded out by a part-time assistant for candidacy, Pastor Barb Rapp, a part-time communication director, Associate in Ministry Karin Graddy, and a part-time youth coordinator, Mary Lasits.

I have the privilege of working with all of these folks on a daily basis. That is a gift to my life and work. A tremendous amount of work is done by our support staff and part-time assistants without much recognition. They are a gift to the synod.

Comments? Go to http://niselca.blogspot.com/. Need help from the staff? Just call! We look forward to working with you. Pictured is the staff at worship just prior to our last meeting. --JC

"The Lutheran"

In terms of media use, I suppose I reflect my generation. I was born right in the middle of the baby boom. As such, there are times when I reflect the generation ahead of me and at other times I act a bit like the generation that has followed.

I still watch the evening news on TV and I read two daily newspapers. If I miss watching the news, I do not worry about it. If a paper sits for a day or two before I read it, there is still enough current content to warrant my picking it up. I subscribe to two weekly news magazines, but only because I get a really good deal. Actually, I do not read the one as much as I used to and the other has been doing a yearlong series on my hometown. I also subscribe to one religious magazine and to one baseball publication. I read these more carefully than anything else.

I must admit, however, that I do get a lot of news from the Internet. I use high speed Internet both at the office and at home. I depend on the Internet to do my job and it provides news and recreation at home. I also have two email accounts and I am on Facebook. But, I do not tweet.

Unlike most who are younger than I, I use my cell phone mostly just for phone calls. I cannot access the Internet with it, cannot transfer photos I take with it, and do not text with it because my plan charges me extra for text messaging. I still have a landline phone on the wall at home, but lately we have been questioning why we pay for something that we use so little.

When my copy of The Lutheran arrived in the mail this week, I was sad to see the editor note that subscriptions had fallen 13% in 2009. The prediction for 2010 is the same or worse. I am sure this reflects what is going on in our culture with regard to the delivery of news and information. No doubt these tough economic times have also taken a toll.

I have always enjoyed reading The Lutheran and still depend on it to provide church news that I do not receive elsewhere. As a parish pastor, I always encouraged my congregations to continue their every member subscriptions. I felt the expense was justified by keeping everyone informed. I believe it helped keep our members connected to the work of the wider church.

Is reading the print version of The Lutheran just another “old-fashioned” thing to do? I think it still serves an important purpose for many of us. Is the electronic version of The Lutheran attractive enough to get people to pay for subscriptions? I do not know. If you are not currently reading The Lutheran, how do you keep up with ELCA news? I think this church would be well-served by an informed membership.

Comments? If you are not already there, go to the blog site: http://niselca.blogspot.com/. --JC

Katie's Cup

Katie’s Cup is one of my favorite spots in Rockford. It is a full-service coffee shop with everything you would expect: great coffee, coffee drinks, muffins and pastries, a lunch menu and free Wi-Fi. I have escaped from the telephone to work on a sermon or two there. My success rate at getting much work done at Katie’s Cup is not particularly good. I always run into people I know and there is nothing better than a little face-to-face conversation. Katie’s Cup is also part bookstore and part gathering spot.

In the past few weeks, I have taken part in two Katie’s Cup Conversations. These are occasional events to which the public is invited. The Rev. John M. Buchanan, editor of The Christian Century was the guest speaker at the first. A group of 65 of us joined for lunch, Pastor Buchanan’s presentation, followed by questions and answers. This past week, I heard Louis Dorvilier, director for international development and disaster response, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. A native Haitian, he gave an overview of Haiti’s history and the church’s response to the crisis caused by this year’s earthquake.

Katie’s Cup opened in early 2009 with the vision of becoming a place for the community to discuss important issues. I will be going back next week to hear a photographer from a local (non-Lutheran) congregation speak about his recent experiences in Haiti.

Katie’s Cup is a business jointly run by Zion Development and Rockford Area Lutheran Ministries. Its name honors Katharina von Bora. I do not know if she drank coffee. I do know that she helped make the beer and enjoyed deep conversation! If you get to Rockford, stop in Katie’s Cup and enjoy the coffee and atmosphere. Try a Mocha—my personal favorite! It is located at the corner of 7th Street and 4th Avenue. If you do not find someone to talk to, the synod office is only a few blocks away. I can be there in five minutes.

Comments? Go to the blog site (http://niselca.blogspot.com/). Pictured is Mariel Heinke, director of Rockford Area Lutheran Ministries. --JC

http://www.ziondevelopment.com/
http://www.rockfordlutheranministries.com/
http://www.katiescup.com/

It Could Have Been Worse

If you have ever entered Milledgeville, Illinois from the west, one of the first landmarks you recognize is Trinity Lutheran Church. The face of the church, with its massive cross reflecting the afternoon sun, could not be missed. I have always felt that the church stood there as a Lutheran welcome sign to the town.

Perhaps it was this building’s exposed profile that made it vulnerable to the savage storm that blew into town on Monday. The front wall of the church building collapsed and the back windows blew out as the wind surged through the building. It looked to me as if the roof had been lifted off the support beams.

As I surveyed the damage, first with Trinity members and then with Pastor Kathy Burkheimer, they repeatedly said “It could have been so much worse.” Of course, that is true. There was no one in the building at 9:30 Monday evening when the storm hit. Other damage in town appeared to be minimal. No injuries or death were reported. Trinity’s resilience and positive attitude was already evident in their words.

I stood in the narthex looking at the pile of bricks where the altar had been. The lights hanging from the ceiling swayed gently in the breeze. The sanctuary lamp still hung in its place. This nave, which so recently had been filled with the sounds of Easter joy, was now filled with the sounds of workers, inside and out.

For now, please pray for the people of Trinity Lutheran Church. They will gather this evening (Wednesday) for a time of prayer and discussion at the church. They also have a place to worship this week. First Lutheran Church of West Jordan, Trinity’s sister congregation in the “Faith on 40” parish, has opened its doors. A structural engineer will be inspecting today, so the congregation should know more of what they face very soon.

The road ahead for Trinity will be long. Pastor Burkheimer says it will be “inconvenient and an adventure.” We will keep you informed of ways that you, as a part of this synod, can be helpful to Trinity.

To leave a comment, go to the blog site (if you are not already there): http://niselca.blogspot.com/. --JC

Good Friday

One of the headlines on the front page of Monday’s newspaper read, “Holy Week opens with hope”. The article painted a positive picture of Palm Sunday worship at two local congregations, one Roman Catholic and the other Presbyterian. Pastors and parishioners were quoted. The messages preached and heard were those of hope, perseverance and good news.

The odd thing was that the name of Jesus did not appear once in the article. Do not be too quick to blame the pastors. I know from experience that newspapers rarely quote what I think they should and often do not get it quite right. Perhaps the author of the article thought Sunday was more about the palm leaves and unemployment rates than it was about Jesus. She knows we need a message of hope in these troubled times. Does she know that the source of our hope is Jesus?

Two weeks ago I preached a sermon at First Lutheran Church in Lee. In it I said, “I am waiting to sense resurrection in the life of the church.” I went on to say, “As you know, there is a lot of anxiety in the life of our ELCA right now, most of it as a result of last August’s Churchwide Assembly. One thing we must do, “we” meaning every living soul in the ELCA, is to keep focused on the mission our crucified Savior gave us. If we derail our work of bringing people to Christ so that we can spend more time arguing, then I think we will be held accountable. Discuss? Yes. Study? Absolutely. Disagree? That’s fine. Waste time? No, we have none to waste.”

Last evening, in Maundy Thursday worship, as we considered the mandate to love, Pastor Kathy Whitney urged her congregation, when faced with the question, “what do we do now?” to “just love them.” I pray that love and civility will return to congregations that have been torn by strife. Today, Good Friday, I am pondering the death of Christ. Jesus died for the life of the church. His church. Our church. The one holy catholic church.

Let us stay focused on Jesus. Repent and be forgiven. Love your neighbor. Prepare for resurrection.

Comments are welcome. Go to http://niselca.blogspot.com/. Velazquez's "Christ on the Cross" was taken from www.freechristimages.org. --JC

CRE

The snow was falling and roads were slick as I drove to Kishwaukee College in Malta this past Saturday morning. I wondered if, for the first time, the weather would wreak havoc on the synod’s Congregational Resourcing Event. I was pleasantly surprised when nearly 500 participants showed up for what I consider to be one of the most important events in the life of the synod each year.

The day began with worship led by the pastor and musicians of GPS Faith Community, a congregation given its start by Grace Lutheran Church in Loves Park. GPS will be received into the synod at our 2010 Synod Assembly. Acoustics in the gym for both speaking and singing are a challenge and this year was no exception. Bishop Wollersheim preached the homily. An offering of over $2,300 was received for Lutheran Disaster Response, specifically to help earthquake victims in Haiti and Chile.

Bishop Wollersheim introduced representatives from our five new Synodically Authorized Worshiping Communities in Moline, Galena, Johnsburg, Oregon and Rockton. These groups are exploring options for their future in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Worship was followed by a keynote address by Dr. Craig Nessan, a popular professor at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque. Craig has been well received in our synod previously when he spoke at an assembly. We were blessed and challenged by his teaching on the mission of the church.

The best parts of the day, in my opinion, were the workshops. Each participant was able to choose three workshops to attend from a list of nearly 50. In these workshops, congregations, committees and individuals shared their ideas, expertise and best practices. This year I attended the synod’s Lutheran Youth Organization workshop led by their president and vice-president and our youth coordinator. After lunch I stopped into a crowded workshop on communicating with Facebook, Twitter and Ning led by an ELCA staffer. (I am still not sure what Ning is!) Finally, I joined rostered leaders as they accepted the bishop’s invitation to spend some time together discussing the current state of affairs in the synod.

In addition to learning and experiencing new things, I really enjoy CRE because it is an opportunity to see old friends from across the synod. I have a sense that I am not alone that!
Thanks go to the CRE team and the Congregational Life Committee for their fine work in putting CRE together! This event takes a lot of work.

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

A New Pastor for our Synod

I did not want this week to pass without calling attention to last Sunday’s ordination service. On Sunday, February 28, the church gathered in Woodhull, Illinois to celebrate the ordination of Christopher Heller. Chris chose not to be ordained last November because the date of the synod-wide ordination celebration fell within one week of his wedding. The challenge in rescheduling became one of finding time in the bishop’s calendar and choosing a location.

Each synod has its own ordination practices. The Northern Illinois Synod continues to ordain new pastors in synod-wide services, planned by our own worship team. This is to emphasize the fact that ordination is an act of the church for the sake of the whole church. We do the same for consecration and commissioning.

We broke from tradition a bit by ordaining Chris in the context in which he has been called to serve. Chris will serve as associate pastor of the Edwards River Ministry, a parish of four congregations also served by Pastor Nancy Jaster. Bethany Lutheran Church in Woodhull, the site of the ordination, is one of those four congregations. Bishop Wollersheim officiated and Bette Mohr, AIM, dean of the Southwest Conference, served as assisting minister. The choir of Bethany sang. There were bells and brass, organ and piano.

The newly ordained Pastor Heller was immediately installed into his office by Pastor Tom Larsen, assistant to the bishop for the Southwest Conference. Leaders of the four congregations represented the congregations of Edwards River.

A number of pastors from the synod were in attendance. There were also quite a few folks who traveled from Christ Lutheran Church in Stockton, Chris’ home congregation, to join in the festivities.

To ordain and install in the same service is common in some synods. It is the exception here. As it was, however, the church was gathered and you were represented, even if you were not in Woodhull last Sunday afternoon.

(Pictured from left to right are Bishop Wollersheim, Pastor Heller and Dr. Winston Persaud, Chris’ ordination sponsor and professor at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque.)

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

Wednesdays in Lent

Last Wednesday evening, I was driving to church for Lenten worship. On the way, I passed a fitness center. Through the walls of glass I could see lots of people in the brightly lit center. It appeared that every treadmill and most other pieces of equipment were in use. I actually took it as a good sign. If it is a good night to be out exercising, I thought, it will be a good night to be at church.

Attendance had been a bit sparse at the Ash Wednesday service the week before. But, for the rest of the Wednesdays of Lent, the midtown congregations of Rockford are joining together, so there was the potential for greater participation last Wednesday.

The nave of the church where we were is very large. I was not able to guess with any accuracy the number of people who were there. But, it was obvious to me that the fitness center was doing a lot better business than was the church.

I love midweek worship during Lent. It has been important to me since my youth. I like the discipline. I need to be reminded of the call to pray, fast and serve during these 40 days. I appreciate the call to repentance. Lent always improves my relationship with God.

A few people have discussed Lent on Facebook. When asked what they were giving up for Lent, some responded that they were giving up Lent. It is just too depressing. Others do not think they have time for Lent. One congregation even gave up midweek worship. They must not understand what Lent is really all about.

It may seem like we are fighting a losing battle. Going to church on a Wednesday night is certainly counter-cultural. I encourage you to not give up. Your Wednesday evening service may only have church geeks like me in attendance, but you will be equipping us to reach out with the gospel in new ways and in new contexts. Who knows? I may be talking about Jesus with someone on a treadmill on Thursday night.

By the way, I want to thank the midtown pastors for their efforts. Do not forget to thank yours too.

Comments? Go to http://niselca.blogspot.com/. The image is the much copied “Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane” by Heinrich Hoffman, taken from http://www.freechristimages.org/. --JC

Interim Ministry

The first time I heard of an “interim pastor” was while I was in seminary. One Sunday morning, group of us visited a congregation in which a friend had done his contextual education during our first year. The pastor was serving there on an interim basis, helping to facilitate the transition from one called pastor to another. The concept of interim ministry intrigued to me. It sounded like something I might one day want to try.

In the Northern Illinois Synod, when a pastor resigns a call, if it is at all possible, the bishop appoints an interim pastor. The Congregation Council retains the right to refuse the appointment, but this only happens when there are good and compelling reasons. The interim pastor steps into the congregation with all the rights and responsibilities of a regularly called pastor. The beauty of this is that there is no gap in the congregation’s pastoral ministry. Word and Sacrament ministry continues while the congregation engages in a search for a new pastor.

I remember a time when congregations were left largely on their own to find supply pastors and someone to cover emergencies. In other places, a neighboring pastor was asked to cover the basics and help find the Sunday preacher. (Once in a while we still have to employ the latter “vice-pastor” model.) Congregations often felt that they did not have a real pastor. Consequently, the call process was rushed in the hope of getting a new pastor quickly.

The expectation is that the interim pastor will be compensated at the previous pastor’s level. This keeps the congregation’s budget intact and ready to receive a new pastor. In some cases, when full-time pastoral leadership is not necessary, compensation is pro-rated. If the interim pastor is serving in a ¾-time capacity, then the compensation is reduced to ¾ of the previous pastor’s compensation. We have found that most congregations appreciate having a full-time pastor available. The pastoral presence tends to keep the anxiety level of the congregation lower.

In our synod, Bishop Wollersheim gathers pastors who serve in interim capacities three or four times a year. In those meetings, the interim pastors are always thanked for their service and transition issues are discussed. Our interim pastors are mostly retired pastors with many years of service behind them. The experience they bring is invaluable. We also have four pastors who have gone through interim ministry training. They bring a skill set that is especially useful in congregations that have experienced conflict or other painful circumstances.

Interim ministry is hard work. It is not nearly as attractive to me as it was when I was a seminarian. Our synod is very fortunate that we have pastors who are willing to serve the church in this way.

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

Call Process

I coordinate the call process for the Northern Illinois Synod. It scares me to even say those words. It is a huge task. However, I have the help of our bishop, Sandy (full-time assistant to the bishop), Kurt (our Director of Evangelical Mission) and our six part-time conference assistants to the bishop. We all work together in assisting the call committees of congregations as they seek new pastors or other rostered leaders.

I am always asked how pastoral candidates for a particular congregation are identified. There are four ways. First, we are aware of pastors from within our synod who are interested in serving a new parish. Second, thanks to a new system implemented last year, we also have access to the Rostered Leader Profiles (RLP) of any pastor in the ELCA who has expressed a desire to serve in our synod or region. In fact, we can access the RLP for any pastor who is seeking a call, so if we are looking for a particular skill set, we can engage in a churchwide search. Third, a congregation is free to raise names. Those names are submitted to me and then we follow a prescribed protocol. And finally, again because of the new system, pastors are able to search for open parishes and contact me for more information.

This past Wednesday and Thursday I participated in Region 5’s Mobility Conference. In the conference, the twelve synods of the region are represented by their bishop and an assistant. We are divided into two groups, each with six bishops and six bishop’s assistants. Each synod is permitted to bring two rostered leaders who are open to serving anywhere in the region for an interview. It must be somewhat intimidating to face six bishops and six assistants. I have heard some tough questions asked. Perhaps I have offered a few of my own.

I do know that mobility is a bit slow right now. Part of that is attributable to the economy. It is not a good time to try to sell a house; nor is it a good time for a spouse to be seeking employment. Rural congregations with a parsonage seem to be at an advantage, but that advantage is often offset by the disadvantages of lower compensation and fewer employment opportunities for spouses.

In our synod, we are very grateful for the work of our interim pastors. They are able to sustain ministry and offer experienced leadership for congregations in transition.

Every congregation of our synod is valued for what it is and who its people are. We work with each congregation to best fulfill its needs. Sometimes the call process is long. Sometimes it is frustrating. But, in every congregation, we trust the Holy Spirit and the people of God to call the pastor who will lead faithfully, creatively, and lovingly.

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

The Annual Meeting

For many congregations, the race to the Annual Meeting begins just after first of the year. Audits are done. Finishing touches to the budget are made. Lists of pastoral acts and membership statistics are compiled. Reports are written and submitted. The Annual Report booklet is printed and distributed. Then, by the end of January, the meeting is held.

Depending upon the year and the issues that the congregation faces, the pastor may be a nervous wreck. The president of the congregation (in some places this is the pastor) is usually pretty nervous. Preparing to run a meeting is not an easy task. The parliamentarian, if there is one, will be on hand to give advice, but most congregations have a few additional folks who are glad to offer tips, solicited or not.

This year has presented some real challenges to our congregations. I am hearing that some meetings have been longer and a bit more contentious than usual. Finances have taken a hit, due mostly to the economy, but in many places they have also been impacted by the Churchwide Assembly decisions. Some congregations have had to deal with the reality of staff cuts and the postponement of important projects. Ministry is being hurt because of a lack of money, or in some cases, a perceived lack of money.

The synod’s financial condition has also been weakened. However, I am not terribly discouraged. This is a financial climate under which we have never operated. There are signs that the national economy is improving. It will be a while before we feel a full recovery in the church. Unfortunately, it will probably take some time to make up the lost ground. Fear may be our greatest enemy. Remaining generous while economic threats appear to surround us is tough. But our God is a God of great abundance and we are richly blessed. Have you noted how generous the church has been in response to the tragic earthquake in Haiti? Need has overcome fear as we give our gifts.

There are other congregations in our synod, however, in which discussion of finances has taken a back seat and the majority of meeting time has been spent discussing the mission of the congregation. I have often said that a congregation which has a strong sense of its own mission is far less likely to experience conflict. Evaluating, strategizing and planning mission is a very healthy thing to do.

That sound of rushing wind you hear may be the collective sigh of relief as congregations finish their meetings. It could also be the Holy Spirit at work, blowing through our congregations, with gifts beyond our full comprehension.

How was your Annual Meeting? Are you feeling positively about 2010? Is your congregation operating out of the fear of scarcity or the joy of abundance? What is your mission? What is God calling your congregation to do this year?

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

"Jesus!" They Cried

The Associated Press reported on today’s aftershock in Haiti. “From the teeming plaza near the collapsed presidential palace to a hillside tent city, the 5.9-magnitude aftershock lasted only seconds but panicked thousands of Haitians. ‘Jesus!’ they cried as rubble tumbled and dust rose anew….”

The people of Haiti are among the poorest in the world. The situation there today is desperate. The numbers are staggering. There are likely 200,000 who have died, 250,000 who are in need of immediate aid; and upwards to 2 million people who are homeless. They call to Jesus for help.

When this morning’s aftershock ended, a street merchant walked past the partly collapsed hospital. “She raised her arms to the sky and spoke for millions. ‘Lord have mercy, for we are sinners!’ she shouted. ‘Please have mercy on Haiti.’” They call to God for help.

We probably all know people who have gone to Haiti on mission trips. Our friends and neighbors have returned with pictures and stories describing a life we do not know. In the aftermath of this earthquake, we are seeing horrifying pictures and hearing gut-wrenching stories of a life we cannot imagine.

God’s work. Our hands. That is the ELCA tagline. The people of Haiti are calling to God for help. God hears that call and so do we. Medical volunteers are needed now. Other volunteers may be needed in the future. As we know from Hurricane Katrina, life will not return to normal anytime soon from this natural disaster. Thankfully, aid is beginning to pour in from around the world. Monetary donations are needed and are being solicited by countless agencies.

Please be active in God’s work. Pray and give. I encourage you in the strongest way to give directly to ELCA Disaster Response or Lutheran World Relief. Your money will go directly to aid those in need. My wife and I chose to make our donation through Thrivent to ELCA Disaster Response to take advantage of matching funds. Thanks.

For more information go to www.elca.org/disaster; www.lwr.org/haiti; or http://www.thrivent.com/. --JC

Worship Christ, the Newborn King

When my brother and I were young, our celebration of Christmas was somewhat compartmentalized. Christmas Eve was for church. My parents, the two of us, and my grandmother (who lived with us), would bundle up and head to church for an early evening candlelight service. In those days, before the advent of children’s sermons and early communion, Christmas Eve was the one time when Brant and I felt equal to everyone else. We were not excluded as the ushers distributed candles or when the candles were lit! On Christmas Eve, everything in worship seemed so familiar, from the gospel to the carols. It was also beautifully different with the Christmas tree, wreaths and candles in the windows. Once we got home from church there was only one thing left to do—get to bed and try to sleep as Mom and Dad wrapped presents right outside our bedroom door.

I do not even know if our congregation had worship on Christmas Day. For us, Christmas morning was devoted to exchanging gifts. Around noon, my other grandparents, my uncle and my great-grandfather would arrive. It was Mom’s job to cook Christmas dinner since we had been at my grandparents for Thanksgiving. Ham and scalloped potatoes were on the menu each year. There were nine of us at the dinner table in our tiny house. As I recall, a folding table was set up diagonally in the living room to accommodate us all. Christmas evening, after the dishes were done and our guests had gone home, the four of us would get in the car and spend the evening with my parents’ closest friends and their two boys.

There seemed to be a division between the sacred and secular in our celebration of Christmas. Christmas Eve was about Jesus. Christmas Day was about gifts, family and friends. But as I think about now, there was nothing secular about our celebration of Christmas. Our celebration simply began with and was undergirded by worship.

That is how it still is for me. My celebration of Christmas begins in worship. In fact, Christmas does not even make sense to me without worship. I trust the same is true for you. “Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King!”

I join our bishop and the entire synod staff in wishing a Merry Christmas to all.

Comments? Go to http://niselca.blogspot.com/. Image from http://freechristimages.org/. --JC

"I Don't Read Blogs"

“With all due respect to Jeff and his blog, I don’t read blogs.”

These words were spoken by a pastor, a friend and colleague of mine, at a meeting of our synod’s interim pastors. I was not offended. I will happily admit that I do not spend much time reading blogs either. There are a couple out there that are of interest to me, but, truthfully, I find most of them to be a waste of time.

One of the greatest strengths of a blog is also its greatest weakness. In a blog, the author is free to write anything that he or she wants, true or untrue, kind or unkind, fact or fiction, solicitous or slanderous.

The purpose of this blog has been to raise issues in a non-controversial way. I hope some of what I have written has stimulated deeper thought and discussion. Of course, that means that I have steered clear of the hottest topics in the life of the church. As a synod staff member, I do not want my personal opinions to get in the way of working with individuals or congregations that think a different way than I. If asked, I always answer, distinguishing between what this church teaches and what is my opinion. Unfortunately, too many folks end discussions before they begin.

Much has been written about the state of our ELCA since the Churchwide Assembly in August. I have been disappointed, perhaps even horrified, by some of what I have read. I have seen opinion stated as fact and simply awful things said about leaders in the church.

The pastor who said, “I don’t read blogs” does not allow anyone else to think for him. He is happy to engage in dialogue, seeks out opportunities to learn from others, and engages in theological reflection. That sounds healthy to me.

If you choose to read blogs (and I hope that you will continue to read this one), do not accept everything at face value. Dig a little deeper to find if it states the truth. Do not be too quick to agree or disagree. Engage in some theological reflection and good old-fashioned conversation. We live in a world where we engage less and less in anything face-to-face. Your congregation is a place where that kind of discussion can and should take place.

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

Advent

Autumn was busier than usual for the synod staff. The professional staff did a lot of traveling as we met with individual congregations, attended conference meetings of rostered leaders, and the Bishop’s Coffees. Our support staff has worked hard to keep the rest of us organized, allowing us to show up at the right place at the right time. We have done our best to make sure that nothing fell through the cracks, though I am sure there must have been some things. If we missed anything, please let us know!

The latter half of December is typically a quiet time in the synod office. As life in our congregations gets busier and busier with Advent and the approach of Christmas, the office phones ring less, requests for meetings dwindle, and I (along with others) try to sneak in a few vacation days before the end of the year.

I participated in a midweek Advent worship last evening (Wednesday). It was a wonderful hour-long respite from the bustle of our consumer oriented world. During December here in Rockford, traffic near my home becomes ridiculously congested as people race to the mall or to Target, Best Buy or Toys R Us. The economy may be bad, but from what I judge by the traffic, there will still be plenty under most trees.

Have you taken a look at some of the people around you? I have not noticed too many outwardly happy people in the stores. People seem so stressed, even in the grocery store. The folks at church last evening were smiling and relaxed as we sang “Holden Evening Prayer.” Later, there was laughter at the tables as we enjoyed coffee and cookies while we addressed and signed Christmas cards for homebound members.

Advent is one of my favorite times of year, not just because it gives us a chance to catch up in the office, but because I can go to church and be reminded of what is truly important. The world tells us that spending money and stressing out is what we are supposed to do at Christmas. The church tells us that Christmas is about Jesus and God’s inestimable love for us. That’s part of the Advent message. I kid you not when I say, I cling to it while I am fighting traffic. Give me Jesus.

“Give me Jesus, give me Jesus. You may have all the rest, give me Jesus.”

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

Heart Condition

My heart aches.

In recent conversations with rostered leaders across the synod, I have been made aware of the financial stresses that many congregations are experiencing. These stresses appear to be the result of a number of factors. First, the impact of a poor economy has made its way into the lives of our parishioners and is being reflected in the offering plate. Second, the decisions of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly have angered or disappointed some members who have chosen to leave their congregations or withhold their offering. Many of these members have traditionally been very generous. A third factor now coming into play is the anticipation of a poor harvest for many farmers in our synod. Thus, income in many of our congregations has declined. My heart aches for congregations that have been forced to cut back on their ministries.

I am sure that most of you are aware of the financial impact similar factors have had in the life of the synod. When congregational income drops, giving to the synod for Mission Support drops proportionally. A few congregations have chosen to withhold Mission Support in protest of the Churchwide Assembly decisions. (It must be noted that some congregations have made special gifts or increased their giving in an attempt to offset this.) There has also been a general decline in the amount of money shared with ELCA synods over the past 30 years or so. My heart aches as we are not able to fully fund synod ministries that have been so highly valued during our history.

You may also have heard of the negative effects that the decline of Mission Support has had on our ELCA ministries. As giving to synods has dropped, the ELCA income has dropped proportionally. (Fifty-five percent of our synod’s income continues to be passed along for churchwide ministries.) Just this week the Church Council reduced the 2010 spending plan by eliminating $7.7 million from the budget adopted by the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. To protect as many ministries as possible, 40 churchwide staff positions were cut. My heart aches for those who have lost their jobs, including some of my personal friends, and for the need to curtail some of the work that we have done so well together.

My heart also aches for congregations that find themselves embroiled in conflict and controversy. This number is not large in our synod, but I would say it is significant. We, of the synod staff, pray for each and every congregation of the synod. We will continue to walk with you, serving you in your needs, whatever they are.

Yes, my heart aches for the church I love, but I am not discouraged. As our bishop always says, this is God’s church. I rest each night knowing that God is watching and guiding, loving and giving. In the morning I arise, remind myself of whose I am, and then set out to fulfill God’s call. It is hard work, but I am privileged to be your partner in ministry.

Where does one's passion lie? It is where the heart aches.

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

All Saints Ordination

I have been thinking a bit about last Sunday’s synod-wide ordination celebration. We typically have the ordination service on Reformation Sunday, but Bishop Wollesheim’s schedule did not permit that this year. So, we gathered a week later on All Saints Sunday to ordain three new pastors, Carrie Smith, Terrie Wilder and Sarah Wilson. Bill Bartlett was also installed as vice-president of the Northern Illinois Synod.

In the synod office, in the days leading up to the services, we wondered aloud about the possible attendance. Would people stay away for fear of the flu? What would we do if the bishop were sick? How many bulletins should we print? How much communion bread will we need? How many pews should we save for rostered leaders?

As it was, attendance was very good. There were many representatives of the ordinands’ congregations. We had printed an ample number of bulletins, we had a good supply of bread, and we almost saved enough space for rostered leaders. Best of all, no one was sick.

As I listened to the new pastors make their vows to God and the church, I could not help but think about what an interesting and critical time it is to enter ordained ministry. The church is in need of courageous leadership in these days. The church also needs leaders who recognize the great diversity within their own congregations.

In recent weeks, Bishop Wollersheim and his staff have traveled around the synod for conference meetings, Mission Gatherings and Coffees with the Bishop. The bishop has discussed and we have experienced the diversity of the synod in each of these settings. Sometimes leaders fail to recognize that the same diversity exists within each congregation. Individually we differ in so many ways, not just in how we think about human sexuality. There are those who feel marginalized in their own church homes because of their minority views.

My personal prayer list is as long right now as it has ever been. I have added three new pastors this week. I am praying that God will bless their congregations and communities through their work and that they will prove to be faithful witnesses to the gospel.

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

Communion and the Flu

The following message was distributed to the members of Christ Lutheran Church in Belivdere by Pastor Tim Olson. Bishop Wollersheim thinks it is a good example of what a congregation might communicate. I reprint it with Pastor Olson's permission.

For more information on "communion in one kind," that is, receiving only one element and how that is sufficient, please see the ELCA's "Use of the Means of Grace" at http://www.elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Worship/Learning-Center/The-Use-of-the-Means-of-Grace.aspx. We can be assured that Christ is fully present for us in, with, and under one element, either the bread or the wine. --JC

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Concerns about the H1N1 flu virus have become part of our everyday lives. Government health authorities are calling on all citizens to exercise reasonable precautions to both avoid personal illness and contain the spread of the virus as much as possible. We have developed a plan for addressing this health concern which will be implemented progressively, with some actions taken immediately and others as soon as necessary and practicable.

Healthy Practices During Flu Season
Whether you have contracted the seasonal flu, H1N1, or a common cold, the following practices make sense for limiting the spread of the contagion. Only a medical professional can tell you for sure if you have H1N1. See your doctor if you have a combination of some of these symptoms: cough, chest pain, fever, body aches, headache, sore throat, or vomiting.

· Wash hands frequently for 20 seconds with soap and water. If not available use an alcohol hand sanitizer. There are also non-alcohol versions available if needed.
· When you are sick, stay home and rest. If you are exhibiting any of the symptoms above, please think twice before coming to church. We will miss your presence, of course. Your act of Christian love, however, is expressed in not exposing others to what you carry.
· When you blow your nose or sneeze do it into a tissue and dispose of the tissue, and then remember to wash or sanitize your hands.
· Cough into your elbow or shoulder instead of your hands. If you use your hands then wash them.
· Don’t return to public life until your fever has been gone for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medications.
· Keep a good food supply and over the counter medications on hand. Also keep prescription medications from running low. If you do get ill you will have these important supplies.

Our Life Together
· There are bottles of hand-sanitizing gel around the building. Please use them. Bring your own and use it after sharing the “peace of the Lord” and before receiving Holy Communion.
· During worship you may choose to share the peace with a verbal greeting and a brief bow or nod of the head, instead of a handshake, which still physically acknowledges the other person. If you intend to do this, simply fold your hands in front of your chest so others know not to extend a hand.
· Wash your hands when you get home (just like you would if you had been to the grocery store or any other public place).

Interim Holy Communion Practices
Changes to communion practices can be, at times, emotional and stressful. We ask for your patience and understanding as we try to deal faithfully with the challenges that H1N1 presents. The plan developed is informed by the direction from the ELCA and information from the CDC. Both resources can be accessed on the web at: http://www.makingchristknown.org/clc/h1n1_flu_infomation. Studies that assess the various methods of communing from a health perspective and a review of what other denominations who have similar worship practices are doing were also consulted.

Our past practice has been to offer wine and grape juice in ceramic vessels. The method of distribution has been intinction (bread dipped in the liquid). The problems with current practice are: 1) ceramic vessels are porous and allow the germs to settle in and grow, 2) low alcohol content wine and especially grape juice are also breeding grounds for germs, and 3) intinction allows the finger tips of each person to potentially enter the wine or juice bringing a host of bacteria and viruses to the cup and wine or juice. To distribute communion in a way that both addresses health concerns and is faithful to the sacrament of the Church, the following changes are being made to our communion practices and will be implemented as soon as this coming Sunday, November 1, and no later than November 8th:

· We will change from ceramic chalices to metal ones. The properties of the metal do not absorb or retain germs and are shown to be germ inhibiting.
· We will suspend the use of grape juice until the heightened flu concerns are behind us.
· Pastors and assisting ministers serving the bread will continue the practice of sanitizing their hands before distributing communion.
· We will begin using a wine with higher alcohol content.
· We will offer this wine to be taken in one of two ways: 1) we will continue the practice of intinction; 2) we will offer the common cup (the participant takes a sip from the chalice). The person holding the common cup wipes the rim with a cloth (purificator). While it may seem contrary to logic, this later way of receiving the wine is actually more sanitary than intinction. We recognize that people have preferences, so we offer both methods. Intinction may still be the most practical way for young children to receive the wine versus sipping wine from the common cup. That decision is left to the parents.
· A third option – especially to be used if you have any symptoms at all – is to receive communion in “one kind” which means that you only eat the bread. Please note that you still should hear two pronouncements of grace. So, stand in front of the intinction cup with hands folded and hear the words, “the blood of Christ shed for you,” and return to your seat.
· When you come forward for communion there will still be two cups at each station. The first cup will be the intinction cup and the cup to hear the blessing if you are communing in “one kind” (just bread); the second will be the common cup from which members may sip the wine.
· If you are involved in communion preparation, take care of linens, serve as an assisting minister or communion assistant, you will be receiving an update to procedures under separate cover. We will also plan some training time to address questions as soon as possible. (Pastor Timothy Olson)

H1N1

I was waiting to be seated near the front door of the restaurant. From the kitchen I heard as loud a sneeze as I have ever heard, followed by “Wow!” It wasn’t the most appetizing moment. I briefly thought of turning around and heading out the door, but I stayed, hoping that good hygiene and sanitation practices were being observed by the kitchen staff.

Flu season is upon us once again. I got my seasonal flu shot a couple of weeks ago. Since then the vaccine has been in short supply and flu clinics in Winnebago County have been suspended. I am faithful in getting a shot because the last time I had a diagnosed case of influenza I was very sick. I didn’t recover quickly or without complications. I would like to avoid having that happen again.

The H1N1 swine flu virus is now widespread throughout most of the United States including Illinois. Many of us are not included in a high risk category, so we will not be receiving H1N1 vaccinations anytime soon. Since I come in contact with so many people during the course of a week, I am trying to be diligent in hand washing and avoiding people who are obviously contagious. I try to sneeze and cough into my elbow, although I think I may have pinched a nerve in my neck doing that. Please forgive me if I sneeze into a Kleenex.

The church has a role to play during this pandemic flu season. Part of it is educational. In many congregational newsletters I see good advice being shared by the parish nurses. They say, “If you’re sick, stay home.”

The church has a practical role to play as well. In most places, pastors and communion servers either wash or sanitize their hands before handling the elements. I have noticed that some congregations have placed hand sanitizer in the pews for people to use following the passing of the peace and before Holy Communion. I heard of one congregation in which the ushers dispense a squirt of hand sanitizer to everyone as they exit the pew.

I have not heard of any congregation dropping the passing of the peace from the liturgy. Some congregations are sharing the peace without the customary handshake. I’m not sure that an elbow bump is the way to go, but I have heard it suggested!

Serving communion by intinction is not all that sanitary. You might be surprised to know how many fingers actually end up in the wine. Common cup is not too bad since mouths tend to be less germy than hands. The wine has some antiseptic qualities (grape juice and non-alcoholic wine do not), but it would be best for those who are sick to either not receive the cup or to commune by intinction (without the finger dipping). There is nothing wrong with washing up those little communion cups we all used to use, preferably pouring the wine from a single chalice.

This is a time for common sense to prevail. Great resources are available from the ELCA (http://tinyurl.com/dfu3s2) and from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://flu.gov/professional/community/. There you will find “H1N1 Flu: A Guide for Community & Faith-based Organizations.”

Comments? Ideas? Go to http://niselca.blogspot.com/. Thanks for reading! --JC

As Seasons Change

I took advantage of a sunny afternoon and mowed my lawn today. The grass was as long and lush as it has been all summer. This, however, was the final mowing of the season and the lawn mower has now been tucked away in the garage for the winter. I cannot say that I will miss mowing for the next few months. This year the lawn has needed attention every week. Even during the usually hot and dry month of August, the grass continued to grow in the ambient cool and wet conditions. There was no break. I wonder where the snow shovel is.

In most parts of the synod we have now had a “good” freeze. There was little good about it, although allergy sufferers may be happy. The farmers’ growing season has been cut short in a year when the longest possible season was necessary. Planting was late across northern Illinois. Our farmers are dealing with crop diseases related to wet conditions and face lower yields due to immature crops. Our prayers are with all who tend the land as their occupation and source of livelihood for a safe and bountiful harvest.

On Sunday, I was out at Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center for Autumnfest. It was cloudy and very cool, but it looked like everyone was having a good time. Many people have thought of Autumnfest as the celebration at the end of the camping season. It does, indeed, celebrate the completion of another successful summer program. However, LOMC is a year-round facility, which is capable of accommodating church groups in their diverse needs and desires. Freedom Tree Village continues to be a wonderful asset for adult ministries. If you have never been to LOMC, please make a point of it! This is our ministry, shared with the Metro Chicago, Central/Southern Illinois and Central States Synods. I would be happy to show you around myself. I look for any reason to spend some time there. (http://www.lomc.org/)

The series of four “Coffees with the Bishop” begin this weekend in Dixon, as we continue to engage in conversation about the decisions of the Churchwide Assembly. (www.nisynod.org/bishop/coffee.html) Bishop Wollersheim has been widely using the illustration of the Lutheran Church as a big, old boat. (www.nisynod.org/bishop/five-affirmations.pdf) I had never heard the illustration before, but I like it a lot. It provides a picture of the church that I have always known. It was probably my first week of seminary when I discovered that there was a lot of variety of beliefs and pieties in our church. We are truly richer for that variety.

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